SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET : This evening. C.29 HIGH WATER : This evening, 7.40 ; to-morrow morning, 7.60

ARRIVALS.

Queen, schooner, veale, from Tahiti,

DEPASTURES. Star of the South, s.s., Holmes, for Napier Albion, whaling barque, Hall, on a cruise. Sea Gull, schooner, Nokes, for Levuka. Joliba, brig, for Newcastle.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For Bay of Islands, Whangaroa, and Mongonui:

Rowena, s.s., Monday For Melbourne: Tower Hill, brig, early For New Caledonia : Ivanhoe, schooner, sth Nov. For Norfolk Island : Southern Cross, Mission schooner,

Thursday next For Whitiivnga, Mercury Bay, and Tauranga Southern Cross, s.s., 4th November For London : Countess of Kintore, ship, 7th prox.

City of Auckland, ship, in November For "New York : Coronilla, barque, early For Sydney and Melbourne: Wonga Wonga, s.s., Monday ■ Hero, s.s., 15th November

VESSELS EXPECTED

Gladiateur, barque, from Liverpool. Sailed sth

August Helen Denny, ship, from Greenock. Sailed 3rd Aug, Norham Castle, ship, from London. Sailed 22nd

August Polar Star, ship, from New York. Sailed 10th July July

EXPORTS.

Per Nevada for San Francisco: From Dunedin—lo bales flax. From Lyttelton— 200 bags oats, 1 pkg seeds. From Welling ton—G pkgs. From Sydney—l pkg leather, 2 qr- casks -wine, 10 cases brandy, 3 qr-casks ■wine, GO kegs butter, 2 eases, 8 pkgs, 1 case saddlery, 20 cases brandy, 1 case, 3 qr-casks wine, 49 cases lemons, 4 boxes, 10 qr-casks brandy, 1 parcel, 2 cases. From Auckland 10 cases, 1 qr-cask brandy, 1 case, Owen and Graham ; 200 empty casks, W. J. Cawkwell; 1 horse,, M. Elliott; 7G bales wool and 10 pkga skins, J. Pvoberton and Co ; 4 cases fire kindlers, C. Williams. Henderson and Macfarland, Agents.

Per schooner Success, for Levuka : 20 mats sugar, 3 half-chests tea, 1 case apparel, 1 trunk boots, 1 box beads, 1 bale blankets, Owen and Graham ; 30 kegs sugar, 20 bags ditto, 5 tierces molasses, Henderson and Macfarlane ; 26,500 feet timber, 700 palings, 14,000 shingles, 20 boxes soap, G packages glass doors, 6 barrels beer, 60 sacks potatoes, 120 bags flour, S boxes glass, 8 drums oil, 20 tins paint, 8 ditto varnish, 3 drams paint, 2 bolts, 4 cases cordials, 1 cask ditto, M. D. Robertson.—M. Niccol, agent.

The schooner Cambria has brought 180 sheep, 40 bags gum, 40 boxes eggs, and 50 turkeys from Waipu. We observe by English papers that the Naomi, from Auckland for New Bedford, has been damaged by collision with the wharf.

The barque Amateur arrived at "Sydney from Wangaroa on the 14th ult.

The Lyttelton Times says that the fine clipper schooner Onward has been purchased by Messrs"' M'Lellan and M'Latchie, the late owners of Aspasia, for the sum of £1,000. and that the clipper schooner Aspasia, so1 well known from having won Messrs Shaw, Saville, & Co.'s cup two years running, has been purchased by Messrs Matheson's Agency for Mr Pearce, of Wellington, for the sum of £875. :

We notice by the Sydney papers that the barque Novelty was taken off the berth for Auckland and despatched to Shanghai with coals on October 31.

The following are the saloon passengers by the ship Agnes Muir, which sailed from London for this port on September 4 :—Rev. C. Jordan and seven children, Dr. M. Ever s*;ed, and Mr F. H. Milner.

The Fiji Thnes says the cutter Bismarck arrived in port from the Viti Levu Coast. She was in charge of inspector Harding, who had seized her for an infringement of the Labour Act, in having left six men on a plantation on her return from a labour cruise, whilst she brought the remainder up to Levuka to be passed. The 8.8. Star of the South put back yester day evening disabled, having broken one of her piston rods. She now lies alongside the hulk Bella Marina.

The schooner Success has cleared outwards for Levuka with a large general cargo, and the following passengers:—M. D. Robertson, S. D. Clark, John Anderson, and G. Frost. She will leave this afternoon.

The schooner Queen, Captain W. D. Veale, arrived in harbour this morning from Tahiti with 16 bales cotton and 43 tons cotton seed, censignedto Owen and Graham.

DEPARTURE OF THE NEVADA

The mail steamer Nevada took her depar ture this afternoon with the following pas sengers : —From Melbourne—J. H. Boswell, Mrs E. Trimble, A. Clapperton, 0. Molloy, Mrs Fisher and infant, Arthur Lane. From Sydney—Lieutenant Mitchell, G. E. V. D'Arcy, J. R. Morgan, T. Whittam, |W. Marshall, Mr and Mrs Buckley, B. D. Buckley, John Power, James Gachers. From Picton—H. Westmacott. From Dunedin— J. M. Davis, J. Smith and son. From Lyttelton -Mr and Mrs Fox, R. Bray, H. Andrews, J. B. Sheath. From Wellington —Captain Bishop, M. S. Myers. From Auckland—Mr and Mrs Porter, Miss Porter, (2), Captain Thomas, Signor Orlandini, Madame States, C. Clements, T. Hopkins and D. Forrest.

SHAREMARKET.

ivm. j. m. Lennox's keport,

There was some improvement in business. My sales comprise — Caledonian, , £17 ; Thames, £5 ss, £5 7s 6d • Cure, 365, 39s 6d ; Golden Calf, 33s 6d. MB. J. HENDRY'S REPORT. The sharemarket has been active to-day. Cures advanced to 41s ; Caledonians are firmer. Sales—Caledonians, £16 10a ; Non pariel, 45s ; Cures, 40s ; Moanatairi, 60s; Inverness, 14s 6d. Buyers of Queen of Thames, Is 9d ; Coliban, 2s 9d : Caledonians, £16 10s.

POST-OFFICE, SHORTLAND-STREET. Mails will Close as TJndku :— For Thames, on Monday, at 10.30 a.m. For Coromandel, on Monday, at 1.30 p.m. For Sydney and Australian Colonies, per Wonga Wonga, on Monday, 4th inst., at 2 p.m. For money orders, registered letters and newspapers at 1 p.m. Late letters for Sydney and Melbourne will be received till 2.30 p.m. For Russell, Mongonui, etc., per Lady Bowen, on Monday, at 3 p.m. For Whitianga and Tauranga, per Southern Cros3, on Monday, at 3 p.m. S. B. Biss, Postmaster.

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

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1872.

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

We trust that the events of Wednes day next will be regarded as of suf- ficient importance by the people of Auckland for their cordially and unanimously making holiday. No authority can compel men to close their shops or lay aside their ordinary avocations, but we trust that there will be sufficient public spirit found reigning in the city to induce the general recognition of an institution that, if properly managed, may from year to year be an agency of great power for the industrial advancement of the province and the city. Every thing indicates that the Exhibition of Wednesday next will be a success sur passing anything of the kind that has preceded it, and with reference to results such success is calcu lated to make more easy and pro bably success in.the.future; and.it is not too much to say of this annual Ex hibition that the principle is likely to be realised —" crescit eundo." It is greatly to be regretted that there is a seeming antagonism between the two societies that on Wednesday next will be catering to the public enjoyment and instruction. The planting of the Horticultural Society's show at the door of the Agricultural Society's show-yard has not a very becoming appearance at first sight, and the whole thing seems to outside observers to savour somewhat of sharp practice. We have no doubt there may be faults on both sides, but when the admirers of flowers resolved on holding their show on the same day and at the same place as the devotees of ploughs and fat cattle, we think the two societies should hare smoothed down their ruffled feathers, and, despite the difficulties in the way, they should have at the same time resolved to so modify their plans as all to have dropped into the arrangement in com mon. It is difficult to suppress the per ception of a remarkable resemblance to a merry-go-round placed outside the gate, either forcibly excluded or un willing to pay the dues demanded within, but situated so as to intercept the people going in and out. do not say or profess

to know which society is more to blame, whether the terms of the farmers are too high, or those of the gardeners too unreasonable, but it has not a pleasant appearance, this seeming rivalry where the interests of both are so similar,, and when the public are disposed to be good tempered, generous and patronising to both. Possibly good may result from it. A test maybe applied to the relative attractiveness of the two Exhibitions, and the love of the people for the ornamental and the utilitarian may be valued so that an estimate may be formed for fixing in future the appropriation of proceeds to the two societies. If this object is contemplated, it is sufficiently laud able ; but it should be made generally known so that all appearance of antag onism may be removed, and the pub lic may go in and be glad, with minds unruffled by the little rivalry, and give themselves equally freely to? the gratification of sentiments utili tarian and aesthetic. It has been suggested by a correspondent, and we think wisely, that some arrangement might be made by which at a nominal rate the children of all our schools, under the conduct of their teachers, might be admitted. "We think the suggestion is deserving of considera tion. Not only will this be the manner !in which children can be admitted with the likelihood of being least unmanageable ; not only will their young minds be delighted and expanded by the sight of the imple "tnents and the products of rural industry, and by the contemplation of the floral beauties of nature ; but if the friends of these annual exhibitions look at it in the most practical light they may have these thousands of young touters from year to year looking for ward to "THE SHOW," and keeping the interest thoroughly awake among the whole community. "We trust that the suggestion will be favourably enter tained, and we venture to say that it will create an agency of no mean value for popularising and utilising the annual Exhibition.

Seldom have we found greater unanimity respecting a public question than at present exists in this province in relation to the recently contemplated alteration in the con trol of the police. In this unanimity the press has unquestionably been the correct exponent of public opinion, and very deep must be the interest of the banded few who appear to have resolved to brave the public and reduce the police to be the hewers of' wood and the drawers of water to petty officialdom, and "your very obedient servant" to the basest of the people who may have a friend that has a friend in the cook or bottle washer to some local magnate In Marlborough province a constable, at least recently, was orderly to his Honor the Chief Magistrate of that important pasha lic, and paraded regularly at the door of the great man's home ; and every little officer of the provincial household had his body ser vant in the constabulary to hold his horse and clean his boots. We cannot say that this particularly surpasses our own provincial experiences ; and we do not hesitate to say to those that wish for a return of the good old times that they will have a hard battle with popular conviction. We are glad to learn that the circumstantial and reiterated assertion that his Honor Mr Gillies had become a convert to the principles of the localisation of the police is proved to be an unqualified untruth. We have charged many sins on his Honor's head, sins of both omis sion and commission, but we trust that in a matter so intimately bound up with public safety he will continue to exhibit that un flinching sternness for which in other things he has been so strongly censured.

We desire to draw attention to two letters in our other columns with reference to Mr James Stewart and his late report on the ferry steamer "Enterprise." We do not hesitate to say that they give expression to a very general feeling among those who have to use the ferry service. We were at a loss to account for the evident empressemenl with which this Government officer hastened to publish his report on the steamer until in formed to-day that it was in consequence of the part which the Evening Star has taken in connection with the ferry service. Why this should have influenced Mr Stewart was still to us a mystery till reminded of a certain critique which some time since appeared in this journal respecting the extraordinary engineering work executed by Mr Stewart's orders at the rear of the old Fort Brito rnart. It seems that since that ap peared Mr Stewart has been in the habit of speaking in the bitterest terms of the Star and its management. If this is the manner in which any public officer takes our critiques which are only made in the public interest, it is just as well that the thing should be above board. The interest we have taken in the ferry service has only been for the public good, and Mr Stewart as a public officer should be influ enced only by similar considerations and be wholly unbiassed in his conduct. The botch perpetrated by him at Fort JBritomart was really disgraceful, and we do not hesitate to again tell him so. As our readers will recollect he intended building a re taining wall to keep Emily Place from tumbling, into the sea, and after he had opened a huge yawning chasm, into the greater part of which the sides came tum bling down, he found the wall would not stand, and by a happy thought he converted it into a drain of the most extraordinary kind. Valuable squared stones that might have been usefully employed were thrown pell-mell into the chasm, and as, after we had drawn attention to it, the public were coming from time to time to look into the hole and laugh at what was going on, the stuff was thrown in, and the great gulf closed with an expedition that if applied to the Waikato Railway generally would finish it in six months instead of three years. This was done on the ten per cent, arrangement, and while Mr Brogden's people chuckled and held their sides, the country paid the piper. Probably when Mr Stewart covered in the stones he thought the subject

was smothered ; but we assert that such a thing as this is not to be left a mere thing to laugh at; and we would respectfully invite to it the attention of Mr Vogel, as represen tative of the district in which the bungling occurred, and as really author of and respon sible for our public works, and ask that he will have some inquiry made as to the character of the work, and the fitness of Mr Stewart under whose direction it was carried out to hold such a responsible position as Government Engineer.

We are glad to be .able to announce that the pleasant retreats from Auckland dust and heat, the strawberry gardens, Kosebank Nursery, North Shore, are now open to the public, where are to be enjoyed the combined treat of delicious strawberries and cream, sylvan arbors, and pleasant walks and lawns. We notice great improvements in the gardens, and, as we understand the supply of straw berries is unlimited, we strongly recommend a visit. The subjects of discourse to-morrow at the Newton Kirk will be "Faith Conquering the World," and " Procrastination ;" and at the City Hall, " Our young people preparing for Life," and " The Devil, a Roaring Lion." The productions to be exhibited for which, prizes will be given at the Horticul tural Show are divided into four classes, as follows:—"Plants in pot," "cut flowers," "fruits" and "culinary vegetables." A large number "of prizes will be awarded— ho less than 167 —in connection with the sections just mentioned, while others will be j given by private persons. Mrs Gillies gives a prize of one pound for the choicest collec tion of specimens of native fern and allied plants indigenous to the North Shore and the isthmus of Auckland, and Mr Mcßae giv.es three prizes on behalf of the pupils of the Grammar School for the best specimens of cut native flowering plants. These shows should excite a laudable spirit of emulation, as they tend to stimulate the spirit of industrial en terprise, and lead to beneficent results.

The inaugural services of the Methodist Free Church will be conducted to-morrow afternoon at three o'clock ; and in the even ing at half-past six. The sermons on both occasions will be preached by the Rev. G. H. Turner, in the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association. The inaugural tea meeting will take place on Wednesday next in the same place.

Tenders are required for the erection of a bridge in the Waitakerei Highway District South.

The regular monthly meeting of the A.R.A. Lodge, No. 438, 1.C., will be held in the Masonic Hotel on Monday evening next.

All claims against the Bulwark must be sent in to Messrs L. D. Nathan & Co. by Monday next or they will not be recognised.

FATAL ACCIDENT.

A very serious accident happened on Thurs day evening, about six o'clock, in the Manukau mine. Two men, named Joseph Heart and John Smith, were at work along side the Cure boundary, when a shot which they were putting in suddenly exploded, and Heart got so severely injured, that lie died before he could be raised to the surface. Smith was also severly wounded about his face and eyes, which necessitated his immediate removal to the hospital. Drs. Fox, Lethbridge, and Croft, at once examined his injuries, and rendered all the assistance possible. It was found that bis sight had escaped seiious injury, but he had sustained a very severe wound in the right arm ; but whether the bone is injured could not then be ascertained.

LECTURE ON PREMILLENNARIANISM.

Thkjib was large attendance last night in the large room of the Young Men's Christian Association on the occasion of Mr Cass' lecture " A Defence of Premillennarianisni." The chairman, Joseph Newman, Esq., in troduced the lecturer with a few remarks, as it was unnecessary to make a speech, as the friends present had come to hear the lecturer, and not the chairman. The lecturer then proceeded to unfold his views on the subject iv hand—a subject beset with difficulties, as he plainly proved. He believed that at the end of time Christ would come upon the the earth again, and would personally establish a millennium righteousness and peace, and that the saints would meet him in mid-air, according to Scripture. Until the dawn of that blessed era men will go on recklessly and irreverently towards destruction. The lecturer reviewed at considerable length the exhaustless field of prophecy which had been the hope of nations in previous ages, but neglected in this age by the majority of men. This subject, the speaker considered, should be our constant study ; still, he believed that the preaching of the Gospel would fail in converting tha people. Some persons thought that the church would conquer the world, but the world would conquer the church. The church, however, would be finally restored in the thousand years of millennarian sunshine, destined to burst forth at the ripened rebellion, or consummation of the wickedness of fore gone ages. The lecture occupied an hour and half in its delivery, and was listened to throughout with much attention.

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE " COFFIN." (To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sir, —I am not the only one that will thank you for your article yesterday respecting Mr Stewart's report on the ferry steamer Enter prise. I have a painful remembrance of the capsizing of a ferry steamer on aii American river some years ago. She was a paddle boat much larger than the Enterprise, but viciously constructed ; and of a large crowd of passengers scarcely one-third were saved. Mr Stewart may be happy in obliging his friends, but this is too serious for friendship's claims to be thought of. The Harbour Board I believe have the power to stop the Enter prise from being put on the ferry till she is reported on by a nautical man, and they will be greatly to blame if they do not use their power to save passengers from great risk.— I am, &c, An Occasional Visitor to North Shore.

INSPECTION OF STEAMERS.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sir, —Will you tell me if Mr James Stewart, who has reported on the Enterprise, ferry steamer, is the same that showed his marine engineering skill in designing the steam wheelbarrows for the Waikato river ?. The "Pioneer," which was designed and built particularly under the superintendence of a person of that name, is familiar to most who have been on the Waikato. After she had been tried for a few weeks on that river her anchor was thrown out, and she has remained stationary since. If this is the same James Stewart, will you inform me, sir, what has been his education for this class of work, and what qualifications he possesses, unless a little interest with those who give ■ appoint ments. As we are likely to have an increase ; in our steam traffic, and various works requiring scientific skill in the harbour and shipping, this question should be one of ,J considerable importance.—l am, sir, &c, Engineer.

ESSAYS AND SKETCHES.

VL—The Cost of a Bag of Guinkas.

The late inimitable week-day teacher, Charles Dickens, who, some two years ago, passed to the shadow-land, was, as his biographer,^ John Forster, tells us, " a neglected child." On one of the wintry mornings of his early 111e, he travelled on foot from Portsmouth to London, and, midway between those places, he sat down, weary-footed, beside a mossy stone, raiced to the memory of a sailor who had been nrardered on that very spot. In subsequent years, in the purple dawn of a brighter clay, the great novelist brought the immortal Smike, and his companion Nicholas Nickleby to the same place ; and they also rested on the sward beside that memorial atone, and looked into the mysterious punch bowl, as Dickens had done before them. " They walked," says the author, " upon the rim of the 'Devil's Punch-bowl,' and Smike listened with greedy interest as Nicholas read the inscription upon the stone, which reared upon that wild spot, tells of a murder Committed there by night. The grass on which they stood, had once been dyed with gore, and the blood of the murdered man run down, drop by drop, into the hollow which gives the place ita name." We, too, have sat beside that stone, raised to the memory of the sailoi-, and looked down into that dark hollow, known as the Devil's Punch-bowl. The startling appellation of this hollow will readily suggest its aspect and form to the imagination; and yet, in broad daylight, with the sunshine upon it, the name seems somewhat paradoxical. Apart from its tragic associations, it is full of ro mantic and natural beauty ; the simple blue flower and the variegated ribbon-grass, the wild strawberry, and the glossy hurtleberry, with its small circling green leaves, blossom and flourish there amid the purpling heather. Old Cobbett, who used when a boy to play in the bowl, often wondered that so many of earth's loveliest places should be given over, rent free, to his Satanic Majesty. The hurtleberry trees at the time of our autumnal visit to the bowl in 1864 were loaded with their delicious fruitage. In the centre ■of the bowl there is a spring of purest water perpetually welling up from its unseen source, with a quiet murmur, like what Shelley calls " a hidden melody," sing ing ever, independent of satanic influences. Many years ago, on a September evening, a hale, weather-beaten sailor stepped lightly into a wayside tavern in the village of Esher, a village known by name all the world over in connection with Claremont, Lord Clive, and the Princess Charlotte. The sailor was returning from London, where he had been to receive his service money, and he went into the tap-room of that Esher tavern where sat three rough-looking, lazy, drinking way farers, who at once entered into conversa tion -with the sailor, and were treated by him to food, beer, and tobacco. They started together in apparent friend liness, and passed through villages and towns until they reached a by-lane a few jnilea from the town of Ciodalining, and about two rnilec from the Devil's Punch bowl. This "lloacl Lane," as it is still called, held one small thatched tavern, into which the groxip of travellers went for " more beer" at the seaman's expense. He had been voyaging over the mighty world of waters, and carried with him two of life's best gifts—a heavy purse, and a li^ht heart— the people of the district were, and still are, very superstitious, and marvellous were their ghostly Punch-bowl associations. The merry seaman and his companions sat and drank, and sang together until long after the going down of the sun. The lingering rays of the beautiful sunset tinged the black heath-covered waste with a strange beauty as the evening star shone brilliantly over the brow of a dark cloud. Still they talked and sang, and drank in the shadows of that lonely tavern. The jugs were emptied and filled, and filled again, while the sailor amused his apparent friends with long, improbable yarns of ocean-life. The bag of guineas, however, which they had seen, the reward of years of hard service on board a man-o'-war, was the absorbing centre of attraction ; and these desperate men resolved at any hazard, even at the price of blood, to possess the prize. The night had come and the audible wind whispered among the trees ; but the British sailor, when on shore, takes no note of time ; he knows neither fear nor melancholy, the wide ocean is his home, the world is his theatre of action, and every man is his brother. The jugs were filled for the last time, and the seaman's eyes sparkled over one of Dibden's melodies—new from the brain of its author—"Poor Jack," which the sailor sang very touchingly, especially the refrain :—

" The sweet little cherub that sits up aloft Will look out a good berth for poor Jack." The clock struck ten, which was considered a late hour in that part of the country, and the taproom must be cleared. The sailor was pressed by the hostess to stay for the night, but he preferred going-a-head and having, as the night was warm, a short snooze by the road side. The company separated, and the sailor waved a sonorous " good night" to all, and in less than an hour he was on the open brow of Hind-head, a hill which overlooks the weird Punch : bowl. The soft night breezes played among his raven locks as he stepped vigorously along the hard turnpike road on the edge of the bowl, and the moon arose and silvered the scene with her chaste light. On the shadowy side of the opposite hill, dotted with fern and ragged thorns and wild bushes, eat two shepherds, quietly watching a flock of sheep belonging to a neighbouring squire. The sailor heard sharp footsteps in close proximity, and upon looking round, saw his late companions, whom he had so liberally served, at his heels, and, ere they could exchange words, the sailor was levelled to the ground. "Your money or your life" thundered the villians. The sailor, prostrate and unarmed, sued for mercy but to no purpose. "Oh, God ! shield me," cried the fallen man, and immediately, by one strong efforthewas onhiefeet, wrestling with his foes. Finding, however, that he was over-powered, he with his free right arm hurled the coveted bag of guineas into the dark clustering heather. The murderers having lost the money were exasperated, and gave the poor man his death blow. That deed, although committed in tho stillness and solitude of night, in the midst of an uninhabited waste, was seen by other eyes than those of eternal justice; by the eyes of the two shepherds who had crouched behind a thorn. The sailor expired on a patch of green sward beneath the quiet stars, and his guineas, which might have solaced the last days of an aged mother, or the anxieties of a loving sister, could not be found. The murderers having finished their deadly work hurried across the wild country. The moon again looked forth from behind a mass of moving clouds upon that sad spectacle, and the shepherds drew near and looked upon it too. They found the body lacerated, denuded, and rolled down the slope to the edge of the Punch-bowl^ where the memorial stone tells the melancholy tale. The shepherds followed in the track of the miscreants to a distant village, and gave such information as led to their capture, They were taken in the act of selling the sailor's clothes, were forthwith lodged in the country gaol, tried, and condemned, and in the following spring were hanged upon the very spot were the fearful deed was done. The body of the sailor was not owned ; all attempts to trace his relations proved fruit less ; nothing was found to give a clue to his

identification, nor any document relating to his ship. Fragments of a letter supposed to be from a sweetheart were picked up among the heather, and pieced together, but which failed in affording the necessary information. It evidently came from one who entertained a tender regard for the unfortunate man, the heading was lost, but such of the letter as , had been found indicated the writer's feelings ' towards him :—" I am so glad that you are on shore again. I heard of your arrival at Spithead on Monday, and suppose that, on your return from London, you will pay a flying visit to your native village. I am happy to tell you we are all well, and hope you are the same. After your three years' voyaging half round the world you will imagine how pleased we shall be to see you. j You will be equally welcome at the vicarage ! and your mother's cottage in Broadford Lane. The last letter I had from you was dated from Cape Town, but you are now in England, and I pray that circumstances will not necessitate your seeking another ship. I have been troubled about you lately. I have had strange ominous dreams ; I hope nothing dreadful will happen to you. I hope you read and value the bible 1 gave you at our last meeting, and that you think some times of one who loves you. I would draw your attention especially to the 107 th Psalm, which refers to God's Providence in divers conditions of human life. Such reflections, dear Tom, will keep you in a sober fr&me of mind ; will make you cheerful under diffi culties, and cause you to look for support to that Divine Power that rules rules the waves, and will bring even the poor -weather-beaten sailor to the peaceful haven of his hopes and expectations. I need not lengthen this letter, as I hope, in a few days at most, to see you, if not at the vicarage, at the dear old lane - side cottage... I am sure you will be pleased to see us all? again. The little cottage looks as natural as ever, with its circling honeysuckle and red roses. The bees are humming about those of the flowers which remain of the summer's treasures. My mother, although getting gray and feeble 'neath the weight of years, is in good health, and " This was all of the letter that could be found, although diligent search was made for the missing fragments. The names of the -writer and receiver there^ fore must remain a mystery. The body of the sailor was buried at the expense of a neighbouring yeoman in the tranquil church yard of the village of Thursley. This gentleman also caused the memorial stone to be erected on the rim of the Devil's Punch bowl. The grass is still green upon the sailor's grave ; daisies grow over his mortal remains, and in noons of summer Sabbaths, village rustics bend over his grave, and tell the tragic Btory of " The Cost of a Bag of Guineas" to their wondering, listening children. Bee. ;

CHORAL HALL.

One of the finest, really 'superb, and alto gether recherche lyrical entertainments given in this city was that of Madame States and Signor Orlahdini, assisted by the Choral i Society. The concert opened with the overture of the " Ruins of Athens," an exceedingly graceful work of Beethoven ; it was played under the skilful baton of <Mr Browne. Foremost among the vocal selections must be mentioned Signor Orlan dini's who was in splendid voice. He first gave a romance from '' Un Ballo in Maschera," which the audience tried hard to encore. A madrigal, sweetly sung by the Choral Society, followed; when Madame States gave the beautiful ballad, "Kathleen Mavourneen. " This was a brilliant success, her voice filling the large hall apparently without effort; even the minutest notes were heard with perfect distinctness in every part of the building. Then came a sparkling duet between Signor Orlandini and Madame Linati, from '' Lucia di Lammermoor." It was given in a very pleasing manner, although a very difficulty piece for an amateur. The laugh ing chorus '• Der Freischutz " suffered some what from the absence of the tenor through indisposition. In the second part, after the well-known overture of the Barber of Seville, which was well played by the orchestra, the grand duet from "II Barbiere" was very" successfully sung by Madame States and the accomplished baritone, Signor Orlandini. This was a brilliant performance, and an encore was demanded. The "Aye Maria," by the Choral Society, we have never heard sung so well before. Signor Orlandini then gave a romance from " Faust;" the piece was sang with ease and tremendous power. Perhaps the sweetest gem of the evening was the touching ballad " Home, Sweet Home," by Madame States. In this she was indeed triumphant, and loud and continued applause greeted her at its conclusion. The perform ance concluded with a trio and chorus "Mosein Egitto," in which these accom plished artistes and lyric singers were accom panied by the members of the Choral Society. It was a grand piece of vocalization, and was rapturously applauded, and re-demanded. The encore was graciously acceded. We observed one of Allison and Son's London model pianos in the orchestra. The instru mentations were extremely good. The concert is one of the best we have heard, and con cluded with the National Anthem. Owing to the unfavorable state of the weather the attendance was not so large as the perform ance merited.

NEW CALEDONIA.

(fbom oub own cobbespoudent). Noumea, October 8. Thb French Government steamer Dame, Captain L. E.. de Rerprigent, arrived at Noumea on the 29th September, after a passage of 145 dayg. She brought a number of passengers and 249 convicts ; nearly the whole cfthe latter are Com munists, and three died on the passage. When at the Cape Assi one of: the prisoners attempted to escape by jumping through » port-hole and swimming to an English frigate. The act wa« observed and a boat lowered from the Danss and chase given. He was captured about a quarter of a mile from the steamer, and brought back, A penitentiary establish ment is being built at TJarai for the ac commodation of the Communist prisoners, a large number being still expected. Her Britannic Majesty's ship Basilisk has paid us a visit. The Governor of New Cale donia has been appointed to the command of the naval division here, and has assumed the title and powers. The eighteenth anniversary of French rule in the island was celebrated last month. A grand reception was given at Government House.

Mr Alfred Buckland offered for sale yester day the right of admission to the New Zealand Agricultural Society's show on Wednesday next, with other privileges, such as the selling of catalogues, and the erection of a booth5 on the ground. The right of admission to the coming show was privately sold to Mr Bainbridge for the mm of £101. Other offers for the sale of catalogues and the erection of the booth wer« referred to the committee as they wer« not considered sufficient.

TELEGRAPHIC.

FROM'OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.

GRAHAMSTOWN.

This day. The Cure during the night broke down 3 cwt. of specimens, leaving a splendid show in the face. Gold is extending to the left of I the main run. Specimen crushing of about % one ton commenced to-day; it -will be finished to-night. Retort on Monday. Russell's Battery Company has 25 oiiacea for the fortnight; ten head stampers. "*4 ■• The Tribute has 12 ounces; J^^lo'iSt' stampers. r\ po jfi^. This week's crushing of th« Una iT% ounces. • '.;.,■■ ~v The Golden Crown tribute had rich stuff 1 this week, and has 14 lbs. of amalgamooar' r hand. The Bendigo Independent hsfe crushed 42 ,"■■ ■ ..%.■■■' ■ | tons for 73 ounces. j The Multum-in-Parvo crushed 36 tons, for' 75 ounces. The rifle match of the Naval Brigade against the Thames Scottish is now going on. The Navals are leading (the first squad) at 400 and 500 ranges ; 26 points.

(SPECIAL TO THE STAR, PER GREVILLE'S TELEGRAM COMPANY.)

WELLINGTON.

Yesterdaj. Mr Brogden leaves en route foVEnglaadh^' the Albion on Tuesday next. ; The Civil Service office-hours will be. altered from January next from nine till five o'clock. The Government contemplate > a great reduction in officials. .:: The office of Inspector of Volunteers and* Militia is to be abolished. Colonel Harring ton is at present on leave of absence. The services of Adjutants Humphries, Of Nelson, and McPherson, of Waikato,~add Capt. Dawson, are to be dispensed with, ana, other large reductions in the Militia and Volunteer staff are contemplated. j A slight shock of earthquake was felt at four o'clock to day. U . ■ ' r; IT This^.j, The Mayor and Councillor Mills waited* on Mr. Vogel, requesting the GeneraF^So' v eminent to assist the Corporation in pro-, viding berthing accommodation for the San Francisco steamers. Mr. Vogel said if'it were done in Wellington it must be done in other parts, or else it would seem that Wel lington was exceptionally favoured. An earthquake last night.

WANGANUI.

The St. Kilda left late last night for One hunga.

AUSTRALIA.

LATER TELEGRAMS

MELBOURNE. A swindler named Miranda has been ap-:> prehended by the detectives in Paris for a fraud on a French Joint Stock Bank. The Argus intimates that Ministers will not attend the Intercolonial Conference. The Maryborough bushrangers have been captured and charged with the recent out rages A French war steamer, with Communists on board, bound for New Caledonia, has/put/ in. ■■-.., . - . it

ALTEN ROAD.

We: hope we shall not be regarded as in way desiring or intending to "<jow the City Council as if they were a lot of children," by pleading earnestly with them in the matter of a real grievance under which are suffering the residents in Alten road, and ill. that pans that way. Six months ajo a peti tion was presented to the Council cigned with the names of all the residents in thai; district, and including a large number of names borne by leading citizens. " It related to the gross neglect and defiance of all sa#-' tary considerations in the manner in which filth lodges by the roadside. The drainage of a populous district passes down, an :Ojen channel, which is formed of scoria loosely put together, having large interstices in which are contained a continuous succession of little pools of stagnant and fetid sewage. The, stench on warm days, and on all days, save after rain, is not merely abominable,, but the existence of fever among several families in that district has testified to thepoi- 1 sonous exhalations. The enforcement of the earth-closet system has, it is true, lessened the evil, still there remains the ordinary overflow of drainage from a populous neigh- > bourhood, and its present deleterious effect is very perceptible. What is wanted is a simple, covered tile drain, small in calihttff and cheap in construction, to conduct the; drainage away without any remaining, % pestilential pools. We believe that the matter will be brought before the Conncilon 1 Monday, and we do very earnestly urge th* plaint, of the residents. They say they art peculiarly and unfortunately situated, ana for the oddest of reasons —namely, $&b* City Councillor resides among them.' Mj; Councillor Cosgrave has but recently entered the Council, and with all the sinjleminded-. ness of a neophyte he will take no part in the matter. He has not been long enough in Council to get contaminated, and to learo that the first duty of a public man isito,loo* out for himself ; and the cardinal point, uv*o alderman's creed is the necessity of g6^"! a road made pasi; his own ;yj||s so it is. Mr Cosgrave is worse to ~([&wt than useless. We have no doubt that s^g course of time Mr. Cosgrave wHs£et: p? j of this fault—they generally i&—but Tj< time the residents have just cause orcotf plaint. Again,! they say that Mr.1 Coun cillor Jones lives away in the west.ofjtnj city, and that he cannot see that a^J^P requires to be done in the east. Now vm we protest, is a libel on Mr. Jones, wno^ believe, takes about the most comprehensc™ and coirect view' of the duties of his ?DM entertained by any Councillor; and so i» from his opposing this merely because W* the east of the city, we believe if it is .m ovz to be, as it really is—a great an^B*lß^6^* nuisance—Mr. Jones will be among the nr» to urge immediate attention to it before w» hot weather sets in. We cordially oVfT^ t this matter to the Council, and trus^fJ the existence of fever in the district WUJtjE accepted as Nature's own protwt agains* w negligence of the Council.

THE EVENING STAR, SATOEBAY, NOVEMBER % 1891



SYDNEY TWEED, SLIGHTLY DAMAGED. A PAECEL of the above just received, and now being Sold at 2s. 11d. PER YARD, Also, A DOUBLE-MILLED SYDNEY TWEED, VERY SLIGHTLY DAMAGED, AT 4s, 6d, Very Choice Patterns. AT No. 18 0, QUEEN STREET, (Opposite Darby's Thistle Hotel.) SAMUEL OOOM BE S. The damageig bo slight m to be hardly noticeable,



j SPECIAL CIRCULAR T ASTandCLEASING-OIJTSALE JU of DRAPERY and CLOTHING before the Final Closing of our premises, will continue during the month of November. A Largo and Well-assorted Stock to choose from, and the whole will be offered at an immense reduction fr°Nß-The PSto e ck has been REMOVED from the WakeneM-street Shop into the Queen-street Shop for convenience of sale. White and Grey Calicoes, Flannels, White Cotton 1 Hose, and a very large assortment of Children's Socks. Boys' and Men's Clothing, White Shirts, Under Vests, Socks, Braces, Ties, &c., at a Great Sacrifice. R. HOBBS, J WHOLESALE & RETAIL DRAPER, UPPER QUEEN STREET, Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel. 600 p A * ■ / : t OP j DAMAGED BLANKETS i TO KE SOLD AT HALF ENGLISH COST. J. COSG-RAVE & CO. NOTICE. MX J. C. STOTT is no longer authorised to collect advertisements or receive money for the Waikato Times. GEO. JONES. /CHORAL HALL. R O V AL ITALIAN OPE R A. Directors .. Messrs. Lyster and Cacili. SUBSCRIPTION SEASON, TWELVE NIGHTS, Commencing on ok about November 18, 1872. GRAND ORCHESTRA. FULL CHORUS. The Directors have much pleasure in announcing that they have made arrangements for a GRAND OPERA SEASON commencing as above. Messrs. Lyster and CAdtl have the fullest con fidence that the ensuing sea-on will be the most satis factory ever given in New Zealand. The addition of the eharminf? Prime Donne Signora Bosisio and Signora Riboldi to those great Artistes who have already had the honor of appearing in Auckland makos this the strongest organ'zation of Operatic talent ever formed in this country ; and the Operas selected are those which were the most successful performances given by these Aitistes. In order that nothing may be wanting in the ! ensemble the very best Instrument-lists have been en gaged for the Orchestra, and the mosl efficient Chorus Singers, Male and .Female, retained. Subscription List at Upton Ik Co.'s, Queen street, Auckland, Now Opkn, and continue until Saturday, November 16, when the Box Plan will be thrown open to the public. Subscribers have the privilege of securing any par ticular seats up to the time of closing the Subscrip tion for any particular night or night; during the Season.- Terms of Subscription (Twelve Nights:—Dress Circle (Twelve Tickets, transferable, ai ranged for any Night), Four Guineas; Stalls (Twelve Tickets, transferable, arranged for any Night), Two Pounds Ten. Notice.—No Season Tickets will be sold after the Subscription Lists are closed. Advantages to Subscribers: —Holders of Season Tickets will be admitted a quarter of an hour before the public ; a reduction of one-third is gained in the price of admission ; the crush and annoyance at the ticket-office avoided.