SHIPPING.

POUT OF AUCKLAND.

ARRIVALS.

Onward, schooner, 69 tons, Stewart, from Ampara. Saucy Lass, schooner, MeKenzie, from Wangarei.

DEPARTURES.

Nebraska, p.s., Harding, for Honolulu.

SUNSET.—This evening, 5.17. HIG-H WATER. —This evening, 2 9,

STEAMERS FOR THE THAMES THIS EVENING.

Enterprise, 6 o'clock,

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

Stdnbt.—Alice Cameron, 12th inst. Napieb.—Star of the South, s.s., 11th mst,

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Go-Ahead, ».s., from Tavanaki. Countess of Kintoro, ship, from LondoD. Alice, barque, from London. Bast Lothian, barque, from New York via

Sydney. . . Fairy, schooner, from Kaiapoi. Aurora, schooner, from Kaipara.

VESSELS IN HARBOUR.

Taranaki, s.s., from Southern ports. Keera, b.s., laid-up. Samson, p.a., laid-up. Alexandria, ship, from London, h. V

Nathan & Co., agents. Excelsior, ship, from London.—Brown, Campbell Ac Co,, agents. Albion, barque, from Russell, L. D. Nathan

and Co., agents. Na Noba, schooner, from Fijis.—J. S. Mac>

farlane, agent. Alice Cameron, barque, from Sydney. W. C. "W entworth, barque, from Melbourne, Colonist, sohooner, from Eaipara.—M. JSfic-

col, agent. Herald, schooner, from Hokianga.-—J. 8, Macfarlane, agent.

EXPORTS.

Per p.s. Nebraska, for Honolulu : 207 coils rope, J. S. Macfarlane and Co.; 1 case plants, Wren ; 3 sheep, 2 bulls, 2 horses, H. Macfar lane ; 4 sheep, J. May; 1 case plants, agents. For San Francisco: 3 ooils rope, Must arid Co. Shipped at Otago: 2 bales, Baaels; 1 bale flax. Shipped at Lyttelton: 3 packagos flax,—Henderson and Macfarlane, agents.

Tho schooner Onward arrived in harbour this morning from Ahipara, with 48 tons gum, Consigned to Messrs. Lewis Bros, and L. D. Nathan ; 1 package tobacco, Edmonds. —J. S. ilacfarlanc, agent. Tho brig Australia cleared at the Customs thi» morning for Kaipara, with the following cargo:—6s,ooo bricks, 103 sacks lime, jaggar; 69 packages sundries, 36 piecea machinery, 228 drain tiles, Graham ; 10 cases galvanised, iron, T. H. Hall; 1 keg nails, Wiccol; 1 boat, Graham.—M. Niccol, agent. The schooner Colonist cleared at tho Cus toms this morning for Kaipara, with 75 bags rice, 10 eases drapery, 10 casks ale, 10 casks brandy, 20 packages, Brown, Camp bell, and Co.; 35 packages, Koberton and Co. ; 100 packages, Stone Brothers j 223 packages, Must and Co. ;21 packages, Chadwick; 23 packages groceries, Coupland ; 28 packages, Niecol; 25 packages, Greenfield ; 8 packages, 1 ton flour, Morrin ; 1500 brick", 4 bags, Keane ; 45 packages furniture, Mit •chelson; 20 casks ale, 12 cases brandy, 13 packages, Must and Co. ; 18 packages, Niccol; 9 packages, Coupland. —M. Niceo1, agent. A small cutter, the Isle of Beauty, cleared at tho Customs this morning for the Fijis, in ballast.

DEPARTURE OF THE NEBRASKA.

The mail steamer Nebraska, Captain Harrl ing, took her departure for Honolulu this afternoon, carrying the English miiils, via California. Tho following 'is a list of the passengers:—From Melbourne : Mesavs. Quirk, Callens, Hawkes, Dukson, Mis. H. Cli unpion and family (3). From Duucdin : M.rs Mur- Shy, Rev. Mr. Williams, Messr.'. Hull, Forbes, lattheson. From Lyttelton : Mr. and Mrs. Strange, Messrs. McMasters, Robinson. From Wellington: Rev. Mr. Errald, Mrs Clarke and family (8). From Nelson: Messrs. Bartletfc, Edwards. Ftoim': Sydney : Mr. G-ellen. . From Auckland : Messrs. Beere, G-reentield, Nevoila, Taylor, Lynch, Bonar, Ritchie, Hudson, Silva, Spence, Mr. and Mrs. Molver and three children, Mr. Gordon, Mrs. Moer, Messrs. G-. Macfarlane, H. Macfarlane, Webb, Forbes, Saunders, Muir, Kennedy, Eise, Mrs. Or. M. Clarke and three children, and tho Lancashire Bell ringers.

COMMERCIAL.

Evbhino Stab Office, Thursday afternoon. SALE OF SHARES.

Messrs. Samuel Cochrane and Son held a sale of mining stock to-day : —Long Drive shares realised £11 53 ; Alburnia, £7 5s ; Multum in Parvo, 6s 6d ; Eureka Hill, 21s 6d to 235. ; Kolly, 85s ; Christmas Box, 3s ; Otago, 90s ; Tokatea, 80s.

Messrs. 0. Arthur and Son held a sale of a first-class shipment of fruit, ex Hero, from Sydney. There was a good attendance, and the following prices were realised : —Oranges, 8b <td to 9s 3d per case ; ditto naval, 13s per case j mandarin, 10£ d ';o lid per dozen ; apples, 2id per lb.; pears, 3d to 4|d per Ib. Messrs. C. Arthur and don sold by auction,, at their mart to-day, the mine, implements, &c, of the Berkeley Castle Gold Mining Com pany for £100, the Windsor Castle Q-old Mining Company being the purchasers.

POLICE COURT ROTA.

The following is the list of the presiding Jus tices for the week ending August 18th : — August 14. —Messrs. Owen and Pierce. „ 15. — „ Porter and Eitchie „ IG.—• „ Taylor and Turtcn. „ 17.— „ T.BaberandE.Beetbam. „ 18. — ~ Daldy and Dargiville.

THE MAILS.

Mails will close as under :— Tor Thames, to-morrow, at 10.30 a.m., and 5.30 p.m. For Russell, etc., per Comorang, to-morrow, at 3 p.m. Tor Napier and Gisborne, per Star of the South, to morrow, at 4 p.m. Late letters, and telegrams for transmission from the Napier station will be received at this office till 4.30 p.m. For London (direct), per A'exendrina, on Saturday, 12th instant, at 10 a m. For Sydney aud Australian Colonies, per Hero, on Saturday, 12th inst., at 11 a.m. For money orders, registered letters, and newspapers, at 10 a.m. Late letters for Sydney and Melbourne! will be re ceived till 11.30 a m. For Taranaki and Southern Provinces, per s.s. Tara nakl, immediately after arrival of p.s. Nevada from Honolulu. For Napier aud Southern Provinces, per p.s. Nevada six hours after her arrival. S. B. Bibs, Chief Postmaster.

AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, &c. This Evening.

Prince of Wales Theatre, 8. Thwtro Royal, 8.

MARRIAGE.

Atckin-Gae.de.—On August 5, at St. Matthews Church, by the Rev. D. Jones, John, eldest son of Thomas Aickin, Esq., M.D., Biversdnlo, to Jano Marian, eldest daughter of the late Thomas Garde, Esq., M.D., Castle Martyr, County Cork, Ireland.

DEATH.

Cook.—On the 9t.U of August, Charles A. T. Cook, Karangahape Road, Newton, aged 11 years and 9 months.

.The funeral will leave his late residence, to-morrow, at 3 o'clock. Friends please accept this invitation.

TEN SHILLINGS REWARD,

LOST Last Night—A POODLE BITCH in Wakefield-street. The above reward will be paid by Joseph Towiky, Vincent street, to the finder.

The Evening Star.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1871.

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

Ik the European Mail a very sensible suggestion is made, that all Australa sian sound, substantial, dividend-pay ing claims should have a register in London ; and it is stated that it would tend to induce a steady flow of capital towards the mines of Victoria and New Zealand. The wisdom of such a proposal is so obvious that the wonder as that the idea has not been generally entertained and acted on by the direc tors of Gold Mining Companies. It is true that the introduction to English notice of such a claim as the Caledo nian would not increase the magnifi cient returns of gold, nor enhance dividends, and the introduction to the mines of foreign capital might tend to check those violent fluctua tions in the price of shares, that are so dear to Bhare-jobbers. But the presentation of the position of mines with such returns as those now characterising the Thames gold field, could not fail to be of benefit to shareholders and the general develop ment of the goldfield. We are not for a moment to Buppose that the shares in a claim, for example, like the Caledo nian, are properly valued at £170 or so, when about that amount per share has been paid in dividends during the past six months ; and where there is the utmost confidence generally enter tained that the future of it will be like the past, if not better still. It is not to be supposed that the selling price of such shares would be what it is if the matter was fai.rly before the eyes of capitalists. And when it is equally confidently believed that there are plenty of claims unde veloped on the Thames that are equally rich in buried gold, with the Caledonian, it cannot be that the price of shares in claims containing the possibilities and the probabilities of like" returns would rule at the prices now affixed to them if their value were similarly presented to capitalists. There can scarcely be a doubt that if the true position and prospects of our gold interests were known as they should be in circles where capital is waiting for invest ment, results of the highest value to our province and our colony would arise. But if there is any place where even more than in England the posi tion of our goldfield should be presented in tangible form to the public mind, it is in the United States, and especially in Califor nia. The residents there are capa ble of understanding and appreciating <xold returns, and have not that fms picious shrinking from tho pursuits of gold-seeking that sterns to.possess the steady-going and conservative people of England. In California, .as we understand, equally with England, vast

amounts of money, partly from the Eastern States, are seeking for invest ment,; ,and it is impossible to think that if the true state of our goldfieldj arid the returns of its several claims, were there fully known we should be long without an importation of American capital and enterprise. Of all forms of the Anglo-Saxon people, the American is exactly the typo wanted at present in New Zealand. For the pluck and enterprise of that pushing, clear-headed people, New Zealand, and especially our provincial goldfield, presents a sphere unequalled in the world, and we do not hesitate to affirm that if American enterprise could only be diverted hither, a de velopment would be given to our boundless hills of hidden treasure, such as they will not otherwise re ceive for many years to come. The laying on of Mr. Webb's boats will, doubtless, tend to this, and the return of several leading and most intelligent American citizens, after spying out the land, will hot be without fruit. But there cannot be a doubt that a more definite effort should be made to present in a tangible for.m to our American cousins, the prospects pre sented in a goldfield, containing, ad mittedly, the richest claim on the face of the earth, aud containing—no one knows how many' —other claim? which are not so famed yet as the Caledo nian, only because there has not been spent on their development a similar amount of capital aud determined per severing effort. It is sincerely to be be desired that our goldfield should be so presented to the American mind, and whether it be in the form sug gested in the European Mail, or otherwise, attention should be drawn to undeveloped wealth possessed by us in our golden hills, the parallel to which is not found on earth.

A fellow was brought up at tlic Polico Court this morning, upon whoso head had, during the last three years, accumulated no less than twenty-seven terms of imprisonment His Worship the Magistrate, when sentencing him to a further sojourn of seven days in the pastoral retirement of Mount Eden, took the opportunity of again making remarks on tho in efficiency of the present " hard labour" system in deterring vagabonds from seeking refugo in that retreat. If, as he properly remarked, tho system were really one where culprits were compelled to work hard and provide for the cost of thoir maintenance, as well as that of their families, during tho period of their incarceration, idle fellows of this description would not be bo ready to submit themselves to punishment of the kind a second time, and great expense would bo saved to the country. Bulwer's much admired play of " Money " was brought forward last evening at the Prince of Wales, bat we regret to say tho at tendance was by no means 60 good as the occasion deserved. Nevertheless, the leading parts were sustained in a manner fully calculated to bring out Ihe moral points of tho author's design, and tbo minor characters wero represented in a highly efficient manner*. The play was put upon the stage in a most creditablo manner and at considerable oxpenso ; and it is to be regretted that the Auckland public, iv their search for the sensational, havo to such an extent ignored the greater right of a pluy liko that of " Money." This overling will be occu pied by tho representation of tho drama of " The Ticket of Leavo Man."

We hear tbat Mr. J. Gwynno, whose prowesi as a pedestrian is woll known, has been backed to walk eighteen miles in three hour?, ou any road withiu ten miles of Auck land. '

Tho usual weekly parade of the Auckland Battalion of Rifle Volunteers will take place at the Drill-ahed at half-past 1 o'clock this evening. There was a slight error in " Devonport's " letter in our issue of yesterday, by which it appeared that a poll had been taken us to whether the rate should bo Id or lid. It should have read Id or £d.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS

THIS DAT.

THE CALEDONIAN—MAGNIFI-

CENT SPECIMENS,

THE OTAGO RE BE 5 FEET THICK.

TOOKEY'rf TJJIBUTERS

INVERNESS—CEUSHING-.

HA.IIBOUE VIEW SPECIMENS.

DEPUTATION TO MR. HURST

G-iiAHAMSTOWN, 3 p.m.

[from our own correspondent.]

The Caledonian is showing really splendid this morning, and a quan tity of speciraeus will be taken out this evening.

Tookey tributers (Austen's party) have crushed 24 tons, from which they obtained 40 ounces.

The American Eagle have lodged 24 ounces from their last crushing.

The Wanderers' Hope obtained 4 ounces.

The Inverness (Schofield's tributers) are crushing specimen stone at Mr, Spencer's berdan. The Otago reef is now five feet thick at the 340 feet level. It is ex pected to prove the Golden Crown reef No. 2.

The Harbour View, on the Kura nui Hill, are exhibiting stone of a good description, only very flaky, at the Bank of New Zealand this morning. A deputation waited upon Mr. Hurst this morning with reference to tho Tararu tracks. Mr. Hurst pro mised iminediato assistance. Ho, also addressed the Waiotahi Highway Board, and promised £500 towards the road,

THE MAN ABOUT TOWN.

NO. XVIII.

Having received the latest and most authentic news from Wellington by way of the great submarine telegraph, I am enabled to lay before join- readers some account of the arrival of ilis Most Gracious Excellency the Governor and Lady Bowen. I may say that some o:/ the particulars to which 1 hore refer have not yet reached the public ear generally, as the only patent submarine wire be tween this and the great capital is in my pay and keeping, aud dare not forward news to any other part of the colonies on paiD of a very heavy fine. The following is the telegraphic summary referred to : —"Wellington, 3rd A ugust. — About nine o'clock this morning the Major Domo (equal to your Major Gordon) sounded the assembly throughout the deserted streets of this gueat city. Immediately there was a display of bunt ing from tbo different houses and Go vernment buildings, and the numerous Volunteers of tho place went mad with de light at the thought of the panoply of peace iv which they were so soon to take part in welcoming the Governor. At an early hour, three of the members of the Armed Constabulary.marched to the end of the wharf, and fell-in in two very imposing-looking ranks, through which it was designed that the carriage of the Go vernor should be driven. To maker this part of the programme more effective, the pewter buttons of the men had been polished with great assiduity, and their belts had received an extra allowance of elbow-grease. But this was not all. Fro to every direction soon came trooping the bold defenders of Wellington, who, to the number of eleven, drew up ou the grass of Lamb ton Quay, in the following order. The extreme right was composed of two of the Whyraper Cavalry, mounted on bullocks, the extreme left fi.ee of the Veterans in an itnpo.-ing suit of yellow, which had been judiciously divided be tween tlin three, and in tbo centre four of the Wellington Cadets taken at a minus's notice from their studies at the principal nine schools of the oily, and with the marks of i*cd and black ink still upon their hands and faces. To m>ike the guard of honor more imposing, linlf-a dozen horse marines wore landed from H.jVE.S. Obelisk, and we mcd not say that the sight presented by the entire lorce* w;is one of unsurpassed brilliancy. There were also a large number of the leading citizens present, including the Board of Education School of orators,and other public institutions, the whole uudi-r tho command of tho senior officer of the House. At length the smoke of the long-lookod for steamer was seen without the' Heads. In' a very few minutes it was seen by the eyes in the heads —of ihe assembled multitude, and a great cry of joy was heard. On the Luuar coming alongside the wharf, the artillery force of one man and a boy sta tioned on the extensive fortifications of this place at once fired off a royal salute ol three guns and a miss-fire with Brown Besses, which had the effect of instantly bringing down the rain upon tho bare heads of those assembled. It not pleasant, Ibis was at least refreshing, and salu brious, and the oldest inhabitant was heard to say Unit' his head hadn't bad such a washing since the days when ho was a boy, and went to the seaside once a year.' 1 lie ministers and chiefs in olfieo went on board tho Lunar and partook of some good Auckland provender with great delight. On disembarking, the Governor was met by the Mayor and Town Coun cillors, who presented to him the follow ing address of welcome :—" Wo, tho loyal aud loving inhabitants of this mag nificent city, bid you welcome to the capi tal, and congratulate you ou your escape from the emells and scrip of our fallen sister Auckland. W"e desire to assure you of our profound respect for your position and for the sums of ' ready ' which you will no doubt lavishly expend iv our midst, and we look forward with willingness—nay, even anxiety—to the first public dinner at; which your Excel lency will give as a ' house-warming' on taking possession of your new palace on the mud flat. You will find that palace a great improvement on the dingy struc turo in Auckland, where no doubt your Excellency must have passed the greater part of your time in tho most intense disgust." In reply, the Governor made one of his grand coups from tho heart— delivered, too, extemporaneously. He said how delighted he was to return to that peerless city, but he was so taken by surprise at "the welcome given to him that he was unable to give a suitable reply, His Excellency was then affected oven unto tears, and it was said that at this time there was a strong exudation as of the genus onion. Having partially recovered himself, lie congratulated the Volunteers upon their military appearance, aud tho manner iv which they had turned out was a credit to the colony in general, and Wellington in particular. His Excellency then said he would forward a suitable reply to the address of the Mayor alter he had taken a look round and composed himself. Lady Boweu did not appear in the least affec tioned, and looked curiously and in quiringly upon the display as something to which she was wholly unused; andJl believe this was the case. Subsequently His Excellency forwarded the following official reply to' the Mayor and Corpora tion :—"I received your address with great pleasure while on the very threshold, as it were, of this great and glorious ciiy. thin jc.vel of Ihe Southern Seas, which you so well and worthily represent. The con courso of people who welcomed mo will not soon bo forgotten, nothiug having been seen like it since my reception in Onchungn, the day boforo yestorday. Indeed this place much reminds me of that delightful old city, —both are of tho same Conservative turn of mind, and both are analogous to the far-famed city of Sleepy Hollow. As you may imagine, I shook the dust of Auckland irom my feet with great pleasure, for my Caledonians proved a failure, and the smells, .balls, routs, and concerts were too much for me ; besides, I was asked to patronise everything and everybody, till it began to get insufferably low, and paying for so many tickets becamo expensive — that is, it would hare been if I had been allowed to pay ; but I will give the peoplo tbo credit to say, that I- oifcen had free orders sent for myself and suite. However, that is now among the things of the past.

"We arc-in Wellington, the fair city of these isles, where neither smells, balls, routs, or scrip, ever penetrate. In say ing this, I must except my own hospita lities, which will be wide spread and universally admired; and the magnificent shed you have erected for ran will, T Iru i. see us many a time over a bottle of con vivial old port. In a colony where we have been so welcome, I could'nt do loss, and I think 1 may even venture to pro mise an occasional oyster supper, when a return feed is required. I enclo.se a cheque for £1000, which please forward to the Decayed Politicians Almhouscs, with my compliments. I did the hand some on leaving Auckland, and I can not do less on my arrival here. lam glad to hear you have a Mayor and Cor poration, and I anticipate a great many pleasing reunions in the future. I hear that upon your election you gave a most hsindsomo spread to the whole of the councillors. Mayor Fillip of Auckland will, it is said, do tho same on his re-elec tion, if the Council will pay half the co.it. But this is beside the question, and 1 again, on behalf of myself, wife aud family, thank you for the cordiality evinced towards us, and the roomy shed prepared for our reception.—Bowen." This was the whole telegram, aud I give it in its entirety. It has iaketi up so much space that several other matter*; which 1 wished to touch upon —not least among them being the approaching mar riage of Dick—must be held over for a future occasion.

Nathaniel Beeswing.

CORRESPONDENCE

To the Editor of the Evening Stab,

Sin, —Youv roaders will naturally expect a reply from.me to the extraordinary slate merit made by your correspondent " Devon port," in youi1 issue of last evening. .As ths j signature of " Dcvoiiport," under whicli your I correspondent lias sought to shelter liiinself is the iioni do plume of an old and deservedly I'cspoclod member of .the Press, resident amongst us, permit me to assure your readers that this miserable device to give an air of truthfulness and importance to his cowardly a d anonymous allnckj is well understood in Uio district, if, as is generally believed, your correspondent is the pliant creature of tbafcparty at the North Shore, who to secure their owu :nd did not scruple to receive votes, knowing them to have been deliberately and fraudu lently given. Your will agree with irie his slanderous attack is-searcely worthy of a reply from ar.y respectable man, but if 1 and the rute payors are mistaken in the estimate of the character of your correspondent, let him give his real name, and I will then reply, and fully convince your readers of the utter fallacy of his statements —I am, &c,

Samuel Coohbanb. Devonport, 10th August, 1871.

SHAKE MARKET.

int. j. m. lennox's shake beport.

There was a fair amount of business in the share market tins morning- In the afternoon tberc was a great demand for Caledonians. My miles comprise : Cnle donian, £175 to £177 10s, now held for £180 ; 1 hames, £35 ; Otago, £4 4s to £4 ss; Toliatoa No. 2, 2s. Tlie market closed with an upward tendency in Cale donian and Thames stocks. MB. J. T. GAKLICK's EErOBT. ■ The market was firm to-day. Caledo nian sold for £175 to £177 10s, but are now held for £180; Thames, £35 ; Otago, £4 5s : Moauatairi, £3 7s 6d; Albion, £12 10s. j. newman's brport. The share market has been active to: day, and the tendency upwards for all leading stocks. I have sold Thames, £35 ; Caledonian, £175 ; Moanatairi, £3 108 ; Otago are held for £4 5s ; Tookcy, buyers, £32.

MESSES. CLAEK BBOTIIBEs' BEPOBT. Tho share market most active. Great demand for Caledonian. I have sold Ca ledonian, £175, £176, but now held for higher rates ; Otago, £4 ss, £4 7s 6d ; Thames, £35.

POLICE COURT.—Thursday.

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

Obtaining Money ttndeb False Pbe- TENOE3. —William Thomas Bray, on bail, appeared to answer a charge of having ob taining money from John Lawson by transfer ring certain sharos to him of which lie was not at tbo time in possession. Mr. Boveridge for the complainant, stated that prosecutor -wished to withdraw the charge, as he had ainae rocoived the scrip for which ho had paid.—Prisoner was accordingly discharged with a caution.

Breach of Vageant Act.—Patrick Ryan and Joseph. Crisp were charged with playing at an unlawful game, and ut the request of Inspector Brohatn were remauded until next day.—Charles Bowden was accused of being the occupier of a house in Wakefield-street liaving no lawful means of support. —Mr. Joy appeared on behalf of prisoner.—Detective Joffery deposed that he had known prisoner about four months. Ho occupied a house in Wakelield-street, known to be a brothel. Witness named some of the women he knew to bo inmates of tho house1, and whom lie knew to be prostitutes.—Sergeant Pardy said that the house was occupied -by prosti tutes, and had beou complained of by neigh bours. Prisoner had previously occupied another house, respecting the inhabitants of which complaints had been made. Mr. W. MoCaul, the owner of the house, deposed that he had let it to a person named Bowden, and the lease was witnessed by prisoner, under the name of Harding. A complaint had since been made to him by a.neighbour in regard to the inhabitants.—ln cross-examination, he said that tho rout for the first weak had been paid by tho other person, who called himself Bowden, and subsequently by prisoner. JTo did not look upon prisoner as his tenant.— Detective Xornahan deposed to tho bad cha raster of the inmates, -who were without visible lawful means of support. Prisoner had admitted that ho was the occupier of the house.—John Cartwrighfc, a member of the scot called -Israelites, made the usual deolara tion, and doscribed the character of the house. —At this stage of the proceedings, the case was adjourned until next Thursday, in order that tho evidence of the other Charles Bowden might bo pbtained.—Prisonor wa3 allowed bail in two sureties for £20 each.

PjjHJtiKT.—Solomon Broodman, charged with committing wilful and corrupt perjury, in a case of asserted highway robbery, re cently tried at this Court, was remanded until next Tuesday, on the application of Mr. Sheuhan.—Mr. Joy applied for bail on behalf of prisoner.—Mr. Shechnn, for prosecution, objected on the aooro of the magnitude of the alleged crime.—Prisoner was allowed bail in his own recognizance of £200, with two sureties of £100 each.

TWO MYSTERIES EXPLAINED

[from chambers" journal] no* i. - Foe many yeai-3 ray .'family lived in one. of the. northern suburbs of London. Re duced at.last to two Members, a sister and myself, We gave up housekeeping, and for some' time- travelled ■ about England. Tired at length of wandering we returned to .our old neighbourhood, and looked about for a settled reidence. One day, while walking down a welf-remembered street, we were struck with the appearance of a large handsome corniced-house.where we recollected perfectly, only a year, or two before, had been a greengrocer's shop. We stopped a deferential crossing sweeper and asked iiow that imposing edifice had grown there, and were told that the sho) had boon burned down with every tiling in.il., and this house built on its;ruins. .'-

''■ Wo were coucerncd to hear such a melancholy account, having ..known 1%. greengrocer well, and we inquired anxi ously if there had been any loss of lift1. ' Troth, my lady, and I here was,' said ■. vi glib informant—lrish of course —' fo ■ the masther wakened in the night andsni !od tlie fire ; and he roused the wife, and ;mil a young-baby, and bnde her wrap in a 1)1 <n ket, and take the wee thing, and go straight down through the door, for the fire was in a room above; and lie rushed up to sn ye the other childer, and lie did it, and go L them ail safe out oiitlio roof of the next house, and so down into the street: but when he came to look for the mistress faith! she was nowhere to be found; and a boy that was standing by, a frind of my own, touldme that he saw her, from aback yard; stand at'die wjmiow, and then turn. as though to come down the stairs.— : 1 she had a sheet wrapped, round her, ten tlie baby in her arms under the sheet; but why she stopped so long, and why she looked out o' the window, and why she nivcr came at all, at all, sorra one uv us ever larnf;, for the roof fell in, and none durst go near the roaring flames; and, shure enough, next day they found her, and the bit of a baby in licr.,arms still; and whether she stnid U\ gathor up her trinkets and such-like, oj! her sinses forsook her, or the smoke :choked her, not a living crater can till, for the sowl went out of her poor body, and niver came back to tell us the rascn, and Thank ye kindly, my lady." Shocked and distressed at the ending of the poor woman, nnd anxious to escape minute details, we abruptly left the Irish sweeper, and went our way. I remem bered, the poor greengrocer's wife very well, and had often; remarked that her gooseberries were tlie driest and the wholesoinest, her raspberries the least mashed, her strawberries the least sus picious-looking of any fruiterer's in that district.

Well, in tlio end we took that verg house. It was then autumn ; and there we remained the winter, spring', summer, and autumn again ; aud then came that terribly bard winter of 1866-7. As tiie frost increased, we found the cold of our bedrooms impossible to bear.; so, my sis ter and I agreed to occupy one-large room with a southern aspect, aud keep a fire in it constantly. The first night (hat this ar rangement was put in practice, we went upstairs at our usual time, about twelve o'clock. Our bedroom was over the draw ing-room floor, and there were other rooms above, where the servants slept. The staircase window on the second floor was exactly opposite our door, on the curve of the upper stair, which formed a small landing. We found our fire burn ing brightly, and while my sister stirred and heaped it with coals, I put down what I was carrying, and went back to shut the door. Butiusteadof shutting it, I stood, holding the handle, staring into the darkness outside, speechless, moHori less, conscious oi nothing but au untittcr ablo horror;; my eyes fixed upon an object not two yards distant, whose appearance alone, without any other reasoning, wit nessed that it was no inhabitant, of earth.

On tho top stair of the flight that led to the upper window stood the figuro of a woman, wrapped from head to foot in a thick white covering; rounded and bulky about the shoulders and arms, as if hold ing a child or bundle; tapering towards the feet, as if but slenderly clothed ; every fold, every wrinkle, every curve of the limbs as distinct as we see thorn iv: ca«-h other under a strong light. But the crowning horror was this: through iliis perfectly formed and apparently solid figure I distinctly sa,w the staircase window, the opposite wall, the faint light coming from outside—all as plainly visible as if nothing stood between them and me ; and yet there was a woman, tall, broad, enveloped in a thick covering, and placed in a position which ought to linve screened everything beyond herself from view.

She stood on the top stair; one foot covered with a stocking, but no shoo, put forward as if about to touch tho lower step j and I noticed, with a sickly shud der, that as the lire, stirred and renewed, leaped up in rampant flames, the figure became agitated; moved its foot, now up, now down; swayed a little from side to side; sometimes scorned to step back ward, sometimes forward, like one uncer tain which way to go; that the arms worked, as if clasping their burden tighter; and still, through ib all, came the light from the window, and the outline of the opposite wall; and still, I v stood staring iv silent terror, believing, disbe lieving. How could I believe the ex ploded folly of spirits departed coining back to haunt the spot where they had suffered and been released? And* yet how disbelieve my own eyesight? I At length my sister, from the other end of the room, astonished at my silence and tho still open door, turned suddenly round, started at my fixed look and face of terror, and exclaimed: "Is anything the matter ? YVhat are you looking at P', The sound of her voice was an immense relief to me; it roused my paralyzed senses. Still keeping my eyes fixed on" the apparition, I said quietly: f Come here a moment; don't be frightened: there is something strange on the stairs." She came hurriedly, but, in spite of my caution, gave a cry of terror as she canght sight of the figure. "Good heavens! what can it bo P" she whispered. " Don't move," 1 said; "we must watch it. You remember what the sweeper told us about the greengrocer's wife.

Silent and shivering we stood, ex changing now and then a frightened whig, per. Had any one told mo beforehand that I should see such, a figure, and in quired how I would act under the circum stances, I should have said: "I would walk straight up to it;" but standing where I did now. I felt that the distance was not at all too great between it and me, and had no wish, whatever to lessen it.

For o, long time we watched, and the only change in the figure was one or ano ther of the movements I have mentioned. Meantime, the fire burned low; the phantom became rather less distinct, and remained quiet. We stood with the door only partly opened, and had not courage to put it any wider. •. At last, with a Bud den resolution, I shut it. .

" It is no use looking any longer," I said; "we shall only terrify ourselves to dbalh, and catch dreadful colds besides." Then we sat down by the fire, and dis cussed the matter. The strange appear ance no long visible, my natural hardihood and disbelief in spectres returned. "1 <'on't care," I said, in answer to a remark from my sister:" though I have stood and looked at the dreadful thing •:'. .r nearly an hour, I don't believe in it. it must have a cause. Perhaps.a figure outside the window; light is so deceiving." 'But," said she, "what figure would stand so still for such a time?"

This point I could not argue, but still per sisted in attributing it to natural agency. But we could not go to bed easily without looking to see if our supernatural visitor was still at her post. Wo went slowly and hesitatingly to the door, lingered a moment, and then flung it open to its full extent—the stair was unoccupied; the figure was gone! Much relieved, we closed the door quickly, and betook our selves to rest. !"•" ext morning we were disposed to laugh. ' ■'■ ■'. ho diost.as'a creation in ouv own fancy; ii-.vortheless, we grew rather anxious as night came on. 1 was courageous enough to go up during the evening, and cast a hurried glance at the stairs before I opened, our bedroom door ; but nothing was there, and I sped down again in great glee, con vinced that our eyes the previous night ]>iul beeu fog-bound. But in spite of this, when we went up late, and came to the door to take a last re-assuring glance.tliere was the thing again, in, precisely ; the same altitude, making the same movements, agitated when the fire blazed up, motion less when it burned low.

Time went on, and night after night we watched, till we almostbecame accustomed to our nocturnal visitor. Ifotwithstand ing the continually renewed fear caused by the sight of it, I had an underlying conviction that it was produced by natural means. Wliat means, I could not imagine/ for we had tried every possible experiment to find out. We moved the furniture of the room, we placed the light in different positions, we stationed ourselves now at one point, now at another —Without effect; the figure stood unchanging.

All this time we kept the matter to our* selves, knowing the foolish fear of ser vants, and how such a report would spread like wild-fire among our friends, and scare them away from the house. It so hap pened that just then a cousin came to pay us a visit, and we determ'ned to let her into tho secret, partly to prevent her from seeing the figure unawares, and being frightened to death; partly lhat she might help us with her opinion and advice. So the first night of her arrival, we brought her into our room; and, having told tho facts, and warned her against a sudden fright, took her to -the dojr, and pointed out; the spectre. Though sd prepared, and utterly sceptical as to anything ghostly, h>-r terror was so great is to alarm us. Talking of ghosts aud looking at them are tyro such very different matters. I still persisted in referring the apparition to natural causes, and though this was my cousin's belief in theory, practical evidence to the contrary appeared io have shaken her croed to its very foundations. ( Shut ting out the ghastly objeci, however, to a certain extent restored herself-possession, and then we all three set t» work, both by suggestion and experiment to throw some light on the subject; butto no purpose. The wretched, puzzling, intangible sub stance, the unreal reality stood its ground, and mocked all our efforts' '•

After a time thaw set h; the weathen became as warm as it lid before beer cold, and we dispensed wih. the fire in ou room. That night—O winder of won ders ! —we looked and witched in vain; not a trace of the figure wjs to be seen. I was more puzzled than «rer.

As time went on, aid our spectral visitor was still invisible, vh congratulated ourselves on being rid of sjch an unwel come intruder, and decided 1 to have been tli uf chance reflection of sone object ouk side. But snow and frost rituraed again, and again the fire in our roon was lighted ; anil, casting a glance up tie stajrs as I prepared to close the door.my eyes fell on the mysterious figure, staiding as before on the top step, moving htr foot up and down, grasping the burdenthat she held now firmly, now loosely>:in her arms; dilating and agitated when ike fire blazed, still as death when the fliines fell low. This re-appearance was mor^startling than I cared to acknowledge eren to myself. My sister and cousin grtj nervous; so did I; we could not convince either our selves or each other that tl? phantom had a natural origin. It woultbe impossible to enumerate the efforts we; made to dis cover the cause of it. Even failure found our spirits a little more sjaken and our minds a little less seeptijil as to ghosts and their doings. We gre\jaccustomed to see the shadowy thing or the stairs, and no longer started at sigh of it; but the superstitious element in us became strong and active, and we were 1 sdy to bsliove anything. , . One night while taking ny usual look of mingled curiosity and tdvor, I observf i that the figure had under/one a change one arm appeared to hanguelplessly down by her side. As I waslbout to call at tention to this new pheymenon, I heard my sister say: " Why, Wo has been tear ing the blind?"; L

I turlied round quick!. Our windows were furnished with roll • blinds of highly glazed white linen, ovt which were fes tooned heavy curtains o dark green. I saw that one side of tip blind had been torn away from the na(.s fastening it to the roller, and had fallback, leaving part of the window uncoipjed. Thought is rapid, and some intelsttual telegraph connected in my mind tlitorn blind and the armless figure on. the Hairs,

THE EVENING STAR, AUCKLAND, THURSDAY, AUGUST 10, 1871.



A UCTION BUSINESS. The subscribor/in addition to his usual Sale 3at the CORNER MART, QUEEN-STREET, Is now prepared to conduct o;ut;-door sales of general merchandise, household furniture, &c. Commission advantageous to Vendors, and prompt settlement. Auctioneer. WANTED— A WAITER.—AppIy at the Thames llotei, Queen-street Wharf. V OST—A BUNCH of KEYS, , between JLj Eden Toll-bar and Queen-street—Apply at No. 7, Queen-street. LOST, in Queen-street—A LETTER, ad dressed to Mrs. Peapltj, the Poplars, Parnell Rise.— The finder will oblige by return ing same to the Stab office.



£2 REWARD. LOST— A POCKET-BOOK, containing papers of no use to anyone but tho owner, the above reward to finders on bringing it to the Atteoea Hotel. IN accordance with the 27th clause of the " Licensing Act, 1871," I horoby give notice that I intend to apply to tho Worship ful tho Justices of tho Pence, Auckland, for a Transfer, to ALFRED LyNEBOtfRfTE, of ihe Licence for the Masonic Hotel, Auckland. LOUIS E. JAMES. Dated this 10th day ef August, 1871, Auckland. IN accordance with tho 27th clause of the "Licensing Act, 1871," I hereby give notice that I intend to apply to tho Worship ful tho Justices of tho Peace, Auckland, for a Transfer, to Gkokge Hilkry Wbigiit, of the Licence of the Carpenters' Arms Hotel, Gre> slreet, Auckland. CHKIbTOPHER GREKNWAY. Dated tliia.lOth day of August, 1871, Auckland.