SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET: This evening, 7.15 SUiN-RISE: To morrow morning, f». 10 YfTOH WATER: This evening, 0.25; to-morrow "morning, I.G

STEAM TO THE THAMES.

Golden Crown, to-morrow morning at eleven o clock

ARRIVALS.

Hero, s.s., Logan, from Sydney Taranaki, s.s., Wheeler, from Southern ports Clio, schooner, from Itussell Mercury, cutter, from Mercury Bay Agnes Miiir, ship, for InTercftigill Dakota, mail steamer, Tngorsoll, from Southern ports Forest Quean, ketch. Dam, from Russell DEPARTURES. Lion, barque, Nearing, for Adelaide, via "Wangapoa Byron, brig, for Hekianga Opotiki, schooner, Baker, for Opotiki Tawera, schooner, Kennedy, for Poverty Bay Janet Urey, schooner, for Hokianga Magellan Cloud, schooner, for Eussell

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For Napier and Southern ports : Nebraska, p. s., on arrival For Southern ports ■ Taranaki, s.s., to-morrow For New Caledonia: Eagle, ketch, to-morrow For Boston. Mass. : Ayr. barque, early For Cork: Polar Star, ship, early For San Francisco, calling at Honolulu: Dakota, mail steamer, 23rd inst. For Northern ports: llowena, s.s., Monday next; Comerang, p.s., Friday next For Whitianga, Mercury Bay, and Tauranga; Southern Cross, s.s., Monday next For London : < flenhuntly, barque, early For Sydney and Melbourne ; Hera, a,s., 25th inst; Wonga, s.s., Cth Feb.

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Warwick, ship, from London. Sailed 4th November Caduceus, ship, from London. Loading Durham, ship, from London. Loading Moa, brig, from Melbourne Nebraska, mail steamer, I'rom San Francisco Briton, barque, from Newcastle

IMPORTS.

Per Dakota, from Southern ports : 11 boxes nails, P. A. Philips , 4 pkgs merchandise, T. Short ; 1 box, H.M.S. Dido. For San Francisco : 751 bales wool, 3 pkgs.—•Hen derson and Macfarlane, agents.

The s.s. Taranaki arrived in the Manukau this afternoon from Southern ports. The barque Lochnagar will come up the harbour this evening. The ketch Whynot has cleared outwards for Cabbage Bay with a large general cargo. The schooner Ruby has cleared for Russell in ballast. The schooner Swallow cleared at the Cus toms to-day for Mercury Bay in ballast. The ketch Forest Queen beings SO tons coal from Russell. The schooner Olio arrived this afternoon from the Bay of Islands with a cargo of coal. The shir Agnes Muir took her departure this morning for Invercargill. The cutter Mercury has arrived from Mer cury Bay with 23,500 feet timber. The mail steamer Dakota will leave for Honolulu and San Francisco to-morrow, at 2 p.m. The mail steamer Nebraska is announced to proceed South shortly after arrival. She may soon be expected from San Francisco. The schooner Janet Grey left yesterday evening for Hokianga with a general cargo. H.M.S. Blanche has arrived at Wellington from Hobart Town, and proceeds to Auck land to relieve H.M.S. Dido. The latter vessel will then leave for Sydney. The schooner Kenilworth, having com pleted her repairs, was taken off Niccol's slip yesterday, and brought over to the wharf to load cargo for the islands. The Taranaki will leave the Manukau for Southern ports to-morrow, at 2 p.m. The schooner Opotiki left last evening for Opotiki. The new cutter built by Messrs Henderson and Spraggon was launched yesterday, and christened the Waratah, by Miss McKerras. The p.s. Dakota left Port Chalmers on the 1 Cth January, at 8 p.m. ; arrived at Lyttelton on the 17th at 2 p.m. ; left same day at 8.30 p.m., and arrived at Wellington on the 18th, at Ba. m. Was detained waiting for the s.s. Rangitoto from Melbourne, and after receiv ing mails and passengers, left Welliington on the 19th, at 9 a.m. ; arrived at Napier on the 20th, at 5.40 a.m. ; received 158 bales wool, and left same day, at 10.40 p.m. Had some heavy gales, but altogether experienced a fine pleasant trip, and arrived at Auckland on the 21st January, at 10.40 p.m. Passengers for Auckland : Misses Brock, Williams, Mrs Vogel and servant, Mrs Grace, Mrs Smith, Mrs Thompson, Hon. E. Richardson and lady, Mr and Mrs Short, Hon. Mr Casey and lady, Mr and Mrs George, Mr and Mrs Nathan ; Messrs, Mclntyre, E. Pierce, Reid, M. Grace, Neale, Fisher, Johnston, Bridge, Newman, Nelson, AVelman, Joshua Williams, Norman, Black ; Dr. Russell and four others. Through passengers : Mr and Mrs Turner and two children, Mr and Mrs Campbell, Mr and Mrs Pullford, Capts. Cleary and Chapman ; Messrs. A. L. Smith, J. Bridges, Thomas, Edwards, J. R. Dodson, and four teen other. We are indebted to Mr Robinson, the purser, for files of papers, report of passage, and other favours. The barque Lion sailed this morning for Wangaroa to load timber for Adelaide. The brig Byron left this morning for Ho kianga.

COMMERCIAL.

Mr R. Arthur reports having sold to-day : Bacon and hams, 7|d to Bgd per lb. ; pears, l£d to'2d; apples, 2d to 2£d ; Californian flour, £14 15s to £15 ; Canterbury flour, £l4s 10s to £15 ; jams, 10s per dozen; onions, Id to ljd per lb.; potatoes, 4s 6d to 5s per owt. ; cheese, 3Ad to 4kl per lb.

MINING.

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

Quebec, Mr B. Home's office, Shortland street, Auck land, 23rd January Shotover, No 1, Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 2 p.m. 23rd January Emily, Auckland, 23rd January Watchman, Grahamstown, 24th January Nil Desperandum, Coromandel, 24th January Lynch's Flat, Coromandel, 25th January Dauntless and Sink to Eise, Grahamstown, 27th January Bed Queen, Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 2.30 p.m. 28th January Middle Star, Star, Mechanics' Institute, Auckland, 8 p.m., 28th January Kuranui, Mr Tothill's office, Auckland, 1C a.m., 28th January Yon Tempsky, Company's office, Queen street, Auck land, 3 p.m., 33th January "Una, Shortland, 30th January Ruby, Grahamstown, 81st January Durham Ox, Grahamstown, 33st January Morning Star, Grahamstown, 31st January Hauraki Saw Mill Company, Mr Bennett's . office, Shortland street, Auckland, 2 p.m.. 3rd February Central Italy, Grahamstown, 4th February Green Harp, Insurance Buildjpgs, Auckland, 3 p.m., JOth. February

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Wails will Close ah Under :— For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to-morrow, nt 10.30 a.m. and r>..",0 p.m. For Coromandol, on Friday, 24th in3t., nt 11.30 a.m. For Whitianga, per Swallow, this day, at 5 p.m. For Wangarei, Wangarei Heads, <tc, to-morrow, at 2 p.m. For Taranaki anrl Southern provinces, per Taranaki, on Thursday, 23rd inst.. at noon IPef p.s. Dakota, on Thursday, 23rd inst., as follows :— For Sandwich Islands, British Columbia. United States of America, British, Central, and South America, British and Foreign YV&st Indies, and Continent of Europe via England, at 1 p.m. For United Kingdon via San Francisco, at 1 p.m. For money orders, registered letters, and news pn.pors, at 11 a.m. Late letters for the United States of America and United Kingdom, bearing a late fee of (id in addition to the postage will be received by the mail agent on board the steamer up to the time of sailing. For Russell, AVangaroa, and Mongonui, per Coinerang, on Friday, 24t)' inst., at noon (Signed) S. B. Biss. Chief Postmaster.

EDUCATION RATE.

FATHERS AND MOTHERS, LISTEN !

YOU are told that the new Education Hate is oppressive. Hearken ! Hitherto you have paid school fees for your children. Under the new Act instead of school fees you pay One Found per annum household rate in quarterly payments of live Shillings each. You pay also tive shillings per year for each child of the school ago ; but not tor more than four in the family- the rest are free. Compare the old with the new, and- don't be misled by trading politicians. The following table shows the fees payable per annum in the past and in the future for one child or more :—

Or viewed thus : the cost per week for the education of one child by the new Act will be under (id : two children, it will be under 3.Yd each ; three children, under 2:Jd each ; four children, a little over 2' ( il each ; Sve children, ljd each ; six children, about lgd each, and so on.

The cruel tax! The grinding tax !

BIRTHS.

GALi.*fiHER.-On January 22, at her residence, Svmonds street, Mrs Wm. Callagher, of a son. Stkwabt.—On January 19, at tho Manse, Cambridge, the wife of the Rev. Thomas Stewart, of a son.

DEATH.

Dove.—On January 21, Jane, the beloved wife of Mr Samuel Dove, after a long and painful illness borne with Christian fortitude ; aged 54 years. The funeral will leave her late residence, Drake street Freeman's Bay, to-morrow, at half-past three o'clock, b'riends please accept this invitation.

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

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 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,

If there is one class of the community rather than another with which we feel disposed to deal gently it is that of Government officers. Their mouths are closed and their pens are tied, and we believe it is only when some grave dereliction of duty occurs demanding investigation that a public office should come under the lash of the press. It is needless for us to tell the people of Auckland that gross neglect on the part of the Telegraph Department is the cause of much inconvenience and loss. Telegrams of the utmost importance are frequently delayed for hours before being sent from the office, and repeated complaints have been made to us, and requests that we should use the influ ence of the press to rectify this wrong that needs resistance. We have,, our selves keenly felt the evil, it being obvious that telegrams sent to us, and < not delivered till after our hour of publication, are simply waste paper. "We are far from saying that the blame for these cases attaches to the loca] office itself, or to the officers in charge, who doubtless do all they can with the appliances placed at their disposal, and the complaint is one respecting the evident maladministration of the Telegraph Department itself. Tester day a telegram, announcing the death of ex-Emperor Napoleon, was placed in the Wellington office at 2.40 p.m. for transmission to us, and was not delivered until 6 o'clock in the evening, too late for publication in our ordinary issue last night. Another telegram of important English news was placed in the Wellington office at 2.55 p.m., and not delivered until 6.15. Both these messages, which, even allowing an hour's delay, should have reached us in time for publication last night, came so late as to be practically worthless. Feeling that the time had come when these official laches could be no longer tolerated, and believing that a com plaint would have more practical effect when delivered in the atmosphere of Wellington, we, this morning, as agents for the Anglo-Australian Press Tele graph, presented a telegram for trans mission south, in which occurred the following words: —" Great complaints respecting delay transmission telegrams. Announcement death Napoleon not reach Auckland till six o'clock." In a short time the message was returne

to us, with these words elided, the \ local office refusing to transmit them. j In a subsequent interview the officer iv 1 charge distinctly and positively refused to transmit this message for publica tion, but expressed his readiness to forward it as a private me?«age, "We \ cannot say what may be the private j instructions issued to telegraph officials, but we can readily understand now the force of the complaints formerly made that the Telegraph Department was made use of for political purposes. Here a local officer, whether on his own res ponsibility, or more probably from fear of those in authority over him, takes on himself to lefuse a message of public interest hecause it reflects on the negli gence of the department with which he is connected, and hoping thus to gag the press he no doubt calculates on impunity from experience of the manner in which the depart ment has been worked to serve political and personal ends. If a political speech Ciin be stolen from the person to whom it has been telegraphed, and the crime is smilingly glozed over, a subor dinate sees no reason why he should not follow the example of his masters, and protect the administration of the Telegraph Department from public exposure. We do not know that in the history of telegraphing in the colonies we have ever heard of such a piece of official audacity before. Is it come to this that an officer in a public office will take on him to select from a message what shall and what shall not go under the public eye ? It was sus picion of such selection and suppres sion at the hands of the " Press Asso ciation" that made independent journals stand aloof. It was known that the " Association" originated with a political party then in power, and in cominmand of the New Zealand telegraph wires ; and it was believed that in the selection of news, political, and party, and personal ends would be served. But now it is not outside, but withiu the Telegraph office that th& selection will be made, and it is left to the Telegraph clerks to say what they will and what they will not transmit, in this case the message exposed merely the negligence of offi cials in a Government department, but if in the exercise of our duty we desire the exposure of a glaring poli tical job, when perhaps its instant ex posure would be its instant suppression, the Telegraph-office, forsooth, asserts the right to decline to forward the message. This is not a question of small moment, and we demand that it be enquired into. If the clerk has acted according to instructions from head quarters, and we are having introduced into our Telegraph De partment the espionage and sup pression that formerly distinguished the French Post-office, then the public should know it. But if the officer has taken upon himself to act in this unjustifiable manner to shield the negligence of the depart ment which has become a subject of common comment in the city, we should know this too. We may be wrong in our conclusions, but our con viction is that such a message dare not be transmitted for fear of official frowns, and that if the local officer had transmitted it, and the statement of Aucklandfeelingrespectingthe conduct of the Telegraph Department had been published in Southern papers, the local officer would have suffered for it. The Telegraph Department has not yet emerged from the cloud that once rested very darkly upon it. Unclean hands still touch the wires, but if it is supposed that the press can be gagged by violence, and that official wrong doing can in this way be cloaked, it is calcu lating on an amount of lamblike meek ness that does not characterise at least all the press of New Zealand. Not only will the suppressed telegram be yet read in the Southern papers, but this most impudent attempt to shield the corruption of a notoriously rotten department will be also known. At the same time we do not express a doubt that, if not at once, at least on Mr Yogel's return from Australia we shall learn more of this very discreditable little incident in the conduct of the Telegraph Department.

Onehunga has immortalised itself. It is generally regarded as the "Sleepy Hollow '' of the province ; but Onehunga is in a state of violent insurrection, and has raised the standard of revolt. The blood of Onehunga is coursing rapidly through its veins, and it has been galvanised into life, hideous to behold. It boasts the possession of one J. D. Jackson, a species of factotum, who busies himself in all things from penny-a -lining clown to collecting rags and bones, a nd as representing our two morning contem poraries, and we know not how many corporations and societies, appears to be in vested with no inconsiderable imjiortance in the eyes of the simple-minded inhabitants of the place ; and under his leadership they have enrolled themselves a great army of revolt. They have resolved to resist the Edu cational Rate by " all constitutional means," whatever that is. We presume they will not carry the horrid threat into action vi el armis, and intend merely to incur individual ex penses in defending a hopeless suit in the Resident Magistrate's Court. It will be in teresting to watch in what manner General Jackson will lead his forces to the battle. He appears to contemplate taking possession of One-Tree Hill, from which he will repel the attack of the provincial forces. In fact the possession of this elevated and com manding post appears not simply as the means, but the object to be attained ; and this object once gained, General Jackson is

willing to concede the principle of the education rate, and disband his forces. In fact it mast be painful to the other Me ids of the great caitse of resistance to the " unjust and grinding tax " to find that the first leader in the great rebellion aims at nothing higher than the restoration of the One tree Hill. The broad and comprehensive view of the Education question revealed in this revolt does infinite credit to J. D. Jackson, and the intelligent and enlightened people who follow his guidance, and in perjpebnam memoriam rei we give the text of the declaration of war: — "Inas much as the Town of Onehunga has been deprived of its reserves for many years, and the revenue derived from some of them appropriated to educational purposes in the province generally, Onehunga schools re ceiving no benefit from the same, this meeting pledges itself to resist by every constitutional means the imposition of ad ditional taxes for this purpose, till full justice has been done with regard to these reserves." It is not difficult to see the result of such an agitation as that • and J. D. Jackson deserves to be regarded as the biggest knave or the biggest fool in the province. As representing two morning journals, and able to inform his audience that Ida account of the meeting and speeches would appear in both (as it has done in iden tical words), he was of course, as a "newspaper man," no mean individual in the meeting. In fact we are often amused at seeing the very devils in our office looking down with contempt on all other classes and orders of men on the grounds of belonging to the noble guild of pressmen. But J. D. Jackson, if a fool himself, should really not have made a fool of tho press on tho occasion, and using the reflected light of our respeotecl contemporaries set a will-o'-the-wisp before the people to mis lead them. J. D. Jackson knows very well that whether the tax is right or wrong it Avill lie enforced, inanr/re the reserves, This is the same J. D. Jackson that sup pressed all he could of the scandal and trial of his friend the school teacher at Onehunga charged with taking liberties with all the little girls of his school. That is the kind of "religious instruction" which lie intended to advocate, we presume ; and that is the kind of "religious instruction" which the mothers and fathers of Onehunga desire for their little girls. Bravo Onehunga ! Press on the standard of revolt, and resist ance to reform in education. The now Act is distasteful to you. It does not impart "religious instruction,"and would doviolence to the " morals "which you seem to cherish.

A seaman on board the Bella Mary was charged thirf morning with wilful disobe dience of commands on board the said vessel. Capt. McArthur has traded to this port for a long period, and this is the llrst time lit: has hail occasion to make a charge against one of his hands at the Police Court. In reply to tho Bench he stated that the man charged was a useless character, and he would prefer not to take him back on board the barque. Mr Beckham replied that lie was just the very class of men we did not require in Now Zealand, and he hoped tho captain would take him back to the place whence he came, namely, Van Dieman's Land.

A fire occurred at Epsom about eleven o'clock last night which resulted in the total destruction of a large hay-shed, owned until recently by Mr It. Moore, who was a passenger per Queen Bee, for London. The shed had lieon sold by Mr Moore, to Mr Michael Hughes, of Waiuku, and it contained a quantity of hay, owned by Mr Clayton, lessee of the Newmarket slaughterhouse. Mr John Davis was the first on the spot, and through his exertions the fire was con fined to the building in which it originated, Mr Davis lives about half-a-mile from the scene of the fire, and his attention was drawn to the glare by Mr William Gardiner. He at once ran in the direction of the shed, which he found to be half destroyed. Mr Win. Gardiner shortly afterwards arrived upon the scene, and assisted Mr Davis in his efforts to pre vent the fiames from spreading. The whole edifice was soon consumed, and all danger at an end. The shed was about ISO yards from the Prince Albert Hotel, Epsom. It was about 25 yards long and 15 wide, but was in a somewhat dilapidated condition. Mr Clayton's drays had been employed up to half-past four o'clock removing hay from the shed, aud the carters state that there was no sign of fire at that time. No one lived on the premises, and the origin of the fire is at present a matter of doubt.

We are requested by Mr Matthews, super intendent of the Insurance Companies' Fire Brigade, to distinctly and emphatically con tradict the statement of Mr Asher to the effect that he, Mr Asher, found twelve of his men at the engine-house after the late alarm of fire. Mr Matthews is prepared to prove that these were twelve men of the Insurance Companies' Fire Brigade, and that they were in the uniform of the Brigade ; that MrAsher's horses and his foreman were there, but there were only two altogether of Mr Asher's men present. A meeting of lumpers was held last night when the Lumpers' Accident Relief (Society was formed and rules adopted. The en trance fee is 2s Gd ; and the weekly sub scription one shilling. The following officers were elected : —Chairman : Mr J. Nicol ; vice-chairman :Mr AY. fNicol; hon. secre tary, Mr Brown ; committee : Messrs Wat son, Edgar, and Grey. The Minister of Public Works has invited tenders for the construction of a bridge from Onehunga to Mangere. The total length of the bridge and embankments will be 2. (380 ft. Onjthe Mangere side an embankment 1,340 ft. to deep water is to be constructed, and on the Onehunga side an embankment 540 ft. long, leaving the bridge 800 ft. long. The bridge is to be 20ft. wide, and have 20 arches supported on Jarrah piles. The annual meeting of St. Paul's Church took place last night,—the Rev. 0. M. Nelson in the chair. The report showed that the total receipts, exclusive of £22 16a lOd from the previous year, were £1,000 7s lOd as against £980 17s 5d received in 1871. The general offertories had decreased £100. The revenue from seat rents had increased £100. £50 had been spent on the organ, under the supervision of Mr Hewlett, of Mangapai. The new organ fund now amounts to £90. The parsonage had been repaired. After payment of all expenses £14 7s 7d remained in hand. The report and accounts were adopted on the motion of Mr Busby, seconded by Mr Judd. Major Tisdall was nominated clergyman's churchwarden, and Mi- Dyson was elected parish churchwarden. The following were elected vestrymen :— Messrs McKellar, Thomas, Weetman, Ash ton, Hughes Hammond, Flower, Judd, Busby, i and Waters. Messrs H. S. McKellar and ! W. Churton were elected auditors. It was agreed to place a memorial window in the Church in honor of Bishop Patteson, and a committee was appointed to collect subscrip tions for the purpose.

We have much pleasure in stating that the committee appointed to collect subscriptions on behalf of the widow and family of the late Mr Cazaly have succeeded in raising the sum of £126, which amount has been handed over to Mrs Cazaly. The original subscrip tion list, with bank deposit slips, will remain at our office during the ensuing week for the inspection of those who may feel interested therein.

A case of the most diabolical nature was • on Monday brought under the notice of the police authorities at Coromandel, when a warrant was applied for the arrest of a man named Henry McGrinxi, sometime a carter j employed in the district, who is! accused of having attempted rape on two children ill the town, one of them only four years and a half old, the daughter of Mr Campbell, the blacksmith, and the other the adopted daughter of Mr Sykes, a child about six years of age. The scoundrel evidently heard of the steps that had been taken, and ; though seen on Monday morning was no- j where to be found up to last night, thoxigh a ' number of men were searching for him as | well as the police. However the probabilities | are that he cannot escape for long, and we trust that he will be brought up to answcre ; for the heinous offence of which he stands ! accused. There can be no doubt of the | crime, as was proved by the examination of ; the children by Mr Ritchie, in the absence of Dr Hovel.

Three men, charged with breaking and entering the premises of Messrs A. Clark and Sons, were brought up this morning at the Police Court and formally remanded until Friday next. The robbery was effected by making a hole on through the brickwork of the building large enough to admit a man s body. The wall is pannelled on the inside, and this was cut through by means of a gimlet and narrow saw, and appears to have been clumsily and hurriedly done. A gimlet fitting the perforations made has been found in one of the prisoners' beds. Other direct and circumstantial evidence has been gathered by the police, and will be brought out at the examination. A portion of the goods stolen was found on Monday planted amongst the docks and long grass outside the barrack wall at the back of Barrack-street. They were contained in a sack, and the lot was first discovered by some boys, who informed the police, and a watch was kept on the spot until dark. The men were seen lurking in the neighbourhood, which attracted the sus picions of the detectives, and they were ap prehended, when articles of jewellery were found on them. The police will be unable to substantiate the charge of burglary, as there is no proof at what hour the offence was committed, besides which the premises can not be described as a "dwelling-house." The accused are therefore charged with " breaking and entering."

There was a good muster of Volunteers at the Drill-shed last evening, when the men were put through various evolutions by Major Gordon, who appeared to lie highly satisfied with the way the movements were performed. After the parade the Royal Company met and unanimously re-elected Sub-lieutenant Morgan.

Alluding to the native meeting at Maunga tautari the Waikafo Times says :—" It is clear from what has transpired that a demand will be made for the restoration of the confiscated land in the Waikato ; in fact, that the land which has been confiscated in accordance with laws which guide civilised and uncivilised nations shall be returned tothe conquered people. This demand will of course be met with an emphatic and firm denial. The natives are already thoroughly aware that their demand for the return of the "Waikato land can never be complied with, and will only make it as a_ means of obtain ing some other concession in its place.

On enquiry at the Hospital we learn that John Mallay, the victim of a brutal assault at Drury, is lingering in the same condition as yesterday, without any signs of improve ment. His depositions were taken yesterday before a justice of the peace, but they will not be made public until the case is pro ceeded with. The accused were remanded until Friday, when they will be charged. Goclkin was yesterday liberated on bail — himself in £200, and two sureties of £100 each. The bail for the other prisoners were fixed at £500, and two sureties each of £250. No one has come forward on their behalf, and they remain in custody.

The usual monthly inspection of the Rifle Brigade and Cadets will take place to morrow evening.

The pavilion erected for the circus has been pulled down, and is being carted away. We understand that the structure was sold by auction for £40 ss. The removal of the building and hoarding in front has revealed the skeleton of the new market-house at the rear. Considerable progress appears to have been made in the erection of this, and it will soon be fit for occupation. The doors for the various shops or stalls have been in course of making for some time past at the City Coun cil workshops in Lome-street, and are now ready for hanging. The contractor (Mr Donaher) is proceeding with the work satis factorily. Mr C. Robertson, who was requested by the Thames committee to confer with the settlers of the Waikato district relative to railway communication between Thames and Waikato, has met the settlers at Hamilton, where delegates from the various districts were represented, and all are most enthusias tically in favour of the project. A memorial iipon the subject to the General Government was adopted, and is now in course of signa ture.

RIFLE FIRING.—This Morning.

The Company representatives of the various volunteer corps of the Auckland district fired the first stage of the match in Par. 8, Page 7, of the " Prize-firing Regulations, 1873, for the selection of colonial representatives, at the rifle range, Mount Eden, this morning. Thirty-four members of different corps mustered at seven a.m. Major Gordon was in command. Capt Derrom and Lieut. Matthews were also present. The wind was variable, but otherwise the weather was favourable. Five shots were fired at each range ; 200 yards standing ; 300 yards any position ; a trial shot allowed at each range. The markers were Sergeant-Major Haslem and Sergeants Cassells and Wainhouse. The following is the complete score :—

The firing will be completed to-morrow, commencing at seven o'clock in the morning, at the Mount Eden range,

SUPREME COURT.-CIVIL SITTINGS.

THIS DAY.

(Before His Honor Sir G. A. Arney, Chief Justice.)

ANGUS V. HKWIK. , This was an action in which the plaintift sought to recover damages to the amount of £500 from the defendant, for unljwfal possession of a piece of land in Ihliortm, which he still holds, and refuses to reHnquish Mr Whitaker and Uv Meyer appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Hesketh and Mr Thorne for defendant. «, a iriiTia Edward Davies, native interpreter, residing at Coron andel, deposed that he witnessed the signatures of two natives to a deed a declaration, and he believed the plan and document were in the same condition as when they were signed, but he was not sure in every particular. Mr Hesketh considered that alterations might have been made as the witness was not certain upon some points. , His Honor said that the Court required direct evidence, the deed, therefore, must be admitted. • •, . T + Mr Andrew Beveridge, solicitor, said that the signatures to the deed were those of him self and the late Mr Ritchie, who were the attesting witnesses. Detective Je fiery last saw George Henry Eice on the steamer, lying in the stream, bound for Honolulu, some twelve month ago. Dr Pollen believed that the signature of Mr Rice was that of Edward Henry Rice, the interpreter. [Left sitting.]

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

[Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M.]

DRUNKENNESS,

Two drunkards were fined 10s each and costs, or the alternative of 48 hours' imprison ment,

BREACH OF THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT. John Reilly, a seaman, was charged with wilful disobedience of lawful commands on board the barque Bella Mary, on the 21st

inst. The chief officer proved that the seaman came on board intoxicated, and refused to work. He was afterwards taken into custody by the police for being drunk. Capt. McArthnr gave the prisoner an in different character. The Court sent him to gaol for seven days. THE KOBBEKY AT MKSSBS A. CLARK AND SONS. Francis Falcon, John Johnstone, and Jere miah Regan were charged with breaking and entering the warehouse of Messrs Archibald Clark & Sons, Shortland-street, and stealing therefrom, on or about the ISth of January, 1 blanket, valued at 14s ; 2 pairs black trousers, 40s ; 1 pair tweed trousers and vest, £1 os Gd ; 2 pairs tweed trousers, 12s 6d ; 1 tweed coat, 14s; 2 pairs Bedford cord_troii sers, £1 17s 7d ; antimacassors, £1 15s ; 3 woollen ditto, 15s ; 13 woollen shirts, £4 11s; 12 towels, ISs ; 1 brooch and earrings, £G 10s ; 1 brooch, £3 10s. Total, £25 2s. The prisoner Falcon, a deformed man being almost bent double—was recognised as having been convicted two or three times of a similar offence on previous occasions. He , has already suffered IS months' imprisonment and four years' penal servitude. Johnson has also been sentenced to three years' im prisonment for a like offence. Regan has not been convicted. Inspector Broham asked for a remand until Friday, which was gi-anted. MORE NEIGHBOURS AT LOGGERHEADS. Margaret Lyons was charged with using threatening language towards Mary Ann Mitchell. The Court read her a lesson, and ordered her to be bound over in a sum of £10 to keep the peace for six months. This concluded the business.

THE MAGNET VARIETY TROUPE.

One of the most pleasing entertainments that it has been our good fortune to be present at was given last evening at the Prince of Wales Theatre. As the name of the troupe denotes, the character of the performance varies, and consists of vocal and instrumental music, comic, serio-comic, and sentimental songs, trapeze performance, and negroic songs, sketches, and dances. The artistes are all perfection, and the baud, with Mr Richardson at the piano, is excellent. Each item on the programme met with tumultuous applause, and in almost every instance an encore was de manded and acceded. Miss Fanny Sara is a vocalist of no ordinary merit, and her make-up and singing, in imitation of Sims Reeves, was really superb. This lady has a sweet and powerful voice, and we were pleased to find that her efforts were fully appreciated by the audience, who applauded her to the echo. Fred Clifton, one of the most amusing comic singers ever heard in these parts, "introduced some novel and highly amusing songs, to the great relish of the audience. He made himself a favourite at once, and the laughter and applause that followed his songs were some thing extraordinary. Mr J. Herman's violin solo was a treat to hear ; while his rendering of the ballad " Margaretta " was sweet to a degree. Loud and continued applause greeted Messrs Buckley and Holly at the conclusion of their portion of the entertain ment. The trapeze performance by " Lottie " and her brothers —Frank and Victor—was truly marvellous. What they do it is impossible fairly to describe. It is a wonder ful combination of daring and grace, accom plished with such ease as appears almost beyond the province of mortals to achieve. There is no waiting, no preparation, no trial, the acts follow each other with such rapidity that no time is given for reflection. A storm of applause of course greeted the performers at the conclusion of their daring and perilous feats. In conclusion we must compliment the company upon the prompti tude with which the various items in the programme are introduced. There were no dreary waits, and we may speak of the entire evening's amusement as one in which there was everything to praise and nothing to con demn. There was a good attendance.

F/The Hon. J.J.Casey, Minister of Lands and Agriculture, Victoria, accompanied by Mrs Casey and Miss Williams, was a passen ger by the Dakota yesterday. The party are on a tour through the colony, and con template visiting the Lake district. The Grahamstown Hauraki Amateur Min strels will give a performance in the City Hall on Regatta night, the proceeds of which are to be given to some local charity. From the reputation which the Hauraki Minstrels have obtained we anticipate a good enter tainment. The " Auckland Price Current," edited by Mr John Mason, has entered into its second year. We are glad to see that there is no falling off in its matter, and that it gives general satisfaction. The Wellington City Council intend to have the city by-laws which relate tohawkers, or other matters affecting Maoris, translated into the Maori language. The annual meeting of the congregation of Trinity Church, North Shore, will be held in the Sunday-school room, this evening, at half-past seven,

TELEGRAPHIC.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.))

LATEST THAMES NEWS.

GOLD FROM THE WINDSOR CASTLE AND OLD WHAU. GBAHAMSTOWN. This day. Wtndhor Castle.—The men are still breaking out gold from the specimen lead? , They got 301b. more specimens last night. , r Alburnia. —Thirty pounds more speci mens have been taken from the lode, which is looking well. The old Whati mine looks splendid. Sixty pounds of very rich specimens were broken down yesterday, and as much more will come to hand to-day. The Circus was crowded last night. A large number of people left by boat for Hikutaia to-day.

TAURANGA.

This day. The Southern Cross sailed for Opotiki at nine a.m. It is reported that a serious accident has occurred at Mangarewa. A piece of rock fell on one of Mr Jordon's workmen. No particulars have yet come to hand.

LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS.

REPRESENTATIVE FIRING AT CHRISTCHURCH.

A MAN GORED BY A BULL

CHRISTCHURCH,

This day.

There is a strong feeling in favour of send ing a crew to the Intercolonial Regatta at Wellington. One gentleman expressed his willingness to send a crew at his own cost should the public fail to do so. A young man, the son of Mr Thomas Grantham, was gored by a bull yesterday— he is not expected to recover. One horn penetrated the cavity of the chest, so seri ously injuring the lungs that the patient is not expected to recover. One of his arms was also broken. The competitive firing for colonial repre sentatives was finished j'esterday. The representatives of this province will be : — Lieut. Craig, Artillery (son of Mr Tkoma3 Craig, of Auckland), who scored 78 ; Tre vella, Engineers, 70 ; Kohn, City Guards (brother of Mr Kohn, jeweller, Queen-street), 75 ; Fox and River —the latter (formerly of Auckland Rifles) scored 70 points; the former will probably go to Nelson at the ex pense of the compaivy.

WELLINGTON.

Yesterday. H.M.S. Blanche has arrived from Hobart Town with English news, per Java cable, to January 9. The Blanche left Hobart Town on January 14, and goes to Auckland to morrow.

ENGLISH TELEGRAMS.

DEATH OF LOUIS NAPOLEON,

[Per Java Cable.]

THE KHIVAN EXPEDITION.-BRITISH

OFFICERS INVITED,

DOTIS FRIGATE ORDERED TO NEW

ZEALAND,

[Per Anglo-Australian- Telegram Agency.]

[The following telegram, but for the inex cusable delay of the Telegraph Department, would have appeared in our last evening's issue.] LONDON. January 9. Ex-Emperor Louis Napoleon died to-day after an operation of lithotomy had been performed. It is expected that the report on Marshal Bazaine will be against him. His trial is postponed until the Germans evacuate France. Customs difficulties between France and Germany continue. The French Assembly is discussing a bill to establish a Council of Education in France. The Bradford Chamber of Commerce has reported favourably on Australian woo and on the measures taken to prevent burr in wool. The secretary to the Embassy, from St. Petersburg, is now in London conferring with the Foreign office on the Khivan question. Relations between France and the Vatican are uncertain. The debate on the subject in the French Assembly has been delayed. Eeimsah is unwell. A new Anglo-French treaty has been agreed upon.

SPECIAL UNPUBLISHED TELEGRAMS.

LONDON.

January 11. A portion of the Adelaide loan has been taken up. The frigate Potis is ordered to New Zealand,

wi rnmtstit b*a&, Wednesday, jahitaet 22, l&ts



CALLS Lincoln Castle .. 0 0 6 Aurora .. .. 0 10 Coronet No 1 .. 0 10 John O'Groats .. 0 5 0 Thames Gas .. .. 0 5 0 Italian 0 0 C Central Italy .. 0 0 6 Mary Ann .. .. 0 0 6 Hope of Coromandel 0 0 6 White Rose .. .. 0 10 Flagship Golden Anchor 0 1 o Carnatic .. .. 0 0 3 Multum in Parvo .. 0 17 Golden Spur.. .. 0 0 6 Key of Tokatea .. 0 0 3 Buffalo .. .. 0 0 3 Imperial Crown .. 10 0 MEETINGS.

Jan 22 Jan 22 Jan 25 Jan 27 Jan 28 Jan 30 Jeb 12 Feb 12 Feb 12 Feb 12 Feb 12 Feb 12 Feb 12 Feb 12 Feb 12 Feb 12 Feb 17



Number of Chil- Fovmer Cost . dven.

New Act.

1 i 5 to 20

! !

£2 12 0 ;» 4 0 7 10 0 10 S 0 ("13 0 0) i t0 I (52 0 Oj

I

£1 1 1 2 2

5 0 10 0 15 0 0 0 0 0



Names. Vol. Mills, Victoria Co Sergt. Watson, Artillery Co. .. Vol.SBoardman, A.R.B. .. jj.. Lieut. Kitchen, Engineers .. Lieut. Devore, A.R.B Ser<»t. Cameron, A.R.B Sergt. "Warren, Victoria Co. Lieut. Somerville, A.R.B Sergt. Provo, A.R.B Vol. Coyle, Navals Corp. Barraclough, No. 1 A.R.V. Vol. Payne, Victoria Co Vol. Oliver, Hobson Co Staff-Sergt. Soall, A.R.B Corp. Partington, A.R.B Sapper Barnett, Engineers Vol. Henderson, Navals Gunner Skinner, Artillery Vol. Hay, A.R.B Capt. Morrow, A.R.B Vol. Bowden, Victoria Co Corp. Biggs, Otalmhu Co Sergt. Little, No. 1 Co. A R.V. .. Vol. Duane, No. Co. 1 A.R.V. .. Gunner Kelly, Artillery .. Vol. A. B. Morrow, A.R.B. Vol. Walker, Navals Sapper McGonagle, Engineers .. Vol. E. Morrow, A.R.B Vol. Robinson, No. 1 Co. A.R.V. Lieut. Goodfellow, Otahuhu Co. Sergt. Patterson, Otahuhu Co. .. Vol. Camp, No. 1 Co. A.R.V. ..

200 300 yds. yds. 18 17 19 15 10 17 18 15 18 13 10 15 15 1G 15 16 10 15 10 15 13 17 15 15 13 17 14 15 17 11 15 13 15 13 14 13 15 12 14 13 12 15 15 11 10 16 14 11 14 11 14 11 12 11 14 9 13 9 12 10 9 10 13 6 11 5

Tl- 35 ■64 33 38 31 31 31 31 31 31 30 30 30 20 28 28 28 27 27 27 27 26 20 25 25 25 23 23 22 22 19 19 16



CAN THE BEST MOLESKIN TROUSERS IN NEW ZEALAND BE SOLD FOR 6s. 11d.? NO! DRAPERS AND OTHERS outside the Clothing Trade may offer such baits to the public, but as THE C LOT HIER OF THE PROVES CE, and the only one whose business is exclusively conlined to the manufacture and sale of Men's Clothing, I maintain that it cannot be done. I can, however, offer to the Working Mon G E NUINE B A EGAINS, being piopared to sell a pair of Moleskin Trousers, equal in ovovy rospoct to tho (is. lid. article, FOE ss. 1 Id. And a pair of GENUINE Crown Moles, FOR, 6s. lli>. And the best In New Zealand, FOR Ss. I Id. SAMUEL OOOMBES, MANUFACTURER & CLOTHIER, SO & 180, QUEEN-STEEKT.