May.

2.—Municipal conference. Present:— Dunedin, N.E. Valley, Caversham, St. Kilda, Mornington, Maori Hill. Resolved to promote, legislation for establishment of board of seven to conserve St. Clair and Ocean Beach, with power to borrow £10,000 on security of joint rates of all the boroughs.

4.—Election of M.H.R. for Bruce, vice Mr. J. W. Thomson, resigned; James Allen, 1085; Lee Smith, 528. Most keenly contested bye-election ever known in the colony. Minister for Mines (Mr. Seddon), Minister for Lands (Mr. M'Kenzie), and Liberal members of Parliament actively assisted Mr. Lee Smith without avail. First instance of Catholic block vote instituted by Bishop Moran on education question.