SHIPPING.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET.—This e-rening, 7.2. HIGH WATER. —This evening, 12.

STEAMERS FOR THE THAMES THIS EVENING.

Lady Bowen, midnight.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

London.—Countess of Kintore. early. Chat_am.lslands—Magellan Cloud, to-day. Napi_b. —Keera, 6th inst.

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Albion, s.s., from Sydney. Hero, s.s , from Sydney. __Tevad:i, p.s., frosts Honolulu. Napier, s.s., from Napier. City of Auckland, ship, from London. Ferndale, barque, from Liverpool. Briton, barque, for Newcastle. Prima Donna, schooner, from Sydney, Galatea, schooner, from Sydney.

THE COUNTESS OF KINTORE.

A' Once more this beautiful clipper is ready for M___\_t< loaded with a full andj YjUuable cargo of Z»a.n,nd 'produce. Tfie^/Wountess will " sail on Saturday i.eit, and, u*der favorable eircuißsUineee, should ar^vo home about tho middle of March. We believe she has one or two cabins still vacant And we would remind intending passengers tHht ihe opportunity of •ailing in a 6hip like the Countes3, or with a commander so popular with voyagers as Captain Petherbridge, will not occur again fop some time. '-

COMMERCIAL.

MINING.

The following are the current calls and divi dends payable in the eonapanies named be low .—

KBETIK-B TO COMB. Caledonian Mutual Mining Investment, Com pany's Office, Au^kl<u_d, December 6. Golden Diadem, Company's oalce, Grahams town, December 8/ Tokatea, Compai-W^Bce, Coromandel, Bth December / / Watchman, Company's office, Grahamstown, December-il (A. Black Afrg»l, oejapany's office, Grahamstown, December 18 V-_^ Queen of the May, Governor Bowen Hotel, Grahamstown, December 19 Cremorne, Company* office, Grahamstown, December 19 Tale of Aroca, Queensferry Hotel, Auckland, December 21 New Caledonia, Company's Office, Grahams town, December 21.

THE MAILS.

Hails will close as under : For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to-morrow, at 9.30 a.m., and 4 30 p.m. For Tauranga, per Hero, this day, at 4 p.m. For Euate, per Speedwell, this day, at 4 p.m. For^-Chatham Islands, per Magellan Cloud, this day, ats p.m. ~ For Kapanga, per Koyal Alfred, to-morrow, at 10 a. m., and per chafienger, at 3.30 p m. For Tauranga.\G-Sborne', Napier, and Southern pro vinces, per s.s Keera. to-morrow, at 1 p.m. Lata letters and telegrams ior transmission from the Tauranga station w_l bo received here till 1.30 p.m. For Gisbon_e,,per Meteor, to-morrow, at 5 p.m. For Gisborne, per Tawera, on Thursday, 7th inst., at 11 a.m. • For Russell, Ac., per Duke of Edinburgh, on Thursday, 7th inst., at 3 p.m. _, , For Taranaki and Southern Provinces, per s.s. Phoebe, immediately on arrival of Nevada. For Sydney and Australian Colouie*, per p.s. Nevada, six hours after arrival. ...... S. B. Biss. Chief Postmaster.

MARRIAGES.

BtrnHK-WHTTB.-On the 4th inst., at ht Peter s Church, Onehunga, by the "Rev. A. G. * urphae, Robert BuUen, Sub-Inspec'or N. Z. Armed i lary, to Maria Sophia, eldest daughter of the late Henry H. Jones, of Ashflel I House, Killing, County Wexford, Ireland, and widow oi thomas VVhyte, shipowner, Glasgow. Macfap.i.ane—Beg«.-Oii November 23, at Pros pect, Napier, by the Rev. G. Morice, Hobert Macfar toe, Bon of Thomas Macfarlane, E»q., of Auckland, t* M«ry Wihoa, eldest daughter of Samuel Begg, Esq.

DEATHS.

Kxox.—On December 5, 1871, Charles Knox, Esq., aged 62 years. NBWTBT.—Mrs. Thomas Nerney, Baker-street, aged U years. Sydney papers please copy^

AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, &c.

This ErjNiwe. Theatre Koyal, 8.

The Evening Star.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1871.

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

.As we have often sain, we should really like to be on the most kindly terms with the oLdemni " Agricultural League," at present intituled the "Colonists1 Protection League." But it is very difficult to observe some ot' the ideas broached at the meetings and to resist the impulse to criticism. On last Saturday evening the usual meeting was held at the British Hotel. There was much to commend in this seance, ; and we observe tliafc " the Chairman expressed his plea sure at such a profitable and pleasant meeting;" so that we are warranted in regarding the proceedings as at least an average representation of the operations and the objects of the League. As heretofore, the Press was charged with " ignorance" of the League ; but as our Leaguers are so singularly sensitive and touchy, it must be our fate to bear with any severity of remarks on their part, and take it with the utmost equanimity. We give the League, therefore. credit for knowing its objects with the most unquestionable accu racy, and we accept the proceedings of the " profitable and pleasant meet ing" as fairly stating those objects. { We find, in the lengthy report of our contemporary the Daily Southern Cross of this moruing, that " Mr. Andrews drew attention to the neces sity of taking some steps in the direction of protecting themselves against the sheep and cattle Landed from Australia and lias Southern pro vinces. * • * Mr. Maclean

said it would only be proper that some regulation of that kind should be come to ;" and proceeded to show tlie hard ship inflicted ia a case where he had come across an intruder from Canterbury Province, who was going about in this ciiy taking orders for cheese at 3id. per pound Are our Leaguers really in earnest ? ! >r are they trying to pass off a very good joke at the expense of Provincialism ? We really are afraid to say they are in earnest, for fear lest they should again charge us with " ignorance," but whether these ideas formed portion of the "profitable" or the " pleasant" at the meeting, we cannot tell. And yet there is an air of seriousness about the proceedings that prevents U8 from thinking that the Leaguers mean to be facetious. We are almost forced to the conclusion that they actually intend that the principle of " Protection" to local industry sh-uld be subjected to the reductio ad absur dum by the various provinces of the cobny protecting themselves against one another. There are few questions that have not a grotesque side, and the Leaguers have certainly discovered a ridiculous aspect to protection. But, possibly, the most singular part of this enunciation of views is the process of ratiocination by which their justice is established. The same leading member of the League to whom we have referred, defends this protection against our Southern fellow colonists on the principle of natural compensations. They have fine lands, and *we have fine waters ; they have roliiug grassy plains, and wo have fine landlocked harbours; we must even make the most of the gifts of nature, and pit our harbour accommoda tion against their superior soil. If they make profit from tho fertility of their land, we should make profit from the tranquility of our water. The argument is exceedingly ingenious -r-so ingenious indeed that it is diffi cult to see the point of it. But that does not signify ; the intention is good; aud our failing to see its con clusiveness may fairly be attributed to the ''Ignorance of the Press." But perhaps it is better to stive Mr. Maclean's argument as reported, as we are conscious that any remarks of ours may but mar its natural cogency. "In the South they had large plains of rich waving grass for very little money. There was nothing like those plains here; but they had here excellent harbours. They should do with their harbours as those people did with their j runs: they should make those using them pay "for them. That would make the two equal, and he did not think the *South could complain of their natural advantages being utilised." How this operation could be satisfac- j torily performed, was elucidated in the I course of further debate. It was | proposed that the Harbour Board j should impose the requisite protective : tariff, in Mie shape of heavy wharfage j dues; but then, unfortunately, the jurisdiction of this corporate body is circumscribed, and not only could Southern stock be landed at Mau.U kau, or at any other port, but even if all the ports were guarded they could be^brought across the frontier, travelling overland. The action of the Harbour Board was voted, 'therefore, insufficient, though i 1 was not deemed , worthy of consideration whether that Board might not have some unwilling ness to drive away cargo to the benefit of the Thames, Onehunga, and other

landing-places. "Their real remedy," I said Mr. Maclean, " Their real remedy could only be in measures carried by the General Assembly, but that could never be ao long as their representatives misrepresented them there. Mr. Olark voted against the

j tariff they wanted. If he had boon ! misinformed, and thus misrepre sented that gentleman, he was sorry; I but ha did not think he had done so " ! Erom these remarks we are onabl-dj to arrive at the intentions and objects! of the League. These aro, apparently^ to initiate legislation in the Genera' Assembly to " protect"Aurklaml pro' vince against all the other province?' of New Zealand. On obtaining '*ucf* measures, " carried by the (J-ener;; : Assembly" for the protection of th interests of the farmers of this **ut vince as against the farmers of Cante bury, this person, with hi* threepenny, halfpenny cheese, will have to be a retreat from our streets. In fact v do not see why, by these v measur' carried by the General Assembly," I should not be regarded as a crimin,. for having come up from a sister pro vince to disturb the balance of trade in the matter of cheese. There is a j breadth and a comprehensiveness in i these views of the League which jwe may now venture to say we J understand, notwithstanding the ob i tuse ignorance of which the Auck- I land Press is proved guilty, j And we have no hesitation in saying i that a memorial to the Assembly, em bodying these views of the League, laud praying for protection to Auck i land against the South, on account of our magnificent harbours, will be hailed with satisfaction by all the liberal minded in the colony, and will tend not only in the Assembly, but, throughout New Zealand, and even the world, to increase respect for pro vincial institutions. It would be doing injustice, however, to the League, if we did not further state the means suggested by which our Provincial authority miy aid the General Assembly iv this broad and ■>~ comprehensive legislation. It wan * felt lhat some special mean." should be used to prevent the influx of sheep i and cattle from the sister provinces as 1 being more deleterious even than threepenny-halfpenny cheese, and to Mr. Hamlin is due the meed - f praise for having deviaed the plan which, for ingenuity as well as generous liberal minded legislation, cannot but reflect unbounded credit on the League. "At present he thought tho only thing that could be done would be for tho .Superintendent to proclaim in the Gazette that the provinces south of Auckland were infected with disease." That this idea lias been elsewhere anplied may seem to detract from the quality of origi nality ; but this in no way lessens the credit which it reflects ou the princi ples of Provincialism or ou the League, which by tacit acquiescence with the speaker endorsed and accepted his views. The declaration by the head of the province, that pleuro pneumonia and scab are among tlie flocks and herds of the South, will afford an admirable means for placing an embargo on such imports, and compel our Southern fellow colonists to keep their naughty animals at home. Pity it is that the League do not take means to turn the pretence into a reality. N. thing would be easier for example than to intro duce scab among tlie sheep of all the Southern provinces. A paid agent of , the League might itinerate as a pur chaser of sheep, and having been pro perly provided with the requisites, he j might, while examining the wool, j ' . ]t will be unnecessary to fur- J . ther explain, a hint will be sufficient j for the League, aud we would strongly I ' recommend that immediate action j • should be taken. We beg to apologise , \ to the League for our previous " iguo j , ranee" of the noble and generous | i objects of the League ; but having now, j * as we venture to hope, got a correct j ' insight into its principles and aims, j we desire to afford it every assistance, h and, therefore, have much pleasure iv j 1 commending this effective tnearns for protecting the province against j. Southern intrusion. I •

A week or two ago we pointed out the in cohvenienceoccasioned to householders by (he water being cut off from the public fountains at irregular periods without notice being given. We are told by some who depend entirely for their supply on the fl >w from these hydrant j that the name thing has again occurred, much to their discomfort, and indeed one person said that while the flow was stopped the nearest pubic pump was under going repair. In many patts of the city tlie inhabitants are solely dependent on these public sources for their supply, and it seems only reasonable that, as they are ratepayers, either a fixed time should be appointed, or notice .houid bo yiven of the intention to cut off tlie water.

Tne poiiWard obliged todevoto a great deal of time to warning people of the institution of new by laws —such, for instance, as (lint which imposes the necessity of registering vehicles mid pajiug n fee. This is done in a spirit of kindness, and in consideration of tho fact that ■ very few people know anything at all about these new regulations, it would bn scarcely just to s.million ihein for unwitting neglect. But ii. occurs lo us that there is a much more simple, and at tho same time effectual, means of aquanling the public with these altera tions and reformations. A few dozen posters, printed at the expense of a few shillings, and j po-ied up al. (he e.»t of as many pence, would bring '.he matter prominently before the eyes of the public, and would enable our small police f.ivo to attend to their more legitimate > duties.

A! lea meeting in connection with tbo Auckland J.iM.rit Sunday-schools will be held in th' Pitt, street, school-room, at half p igt six toonorrow evening.

The class firing of Nos. 2 and 3 Companies, Auckland Kiflo Brigade, will take place to morrow morn in_< at daylight. Members ought to be at the butts as soon as there is light enough to flight the targets. A protest has been entered by No. 3 Company with regard to their disqualification ou the)occasion of the firing for tho Mayor's Cup.

* •J?" *¥ 3 ~ | | ,t rt_ .**.* ,;rof«;M ._>*t-> l fß|, e sir ■■' a <V'IO 'Ai(r to •'.) fix ing ..■'■'- ■■ ■ '•' I t.S»* ■ ;ul- As tho meeting of the City Council, held yesterday, the cutting down of Princes-street mill the upper end of Shortland-atreet, whs considered, and it was agreed to be proceeded with on the consent and co-operation of the owners o! property being obtained. Mr. George Biid that he hadn't saiii that tho dust man was drunk. The by-laws, as a iverti.. d, were confirmed, as was also the resolution for a sixpenny rate; var ou9 other by-laws we.ra considered, and some postponed. A survey and report •••'spec: ing Alton' Road was given, in, and accounts war.* n*»»—<* i . a tia __ !■■.>"* **■•■ ■- j L.i.i.l lit Ml* * .v . . .'• ' fj r? ].; ;-. - v 7: I p -. - •.. . ■- i ; ... ■;■ ■'» \A A l $4f ». c 6ee by advertisement that the breaking up farewtll ball to be given by Mrs. I_ewi a his-s been postponed till I'uead.tj' tho 19th iv. slant. Tine i_ tho twenfy-fourMi b*d that bus been given lo the pujils during the Lwel»e years that the. establishment ism bucn con urn-ted. Mr* Lewis ha.-, during this period, earned the respect and c teem ol b th parents aud. pupil*. VV\. an- sure that many will re gret iter removal. __liv lias been signally sue cessl'u! in the part, and we hope that, the future may be equally crowned with like results. As we go to press an inquest is being he'd at the Provincial Hospital ou the bo ly of tlie unknown man found insensible in the mini of Cox's (Jree* on Sunday morning. The unfor tunate ui-ui died yesterday m.ruing. The proposed immigration regulations have been laid on the t-ible of the Council. These had previously appeared in the gazette. The prices of assisted passages are : £7 10s each adult rail.; £5 each adult female; £3 each cLild above twelve. No single man a <ove 50 years of age, and no person whatever above GO years of i.ge "ill be entitled to ua assisted passage. Persons applying to the Agent- General in London must give proof of uood char icter. No promissory notes will be taken by the Government. The following are the sums expended during the year upon roads and works : —Roads and works south of Auckland, £2.354 5s 6 1 ; Great South Hoad, £2784 7s fid ; roads and works north of Auckland, i_32U_ is 91 ; Auckland harbour works, £1077 9s 5d ; miscellaneous, £2ti29 4s. The half-yearly meeting of the Mufcua Mining Investment Company was held last evening at the Young Men's Christian Asso ciation ; Mr. Green occupied tlie chair. A very satisfactory report and balance-sheet were read and adopted. The hall yearly election of directors then look place — Ale.srs. Reed, Cass, Green, and Dixon were reelected, and Messrs. Beredge, Watson, and Loggia were eleolei new directors, t-'ordinl votes of thank? were passed to tho outgoing directors. Jt was resolved that a general meeting of shareholders should bo held when the amount on each share is fully paid up (which will be in about three months time), at which tho future conduct of the society wiil b<» decided upon. Considerable discuss on took place upon tho subject of the la to secretary, Mr. Williams, and ultimately it was resolved to present him with one share fully pud up. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings. A public meeting of the Auckland Total Abstinence Society will be held this evening at the Young Men's Christian Association. The annual meeting of the Early, Closing Association will be held at the Young Men's Christian Association, to morrow evening. It will be seen from advertisement that the Choral Society's year commenced on the Ist instant, and that tickets of membership are now ready. Members are particularly re quested to attend the practices for the approaching concerts.

The high reputation Olson s tomato sauce as obtained bs a household condiment, has brought many inferior articles into the market The public are therefore warned not to be im posed upon with rubbish, but ask for Olson's genuine tomato sauce, and see that hi* name is on the bottle. "To Mr. Hans Olson.— Dear Sir, —By some mistake a bottle of your tomato sauce wa-« put, away in my house, and remained uncorked for upwards of twelve months. The same bottlo of sauce was after wards used at my o»vn table, and I found it was equally as good as when first made.—T. W. Doouin, wholes-do and retail grocer, 218, Queen-street, Auckland."—[AnvT.]

THE ENGLISH MAIL.

The steamer Nevada may be expected to arrive in harbour to-morr.nv, with the mail via California. As the Suez telegrams have not yet come to hand, the news by tie Nevada will b<i more eagerly looked for. Our usual packet, oi the C ilifornian Notes of the World will bo landed immediately on the arrival of the steamer, and delivered to subscribers in town and country.

CALEDONIAN GAMES.

! A MEKTINO. took plat!.* yesterday evening at the Drill-shed, of persons i terested in tho j getting up of (ho -New Year's Caledonian Games, [t was arranged that they should 'be held at the Albert Barracks, on the Ist j and 2nd January, under the auspices of the j Auckland Scottish Volunteers, and that the I following gentlemen should be requested to be patrons :—His Honor the Superintendent, His Worship the Mayor, Dr. Campbell, and Captain Taylor. Full particulars will, we believe, bo made public iv a fow days.

THE MAN IN COUNCIL.

[BY GEOFFRBY SOFTSAWDER, ESQ.] I T__Coun.cil.met. this day to consider the ' bu iget of the Chancellor of the Provincial i Exchequer. My friend and I made sure jtobo in attendance at an early hour. We [were not fortunate in obtaining seats. ! There a turn out of the Government 1 offices n sucli occasions. Jones, of the I chief office, expects his salary raised, and I he is present to see how his friend tlie i member for Accommodation - street j expatiates upon liis merit. Mrs. Jones |is piv.-iuit'alio, wreathed, iv smiles. And I the little Joneses are there aiso, so that the honorable Council may see that Jo_-.es i* a man and _t father, r'm.ith is then", b'lt Ins disposition is lar from merry. He lived opposite the house oi Jones's patron, who wanted a little favor from til) Government, but Smith's care of the public interest wouid not admit of it. >o *Smitli must lace right about if the Government are to not the hon. member's vote, ami Jon-'S mounts milh s seat. It' ait independent member says anything about the state of the treasury, and the efficiency of Smith, there are half-a-dozon contractors who found >mith intractable, but Joues as plastic as potter's clay. So Jones wius his wages, and Mrs. Jones and the little Joneses depart. Smith bears with alarm that " they are going to knock off" the third clerk," and Jones is now enthusiastic for economy, aud can't see tlie use tor such an officer, aud the conse quent expense to the country. There are a good many rough-looking people in tho "strangers Gallery who sympathise with Smith, for they pay taxes—and such a man as *.mith is much more likely to save their money than Joues. But they are sub-contractors — a species of animals fostered by colonial management—a sort of double lummy, half man, half master — aud eve,) they must eat their bread and hold their tongue. When.Smith is struck off, it's found there is a fourth clerk wanted in department B, and Tomkins pare gives his vote to the Government if Tomkins fits gets the billet—aud it is done. It struck three by the town clock, and the Government entered the Chamber, VV. J. Hurst. Esq., Treasurer, leading; followed closely by the Gohificld Secre tary, who was followed by the lion, the Provincial >ecretary —him the Mayor followed ; then came William, or, as some members call him, Wulliam Swanson, E-n ; followed by the H_>n. Q.C.E., the uncle ieriuatur of the Council ; the Homo rabies Ellis, Dyer, aud several members from tlie iNorth— Of tiie members of the North, yiug the public ads' reuown - How tlieir notices leap forth Wuen tlie Estimates come down. Mr. Buckland follows next —given to take the h out of his house. Erery Maclean, learned beyond mau iv the breed of e.tttle, and so greatly honoured that all the "short horus" know him. I was much -surprised that Mephis topheles was ignorant of this eminent country gentleman, but the sports of the field are not to my friend's mind, and he takes no interest in the families of Lincolns or Leioesiers. Mr. Creighton was not present, as he had none to the Lnames, where he was getting up the " materials" for anew onslaught au the Ministry. There followed a ruck -•f members — From _. lauku aud Waiuku, From Waikito beyond Drury, Aud tlie u>l 'en O.oieuiuri, ou the river known as Thames ; And from fertile Utahuhu, Where John tiordon, I assure ye, Says the f-i-uumds are all Jr.ni*. I was much puzzled at one thing [ saw, md so was my companion in quest of knowledge. It is usual in the Assembly, md ia tue House of Commons for the mace to lie in its velvet case crosswise, at he foot of the t'ible. in the place of it 1 noticed a very large black pipe, somo ihir.'g between the " cutty" kind aud that used by the aboriginal natives. But this was explained when the Provincial Secretary laid on the table the report of the experiment upon tobacco planting. I judged the experiment could not fail to be successful, by the promise afforded by tnc colour of the sample which lay beside it. _>■ early every member had something to put on the supplementary estimates, and nearly everyone bad made speeches touching the enormous weight of taxa tion. Mv penetration at the moment did not enable me at the moment to see through this apparent inconsistency. VJephistophiles informed me that most of the honorablfs had tlieir local pets who rode all kinds of hobbies in their districts. One man wanted " a bit" of a road to go by his gate; another, a bridge to enable his daughters to go to church or meeting; another wanted a ferry to enable the said fair relations to go to the captain's dance at the other side. Others wanted pretty little contracts for friends who had horses or steamboats or other means of goods carriage unemployed. All had a keen eye to the estimates for a bridge at section 1, allotment 1, no matter if allotment 35 went to Hong kong. Yet all were representatives of the people, but more particularly those who send members to Parliament to get their hands in the public money-bag. Truly we live in an ago of disinterested patriotism. iuer.' was a movement to the left to day, indicating that the portion of the Executive was lo be assailed. But it would appear that thore is no serious dis position to interfere with the present incumbents of office, i lie reason, I bav^ he.ird, is that "lhe Ministerial "screws' are so exceedingly small. I am disposed to think fchafc, though extremely small, they fit remarkably tight. It is not expected that Mount Kden will break out this session, although ifi the Gnoler's report be lias had very serious apprehensions of an eruption. The services of three war lens are required to keep the "unruly elements that there abide in order." They are kept constantly at the erection of a hutje atone fence, seven feet thick, about the environs. I am assured now of the derivation of i> colonial phrase which is of very general acceptance, and when a wretch is going througii the "mill" in the bankruptcy: Court, having resided awhile in th< debtor's prison, it is said of him that " he has gone to the wall." His Honor the Superintendent has asked for £500 to purchase a new bury ing ground. I bare heard that tho local

doctors and the inspectors of nuisances have been consulted as to the position ol the site. They recommend a place nu of town where there is plenty of pure fresh air. The health of the inhabitants wi l! be w\'U cared for. The water .supply wil come into town when it will be impossible to cleanse it. This puts me in mind of a very serious conversation I had without of the members of the gold field the other day. He told me that it was the infcen l tion of certain boa. members to move that the next session of the Gmncd should be held at Grahamstown, which he called tlie future capital of tlie province, «-.c toid me that tho people hero were all asleep; that it was not possible to get any tiling done unless the people had a share in ihe Caledonian. lie inti mated that there would be an effort to keep the Caledonians where they were, and that tlie sweets of office should be spread upon the places which paid for them. I thought this an intimation of insubordination. Have they not got more then they could have expected ? To be sure, they at one time asked for bread very piteously, but. have we not left them all the stone ? And very rich stone some of it is too. '1 he Speaker has just entered the Chamber and is going to prayer. I will give you some account of the scattering of Provincial good things in my next. j

CORRESPONDENCE.

[We are not responsible for our Correspondents

opinions. 1

NONPAREIL MEETING AND DIREO-

TORS' AC 1 lONS. To the Editor of tho Evening Stab,

Sib, —In answer to " Jerry's " letter of yesterday, relative to myself and the late Nonpareil meeting, allow me to inform him that I did not say the report was *' highly inaccurate," but " slightly inaccurate," as the letter addressed to the Star on the 2nd will prove. And had "Jerry " made enquiries, he would have fouud such to have been the case. For my own part,' I should have cared little for the report of the meeting so long as I knew the result was right, only that there are several Mr. E. Wood's in . business here, I thought it would be detrimental to them in a pecuuiary point were it reported that they moved in the mutter — calling upon the directors named to resign. "Jerry's" letter is certainly very cutting ! One can hardly bear to read it, const eriug how one feels after being so unmercifully treated by the directors before,--as he puts it in liis tunny production. I can oniy account for poor "Jerry's " bark iv thinking that he got the advice, he says " I so much wished for," and got bit in the transaction. I (suppose he was au especial friend, and now says, " O ! save us from our friends ! " It would take too mt_rh of jour space, Mr. Editor, to reply to all the insinua tions spoken of by ' Jerry.1'

But what I would say to the directors of the Waiteiuata is, why not sink thi shaft 400 or 500 feet deep, and prove the ground? Surety the shareholders would not object to pay a few thousands iv calls to carry out that work, when the mine is represented as such a valuable property ? Instead of that, it. appears to me, that they are more desirous of obtaining the results of the Nonpareil crushings to develop tho watery Wuitemata. I am astonished at their wishing to divide such a prize as they represent it to be —and would have us believe. What a liberal spirit displayed in theory; but, practically, the reverse. Why did not the Nonpareil directors register their Waite mata scrip in their own name, instead ot putting them under '*. ■ •■«' if _ friend?

Were th-y thiuking ».. .... . n calls ?or did the whole transaction appear too dirty for them to be mixed up in it ? or did they not wish to appear in the foreground until such lime as their obj ct was attained? I leave this for he consideration of the Nonpareil shareholders, and to act as tbey may think best iv the matter.

What I would wish the Nonpareil share holders to note is the relative values of the Waitemata and " Ceutrals" in tho market, ami what they hnvr hifk._ for some time pnst— orip from 7s. to KJ. (.' i., Luc o her from £2 to £3, about equal uu ii'->«rs in each claim, but the lower-priced one holding moro ground,— so that it i* not ground that commands the price, but ultimate prospects.

Had the Nonpareil director* been wishing to benefit tho Nonpareil shareholders, why did thfly not purchase about the same number of Centrals as they did of Waitemata-? If they had done so, with a thought of amalga mating, I do think there would not have been a voice raised against it, but all won id have .been in favour of it, and it would have added to the credit, of the directors, no- only as directors, but as speculators, displaying an amount of foresight which every man ought to possess who undertakes such duties.

It was a pity, a id a great loss to Nonpareil shareholders, that "Jerry" did not, "ou behalf of the directors," prove to demon stration, tliat it would be advantageous to Nonpareil shareholders to amalgamate with the Waitemata. Instead of directors merely saying that they would amalgamate in an individual sense, but yet would not recommend it, as directors of the Nonpareil, not even supporting their ideas of amalgamation with one fact or argument that would lead us to beii.vo it would be beneficial. The facts elicited at the meeting all tending to prove to Nonpareil shareholders that their interest would be quite as *-ell guarded and managed by gentlemen who did not hold such large interests in the Waitemata in the name of another. Hoping, Mr. Editor, I have'not trespassed too much on. the space of your valuable paper,—l am, &c, C. Wood.

THE GOLDEN BELT.

To tho Editor of the Siati.

Sib,—Having noticed in the columns of the different newspapers, lately, various surmises and incorrect statements in relative to the Golden Belt claim, at the Tiki, Coromandel, I beg thr. lavor of a little spice tor explana tion. Also a reason for my explanation i. that. I have "been often ■personally addressed lately 611 the subject. 1 believe I have been accused of unfair dealing in the matter by one or two Some mouths since a project was started for amalgimuling the Golden Belt, the Niagara Battery, and 100 acres of private auriferous ground ou tho Matawai Creek. The j.r j.-ci was favourably entertained by the ma) nity ol the Golden Beit shareholders, who were, as > body, te receive in the new company _~_JO shares. Prior to tin- a lease had been applies lor by the Golden Belt, people, which th- Warden refused to grant until the- ground had been surveyed, as tho situation of -the. claiu. was never correctly ascer aineci. The survey was made by the UQvernment. surveyors, an it wa. found that, the Golden Belt, was within ■die private ground. Tho application for the iCMSo was then withdrawn to save i'urthei expenses. I had lodged, and I withdrew it. At Coromitudel, 1 saw some of the directors and shareholders, and toid thorn that although , the Golden Bolt claim was fouud to b. in my

private land that I was prepared, nevertheless to carry out our formerlj proposed amal-aS tion, ana give the Golden Belt shareh^? their 24-30 shares in the new company U*Z prepared to do so. The new «! 7! being formed and any shareholff £°£ Belt, on application to the manager _Z payment of the Cl ,n due fco the •*"« can be registered in tbe Matawai Company Perhaps you will permit me to add that w« only wait for the promised Government tramway to be finished, befon, we commence crushing in real earnest.—l am, &c ,

_ii , ™ , _ W, L. Ree S , Auckland, December 4, 1871.

POLICE COURT.

To the Editor of tlie Evening Stab,

SIE, Yesterday morning at the PoJU, Court we had again to wat the convenience of the worthy gentleman whose duty it was t attend the Court as a Justice, until after 11 j o'clock, as the second did not appear and i then the unf-ir act of making a brother i Justice do double duty occurred. Mr. Graham kindly relieved ail paities by sitting with M r Thomas, who was on the Bench. Are gentle^ : men who neglect their duties so hungry after filthy lucre that honour has no influence upon them ? If so, I would suggest to the lawyers that, they give a portion of their fees to those gentlemen who esteem the dignity of Esquire without considering its obligations, as a bail to ensure I heir attendance. lain quite sure if. the gentleman whose duty it was to take his seat to-day had but . ent word to the police or Clerk of the Court to say he could not attend, a substitute would have been found in time to prevent the farce of a gentleman sitting on the Bench gazing with weary countenance at the no less weary and indigent people waiting for business to be transacted. T protest against that trifling with the public which is so common at the present time, by many of those who aspire to the honor of writing J.P., forgetting that it is a Court, or what is presumed to be an English Court of Justice, they are playing with. Let the Government give the Mayor the power of a Resident Magistrate (our present Mayor is fully equal to the office), and an increased salary of £100 or £150 a year, aud we shall then have some one responsible for the work. At present we hive no one.—Yours, &..., One op thb Public.

THE HARBOUR BOARD.

j The usual fortnightly meeting of the Auric ; laod Harbour Board was held tbis afternoon,, at 2 o'clock. Present: W. 0- D*ldy, E. q.. (Chairman), and Messrs. Casey, Copland,. Philips, Niccol, Macrea.dy, Anderson, and' Yon der ileyde.— ihe Clerk read the, minutes •of the preceding meeting, which, were con firmed. Coi-Re-spou'DENC-. — Correspondence was read, in which complaints were been-made in r"gard to asserted encroachments on thte terri tory of the i'evonport Highway Board. It was agreed that it would be better for tho Chairman to apply to the Provincial Council for redress. —Another letter, iv regard to flimes from chimneys, and flikes of fire it«suiug from the allotment a in the leasehold of Mr. Hoidship, was then considered.—Somti discussion t >ok place as to the alleged nuisance, and it was ultimately decided to postpone the future cousiderai ion of the matter for a fortnight, until the City Sur veyor could have an opportunity of reporting on it. City Baths.—The question was raised as to whether these baths should not be handed over to the * i'y Council at a nominal rent, and it was decided to transfer the present lease or to grant a new lease to the City Council.

Jarbah Timber.—An offer was read, from Port Cnalmers, to furnish a quantity of this timber for the use of the Board on certain terms, and its further consideration was adjourned for a fortnight.—A letter was then read from the secretary, detailing his expert* ences in Sydney, and his action on behalf of the Board.

THEATRE ROYAL.

A very beautiful drama, by Boucicault, was pet-formed last evening at this theatre, and the part of the heroine was taken by Mis* Clara Stephenson, who achieved a great success This young lady appears 6 uinently qualified-' to sustain such parts if that of

" i'auvrette," where unsophisticateu innocence and tenderness combine with strength of mind, and an innate sense of what is r.ght, to render the heroine a heroine indeed. L'he interest is sustained throughout, and the piece isone of the be_t ever put upon the Auckland boards. And never was one better brought on in the matter of scenery and machinery. Mr. Perriman, the scenic artist, receivsd quite an ovation in the third act, where a Swiss chalet was in the foreground, and. immense mountain masses behind, w Tie a shower of tremendous rocks and congealed snow came thundering on the cottage, damned to he buried for three months. The applause was immense, and Mr. Perriman was obliged to come to the front and receive the well merited reward of his ingenuity. Mr. Bur ford too-; the male .ensationai part in the play, and Mr. J. P. Hydes, Miss Anstead, v Miss Raymond, Mr. Booth", avid others, acted: well, an i shewed that they fully realised the i parts as-ioued to them. The audience were* thoroughly delighted, and this very successful drama is to be repeated this evening.

THE SHARE MARKET.

Mr. J. M. Lknxox'* Rbport.—Business; continues mo.-1 inactive. There are sellers of Caledonian, ai £70 ; Thames, £1710s j Tookey, £42T.05.. there are very few buyers, \frfa-, donlan audiT'«uu.P^ahares. have still a down ward tendency.. - ";

"With a Tmw to J£__aj-_osT!"—Con' signnicnts and photographic- sample* appear to be wanted at Brighton, a BU-.ing town on the we*t coast of this province. No fewer than "30 or 4 ' unmarried women " are ad* vcr j'od for "with a view to matrimony. We ob.-m'o lhat the sex urn taking posi'ion-* hithortoi.ol. arenrded to them. At a public dinner given by the n w Lord Mayor of Melbourne lately, lidies sat down aud dined as ordinary guest.-. Ladies are preparing to matriculate, Mr shall we say graduate, at Sy'ney University; a proper advancement for the sex in the path of education. I' i* vi striking contrast with su_h progress to fit d a speculation uud r_ken lor thirty or forty of tlie *ex, to be arranged for matrimonially in a digging township. Strictest secrecy, and (•holograph and references required and' !«exchanged." Who are the forty males.' represented by Mr. 11. V. Boyd, whose address is a Brighton hotel ? Are they a band of uodest miners who can " shout" at a hotel* our, but could not muster courage to whisper i proposal ? Or does Mr. Boyd expect decent louest girls to set themselves up to auction in his fashion, -that is supposing the thing were' genuine? Or is Mr. Boyd himself the jispiraut for matrimonial honours, ami desires to make a selection from thirty or forty r There are dance houses and demands for bar~ maidens in digging townships like Brighton? and. no doubt, the necessity of enquiry before faction will strike most modest maidens whosr eves catch Mr. Boyd's advertisement.

THE EVENING STAR, 4.T7OKLAND, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1871



CALLS. Lion ... ... ... Abraham Lincoln... Smiling Beauty ... Quebec Golden Pah Guildhall Banshee Windsor Castle ... Windsor Lincoln Cattle Bank New Zealand Commercial .., ... Prid* of Tokatea... American Eagle ... Golden Pheeuix ... St. Lawrence Sir Walter Scott ... John O'Groati ... North Pacific Flagship G. Anchor Italian IIand and Band ...

£ i. d. 0 0 6 0 0 6 0 10 0 0 6 0 10 0 0 8 0 0 3 0 0 6 0 0 3 0 10 0 0 6 0 2 6 0 0 6 0 10 0 0 3 0 0 6 0 10 0 10 0 0 0 3 0 0 6 0 0 6 0 0 6

BATE. Deo. 5 Dec. 7 Dee. 8 Dec. 8 Dec. 81 Dec. 9 Dec. 9 Dec. 12 Dec. 12 Dec. 13 Deo. 14 Dec. 14 Dec. 15 Dec. 15 Dec. 18 Dec. 18 Dec. 18 Dec. 21 Dec. 22 Dsc. 22 Lee. 24 Dec. 26

J-IYIDMCDI. Tr.l_at.-__

Dec. 8



"^^temug the World," >^jL— "A COKTIINING f H^t^EST^TEIiEaItAMS FROM ALL \~AW&t$J6f THE WOBJ^D. f*f\f\ G^^KS TO A RBIVE per ' Nevada.' ■^\ PBrcfip%3?*ESniLMNG. / /_nkendilg safecriDers-eendiug in their nameß ■^ prior to ftio aifltol or-fcha^eao'ier can have fthe pa^er deHyprfflyit tl^rresidences within half-an-.Hour o(thAWi__meowsting anohor. TIVTR. CROMBIE has great please KJLYJL in informing his friends and the public gener ally that he has disposed of his BUSINES.-. tdwi;. CATER, Who Will carry it on under the same manage ment. '•' ; Mr. Cromble also wishes to iDiorta his friends that ha will tmia attendant* tIH t* 9tb instant, whw U* anxtp ytaianm.