SHIPPING.

PORT OF AUCKLAND

SUNSET.—This evening, 4.58. HIGH "WATER. —This evening, 7.31

STEAMERS FOR THE THAMES THIS EVENING.

Royal Alfred, 6 o'clock. Lady Bowen, 8 o'clock.

DEPARTURES.

Puke of Edinburgh, p.s., Farquhar, for "Wangar&i. Maty Eliza, cutter, Sellers, for Tauranga.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

London. —Wild Duck and Alexandrina,

early. Honolulu— Nebraska, August 10. SouTHEBN Pobts—Taranaici, early, Sydney—James Paterson, early. ■Wangantji—St. Kilda, to-morrow. Napieb—Nebraska, early.

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Nebraska, p.s., from Honolulu James l'aterson, s.s., from Sydney. Countess of Kintore, ship, from London. Baefc Lothian, barque, from New York via

Sydney. Alice, barque, from London. Kate, barque, from Sydney G-oahead, s.s., from Taranaki. Napier, s.s., from Napier. Novelty, barque, from Sydney. Saucy Lass, schooner, from Lyttelton. Fairy, schooner, from Kaiapoi. Colonist, schooner, from Kaipara.

VESSELS IN HARBOUR.

Keefa, s.s., laid-up. Samson, p.s., laid-up. Alexandrina, ship, from London, L. D

Nathun & Co., agents. Excelsior, ship, from London.—Brown,

Campbell & Co, agents. Wild Duck, ship, from Timaru, Henderson

and Macfarlane, agents. Albion, barque, from Russell, L. D. Nathan

and Co., agents. Briton, barque, from Newcastle.—Hender-

son and Macfarlane, agents. Excelsior, schooner, from Samoa, Combes

and Daldy, agents. Na Noba, schooner, from Fijis.—J. S. Mac-

farlane, agent. Frowning Beauty, barque, from Newcastle. Henderscn & Macfarlane, agents. Moa, brig, from Sydney. J. S. Macfarlane,

agent. Tawera, schoonar, from Poverty Bay.—J.

S. Macfarlane, agent. Meteor, ichooher, from Napier.—M. Niccol, agent.

The p.s. Nebraska is expected from Hono lulu this erening or to-morrow. The schooner Meteor having been unavoid ably detained by the weather, will sail for the East Coast on Friday next. The p.». Luna took her departure for Tauranga, Napier, and "Wellington, at 2 p.m. to-day, with the following passengers :—Capt. Machell and family, Mrs. Gill and family, Colonel St. John and son, Mr. H. Wrigg, Mr. Lord. She also takes 4 horses, 2 carriages, and a quantity of furniture, &c, for his Excellency the Governor. The s.s. Keera, which has been lying on the western side of the wharf for some time, drifted a considerable distance down the •tream during last night, but fortunately Bnstaiucd no damage. The s.s. James Paterson was to leave Sydney for this port on the IB^h in'st., and may be expected about the 21st inst.

COMMERCIAL

Evening Stab Office, Tuesday afternoon. Messrs. Arthur and Son, report having sold by auction to-day t Potatoes, 3s 4^ to 3s lid ; onions, lid to lfd j barleymeal, 7s per 100 lbs.; oats, 3s 3d per bushel; barley, 2s 6d per busbel; bacon, 8d per lb.; apples, lid to Bd.

CALLS AND DIVIDENDS LIST.

The following are the current calls and divi dends payable in the companies named be low :-~

THE MAILS,

Mnits will olose as under :— for Thames, this day, at 4.30 and 5.30 p.m., and to morrow, at 10.30 and 3.30 p.m. For Newcastle, N.8.W., per Briton, to-morrow, at 11 ».m., and per Frowning Beauty, at 1 p.m. For Rnasell, per Tawera, to-morrow, at 11 a.m. For London (Wrect), per Wild Duck, to-morrow, at

5 p.m. For Rnsaell, etc., per Leonidas, to-morrow, at 3 p.m. For Kapinga, etc., per Lalla Jttookh, on Thursday, 19th hist., at 10.30 a.m. yor Russell, etc., per Duke of Edinburgh, on Thurs-

day, 10th inst.,at 3 p.m. For Wanganui, per 8.8. St. Kilda, to-morrow, at 9 a.m. Eate letters and telegrams for transmission from the "Wangamii station will be received at this office till 0.30 a.m., and at Onehunga till 10.30 a.m. For Tarantrid and Southern Provinces, per s.s. Tara • nakl, immediately after arrival of p.s. Nebraska from Honolulu. ' Fer Napier and Southern Provinces, per p.s. Nebraska, sjx hones after her arrival from Honolulu. S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

The Evening Star.

TUESDAY, JULY 18, 1871

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

It is beyond question that the prin ciple of vote by proxy is strictly just, in theory, but it is equally unquestion able that in practice it is unjuotin the extreme. The present annual meet ings in connection with the various Highway Boards, as all previous ones, have demonstrated this to the satisfac tion of the most sceptical; and next to the scrip market, we do not know anything in our institutions that more conduces to deteriorate the principles of the community than this annual opportunity afforded to people of overreaching and being overreached by one another. There is a consciousness on the part of most people that the collection of proxies is a dishonest proceeding, and we think most of those who indulge in this practice to an extreme extent are very considerably lost to shame. That there is frequently a quid fro quo given for a proxy by those who have important purposes to eft'ect is pretty well known ; and the abundant facilities that are afforded for the actual purchase of proxies are sufficient to damn the system in the estimation of decent people. That a man. is, in all equity, entitled to have his interests represented at a meeting for the imposition of taxes and the election of adminis trators of these taxes, where he him self is necessarily absent, is scarcely to be questioned. But this is a very different thing from the disreputable practice of collecting proxies to over ride the wishes of those who have no special purposes of tboir own to serve. We shall not specify any particular district in which sucli scandals have been, or are about to be perpetrated. In some of the elections that have just taken place persons have presented themselves to vote, with their hands literally full of these documents obtained by plausibla representations, and probably even more questionable means; aud, from what we have heard, we believe that some Highway meet ings yet to coihe will be conducted with even :i nioro remarkable applica tion of tl'e ayntoin of proxy. Jt is really time that this system, as at pre sent convicted, should be painted in its irun colours, and that the man who comes so fortified by proxies, pre viously obtained, as to swamp the gene ral wishes of the ratepayers, should be branded as dishonest, and regarded aa intending to eft'ect selfish and im proper purposes which-would not be tolerated by ratepayers. The abuse of proxies, as at present developed in tiiis province, is of the most flagrant kind, and, in the absence of any better means of correcting it, we would advo cate that the names of the holders of an excess of proxies at any or these elections should be published, and that they should be held up to be pointed at by all honest men.

DEPUTATION TO HONOUR THE SUPERINTENDENT

A deputation consisting of jtlessrs. Firth, Aitken, William Auckland, j. 8. Macfarlane, F. ScberfF, Thomas Kussell, and George William Graham, waited upon bis Honor the Superintendent at noon to-day. They presented a numerously-signed petition from the inhabitants of a certain portion of tbe Waikato, praying that the terminus of the railway might be altered from Tuakau to Mercer. His Honor explained to the deputation the action taken by the General Government in this matter, with' which tbe deputation appeared to be satisfied.

NEW ORGAN FOB. ST. PAUL'S. We are glad to hear that a movement has been originated for the purchase of a new organ for St. Paul's Church. The col lection on last Sunday was for this pur pose, and a fair amount was obtained as a nucleus of a fund. It will not be cre ditable to the wealthy members of the Church of England in this city if the least difficulty is felt in making up the required amount. The aspect of the building that at present serves as the Cathedral Church is, indeed, not very prepossessing, and we have no doubt that in time a proper spirit will animate the members of the most in fluential and wealthy communion, to rear on the splendid site of St. Paul's an edi fice worthy of the Church of England. But, in the meantime, we trust that the present appeal will meet with a liberal re sponse, and that an instrument fitted to lead the service of praise will soon adorn the organ gallery of St. Paul's.

Are there no " Caledonians" among the worshippers at St. Paul's ? Surely there must be some who can do for the Church of England what Mr. Crombie is every where doing for the Presbyterian Church ? Instead of being urged and dunned, ac cording to usage in such cases, Mr. Crombie has gone to the pains of finding out where his Church most required his benefactions, and has voluntarily offered and given most liberal contributions. We could mention other " Caledonians " to whom the same communion is similarly indebted for an extreme and generous liberality. And surely, of the numbers belonging to the Church of England who have benefited by the extraordinary yields of the Caledonian, there are some whose feelings might prompt (hem to some such " thank offer ing." Surely, the Church, of England will not be put to the blush for her niggardly and unworthy sons by the generous liberality evinced by the adhe rents of other communions. There is many a one connected with that Church who should be proud of the opportunity of showing his attachment to his church, and his acknowledgment of the gifts of Providence, by purchasing and presenting an organ to 6t. Paul's, and leaving the contributions already received to go to other purposes connected with the cathe dral. It is not too much to expect this, and it will afford us great gratification to record jts occurrence.

FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE THAMES.

Yesteeday morning the workmen at Tookey's mine, on descending the shaft to work, found the body of a man, with the neck brokea, on one of the levels. The remains proved to be those of a man named Gilbert Seymour Hal), known orer three years in tho district. It is supposed that he must have fallen down the shaft on Saturday night, when on his way home, in the direction yf the Moanatairi. An inquest was being held yesterday afternoon, at which the following was the principal evidence given :—William Phillips, sworn, deposed : I am a miner, residing in Graharas town. Between six and seven o'clock this, morning I and my mate Morrison wont down Tookey's shast to start work. When we got nearly to the 100-feet level 1 remarked to my mate, "Jack, some one has knocked out the air-shoot," perceiving that the small air-shot, which crossed the saft, was gone. When we got to the 100-feet level we noticed that the bucket rested on something unusual. I stepped out and found deceased lying under the bucket in which, we had come down, and very much injured. He was lying curled up on his right side, witb his face looking up the shaft. We both got into the bucket and came to the surface to give information to the police. There are powerfully built doors on the top of the shaft. Without these doors being opened no one could get down the shaft. Should the doors be lefr. open, I am not aware whether anyone is left to watch them. There are watchmen on from Saturday night until Monday morning. Thero was no work going on in the shaft ou Saturday night to necessitate leaving these doors open. We knocked off work some, time between six and seven o'clock on Satur day evening. The deceased, to my know ledge, had no business connected with the shaft. When we left at seven o'clock on Saturday uiy mate closed the hatches on tho brace, and also the door on the landing. Any person can open the door by pulling it towards him; having opened the door, a step forward would precipitate him down tho shaft. Tho door was closed when I and my mate came to work this morning.

MOUNT ROSKILL HIGHWAY DISTRICT.

The annual meeting of ratepayers of this dis trict was held yesterday, at the Prince Albert Inn. Jilpsom. The chair was taken by Mr. Joseph May. The Treasurer laid a statement of the accounts up to the 30th June before the meeting. The total amount of receipts was £302 os. Bd., and tho total expendi ture .£298 Os. Id., leaving a balance of £4 os. 7d. A rate of one penny in the £ was levied, after which the meeting proceeded to the election ,of trustees. The five following gentlemen were elected: — Messrs. T. Cleghorn, J. May, J., Hayr, A. Dornwell, and J. Westlake. Messrs. Cleg horn and Hayr were appointed auditors. Some discussion then took place on the sub ject of work that required to be done at once, and tho chairman of the Board was authorised to expend £30 in the repairs of certain roads, The meeting then separated.

NEWTON HIGHWAY BOARD.

The annual meeting of the ratepayers of the' above district was held yesterday morning at 11 o'clock, at the Newton Hotel. There were present Or. Wilson (chairman), G-eorge Beid, Win. Motion, F. J. Jones, Wm. Bridson, Peter McNair, I. Gribbs, and (by proxy) J. W. Duffus, A. 0. Duifus, and Anne Eliza Duffus. Mr. Wm. Bridson and Mr. P. Dignan were appointed auditora, and proceeded to audit the accounts, from which it -was shown that the total receipts for the year airouuted to £IG6 lla. Gil; total expenditure £162 9a. 10d., leaving a balance of £4 Is. 4d. The amount of rates levied for the past year was £86 19s. ' sd. During the past three years arrears had accumulated only to the sum of £13 163. 7d., consisting chiefly of very small sums.—A rate of one half penny in the pound on the value to sell was imposed, and the trustees for the past year, Messrs. Gh Wilson, W. Motion, W. F. Jones, J. Reid, and P. McNair were re-elected. The meeting then separated after a vote of thanks to the chairman

A Wonderfui; Woman. —A governess, in her advertisement, stated that she was "com plete mistress of her own tongue." '' If that's the case," said- a caustic old bachelor, " she can'fc ask too much for her semces."

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS

THIS DAY.

[from our ovrs correspondent.]

SPECIMENS FEOM THE CROWN

PEINCE

NONPAREIL IMPROVING.

BATTEEIES STOPPED FOE

WANT OF COALS

DAUNTLESS AND SINK TO EISE,

TWENTT-THIED JUNE.—SPECI-

MENS

MIDDLE STAE CEUSHING,

G-ra.hamstowh', 3 p.m

The Crown Prince have taken but some specimens from the old beach leader this morning.

The Nonpareil is improving in ap pearauce. The crushing has been stopped at the Criterion battery for want of coals. Six vessels have been lying off for the last week, unable to get near enough to discharge their cargoes. There is a great outcry against the Government for not providing wharf accommodation for the vessels. Several batteries are similarly fixed. There is nothing new from the Caledonian. The Middle Star have crushed 72 tons, taken from the, surface, which gave a splendid yield of 91 ounces. The Dauntless and Sink to Eise crushing has gone one ounce to the ton. The Poverty and Charleston are about to crush again. The Twenty-third of June Company have got. this morning about 50 lbs. good stone. The Manukau battery is full. It has been stopped for the want of coals. They are only able ti keep 30 heads going for themselves.

THE LATEST.

SALE OF CNEIIUN&A LEASE

AND BATTERY.

3.30 p.m

The Middle Star crushing, consist ing of surface stuff only, at their own battery, gave S>2 ounces from 70 tons stone. Three cwt. specimen stone and 90 lbs. of specimens have yet to be crushed. 1 The Onehunga lease aud six-huad battery were sold to-day for £120. The leader struck by the Crown Prince is small, but very good.

POLICE COURT—Tuesday

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

DEUNKKNNKS3. J. Watson, P. Gough, and A. Graham, were nach fined 10s. and costs, or to be imprisoned -18 hours, with hard labour.

Impounding Act.—P. McArthur, for allowing four pigs to escape from his pig houso, when oxecuting repairs on that build ing, was mulcted in half-a-crown and costs.

Municipal Poeice Act.—George Mo- Caslin, for a breach of the 31st clause of this Act, in acting as driver to two carts at tho same time, was fined 403. and costs ; and F. Gallagher, for a breach of the 30th clause of tho same Act, was fined in a similar amount.

Receiving Stolen Property.—o. Hughes on remand, charged with being the receiver of stolen goods, was sentenced to three months' imprisonment with hard labour.

A n Apprentice. —T. H. Mulvany was char^od with having loft his apprenticeship under J. Camp. There was no appearance of complainant, and the youth was dischargad on condition of going back to his master.

THE SHARE MARKET.

ms. J. m. lennox's bepoet.

There has been considerable activity in the share market this morning, and stocks sold realised higher rates. I have sold : —Thames, £22 10s ; Caledonian, £108 to £110. Buyers for Thames at £2,2 10s; Shotover, 7s; Caledonian, £110; Crown Prince, and Tookey. MB. J. T. GABLICK's SHAKE EEPOBT. During the morning the market was re markably dull, buyers offering £105 for Caledonian with no sellers. Since then a demand has sprung up at advanced rates, and sales have been tuado at £110 to £112 10s. I have sold Thames at £22 10s to £23 ; and Alburnia at £8.

ALBURNIA GOLD MINING COMPANY.

A genebal meeting of the shareholders of the Alburnia G.ld Mining Company was held this afternoon at the Mechanics' Institute ; Mr. Thos, Itussejl in the chair. After considerable discussion, the motion was carried to increase the capital of the company by the issue of 300 ,£lO shares ; 200 to bo given to the owners of the Ballarat Star and Clyde claims ; the re mainder to be sold for the benefit of the shareholders,

TRUE STORY OF A GHOST.—HOW TWO YOUNG PERSONS FLED FROM HIM.

QrROM TtlE " MANCHESTEB (N.H.) 3IIEHOE, NOT. IITH.] Two Portsmouth lovers one evening recently seated themselves on a stone by the roadside, near a cemetery, and, oblivious of the flight of time, remained there till the sound of the ©Id North clock striking midnight recalled them to their sensed. Afc that moment a terrible ap paritinn presented itself from the neighbouring burial-ground—the tall shadowy figure of a human being—a man, with gleaming eyes and hair on end, clothed in spotless white, with ghastly countenance, and glided noiselessly over the frosted ground. The shade ap proacHed within a few yards of the lovers, and in sepulchral tone demanded, " What are you two fools doing here ?" adding in a stern and warning roice, "You'd better be getting home!" The ghost then immediately disap peared, and the lovers made better time in obeying the warning than ever did Dexter or Lady Thorn on the racecourse, and they don't walk near the graveyard after dark any more. It may be proper to add that the Chronicle knows a gentleman who resides near the ceme tery where the ghost lives, and who, on the night in question, hearing a noise in his gar den, arose from his bed, and, arrayed only in slippers and a long white "garment," pro ceeded to drive away a marauding cow tbat was raiding on his pet cabbages. Having driven her far enough, he made a short cut. home through the graveyard, and happening to see two young folks sitting on a stone by the roadside, in the chilling night air, he for got his costume and approached to offer them some good advice, which they at once took. This was about midnight, but the gentleman in question did not see the ghost; he has no desire, however, to throw discredit on the statements of those who did see him.

COROMANDEL.

July 15. Fhv, crushing for the Eoyal Oak is, I am glad to say, turning out quite equal to the expecta tions of the shareholders. Up to yesterday, 15 tons hnd been crushed, and from the plates alone 165 ozs. of retorted gold had been taken and lodged in the New Zealand Bank. This is exclusive of what may be found in the stamper boxes when the- general cleaning up takes place. The Oak has about 100 tons in the paddock, and if it all averages at this rate, the shareholders will have a very handsome dividend to receive.

Another week has passed, and the tramway is not yet open for traffic. The delay has been very injurious to tho mining interest, but the weather has been in a great measure the cause of the delay. The last six weoks has been an unintsrrupted series of wet days, with scarcelj an interval of 8 fine one.

The New Zealand Company are preparing to place a bridge across the creek to join on to the Government tramway, and by the end of next week I expect to find this battery in full and constant work.

The Nil Desperandum battery is idle, and willbesoforsometime. The proprietors contend that if the Government make a charge for the conveyance of quartz to the mills, they are bound to deliver it, and not stop on the road and compel the mill owners to take delivery on the side of the road. There is a good deal of truth and reason in the argument, and the Government should give it some attention. Besides, the shareholders in this battery are all poor but industrious men, and have not the means of building a bridge and branch tramway, and tho Government should give them some help to enable them to carry out a work without which they will be completely ■hut up. The crushing for the Golden Belt at tho Matawai machine has come to an abrupt conclusion, from the sheer impossibility of getting tho stuff carted. Mr. Lynch carted 16 tons about six weeks ago, and then knocked off until the Tokutea wai finished. He then carted about 30 tons more, and knocked off again to cart for. the Eoyal Oak. Tho manager, after waiting the whole of the week for the teams to come out, without their making an appearance, determined to clean up, and leave the balance until a more auspicious occasion. There still remains to be crushed between 20 and 30 tons of tho best part of the stone. The result from that crushed has been 47 ozs. 11 dwts. retorted gold, including a small quantity from the poor stuff put through to ciran the plates. Tho result baa not been according to expectations, as it was expected to run at least 2 ozs. to the ton, and has barely yielded 1 or. Still, this is payable, as there is a large body of stone, and were cart ing and machine powor more readily available such a yield would give large dividends. Mr. Pidgeon, who has been for the last fifteen months manager of the Golden Belt, has been compelled to resign through ill health, to tho great regret of all the share holders. He has carried on the management of the mine in the face of great difficulties, and has proved that there is a handsome return to bo obtained for a small outlay of capital. His successor, I believe, will be Mr. Harkins, an active and able manager, and well known on the Thames.—" Herald's" Correspondent.

The Transmutation of Metals. —Tho Ger man conversion of iron into gold. "No man," said a wealthy but weak-headed barrister, " should be admitted to the bar who hadn't an independent landed property." " May I ask sir," said Curran, " how many acros make a "wise-aoro."

Soliloquized.—A servant girl who had nst been admonished by her mistress to be very careful in "washing up" the best tea things, was overheard shortly afterward?, in the back kitchen indulging in the following soliloquy, while in the act of wiping the sugar basin : "If I was to drop this 'ere basin, and was to catch it, I s'pose I shouldn't catch it; but if I was to drop it, and wasn't to catch, I reckon I just should catch it."

The Heioht of Politeness.—Mr, Henry Beneck, of Chicago, left a note for the coroner, explaining that his suicide was an act of considerateness for his wife, who was " in great want of another good husband."

A Mrs. Hannah Jones piously raised a tablet to the memory of tho departed Jones who had been a hosier, the inscription on which, after recording his many virtues, wound up with the following couplet :—

" He left Ills hose, his Hannah, and his love, To go and sing Hosannah in the i^alms above."

WhileWoinbwcU's menagerie was at Leices ter a few days ago, a lioness gave birth to three line cubs, which the proprietor christened respectively " The Princess Louise," " Marquis of Lome," and " Duke of Argyll," There is a man in New York so lazy that he has an artist hired by the month to draw breath with a pencil. 'There is another man whose memory is so short, that it only reaches to bis knees, consequently he never payß for his boots.

The Melbourne Age says:—"No less tbaa sixty men we employed destroying the rabbits on the station of the late Mr. J. Culvert, near Colac. The men haye to stop all the burrows, and destroy the vermin; they are not allowed to sell or use the rabbits in any -way." The annual meeting of the ratepayer! of the Waiuku Highway District will be held on the 29fch instant, at the Agricultural Hall, Wwuku. '

THE GAZETTE OF SOCIETY.

(PEOM THE "PALL MALL GAZETTE. ) We have, it must be admitted, some curious specimens of catcliponny literature in London, but; none of them can oe com pared for a moment as foolometers witu a paper started in New York under the title or Our Society. This amazing pro duction is entirely devoted to the circula tion of small-talk and tattle, and it must be more satisfactory to gossip-mongers than any other broad-sheet of the kind hitherto devised from the fact that it gives without reserve the names and addresses of the people with whose affairs it is con cerned. Here, for example, are a few extracts from the first column of Our Society: —" Mrs. Theodore Moss, of Twenty-first street,wears the most elegant, costly, and elaborately-worked set of coral jewellery owned in this country." " The most princely and liberal entertainer in this ■ country, beyond question, is Mr. John F. Chamberlain." And so on through a broad page, the looks, the ac complishments; the prospects, and fascina tions of hundreds of ladies and gentlemen are neatly and succinctly. prepared for conversation. We learn that in " our metropolitan society the Misses Pike,^ as favorites, have few rivals." " Where," it is inquired, " where does the handsome Captain Moore spend his evenings ? His company is much missed by the Brooklyn Club." All sorts of special characteristics are referred to by Our Society. Beneath the inscription " Brooklyn Personals," the world of fashion is informed that "The Hon. ffm. C. Dewitt delights in playing tag with his lady friends.' The second page of Our Society starts off with a letter from Washington, composed in much the same vein as the famous cor respondence which won so high a reputa tion in French politics for the Daily Telegraph. The ladies of Pennsylvania A.venue are rivalling nature in-the autumnal tints of their dresses. "President and Mrs. Grant walk about their grounds with a satisfied glad-to be-back air, as if home is still ' sweet home' even though it be the White House." An hotel list is then published, and is followed by an account of "The Female Normal College." One division of Our Society seems not to be in accordance with the candour of the general scheme of the organ. A corner devoted to "Chips" contains such mysterious items of information as—" Nobby Bobby Boyd's Fall garments are correct. Slokes was star-gazing and independent last Sunday. Birnaby Johnson wears four lockets on his chain. Too many, JJirnie, by three! George Powers was nego-' tiating for some raiment." Our Society subsequently proceeds to review the equipages of the upper ten under the heading of horse, waggon and o'vncr. Mr. H. W. Gray, of Twenty first-street, is driving a pair of blacks to a pbseton. He generally has two footmen. Fire Commissioner J. Galway makes the dust fly with a pair of sorrel marcs which can trot in 2.45 together. Mr. David Pearsall has several fast teams. When he drives Bashan and Belle Pearsall few leave him behind." In a leading article the con ductor boast that the " corps of editors and contributors already engaged includes the best writers in this peculiar field to be had in this country." " There is not a line," he continues,' " but what is original," and then he makes the odd and very misty declaration : " Every paragraph is from the pen—written within the last five days—and practical, society and pastime news." We go on to take a survey of the theatrical sphere. George Clark is the handsomest male in Wallace's company. The handsome McKee Rankin has been presented with a twelve-pound baby by his charming wife, Kitty Blanchard. Wo have gentlemen of the press among us who do not disdain to repeat the toilettes of brides, the breeches of an under sheriff's, footman, and the quality of sacrificial meats and wines of the wedding breakfasts to whose side tables they are invited ; but their manner of discharging their exalted functions is cold and weak when contrasted with, the deep awe, the eloquent enthusiasm, with which the fuss and feathers of a New York marriage inspires a contributor to Our Society. Space, however, will not permit us to dwell oh the beauties of picturesque description which are lavished in this department of the paper. We at the last sheet—"New York Journalism—the great metropolitan work houses of the mind—personnel of the men who collect the news —short sketches of the editors and reporters of the Sun —an astonishing exhibit of energy and enter prise." Hereupon ensues the most in timate disclosures as to the wardrobes, the noses, the wives, the salaries, thp. residences, the virtues, the vices, of the journalists of tlie Sun. The city editor of the Sun is nearsighted, and cooks his meals on a gas-stove. Dr. J. B. Wood is so expert at his business of contracting news that his friends know himas the great, American condenser. Ambrose Stephens, sporting writer, dyes his hair and whiskers and always wears a cassimere hat and leg gins. John Mahon, a police reporter, "is about 50 years of age and gouty. He is a poet, is married, and has a ,s:row_n-up family of daughters, one of whom is an actress. ... He is an Irish, man, but has been a long time in this country, and is splendidly educated." " Willie Walton is one of the Brooklyn reporters. He is a natty little body, with long hair, and wears diamond shirt-studs, velvet coats, and broad-leaved hats. Oliver Dyer, the author of ' The Wickedest Man in New York,* writes up the heavier sensations. He is tall, with peculiar yellow hair and whiskers, about 50 years of age, and married. He also answers correnpondents in the Ledger, and writes for the magazines, besides 'preach ing the Christian religion according to Swedenborg.' " " General Cluseret," we are finally instructed, "and Bull Run Eussell are under salary, and their expenses are paid to telegraph special news to the Sun from the war in Europe." Such is* Ow Society—the latest enter prise in New? York journalism. It should serve as a warning to those of our own papers who employ a London " rumourist" to put his large ears to the key-holes and to saturate his weekly chronicle with the lees and dregs of the gossip of the club smoking-rooms into which he has procured admittance. Our Society at least possesses the full courage of an idea that has had its attractions for nianv editors and proprietors of journals else where, and distances the hesitating con sephons of our home Jenkins or Paul Pry,

THE SIAMESE KING'S HAREM.

Most of the women who composed this harem were of gentle blood—the fairest of the daughters of Siamese nobles, and of princes of the adjacent tributary states, the late queen consort was his own half sister. Besides many choice Chinese and Indian girls, purchased annually for the royal harem by agents stationed at Peking, Foo-chou, and different points in Bengal, enormous sums were offered, year after year, through " solicitors" at Bangkok and Singapore, for an Englishwoman of beauty and good parentage, to crown the collection ; but when I took my leave of Bangkok, in 1868, the coveted specimen had not yet appeared in the market. The cunning commissionaires contrived to keep their places and make a living by sending his majesty, now and then, a piquant photograph of some British Nourmahal of the period, freshly caught, and duly shipped in good order for the harem; but the goods never arrived. Had the king's tastes been Gallic, his requisition might have been filled. I re member a score of offers from French demoiselles, who enclosed their cartes in billets more surprising and enterprising than any other " proposals" it was my office to translate. But his whimsical majesty entertained a lively horror of French iutiigue, whether of priests, consul, or lionnes, and stood in vigilant fear of being beguiled through one of these adventurous sirens into fathering the innovation of a Franco-Siamese heir to the throne of the celestial Phrabatts.

The king, as well as most of the principal members of his household, rose at five in the morning and immediately partook of a slight repast served by the ladies who had been in waiting through the nit;lit; after which, attended by them and his shtcrs and elder children, he descended and took his station on a long strip of matting, laid from one of the gates t through all the avenues to another. On his Majesty's lelt were ranged, first, his children in order of rank; then the princesse?, his sisters; and lastly, his concubines, his maids of honor, and their slaves. Before each was placed a large silver tray containing offerings of boiled rice, fruit, cakes, and the seri leaf; some even had cigars. A little after five the Patoon Dharmina ♦" (" Gate of Merit," calW by the populace " Patoo "Boon") was thrown open and the atnazons of -the guard drawn up either side. Then the priests entered, always by that gate, —one hundred and ninety-nine of them escorted on the right and left by men armed with swords and clubs, —and as they entered they chanted : " Take thy meat, but think it dust! Eat but to live, and to know thyself, and what thou art below! And say withal unto thy heart, 'tis earth I eat, that to the earth I may new life impart." Then the chief priest, who led the procession, with downcast eyes and lowty mien, very simply pre sented his bowl (slung from his neck by a cord, and until that moment quite hidden, under the robes of his yellow robes) to the. members of the royai household, who of fered their fruHs and cakes, or their spoons fall of rics or sweetmeats. In like manner did all his brethren. If by chance, one before whom a tray was placed was not ready and waiting witli an offering, no priest stopped, but all continued to advance slowly, taking what was freely offered, without thanks or even a look of acknowledgment, until the end of the royal train was reached, when the pro cession retired, chanting as before, by the gate called Duiu, or, in the court language, Prithi, " Gate of Earth."

After this, the king and all his company repaired to his private temple, dedicated by his majesty to the memory of his mother. This is an edifice of unique and charming beauty, decorated throughout by artists from Japan, who have repre sented on the walls, in designs as diverse and ingenious as they are costly, the numerous metempsychoses of Buddha. Here his mnjesty ascended alone the steps of the altar, rang a bell to announce the hour for devotion, lighted the concentrated tapers, and offered the white lotus and roses. Then he spent an hour in prayer, and in reading texts from the Phrajana Paramita and the Phra-ti-Mok-sha. This service over, he retired for another nap* attended by a (resh detail of women— those who had waited the night before being dismissed, not to be recalled for a month, or at least a fortnight, save as a peculiar mark of preference or favor to some one who had had the good fortune to please or amuse him; but most of that party voluutarily waited upon him every afternoon.

At two o'clock he rose again, and, with the aid of his women, bathed and anointed his person. Then he descended to a break fast-chambbr, where he was served with the most substantial meal of the day. Here he chatted with his favorites among the wives and concubines, and caressed his children, taking them in his arms, embracing them, plying them with puz zling or funny questions, and making droll faces at the babies; the more agreeable thp njother, the dearer the child. The love of children was the constant and hearty virtue of this forlorn tiespot. They appealed to. him by their beauty and their trustfulness, refreshed him with the bold innocence of their w ays, so frolicsome, graceful and quaint. From this delusive scene of domestic con descension and kindliness he passed to his hall of audience to consider official mat ters. Twice a week at sunset, he ap peared at one of the gates of the palace, to hear the.complaints and petitions of the poorest of his subjeots. who at no other time or place could reach his ear. It. was most pitiful to.. see the hapless, awe stricken-wretches prostrate and abject a? toads, many too terrified to present the precious, petition afte* all. At nine he. retired to his private apartments, whence issued immediately peculiar domestic bulletins, in which were named the women whose presence he particularly desired, in addition to those whose turn it was to " wait" that night.— Atlantic for August,

RELATION OF THE SEXES.

To persons interested in Mr. Darwin's latest work on Sexual Selection, we commend the following translation from the dialogues of Plato by Professor Jowett:—Let me treat of the nature aiad state of man 5 for the original human nature was not like the present, but different. In the first place, the sexes wer« originally three in number, not two as they are now 5 there web man, woman, and the union of the two, having a name corresponding to this double nature; this one had a real ex iiteace, but is lost. In the second place, the

THE EVENING STAR, AUCKLAND, TUESDAY, JULY 18, 1871.



OAIiI.9. £ Lord Cardigan ... 0 Red Queen 0 Ifary Ann 0 won , 0 Nebraska 0 Seehive 0 Jeelong 0 Jolden Calf rust in Time Sxeeliior (Coromandel)

B. 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0

a. 3 9 3 6 3 6 0 0 3 6

BATE. July 21 Jui> It July 21 July 22 Aug. ] Julv 22 Ji.!> 22 Ju!v 18 July 2E July 2G



A UCTION BUSINESS. The siAsoribßr, in addition to his usual.Sales at the CORNER MART, QUEEN-STREET, Is now prepared to CONDUCT OUT-DOOR SALES r>t GENERAL MERCHANDISE, HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, &o. Commission advantageous to Vendors, and prompt settlement. . G-EOEG-E SIBBItf, Auctioneer. An Indianian threatened suicide, and went ■down to the cellar for the purpose, as he in formed his wife. Soon th<j report of a pistol ■was heard. His wife kept right ou knitting, and after a while the man came up-gtaire grumbling that the woman hadn't got any feel ing. A Panic nr the Kitchen.—Facetious Page- "Now' then, here's the census, and tositer's ordered me to fill it up. I've put down your ages within a jear or so, and you re to 'return' your follerers, if any, how many, gnd state 'pUce on military,' fees and tips from tradesmen and wisitors 'per arm., price »'Wtcbw»t*B& »wr»ge o' breakage, &0., Ho.



AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, &o. This Evening. Prince of Wales Theatre, 8. Theatre Royal, 8. Circus, Queen-street, 8.



We have to acknowledge the receipt of the Journals of the Auckland Provincial Council for the session 1870-71. We learn that the post of Captain of the Auckland Cavalry Volunteer corps has been offered to J. M. Shera, Esq., of the firm of MeArthur, Shera & Co. A final dividend in the estate of Charles Clarke will be paid on the 27th instant to those creditors who have proved their debts before the 25th instant. Tenders are required by the Provincial Government for the construction of the Kai para Railway, between the Waitemata and Kaipara rivers. A meeting of the shareholders of the Eu reka Hill Gold Mining Company was adver tised to be held last erening, at the Grey hound Hotel, After waiting a considerable time, during which the directors and mining manager's reports were read, for the informa tion of the shareholders, the meeting was ad journed for want of a quorum. The proprietor of the Occidental Hotel ; wishes to inform the public that there are a few moro opportunities left for any person to add their name to the charitable Dime and Pin List, prior to the exhibition of that great curiosity—the two-headed calf with two tails. —[Autt.] A call of sixpence per sli;ire has been made in the Bright Simile Gk>ld Mining Company. William Kelly, of Shortlaud-street, baker, gives notice of his inability to meet his en gagements with his creditors. A meeting of persons interested in paving the footpaths in Queen-street, will be held at the Young Men's Christian Association, on Friday evening next. Abstemious.—This may be called truly abstemious. Pious Host—" Why, you're not going to.bed yet, captain ? We're going to have prayers presently." Irreverent Captain —"Yes, thanks; but I never take anything after dinner."