SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET: This erening, 7.S SUN-RISE: To morrow morning, f>.26 RTOTT WATER; 'Thisafternoon, 2.5 : to-morrow morning," 2.44,

ARRIVAL.

Lily, s.s., Rawson. from Maluirangl

DEPARTURES.

Wellington, s.s., Carey, for Southern ports Elizabeth, ketch, for East Coast Black Diamond, p.s., for Russell

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

jeor wanganui: wangamu, s.s., lu-munun For Honolulu and San Francisco": Nebraska, mail

steamer, 20th inst. For Boston, Mass. : Ayr, barque, early For Cork : Polar Star, ship, early For Northern ports: Rowena, s.s., Monday next For London : Glonhuntly, barque, about early For Sydney and Melbourne: Wonga Wonga, s.s., early ; Hero, s.s., about 23th inst.

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Warwick, ship, from Lorrlon. Sailed 31st October Durham, ship, from London. Sailed 20th November Edinimrgh Castle, ship, from London. Loading Parsee, ship, from London. Loading Langa, barque, from Liverpool. Loading "East Lothian, barque, from New York. Sailed 20th

December Thames, barque, from New York, via Sydney, loaning Briton, barque, from Newcastle Sea Gull, schooner, from Levuka Southern Cross, schooner, from Sydney Prosperity, schooner, from Melbourne Rita, brig, from Sydney

Our telegrams inform us that the mail steamer Nebraska left Napier for the South this morning. She reported the s.s. Star of the South lying windbonnd in Tolagd Bay. The s.s. Southern Cross arrived at Tauranga at six o'clock this morning. The schooner Ruby has cleared outwards for Russell in ballast.

The p.s. Black Diamond cleared outwards for Paissell this morning, and took her departure shortly, after. The s.s. Wellington took her departure for Southern ports yesterday afternoon, from the Manukau, with the following passengers :— Saloon : Messrs O'Neill, Twohill, Lucas, and Parker, Misses O'Neill, Twohill (2), MacShane, McCabe, and Wood; Mr and Mrs Cook, Mr and Mrs Ptoskruge, K. Kemp, Callcott ; Mrs J. Callaghan, Mr and Mrs Callaghan, Mrs Parker, Mr Hesketh, Mr and Mrs Grey and family. Steerage :Mr W. Nassen, 'Sergt. Evans; Messrs Wind, Donkin, Morrow and boy, Peters, Parker, Roberton, McCabe, and Kay. : The three-masted schooner Margaret Camp bell has been placed upon the gridiron fat Gore-street jetty for repairs. The ship Polar Star has nearly completed loading her cargo of guano for Cork, and will shortly take her departure. We observe that nine able-bodied seamen are required to make up the complement of crew. The fine iron clipper barque CJlenhuntly, Capt. Alexander, is rapidly filling up with cargo for London, and will take her departure in coni'se of a few clays. She offei-s capital accommodation to intending passengers. The schooner Merlin is alongside transhipping her car^o from the Fijis. The s.s. Wonga Wonga is now due from Sydney and Melbourne, and may be expected hotirlv.

The s.s. Taranaki left Wellington yester day afternoon for tlie Manukau.

The s.s. Lily returned yesterday evening from Malmrangi. The s.s. Wanganui will leave the Manukau at three o'clock to-morrow, for Wanganui. The schooner Opotiki has been purchased by Captain G. E. Read, of Poverty Bay.

The ketch Isabella is now commanded by Capt. Baker, late of the schooner Opotika. The ketch will be put in the Opotiki trade. The ketch Clematis has cleared outwards for Napier, via Mercury Bay, where she will ship a quantity of timber. She leaves to day.

The p.s. Paterson, lately purchased by Capt. Kennedy for Messrs J. Brogden and Sons, is expected shortly to arrive from Sydney, in charge of Capt. Kennedy. She will be dispatched to Napier and Wellington direct on or about the 18th inst.

The new ketch Elizabeth left yesterday for the East Coast, where she will be em ployed in the coasting trade.

COMMERCIAL.

B. Tonks and Co. held a sale of very fine Hawaiian sugars to-day, when the following prices were realized : —A 24, fine bright yellow . crystals, £34 15s ; No. .I*4o, fine bright yellow crystals, £33 5s ; A 23, fine white counter, £31 10s ; A 22, fine grey crystals, £29 7s 6d ; M 9, yellow crystals, £27 15s ; M 10, yellow crystals, £27 os ; M over B 5, fine bright yellow crystals, £28 15s ; M over B 4, fine bright yellow crystals, £28 5s ; A 37, light yellow counter, £28 15s ; M over A 39, light yellow counter, £28 17s Gel.

MINING. The following are the current calls and dividends payable in the companies named below :— £, s. d.

MEETINGS. Mutual Mining Investment Company, Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, Auckland, 8 p.m., Cth February Green Harp, Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 3 p.m.,

10th February New Golden Pa, MrR. Home s office, bnortland street, Auckland, noon 12th Febraary Masonic, Coromandel, 15th February Bonshaw Mr Baber's office, Tnsuvancs Buildmga, Auckland. 2 p.m., 13th February- Coromandel Excelsior. Mr Browne's office, Wyndham

street, 13th February Tokatea, Coromandel, 21st February South Britisli Fire and Marine Insurance Company's office, Auckland, 3 p.m., 24th March Shotover Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 2 p.m.

17th February Bismarck and French Republic, Insurance Buildings Auckland, 2 p.m., 21st Febraary Tokatea, Cororoandel, 21st February "Watchman, Grahamstown, 21st February Central Italy, Grahamstown, 27th February South British Fire and Marine Insurance Company, Company's office, Queen street, Auckland, 3 p.m., 24th March

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

MAILS WILL ULOSE AS UNDER,: — j For Thames, this day, at 5.80 p.m., and to-morrow, : et 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. j For Ooroaiandel, to-morrow, at 12.30 p.m. ; l«'or Warganut ai?d Southern provinces, per s.s. j AVanganui, to-morrow, at 1 p.m. ' For Whitianga, Tauranga, and Opotiki, per Southern Cross, on Saturday, Bth inst., at 3 p.m. For Mahurangi and Matakana, per Lady Bowen, on Saturday, Bth inst., at 10 a.m. | For the undermentioned places, per s.s. Nebraska, on i Thursday, 20th inst., as under :— i For Sandwich Islands, British Columbia, United ■ States of America, British and Foreign West I Indies, and Continent of Europe via England, at 12.30 p m. For United Kingdon via San Francisco, at 12.30 p.m. Late letters for the United States of America and United Kingdom, bearing a late fee of Gd in addition to the postage will bo received at this office until 1 p.m., and by the mail agent on board the steamer up to time of sailing. (Signed) S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

DEATH.

McSkimMlNG.—On February 5, at his father's resi dence, Newton road, James, infant son of William McSkimming ; aged 10 months. The funeral will leave his father's residence to morrow, February 7, at three o'clock.

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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1873.

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

There are times when to keep a law or re gulation in the letter is to break it in the spirit. This may be illustrated in the case of a question now pending before the Board of Education, and one in the solution of which we trust the Board will show itself capable of something more than mere mechanical action. As many of our readers are aware, at the recent competition for two scholarships open to Grammar School boys under fifteen years of age three boys were declared victors, and of these Master Pugg was thirty-five points ahead of the other two. At the time when

the boys entered the lists all were within the prescribed limits of fifteen years, and it was stated that the examination would be heldinDecember. Subsequently the Grammar School Board fixed the time for the juvenile tournament, and on such a date as threw young Rigg out by a single day. This was done, of course, in ignorance of the fact that the boy's birthday was exactly the day pre vious to the examination, and he himself ap pears to have been at the time unaware of the position in which he was placed. On his being declared first the matter of age came up, and the lad's father, Rev. Mr Rigg, on finding his actual age at once withdrew a claim to the prize. But this is not the right thing, and we have no hesitation in saying that no such unfair ad vantage will be taken of the lad. There can be no question that by legal and every other right the other two boys—Masters Macky and Rattray—have won and are entitled to the two scholarships, and that no action of the Education Board can deprive them of their just rights ; but the case of young Rigg is a special one, and should meet with special and exceptional treatment.. Had there been enquiry at the time of entry, the birthdays of the boys would have been known, and we have no doubt the Board would have fixed the date of examination a few days earlier. But after the entries had been closed the Board, by its own act and through no fault of Master Rigg, fix a day at a» very late portion of the month, which shuts him out. As everything from first to last in the regula tions relative to these scholarships has beer., or is in the hands of the Grammar School Board, or its successor, the Board of I Education, it is needless to say that the power which has made can unmake or amend; and the power which has re solved to give two scholarships can resolve to give three instead, and we do not hesitate to say that any thing less than a full and complete scholarship given to young Rigg will be a wrong at the hands of the Educa tion Board. Had there been any wide dispaiity between the actual age and that

prescribed in the conditions, or had young \ Rigg been but equal to, or a short way ahead of : his competitors, there might have been some room for hesitation as to the proper course to pursue. But the lad -was facile princeps, and with respect to age it is a question if the difference of longitude between the place of his birth and place of examination does not make such a difference of time as would have given him a legal right to the scholarship. By so narrow a line has the boy been ex cluded that had he been in his native town he would have been keeping birthday on a portion at least of examination day. This may seem the " JRedttctio ad ahsvrdmm" in discussing the subject, but really, when it comes so close as this it will be nothing more or less than taking advantage of a point if the Education Board deprive the lad of his well-earned honour. Looking at it in another light, we might say that having reached his fifteenth year on the 17th of December, and gone into examina tion on the 18th, it was certainly nothing learned after his fifteenth year that won the honorable prize. When every circum stance is taken into account, and especially the fact that it was the Grammar School Board'that itself fixed the very late date foi fie examination, after the boy's entry had been accepted months before, there is but one course to pursue. Nor need this form a precedent. Had the Board required the correct date of birth at entrance of competitors, or had the date of examination from year to year been fixed and unvarying, the main grounds of grievance had been removed ; and the re currence of such a circumstance is very easily obviated. But meantime nothing mean and ungenerous should be done to damp the generous ambition of a lad whose past per formance shows that he is destined yet to occupy a position of prominence and distinc tion among his fellow-colonists.

The first of the householders' meetings, under the Education Act, will be held this evening at the Carlton Academy, in Hobson street, at half-past seven, for the election of a school committee for the educational district of Auckland West, No. 1. To-morrow night similar meetings will be held at the Catholic Institute for Auckland West, No. 2 ; and at the district school, Devouport. On Monday a meeting will be held at the Mechanics' In stitute for Auckland East. The election of these committees is a most important step, and will, we hope, be entered upon by the householders with a determination to elect the best men they can for the office. The committee will consist of five householders re siding in the district. Every resident house holder has a right to vote, and can, if he wishes, give the whole of his five votes to any one candidate. The committees will have the entire control and management of the school or schools established in their re speotive districts ; the appointment of teachers (subject to the approval of the Board) ; and generally, subject to that ap proval, the complete control of educational matters in their district. The importance, therefore, of a judicious selection of com mitteemen at starting is obvious ; and if any particular districts fail in this respect they must not hereafter complain when they find their schools and their interests neglected, and their children surpassed by those whose parents may have taken a more active part in bringing themselves into unison with the Board. We look to the resident house holders of Auckland West to do their duty this evening, and give the Act and them selves a fair start by the election of a com petent, creditable, and trustworthy com mittee.

We notice somewhat persistent attempts to throw dirt upon the education movement by reference to the expenditure of the Grammar School Board in examiners' fees, especially in the payment of a fee to Mr Lusk, one of the examiners. We have the pleasure of making public that although the money was voted by the Board to the examiners, Mr Lusk tore up his cheque immediately on receiving it, and Captain Heale returned with thanks the cheque sent to him. What the other examiners may do we know not, but there is clearly no ground on which they may not fairly retain money fairly earned. Mr Lusk and Captain Heale remitted their fees because they are already in the public service, and were willing to give their aid gratuitously. The same reasons do nob ajjply to the other examiners, and they are quite as much entitled to receive the reward of their brains and their literary culture as is any clod hopper to receive wages for delving the ground.

A grand River Indian delegation waited on President Grant recently. Medicine Bear, Chief of the Teton-Sioux, opened the " big talk," but before doing so he laid his huge cxilmet on the mantel-piece, and after removing his feather head-dress, deliberately proceeded to unshirt himself, to the no small astonishment 'of the pale faces present. After divesting himself of his nether garment he advanced toward fthe President, and hold ing it aloft, was about to put it over the Great Father's head, when General Cohen took hold of it, and placing it on a chair, told Medicire Bear, through the interpreter, the 'Great Father would not wear it just then, but would accept it as a proof of his ( Medicine Bear's ) goodwill. It seems that it was Medicine Bear's war shirt, adorned, in which ho had lifted the hair of many a hap less enemy, and that he desired to present it to the Great Father in token of the estima tion in which he held him as the big chief of the palefaces. Among the Teton-Sioux, and in fact among many other Indian tribes, siimilar garments are highly prized.

A grand entertainment is announced for to-night at the Catholic Institute, Wellington street, to consist of feats by Ferrari's monkeys, vocal and instrumental music, and performances by the American wizard.

When is a ship like a scarf pin ? When she is on the bosom of a heavy swell.

The Patrie of Geneva says —"A lady of Bourg, Madame T , lately bequeathed to the parish church a sum of 3000f. on condition that 40 masses should be said every year, 20 for the repoce of her own soul and 20 for that of her husband's. The ecclesias tics, considering that the price of_masses has risen r 4ike all other commodities, that it will still augment, and that consequently the work imposed by the legacy will one day be greater than the advantages derived from it, have refused to accept the money."

The Philadelphia Star says : Professor John* Wive, the well-known aeronaut, has it in contemplation to make a balloon trip across the Atlantic next summer, preparations for the great aerial voyage being in process of arrangement now. The Professor, it will be remembered, made the famous air trip from St. Louis to the eastern extremity of Lake Ontario, a distance of over 1200 miles, at the rate of about 63 miles an hour. He feels entirely confident of his ability to make the quickest trip on record across the Atlantic. Quite a number of scientific gentlemen have made application for permission to accom pany him in this greatest of all ballooning expeditions. As showing how far America is ahead in aeronoutics, so far as distance travelled is concerned, the longest trip ever made by a European balloonist was only 400 miles, while that of Professor Wise's was three times that, and what is more, the greatest portion of it was accomplished in the midst of a clyclone, and with three pas sengers besides himself,

The loyal members of the newly-consti tuted Lodge of Good Templai's will hold their first general meeting this evening, at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian As sociation. The proceedings will be of a pri vate nature.

There was a capital attendance at the Prince of Wales Theatre last night, and the Magnet Variety Troupe went through their songs and performances with the same well finished display and unquestioned talent. Additional attractions were afforded to the entertainment last evening by the Brothers in their wonderful act on the Hying rings, and by Lottie in her flying leap from the dress-circle to the stage, which was several times repeated, and which called forth the deafening approbation of the whole house.

The Mahurangi agricultural show on Tues day was highly successful in all its details. There was a fine exhibition of horses and sheep, which were sheltered from the sun in a shed erected for the purpose. The s.s. Lily conveyed the judges to the place, with several visitors from Auckland, and the band. The judges were Messrs May, Good fellow, and Woodward, and the show was formally opened at twelve o'clock noon. After the prizes had been awarded the judges, visitors, and friends sat down to an excellent dinner, prepared by host South gate. When the dinner was over the usual series of loyal and patriotic toasts were given, and dancing commenced, which was kept up by the young people with much spirit tintil the clock struck twelve. Among the exhibits were cattle, sheep, horses, pigs, wool, agricultural produce, fruits, flowers, vegetables, and poultry, which reflected much credit on the perseverance and industry of the settlers.

Alfred Anderson, R.A.M., the renowned pianist, concertinest and composer, will arrive per Wonga Wonga, from Sydney, in the course of this week, when we shall have an opportunity of witnessing the great talents of this young artist. The papers in all the neighbouring colonies, where he has played before large and fashionable audiences, inti mate their admiration of his wonderful talents. We learn from the Sydney Mail, of 22nd July, that Mr Anderson visited Brisbane and Ipswich, at which places he gave several concerts, and with such success that at the close of the concert so much were the ladies delighted with the treat ' afforded them, that they went on the platform and completely carried Mr Anderson by storm back to the piano, where he was com pelled to perform several additional pieces. The last performance of this artist was at a grand fareTvell concert given by the States trouj^e to Signor Giorza, in a duet by Thai berg, from "Norma," by the beneftciare and Mr Anderson. It elicited a perfect outburst of applause. The photograph of Mr Ander son may be seen in the windows of Messrs Upton, Turrell, and Lewisson.

We are requested to draw attention to the advertisement in another column announcing that Mr Faulder pursues his peculiar avoca tion of nightman to the City Council.

The Corporation of Christchurch have agreed to borrow £0000 more on Corporation Bonds. It is said that a special rate of 2d in the pound will cover all expenses.

The usual monthly inspection of the Auck land l'irle Brigade and its Cadets will take place this evening, at the Drill-shed, at half seven o'clock.

The Battalion and Cadets will undergo their monthly inspection this evening, in the Albert Barracks Drill-shed.

The trustees of the Auckland Savings' Bank will hold their annual meeting on Mon day next, at three o'clock p.m.

The monthly meeting of the Prince of Wales Lodge of Freemasons, No. 1338, E.C., will be held this evening in the Masonic hotel, at half-past seven.

Major Gordon notifies that all Volunteers who are desirous of competing for the first set of district prizes must assemble in uniform to-morrow morning at seven o'clock, at the rifle range. It will be necessary for each competitor to provide his own ammunition, which will afterwards be replaced.

Messrs Hooper and Co., of the Golden Crown Brewery, AVellesley-street, have suc ceeded in brewing a very fine draught ale, described as the " Eureka Ale." It is of a pleasant, bitter taste, good aroma, and of brilliant colour ; the flavour of the hops is very distinguishable, and the ale is highly palatable. Mr Hooper has taken considerable pains in experimenting upon this ale before he would submit it to public taste. He lias succeeded beyond his expectations in pro ducinga wholesome and invigorating beverage, and, at the same time, possessing light qualities. The ale is likely to go largely into consumption.

Mr Alfred Buckland requests information respecting the whereabouts of 150 lost sheep.

The Chairman of the Devonport Highway Board gives notice that all horses found run ning at large within the district will be im pounded on and after the 12th inst.

Recently a woman named Dowell died suddenly £at Hokitika from disease of the heart accelerated by drinking and over doses of chlorodyne. At the inquest the coroner, Dr Garland, in summing up, drew the attention of the jury to Dowell's evidence that his wife had taken chlorodyne for three years—generally two or three doses daily. He remarked that chlorodyne was sold in very large quantities by all the country storekeepers, and was taken daily by large numbers of people in the neighborhood. This was a form of opium eating—chlorodyne being taken for the sake of the opium winch it contained—that was much to be condemned, as in addition to the evil effects of that drug, chlorodyne contained a large quantity of Indian hemp and prussic acid. The evil effect of the constant and daily use of those powerful pokions soon made themselves apparent, and in a constitution already broken by drinking, as was that of the deceased, lead to that Btate of general congestion as had been observed by Dr Rosetti when making the post mortem.

Late Washington telegrams deny the re port that the United States contemplate the annexation of the Hawaiian Group.

Lord Kinnaird has intimated to his tenan try in Perthshire that he will make a reduc tion in the rent of his farms commensurate with the loss which his teuants have sus tained by the badness of the harvest. With the view of carrying out this intention he will take into his counsels two of the tenants.

A sample of petroleum from the Springs at the Sugar Loaves, Taranaki, has been for warded to the Melbourne Laboratory for analysis, and it was found to yield 72 per cent, of a good illuminating oil with a specific gravity of 9.917. The residue, after distil lation, closely resembled asphalt, for all the uses of which it was suitable.

From a census recently taken in Paris it appears that the population has decreased by more than 50,000 since 1863, the number for that year being 1,799,980, whereas that for 1872 is only 1,749,380.

Lord Churston and the Hon. Barbara Yelverton were lately doubly married—first in Loudon Castle, after the Presbyterian form, and then in the English church at Kilmarnock, to which they had to drive a distance of seven miles,

Auckland and Dunedin are not to be re- ' presented at the inter-colonial regatta, to be held at Wellington on the sth of March. The two chief centres of population and com merce have not sufficient sporting spirit m them to subscribe enough money to send one o-io-'s crew. Aitcklaild stands out pre-eminent amongst the provinces for its Want of spirit. We have boats and we have oarsmen inferior to none in the colony; but we haven't the pluck necessary to bring our men into com petition with the boating element of the South. In Canterbury, when it was con sidered doubtful whether a crew would be sent, one gentleman publicly announced that rather than the disgrace of being unrepre sented should rest on Canterbury he would send a crew entirely at his own cost. But the public responded liberally, and not only will a crew proceed from Christchurch, but one will also be sent by Lyttelton. The population of Lyttelton is 2551 ; that of , Auckland 20,457 ; it will be an interesting j exercise for our schoolboys, taking these pro- ; portions, to calculate the exact per centage j of boating spirit possessed by the people of j Lvttelton as compared with those of Auck- i Land, estimated on the basis of population. It is not too late even now for a crew to be | chosen that would hold its own against all j competitors. If Auckland cannot undertake , the task alone, could not the Thames be in duced to join us, and a joint crew be sent ? We really think for the credit of the province that some effort should be made. The scan dalous failure of last year has, no doubt, weakened confidence, but it should not be permitted to damp for ever the boating spirit of the city. Mrs Beattie, of Halton-Shields, England, was stung recently on the wrist by a bee. A swelling of the bowels and throat set in with great severity, and in the course of half-au-hour from the occurrence she expired. Another death from the sting of a bee occurred in England lately. The Glasgow Circuit Court has been en gaged trying three men charged with murder m the course of a riot between Orangemen and Catholics in the town of Wishaw, Lanark shire. The man murdered was an Orange man. The jury found John M'Cilley guilty of murder, and ho was accordingly sentenced to be hung. Kinney was sentenced to five years's penal servitude for aggravated assault. Referring to the detention of the steamship Nebraska, the Alia California of January 5 says :—" The steamer Nebraska, of the Cali fornia, New Zealand, and Australia Steam ship line will be detained until Wednesday on account of the non-arrival of the English mails, which have been delayed by great storms on the Atlantic. The following tele- | grams from the Postmaster of New York and j the Mail Agent at Ogden will explain the matter. The mails will undoubtedly arrive on Tuesday, and tho Nebraska will sail on Wednesday :—' New York, December 20th. To I. W. Raymond, Agent Steamers : The English steamers came in only this morning. The New Zealand matter by them will leave to-night. P. H. Jones, P.M.'—' Ogden, January 4th. To I. W. Raymond : The mails from London to Australia, now overdue, have not arrived in or passed Ogden. R. H. Pratt.'"—We publish the above because doubt has been expressed by some parties regarding the truth of tbe statement that the Nebraska's detention was due, as stated, to the non-arrival of mails. The extract given above must conclusively settle such doubts.

We have at our office specimens of a new pattern of rubber stamp, manufactured at Christchurch. Orders for dies and other stamps may be left at our office and will be promptly executed. The advantages pos sessed by the rubber die are its cheapness and its clearness of lettering. The dies are nearly as durable, are as easily handled, and much neater than the ordinary die, and cost only half the money. Stamps of all sizes may be obtained at prices ranging from 12s fid to 40s eaoh. The ink to be used with the dies is supplied at 2s 6d per bottle. These stamps are used largely throughout the Southern provinces, and the maker has now appointed the office of the "Eeen-ing Star agent for his dies, with the view of opening up a market for his manufactures in Auck land.

The population of the province of Auck land in February last was 35,502 males and 2(5,833 females, showing a matrimonial ad vantage in favour of the ladies equal to 13.90 per cent. The number of married was 10,0!) l males, and 9,830 females, the differ ence being no doubt owing to the husbands coming to the colony with the view of mak ing homes and then sending for their wives. Thei-e were 74(5 widowers, and 9G5 widows. There were 14,045 children between the ages of five and fifteen, and of these 1,349 were attending Government schools and 749 were at private schools.

The Eur/lishwomnn (magazine) we read contains excellent instructions for every domestic accomplishment. In one branch of domestic art—the culinary—our California woman scorns instruction from British female. She will give that vain creature two minutes start and beat her hollow in fifteen at getting up a family broil, basted baby or husband-ma -stew, at skinning a neighbour, dressing down a rival, hooking a lover, stuffing and " cleaning " him, after which she will wipe her hands, smooth out her brow and look as innocent as a pet rabbit, all before your Eng lish women had got her eye fairly apiping. Lor', stranger, our girls just knock the socks off old Europe.— S. F. News Letter.

Somebody having applied to an editor for a method by which he might cure his daugh ter of her partiality for young gentlemen, is kindly informed that there are several methods ef reform. One way is to skin the young person ; another is to put her into a well and drop a few loads of gravel on her head ; another is to bind her ankles to an anvil and upset her out of a boat.

The usual monthly meeting of the Prince of Wales Lodge, No. 1338, E.C., will be held this evening.

The first authentic case of six children at a birth was reported last April, at the annual meeting of the Georgia State Medical Association, if we except the one recorded in the "Remarkable Cases in Surgery," 1857, but they all died in the evening of the day of their birth. Dr George N. Holmes reported that, 28 year ago, in Kentucky, he delivered a poor white woman of six babies at one birth The children were perfectly formed, and weighed each two and a-half to three and a-half pounds.— British Medical Journal.

Reviewing the harvest in the various dis^ tricts of Canterbury the Ly Helton Times says: —" The crops in the different districts in the North are in a very good and pros perous state. Some of the farmers will feel the effects of the bad harvest weather very severely, but fortunately their number will be very small indeed. The general welfare of the country will be increased rather than diminished by the large quantity of grain which will be ready for export in a few weeks ; and compared with last year the amount of crop which will enter the market will be greatly increased. The quality of the grain will be very good, as despite the amount of rain that fell during the harvest the quantity of grown and sprouted wheat is very small. In some districts the grain is slightly discoloured, but not to such an ex tent as to materially reduce the market value,

The Hon. D. McLean, while at Wanganm, carried on negotiations with several chiefs from the Tuhua district, with the view of ob taining permission to prospect the district The chiefs were favourably disposed to Mi McLean's proposals, but would not give a de finite answer until they had seen the mem ber, of their tribes. We learn, however, that the consent of the Wangamu natives will not be sufficient to secure the opening 3Tuhua to miners. The kingits natives of Waikato have a claim to the lanct which is believed to be al vabd one Probably an investigation of the title v.vi show that about one-half of the district IS owned by the Waikato, and the other halt to the Wanganui tribes. Rewi was spoken to last week about the district, and seemed to be favourably disposed towards its being i opened up. He said he had received a num ber of specimens from the district, and Had compared them with stone from the 1 names, : and he believed they were of the same ' character. The chief difficulty in the way lof the early opening of the district will be j the confused nature of the title. j The first meeting of the housholders at 1 North Shore for the election of a school ! committee under the new Education Act I will be held to-morrow evening, in the dis ! trict school-house of Devonport, at seven i o'clock. | The Mechanics' Institute received _ per ! Nebraska their first regular supply of periodi cals and newspapers. Hitherto the com mittee have been obliged to buy what, how, and where they could, but in future they will receive by the American and Suez mails full supplies of the illustrated papers—- Punch, Saturday Review, Sjjerfaloi —and all the best periodicals and reviews, numbering altogether sixty-three copies. Subscribers at the rate of 20s a-year are entitled to take out these as soon as they arrive ; and subscribers, when this is generally known, ought to pour in to the Institute and avail themselves of the privilege of supplying themselves, at the low rate of 5s a epiarter, with an amount of reading hitherto only accessible to those who could afford a.large outlay. We understand that a requisition is on foot begging Mr Cucksey, the music seller, of Queen-street, to allow himself to be nominated as a candidate at the next general election of the Provincial Council. There is nothing like taking time by the forelock.

An accident happened this morning to a horse, valued at £45, belonging to Messrs Thornton, Smith and Firth. The horse was attached to a dray, loading with wheat from a schooner at the fishmongers' T of the wharf, when the horse shied and backed the dray over the end of the T, the driver having barely time to jump out of the cart. The dray and horse were afterwards brought up by means of a tackle from the schooner, but the horse was found to have been killed by the fall.

The attitude of the kingites is much more friendly now than it has ever been ; their isolated attitude is giving way under the in fluence of European luxuries, which they ap preciate quite as much as any of their fellow countrymen do. The chief Rewi, in a recent interview with a European, said, with reference to the Maungatautari meeting, " Oh, it was all eating and no business." He observed that the differences between kingites and pakehas would never be settled until the Governor and Tawhiao meet. The future 6f the two races, he said, lay entirely in the hands of these two rulers.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before P. A. Philips, Esq., Mayor.) DRUNKENNESS. Maria Randall was charged with being drunk last night in Wakefield-street, and fined ss. and costs. CARD-PLAYING. John Adams, landlord of the Crown Hotel, Grey-street, was charged under the 42nd section of the Licensing Act with allowing gambling with cards in his house on the night of the 27th day of January. Mr Joy appeared for the defendant, and pleaded not guilty. Mr Broham asked for an adjournment on account of pressure of business. Remanded. ASSAULT. Henry Pilkington was charged with assaulting Peter McDermott, at Newton, on on the 2Sth January ; also "with committing a breach of the Turnpike Act of ISG6. Settled out of Court by mutual agreement. DISPENSING POISONS. Henry Thomas Watts, chemist, of Symond street, was charged with selling a quantity of poison, to wit, strychnine, to one Mary Anstey, contrary to the provisions of the Poison's Act of 1871. Also with not making an entry of the sale of the same in a book kept for that purpose. On the application of Mr Kissling the case was remanded until Wednesday next. RAPE. Peter Carroll was brought up this morning on remand, charged with committing an abominable offence upon a child of nine years old, named Mary Fisher, on the morning of Sunday, the 2nd inst. The Court was ordered to be cleared dur ing the hearing of the case. About 400 persons had assembled at the Court for the gratification of a morbid and depraved taste. The prisoner exhibited the same restlessness and strangeness of manner as on Tuesday, staring wildly about the Court, pointing out of the window, wandering round the box, apparently taking no notice of the proceed ings, continually muttering to himself, and now and; then winding round and snatching at nothing, as though he wei-e attempting to catch a mouse. Mary Fisher, the child, was then brought into Court, and with much trepidation, deposed that she resided with her mother in Lome-street. She was nine years old, and on Sunday morning last she was sent by her mother to the prisoner's house to borrow some salt. The prisoner came to the door, and she told him what she wanted. There was no one in the house beside the prisoner. She waited at the door, and he gave her the salt. He then took her inside his house, locked the front door, took her into his bed room, laid her on the bed, and put his hand upon'her mouth, for she was crying very much. Being frightened, he promised her some nicepears. [Theparticulars of the child's evidence relating to the crime are unfit for publication]. She had been ill ever since.

Mary Ann Knox deposed that her husband was a baker, and the child, Mary Fisher, was her daughter by her former husband, Charles Fisher ; and that she was nine years of age an the 14th September last. She knew the prisoner at the bar, who lived about thirty yards from her house. On Sunday last, obout eight o'clock, she sent the child for a little salt, as before described ; and as she did not return as soon as she expected she sent her brother to seek her. Neither of them returned, and so she went to look for the i air of them. She then saw them coming down the prisoner's steps. Her daughter had in her apron some partly-rotten pears, which the prisoner had given her. She was about to punish her, when she wished witness not to beat her, and she cormneiiced to tell what had happened. She then told of the whole case. After examining her daughter she proceeded to Carroll's house and rapped, when prisoner unlocked and opened the door. She then said " Your scoundrel, what have

you done to my child ?" When he asked hey to come in she would not go in ; but told him to come out and she would take his life for ruinin" her child. He still beeged of her to go in. She then saw Constable Melville walking up High-street by Hardington's stables. Witness called her husband and told him to call the constable, and to tell him to come quickly. The prisoner then turned into his bedroom, and disappeared. Prisoner was in his shirt-sleeves and bare headed. The constable went into the house, and called Carroll several times, but no one answered. The prisoner had made his escape. The child had been ill from that aThomas Knox, aged six years, on being examined as to the nature of an oath, stated I that he went to Carroll's for his half-sister, and found the door locked ; he kicked the door, and he heard Carroll tell his sister to open the door, but she could not, and so it was opened by the prisoner ; his sister then came out, and Carroll gave them some Constable William Melville deposed that on the 2nd ins*., a few minutes after 9 a.m. he saw Mrs Knox in Lome-street, opposite the prisoner's house. She informed him of what had happened to the child. Accord ingly he went into Carroll's house twice, but could not find him. He could easily escape from his back yard into Queen-street. George Campbell deposed that on the 2nd instant he saw the prisoner near the old Theatre Royal. It was between nine and ten o'clock. He was walking very fast. He crossed over to the United Service Hotel, and commenced to run up Wellesley street. He appeared very much excited at the time. William George Galott, labourer, of Albert street, deposed that on Sunday morning last he saw the prisoner running towards witness' house, and run up the front steps. He had no coat on, and went in the direction of Mr Harrison's. Kate Davis, who resides with her step father, Mr Harrison, in Chapel street, de posed that the prisoner came to her father's^ house on the Sunday in question between nine and ten o'clock. He said nothing, but took a coat from off the rail of the verandah and put it on, saying he was going to the Domain. He shut the gate and went away, James Gibbons, labourer, residing in Eden Crescent, recollected Sunday evening last, when prisoner came to his house about nine o'clock. Witness asked what was up, when prisoner replied that he had got into a row with a man about some fowls ; that he had a 1 fight on the previous night; that he had a bacon fcidfe in his hand, with which he rushed through the fence.. He did not think ; he had struck the man ; but he wished it to be kept dark. He asked to be allowed to stop at witness's place until matters could be ; settled. Witness told him he could not * allow him to stay if he had stabbed a man ; , but upon his pressing very hard he permitted him to sleep in the kitchen. He Avent to his work on the following day,, and on returning in the evening he learnt that prisoner was in the hands of Detective Jeffrey. George Jeffrey, detective officer, deposed that he arrested the prisoner at six p.m., at | the house of the last witness, while in the I act of making out a written authority for his I wife—Sarah Carroll —to withdraw the sum of £30 from the Savings' Bank. He then charged the prisoner with the present offence. The daughter then took the bank-book, with .. the authority, and was about putting them i in her pocket when witness took them from ' her. He took him into custody, and when he arrived at the cell he began to talk about the moon, and assumed an air of madness, . ( which he has continued ever since. His wife and daughter had been locked up, and ■ ..i he heard prisoner talking rationally with his daughter, giving her instructions how to proceed in connection with his case, i warning her to be careful with the police. I As soon, however, as he heard footsteps ap- - \ j proachiug the cell he told her to be quiet, and immediately feigned madness, and began mumbling. Dr. Mark E. Nicholson, a duly qualified medical practitioner, of Auckland, remem bered Mrs Knox bringing the child Mary Fisher to him at half-past nine a.m. He examined her, and had examined her twice since. Dr Nicholson's evidence clearly proved that the offence had been committed.

The depositions of the witnesses were read over to the prisoner, who alternately made the wildest gestures, and stared out of the window, apparently heedless of the evidence.

The prisoner was then fully committed to take his trial at the next session of the Criminal Sittings.

ALLEGED GAMBLING. The case of John Adams for allowing gambling in his house was resumed at the close of Carroll's case.

John Young was examined, and stated that on the 27th January he was at the Crown Hotel, and was induced to sit down with a man named Moss and several others to a game of bluff; a game which he did not . understand. They began to play for a penny a corner, and gradually rose to higher stakes :,,.,!/■ until they played for shillings. They played jagWi from ten to half-past twelve o'clock. He?*"^ wanted to have gone to the Circus but lost .*■,', j all his money at the Crown. • In answer to Mr Joy : Be did not go to old Mr Adams and ask him for money. He .: lost £7 in about a quarter of an hour. Sergeant Walker deposed that he met the last witness in Queen-street about one o'clock in the morning, who informed him that certain persons were card-playing in the Crown. He went with his informant, and in the back-parlour he found Patrick Moss, Fred. A. Lincoln, and Mr Adams, but he did not see any cai'ds. / -

Frederick Ashton Lincoln, who called J himself a storekeeper, of Wangarei, said he was in the room all the evening and could swear there was no card playing in the room. To Mr Joy : Yomvj met him in the street, and said if witness would favour him by going against Adams he would make it worth his while.

Michael O'Eegan, a compositor, was in the Crown Hotel about one o'clock in the morn ing, and saw Sergeant Walker come in. He had been at the Crown from eight o'clock, but his memory got hazy in the hotel, and he slept. Ho could not say what was going on, as he was asleep most of the time. Hei woke| occasionally and had a nobbier, and then dosed again. The case was dismissed.

AN ELOPEMENT—NOT AT AL ROMANTIC.

"Frailty, thy name is Avoman." So said the Prophet. Another instance of the truth of this assertion has revealed itself in the absconding of a man named Moran, with another man's wife. The woman's name is Dickenson,the wife of a very respectable hard working man. Mr Moran has for some time past resided as a boarder in Mr Dickenson's house, at Dedwood, and a short time ago was laid up with illness. While sick he received kind treatment and constant attention at the hand of him he has now wronged by eloping with his wife. The guilty woman was considered a fine-looking woman and was the mother of four children, two of which, she has taken with her, leaving the two eldest in her hus band's charge. Her heartlessness is shewn by the fact that previous to decamping she almost stripped her Jwsband's domicile, taking

Mffl E¥ENIM mk% TfitTBSDAf s W

AlTf 6,. 1873



Dixon'sNol .. 0 7 0 Black Angel .. .. — CAM.8 Christchurch.. .. 0 0 3 Central Italy .. 0 0 C Mary Ann 0 0 6 Hope of Coromandel 0 0 6 White Eose .. .. 0 10 Ma"-ship Golden Anchor 0 10 El Dorado .. .. 0 10 "Working Miners .. 0 0 6 "Watchman .. .. 0 10 Crow.i Prince .. 0 0 6 Carnatic .. •• 0 0 3 Multum in Parvo ,. 0 17 Golden Spur.. .. 0 0 6 Key of Tokatea .. 0 0 3, Buffalo .. •■ 0 0 3 Twenty-third of June 0 0 6 Arge '-.. .. •• 0 0 3 NewEakaia .. .. 0 0 3 Pride of Tokatea .. 0 10 Goldfinch .. .. 0 0 2 Ballarat and Rising Sun 0 0 3 Young Queen .. '0 0" 4 Sappho .. ■• 0 0 6 Lincoln Castle .. 0 0 6 Van 0 0 6 Imperial Crown .. 10 0 Inverness .. .. 0 0 3 Koyal Standard .. 0 0 6

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To gentlemen requiring first-class tobacco and cigars, if they would only visit Mrs Sharpe's neat little American Tobacco and Cigar Divan (next Bank New Zealand) they may purchase the same cheaper than in any •fcher house in the city. No inferior goods kept in stock ; would not purchase such for the imblic a t any price. One trial is suffi cient to guarantee a continuance of custom. Give a call.—Advt.



T) A N A M A HATS! Panama hats!! Just Received, 72 SUPERIOR REAL PANAMA HATS, Will be sold at 10s 6d each. SA.MTJEL COOMBBS, CITY CLOTHING MART, No. 80, QUEEN STREET, CAN THE BEST MOLESKIN TROUSERS IN NEW ZEALAND BE SOLD FOR 6s. 11d.? NO! DKAPEBB AND OTHRES outside the Clothing Trade may offer such baits to the public, but as THE CLOTHIER OF THE PROVINCE, and the only one whose business is exclusively confined to the manufacture and sale of Men's Clothing, I maintain that it cannot be done. I can, however, offer to the Working Men GENUINE BARGAINS, being prepared to sell a pair of Moleskin Trousers, equal in every respoct to the Gs. lid. article, FOR ss. 11d. And a pair of GENUINE Crown Moles, FOR Gs. 111). And the best in New Zealand, FOR Bs. llt>. SAMUEL COOMBES, MANUFACTURER & CLOTHIER, SO & 180, Queen-street. T COS6EAVE & C O.'S SALE OF DRAPERY & CLOTHING COMMENCED ON SATURDAY, FEB. 1. The Public are requested to inspect the Goods as the Reductions are Genuine.