SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET: This evening, 5.51 SUN-RI3E: To morrow, morning, 6.19 HH;n WATER: This evening, 0.37; to-morrow morning, 9.59

ARRIVALS.

Attiuy ±>owen, p s., trom Mahurangi

DEPARTURES.

Bella Mary, barque, Me Arthur, for Hobart Town Golden Isle, schooner, Matzen, for Russell Rowena, s.s., McGregor, for Russell

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For Honolulu and San Francisco Nebraska, mail steamer, 17th April For Northern ports : Kowena, s.s., Monday next For Sydney and Melbourne: Wonga Wonga, s.s., about sth inst. For Cork : Moss Glen, barque, early For Monte Video : H.I.M.S. Vettor Pisani, 3rd April For Waugarei: Sovereign of the Seas, cutter, to-day For Poverty Bay : Opotiki, schooner, to-day For Levuka : Marion Kenny, schooner, Saturday r^xt

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Edinburgh Castle, ship, from London. Sailed 29th December Parsee, ship, from Lo^ don . Sailed 12th January Agra, ship, from Tendon. Sailed Zanga, barque, f rom Liverpool. Sailed 17th January Dauntless, schooner, from South Sea Islands Satellite, cutter, from Levuka Wonga, Wonga, s.s., from Sydney

THE PARSEE FROM LONDON.

The following is the cargo of the ship Parsee, Capt. Nelson, which sailed from London on January 14 :- —2 cases, Thomas Peacock; 20 cases, as addressed; 31 pgs, J. T. Boylan; 1 pg, 1 case, Minister of Public Works ; 2 cases, Stone Bros. ; 1 case, S. Edmonds ; 50 casks, 5 pgs, J. S. Macfar lane; 1 case, S. H. "Webb ; 34 pgs, J. Cosgrave and Co. ; 20 drums, Henderson and Macfarlane ; 7 cases, G. T. Chapman ; 3 bales, Herald ; 14 pgs, Stewart and Ander son ; 30 boxes, as addressed; 21 pgs, Ireland Bros. ; 8 tanks, Combes and Daldy ; 50x,- hides, Brown, Campbell, and Co. ; 1 case, W. Wilson ; 1 case, David Evitt; 28

pgs, J. Roberton and Co. ; 7 pgs, W. Kattray; 1 case, Ryan, Bell, and Co. ; 1 case, S. Harris; 6 casks, Walker and Parkes; 1 tase, Bishop of Auckland; I case, W, C. Power ; 11 cases, Moss Levy ; 89 cases, H. Fendelow; 1064 pgs, 10 cases, L. D. Nathan and Co. ; 9 bales, Reed and Brett; 6 casks, Hamilton Bros. ; 179 pgs, II pockets hops, Brown, Campbell and Co. ; 49 pgs, Minister of Public Works ; 200 casks, Brown, Campbell and Co. ; 13 pgs, Upton and Co. ; 5 cases, J. F. Leighton; 3 cases, T. McMaster ; 32 pgs, E. and H. Isaacs ; 1 trunk, T. Watson :; 5 cases, Manager Bank of New Zealand ; 125 pgs, 50 cases, Cruick shank and Co. ; 1 case, C. Waters ; IG4 pgs, E. and H. Isaacs ; 5 cases, Stewart and Anderson ; 23 pgs, J. Rust ; 77 pgs, Lewis Bros. ; 12G pgs, Sargood, Son and Co. ; 233 pgs, R. Lusk; 186 pgs, Stone Bros. : 356 pgs, L. D. Nathan and Co. ; 7 cases, E. and H. Isaacs; 290 pgs, Owen and Graham ; 796 pgs, E. Porter and Co. ; IG3 pkgs., Jas. Smart and Co. ; 133pkgs., L. D. Nathan and Co.; l|case, J. Cawkwell; 558 pkgs., J. and J. Dickey ; 1 case, J. N. Newbold ; 87 pkgs., McArthur, Shera and Co. ; 6 cases, Phillips and Son ; 6 cases, Winks and Hall ; 3 cases, C. Bonnington ; 2 do, J. S. Aitken ; 2 cases, Bucholz and Co. ; 3 do, J. B. Braithwaifce; 2 cases, T. S. Weston ; 2 pkgs., B. Gittos; 2 cases, Upton and Co. ; 14pkgs., Gane and Sturges ; 8 cases, E. and H! Isaacs ; 1 do, G. Turrell; 30 cases, E. Wayte ; 156 cases, Combes and Daldy; 1 case, H. Cucksey ; 7 do, J. C. Smith ; 50 kegs, J. H. Witheford ; 4 pkgs., W. C. Wilson ; 36 pkgs., Cruickshank and Co. ; 1 box, Mrs A. E. Cohen; 50 casks, Stone Bros. ; 1 case, B. Tanner; 16 cases, Combes and Daldy ; 4 cases, W. Rattray; 4 sheep, A. Mackenzie : 4 cases, R. Keesing ; 30 pkgs., Lewis Bros. ; 244 pkgs., H. S. Meyers and Co.; 215 pkgs, Barnett and Levy; 62 cases, H. B. Morton; 1 case, T. Short; 9 pkgs, Winks and Hall; 1 case, E. Wayte; 4 cases, S. Waller ; 10 qr.-casks, Lewis Bros ; 2 casks, B. Gittos ; 2 cases, unknown ; 1000 bgs, 26 tanks, 1 boat rudder and oars, 1 tank pump, and 6 life belts, 250 cases, L D Nathan and Co. ; 6 pgs, S. Webb ; 9 cases, Thornton, Smith and Firth ; 1 case J. T. Boylan ; 2 caser, T Lush ; 4 cases, A. Firth ;4do J. Oliver ; 112 pgs, A. Clark and Sons ; 775 cases, 3232 1 pgs, 1 parcel, 529 fathoms chain in 11 lengths, 9 anchors, 10 bales, 17 puncheons, 14 qr.-casks, 300 barrels, 108 casks, 180 boxes, 350 casks cement, 400 bags 3,000 slates and 4 bales, order. To be transhipped to Napier : 6 pgs, Secretary of Hawkes Bay Club ; 7 pgs, Newton, Irvine and Co. ; 1 box as addressed; 2 cases, Watt Bros. ; 6 pgs, R. H. Holder ; 7 cases, 3 pgs, order ; 2 cases, J. W.'Cooke.

A schooner has been signalled all the day, but had not made the harbour at the hour of our going to press. The schooner Mary Ellen has cleared for Mercury Bay with a general cargo and one passenger. The schooner Columbia has cleared for Napier, via Kennedy's Bay, with a cargo of timber. The cutter Dido has*cleared in ballast for Russell.

The schooner Merlin has cleared for Rus sell in ballast.

The ship Durham is lying at the end of the wharf, waiting for orders. She will be sent either to Adelaide |or Melbourne. The ship Edinburgh Castle took her final departure from the Downs on the 29th Dec. She is therefore 92 days out, and her arrival may shortly be expected. The schooner Janet Grey brings 30 tons gum, 5 ditto flax, 2 bags wool, and 10 hides, for Messrs. Must and Co., from Hokianga. Consignees by the barque W. C. Went worth are requested to pass entries, pay freight, and obtain delivery address for their goods without delay. The mail steamer Nebraska is now due, and may be looked for hourly. From a list just published by theTßureau Veritas we gather that the number of sailing vessels of all flags reported as lost during the month of December was 427, viz. :—136 English, 75 Norwegian, 65 German, 34 Swedish, 29 Dutch, 29 French, 17 Russian, 15 Danish, 8 Italian, 6 American, 5 Greek, 1 Repulica Argentina, 1 Austrian, 1 Spanish, and five of which the flag has not been reported; the total number comprising 11 sailing vessels reported as missing. Of steamers there were 23, of which 11 were English, 6 American, 2 German, 2 Spanish, 1 Belgian, and 1 Swedish, two of them being reported as missing. We learn by a late English paper the Flying Squadron, under the orders of Rear- Admiral F. Campbell, had left Portland for a week's cruise to the westward, with a view of succouring the homeward-bound ships, many of which are missing and are supposed to have suffered damages during the late tempestuous weather.

Mr Shuttleworth,, late chief officer of the s.s. Wonga Wonga, and who is favourably known in Auckland, has been promoted to the command of the Victorian Government steamer Victoria.

The barque Bella Mary, Capt MeArthur, left for Hobart Town this morning in ballast. There were no passengers this voyage. The barque W. C. Wentworth"is alongside the wharf discharging her cargo.

COMMERCIAL.

MINING. IS* following are the current call and dividends payable in the companies nsuned below : & s. d.

DIVIDEND. Tokatea .. .. 02 C April 2 CALLS Crown Prince .. 0 0 6 April 9 Linncoln Castle .. 0 10 April 9 Golden Eagle .. 0 0 2 April 9 Flagship & Golden Anchor 1 0 April 9 Golden Calf .. .. 0 16 April 9 Vulcan .. .. 010 April 9 El Dorado .. .. 010 Avril 9 Aurora .. .. 0 10 April 9 Golden Spur.. .. 0 0 3 April 9 Yon Moltke .. .. 0 0 3 April 9 Sappo 0 0 1 April 9 Key of Tokatea .. 0 0 3 April 9 Van 0 0 6 April 12 Morning Star .. 00 8 April 14 John o'Groats .. 0 5 0 April 15 Thames Gas .. .. 0 2 6 May 1 MEETINGS. Yon Moltke, Coromandel, 2nd April Flagship, Shortland, 22nd April Lucky Diggers, M«a ara ftussell and DevoTes office, bhortland *~r eet . Auckland, at 11 a.m., Bth April Moana ;„ iri Union, Mr F. A. White's office, Shortland iand street, Auckland, 3 p.m., Bth April Daughters of Freedom, Grahamstown, 14th April Bee, Grahamstown, 15th April Nolan's Candlelight, Mo. 1, 41, Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 3pm., 21st April Margaretta, Mr A. A. Browne's office, Wyndham street, Auckland, 3 p.m., 23rd April Bank of New Zealand, Bank, noon, 24th April

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND. • Mails will Close as Under :— For Thames, this day, at 6.30 p.m., and to-morrow, at 10.30 a.m., and 5.30 p m. For Coromandel, to-morrow, at 1.30 p.m. For Russell, per Dido, this day. at 4.30 p.m. For Monte Video direct, per H.I.M.S. Vettor Piaani, on Thursday, 3rd inst., at 8 a.m. For Taranaki, Southern provinces, Victoria, Tas mania, and South Australia, per Ladybird, on Thursday, 3rd inst., at 10 a.m. For Napier and Southern provinces, per Nebraska, six hours after her arrival. Note.-The Mails for Toka Toka, Whakahara, Aratapu, Manngawhare, and Whapu, will in future be despatched from this office on Wednesday, instead of Monday, returning on Tuesday at 5 p.m. The Post-office, Devonport, has been removed to Mr Mays' Store, Victoria road. (Signed) S. B. Bias, Chief Postmaster.

DEATH.

Wilson.—On April 1, Marianne, wife of James "Wilson ; aged 39.

The funeral will leave her late residence, Upper Symonds street, to-morrow, 2nd inst., at four p.m. Friends please accept this invitation.

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 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

i Instjeancve companies have of course • i perfect right to transact their businesß | precisely as they like, and it may seem i a gratuitous impertinence when we call that right in question. But when, as we are informed at present, insurance companies secretly combine to raise the fire premiums twenty-five per cent., j then, at the risk of being unpardonably I impertinent, we speak, and say that the public have a right to offer an opinion. These combinations are very advanta ; geous and right we have no doubt for the companies themselves, but of ne cessity they must be one-sided, and that side is not the side on which stand the general public. A short time since the companies went in for great liberality, and urged one another on to excess of liberality by asking one another who's afraid? Apparently they have recently all become afraid, and have merged their little quarrels in one great war against in surers. What should be done in the circumstances it is difficult to say. The starting of a new com pany to break up the combination and deal fairly by the public would not do it, for the new company would by and by become like unto one of them. On this basis among others the South British was started; and is it so that now we must gaze sorrowfully on that young enterprise and say Et tv Brute \ We can hardly bring ourselves to believe that this child of our affections should have played us false, and raised j a dagger against its benefactors ; and though all should have forsaken us, j never we thought will the South! British. We have no doubt that good j and satisfactory reasons —for the com panies—have been found and will be advanced in justification of the com bination, and doubtless we shall be ; threatened with all the terrors of the companies for calling in question their right to conspire against the public.

But while we can scarcely be said to call that ri.^ht in question, we do assert the right of the public on the other hand to know the reason why, and to take corresponding action for their own protection.

The work of bringing the new Educa tion Act into effective -working order will task the utmost efforts of the Central Board. Cases of what may be called hardship will occur, whereof an illustration may now be found in District No. 2 of City West. There, before the introduction of the new measure there were two schools worked

in conjunction—one for boys and one for girls. On the introduction of " better things" the school building was appropriated for a boys' public school, and the girls were told to " go." Some of them did go outside the limits of the district, and were re ceived into the girls' school established in district No. 1 of City West, but this school becoming inconveniently full the remainder were refused. The case therefore stands thus. The girls in district No. 2, City West, have been refused admittance into the boys' school there established, no girls' school is available, nor with the Go vernmeut competition and free school drawing off the boys will private enterprise supply the want unless in the form of a select school, which is not within the means of the majority of the people. This is a real and genuine wrong. On what principle we ask is a school brought within the reach of boys and not of girls. Are we yet so wedded to old and obsolete educational principles as not to value the importance of female education ? Will any one in this city making any pretentions to enlightenment and in telligence say that the education of the mothers of our future colonists is not as important as that of the fathers. The views of the great Napoleon on this subject are trite, but it is none the less wise and sound and true that for permanent results such as those to which true statesmanship should look, the education given to girls is incom parably more valuable than that given to3boys. The case of City West, No. 2, may seem a little thing. But it is the manifestation of a prin ciple which we have seen with regret too readily accepted by the administra tors of our new Act. Not only is salary out of all proportion larger given to male than that given to female teachers—which to a certain limit is reasonable and right—but the educa tion of our young girls seems altogether a secondary consideration. It rmiy be that the adoption in Auckland of any thing so advanced as the principle of the paramount importance of female education would be like putting a piece of new cloth on an old garment, and would be at once incongruous, and possibly dangerous to the general weal. But we cannot overlook this striking contempt for female education as instanced in District No. 2 of City West without remarking that the world has gone ahead since the days of our grandmothers.

The escaped convict Robinson is now, it is believed, in Tasmania. After he escaped from gaol it appears he made his way to Maraetai, where he put up at a public house, the keeper of which was friendly to him. The police had received intima tion at the time that the fugitive was located at Maraetai, and two constables, one of whom was ex-Constable JVolloy, of Howick, were despatched to that settlement. From subseqiient information it appears that these limbs of the law actually stayed in the same hotel with " their man," and in the morning the owner of the house upbraided Robinson in their presence for the negligence he had displayed of late in attend ing-to his duties as a farm servant and for getting drunk. This put the constables off the scent, and Robinson afterwards boarded the Bella Mary, bound for Hobart Town, representing himself to be a seaman belonging to an American whaler. Capt. McArthur, not suspecting the identity of the fellow, and being short of hands, took him. Robinson was, however, sick throughout the voyage, and showed a total ignorance of a seaman's duties. Subsequent description of the tatoo marks on him leaves no doubt as to his identity. It is satisfactory to know that the province has been relieved, of one useless unit of its population, and has been saved the expense of his keep. If the authorities could guarantee that all the inmates of Mount Eden gaol would follow in Robinson's footsteps the sooner they are set at liberty the better.

To the Editor : Sir, —In the Cross of yes terday appears a letter from the facile pen of an enquirer, who would have the public believe that the recent entertainment given at the City Hall was a failure, at least in a pecuniary point of view. Now, Sir, had " Inquirer," who would not spend sixpence on any charitable get-up, waited a reasonable time he would have been satisfied with the real state of the matter, and I should have been spared the necessity of putting him right on April Fools-day. One of the rules of the. Auckland Amateur Serenaders is thus expressed, ' 'That no institution, charit able or benevolent society receive more than £20 from the proceeds of any benefit, the balance to go into the benevolent fund of the troupe." If '' Inquirer "is not satisfied, and would like to investigate the income and expenditure account of the recent concert, he may call upon the secretary of the Serenaders, who will furnish him with every particular, and a glass of bitters besides; but if he can afford to wait a "leetle longer," just after the Onehunga performance he will be privileged to see the general balance sheet immortalized in print er's ink.—l am &c, W. F. Armstrong, manager.

The National Bank of New Zealand will open their premises for business to-morrow morning. The establishment has been well fitted up, the only defect being the smallness of the premises. We observe that the wrought iron doors to the strong-room and fire-proof safes have been manufactured by Mr Herbert Smith, of Durham-street.

The anniversary meeting of the friends of the Grafton road, Wesleyan Chapel, will be held en Thursday. The meeting will be addressed by Dr. Wallis, Rev. P. H. Corn for and other gentlemen. The Choir will fee in attendance.

There is marked on a telegraph post in Symond street, "Abel Fletcher is the man for boring-^look at Whitson's well for a sample of his work." How this came on the post no one appears to know, but it is stated at the shoemaker's shop opposite that it was a message sent along the wires, but owing to a thunderstorm coming on it took refuge on the post. If this is a fact we advise Mr Fletcher, or whoever sent the message, to go and gather it up and forward it to its des tination with delay : it may lead to busi ness.

At the junction of Wakefield-street and Symond-street is a long space of ground in the form of a triangle between the roads. If the City Council, instead of making it a depot for spare road metal, would sow it with grass seed, and plant around a few trees, it would make a pretty green and be an improvement to the neighbourhood. The expense would be so trifling that the question is worth the consideration of the Council.

A E.A.P. meeting in connection with the Royal Albert Loyal Orange Lodge, No. 2, will be held this evening.

The prison wall to Mount Eden gaol is approaching completion. The gates are already hung, and only a portion of the wall to the back of the gaol remains to be built. The whole will be completed by the end of July next. When finished a new regimo will be instituted in the prison, and it is possible that it will not be looked upon by some of the old gaol birds as the comfortable retreat it at present has the name of being.

The singing larks, which were 'entrusted to Mr Arthur for sale, have been sold to the Acclimatization Society, with the exception of a dozen, which Mr Thomas liussell has purchased for his outlying home, near Onehunga. We hope that the little minstrels will be allowed to live and multiply, and sing over the trees of the Pah without a fear of being turned into dishes of warbling air for the satisfying of unmusical appetite.

The unfortunate man Cowan, who made his escape from the Lunatic Asylum on Sunday night, has been sent back to his old quarters.

One of the last acts of His Excellency Sir George Bowen, previous to leaving Auckland, was the sending by post a handsome gold pen and pencil-case to Mr Crispe, of Mauku, as a token of His Excellency's admiration of that gentleman's talents as a lucid and copious letter-writer.

The Auckland Amateur Serenaders, em boldened by success, will give another con cert in aid of the widow of the late Geo. L. Low, tomorrow evening at the Onehunga Institute.

The question is asked " Does a young lady in the colonies require upon an average eleven hours sleep out of the twenty-four '!" We think not. In the old country of frost and snow, March winds and April showers, pretty girls and fragrant flowers, young ladies are about in their light dresses fre quently by sunrise ; but in Auckland many young ladies go to bed at nine p.m., and rise at eight a.m., or as soon as ma has got their breakfast ready.

The body of James Beggs Wilson has been found in a swamp near Lucas' Creek, and will be brought to town by the police boat to-day, to await a coroner's inquest.

The Eev. James Bullcr has consented to deliver his lecture, "Twenty-rive years among the Maoris," in the large room of the Young mens Christian Association, Wellesley-atreet, on Friday evening next, previous to his de parture for the South. The proceeds will be devoted to the extension of the library of the Institute.

The receipt of £20 is thankfully acknow ledged from the Auckland Serenaders by Mrs. G. L. Low, that sum being derived from the late benefit at the City Hall, on Wednesday, March 26.

The Mammoth Troupe, consisting of Miss Neilson, Messrs Bromley, Margetts, Signor Ferrari, and his monkeys, have returned from a trip to the Bay of Islands, where they have been amusing the whalers staying there at the present time —and have met with great success. The kindness shewn by the diffei'ent captaina and their officers towards the troupe must be spoken of in the highest praise— doing all they possibly could to further their interests, and affording every possible facility to the company in order that they should be successful on their trip. As far as thetown itself is concerned the population is very limited, and the company would not have taken suffi cient to pay their fares had the w,haling vessels not been there. Speaking of the entertainment, it must be said that the mem bers of the company acquitted themselves admirably under the difficulties they had to contend with, for being utterly unable to procure any one to play the piano for them (although there are a number there who do play) it is easily conceivable how difficult it is to go through an entertainment of this description without music, but they never theless succeeded in pleasing every one who patronised them. The room was very small, too, which added another drawback, but taking it altogether the trip lias been suc cessful, the people satisfied, and the com pany have returned to Auckland none the worse. The Rowena is a tine little boat to travel in, and the manner in which she behaved in the very heavy weather the troupe had on their way to the islands was admirable, and the return trip was done in exactly fourteen hours. If any one wishes to vegetate he should take a trip to the Bay of Islands, and he will soon get his fill, for the man who longs for more than two days there must be a recluse indeed. As far as the hotel accommodation and the host Capt. Kydd are concerned they are simply im mense. The troupe did not go to the coal mines, ,but will we understand do so on their next trip.

At a meeting of journeymen bakers held at the British Hotel, on Saturday,, the Chairman announced that a delegate had returned from the Thames, and a very har monious meeting, held at Salutation Hotel, the two societies, Auckland and Thames, were declared amalgamated.

The congregation of St. Paul's, and the large number of strangers who crowded the building on Sunday in consequence of the jinnounceinent that Mr Alfred Anderson would play the voluntaries, were delighted with the magnificent performance of that distingiiished musician. Mr Anderson is evidently a finished organist as well as a brilliant pianist. The rapidity of the move ments executed by him with the left hand is especially noticeable, and on a difficult instrument like the organ is almost marvel lous. Mr Anderson played three pieces in such a way as created universal regret that his early departure precluded him from giving an evening concert with the organ in place of the piano for his instrument.

We are glad to learn that there is a prospect of the Prince of Wales Theatre being re-opened shortly with a first-class company, led by our old friends Mr Hoskins and Miss Colville. The lessee of the theatre has received a telegram from Mr Hoskins statin? that he has succeeded in engaging a company, and will be in Auckland on the 15th inst. The artistes who have already joined are: Messrs Hoskins, Howawd, Douglass, Hooper, Booth, and Ashton ; Miss Colville, Mrs Howard, Mrs Douglas, and Mrs Ashton,

Our telegraphic despatches recently an- I nounced the murder of a man by his wife at Kanimbly, near Hartley, New South "Wales. The confession of the murderess, testified to before two police constables, is as follows : — '•I, Ann M'Aveeney, voluntary of my own free will, and without promise of threat, make the following statement : —I got dis gusted with my husband for the cool way m which he treated me. I thought I should show him the way in which he ought to treat a wife. He used always to treat me coolly I commenced to arrange matters with him on Friday night week, the 28th February. I killed Patrick M'Aveeney with a tomahawk.. I struck him with a tomakawk across the head in bed whilst he was sleeping I struck him two blows whilst in bed. The blankets were round his head. After strik ing him with the tomahawk I went out of the house. When I returned I found him sitting on a chair by the fire, I struck him again and again rive or six blows. I put all the cuts in his head with the tomahawk, I struck him with a stick on the head. After killing my husband, I sat down by she fire until I was sure he was dead. I then went to the little room and sat on the sofa. I came out again and looked at him, and saw he was dead. I got a blanket and some calico and covered him over. I went round the table and laid my hand on his foot. I then knew he was dead, I washed the toma hawk with which I killed him, and threw it down in the Aveeds. I was very cautious that no blood should spurt on to me. I have got no clothes with blood on them. My brown dress and apron I had on me when I killed my husband. I took no money from him. I then began to think what I could do to make it appear that robbers had been to the house, when I concocted the story which I reported to the police that two men with blackened faces robbed and murdered my husband. I went to the box and threw the clothes about the house, also the matches and lollies. The reason that I killed my husband was on account of his general unkindness and ill treatment of me whilst in a sickly state of health, and never treating me as a wife. I told him about three weeks before the murder that I would not treat a dog as he treated me.

A notification from Dr Pollen appears in our advertising columns shewing the days in which army and navy pensioners will be paid in the Auckland district.

1 The running for the Melbourne cup is thus described by the Age of the Bth ult. :—" The feature of the day's sport was the grand straggle for the Australian Cup. The best in the land stripped for the fray, and to show the excellence of the handicap the market fluctuations went to and fro in the most remarkable manner. Warrior was strongly fancied by the cognoscenti. Contessa also had her supporters. ' Lang's old favorite, Nimblefoot, was not without a large share of admirers, and there were not a few who pinned their faith to the well-known colovirs of John Tait, represented in the Quack. The St. Alban's stable was almost without a supporter, and the only sign of its existence was an occasional mention of Satellite. The race was a magnificently-contested one from end to end, the horses and their colors changing places during the journey with the frequency of colors in a kaleidoscope. The horses, as they swept past the stand with the varied colors of their riders in an al most compact bunch, were a sight that could not well be surpassed, and, amid cries of " Valentine leads," the enthusiasm and excitement grew intense ; but when Warrior, who had been waiting in a good position behind him, passed him at the abattoirs, there were vociferous plaudits in favor of the veteran. Quack now came with his ac customed gameness, and the believers in the yellow and black were highly jubilant with their cry that '' Quack wins." Warrior how ever came like a lion, and won the fastest Australian Cup on record. Nimblefoot, who ran an honest race throughout, just managed to defeat Blue Peter, who came with a splen did rush, for second place, Quack being next in succession. With the exception of the Hurdle Race, which was well contested, and won. by the favorite (Bismarck), and the Ascot Vale, which was cleverly won by Lapidist, owing to the excellence of his rider Grubb, who landed trite stake for his owner very cleverly, there was nothing in the other races that calls for special mention.

Chiarini's circus pavilion, erected in Lonsdale-street, Melbourne, is capable of seating 3,0C0 persons. —Mr and Mrs Rickards after fulfilling an engagement at the Apollo Hall, Melbourne, proceeded on the 12th of March to Ballarat and Sandhurst.—Miss Shepparde is playing at the Theatre Royal, Melbourne, and on the occasion of Mr Ireland's benefit this favorite actress received two calls before the curtain.—Cagli's Royal Italian Opera troupe have opened at the new Opera House, Melbourne, with the most complete company that has ever visited Australia. Signor Agusta Lusini, a buffo actor, has joined the company. The orchestra is twenty-five strong, under the conductorship of Professor Zelman.

Referring to the telegraphic announcement of the marriage of Sir James Fergusson, the Melbourne Herald of the 15th instant mentions that Miss Richman, the bride, possesses great pergonal attractions, is understood to have a fortune of £50,000. There is some romance in this alliance. Miss Richman was for many years engaged to her cousin, a Mr Fleming, and affairs went smoothly enough during the time that Mr Fleming remained in the colony. Hetooka trip to Europe, however, and during his absence Sir James Fergusson saw the lady, and admired her, and sought her hand. It would be difficult to say whether the lady at first reciprocated this attachment. Sir James seems, however, to have won the good opinion of the young lady's guardian, her uncle, a rich Moonta proprietor. He favoured the distinguished suitor's addresses, and finally Miss Richman gave her consent. Sir James left for Englandjand shortly afterwards Miss Richman followed, accompanied by her guardian. They had scarcely left Adelaide when young Fleming arrived, and his con sternation was great at finding that the dove had flown, and that Miss Richman was on the way to Europe to become Lady Fergusson. The bride, s fortune, it is understood is not held in her own right, but is a marriage portion bestowed by the uncle and guardian. At the Police Court this morning a smartly dressed young woman, in the heydey of life, aged twenty-four, who rejoices in the name of Kate McManus, came into Court with a merry step, charged with being drunk last night. When asked if she was guilty, she replied,- "Yes," with a jaunty air, and laughed at his Worship, who expressed sur prise that she could laugh in such a degraded position. Still the prisoner continued to laugh, and when her fine was extended from rive to ten shillings, this hardened good looking creature went laughing out of Court. An application was made by Mr Hesketh in Chambers to-day before his Honor Mr Justice Johnston for a writ of habeas corpus in the case of James Mcintosh, alias Richard Sullivan, sentenced by Warden Fraserto twelve months' imprisonment for specimen .stealing at the Thames. The application was made on the giound that the Warden in im posing twelve months' imprisonment had exceeded the powers conferred by the Justices of the Peace Act. His Honor ordered the writ to be issued, returnable on Friday next.

The shop of Mr George Bond. Bay-street, Sandridge, recently took fire but was promptly extinguished. The damage of the stock caused by the fire was £50, which was covered by an insurance of £150 in the New Zealand office.

At the banco sitting of the Supreme Court at Sydney, in Wetgarth v. Murnin, a demur rer motion on an action for libel, their Honors gave judgement for plaintiff. Plaintitt declared that the defendant falsely published an advertisement in the Herald, underrating the-prices of shares in the Peak Downs Mines, with a view to create a panic in the mining market, and that such advertisement had plaintiff's name forged thereto^ We learn that the man" 6'Brien, who was arrested by the police on a charge of arson, in connection with the burning of Mr McLennan's house, Papatoitm, was committed for trial yesterday by Mr E. C. Barstow, R.M.

Arthur Lloyd Trevor, the missing heir to a fortune of £1509 a year, who has been extensively advertised for during the past eighteen months, has turned up. He saw the advertisement containing the notification of his father's death, and that information of his whereabouts was anxiously sought for, on Wednesday last, when on his way to Law rence. He immediately started for Dunedm and intends to proceed to the old country the first opportunity. He has during his residence it Otago been principally engaged n shearing. The life he has led in the colo nies will teach him to appreieiate his good orfcune.— TuapeJca Times.

A Philadelphia paper says there is more bustle at Cape May than ever before. We suppose it means there are a great many lady visitors.

The forgery of English trade brands of ale in the colonies has become so prevalent that home brewers find it necessary to protect themselves by registering their trade marks. Messrs Bass and Co., the celebrated brewers, have taken this precaution and have ap pointed Mr T. S. Weston, their solicitor, who gives notice of his intention to prosecute all persons found forging or counterfeiting Messrs Bass and Co.'s brand.

We regret to hear that Mr Beckham is still suffering from indisposition and unable to attend on the Bench.

A meeting of the Educational Board was held this afternoon.

The Italian war steamer Vettor Pisani was throw xi open to-day for the inspection of the public. A large number of citizens availed themselves o( the opportunity for visiting her, being conveyed on board by the ferry steamer Takapuna. The guests were received and conducted over the ship by the oblig'ng seamen, several of whom could speak enough English to make themselves understood in deocribmg the various contrivances of war on board the vessel. The men r-sured their English visitors that they were perfectly comfortable, and had plenty to eat, besides a da;!y allowance of wine, A number" of sheep and pigs were shipped on board to-day besides other provisions, and the corvette wiU take her departure on Thursday.

POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

(Before P. A. Philips, Esq., E.M.) DRUNK LAST NIGHT. Three men and three women were brought up this morning charged with this offence and subjected to the usual penalty. GEORGE HOWARD IN QUEEN-STREET. George Howard was charged under the Vagrancy Amended Act, of 1869, with be having in an improper manner last night in Queen-street, with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. The prisoner pleaded guilty. Mr Broham stated that Howard was rolling against persons last night in Queen street in a very offensive manner. Fined 20s and costs, or forty-eight hours' in Mount Eden. LARRIKINISM. John Hill, a strong young man, was charged with acting in a most disorderly manner last night in Queen-street, to the disgust and annoyance of several young ladies. Prisoner denied the charge. Constable Gordon stated that he saw the prisoner in Queen - street pushing against females in a wilful and unbecoming manner, and one young person was knocked by the prisoner against a wall, which caused her mouth to bleed. He then took him into custody. Maria Lilly said that she, in company with two female friends, was passing the Grey hound, when the prisoner thrust her head against the wall, cut her lip, and knocked one of her front teeth out. His Worship told the prisoner that he had acted in a very improper way, and that such conduct could not be allowed. He would have to pay 20s. and costs, or go to prison for forty-eight hours. HARD WORDS. Thomas Mulvany appeared in answer to a charge of using threatening language towards Jane Quinn, on the 29th ult. Mr Brock appeared for the prisoner, and asked that the case be adjourned, in order that three respectable persons who saw the assault might be present. Mr Joy, for the complainant, asked in case of a remand that the accused be called upon to find substantial bail. His Worship said the accused must find bail hjmself in £40, and two sureties in £20 each. The case was remanded until Thursday next.

This was all the business.

APRIL FOOL DAY.

[ We cannot tell the origin of All Fool's Day, I or why the first day of April should bear this . terrible appellation; yet we conceive the j day to be of universal significance, although . its origin is deeply hidden in the mists of , antiquity. Old Kings and Barons kept their . fools and jesters, and most people remember j the grinning portrait of Harry the Eight's l jester in Hampton Court-palace. Sir Walter Scott, in "Ivanhoe," the most original of • his romances, tell us of " Wamba," who was . one of these worthies. We venture to pre sume that All Fool's Day was originally intended (for a universal holiday, for where ' is the man or woman in this world who has , not at some time or other been dubbed a fool .by a less discerning individuals in spite of the t injunction :— "Oh ! wad the powers some giftie gie us !To see oursels as others see us." All Fool's Day in the old country indicates the flowery footsteps of spring, the resurrec tion of natural beauty, the voice of the ' cuckoo, and the blooming of the violets :— 'T»s the time o' the singing of birds— And the milkmaid's warbling lay— When the old man's tears are dried, And the young man's heart is gay. i But here, in Auckland, we are looking into I hollows in expectation of wet wintry months, bothering our brains about leggings, allot i ments, lawsuits, and muddy roads, There are days dedicated to St. Valentine, St. Patrick, and a score of other mythical saints ; why, therefore, we ask, should not humanity have its first of $_$&. Robert Owen once said that all men were mad. and that the world was one vast lunatic asylum, and the inoffensive old* maa intimated that ho

would have set the world right had he been its divinely-appointed keeper. We approve of the All Fool's Day; but disapprove of the April conduct of oprtain persons who send people about on foolish errands, just because they do not possess copies of Reed and Brett's almanac, which would have reminded them of the daily progress of time, and put them on their guard. Pagans and Mahomedans do not imitate the Christian practice of sending persons on fools' errands, and it would have been wiser perhaps in us had we left the practice behind us. We will notice but a few of the many cases which occurred this morning in our model city. The first is thab of a simple lad Who called at the library of the Wellesley-street rooms for a copy of " Aurora Floyd," when the librarian, a kindly-disposed man, told the lad that he must go further-a-field for such books as that. The boy stood and stared ; our friend moved towards him with a severe look, as though he meant it, when the lad, with an air of April-like simplicity, simpered out " If you please, sir, 'mower' says the first volume of " Snyder's Sentiments" will do." This was too much for the librarian ; he laughed outright—the first of April flashed upon his memory, and the boy was allowed to depart in peace. The next case, was that of a city arab who astonished the proprietor of the " Blue Boot" by asking for two penny-worth of strap oil, but it wouldn't wash : it was an old Birmingham tale, and as the strap was about to be applied the little rag-a-muffin bolted, and like Mr Joy's buggie turned over and over, and rushed into Mr Levy's shop and enquired after the fugitive dog. We will chronicle but two other cases, the first is that of an aged man with a I considerable amount of property in the Karangahape road, who professed a ten der passion for a pretty young girl with a lofty chignon, living with her mother in Grafton road. She promised to meet the elderly gentleman this morning in the Church of England burial-ground with a final " yes " or "no." But instead of the fair dne—the idol of his palpitating heart,— the real lover met him with, a whip and handed him a letter, and to the young's man credit corporeal punishment was not inflicted. The old man shuffled away among the tombs, and opened the letter, which, without a kiss, contained the ominous solitary date: April the Ist, 1873. The last case to which we shall refer is worth recording in evidence of the need of increased activity on the part of the members of the Education Board. A slim youth with the utmost coolness called at our office for three penny worth of starlight, to be put into a dark lantern. We could not be angry with the lad, whose modest request and pleading look were irresistible. We handed him a few copies of the Evening- Star, and the effect was wonderful, —the poor fellow's face was at once luminous with reflected intelli gence.

DEAD BODY FOUND FLOATING IN THE HARBOUR.

This Day.

Considerable excitement was occasioned on Queen-street wharf shortly after one o'clock to-day by the discovery of a dead body floating on the placid waters of the harbour, close to the end of the wharf. The body was floating almost erect, with face down wards, and only the back of the head and shoulders visible, thus showing it to be the corpse of a man, as a woman's body in variably floats face uppermost. A dingy from the ship Durham, lying near the wharf put off, and the men fastened a rope round the body securely, and drew it alongside the stairs. Sergt. Walker and a constable, who were present, at once took possession of the body, and proceeded in a waterman's boat to the "dead-house in Official Bay, having the body in tow—a ghastly spectacle to the large number of persons who had assembled on the wharf. Up to this time no identification of the body has taken place, and. it was asserted that no one was missing from among the shipping. From such view as could be obtained of the body while it floated in the water it had the appearance of belonging to a middle-aged working man, and had evidently been in the water some days. DESCRIPTION OF THE BODY. On examining the body it was found to belong to a man sft. 2in. in height, with short black hair, turning slightly grey. His face had the appearance of having been recently shaved. It was impossible to dis tinguish his features, decomposition having already set in. The nose was entirely gone, the lips were also gone ; one eye had disap peared, and only the eyeball of the other remained. His clothing consisted of a brown tweed coat, with one outside breast-pocket; brown tweed trousers with a dark stripe, a black rep waistcoat, a purple and black striped Crimean shirt, and part of a paper collar. He wore elastic side) spring boots, much worn ; the right boot has a patch on the inside. No socks ; a leather belt. There was no money in his pockets, but a common black handled pocket knife. He also had in one of his pockets part of the back sheet of the Evening Star, bearing on the imprint the date of Wed nesday, the 26th March. This is the only clue there is as to how long the deceased has been in the water, namely, six days or under; although from the decomposed state of the face, and from the fact that the body has floated to the surface, leads to the conclusion that it cannot hare been immersed much less than that time. At present, no identity of the body has taken place, and the only person reported tobemissingisasettlernamed Noah Pepper, of Papakura, who is reported to have come into town on Thursday, the 20th instant, with a load of wheat and grass seed for sale, but had left his horse and cart in Durham-street on the following day with part of the wheat in it, and has not been j seen since. There is no doubt that immediately on publicity being given to the foregoing particulars the relations of the missing man will be enabled to state whether the body found is that of Noah Pepler or not. The body remains in the dead house, Official Bay, awaiting identification, and an inquest will be held on the remains to-morrow at two o'clock at the Railway Terminus Hotel. AXOTHER DEAD BODY FOUND. i The police-boat was despatched thi3~* morning to Eiverhead to bring down the body of the man Wilson, which was re ported by the captain of the Gemini to be floating in one of the creeks there. The. boat returned at three o'clock, and the Water-police deposited the body in the dead-house. An inquest will be held on the remains to-morrow afternoon, before Dr. Philson, Coroner.

A.L.V.A. (To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sik, —I have just had the opportunity afforded me by the kindness of a new arrival of looking over the books of rules, &c, of one of the most flourishing institutions in the world, and conducive to the well-being and comfort of a great many, aged, infirm and decayed members of the business —I mean the Incorporated Society of London Licensed Victuallers. The annual expenses of the Society average £10,500. There are 200 children, boys and girls educated in their noble school, and relief is afforded to about 350 persons. The patronage that it enjoys would rather astonish some of our so-called straight laced people in this city. The first on the list as patroness is our (noble Queen.

THI EVWIN& BTA&, TUESDAY, APRIL 1, ISM



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