Splendid observations were made of the solar eclipse in the Mediterranean and in America. The corona was an exact duplicate of the corona of 1889, confirm ing the theory of an eleven years' period and variation with sun spots. Venus and Mercury were conspicuous during the period of the eclipse. The Woodville Bifle Volunteers ioten d holding their annual ball on Wednesday, Jnne 2Qtb, and as it is for the deserving object of new uniforms, we predict that the ball will be an immense success. The Company have bad the floor taken up and placed down permanently. This has been plained, and it should be second to none in New Zealand. Capt. Bolton, of the Tararua Mounted Rifles, has been pleased to appoint the following non-commissioned officers :- Quartermaster Sergt., W. Medhurst; ser geants—B. A. Beattie, T. P. Wills, W. Tosawill, W. W. McCardle, jun., and F. M. Kenney; corporals—A. H. Boss, O. Monckton, B. C. Ellingham, L. B. Dod son, and F. S, Stace. A sergeant-major, a sergeant, and a corporal have yet to be appoi&ted. In a private letter, Mr Montimer Menpe3 (the well-known painter) says that he was one of the firrt into Kimber ley after General French. He is unable to speak in flattering terms of General Cronje and his wife, though be amus ingly describes poor old Mrs Cronje as being in such a hurry to depart from the English camp that she left her back hair in the tent. This was at once eager ly seized upon by some enterprising " Tommy," and distributed in locks to thoso desirous of retaining some memory of the fair lady. We have received a copy of the cur" rent number of the Canterbury Times containing a splendid supplement, part of which is devoted to a fac simile copy of the Ladysmith Lyre, the paper which did so much to relieve the monotony of the siege. The supplement contains some fine war views. The Canterbury Times is undoubtedly one of the best weekly papers in the colony, its reading matter being of the brightest and best kind, and its general get-up most ad mirable. 