Consider ing that during the week a special train had ron from Port, affording Mr Proctor'e ad mirers an opportunity to hear the lecture in question, the audience on Saturday night may be described as a very good one. Mr Prootor succeeded in maintaining the closest attention of his hearers throughout, and concluded his lecture amid hearty applause. Local Ihdtjstbibb Association, Bah oioba. —A preliminary meeting was held on Friday, at the Bead Board office, to consider what steps were necessary to establish a branch of this Association in the neighbour* hood. The Mayor (Mr H. Blaokett) occu pied the chair. The subject in its various phases was fully disouued and a committee formed of seven gentlemen, who will maet at some future date and submit the moat practical scheme for the advancement,of the object in view. iNQtrEST.—An inquest was held at the Irwell Hotel, on Friday afternoon, before B. B. Willis, Esq., Coroner, and a jury of twelve, of whom Mr J. Coe was chosen fore man, touchiog the death of the infant son of Mr James Miller. Dr. Chapman stated that he had made &po»t mortem examination, and considered that the child died from natural causes, having been ailing for. some days pre vious to death The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the medical testimony that the child died from natural causes, adding a rider that no want of attention was shown on the part of the parents. Thb Latb Ms Wnxcox.—The sudden j ness of the death of Mr John Smith Willoox, at Lyttelton, reported in Saturday's issue, cast a gloom over the community in whioh it occurred such aa has seldom been equalled. The deceased gentleman had been busy in his office throughout Saturday forenoon, and up to two o'clock, when |he went up to his re- I sidence, and there remained until about 5 I p.m., before leaving partaking of an early tea. He returned to his office in London j street soon after six o'clock, shortly after which Mr Weastell, with whom he had made an appointment, entered the office, and found him sitting in his chair apparently sleeping. Mr Weastell, hesitating to disturb him, went out and returned in about twenty minutes, when, finding him still in the same position, he essayed to arouse him, and then discovered he was dead. 