New Publication.

The Christian Observer.' Published by Armitage and South, Christchurch.

We have received the first number of 'The Christian Observer,' a religious periodical, published monthly at Christchurch. It contains 16 pages, with three columns in each, and presents a large amount of varied and interesting matter, comprising articles original and selected, on topics connected with religion. There is also a large amount of intelligence regarding Church affairs, and interesting extracts for the children. We wish it great success.

Erratum in Report of Synod.,—In our abridged report of the Meeting of Synod in last issue, it was stated in reference to the Report of the Church Extension Committee, that "it was agreed by a majority of 24 to 13 to approve the report, record the thanks of the Synod to the Committee and Convener for their zealous attention to the work committed to them, and further receive with much pleasure the announcement of the liberal donation of £50 from a member of Knox Church, in aid of bringing out a Minister for the Gold Fields, and authorise the Committee to send at once for a Minister, with a special view to settlement on one of the Gold Fields not yet supplied with Ordinances. The Synod also authorise the Committee to send for one additional Minister for the Church generally." It should have been stated that the vote was taken not on the question of approving the Report, but simply on the point raised whether one or two Ministers (additional to the one for the Gold Fields) should be sent for,—24 voting for one additional, and 13 for two.

Rome.—the Œcumenical Council.—This Council was opened by the Pope on the 9th December. He was followed by 700 Bishops to the Council Hall. The galleries were occupied by the Sovereign Princes then in Rome, and by the members of the Corps Diplomatique. Bells were ringing and cannon were fired from the forts of St. Angelo and Mont Aventine, and the whole ceremonies far exceeded anything of the kind witnessed in Rome for the last century.