SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUN-SET: This evening, 5.24. STJN-RI&E: To-, morrow morning, 6.43 HIGH WATER : This evening, 3.41; to-morrow, morning, 4.0

ARRIVALS.

Paterson, p.s., Kennedy, from Wellington Lady Franklin, barcrae, from, Newcastle Southern Belle, barque, from Adelaide Southern Cross. b.s., from East Ceast ports Goldan Isle, schooner, from Russe.ll

DEPARTURES.

Queen, schooner, for Russell Alert, schooner, for East Coast Nightingale, brigantine, for Melbourne via Whan-

garoa Merlin, schooner, for the Coa^t Kenilworth, schooner, for Samoa Columbia, schooner, for East Coast

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For San Fnvncisco: Akbar. ship, early. For Southern ports : Wellington, s.s., to-day .-. For Lcvuka: Charybdis, schooner, from the Manukau

VESSELS EXPECTED.

"Wentworth, s.s., from Sydney Countess of Kintore, ship, from London Sailed Ist May Berar, ship, from London. Sailed 15th May Fontenaye, ship, from London. Sailed City of Auckland, from London. Sailed 4th June Lalla Eookh, brig, from Clarence River. Sailed about 22nd July Fairy Queen, brig, from Timaru , Atalanta, French man-o'-war, from Sydney Albion, brig, from Newcastle

IMPORTS.

Per, Lady Franklyn, from Newcastle : 50 tons shale, 34 tons pig iron, 276 tons coal, J. Roberton and Co.

Per barque Southern Belle, from Adelaide ; 84 tons bark, 500 bags flour, J. Roberton and Co,; 224 tons flour, 480 quarters wheat, order.

The change of wind which occurred on Saturday has cleared our waters of the little fleet of coasters and other craft which had been waiting in harbour for some days ready for sea. They all departed on Saturday night and early on Sunday morning. The ship Akbar has taken in her 'ballast;, and will sail for San Francisco to-night or to-morrow morning. 1 The schooner Ivanhoe is taking in 43,000 feet of timber for New Caledonia. She will sail about Wednesday. The A.S.N. Co.'s new steamer Wentworth was to leave Sydney for Auckland on the 23rd inst. She may be expected here about the 29th inst.

The s.s. Southern Cross" from East Coast ports arrived in harbour at an early hour this morning bringing a number of passengers, one horse and general cargo. Passengers— Messrs George and Connor, Mrs Ellison, Miss Barber in $he saloon, and six in the steerage. The schooners Ruby and Speedwell have cleared out in ballast for the Bay of Islands. The s.s. Southern Cross passed the Comerang off Mercury Island. The Cpmerang will land cattle at the Thames before coining on to Auckland.

COMMERCIAL.

Messrs Samuel Cochrane & Son offered at auction to-day the residence in Nelson-3treet lately occupied by the Eev. Warlow Davies. The property was withdrawn at £220. Allot ments and store lately occupied by Mr Ber ridge at Coromandel wore passed without a bid. For land at Mangonui only sevenpehce an acre was offered, and the lot was with drawn.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Ai B will Close as TJnder :— For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m.; and to-morrow'

at 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. For Coromandol, on Wednesday next, at 12.30 p.m. For Kawau, Wangarei, &c., per Challenger, to-mor-, row, at 9 a.m. For Whitianga, Tauranga, and Opottki, per Southern Cross, to-morrow, at 3 p.m. : ' For United States, per Akbar, to-morrow, at 4 p.m. , For Taranaki, Nelson, and ' Southern provinces/per Paterson, on Wednesday, 20th instant, at noon. (Signed) S. B. Bias. Chief Postmaster.

MARRIAGE.

Davis—Leaf.—On the 10th inst., by the Roy, P. H. Cornford, John? thfrd son of Mr Henry Davis, of Bow Road, London, to Julia, eldest daughter of Mr Robert Leaf, senr:, of Mechanics' Bay, Parnell, and formerly of Beverley, Yorkshire, England. Home papers please copy, No cards.

BIRTH.

smith.—At Springbank, on the 15th August, IS7B the wife of Mr Charles Smith of a daughter.

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

MONDAY, AUGUST 18, 1873.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the cood that we can do.

If perseverance in any cause deserves success, success should fall to the lot of Mr Fox in connection with his efforts for the reform of the liquor traffic. He has devoted his great talents and com manding influence both in the House and on the platform to-the promotion of a cause with which it cannot he denied that there are hound up the happiness and welfare of a large section of his fellow-colonists. This measure, discussed in committee on Friday night, may be regarded as the product of his matured thought, and of close attention not only to what is requisite, but, more important still, what is likely to be accepted by the public as a legitimate and reasonable corrective to the evils of the liquor traffic. The new feature in the present measure is that of the Licensing Courts elected by the people of the several districts, and though conjoined with this there are other features of a re pressive kind, we venture to say that this provision of itself, if wisely used, ,is calculated to compass most if not all 1 the objects contemplated by reformers. By these nevy clauses proposed to be inserted in committee, "the ratepayers within the» Licensing District rated under any Highway Act or Ordinance,' or under any, Municipal Corporation, orJTown Board Act or Ordinance, or if such district shall not be highway dis trict, municipality, ortownship,then all adult male persons who shall have been resident in such district for six months shall,meet",.and elect a J.icensing Court numbering from three to seven members according to the will of the Governor, ■the Resident Magistrate1 acting as returning officer. The mem bers of this Court shall hold office for two years, and there is a proviso un necessarily severe that no person in tereatect pecuniarily directly or in directly in the manufacture or sale of liquor, shall vote or be elected for such Court. At the first meeting this Court-shall, elect a permanent chair man from its, members, who shall sign all certificates for license as granted by the Court. With such facilities afforded to the whole people in elect ing those who can give or withhold the licenses to sell; intoxicating drinks in the district it would be a work of super erogation, as proposed, to further con fer the power ofyeto on two-thirds of the electors according to the principle known as that of the "Permissive" measures; and it may be accepted as iafact that if the. people1 of a district iare so earnest in their opposition to a ispirit-sbop among them as to have itwo-thirda prepared tq impose the prp jhibition, they can much more readily tmake the same power felt in the1 elec tion of members of Licensing Court Ipledged to carry out their .wishes. [Our telegraphic summary of Friday bight's debate leaves no room for doubting that the measure as now be fore the House will be shorn of some iof its. severities before it has taken the jforin of sin' Act of Parliament, and that in its completed form it will not meet JLhe viewte of the extreme reformers is 'no ' less ~ probable. Neverthe less in this propbsal of an' elected licensing Court Mr Fox has imparted io the measure a principle so entirely harmonious/with that of our popular representative; institutions that it is difficult f ( 6 see on what grounds it can popular disfavour. It was reasonable that Opposition to the measure should have been encountered from Mr < Vogel,- who, as; Chan cellor ( of the Exchequer, is bound to see' that none of the springs of revenue are suddenly dried up. But hisdp£dsifton' :io the election of the : JLicehsihg., j Court proceeded on the assumption: that this Court;' is of a jiudicialkind; ai?cj his peroration on the evils inherent to the American method 6f choosing judges by pbpular election was wholly idle. Any one1 that has ever witnessed the,proceedings of one of our Licensing Courts, as at present administered, must feel that it has nothing whatever of a judicial character, or in fact of any character that com mends it to popular approval. On such Court-day there is a beat up of the hounds, and such an array of gentlemen bearing. Her Majesty's commission as is never*'on any other occasion seen.'* One has got bad grog or incivility at an inn, and he has come to have it out of the vintner on licens ing-day. Another magistrate has been fawned on by Boniface, and he has come to the Bench to-day to do him a good turn. In fact no greater bur

lesqne could be perpetrated)of?A law;? Court than is witnessed in-'the cipua frowns and smiles of .the1 j§encH: on licensing day ; and to say that a bench of magistrates engaged on the question of licenses act in good con science and decide by the merits of the case, excepting in the nids't ftagrant; is. a sham tbit; to-ejjtldiy patent to temperance reformers, to publicans and sinners. The Court proposed by Mr Fox will,-\ve : apprehend, not profess to be; :in . any - way a judicial court, but a committee chosen to carry out the views of the people of the dis trict, and whatever may be its intended and professed; jcharacter, this we are quite certain will bo its real character in action, and this the direction to which its operations will tend. To the measure^-now^before thg Hbtiso every one must wisft sticcfess that wishes well to hi? kind. Drunkenness is the plague spot in our social system, and though it is quite true that'men can not be made moral by Act of Parlament, it is high time that Parliament took some steps to'stay the'deluge that is sweeping over the land.

The neglected state of the sea-wall in Mechanics' Bay forcibly illustrates the evils arising from the system of sub-contracts. The Harbour? Board; complain of the slowness of the Government in recognising the necessity of finishing the abruptly discontinued works, buti should not the blame really fall upon Messrs Brogden and Sons, the; real contract ors. It should certainly fall upon, them or upon the system which admits of such a collapse of a great public improvement scheme. It would appear to any one at first sight that it would be an advantage to the contractors to got the work finished as soon as possible ; but the fact is not fully understood perhaps that Messrs Brogden and. Sops for this contract are getting 10 per e'erit. on all oxitlay, so that it matters not to them how long their money is out at such remunerative interest. But ought not the present failure in the undertaking to make it patent that adequate security should be insisted upon and approved of by the Government Engineer or some other responsible person before any sub-contract is permitted. Is the present modus operandi likely to result in the Northern i'aihvay system beinc completed within the prescribed time ? Besides, it would not only, accelerate business W have the sub-contracts let'under well-defined conditions, but would prevent a large amount of dissatisfaction on the part of workmen who are at present ignorant of their legal position with regard to their em ployers. In the telegram from the Minister of Public Works to the Harbour Board the Government' I very properly ■ disclaim' all recognition of sub-contractors, but this is not sufficient. They should render it of such importance to the contractors to have their work properly done, that it would bo a losing game for them to allow it to be shirked. How has this contract been managed ? It was originally to be finished in March last. The time was afterwards extended to May, ajid here,, we . are in August and the embankment . only half finished, and the Harbour Board have actually paid f(jir this, themselves. This body was origi nally to have paid their share —viz., thu eati rnatud; half —of the expenses, amounting to £2,408 10s when the work was finished, but they paid it some months ago, and now it seems as it this half was all that was to he done. However Mr Henderson, C.E., arrived in town last Saturday by the Pater son, and is we believe in communication with the Harbour Board on the subject. We trtjßt that prompt remedy of the evil will be in sisted 'on; . . . • ■ :

The monthly inspection of the Auckland Troop ■ fttoyal Cavalry Volunteers, under command of Capt. A. E. Ih:i:ich, will take place this evening in the Drill-shed, Princes street.

i i Undjer>tho heading '' Live and lot livo" a baker writes :—" Sir, your working man who was so well able to inform the public what difference a halfpenny in a two-pound loaf made in a ton of flour should be also able to show the public, at the present price of flour, what profit the baker has at threepence halfpenny per loaf; he having failed to do so I will, by your kind assistance, do it for him. Flour, /per toD £17, or £1 14s. per sack, which makes 11 dozen and 2 loaves, worth £1 A9s Id. From this deduct yeast 6d., salt 3d., firing Is) 3d.1, ii 25., which, leaves a profit of 3s. Id. per sack. Now, Mr Editor, half of every sack of jflour.fhat is baked goes^ oiit thirteen to, tne dozen, which takes a farthing a loaf off, leaving Is, B^d. per sack. Allowing a baker to bake'-two tons, or twenty sacks pet week, it will leave him one pound thirteen and nine pehce perl week for rent, horse, keep, wear, knd tear. I don't think "Working Man" Would like to have to keep a wife and family on the balance left.— -1 am &c!, Bakes.. 'Mr Beckham has given us a new idea on the* subject of lawyers; He1 referred to them on. Saturday morning as luxuries. We must confess* We never looked on them in -this light. We rather regarded them as necessary evils; but eve.ry' one is entitled to his own ideas on the subject. ' Some people consider it a luxury to jump out of bed on a frosty morn ing' and plunge into an icy-cold bath. We must confess that we do not appreciate that little luxury; but that is no reason why others should not, and if any one chooses to consider 'it the summit, of earthly, bliss to have a never-ending lawsuit and half a dozen lawyers tacked to his tail for life there is nothing dnacted against it. ■ It cer tainly never occurred to us that Messrs Machattie, Craig, Lamb, and Macffarl»n« f Were going in for luxuries in tbeir appeals1 to legal arbitration ; but jperhaps this is the real solution of the question why their mat ters are never settled: "Oh ! the sly dogs.

1 The members of. the Lodge Waitemata, No. 68f, E.;C.!, will'hold their monthly meeting this evening at the usual place..,

! It is satisfactory to see the improvements which are being made in pur streets. The proper paving of these is a subject which intimately affects , every { man, woman, and chi'ld'ih the' place.''' Nothmg°so marks a town I With a character for cleanliness, or brings it into disrepute for the reverseI,' as the tidy or Untidy condition of its public thoroughfares. With all the architectural and natural grandeur of Kome, Athens, Naples, and , Cologne, any (description of them was,- arid is always marred by the addition —the condition;..of[ thevatr'eets is dimply abominable and' is very injurious to the public health. As to sanitary arrangements we shall never have anything like a satis factory- system till we have a good' and sufficient' water supply, and that prospect appears still small and far- in the distance ; but in regard to paving and metalling we are doing well. Qneen-street is going a-head in this respect fast. Symond-street, Eden Orescent, Shortlarid-street, and other im portant roadways are being attended to, and the time we trust is not distant when a lady will be able to walk out in winter without being , obliged/ 1; to'l' wear a sole to 1 her boot three-quarters of an inch thick.

I A$ i the w^fcond ineeting of the Auckland .Teachers', Association on Saturday, t)r. Kidfl iri-tM chair} thfere was a Mr *ttfen#«n6e although the' weather was by no means favor able. Without going critically iato Mr Fraser's essay'on {the "Qualifications of a good -Teacher," a3 it will most likely appear ere long in type, we may state that it was prajbtibliUh S>stail,\ of tafte tp the, professjonj £nfl. received by the members. This Association forms a precedent for members of other callings, as it tends to blend com mon interests and gives strength of thought and unity of feeling to one brotherhood. The objects of this fraternity of school teachers are unselfish in the narrow meaning of the term. The society Wfts formed for the purpose of promoting friendly intercourse^ advancing, the cause of education, recording confidentially qualifications and Wants, taking cognisance Of educational mat tersj forming a teachers' library of useful literature, reading essays* establishing a fund for the relief of distressed members^ and for promoting the general good of teachers. The position of a schoolmaster is an honourable one, and it is necessary that every person so occupied should be morally and mentally j qualified for its responsibilities. A teacher ' should not be fitted by natural and trained abilities alone for his duties, but should also by his character reflect credit; upon the profession. Guizot, the celebrated French author, held the opinion that the business of a schoolmaster extended far beyond figures and mathematics. He considered it a glorious occupation, vivify ing and self-sustaining in its nature; a struggle with ignorance, and an endeavour to discover to the enquiring minds of the masses the clear cerulean blue of heavenly truth. We have schoolmasters in our midst who take a profound interest in the educa tion of youth, and we propose by permission to peep into our schools occasionally and give to the public some idea of the manner in which they are conducted. While looking round the High School we felt mingled feelings of surprise and pleasure upon seeing the musomn-like number of expensivo appliances for the use of pupils. only were the usual globes, charts, maps, and books, common to schools now adays in abundant supply, but all sorts of mathematical, geographical, and geological aids wore placed in suitable places for immediate use. We observed also » series of beautiful wood engravings illustra tive of natural history, with condensed des criptions from the best naturalists and poets, and we concluded that Mr Fraser had been at great expense in hia efforts to show that the useful and beautiful exist in harmony for each other and for the public good. The •next essay will be by Mr French, on "Our School Children and their Management."

We are glad to learn that the son of Mr Adam Cairns, who unfortunately met with an accident on Tuesday last, and had his leg broken, is progressing favourably under the care of Dr. Hobbs, of Upper Queen-street, who set the fractured limb, and who has since been unremitting in his attentions upon the lad. ,We would suggest that drivers of vehicles should exercise greater care in driving about our streets, in order that similar accidents may be avoided.

The Garrick Club gave a second per formance at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Saturday night before a fairly numerous audience. The weather was simply atrocious the whole evening, or doubtless the attend ance would have been much better. Morton's mold-drama,, " The Writing on the Wall," was the piece selected for represen tation. Thin was on the whole very credit ably performed, but the number of characters rendered it necessary to make use of the sor vicea of some who wero hardly up to the work; The proceeds of the entertainment went to the funds of the Club. Mr Odium sustained the part of the villain, Richard Oliver, with considerable talent. During the interval Mr Ben Heath gave two of hia comic songs in good style, and Mr Graydon danced the " jailor's Hornpipe " as well as w« have seen it danced for a long time. The evening was closed by Stirling Coymo's laughable farce, " Box and Cox, Married and Settled." This provoked much amusement, and the audience went home well satisfied with their enter tainment. ",.!

The rain came pelting down on Saturday, but it did not prevent the members of the North Shore and Auokland Football Clubs from meeting in the barrack field, and some handsome play and capital fun were the re sult. The members took shelter for a time, and then rushed out like true soldiers for the fray. The kicking against th« storm, with the rain pouring off their devoted heads and oozing out of their boots,, was a sight to be remembered. One young man of short stature, but of John Bull dimensions, went in for a terrible kick and ex%ited the good humdur dfthe drenched spectators by falling" downwards and slipping ten yards atod a-half qn his stomach. One tall promising mem ber /of the Auckland Club with extensive* lfcgs, made several splendid kicks, and; several; times sent the ball spinning in the air, whilst a shorter brother failed in the com petition in consequence of his legs being tour inches shtirter. Much credit, however, was due tp the lesser man for the vigour, ho manifested in his struggle for success. In a foot-ball contest the stripling;, with ahanky extremes, has a decided advantage over the shorter limbs, even of the law, while the latter in depth may excieed the length of; the former. The North Shore men were suc cessful in the match. The play of Mr Rees was something, remarkable. This gentleman was as active as a deer, and his magnificent feats turned the 'tide in favour of North; Shore. The match was an exciting one, bo much so that & new ball must be procured bofore the arrival of tilling Fong from Pekin and Tobias Kicklebury from the Rhine. '

We observe that the annual meeting of th« Auckland Rowing Club i»*to.' be hold on Wed nesday next at the Thames hotel. It appears that the committee of the Olnb have now succeeded in wiping off the heavy burden of debt with which they were, encumbered and start this season with;a clean sheet. We trust that under able management and judicious apportionment of the funds' the1 Club will ' now, emerge" fron^ its obscurity, and take its proper position as a stand ing • institution of the place. With: the finestl' harbour for boating ,Jn V^®^. Zealand, or perhaps, iq. tho world, it ia, a considerable slur on the. muscular energy of' young Auckland thatf-we can scarcely name, among our residentß;,a v single first class oars-, irian. Why is there not a little more: healthy rivalry among the large mercantile firms and business houses .of the city ? How is it.we/do iiot hear,of a,grand annual eight oared race ■ between Auckland and. the Thames ? That would be the kind of thing to stimulate our youth with_ fresh energy. Mor.'e inducements , for training ought to be iheld out to clerks and 'warehouse men, ftc. It wouldbe to their own interest if heads of firms would cpntribute, to 'the main tenance of a first-clasp club. There is as much muscle and sinew here, and more, than there would be in a similar sized town in England, but it lie 3 idle and inactive. The manual apprenticeship in tho busk and elsewhere which a number of us have gone through ought to make rowing a pleasant exercise to us, and ought to make the old Ilex Rowing Club's motto, "Labor ipse Vohi/ptas " the most appropriate inscription on tho banner of the Auckland Rowing'CUk i :i\\ j Io t"■

We have received tne following letter on drainage, *■* Newmarket :-"Sir,-7-Th«. rt; ■febHl 6f i** slaighter-hoise. has «^ desired by the ftewmarkfct bntwrthm this district is a far greater nuisance, tils., the Btagnant water lying in broad sheets alone the west side of the main thoroughfare, from the lower end of the Kyber Pass to the Toll-gate. The most dangerous-looking spot ii hum &i health is a,*acant allotment next the boarding-hoilMe. Tail ft iteto <m<6 jpol of water, over which ducks and' g6ei»e fcapm themselves, and into which appears to-,,be cast slops and garbage of every description. It presents the appearance of a huge cesspool,* and'as it spreads under adjoining houses as high as the flooring joists, it must be as Unhealthy for the inmates thereof as it is ah eyesore1 to passers-by, and a disgrace to the Highway Board. The turnpike road appears to have cut off the natural drainage iof the place, which was into the Slaughter house gully, and has dammed the water back I lindSrneath the houses, where it lies rotting the buildings in the winter,; and in summer departs leaving an obnoxious sediment of half decomposed rats and other filth which has floated under the building, to rise in pestilential odour up through the floor. The health of a community has the first claim on all governing bodies I would therefore draw the attention of the Board to the fact that sickness most inevitable befall the residents if a drainage is not at once proceeded with. Year after year is passing, buildings are get ting closer together, and though the Highway ■Board Trustees hitherto have seen a necea- , sity for making back roads somewhere in the ! vicinity of the Domain, on which I am told " the feet of man hath never trod," they have studiously avoided this' most important f work.—Yours, &c, Pro Bono Publico." .

About two o'clock this afternoon, as Dr. Goldsbro's well-known gig was proceeding down Queen-street, 'the horse, injattempting to indulge in a kick, managed to get his leg over the hinder bar of the shafts. Being unable to draw ifc back again the animal became very restive, kicking and plunging about in all directions. This occurred just opposite Mr Dornwell's shop, and a large crowd was speedily collected. Efforts were made to quiet the horse, but without effect, and the result was that the shafts were broken to pieces, and the harness damaged a good deal. The horse at last came down on to his knees, and this was taken advantage of to cut the harness from him. .We believe that no blame can be attributed to the groom who was in charge. The horse was not injured.

An unexampled natural curiosity has been exciting wonder in the minds of the Welling tonians, and will, we believe, shorty be exhibited in this city. This is the hairless horse, Caoutchouc. The animal was' cap tured from amongst a mob of wild horses m North Queensland. Its skin in black, smooth, and glossy, and is entirely free from hair. The animal has been ex hibited before large crowds of spectators in all parts of the colonies, and the Canterbury Pri-ss gives currency to a statement that £1,509 was offered in Christchurch for it and refused. ■ • ■ • • ■

We are sure lovers of music will be grati fied at the publication of Mr Henry Gordon's favourite song "Swing on, Old Pendulum." This song, with the music, has just been printed at the Evening Star office, and may be obtained from any of the stationers or music-sellers in town. The new and favour ite ballad " Mollie Darling," is now in the press, and will shortly be offered to the pub lic, This song bids fair to become the most popular piece of the day. Alluding to the song "Swing on, Old Pendulum," the Wel lington Post says :-r-" We hare received a copy of the bass song given with so much success by Mr Henry Gordon at every place the Carandiui Company have performed; 'Swing on, Old Pendulum,' composed by Frederic Ellard, of Sydney, and printed by Messrs Heed and Brett, of Auckland. The song is certain to become a favourite in amateur circles, being pretty and tuneful, pleasantly harmonised, with a graceful and simple accompaniment. It is interesting as the work of a colonial composer, and "as a specimen of New Zealand music printing is by far the best we have yet seen."

The trees which were planted aome months ago on the Flagstaff Hill, at the North Shore, do not seem to thrive. Mr Goldie will not make much out of his contract if he has to supply the place of all that die during the first year. Numbers of them at present look very* sickly, and a good many are, or appear to be, dead already. Complaints are made that malicious persons are doing damage to the trees by breaking the tops, kc. A little lynch law might be effective in preventing this. Goorge Holland, the man 'wlio was so severely burnt by the fire from the furnace qn board the Enterprise some1 days ago, was sufficiently .recovered to movo put, to-day., His left arm is still in a sling;- and his'face lieara severo marks of the injuries he re ceived. • ■ - ■ ■ : ' '. ■ Mr H. M. Jervis, agent for A. S. N. Com pany, has received the following telegram from Sydney : —" The s.s. Wentworth leaver hero for Auckland on the 23rd instant."

i We have pleasure in acknowledging receipt! fiom Mr John Road, of, Qnehung», of 2s fdr^ Mrs Green, and 2s fdr the unfortunate settler at Puhoi, who broke His leg. Sub scription for the last-mentioned unfortunate nian have ridt come forward1 so freely us we ,could wish. ;~ \ Subscribers Wthe'sweepstake on the Mel bourno'Cup are informed that as the list is full (those who have not paid their subscrip tions must do so this evening before eight 'o'clock at the City Club Hotel or their Bharei ■^ill be forfeited. ' ['~, ~'~ ',',;'/ ,

The vocal and instrumental concert for the1 benefit of Mr Impey, bandmaster of the City Band, will be held on Thursday evening next in the City, Hall. An excellent pro j gramme is in preparation. ! The principal members of the Choral Society, and several, of the leading amateurs, will tak« part in the proc«adinga.. Mr Joseph Browne will conduct .:tfie'musieail department!.''' . ; "■'" . ; / N , ;",'. J| lAn entertainment will'be giv»ti''this even ing in the City Hall by the Auckland Pioneer '.Ijiodge of .Good-Templars. The chair will be taken by Samuel Ed^ar, *< planatory address delivered byDrMackune- AJ[rßMitch,ell,the ; celebra!tedsipger,,l andotherß wll.take part in the musical preceedincs. ■'>-'■ " ,l li I .-.. ■: I . 1,,:,: .i,:rf :;■.,;?..!, :.

ATTEMPT TO ROB THE CUSTOM HOUSE.

" Ij. -.-, :.,-. , , —, —v—-<- k-; *-.-!,;nv<\' It was discovered this morning that ait attempt had been made since Saturday night to rob the Customs by entering the office of Mr Rose. The thieves took a square of glass out of Mr Rose's[office window, and thtii managed to get inside •:'; they broke open all!.. the. drawers, and disturbed the papers and documents, but finding no, moniy they proceeded through" a .aperture, into Mr McKellar's ! Voflice; ','j where 'they also turned over the contents •'of the boxes in like manner. They next paid a visit to the store "of-. Mr .Campbell, but finding no cash in the till, they stole several pairs of boots and shoes, with which they decamped. Information ,was at once conveyed to the police station, and it is understood that a party is stron^ly^uspected■-' and that the'police are 6»tbjejir,.tirawfcii:i.j.: i',>,j, li' |i :.!i ." hi • i!U;.i'«'l j: U:ll:H)Sll «l li'.lfffW HO ,;:liiJ

WATER WORKS.

{To the Editor of the Evemno *>tark JS Assembly having rejected the WaWwbrks Amendment Act, so far as ior ana uomi . th t the provincial ■ £Ke^W iWft bnt now nearly £140 000 The Provincial Cotincjl having !Jo power to alter the amotfflt ft only shows what little consideration city interests have in the Assembly. There is one Son I should like to ask our repre «VWtativeß Why they consented to the Dune 1n itepayersLing^lowcd to decide, upon, ! ot purchase » water supply, and refused the same to the A«cila»d ratepayers ?- Yours, j Cunio.

NOTES FROM WELLINGTON.

i ' -(raoM ouii "swrcrAt Ccwuiwoxdent.)

i Tuesday nigbk The Budget Debate- THIS long, anticipated debate on the Budget at length arrived, and whatever may be 'the ultimate result it seems likely to develop considerable manaravring on the part of tire tacticians in the House. It was opened by Mr Vogel by an adroit movement to do what is familiarly known as taking the wind out of his sails. For, backed up by the strong protests against the tariff pouring in from all points of the compass, the Superintendent of Canterbury had given notice on a supple mentary order paper condemning the pro posed incidence of taxation. It was not a dignified course, but it was a prudent one for the Government to anticipate attack by strik ing their colours, which was done most effec tually by the Treasurer surrendering his tariff, and bowing to the dicta of the Cham bers of Commerce. TMb m other circum stances might have disarmed the enemy, but the attack was not to be foiled so readily, and the irregular and independent assaults of the free lances proceeded. Mr Stafford's speech had an air of indifference and half heartedness that conveyed the impression that the task exacted from him was performed perfunctorily. He spoke of the frauds likely to arise from, ad valorem rating, and the tendency to the increase in the im portation of inferior merchandise. But there was not that genuine ring of opposition which erstwhile inspired his followers with enthu liasm. The, reply of the Commissioner of Customs unmistakably ehowed a fact which was subsequently sheeted home by the mem ber for Parnell, that the calculations as to the probable effects of the tariff had been mado by the rule of thumb ; and that no great difficulty had been experienced by the Government in surrendering the tariff simply, because the effects, of all shiftings on the subject were to" their minds enveloped in mist."' The explanations were singularly un satisfactory, and never did a colonial Govern ment present a more assailable position. With' considerable peevishness the Com missioner of Customs referred to the news papers as; having excited the agitation, against; the financial scheme of the Government, and to the Chambers of Commerce as having based their protests' on wrong calculations. Mr Reader Wood, who is really one of the most effective and pleasing speakers in the House, defended tho action of the press in having made calculations which/ it was the duty of the Government to have made, and charged the Government, with simple " guessing," and with arranging and rearrang ing the tariff without any basis of knowledge as tp t oprobable results. A little passage of arms here occurred betweon Mr Wood and Mr Reynolds, the allegations of the member for Parnell < ras.: to,: a .particular statement maile , '.by Mr being" flatly contradicted ,by thai gentleman. The wat? of words waxed- warm for a time, when on Mr Wood referring to Mr Buckland as a witness present on the occasion tbe Commis sioner of Customs subsided. It was a pleasant relief to the monotony of debate, and the warmth, of contradiction is so pleasantly moderated by parliamentary courtesy that th» storm soon blows over.

Mr. T. L. Shepherd. The " Smiler," too, was a pleasant relief. It does one good to look at his great broad fat face. He looks as con-1 tented with himself as he is -with the= Government, and whether ho sits and looks, or stands and talks, ho conveys a sen sation of self-satisfaction that is contagious. When he, sits1 he fixes his eyes upon ,the ladiesVgaliety,, and if his attention is turned away for a moment it soon reverts to the j lovely objects of his adoration, and I am told by those that sit .beside him that he actually licks his lips as he contemplates the beauties enthroned aloft. He spoke, of course, as he always does when the ladies gallery is filled a's it was to-night; and his words were, as they ever are, words of admiration for every thing that emanates from the hands of the Government.' 'X - iMr Fitzherbert on his Legs. j The recess for dinner having passed, the assembling jof the House found1 -Mr Fitz-j Herbert ou his legs. All members know Tphafcis meantby Mr Fitzherbert on; his legs. 3?vfcn.the people of Auckland have not for gotten that for seven mortal hours has Mr Fitzherbfcrt ow a previous 'similar occasion been upon his legs delivering such dull and dreary platitudes as were by him to-night inflicted on a patient and long suffering .pjeople. It surpasses ,my, imagination how .any House can tolerate1 such an intermin ajble r and insufferable bore. For three cjuarters of-an-hour— I timed the clock— .Us occupied Houfce with an anticipatory apology for the intended length of his address. After, such at pleasant introduction jj»ur "readers can form perhaps a faint idea of the lively speech that followed. He began at half-past seven. It is now half-past eleven.., and .he is- speaking of what he is obliged to defer to a subsequent part of hi a speech. And there he stands, with his spectacles in..one hand, and the other in his breeches pocket, .the same attitude which he -assumed on rising; four weary hours ago. For a; couple of hours the members not only waited arid listened, ,but applauded and laughed at the silly inanities that from time to time arose above, the .surface of the .dreary waste. It speaks highly for the; 'jhearts. and the bumps for reverence possessed, by honorable members to see such attention;1 given,as long as nature could ehdur.e,';tq him who is called the Nestor of ] the House. . ..','Bu'tj.bh! what a curse to the colony is this reverence for old fogeyism ; ,»Mi oh ! what a weariness to the flesh it is ( t6 be called on by conventional courtesy to :defer to this miserable drivel, and call it the' deliverance of oracular wisdom. The spirit ;{oj[ the House is willing, but the flesh is weak. '-Nature has fairly given out and fled to Bellamy's or bed. There are fifteen mem ; bers in the House. They occupy every Jppsition that can be supposed to be conducive to repose ; and save the native members, wh,o are all attention, though they know not a word of the language of the speaker, and the members of the Government, who among | the duties of their office are compelled to bear this bravely, all the rest are in one or other of the various stages from dozing to.

snoring. It is now a quarter to Budnight and still he spiaks. The Paterson leaves »* twelve. Mr Fitz&tvbert, good njgjbt!

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST THAMES NEWS.

{MOM 6UBOWN COBRBSPONDMNT:^'^

Meeting Hi Spiritualists-

Specimen Stealing fftifitt tlie Puaißinff Works. ff

GBAHAMSTOWN. Henry Mnrant, charged with stealing'Jjjjjg 4dwt. amalgam from the Pumping Assoi^*. tion battery, pleaefeel guilty.

Murnnt and Edmnnd Troutman were then charged with stealing 7 tlw*. gold from-tie. same battery. The carge agaiust Murant was withdrawn, and he was.placed in. the witness-box.., Hjg evidence showed that he and Troutmaa \jfa habittially taken small quantities, scraping up the plates, and they divided the proceed*. Troutman <m this charge was sentenced^ six months' Bard labour. Murant on the lirst charge was also sentenced to sixmonthy imprisonment with hard labour. Mia Worship remarked severely upon the dishonesty of persons placed in position^ of trust as the prisoners were. Calkdoktan.—Theweeklyretortingyieltled 153 ozs. gold from 125 tons of stone from rile hanging-wall leader ; 9 ozs. of gold, obtained from 45 tons 4 cwt. of tons fromNoj' ,3 winze. Sinking the shaft has been resumed, and timbers are beingputup in No. 3 wiaae,-, Laßt night a meeting of those intereßtediii spiritualism was held. The attendance vm so large that numbers could not get in; many! attending through curiosity. The proceedings took the form of an enter tainment, with speeches and readingg interspersed with singing. . &l Mr Cunningbanigavealecture, andßppkeo£ his own conversion from materialism to jppirit ualism. He said they would not investij«t». spiritualism at their meeting, but those wKo», wished it could do so at their own Honset,, and they would be supplied with iules fas forming circles. They could have an al^ and be in communication with the spirits.gfr. the invisible world.

The Rev. Mr Selwyn preached at gfc^ George's Church yesterday to a crowded*! congregation, •«

LATEST FROM COROMANDEL.

Mr. Dargaville's Candidates!^ Tokatea. —Dividend Declared." | Starting of the Union Beach BatteriL COROMANDEL. This day. ~. ~ The Union Beach, engine fairlyj started work at noon to-day. - There was a large gathering, the principal inhabitants of the district being presettrapis Major Keddell, the Warden, christen)^ ~, the engine Phcenix. were drunk with great enthnsMM in champagne. Key of Tokatea shares are held finaW; for 4s'.u;Tlie reef has been driven on f^ur^ feet and looks extremely well. . , ,i 'vfi Mr Dargaville's meetiucj on Saturday was well attended. He wa3 thanked for bis at tendance, but the meeting declined to pledge ', itself.,.., j:{ ■/ y lVi r- .~. KAfia :

C.O. Davis expelled from the Rotorua District.

~.,.. ; ,TAUEANGA,

This day, Teira has arrired from Rotorua. Prerioiu telegrams are confirmed to the effect thri™ ,- Mr C. O. Davis and Mr Mitchell ha?e been expelled by the Ngatiraiikawa; from the dii trict, and they arcs now at Maketu.

LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS.

Raising of the Kangitoto.:

LThe I)isturl)ance on the William ;>« Tapscott, Guano Ship. '" l^,

(From Our Special Corbesponbbot.|( s^.

WELLINGTON.

This day.

The s.a. Phoebe" and the Luna arrived from 4 the r .North on Saturday, and the Tara^alir and Wanganui from the South. - The T"#J, naki sailed North on Saturday afternoon. £/' The- Rangitotb will be floated with '$"»•.'! , toons, which are being rapidly constructed aib Picton for the purpose. i The Luna and Manawatu this forpnool -took the members and others to f 6*'^ I*^ Ladybird hauled on to the patent5 slip *t' i Evans's Bay. ' •> II T •; . > :-I'' l '.-, Mr Harrison, editor of the Indepeiide*t,\M l ' summoned Mr Landon, of the Galatea flotilf ( for assault and1 battery; In return/Laridonr has summoned Mr C 0. Montrose and Mr- Tribe, M.H.R.J for corporal damages.. ,Thsfl cases will'be'heard on Tuesday. , I The hairless horse is attracting * I*s§?£ numbec of visitors., jMr Oat has;beett offef*¥] £1,500 for the purchase of the horse, but dtf-X •clinedit. I He will visit Auckland shortly^ The Governor has issued his own warrant for an inquiry into the circumstances attend iig the outrages on the William T»psbqtt, guano ship. The inquiry opened to-day, Mid was adjourned till to-morrow. -, i ','.',,';«_ - j A "gale and deluge are proceeding inettj]^; , The case of Gillon, of the Press Association1 - versus Sontliern Cross, was decided |fcO'<^y against the Cfpss with costs.

WELLINGTON.

(Pas Axglo-Australian Pkess Tklkoba.« :<iii>nM\ ;i Agency.) ■ ■■- ■' "■ ■^•Am

This day/ '^ i The Carandini company, after a very ;?«$w cessful season, left for Napier on Saturday.ijwS , The theatrical company who were to f^?^ port Mr Fairclough have gone to Aucklawfc ■ ;Mr, Fairclough and Madame Legranct..FVto« will give readings here. , ~ "};*<f!j

DUNEDIN.

■ ,:" This day..•»«» A fire occurred on Saturday mbrniiig^»*'j Marshall and Coupland's brewery.' TW,i building narrowly escaped complete destruO,iM tion. '. Messrs Marshalljjand Coupland'i IoM is estimated at £1000. ' ' "'*a Fifteen hundred people visited lihe caaai^ | show on Friday., ; 6«*

At the nominations at the Lakes on Saturday the show of hands was in favour, of Mr Mand^rS, Mr Fish not feeing nominate^.,;. Specimen* of, ironsand from StewarUM Island, tested by Dr. Black, yielded threw-■ per cent, more of pure metal than that v Oj- ; tamable from Tarauaki sand. /

PORT CHALMERS.

This d»y-C| Arrived — Phcobe, from Lyttelton. •' SH» lA averaged 11| knots on the passage. ' J A, ship is at the Heads supposiqd to P« «*S tl DallampCower from Londou, = ■ L^{,'^«a

*BB BVCTCTB BEAR, MONDAY Atr&tfET Mdffl



[Established 1564.] £) STEPHOSON & CO.'s CELEBRATED COT PEES,"" "EXHIBITION BRAND" "EAGLE BRAND" . . ■ ~ "CROWN BRAN D." Are to be procured at all respectable Grocers and Storekeepers throughout the Province of Auck and. D. STEPHENSON & CO., A WYNDHAM-STREET, AUCKLAND. GREAT EBDTJCTIONS FOR THRSE MONTHS ONLY AT. THK ■ ■:'••"> ig'f AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPfiTCI COMPANY, . 194, queen street, Next Dooe to Savings' Bank. ' I ,•'.'■!'' If Of, Cartes-de-visite reduced from 16s per dozen to 13a 6d. Maori Celebrities (largest stock in New Zealand to select from), reduced from 12s per dozen to Cs; , - : rf I a View* from all parts of New Zealand reduced from 12s per dozen to 6s. Enlargements from Cartes-de-visite 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 Mo GARRI GL E, C> |< ' Manacer. HATS! HATS ./ EUSHBEOOE & BEIDGMAN A RE CLEARING OFT ' -BALANCE OP ' iTtoJ nuUvfi GIRLS'AND WOMEN'S BLACK STRAW ; HATS, FROM Is. EACH. Also, a Lot of CHILDREN'S WINTER JACKETS,, < WATERPROOF CLOAKS, FEATHERS, TRIMMINGS, ETC. VERY CHEAP. RUSHBROOK &T BRIDGMAN JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite Army and Navy Hotel), UPPER QUEEN STREET, AUCKLAND, Q A U T 1 ON OLSON'S TOMATO SAUCE." ■ i ■ ■ f^' I*1 '* Connoisseurs pronounce this Sauce, to bo^,J ne BEST for general vuse in households, and, in con sequence of it» hijfh reputation,: gome unprincipled persons have been induced to Collect Empty pottles bearing the manufacturer's name stamped thereon, and pass the same off as *' pison's Universal Tomato Sauce." The proprietor has in consequence caused his TRADE MARK to bn Registered under the provisions of the '.1 Tirade Marks Act, 1566," and proceedings will be taken against such persons as. may forge or counterfeit such mark. The public are cautioned to ASK 1«'OR OLSON'S SAUCE,,, '^ and see that the name ,is Stamped^ onV.Bottlepanfl Stopper, and wrapped round* with his wfell'Known »bel,



J£ EA D CO OMB ES' L I 3!T OF PHI CE S. T N S P E C T COOMBES 1 STOCK OF TWEEDS.