A com munic&tiou as to Government subsidy from the Colonial Secretary's -Office was referred to th 3 District Board for advice, Five or six cases of relief were carefully iuquired into and assistance granted. ' Accounts amounting to £8 193 Id were passed for pay ment. The visiting Committee for the | month are : — Misses Williams and Booth and Rev. J. McAra. The Fire Brigade did not practice last night owing to an insufficient numberof mem bers being present. A meeting wa9 held, when the resignation of Deputy-Superinten dent Pavitt was accepted. A letter was re ceived from the United Fire Brigades Asso ciation asking tor a subscription on behalf of ex-Captain King, of Grey mouth, who had' lost his sight whilst on duty. The matter was postponed till next meeting. One mem ber was struck off the roll for repeated non attendance. At nearly 10 o'clock last night the fire bell rang out an alarm. The cause was found to be, in one of the bedrooms in Mr East's upper store. The alarm was given by a child who is staying with Mr East. Mr Warren, County Clerk, fortunately was in the front store at the time, and atter great exertions succeeded in putting oat the flames. When Mr Warren entered the room the chest of drawers and some clothes hanging on the wall were in a blaze. The damage done is estimated at £10. The Fire Brigade were promptly out, but were not re quired. It is not known how the fire origi nated, but it is thought that one of the chil dren must have left a lighted candle on a box which was standing under the toilet cover on the chest of drawers. The Cook County Dairy Faotory directors met last night. Mr W. King was elected a director, vice Mr A. Weston, The election of Chairman was held over until next meet ing. The Secretary reported the month's supply of milk was 7»735 gallon*, being a falling off of 3,500 gallons. 