SHIPPING.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

ARRIVALS

Speedwell, ketch, Bewicke, from Wangaroa. Onward, schooner, CO tons, Stewart, from the Bay of Islands. (3olden Isle, schooner, 50 ton?, Matzen, from Fiji. tiaxeWa, cutter, 24 tons, Norris, from Russell.

DEPARTURE.

Meteor, schr.oner, Trimmer, for East Coast.

IMPORTS.

Per schooner Golden Isle, from Levuua : — 28 tons cotton seed, J. Roborton ; 50 bags maize, J. S. Mncfarlane. —J. Roberton, ngent.

The schooner Golden Isle arrived in har bour this morning from Fiji, via Bay of Islands. She arrived at Levuka on the loth January, and left again on the 28th. Made Cape Brelt on the 10th inst.; and had to put into Russell on the 11th, through stress of weather, a heavy E.S.E. gale blowing. Left again on the 13th, and had light airs down the coast. Passengers : —Capt. Lombard, Capt. Morgan, Mr. Summers. The schooner Onward, and cutter Gazelle arrived this morning from the Bay of Islands with coal. The steamer Samsou will leave the harbour on Saturday, at 3 p.m., conveying oxcurtionists to the Wangarei Regatta, and returning on Monday. The Star of the South will leave for Napier on Monday nest. She was yesterday taken on the slip at the North Shore for an over haul.

COMMERCIAL.

Etenino Star Office, Friday afternoon. Messrs. Samuel Cochrane and Son sold, on Wednesday and Thursday last, the furniture, &c, of the Auckland Club, Shortland-street. We give a few of the prices realised :—Bil liard table, &c, £4-5 ; balls, -7 and £9 10s a set; seats, 20s to 26s each ; easy chairs, £3 10s each; cane arm chairs, 8s 6d, 9s, and 9s 9d each ; barometer, £3 7s 6d ; clock, £6 5s ; cruets, 18s to 23s each ; entree dishes, £2 15s and £4 2s 6d a pair ; glass tankards, 6^ each ; table spoons, 13s per dozen • dessert ditto, 12s per dozen ; salt ditto, 6s per dozen ; gravy ditto, 80s per dozen; table forks, 20s per dozen ; dessert forks, 22s per dozen ; table knives, 18s to 23s dozen ; tumblers, 7s to 13s per dozen ; wine glasses, 4s to 14s per do zen ; hair mattrasses, Is 6d to Is lOd per lb. ; blankets, lis to 13s ; Australian wines, 16s to 28s per dozen ; stout, quart, lis -, stout, pints, 6s 3d, &c, &c.

THE SHARE MARKET.

MB. E. STEVENS' EErOET.

During the week there has been remarkable activity in the sharemarket, and the sales ef fected has boen as follows:—Caledonians, at £50, £52 10s, £55, and £60; Nonpareil, £1 6s, £1 10s, £2, £2 10s,- Waitemata, 10s and 15s ; Cures, 5s ; Belfast, £1, £1 Is ; Thames, £10, £10 10s, £11, and £12 ; Nonpareil, £1 ; Shotover, 6s 6d. Several other shares have changed hands at an advance on previous rates. Present quotations are, £60 to £65; Non pareils, £2 10s to £3 ; Waitemata, £1 to £1 10s ; Belfast, £1 to £1 5s ; Thames, £12 10s to 13*; Moanataiari, £1 to £1 10s ; Shotover, 6s 6s to 7s 6d; Cures 10s. to 12s. ; Central Italy lis to 12s. F. W. Stevens, Broker, Queen-street. 1 p.m. Fob. 17, 1871.

POLICE COURT.

The following is the rota for attendance of Magistrates at the Police Court for the week ending Saturday, February 18, 1871 : — Saturday, February 18 : Messrs. G. Wynyard and W. Young. Monday, February 20 : Messrs. J. K. Baber and A. Bcctham. Tuesday, February 21: Messrs. A. Clark and W. T. Buckland. Wednesday, February 22: Capt. Daldy and i Mr." J. M. Dargaville. Thursday, February 23 : Messrs. Chas. Davis and J. Dilworth. Friday, February 24: Messrs. J. A. Gilfillan and T. B. Gillies. Saturday, February 25 .- Messrs. H. Gilfillan and W. Graham.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE.

Mails will close as under :— For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to morrow, at 10 a.m. and 4.30 p.m. For Tanranga, via Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to-morrow, at 4.30 p.m. For Warkworth, Mahurangi, Craigebourne, Port Albert, Wharehene, and Kaipara Flats, per Lady Bowen, this day, at 5 p.m. For Whangarei, &c, per Samson, to-morrow, at 2.30 p.m., and per Go-Ahead, at 3.30 p.m. For Wanganui and the West Coast, per St. Kilda, to-morrow, at 1 p.m. Late letters and telegrams for transmission from the Wanganui Station will be received at this office till 1.30, and at Onehunga till 2.30 p.m. For Kapanga, Driving Creek, and Tiki, per Lalla Rookh, on Monday, 20th instant, at 10.30 a.m. The rates of postage to be charged in New Zealand on correspond en *c for the United Kingdom, via Brindisi, will in the future be as follows : —Letters: Not exceeding -£oz., 9d.; exceeding £oz. and not exceeding loz., Is. 6d. j and so on —9d for every additional £oz. or fraction of h,oz. Newspapers : Under 4oz. each, 4d. ; for every additional 4oz, 4d. Books and Pattern Parcels : Not exceeding loz., 2d. j exceeding loz. and not exceeding 20z., 4d.; exceeding 2oz. and not exceeding 40z., 7d.; exceeding 4oz. and not exceoding Boz., Is. 2d.; and so on—ls. 2d. for every additional Boz. or fraction of Boz. S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

The Evenin g Star.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1871.

" It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest" is an adage that must be on the tip of many a tongue on reading the last few leading articles in our contem porary the Evening News. Mr. Vogel may be all that the disappointed and distempered imagination of the gloomy manager of that publication may pic ture, but the efforts he has made for the benefit of New Zealand in the matter of the trans-Pacific mail ser vice would induce most minds to; condone much, if any thing was to be condoned. If the Colo nial Treasurer has driven too hard a bargain, it was for New Zealand he was striving. Aud should that bar gain be repudiated, any one not an \ enemy to New Zealand should not rejoice. From the first inception of the project, New Zealand has had heavy odds to fight against. Fiji is almost on the direct line from Hono lulu to Sydney, and even Auckland, much more the other parts of New Zealand, a considerable divergence. Had Australia taken the lead in the establishment of the line, New Zealand would have been, as was intended in America, "left out in the cold." By dint of sheer dogged per sistence, New Zealand has held hitherto the vantage ground ori ginally seized by her bold policy. Australia is now awake to the impor tance of the traffic, tho value of which New Zealand has proved. A stre nuous effort will be made to wrest from New Zealand her well won ad vantages, and at the moment when all New Zealand is watching with bated breath the progress of negociations, our local contemporary, out of the dismal depths of his disappointed spirit, howls out hurrah ! at sup posing New Zealand to have lost the first fall in the struggle. That the battle had to be fought in Washington as well as in Auckland was known to most. And that it was necessary for Mr. Vogel to proceed thither as rapidly as he could, in order not to lose the advantages ob tained, was admitted by all those who took the trouble to enquire into the circumstances. But that the contract has been repudiated by Webb and Company, as alleged by our contem porary, is simply a pure fabrication. That some concessions may have to be made in a bargain which was almost too good for New Zealand, is not im possible, and after the burst of enthusiasm that hailed the an nouncement of the contract in every part of New Zealand, such conces sions, if necessary, will be freely sanc tioned by colonists. Everyone has not the melancholy spirit of our contem porary, nor met with such a contemp tuous rebuff from the Colonial Trea surer ; nor is the public generally im pelled by such implacable animosity against that gentleman as to ignore the efforts he has made in this cause. Our contemporary, with bitter mockery of our efforts for New Zea jlajltd, says:—" Mr. Hezekiah Hall has

been busy in running away with the | bread and butter of both parties. He j has got the Honolulu subsidy, aud] will run bis boats, or rather the Aus-! tralian Steam Navigation Company's boats, on that and the subsidy pro mised by Sydney, Brisbane, aud Mel bourne, on the line from Honolulu, if not from San Francisco, to Sydney direct, calling at Fiji, and not at Auckland for the present, by the way." This boasting is premature, inasmuch as it is based on untruth. For, as we published yesterday, the aid on which Mr. Hall calculated has been cut away from him by the purchase of the in terest of Brenham aud Holloday in the •Australian traffic by Mr. "Webb. Without the aid of the North Pacific Transportation Company Mr. Hall could never have contracted with New Zealand. And now with that company and the new company, both supported by enormous American subsidies to oppose, Mr. Hall may try the service if he can. Doubtless there are plenty of American firms who would " jump at a good thing." But what prospect of its being such will be presented by Mr. Hall's proposals ? Whether or not Mr. Webb repudiates the New Zealand contract, he will run his boats. By the side of them, no company such as Mr. Hall's influence can form would hope for the slightest success. Such company would have Webb's boats and those of the North Pacific Company to share the traffic between San Francisco and Honolulu. And for the smaller traffic between the Hawaian Islands and Australia it would have abundance of w rork in competing with the Nebraska, Nevada, aud Dakota. In any case, therefore, our contemporary need not take consolation in the prospect of Mr. Hall diverting the trade from Auckland. And that branch of the subject may be in future shelved. His only comfort can be iv the utter failure of Mr. Yogel's negotiations, and in the boats of Mr. Webb's Company taking Fiji, and not Auck land, on the way. We are happy to say that there is nothing whatever as yet to indicate that such will occur ; and though concessions may have to be made respecting these immense vessels making the various ports on the New Zealand coast, the main features of the contract will remain intact. We are confident that every one of any party in Auckland, having Auckland interests at heart, however differing on questions of general policy, wishes hearty success to the Colonial Treasui-er in his mis sion to Washington. And none but a diabolical spirit could rejoice in in dications of falure in an enterprise with which the commercial interests of this city are so bound up. Our contemporary may sneeringly say, " We deeply sympathise with those called upon to suffer such bitter pangs of disappointment over the fail ure of the Neilson-cum-Vogel mail contract." But we do not hesitate to say that such a failure would send a pang of real disppointment through the commercial heart of Auckland, aud would be deplored as the heaviest calamity that has befallen our interests for many a day. And though it is our contemporary's policy at present to pander to the loafers who usurp the name of " work ing men," the interests of our merchants and commercial men are too much bound up with tbe welfare of the whole community for us to ignore them or sneer at their regrets. Our contemporary boasts of this kind of thing as " proper journalism." It is doubtless bold to fling sneering defiance at " bankers, merchants, com mission agents, newspaper proprietors, members of Parliament, place-holders, and place-seekers, or whatever else they may be." It is very fine to be independent; but was it proper inde pendence in journalism to have fanned his thunder with cheques regularly re ceived from one of the candidates in the Parnell election? Our contemporary knows full well the power that rang those " peals from Parnell." He knows what feathers made those free trade darts fly; and what is more, he knows that we know it too. Whatever else our contemporary may say, let him not tempt us to speak of " indepen dence in journalism."

The Central Board of Education met yes terday, at the Provincial Government offices, at 3 p.m. The subject of the appointment of an Inspector of Schools was considered ; when it being considered that the offices of Inspector and Secretary to the Board could not be disjoined, owing to terms of the Act, the matter was deferred, in order that the present Secretary might consider whether he should retain or resign the joint offices. Various grants to schools were sanctioned, and other matters considered, and tho Board adjourned till Monday next. There was a sitting in bankruptcy yesterday, before the Registrar, Laughlin O'Brien, when the following bankrupts were discharged. John Bunyan Ferguson and Hugh Ferguson, contractors, Mercury Bay. The cases of W. H. Crawford, and H. G. C. Nees were adjourned to the next Court-day.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS

[from oub own cobhespolndent.]

THE THAMES.

THIS DAY

THE CALEDONIAN CfiUSHING. 2050 OZ3. LODGED TO-DAY.

THE WAITEMATA. — FURTHER

RICH SPECIMENS.

DEMAND FOR SHARES

1.30 p.m. The Caledonians have already lodged 2052 ounces in the bank on account. This is about a third of what may be expected this week The Waiteinata have taken out ano ther lot of very rich specimens this morning. Shares have changed hands this morning in the following claims : — Caledonians, £57 10s.; Waitematas, 205.; West Coasts, 4s. fid. and ss; Nonpareils, £3 ; Cures, 7s. 6d.; Red Queens, ss; Central Italys are scarce, the buying price is ss; selling price, 10s. There is an enquiry here to-day for Tookeys. Small parcels have been sold at £5 10s. Very few in the mar ket. It is believed that the rich reef now being worked iv the Caledonian will be found in Tookey's.

THE LATEST.

IMPERIAL CROWN.—32 OZS. FROM TWENTY TONS.

THE CALEDONIAN

2.45 p.m. The correct amount lodged by the Caledonia is 2056 ounces this morning. Two retorts are now on the fire, which, it is expected, will yield 900 ounces more. The Imperial Crown tributers have crushed 20 tons, the result being 32 ounces melted gold. The Waiteinata are taking out very rich stone. Some rich specimens have just been brought in from one of the claims on the Kurauui hill.

WORKING MEN'S PROTECTION SOCIETY.

Last evening a meeting of working men was held at the Mechanics' {Institute, under the auspices of the Working Men's Protection Society. There was \>y no means a largo at tendance, not more than about a hundred people being present. Probably the reason of this was that there wa3 a small charge for admission to defray the expenses of the hall. Mr. Tomlinson was voted to the chair, and he called upon Mr. F. Moss to address the meeting in accordance with his promise. Mr. Moss spoke at some length on the nature of the benefits to be derived from such a society, and stated what he considered to be part of its duties. Among the subjects spoken of were protection, immigration and public works, taxation, edu cation, forms of Government—general and provincial —payment of members, the fran chise, and other matters, in the discussion of all of which he considered the society should take part. At the conclusion of his address, Mr. Moss received a vote of thanks. The rules of the society were then read, and dis tributed for general information, and the objects of the society were explained at length by different speakers. Some other business was transacted, after which the meeting broke up. A committee meeting was after wards held.

POLICE COURT.—Friday.

[Before T. Ritchie, Esq., J.P.] Dbunkenisess.— John Neill, Mary Neill, James Cox, S. Dixon, and Mory Burke, for first offences, were punished in the usual manner. Drunk anu Disorderly.—A Wilson for feited bail for non-appearance. Vagrancy. —W. JBertonshaw, for u»ing obscene language in Chancery-street, was fined 20s. and costs, or to be imprisoned for 48 hours with hard labour. Municipal Police Act.—Mary Bertonshaw was fined 20s. and costs, or to be imprisoned 48 hours with hard labour, for throwing stones in Chancery-street.

The usual meeting of the Chamber of Com merce was held yesterday. Mr. Yon Der Heyde in the chair. The only business of importance was the question as to the intro duction of the cental system, and after deli beration, the following resolution moved by Mr. L. Nathan was carried : " The Chamber having considered the communication from the Melbourne Chamber of Commerce respect ing the sale of grain per cental, resolve that circulars be sent to the principal grain mer chants requesting their opinion on the same, previous to giving a reply.

LATER FROM THE FIJIS.

THE KETCH CASSIA MISSING

By the schooner Golden Isle, which arrived in harbour this morning, wo have received later news than that published by us on Wednes day. The ketch Cassia, which left Auckland about two months since, had not arrived at Levuka on the 29th ult., and fears were enter tained for her safety. The schooner Magellan Cloud was to leave Levuka for Sydney on the Ist February. We take the following from the Times of the 25th :—

The schooner Lcetitia, Captain Smith, came to anchor on Saturday, from Auckland. She made a good run of ten days and brings a full cargo for her owners, Messrs. Ma3on and Gil man.

The schooner Lulu left Levuka for Rewa last Saturday, whence she proceeds with a cargo of oranges for the Auckland market. Mr. Page, her owner, will proceed in her to New Zealand. Madame Halle, assisted by Mr. F. Leech, announce their first concert for Tuesday next, at Turner's Criterion Hotel. This lady is lately from California, via Auckland, and as the pioneer of the profession in Fiji is deserv ing of a bumper house. Mr. H. Emberson informs us that when laying off Mokagai in the cutter Orpheus last Friday week, the electric fluid from a flash of lightning passed so close to Mr. Moody that he fell down iuEensible, and it was fully ten minutes before he recovered consciousness. The schooner Kauri was to leave for Auck land about the 7th instant.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT. Friday.

(Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M.) The usual sitting for hearing small debt cases, was held to-day, when the following busi ness was disposed of: — Judgment toe Plaintiff.—Must v. Rusk, Shove v. Borthwick, Ftigate v. Manning. Shove v. Bolrthwick. - Claim, £1 Is sd. The clerk to the trustee of plaintiff's estate proved the claim, and judgment passed for the plaintiff. Walsh v. Campbell.—Claim, £1 ss. This was a claim for wages. The plaintiff said he worked seventeen days, at ss, for the defend ant, for which £4 os had become due to him. Of this sum he had received £2 10s. The defendant said the plaintiff never asked for any sum as wages; that be had paid the plaintiff live times more than he was worth. Believed the plaintiff was " put up" to take these proceedings. ■ The plaintiff could not do such work as the de fendant required to be done.—The defendant called a witness. He deposed that plaintiff I said he would leave the matter of wages to the defendant. —The Court ordered a non suit. Bboce v. McCaskill.—Claim £4> lis. Mr. Wynn appeared for the defendant.—The defence was that the work was not done as set out in the particulars, and that one item was overcharged. Besides this, the defendant put in a set off, which, according to his view, reduced the claim to 35., which li 6 paid into Court.—The ovidence was conflicting as to the value of materials, the prices for carriage, Ac.—Judgment for the amount paid into Court—the defendant to pay costs at the time of hearing. Fpgate v. Manning-.—Claim, £1 ss. The plaintiff proved the case in the usual way, and judgment was given for plaintiff. Gkiog- V. Halstead.—Mr. Kissling for the plaintiff; Mr. Wynn for the defendant. Claim, £6. This was an action to recover the value of a bay gelding in possession of the defendant, and which the plaintiff alleged to be his property.—The plaintiff deposed to the purchase of the animal; took it to Mr. W. P. Stevens's to graze. I saw the gelding about two months after sending him to grass. I saw it next time in the market, and was informed that it had been claimed by Mr. Halstead. Plaintiff ncveivsold the horse to any person. The' horse was shaved over to look for a brand. Halstead obtained possession of the horse upon his representa tions, and witness brought the present action. Claimed £5 for the horse, and £1 damages. The plaintiff could only swear to tho horse to the best of his belief.—The defendant denied that the horse ever was the property of the plaintifi. The testimony for the defence was very positive.—Hamilton, of whom the plaintiff bought the horse, could not swear positively to tho identity. He could only speak to his belief.—Edward Kinloch, Veterinary Surgeon, believed the horse was the same plaintiff placed in Mear's stable. He had no doubt of the matter, but he would not swear to the horse. — William Pike Stevens, a dairyman at Mount Eden, received the gelding from the plaintiff to graze. It was a bay gelding with black points and one white fetlock, but could not say which foot had the white fetlock ; believed the horse outside the Court was the same aa Grigg sent to Iris place to graze. Was autho rised by plaintiff to sell the animal at Hunter and Company's, where it was claimed by Mr. Halstead and his son. They stopped the sale. Believed the horse outside the Court was the same. Had do doubt on the subject. The horse had been greatly altered, having been shaved and shod, and altered in other particu lars. Sarah Stevens, wife of last witness, swore to the horse as being the same her husband received from plaintiff. JU enry Mason, for the defence, deposed that he sold a colt to Hamil ton, from whom plaintiff alleged he bought the horse produced. There was n» white on the colt he sold to Hamilton. Gave £4 (about) for the foal and dam, which belonged to a man named Dunn.—Richard Dunn corrobo rated Mason's testimony. He bred the colt sold to Mason; it was nine mouths old when he sold it.—Leigh Dennis Halstead, veterinary surgeon, swore that. he bred the colt outside the Court. It was a bay bloodoolt, br.d out out of his mare, which was a full bred Ara bian. On the 12th January the colt followed his mare home. His son branded it under the saddle with the letter " H" before he turned it out. This colt should be 2 years and ljuionth old. the colt, aud that ho had seen Mr. Halstead's —John Q.uinn, Albert-street, proved the age of sonriding-uponit twelve months ago.—John Halstead, son of defendant, gave corroborative evidence.—[Robert {Condon was beino- ex amined when our reporter left.] °

THE LATE FIRE ON BOARD THE CITY OF AUCKLAND.

An inquiry into the cause of the fire on board the City of Auckland, on the 24th January 1871, was held in the saloon of the ship y ca [ terday, before Dr. Philson, coroner, and* the following gentlemen on the jury:- Captain Mundle (Foreman), Captains C. Williams John Attridge, Chrisp, E. G. Dent, Will, R. B. Pringle, Messrs. T. Williams, Geo. Hen^ derson, W. Anderson, R. T. Ebborn, and J. Holmes.—The jury being sworn, they p ro i ceeded to the vessel. On returning, Mr. Inspector Broham called Wm. Ashby, who on being 3Worn, deposod : I am master and part owner of the ship City of Auckland. My partners in the vessel reside in London." Remember the 23rd January ; the vessel was being loaded on that day. Received 75 bales tow, 50 bales flax, and a quantity of gum and wool. Examined every package as they were sent on board, and desired the chief officer (R. Milne) not to receive any flax on board the least stained or damp. I inspected the stowing from time to time. I gave similar instructions to the second officer. I also laid boards under the ventilators to prevent accident from the falling of a match or spark. At 5.10 p.m., 23rd, I vi-ited every part of the vessel, and found everything perfectly safe, and not the slightest appearance of fire. Be fore leaving I directed the carpenter to erect stanchions over the condensing pipe, to pie vent the flax from getting damp. Particularly cautioned them from depositing flax in the lower hold. Ten men of the crew were engaged in stowing cargo. Two or three were engaged from the shore. I gave particular instructions that smoking would not be permitted on board. Tlie s.s. Hero lay just opposite my ship, and was discharging by the donkey engine ; the wind on that day was from eastward. Did not observe any sparks emitted from the engine of the s.s. Hero. My second officer has been on board my ship for eighteen months and holds a first-class certificate. The chief officer about 18 months. The engineer (Richd. Harris) was on- deck, in company with the carpenter. The second officer was in. charge, and was on board, engajed in writing, until 12 o'clock. Remember being roused on Tuesday, 24th hist., about 3 a.m., by David Niven, one of my crew ; was informed the ship was on lire, he at the same time saying the smoke was ascending from the hatchway. Found a portion of the crew of the s.s. Hero, with Captain Logan, and a part of the crew of the barque Santiago, engaged in pumping water in the direction the smoke was proceeding from. A laud engine was engaged pumping down the fore-hatchway. In about twenty minutes I noticod flames through the dead lights ,- ordered them to be broken, and placed the hose for the purpose of playing on the flames. I then consulted with Deputy Har bour-master Lander. Requested him to take the ship into the stream, and so preserve the wharf and shipping. Shortly after, Captain Ellis (harbour-master) came on board. I then repeated my wish to have the ship re moved into the stream. A land engine played on the ship. I saw the pitch boiling up on the starboard side. Ordered six platks of the deck to be cut, and discovered the flax was a mass of flame. I directed the hose of I both engines on the burning flax. We pitched twenty bales into the water. The fire ap-' peat-ed to have such a hold that I taw bat little chance of extinguishing it. I then consulted with the Harbour • master, and suggested, to save the ship and cargo, there was but one alternative—to scuttle her. He (the Harbour-master) coincided with my views, and she was scuttled. The water was level with the decks at twelve o'clock noon, the fire still burning. I then got the engines to re-commence playing on the flax. It was 1.30 when the fire wag got under. When the ship" was got alongside the wharf, I found the starboard side to the fore hatch destroyed by fire ; the deck, four inches thick, was burnt through to the engine and,. cook houses, the cement preventing it from proceeding ally further. The fire originated about seven feet from the main hatchway, undei- the engine-, house ; one spot, about the size of a bale of flax, on the lower deck was burnt through. The fore-hold was secured, but not caulked. The ship, at this time, had about three-fourths of her cara;o on board. The vesael, when I left London, was insured at Lloyd's for£ls,Ooo. the voyage out aud thirty u days after entering the port of Auckland. The policy had ex pired twelve days previous to the fire. On the 7th of January I wrote to my partners in London to renew the insurance. I estimate the damage at £5000. The repairs to render her seaworthy for the trip to London would be about £2000. lean not assign any cause for the fire. Several of the men have sailed with me for sii years, and they are sober and steady men. Be ceived the first portion of flax and wool'abouti 23rd December, but it was not stowed on that date.—To Captain Dent: Thepublsc smoke on the wharf, much to the dangw of shipping. I have frequently stopped, perions from smoking on bales. lam positive the fire did not originate from spontaneous combustion. The cargo on board consisted of 3106 cases gum, 150 bags gum, 30 casks gum, 280 bales wool, 300 bales flax, 78 bales tow, 13 bundles leather, 37 tons oil, 20 tons tallow. The unwashed wool (40 bales) was stowed between decks, and 40 bales abreast the mainhatch.—Robert Muir, chief officer, sworn, deposed : Remember the 23rd Janu ary. My duty was to tally cargo on m wharf. Remember checking two persons lor smoking on the wharf on that day. ( iJl* witness was examined as to the donkey engiuo on the Hero. It was merely a repeti tion of Captain Ashby's evidence.) Left B» vessel about 8 o'clock, and left the aeow» officer in charge. Returned about 5.a.m. K» next morning. When I returned theW>™ was just moving from the wkaif^"' fire apparently having taken a strong 'jtf' —Thomas Davies, second-officer, swornft' * ' member the 23rd of July. Was en*»ge" taking in gum, flax, &c. A stevedore) w a portion of the crew were assistingß» Knocked off about six o'clock antt'Pja I» hatch and tarpaulin on. I retired » about eleven o'clock p.m., and WWJW apparently, perfectly right on board. * called about two o'clock tho next morning ; the carpenter, who told mo the ship. was fire, and on removing the slides of the and aft hatches, discovered a large vqiun> smoke behind. Believe the M&ag?JS&tf precisely the same state they were iv tne n -^ previous. I desired the oarpentrer to cax ■ I hands aud ring the firebell.' I Alß,° B i,ip'. I messenger for the captain. G£ vfoundtlie 1 engine to work for a short time, butio* ■ pipe below had been destroyed. J

THE EVENING STAR, EEERUARY 17, 1871.



geqW: 13 sibbin ' Auctioneer & o_m^ m Agent > COENEE OB OBMj, & WTNDHAM,SrBEE?3 j



WHO has kept constantly at work all' through the bad times Two Working Jewellers making up Colonial Jewellery ?— Why, F. H. LEWISSON. WHO has kept constantly at work two Workmen cutting Greenstone and Thames Quartz ?—Why, F. H. LEWISSON. WHO has the largest and only assoitment of Quartz Brooches, Earrings, Pins, Studs, and Slee c Links?— Why, F. H. LEWISSON. WHO has always on hand Q.uartz Speci mens for sale ? — Why, F. H. LEWISSON. WHO has the largest assortment of Green stone Drops, Earrings, Breast Pins, Stusd, Sleevo Links, &c., &c., &c. ?— Why, F. H. LEWISSON, Manufacturer of Green stone and Quartz Jewellery. WHO can't pay his debts, having over stocked himself with Colonial Jew eller ?—Why, F. H. LEWISSON. Then come and help him out and give him a turn, if you have any money. Highest price charged and abatement made.



,~K^ "W AN&AEEI 'S A M S O N,' Captain Mundle, leaves Auckland at 3 p.m. on SATURDAY, returning on TUESDAY. Note.—The 'Samson' will leave Wangarei town ship on Monday morning, to act as Flagship to the Committee, returning to Wangarei in the evening. Mr. McComish with his favorite band have been engaged for the occasion. GEO. THORNE, Jcnr., Agent.