SHIPPING.

PORT OF AUCKLAND

ARRIVALS.

tlero, cutter, 30 tons, Moller, from Tauranga.

DEPARTURES.

Hero, s.s., 709 tons, Logan, for Sydney. Conerang, p.s., Chriap, for Bay of Islands.

SUNSET.—This evening, 5.19, HIGH WATER.—This evening, 4 22.

STEAMERS FOR THE THAMES THIS EVENING.

Royal Alfred, 5 o'clock.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Njjpxbb.—Star of the South, s.s., 14th inst. Sydney.—Alice Cameron, 14th inst. Southkbn Poets.—Taranaki, early.

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Phoebe, s.s., from Southern ports. Go-Ahead, a.s., from Taranaki. Countess of Kintore, ship, from London. Alice, barque, from London. East Lothian, barque, from New York via Sydney. Ltetitia, schooner, from Hokianga. Fairy, schooner, from Kaiapoi. Aurora, schooner, from Kaipara.

VESSELS IN HARBOUR.

Taranaki, u.s., from Southern ports. Keera, s,s., laid-up. Samson, p.s., laid-up. Alexandrina, ship, from London, L. V

Nathan & Co., agents. Excelsior, ship, from London.—Brown, Campbell & Co , agents. Albion, barque, from Russell, L. D. Nathan and Co., agents. Na Noba, schooner, from Fijis.—J. S. Muc furlane, agent. Alice Cameron, barque, from Sydney. W C. Wentworth, barque, from Melbourne.

EXPORTS.

Per 8.8. Hero, for Sydney : 1 case cigars, Bucholz; 10 bags sugar, 10 mats sugar, Henderson and Maofarlano ; 2 cases machi nery, Oruickihank, Smart and Co.; 3 boxes gold, Bank Now Zealand ; 5 ditto ditto, Union Bank of Australia. For Melbourne : 2 cases woollens, B. and H. Isaacs ; 50 bales flax, A. Murdock; 150 ditto ditto, Stone Brothers ; 22 ditto ditto, H. Smart.—Cruick shank, Smart and Co., agents.

The Star of the South, for Napier, has been detained till Monday. The schooner Onward will sail for Euesell this evening. The Saucy Lass brings 25,000 feet timber. The cutter Hero arrived from Tauranga this morning, with a cargo of gum for Messrs. Kolph, Sterry & Co. , . The Bchooner Lcetitia has not arrived in harbour, as reported in the morning papers.

CLEARANCE OF THE HERO.

The b.s. Hero will take her departure for Sydney this evening, at fouro'clock. Pabsbngers :—Mr. W. Williams, Mrs. Williams, Mrs. Easlett, Mr. Lanrencc, Mr. E. Whitson, Mrs. Whitson, Mr. Bethel, Mr. J. ~R. Jenkins, Miss Home.

COMMERCIAL

CALLS AND DIVIDENDS LIST. The following are the current calls and divi dends payable in the companies named be loW:—

POLICE COURT ROTA.

The following is the list of the presiding Jiu tices for the week ending August 18th :— August 14.—Messrs. Owen and Pinrce. 15. — „ Porter and Kilehie 16.— „ Taylor ami Turton. 17. n T.BaberoiiclE.Bectlium, „' 18.— „ Daldy and Dargaville.

AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS, &c.

THIS EYI Is'IXG. American Excelsior Minstrels, City Hall, 8. frince of Wales Theatre, S. Theatre Koyal, 8.

THE MAILS.

Mails will close as under :— ' . For Thames, this day, at 4.30 p.m., mid on Monday, 14th inst., at 1.30 p.m. and 4.30 p.m. ITor Russell, per Onward, this day, at 4 p.m. For Kapanga, per Challenger, on Monday, 14th inst..

at 12.30 p.m. „ , F«r Sydney, etc., per Alice Cameron, on Monday, 14th inst., at 2 p.m. For money orderr, registered letters, and newspapers, at 1 p.m. For Wangarei Heads, etc., per Duke of Edinburgh,

' on Monday, 14th August, at 3 p.m. For London, per Alexendrina, on Monday, 14th mst;,

at 10 a.m. For Taranakl and Southern Provinces, per s.s. Tara naki, immediately after arrival of p.s. Nevada from Honolulu. For Napier and Southern Provinces, per p.s. Nevada six hours after her arrival. S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

MARRIAGE.

Wilson—Freeman. -On tho 10th August, by the Rev. J. Berry, William Scott, eldest son of Mr. W. C. Wilson, to Jaue. third daughter of Mr. Robt. Free man, late of Highgate, London.

The Evening Star.

SATUDAY, AUGUST 12, 1871.

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

We bare not yet had any reply from Mr. Carieton, with reference to our exposure of bis literary pretensions. We forwarded a paper to him, and tbere has been time for a reply ; but he appears to be like the little fellows that-we usedi tosee write "No Popery" on the door, and then run away and hide them wlves. To find a gentleman enjoying the proud ■ distinction of being Vice-Chancellor of a University, and yet blundering respecting the force of a, Latin word, in a manner that •would bring discredit oh a school. boy, is really sufficient to bring Colonial TJniveraities into disgrace; for -we cannot avoid the feeling that if the Vice-Chancellor of the New Zea land "University rushes forward, unprovoked, and oxposes his ignorance among ourselves, he is likely, if in communication with sister institutions, lo betrny such literary incompe- U-noy us «'il! point a joer ngriinst our highest educational institute.

The.- annual general meeting of the share holders of the Thames Gold Mining Company will be held on the upper floor of tho Ex change News-room, on the 18th inst., at 2 p.m., to receive the director*' report and

The ship Alexandrina will sail for London either to-morrow or Monday. She takes about 19,000 ounces gold, and a large cargo of gum, flax, &c, valued at about £40,000..

Henry Chamberlin, of the Boyal Hotel, Official Bay, gives notice of his intention to apply for the transfer of the licence to Richard Nicholson.

A meeting of the shareholders of tfie Hau raki Saw-mill Company will be held at Mr. J. S. Macfarlane's office on Monday, Septem ber 4.

The examination of candidates for certifi cates as teaohers under the Central Board of Education, will be held at the Council Cham ber on Monday, the 14th August.

The valuable property of Nazareth, Mount St. Mary's (divided into 39 building allot ments), will be sold by auction on Monday next, 14th instant, at the rooms of Messrs. Samuel Cochrane and Son, Fort-street. The natural advantages of this Buburb must speak for themselves, and we can only add tlmt the auctioneers' instructions are to sell without reserve. We have received a letter from a correa ! pondent, signing " A Six Bob a-Week House holder." Wo confess our inability to make out the meaning or intentions of our corres pondent. He appears to complain of the con dition of Mount-street, but he speaks in para bles, and hig sayings are dark. We give the following excerpt:—He says, " If some of tho miners of the Borough Council started to work Jon Jthe mount they would be sure to come on some golden claims, as' there are Caledonians, Central ItalyS, Q-olden Calfs, and Golden Crowns to be found in Mount- Street. I forgot about the Cure and 'Long Drive —indeed it would be a Cure of Long to drive from one end of the street to the other." And again, "To travel all round the GHobe, in Admiral Fitzroy's ship, you will be very hard pushed to try and cross the line without being stuck in crossing the Bar— Barr's Hotel." Wo give it up.

Those who hare seen the United States Dining Rooms before, would scarcely recog nise their internal arraugem ents since coming into the hands of the present proprietor. Mr. Byers has had possession for only a few weeks, and during that time not only has the esta blishment been completely renovated, but the class of boarders and residents has been wholly changed. Mr. Byers, we arc aware, has positively refused tho patronage of some who had been accustomed to dine at the place; and persons patronising tho rooms can calcu late, not only on haying the results of an excellently arranged cuisine, but tho utmost cleanliness, attention, and comfort. The large prison - like compartments hare been cut down, and neat cosy little stalls provide privacy and seclusion for all when en gaged in the interesting -and important operations of satisfying the requirements of the innor man. The upper storeys, devoted to dormitories, have been completely altered, neatness, cleanliness, and comfort character ising tho whole establishment. Mr. Bycrs has really met a want of the city in providing a large establishmont where those who desire to board or dine at the cheapest rate can have all tho cleanliness and comfort of a hotel. There is n sleeping accommodation for about forty persons, and in almost every case each one lia3 a little room to himself. The ventila tion is thoroughly good. Other establish ments aim ::t securing a more pretentious class of boarders, but the speciality of the United Slales Dining Kooms is to provide the cheapest class of accommodation to a multi tude of persons who otherwise would be crowded into uloso and stifling and ill-arranged lodging houses, and wo are glad to find that rarely is there a single bed vacant in Mr. Byera 1 establishment. In the dining rooms there is accommodation for we know not how many. Mr. Byers deserves success for his | spirited enterprise.

EXPORT OF GOLD

The s.s. Hero, which sails for Sydney to-day, hikes over 11,000 ozs. of gold, as follows : —

Ozs. dwts. Rr. Value. Duty. & £ B. of Australasia .. 0080 11 0 17,433 553 3 0 Bank of N. Z. .. 50J1 19 12 20,800 028 10 0

Total 3 .. _.. .. 11,093 10 12 £38,283 1,179 13 6 The following has been shipped on board the Alcxandrina: —

ozs. dwts. grs. Value. Bank of N. Z. .. 18,854 18 18 £74,350 The Alexandrina also takes 37,000 ozs. of silver, valued at £10,000.

GOLD FROM THE THAMES.

The p.s. G-oldon Crown brought up from the Thames, last evening, J4 boxes, containing 17,754 ounces- o? gold for the Bank of New Zealand.

THE EXCELSIOR MINSTRELS.

We have to remind our readers that this famed troupe of Minstrels open their repertoire at the City Hall to-night. In common with our fellow-citizens, we have never seen their performances, but we have before us a three-quarter column critique of the Bathunt Free Press, on what we perceive is nearly the same pro gramme as that to be submitted to us to-night. The writer was evidently either hysterical, or he mu3t have been very greatly delighted, for his praise of the performance is unqualified, which he winds ap with the remark, " And we can assure our readers, without singling out any of the ' Kxcelsiors' by name, that if they admire melody in song, harmony in chorus, and if they wish to hear strains that come nearest to those which ' soften rocks and bend the- knotted oak,' they should make at least* one visit to the Prince of Wales Theatre during the stay of these educated musical artistes." Of one person the Free Press says, " Not his limbs alone, but his entire body seems whalebone;" and of the violinist we are told that he can "mako the instrument sing and speak and whine and roar, and yet fascinatingly entrance the soul," &c. We plead guilty to a strong desire to see the subjects of such v critique, and shall give our impressions in Monday's issue, j

MUTUAL MINING INVESTMENT COMPANY.

It will be seen from another column that the office of this company has been removed to Shortland-street, where payment of instal ments can now be made, and. that Mr. Cart wright is the manager. On tho resignation of Mr. E. Williams, late manager, it was re solved by the directors, subject to the approval of the shareholders, to present Mr. Williams with two fully paid up shares in the company, in testimony of their warm appreciation of his zeal and energy in originating and organ ising the company. It is certainly owing, in a great degree, to Mr. Williams that tho young company has been so successful in its very commencomonfc; and it wns with ir.uch reluctance that his resignation was accepted, on his own urgent request. Mr. Williams has the satisfaction of knowing that ho has loft the young society in a thoroughly sound con- / dition, and in it* success he may well feel an honeit pride. ■

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS THIS DAY.

[PEOM OUR OWN CQBttESPOKDJSNT.]

THE CALEDONIAN—I2OI OZS

BANKED

2i TONS SPECIMENS IN HAND

THE UNA CRUSHING.

KURANUI AND JUNCTION —

CRUSHING.

SPECIMENS FROM CKOWN PRINCE AND HERALD.

LANDSLIP ON THE SHELL-

BACK

GKbahahsto-wk, 3 p.m

The Caledonian have lodged this morning 1,201 ozs. from general stuff, and have other retorts on. the fire. Some further specimens have been taken out, and they have now about 2-rj- tons in hand.

A meeting of the directors in the Nonpareil was held this morning, when Mr. Charles Fletcher was elected legal manager; Mr. Bothwell has been elected mine manager.

The G-as Company has been success fully floated. The apology for a com pany started by some legal manager at the Thames haviug succumbed.

A landslip has occurred at tho Shcl back, and all traffic has been stopped near the Berkeley Castle.

The Una Company have lodged 213 ounces, the result of a fortnight's crushing.

The Eureka have lodged 03 ounces

A few specimens have been taken out of the old beach leader in the Crown Prince.

The Herald have found a few speci mens iv their stone.

The Kuranui have hanked this morning 145 ounces for tho fortnight.

The Junction have just completed a crushing, and tho result ia 122 ounces retorted gold.

EXCHANGE BUILDINGS.

Few buildings have been erected in New Zealand that seem so calculated to meet the immediate wants of the timo, as the buildings erected by the New Zealand Insurance Company. Everything con nected with them hns met a prompt re sponse from the public. Tho great hall in the centre was taken immediate pos session of by the vagrants of "scrip corner," as a new scap is filled by a swarm of bees. The various offices were filled as if the tenants had been wandering about without a resting place for them selves and their lodgers. The News Koom was barely open till it was rushed, and bein:; now ten days old has a paid up sub scription list of over 600 members, and before tho first quarter is over will have, it is coii-idently believed, over a thousand readers. A public room has ju3t been completed in the upper portion of the rear of the quadrangle, and it has been already engaged for tho public meetings of tho Caledonian Company, and the Thames Gold Mining Company. This portion of the establishment is really one of the most interesting. The irt all set apart for public meetings is fully as large as that of tho Mechanics' Institute, but is neatly finished and pretty and cleanly in the extreme. Besides being in the hands of a manager whose demeanpur to the public will not be that of a bear with a sore head, which has so much char acterised the conduct of the Mechanics', the public room of the Exchange Buildings is so well situated for business men that we have no doubt that it will become now tho rendezvous of all those who have business to transact in public meeting assembled. Altogether we can congratulate ourselves on the possession of a pile of quasi-public buildings that meets the wants of the com munity with a variety, and to an extent, equalled certainly by no other buildirg iv Auckland, and we think in the colony.

THE BAY OF ISLANDS TRADE.

As will bo scon from another column, there is an alteration in the time of sail ing of the favorite steamer Comeraug. In order to suit the greater convenience of residents at the Bay, she will leave Russell for Auckland every Saturday at 4 p.m., instead of Tuesday as heretofore ; and will leave Auckland for the Bay of Islands every Thursday instead of Friday, as previously. We are glad to see that this fine steamer, which has now been for a long time iv this trade, has won for her self such popularity, the regularity of tier trips being a boon to our iN orthern set tlers that they appear to have thoroughly appreciated. It must be admitted that this popularity has been largely owing to Captain Chrisp, whose obliging, gentle manly demeanour must make for him friends wherever he goes. 'TheComerang leaves to-day at four o'clock for the Bay, there to commence the new time-table.

SHAKE MARKET.

ms. j. m. lennox's eepobt.

There was not much animation in the , sharo market this morning, but leading stocks aro still held firmly. My sales compriso : Caledonian, £185 ; Thames, £36 to £3(5 10s ; Otago, £4 ss. Closing sellers : Caledonian, £185 ; Thames, £30 JOs. MR. SAMUEL VrCKßu's KEPOHT. The sh.aremtu'ket hi»s been quiot to-day. My sales comprise :—Caledonian, £185 ; Thames, £36 and £36 10s ; Otago, £4 5s ; Contra! Italy, £2 10s; Nonpareil, £4 ss; JNew Zealand Sank shares, £i 8 10s. j

THE MAN ABOUT TOWN. No. XIX.

I pbomised in my last to give some account of Dick's approaching marriage, but as that important event is not yet positively decided upon; I think I will leave it over still further. '

What do all the. letters in the papers mean, saying that farming don't pay P We are told that the land in this province is of the finest possible description, that there is plenty of water and firewood, that the roads, rivers, and railways, are abundant in all directions, and yet, forth sooth, farming don't pay ! I very much fear that the cause is with the settlers themselves, very many of whom start away to their land, having about tho same amount of knowledge agricultural as the agricultural editor spoken of by Mark Twain. If Dick gets spliced, us he expects, he lias made up bis mind to go on to his forty-acre lot at the North Cape, in which event he will probably forward to this journal some of his experiences as a farmer.

What a shocking thing it is to know that wo are so short of coal, and blasting powder. With the first named commodity we generate steam and gas, and both these are at a premium in this place from their scarcity—especially in the Borough and Provincial Councils — and should it again become cheap, it will no doubt be bought up in large stocks by exhausted holders to let off at a favorable opportunity. W"e understand that Messrs. W. J. Thirst, Beverage, Stains, Mason, and other well-known orators have ordered a largo supply, for they find themselves utterly unable to get • n without it. As a substitute for the gas they have lately been gene rating vapour of cholerism, but they find tho raw material both expensive and dangerous—as it has been known to explode the consumers into small and large quantities. There is also a (treat scarcity of " blasting powder." Tho lat ter portion of this article is, it is true, not to be obtained at any price ; but the first half can be obtained at the .office of the City Board in any quantity ; or, at all events, it could when that venerable in stitution was in existence. Whether il has been handed over to the succeeding Borough Council we cannot say, and must refer our readers specially to onra or two of the members. But speaking of this scarcity of fuel, reminds mo of the slory I heard of the s.s. St. Kilda the other day. It seems that noble craft had entered the Manukau heads just as the iast of the fuel ran out. The cap tain was at his wit's end what to do to fetch the vessel on toOnehunga. "Pigs," suggested the mate, who comes from the far-off laud of Americanos. Brilliant idea ! There were no pigs, but numerous fat bullocks on their way to the Auckland market. The order was at once given to " chop them up," and in a few minuies a sheet of flame roared through the funnel, the steam was got up to v pressure of seventeen thousand, and the paddle wheels revolved at the rate of four hun dred and nineteen strokes to tho minute. On arrival atOnehuuga, all that was left of the fine Durham's breed was a mass of calcined bones. Pca^e be to their ashes.

Why don t you insure your life P This is a question that has been diuned into my ear for the lust few weeks, by the travelling agent of the M utual-4-ustralian- Keop-'em-alive-oh-G'ompany. ; On the other hand, I have been equally troubled by the agent of our own paternal Govern ment, who tells me that if I insure in his Company I shall live twice as long as if I insure in t'other. He adds, " Why don't you come and hear my lecture, and you'd be at once converted ?" Says one, "Pay me the first premium now, and in twelve months you shall have a bonus amounting to twico the sum." " Write me out a cheque," says the other, " airl take back your money thrice told. Enter our Company, and you can never die —join us, and in addition to other benefits, we'll provide you. with a handsome tomb-stone, and your widow with another husband." "We divide ninety billions of mil lions anuually among our subscribers," " and we" says the other, " divide it. among ourselves—but come, will you have a drink P" " Yes," echoed agent No. 2, " let's have a liquor." I should have declined, but at that instant we met Dick, mid ho, on my behalf, accepted the offer, and we adjourned to the Royal Mail. JNo. 1 fetches out his papers, and spreads them before mo, and I look at them attentively. " .Bottle of fizz," says agent No. 1, and wo drink it, and study the prospectus. Local agent fetches out Jus prospectus. " Encourage native in dustries," says ho, " and namo your own tomb cutter and coffin maker, tiign the cheque for the first premium, its a mere trifle, only £30, and you're booked for a first-class passage up above. Here, waiter, lets have another bottle of No. 2!" During the disposal of which I sit like a lamb between the rival assures s, who pull mo first one way to look at ono advantage, then the other way to look at another advantage. Dick sut at the other side of the table, and lie took advantage of: their attention to business to help himself very liberally to the champagne— in fact I saw him exchange the empty bottle for the one that was half-full, which ho put on a side-table within con venient reach of his own arm. Suddenly he disappeared, but returned in a few seconds. " Oh! gentlemen, will you ex cuse me, but which of you repre sents the best Insurance Company ? because two gents ;iro up stairs as said they wanted to insure in one of your offices," " Wait till I return," was uttered with one voice,'and the nest instant all wo could see of them was their boot-soles and back hair. And now said Dick, ''Let's vnmoosr," so we quietly jvalked out; when the young rascal told "me ho had sold the old coves nicely and saved Iris dad's moncv.

Cau any one tell me who is that fine commanding looking p&rsonago generally standing -at tho booking ollico of the Teetotal Society, on the wharf. He dresses in a green and black plaid, and it may be that he is tho gentle shepherd trying to bring sinners into the fold. Be this as it may, he does his duty nobly and is fully deserving the thanks of the great tcnipennec people. On enquiring his name I was informed that ho was'u full brigadier genorul in. tho army, that his name was " Beer," or something like it, and that he lately kept a public house ; but this lat ter I set down as a base calumny, and

would, on no account, believe it, or ask others to do so. The officious individual also told me lie was a great politician, and that he had lately signed the pledge, and was going to offer himself as a member to represent the ""Auckland and Drury Alli ance in the FTouso of Representatives.

So the Auckland members have gone to Wellington, and much' good may they do there. But it pays most of them very well, and they would, I have no doubt, go through twice as much for twice the money. Anyhow, it was a glorious sight-to see them leave the flourish ing city of Onehunga for the al most as flourishing one of Wellington. I need scarcely remark that the majority of them came up to the mark quite " fresh," and one of them especially, created a marked sensation. This was Wully Swanson, with' a new bell-topper on, a black coat and waistcoat (buttoned up), a pair of kid gloves, and indeod all the luxuries of the season. It was an affecting sight to witness the separation of so many great men from their nume rous friends end admirers ; and Dick says it forcibly reminded him of my parting with His Excellency the week before last. But speed ye well! and may your delibe rations be as wise as tbey usually are. If you will authorise another large loan this session, why so much the better.

Dick has turned vegetarian, much against my will, especially uuder the circumstances mentioned above. He says sajs there aint a bit of meat in Auckland fit to eat, and that since he saw the goings on at the slaughterhouse at Newmarket he's taken a dislike to animal food. He snys the place is in a most disgusting condition; that tho meat is thrown about in a manner that's enough to turn one's" stomach; that the drainage is ..not good, and that the entire, site is a mistake. He says the butchers wero going it ham mer and tongs among themselves, about some license fees, or something ,of the kind. It seems that by pay ing a certain yearly license, the butcher can kill as many animals as he likes, but that this license is only granted to one man, said to be a fisherman, who kills for a merely nominal sum, while the other butchers have to pay three or four tim. .s as much. Dick says it's most un fair, and that tho entire question of sl.iughter-houses wants looking into very carefully.

Nathaniel Beeswing,

POLICE COURT.—Saturday.

[ Before Or. M. Mitford and George S. Gra

ham, Ergs., Justices.]

DntrNKENNESS.—Ona person was punished in ths usual manner for this offence.

Labceitx-.—Patrick Ryan was brought up on remand, charged with having stolen th« sum of £6 from the person of Peter Redman. This chnrgo arose out of the gambling tran sactions for which prisoner was sentenced last Friday to three months' imprisonment. On the application of Inspector Brohan, tho information was amended and tho charge laid for £1. On tho explanation of Mr. Joy, and on consideration of the fact that prisoner was already undergoing punishment for rlofraud ing Redman, the Bench discharged liiui with a caution, ordering the £1 to be returned to prosecutor.

Aitsotf.—The arson case against Jinnea Leonurd, was then proceeded witli,—Andrew Millar, deposed :I am agent of the Victoria Firo ar.d Marine Insurance Company. The Honorable Henry Miller is the largest share holder, anrl chairman. Prisoner was holder of a policy in the company prior to 11th July. I produce the policy. It is signed by three of the directors. It was in fores on 11th Juno. On or about the 14th June pri soner enmo lo my office in Auckland to inform me lliat his house whs burnt down. Ho had first done i>o by telegram. Ho said he was alone on the premises on Saturday evening, the 10th June, and wus nwukoned by the dogs barking about 10 o'clock tho following morning. This was not unusual, and bo did not pay much attention to it j but having been aroused, he heard a crackling noise, as if some place were on lire. On proceeding to the bar of tho hotel, he found it in flames. Ho had only time to hurry back to his bedroom, and drees in the olothes in which he then stood before me, not having been able to snvo n ninglo article of either stock or furniture. I questioned him as to whethor he had saved auy of his books or papers, and ho said they had beon all burned, including 1.0.U.s to tho amount of £40. H« then said that he pro ceeded tj Walker's, a mile and a-half from his place. Walker returned with him to the sceno of tho firo, to assist him in removing wbat of tho debris might be stolen. I told him he must furnish me with a list of hit stock and effects ou tho premises on the night of tho firo. He gave me a list, which I now produce. A few of the items were entered by me subsequently, at prisoner's request, and in his presence. (The lists of goods found on the premises at Otahuhu, handed in by Detective Jeffrey were hero handed to witness, with a request that ho would cay if any corresponded with those on his list, and he named a num ber of articles which appeared to be tho same.) Prisoner mude the usual declaration. Upon that I paid him £160, tho amount of the policy, taking tho customary receipt and dis charge.— Cross-examined by Mr. Hesketh : I havo not seen the place of tho firo. I did not deom it necessary. The polioy had been issued, bub I still held it. Prisoner had tho interim receipt. I caunot say if he ever had a policy actually in his possession. I had my doubts as to the origin of tho fire, but did not give expression to them. I thought it use less to go to tho scene of tho fire, as prisoner had been the only person on the spot. When prisouer produced the list, he said it did not comprisa everything he had lost, but only bo far as ho could remember. He brought Iffr. Walker to me because I asked him to produce somo one who. cffuld inform me of tho circumstances of the fire. I settled with prisoner on the 30th Juno. In fho meantime, I had mado further enquiries about cho fire. I still had my doubts as to tho origiu of the fire, but had not suffi cient grounds on which to withhold payment. Half an hour after payment my doubts were further aroused by a communication I had from another party, whose name I decline to state. Our oompany is a private firm, not an incorporated company with a common seal. This prosecution has not been instituted at my instigation, but I furnished the information to tho police to use as they might think proper. Ido not know why the police did not search prisoner's house before 27th July. On my suspicions I did not consider it necessary to claim the full period of sixty days before paying the amount of the polioy. I did not know that prisoner had a store. I simply insured his hotel, not two separate buildings. The Bth clause of our conditions stipulates that "furniture" shall inolude household goods and effects, books, timber, &c., unless specially insured. His effects, without being specified, are inoluded in the policy. I did nofc say that his wife's and his weamg apparel were not included. I hare

not called on prisoner to account for the quantity of goods found in his house at Otabuhu. I Btill say that I do not charge prisoner with fire to his house, with intent to defraud" the company.—Reex amined: When my suspicions,were aroused I placed the matter in the hands of the police, widi instructions to take, such steps .as they might consider requisite; and from time to time I have given them such assistance as I could. In the settlement between me and Leonard/ he himself treated " furniture" as comprehending all the articles included in,the list of things destroyed upon which he made his claim.—Hi ;M. De V. Walker deposed: I am a publican, carrying on business at Rangi rii-i. I know prisoner. He was in the same line of business there. His house was a little more than a quarter of a mile from mine, on the opposite side of a creek. His house was a small wooden building, worth to a buyer about £15 or £20, but to build might cost over £100. Ido not know what furniture was in the liouse. I saw Leonard on the morning of Sunday, the. 11th of June, between 7 and 8 o'clock. Ho came to my house. He was dressed in his usual niarmor. Ho appeared very downhearted.' ..He said, " Air. Walker, there are some sticks of firewood over there and a lew old tubs; you had better send over Bill and take them away ; I was burned out last night." I askod him if he was insured. He suiil lie was. I said, "Keep your head up, Mr. Leonard; I'll go over by-and-bye." lie said he was only insured for a trifle. When I went ■with a horse to his place, I found the tubs outside the house and the firewood near a shed. I found a dray about thirty feet from where the horse had been. On the dray I saw various things. To the best of my be lief those I saw enumerated. (Witness read the list.) There was a bag containing weights lying by the dray. The stable was about twonty-four feet from the house, and in it were a few other articles (which witness enumerated.) I examined the ruins, which were smouldering. All I could see there was a lot of nails, hinges, &c, doorlocks, one tin teapot, one steelyard, two old scales, a few knives and forks and spoons, two saucepans', one dish cover, two spittoons, a kettle, afrying pan, a gridiron, and a brand. In a small liouse at the back there were two bridge handles, and a few potatoes and pumpkins. That house was also smouldering, and was about eight or ten feet from the dray, which was not scorched. I said to Leonard " It's a good job you were not burned, as well as the house," and asked him how he could account for it, and if he suspected anyone. He pointed to a plank, and said, " That looks strange, it has fallen the wrong ;way." He thought it ought to have fallen 3»to the fire instead of out. Leonard remarked that he smelt the fire, and when he went to the bar it almost knocked him down, and that he had just time to dress himself and run out. He said that when he went to town he would get the insurance people to investigate it, if it was only to satisfy his wife. He said the fire originated in the bar, and their conversation dropped. There was no stove or fireplace in the bar. I did not see any taps among the ruins. Leonard said that the fire, happened so late that ho did not care to come and bother me at the time. Ho had three head of cattle, which I saw in his garden in the morning. He, said ho had turned them in to eat off the greenstuff. Prisoner owed me six shillings, and gave me in return a 100 lb. bag of flour. He also gave me a scythe, a fern hook, the ironwork of an old dray, and 40 or 50' lbs. of pork. His expenses that night, amounting to 7s. 6d., were also to come out of the value of the ilour. The usual price of flour at Rangi riri is £L. Prisoner remarked to me that the insurance was a trifle to what he had lost in " 1.0.U'5," which had been burnt, to the ex tent of hundreds of pounds. He had also au iron bedstead, and a bed containing nine stone of feathers. Hie said nothing about books and papers. I was present at lait licensing meeting, when prisoner's licence was refused, on the ground that the house did not contain the requisite accommodation.

The Age has the following amusing re marks : —" It hag been playfully suggested, at dry meetings of the City Council and such other bodies, that pipes and grog might be introduced with advantage. On one occasion wo know that a pack of cards found its way into a meeting of the Melbourne Corporation, when Alderman John Thomas spoke against lime. Ou another occasion, everybody does not know, but it is nevertheless the fact, that a bottlo of charitable whiskey ti as introduced nt a board meeting of the Benevolent Asylum, on a very hot day, and the sitting became a protracted one over tue toddy. These things como about by degrees. Now there was an instance of the march of progress at the meet ing of the Emerald Hill Eevision Court last evening. During the proceedings, Councillor Pago coolly lighted his pipe, and it really gave quite a novel emphasis to the argument to see him waving a lighted wax match, and, while the pipo occupied one side of his mouth, addressing the Mayor out of the other with 'Ju^t so (puff). In this case, I think (pulf, puff)'—and so on. But the strangest incon gruity of ail was to see Councillor tage leaning back in his chair, and smoking placidly as a member of the court, while the town clerk was administering a solemn oath on the Bible to a Mr. Wintle, who came forward as an applicant to be placod on the burgess roll. This fairly rivals Chief Baron Nicholson and the judge and jury of the Coalhole. Ours is a go-ahead country; no mistake about that."

Not up is Declining.—An impertinent young fellow offered to bet the teacher of a ladies' grammar sohoul who was boasting of the profioienoy of her pupils, that not a single one of them would " decline" the noun hus band.

The High, Low, and Broad Church parties of England are designated as " Attitudinarians " " Platitudinarians," and M Latitudinarians."-

FRANCE.

A POEM BY LANCELOT BOOTO. HI. v But hark! a distant rumblinu sound, like thunder in 13 heard with awe : A word is passed, from lip to Up, which growing, ends That word is War. ' l£S?2&&£Sg~^ swords from War is deplare,d! ' On haughtyFTOwith mighty force.Prussia'sarmca'" For war prepared; * - - '- - n - j Fr°m 'TtUe&Z^ WUh ClftShof arras ' ««>«*><* With horrid rpar. The chiWren^rave of martial Gaul recoil from German Their life-blood pour!' ' * \ .;, H, On j^xz^r™'o PRris> st«^^ > P^ C° aS, iM f°° ia *«»■■ -» starving And sues for peace. In thousands slain I . ' HermTS 8 V e r rhe na ed an CMpty °halr ! Sho B^y In cruel pain. With triumphs flushed, tho foe withdraws and shoatw his crimsoned sword suoatnos 0 ] peaco proclaim ! ' But vanquUhed^auUs^d within, her proud heart By bitter shame. (To be continued).

GRAFTON ROAD HIGHWAY DISTRICT.

A mektivO of ratepayers of this district was held last evening in the Queen's Head Hotel Symonds-street, for the purpose of considering the position of the ratepayers. After some conversation, Mr. Staines was called to the chair.—The Chairman said that had the first meeting been held within the district and at a proper hour, the present meeting would not have been necessary. The truth was that the hour at which the meeting was held deprived the working classes of the opportunity o f attending^ The result was that these gentle men used their proxies and plurality of votes to their own purpose. He believed that most of the meetings of these Boards were held privately, the Press not attending, conse quently those gentlemen spent the money as they liked. He thought such meet ings as the present would do good. It was high timo that these gentlemen should see their own position and that of the rate payers.—Mr. Sunn thought that meetings like the present would have rery good effect. He thought that for the purposes of rating there should bo sworn appraisers, who should do the same as they do at home. He thought in Auckland people were going beyond the law of England, for no law was to be passed repugnant to the law of England. He hoped that ratepayers' meetings like the present, would be held generally, for there was now an attempt on the part of the few to keep things in their own hands. —Mr. Edwards said Jie had beap requested to draw up something in writing relating to the object of the meeting. He read a document, in which it was stated that very general dissatisfaction prevailed among the ratepayers in consequence of the annual meeting being held out of the district, at a time when the " less affluent" could not attend; when the trustees found they could get up a " comfort able little meeting of their own," and, by " underhand and audacious proceeding!," secured their own ends. The speaker de nounced the proceeding as base and out rageous, and said things were done and undone, money levied and expended for the purpose of serving the interests of a few. He had not before witnessed such an outrage upon a body of respectable men. He believed "the meeting was concocted for the purpose of cheating the ratepayers out of their fair rights to act at an annual general meeting.—Mr. fieid thought that a committe should be formed at once, and the meeting bo adjourned to that day fortnight.—Mr.' Smith seconded the motion. He could bear out the remarks made, that the largest amount of the rates had been, expended in Grafton Road. r There was one piece of road which they commenced and gave up. Surveyors came and looked a£ it. It was made, unmade, and made over again. He could say that a better road could bo made by an old woman in the old country with only one eye. He protested against such road-making; he protested against being made to throw his money away after such work.— The following ratepayers wore "appointed a committee:—Messrs. Staines, Rose, .Burke, Reid, L. W. Eaton, Sole, Patterson, and Edwards ; to consider the steps to be taken to bring before the Superintendent the state of the main road and the footpaths j to draw up such protest as might be thought desirable against the Board laying out any more money upon the Grafton Road until the other roads were made; and to bring up their report in a fortnight.—Mr. Edwards said that the action of trustees was a " nefarious" one. He thought the object should be to vitiate the whole of the proceedings of the trustees. If tho Board were allowed to go on, the whole of the remaining district would be shut out from any benefit under tho Act for many years to come.—On the motion of Mr. Reid, the meeting was adjourned for a fortnight, to be held at the same time and place.—A vote of thanks was given to the chairman, and the meeting separated. , ,

IMPORTANT FIJI NEWS.

IMPORTANT FIJI NEWS. Thbee days before the Merlin left Levuku, Maafn, the Tongan chief, and great rival of Cakobau for the chieftainship of Fiji, arrived. In the course of a day or two he, was prevailed upon to take the oath of allegiance to pako bau as King of Fiji, himself being nominated Governor of the Windward Islands, at a fixed salary; at his death, the Windward Islands to cease from being under Tongan influence, and come under the absolute control of Cako bau, or his successor. This important step on the part of Maafu removes a difficulty which clouded the future of Fiji, for so long as the union of these two great chiefs remains un- j broken, internal war will be averted.

EEE EVENING STAR, AUCKLAND, SATt^DA^ ATTGtfST 12, 1871.



OAIii.8. Brighton Evening Star ... Morning Star Cure Crown Prince Queen of the May City of London ... "

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ALTERATION OF TIME-TABLE. i ■ ___ ~ mH E P. S. 'COMIBA N %*} ] Captain Cheisp, will leave as follows :— ' ' Fbom Auckland to Eussßii: Every Thursday Afternoon, at 4 p.m. Fboh Rtjssehi to Auckland : Every Saturday Afternoon, at 4 p.m. For all particulars apply to w. j. Hmtsr>& go., Agents, Auckland. ' ' ! L _,; | WANTED— A Smart Active LAD ; muet' be able to read, and write, for a shop. J& —Apply at the office of this paper. ' ( | WANTED— By an Industrious Man, a SITUATION in a Store j good refer- - tsnce.—Apply Stab office. WANTED— A SITUATION as GoverneßS in a small family.—Address. " C.V./ Stab office. WANTED— 100 Bona Fide Travellers, to become Lodgers every Saturday night, to drink Beer all day on Sunday, Dunrille's Whiskey not exceo£ed, at.the Oriental Hotel. TO LET—A BOOM with fire-place, furnished or'unfurnished, ten minutes' walk from Insurance Buildings.—Apply office of this paper. ••. . x \ Ruction busine.ss. The su]jscriber, in addition to his usual Sales at thy. . \ COENEE MART, QUEEN-STREET, "'" Is now prepared;'to CONDUCT OIUjT.-DOOB, SALES Of GENERAL MERCHANDISE, HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, &o. ; Commission advantageous to Vendors, aitd ■•-' prompt settlement. ■'■■•:■ • . ? • . GEORGE SIBBIN, s ■; ■;■■;'■>■ AuoMonwr,