currency of the list. At present a justice in that position has to continue during the whole ' year to excuse himself to the Minister on the plea of " ceased to re side in the district," the Clerk to the Bench > haying no authority to leave off- - sending the notices to attend,' and the justice '■■ being absolutely de prived of the office if within a month he does not furnish a sufficient excuse for his default. Perhaps when the bill appears it may.be found ,to give authority to the Clerk to the Bench to amend his list from time to time, and as often as the arrival or departure of justices in or from the district renders ■such a proceeding neceaaary. Tho first day'a racing of the Geraldine Autumn Meeting takes place to-day on the course at Orari. , A concert will be held thia evening at eight o'clock in the Otaio schoolroom in aid of the school funds. A meeting of the Timaru Parliamentary Union will be held in tho hall of the Mechanics' Institute at eight o'olook this evening. Meetings will be held every Thursday. Ladies are invited. Shooting parties have lately beon doing a little good in the Waimate district by thinning the harea, which threaten to become a nuisance, especially in the Hakatcramea district. A man named William Imrio was arrested in town yesterday by Detective Kirby and charged with forgery and uttering. He will be brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court thia morning to answer the charge brought against' him. At the Borough Council meeting last night Councillor William Jones, who is away on a holiday trip in the North Island, was granted a further extension of a month's leave of absence from Council meetings. ■ .The Waimato County Council is about to procure an adequate supply of poisoned grain for the destruction of birds throughout the various ridings into which the county is divided. Sparrows and other birds are now; getting so numerous that the settlers are loud in complaints of serious losses in/grain. Two or three farmers estimate their losses at high figures. The Railway Department have informed the Borough Council that tho work of re pairing the George street culvert.will be pro ceeded with as soon as possible. 