SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET! This evening, C.37 SUN-RISE: To morrow morning, b.47 HIGH WATER : This evening, 7.30 ; to-morrow morning, 7. no

ARRIVALS.

Flirt, brigantine, from Lyttelton Fortune, schooner, from East Coast Tower Hill, brig, Harlers, from Adelaide Alarm, cutter, Seymour, from Mangawai Lady Bowen, p.s., from the Hot Springs, &c. Flora McDonald, Kenny, from Raglan (in the Manukaii)

DEPARTURES.

"Wanganui, s.s., Linklater, for Wanganui "Wellington, s.s., Carey, for Southern ports Sbnbeam, schooner, for Wangaroa Columbia, schooner, for Napier

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For Kaipara and Dv me din: Emulous, brigantine, to morrow For Honohib^ and San Francisco: Dakota, mail steamer, 9,'jth March For Northern ports: Rowena, s.s., Monday next For London: Harvest Home, ship, early For s>ydney and Melbourne: Hero. s.s.. about 3rd IV^arcli; "VVonga Wonga, s.s., about 19th March : Phcobe, s.s., about Bth March (from the Manukau) Southern ports, via Napier : Dakota, p.s., early For Hokianga: Herald and Janet Grey, soh.ooner.-3 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 Hevo, s.s., from Sydney Prosperity, schooner, from Melbourne Corredo, barque, from Sydney Drover, brig, from Sydney. Sailed 7th February East Lothian, barqvie, from New York. Sailed 20th December Dauntless, schooner, fr om South Islands

IMPORTS.

Per FJArt, schooner, from Lyttelton : 1,1G2 bags w'iieat, 200 bags oats, 25 cheeses order. —M. Niccol, agent. Per brig Tower Hill, from Adelaide : 1,000 bags flour, 1,000 half-bags ditto, and 772 bags wheat.

EXPORTS.

Per s.s. Wellington, for Southern ports : 1 qr.-cask brandy, 1 ditto rum, Brown. Campbell & Co. ; 2 casks cement, 21 earthen ware pipes, Barnes ; 0 trusses, 2 cases, Clark and Sons; 1 truss, MeArthur; 1 case, Barnes ; 1 bale sacks, Soppett; 1 cask, 5 sacks seed, Buckland; 1 bag seed, Hunter and Co. ; 1 ditto, Lipscombe ; 1 case, It. Gilmour ; 1 box, Barnes ; 1 box, Combes and Daldy; 1 pg, Ireland Bros. ; 1 parcel, Combes and Daldy; 1 case, Bonnington; 5 pieces ironwork, Anderson and Co. ; 3 crates ielt, Morrin; 4 cases, 1 box, Barnes ; 42 sacks potatoes, Jakins and Wilcox; 1 case, Bond ; 1 ditto, Kempthorne; 1 box, 3 trunks, Pay; 2 cases pianos, Bonnington; 5 barrels oil, Reid; 3 cases, 1 package, 1 box, Sargood and Co. ; 15 bundles sacks, Coupland ; 2 hhds. spirits of wine, H, S. Meyers; 3 cases, 1 package, Sargood and Co. ; 16 bales paper, Lusk; 21 bundles sacks, Eeid.—Combes and Daldy, agents. Per s.s. Wanganui, for Wanganui: 2bales paper, Lusk; 1 case, Wilthew; 1 parcel, fort; 1 glass door, 58 boards, 2 bundles sashes, 1 bundle mouldings, 25 doors, Sash and Door Co. ; 98 bars iron, 1 package, T. and S. Morrin; 1 case, Bonnington.— Cruickshank and Co., agents.

The s.s. Wellington lef b the Manakau at ten o'clock this morning for Southern ports with, the following passengers : —Saloon : Messrs dittos, Levy, B. Williams, Macallister, Major Gordon, Lieut. Kitchen, Sergt. SoaU, Volunteers Boardman, E. Mills, A. Payne, D. A. Hay, J. Warren, J. Hedge, J. Mel sopp, T. Crawford, A. Douglas, J. Hoskin, W. Coleman, J. W. Leigh, J. Leigh, J. McLeod, Horton, Messrs Bigg, Howard, Martland, Benzoni, Mill, C. M. Beck, Nutt, Mr and Mrs Smith, Miss Wilcox, Miss Blake, and Miss Phillips. Steerage : Mrs Berg and four childen, Mr Millis, and four others.

The s.s. Wanganui, Captain Linklater, left the Manukau this morning for Wanganui with the following passengers :— Messrs Horton, Earle, Bridson, and Craig. The Flora McDonald arrived/at Onehunga to-day from E,aglan, with 40 bales flax, 39 bales tow, 7 pigs, 3 cases sundries. The second match between the cutters Undine and Phantom came off to-day, the course being from the wharf round a buoy in Drunken Bay. The vessels had to beat out against a IN T.E. breeze, but cai'ried a fair wind home. The Undine took the lead, and main tained it throughout, coming in an easy ■winner shortly before three o'clock.

A public meeting of shipowners, masters and mates of vessels trading out of this port ■will be held on Saturday evening at the Thames Hotel. The object of the meeting is to take into consideration the propriety of memorialising the Government to appoint a local board of examiners for the port of Auck land. All persons interested in the same are earnestly invited to attend. The brigantine Emulous is announced to leave for Kaipara to-morrow to load timber for Dunedin,

The biig Tower Hill, Captain Harless, arrived in harbour yesterday afternoon from ' Adelaide, with a cargo of wheat. She left Adelaide on the 27th January, and ex perienced moderate easterly and north-east winds till reaching the North Cape, on the 17th inst. On the 18th she encountered a heavy easterly gale, during -which her jib, fore topmast-staysail, and upper main-topsail were carried away. A very high sea was running at the time. Bounded North Cape on Monday last, and experienced light easterly winds down the coast. The s.s. Hero may be looked for to-morrow from Sydney. H.M.S. Rosario left Wellington for this port yesterday. On her arrival H.MS. Blanche will proceed on a cruise. The s.s. St. Kilda arrived at Wanganui at eight o'clock this morning from the Manukau. "The Wanganui took her departure at eight o'clock this morning for Wanganui. The ps. Golden Crown is laid-up for an overhaul. She is now on the gridiron along side Gore-street jetty. The ship Warwick is transhipping her rail way iron into the schooner Duke of Edin burgh, for shipment to Napier. The whole of her cargo has been discharged in first-rate condition. She is now taking in ballast and will sail for Lyttelton on Tuesday next to load for London. The schooner Fortune has reported at the Customs, with 780 bushels wheat, and 170 bushels maize.

The schooner Flirt, Captain McKenzie, arrived in harbour this morning, from Lyttel ton, after a fair passage of 7 days.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

ILLH.B will Close as Under :— lor Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to-morrow, at

10.30 a.m. For Coromandel, to-morrow, at 10.30 p.m. For RuMell per Queen, this day. at 5 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 Ruscell, Kuato, and Mongonui, per Rowena, on Monday, 3rd March, at 3 p.m. For Great Barrier, Whitiang3, Tauranja, and Opotiki, per Southern Cross, on Monday, at 3 p.m. N.B.—A Po3t-office will be opened at Titirangi on the Ist March. (Signed) S. B. Bias, Chief Poßtmaster.

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

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1873.

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

There is considerable disturbance in the Wellington Kookery, and the birds, scared and noisy, are fluttering about the Governor, spoiling the happiness of his last days in the colony. The news has come too unexpectedly and the outline of events is too bare to enable us to form a definite opinion or to hazard a guess at the probable result. Political prophecy is proverbially dan gerous, and we shall take warning by the fate of our morning contemporary, the Cross', which solemnly assured its readers only yesterday that the rumors of dissension would prove to be with out foundation. That the Cabinet is on the eve of dissolution from incom patibility of temper seems certain, and it is very unlikely that any possible arrangement can be made to hold it together till the Assembly meets. The telegram which we published yesterday discloses misunderstandings dating from the formation of the Ministry. In the first instance, Mr Hall says it was understood originally between himself and Mr Yogel that his connection with the Ministry should be only temporary, and that he might retire at pleasure. Mr Shep herd, the Nelson member who left his party at the last moment to form an item in the majority of two which put the present Government in office, ad vances a claim to fill the seat vacated by Mr Hall and bases this claim on a promise made by Mr Yogel. Let us hope that this promise was given after Mr Shepherd and his friends had changed sides in the House on purely public and patriotic grounds. Mr Waterhouse objects to Mr Hall's retirement, but more es pecially to Mr Shepherd's ad mission, and ia indignant that engagements of this nature should have been made on behalf of the Ministry while he, as its head, was kept in ignorance of what was being done. Mr McLean is also charged with being a party to this free use of " veneer " in Cabinet making and will it is hoped give the charges a prompt denial. Mr Yogel being absent from the colony cannot speak for himself. It is therefore the more strongly the duty of Mr McLean to take action and save the Government from being seriously compromised in public opinion. Mr Vox has been sent for; i but as the Ministry could not have been formed if Mr Waterhouse had not taken office as Premier, it is not likely that the Assembly will be satisfied to find him replaced by Mr Fox who had become distasteful to a considerable majority. Itwas alsostated distinctly by Mr Yogel, in reply to a question from Mr Stafford, that the Ministry, though formed by him self, had recognised Mr Water house as its leader and would resign if that gentleman left them during the recess. The position of / Mr Waterhouse is peculiar. Few men in the Assembly are less known. He is in every sense, a new man in the

colony, and has not sat in the Lower House for any constituency. A certain tinge of egotism has been perceptible in his proceedings from the first, but ho must possess some sterling qualities to have commanded the confidence of parties in the House, and to have been regarded as the only available map '■ whom confidence as a le^ {£ placed . Whatpj; er hig personal claims may ry^ lt g f e^ at t^e me ag a s j ur on the colony and on its public men that in a house of seventy-eight members a Government could not be formed without leading men of the Assembly taking shelter under the wing of a comparative stranger. This was the more remarkable as Mr Waterhouse only sat in the Legis lative Council. Possibly over elation may have made him too ready to play the " premier" among his colleagues, and it would he easy to imagine angry feeling resulting. But nothing of that kind could justify the serious charges of deceit made against other prominent members, and such charges having been once publicly made, genuine reconciliation becomes impossible. Excepting for the serious interests involved the public might enjoy these petty bickerings among its great men as a bit of pleasant scandal. To find that Cabinet making involves occasionally very queer proceedings, and that members do not always act with per fect candour; that they make their little bargains and have their little lobbying arrangements, will not startle profoundly any who watched the course of public affairs in the last session. The disorganisation of parties, and the greatness of the spoil at their disposal, were in too strong a contrast. Just at a time when union and public spirit were most needed to carry the colony through the heavy undertakings on which it had entered, the Assembly broke down and displayed qualities of the opposite character. The disclosures being made are not likely to elevate the character of our politicians in general estimation. Whether it be found necessary to call Parliament together at once, or whether the differences among the Ministry be temporarily healed, the public, after this peep behind the scenes, will not be satisfied without a speedy dissolu tion that may give them an opportunity of having some voice m the final settlement of the question.

The speech delivered by Mr Stafford at Timaru last night was, if we may fairly judge from the telegraphic summaries for warded by the rival associations, much more reasonable in its tone than many of the utterances of that veteran statesman. Although the gloomy view which Mr Stafford took, or at least professed to take, of the Public Works policy when the scheme was first propounded in the House, manifests itself in the forshadowings of taxation and lack of employment for labour upon the completion of the railways now in course of construction, yet there are in the speaker's testimony to the wisdom of the policy and his faith in the ability of the country to over come even greater evils indications of a better frame of mind. Mr Stafford expresses his confidence in Mr McLean's native policy, but demurs against the assumption that the present Native Minister is the only man who could administer that policy. In this as in his altered views upon the railway scheme may be observed a deference to the uni versal expression of public opinion. The sincerity of his allusion to the utility of Pro vincial Governments is very doubtful, but with so large a provincial following as that which gathered around the exponent and recognised head of Centralism, it was no doubt felt to be necessary that some assurance should be given that the modification of his centralist views professed last session has not been abandoned. The speech, taken as a whole, was a good one. It did not sketcli out any policy, but Mr Stafford has a perfect right to refrain from shewing his hand 'if it suits 'him to do so, and has sound precedents for his course of action. Admissions and promises made at meetings with constituents are very apt to be quoted at awkward times, and Mi- Stafford's experience no doubt teaches him this, the warm impulsiveness of his nature having before led him into an undesirable dilemma. Some disappointment is felt at the absence from the speech of any reference to the present political crisis at Wellington, but the late hour yesterday afternoon at which Mr Waterhouse's resignation was made known, and the absence of reliable informa tion regarding his reasons for taking the course he had resolved upon probably caused Mr Stafford to refrain from the expression of a hurried ill-considered opinion.

It must be a very questionable transaction indeed to justify a member of a corporate body in withdrawing from a meeting because of the decision of a majority of its members ; but his Honor the Superintendent felt justified in taking that course at the meeting of the City Improvement Commis sioners yesterday, and we believe the public will support him in his action. If a gentle man gets involved, in spite of his strongest remonstrance, in proceedings that he cannot approve of, his plain course is to testify his disapproval by refusing to be mixed up in any way with the body which has been guilty of the objection able practices. The City Improvement Commissioners have not begun well, and it is sincerely to be hoped that their business in future will be less open to the charge of jobbery. As Mr Macready remarked, the Superintendent of the province must con tinue to be chairman of the Commissioners, and we trust His Honor will abandon his in tention of absenting himself from their future meetings, as his presence would no doubt exert a beneficial influence.

We observe that "workmen are busily shingling the churches of St. Matthew and St. Paul's, and certainly not too soon, as such improvements were highly necessary. We hope to see shortly the big bell which has so long rested between the entrances of St. Matthew's raised to its promised elevation, as pedestrians have fully inspected the bell, and are perfectly satisfied of its soundness. We should like to see the outer walls of St. Paul's with a new face, as it occupies one of the most picturesque sites in Auckland, and is one of the first objects that strike the eye's of new comers in their approach to our enchanting city. j

The members of the Auckland Rowing Club are particularly requested to attend a general meeting this evening at the Thames Hotel, as business of an important nature will be brought forward.

The boring for an artesian spring on the allotment of Messrs Ifoktehip & Co. by order and at tlie expense of the Harbour Board is being continued with every chance of a satisfactory result. Water Avas found at a depth of eighty-live feet, and continues -Jj 0 get clearer the deeper the r^ nn o &oes . The material whi-^^g Be6n p £4 c fi£ composed '--l^auiy of rocky blue sla.te, and a layer about seven inches thick of iron stone. A distance of one hundred and twenty-five feet has been reached, and the most sanguine hopes are entertained that the experiment will be crowned with success.

The Shaw-Saville influence has been too powerful for the Dunedin Freight Association and, as will be seen from onr Southern tele grams, it has collapsed. The London agents of the Association appear to have been the cause of its downfall: It is a curious coincidence that the home agents of both the Freight Associations staled in the (idloriy should have been brought to see such insur mountable di fficulties in the way of carrying on t the views of colonial importers. The Auck land Freight Company set a good example to the sister society in Dunedin, by ordering their London agents to carry out their in structions at all risks, and the difficulties then vanished. We are astonished to see so little pluck displayed by the Dunedin merchants.

A new Foresters' Court was opened iast night by about twenty-five members who met to inaugurate the new court, at Mr Stewart's, Provincial Hotel, Princes-street. The court was named, " Zelandia, No. 4,741." The officers installed were : Brother James Impie, Civ. j Alexander Gillespie, S.C.R. ; Samuel Williams, secretary ; -las. Stewart, treasurer ; Thomas McEwin, S.W.; —. Hammond, J,W.: Samuel Whiteside, 5.8.; J. W. Boon, J.B. Dr Hooper was elected surgeon.

At the special meeting of the Auckland Presbytery, yesterday morning, at St. And rew's—present the liev. D. Hamilton, mode rator j»-q lem. ; Revs. Messrs MacNicol, McKenzie, Galloway, and McCallum —the Rev Mr MacNicol moved, and the Rev Mr McKenzie seconded—"That the trials for license given by Messrs McCallum and Gal loway be regarded as trials for ordination," which was agreed to. It was then resolved -—" That these gentlemen be ordained in St. James' Church, on Wednesday evening, the sth March ; Rev. Mr Hamilton to preach, and Key. Mr McKenzie to address the newly ordained ministers." It was also resolved— " That the Presbytery meet on the same day at six o'clock, for the purpose of dealing with the call to Mr McCallum." The Moderator then pronounced the benediction and the meeting separated.

A man named Crawford had a narrow escape last evening between live and six o'clock by the pump opposite the establish ment of Mr Shalders. The man turned aside for the purpose of giving his horse a drink, when Mr Quinn's carriage came in sudden contact with Crawford's cart, and caused a shock whicn threw the horse of the latter violently against the pump, but fortunately no injury was done beyond grazing slightly one of the horse's hind legs.

At the meeting of the Auckland Improve ment Commissioners, held yesterday after noon, the report of the allotment committee was read. It recommended that the allot ments be leased for 09 years ; that the surveyor should prepare plans and sections from Wynyard-stroets to Grafton Road ; the road to be one chain wide ; each frontage to be GO feet wide, and l(j"> feet in depth ; the upset price of frontage to Symonds-street to be £20 ; and other frontages, £15 ; that only one messuage be placed on each allotment, not to cost less than £'A()0. In the matter of the exchange of the powder magazine for the militia store, Messrs Heale and Jones were appointed to wait upon Mr McLean, for the purpose of coining to an arrangement. Messrs Jones, Lusk, and Philips were appointed to form a finance committee, and Messrs Heale, Maeready, and {Teuton a public works com mittee. It was agreed to disallow firing of artillery or musketry iii the reserve in future ; in fact, as soon as the wall is demolished, the place will no longer be an enclosure, and any tiring there will then be illegal.

The Town Clerk's letter to the Improve ment Commissioners, in reference to the Council permitting the City Surveyor to co operate with that body "so as to guard the interests of the city," caused considerable amusement at the meeting yesterday. His Worship the Mayor thought it necessary to explain that it was oidy a matter of form. Mr Macready, however, remarked that a very good beginning was made by the Council getting the earth from the new street carted to the market place for filling in the ground without having to pay anything for ib.

We gather a few jottings from ourThamcs files :—The Brokers' Association at the Thames has at length closed in consequence of a determination to oppose some of the pro visions of the Sharebrokera' Act, still there are fourteen legitimate brokers pacing to and fro in Albert and Owen-streets whose annual licenses have not yet expired. The Thames, however, has within its shadows some signs of life ; many of the shops are now lighted with gas ; the diorama of the Franco-Prussian war attracts hundreds to the Academy of music • eight of the Thames representatives for the firing at Nelson are plucky.enough to challenge eight of the best of our Auck land representatives for the same contest; the struggle for a Philharmonic Club con tinues with vigor; and the sunlight rests between the storms on tho summits of the surrounding hills. Complaints were made last night that there was no night waterman on duty at the Queen street wharf, but it is only fair to the man whose turn it was to state that ho was on duty at tho Wynyard Pier attending on the Blanche. He had arranged with "another waterman to take his place, who however had not returned last night from Waiheki. The watermen who ply from the Wynyard Pier have to be on duty there at all houi's and are constantly employed when a man-of- war is in harbour, and it is unreasonable to suppose that they can also be in attendance at the Queen street wharf at the same time;

A bit of good sensible advice from Josh Billings, done into English, entitled " Pay as you go" :—" This little maxim has been at the service of the world for ages, supported by no particular pretensions to rhetoric, bui brimful of practical philosophy and ple beian sense adapted to the latitude and longit ude of every human creature. It contains within its four monosyllables an analysis of wealth ; it is fortune's stepping stone, and a, letter of credit none can distrust wherever it goes. It is the right bower of economy and maid-of-honor to pleasure ; it fills the day hours with quiet and drives the bailiff from the night dream. Pay as you go, and yoii will know how fast you are going, how far you have gone, and when it is time to stop ; tradesmen will bow when they meet you, and debt with its hungry wolf-tread will starve' on your track. Pay as you go tempers luxury and chastens want—adds dignity to the poor man and grace to the rich man—j wrongs none and is justice to all. Here i$ an antidote for much that is the philosopher's stone ; here is a motto for manhood; here is a leaven for any sized lump. Young inanj pay as you go ; and when you get old you will not depart from it. Other virtures will certainly cluster around you, and when Naf ture hands in her last bill, you will be all th£ better prepared to pay as you go."

Workmen have beeii Employed during tiles last two clays in making a branch sewer from the cellar under the National Bank of New Zealand premises into the main sewer. Last; night the. water from the well opposite, the South-British Insurance office found a passage into the excavation, and flooded the workings, doing some damage, which will have to^be repaired before the vrorlz proceeds. ! A correspondent sends its the following i — " It is suggested that the Province of Auck land, shall bo svibdrndefd into so many dis tricts, and. that etieh. district shall have an independent Superintendent and a' PrCviiicia). Council. The Superintendents to have edOn £800 per annum ; Chief Secretaries, £500 ; Treasurers, what they can take out of the till j Supernumaries whatever they can get as long as there is a shot in the locker, and it is probable that one will not be found a few months hence:"

TnWe' w£ls i?o sitting in Bankruptcy at the Supreme Court to-day. The Bradford town council has sanctioned an expenditure of £9,800 for the purchase of a public park at Horton, in addition to a previous sum of £9000. Of the three parks possessed by the municipality two have been secured by the corporation at a total cost of £60,000.

A Birmingham jeweller named Harrison was charged in London with smuggling. A case containing toys (a free import) was landed from Rotterdam, but concealed in the; bottom were found 721bs. of tobacco and cigars. Defendant was fined LIOO, or six months' imprisonment.

On Saturday evening the Prince of Wales Theatre will be opened by Mr Bromley and Miss Neilson. They will be assisted by Mr Tom JV argett's and Signor Ferrari with his troupe of monkeys, the whole comprising a polygraphic troupe. Miss Neilson has the character of possessing a charming voice, and Mr Bromley is inimitable, especially in his stump oration. The entertainment bids fair to give satisfaction."

The works by the wharf side of Custonv house street are rapidly approaching com pletion. We observe to-day that numbers of workmen are busily engaged raising stones and filling in earth in the open space. When the work is finished it will not only be a great waterside improvement but will greatly facilitate the landing of timber and other material from the smaller craft.

The public are, we should imagine, pretty well tired by this time of Thoma3 de Castro, alias Sir Roger Tichborne, of las Arthur Orton, and of his "wrongs;" but the latest bit of news in connection with the Claimant is too good to be passed over in silence. .Sir Roger has been threatened with assassination, by whom is not exactly clear, but the other day he read a letter headed with a suggestive sketch of a dagger, and a pistol surmounted by the pleasing device of a death's head and cross bones, informing him that he should die either by pistol or dagger, and adding ere long " his blood should flow." On receipt of this communication the Claimant, who ap pears to have been, as our Yankee friends say, " in a pretty considerable funk," com municated with the police, and a strong force of detectives accordingly watched him closely till the supposed hour of danger had passed. What strikes one as remarkable in connection with the case is, that no reason is assigned by the would-be assassin, except that he has been " wronged ;" and the conclusion we can come to is, that the sender of the note is a short-hand writer, who was professionally engaged during the progress of the trial, and whose brain has never recovered from the mass of Ticliborne literature then showered on his devoted head.

The weekly parade of No. 3 Company, A.R.8., will be held on Friday evening next, at half-past seven, in the Drill-shed, Princes street. Members are particularly requested to attend these parades, as the annual in spection will take place in March.

An Alabama editor mildly alludes to his rival as "a reservoir of falsehood and an aqueduct of mendacity."

Carlyle, now nearly four-score years of age, has entirely abandoned writing, but appears occasionally in society, and talks as vigorously as ever. He is often to be seen in the Kensington district of London, walking with Wm. Allingham, the poet, who is one of the editors of Freezer's Magazine.

Stanley in his book thus describes the pleasures of African travel :—But it was terribly hard work—this of plunging through an African jungle, ruinous to clothes, and trying to cuticle. In order to travel quickly I had donned a pair of flannel pyjamas, and my feet were encased in canvas shoes. As might be expected, before I had gone a few paces a branch of the acacia horrida —only one of a hundred such annoyances—caught the right leg of my pyjamas at the knee and ripped it almost clean off ; succeeding which a stumpy kolqual] caught me by the shoulder and another rip was the inevitable conse quence. A few yards farther on a prickly aloetic plant disfigured by a wide tear the other leg of my pyjamas, and almost hnmdiately I tripped against a convolvulus, strong as ratline, and was made to mea sure my length on a bed of thorns. It was on all fours like a hound on a scent that I was compelled to travel ; my solar toj^ee getting the worse for wear every minute; my skin getting more and more wounded ; my clothes at each step becoming more and more tattered. Besides these dis comforts, there was a pungent, acrid plant, which, apart from its strong odorous em issions, struck me smartly on the face, leav ing a burning effect similar to cayenne ; and the atmosphere, pent in by the density of the jungle, was hot and stifling, and the perspiration transuded though every pore, my fiannel tatters feel as if 1 had been through a shower. When I had finally re gained the plain and could breathe free, I mentally vowed that the penetralia of an African jungle should not be visited by me again save under most urgent necessity.

Tuesday next,, the 4th inst, will be the last day for receiving licenses.

The trade of Chicago may be estimated from the following figures:—During the year ending October Ist. last 1,229,908 hogs were packed as against 918,087 of October I, 1871. As may be anticipated the lumber business of the past year has been marvellous. It is calculated that 600,000,000 feet have been consumed in rebuilding the city since the first of January last. More than £16,000,000, it is estimated, are now invested in this trade, and one-tenth of th<£ population of the city, excluding 2,500 sailors and their famalies,fare dependent on this lumber trade for their support. The population of Chicago, according to the census of 187O_was 297,977 ; the last school census places it now at 361,39(3.

Attention has frequently been called to the dangerous steepness of Jacob's ladder leading from Emily Place to Custom House street Last night a Maori who had invested the amount of his peaches sold during the day in rum, found himself top-heavy when half way down the ladder and came down like a rolling stone on a moss-gathering expedition with perhaps worse results, for he left por tions of his wool on the edges of the steps Fortunately no bones were broken, and after recovering from the stunning effects of his rapid descension the native gathered himself up and limped off grumbling as he went.

Messrs K. Walker and Co. have taken action in the matter of the Maoris congre gating in the vicinity of their gum ware- Rouse to the clanger of setting it on fire. They have appealed to the powers that_ be, who, while acquiescing in their application, see a difficulty in effecting a change, the Maoris being such difficult people to deal ! with. One in authority assured x\lr Walker ! that Maoris were such careful people ; and I said he, " Did you ever see a Maoris ! house1 burnt down/ Perhaps Hot, nor j does Mr Walker wish to see his own ! state' burnt dowii either. W c would «sk the said official " Did he ever see a Maori cirtiufc, tfftd H so can any one be answer able for his action *Mfc in that state ? Is not a drunken Maoti jutfi as likely to set fire to his boat by knocking over thts fettfp or ! cooking arrangement as a drunken Urbrbe man ? Mr Walkej has prevailed upon the Harbour Board to order their removal, the only difficulty being as to who is to carry onit the order. In the meanwhile several ot the owners erf the boats have been prevailed iiur/d io remove them to the Gore-street jetty, vAtiiti tl'iey carrycm their trade on the banks of timbei' oti the' eastern side of the -wharf, oblivious to the exissfceWee* <M the sewer's outlet.

The following appears in the Otago Daui/ Times !—" Sir,—l see a man about town who recently had a narrow escape up country from being lynched. At the local races he had entered to run a httrcHe race, his op p'drtent b'eiHg a lad under twenty. Of course eV^fy mre backed the man, and heavy bets were laid xipdii him. The race was run and lost—the boy coming m first. It imme diately transpired that the father1 m the hay had paid £50 to the boy's opponent to i'-tee', and lose he did, pocketing, it is believed, a con siderable sum besides the £50 as the result of his villiany. He bolted, and by one of his victims was pursued and overtaken. To prevent serious damage to his personal appearance he returned a considerable sum, and was allowed to proceed. It shows a very low state of morality when such charac ters are allowed to set their foot into a respectable hotel or to be permitted by any committee having the presence of honesty to appear amongst them. But I fear my feeble warning will be of no use, and that designing rogues will continue to flourish and prosper, and make their little game at the expense of simple foolw until the world ends."

"A Bank Clerk" thus writes to the Argus: —"l fulfil the duties of teller and acountant in a bank, and I have from £10,000 to £15,000 almost immediately under my control. lam answerable for all the risks daily attaching to paying and receiving money. lam likewise liable for any errors I may commit in allowing customers of the bank to overdraw; and further, all danger which may arise from dishonoring bills and cheques, etc. I merely enumerate some of the details of banking, with a view to show_ that_ I have some considerable responsibility daily to incur. Having reached the age of 31 years, out of which I have been in the bank's service over six, I am at present in receipt of the munilicent sum of £200 a year, out of which I have to pay yearly guarantee insurance fee, which costs me a trifle over £5 per annum. I find many others no better than myself, but I most emphatically maintain that, setting this aside as having nothing to do with me, I am scarcely fairty remunerated cither for my length of service or my responsibilities, by the enjoyment of so princely a salary which barely covers expenses. A'o wonder that bank robberies are of such frequent occurrence, for a strong temptation is enticingly held out by keeping us chronically hard up, and in establishing a galled and dissatisfied feeling, which how ever wrong it may be, leads to a desire to injure those who so successfully use their power in crushing us."

People are wont to seek legal advice from barristers and solicitors, but such people never dream of getting a lawyer's advice for thanks ; but in England, near Windsor, at a little compact market-town in Berkshire, called Maidenhead, there resides a generous lawyer, known as Baker Smith, Esq., a well-to-do man, who occupies a pleasant villa by the Thames. In December last this gentle man, who successfully defended two men at the Maidenhead petty sessions on a charge of poaching, gravely handed to the bench some cards upon which were printed his advice to his clients, which was really worth no incon siderable fea This " advice gratis " was as follows :

Keep Sabbath Holy. Eead Bible daily. Use watch-word hourly." " Walk circumspectly." Abstain from obscenity, swearing, snuffing, smoking,

and poaching. If any insult or assault you, return neither word or blow;

but go to a Lawyer. Drink no beer, wine, or spirits. If you drink beer have a cask from a brewer, and share it with your wife and family, who, as they participate your cares, should share your comforts.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

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

DRUNKENNESS

William Laverty was charged with being drunk last night in Queen-street, and fined 10 and costs, or 4S hours" imprisonment.

ASSAULT,

William Priestly, on warrant, was charged with assaulting Robert Hewitt, of Newton, on the evening of the 26th instant. Mr Joy appeared for the complainant, and Mr J. B. Russell for the defence.

Mr Russell said that this was a neighbours' quarrel; and as it was late last night when it happened thei'e had not been time to get the necessary evidence. He would ask therefore that this case might be re manded till a future day. Mr Joy asked that the accused should find substantial bail for his appearance. The case was remanded until Tuesday next, the accused finding bail, himself in £50, and two securities of £25 each. ALLEGED LARCENY. William Jones and Thomas Kennedy were charged on suspicion with having robbed John Baker, at the Thames Hotel, Queen street, Auckland, of a purse containing a sum of £10 on February 24th. The accused pleaded not guilty. „ Mr Broham stated that he believed that William Jones was guiltless of the charge. He would ask for # his acquittal, which was granted.

Kennedy then was alone charged with the offence.

John Baker deposed that he was a bush man residing at the Upper Thames. On Monday evening, the 24th, he was standing in the doorway of the Thames Hotel. It was between eleven and twelve o'clock. He saw the prisoner among other persons by the doorway, who asked him distinctly to •' do a shout." He replied, "yes, come on," and took several of them in and "shouted" beer. He paid for it from his purse, which he took out in the presence of the parties from his coat pocket. The prisoner was standing close by him at the time. His purse contained one five pound note, three one-pound notes, and two sovereigns. After the exhibition of his purse the accused evinced a personal interest in him ; took him i*ound the waist, and would explain to him about the row which had previously ooouryed, Mr

Grattan, the manager of the Hotel, then asked him if his purse was all right, when, upon feeling for the same he iowrA that the purse and contents had evaporated in a very mysterious way. Tliers was a ■little silver in the purse as Vfell, but lie could riot say 2-ovr much) Us %c had a. little be::.- in his head, Mr GraticWt':rsria({f:d him to give the men Jones and Kenned? ixrto custody. Cross-examined If tbe prisoner : He did not see him take his parse ont of hia pocket. Jones.did not .peak to hiitf P» the nigKt of the robbery. William Jones deposed that ac lived in Albert-street, and met with the prisoner at the Greyhound corner on the ':?4ih maty, when he said, "Billy, I .have ,n-j place tc sleep to-nigtit, v/iU yon lei- line sleep on ! board ?" to vHiidi vitrife.--: conjeenied. They then went Jwguiher to Copland's Hotel. They Met with the pr<>;w;.itor '.here, when prisoner said h" n" aver -uv. and asked Baker to «hou". He at first refcwed, but' subsequently alteted his mind and paid for beer, of which witness* did not partake. He saw' Baker pull out his purse and take the silver from amongst the notes to pay for the beer. He then replaced his purse containing the notes in his side-pocket. Prisoner then said he wanted to go out and speak to Mr %aker, and asked witness to wait inside th« tavern while he did so. He left about three nrimiies after, when he saw prisoner with his hdttfo around Baker, "mauling" him about. He then wished the prisoner to leave, as it was near twelve o'clock, and they cotdd not go on board after twelve o'clock. Upon hearing Baker singing out for the pabee Kennedy took his heels and bolted at great speed ; and , afterwards, from a distance, whistled to wit -1 Hess to follow. Witness then returned to the1 feotfeJ, when Mr Grattan said that one of them hat! got that man's purse. He denied that he had g^i it, when _Mr Grattan said you must come and find it. He directed the constable to the spot^here prisoner had gone (round Bell's corner)1, where he found the purse They were botii taken into custody on the charge. He told prisoner the next morning if he had got the man's money he should give it up, as Baker was a hard-working man. He said all that he had of it was £3, which he refused to give vp r saying he would go to Mount Eden first. "Prisoner did not wish to cross-examine this witness.

His Worship replied that he was wise in this respect. • . Andrew Cirattan was next examined, and deposed that lie was manager of the Thames Hotel And proceeded to corroborate the main facts 'of the statement of the previous witness. , ■ , „ , , Frank Diver, of the Auckland Constabu lary, deposed to the finding of the purse behind some scantling in Bell's buildings, and to taking the prisoner into custody at three o'clock in the morning in Queen-street. Upon'charging him with the offence, prisoner said, " All right, lock me up ; but I have not got the money." Prisoner said he had no witnesses to call, and no statement to make. The depositions were then read to him. Committed for trial. BBEACHES OF BY-LAWS. The case of Mr George William "Friend, charged with allowing the rain to stream down from his verandah upon the pavement below, during a heavy shower which occurred on the 13th instant, in direct opposition to No. 6 of the City By-Laws was, upon the ap plication of Mr Beveridge, remanded until Saturday. The case of Mr Hardington, charged with another grave offence against the city by laws, by obstructing the piiblic carriage-road in Queen-street, on the 15th instant, will be heaz-d on Saturday. This was all the business.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM COROMANDEL.

FAILURE OF THE ATTEMPT TO FLOAT THE LION. COROMANDEL. This day. An attempt to float the barque Lion off the bar at Whangapoua was made last night, but failed. ■{. Mr Harris ai'rived here to-day. The Bessy left Whangapoua this morning for Auckland.

LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS.

PUNISHMENT OF HALEY. REMARKABLE SUICIDE AT GREY MOUTH. FAILURE OF|THE DUNEDIN FREIGHT COMPANY. FALL IN PRICE OF WOOL. RAILWAY TO BRUMMER COAL MINE. WELLINGTON. This day. The s.s. Taranaki arrived yesterday from the South. The Rangatira, from Greymouth, with 190 tons of coal, has arrived. The barque India, from Launceston, bound for Lyttelton, piit in here for fodder. Sailed : H.M. Rosario, for Auckland, to relieve the Blanche. Mr Brogden's tender for the Brunner coal mine railway goes in to-day.

NELSON.

This day. The Inland Communication Committee laet evening adopted a report- approving of thfe j* formation of a company to construct a railway --\ trom Foxhill to Brunnerton, taking • nine hundred thousand acres from the Provinciaj Government and the Brunner mine.

PORT CHALMERS.

This day. Sailed, at 2.45 p.m. : Phoebe, s.s., for the North, with 26 representative volunteers and a large number of passengers.

DUNEDIN.

This day. Cyrus Haley has been sentenced to six weeks in irons and to work with the hard-labor gang for his attempt at escape. A complete disguise had been secreted by Haley, who had constructed a pair of false whisk^ri? and a moustache,

im mmm&tWA% fmm\mki % m&miAM sir, im.



T COSG-BAVE & G O.S1 SALE OF DRAPERY & CLOTHING COMMENCED ON SATURDAY, FEB. 1. The Public are requested to inspect the Goods as the Reductions are Genuine. GR^aT reductions FOR THREE MONTHS ONLY AT THE AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY, 194, QUEEN STREET, Next Door to Savings/ Bank. Oartes-de-visite reduced from lGs per dozen to 13s 6d. Maori Celebrities flargest s t oC k in New Zealand to select from), reduced from 12s per dozen to Os. Views from all parts of New Zealand reduced from 12s per dozen to Os. 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. Me GA&KI QI, 1, M&nftgev, UNION BANK OF AUSTRALIA, [Established 1537.] PAID-UP CAPITAL .... £1,250,000. RESERVED FUNDS ... £400,000. NOTICE TO PROPRIETORS. rpELEG-BAPHIC advicehavingbeen received that a Dividend at the rate of 13 per Cent, per annum for the half year ending 31st December, 1872, on the Paid-\ip Capital of this Bank was declared at the Meeting of the Proprietors, held in London on the 16th .January, Proprietors registered in Christchurch at the former date will roceive their Dividend Warrants on application at the Bank's Ortloes, Hereford-street, Christchurch, or through any Branch of the Bank in New Zealand. (Signed) JOSEPH PALMER, Chief Officer for New Zealand.