SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

atrNSET: This evening^ 7.11 FTTGH WATER: This evening. 7.63 ; to-morrow, Aorning, 8.18.

STEAM TO THE THAMES.

This evening, Enterprise No 2, at ten o'clock ; to morrow morning, Golden Crown, at eleven o'clock

ARRIVALS.

Golden Isle, schooner, Matzen, from Bay of Islands Mary Ann,-schooner, from Mercury Bay Forest Queen, ketch, Dunn, from RusseU Mary Ellen, schooner, Rawlings, from Mercury Bay Fiery Cross, schooner, Short, from Kaipara Margaret, cutter, McLogan,: from Mohia Clyde, schooner, Anderson, from Wangarei ,-. , , Mary Eliza, cutter; Jones, firohr Russell' • ' -r ': •

DEPARTURES.

Helen Denny, ship, Peters, for Lyttelton Queen, schoonerj.Veale, fpr Russell Phoebe, s.s., Worsp, for Southern ports Wild Duck, ketch, for Russell Flora McDonald, cutter, fo Raglan

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For Lyttelton: Velocidade barque, early For Levuka :, Chatybdis, schooner, to-day , For Kaipara : Tauranga, schooner, to-morrow For San Francisco, calling at Honolulu.:. Nevada mail steamer, 26th inst'. |I ! '■.' k ,*'::' - For Northern ports: Rowena, s.s., to-day

Th« N.Z.S.S. Company's s.s. Phcebe left the Manukau for Southern Ports with the following passengers: Messrs. James Brown, Goldsboro, Henderson, Higginson, Dees, Martin, Pole, Hoifghtonj Peppercorn, S. H. Smith, Mrs G. . Moss and two children, Miss Mclndoe, Miss J. and E. Aitken, Mr and Mrs DicksOn, Capt. McKenzie, and ten in the steerage. Cargo-—3 casks currants, 2 half-chests tea, 1, chest, .5 mats sugar,.l case coffde, 1 b6x raisins, 1 bag walnuts, Brown, Barrett, and Co ; 1 parcel, McArthur, Shera, and Co ; 1 keg ale, Seeombe and Son ; 1 case, Ryan, Bell, .and Co ; 1 case books, R. Lusk ; 1 case, Corbett; 1 parcel, Turrell; 18 packages, Barnes ; 1 case machinery, A. and G. Price ;,24 crates, 2 bales, Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co.; 1 case, J. Edwards; 1 case, Bank of New Zealand ;. 1 case, Morrin; 1 box, Carr; 1 parcel, White ; 13 pgs., Bronge ; 1 case, Schmidt and Co. ; 5 cases, Stephenson; ,30 bales, 2 half r bales wool, S. Reid.—Combes and Daldy, Agents. The value:;of the goldnsnipped by the Wonga Wonga on Saturday was £1,1571 9s Id and not £1,571 9s. Id,as misprinted. The cutter Bella is for sale or charter by Lewis Bros. The p.s. Challenger will leave at six o'clock this evening for Wangarei, etc. The schooner Golden Isle arrived last night with a cargo of; coal from Russell. The cutter Margaret arrived this morning from Mahia, with 19 bags maize, 7 casks oil, 5 tons bones, 12 bags; fungus, and a quantity of old iron consigned to order! The ketch Forest Queen brings 80 tons of Coal. The.schooner Mary Ellen has brought 17,000 .feetof timber, for Schapp& Ansenne; and 4 tons kauri gum for Flemming and Stevenson. .. .„ The schooner Golden Isle, from Russell, brings 116 tons coal. '"? ■ The schooner Mary Ellen has cleared out? wards for Mercury Bay with cargo. The schooner Clyde arrived this morning from Wangarei with a cargo of produce.- The" sbip Hellen* Denny left this morning for Lyttelton. • The ketch Wild DuxJk has left for the Bay of Islands. The> Mary Eliza icutter has arrived from Russell with 45 tons coal. The schooner Fiery Cross has arrived from the Kaipara with the followfng cargo :— 45,000 feet timber, >;SL vGrahamfe?;; 44 >%&p gum, 1 plough, Stone Bros; j 5 bags gurnV Coupland ; 40 bags, 2 boxes gum, Scarrott; 8 bides, Ireland Bros. Hr ' r .:. 0:'

The barnue Velocidade has been placed upon. Niccors; slip at 'the J North 1 Shore, previous to her, departure for. Newcastle, for which port she lists (entered out. The brig, Rita i has entered outwards for Melbourne, and the Charybdis f6r Levuka. The cutter Flora 'McDonald/left the: Manu kau this morning t for Raglan with the following passengers: Mrs McDonald, Messrs Wilson,< Gibbons, and dark. , ; .'.'' ]'.

COMMERCIAL.

Mes?r^ .Cochrane & Son | sold to-day. the freehold properry in Greyrstreet^ occupied by Mr Thomas Jackson," for £170; also the lease of the block of land known as Tami hana Tanui's block, measuring 90,360 acres, situate on on the county of Rutland for £230.

MINING.

Th* following: are the current calls and dividends payable In the companies named below :— r.j "TM S,y'a. d."'" ri BIVTDUKD. Nonpareil g;T£»gJj j[ ./ [ Dec 19 CALLS Van 0 0 6 Dec 16 Coromandel Beach .. 0 10 Dec 19" i: .HarboriView.. ';.; ' 0 i 0 Detf 20"" Golconda .. .. 0 2 0 Dec 21 American Eagle .. 0 0 6 Dec 24 Central Italy '■;k > 0 I*o Dec 28 Durham Ox .. .. o 0 0 Dec 30 Golden Calf .. .. 0 16 Dec 30 Margaretta a.-, v ~<:;, 0 0/6{)i Jan 3 Italian.. .. .. 0 0 6 Jan 30

MEETING.

Coromandel BeacK, Coromandel. 17th December Auckland Permanent Cooperative Building Society, Society's office, Wyndhanr street, 7.30 p.m., 17th December Windsor Castle, Mechanics' Institute, Auckland, S p.m., 19th December '.' y Q' ; T k Coromandel' Excelsior, Company's office, Wyndham street, Auckland, 11 a.m., 30th December Bons of Justice, Mr i .B. i Hoine,s; office.- Shortland street, Aucklaud, 2 p.m.', 3rd January. Young Queen, Grahamstown, 7th January Queen of the May, Grahamstqwn, 28th December Sons Of Freedom, E. Home's office, Auckland, 3rd January Windsor Castle, Mechanics* institute'/ /Auckland, 3 p.m., 19th December ' '

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Hans wim. Close as Under :— For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to-morrow, at 10.30 a.m. and 6.30 p.m. *« Coromandel, on Wednesday, ISth, at 10.30 a.m. . - For Whitianga, per Mary Ellen, this day, at 4.30 p.m. For Wangarei, Maiigapai, &c, per Challenger, th% day, at i p.m. «.lv r°£,W geU.,Kawakawa, Ac.,,, per- Comerang, on, *'Way. 26th. at 1* o'clock nobh^ '? *fJ? api.c 1 ran 4 Southern provinces, per Nevada, six •ours after her arrival. £ ■> . : (Signed) , s.:B^nis.;ChiefPostmaster. I

DEATH.

Waters.T-At Parnell,! on Sunday; the 15th inst., Thomas Waters.' aged ($ years.

The funeral will leave his late residence to morrow, {Tuesday), at, 3 o'clock.; Friends :will please accept this invitation.

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

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1872.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance. For the future in the distance, I And the good that we can do.

We are obliged to hold over till to-morrow an article .with,reference to Mr .Williamson's f latter' in to-day's Herald, relative to the police under his Superintendency. We think that in this case a close mouth would have shown a wise head on the part of Mr Williamson, We^ are' glad to observe' that trout still exist in Edgcombe's creek, Great North road, although from the quantity of water cress covering the creek it is very difficult to say in; What quantity.l! Some however have been seen lately in the open spots. If any doubt existed of the value of the artificial manuring of land a view of. Mr Faulder's farm, on, the: < Great North-road would satisfy all. The whole of the farm abounds in waving oats —a, strong, contrast to.the uniform sterility ofltoe whole smv rounding country in its ; yicinity;j : t > it /, j We have to record the, death of. Mr. Thos. Waters, which occurred last^night at his,, re- ; sidence ' in;: Parnell'. The Td'eceayed man was very, • mtich ?in the*1 neighbourhood, had been in the colony about twenty-eight years, and Mras formerly of the 58th Regiment.. Mr Waters was in his 69th year. His funeral will take place to-morrow at three o'clock in' the afternoohi : The last of the' Mohicans has left ua and gone to seek fresh fields ahd pastures new. On Saturday' the Wonga Wonga conveyed away the well-known and popular comedian, Mr J. ,G., Joyce, who. may be justly des cribed as the cleyeirest "old man actor in the colonies. He has been many years in our midst, and had become an universal favourite. The breaflririg-up and gradual departure of the members of "the dramatic cotopany has -^necessitated Mr Joyce in endeavouring tn obtain an en- j gagement in a town where the drama is ! better patronised than it has been : in Awck- j land of late. We take a lively interest in his success, and shall ever remember not ohly his endeavours' but also his pbWer to please. Mr Joyce -possesses the" sterling qualities of an actor, and on the Sydney, or Melbourne;jstage;histalents caniiot fail to be appreciated,,,,,.,. _,;; ■ ;i) ~.. --,-.:,,;;, ,;."': ;lt is notified,for,public;information.that the Golden Crown will be .laid up to-morrow ahd Wednesday for inspection. The Royal Alfc-ed^ wi|l take her place^t^Thame^and also continue her own .trips to Coromandel* • bo that ho inconvenierica will arise to

passengers.,, j..,,;,,;.. ■.-,.:; ■■.-.. \ sA*o ■>--■.'. ■■•■■■■ ;''Looker-on'' ' ' says i^— "In thy advertise-1 ment of the 11th Dec., (by ah ~error of the printer) you make me write , nomeuse, in ; , leaving^ out :th(B. word, ','k taxes."J-Youhave j piit. it, ';. i Jte must .rejoice: .that the man with; thirteen helpless ones depending uponhim has to pay thirteen times as much as his bachelor friißnd pays for his.;,; Itbhould hav<B been ,'thst he has to pay thirteen times ail much taxes, &c.' The difference is obvious, as it is quite right and proper that he should pay thirteen times as much if <he buys ; thirteen times;, | But for the Government to take from him thirteen ' times as much for taxes, when, like his friend, he has only the same one pair of hands to earn' it, wjbß&s -., w nothing' totter than roblei^." :\-.k'k., - ':':--a, ''■■-'■■ , ,■-■■•'■ ■!-'--

A fatal accident occurred on Tuesday list. .^ to a man named Harris, a gum-digger, who was drowned at Northern Wairoa^ The deceased wa3 in the act of getting into Ms' boat iroin the Kaihu wharf, when lie over balanced himself, and fell into the water. JThe body has not been found. v The members of tbe Quoit-club met on 'Saturday and competed for the prize offered by Mr Avey. There .was some good play, -considerable skill exhibited,.and the contest did not terminate until dark. The game will be resumed on Saturday next. The Auckland Improvement Commissioners /tifl'er»a.premium: of. £30 for the best plan for paying/oflf,- : tb,§ Albert Barracks reserve in iaccoraance vt4tb the Auckland Improvement Act. 1872. _ .. The inquest on the body, of Henry Ncw stead was concluded on Saturday, at the Royal Mail Hotel. Dr. Hooper considered, after having made ua post 'mortem examina tion, that deceased died from heart disease of long standing. The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the evidence before them. A gentleman narrowly escaped an accident on Saturday last while walking on the Wyn yard pier. He was not aware that the earth work of the railway embankment had been carried through the pier, when unfortunately he fell through tlie Open space, but sustained no internal injury. The Thames Regatta men are determined, if possible, to outdo Auckland in their pro posed regatta at Christmas. Active prepara tions are being ma<e for the coming event, and a general committee meeting is adver tised to take place this evening for tbe production of subscription lists and tbe j drawing up of tbe programme. Mr. H. A. Severn will lecture this evening at the Thames Mechanics' Institute on an interesting branch of science—" Galvanism and Electro-Magnetism, &c." The lecturer is tbe honorary Curator to the Thames Museum, and takes an active part in the affairs of the Institute. We may add that Mr Severn's father was a painter of some repute, and tbe particular friend of the poet Keats. A defendant in a case in tbe Resident Magistrate's Court, at the Thames on Friday, stepped* forward -when caUed on, and frankly confessed be was owing the money, and when asked why then he did not pay it replied " that his mother would not let him." Tbis caused some amusement, for defendant was an able-bodied fellow, and about six feet high. He said ho was twenty years of age His Worship ordered him to pay tbe amount within a certain time, and, in tbis case, never to mind what bis mother said. Defendant left evidently well pleased at having judicial sanction to obey his conscience. The Auckland teetotallers, after dosing for about three months, have been stirred from their slumbers and bave made a great noise. They assembled oh Saturday evening at the Market-place, near tlie Thistle Hotel, and their meeting was duly announced by the ringing of a bell from the smithy bard by, warranted in all respects a thoroughly sound and musical teetotal bell, with a silver tongue more active than the pleasant tongue of woman. The several speakers were Messrs Spragg, Hill, Booth, and Robinson, who by their anecdotes and words of wisdom, despite some ill-natured remarks from sly-corners, won tbe attention of numbers among the by standers. Mr Spragg was amusing with bis budget of anecdotes, aud the rest of the speakers- did their best to interest the audience. Mr Bootli made a fair speech relating to capital and labour, and announced that similar meetings will be held at tbe same place on successive Saturday evenings with the view of promulgating the important and saving principles of temperance. :? f Return of sick treated during tbe week ending Saturday, December 14, 1872, at the Provincial Hospital. Remained last return, 71; admitted since, 5; discharged, 6; died, 2 ; remaining, G8 ; males, GO ; females, 8. Arrangement of'cases.—Scrofula, 2 ; syphilis, 6 ; phthisis, 5; dropsy, 1 j rheumatism, 7 ; Bphtbalmia, 2 ; amourosis, 1 ; paralysis, 5 , melancholy, 2; chorea, 1 ; aneurism, 1; breumonia, 1 ; asthma, 2 ; diarrhcea, 1 ; dyspepsia, 1 ; albuminuria, 2; fistula, 1 ; caries and necrosis, 3 ; fractures, 5 ; disloca tion, 1 ; abscess and ulcer, 7 ; resection, 1 ; amputation, 3 ; wounds and contusions, 2 ; cutaneous, 3 ; debility, 2. Two deaths occurred during the week.. First, a female, on the 10th inst., of paralysis, and second, an qld man on tbe 13th inst., of general debility. Some disappointment arose among the members of the Auckland Troop R. C. v. on Saturday afternoon, as the promised belt which was to bave been contended for was n6t given. No. reason, has publicly been assigned for the non-fulfilment of the promise. \\ri . The Waikato Timet says :—" Tbe want of a road from Ngaruawahia to Alexandra is an incalculable loss to tbe settlers in tbe settle ments of Alexandra, Kibikihi, Te Awamutu, ; Rahgiawhia, Orauau, and surrounding coun try ;,in addition, settlement on the fine land on'the Waipa is put a Stop to. Many in tending settlers bave looked at it, and invari ably like the land ; but are deterred from settling because tbere is. no ' rodd by which they can get their produce to market, or the necessaries of life to their homesteads. From a strategical point of: view: this! road should have been completed years ago. The Golden Crown made another moon light trip on Saturday evening, with upwards of three' hundred ' passsengers on board, who seemed to, enjoy the trip ,and, the music witji much relish. ' /:" . The pupils of the Ladies' Collegiate Sohool during the past week bave undergone an. examination in different branches of cduca- g tion/comprising English history, geography,: I English grammar, and arithmetic. The Christmas vacation will commence on Wed nesday next, when the result of the examin ation will be publicly known. Mr Henry | Worthington, teacher of the North Shore schpol, complimented Mrs Rushbrook, the lady principal, on the general efficiqwiy ;of her classes. The Government have called for tenders for the construction of the Rakaia and Ash burton Railway, which will be received up,to-i the 15th day of January next. - * -'* *j :'*)% The Licensed Victuallers' ball, under the ; [ patronage of the merchants and brewers of Auckland, will take^place in. the City Hall to-morrow eyening. His Worship the Mayor has been invited to take the chair, and his , Jlohor Thomas R^ckliaih; 'Esq., the vice}. chair at the s,uppe'r.table... V,'-. '...>..'.■ A concert is announced to take place on Thursday next at the City Hall, for the purpose of assisting the fund for painting '; and cleansing 'All Saints' Church. We hearg,. that Madame,. Winter, and a number of ladies and gentlemen have kindly offered the^r gratuitous services. The programme will be issued in a few days.,., *j. j/. .M Messrs Tonks and Co. have received in structions to sellby:aiiction ; i to-morrow, the.;; right: b$ erecting a grand stand, with booth; i two extra booths for refreshment, two fruit : i stalls, gates, and programmes, in connection ; with the. Caledonian games. ... ; The usual monthly meeting of the Lodge, / Waitemata, No. 619, E.C., will be heid this ; 'evening in the Lodge-room of the Masonic , hotel..' : .-;.,;! _;■ :.:';.-. / ;■■;. n:.k. :<'./ /- v

/.The report Of the examination of $he Par nell Church of England Grammar-school will I beiread on Wednesday afternoon^-and; the r , prizes distributed. The Bishop of Auckland will preside on the occasion. The half-yearly-meeting of the Auckland Permanent Co-operative Building and In vestment Society will take place to-morrow eveniiigat the office of the society, Wyndham street. After the ordinary half-yearly busi nesses gone through, a special meeting will beheld. , A meeting of the Auckland carters will be held this evening at the Clanricaide Hotel, Albert-street, on important business; v . The monthly meeting of tbe Loyal Orange Lodge No. 1 will be held this evening, at the Protestant Hall," Karangahape Road, Newton- The Onehuuga Choral Society will perform the " Messiah" this evening in the Onehunga Choral Hall. ' - %. Tbe committee appointed to arrange for the forthcoming Masonic ball will hold a preliminary meeting this eyening in the In surance buildings. A public meeting will be held at the Thames Mechanics' Institute to-morrow evening to "take into consideration the best means of promoting communication between the Thames and Waikato by:way of Ohine muri, with a branch line of communication to Tauranga. . A sail in sight is signalled as we goto press. •'■■.•' ioiuinr. ■ ■■ ,*.*Ml.un., Notwithstanding the long delay in the arrival of the mail steamer, Mr Snyder appears, to.".have every confidence that his circus company will be in before many days. We observe that the pavilion to-day is. heirlg furnished with chairs, and ■ every thing else in readiness.

POLICE COURT.

THIS DAY. (Before P. A. Philips, Esq., 8.M.) DRUNKENNESS. j, . . • Drunkards to the number of three, and twodrunkand disorderlies, were dealt with as the law directs. AN EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE. Mr. Alfred Walker was charged upon a summons with the larceny of certain books and papers, the property of Mr W. L. Eees, solicitor, valued at £5, on the 13th October last. Mr. -Hesketh appeared for the defend ant, and Mr. J. B. Russell for com plainant. The documents referred to are the books and papers of the Evening Star, Gold Mining Company, which th« defend ant as official agent for the company had taken away from Mr Bees' office, who had acted as solicitor in the winding up of the affairs of the company. The case was adjourned by consent till to-morrow. jf LUNACY. : i < ;f» ' George Stout, the man charged on Saturday with attempting to commit sui cide, was b.»ought upas being of unsound mind, Drs. Kennedy and Stockwell deposed to the state of the accused's mind, whudi they did not consider to bo so unsound as to warrant his committal to the asylum. Sergeant Pardy gave evidence that the prisoner had expr?ssedja wish "to lti'm tiT die in a fair stand-up fight. His manner was peculiar, and he appeared very de sponding. ._ ~ Constable Bullen said that when he arrested him he begged him to shoot him several times, and he assaulted him in the hopes of exciting the officer to shoot him. The Court ordered the prisoner to find sureties to the peace for three months. This was all the business.

THE CALEDONIAN GAMES.

To say that Christmas comes but once a year is simply to call attention to what is known to a large portion of the population of Auck land, but to assert as a positive fact that the annual Caledonian games will take place on Boxing Day instead of New Year's Day is intelligence perhaps not generally known. The reason of the change is in consequence of the Auckland races having been announced tb take place at the new Ellerslie race-course on the first and second of January next, and the committee of the Caledonian games have no wish to clash with the Gymkhana Club, both sports being equally interesting and exciting. The decision is a wise one, and will, of course, meet with popular favour. Last year beyond the water excursions and the sports at Newmarket there was no very attractive amusement on Boxing Day. The deficiency is about to be supplied, and the Caledonian games bid fair to be more successful this year than any of the preceding one& Another arrangement we observe which we believe to be a good one, and that is the condensing the sports into one day's amusement; It is well known that the interest is somewhat lost on the second day and the proceedings flag, besides the exertions required to keep up the sport being of such a nature as to unfit the parties concerned for a resumption of business the following day. The number of events are necessarily curtailed to admit of thegamesbeihg concluded in bh»3 day, but on comparing the programmes we cannot help . expressing . satisfaction at tbe alteration. The sports on this occasion will consist of twenty-Six different events against thirty-six of last year, including both days. The less interesting games have been omitted, such as wheelbarrow race, bicycle race, best dressed Highlander and boy,, Irish jig in character, sack race; three-legged race, hop, step, and jump, Cornish wrestling, &c. The small number of entries,: and the inappro priateness of some of these have caused them to be struck'-out., Having minutely described that which is not to take place, it is only fair to state what will be contested on the oc- j casion. The sports will Commence at nine ! o'clock with a quoiting match. The bagpipe music will follow; the winner of tbe,first prize in this will have the honor of playing the necessary dance, musie^during theaports. •' .In addition to this honor a prize: of a five pound note will in some measure compensate ! him for the exertion., ; Th,en comes a flat j race, over 200 yards of ground, for £2. The i competition is restricted to those Who have never won an advertised race. Three or '■ four of our noted runners will con- j sequently be out of this "race, but they j will be able to show their : accomplishments i to a higher tune later in the day'when the restrictions are hot so restricted. . The time honoured Caledonia^n sport, of throwing the heavy hammer follows, and we venture to predict that the ,man whq can eject the in strument a quarter of 1760 yards will pocket, the three notes., .But: we/do. hot make this: remark to discourage competitors or to influ ence the betting. The Highland fling, a flat race, putting the heavy stone, followed by a. boys': race, will precede the Cumberland wrestling and the reel of Tulloch., Another -.. flat race at a greater distance, and tossing the caber, follow,; after; which a toe-and-heel match stands on the list. Then a iword

dance in costume, and a flat race open to Scottish-Volunteers in kilts. This brings us to' event No. .'ls, the others may be recapitulated as follows :—Similar races to the foregoing with variations, don key race, single - stick, hurdle race, vaulting, tilting, &c, and the greasy pole business which had perhaps better be left out, although it affords a fund of amusement^ Thesportswillbe held in the Albert Barracks, under the auspices of Major the hon. C. J. Taylor, and the officers ard members of the. Auckland Scottish Volunteers. The patrons.; are numerous and the committee influential, and it is to be hoped'that a good.day's? sport will be the result of their,untiring exertions. There is no necessity to ask the public to come, the popularity of the-amusement will be sure to crowd the field with holiday seekers. ,' , . U./i . . ■

WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO A MAN IN NEW ZEALAND.

We bespeak a little patience while we a tale unfold—a simple tale ahd unvarnished, but withal -a: strange, eventful ' k- history i' Mr Thomas Duder, well known as being for many years in charge of the North Shore flagstaff, is now an inmate of the debtors prison at Mount Eden, and as curiously illustrative of our social institutions we sh^ll detail the steps by which he came there.; \ • -."•' : public! fiFlkf*, ■'■V ■■' ,;.,'. Some five or six years ag1© certain residents on the North Shore—Messrs -Webster* Coch rane, Hammond, Duder, Alison, and Cock— animated by a proper spirit, for the behefit . of the public, resolved oh taking steps for the erection of , a jetty now known as the hew wharf" at tlie" North Shore. Placing ' themselves. . in ; com munication with the Prdviiicial. Goveniment of the day,: they undertook to raise the aii^ half of the amount, and the Superintendent, promised to give the other. In due time specifications were prepared by Mr Weaver, the Engineer-in-Chief of the province, and a; contract was sigiiCd by the six residents aforer said by which they bound themselves for the full amount of £300 to be paid to Mr Beddoes, contractor, on his completing the -work " in strict accordance." with the specifications of the engineer. ~,. . ; . -:■•■.-•-> ■■• •"i,: ;.' A WHARF IS BUILT. ..i; ' The work proceeded, and was completed, but, as said by the Provincial authorities, not in strict accordance with the specification ; that is to say, certain "stringers" were deficient by three inches in thickness ; and,: on this excuse the Provincial Government refused to pay their ; quota of the price. Negotiations were commenced for making the requisite alterations, when the contractor, meeting the members of committee deputed to certify to the work, and stating that the Government were now satisfied; the certificate of completed work was given. .., PUBLIC SPIRIT REWARDED. The Provincial authorities persisting .'.. in refusing the stipulated quota, and there being j no documentary evidence to compel it/ the , responsibility was thrown on the bondsmen j who had already raised and paid their pro portion of cost. The deficiency of three '' inches in the thickness of the stringers, how- j ever, bad hot the effect of preventing the ' Provincial Government from taking the wharf under its charge, using it for the public and collecting all dues thereon. Meantime the liability hung around the necks of the • bondsmen until by'lapse of time, through the vicissitudes of commercial life, through death, and removal, the incidence of the liability rested on a very few, among whom-, is Mr* Thomas Duder,,. . ..,_., * . r -T. f T .>> ' TASTING THE FRUIT. At last it came to pass that the settlement of the liability was to be enforced. A writ was served on tbe remnant bondsmen a few months ago on the suit of: Mr Beddoes and his representatives, and a verdict given for..: the plaintiff with costs, amounting in"all to: j nearly £200. But it happened to be the caseH that Mr Beddoes, who is now out of the.oo- j lony, had himself left certauiliabilities unliqui-; 1 dated, and he being out of the jurisdiction of'j the Courts his creditor, Mr J. B: Russell; I took steps to impound the moneys coming to him in transitu;, and obtained a writ of foreign attachment, had it served on Messrs. Duder and others, commanding them, 'k'voi-, those tones of authority wh|Ph are habitual tb:. the Supreme Court on no account to pay '-the money to Mr Beddoes or his representatives.. GLORIOUS LAW ! xa'A ftihni i .-."";■ This injunction having been laid:on Mr Duder, he acted in obedience to the command. of the Supreme Court, and withheld payment; Then it was that the beautiful and compli cated machinery of the Law Courts was brought into play. "Messrs Hesketh and Richmond acting : for , ( Mr Beddoes, and his representatives, demanded pay-, ment, and Mr Duder in obedience to the' Supreme Court, declined. Whereupon armed with a writ " Capias ad satisfaciendum," and two bailiffs, Mr Richmond proceeded late oh;" Saturday evening to North Shore, anaVwJhile, Mr Richmond fr.om the other side,of the, street surveyed proceedings, the two minions of the law read the cabalistic forms Of the: legal jargon in such case made aiid j provided,j and airested Mr Duder, bringing hima prisoner to Auckland. Mr Richmond having obtained a cab, conveyed his prisoner to the door fm !'ftijej'.' gaol when, pointing to its .'gloomy walls he: pleaded with his prisoner, "Surely you will not go in there rather than pay the money." But Mr Duder, having before his eyes the fear of an.offended Supreme: Court, would not pay. A cheque-book _was presented to him and he was urged to;sign.-: blandishments were alike lost on.Mr Duder ; he had been made a prisoner for obeying the Supreme Court, and he determined to see it out. This possibly may not have been in the;programme, and the grantingfof a cheque ahd the liberation of Mr Duder were expected to be the conclusion of . the little Saturday evening play. But no, Mr Duder stood I firmly; he entered the gaol, where he now lies a prisoner. . , ~.-,: s v, : ; . :■.. WHAT NEXT ? We have merely laid the facts before ouf readers. Thats,uch a/Strange incideiii^is bnly" aprelude to events tocoine j must be evident to all ; we therefore feel disposed to refrain | from comment. But we cannot avoid point-' ! ing a moral. Such in [ the first place is the j reward of public, spirit. A man under ; takes responsibilities! for. the.public good.; j and he is left to bear them. A small and I really immaterial.yariati6i^froA'bp^cifi<^tibhs'i, |is taken'ad vantage''of by..the Provincial,! I authorities to evade engagements ; but this i i does not avail to save the partners in the ' I joint transaction. That the Provincial Go vernment should haye;'hi^|. -Ijbhe'/usrifruo't:'!6f; ■ siich a public work With!such;a history, is j about; as dirty a spot, as .stains the rather i dirty escutcheon of provincialism ;• and if the j Harbour Board has any sense of honor it should, in taking possession of that jetty,., decline, to. avail itself of the disgraceful trick by which the ; . then Provincial authorities . repudiated their engagement. Again to laymenit seems; incomprehensible that, the machinery,-WYs.&' by the Supreme' Court should ..'so : jar and. become . self unless . some - alien* substance has been thrown among the wheeh(.! One* would think that if the Supreme Court has issued an injunction,it must be . a grave, business to incarcerate a man for obeying it.; We,,admit that most probably the- actual in■•> carceration was not in the bill; and. that the; bird having been caught, equal danger may have attended the release, and the oontinued

imprisonment. The arrest once made that form of satisfaction to the debt is elected, and immediate release does not mend the matter ; and probably Mr Duder was put inside the walls from not seeing that any thing better could be done in, a very awkward business All this, however, will -no doubt be nicely adjusted by the lawyers and by the Supreme ::Gburt.* But what we have now to do with is "■ this, seemingly unpardonable . outrage on public liberty. We care'not whether Ml h^B been a lawyer's blunder or legitimate action of the 'law courts ; but^bra"-man long knownt^and greatly respected, such as Mr Duder/to be in this way-" dragged away from his family on a Saturday night when neither legal advice nor banking assistance is available, and to be thrown into a common gaol for no crime, but merely for resfusing to do what the Supreme Court had commanded him not to do, is a thing that should arouse the public indignation. Had Mr Duder been one likely to bolt from the country we might understand this urgency. But the hour and the circumstances compel us to the belief that in defiance of the Supreme Court, the attempt was made to extort the money from Mr Duder ; while it was clear as daylight that Mr Duder, in paying ithat money, 1 would. have beten; violating the law, and would have been under the necessity of paying it again. We refrain from further comment. We feel Confident that the public will hear more on a subject which we have thus introduced.- ;• j

THE WESTERN SPRINGS.

Hating waited patiently for a refutation to "Eyewitness's:" letter, as published in our, issue of the 7th instant, we despatched our reporter to the spot mdr. cated in order that we might ascertain the-truth of the assertion with regardfo Low and Motion's so-called springs. He. informs us that there is a large space of hollow on the Government reserve land carefully covered in with scoria stone, to the extent of what he judges to be over a ; thousand loads, The spot so covered "is roughly estimated as between four and ifive chains long and half a chap wide. The ground all round !is very Uneven, while this hollow is filled in so as to form a large level patch. The stones are covered at one end with ti-tree and cutty- ; grass, whileQ the remainder appears to have been similarly co vered, but since burnt off, as scattered about; and in the crevices of the stones are a'quantity of charfed wood, cinders, and b^irnt grass. At the lower end loads of earth have been deposited on the top of the catty grass, apparently for the purpose of spreading over the spot, and the fire has consumed the cutty grass round these heaps, leaving the grass under them intact. At this end there is a sort of natural bridge, under which the water flows, The stream comes out on Low and Motion s land, and forms a large 1ag00n...... The Water can be seen to ooze out between the scoria from the direction where it has been all covered in.. On displacing two or three stones in the covered hollow, a stick was inserted. and:W*ter-reached at a distance of about two feet. The , lagoon takes a circuitous .direction towards the Great North Road, where the water, from its placidity, has becOme stagnant and: discoloured;' and is by <!no' imprtJVed- in .quality,.byithe, carcasfe of a large dead dog which: is serving as food for the eels. At the other ;end of this lagoon the water flows towards the Waitemita, and is dariamed previous to reaching themill which it drives. An examination 6f the locality proVes that the water found on Low & Motion's land comes from'the direction of Mount Eden, the] PCLiree Kings, and: Mount Albert, and * junction takes place in Mr. Edgecomb's land, wh«n it t §gain divides and flows in one direction towards Edgecombe's Creek, which it supplies, and the other- through the Government land,: where it is covered over, and on to Low & Motion's, where it takes the name of the Western Springs^; A large portion of the stone fence dividing Low & Motion's land from the Govern ment reserve;s has ; been taken down, probably to fill up the creek alluded to. Cart-wheel - rutsr in the vicinity are perceptible in many places. From en quiries made in the neighbourhood the Work of filling in fras occupied oyer twelve months. Residents in the vicinity ref member having fished for eels in the very stream now covered over. The Government land is at present leased by Messrs Low and Motion. „. ~ .......... ~

CORRESPONDENCE.

CALEDONIAN GAMES.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. It is being .currently reported, that an arrangement has' been made between \ the committee of the Caledonian sports and one of puTTspublicans in town to give the/ latter his choice5 of booths oh condition that h& runs up the price, and so enable them to focket something handsome on the. others. >o you know if. this is the case ?—Scotch man; •'- '[_ ,■_';..,-J ;k!k:!. k'- k. .:? k'. Jk-.A I [From what we know of the gentlemen forming the committee we are quite confident that they would not connive at such a thing.—En< E.S.]

SCOTTY'S HILL G.M.C.

• (To;the>Editor of the Evening Star.) Sir, —In common with other shareholders in .the above claim resident at Coromandel I wish to know if our shares iii the Scotty Hill Gr.'M.C. can be legally forfeited, no notice1 of such forfeiture having been published.in the local paper at Coromandel ?—I am, &c, i Shareholder. > j P.S.—Can calls also in Coromandel claims-, not advertised here, be enforced by law ? i Coromandel, December, 9th, 1872,

: One of her Majesty's lieges, summoned to attend as a juror at the Central Crimi nal Court, at Dolinghurst, a few days jagOj ! sent a letter to his honor the Judged J earnestly begging to be excused on ac count of his great weight. This stout : party pathetically stated that he was twenty-seven stone weight; and could not possibly stand the fatigue of a whole day's martyrdom in the jury box. The lament able petition of .the obese, juryman created 'some merriment amongst the case-hard ened Court officials, but the circumstance stated was kindly u allowed to be a valid' 'jexouseby the courteous and compassionate Judge. Hereafter, j when any " lean and hungry. citizen " shall vainly seek to from the" anxieties and responsibil ities' off'jtirydom,hissympathising friend. will: say :of: him as Cassias did of Caesar .'54 •=.* Would he were * fatter'".

iq ; The m.OTejladies, .practise walking, the more gi&criful they'.pec6me in thfeir ihbve ments. These ladies acquire the best carrege who don't ride in one. , > \f

TELEGRAPHIC.

—• — FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ri-if -.;•' GBAHAMSTOWT*. ..; ; : jMswrtf • .This day, 2.6 pW .' The Caledonian . has' crushed 144 • tons quartz for 33 ounces, and 160 tons tailings, for 94 ounces. Total for the week, 127 ounces. The City of London's melted gold for the fortnight's crushing, with 20" head stampers, *s 195 ounces. : '& \ ,v The Manukau tributers have crushed 12 t&J&^f^^dMces.' ; .. • „.-■; - The Central latly has broken 'dbwtf sSine nice specimens to-day in the deep level' lode a foot thick.. '' ,' ''" ' ■'_ r k^L: Three publicans have been fined-40^ >: .«i-,-"' to-day for selling liquors on Sunday. _

TAURANGA.

Vthis day, 1.33 p.m. Hepa has confessed to robbing the store at Te Teko, and will be committed for trial. A flour mill company hasJbe^n startedyirith a capital of £1000, m shares1 Of £1 each.' '

(PER ANGLO-A USTRALIAN PRESS TELBOsSpk AGENCt.I ' '

ARRIVAL OF T^ JESSIE ROADMAN. MORE NAVVIES FOR AUCKLAND, J»l THE FREEMASONS' BALL TO THE ' ~„ ~. „ r ; "•' ;'■ , . .k.k.. —-' -■ ■'S■ .§' -'■- -■ PEERESS AND THE C.J.a: ; ;^ WELLINGTON. " ':.V,;;..;''';^?^frW The Freemasons' have arranged to give•» ball to the Governor previouis to his.depar ture to consist exclusively fof the Masonic order, but they have received . a |ele^raan stating that Sir George Bowen is not a Mason. They are in great: consternation in conse quence. i; la _•-.-: .-".-.-' . .„„„ The Jessie Readman arrived yesterday from London after an excellent passage of eighty-four days. She brings 335 immigrants, . t including 186 navvies^ for Messrs-Brogden " and Son. All well. The navvies were originally intended for the Upper Hutt line,, but th©: contract apt being agreed upon they will be sent to Auck land and Invercargill. The Australasian, says' that;the Cau^hTO^ Jockey Club exceeded their,powers!toJ/dis-^. qualifying the race mare Peeress, and asserts/; that all the best autliprities^a^ee they, ,'bave'r over-stepped the laws X>f racing. ;• ; • : • '"' Et : 2.^pM^ Richard Way good, an immigrant, per Jessie Readman, was charged at the' Police,, CJpprfe to-day under the Passengers' Act with in subordination: and mutinous conductr and fmi£l and fourteen days' .^ihpMohment/itt' addition. ~ .

DUNEDIN.

([ v\ ; *'.? l, '/ ./:;.. -A Ttas?day.;%, Messrs Dalgety and Nichols, ithe;agents "of McMeckan and JBlackwood,:have made"" an ofjfer- to, arrange for the Rangitoto, to. depart in time to catch the^uez mail to leaVe Met' bourne on the 3rd January. The General 2 Government would not accede to the arrange men, but negotiations are still spending. Sir Dilioh Bell has met with an accident, by which, his leg is injured, but not seriously.

A writer in the Sdientific American says, the process for dcs troy ing mosquitoes may be condensed into a few words. The strongest erystalised carbohie'.'aeiil^iH.oSfil : . I be placed in a; bottle, and covered with'the same quantity of strong red cckHiver ;oil/; sbake the bottle thoroughly until a %Hite: colored foam appears ; if such foam does ' not- arise however, a small, quantity, of"' powdered i lime; should be'Saidded,;W]Lth.^ little' water.1 Pour the mixture into a dish-. or other convenient article j an& plac^ directly under the open window, as-itiS. ? from that quarter the mosquito enters. In my humble opinion, the^ effect should be ' explained in this manner : The moment the mosquito enters it loses the scent Ot blood ; for, as the. combined odour of the " o;l ahd acid is much more("powerful than. . - that of blood, it follows as a consequence,. that the mosquito becomes suddenlyf--per plexed. The consequence is, -that after scrambling and skirmishing about in the darky; the mosquito is ledjas iit*Wetej r ift^ stinctively into the .mixture; '"^e^';it,iß either drowhedih the oil or burnt to death with the acid. Formerly I was accustomed to ■ mear my face, arms, and breast with strong oil alone, but I frequently arose in. the morning spelling .so terribly-that," though it protected viae from mosquito bites I was happy "to lay it aside. I, t ha^e<v,>. slaughtered more mosquitoes with the article, explained above than ever I baiVe done with my fist's or any other dangerous weapons. , ( 'k' v ~ ~, kk, p'-'Vv/ *^A) jj jjj Letters are or Very ahoieht" 'origin. The, first, jletter ,o| "WP* ?6 ■<, We , have j.any record is that written- by I -David to Joab . directing him to place^ Uriah in the fr<piit,, bf the battle. Al bid lkj»inning surely ! | Cicero wrote -a letter as; he did eve^ijrthiqg "" —with ease and elegance, .; Sene\ ; the younger-Pliny also excelled i r_^' iart. 'Ihe Romans used tablets of^codu jcoatedwith waxj sometimes of ivory or parchment. This was first Wrapped around a staff rolled slantwise, and writ ten lengthwise, then teken off and carried by a special messenger, who bad^ggxi&i larystaff!. •It would be, iof course// per* feetly unintelligible' yvb6k\ unwound, mid? L so Would cause no trouble if.it should fallj«h into the hands of an enemy, but w^eitt} wound on1 the staff'df the receiver WJbah •would reveal its meaning. ' Herodotus - tells of a cruel practice''resorted to,"to con vey secret intelligence with: safety;; The^> head of a trusty messenger was shaved, - and the writing wa? ,iajpr^ss^d; ,on his .skull. Tbis wds not Tt -. rapid method for transmitting i news, for the pbor«iellowac hair must grow long .enough to conceal the writing, and on arriving at his, destin-. . atibn-^her nJust-igaiii ft-* probable that little anxietVWas manifested inthojselfhysito iseeum the .-positiott of 14 >3 ': . 1.. ,v-...Aj- *;< ,1,~,...?l 111* tf!:>.6it'<t<.i-,saiittH fti>&M&i:

Ml JWT^itfG Sft&R. MWjDAJ,



' .iiu.^norirfming^-! ,'nn..:V.>r.<>'i?. ..Gopd S|9utGrey^Calica,:at3id:' ;il /Hli^'U **■&&**&*&. lightly-dawned, at W»s~ 40 dozen TcfweM, at eaijh sjt v/ i; * j ili£ 7^.-^reySheet^^d.^.'. '"' '" ''"■iriuA' 72in. White sfieeting, at is JH:eavyWelsh,Phi;^j| ; .atis; /,,= i7itif.t:x. ;^rlGren^ilnes,at!BJd; ..', •.k.'y \k.. 'k Priiiited Delaiiis, *'ti 3}d '",' .'■:■- ".'" T^(»»oUetQimtS;^romtt;ii(i!J i v, .Linen HuckTowllpg,: at 6Jd; >>; ..; .\u./. , . ... 20 dozen Ladies'.Stays, rafSif White Cotton Hose/from 3Jd'J / - , lj,; White MawellMß. ;...,,.,".." ■'..■„■■.-. .-.„ i Long Lace Curtains, from H 9d SO dozen Parasols, from 1434 each \.-k .. ';/: Muslin Curtains.6 yards,,' from is lid per pair,



PEKSTON & McLBOD'S NEW ZEALAND FISHERIES, TUTHKAKA AND WA N Q&M EKk SCHNAPPER—DRY-SALTFD in BoxM. and Drums "-'A" '• --"-': ..■'■ MULLET-PICKLED in Barrels \V - TURBOT— PICKLED in : Barrels ! - :j . KAHWHAi—BiCJKLED in Barrels. •'•.'.- Quality guaranteed in every respect equal to im ported Fish,ind at..prices which will'ensure consump-* tiomgy" '"-'- *;'--' Special inducements to the trade. ..-.,- ■.- -..,T,*-^„-.-:.-.r.'.-j'-'-.'.---.'-i.>---;---;---'-.'.''' ;r.,--i'- Jons EO BEETQN &^£Qs, u . ; . D "tflfH"a!''^^S-IfEE E T, SOLE AGENTS. , __ TO THE.WORKING: MEN OF AUCKLAND. HPHE BEST MOLE TROUSERS in New. Zealand can be bought at J. COSGRAVE AND CO.'S at 6s. lid.. . fl . FOR THti NEXT 14 DAYS! GREAT BARGAINS m DRAPERY & CLOTHING, ,;-..oir: ■ IN GREAT VARIETY, AT HOBBS',"" ! UPPER QUEEN STREET, (Opposite the Army & Navy Hotel). FOR THE NEXT 14 DAYS! , r\ O AND S E E THE ' M E TL M A I D^ : : At the Occidental Hotel. THORNTON, SMITH, & FIRTH'S WHOLESALE -PRICES CURRENT:— '~„,,i , & s d Fine Flour, Silk •' Dressed, "Crown Brand," per ton of 2,0001b5. .. .... 19 ..0-.0 Fine Flour, Silk Dressed," "TS&F Brand," per ton .'.■ .. ; .. .. 16 0 0 Seconds, per ton ".. .. " .. .. 12 0 JO. \ I Sharps, per ton •.. 7 10 0 Bran, per bushel of 201b."- 0 10 Oats, per-bu5he1....,. : .*.. ■.::; .;■ , 0 3 6 FowlWhe'afp'erbushel .. ..' .'.'' 0 4 0 Auckland, December 6, 1872. I