SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET : This evening, 7.1. HIGH AVATER : This evening, 7.35 p.m,

STEAMER FOE THE THAMES.

Enterprise No. 2, 10 o'clock this evening

DEPARTURES.

Nevada, p.s., Blethen, for Southern ports. of the South, s.s., Holmes, for Poverty Bay and Napier.

CLEARED OUTWARD.

Aurora, schooner, Gardiner, for Kaipara, with a cargo of sundries.

EXPORTS.

Per Star of the South, for Poverty Bay and Napier : 40 kegs, 60 bags sugar, 10 empty casks, J. S. Macfar lane ; 10 crates bottles, R. T. Ebborn ; 1 case, books, Combes and Daldy ; 100 bags coke, 5 tons iron, 1 pel., 30 fathoms chain, Fraser and Tinne ; 2 pkgs., Part ridge ; 2 cases, 1 keg, Kempthorne and Co. ; 1 cask, A. Clark and Son : 2 cases, D. Wiseman ; 2 tons flour, Thornton and Co. ; 3 cases, W. E. Anderson.—J. S. Macfarlane, agent.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For Sydney and Melbourne: Hero, about the 15th

inst. For Tahiti: Queen, schooner, early. For Southern Ports : Phcebe, s.s.,'to-morrow. For Sydney : Amateur, schooner, early; Alice Cameron,

to-morrow. For Kaipara : Aurora, to-day, For Tauranga : Dauntless, schooner, to-day. Fo. London : Caduceus, ship, early. For Honolulu : Nevada, 22nd instant.

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Magellan Cloud, schooner, from Chatham Islands Naomi, ship, from London, sailed 16th November. Macquarie, schooner, from Melbourne Rita, brig, from Melbourne. Albion, s.s., from Melbourne and Southern ports Wild Duck, ship, from London, sailed 10th December

Owing to the boisterous weather last evening the Nevada delayed her departure, and did not weigh anchor until this morning.

The Star of the South left this afternoon for Poverty Bay and Napier. Passengers—Rev. Mr. Sidey, wife, and four children, Messrs. W. Cruickshank, Colonel Harington, Charles Burford, Miss Clara Stephenson, Mr. Cashmore, and four others.

COMMERCIAL.

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

Crown Prince, Queen's Ferry Hotel, Auckland, February 12 Bank of Tokatea, Mechanics, Auckland, 4 p. m. Feb-

ruary 13. Queen's Ferry, 49, Queen street, Auckland, 4 p.m

February 13 Red, White, and Blue, Grahamstown, February 14 Golden Pah, Coromandel, February 15. Smiling Beauty, Grahamstown, February 16. Flagship, Golden Anchor, Grahamstown, February 21. Pride of Tokatea, Company's office, Queen street, Auckland, 3 p. m. February 22 Masonic, Coromandel, February 23 Lowland Lass, Grahamstown, February 24 Margaretta, 33, Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 2 p. m. February 2-1. Nebraska, Grahamstown, February 2G

POST OFFICE, SHORTLAND-STREET.

Mails will Close 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 Taranaki and Southern Provinces, per s. s. Phoabe, this day, at 5 p.m. Late letters and telegrams will be received until 7.30 a.m. to-morrow. For Wangarei, etc., per Clyde, this day, at 5 p.m. For Tauranga and Opotiki per Dauntless, to-morrow,

at 8 a.m. For Mahurangi, Matakana. etc,, per Lady Bowen, to

to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Kapanga, etc., per Royal Alfred, to-morrow, at 11.30 a.m. ; and per Challenger, at 0.30 p.m. For Kawau, Wangarei, etc., per Duke of Edinburgh, on Monday, at 5 p.m.

S. B. Biss, Postmaster.

DEATHS.

BAIRD.—On the sth February, at Auckland College, Robert Stanley ;and on the Bth Febmary, John Percy, twin sons of John McVey and Eleanor Baird, aged five 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."

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1872.

We are not so given to Eoyal Com missions of Enquiry as they are in Victoria, but we think that an enquiry of some kind might with much profit be instituted, to examine into the work ing of the Provincial Grammar School in this city. There is a vague impres sion abroad, that it nestles under the pleasant shade of a friendly patronage, not very conducive to vigorous exer tion ; that in fact it is doing very little for the enormous revenue which it re ceives, and falls far short of fulfilling the duties attaching to such an import ant public institution. The expendi ture in salaries, rent, &c, amounts, it! appears, annually to some £2,750, in cluding the handsome sum of £700vas the income of the principal master, ! with salaries of £400, £300, £250, |

£200, £250, and smaller amounts for the various assistant teachers. Eor this there are educated about ISO boys, who, at an average fee of eight pounds per annum, may be estimated as contri buting £1440, showing a loss of some £1310 per annum to be made good from the public estate. Besides all this, there was expended, in effecting alter ations of the building lately occupied as a Grammar School, now the Desti tute Children's Home, over £1,000; and on the present building in the Barracks, which is given rent free, between three and four hundred pounds additional. We are very far from saying that this is too much

to De contributed for sustaining a high, standard of juvenile education, and should say double, treble it, .if neces sary, if a corresponding return can be shown. But we absolutely fail to see anything being done by this highly supported public institution, that cannot be done, and is not being done by private academies. In fact, the quietness with which our Provincial Grammar School pursues the even tenor of its way would almost lead to the belief, that it has been corrupted by luxury, and from being unduly pampered, has become morbidly sloth ful. There has been no public examination recently to test the advancement of the pnpils, as is found necessary even by private establish ments. At the late Civil Service examinations to which, out of ten lads examined, seven were forwarded from the young and unsubsidised institution the Auckland College, in Upper Queen street, yet from the Pro yincial Grammar School there was contributed not one. It is needless to say that this indifference, or incom petency, whichever it is, can hardly satisfy the views of those who feel an interest in the education of the young; and it is difficult to resist the convic tion that in the Gfovernment school they are given to the " Government stroke."

But it is not of the mere absence of proved educational results we complain, but of the absence of any effort to do any thing characteristic of the dif ference between a public and a private institution. The Provincial Grammar School is simply a well subsidised academy for the children of the well to-do classes • a select seminary, in fact, from which the children of the commoner sort are excluded by the high rate of fees. Of course, if this was the original intention of the founders of the establishment we do not complain. For wealthy tax-payers have just as much right as poor people to a share in the good things of the State; and if there were schools for the commoner sort, there might be a show of reason adduced, for subsidising a select school, where black cloth wo^ld not rub with fustian. Bu_\ where the educational system in t_l^ommon schools is miserably defective,^a_t__-the^ Board higgles over an addition of £5" in the salary of some poor djeyil of a teacher in the country, it & rather much to spend some _5_.,300 a year of educational funds in providing select teaching for one class of the community, and a class that can well enough afford to pay for its own edu cation. The mistake has evidently been made of supposing that high class education means education for a higher class ; whereas, if this form of instruc tion is sustained by funds derived from the public estate, it should be placed within the reach of all classes of the community. It is not too much to say, also, that in our present circumstances our Provincial Grammar School might serve thepurposes of a training establish ment, and so, by sending forth a num ber of well trained teachers, raise the standard of common education over the province, and return some benefit for its liberal support from public

funds,

We are perfectly aware that it is idle, fulminating against this Provincial preserve; and that it is so firmly entrenched behind official patronage, that the Grammar School can afford to laugh at us, and at the public. The appointment of the present head j master, like the settlement of the Busby claim, was part of the Super i intendemtal programme; and it is not likely, that the Grammar school will wince before a public opinion that was powerless to stay the flow of £30,000 into the pockets of Mr. Busby and Co. We observe that it was stated on the floor of the Assembly, by Mr G*. O'Eorke, Speaker of the Provincial Council, and member of our Educational Boards, that the present head master offered to take the situation at the same salary as his predecessor, namely £400 a year; but the Board, unasked, fixed his salary at its present amount, £700 a year.

Far be it from us to blame the head master for this. He would be a fool if he did not reap all the benefit ho can from being very closely related to the Superintendent • neither do we blame Mr. Grillies for providing comfortably for a deserving relative. In this wicked and ungrateful world, people are so prone to forget their friends, that we admire those that don't. Nor do we say that the salary is too much for the position, or that Mr. Macrae is not admirably adapted to fill the office. We believe he is an excellent teacher, but it is no disparagement to him to say that we could find a dozen others equally good, at half the salary. Of course in Auckland style, we might say, his superior, if even his equal, is not to be found, on the face of the whole earth; but every one knows that, very excellent teacher as he is, he shines all the brighter from the reflected rays of the Superintendental light. And it is not our intention to say a word against his excellence as a teacher, or his fitness for the office which he holds. But really the institution under his charge should make an effort to do something for the enormous public expenditure, other than the work of a private unsubsidised select Academy. "We would tell the Principal with all becoming respect, that his educational character is at stake ; that he cannot expect that his relative will be always Superintendent, or that there will always be such a shield of protection between him and a public, possibly impelled to somewhat revolutionary reform. Now, in the halcyon days of a calm that cannot be disturbed by the fiercest blasts of hostile criticism, is the time when the Provincial Grammar School should take its place in the forefront of educational advancement, lest peradventure, when days of adversity come, it may find few defenders.

If Judge Fenton, when he complainod of the "loud battering noises," had been incontinently condemned to sit in the reporter's box in the Police Court, he would have utterly ignored the existence of the sound.-i proceeding from the mouths of the long 245, and deemed them unworthy of notice. The noise of the drays passing the Temple of Justice is perfectly deafening, and they are generally at their height when any sensational portion of the evidence is being given. Our readers will therefore, we hope, excuse any slight omissions. Wo hear, how over, that the Resident Magistrate is likely to remedy the evil.

His Worship the Resident Magistrate per petrated ajeu (V esprit this morning, which deserves bung recorded for the benefit of those who deal in mining matters. He was examining a defendant, when the latter ac cused himself for being in difficulties by saying he had had to pay so many calls in mining companies. "Ah," said the R.M., "you've been in bad company I fear." This convulsed the Court, and settled the business of the de fendant.

Mr. E. Perkins, of the Occidental Hotel, has jast received a consignment of wines pro duced from grapes tho growth of California. The red Malvasia is not unh'ke the wines -produced in the south of France ; the white wine is equal to any still hock at double or treble its price ; and the Angelica ha 3 a pleasant sweet flavor, most ag.-eeable to the palate, nob unlike Paxcrette, and a wine suitable to the ladies' taste. Mr. Perkins notifies that he keeps a private bottle for the use of members of the U.K. A. Benevolent man !

The inquest on the body of John Crosbie lasted four hours and a half last evening 3 after a brief consultation the jury returned a verdict of accidental death, and in a rider attributed blame to Dalton for not having pos session of the reins before mounting the box.

English merchants, when the illness of the Prince of Wales was considered alarming, bought the entire stock of black gloves, black artificial flowers, dry goods, and jet ornaments

in Paris,

The meeting convened last evening for the purpose of forming a new land society was postponed until Monday.

A ballot for musical instruments will take place among the members of the Auckland Educational Society on Thursday evening next.

The entertainment advertised to be given by the Auckland Temperance Band at the City Hall was postponed, in consequence of the inclemency of the weather.

The last day of nomination for the vacant offices in connection with the Mechanics' Institute will bo the 12th isntant.

We take the following letter which appeared in the San Francisco News .- —Four murderers in Russia were recently placed, by way of experiment, in four beds in which cholera patients had lain. They did_not know the character of their beds, and did not take the disease. They were then compellod to sleep in new and clean beds, which they were led to believe had been occupied by persons who had died of cholera, when three of them died witnin four hours. A curious instance of the power of imagination.— -Exchange. [Truly a most striking instance. It is also a rather neat example of inhuman cruelty. It is necessary that Science should advance, but it is to be regretted that it bo often does so over the body of Mercy.]

Wo observe by advertisements that Mr. R. W. Dyson, so long and favourably known in the drapery trade, is about to relinquish the business, and conse quent upon the expiration of his lease, will, for the remainder of term, hold an unusually cheap sale, and solicits an early call to secure bargains : [Advt.]

To any one who will show a larger stock of Auck land-made Quartz, Greenstone, and Mosaic Jewellery, within six months, I will give a rewardof fifty pounds. I also challenge New Zealand for style and beauty. Two thousand pound worth of Colonial-made Jewellery always on hand.—F. H.- L._wisson, Qneen street. — [Advx.]

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

THE CALEDONIAN.—MINE MANAGER'S REPORT.

The following is a copy of a telegram received from the Mine Manager:—

" 9th February, 10.45 a.m. " No. 2 reef in shaft. No increase in water. Bottom level perfectly dry. No other change.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT

THIS DAY

Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M

POSSENISKIE V. FESTING.

Mr J. B. Russell applied for a summons against Lieutenant Festing, of H.M.S. Blanche. There was some difficulty on account of the Lieutenant's christian name not being known. His Worship was of opinion that sufficient distinction between him and others had been shewn, and granted the application on the usual affidavit of indebtness. WILLIAMSON V. BAENETT AND LEVY. This case had been adjourned a number of times, and was an action for £13 19s 4d, the difference between the value of certain inferior tobacco, which it was alleged had been delivered out of bond, instead of a parcel of a better quality, whichdefendantshad contracted to supply, The tobacco had been sold under the con dition that if it should be objected to, the objection was to be made within three days, whereas it appeared from the evidence, that it had not been done for some weeks. On proceeding to pay the duty, plaintiff discovered that the tobacco was not of the quality he had bargained for. Defendants urged that they were simply agents for a mercantile firm of Sydney; that the tobacco should have been inspected within three days ; and that, if the wrong quality had been delivered from bond, they could not be held responsible. His Worship gave judgment this morning as follows i —" The Court is of opinion that the case is not proved against the defendants. Costs to be paid by plaintiff. Mr Brookfield accordingly accepted a nonsuit.

Mr Brookfield objected to the costs of every witness who was not subpoenaed or called; and after some discussion, the amount of costs was fixed at £19 los. JUDGMENTS FOE PLAINTIFFS. Willoughby v. Lane; Ellison v. Stretch; Porter and Co v. Berry and Willan ; Bar nett and Levy v. Phillips; Goldie v, Collin ; Figgins v. Beveridge ; Auckland Consolidated G-.M. Co, limited v. Hooton ; Byan, Bell and Co v. Adams; Lloyd v. Stoney. Defended Cases, elley v. mueant. This adjourned case was resumed. Mary Anne Elley, wife of the plaintiff, deposed that defendant paid her husband a cheque for £4. She was not present when Mr. Baber paid a cheque for £9, the balance of Miss Murant's account. She never heard that Mr. Baber had done so. She could not identify "the signatures on four receipts produced as those of her husband. The signature on the back of the cheque produced was not like that of her husband.

Lucy Elley, daughter of the plaintiff", and acting as his bookkeeper, deposed that she had not received a cheque from Mr Baber. She could not say positively that it had not been paid to him: She identified all the .signatures except one as those of her father's. That one was her brother Reuben's. She did not know whose was the signature on the back of one of the cheques. Plaintiff accepted a nonsuit, in order that the testimony of experts as to the signature might be taken.

POLICE COURT.

THIS DAY.

Before J. M. Dargaville and T. Ritchie,

Esquires, Justices DEUNKENNESS.

One man was fined 5s and costs for this offence.

JACK ASHO(^L William Briggs, a steward on board the U.S.S. St Mary, was charged with as saulting Mr E W Taylor, landlord .of the Waverley Hotel, by throwing a tumbler at his head last evening. He was also charged under the Vagrancy Act with behaving in a public place, to wit, Queen street, with intent to commit a breach of the peace. He was further charged with assaulting police constable Cadell while in the execution of his duty. The prisoner, whose clothes were all torn from his body, pleaded guilty to the three charges. Mr Broham explained that the prisoner went into the prosecutor's house in a state of intoxication and called for drink, which being refused him, led to the violent con duct complained of.

In answer to the Court, the prisoner said he believed the ship would leave next Monday.

The Court fined him forty shillings and costs, with the alternative of seven days' imprisonment, or until the departure of the St Mary.

VABIOUS BttEACHES OF THE MUNICIPAL COKFOEATION ACT. Joseph Harris pleaded not guilty to being away from his cart in Wakefield street, on the 27th ultimo, without having a chain attached to the near wheel. Constable Furlong proved the offence, and stated the horse ran away. Fined 5s and costs. Martin Cleary, for leaving his cart un attended in Queen street, on the 26th ultimo, pleaded guilty, and was fined 5s and costs.

liichard Fitzgerald, charged with wheel ing a vehicle called a wheelbarrow along the public footpath in Wakfield street, so as to cause an obstruction, on the 31st ultimo, was fined 5s and costs.

Mary Lock, for allowing two goats to wander at large in Barrack street, on the 26th ultimo, im consideration' of having since disposed of the animals, was dis charged.

Edward Boucher pleaded guilty to allowing three pigs to stray on the Karangahape Road on 4th inst., and was fined five shillings and costs. William Johnson Parker was charged with not keeping a light burning over ah

excavation made by him in Wellesley street on the night of the 4th inst., and again on the sth. The defendant pleaded guilty, and ex plained that he had employed a man to look after the liftht, but it had blown out in consequence of the lanthern being broken. Fined twenty shillings and costs for each offence. ALLEGED LARCENY. James McWaters was charged with stealing the sum of fivepence from Henry Mason on the 7th instant. The prosecutor and prisoner had been lodging in the same house, and prose cutor felt the prisoner's hand in his pocket when he took the money. They had been drinking together since Monday. Case dismissed. GARDEN BOBBING. Jeremiah McEwen, or McHugh, a little boy, was charged with stealing fruit to the value of three shillings, from the garden of Mr Joseph Howard, of Wynyard street on the Ist instant. He pleaded guilty. Mr Howard informed the Court that he had no wish to press the charge, and hoped the imprisonment he had already had would act as a caution.

Inspector Broham stated that lad had been charged before with obtaining goods by false pretences, but the charge was withdrawn on account of prisoner's youth. The Court sentenced him to six hours' imprisonment, and to receive a private whipping from the turnkey.

A DEFAULTING WASHERWOMAN

Mary Kenny, charged with a breach of the Pawnbroker's Act, by illegally pawn ing certain articles, con_istine of sheets, pillow cases, 'table-cloths, shirts, night dresses, and dresses, valued at £4 10s, the property of Mr Henry Gilbert, without his consent.

Mrs Gilbert deposed : I am the wife of Henry Gilbert, residing in Hardinge street. I know the prisoner, she is a washerwoman. I entrusted her with the washing enumerated, on the 30th Jan., to wash. I value the articles at from £4 10s to £5. Sho was to bring the things back on the following Monday, washed. I gave her no authority whatever to pawn or dispose of the goods in any way. She did not bring them back. I afterwards saw a part of the clothing at Mr Heavey's, pawnbroker, Wyndham street, on the 7th inst. I identify the articles produced as my property. Have known the prisoner for three weeks, but have never entrusted her with any washing before. Henry Gilbert proved going to prisoner's house, West Queen street, on Monday evening, to enquire about the washing, but could not gain admission. Harriet Mark.., wife of David Marks, pawnbroker, Queen street, remembered prisoner coming to her husband's shop on the 2nd Febr_a»y, to pawn a dress for ss. She took the pledge. The prisoner gave her own name.

Mary Ann Day, assistant to Mr Heavey, pawnbroker. Wyndham street, deposed to prisoner calling at the pawnshop on the 2nd, the 3rd, twice on the oth, and once on the 6th instant, to pawn articles. The articles now produced, consisting of five sheets, dresses, and various things, were pawned by prisoner, in her own name, to the amount of 18s- Witness had since given them all up to Detective Ternahan. Detective Ternahan proved arresting the prisoner oa the charge on the after noon of the 7th instant. She admitted pledging the articles, and asked for time to redeem them. He obtained the things from Mrs Marks and Mrs Day on the same day. The depositions were read over, and the prisoner reserved her defence, stating that she had two pillowcases at home belonging to Mrs Gilbert. She was then committed for trial at the next criminal session of the Supreme Court. This concluded the business.

THE VOLUNTEER CHRONICLE.

ARTILLERY VOLUNTEERS. At a parade of this corps on Wednesday evening, the members were instructed by Captain Featon in the composition of shell fuze, of time and concussion fuze, tangent scale, deflection, &c. At the inspection of the corps by Colonel Harrington, he expressed a desire to see some shot and shell practice. Thursday morning was therefore fixed as a con venient time, and members were requested to parade at 7 o'clock sharp. It was arranged to have the first competition or classification firing of the newly formed Rifle Club on Tuesday morning next at the range, Mount Eden, commencing at 6 o'clock sharp ; ranges 150, 200, and 250 yards. The prizes are to be a silver star and six money prizes, which were to have been fired for on Wednesday, with prizes given by Lieutenant Isaacs to members who have never won a prize ; but, owing to the rain, only eight competitors appeared on the ground. Their score appeared the day before yesterday.

Firing at Tauranga for representatives at the colonial match took place on Satur day, when only two competitors passed the ordeal.

The usual weekly parade of the Auck land Scottish Volunteers will take place this evening. After the parade the election of an ensign will be proceeded with. . By the Home Neios we learn that the New Zealand medal is at length on its way towards those upon whom it is to be bestowed. Dr Featherston forwards five by \he present mail, and very handsome specimens of decorative art they are. Each medal is composed of a Maltese cross, bearing a six-pointed star on each of its tips. The centre is circular, bearing the words New Zealand, and surrounded by a laurel wreath of gold. The cross is attached to the bar by a V, the bar itself bearing a golden laurel wreath. The name of the recipient, as well as the action for which he receives the honour, will be engraved on a space reserved for the purpose on the reverse.

THE LATE GALE.

During the late gale, which commenced on the morning of the 7th, the wind has travelled a distance of 1140 miles. Oi this quantity, 400 miles below the level ot the sea on the 7th. and 740 on the Bth. The total for the past eight days has reached the large amount of 2933 miles. The height of the gale was at about 7.30 p.m. on the Bth, at which time its velocity was fifty miles per hour. On the Bth the barometer stood at 29.90. in at 9 a.m., and 29.61 in, at 9 p.m. Rain, during the last 24 hours, 0.34 inches. Newton Observatory, 185 ft. above sea level, February 9, 1872.

CORRESPONDENCE.

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

POLICE PROTECTION

To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sik,—Please allow a patron of your valu able paper to ask the authorities how it is we are rated one shilling in the pound and have so little protection, and at a time when incendiarisms and assassinations are rife. Why, sir, in the old country not only would the police force be augmented, but special constables would be sworn in to protect life and property. Here we are, sir, in some of the leading streets of the town, viz., Hobson, Pitt, and Wellington streets, and seldom see a policeman; if we do, sir, he is mostly on special busi ness. Now, sir, if I were to detail all our grievances it would fill a ream of paper; but I assure you, sir, that stone throwing by boys is practised to a great extent, which some of us know to our cost, having to pay for broken glass pretty often, and now and then a drunken brawler will disturb the peace and shock the morals of a whole neighbourhood, to say nothing of stray cattle, who pay us nocturnal visits now and then. But they do not omit to call for the rates. Were they as good at giving us protection as they are in calling for the utu we should have little cause to complain. Heigho, what a queer old place is Auckland.

Yours, &c, A Lovee of Justice

RATEPAYER'S LAMENT

To the Editor of the Evening Stae. Sib, —I am afraid your correspondent " Ratepayer" must have had cause to write as he has done on the praiseworthy attempts our City Government are making to bring our cabbies under some sort of control, but which I can fully belie re don't meet with their approval. Doubtless Ratepayer is of the same mind, and would like the Corporation bye-laws to be such only in name. Those who have the wel fare and improvement of the city at heart will not coincide with him, and I have no doubt if the Inspector of Nuisances were asked, we should find that those persons summoned were cautioned, not once, but half-a-dozen times. But if the justices are going to impose a penalty of one shilling, without costs, throwing the cost on the Corporation, Ratepayer need not be uneasy, for they will soon have it all their own way, and the bye-laws which every well-regulated city possess will soon become a mere farce. While unnecessary severity is to be deprecated, on the other hand people must understand that the laws cannot be set at defiance. The pre sent inspector it certainly not capable of opposing legal gentlemen, and I presume the Town Clerk has the duties of his own office to attend to; nor do I believe he was chosen for any such purpose. The remarks against the city solicitor are not in very good taste. I think he has as much cause of complaint against the bench as the bench has of him. Notwithstanding Ratepayer's one-sided satirical effusion, I believe most of the citizens are pleased to see the efforts made to introduce good local government. And while un intentional ignorance should be dealt mercifully with, wilful defiance should be made suffer, and the Corporation ought to receive the help of the Magistrates, instead of being mulcted in the costs even where the persons have been found guilty ! I believe the present Inspector of nui sance is the last man to lay information against any person, without a deal of provocation, often abuse and defiance, and if he is not supported in his unpleasant duties, why let everybody do as they like, and let us be content as we are—behind every town (half the size of Auckland) in the colonies, either in appearance, local government, bye-laws, or aught but selfish indifference. * Yours, &c, S.S.

SUNDAY REST.

To the Editor of the Evening Stae. Sic, —" Old Humanity" is very virtuous on behalf of the steamboat stokers, might I ask him if he is in the habit of reading his Monday morning's paper, and if so is he not to be numbered amongst the " thoughtless people" who " perversely" choose to have their usual budget of news at the expense of the poor printers ? Let him imagine himself a printer on Sunday, who has to be at his case, baked alive in a stifling office in order that " Old Human ity" and other strainers at gnats may swal low their camels. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, and one feels tempted to say " boo" to " Old Humanity."

I am, &c, Youno Sanity,

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

Two new pieces, of the same description a3 those which for two or three nights have been produced to the intense delight of a perspiring audience, were performed last evening, but we are glad to say that the ventilation had been so immensely improved that the visitors were enabled to sit through the performance without the customary frantic attempts to agitate the stagnant air. Neither of the former pieces so ably performed are yet on their last legs, and we hope to see them again. Well-filled houses have testified to their excellence Both the acting, the scenery, and the music have been of a superior class. The management however deter mined to provide fresh attractions, and in consequence last night commenced a series of performances of the burlesque of Masanieilo, in which the Zavistowski

sisters even eclipsed their former doings. The burlesque was preceded by a short comedy called " The Day after the Wedding," and our favorite Auckland comedians shone forth brilliantly as usual.

UNKNOWN.

DIAMOND SMUGGLING—

HEAVY SEIZURE,

From the New York Tribune, December 7.

Colonel Whitely, of the Secret Ser vice Bureau, has been expecting for six weeks past, the arrival at this port of certain jewellery and diamond smug glers, whom he particularly desired to arrest. He has long known that some persons of high standing in this city were engaged in the business, and were employing agents to make re gular trips" across the Atlantic for smuggling purposes. It is also well known that these agents had found so little difficulty in bringing the smug gled goods ashore and disposing of them, that they had become reckless. These facts were obtained from one of Whitley's agents in New Jersey, who had succeeded in getting the confidence of some of the steamship's employees, cognisant of the smuggling, on the German steamers that land there.

On Thanksgiving Day the steamer Westphalia, of the Bremen line, arrived at Hoboken, and the detective who was attending to the matter soon became convinced that several of the passengers had contraband jewelry in their possession. One man in par ticular, pointed out to him by his informants, he followed to a hotel, and " shadowed" until yesterday morning, in order to trace his connection with other smugglers. Just as the culprit was giving up his room in the hotel) the detective touched him on the shoulder and said, "I am a Secret Service Officer, and I arrest you on a charge of smuggling." The man— whose name is suppressed until his confederates shall have been seized— gave himself up at once, and delivered to the officers about $10,000 worth of goods. Colonel Whitley expects to seize twice as much more within two or three days, and to capture the rest of the gang.

STRANGE CASE OF HYDRO PHOBIA.

The Philadelphia Star reports the fol lowing extraordinary case of hydro phobia as having occurred in West Philadelphia : —

A little girl, on returning home from school in the afternoon, was greeted by her pet dog. which began jumping and barking around her in an unusual way. To drive him away she took the skirt of her dress and shook it at him. This seemed to irritate the animal, which, springing forward, snapped at the dress, and tore a large rent in it. Worried at the injury to the garment, the little girl, without mentioning the matter to any of the family, went to her room, and getting a needle and thread, proceeded to sew up the torn place. When it was finished she bent down her head, and taking the end of the thread between her teeth, bit it off. Nine days after the occurrence of this incident, symptoms of hydrophobia manifested themselves in the unfortu nate little girl. Skilled medical talent was called in, and every appliance that science could afford to relieve the sufferer was resorted to; but the subtle poison had done its work too thoroughly for human skill to avail, and the little girl has since died.

Drs. Watson, Youtt, and other eminent authorities on the subject, have contended that hydrophobia can not be communicated through an un broken cuticle. Whether the little girl swallowed a portion of the saliva, or whether it was communicated through her lip, the skin of which may haye been " chapped " or broken, we cannot say; but certainly in either case the occurrence was^as remarkable as it was unfortunate. It teaches another aad lesson to pai'ents—not to have pet dogs around the house with young children.

SUICIDE ON A BUSINESS BASIS.

From the New York Herald, December 24th.

St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 23rd, 1871.— A man named M. B. Bruce, who it seems was Sheriff of Fond dv Lac County, Wisconsin, was found dead in his bedroom at the Union Hotel here to-day, with a pistol-shot wound in the left breast, the pistol lying on the floor. A letter to the landlady of the hotel says: "Do as you please with my remains, but my wish is that you take my effects aud by their sale realize enough to get me covered up under snow and frost. My effects will cancel all expenditures, for all I want i« Q.poi and a hole. lam Sheriff 0 of 1"" 5,; v Lac county, Wisconsin, and wa!. v^oe buried before you communicate/^ith my friends. My reason for doisg this is the business of nobody but myself." Another letter, addressed to his deputy, Robert Cosgrove, desires the latter to settle his affairs as best as he can, and to do all for his wife and babies possible. A letter from his wife refers to some matters from which it is inferred that Pierce was in pecu niary trouble, in consequence of which he may have left home. He had been here since the 9th inst Only sixty cents were found among his effects.

THE EVENING STAR, ERIDAY E_3BRT7ARY 9, 1872

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J CATER (late Cbombie's), ROYAL • PHOTOGRAPHIC GALLERY, Queen street, Auckland, ha 3 much pleasure in in forming his friends and the pub-lie 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 his 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.



RELINQUISHING. BUSINESS. PINAL NOTICE. R. HOBBS "TTTILL offer for the next Eight Weeks, VV unless disposed of during that time, tlf_ Whole of his very large Stock of General and Household Drapery and Men's and Boys' Clothing, at very low prices.



Two countrymen, seeing the female figures I with pitchers in their hands which supported the porticoes of St. Pancras church, New-road wondered what they represented, They m_Jb i must be the foolish virgins," said one. " They can't be neither," replied the other; " there's only four of 'em." " Oh," it's all right, " re plied the friend ; " the other is gone for the oil, you may depend on't." ,