SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET : This evening, 6.35 SUN-RISE : To morrow morning, 5.49 HIGH WATER: This evening, 8.11; to-Hiorrow morning, 8.28

ARRIVALS.

Drover, brig, from Sydney Saucy Lass, schooner, Smith, from Napier and the

East Coast Tawara, schooner, Kennedy, from Poverty Bay Colonist, schooner, Lewis, from Napier and Poverty Bay

DEPARTURES. Nil.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES. For Kaipara and Dunedin : Emulous, brigantine, to morrow For Honolulu and San FrancixW: Dakota, mail steamer, 20th March For Northern ports: Rowtna, s.s., Monday next Tor London: Harvest Home, ship, early For Sydney and Melbourne: Hero. s.s.. about 3rd March; Wonga Wonga, s.s., about 19th March ; Phcebe, s.s,, about Bth March (from the Manukau) Southern ports, via Napier : Dakota, p.s., early For Hokianga: Herald and Janet Grey, schooners this afternoon

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Durham, ship, from London. Sailed 29th November Edinburgh Castle, ship, from London. Loading Parsee, ship, from London. Loading Zanga, barque, from Liverpool. Loading Thames, barque; from New York, via Sydney, loading Dakota, mail steamer, from Honolulu Hero, s.s., from Sydney Prosperity, schooner, from Melbourne Corredo, barque, from Sydney East Lothian, barque; from New York. Sailed 20th December Dauntless, schooner, from South Sea Islands Harriet Armytage, barque, from Dunedin Coronet, brigantine, from Wellington Satellite, cutter, from Levuka Florence, schooner, from Dunedin Sailed 21st February Mary Millar, barque, from Newcastle. Sailed llth February Success, schooner, from Levuka Albion, brig, from Newcastle Lady Bird, s.s., from Sydney (in the Manukau) Saucy Lass, schooner, from Napier. Sailed 17th February Briton, barque, from Newcastle Bella Mary, barque, from Hobart Town

IMPORTS.

Per Drover, brig, from Sydney: 5 qr. casks brandy, Ryan, Bell and Co. ; 196 bags maize, W. j. Hurst and Co. ; 48 cases ale, Brown and Campbell; 450 bags bonedust, S. Jones : 1 crate earthenware, Lewis Bros. ; 153 tons coal, Henderson and Macfarlane ; 40 cases acid, Bank of New Zealand ; 21 packages merchandise, Q. Williamson ; 52 bags maize, order.—Henderson and Mac farlane, agents.

The schooner Tawera arrived this morning from Poverty Bay with the following cargo:— 3 casks tallow, 19 bags maize, J. S. Macfar lane ; 5 hides, Ireland Bros. ; 2 cases apples, Ellis ; 1 parcel, E. and H. Isaacs ; 5 casks oil, 7 bags seed, 199 bags maize, 21 pigs, 1 bag wheat, 39 bags seed, 7 cases apples, 12 bags bones, 3 bags onions, 5 bales wool, order; 22 bags grass seed, W. J. Hurst and Co. ; 10 bales wool, L. D. Nathan and Co.— J. S. Macfarlane and Co., agents. _ The brig Drover, Captain McMasters, ar rived in harbour this afternoon from Sydney, after a passage of 17 days. She brings a general cargo. The schooner Colonist, Captain Lewis, arrived this morning from Napier with the following cargo :—lO head cattle, 1 horse, 39 pigs, 6 bundles sheepskins, 6 cases lard ; three bags wool, and one passenger. The iron ketch Whynot, belonging to Messrs Archard and Brown, is on the stocks in Official Bay, having a centre-board fixed into her to give her better weatherly qualities. We understand that this vessel was brought out from England to Hobart Town a few years ago with several others, all fitted one into the other the same as a nest of tubs, and detached on arrival.

The brigantine Sea Gull, 122 tons register, Will be sold by auction by Messrs B. Tonks and Co. on Monday next, to be taken as she now lies with all her standing and running gear, ground tackle, &c., ready for sea.

The New Atlantic Cable.—New York, October 19th. —A London letter says of the next Atlantic cable, soon to be laid: "In addition to three present marine cables, a fourth is in course of rapid construction and embarkation on board the Great Eastern. This new cable is a duplicate of the French one, and is to have its termini at Land's End and Halifax. Its main length will be 3,600 miles, and it will cost, less the laying down, £1,200,000 and upward. It is being placed on board the Great Eastern in lengths of 250 mile coils. Already a large portion is on board, and early in the coming year it is contemplated to put it in use. The expe rience of the past has given some important lessons on the construction of this cable, and every approved and new seature that has been submitted by electricians and engineers has met investigation and adoption. The machinery for submerging and laying is also improved, and marine cable laying is now a thing of ease and energy only. The London Telegraphic Construction and Maintenance Company, with its immense capital and net profits of last year, amounting to £115,506, and having a monopoly finds it a very easy thing to lay Anglo-American cables. _ The next thing expected is a reduction in the rates of messages."— Dispatch to Chicago Tribune.

The steamer Enterprise No. 2 will leave for the Thames to-night at nine o'clock. The schooner Saucy Lass arrived in harbour at an early hour this morning from Napier, via Gisborne and the East Coast, with the following cargo:—5 tons bones, 139 hides, Ireland Bros. ; 361 bags grass seed, J. S. Macfarlane ; 3 casks tallow, 6 hides, G. AY. Binney; 14 pigs, 10 cases fruit, order. The schooner Queen has cleared outwards In ballast for Russell, and will leave this afternoon.

COMMERCIAL.

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

Pride of Tokatea,' Insurance Buildings, Auckland, noon, 3rd March Nolan's Candlelight, Company's office, Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 11 a.m., 13th March Murphy's Hill, Messrs J. B. Russell and Devore's, office, Shortland street, 18th March Old Whau, Company's office, 2 p.m., 19th March Old Stocking, Coromandel, 22nd March

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Unoer :—

For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and 10.30 a.m. and 5 30 p.m. For Mahurangi, Matakana, Waipu, &c, per Lady Bowen, on Saturday, at 10 a.m. For Napier and Southern ports, per p.s. Dakota, six hours after arrival For Russell, Ruato, and Mongonui, per Rowena, on Monday, 3rd March, at 3 p.m. For Great Barrier, Whitianga, Tauranga, and Opotiki, per Southern Cross, on Monday, at 3 p.m. For Napier, per Duke of Edinburgh, to-morrow, at 11 a.m. Letters must be specially addressed per Duke ol Edinburgh. (Signed) S, B. Bibs, Chief Postmaster.

DEATH.

Duff.— Alfred, youngest son of the late James Duff, Ballybundon, Florida, County Down, Ireland.— Belfast papers please copy.

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

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1873.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in tlie distance,

And the good that we can do

creation ground close at hand prettily J laid off, with walks shaded by orna- | mental trees, we do not kn*— another part of the f" -««v pf compete wi^ -"*& that could eithp" " —* *'ie Barracks estate • • „«.• lor beauty or convenience; It has been suggested that allotments should be secured by the various deno minations as sites for churches, and a proposition to remove the Mechanics' Institute from its present unsightly position to one of the allotments to be offered for lease by the Commissioners will, we understand, be considered by the committee of the Institute. Every proposal calculated to encourage the erection of good buildings should be liberally dealt with by the Commis sioners, and the result must be the complete success of the scheme.

The City Improvement Commissioners have undertaken a most important work, and upon the judgment dis played by them in exercising the powers they are entrusted with de pend the beauty and healthfulness of Auckland. It is fortunate that such a large area of ground as that comprised within the Barrack wall and in Barrack hill was reserved for future city im provement, as, judging from the extra ordinary way in which the city was originally laid out, the land which is now about to be cut up into fine broad streets would, if it had passed into private hands, have ere this become a nest of narrow lanes and unhealthy alleys. These reserves afford faci lities for constructing a number of good streets in the part of the town where the greatest amount of traffic will always be, and it will be an after consideration, which the Commissioners are very properly keeping in view in laying off the ground, whether sufficient property should not be purchased to connect the streets constructed through the reserve with Queen-street and Shortland-street. At present there is no outlet for the traffic between Queen street and the East side of the city except Shortland street, but when the work contemplated by the Commissioners is completed there will be a good street connect ing Victoria-street East with. Princes street, and Symonds-street and adjoin ing thoroughfares will be brought into close connection with all parts of the present business centre of the city. We have before taken occasion to express disapproval of one of the decisions of the Commissioners, but the prompt and vigorous way in which they have commenced to utilize the property placed in their charge is certainly deserving of praise, and the general scheme contemplated by them is also to be commended. How the public will respond by taking up the allotments when offered, and by erecting thereon a superior class of buildings it is difficult to pre dict. Eemuera, North Shore and other pretty suburbs of Auckland form strong counter-attractions as sites for villa residences, but living at a distance from town is always attended with considerable disadvan tage and inconvenience, and the Com-1 missioners, are justified in believing that if really suitable sites for town residences were made available they would be readily taken up and built upon. The elevated situation of the ground under the control of the Com | missioners, which secures a splendid sea breeze and fine view, improves the value of the property as a site for dwellings, although it increases the engineering difficulties in laying out ,the streets j and with a spacious re-

For fourteen clays Auckland has been with out any amusement of any sort if we may except the Police Court sittings. This evening the doors of the Prince of Wales Theatre will be thrown open to the welcome public to an entertainment of a novel and pleasing nature, The programme for the occasion is too long to bear recapitulation in this notice, but we may briefly mention that among the talent to appear, we observe the names of Mr Tom Margetts, the universal favorite comique, Signor Ferrari and his troupe of highly-trained monkeys who will perform tricks enough to make the audience "die with laughing :" also the leading amateurs of Auckland, including Mr Williams, Mr C. Hill, Mr E. Norman, Mr. Doran, Mr Forbes, Mr O'Hare, Mr P. Vragnizan and others. We hope to see a good house.

Formal notice is given that a winding-up order has been obtained in the matter of the Murphy's Hill Gold Mining Company, and that a general meeting of creditors of the said company will be held on the ISth proximo, at the offices of Messrs Russell and Devore, Shortland-street. Venetian blinds will recommend them selves all over the world, possessing as they do so many advantages to the linen blind, besides being more economical in the long run. The trade Mr M. H. Busby, of Short land-street, does in the manufacture of these blinds is surprising. Whenever purchased they always give satisfaction, which may be accounted for from tlie fact that, in addition to the care taken in finishing them off, each lath is made by machinery. The monthly meeting of the trustees of the Auckland Savings' Bank will be held on Monday afternoon next. It is always gratifying to the feelings o* right-minded citizens to hear of the improve" ment of any erratic neighbour. It will therefore be pleasant to many readers of in dispensable advertisement columns to learn that Mr Hannaford requires a number of boys for flax dressing, who will be blessed with "liberal wages, good food, a kind employer, and God-fearing adults to teach them in the evenings." This is a tempting offer, and one which should not lie neglected, considering how many poor boys thero are green in years and ripe for mischief in our streets whose parents might be glad of such an opportunity for good. The usual weekly drill of Nos. 2 and 4 Companies of the Rifle Brigade, and Sir George Grey Cadets, took place last night in Barrack square, and passed off satisfac torily. There was a good muster of the members of the companies and Cadets. The drawing for the picture of "Jacob's Dream" will take place on Thursday next at four o'clock at Bartlett's studio, instead of to-morrow, as stated yesterday. We learn that Mr Beader Wood, M.H.R., and Mr Joseph Howard have been appointed local directors of the National Bank, and we think the selection of these gentlemen has been judiciously made considering their wide experience in financial matters. Their ap pointment cannot fail to give satisfaction to the shareholders in Auckland. The Artillery Rifle Brigade and City Band will perform on Government House lawn on Monday eveningnext(weatherpermitting), at six o'clock. The performance would have been announced to take place in the after noon but from the fact of the men not being able to attend until after business hours. This will be continued, we understand, on Monday evening, during the fine weather. A spirit of lethargy seems to have come over the members of the Auckland Row ing Club. They have made two attempts within a week to get a meeting, and each time have failed for want of eight members to form a quorum. Is this laxity due to the sultriness of the weather ? or is it owing to a lack of unanimity among the water ducks ? or to the fear that there is something to pay? An accident occurred on Wednesday last to Mr Lawrence, a settler in the district of Mount Albert. Mr Lawrence was assisting at the steam-threshing machine belonging to Mr John Wallace, of Flat Bush, which was being employed on Mr Bray's farm, when the unfortunate man slipped from a stack of straw on the ground and broke one of his legs. Dr Purchas, of Onehunga, was at once sent for, and on his arrival he set the broken limb, and Mr Lawrence is doing as well as can be expected in his position. We observe that our local artists are beginning to respond practically to the call for an artists' exhibition, and that numerous paintings, about one hundred, have already been received at the City Hall, which will be gratifying to lovers of the fine art, which hap pily are not extinct in Auckland. Mr Hoyte deserves groat praise for his effort to keep alive the love of art. Among the exhibitors we observe the names of Dr. Wright, Mr W. Eastwood, Mr Hammond, and others, to which will be added no doubt, the name of our well-known local artist, John Symons, whose Cornish sketches, and New Zealand pictures were so much admired on a previous occasion. The exhibition will open on the 3rd of March. Miss Joy, a benevolently disposed young lady of Clifton, near Bristol, has just made a very romantic marriage in keeping with her peculiarly independent ideas upon most subjects, and which causedl Miss Joy to be very joyous, however joyless her parents might have been on New Year's Day at this infring ment of aristocratic etiquette. Miss Joy,

According to iAn ' -r 7 radiatir.- •'" „„ n^mlcalo Times the I _ g ma«Mice§ of Odclfelio^ship . have reached the settlements of the Waikato. " We learn, says this authority, that the necessary provincial officers of the Indepen dent Order df Oddfellows, M.U., will visit Ngaruawahia dn the Oth df March, for the purpose df .dperiihfe agieW lodge at that place. There MaU be grsdt rejdiciii^s dhihitoccasion, after the manner of Englishmen. There are I already two Oddfellows' lodges m the district; one at Cambridge and another at Alexandra. Wherever such societies have been established there are always to be found a greater or less number of the population putting money away to provide against the monetary distress often consequent on sick ness or death." Mr Cardwell has sanctioned the introduce tion of playing cards into soldiers' recreation rooms, as an experiment in the way of wean ing soldiers from the public-houses. The General Association of California at a recent meeting passed a resolution condemn ing Californian wines as injuridits to the

temperance cause. The Lalla Rookh returned to Grahamstown on Wednesday evening with Mr Warden Fraser and about seventy miners, who have solemnly pronounced Whangam&ta and Hikutai'a '' a duffer." The Thames Advertiser says:—" Our readers will perceive from the narrative given by our own reporter in another column that events for the last few days have been rapidly tending in this way, and apparently the repeated disappointments they had suffered, the "sells" which had been attempted, and the fact that no man had got a payable prospect from any part of the ground, decided the bulk of the men. At Whangamata, on Wednesday morning, they struck there tents, humped their swags, and straggled over the mountains in the rain and mud to Hikutaia. In their hard and

dreary journey the men were cheered by the inspiring strains of the bag pipes, played at the head of the irregular column by Mr Robertson. Arrived there, they found the men in a similar mood, and between sixty and seventy men determined to come off in the 'Lalla 'Rookh' to Graham stown. Mr Warden Fraser, probably reflect ing that there was no use in keeping a Ward en's establishment in a solitude, came oft' in the vessel, and we understand that he goes to Auckland to represent tlie position of affairs. The men who have been on the new ground deserve credit for the order they have observed, and for the good humour and good temper with which they have borne their disappointment. There are not now thirty men at Whangamata, and to all ap perrance the place will soon be abandoned to those who have been employed in gum-dig ging. As might have been expected the store keepers at Hikutaia looked rather disap pointed at seeing the exodus, and we fear that those who have gone to great expense, will And they have made bad speculations. Mr Mackay is at present at a native settle ment a few miles from Whangamata. Those who have returned state that they heard nothing about gold having been found in Eyre's reef, or in one near the Tairua. So ends the Whangamata and Hikutaia business for the present, so far as any extensive prospecting is concerned. There will be a line opportunity for speculation and recrimi nation on the subject of " who is the blame for the expectations that were raised." But we do not desire to go into that now. There is no reason however for despair, and for concluding positively that there is no gold on the block. It is very extensive and rugged, and prospecting is an exceedingly slow process, and there may be rich deposits for all that has been done on it at present. But all immediate expectations must be abandoned, and we can only hope that those men who go out prospecting will have better luck nearer home. Mr J Hurley, writing to the Wellingt on Independent of the 4th instant, says : — " What education was prior to this I have but a poor idea ; but of the result I know a little for the short time I have been here. It is an unpleasant but stubborn fact to have to relate that out of a school of seventy children, averaging in age from five to fourteen years, not one could do two suc cessive sums correctly in simple Addition ; only one knew simple Subtraction, and no one further. They seemed to have no idea of mental calculation, so essentially neces sary in this age of progress, the fingers being employed by the most advanced to I ascertain the sum of any two digits. And 'as to reading, its effects on the ear was somewhat similar to that of the " Piper of Barjona ;'' in fact tliey did not know how to read at all properly speaking." Among the local industries springing up in our midst is one that deserves especial notice. It is that of a veritable manufacturer of spurious coin. Considering that silver coin age is so scarce in tho province, the exertions of this enterprising personage are not to be wondered at. It is only lately we heard of one of our hotel-keepers applying to his bankers for silver, and the only response to his application was the handing over of four sixpenny pieces, which the bank authorities assured him was all the small silver they had on the premises. Necessity is the mother of invention, and the worthy publican conceived the idea of waiting upon the churchwardens of a certain parish church, and promising to " do the correct thing " on condition of their bringing down to him the small change from the Sunday's collections. The result was beyond his most sanguine anticipations. Nine pounds' worth of threepenny, fourpenny, and sixpenny pieces were showered into his till on the Monday morning, and Mr Public house was without a care (beyond the lamp burning nuisance at night). But with regard to the spurious coining operations it may be mentioned that the specimens of the art manufactured in Auckland are execrable, and a very bad imitation of the sterling coin of the realm. In the meantime the " smasher," for such we believe to be the correct term, should receive some encouragement from the Govern ment. A money grant in such case would be entirely out of the question, and we would recommend that the individual be sought out, and offered apartments gratuitously in a healthy locality (Mount Eden for instance) for a term of say twelve months or so, and that he receive free rations and clothing at the Government expense ; also that other and lucrative employment be recommended him in the shape of scoria reefing, as it is a pity to allow him to hide his talents under a bushel.

enjoying a fortune in her own right, con-. ferred her hand upon a young man of the humblest class, who hitherto has had no higher occupation than attending to " leader of an omnibus, and attaching drags to the wheels of carriages. The lady m question it appears, was a district visitor and in that capacity Wed the houses of the poor in the populous district of Clifton In the course of these visits she happened to call upon the young man's mother who had been until recently an invalid and was so much struck with the filial attention and affectionate disposition of the youth that she took notice of him from time to time The wedding was celebrated on the Ist. of January, 1873, at one of the churches of the cathedral city of Wells. The juvenile bride- groom has not seen more than 17 or 18 summers, while his "better half," whose infatuation has led her to sacrifice position, relatives, and friends, and the name of Joy for that of Smith, is about 30 years of age.

The next meeting of the Political Union will be held at two o'clock to-morrow in the large room of the British Hotel. The Chinese ute time from the acce3 . ion t the l f d ; E and that thig ia the 12th J of Q | ToQn Suey _ a you m £ n who ia absolute £ and neftrl four hundr(Jc] miUions of AsiaticS- The cw^ h 12 months _ 6 contaillin g 29 d and 6 30 days . Every thirl & make for ' time Io J. b this £ an ex tra month of 30 days is added. The ' nt containg and answers somewhat to the barbarian i " The Bruce Herald sagaciously argues that because the government of Great Britain is a constitutional monarchy, the Provincial Council ought to annul the appointments of the members of the Otago Waste Lands ( Board,

The Rev Thomas Norrie while at Waiuku | the other day ivas presented with a small J packet of sovereigns " as a iriark of personal esteem, and a slight acknowledgment of the ready and ungrudging manner in which he has so often responded to calls for his presence in the district, and particularly in the cause of education." The tribute was the spontaneous subscriptions of about twenty Mends?.' Twenty-one vessels are reported to b^. lying at the Bay of Islands awaiting cargotf of coal. Operations at the Company's mine are proceeding very slowly, and owing to the washing away of the Kawakawa bridge vessels are very much delayed. Some of the watermen have forsaken their occupation of plying for hire and turned fishermen; They were rewarded this morn ing by some good haitb of fine young midlet, Which were soori after laridihg tttrttSd into coin of the realm.

Some years ago there was residing at Walworth, near London, a milkman getting dp in ypars whose'inilk was always consid ered right. I'hfe' milkman lived a bachelor's life, and the servant mald.s sure he would never get married for l*e would ittfb joke with them as other milkmen were wont to do. He was even made the subject of a local farce which appeared at the Surrey Theatre, in which Egbert Cotton was repre sented as the cruel milkman, in having trifled with the affections of the fat Denmark hill cook, and caused her to commit suicide. Although time has witnessed many changes, the original in the piece, the Robert referred to, has since that period quietly pursued in Walworth the modest avocation of a mer chant in milk, but latterly he has been moved by new impulses and agreeable emotions, and has begun to play a more pleasing part under the influence of Cupid. Although fast approaching the allotted period—three score and ten —new energy seems to have fired the soul of Robert, whose gait has as tumed more elastic indications, and the once well-known antiquated hat of towering dimensions, said to have been two feet and a half in height, has given place to one of brighter gloss and more fashionable shape. All this pointed to a foregone conclusion ; and now for the sequel. On the 3rd of December last our hero deliberately plotted matrimony, and led a buxom, and it is said handsome lassie of thirty summers, to the hymeneal altar, at the parish church of St. Mary, Newington. The veteran and his youthful bride are now spending the honey moon at the Isle of Wight, whilst Walworth ites are left to wonder at iihe vagaries and successes of the dashing though venerable milkman.

The following selections from Stanley's book, "Howl Found Livingstone," will be read with interest :—The site of the caravan camp on the hither side of Ungerengeri was a hot lied of malaria, unpleasant to witness— an abomination to memory. The filth of generations of pagazis had gathered innumer able hosts of creeping things. Armies of black, white, and red ants infest the stricken soil ; centipedes, like worms, of every hue clamber over shrubs and plants ; hanging to the undergrowth are the honey-combed nests of yellow - headed wasps, with stings as harmful a.s scorpions ; enormous beetles, as large as full-grown mice, roll dunghills over the ground ; of all sorts, shapes, sizes, and hues are the myriad-fold vermin with which the ground teems ; in short the richest ento mological collection could not vie in variety and numbers with tlie species which the four walls of my tent enclosed from morning until night. * * * Bishop Tozer, who styles himself "Missionary Bishop of Ceutral Africa," is one of the politest men I ever knew. I believe he is called the " fighting parson"—a plagiaristic appellation when bestowed on him, since Dr Livingstone first received it from the Duke of Wellington. Bishop Tozer, however, is said to have fought an insolent rowdy on his way to church ; and, after having punished him at a boxing match, offered to punish his companions one after another in the same way, which offer was refused. This feat of pugilism by Bishop Tozer converted these wolves into lambs, and Avon for him the title of bishop and the happy sinecure he holds. * * * "How do the Wagogo marry?" "Oh, tliey buy their women." " What is a woman worth ?" " A very poor man can buy his wife from her father for a couple of goats." "How much has the Sultan got to pay?" "He has got to pay about one hundred goats, or so many cows, so many sheep and goats to his bride's father. Of course he is a Chief. The Sultan would not buy a common woman. The father's consent is to be obtained, and the cattle have to be given up. It takes many days to finish tlie talk about it. All the family and friends of the bride have to talk about it before she leaves her father's house." * * * Manyeuina is at present the El Dorado of the Arabs. It is only about four years since the first Arab returned from it with such wealth of ivory and reported about the fabu lous quantities found there that ever since the old beaten tracks have been comparatively deserted. The people of Manyuema, ignorant of the value of the precious article, reared their -huts upon ivory stancheons. Ivory pillars were common sights. For generations they have used ivory tusks as door-posts and supports to the eaves until they had become perfectly rotten and worthies.

Mr James Grant, author of " Random Recollections of the House of Lords," and, until recently the editor of the Morning Advertiser, has just issued a new work in connection with journalism, entitled " The Metro[joiitun Weekly and Provincial Press," a third and concluding volume of his "History of the Newspaper Press." The Advertiser is the organ of the brewers and publicans of London, and Mr Grant, being a local preacher of Christianity, felt conscientious scruples about serving God and Mammon, and atJength resigned his editorial position.

Chinese music is thus . described by the ■ Tuapeka Times, in alluding to the celebra tion of the observance of the Chinese anni versary on the Otago goldfields: —"The instruments used resemble the lcithera of the ancient Greeks, and the strains produced in some instances bore striking affinity to those emitted by the Highland bagpipes. Some of the simpler tunes played were not unlike Scotch reels ; while the more pretentious compositions rendered reminded us of no ■earthly sound save the howling of a gale through the cordage of a full rigged ship. The vocalists would drive an opera house full of people of musical taste mad in one minute thirty seconds by the watch. They sing in an unmelodious grating falsetto, and their songs were spun out to an unconscionable length. One magnificent fight of Mongolian genius in the way of a love song, warbled by a Chinese minstrel, will long lancinate our acoustic organs. The singer stood bolt up right with one almond eye gazing intently into eternity, and his other optic fixed reproachfully on the accompanyist. He rendered passionate entreaty by a succession of screeches, such as Maggie gave when she seized the tail of Tarn O'Shanter's mare at the Brig o' Doon, and the tender passages found expression in sounds compared to which the moaning of a suffering infant would be seraphic music. Pervading the whole there was an independent strain as if some one was vigorously sharpening a saw in the immediate vicinity.

A very handsome gold jewel was presented on Monday last by the brethren of Lodge &t. AMrew, S.C, to Brother J. Marshall, the secrekry Of the Lodge, as a slight memento of respect for his vaMe services rendered to the Lodge. The jewel is very handsome in design, with a fine red carbuncle *- tfee centre, bearing the following inscription : « Presented to J. Marshall, .Secretary Lodge St. Andrew's, 418, S.C. as a mark ot Esteem and respect. Auckland, February 24; 1-573.'" A veif amiVsiftg sight ttds witnessed in town to day. A fjt d'raWh by Mr «W hoTses from Mr P. <W* *SUfG^ latingtheprincipalstreetsof AuekMd 6to*g a brass band playing lively tunes **&**% but not least Signor Ferrari's troupe . oi " Darwinians" dressed in character, wiio enjoyed themselves as much as their human brethren. This ovation was made for tbe prtrodse of calling attention to the perform ■hm to take place to-mght at the Prince of Wales TWstffcttt

In reply to a telegram &®& to' Sir George Bowen, relative to his reception At O^hunga, His Excellency states that he finds n im possible to fix precisely the time ot w» 3rnir*l at Onehunga, and that, although much gratified with the kind feeling dis played, he would be' gtfifte willing to take the will for the deed. His Excelfefcer? alludes to the intention of the committee to prffmshtm with a chariot and six horses, for conveyance from Onehunga, accompanied with an escort of Cavalry Volunteers. The idea will con sequently be abandoned. The Otahuhu Troop of Volunteers will meet at Otahuhu on Monday, March 3rd, ior the purpose of escorting his Excellency bir George Bowen from Onehunga to Auckland, on his arrival at the former place.

In reference to the collision in Queen street on Wednesday evening we are informed that the driver of the spring cart has sent ma claim for damages, but the owner of the cab states that he has several witnesses to prove that the expressman brought the accident on himself.

Only one case of bankruptcy was heard yesterday, at the Supreme Court, before L. O'Brien, Esq., namely, that of the Brothers Muir, hotel-keepers of Grahamstown. ±ne liabilities were shewn as £374, and the assets £250. The further hearing of this case will take place on Thursday next, in order that the bankrupts may have time to comply with the necessary formalities. With reference to the paragraph in this morning's papers, re lative to Messrs W. and J. M. Muir s affairs, where it is mentioned that Messrs Ryan, Bell and Co. are creditors to the amount of £250 we have been requested by that firm to state that they hold a bill of sale over the whole of the assets, amounting to about £230.

MISS NEILSON AND MR. BROMLEY.

These artistes will open to-morrow evening at the Prince of Wales Theatre in their capital monologue entertainment, and will be assisted by Mr Tom Margetts, tlie comiqtte, and Signor Ferrari with his troupe of per forming monkeys. Miss Neilson and Mr Bromley have had a very success ful tour through the Southern pro vinces, and have met with a cordial recep tion wherever they have appeared. The Wellington Independent in noticing their entertainment makes the following remarks : —"Mr G. Bromley and Miss Emily Neilson presented themselves for public patronage at the Odd Fellows' Hall last evening, and were received in a manner highly flattering to these talented artists. Mr Bromley's songs and character sketches were rendered in a style of superior excellence, and were en thusiastically received by the audience. There is an easy and gentlemanly bearing connected with every act and song Mr Bromley renders that it is really a treat to sit and listen to him ; and no one need be afraid to take their wives and families to see the whole entertainment, for there is nothing but what the most fastidious person could enjoy. Of Miss Neilson's singing we cannot speak too highly. Her graceful and modest appearance on the stage, and the charming manner in which she sings the pretty ballads allotted, to her must make her a favourite wherever she may chance to be. The songs, ' Driven from Home,' 'Jessie's Dreams,' and ' Many happy returns of the Day,' fairly brought down the house, and deservedly too, for Miss Neilson rendtred them in a pleasing and unaffected style deserving all possible praise from every one, and we would certainly recommend that they should be repeated in the next programme. The Parliamentary Stump Speech by Mr Bromley is a ludicrous affair, and fairly brought down the plaudits of the whole audience." — They will, doubtless, meet with success during their stay in Auckland.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before P. A. Philips, Esq., R.M.)

DRUNKENNESS,

One drunkard was fined ss. and costs

PETTY LARCENY,

Richard Lang and Josiah Hill, two young men who treated their position lightly, pleaded guilty to robbing a Maori named William Harris, residing at Waiheke, of some boat tackle, consisting of ropes and blocks, on the 17th February. The Court sentenced them to two months' imprisonment with hard labour. A DISTRESSING CASE. Bartholomew Conway, the man who lost his eyesight and received other injuries through an accident some time ago on the Harp of Erin Road by the accidental ex plosion of a blast, was brought up on remand charged with threatening the life of his wife, IV aria Conway.

Inspector Broham stated that he had made enquiries into the case, and he really did not know what to recommend with regard to this unfortunate man. He was blind and entirely helpless, at the same he Avas of a very violent nature, and unless restrained would inevitably do some serious mischief. It would be im possible to take him to the Old Men's Refuge, and it would really be a charity to send him to the gaol. His wife had procured a situation for herself, and she would be unable to look after him. The prisoner begged hard to be let off, but the Court had no alternative but to order him to find two sureties of £10 each to keep the peace for three months. STRAY HORSE. Alexander Whisker, for allowing a horse to stray in Parnell, was fined 5s and costs. This concluded the business.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.— This Day.

(Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M.)

At the usual weekly sitting of this Court, for the recovery of small debts, the following cases were heard and disposed of as follows :—

JUDGMENTS EOR PLAINTIFFS.

Jas Williams v. Robert Greenwood, claim for goods, £2 6s Od ; James Lamb v. Henry English, claim, for carriage hire, £5 10s; David Graham v. Patrick A. Jones, claim for rent, £7 10s ; Messrs Winks & Hall v. William Smith, claim balance of furniture account, £4 10s 6d,

HENRY S. TAYLOR V. JAKINS AND WILLCOX.

Claim, £12 10s. Mr J. B. Russell appeared for the defence*, and called upon Mr G. & -lakins, one of tha defendants, who, upon being sworn, stated that some months ago he ordered from the plaintiff, who resides at Wanganui, 20 kegs of fresh, good butter, and that he dvdj received notice that the said quantity of butter had *>een shipped to the Arm by th& s.s. Keera ; but as it did not arrive he made enquiries and found that it had been shipped to Mr Binney. He had inspected the ship's manifest from the Collector oi_ Customs, and found that Mr Taylor had shipped 27 kegs, I which were taken in and signed for by Mi- I Biftftey, He had also seen the freight list; !of the ship's company in the agent's office; Of tZha same voyage of the Keera, and foum& that the Whole had been consigned to Mr Binney, by WXH>tn< it was advertised for sale. He went to Biniicy's mart to inspect the goods, but was not peftwitted to do so until the day of the sale. He attended the sale, antl found that the butter, with the exception of two kegs, was comparatively worthless, and only realized 3d per lb. It was only fit for greasing machinery and not adapted for jbtJHian food. Wife'm John Pattison, grocer, of Auck land depend, that he had also inspected the butter at Bidtt^'s auction mart, and found it totally unfit fo?' use. i At this point his Worship saidtke case mmt stop, as the ma^est could not be accejrtwl as evidence. H. A, ASHTON V. P. DIGNAN. Claim, £lt>. This was a claim fof highway rates* Mr- Hesketh appeared for pfaifttiff, and called upon Alfred Ashton, who stated that he, was collector of highway rates at Nswton ia connection with his partner, Herbert Aahton,. and that they were duly appointed on Sep tember 2, 1872. He knew the defendant as a ratepayer of his district, and he applied to him three timea for the payment of the rate, but he failed to settle the demand, as he considered it was unjust. [Mr Hesketh here pointed out some of the absurdities of the Highway Act and Amended Act relating to the payment and place of payment of the rates, which caused some amusement in Court.]

In answer to Mr Armstrong, who appeared for defendant, witness said that, in accordance with his duty, both the original and the amended copy of assessment roll were sentto." the Superintendent's office. Thomas Faulder, chairman of the Newton District Highway Board, proved that he was appointed to his position as chairman on the 17th July, 1872, and on the 30th of tSe :<nme month he was made a trustee in c m-tioa with Messrs Billington and Jones ; ;.._■_ was: witness to the making of the rate, aud that due notice was advertised in the papers of the time appointed for hearing objections. Mr Dignan appeared as an objector, being unwilling to pay rates for a quantity of poor uncultivated land. Witness examined the rate-book after the appeal meeting. The list was posted at the toll-house within the boundariesof the district. Herbert Ashton proved that he had examined the rate-book very carefully, and could vouch for its correctness. Defendant wa» rated four allotments and buildings in the Newton district, of the estimated value of £3840, at one penny in the pound, which amounted to £16, but he could not tell who made the valuation. Mr Armstrong said that on behalf of his client he thought it would be useles to pro ceed any further with the case, as the validity of the claim had been fairly proved. His Honor said that a great deal of time had been wasted over the wording and en deavouringto explain the wording of the High way Acts, the meaning of which, in so many instances it was almost impossible to deter mine ; and he hoped that when the Council should meet they would endeavour to consoli date and simplify the highway laws. Judgment for plaintiff. This was all the business.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST THAMES NEWS.

GRAHAMSTOWN.

This day.

So>\s of Freedom. —The Sons of Free dom have struck gold to-day in the main tunnel level in the Lincoln Castle ground.

Nonpareil.—ln this claim the new lode looks well, and averages nine inches. Gold shows freely, and is opened in entirely new ground. This is a very important find

In the Resident Magistrate's Court, to-day, judgment was given against the Caledonian Gold-mining Company in the case at the suit of the Highway Board for rates, involving the right of Highway Boards to rate mining property. There will be an appeal.

Miners are still returning from Whanga mata, and several stores have been shifted.

A reef on the Hikutaia side contains promising stone, but beyond a single speck of gold no color has been raised. FAVOURABLE EFFECT OF THE MAUNGATAUTARI MEETING.

TAURANGA.

This day.

One result of the recent native meeting at Maungatautari is that the natives on thia side are willing to lease their land between there and Ahuriri.

The Southern Cross will sail to-night, Sailed.—Vincent for Auckland.

LATEST PROM COROMANDEL.

COROMANDEL

This day.

Twenty pounds of specimens were ob- ,-* tamed this morning from the Peep-o'-Day claim. Mr Woollams has re-commenced to work the Venus. A local company has been formed to crush surface stuff from the Beach at Thomas's battery.

LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS

QUALITY OF THE GREYMOUTH COAL.. SUICIDE AT INVERCARGILL. (PER ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAPH COMPANY.)

WELLINGTON.

This day. Mr Hartmann, manager of the Steam

fME mmtm stab, Friday, eebctaby as im.



CALLS Missouri .. .. 0 5 0 Coromandel Tunnel 0 10 0 Bismarck .. .. 0 10 Otago 0 10 American Eagle .. 0 10 Inverness .. .. 0 0 3 Royal Standard .. 0 0 6 ScottyHiU .. .. 0 0 6 Red, White, and Blue 0 0 6 Neptune .. .. 0 0 6 Albion .. .. 10 0 MEETINGS.

Mrch 3 Mrch 10 Mi-ch 12 Mi-ch 12 Mrch 12 Mrch 12 Mrch 12 Mrch 12 Mrch 12 Mrch 12 Mrch 22



T COSGRAVE & CO.'S SALE OF DRAPERY & CLOTHING COMMENCED ON SATURDAY, FEB. 1. The Public »« rt|Jllesled tQ lnspecfc the Good Bag the Reductions are Genuine. GREAT REDUCTIONS POR THREE MONTHS ONLY AT THE AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY, 194, queen street, Next Door to Savings.' Bank. Cartes-de-visite reduced from 16s per dozen to 13s 6d. Maori Celebrities (largest stack in New Zealand to select from), reduced from 12s per dozen to 6s. Views from all parts of New Zealand reduced from 12s per dozen to 6s. Enlargements from Cartes-dtt-iiisite to Life-size, plain or beautifully finished in Oil or Water Colors, also reduced in price, Large Stock of Photographic Goods and Apparatus, Magic Lantern Slides, Stereoscopic Slides, &c, greatly reduced, J, MeG Ai R IGU, Manager, UNION BANK OE AUSTRALIA. [Established 1837.] PAID-UP CAPITAL ... £1,250,000. RESERVED FUNDS ... £400,000. NOTICE TO PROPRIETORS. rpELE GRAPHIC advieehavingbeen received that a Dividend at the rate of 13 per Cent, per annum for tho half year ending 31st December, 1872, on the Paid-up Capital of this Bank was declared at the Meeting of the Proprietors, held in London on the 15th January, Proprietors registered in Christchurch at the former date will receive their Dividend Warrants on application at the Bank's Offices, Hereford-street, Christchurch, or through any Branch of the Bank in New Zealand. (Signed) JOSEPH PALMER, Chief Officer for New Zealand.