SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET : This evening, 7 0. HIGH WATER : This afternoon, 9.5?.

STEAMER FOB THE THAMES, Lady Bowen, 12 o'clock midnight.

ARRIVALS.

Mary Ellen, schooner, J. Rawlings, from Mercury Bay. Heather Bell, cutter, Dam, from Mahurangi. Clyde, schooner, from Wangarei.

DEPARTURES. Duke of Edinburgh, p.s., for Wangarei Keera, s.s., Carey, for Southern Ports.

CLEARED OUTWARD.

baucy Lass, schooner, for Napier via Mercury Bay. Clio, schooner, for Russell. Ivanhoe, schooner, for Mongouui.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

Vi , ' lJ1" alm JueiDourne: uity oi Adelaide, February 3 ; Hero, February 15. For Levuka : Julia Price, schooner, this day. For Tahiti: Queen, schooner, early. For Samoa, via Tonga : Kenihvorth, schooner, early. *or Southern Ports : Wellington, s.s., on arrival of Nevada. For Napier and Wellington : Nevada, 31st inst. For Sydney : Amateur, schooner, early. For Hokianga : Mary Eliza, to-morrow. For Napier : Star of the South, this evening. For Tairua : Maude, cutter, this evening. For Bay of Islands : Comerang, to-morrow.

VESSELS EXPECTED.

City of Adelaide, s.s., from Sydney Gftdueeus, ship from London, sailed October 18 Magellan Cloud, schooner, from Chatham Islands Naomi, ship, from London, sailed lGth November. Alice Cameron, barque, from Sydney Grace Darling, schooner, from Melbourne Nevada, mail steamer, from Honolulu, due 30th inst. Briton, barque from Newcastle Gazelle, schooner, from Newcastle Macquarie, schooner, from Melbourne Rita, brig, from Melbourne. Albion, s.s., from Melbourne and Southern ports

The Keera s.s., left for the Southern Ports this afternoon with the following passengers :—Messrs. A. Rattray, A. Sadler, S. Stephenson, C. De Thierry, J. _V Wilson, H. Mclntyre, J. H. Harrison, Sharland, Robertson, Haigh, Devonport, Mrs. Griffin, and Mrs. Armitage ; and a general cargo.

COMMERCIAL.

MIXING. The following are the current calls and dividends payable in the companies named below :—

MEETINGS TO COME. Emily, Coromandel, January 31 Middle Star, Mechanics', Auckland, 2 p.m. January 31

American Eagle, Grahamstown, January 31 Golden Calf, Grahamstown, January 31 Auckland Whaling Company, Insurance Buildings, 3 p.m. January 31 New Rakaia, Coromandel, February 2 "Von Tempsky, Coromandel, February 2 Nebraska, Grahamstown, February 5 Hauraki Saw Mill Company, Company's office, 2 p. m. February 5 Venus, Coromandel, February C

Bass Rock, Queen's Ferry Hotel, Auckland, 3.30 p.m. February 6 Evening Star, Queen's Ferry Hotel, Auckland, 2 p.m. February 6 Hope of Coromandel, 10, Insurance Buildings, 4 p.m. February 7 Conquering Hero, 12, Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 4 p.m. February 8 Crown Prince, Queen's Ferry Hotel, Auckland, February 8 Little AVonder, Coromandel, February S Golden Phoenix, Grahamstown, February 9 Queen's Ferry, 49, Queen street, Auckland, 4 p.na February 13 Golden Pah, Coromandel, February 15. Smiling Beauty, Grahamstown, February 10.

POST OFFICE, SHORTLAND-STREET.

Mails will Closb as Under : For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m. ; and to-morrow, at 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. For Tairua, per Maude, this day, at 5 p.m. For Napier, per Star of the South, this day, at C p.m. For Whitiangi, per Petrel, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Kapanga, per Royal Alfred, to-morrow, at 1.30 p.m. For Russell, Kawa Kawa, etc., per Comerang, to morrow, at 3 p.m. For Russell, Kawa Kawa, etc., per Duke of Edin burgh, on Thursday, the Ist February, at 3 p.m. For Taranaki and the Southern provinces, per Wellington, immediately after the arrival of p.s. Nevada, from Honolulu. For Napier and Southern Provinces, per Nevada, six hours after her arrival. S. B. Biss, Postmaster.

BIRTH.

WITTEN.—On the 27th January, at West street Newton, the wife of Mr. Frank Witten, of Wai koukou, of a son.

MARRIAGE.

FITNESS—GRANT.—On the 26th January, at the fc residence of the bride's father. Ferny Now, Maunga tawhiri, by the Rev. J. C. Eccles, Benjamin, third son of Mr. James Fitness, Woodbine Farm, Razor back, to Margaret, third daughter of Mr. David Grant,

DEATHS.

GRAY.—On the 29th January, Wilhelmina Vipond Gray, infant daughter of the late William Gray, of Waymouth.

SWETE.—On the 29th instant, at Karangahape Road, Newton, Harold Frederick, twin son of Arthur L. Swete, aged 5 months.

TAYLOR.—On the 27th January, at Trevension House, Grahamstown, Frances Edith Adeline, infant daughter of Mr. M. Taylor, aged eight months.

The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News and The Morning News.

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1872.

Ls" most people the bump of wonder has a large development, and it requires only something unknown and mys terious to throw it into active excite ment. At present Auckland has a ghost. Nobody has seen the phantom, but somebody has seen somebody else, who has heard from somebody else that he has seen it; and it requires but a red hand, or something similar, painted on a wall in some of the outskirts of the town, to turn the city pale with affright. Internationalism is in our midst. The demon that fired Paris with fratricidal frenzy, that incited to a fiendish love of fire and blood, that unsexed woman, and made her a petro leuse, —that dark, invisible, mysterious, vengeful, murderous, but ever silent, spirit is in Auckland. Its blood-shot eye is fixed on us night and day, and its red hand conceals beneath its gory robe the brand that is to light up our heavens with the lurid glare of a uni versal conflagration. Let us speak with bated breath. Hushed be ail our suspicions. Has not the secret been extorted in an unguarded moment of excitement; and from the very emis sary of the international society, who commands fifty commanders, who hold the wills of a multitude of sworn foes to wealth and order; who has but to give the signal, the waving of the hand, or the scratching of the nose, or some other preconcerted sigu, and a thousand daggers will spring from a thousand sheaths, and a thousand brands will spread flames and death among our shrieking terror-stricken citizens. "We really feel sorry to dis turb the pleasurable excitement which the contemplation of such a prospect is calculated to afford to a mystery and-wonder-loving people. And we are strongly tempted to find the utmost satisfaction in fanning the public curiosity by winks and nods, and by the more potent influence of a grave silence, eloquent of unut terable horrors. We have met men in this city, grown up, bearded men, who profess to believe in the existence in our midst of ramifications of the In ternational Society; and all because a miserable man, to surround his shame ful position with eclat, has assumed the mysterious, and boasted of a power superior to his captors. " There are fifty of us," said the captured fugitive, " and lam captain of the band." But mysterious awe has reached its cul minating point in the words, " Oh! they are very strong, but I have some thing that will crush them." As much as to say, "I bow my head with dignity; I do so because the exigencies of our great cause demand it. Our plans are not yet matured, but in that hand on which I suffer the bracelet to rest with impunity, I hold the thunders of the International Society." We cer tainly should not have believed, had Iwe not visible evidence, that any one would have set any value on such bun kum. How any one having the least knowledge of the constitution of colo nial society, or any appreciation of the effects of institutions such as ours, could really believe tlat a com munistic spirit could breath our atmosphere, is in itself incredible. Although the descriptions of the ramifications of the International Society in England, are palpable exaggerations, we can quite understand | how levelling principles might there find a fertile soil. In a country where hereditary castes are as clearly* defined as in India, where hundreds possess the soil, and millions tread the earth unable to call one square foot their own, and without the prospect that either they or their children or their children's children will ever by legiti mate means, be able to claim a right to as much of earth's surface as their feet can rest upon ;in such circumstances where a minority possess hereditary rights to rule, and the vast majority of the population are born and liye to serve, we cannot wonder if communistic principles should take root and flourish. But we do not hesitate to say that in the political and social atmosphere of such a colony as this, communism could not exist. There is not a work ing man in the colony, but by reason able industry can become a proprietor of landed estate, and can raiae himself if he have the talents, to the highest position of political influence. There are no hereditary rights and but little hereditary property; nor is there to bo found within our coasts either wealth or power possessed by any one, or any party, that can throwablightingshadow over honest industry. All men know this, and there are as a consequence, no "dangerous classes." All men can easily acquire some little property by ordi nary frugal industry ; under our homo stead law, a man can even have landed property and a home as a free gift; bpt irrespective of this, every man has

the prospect and the power of becoming in the colony, to a greater or less degree, a holder of property ; and the moment a man acquires a single allotment, or any real stake in the country, that moment he becomes con servative, and the enemy of violent, revolutionary change. In England it may be that the cupidity of the masses may incline them to violent convul sions, from having everything to' gain and nothing to lose. Butinacolony such as ours, the majority have sometliing to lose, and that something would be instantly depreciated in value by violent political convulsion, and this to such an extent that it would not be recouped by the distribution of all the amassed wealth in the country, which might be effected by the complete triumph of communistic principles. For ex ample, in the Province of Auck land, if the earthly possessions of the "Twelve Apostles," who represent the " bloated plutocracy " of the place, and who are supposed to be peculiarly obnoxious to these imaginary foes of order, were sold up and distributed, and especially in a time of political turmoil, the result would not give perhaps a pound a piece to every in habitant —which would bear a very small proportion to the loss that would occur to every individual, in the para lysis of trade and industry of every kind. The bulk of the people may not reason this way, but the state of things existing in the colony has its influence nevertheless on social and political feeling. There are individuals or small coteries who, from personal or local causes, may be inspired with dangerous vindictive feelings ; but to dignify such a despicable thing with the name of a wide-spread political and social movement, argues a singular amount of ignorance of colonial social feeling. A colony such as ours fails to supply the conditions, in which alone, international communism could exist. Our population is almost wholly composed of those whose selfish interests, and consequent predilections must be on the side of order; and though there are those who from various causes — dissappointment, chagrin, or otherwise —feel at enmity with society, they would not afford a mouthful a piece to those who from the very necessity of their position, must be prepared to rally around the cause of law and order. To pay the slightest attention to the bembastical ravings of a detected malefactor, who seeks to throw a halo of glory around his own head, as if he were the high priest of the coming political faith of the world, argues a simplicity of mind, and an ignorance of human nature that is not creditable to colonists. On the case at present pending in our Courts we refrain from offering remark ; but we cannot refrain from expressing our contempt for the chicken-heartedness that has conjured up a ghost, and prates about inter national communism; because a narrow minded personal vindictive spite has tried to exalt itself into a " sacred cause," and babbles "There are fifty of us, and I am captain of the band," and " Ah, they ai*e very strong, but I have something that will crush them."

The hideous scenes of immorality in the midst of festering filth,' which exist even in his small city, arc such as could not possibly be believed except by those who are obliged to attend the Police Court; and the gross deptii of degradation to which men and women can descend in this Christian land, shews that there ia " a screw loose" somewhere. Dens of infamy exist, in which men an woman may be seen by the curious inquirer lying, as was testified to in a case this morning by several witnesses, ' huddled up together on the floor like so many pigs, excepting that the place was too bad fo apigstye." Unfortunately, the case agai ns^ the occupier and inmates of this den of wickedness and hot-bed of crime, broke down because the police, in their excess of zeal and righteous disgust and horror at the scenes to which their attention was drawn, entered the Tophet and captured the inmites without having first procured a warrant to arrest them. His Worship the Resident Magistrate held that the law gave them no powers to do so, but that they should either have obtainod a warrant or proceeded through the milder channel of summonsing the offenders. He had no alternative but to dismiss the case. The appearance of some of the party was horrible in the extreme. Mangled and bloated faces, and tottering frames, shewed plainly enough the origin of the evil. Eeally it is time that the law should be so amended as to allow the custodians of the peace to enter any filthy place that is a nuisance to the neighbors. Even for the good of the wretched and debased inmates, such a course would be desirable ; for the discipline of a gaol might effect the good which city missionaries and other mildly disposed philanthropists fail to do.

At the Eegatta yesterday the Dauntless returned from Tiri Tiri first, with the Na Nona second, the time being 6 hours 40 min. 31 sec, and 6 houra 49 min. 20 sec. By a time allowance to the latter vessel she won by a few seconds. The Cambria struck on a sunken rock off Tiri Tiri, ■while leading, and had to be beached and repaired. She did not reach the harbour until seven o'clock this morning. In the second race the Sovereign of the Seas was declared the winner, the Mercury was second, sho passed the flag ship only «is minutos after the winner, although she had been considerably delayed by carrying away the topmast oil passage up, but for this accident she would probably have beat the Sovereign. In the eleventh race, for dingicc, White won in the Willie. The twelvth event did not come off.

In tbo Supremo Court tenday, there was an application mado for respondent's costs in the divorce case " White v. White." The argu ments will bo board, jn Chambers,

The remains of Mr. James Eyrie, late of the Metropolitan Hotel, were conveyed to their last resting place in the Presbyterian burial ground this afternoon. Alargenumberof friends followed. The deceased was intered in a triple coffin. The second one being expen* sively finished, but owing to a third one was ordered at the last moment, was not decorated or mounted as well as the under taker (Mr. Black) would have wished had he have had time to complete his arrrngements.

A narrow escape from fire occurred lae^. night- A gentleman in passing the shop of Mr. N. Campbell, the tailor, in Queen street, observed the window curtains of the upper rooms to be in a blaze. He at once gave the alarm, and the inmates speedily extinguished the flames without extraneous assistance.

The case of Fenton v. Lo Koy, for disturb ing his slumbers, appears to have lapsed in consequence of the dismantlement of th* battery from which proceeded the obnoxious sounds. The hearing of it was further ad» journed this morning. Other casos were also put off until to-morrow.

Challenges are generally plentiful after regattas. This morning the Mercury, which lost her topmast yesterday, challenged the Sovereign of the Seas to run her round the Watchman, Cape Colville, for £40. This afternoon the challenge has been accepted.

The City Hall was not opened last etening owing to the illustrator of the diorama not having returned from the yacht race round Tiri Tiri. To-night an addi tion to the programme will be made.

The regular monthly meeting of the United Service Lodge, No. 421, I.C. will bo held to> morrow evening at the Masonic Hotel, at half-past six o'clock.

the Auckland Regekta prizes will be paid this evening.

The Thame* Guardian says that " Mr. Collett, late manager of the Flagship Q-.M.Co. lias been arrested, we understand, at the suit of the company on three seperate charges of embezzlement. Mr. Tyler is engaged for tho prosecution. The priioner will be brought before tho R.M. to-day, and will probably be remanded.

The Melbourne Argus says, " A new Court, bouse has been opened for business, for the first time on the diggings. It is a mere «hbd, entirely unfurnished. The desk for tho Police Magistrate has an incline which reaches to his knees, and the affair is so inconvenient that the Justices will hare to hold their ink-bottles in one hand whilo they take notes with the other. There is no dock for tha prisoner, no box for the wit 'lessee, no table or chairs for tho lawvors or their ' fair ' cherubs ; no desk for the clerk; and no place for a water bottle."

An event of a somewhat novel and intesfcing character (says the Hobart Town Mercury) took place in the forest between Port Esperance and Surges Bay on Saturday, the 6th instant. It was a " chopping match" ; the splitter of ea eh place mustering itrongly, and backing their men. There were about sixty persons present to witness the match, and, after much running to and fro to find a suitable tree, one was at last fixed on for the contest. The rival competitor?, after the preliminary and necessary arrangements wero entered into, then stripped and commenced in real earnest. For twenty minutes each party was quietly and patiently watching, and but few bets were made, although each seemed confident of their man. Towards the end of tho match the excitement became interne, and bo close was the contest that it was really difficult to say who would be the winner, till at last the log fell,, and Murray, of Surges Baj, was declared the victor; Owen, of Port Esperanco, having only a thin strip of some two or three inches to cut through.

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

THE CALEDONIAN.—MINE MANAGER'S REPORT.

The following is a copy of a telegram received from the Mine Manager: — " Jan. 30, 9.50.

" Nothing new in the mine to report, " S. E. EICHARDS."

(from our own correspondent.)

The Whau Crushing.

Black Angel Crushing.

GjtATIAMSTOWN, 3 p.m

Tookey's tributers have crushed 13 tons, and the return is 12 ounces of gold.

The Great Surprise trial crushing of 5 tons, gave 4 ounces.

The Whau have lodged 89 ounces for the fortnight.

The Black Angel crushing of 40 tons realised 32 ounces.

THE VOLUNTEER CHRONICLE.

We regret to chronicle the resignation of Captain John Howell, for nearly ten years the able commander of No. 1 (Royal) Company of Volunteer Bines. Captain Howell, though but a middle-aged man, was an old soldier, and we believe was born in his former regiment, the 58th. Ho waa for a long time drill instructor in the groat military station of Chatham, and in that capacity taught many hundreds who afterwards fought gloriously in the Crimea. Since the formation of No. 1 Company in Auckland, he has been an active and energetic officer, and in regard to his knowledge of military movements, unsurpassed. Private business compels his removal to the Thames, where it is to be hoped he will not be allowed by the volunteers to hide his talents under a bushel. We do not hesitate to say, that his resignation of an Auckland captaincy will leave a gap which is not likely to be filled up for a long time.

We understand that Major Gordon has lodged a protest against those volun teers who passed the ordeal of the trial

firing at the Thames, on the ground that by the regulations the firing should have been completed in one day, whereas at. the Thames it occupied several; and indeed one man had a whole day to himself. Should the grounds of protest be held valid, the result will probably be that the whole affair throughout the ; colony will have to be commenced de

now. The annual inspection or the Auckland Engineer Volunteers will take placein the Albert Barracks this evening, at 7 o'clock. The Auckland Cavalry Volunteers will meet at 5 o'clock this evening, at the Drill Shed, for the annual inspection. The members of No 3 Company Auck land Rifle Brigade are requested to meet, to-morrovr morning, at the Butts, to com pete for a number of prizes. All intending competitors must attend in uniform. The annual inspection of the Auckland Scottish Volunteers will take place at six o'clock to-morrow morning.

POLICE COURT.

THIS DAY. Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R;M

DRUNKENNESS

Three drunkards were punished in the usual manner ; and Brigdet Moris, having committed a breach of the Vagrant Act by being a habitual drunkard, was ordered to be imprisoned one month with hard labor. BREACHES OP VAGRANT ACT. Wm. Costello and and John Walker, charged with behaving in a public thorough fare so as to provoke a breach of the peace, pleaded guilty, and were ordered each to pay 20s and costs, or be imprisoned seven days with hard labor. VAGKANCY. Anne Fynne pleaded guilty of having no visible lawful means of support. Evi dence, however, was taken as to character, and, as in the following case, prisoner was discharged, having been already sentenced as a drunkard. EOGUE AND VAGABOND. Peter Fynne was charged with being a rogue and vagabond, in being the occupier of a house in Mills' lane frequented by dis orderly characters and persons having no visible lawful means of support.

He pleaded not guilty. A considerable amount of evidence was taken, which clearly proved the charge, and, according to two of the witnesses, the house was more like a pig-stye than a human habitation. . . His Worship, however, was of opinion that the police bad exceeded their duty in entering the house to take people out; and dismissed the cases, thinkingthat they had already been sufficiently punished, BREACH OF MUNICIPAL CORPORATION ACT. James May was charged with leaving his cart unattended without having a chain attached to the wheel. Defendant pleaded ignorance to the act. He lived at Panmure. Fined Is and costs, 11s. Johanna Mahoney, charged with a similar offence, also pleaded ignorance to the Corporation regulations, and was finod Is and co3ts, 9s 2d. LARCENY. Henry Clarke was brought up on a charge of stealing some gum and a keg of beer from H. R. Sayce. There seems to have been a kind of drunken spree somewhere aboui Eiver head, during which one man told another that he had abstracted a certain quantity of gum, and had also wheeled a keg of beer out of the brewery of the complainant, in order therewith to inspirit his friends. One of these turned traitor, and gave information. The evidence, however, was incomplete, and the case broke down. ALLEGED FORGERY. J. C. Davis, charged on remand with forging a transfer of scrip in the Tokatea G-oldniining Company, pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr Cooper. Mr Inspector Broham informed the Court that he was not prepared with evidence that would warrant him in proceeding with the case. He had paid great attention to it, and did not believe any forgery had been committed. The prosecutor, however, insisted on giving his evidence, he was therefore sworn, and informed by the Court of the unenviable position in which he would place himself, if he did not estab lish his cas<j. Benjamin Evans deposed that on the lth October he bought three shares in the Tokatea G-.M.C. from the accused, and signed a transfer. He had received a dividend since on the shares of 215., and also in December a dividend of lGs. on two of the shares. They refused at the office to pay a dividend on the remaining share, becaase he had transferred it to Mr. Albin Martin.

The prosecutor fenced at all the ques tions, but at last said that the signature to the transfer produced was his. Mr. Cooper urged that the matter could not go further, the prosecutor haying ad mitted that the alleged forgery was his own signature, and hoped His Worship would express himself strongly on the sub ject, so that Mr. Davis should leave the Court without the slightest slur on his character.

His Worship discharged the accused, and said he had never seen a case break down more signally upon the evidence of the prosecutor.

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

Theee was a large attendance at this Theatre last evening. The Ladies' Club was the opening piece in the programme, and was well played throughout. Signor Donato, who meets with a hearty recep tion nightly, again electrified his audience by his poetry of motion in some very difficult dance3 even to an ordinary dancer. His performance is almost beyond con ception. The concluding piece consisted of Sheridan's brilliaut satire, "The Critic." Mr Hoskins sustained his part admirably, and wa3 loudly applauded. The whole play is well worth seeing, and the same programme will be repeated this evening. A benefit has been announced to Mr Morton Tavares, but that gentleman declines the honor.

Eyes have they, yet see not—Needles. Ears have they, yet hear not—Old book leaves. Tongues have they, yet taste not —Buckles. Hearts have they, yet pity not—Cabbages, Arms have they, yet toil not—Chairs. Hands have they, yet steal not—Clocks. Legs have they, yet walk not—Tables. Teeth hare they, yet chew not—Combs. Lips have they, yet kiss not-Pitchers.

SIGNOR DONATO.

This highly gifted gentleman, whose wonderful monopodal performances have during the past week delighted the Auck land play-going public, intends to take a benefit to-morrow night at the Prince ot Wales Theatre. He has issued a subpoena calling on the general public to be present , on the occasion ; and we certainly advise ; them to do so. Those who remain absent will most assuredly regret it. The con- | summate grace of the movements of this ; gentleman deserve the attention of all , lovers of the fine arts; and many of his postures, although he has only the benefit of one pedestal, are such as might well be observed by the sculptor and utilized in the perfection of his art Besides this, there is no abrupt jumping from onejlace | ts another, as might ™turally be expected from a person hopping about-upon one , lee, but all is prace and smoothness, lor S'Signer has so trained his muscles tha his balance is perfect, ancl ' ™ body sways about in complex aecoid with the movement of'«"? l*f and yields to each spring It w d tticult at times to believe that he has only me . advantage of one leg, for the motions are , so smooth and well-toned that it appears inconeievable that such an end couK-i oe , attained by a person haying only half the usual means of Jocomotion. But this is not all. Signor Donato lost his lee in a patrotic cause ; and instead of sitting down and wailing over the loss, and crying out for a pension, rose up, and by a happy thought, resolved to take to the line of business in which he has ] achieved so great fame. Immense ex ertion 'and vast perseverance must have been required before he arrived at the ; position he now holds; but with in- , vincibledetermination he seems tohave gone on until he has won for himself fame. It appears that ?he is a 1 vocalist as well as a dancer, and intends to favor us with a song to-morrow night. We sincerely wish him , every suceess, and a full house. ;

CORRESPONDENCE.

S3T We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions expressed by our correspondents.

MORE ABOUT WATER SUPPLY.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sin, —If the Onehunga springs were up in the Waitakerei ranges, or any land suffi ciently high to force it to Auckland (and I was a capitalist), why I should feel in clined to invest my capital in bringing that water to Auckland —that is, providing the undertaking wasn't managed in a similar way to the Auckland and One hunga railroad. But, as Waitakerci water is only about suitable to wash a cart with, being surface water and no natural Alteration about it, why I shan't willingly invest any of my money in bringing scum and rotten wood washings to Auckland, and if the bush is not kept on the tributary creeks, why the supply (like the creeks at the Thames) will be reduced in no time. It is my belief it will be an expensive, abortive, unsatis factory undertaking. There is a difference in beginning a job and finishing one. Certainly some one suggests supplying Onehunga by that route, but what they will clear out of that flourishing locality I don't think will amount to much. If Auckland wants good water she will have to pump it up any how, and in my simple judgment the Onehunga springs produce the most genuine stuff. There are several springs within half a mile, pro ducing any amount of splendid, sold, transparent drinking water, and not thickened by freshets and as soft to wash with as rain water. Somebody talks about paying £5,000 for the mill pond in the middle of the public road ; Govern ment has plenty of land there with the springs on it, and I suppose if they sink a hole lower than tide mark, the water will run into that instead of running into the tide. The trouble then is to get it into Auckland. Make a reservoir as high up One Tree Hill as necessary and pamp it up there. But, mind, begin on a limited scale first; or I should think it might be taken along the railroad anil then puaiped up into reservoirs in Auckland, it would find its way to the shipping easy at all events. But there are diggings in the world where all the water is pumped up higher and further than One Tree Hill from One- Imnga; and I would suggest, if water is to be brought into the city, to bring in the real genuine stuff. This is an old song, I'm aware, but an old song suits an old man, so pray excuse him. Wow, as far as my wants about water are concerned, I want no water company established. I have a well and tank on my little patch, and I presume a good many more might do the same, but it seems to me that the majority of people are slow to improve and repair without compulsion. However, they will find it costs something when a water company brings it to the door. If this is worth chinking up with, 1 return you my thanks for its insertion, and all honor to you, Mr Editor, for your ad vocacy of the laborers' 8 hour movement. I wish I could pass the compliment on your fellow tradesmen, who seem to me to understand " whipping the devil round a stump," as the Yankees say, better than they do " doing as they would be done by."

Yours, &c,

Frederick Davidson,

SALTWATER BATHS SWIMMING MATCHES.

To the Editor of the Evenino Stab. Sir, —By advertisement in the morning papers I perceive there will bo another edition of the saltwater baths swimming and diving matches on Saturday nexT. And as the last did not give entire satis faction, I would suggest to the manager (through the medium of your columns) the propriety of making a slight alteration in the programme, i.e., give prizes for plain, ornamental, and swift swimming, instead of giving one for " all ages," and all methods; By giving separate prizes the excellencies of the different modes would be clearly shown. Another thing I would remark upon is the small amount of the prizes given (quite unworthy of a place so be-praised as this is for acquatics) for which, according to the Cross of January 22nd, " A large number of citizens had subscribed to make up the requisite funds!" The pockets of said citizens must have felt very light after such a large amount of cash had been

abstracted therefrom ; the prizes inmoney altogether amounting to £5 1/s. 6d. It the public subscribed for the different prizes what becomes of the entrance fees charged to the baths, and those charged for entrance to the matches? Trusting you will find space for the above in your extensively read paper, I am, Sir, A SWTMMEB.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sie —In our " constellation " of this morning I find a Mr " Progress " very wrathful because a clerk has levanted with £500, and he seizes hold ot the opportunity to declaim against share brokers, speculators, et hoc genus omne. He appears to anticipate quite a Utopia from the new Share Brokers Bill which comes into operation the day atter to-morrow. Well, the public will see by-and-bye how it will act. A celebrated English Judge once said he could drive a coach and four through any Act of Parliament. I think he might drive a railway train, passengers and all, through this one, without fear of accident. But apropos of " Progress," who pro fesses to be an advanced Liberal, who says, " the possessor of £1000 per annum may speculate with impunity, but the possessor of £150 may not," I say if the £1000 per annum man spends £1000, and the £150 per annum man spends £150, neither has any right to speculate, or the one just as much right as the other. My friend appears not to know the difference between speculation and investment. I would advise him to study Mills or De Toequeville. As for employing the expensive machinery of half a dozen Governments to prevent elopements, if employers would treat their employees better, and not trust large sums of money in the hands of men to whom they scarcely give labourer's wages, the ■ public would hear less about " levanting clerks," &c.

Yours, &c,

CLERICU3.

THE SHARE MARKET.

To the Editor of the Evening Stab. Sir, —The present depreciated and stagnant slate that the sharemarket has arrived at, is, in my humble opinion, the soundest argument for its future prosperity and permanent stability as a legitimate institution. The red-hot poison has necessarily graded into a cooler atmosphere, and will, doubtless, naturally reach that cool and calculating era when the "rubbish" market shall have been thoroughly overhauled, from which the legitimate speculator will commence to operate upon a more sound and solid basis. The "tip" system, which has hitherto so largely helped to extract the money from out the pockets of the too confiding public, i.e-, inexperienced fledglings, who were willing to believe that the Caledonian and other mines con sisted of " gold in the lump ;" and who were, doubtless, willing to credit any fabulous yarn with respect to probable yields and prospective dividends, are now discovering that they have been duped and deceived, and made to pay for peeping into the sacred mysteries of " bulling and bearing," should, I think, be thankful if they still have enough blood— ergo, cash remaining unsucked, to enable thetn to re-assume that legitimate mode of exists ence from which many were withdrawn when the sun of scrip was at its zenith, in the vain hope of acquiring a speedy " pile." Yours, &c, ASGTTa.

THE REGATTA.

To the Editor of the Etenixg Stab. Sir, —I see by your paper of yesterday, that Mr. Waymouth has protested against the Sappho, on account of not having his man on board. Can you tell me (or some of your readers may), if he sends men on board all the boats, or if he would have been so particular had he come in first ? It seems to me to be Mr. Way mouth's policy directly he is beat to protest: Last year in the sculling race, although sculled twice, and each time beat, lie still protested. I think, sir, that as Mr. Waymouth is one of the committee, he ought not to compete at all, for no one on the committee should in my, opinion. I am, &c, Fair Plat.

A LIBEL ON THE COLONNA TROUPE.

Me. John Collinson, the publisher of the Liverpool Leader, a weekly paper, ap peared on Oct. 14, at the Liverpool Police Court to answer a criminal information charging him with having published a malicious libel on the Colonna troupe of female dancers, who are now giving per formances at the Theatre Itoyal in that town. The proceedings arose out of an article with reference to the troupe whieh had been published in the previous week's issue of the Leader, and in which appeared the following paragraph, forming the chief ground of complaint:—" There have been a great many disreputable personages in the noble Eoman family of Colonna, but none of them, we suspect, were so thoroughly without a shred of reputation as the contemptible and scandalously in decent troupe of dancers who have ap propriated that once honoured name. We have been told, on what seems un questionable authority, that while the doors of the theatre—in which ' no drink ing is allowed'—are closed by midnight, the green-room remains open till four in the morning, and the Colonna girls stay there to drink and flirt with such gay young sparks as have unemptied purses." In support of the information evidence wasadducedtoshow thatthisscatementwas untirely untrue, and that, so far from going into the green-room, the members of the troupe did not have any communication with either the public or even the pro fessionals, but that directly after their performances they left the theatre. The magistrate having intimated his intention of sending the case for trial, the defence was not entered upon, though it was stated on behalf of the defendant that he merely passed the article for publication, and was not aware of its libellous nature. Before the defendant was formally com mitted, a consultation took place between

THE EVENING STAR, TUESDAY JANUARY 30, 1872

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J CATER (late Cbombie's), ROYAL • PHOTOGRAPHIC GALLERY, Queen etreet, Auckland } has much pleasure in in forming his friends and the public generally that he has purchased the Photographic Business so long carried on by Mr Crombie ; and having secured the services of Mr Crombie's late Manager, he feels warranted in stating that they will receive every civilty and attention, as well as first-class and artistic portraits at bi3 hands, and that no pains will be spared to give entire satisfaction. J C. also wishes to inform the Ladies that arrangements are being made for taking instantaneous Portraits of Children.



NOTICE. RJ YATES begs to inform the resiJents • of Parnell and the public generally, that after the Ist; day of January, 1872, the business now being carrried on by Mb Thomas Waters will be taken by hi,m, when he trusts that by strict attention to business, keeping goods of the very best quality, and selling at a reasonable profit, to merit the same support aa his predecessor. IN retiring from the business which he has carried on successfully for so many years, the undersigned begs to return his sincere thanks to all those who have honored him ■with their patronage, and hopes that the same liberal support will be given to his successor (Me B J Yates), whose long experience in the Grocery trade will enable him to give the fullest satisfaction to all who may become customers of his. THOMAS WATEES.



HANDSOMELY BOUND BOOKS FOB CHRISTMAS PRESENTS, AT E. "W A T T E ' S AUCKLAND LIPEAEY, 100, Queen street. A liberal discount to the trade and Bohools.