SHIPPING.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

ARRIVALS. Cleopatra, schooner, 9S tons, O'Brien, from Lyttcl ton

IMPORTS.

Per Cleopatra, from Lyttelton : 237 hags barley, 504 bags [oats 621 bags^wheat, order. —Master, agent.

EXPORTS.

' Per barque Joliba, for Ljttelton : 165,000 feet timber, Holdship ; 120 bundles sacks, Thornton, Smith and Firth (agents).

The schooner Ivanhoe will sail for Mongo nui, this afternoon, with a general cargo and the following passengers : —Mrs. Hunt, Miss Sturge, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Mr. Meiklejohn. —Cruickshank and Co., agents.

The barque Joliba cleared at the Customs for Ljttelton this morning.

The b'-rque Novelty, Captain Nearing, cleared at the Customs to-day. Passengers— Messrs. J. McDonald, Sarant, Kelly, Watson, Mr. and Mrs. Samuels and two children.

The barque Crishna cleared for Newcastle to-dny, in ballast. Passenger—Mrs. East.

The schooner Tauranga will sail for Tau ranga this afternoon.

The barque Velocidade cleared for New castle this morning in ballast.

The p.s. Luna will leave Wellington for Auckland about Wednesday or Thursday next.

ARRIVAL OF THE CLEOPATRA.

!| The schooner Cleopatra, Captain O'Brien, arrived in harbor this morning from Lyttel ton, with a cargo of grain. She left Lyttel ton on the 10th, and experienced very un settled weather throughout.

COMMERCIAL.

SHARE MARKET

Mr. J. Newman reports having sold to day : Moanatairi, £2 5s ; Waitemata, 10s to 12s ; Shotover, 5s 3d.

POLICE COURT.

The following is the rota for attendance of Magistrates at the Police Court for the week ending Saturday, April 29, 1871: —

Monday, April 24: Messrs. Beetham and Clark.

Tuesday, April 25 : Petty Sessions—Messrs. Otway, Owen, Pierce, R. P. Porter, Rit chie, A. K. Taylor, Tisdall, Turton, James Williamson, Wood, and Young. Wednesday, April 26: Messrs. Daldy and Dargaville. Thursday, April 27 worth

Messrs. Davis and Dil

Friday, April 28 : Messrs. J. A. Gilfillan and E. Isaacs.

Saturday, April 29 : Messrs. Henry Gilfillan and W. A. Graham.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE.

Mails will close as under :— Eor Thames, this day, at 3.30 p.m., and on

Monday, 24th inst., at 4 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. For Newcastle, N.S.W., per Cbrishna, this day, at 5 p.m. For Kapanga, &c, per Lalla Rookh, on Mon-

day, 24th inst., at 11 a.m. For Wangarei Heads, etc., per p.s. Duke of Edinburgh, on Monday, 24th inst., at 11

For Taranaki and Southern Provinces per s.s. Taranaki, on Tusday, 25th inst., at 10 a.m. Late letters and telegrams for transmission from the Nelson Station will be received at

this office till 10.30 a.m., and at Onehunga till 11.30 a.m. Note.—Post-offices have been opened at Nortli

Omauharo and Tryphena, Great Barrier. Note.—Correspondence for Belgium may in future be addressed to be sent by the Suez route via Brindisi direct. The rates of post ago collected in New Zealand on such correspondence will pay for its conveyance as far only as Alexandria. These rates are as follow: —Letters not exceeding half an ounce, 6d.; every additional half an ounce, 6d. Newspapers Id. each. Books and pattern parcels not exceeding four ounces, 4d. ; four ounces to eight ounces, Bd.; every additional eight ounces, Bd. Tho weight of pattern parcels must not exceed eight ounces.

S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

MARRIAGE.

Workman-Stichbury.- On the 19th April, at St. Paul's Church, Auckland, by the Rev. Dr. Maunsell, D.D., Robert "Workman, of Shortland, to Eliza Anne, only daughter of Mr. Charles Stichbury, Clovernook, Epsom.

The Evening Star. SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 1871.

"Whether there are grounds or not for the suspicion, there is a strong I and growing feeling that there is something questionable in the mani pulation of forfeited leases at the Thames. That the attaches of the Provincial offices have

opportunities of doing a nice thing at! times, in connection with forfeited auriferous ground, is of course very well known ■ and the only ques tion is, Are the)'* proof against the temptation ? So conscious is human nature of inherent badness that we instinctively conclude that if such opportunities are presented, men will not pass them ; and whether such suspicions as cluster around the Hid den Treasure and other blocks of golden ground have had their origin in fact or in imagination, they are calculated to produce impressions not favourable to the immaculate purity of officialism. It appears that last night, shortly before mid night, a Provincial Gazette was pub lished. This may not be an unreason able proceeding. The department may be overworked, and obliged to extend its hours into tbe night. The gazette contained the notice of forfeiture of certain valuable ground at the Thames. Neither is this remarkable ; for such forfeitures must be gazetted, and con sequently must appear sometime. Put placing the two circumstances to gether, then is constituted a case the consequent history of which will at least be interesting to trace. If the affair is straightforward, above board, well. If there has been trickery it must be seen to. But really these suspicions of scandal should be prevented. It is, of course, according to haw that the forfeiture a of lease throws the ground open to a But it is none the less senseless for being legal. If the ground is worth something, why not submit it to public competition ? In such case the public interest would be servechanrlteinptfitionsto dishonesty removed. The present system is not a benefit to any one save the persons who luckily peg at the proper moment, and although it is by all means desira ble that unoccupied ground should be a prize to the person who first makes the discovery, there is that in these valuable quartz grounds at the Thames, and especially in the neigh bourhood of valuable claims, which necessitates a different procedure. If for no other reason but to remove all grounds for sus pecting the Government officials, a charge should be made in respect of forfeited grounds. The late scrip mania, whether rightly or wrongly, lias disseminated an evil odour of the honesty of Auckland. The present re lapse of the fever shows symptoms of producing a similar effect. Let us at _U events preserve the character of the Government, and not produce the im pression that the touch of scrip has produced corruption alike among the governors and the governed.

The Post has the following :—"The famous San Francisco mail contract is likely to assume a new and rather curious aspect. Wc have the authority of a gentleman, eminent in the legal profession for stating that an act of the Imperial Parliament (18 and 17 Vie, c. 107) expressely prohibits foreign vessels from en gaging in the coastal traffic of any of her colo nial dependencies. Under certain restrictions foreign vessels may be admitted to a share of the coasting traffic of the mother country, but in regard to the colonies the Act is imperative. We understand that the state of tho law in this respect will shortly be brought under the notice of Commodore Stirling.

Messrs. Hay and Honeyman's premises have been closed since Tuesday, in order that the goods might be marked down. They will re-open to-day, when tho whole of their stock will be offered to the public for a few weeks only. _ Any stock remaining over after tho sale will be sold by auction.—[An y_ .]

The Government has assented to the Bay of Islands Coal Company Lease Act, 1871, and the Auckland Harbour Board Act, 1871.

The following resignations of commissions have been accepted by the Governor :—Capt. I. R. Carey, Auckland Cavalry ; Capt. D. A. Tole, and Ensign O. Mahon, Auckland Riflo Volunteers.

Tho following is a list of the masters of the Auckland Grammar School: —Head Master, Mr. Farquhar Mcßae ; Classical Master, Rev. R. Kidd, L.L.D.; English Master, T. G. Wyatt; Commercial Master, Mr. J. N. Flower ; Junior Master, Mr. J. Anderson.

In accordance with previous announcement. exactly at five minutes past one this afternoon the new firebell of th_ New Zealand Insurance Company tolled out an alarm, in order to make its tones familiar to to the firemen and citi zens. It was a needless preparation, for the tones are unmistakeably those associated in everybody' 3 mind with a conflagration. They are mellow and musical, but doleful in the ex treme, and cannot fail to bo heard at a great, distance, and when heard swelling on the night air to produce a veritable alarm. And now that the city is possessed of a means of arousing the slumbering citizens that could not be surpassed in efficiency, it is highly de sirable that the tolling should become signi ficant of the district where the fire is proceed ing. This system, which is in existence in every city and town of any pretensions, is car ried out by merely numbering the quarters of the city, and striking ths number in pauses between the tollings. We trust that so simple a means of increasing the efficiency of the alarm will now be adopted.

An assistant master is wanted for the Church of England Grammar School, Parnell.

William Nash gives notice of his intention to apply for the complete execution of a cer tain deed of arrangement for the benefit of his creditors.

The Auckland Artillery Volunteers wih have a shot and shell practice from Fort Britomart at six o'clock on Monday morn ing.

A call of threepence per scrip has been made in the Red Queen Gold Mining Company.

At a meeting of the town committee of the French Relief Fund, held on Thursday after noon, at 4 p.m., at Messrs. Combes and Daldy's offices, W. C. Daldy, Esq., was ap pointed treasurer, and to pay all monies re ceived by him into an account, to be opened for the purpose at the Bank of New Zealand, to be called the " French Relief Fund ac count." W. L. Rees, Esq., was appointed Honorary Secretary. Resolutions were passed that 200 subscription lists be printed, the same number of circulars to bo sent to various planes, that the secretary write to the different ministers of religion in the province, requesting them to give a special service and collection during the month of May, and generally it was resolved that energetic measures be taken to collect subscriptions.

J. Cosgrave and Co. are now holding a large drapery and clothing sale, and have opened the newest and most extensive and by far the largest stock ever exhibited in Auckland. They also bog to inform the people of the pro vince they arc not retiring from the drapery trade, and regret exceedingly that respectable houses have to resort to such subterfuges in order to sell their goods. J. Cosgrave and Co. would wish some person to inform (hem where are all the retiring drapers to go ? The recent astronomical observations have not discovered any new heavenly bodies in which those gentle men could reside without having any op ponents to contend against. By the arrival of the City of Melbourne we have received no intelligence of any new land being discovered, no more people to be clothed, no Elysium where those modern Jobs could spend the remainder of their days in peace, and, alas! where are they to go ?—" the shy, the dull, and the gay." It is a pity we have no gifted bard among us to compose some plaintive poem upon the departure of those modern Pilgrim Fathers.— [Advt.]

It will be seen by our advertising columns that Mr. J. Q. Walker, of the Auckland Gymnasium, assisted by his pupils, will give a gymnastic and variety entertainment at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Wednesday evening, 26th inst, for the benefit of the Parnell Orphan Home. Lady Bowen, the lion, the Defence Minister, and his Honor the Superintendent have promised their patronage on the occasion, and wo trust, in consideration of the charity for which this performance lias been arranged, that the house will ho well filled, and a large sum placed to the credit of the institution.

CRICKET.

A matcii between cloven gentlemen of the country districts and eleven of the Auckland TTnited Cricket Club will be played on Tuesday next at • 'tahuhu. The following are the names of the players :— United Cricket Club—Mumford, Koran, Eyton, Davis, Masefiekl, Barnard, Lank han, Clifton, Whitakcr, Purchase, Glee son. Country districts—Bassett, Forkes, E. Pilhog, McLean, Bucklaud, Bowden, Pilling, .Donnelly, Clifford, Martin, and Gordon. Wickets to he pitched 9.30 a.m.

POLICE COURT— Saturday.

[Before J. R. Nicholson and J. M. Dargaville,

Esq..., Justices.]

Drunkenness.—Two persons were punished in the usual manner for the first, and one for a second offence; and two were sent to gaol for seven days for third offences.

Vagrant Act, ISGG.—Bridget Gardiner, described by the police as one of the worst characters in Auckland, and who had been couvietcd several times previously, was sent to gaol for six months for indecent conduct in the public street.—Hannah Conley, whose case had been adjourned from yesterday, in order to give her an opportunity of proving that she was possessed of lawful means of support, called William Soutter, who etated that he knew she took iv washing and mangling.—Witness was subjected to a severe cross-examination by Inspector Broham. —Prisoner was discharged.

Breach of Municipal Police Act. —The adjourned case of Dillon and Carr, for ob structing the roadway of Cuatom-hosuo-strcct, was called on.—Mr. Wynn stated that ho had been unable to procure any satisfactory evidence as to the proper boundaries of the street in question, and consequenlly requested that the case might be withdrawn, in order that steps might be taken to havo the street properly surveyed, and the boundaries of the allotments clearly defined.—Case dismissed accordingly.

This concluded the business

PROVINCIAL GAZETTE.

By a gazette published yesterday the boun daries of tho Tauranga wharf are de fined, as well as the rates to be levied thereon ; application is made by John Fisher for a private slaughterhouse li cence for Peachey's farm, at Ellerslie ; the boundaries of the Parnell, Eemuera, East Tamald, and Pakuranga Highway Districts are amended ; applications are made to regis ter the Unicorn, Lion, and Celt Gold Mining Companies ; a Native Lands Court is to be held at Kapanga on the 16th proximo ; a number of Crown Grants aro ready for delivery; leases arc to be granted to W. W. Poingdestre and othors for the Perseverance ; to John Clair, for ten men's ground adjoining the Imperial Crown ; to the Imperial Crown Company ; to John Clare for tho Canadian ; and to the Sons of Freedom Company. The following ground is open for occupation:—Four men's ground adjoining McDonnell's Lease, Karaka, leased to C. Alexander; 13 men's ground adjoining Bleazard's Lease No, 2, Californian and Emerald ; 18 mens' ground bounded by the Moa, Una No. 3, Hannah's, and General Chute, Earaka ; and John o' Groats ground in Wiseman's Gully.

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSO CIATION.

Tiie committco of the above Association an nounce, in our advertising columns, tho com mencement of their usual winter scries of lec tures. The first lecture of the courso will bo given, in tho rooms, Wcllesley-stroet, on the sth May, by His Honor the Superintendent, T. B. Gillies, Esq. Subject:—" Our Pro vince."

THE THAMES.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

THIS DAY

ABEIVAL OE THE STAR OE

THE SOUTH

GOLDEN CKO "YVN CRUSHING.

THE UNA CSUSHIMG,

THE WAITEMATA

GitA.I_A_ISTO.V_T, 1.51 p_.ru

There has been considerable enquiry here for Waitemata shares, and large parcels have changed hands at ad vanced rates. They are not worth the present quotations. The Golden Crown crushing is an improvement this week ; 100 tons have been put through the machine, and have yielded 418 ounces.

The Lord Ashley have crushed 65 tons, which have given a return of 45 ounces.

The Una have completed their crushing, and have lodged IGO ounces from 200 tons.

LATER.

3 p.m. Tho rise in the Central Italy is without cause.

The Imperial Crown have obtained 17 ounces from 8 tons.

The s.s. Star of the South, from Na pier, has arrived, bringing a cargo of cattle. Site will leavo for Auckland to-night.

OTAHUHU.

DINGER GIVEN TO MR. J. B. WAY. Yesterday evening a dinner wns given to Mr. J. B. Way, at the Criterion Hotel, Ota hiilui, by bis friends, previous to his departure for Chrisfcchurch. The dinner was provided by Mrs. Rogers, of tlie Criterion Hotel, and when we have said that we have said enough, for everyone in Auckland knows the way in which she can get up a dinner. There were sixty two gentle men present., the chair being occupied by Joseph May, Esq., who had Mr. Way on his right hand, and Mr. W. Buckland and Mr. A. Buckland on his left, 'ihc Vice-chair was occupied by Mr. J. Waliace, Flat Bush. Dinner was sewed at half-past six o'clock, and after justice had been done to Mrs. Rogers's viands, the cloth was drawn, and then

The CHAIRMAN proposed tho usual loyal and patriotic toasts: —"Tho Queen," "The Prince of Wales and the rest of the Royal Family," " The Governor."

The CuAimiAN next gave tho toast of "The Members of the General Assembly." He trusted that they would for the future look after the expenditure of tho money, and he trusted that, whatever they voted, the money would be as well expended as the £12,400 which was handed over to the Road Boards.

Mr. Swan SON was called upon to respond, which he did in a very few words.

Mr. W. Buckland, in responding, said he hud no faith in the borrowing principle. He had no hopo for the country till they ceased borrowing, aud paid their just debts out of their own pockets.

The Chairman proposed, " His Honor the Superintendent."

Mr. HuiiST responded on behalf of his Honor tho Superintendent, and regretted his absence in consequence of some exceptional circumstances. He took exception to this toast being put out of its usual place. It should have followed immediately after that of the Governor. He was sorry that such an oversight had been made. Ho thanked them on behalf of His Honor for tho manner in which they had drunk his health.

Tho Chaiuman next proposed the toast of tho evening, " The Guest, Mr. Way." He felt unable to do justice to it, but would do his best. They all admired Mr. Way as a smart, business man, who bore an honest, straightforward character, which would carry him through wherever he went. He and his son had in England received many kindnesses from Mr. Way'_ father, and in consequence he had consented to take tho chair that even ing. Ho could prophecy that Mr. Way's talents, business abilities, and sterling honesty would carry him through wherever he went, and if ho lost some friends in Auckland he would be sure to make more in Christchurch.

Mr. Way, in reply, said he thanked them, with a feeling of sincere regret at parting with so many old friends, and with a feeling of satisfaction at having made so many friends during the time he was conducting Mr. Buckland's business. The foundation of the prosperity of Auckland had been based upon very poor grounds—the na tive and war expenditure ; but now that there were such largo and steady returns from the goldfields, and such an increase of immi gration, he had no doubt the future prosperity of the province was assured, and the farming interest would proportionately benefit. He thanked them for the kind manner iv which they had drunk his health.

The Viojs-Chaieman (Mr. Wallace) then proposed the " Commercial Interest," but in doing so, he thought the commercial portion of Auckland preferred ship-borne produce to the produce carted in by the settlers. (No, no !) He would point to Mr. Buckland's sale on Saturday last, when any old brute of a horse from Poverty Bay fetched a far better price than any the country settlers sent in. (Mr. Swanson : Did the merchant buy it ?) He would reiterate, tho preference was given to ship-borno gojds ; but notwithstand ing that, he asked them to give a bumper to the "Commercial Interest of Auckland."

Mr. Htras_ replied .* He said, after the very curious way in which the toast had been pro posed, they could not expect him to respond very cordially. In the course of a long speech he spoke very much in favour of localising the Government, and thought the Highway Boards wero calculated to do a vast amount of good in the province, as the parties interested were then able to check all the items of expendi ture ; whereas, the relations between the General and Provincial Governments were such, that many an item for sugar, flour, and ther things, was sent in and paid for by the General Government, but charged against the province, and the province could not help itself, as these charges were stopped out of the revenue of the province. He thought that the province had got into a fictitious position by having bought land at such a price that the interest on the money borrowed was so high that the farmers were paying rents far higher than they could afford to pay. This was the real cause of the non success of the farmers in this province. It must be remedied by the throwing up of the farms, or by compelling the capitalist to lessen the rate of interest. When this took place, farmers would succeed. He did not believe in inter-provincial protection, as he thought the present duties were protection enough. Mr. Stewakt. C.E., i_roposed, " The agricultural and mining interests of the pro vince." This was a toast whioh required very little advocacy. He would only refer to the close alliance which ought to exist between the commercial, the agricultural, and the mining interests, in this colony. It was for tunate that this great yield of gold had been produced to meet in some measure the de pression alluded to by Mr. Way, but he believed that this must eventually give way to the agricultural interest. They must look to the soil for their ultimate prosperity. He proposed, " The agricultural and mining interests of the province."

Mr. Bassett, in reply, thanked the meet ing for the manner in which they had drunk the agricultural interests, and trusted they would all see better times.

Mr. W. Hay returned thanks on behalf of the mining interests of the province. He believed it was now a realitity. He had taken a part in it at an early period, and could not say he had been one of the most successful. He had lost a good deal of money one way or another, but he trusted now that he could get a good deal of it back. He believed the whole province would ultimately reap the benefit of the present success of the goldfields.

Tho "Ladies," the " Press," and the " Chair man" were then drunk, after which the even ing was given up to conviviality.

We understand that some ten or twelve people took tickets for the dinner in addition to those who sat dowu, among whom were his Honor the Superintendent ; so that, alto gether, the affair may looked upon as a decided success, and as was frequently expressed dur ing the evening, it is to bo hoped that these social meetings, which were of such frequent occurrence previous to the war, may again be resumed, as they tend in a great measure to the dissemination of good fellowship and interchange of ideas among the settlers, which in themselves are of vital importance to the prosperity of a country district.™

VOLUNTEER INTELLIGENCE.

The annual inspection of the whole of the Volunteer force in the Auckland district will take place in the following order : —The Ota huhu and Ho wick Troops of Cavalry on the 27th instant ; the Artillery Company on the 2Gth instant ; the Naval Volunteers same day; Prince Alfred Troop, 28th instant ; Rifle Volunteers same day. On the Ist of May five men, selected indiscriminately from the different corps of Volunteers, will be taken to the Butts, Point Chevalier, to see what their average firing will amount to.

During Wednesday and yesterday an in quiry was goiug on at the Drill-shed before a Volunteer Court of inquiry in reference to a ecrlahi alleged dispute between Major Tisdall and Captain Derrom. The proceedings were strictly of a private nature.

SHOTOVER GOLD MINING COMPANY.

An extraordinary meeting o'' !*>.<_ shareholders in the Shotover No. 1 Gold i_ining Company (Registered), was held yesterday afternoon, at tho office, Canada Buildings. There were thirty-eight shareholders present, and James O'Neill, Esq., presided in the absence of the chairman. The mine manager, who was pre sent, gave full information as to the works now being carried on, and the prospects of the mine. The meeting was unanimous in affirm ing tho desirability of further testing the ground at alow level, provided that assistance be obtained from adjoining claims who would participate in the benefit of such prospecting. After some discussion, it was resolved —"That this meeting decides to discontinue pumping and sinking on the mine unless the Kuranui and Long Drive companies jointly agree to contribute a fair proportion of the expenses of deepening the present shaft one hundred feet, and pumping the same ; such proportion to bo left to the discretion of the directors." It was also resolved, " That arrangements be made, if necessary, with the contributing com panies, for the joint use of the shaft."

NATIVE LANDS COURT.

In a General Government gazette of the sth instant we find Rule -No. 13 of the Native Lands Court revoked, and tho following rule made iv lieu thereof by his Honor the Chief Judge Fenton : —" Parties may appear by counsel or European agent only when the assent of the Court, or any Judge thereof, is previously applied for and obtained for such appearance. The Court may at any stage of any proceeding order the discontinuance of the employment of counsel or European agent." This must lead to yery important alterations in the conduct of future cases.

THE EVENING STAR, APRIL 22, 1871



GEORGE SIBBIN, Auctioneer & Commission Agent, CORNER OP QUEE_-T & WYNDHAM-STREETS. TT ° R NAP I E I? ---<a5^^"^" 'STAR OF THE SOUTH,' Capt. Holmes, will leave as above on or about WEDNESDAY, the 20th instant. For Freight or Passage apply to J. S. MACFARLANE, Agent.



"^TOTING MEN'S CHEISTIAN X ASSOCIATION. The Committee of the above Association have pleasure to announcing the following LECTURE, as the first of another Winter Series. FRIDAY EVENING, sth MAY, At half-past 7 o'clock, A LECTURE will be delivered in the Rooms of the Association, Wellesley-street, by HIS HONOR THE SUPERINTENDENT. Subject: " Our Province." r__. f_?__- , _**. b< _, duly advertised, and tickets .._.___ &_■ f°/ the com' se of 10 lectu»«, bearer I ana My), on Saturday next; single lectures, Cd. each.



THIS DAY, AND THE FOLLOWING WEEK, WE SHALL SELL EVERY ARTICLE IN OUR WAREHOUSE AT COST PRICE!!! TTTB have invariably made it a rule since we commenced business in New Zealand to . . .4. - ■ ■■...: i ■ SELL GOODS at COST PRICE during the CHEISTMAS AND EASTER ■■ , I \ HOLIDAYS, and we shall adhere to that,p_inciple during .< . . ■. ■_ our slay in Auckland, having a large ship ment of Goods in the ' Caduceus,' purchased, for cash, by our home buyer, from a retiring manufacturer. THE GOODS *."-.'.1.1 % ARE NOW LANDING. It will be a decided advantage to all classes "i to make purchases of the Cheapest, th« most Extensive and Fashionable Stock av?r show* ; in the City of Auckland. J. COSGRAVE & GQM i I 1 DKAPEKS AND CLOTHIEKS, Z ] QUEEN-STKEET, I AUCKLAND.