SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

(StrN-STET : This evening, (i.U SUN-EISE i To mfflSHmw!S&tSTl«l- evening, 8.40 j to-mo«o^ morning, 0.11

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Skimmer of the Wave, ship, pom £«w yon: Magellan Cloud, brigantine, from Honolulu Gemsbok, barque, from New York, viaDuncdm Lily brig, from Adelaide Hyd'aspes, ship, from London Hazel Home, barque, from Mauritius, viaDunedm Ferndale, burque, from Liverpool Wonga-Wongd, s.s, from Sydney

ARRIVALS.

Charybdis, schooner, From J.evuka ( Laetitia, schooner, from Napier "William and Julia, schooner, from tlio Thames

DEPARTURES

Hero, a.s., Logan, for Sydney Fiery Cross, schooner, for Russell Prince Alfred, banper.tlne, for Norfolk Inland and New Caledonia Prima Donna, schooner, for KussclJ

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

Vox- Napier, via Kennedy's Bay : Columbia, sclioonc For New Caledonia : Prince Alfred, brigantine For "London : Lady Bowcri, barqiio or London : Countess of Kintore, ship

EXPORTS

J^Per Hero for Sydney : 40 bales of tow, J. Dacre ; 11.4 bales' of flax, "25 bales of tow, J. Pt.; Jvoborts ; 49 bales of tow, Brown, Camp bell and Co. ; 270 empty sacks, W. Hogg ; 4 pgs rope, Ryan, Bell and Co. ; 2 cases lire kindlcrs, Williams ; 1 bale bags, G. Sibbin. For Melbourne : 35 bales flax, Stono Bros. ; 12 cases sauce, H. Olson; 5S bales flax, J. S. Macfarlane; 1 case, e^c City of Auck land.— Cruickshank and Co., agents. The s.s. Hero, Captain Logan, sailed for Sydney to-day at three p.m. punctually with therollowing"passengers : Saloon : Mr B. S. Cohen, Mrs Thurhurn, J. E. I.'. Walker, Mr and Master Williams, !)?• Lang, Mrs and Miss Martin, Dr. and Mrs Hobbs and two children, Mrs Fitzgerald and child, Mr Saville wife and child. Saloon, to Mel bourne : Mr and Mrs Berridge, Mr J. Mar shall. Steerage to Sydney : Messrs Cross land, Calderhall, Mrs Emesson and live children, Messrs Shaw, Morcane, Flint, Ford, Allan. Steerage to Melbourne : Messrs Hassell, Yates, and Mrs Goodhall and family. The brig Tower Hill has hauled along side the wharf. She will continue to dis charge into the lighters of. the Thames Gas Company, but has hauled in to be enabled to take in ballast. The continued rain to-day put a complete stop to! all operations on the wharf. The dead calm, with drizzle, which has lasted nearly the whole day has made everything look very dismal among the shipping. The Fiery Cross, which was endeavouring .to sail out this afternoon, drifted down the harbour stern foremast.

' The Clyde from Wangarei last night brought 18 head cattle and 21 passengers. The barque Hazel Holme from j)uncdin, en rontc. from Mauritius, is expected here in about a week.

The s.s. Southern Cross left yesterday evening for Tauranga with several passengers and a full cargo.

The schooner Lartitia, from Napier, brings a cargo of pigs &c. The schooner Charybdis, Captain Braund, arrived yesterday from Fiji. She left Levuka on the 2r>fch September, and.carried strong trade winds to latitude 25 deg. ; thence moderate winds to port. On the sth October, in lat. 30 dcg. 3G mm. and long. 173 deg. 3.r> sees., passed fe tho .American barque Amelia, of San Francisco, fbotuid to the westward with lumber. •

: The schooner L;otitia arrived yesterday evening from Napier, via the coast. She brings a cargo of grain consigned to D. H. McKenzie.

The Kffic Mciklc cleared outwards at the Customs to-day for the second time, incon sequence of having taken in more cargo. She sails for Poverty via East Coast at the first opportunity. Her cargo consists, of general stores shipped by various firms. The schooners Queen and Golden Isle have cleared out for Russell in ballast.

The schooner William and Julia brings 40 tons of flagstone from the Thames.

PROVISION MARKET COLONIAL PRODUCE.

■Buying Tutors, Coiuveoted by Auckxaot) Dealers. s. d. s. d. a icl. s. <1 Butter,per Ib. 0 10-0 0 Ducks,pair,. S 0- r, o Cheese (new) 0 s—o 7' (iecse, each 't O—G 0 Eggs, per doz. 0 B—o 0 Turkeys .. 3 o—4 0 Lard, per Ib. '0 7—o 0 | Canterbury Baconi & Hams Fowls, pair.. 3 0-50 1 (bare) .. 0 7—o 8J Good Salt Butter, 7—o 0| Do (in cloth) 0 S£~o i) Canter. Cheese, 6J—O S | Auckland 0> o—o 7 c; v [ I: Hams, Od to la per Ib. jj, '~ JIETAIL PJJTCES, Fakm and Dairy Tivokuce. s. d. s. d. s. d s. d. Milk, per yt. 0 OtoO 5 Ducks, per pr. r> 0-6 3 Butter (fresh) 1 8-1 0 Geeso, each r, o-G 0 Cheeso(new) 0 B—lo Turkeys, each 5 0-7 0 Eggs, per doz. 0 10—0 0 liaoon, per Ib.'o B—l 0 Lard, peril). 0 C—o 0 Hams .. .. 0 9-1 0 Fowls, pair.. 4 0-0 0 Salt Butter.. 0 I—l 3 Botchkks' Meat. Beef, peril). 0 4—o 7 Pork, per Ib 0 0 Mutton .. 0 4-0 C Veal 0 0 BIIBADSTUFFS. FLOVII. WHOLESALE. Millers' Price, per ton —Ist quality £17 Fino Flour-household £14 Ade! aide Flour £18 Canterbury .. ..• £13-to £14 Seconds, £12. Sharps, £710s Bakers' Price, per Ib 3d. Bran, Is Cd per bushel. Bread, per 21b. loaf, 4d to 4Jd. Maize, crushed and whole, 4sodto 5s BISCUIT. Cabin Biscuit, per 1001b, .. ~ .. detail, 22s MAIZE, OATS, POTATOES, ETC. "WIIOLKSALE. Maize, 5* 3d ; inferior, 4s Gd Oats, 5s Cd to 5s 9d per bushel. Potatoes, SA to £4 10s per ton ; Ilobart Town Seed, £7 to £7 10s; . Hay, £2 to £4 10s per ton. Straw, £2 10s to £3 per ton. Chaff, £0 10s-per ton. ; . . : i:.'i lUSTATL. Maize, 5s 6d to 5s Od per bushel; crushed, Gs Gd.j Oats, Cs per bushel. Potatoes, 5s (id per cwt. . . Hay, cwt., 48ito (is. ! ; ] . Straw, 4s to .Is,per cwt. Chaff, 7s 0d to 8s per cwt.' KAURI GUM ANT) FLAX MARKET. The following aro tho prices in the Auckland marketl:— Gum—Well scraped, best quality .. .. £28 to £29 Ordinary, sorts ..' ..£2O to £27 Flax.-Fine* quality £21 to £22 Second ditto .. .. ...... ..£l4 to £20 T ow £7 to £8. BUILDING MATERIALS'. Timber.—Boards and scantling, 100 ft, 9s to 15s ; at mills, IQs fid ; planed, tongued, and grooved, 11s Cd to 17s ; at the mills, f.0.b., 10s (id New Zealand palings, 5-foet, 10s ; 6-foet, 12s ; ti ree rails, £215s to£:? per 100 ; puriri posts, £5 per 100 ; shinies, 8s to i:ss per LOOOji Hooart Town palinga, sft. 17s; Oft., 198 ; Hobartown rails, 755.'

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails wilt, Cwht. as 'Dndkk :— For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p m., find to-morrow, at 10.30,».mjand 5.30 p.m. For Coroniandol, to-morrow, at 1.30 p.m. _ For Kennedy Bay (St. Andrew's), per Columbia, to morrow, at 0 a.m. Tor Maunrangi, Matakana, Mangawai, Waipu, &c, per Lady liowen, on Saturday, llth inst., at 10 a.m. For Taranaki, Southern provinces, and Australian Colonies, per Ladybird, on Monday next, at noon. For Russell, Wangaroa, and Mongonui, per Eovvena on Monday, 13tli inst, at 'A p.m. (Signed) S. B. Bifis, Chief Postmaster,

BIRTH.

liKntiKTT.—On October i, at North Shore, the wife of P. C. Leggctt, Esq., of a daughter.—Home papers please copy.

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

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1873.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, i'or the futuro in the distance,

And the good that wo can do

It would appear from our Wellington tele grams to-day that the ministerial changes that have taken place were preceded by a storm that threatened the existence of the Cabinet. Mr O'Eorke clung tenaciously to the office of Minister of Immigration, which the Premier desired to take under his own special care, and it was only when resignation and loss of all was threatened that order was restored. Mr O'Rorko is to hold the portfolio of Postmastur-Cenernl and Commissioner of Telegraphs, and Mr Vogel becomes Minister of Immigration. The Agent-General will surely be set in the right path now, and the immigration scheme, which has been the thorn in the side of the Ministry during the past three sessions, should be placed on such a footing that it may bo pointed to with pride and confidence when deeds done in iho recess are adjudicated upon by the representatives of the people in solemn conclave.

Tho business at tho Diocesan Synod yes terday was mostly of a formal character.

We know nothing of the previous career of John Parsons, recently a medical man of the Bay of Islands, who was sentenced lust evening by Sir George A. Arney to four years' penal servitude, but it was a lament able spectacle to see an educated, apparently respectable man, with a head white with the frosts of time, in his fiftieth year, placed in the dock, and consigned to herd with the lowest class of criminals; and more especially, as ho has a sickly young wife and three children. It appears that ho had a fair practice near the retired settlement of Russell, and might have sustained a creditable posi tion in society. Neither his education how ever, nor his position, nor his consciousness of parental responsibility were sufficient to control his fatal tendency, and he fell and must suiter tho penalty of his misdoings. The defence by Ml* Joy was fervid, eloquent, and ingenious, and redounds greatly to his credit as a pleader, lie did all that possibly could be done for his client, but the evidence was too convincing to the jury to enable those gentlemen to return a favourable ver dict. The strangers' part of tho Court was nearly crowded through the day by interested spectators, and we observed no less than seven of our Auckland medical gentlemen in Court eagerly watching tho case and await ing the verdict. Tiis Honor made a feeling address on delivering the sentence, at the close of which the prisoner appeared almost paralysed, '~ and totally unable to utter the words which ho had prepared on his note-book. The result of the trial of John Parsons, while it may act as a warning to others, shews that education and natural abilities do not always prevent a man from sinking into vice and moral degradation.

Mr Brookfleld stated in the Supreme Court yesterday to his Honor that the civil case, Walsh v. Wren, appointed to be tried by a special jury on the 20th instant, was settled.

JT he Wellesley-street corner of the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, which hitherto has had rather a gloomy appearance, is rendered livelier by the Gospel Tract and Book Depot, formerly of High-street, which is now open. In its former place this depot was comparatively lost, but in its present position it will be known to hundreds of persons who were not previously aware that such a religious literary store existed, and what spot could be more appropriate for its ocdupancy than a niche of the Young Men's Christian Association.

The Auckland Fire Brigade, under Mr Matthews, practised last evening, when the engine, which had been repaired, was brought out, tried, and found to work most satisfac torily.

The entertaining drama of the "Bells" was successfully re-produced last evening at the Prince of Wales Theatre in the presence of a very good audience. The various parts were admirably sustained by the actors, and gave general satisfaction. The merry bur lesque o£ "Black-eyed Susan" followed, and drew forth the plaudits of the house. These pieces will be repeated this evening,

A swag has been picked up by Mr O'Sullivan, of Durham-street, who hopes through the medium of our paper to discover the owner. The bundle was found at the foot of Forfc Britomart, saturated with water. Its contents are chiefly wearing apparel ; but there were ateo a Bible and pocket book, bearing the name.of "E. W. Bartley, 21, Baker-street, Walworth Road."' This should result in the owner being made acquainted with the whereabouts of his property.

To the Editor : Sir, —In Mr Hannaford's letter last night he states that bis charge,for obtaining a situation for any one is onefshil- Jiiitr. j Jiappen to be one of those for whom he] obtained the offer of a situation, for which lie charged mo £4. Let people judge for themselves.—l am, &c, C. McL.

We learn that two Methodist ministers are on their passage from London—one to bo stationed at the Thames, and the other to succeed the Rev. Mr Waters, who will pro ceed to the Australian circuit.

A public meeting was held on Tuesday night in the school-room, Newmarket, to in stitute a series of evening entertainments for the benefit of the residents in that district. At present there is no other attraction than the public-house. Mr Jenkins was voted to the chair, explained the object of the meeting, and invited tin; opinion of Lhbse present. Alter discussing the subject it u;is resolved to form a society, to bo called the Newmarket Literary Association. A gentle man while alluding to the decline of the old debating class remarked that one member had left through getting married. The chair man thought that showed the necessity of introducing music, etc., into their meetings to secure the attendance of ladies, without whoso patronage there was no chance of suc cess. He also advocated special attractions for young people. It was decided to vary the evening's programme by lectures, con certs, readings, etc., and that the Yon. Arch deacon Pritt should be respectfully invited to become president of the association. Messrs Hogg, Withoford. and Osbornc were nominated a committee to forward the move ment and report progress at the adjourned meeting to bo held next Monday evening at eight o'clock.

Wo learn that the members of the Early Closing Associationwillshortly give an enter tainment of a musical and recitative charac ter, l>ut the place and time of meeting are Tint yet fixed, hut will probably be decided at their next gathering. We hear that an original address, written expressly for the occasion, will he given. Wo are glad that the assistants of our city have been success ful in curtailing the hours of labour through the generous exertions of Messrs Itattray, Yaile, and Shalders, seconded by others. We hope by mutual concessions the draper.'; and their assistants will continue to maintain the exemplary position they occupy in relation to early-closing and self-help.

An entertainment of a varied and pleasing character will be given thin evening in tiie Choral Hall in aid oE the funds of the Auckland lviflo Association. The entertain ment will bo on an elaborate scale, and under the distinguished patronage of the officers and members of the local volunteer forces. The programme promises a series of songs, duets, anil ballads, and an amusing farce by the indefatigable members of the Hobson Company, entitled " Caught by the Culls." The City band, one of the ablest of our musical bodies, will take a prominent part in the proceeding. Mrs Mitchell will sing a couple of her exquisite songs. Miss Leaf will also sing that charm ing sentimental ballad, "My Soul is an Enchanted Boat." Mr Hill will sing the pathetic ballad of " Little Nell," founded on the beautifully touching story of the same heroine in the " Old Curiosity Shop," from the inimitable pen of the late Charles Dickens. Mr Waieham will sing the sweet ballad of "Adelaide," from Beethoven, and sevei-al others will be given by other ladies and gentlemen. The musical department will be under the management of Mr Joseph Browne, and Mr Perkins, of tho Occidental Hotel, will as usual, provide the necessary refreshments-

The visitors to the City .Hall last night were highly gratified ■with Mr Chapman's magical entertainment illustrative of spiritist delusions, which have led captive the intelligence of many thousandn Of otherwise sane pooplo. Mr Chapman's delusions arc brought instantaneously about by sleight of hand, and are marvellously executed to the intense enjoyment of the audience. It might be unfair perhaps to detail or attempt a description of this wonder-exciting enter tainment, as it must bewitneaaed to be truly appreciated. We may state, however, that the performances are remarkably clorer, full of life, most exciting, and those who ace them once will not lie satisfied withont seeing them a second time. The tricks comprise a succession of magical wonders, which form a key to the manifestations of modern spiritism. We extracted some days ago from the Thames evening paper a comment on Mr Chapman's exposure of Spiritualism. His trick, signifi cantly called " A man sealed up in a sackful of ghosts," is especially striking. The wizard is handcufl'ed securely with a pair of " brace lets," and tied up in a sack, the mouth of which is sealed. He is then put into a screen erected in the middle ot the stage, and the curtains are lowered. A very short time elapses before the hands of a man, bare to the wrists, are shaken above the screen, a bell rings, articles of wearing apparel and other tilings lly over the top, and there appears to be a general rejoicing of the spirits within the magic circle. In the space of about three minutes or more Mr Chapman emerges —hand- cuffed as before, but denuded of las coat and waistcoat, and the seal on the sack is still in tact. In the course of the evening Mr Chap man directs many telling remarks against the doctrine of spiritism. He accompanies the whole of his tricks with an easy How of humour, which renders this entertainment a very enjoyable one.

Hiv Samuel Baker has organised ten mili tary districts in the regions of Africa traver sed by him. Each district is to have a fortified station, which is to bo garrisoned by Egyptian troops, armed with, rifles of the latest patterns. Slave-hunters, it is" hoped, will lind their occupation impossibe, under those circumstances, their hunting grounds being in Egyptian hands.

A carpenter at Klagenfort, in Austria, deliberately soaked his clothes in petroleum, and then set; himself, alight with a lucifer match. No sooner was he enveloped in flames than he uttered awful cries, which brought the whole neighbourhood to liis assistance. But he was in a few minutes beyond all human help, the whole body being carbonised. At one of Mr Mackuue's Good Templar public meetings a Mr Rawdon asked if it was true that in the Good Templar Lodges there was a call off for 10 minutes for con gratulations, or what he would vulgarly call kiss-in-the-ring, He wanted a plain answer to that question.-r-Mr Mac kune said he would answer. Aflor each initiation there was a call off for con gratulations, during which every brother and sister in the room rushed up and shook hands with the newly-initiated member. That was the only kiss-in-the-ring that he knew of.-—Mr Eawdon said that he had charge of the room in which these meetings were held, and he found lots of love lots of kicking about. He asked the question for the purpose of ascertaining whether such proceedings were allowed.—Mr Mackune said that such proceedings might have perhaps occurred in one or two lodges.

A working man employed about the wharf lias called at our office to complain that some one has taken away the drinkiug-eup attached to the stand-pipe at the corner of Queen street, near the Waitemata hotel. He says it is a great hardship to Good Templars, and hopes the missing horn will at once be re placed. '

i^f.The. carters; of Auckland will hold their Adjourned meeting''this ovening. at. Scents' :.British hotel, when matters affecting their peculiar interests will be discussed.

There was quite a'large display of our settlers on Monday evening last at Messrs Carder Bros., Waitemata Potteries, on the occasion of Mr Lamb, of lliverhead, favour ing us with a lecture on "Home and its Influences." The lecturer very ably treated his subject. and there were some very practical suggestions, which I hope the settlers will not lose sight of; for there is, in my experience of the place, too much selfishness and want of sociality, which ought not to exist in small communities. The admission fees was on behalf of the Hamilton Memorial Fund, thereby seeming an additional yum to the subscription list. Air Lamb, alter his lecture, adverted in conversation to the want <>l' a school. This was enbirely their own faults. As they had allowed the matter to stand over so long he was afraid they would have some difficulty in getting the matter now, as the Hoard of Education were, he xindnrstood, without funds at present. I hope this great Education Board will bo able to right them selves shortly if their financial affairs are in such a deplorable state.— [Correspondent.J

A remarkable Ivans naiitrce has been re ported to a Taranaki paper. A Maori jjjit-1 of thirteen years of age (daughter of Pitt, a chief, who fought with the Europeans during the late war) ,jhas given birth to a monstrosity, in the shape of an infant with a head on it something resembling a turkey cock, tho comb being quite perfect. It had no eyes or ears, and the mouth was pointed like that of a mou.se. It was an awful sight, and even frightened the carl's parents, who quickly destroyed and buried it.

A correspondent writes :— I purchased shares in the Una Quartz Crushing and Gold Mining Company (Limited), when the market price was one guinea and onepound per share, subsequently at lower rates. The Company ceased paying dividends, and commenced making calls, which they continued to do for some time ; but it was stated that the making of calls would only be temporary until they reached a certain spot where they knew gold would bo found in ample quantity to enable them to pay dividends again to a much greater extent than they were making calls ; that spot has long since been reached, the gold found (as witness the largn returns for many months pas),), yet no commencement of the payment of dividends has been made, and hence I see the price for shares quoted in this day's Herald is only (Is., which I think would not be the case had faith been kept with the patient and persistent shareholders. The overdraft at the bank has been liquidated, thirteen acres more land taken up, and the question I wish to put is : If they are not going to pay dividends, what are they going to do with the accumulating surplus '! Surely the shareholders have a strong claim for interest on their outlay before anything else. The insertion of the above in your widely circulating paper would greatly oblige.

The members of "the Auckland Harmonic Sooiety will meet for their usual weekly practice this evening in the large room of the Voting Men's Christian Association, at eight o'clock. Selections from the "Messiah," and several glees, will constitute the per formance. It will be pleasing to the members of this ."society to learn that their indefatigable instrumentalist, Mr Lambert, h.is received by the last English mail from the Royal Astronomical Society a diploma entitling him to membership.

The following letter bearing on Admiral Roasain's remarks to tho Mayor relative to the scat of Government not being at /nick land appeared in the Wellington Post : — Sir, —In, a local of your issue of last evening the geographical knowledge of Admiral Roussain was called in question for naming Auckland the capital of New Zealand. Permit me to draw your attention to Chambers' geography, as used in tho schools here, and at page (50 you will find Auckland given us the capital, further, nearly all geographies, including Gold smiths', give Auckland as either tho capital or Seat of Government.—Your &c.,, Ma.i\ To this the editor appended the following : —

The geographies in question were probably published at a time wlieu Auckland was both the capital and scat of Government, Possibly very few of the published geographies now give correctly the capital of Canada. In facb we do not know that thero is any difference between the capital and the seat of Govern ment. Wherever the latter is must of necessity be the former. Auckland is certainly not the political capital of the colony, and even in point of commercial importance it is inferior to Dunedin.

MR BEETHAM AND THE NGAKAWAU AFFAIR.

To the Editor of the Evenino Star

Sir, —I have now to call upon you to obtain from youi correspondent a statement of the revelations to which he refers as the " Nga kawau Scandal," and which appeared under the sensational heading in your issue of Thursday last of "Scandalous Revelations,'' in large type. The time has fully arrived when it is necessary for him to satisfy the minds of the shareholders in the Albion Company in Auckland, and throughout New Zealand where your paper circulates, on this subject if it is in his power to do so. Hav ing neglected at the time or since to vouch safe further communication on the matter, I think, as managing director and a large share holder in the Albion Company, I have aright to demand that your correspondent disclose his authority for such insinuations.—l am, &c, Albert Bkktiiaji. Auckland, Sept. 8, 1873. In compliance with the above request we have communicated with our correspondent, and are able to publish the report, on the subject presented by the Committee of the House of Representatives, which should satisfy the public, if it is not so gratifying to Mr Beetham as it might be. We hope to be in a position to give further information in a day or Wo : — '' Report of the select committee of the . House of Representatives appointed to i consider tho petition of Albert Beetham. " Your committee having taken evidence upon the matter submitted to them recom mend that the whole of the evidence thereto attached be printed. " "That to enable your committee to come to a decision on the questions at issue it would be necessary to take further evidence and to make enquiries which the time at its disposal of would not permit. ".That the evidence taken by your com mittee shows that statements made by the petitioner, Albert Beetham, before it on the 25th! of August last, as taken down by the short-baud reporter, were altered by tke'said Albert Beetham in several material respects when delivered to him for signature, con trary to the orders of the House on that behalf. " That no action should be taken by. the Government based upon the evidence of Albert Beetham without further independent enquiry being made by the Government. "(Signed) W, A. Murray, " Chairman," J

NOTES FROM WELLINGTON.

(From Our Special Correspondent.)

LAST HOURS

Memeeks of Parliament are men of like pas sions with, ourselves, and the aspect of the House revives one's impressions of those dear old school-boy days when the approaching holidays removed the burthen of months, and the natural buoyancy of the mind became irrepressible. There is a hum and a buzz all over the House, and the members whose tin fortunate notices still clog the order-paper have but a heedless auditory. Still the busi ness proceeds, and the sonorous tones of Mr Speaker are heard from time to time declar ing that the "ayes have it" or the "noes have it," while neither lie nor any other man has' heard or uttered either "aye" or "no.' But then: is a Speaker instinct,, born of long experience, that can divine the general senti ment, and movers or opponents are too indo lent to question a decision, and the House in its present temper would promptly resent the impertinence of any one that would think of calling for division. The greater number of the members are engaged in sorting their papers, the confused and cumbrous accumu lation of a session ; and from my eyrie, away up among these crimson clouds, I fancy I can hear the humming of a little ditty from more than (me as he sorts the mass of legislative rubbish, and thinks affectionately of home, sweet home. There is an unmistakable air of" I'm off" about every member of the House. Several have their hats on, and one —the " Smiler" —has not only his hat on his head and his shoos on his feet, but his staff in his hand, like the Israelites when they ate the pascal lamb on the eve of their departure from the hind of bondage. And a land of bondage it has been in very truth. I have been of those who have S3offcd at the groan ings pf our legislators when they used to speak with feeling of their grinding in the place of bondage. Hut whether it be from the necessity of being always present, or loso a portion of the honorarium; or whether it bo from better motives, the fact is still the same that the toil undergone by members of Assembly during the session is severe and exhausting in the extreme. With com mittees and with legislation the shoulder is to the wheel from ten or eleven in the morn ing, with intervals for food alone, till mid night least, or even till two in the morning ; and if there is an amount of recklessness and nonchalance in the air of members in the closing hours of the session, ill-befitting the solemnity of these legislative halls, it is to be pardoned to humanity. Even Mr Speaker himself, though compelled by the exigencies of the position to listen to the wearying earnestness of the members who are speaking of the neglected and destitute children of legislation that pass dolefully through the House in its cloning hours, does not seem in the spirit to repress the hum of liberty that is drowning the voice of the pleader, and con veys the impression that he would long to fling off the robe of state and turn a quiet little somersault on the floor of the House. Even the ministry are not unsusceptible to the genial influences. Mr. Vogel walks about and chats pleasantly with members, friends, and foes alike ; and viewed from the distance it appears as if he is pleasantly rubbing off the point of man}' a barbed and poisoned arrow that has been shot during the debate. Mr, Maclean's face bears a radiant expression of internal satisfaction, and he slightly trips to and fro, talking in a paternal and benignant way, and I I could fency him saying "oh, its all light, no matter about what has passed, we're all friends together." Mr Reynolds bears the same peculiar smile, half pleasant half vicious, that characterises him in the House : perhaps there is a little soupoon of satisfaction that the wicked have now ceased from troubling, and tke weary are at rest. Mr O'Rorke lias the same air of Irish jauntinesa and easy mind which attends him in all circumstances —favorable or adverse. Il'rank and ready and off-handed at all times, there is yet more buoyancy in his laugh and movements now that he sniffs the air of freedom. Mr Richardson receives the quiet congratulations of members with that quiet smile and gentle manner that have saved him from many a rude knock wherewith his colleagues were from time to time being buffeted. Perhaps of all the Ministry the genial circumstances of tho breaking up have been least mirrored in his manner. But what shall 1 say of Mr Bathgate ? or what pen could adequately portray that porten tous solemnity with which the Minister of Justice seems oppressed. He appears as if he had all the acts of the session in his stomach, and their digestion sorely dis tressed him. His form is bent forward. His ■ spectacles are on his brow, which appears ' laden with heavy care, and silently and solemnly he moves, the only minister on whom the burthen of the cares of state seems to have settled. Of ceurse ifc is all put on. But it is none the less to be gazed upon with awe. Mr Yogel, who was the lion in the fight, is now as frisky as a kitten when the trouble is past, but Mr Bathgate, who was not a hero in the light, realises the dignity of the occasion, and is ludicrously solemn. For the rest, save the unfortunate pleader who hap pens to have a motion, on which, however barreii of results, he hopes to have the magic words pronounced, "Ayes have it," they show unmistakable evidence of the spirit that used to find utterance in the old dog grel, Oinnia beuo Sine poena Tempus est ludendi Yenit hoia Absijno morn, Libros deponendi. But Mr Swanson is there in his place attend ing to the business as earnestly as if it were a Provincial Loan Bill or the Floatage of Timber. Never has he been absent from his ' place for one hour since the opening of the session, from the announcement of "Mr Speaker," as the pompous Sergeant-at-Arms deposited the " bauble " solemnly at the foot of the table, till weary members, half sleep ing, half awake, retired from the chamber ; and never has his attention been withdrawn from the "question before the House." Yet there he is," without his staff in his hand, or any other indication that he is pleased that the weary work is over. And yet I warrant me that there is no heart more glad to hie away to home, and that his trunk is packed _and his papers all arranged, and there he is—attentive to the last, as he has been from the iirst—the keenest detector, the most fearless denouncer of wrong and sham within the walls of the House; uneorrupted and unbiassed, faithful to the interests of the people and of the country to an extent to which the General Assembly, I verily believe, affords no parallel. But the buzz and the hum go on, and little clusters form here and there over the floor of the House, and about the doors, and around the desks ; and they are chatting over the little quarrels of the session, and the events of the future, and the.recess, and their next meeting, and there is unrest and pleasant excitement over the scene. ■ And still some unfortunate devil "with a motion " is pegging away while Mr Speaker is impatiently waiting to say "those of. his opinion say aye, the contrary, no—the ayes haveit.'' But who cares for him or his motion? i Put up tks shutters, haul down the blinds, i blow oub the candles. To-morrow we meet again to view the pageant, and hear the "nunc dimittis," and the session of 1873 is ended,

™- 8 0N """I A ateetino was held at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association last night, pursuant" to advertisement, for the purpose of affording Messrs White and Fair burn, and the early missionaries, an oppor tunity of defending themselves from the charges brought against them by Dr Lang. The room was well filled, a few ladies being amoug those assembled. On the motion of Mr Osmond Lewis the chair was taken by Mr G. W. Owen. Mr Owen opened the proceedings by con fessin" he knew little of the matter they were met to discuss. After calling attention to the different state of things which existed in the colonies fifty years ago, the Chairman called upqu Mr White to address the meeting. , ,„. .. Mr White said he felt a great dmtculty va selecting from fcho mass of rebutting evidence. Ho would be as brief as possible. It was a pity that Dr Lang had declined to come. He would, however, give them a number of facts from which his hearers might form their own conclusions. [The Chairman then at Mr White's request read an extract containing Dr Lang's charges against the early missionaries.] Mr White proceeded to say he did not know whether Dr Lang included the whole of the mission aries under his denunciation or not, and he should be glad if any friend of Dr Lang's present could tell him. The speaker then referred to the difficulties with which the early settlors had to contend, and sketched'the primitive way ill which all their transactions with the natives were earned on. He did not go to Dr. Lang's lecture, but he was afraid, not of Dr. Lang, but of himself. He had read the report, and found that the doctor's lecture at Dunodin and this were two entirely different tilings. He (the speaker) was not only able to clear the Church missionaries of being the cause of the war, but could prove, if it were necessary, that Dr Lang was himself the author of the King movement. Dr Lang had written a pamphlet, and given a lecture in Exeter Hall, the pub lication which was the cause of their present meeting. Mr Fox took up the cause of the missionaries in England, and was insulted by the Secretary of the Aborigines Protec tion Society. Dr Lang did not allude to that. The speaker here said he had promised to retire if others who were better able to defend the missionary cause had come for ward. Dr Maunsell and Mr Fairburn were present, and he would give way to them. Dr Maunsell was the next speaker, and claimed for his testimony the merit of impar tiality. He did not think the missionaries were wrong in purchasing land under the circumstances. All their purchases, so far as he could see, were fair and honourable. It was not true that Mr Fairburn had bought all he could see from the top of Mount Wellington, nor did he possess the land which Auckland stands on. All his land was the other side of the Tamaki, and instead of having a coast-line frontage of 35 miles, as Dr Lang stated, it had only seven miles. As to the missionaries being the cause of the war on the blocks of Tara naki, Waikato, and Tauranga, where the disturbances were, not an acre was purchased by missionaries. The blocks where they did \ purchase were quiet. (Hear, hear.) i The Rev Mr Burrows said he had heard there was a letter in the Star, and he should like before he spoke to have it read. The Chairman here read the letter referred to.

Mr Burrows was here about to proceed whan

Mr White again rose, and spoke for some, time in defence of himself against the impu tations contained in the letter. He ex plained the circumstances under which he was excluded from the Wesleyan Society. This exclusion was brought about by a man who had in early times borrowed £100 from him, and never paid him, and was tbe result of a slander, which by means of private letter was circulated by him. The society had ultimately offered him re-admis sion, but he would not accept it. He was reduced to great distress of mind through the slander of this man. Dr Lang had got his information from the back slums of Korerareka. He had collected all the garbage and had concoted a pack of lies. The Key. Mr. Burrows here continued his observations. He was not himself a land purchaser, but as secretary of the Church Missionary Society he ought to know some thing of the matter before them. Now how long was Dr. Lang in New Zealand ? Why only four days. He landed, on the 29th December, 183S, and departed 4th June. 1539. A man named Jones, who found Dr Lang a guide to take him across to Hokianga had given Dr Lang all his information. Some candles being purchased from a whaleship had been distorted, into a charge of systematic trading. Dr Lang had said the colonies were indebted to him. Let them ask the Aus tralian colonies what they knew of Dr Lang. Let them ask New .South Wales. Dr Lang was convicted of sedition in New South Wales, and was imprisoned there. And this was the man who accused the missionaries. The fact was the missionaries were agreed to buy the land. Mr Fairbum had refused to buy land often, and the na tives themselves bore testimoney to the fact. Mr Fairburn only kept a portion of the land, 5200 acres, and he had eight children. It might be thought that was a nice little piece, but Auckland was only a swamp then. It was simply circumstances that had rendered the land of- such value. The speaker then referred to the purchase of another block by Mr. Taylor. This purchase was effected at the direct request of the conquering one of two tribes, and the division of the piece was the means of establishing peace. It was not true to say the missionaries had alienated the natives. Throughout all the disturbances the missionaries were allowed to go in and out among the natives without being interfered with, while a servant of the Government dared not show his face. If it was true the missionaries had sold land it was true they would have done better to have sold it all. The natives would not sell the good land by itself., They included a great deal of bad. As to the price paid it was a fact that the early missionaries paid as much or more for their land than the Government were now paying in Auckland. Taniata Maka Nene had borne testimony to the fairness of the purchases of the missionaries. The speaker concluded an eloquent address by challeng ing Dr Lang to meet him and discuss the matter. Mr White said it was not the question whether the missionaries had bought the land, but whether they 'had committed robbery. He then referred to the statistics, which showed that the missionaries paid a fair price for their land. Mr Fairburn now came forward and made some brief remarks. He denied Dr Lang's assertion about himself, and corroborated Dr Maunsell's statements as to the length of his (Mr Fail-bum's) line of coast frontage. He referred to Dr Lang's petty spirit in con tinually calling his father a coachbuilder. He could see nothing very shameful in that. (Cheers.) 7 A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the proceedings.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS.

(From our ow.n Correspondent.) SERIOUS DIFFERENCES IN imp CABINET. THREATENED RESIGNATION 08-TH* MINISTRY. WELLINGTON". This day. During the last few days matters have not been pleasant between Miniate rs, and it hag required all Mr Vogel's tact Ao prevent a thorough split. The Premier condemned Mi'O'L'flrke's des patches to the Agent-General as /irjudicioug and extravagant. While admitting faults in tho Agent- General, Mr. Vogel blamed Mr O'ii.vke f or the humiliating position the Ministr y were forced into during the debate on Dr. PtAatßer stone's despatches. Mr. O'Rorke resented this, and only con sented to drop the omce of Minister of Immigration, and take the Postmaster- Generalship on threat of the resignation of the Ministry. « Mr C. 0. Montrose has filed his richWrale., The difference between the late manager of the Wanganui Steam Navigation Company and the liquidators has been satisfactorily adjusted by the former paying an amount to ascertain deficiencies. ~». The new crew of the Tapaeott seized the boats this morning, came ashore, and gave themselves up to the police. The case will be heard this afternoon. Mr McArthur, sub-editor or the Indepen- ■ devl, assumes the managership of the Anglo Telegram Agency shortly. The Douglas immigrants are a remarkably fine set.

DUNEDIN.

This day. A meeting will be held this afternoon of the New Zealand Shipping Company. ' Mr ClapGott, Government Insurance lee. turer, gave a very successful fareweli enter tainment last evening. Actions are likely to take place with re ference to the falling of the scaffolding.. The sufferers are recovering. The contractor states that he knew it was dangerous to carry out plans, but the architect insisted on its being carried out. , ...„ Margetts and Bromley Troupe open on Saturday. Jemmy Whatu has been drowned at Stewart's Island. He was a native of Atfcfc. land. .%■'■; The railway returns for the month are £1,440 12s 9d.

LYTTELTON.

'This day. Sailed : Fawn, brig, and Zior, schooner, for Auckland; Shepherdess, for Wellington ; Ellen and Clematis, for Newcastle; Jane, for Hobarton. ! Arrived: Wellington; she sails North this afternooa. The Velocidade is loading for Auckland. The steamer Jane arrived at the headsyes terday, en route for Dunedin. She sailed again at midnight. .., , .. It is raining heavy; with the wind S.W. The Lyttelton Boating Club propose selling their new gig, which is expected to arrive by; the Soukar, and forming a yatching club; -j. The Wellington sailed at four o'clock.

NAPIER.

This day. The brie Syrene sailed for the Thames yesterday to load timber. . The Bteamer Jane hence arrived at Lyttel ton on Tuesday. -r The harbour woaks at Napier will be com : menced immediately.

[Pei Anglo-Australian Telegraph Company.Jl

WELLINGTON.

This day. The statement made by the Grey Valleg Times that Harrison, M.E.H. for Grey Valley, intends to resign and contest Wanganui at | the next election is authoritatively denied. It is a' pure fabrication, utterly wifihont' foundation. Capt. Sellars, of the Electra, has presented the Caledonian Society with a close imitation! of the Royal Standard of Scotland, twelve feet by forty. The schooner Patea, owned in Wellington, is ashore at the Heads with a hole hi her j| bottom. She is insured in the South British for^n £100. r

NELSON.

This day. Mr Collins has resigned his seat for Colh'ngj-y wood.

Mr Martin reports National Banks shares at 47s Gd ; National Insurance 10s Gd, premium.

REEFTON.

This day. , The Ajax reef was struck in the <W?j\fi from the shaft, eighty-six feet below the low £| level tunnel. The reef in Anderson's is in- creasing in thickness, and shews good stone. The crushing,with the Just in Time^and, | Fiery Cross machine! y takes place to-day. r ■>'

DUNEDIN.

This day. The Government scholarships for boys and jC girls are open for competition in December. { f.L The Inspector of Sheep's returns show S 4,000 diseased sheep in the province. A new Rowing Club, with entrance fee of | fire guineas, has been started. It promises I|| to be a great success. Three new boats will |j be ordered directly. WESTPOBT. Wednesday. The Collector of Customs visited the Jlga kawau to-day to decide the site for a signal station. The bar is good, with the channel r j running straight out, but too narrow for a|| craft of any size. The Oomerang, or a'similar vessel, would stick fast by the paddle boxes touching on either side,

DUNEDIN.

This day. # , The bricklayers were finishing the coping of the three-storey building in Princes-street, where the accident yesterday occurred, when Sj| the coping gs ye way and carried the scaffold ing with it. The workmen fell sixty feet to the ground. Smith, a plasterer, was seriously ■' injured ; it is feared fatally. Others escaped; with cuts and bruises. The Escort brought down 10,573 ounces gold. Afiieoccurred at Stephenson'a spice factory yesterday. Some malt stored in the build ing ignited by spontaneous combustion. The fire was discovered early. The damages are estimated at £200. * i

It is rumoured in. Melbourne,.that Sir George Bowen has applied for leave of absence, to enable him to accompany Lady Bo wen on her approaching visit to England. At the meeting of the Improvement Com missioners yesterday the thanks of the Com missioners were given to Mr Fenton for drafting the Bill, and to Mr Stevenson for Hi exertions in securing its pagsing. t > ,i I

KH» IWWIIO StAßt THURSDAY, OCTOB3SB § IWS.



IMPORTANT,! ~O ÜBHB R0 0 X & B RID G- MA N -»-•' (Successors to K. Hobbs), Beg to announce the arrival, per City oi' Auckland of ihe FIRST SHIPMENT OF DRAPERY GOODS to their order, direct from the Fingr London Houses and MA.NTJTAOTtniWttS : to be followed by a Choice Lot of Goods per St. Leonard's and succeeding vessels. X, <S- B. desire to thank the public for their con tinued suppoii., and purpose to largely increase their business by placing tiieir customers on Ihe VERY BEST; FOOTING both as to QUALITY and PRICE, combined with CIVILITY AND ATTENTION TO BUSINESS . BEINO Ti'll'llU OWN IMI'OTATEKS they are in a position Lo supply their customers with GOODS A.S LOW AS ANY nriri'i; nOTJSE IN TOWN. NOW OPENING : BLACK SILK LUSTRES, BLACK AND DRAB MOREEN", GAMBROON, K/iv. Also, A VERY CHOICE ASSORTMENT O!" NEW SPRING COOns, PRINTS, MUSLINS, Etc., Etc., Etc RtJSIIBROOK & P.PJDGMAN, \A nor/RBAtjK and Retail Drapers, Clototeeb, <&o; JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) Upper Qujskn-stuekt, AtrcKLA/NB. IW N.I! - Partiesin the country favouring It. &• B. with their order:; m:vy depend upon their receiving careful atten tion and? despatch. \ •.•tttern.s, &c, forwarded post free



Coffee.— Brown, Barrett, & Co.'s Standard Coffee is oth delicious and strong. Brown, Barrett, & Co.'s Excelsior Csffee deserves preference to any coffee on account of purity and distinctness of flavour. Note the brands, sold at almost every grocory establish ment in town and province.-TAdvx.]