SHIPPING.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET.—This evening, 6.22. HIGH WATER.—This evening, 5.37.

STEAMERS FOR THE THAMES THIS EVENING.

Lady Bowen, 8 o clock.

ARRIVALS. Alice, barque, 627 tons, O. A. W. Windewe, from Lyt,llaZ:, barque, 39G tons, Black from Newcastle. Janet Grey, schooner, McDonald, from ITelson. Tauranga, schooner, Sellers, from Tauranga.

DEPARTURES.

Saucy Lass, schooner, Smith for Napier. Queen, schooner, Vealc, for BgudL Beth Shan, ship, 050 tons. Peak, for London Go-Ahead, s.s., Doile, for Wir.ara.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

LoNDOK.-Countess ot Kintore, early. New York.—Alice, early. Sydney.—Balclutha, early.

VESSELS EXPECTED.

City of Auckland, ship, from Loudon. Chile, ship, from London. A H Batger barque, from Newcastle. Lady Franklin, barque, from Sydney. Gazelle, brig, from Newcastle.

IMPORTS.

Per barque Alice, from Lyttelton: -100 sacks barley, 50 ditto oats, order ; 100 ditto oats, 35 ditto potatoes, 125 ditto bran, 100 ditto oats, order . GO3 ditto barley order ; 50 ditto oats, Thornton,. Smith, and Firth; 552 sacks potatoes, order; 3 cases haws and bacon, S. Jones; 100 sacks oats, order; 10 cases hams and bacon, G. W. Owen ; 2 ditto, Owen and Graham-; • 500 sacks wheat, order; 25 ditto malt, J. H. Ward; 215 ditto potatoes, order;. 22 cases cheese, .424 sacks potatoes, Jakinsand Wilcox; 8 sacks baoon, order ; 161 sacks oats, order ; 321 ditto wheat, 551 ditto oats, order ; 347 ditto wheat, order ; 14 cases cheese, S. Jones ; 4 cases bacon, 300 sacks oats, 416 ditto wheat, 40 ditto flour, 124 ditto potatoes, 323 ditto oats, order ; 325 ditto wheat, A. Buck land; 235 ditto oats, T. Belcher; 13 L ditto wheat, Cruickshauk r Sniart and Co.; S7B sacks wheat, 162 ditto ditto, order ; 267 ditto pota toes, 220 ditto oats, 65 ditto..potatoes, 300 ditto oats, order--Owen and Graham, agents. Per Janet Grey, from Nelson.—l7o sacks oats, 50 ditto barley, 60 ditto potatoes, Neal and Haddon.—Master, agent. Per Eleanor, from Newcastle : 560 tons coals, 9 tons coke, 5 tons bones, Henderson and Macfarlane.

The Saucy Lass sailed for Napier via Mer cury Bay this morning, -with 82,000 shingles, 15,000 feet timber, 4 tons potatoes. The barque Balla_at came alongside the wharf last evening, taking up the berth vacated by the Beth Shan. The Ballarat will leave for Japier in about three weeks, to load for London. . . The schooner Janet Orey arrived in har bour last evening. Captain McDonald reports leaving Nelson on the 12th instant Experienced very rough weather to the Ji.Mt Cape, which was passed on the 19th. Since then, light and variable winds. The Janet brings a cargo of produce.

ARRIVAL OF THE ALICE.

This line barque arrived in harbour this morning from Lyttelton, bringing a full cargo of grain, &c. She left Lyttleton on the 13th, and passed the East Cape on the 16th. Since then had strong N.W. gales till the 23rd The Alice, after d scharging her cargo, wnl load gum and flax for New York.

COMMERCIAL.

Evening- Star Office, Thursday afternoon. Mr. "S_ Jones held a sale of groceries, oil men's stores, &c. (to close consignments), at tha Brunswick mart, to-day. The following are the prices obtained :—Tea in half-chests (ex Brycedale), 2s 3d ; candles, lid ; kerosene (Devoe's), 3s; sugar, white crystals, sil<; dried api-.les, s£d . vinegar, 3s 3d j'Bcll and Black's plaid vestas, 6s 6d ; Palmer's mtto, 6s 2d' Whvbrow's pickles, 10s; choice gun powder tea, in boxes, 2s 3d per .lb j Port Cooper cheese, sfd ; codfish. 2fi per lb.

CALLS AND DIVIDENDS

THE MAILS.

Mails will close as under : For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to-morrow, at 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. For Kapanga, etc., per Challenger, to-morrow, at

11.30 a.m. For Bussell, etc., per Queen, to-morrow, at 9 a.m. Mails for the undermentioned places, per p.s. /Ne vada, will close at this office on Thursday, 2nd ot November, as follows : — For Sandwich Islands, British Columbia, United States of America, British, Central, and South America,, British and Foreign West Indies, and Continent of Europe via England, at 10.30 a.m. For United Kingdom via San Francisco, at 10.30 a.m. For money orders, registered letters, and newspapers,

at 9 a.m. ' ' . ,_._..,, Late letters for United States of America and United Kingdom, bearing a late fee of 6d in addition to the postage, will bo received at this office till 11 a.m., tod by tlie mail agent on board the steamer up to time of sailing

S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

MARRIAGE.

llampion—r_-XK.—On Wednesday, October 25th. 'at tilt Paul's Church, by the Bey. C. M. kelson, Her bert Hampton, of tins city, to Mary Jane, second daughter of Mr. Thomas .peak, late of Cheetham, Manchester. - '.'

AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, &c.

Tins Ea'enino. Soiree, Parnell Hall, 6.30. Parade of No. 5 and Hobson Cos. A.E.V., and No. 1 Nival Volunteers, 6.30. Rifle Brigade, Drill Shed, 7.30. Prince of Wales Lodge, Masonic Hotel, 7.30." Diorama, Theatre Boyal, 8.

The Evening Star.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1871

" For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

One of the most ridiculous associations ! ever organised in Auckland is holding its weekly meetings at tho British Hotel, under the dignified appellation of the "Agricultural League." We cherish the utmost forbearance for every kind of movement that tends to infuse a spirit, of progress into the community, but; really this thing is too much for us. The pro fessed intention of tho Leaguers is so to mould legislation as to confer exclusive benefits on the so-called farmers of tho province; and the supercilious spirit in which they speak of <; the gentlemen in Queen-street," the "importers," and " the "old-di fTP*ers," is calculated to lead strangers to suppose that these babes and sucklings in political economy constitute the very bone aud marrow and muscle of the colony. Iv fact, they have iv their manifesto declared that " the settlers are the only real colonists," and that all others are but " birds of passage." It is really difficult to bear patiently with the glib talk' of. these debt-ridden people, who, while essaying to alter the politics of the colony admit that the majority of them are so smothered with mortgage?, that they cannot call their souls their rown. Under the pressure of incumbrances which their own extrava gance has caused, the expression of tlie Leaguers' views is one long, melancholy wail, which would appeal to our sympathy if it were not for the acerbity with which they speak of nil other interests but their own. They speak, for example, with con tempt of the gold digger, by which they design to indicate the miuing interest of the province. Why, there is more puMio good conferred by one gold digger than by a dozen of these so-called famci's who are trying to tickle the ground, to make it smile in harvest; and instead of putting their hands to the plough, spend the greater portion of their time in hanging on about the public-houses in the city, making believe that they are ; " doing busiuess." A quaint old authority says, that " he that by the plough would thrive, himself must either hold or drive;" but these people, hanging on to the skirts of respectability, and pretending that they arc- gentlemen farmers, are above their boots, and only retain their connection with agriculture so long as the money-lender will enable them. " We are told by some of the oracles of the League in their published statements, that sofarfrom having merely to pay £2 per acre rent for land to grow potatoes, there are large numbers of our farmers, who from rent,mortgage,or other wise, pay even £8 per acre for potato ground!* In the name of all that's astounding how ever can these people hope to live by farming ! However can they hope to compete with fanners else where ! or what earthly rescue can they have but the Insolvent Court ? But when to such a state of things w Te add that these people will not fix their attention on potatoes, and have publicly expressed their contempt for " growing turnips," and go in to help themselves through the agency of the legislature, verily the force of impudence can no farther go. What possible " protection" could benefit men in such position, unless the " protection" of Sir George Arney ? It is right that these people should know this distinctly, and at once ; nor have we the smallest sympathy for the maudlin sentimcatalism that would pat these so-called farmers on the back and say, " Persevere, and Par liament will help you." There is not the smallest chance of any Colonial legislature paying the debts of any class of people, and the wiping off the mortgages from every farm in the province of Auckland would only perpetuate the evils of tlie past. The class of men who are at pre sent pretending to farm in this province are incorrigible ; and if their debts were paid—which is really the covert object iv the League's advocacy of the " .Drainage Act"—and if their farms and tools and furniture were all redeemed by a paternal Government, they would in six months after be found, as before, osciiia-. ting between tho door of tho money lender and of the public-house. The only hope for farming in this pro vince is to sweep the rural districts with the besom of the Bankruptcy Court and place the farm-! in the hands of men who know how to farm and will not spend

three-fourths of their time in attending

markets when they have neither aught, to sell nor money to purchase. We have no desire to deal unkindly with the members of the " Agricultural League,"

but really their actions so belie their pro fessions as to move that contempt for humbug which is inherent in the breast of every true colonist. The Leaguers speak of encouraging local industries. Who, of all classes of the community, do so little to encourage local industry as the settlers in our country districts P Not so long ago an enterprising and excellent practical worker in iron began making double furrow ploughs at O .abulia, in v very brief space ho was put out of the field by another settler becoming agent for a home-manufacturing firm and im porting double-furrow ploughs in large quantity ; and, what is morr, the oilier settlers supported the importer because he supplied tlie article cheaper. Our Leaguers speak of making Mr. Cawkwell a member of the League and encouraging the production of his whiskey. W. dp not hesitate to say that they will affbrjl :that encouragement dnly l._-nil:.-- Mr. Cawkwell can supply the article olic-iplyj. though in this cbiin<v-lr>n we wdttld add that if they had afforded les-. cneotiragd ment to this cl;-vs3 of i-duslry in the past our fanners woi-h! not n -w I avie been uttering such a doleful howl of distress. . j

Talk of supporting local industry indeed! Why the Vice president him self is an importer of ploughs, single and double furrow, horse-rakes, reaping and mowing machines, chaff cutters, steam thrashers, corn-dressers, and other farm ing requisites, while local work men are idle aud starving-, 'phis is the support of i local industry with a vengeance ! This is the League that would " stop importa tion " and commit Other freaks of a crude

undigested political economy! The Leaguers would also take- Williams, the blacking man, amoncst them. U tliey j were true f..r_.*-v-3 it would be their pride to have no blacking on their boots. lint though, from their constantly hanging about town, they are obliged to polish their boots, we venture to say that there is not. a cake of Williams's blacking to be found in one of their houses, or if there is, its production is encouraged there, as in the case of Oawkwell's whiskey, only because it is cheap. If the Leaguers would only confine themselves to themselves, their grumbling might be tolerated. But when they in their ill temper and ill luck, arising solely from their own misconduct, talk of their betters sneeringly as "the gen I lemon of Queen-street," and the " birds of passage,' they must boar to hear truth in reply. Tkej talk of our encouraging Californian flour, though it "stinks on the table." But these querulous charges will not alter the course of trade, nor yet the tastes.of the people, and if our " farmers" will not supply us with Hour that does not " stink," we must e'eu be fed from whatever source wc can. "Birds of passage" though we be, we could nibble up a good deal of their wheat, but the idle fellows will not grow it, but prefer the role of the "loafer in the streets." iln conclusion, we would recommend ' tho League to close. We would com mend the attention of its members and our local farmers generally, to the new country thrown open to settlement in the Tauhoa blocks. Let them shake off the hand of the mortgagee from their throats. Let them eschew Cawk well-'s whiskey aud Williams's blacking, and go away far from towns, and taking spades in their hands, let them begin the world with a resolution to be independent. Let them show themselves to be true colonists—not querulous grumblers, dab bling in political economy, a science of which they know nothing, and which i would'not profit them if tiiey did. Let them feel that **1 ito is red, life is ear-

nt'sfj" and- should not be frittered away in bar parlours and cattle t-aie-yard?) ; and leaving behind the "wretched past," with its burthen of duns and mortgages, let them set to work in new scenes, with a determination to succeed animated by The pride to rear an independent shed, And give the lips they lovo unborrowed bread.

In the Supreme Court yesterday the argu ment, in the ease of Macfarlane and another was resumed. Mr. MaoL'ormick was heard in support of the demurrer, ihe facts of this case were briefly stai d in our issue of yester day. Mr. MacCormick was heard at length in support of tlie demurrer. The argument had not concluded when the Court ro_e.

Wo have much pleasure in doing the justice to curtain cricketers commented on in yester day's issue by "The Man about Town," of saying that they used tlie Press Club's instru ments of craft by mistake. The key was given to them, and they wero told 'bat in a certain place they would fin.l tho bats, balls, and wickets of " The United Cricket Club," add they took and used tho arliolea accordingly. They had not the least idea that they were the property of tlie L'ress I iub, or they should not have used them, and tney at once desisted on being informed of the error. The mist ike was a simple one, such as might have happened to any person.

'•Puck" tings of the Ligar Canal, but his o:lc is scarcely suited to our columns. The theme is not one calculated to inspire with poetic feeling, and on another subject the Muses might be more propitious.

Our readers in Parnell will observe that a soiree will bo held in the Public Hall this evening. It is in aid of the funds of the Presbyterian Sabbath-school, and the proceeds are to be devoted to the purchase of new books for the library. We have no doubt that the excellent and deserving objects of the enter tainment will add to the other attractions of the soiree, and elicit that, generous support to a good cause for which our Parnell friends ure generally distinguished.

Tho usual parade of the Auckland Rifle Brigade will be held in the Drill-shed this evening, and no doubt there will be a good

muster.

A new fore-and-aft schooner arrived in harbour this ib'dfttiiig, from Maluu-angi. 'She was built by Mr. Darrow, to too order of Captain Sullivan.

The eighteen miles walking-match against, time, by Mr. Owynne, will take place in Mr. Cunningham's paddock, Newmarket., on Mon day next.

The regular monthly meeting of the Prince of Wales Lodge, 1*333, E.'C, will bo held at the Masonic Hotel, at half-past 7 o'clock this evening.

An accident of a fearful nature occurred on the 9th of October, to a man of tho name of Gtibbs, employed at the Bur wood smelting works. Whilst engaged iv his usual work, a piece of copper fell upon him, striking him upon the lower portion of the abdomen, tear ing his bowels open, and forcing a portion of the contents into. the scrotum. Notwith standing the terrible agony the man must have been suffering, ho managed to walk home—a distance of about four miles ; aud then, medical attendance having been summoned, Drs. Swayne and Degner attended, and did all they could to a.suage his pain. Gribbs was at once placed under the inlluonce of chloro form, and an attempt was made to restore the bowels to their proper position. About three years ago, an accident attended by somewhat similar results occurred to this un fortunate man ; when mounting a horse, he sat down on a metal match box —when no less than lour hundred leeches had to be applied irci'ore any sensible relief was afforded. The unfortunate man is reported to have been somewhat, better, although still in a very precarious seate. — Sydney Herald.

THE SHARE MARKET.

Messrs. Scott and Co. report the sale of stock stii'l continues very limited. Cale donian, £120 ; Thames, £24 ; Albumin, £8 _..--, fid; Nonpareil, £5 15s ; Eureka Hill, o__- Gd ; Tokatea, £4 7 s 6d ; Bride of Tokatea, '.. 6I • Golden Harp, 2s Gd ; Smiling Beauty, 6s Gd- Bcep'o' J^ay, ss; Cororaandel Harp, 2s. Sellers: Tokatea, 87s Gd ; Nonpareil, £3 15. ; Alburnia, £8 ss. Mtt J. M. Lennox's. Rbpobt.—There was a slight "improvement in the (.hare market this mor-iii'iig. ■ My. sales comprise -Caledonian, £120; "Tokatea, £4 ss. Closing buyers: Caledonian, £120; Thames, £23. Closing tsclJ.oraj Caledonian, £122 10s; Thames, £M j 'lol.id.vii, £4 ss. Mb. J. Tonson G_ki_tc_ reports sales this day :—Caledonian, £120; Thames, £23 10s ; Moanatairi, 72s Gd ; Pride of Tokatea, 3s Bd.

A young man who was caught pressing his sweetheart to his breast the other night, justifies himself on the ground that he has a right to strain his own honey.

A CHILD SM.QTHISJftSD. If anything were wanting to increase the general desire for stringent regulations of the liquor traffic, it should be supplied in the horrible case that has just occurred I at the Thames. It appears that the mother j had been in one continual round of drun- j kenuess, although her infant was but two months' old. The immoral relations of j the parents, the evident perjury of the j father, the inability of the mother to give J evidence because she was drunk, the in- . fluences under which the other little children were living, the freedom with ; which drink was obtained, aud the painful j but natural result, combine to produce a, picture of the most revolting kind perhaps j ever presented iv the district. That the ; child was smothered' by his drunken j mother is clear, and it is impossible to j suppress indignation on seeing that the law cannot reach the murderess, arid reading the grim commentary on our boasted institutions—" Mrs. Sherrard was then discharged from custody." We give the following extracts from tho evidence, as published in the Thames Advertiser .—

The inquest on the remains of Thomas George Hart was held in the afternoon at the Globe Hotel, before Dr. Kilgour, District Coroner, and a jury, of whom Dr. Cowcll was foreman.—Mr. Bullen watched the proceed ings on behalf of the Crown. The jury having viewed the body, tho following evidence was taken :—The mother of the child was called, but Mr. Bullcn called .attention to the fact that the witness was not, in a fit state to give evidence, and asked that she be detained in custody.—William John Hart, father of the deceased child, deposed that at about one o'clock iv the morning tho child cried. He got up and gave it to its mother, who suckled it. He then went to sleep, as did also his wife. At three o'clock his wife got up to make herself a cup of tea, and during the time she was up he leant across the bod, remarking that lie was very cold. His wife then caught up the child mid said he was dead. Witness then went for Dr. Leth'oridge, who came imme diately. Sometimes the child slept with _>Irs. Hart and witness, but, at other times in a cradle. Witness said he wis sometimes away all night at the claim. Last night the child was ill their bed. Witness lined it out of the cradle al, about 1 o'clock', when he gave l!i<; child to its mother. The child was then crying, but became pacified when taken by the mother. Tho child was sickly for the last four weeks, and vomited up its food. Ho did not know whether it was teething. It was nine weeks old. It. was constantly vomiting. It, was fed with other food besides its mother's milk. The mother's milk was short, indeed so short that she had live or six times gone into fits or mad through scarcity of it. This was occasionally; for two or three days she would bo right enough, then again it would become short. By Mr. 1. alien : The name of the mother of the* deceased is Elizabeth Park Sherrard. Witness was not married iv her, but was living with her for 15 or 10 months. riio child was born on the 11th of August.— On last Thursday or Friday she was not sober. She was sober on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday—thai is, sober enough to attend to her household duties. He saw her tako some liquor during that time. She had a glass o! ale with him un Saturday, Sunday, and Mon day. He did not sec her take any spirits for neve", weeks. Sometimes They got their beer from this pnblic-hou'e, sometimes from Mr. Edwards, Mr. James, Mr. Morrow, Mr. Bon field, and others. —The Coroner: You must have been a pretty good customei to the ale houses. —Examination resumed : die went to bed about eleven last night. He was sober, but could not tell which went to bed first. He did not help her to bed because she was the worse for liquor. She was not drunk. He had no spirits in the house last night. There might have been some there, and he not know of it. He was awakened at about one o'clock by the child's crying. He was not called by anyone. De took the child from the cradle and gave it to tho mother. After he gave the child to the mother it ceased crying. Witness t lien went to sleep. He slept at the outside of the bed. The inside of the bed is placed against the wall. The deceased was on the other side of its mother, next the wall. The next thing he knew was when tho mother got up about, three o'clock, to make tea for lit rseii*. Wit ness was awoke by her getting up. Ho felt the child after she got out of bed. Anne Sh-.rrard was in the room at the time, in another bed in the same room. Ho discovered that the child was very cold. The mother caught it up, and said, "The child is dead — is dead —is dead!" Witness then went for Dr. Lethbridgo. She said nothing else. This was after three o'clock in the morning, aud she was quite sober then. Ho (witness) was a miner, and frequently absent from home for a day and a night, and sometimes two days and a night, from what ho knew of his own know ledge the child had received every care and attention bince its birth. He heard Mrs. Sherrard ask for brandy at about two o'clock this morning. She asked little Anne for it. He did not see Anne give it to her. She put it on the table, and told her to fake it, for herself. He did not know where tho child got tho brandy from, but it was some where inside the house. She might havo got it from under the bed. He did not see how much the child gave to her mother, but she did not have above one glass of brandy.—Mr. Bullen drew attention to the previous evidence of this witness, and said that no doubt the coroner and jury would regard his evidence as worthless. —Witness was asked how ho recon ciled tho statement that he had not seen her drink spirits for seven weeks, with the state ment now made, that she had only drunk .a glass ?—He sail that he did not tin n see her drink. The child had put the bottle on the table, and told tho mother to help herself.— Tho Oo" mer and jury remarked on the evident prevarication of the witness throughout;, aud his Worship said that if ho was asked to commit the prisoner he should certainly do so. —Anne Elizabeth Sherrard, tho girl before re ferred to, apparently of five years of age, was called, but was too young to be sworn. She did not know how oklshe was. She recollected her little brother dying lust night. Her father and mother went out last night before dark, and sir..: took care of her litthi brother. She had often taken care of her brother. Her mother often went: out and left, witness tio take care of the child. Last Saturday night and Sunday ber mother was drunk. When her mother wen!, away no one was in tljo house to take charge of the child but her. Her mother left meat, and witness gave it, to the ehil; when it cried. Sometimes witness went for bee:- lev her 11101,1101-, and sometimes ber ither sister. Scmcfimfcs her father would

bring brandy. lJ.it.her and mother went out last night before dark, leaving her to Ujiiul the baby. \V!ie:i mother and father c;i„„o<huDiiv mother was "half-tight." J hey went to bed when they came in. Baby was a'eeping in the cradle in the kitchen, Wiluess went to bod iv the kitchen at the samo-time as her father and mother. She heard the baby cry at one o'clock.- Sho knew it was one o'clock because her father got up, looked at the watch, and told her mother. He lifted tho b'atjy' out of the cradle, and put it beside the mother, who was lying down on the bed. . Baby stopped crying when it got the breast. Witness did not go to sieep. After the baby

stopped crying, mother asked witness to give her some brandy. When witness's father and mother came in last night, her mother went out again and got a shilling's worth ot brandy. Both had some before they went to bed. ' When her mother asked witness to get, some brandy, she brought out the bottle which was in the safe. Witness poured the brandy into a tumbler, and gave it to her father. He drank half of it, and gave the. other half to her mother. After drinking the brandy her mother lay down, and afterwards got up to make herself a cup of tea. During this time witness was in bed. There way a li^ht in the room all night. When her mother was on the floor, he put his hand over and said, "Tommy is eo'd," his mother said, " then he is dead," When her father gave mother the baby, her face was to tho wall. Tommy's face was all blue when her mother got up to make tho tea. Sometimes witness had bread and milk for break fast, and sometimes broad an i butter. She bad always plenty to eat.—Mar garet Erick deposed : I reside in Baillie street. On Friday evening Mrs. Sherrard was drunk, and also Mr. Hart She went out and left the baby with the lit.tie girl (the previous witness). The girl was carrying the baby like a lump, and 1 toll her to lay it down. She then gave it some cold milk out of a bottle. On one day, Mrs. Sherrard went out all day, leaving the baby to the children. The baby was crying, and I went and gave it a drink from my own breast. On Friday aLernoon, Hart fetched a policeman, but he did not take her. The neighbours have been annoyed at Mrs. Sherrard's screaming. She is vevy good to her children when sober. I consider that she neglects her children from her drunken habits.—By Mr. Bullen : Mrs. Sherrard has been drinking on Saturday, Sunday, aud Monday ; but she was not as she is to-day. ..he was not perfectly sober on any of these days. I saw her yesterday (Monday), about, one o'clock. She appeared steady, but it was at some distance I saw her. At six o'clock this morning I saw her I with Hart. They were linked arm-in-arm. She was drunk, and he was not sober. — After some further evidence had been adduced, the Coronor said that it had been the inten tion to examine the mother of the child, but ho believed she was not now in a lit state to give evidence. It was a question whether her testimony was necessary. — 'he foreman, after consulting the jurors, said that they did not consider it necessary to examine the.mother. — The jury, after aboutan hour's deliberation, returned the following verdict: —"That Thomas George Hart came to his death by being overlaid by his mother on the night of the :43rd October, while under the influence of liquor." — Mrs. Sherrard was then dis charged from custody.

POLICE COURT.—Thursday.

[Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M.]

Dkunkexxess. —Five persons were punished in the usual manner for this offence.

OBSCENE LANOUAOB. —Elizabeth Colshaw, for using obscene language within hearing of persons in a pubiic thoroughfare, was ordered to pay forty shillings and costs, or be impri soned for fourteen days.

Puoi'ANE LanouaG'*. —Anno Webb pleaded " not guilty of this offence —Constable Do novan proved that the language, as well as the conduct of the woman, was utterly abomi nable, and tho consequence was, she was sen tenced to pay a fine of forty shillings, or be impri-oned for fourteen da;, s.

Piinjpitv. — Robert 11. Stevenson was charged with comiritting wilful and corrupt perjury.—Mr. Sheehan said he had been in structed to withdraw the charge. - His Worship altogether objected to the with drawal, s lying that as a distinct charge had been made, it must be quite certain that if the defendant had not been guilty of perjury, the prosecutor Fernandez must him self have comi-UiU'd it. The very fact of such a charge having beoeii made, would operate hereafter to the prejudice of the defendant. Cbarges'of this kind might from mere motives of spite be brought against anyone, and, as Lord Campbell observed, such proceedings inighLbe readily turned into instruments of extortion. Mr. Sheehan explained the circum stances under which the information had bean laid, which appeared to havo been done under some misapprehension.—Mr. Hesketh agreed with Mr. Sheehan.—His Worship expressed a very stront: opinion as to the readiue.-s ol people to^ma&e' charges of this kind, and ordered defendant to be discharged.

Breach of Licensing Act. —Julius Roseh thorf was charged vvith committing a biva..h of this Act. by selling ten barrels of bottled stout without being iioeused to sell alcoholic liquors. —Mr. J. 13. Russell ap peared for the defendant, and pleaded guilty. Defendant was tho agent Of a large firm in Melbourne, who wore exporters of great quantities of bottled liquids. If au agent lvore not allowed to sell when the goods arrived he would, in all probability, have to wait for a twelvemonth to take out a license to sell under tho Act. Defendant bad endeavoured to procuro a liceuse, but found he could not obtain.- one until next year. Tho Licensing Act "had evidently been framed in" a loose manner.—His. Worship agreed with the learned counsel in this, but thought that as the law was in existence he would not be doing his duty unless he imposed a fine of ton pounds. Assault, —Stanley Williams and J. McVey Bmird were charged by Arnaud Mayall with assaulting him by beating him on the back and shouldora with a stick. Before the infor mation was read His Worship strongly re commended the defendants to compromise the matter if there was any truth in tho charge, and not to allow the subject to be made matter of public discussion. —Mr. Baird, how ever, preferred that tho matter should come before the public. — Defendants pleaded " uot guilty, and justification," and were unde fended, although Mr. Hoskoth watched the case on their behalf.—Mr. Joy appeared for tho complainant, and opened the case in a learned and eloquont address. — Arnaud Mayall deposed :On the 17th of this month I was living in tho house of Mr. McVey Baird. 1 was a hired servant, and received three shillings a-week, as well as my food and clothing. ! had made no engagement as a scholar.- [Here Mr. Baird said the lad was a ; ehoiar as well aa a servant.] There is no money paid for my education. I went occa sionally to an evening class, with some other boys. * t was no part of tho agreement that I should liive any education, i did general work about tho place. On tho 17th of this month I was handed over to detective Jeffrey, by Mi-, i.ai.d, and taken to the police sta tion. Mr. Baird subsequently came aud took me back. When I got back, he told me to take a seat in the school-room, and fastened t.iie hdches of the doors. Mr. Williams came iv, on i saw that the doors were fastened. I remained' there until the boys came back from dinner. Mr. Baird then accused mo of writing something iv a book. He then told mo to lako off my coat, vest, and shirt; and as I objected to do so, he or dered the boys to do it. He then pdt three boys to hold me down over the desk, and Mr. 'Williams struck me twelve or sixteen strokes over the back. Tho strokes weife sever,-. Mr. Baird then told me to put my clothes on and go to bed. I went thero anil lay until next day until dinner time. I had _ headache and was quite giddy after the

beating.—To Mr. Baird :I am sixteen years old. Whether I weut to the evening class depended on whether I had any work to do. Mrs. Baird told me to attend the classes. I was not treated in a very unkindly manner previously to the beating. I had been accused-of writing obscene remarks in a boa!.". [The book was here produced, and the Bench said that if any boy could write such things, he well deserved a good b'rehing. The boy confessed that the handwriting was his.] George Mayall, brother of the last witnes., was hired as a servant by Mr. Bairl.-- Sarah Mayall, the mother of t! c lad, deposed that no agreement had ever been male with Mr. Baird aa to his instruction, end that the boy was only a servant.—John Henry Hooper, member of the Eoyai College of Surgeons, de posed to the severity of the beating which fne prosecutor had sustained.—Other evidence was th-.i. adduced to shew that the beating was a severe one. —This closed the case for the prosecution, and Mr. Uaird made a long speech, urging that the punishment infhcleu on the boy' was by no means eommen? urate with the oii'euce, and that ho was justified in punishing the boy. On tho resumption of the Court, at two o'clock, after a short adjournment, Mr. Bcveridge stated that lie had been retained for the defence, and enlarged ou the depravity and immorality which was displayed by the boy. He thought that the casligation^ ad ministered was only such as the moral offence required ; and if the rod had not been applied in the manner iv which it was, much greater mi.chief might have accrued ; the castiga ion was richly deserved.--For the defence, the second master of the Auckland College was called, with the view of shewing that prose cutor was a pupil. This witness, however, was very unwilling as to his testimony on. both .ides, and his evidence did not alter the position.—Mr. Stockwcll, a duly qualified medical pvactitiouer, deposed to the extent of injuries the prosecutor had sustained, which appeared to be not inordinately severe.-Detective JeiTery gave evidence to having seen the boy in the even ing after the flogging had taken place, lie thought the flogging had not been an un reasonable one. His Worship, after consider ing the abominable nature of the offence com mitted iv the first instance by the boy, thought that Mr. Baird had been perfectly justified in soundly thrashing him, and ex pressed a hope that the mother of the lan would a's> inflict punishment of a similar nature on the precious youth, to such extern as to compel him to amend Ids ways. —Hie case was dismissed.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

THIS DAY.

NONPAItEIL MONTHLY RE-

TURN

THE CALEDONIAN

SERIOUS ACCIDENT

GOLDFINCH AND MULTUM IN-PARVO. GOOD RETURNS.

Grahamstown, _ p.m. The Goldfinch have just completed a crushing of 18 tons, and the result is handsome yield of 36 ozs. 16 dwts., or two ounces to the ton.

The Multum in Parvo have crushed -15 tons, and the return is. 172 ozs. 10 dwts. There is another 50 tons to put through.

The Nonpareil have lodged 727 ounces this morning, making the total yield for tho month 87_ ounces.

Caledonian —Both pumps are work ing to-day. The men have offered £50 reward fm* information substan tiating auw.. .uoti:. charges made to directors rc-.^-a ng specimen stealing. A. serious accident happened here this morn; '~' '- man named James Walker fel. i 'o*_*o scaffolding, and. has received i . i:t! injuries. He has been c.*utv«. Ed v i.iSe tiospital. "

AUSTRALIA.

SYDNEY,

October 10.—Bishop Bailey has been com mitted for trail. —Tho schooners Sarah Ann and Margaret have been wrecked at the Richmond River. Crews saved. — The steamer Blackbird put into Eden greatly damaged.—Tho Rowing Club intends sending a crew to the iuter-colonial match at Hobart. Town. —The l»st quarter's revenue shows an increase of £52,0j0. —A charge of indecent assault, preferred against the Rabbi Davis, has been adjourned until to-morrow.

MELBOURNE.

October 7.—A Royal Commission has been appointed to inquire into the sanitary con dition of the industrial schools.—Ac the athletic sports, on the Melbourne cricket ground, there was a large attendance. In the ten mile race, Bedford received a mile start, and beat Neary by 200 yards. —It is rumoured that a coalfield has been discovered on the shores of Uobson's Bay.—The markets closed quiet. Maize is firm at 3s lOd; sugars continue active j teas are very dull.— the quarter's revenue shows an increase of £ 160,000—£ 100,000 bein _ ou Customs duties, aud £40,000 on land.

October 11.—The Grovernment promised to give work to the unemployed, a deputation on the matter having waited on the Ministers.4- Earl Belmore, who has been visiting the principal places in town, leaves for Tasmania to-morrow, but the Countess Belmore remains here.—The Norfolk has been quarantined in consequence of a case of small-pox having occurred on board.—The CroWii refuses to allow the Tichborne counsel to take the police records out of tho colony.—Barbelle is coming up for Cup and double events. —Mr. It. Q-oldsborough and Co.'s sale to day passed oil with great spirit, and every lot was sold. Eleece, cold-water washed, brought 15d to 20-jfd ; greasy, l3fd. AH the iuverind-wool,' 140_ bales, was sold.—A sale of 300 bugs of maize has taken place, at from 3s 10gd to 3s lid.—ln the Assembly, the reply of the Gro vernment to Lord Kimbei-ley's despatch was read; it is an enlargement of the decision of the Conference on tho subject.—Darwentjs interest in the steamers Coorong and Aldinga was sold to day for £7500. Messrs. McMecken and Blackwood are the purchasers. —Flour sold at auction at £12 10s; kerosene is .-teady at Is 10£ d ; oats are easier; candles, 10§d ; currants, sfd j rook salt, £6 10s.

ADELAIDE

October 7.—At the meeting of the Assem bly, Mr. Glyde, Mr. Hughes, and others, spoke in the strongest language of the action of the Victorian Government in publishing the report of the Conference y< sievday. The report of what ha-- been done in the Confer ence gives satisfaction, ihough tlie result is but small. —Wheat is dull ; only 4s 5 i offer ing. \ October 11.—Wheat is firm at 4s SJM no transac'.ions, buyers holding off.—Mr. Bwl, a miller of Auburn, has assigned his estate. * HILL END. October ll.—Paxfon aud Holfnan finished crushing to-day, at Vickcry's machine, 200 tOiis oi quartz, which yieldci one c.ike of 1853 Li. ; it is not all retorted. S >aie good specimens were obtained to day from Golden Gully. A new reef has been discovered at Louisa", eighteen miles from here, and it is said to be extraordinarily rich. The speci mens shown here, from there, are very good.

UNKNOWN

vVi. would direct our readers to a notice in another column respecting the giaud secular concert to be given to-morrow evening in the Choral Hall. Its object is to r.iise funds "for providing an addition of some 800 volumes to the children's library in connection with St. Matthew's Sunday School. This school, we belie.c tho largest in the city, having an average ■attendance of 290 children, has atpresent a library of but 300 volumes; Of course, in such cireumstauoes, a weekly exchange among the children is an impossibility, and the laudable desire of the teachers is to extend the benefits of the library so as to make it really workable. We do not know of any _ agency that may ho more effective of "gnud than a well - selected library of book;, calculated to impress childreifs minds. It is au influence that operates at the most, susceptible period of human life, and

at a time when the mind is thirsting for knowledge, and where there are so many useless and even bad books bj which that thirst cau be satisfied, the placing of readable and interesting and good books iv children's hands, is, perhaps, the most powerful means iv the hands of a church tur doing real and permanent good. We trust that the consideration of this wiil mduce a bumper house in the Choral Hall. We learn that the concert, in itself, is likely to afford a treat of rare excel lence.

VOLUNTEER MATTERS.

Yestehday evening the Naval Volunteers, No. 1 Company, met for their weekly drill, at the Drill-shed, Britdmart Barracks. The men were put through skirmishing drill by Captain Lelioy, ami the cadets were put through the manuel exercise by Lieutenant Chapman. To-night, we understated; that the Victoria Company, A K.V., the Hob_on Company, A.R.V., and the Naval Volunteers, No. 1. Company, will parade in the Albert Barracks, at 6.30 o'clock, for the purpose of going through battalion movements. We understand that blank cartridge will be served out for the purpose" of'practising the men in the feu dejoie. The band of the Naval Volun teers will also parade at the same time and

place. - Tiie monthly inspection of the Auckland Troop of Royal Cavalry Volunteers will take place in the Albert Barracks, at four o'clock, on Friday evening next. The usual weekly parade of the Engineer Volunteers was held last evening, at the Drill-shed. There was a very good muster of members, and the usual movements were gone through.

A NEW DRINK FOR TIPPLERS.

We will believe at this hue hour o' the clock, when it is about time to say " good night for ever" to all intoxicating beverages, that a ne'.v "drink" has been invented, which, although Car from being "delightful to the eye" or " tickle to the palate," is nevertheless of such a fascinating aud drunken nature that it threatens to supersede gin, whiskey and "Jersey lightring" as a popular source of intoxication Such, however, is the fact, and chemistry has been put to her fiercest agonies to compel her, like the ancient Pythoness of Deiphos, when some inipetuons Alexander is in the extremities of his fate, to blab the pro found secret—and here it is.

Methylated spirit is alcohol which has a certain quantity of wood spirit and naptha added to it to "render it nauseous_ and non palatable. This process exempts' it entirely from the excise duty iv England. It is pre pared there for manufacturing purposes, and a large portion of' the tinctures and other medicinal preparations are made with it. From methylated-spirit a sulphuric ether is made, which retains the peculiar flavour im parted to the alcohol. On good authority, it is said that this ether is extensively and habi tually used as an intoxicating beverage, and has supplanted and supplies the place of gin and whiskey in certain counties in Ireland. It is very startling to learn that even pure ether which has long been administered medicinally in small quantities as an an_es thetio, or a powerful diffusible stimulant, should be drank as a- common beverage; but it is almost incredible that this nauseous kind of ether should be partaken of morning, noon and night, h aiths drank in it, and bargains made over it. The practice began five years since ; one of the causes which led to its use being the laudable efforts of the Catholic priests to induce their flocks to abstain from whiskey; another cause being the cheapness of the new drink. Its use is almost, altogether confined to the counties of Londonderry, Antrim, and Tyrone, aud prevails chiefly in the towns of Draperstown, Maghera Cooks town, and Armagh. The ether manufacturers of Dublin, Edinburgh and Glasgow supply the demand, and the consumers are mostly small farmers, and to some extent the mill hands and other operatives. The probable con sum r iion is about ten thousand gallons yearly, one manufacturer sending to Belfast four thousand gallons yearly. Tho price of niethj iated ether is one shilling and sixpence por pound, while that made from the pure spirit is five shillings per pound. There are seven and a half pounds ,to the gallon ; one gallon of ether will go aa 'ar.as three and a half gallons of whiskey.!,^, yte amount taken is not small, as .a medici^ >f '? is one drachm or uuder, and "tipplei fHake three or four drachms, unmixed* with in which it is only slightly soluble. Ike practice is, first to take a mouthful of water, then to drink the ether, and then to take a second drink of water. Intoxication is more rapid but more evanescent than that produced by alcoholic drinks, and probably differs widely in its character, resembling more the effect produced by the intiaiation^of nitrous oxide gas. Taken into the system it appears to be all eliminated through the lungs and pores, as no trace is found elsewhere. Ike drinker is readily discovered by his breath, which, however, is uot offensive, like the breath of the alcoholic drinker. Thero is no reason to suppose that the habitual ether drinker inours more ill effects from its use

THE EVENING STAR, AUCKLAND, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1871.



The following are the current calls and divi- dends payable-in. tlw companies named, be- low :— ; ' - . ' CAILS. ' £ 8. d. DATE. Windsor Castle ... 0 0 6 ... Oct. 26 •Quebec.:; ... ... 0 0 6 ... Oct. 26 Pride of Tokatea ..,.00 6 ... Oct. 26 junction 0 3 0 ... Oct. 30 CoromandelExcelsior 0 0 6 ... Oct. 30 Golden Phoenix ... 0 0 3 ... Nov. 2 Pacific 0 0 6 ... Nov. 3 Goldfineh ... .... 0 0 4 ... Nov. 4 Commercial 0 1 0 ..; Nov. 4 Golden Harp ... 0 0 2 ... Nov. 6 Golden Belt 0 0 6 ... Nov. 6 Brunswick 0 0 6 ... Nov. 6 Mary Ann ... ... 0.0 3 ... Nov. 7 Thistle 0 0 6 ... Nov. 10 Brighton 0 2 0 ... Dec. 1: Thames-Gas Co. ... 0 2 6 ... Nov."2



Tho Dioce.an Synod assembled yesterday in the Cathedral Library. There was a large attendance of clergy and laity. There were two subjects dibcussed with considerable animation, namely, the New Zealand Hymnal and Diocesan Trusts, especially the Bislioprij Endowment Eund. The latter subject was discussed in committee. The debate had not concluded at 10 o'clock. The constitution cf the Standing Committee was discussed ii committee. The discussion had not conclude I at half-past eleven o'clock, when the Synod adjourned. - h ;'-<); i