Eleven bands, have entered for the con test at Wanganui in March. Russia is retrenching, and education votes have been curtailed. Sergeant Mackay, of the Nelson police, has been suspended for alleged drunken ness. The legal holidays will extend from December 24th to January 3rd, both days inclusive. An English syndicate, with one million capital, has secured a goldmining option in the Amur district, Eussia. Sis of the thirty Imperial Commissions granted to New Zealanders have beenj secured by old boys of Wanganui College. A plebiscite of Jlasterion burgesses will be taken on the 19th inst. on a proposal that the Borough Council shall take over the public park z The wattle Might which was sa preva lent in the Nelson district some years ago, has lately, reappeared, and is said to be spreading rapidly in places. At Wanganui four bakers were fined 20s : and costs each for. failing to carry scales, six were fined 20s and costs for failing to ; Btamp bread;- and' three were fined similar i sums for short weight. i The Westinghouse brakes will be -fitted • to the Napier- Wellington trains in about six months. The trains will then be able ■- to. run into the stations almost at full ■ speed. 4 ' - Wellington Education Board has put : its foot down on' the abuse of school holi ' days and refused a holiday to a school ; whose master wanted to get married a v week before the usual vacation. * '. There are 300 Maoris at the Jubilee ! celebrations at Christchurch. The bulk of them leave on Thursday next, but 80 of the men will stay to take part in the 5 canoe- races at the Lyttelton regatta on \ January. 3rd. \ One of the- farces -the Government play > (says a contemporary) to make the people \ think.the Tutanekai is- used for money s saving purposes is to convey coal from ; Westportto Wellington. She carries j about 80 tons at a time, saving about > £20 in freight, while her expenses to and : frbm.Westpqrt total, something like £100 .The finest contingent of British troops i that has come to Australia in connection f- witi the -inauguration of the Common l 5. ..wealth is that of the Ist Grenadier Guards 1 at; Windsor.- L The twenty-three men aver i age ,6ft 4£in in height. 