SHIPPING.

POET OF AUCKLAND

ARRIV&LS. Opotiki, schooner, 34 tons, Baker, lrom Opotik

DEPARTURES.

Go-Ahead, s s., Holmes, for Tauranga and Wkaka tane. Sea Breeze, schooner, 70 tons, Cook, for Russell.

IMPORTS

Per barque Bella Ma>y, from HobartTown : 44 cases jnm, McArthur : 60 ditto ditto, Stone Bros.; 133 ditto cllfct.o, •'. Robert on aud Co. ; 2 cases leather, Stums Bros.; 1 email parcel, Thourburn ; 12 pairs dray shafts, 100 felloe-1, 200 spokes, Thos. Peak ; 180 c;ises jam, order ; 8 cases fruit, 70 ditto jam, 220 ditto ditto, 11. S. Meyers; 1 email parcel, Smith j 1193 bagß bark, 37,480 paVngs, 2030 rails, 24<i pieces timber, 100 bags flour, 40 stones, 93 bales hay, 2 eases leather, Stone Brothers, agents. The cufter Mary Eliza will suil for'Tau i-anga this afternoon, with 3,000 feet timber, 12 head cattle, 1 horse, 4,000 shingles, 11 packages sundries. The s.s. G-o-Ahead took her departure this afternoon. Passengers : Mr. and Mrs. U. Clarke and family. Miss T-aiflin, and 6 others. Cargo: 12 tons flour, 9,000 feet timber, 7 doors, 2 packages sashes, SS sheets iron, 9 packages merchandize, 20 packages suudi'ies. Ihe schooner Opotiki arrived in harbour this morning, having left Poverty Bay on Monday last; at 1 p.m. She experienced light S.E. winds to Capo Runaway; thence mode rate W. and N.W. winds. Passed the schooner Tawera off the Hole in the Wall The Opotiki brings the following cargo:—27 bales wool, Must and Co. ; 200 bags grass seed, GO cases apples, J. S. Macfarlane ; 10 hides, Ireland Bros. The s.s. Phoebe and s s. Airedale may be expected in the Mauukau to-morrow or Monday. It will be seen from an advertisement which appears in our is-sue, that there is a probability of another good race round Tiritiri being made between two of our fastest trading vessels. The owner of the Severn accepts the challenge thrown out by the Sumpter, and is willing to make a match, immediately on the return of the Severn from the Thames, for any sum.

POLICE COURT.

The following is the rota for attendance of Magistrates at the Police Court for the week a riding Saturday. February 11, 1871: — M jrday, February 6: Messrs. J. H. Horns and H. M. Jervis. i uesday, February 7 : Messrs. S. Kempthorne and T. B. Kenderdine. Wednesday, February 8 : Messrs. Thos. SXac farlane and J. S. Macfarlane. Thursday, February 9 : Messrs. J. May and J. Newman. Friday, February 10 :G. M. Mitford and 11. Morrow. Saturday, February 11 : Messrs. D. Morpcth and C. 11. Otway.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE

Mails will close as under :—

For Coromandel, Driving Creek, and Tiki, per Lalla Rookh, on Monday, 6th instant, at 9.30 a.m. ¥01* Thames, on Monday, 6th instant, at 10 a.m., 3 p.m., and 5.30 p.m. For Tanranga, via Thames, on Monday, 6th inst-mt, at 3 p.m. Mails for the undermentioned places, per Wonga Wonga, -will close at this office, on Tuesday, 7th instant, as under : — For Sandwich Islands, British Columbia, United b'lates of America, British, Central, and South America, British and Foreign "West Indies, and Continent of Europe, via England, at 1 p.m. For TJnited Kingdom, yia San Francisco, at 1.30 p.m. For money orders, l'egistererl, letters, and newspapers, at 11 a.m. Late letters for the United States of America and United Kingdom, bearing a late fee of six pence in addition to the postage, will be received at this office till 1.30 p.m., and by the mail agent on board the steamer up to time of sailing. S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1871.

The claims of the candidates to the confidence of the electors of City West are now fairly placed before that constituency, each of them having made full confession of his political creed. We have no doubt that the contest will be a severe one, each of the candidates being so well known, and so well liked by a large number of people in the electorate. In all elections, personal predilections have a powerful bearing. It is only in ac cordauce with human nature that they should ; and it is impossible, perhaps, for any one to be so wholly possessed by feelings of patriotism as to have freed his mind from attachments and antipathies in the exercise of public duty. But, making all allowance for this element in the coming contest, we have confidence in the intelligence and public spirit of the largest and most important constituency of the pro vince ; and feel assured that the de claration of the poll will show that this electorate has realised the re sponsibility resting on it. It is not always that the show of hands at a nomination is a correct criticism of the general state of feeling, or an in fallible index of the final result. . But there are circumstances in the nomina tion of yesterday that lead us to believe that we can so regard this show of hands, and that the de laration of the poll will show a similar arrangement of the com

petitors, At a nomination, aa a rule, the advantage is generally with the candidate whose claims are advo cated by the-less i nielli gent and more ! excitable class of the community, and ! those who arc more swayed by personal than public considerations. The more intelligent know that the nomination is not the election; and, with exception of the more prominent; leaders, who are there of necessity, prudently attend to their own concerns, reserving them selves for decisive action. While the crowd, who are more addicted to demonstration,generally throng around the hustings, and often give a fictitious appearance of success. If we find, therefore, that a candidate whose re turn is dependent on the extent of public spirit in the community instead of local and personal considerations, has the " show of hands," it is regarded by electioneering tacticians as ail in fallible proof that he is the popular favorite. From this we may conclude that his Honor the Superintendent has the confidence of the great majority of the constituents ; and if indolence or fancied security does not operate to keep his supporters from coming to the poll on Monday, we may confi dently look to a very large majority for Mr. Gillies. Nor dp we think there is anything remarkable in this, for no one that calmly balances the claims of the rival candidates, regarding them merely in the light of public interest, can hesitate to say that the Superin tendent of Auckland should be re turned, if not unanimously, at least far away up at the top of the poll by the most important constitu ency of Ihe province. We do not say a word against his opponents. They have both served their country well; and though, as the late sitting mem bers, they may seem to have a claim to the suffrages of City West, it should be remembered that Mr. Gillies is appearing before a new constituency from no fault of his own, but because his late constituency has been swept from under him by the Act of the Assembly, and he comes forward only on the urgent pressure of a vast body of the most influential members of the City West constituency. For some place the Superintendent must have a seat ; and a large number of those whose interests are in City West de clared that this should be the place. And, irrespective of his claims as Super intendent, it must be owned that in his shrewd practical common sense, his administrative tact, indomitable energy, integrity of character, and great ability, the interests of the con stituents will repese \\ ith safety in his hands. With regard to the other two candidates, each from his many good qualities and claims to the suffrages, will have his warm supporters. But however electors may 7'ecord their votes for them, we do not hesitate to say that every elector in the constitu ency actuated by a desire for the best interests of the country, the province, and the city, should give one of his votes to Mr. Gillies.

We do wish the self-dubbed " Work ing Men's Protection Society" had sense, and that they would leave off making public fools of themselves. We do not like insulting them, but we wonder they do not themselves see the folly of their ways. They intend, forsooth, prosecuting us in the Police Court, and this, we presume, is part of the programme sketched out by the " President," when he spoke of " muzzling the Press." That there may beno misunderstanding as to the "muz zling," we hereby hurl back the most unmitigated and unqualified defiance. Still we are sorry to see that, by the folly of the leaders of this movement, the cause of the working men has been bo injured, and that the Etbk"lNG Staii of" all other jjapers, Avhich has so strenuously urged the initiation of public works, and the cause of the working mau, should now appear as if in antagonism. We accepted the re presentations of the leaders of the movement, and we reiterate the asser tion that the credit of the burnings was tacitly assumed, and the fancied " terror " struck into the city publicly boasted of. We have plucked the brands from the hands of the burners, and we aver that the thanks of all peace loving people are due to the Evening Stae for having compelled the " Work ing Men's Protection Society" to publicly disown complicity in the in cendiarism, and to denounce the mis creants who set fire to buildings, .and sent threatening letters to harmless ladies. The Society has assumed a totally different character now, and barring its intemperate and violent leaders, of whom it should get rid as speedily as possible, may present a claim to public sympathy. But if we have been instrumental in check mating the perilous game originally played, and compelling the organiza tion to a.dapt itself to civilization. We have grounds for gratification, and, while we reiterate our contemptuous defiance of their feeble attempt to

" muzzle the Press," we would again! urge the Society to stop this folly, and try if nothing can really be done to cany out the presently expressed intention of benefiting the working man.

MOONLIGHT CONCERT.

We are much gratified to learn that a Moonlight Concert, for the benefit of Mr. Bandmaster McComish, will be given in the Albert Barrack Reserve on Monday evening next. It will be recollected that Mr. >J cl?oruish lost all his property in the burning of the Music Hal; and from the esteom in which he is held, and the

sympathy generally felt in his misfortune, as well'as from tho attractions of an ex cellent programme, and the prospect of a very delightful evening, we, are sure that the concert on Monday night will be an exceedingly successful one.

MINING MATTERS

(FBOM TO-DAY'S " THAMES ADVERTISER.") The New May Mook. —A small parcel of gold' Weighing fourteen ounces, the re sult of the fiunl cleaning-up for tlie New May Moon, at the Kauwaer.mga battery, was melted yesterday at the Bank of New- South Wales. Owing to want of repairs to the engine the battery had to stop working.

The Caledonian gold wa=. melted at the Bank of iN'ew Zoal.and, and reduced to 2380 ounces.

MEETINGS OF ELECTORS.

Mr. GriLLiES^believes in " whatsoever the hand flndeth to do, do it with all your might." He met a crowded assembly of the electors last night at the Presbyterian School-room in Pitt-street, and after a lengthened and lucid exposition of his principles, and answering to his catechism in the usa-il form, a unanimous and very enthusiastic vote of thanks and con fidence was awarded to him. Tonight, he a^aiu meets tho electors at the Newton Siohool house, at which, we have no doubt, lie will be accorded a similar reception. We do not think this eifort i? necessary ; but it is characteristic of our Superintendent to not leave things half done.

At the no:nination, yesterday, some capital was evidently intended to be made of the lute lef'usal of the Superintendent to give up the letter of Mr. Carter to facilitate the prosecu tion in the case of Richards v. Carter. As tho Evexixg Star has been the only paper that was indignant on this question, we have a right to spea';. And, irrespective altogether of the merits of the ease as between the liti gants, we do not hesitate to say, alter enquiry into the ease, that had Mr. G-iiiies given up that letter he would have been a traitor to hi 3 position, and have shown himself undeserving of being entrusted with the many responsibili ties of his office.

A survey i^ being held on the ship City of Auckland to-day. The diver has been examin ing the bottom of Hie ship. Jr. is expected the ship will getaway before next month.

It will be seen from our Southern telegrams published elsewhere that the Lord Ashley has Bailed from Dunediu for this port with 335 cases kerosene for M^ssi-s. Henderson and Macfar'.ane and Messrs. Must and Co.

The sitting of the Native Lands Court was continued yesterday before Judges Manning and Munro, and two Native assessors. Ihe interminable case of To Aroha, which appears as though it would have no ending, was re sumed, and further witnesses examined for the claimants, among them being Hoterene Taipari. The case for the counter-elui mints will not probably commence until Mon lay.

j At the annual meeting of the parishioners of Sb. Sepulchre's Church, on the 16th a long and interesting report was read. The financial statement allowed the following figures:— Balance at 30t,h«Tune, £20 7s 3d.; receipts for the half-year, £330 2s 7d ; disbursements, £335 14s 6d; balance in bank, £23 15a 41. Rev. B. T. Dudley nominated Mr. E,. O.C. Big<r, minister's churchwarden. Mr. G-. J-\ Pierce was unanimously elected people's churchwarden. Messrs. J. Batger, 8. Brook ing, J. S. Coney, S. W. Hill, J. Kelly, 11. T. Knight, H. If. Lnsk, A. Morrow, W. Mat thews, J. Koberton, were elected vestrymen. Several resolutions affecting the internal ar rangements of the parish having bsen passed, the meeting separated.

The Auckland Educational Society's Singing Club, re-assembled last evening in Wellesley street j a large number of members were pre sent, and at the close a ballot for instruments took place, the prizes drawn amounted to £100. It was announced during the evening that the class for new members will commence at 7 o'clock next Thursday evening, the 9th instant.

The persons having qualification to voto for a member of the House of Representatives should remember that the period between the Ist of January and the 30th of March is that within which application should be made to have their name placed on the electoral roll for their respective districts. Mr. Gillies will address the electors of City West this evening, at the Newton school room. Notice ie given that Edward Swanston Hill, hotelkeeper, has filed a declaration of insol vency.

POLICE COURT.—Saturday

[Before J. M. Dargaville and Gh P. Pierce, JEsqs., Justice^.] DiurNKENNEsa.—A small number appeared beforo the Bench charged with the above of fenco, and were mulcted in the usual penalty, with the exception of two. Charge of Laeoesty. —Win. Lindsay was charged by Thos. Hewlet with stealing saw dust, the property of Mr. Holdship. Prisoner pleaded guiity. -Inspector Broham informed the Bench these petty larcenies were on the increase, in fnot quantities of wood were also missed and the prosecutors to prevent further depredations engaged a watchman who oap j tured the prisoner. —Sentenced to one month's imprisonment -with hard labor.—Michael Ryan and Michael Burke were charged by Edward Wilson with stealing a pair of boots and a cloth. —Prisoners pleaded guilty.—The Bench sentenced the prisoners to one mouth's 1 imprisonment with hard labor.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS

fFKoat ova own co-respondent.l

THE THAMES.

THIS DAY,

THE CALEDONIAN

GOLDEN CKOWN CRUSHING

NBW RICH FIND AT TAEARU

GIU-HAMSTOWF, 3 p.in

Another lob or' ricli stone has been taken out of the Caledonian mine. Shares cannot be had at £18. The Golden Crown have crushed 100 tons this week, the result being 4t>o ounces. New May Moon—46 tons yielded ninety ounces. A new find is reported at Tavaru, about two miles beyond the Vulcan lease. A lease has been applied for to-day. The prospects are described aa very rich, a quantity of loose gold having been washed from the reef.

THE SOUTH.

[\TA TAITRA.XOA..]

r<liu;viLLE's TRLKQitAM Company, Neuter's

AOENTH.]

CnRiSTcnuRCH, Thursday, Feb. 2. SELWYN ELECTION. Reeves, 102; Stevens, 101. EASTERN MAORI DISTRICT. N.APIEK, Thursday, February 2, 2.50 p.m. The nomination for the Eastern Maori dis trict took place yesterday. Karaitiana and Henare Mafcua wera proposed. The show of hands were in favour of Karaitiana. No poll was demanded, and Karaitiana was declared duly elected.

KELLY DEFEATED WHITCOMBE AT TARANAKI.

JHJNEDIN SYNOD.—LETTER FROM AKCIIJ3TSHOP OF CANTERBURY. .

THE ELECTIONS AT OTAG-0

MORE CASES OF SCARLATINA,

SHIPMENT OF KEKOSENK FOR

AUCKLAND

TARANAKI VIA PATE A

(From the " Herald.")

JaXUART 30.—1 n the election for the town of New Plymouth Mr. Kelly defeated Whit combe. Tlih numbers polled wore —Kelly, 105; Whitcombe, 38.

DUNEDIN

February 2. —The Episcopal Fynod opened yesterday. The Primate acknowledged there ceiptof a communication from the Archbishop of Canterbury, calling into question the Pri mate's right to administer the See of Dunedin. The Primate defends the right on two grounds, which he considers sufficient. ITe allows the mutter to stand for the impartial judgment of the Synod, and ho considers it necessary that the Diocese of Dunedin should be entrusted to the immediate charge of a Bishop.

LATER.

Thomson's majority at the Clutha election was 100. — Maeandrew has consented to stand for Port Chalmers, and it is understood that he will be returned without opposition.—Beid is opposed at Taieri by Tolmie, the late Super intendent, and a close contest is expected.— Another fatal case of .scarlatina has occurred, and the child's keeper has been placed in quarantine, for the protection of Ihe inhabi tants. —At Oaumrn, Stewart, the local candi date and a protectionist, is opposed by Macassoy. The contest is very exciting.— The Lord Aihley has sailed for Auckland with 210 oases kerosene for Henderson and Miicfjirlnne, and 125 cases Must, and Co.

AUSTRALIA.

[Grkvim.e's Telegram Company, Kkittrii'h

AOENTS.I

ARRIVAL OF THE TARARUA AT THE

BLUFF.

LATEST MARKETS

MELBOURNE VIA BLUFF

February 2. —The Tararua has arrived from Melbourne. Her dales are to the 28th of January.—Breadstuff's firm, £14 ss. to £14 15s. Wheat is in short supply.

ADELAIDE.

Wheat, 49. 7M. lo 4s. Bd.

Mr. Trevolyan, M.P., has, a contemporary is informed, lately received anonymous letters of an offensive character, written apparently by persons of education, and conversant with military details. These have now begun to contain very significant throats of personal violence. A narrow escape from fire occurred in G-ra hamstown at an early hour yesterday morning. Constable Walker states that at about a quarter past, two o'clock he noticed fire burn ing under the Roso and Crown Hotel, Albert and Pollen-streets. He immediately roused the inmates, and the fire was soon extinguished. It was caused by some of the coal which had got down between the bricks of the fireplace and sot fire to the wood below. Mr. Brown, who occupied the hotel, states that ho wont to bod about eleven o'clock, leaving, as ho thought, no fire in the fireplace.— Advertise)*, Fobruary 3,

MEETING IN PITT-STREET PRES BYTERIAN SCHOOL-ROOM.

Mb. Q-times met the electors of the City West in the Pitt-street school-room, fit eight o'clock last night. On the motion of Mr. Hobbs, Mr. T. B. TTill was called to the chair. The Chaihhax said he would not detain the meeting, as the candidate for their suffrages was well able to speak for himself. Some advice had been given by Mr. Swanson, from which he (tho chairman) took leave to dissent. That advice was, that the electoi-3 should not send down to Wellington j persons opposed to the present financial policy; that the carrying out those great measures should be left to their originator only. He (the chairman) thought that of all other men, tho men who were op opposed to a dangerous policy were the men to prevent the ruin that might be occasioned by it. There was another matter of which he would remind the electors, and that was that the present was the proper time for making the applica tion to have their names on the electoral roll.

Mr. Gillies next eanie forward, and said he called the electors together for the purpose of stating his views upon political subjects. He did so in accordance with a promise he had given that he would, from time to time give an account of his stewardship. * The time, he believed, had come when they should elect their representatives, not because they belonged to one or other " set "of per sons. There had been too ranch of that sort of thing. No doubt the representatives they had hitherto elected were highly respectable men ; very excellent men and good meo-bers of society,' but might not in all cases have been the men 'to guide the policy of the co lony, or take charge of the interests of the people. He did not ask the electors to choose him because he was Superintendent. If they had no better reason for their choice than that, they ought not to elect him. His opinions were pretty well known to the electors. He would, for the benefit of those who hud not gone into the matter state them again. jS'ow, as to the financial policy —it was no longer a scheme, it was law. If the proposals were well carried out it might be well, but if not, the colony was ruined. He had his all in the colony, and he believed most of those who heard him had their all in New Zealand too. Let them just think what would be the history of this money. A good per-centage would, probably, go to expectant engineers ; a good deal to contractors ; a good deal would, no doubt, be expended upon really good work ; and a good deal in making railways from nowhere to no where. Let them now see what they had to pay. On the first million they would have to pay £60,000; and so increased every year until they had to pay the £600,000 a-year for the ten millions. Well, they had to pay £600,000 a-year on loans existing at present. Now how was this new interest to be paid ?

A Voice : Out of the principal. Mr. Gitjlies: Exactly; it would be paid out of the principal. And that was the history of New Zealand finance for some yeaiv. They hud been paying interest, out of principal. And next came the question of the native department. Now, he believed that was the largest element of cost in the Government. Ue would sweep that away at once. He be lieved that all the disturbances hadl occurred through the native department. When he heard of the murder of such men ;is poor Todd at Pirongia, bis blood boiled over that the Government, did not take action ; i.hat they should tell people to wait awhile and sec what they would do : and people waited awhile, and nothing was done. It were better to be even thrashed into manhood than that they should for ever sit down under this Maori terrorism. He spoke in the presence of many old settlers, and they who could correct him if he did not speak truthfully, and he would say that no instance was on record of any disturbance arising j from the action of the settlers. Then there could be a good saving upon the revision of the Civil Service Act. He thought also imprisonment for debt should be abolished. It was a relic of a barbarous age. If a man lived extravagantly ; iT he ob tained goods improperly ; if he neglected to show that he had acted properly and honestly, then let him be punished for fraud or some other offence, and not merely because he was in debt. As to the bankruptcy laws, he feared they operated as an encouragement to some persons to get; vid of scruples of con science as well as of debts. A man houestly-disposed would have a determina tion that; no man should be a loser by him but by the aid of the bankruptcy laws he threw over those feelings. It. might do well to abolish the recovery for debts under £20. If that were done, people would give small credits only to those whose characters they knew. Debts would then be regarded as debt.s of honor, and debts of honor were the best paid debts. They could then do away with a great number of resident magistrates, and resident magistrates' clerks. That part of the cost of government would be caved. Coming b ick to the Civil Service Act, he would give an instance how it worked. He woiild not mince a matter which had come to his knowledge. Mr. Tracy Kemp was a pen-sionor ; well, Mr. Kemp was sent up by the Government to the Bay of Islands to contest the seat there against Mr. Carleton. Thus the pensioners were assumed to be at the bidding of the Government when ever th«y were wanted. (Cries of " Shame ! shame!') —[Mr. Gillies then proceeded to explain his views upon Protection v. Free trade, which he did in nearly the same terms as those used at the previous meeting*.] A question was put to him whether lie would be prepared to table a motion in favour of the arresting the murderers of Todd by force, if necessary. *

Mr. Gillies replied that he was not aware whether a warrant under the ordinary legal process had been issued. He would not be; disposed to make any movement, until he was prepared to do it successfully. Btit every effort he could use would be used for the pur pose of bringing the murderers to justice. Several questions relating to a revision of the tariff, wure answered in (he same terms ' as those put to him at tho meeting at the j Mechanics' Institute. j

A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Gillies for his courtesy in coming to explain his views 5 also, a vote of thanks to Mr. T. B. Hill, chairman,

WORKING MEN'S PROTECTION SOCIETY.

AH open-wr meeting of members of the aW society wns held last evening on tlia Tt. Hill. Shortly after seven o'clock brtw"** hundred and fifl.y and two hundred rW were present, and Mr. Colson was calledZ' to take the chair. In opening the »JJ ings Mr. Colson explained the object of * meeting, which, he said, was of a two foil character. Firstly, to explain the nature" an Ji objects of the society. Secondly, torefut certain charges which had been made again.? the society in the columns of the Even Star, and to take the opinion of tho meetL? whether legal pro&icdingshould botakenaoaiJ! the writer of that article.—Mr. Forrest" the addressed the mceling. Ho explained th objects of the association, after which he pro. ceeded to speak of the article which appeared* in Monday's Evening Star, Legal opinion had been taken as to the nature of that article, and it had been pronounced to he of a libellous chnracter, and it was for them to say ' whether or not they should proceed against the writer. The statements contained in the article were of a most scurrilous nature, attack ing as they did a body of unemployed work ing men, whose only object was to protiiote their interests, and the welfare of working men generally. He did not wish to be, called a house-burner, and he could tell' the writer of the article in question that if he had been in some countries he would have suffered for the cowardly way in which lie bad attacked the members of the association. With regard to taking pro- ' ceedings, the lawyers would not commence action unless the full amount of fees was deposited in their bands. His own opinion was that the money might be much better expended, and that they ought to treat the writer of the article in the Star, and the Star ix itself, with the contempt which it deserved.— Mr. O'Hanoran next; addressed the meeting on tho same subject, and read the article, which ~. called forth groans and hisses.—Mr. Tomlinson, Mr. Simpson and Mr. Wrigley spoke in the ( same strain, saying it was unfortunate that the society had been formed at the present juncture, when the fires were co numerous and were fixed upon them.. They denied all knowledge and complicity in such fires, and said that if any of the members of the society : in any way misbehaved themselves, or held out threats of any kind, they would be imme diately expelled, or even handed over to the police should their threats os actions be of an outrageous character.—There were loud calls for Mr. George Staines, who was present at the meeting, to make a speech, but for sometime • that gentleman declined. At length, how ever, being pressed, he came forward and made a few observations. He said he was a working man himself, and had been bo all his life. He had great faith in Working Men's Societies ; they were a means of doing | much good. But it was useless their trying !: to regulate the number of hours a man should work, or the amount of wages he should re ceive. These things were regulated by the question of supply and demand, and the laws in this respect were unalterable. His own opinion was, that when a man was hard up, and bad nothing to do, and a wife and children to keep, it would be far better for him to takeja half crown, or even a shilling a-day, than to be loafing about doing nothing. They might depend, upon it that good times would again return, and then they would be able to demand good wages. With regard to the article that '■.}■ had been read from the Star, he was certainly surprised that any writer should accuse a body of unemployed working men to be a gang of incendiaries for the crime of one or two men, if crime there was ; and, for his own part, he was not at all sure that the fires were the work of incendiaries. In conclusion, he ex-. horted them to pull together—to take the work at any price—and they might rely upGn it that they would receive tbe sympathy and support of the great body of the public—Mr. Wetton, the President of the Society, then addressed the meeting, "and went over a good deal of the ground traversed by the other S£>eakers. —Ultimately, several resolutions were put to the meeting, and it was resolved, on the motion of Mr. O'Hanora.u, to summon the writer of the article in the Star before the Magistrate, and demand an ample apology, or in default of sh apology, to press the matter to tho Supreme Court. The meeting then dispersed in an orderly manner. The proceedings through out were of a very temperate character.

Speaking of the loyalty of fcbe Colonies, Mr. R. A. Macfie, in a letter to the Times say's:—, rr " The loyalty of the Colonists has shone'fortb, I as it was sure to do, since the possibility of^ * the Mother-Country being involved in &c°n" tinental war became known to them." Hfl then gives short extracts from the latent .;■ Australian aul North AniericaTi papers whicn " show that loyalty, and further indicate exj pectations and. claims deserving earnest heed; and in conclusion says :—"The last fortnight furnished, most cogent arguments for sonw. | movement on the parf. of our rulers to direct and employ the loyalty and strength that ;>; these extracts recognise,'and to endeavour to .j| knit the empire together iv harmony .wit* actual circumstances and wants. It is obvious ■ that no time should be lost. There axe - individuals at work to accomplish severance j from the mother country. Even to whom Australia owes much, has publuDW . | a book with the following unpleasant ft"a M ominous title:—'-The Coming Eveufc;or'J Freedom and Independence for the, Seven.- United Provinces of A-ustralia.' HapW. • State may be free and independent wJiue. federated. The mother country desires.no less worthy consolidation of the emp™- j Sucli consolidation will be strength." The other day a coachman residiug win j gentlemen near Keswick received a telegC^_ j announcing; that his uncle had died, 1^ TI I j him a mansion and grounds, and a fortune £40,000. {^y

THE EVENING faTAH, EJEjBRUAUY 4, 1871.



r— —— =— i : r=r:M l I "O OE TAUBANfpy /JJ^^K^v'i.'he Cutter 3JSISS 'MART ELIZA,'J.^ • D. Ssxlars, Master, will sail as above, THIS {&W j day) EVENING. M NICCOI,' , | . Age"'- v TEN SHILLTNaS EEWABD- , } » , 1 LOST -An AUSTRALIAN | Whoever returns the f? me..^ Bbo rt Qttken's Fbbky Hotel, will receive m" reward. ,