SHIPPING.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

ARRIVALS. Tauvanga, s.s., (57 tons, Cullon, from Bay of Islands.

IMPORTS.

Per s.s. Ahuriri: —From Dunedin : 1 gun, Collector of Customs. From Lyttelton: 250 sacks wheat, order. From Taranaki: 2 cases cheese, S. Jones; G cases cheese, 1 cask, A. Hood; 6 cases, Clark and Thorp; 2 sacks onions, 1 sheep, Rodgers; 4 casks, 1 case, 1 cask, Clark and Thompson; 40 packages, A. Buckland.—Combes and Daldy, agente.

The whaling ship Camilla, Captain B. Jones, arrived at the Bay on Tuesday, with 1500 barrels oil, 15 months out. The s.s. Hero, hence, arrived at Sydney on the 3rd instant.

H.M.s.s. Challenger sailed from Lyttelton for Wellington on the 16th insb. The s.s. Eangatira left Auckland at 3 p.m. on the 7th, and arrived at Poverty Bay, at 10 p.m. on the Bth ; left again at 11 a.m. on the 9th, and arrived at Napier at 8 p.m. same day; left Napier at 9 p.m. on the 10th, and arrived at Opotiki at 6 a.m. on the 12th ; left again same day, called at eight different places on the East Coast, landed about 500 of the native contingent, and arrived at Napier at 7 a.ro. on the 15th; left again at 2.15 p.m., and arrived in harbor to-day at 1.45 p.m.— Wellington livening Post, April 16. Cboss Actions tob Assault. —The Resi dent Magistrate's Court was occupied on Thursday for a considerable time by two actions for assault, brought by Captain Downing, of the brigantine Fanny, against W. Rowell, a boatman ; and by Kowell against Downing, for £10 damages for assault and medical attend ance, and 17s. for the price of an oar. The quarrel arose through the breaking of an oar belonging to Kowell—who had lefb it lying across the railway on the wharf—by one of the crew of the Fanny driving a truck over it. On Rowell claiming payment for his oar of Captain Downing, an altercation arose, and, according to the statements made in Court, abusive language was used pretty freely on both sides. The Eesident Magistrate bound Rowell over to keep the peace; and in the second case, gave the plaintiff the amount claimed for damages and cost of medical attend ance, but nonsuited him on his claim of 17s. for tbe oar. — Nelson Examiner, April 18.

ARRIVAL OF THE AHURIRI.

The N.Z.S.N. Company's s.s. Ahuriri, Cap tain Flowerday, arrived in the Manukau this morning from Southern ports. She left Dun edin April 13th, at 2 p.m., arrived at Lyttel ton 14tl>, at noon; left Lyfctelfcon 14th, at 10 p.m.; arrived at Wellington 15th, at 5 p.tn ; left Wellington 17th, at 9 a.m., arrived at Picton same clay at 2 p.m. ; left again same day at 8 p.ni, arrived at Nel son 18th at 6.30 a.m. ; left again same day at 9 p.m:, arrived at Taranaki 19th noon ; left again same day at 4 p.m.; arrived at Onehunga 20th, 8.30 a.m. Passengers :—Saloon —Miss Carroll, Mr. Carroll, Colonel McUonell, Mr. McDonald, a.nd 7 in the steerage.

ARRIVAL OF THE TAURANGA.

The fine steamer Tauvanga, Captrin Cellem, arrived in harbour from the Bay of Islands this morning, at half-past seven o'clock, having left the Bay at half-past four p.m. on the previous day. The p.s. Luna was passed off Bream Head. Fine weather, with a heavy S.E. sea was experienced by the Tauranga, and no vessels bound iv were seen on the coast.

Passengers :—Messrs. D. Williams, J. Busby, Busby, sen., Hickton, Captain Hington, Mr. and Mrs. E. G-. Norris, and 20 others. Caego.—2s head cattle, 120 sheep, Buck land j 4 tons gum, W. J. Hurst and Co. ; 38 boxes apples, L. W. Eaton ; 3 bags fruit, order.

DEPARTURE OF THE LORD ASHLEY.

The Circular Saw Company's s.s. Lord Ashley, Capt. E. Wheeler, took her departure from Onelmnga for the Southern Ports to-day with about 20 passengers and a quantity of general cargo.

THE ANNIE MAIN, FOR LONDON.

The beautiful clipper barque Annie Main will positively take her departure for London on Thursday, the 28th instant. She will carry a large and valuable cargo, including a quantity of powder for the Government. She is also full of passengers, the Key. D. Bruce and family being amongst those who have already engaged their berths. She has the following cargo on board: —545 bales flax, 1272 cases gum, 19 casks oil, 76 casks tallow, 168 sacks gum, 169 bales wooll, 4 bales cotton.

THE SEATOLLER FOR LONDON.

In a few days this beautiful barque will take her departure for London, being the sixth vessel which has loaded at this port during the present y car. Her cargo consists of flax, wool, cotton, kauri gum, &c, and she will also be the bearer of a quantity of gold to be shipped by the Bank of Australia. The Seatoller will also convey several passengers to England, and we feel sure that, under the care of Captain Brown, they will have a very pleasant and agreeable passage. The following is a list of the cargo on board : 62 bags gum, J. Lamb; 301 bags gum, J. S. Macfarlane ; 137 bales flax, 53 bales wool, 127 cases gum, Must; 72 bales wool, Ireland ; 329 cases gum, R. Sterry ; 305 cases gum, R. Walker; 15 cases gum, Isaacs ; 37 bales flax, 39 cases gum, Combes and Daldy; 10 bales flax, Bucholz ; 35 bales flax, Must; 17 cases gum, R. Neil; 17 cases gum, R. Walker; 95 cases gum, 132 bales flax, 119 bales ditto, 466 cases gum, 16 bales wool, Owen and Graham ; 16 bales wool, dittos ; 122 cases gum, Must; 46 cases gum, Stuart and Anderson ; 39 casks tallow, Allender j 22 bales flax, E. and H Isaacs ; 46 bales cotton, J. S. Macfarlane j 27 bales cotton, 82 tons cotton seed, 356 cases gum, Owen and Graham ; 75 bales flax, J. S. Maofarlane ; 124 bales flax, Bank of New Zealand.

PORT OF ONEHUNGA.

ARRIVAL.

Ahuriri, 5.8., Flowerday, from Southern ports.

BIRTHS.

Shaw.—On 17th inst., at her residence, Flat Bush, the wife of Mr. W. Shaw, of a daughter. Newman. —On April 18th, the wife of Mr. J. H. Newman, of a daughter.

MARRIAGE.

Coates—Boot1!!. —On the 19th instant, at the residence of the bride, Alten Road, by the Rev. D. Bruce, J. J. Coates, C.E., eldest son of D. M. Coates, Esq., J.P., Kilgibbon House, Wexford, Ireland, to Emily Josephine, second daughter of J. L. Booth, Esq., Great Collin street East, Melbourne.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE.

SHORTIiAND-STBEET. Mails will close as under : — For Thames and Coromandel, this day, at 530 p.m., and to-morrow at 7 a.m., 1.30 a.m., and 5.30 p.m. For Tahiti, per Timanda, to-morrow, 21st instant, at 9 a.m. For London (direct) per Sea Toller, to-mor row, at 10 a.m, For Napier, per p.s. Comerang, this day, at 3 p.m. For Taranaki, Nelson, Wellington, Picton, and Lyttelton, per s.s. Ahuriri, on Friday, the 22nd instant, at 12 noon. Late letters and telegrams till 12.30. S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

The Evening Star. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20,1870.

The Annual Eeview of the Licensed Victuallers was held yesterday, in the presence of Mr. Beckham and a goodly array of Justices, and was an occasion deserving at least of the notice of the Drury Auxiliary of the United Kingdom Alliance. Verily we are thirsty souls in this small com munity if it requires all that corps of gentlemen of " the bar" to satisfy our wants; while a considerable number of would-be recruits eagerly strug gled to join the ranks of those who are engaged, according to the quaint and vigorous language of the good old divine, in retailing *' liquid lire and distilled damnation." But while wholly differing from the impossible principles of the Alliance, and believ ing in the necessity for the hotel as an institution of the present state of humanity, we feel that there are some features in this annual mus ter that are deserving of modification. It is right that the license should be anntial; but surely there is no neces sity for dragging such a body of our fellow citizens before the Bench as culprits—putting them, in a manner, on their triai, and even then having their cause decided by no acknow ledged principle or code, but solely by the predilections or antipathies of friends or foes on the Bench. It is not necessary for us to say that there were those on the Bench yesterday who were influenced solely by honor and conscience; but it were maudlin nonsense to say that there is no Justice of the Peace whom a well timed glass of grog and a confidential chat across the counter would enlist in sympathy or antagonism. There are publicans who will avail themselves of these means of having a friend at Court; in fact, it is an acknowledged feature in the system, and the effect must necessarily be demoralising ; and until licenses are granted or withholden. on some ex plicit, well-defined, and unvarying principle, the honourable and inde pendent-minded are placed at unfair disadvantage.

With regard to the new applicants for admission to the roll of the licensed victualler, it is acknowledged that they should be of good character; but is the mere getting-up of a testimonial from good-natured neighbours a test of this ? or the trumpery in quisition that can be held in the few minutes available, and in presence of a crowded Court? and on whom is the onus to be thrown of this unpleasant duty ? At preseut it falls on the neighbours objecting, And is productive of envy, malice and all uncharitableness. There can be no doubt that, seeing the interests involved, the special character of the trade, and the moral results to the community, the system of licensing requires a radical change. The Court, however constituted, should have really a judicial power, and not sim ply administrative. Through the agency of the police, who are presumed to be acquainted with the social life of their district, it should take strict know ledge of the character of those to whom it is for the first time comniifc

ting a trust having such a bearing on the comfort, morality, and peace of the people. Not this alone; but; there are on that roll which yesterday received the approval of the Bench, those whose names should never have been there, had such strict investigation been held when they were first enrolled; and whose character and conduct, as at present known to the police, would demand their expulsion. But, of course, this is nobody's business; and, no objection having been raised, the Bench, in its formal and merely admin istrative action, can but pass the names or be compelled by mandamus from the Supreme Court. None are in jured more by the present loose proce dure than the licensed victuallers themselves, li'rom the character and conduct of some of their brethren, and the scenes sometimes witnessed in the vicinity of a disreputable tap, there is a tendency in the community to speak of publicans as the " Pariahs " of society, when there is nothing inherent in the trade itself but what is honourable and beneficial to the people. It is the hotel-keepers themselves that should move in this, and purge out the unclean thing. The ranks of our licensed victuallers contain some of our moat useful, citi zens. Why have they not a licensed Victuallers' Association ? With such a bond of union, they could obtain a modification of the licensing system — respectful to the respectable trader, repressive of the low poison tap, and preventive to the extension of licenses beyond the legitimate requirements of the community. And, honestly speak ing, we believe if the Drury Auxiliary of the United Kingdom Alliance would form some sort of sub-alliance with such Licensed Victuallers' Asso ciation, it would be productive of more practical results for good than all the stump orations uttered over the length and breadth of the land.

Whethee resulting from any particular state of the moon, a special conjunction of the stars, a pecuiiar electrical and magnetic state of the globe, or, any un usual meteorological condition of the atmosphere, certain it is that Hymen's rites are singularly fitful. His altars are so groaning to-day beneath the burthen of human hearts laid on them in sacri fice, that we feel constrained to devote a special paragraph to his service. We are happy to record that this morning Cr. P. Pierce, Ksq., Manager of the New Zealand Insurance Company, has been united in marriage to Miss Con nell ; Francis Jnnes, tt.sq., i^eputy-Assis tant Commissariat-General, to Miss Lyell; J. B. Bradshaw, hsq., member of the General Assembly, to Miss Boulton ; — Willoughby, Esq., from the Waikato, to a second Miss Boulton; S. E. Hughes, Esq., solicitor, to Miss Ansell ; and two other gentlemen, as we under stand, well known citizens, who this morning for ever renounced the liberty and joys of single blessedness; and, led captive by the charms of female loveliness, have entered upon another and a better state. We observe that the shipping are dll flying bunting, which, we understand, is specially in honour of the marriage of Mr. Pierce and Mr. fnnes.

In accordance with the request of the Resident Magistrate from the Bench to the Pi ess to-day, we have nuch pleasure in drawing public attention to the follow ing section of the Police Act:—" If any person allow in any house or place wherein liquors, provisions, or refresh ments are sold or disposed of, any drun kenness or other disorderly conduct, or suffer any gaming therein, or suffer prostitutes or persons of notoriously bad character to be assembled therein, such person shall for Ilie first offence forfeit a penalty not exceeding ten pounds, and for every subsequent offence besides the said penalty, imprisonment for any term not exceeding one month may be awarded."—Auckland Municipal Police Act, 1866, section 16.

In the Police Court, to-day, there was the usual array of the drunk and disor derly. A charge of gambling in an oyster saloon occupied a considerable time, and was of interest from ihe fight made against conviction; and the result, as well as the remarks made by the Uesi dent Magistrate, are deserving of notice. It appeared that the stake was a supper of oysters ; aud the " counters" used were coins of the realm, which, to say the least, gave a suspicious aspect to the case. It being a first offence, with mitigating circumstances, and intended more as a warning, the prosecution consented to forego the penalty ; but from the remarks ef Mr. Ueckhanj, and the powers con tained in the Municipal Police A etas to gaming and the frequenting by prosti tutes in places of refreshment, we would recommend some people to look out. We believe the .Resident Magistrate means mischief.

An accident, such as at any time may prove fatal, was observed on the Wyn yard Pier on Sunday evening last. A line little fellow of four years was tripping along on this rickety promenade closely behind his nurse when by one of the openings caused by the decay of the planking, he fell through, and had almost slipped into the water below when he was rescued. It is easy to say that this pier was not built for promenading children ; but everyone sees that children do resort there, and the scandalous leeklessness with which the pier is left in its present perilous state will, sooner or later, bring blood-guiltiness on somebody's head.

ARRIVAL OF THE 'AHURIRI' FROM THE SOUTH.

LATEST SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS.

MEETING- OF PARLIAMENT,

THE NEW ZEALAND STEAM

COMPANY.

TflE PROJECTED NEW AMEEI-

CAN LINE

CANTERBURY SUPERINTENDENCE,

[By Electbic Telegeaph.]

"WELLINGTON, April 12,

To-day, the General Government Gazette announces the Gl-eneral Assembly to meet for the despatch of business on June 14th. Three tenders have been sent in for the purchase of the New Zealand Steam Naviga tion Company's steamers, none of which have been accepted, as the lowest rate fixed upon by the Liquidators was £20,000. Fresh tenders will be recieved until noon on Satur day next. An important meeting was held yesterday by the Chamber of Commerce, for the con sideration of the American Steam Line, pro jected from California to New Zealand and Melbourne. Much dissatisfaction is felt here at present respecting the contract entei"ed in to with Mr. Hall. CHRISTCHURCH, April 13. Strong committees have been formed on botli Mr. Rolleston's and Mr. Moorbouse's sides; and tbere will be a sharp struggle for the Superintendency. DUNEDIN, April 15. Sherman's party, from Christchurch, struck payable gold 36 miles from Lake Wakatip, and a rush lias set in. The Circular Saw Company's steamer Airo dale was brought up to the Dunedin wharf. April 13. There are four candidates for Caversham ; the election is on the 26th. The gold received by escort during the March quarter is 32,067 ozs., showing an in crease of 1,C03 ozs. over the corresponding quarter of I>'69. Judge Ward bas suggested the appointment of an officer to conduct opposition in bank ruptcy cases. A rush lias set in in alluvial ground at the Nevis gorge ; O'Connell's party have obtained £50 a man in a week ; recent washings went an ounce to the dish.

GENERAL NEWS.

The Wanganui natives who arrived yester day by the St&r of the South, on their way home, landed this morning, and rnai'ched up to the Mount Cook Barracks, where, we under stand, they are to remain for a few days, until the St. Eilda is ready to take them to Wan ganui. Their appearance as they marched the streats, if not murtial or imposing, was cer tainly jiictureique in the highest degree. Few of them were troubled with superfluous gar ments, and not above one or two had shoes; all, however, had serviceable rifles. — Evening Tout, April 16.

Eace Between tjie Wellington and Aijiedale.—A steamer race took place between Tuesday afternoon and j'esterday morning, which was of almost as great interost as the Hutt races. The Wellington and the Airedale both left Wellington for Lyttel tonon Tuesday. The N.Z.S.N. Co.'s " pet" got an excellent start from the Wharf at 3.] 5 p.m., and went away with a strong lead. The Airedale was handicapped by cir cumstances not to start till 4.15 p.m.; but with Kennedy in the saddle she overhauled her agile competitor in the straight run in, arriving at the Judge's stand, Lyttelton, at 10.10 a.m. yesterday, while the favorite did not get there till 11 o'clock. That nimble messenger " Wires" brought the news quickly back. Some people account for this unex pected defeat by saying that the " light weight" of " Permissive Bill" favored the screw, while James Q-illigan had handicapped the favorite down below the level of her antagonist, by putting the packet of salt, which the Premier had sent him to put on Te Kooti's. tail, on board the Wellington for the Canterbury Jockey Club to weigh by correct scales and report upon ; as the Stewards of the Hutt Races had nothing but a notoriol sly fibbing old dial scale. —Wellington Advertiser, April 16.

With inference to the fire on board the s.s. Claud Hamilton, Messrs. Johnston and Co., at Wellington, have received a letter from her owners, Messrs. M'Meckan and Blackwood, of which tne following is an extract: —" We are sorry to inform you that the Claud Hamilton, when coming up the Bay, was discovered to be on fire in the forehold. Luckily, it was soon extinguished, and no great damage done. There was only wool and flax in the hold, and it is our opinion that the wool was the cause of the fire, for some of the wool which had not been disturbed since it was stowed in New Zealand, was nearly red hot when landed this morning. It was very dirty and greasy, and everybody blames the wool. The flax was only burned a rittle outside. About 12 or 20 bales will require re-packing on account of wet, &c."

The Circxilar Saw Company's tender for the conveyance of competitors for the Government prize firing, to be held at Dunedin on the 29th inst., has been accepted, and the Phoebe's dates are so arranged as to carry out this ser vice at all the intermediate ports from Manu kau to Port Chulmers. The Phoebe will leave Wellington for the South on or about the 21st instant, and the Lord ABliley is laid on to bring them back, leaving Dunedin on the 2nd of May.—Wellington Evening Post.

ARRIVAL OF THE 'CLAUD HAMILTON,' AT THE BLUFF.

LATEE AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

GREAT FIRE AT BRISBANE

THE MELBOUBNE MINISTRY,

LYSTER'S OPERA COMPANY.

CHEALE'S MURDERER COMMITTED

FOR TRIAL,

AUSTRALIAN SUMMARY,

The s;s. Claud Hamilton, Captain Underwood, left Hobson's Bay at 3 p.m. on the 9th; passed Port Phillip Heads at 6,p.m., Cape Schanck at 9 p.m., and Swan Island at 7 p.m. the following day. Experienced fine weather during the run across, and made the S.W. Cape at 9 p.m. on the 14th : entered Bluff harbour at 9.30 a.m. on the 15th. Passengkehs : —For Dunedin —Judge Chap man, Mr. and Mrs. Parker, Mr. and Mrs. Bright, Mr. Stewart, Miss Finla", Mr. M'Neill. For Lyttelton—Messrs. Hastings and Hep worth. For Wellington—Mr. Haworth. For Hokitika —Mrs. Bullock, and 45 in the steerage. Cargo—For Dunedin, 220 tons ; Lyttelton, 48 tons ; Wellington, 61 tons; Nelson, 20 MELBOURNE. 9th April. Flour, dull, £11 10s ; wheat, 4s lid to 5s Id, scarce ; maize, 4s l^d ; oats, 3s 6#d ; best hops, Is lOd; bulk beer inquired for; wool packs, 3s sd; speculations in kerosine are large, transactions 2s 6d; sugar firm, quo tations : rations, 29s to 30s ; fine brown to low yellow, 32s ; good to fine yellow, 35e ; finest yellow, 36s 3d ; trade generally dull; money scarce. i Wool sales spirited ; greasy, 4fd to 8|:1; scoured, 8d to 15d ; fleece, B£d to 14d. The new Ministry were announced to the Assembly yesterday. M'Culloch, Chief; Francis, Treasurer ; Michie, Attorney ; Wrixon, Justice ; M'Pherson, Lands ; M'Kay, Mines; Wilson, Railways ; Bates, Public Works ; A'Beckett, Customs. M'Pherson's appointment haa caused great dissatisfaction. The Assembly has adjourned for a month. Lyster's opera season has closed. He took a benefit last night,- and had a bumper hovis c Charles Matthews appears for the first time to-night. Yair, Cheale's murderei', has been commit ted for trial. Yates, sheriff for Belfast, is dead. South Australian Governor is visiting Mel bourne. The English pedestrians hare gone to Sydney. Schools of design are being rapidly ex tended over the Colony. The charges against Montefiore for mis managing the Australasian Insurance Com pany have been negatived. Drought ended, and rains general. Arrived —Anna, from Auckland, New Zea land. Magnificent Aurora Außtralis was visible on the sth. The Press generally supports the r.ew Minis try. SYDNEY. The Brisbane Club House and Roger and Harley's printing office have been burned down. Cloete, water police magistrate, is dead. '• Maize, 3s 9d. ADELAIDE, April 8. Arrrv ed —Defiance. The Chamber of Commerce has passed reso lutions approving of the central system. Wheat firm at 4s. 6d. The elections are progressing. Major Rock, Commander of the forces, is Acting Governor during Ferguson's absence. The sch-.oner Flying Cloud, from Mauri tins, has been wrecked. Crew saved.

POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

(Uelore T. Jtseeitnani, Jisq., Jtt.JU..; ■DETJNKENNESS. S. Hughes, charged with being drunk, was, on the evidence of Detective Murphy, found guilty, and fined 20s and costs, or to be im prisoned for 48 hours with hard labor. Edward Lightfoot, for the same offence, was fined 5s and costs, or to be imprisoned for 48 hours. D. Silverlock and M. Collins, charged with being drunk and disorderly, and A. Chaplain and J. Tackerbury with second offences of drunkenness, were each fined 20s and costs, or to be imprisoned for 48 hours. BREACH OT? LICENSING- ACT. Jacob J. Fernandez was charged by Consta ble Jackson with a breach of the,3Bth section of the Licensing Act, in selling three dozen bottles of champagne. Mr. Brookfield for the prosecution, Mr. Wynn for the defendant. As it appeared he had sold the goods for his brother, who has a wholesale license, and had done so in mistake, it was ai'gusd that the prosecution should withdraw the charge. Fined Is and costs. BREACH 03? MUNICIPAL POLICE ACT. Peter McLeod was charged by Detective Murphy with a breach of the Municipal Police Act, in having allowed gambling with cards in his refreshment rooms, situated in Victoria-street East, on April 15. Mr. Brookfield for the prosecution, Mr. Eees for the defendant Detective Murphy deposed :I am a detec tive. I know Ihe house kept by defendant; it is an oyster and refreshment saloon, in Victoria-street East, within the borders of the Municipal Police Act, 1866. Went into the house alone at a quarter-pa3t one on the morning of the 15th. It-was open and lighted up with gas. I saw defendant there, and four men sitting down at a table; the defendant was leaning on the table looking at them. Saw money exchanged at the end of the game. Saw a small pile in centre, and at the close of

the game, one,man put some intb it an * another took some out. Defendant was tli present. When he saw me, lie said " These m hare taken it on themselves to play for lnonev" I then left the house. Returned an hour afti> with detective Ternahan, and saw the Ban nien playing cards, and the defendant m there. Saw money in front of each f them, but saw no money pass. Simeon Foot! and John Connolly were two of those present* By Mr. Kees : Could not say which of them put down and took it up. I believe Fool took it up. It was I believe either sixpence L a shilling. Cannot say wkat game of cards it was. One of the men asked me to have a glass of porter. One of them asked me if? would have a hand. I said to one of them that he had a good pile of silver befove him He said yes, but it had cost him a good pile o f notes. Did not hear defendant say that if they were playing for money they must leave his place. No such words were used to that effect in my presence. Oysters and suppers are sold there. By Mr. Brookfield : Before detective Ter> nahan and I left the house defendant said that if they did not say anything about it he would make it worth their while. - Robert Ternahan deposed : I am a deteo> tive. On the morning of the 15th I accom. panied detective Murphy to the house of de« fendant. Saw defendant and four othen there. Defendant keeps a refreshment-room The men were sitting at the table playinj cards. The defendant was standing at the table. There was money on the table. Some of them picked the money up after we had cone in. Simeon Foote deposed : I am a hawker and general dealer. Recollect being at defendant's early on the morning of the 15th instant. Had gone there on Thursday night, the 14th] about half-past 11, and remained there till nearly 2 o'clock. There were two called Scotty and Connolly, and a man called Mick I proposed a game of "freeze out" for an oyster supper. The game was not over when the detectives came in. I had nearly "freezed" them all out, antl would have won the supper. Defendant was looking on, and said he would not allow gambling. We said we were not gambling, only playing for a supper; and he said, "All right, go on." By Mr. Rees : Did not hear defendant say to Murphy these men have taken on them selves to play for money. By the Court: Sometimes there were seven or eight shillings in the pool. We were not playing for money. The coins were only used for counters. Mr. Rees, for the defence, contended that this was not gambling within the meaning of the Act. That the coins were not intended to pass as money, but simply for the purposes of counting. That they were simply playing for a supper of no value, and such a thing aa was not contemplated in the provisions of the Act against " gaming," which is described as gambling for excessive stakes of money. | Mr. Brookfield, in reply, contended that the supper was a stake for a certain value. The Court, in giving decision, showed hovr even the oysters could be used as counters and representative sovereigns, and under colour of an oyster supper, gamblers might shelter themselves from the police. There was no doubt permission had been given by the defendant. Sentenced to pay a fine of £5 and costs, | but on the request of the prosecution this was reduced to a nominal fine of Is. and costs. ASSAULT. Charles O'Brien was charged with having assaulted W. H. Newton, on Bth April, by striking him with a riding whip, and also with his fist. Mr. Joy appeared for the prosecution, and handed in a medical certificate from Dr. Marshall, showing that the prosecutor was still in a precarious condition from an abscess formed in the jaw, and dangerous to his life. Defendant was ordered to find two sureties of £50 each, to appear on this day week.to answer the charge. Court adjourned from 11.45 to 12.30. ÜBEL. James De Hirsch was charged by Frederick Alexander Whitaker with having falsely, mali ciously, and wilfully declared and published in the Thames Advertiser newspaper certain remarks injuriously affecting the character of complainant, on the Bth July and 3lst August, 1869. Mr. Rees and Mr. Joy appeared for the complainant, and Mr. Wynn and Mr. Hesketh for the defendant, for whom they pleaded not guilty. Mr. Roes opened the case for the complain ant, and said he would prove to the Court that the libel as alleged to had been, pub lished in the Thames Advertiser of Julyt 1869, was published, to the injury of his client; and also the one published on 31sb August, 1869, at Wellington. The learned counsel then said the Bench would find it difficult to find where the libel consisted un less he gave them a few particulars of the case, and he would therefore state the case to the Bench. Mr. Bees then went into the case fully, going back to the time previous to the alleged, libel. Mr. Wynn several times objected to Mr. Rees' remarks on the case, and on more than one occasion a warm debate took place between the learned gentlemen. Mr. Rees, in his remarks, said it would no doubt be said on the part of his learned friends that the alleged libels had been allowed to stand over too long, but it was thought that the case would have been brought in a civil form before the Native Lands Court, but owing to a private occurrence that occurred in Mr. »6 Hirscli's family, no summons was served in the matter : and for another reason that the original papers were sent for to Welling*ol1 '~ but were not obtainable. [Left sitting.] f >: y

AMUSEMENTS.

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

There was a very good attendance at this theatre last night, when " Belphegor, ana 'the burlesque of " Camaralzaman" were pro duced. We were glad to see the burlesque run so smoothly, and we have no doubt « will be complete to night in every respect.

DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

There was a veiy poor attendance at this place of amusement last night, but notwith standing this, the performance took pl&f. and passed off very well. To-night tw " Honeymoon" and " Milky White" wiU^ produced, when we hope to see a Wi" house.

THE EVENING STAR, APRIL 20, 1870.



FOR TAEANAKI, WANGANUI, NEL SON. PICTON, LYTTELTON, AND OTAGO. * %Jk rP HE N- z- S- N> Co-s SIS- •' AHUEIEI,' J. Floweeday, Commander, will leave for the above ports on FRIDAY, 22nd, at 2 p.m. COMBES & DALDY, Agents. \ \TANTED—A Good SUGAE BIOLEE. VV Apply to J. GEEY, Wholesale Con fectioner, Queen-street, Auckland.