SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUN-S^T: This evening, fi.C. SUN-RTSE: To morrow mornin", 7.4 W*Hi<TFf WATER: This evening, 0.10; to-morrow, morning, 924

ARRIVALS.

Mary Webster, schooner, from Dunedln Surprise, brig, Loverock, from Lyttelton Belle Branrlon, schooner, Sullivan, from Dunedln Star <-f the South. Andrew, s.s., fromLevnka, via Suva Southern Cross, s.s., from Tauranga

DEPARTURES.

Wellington* s.s., Carev, for Southern poi 63 Jane, brig, for Newcastle

IMPORTS.

?■ Per s.s. Star of the South, from Levuka and Suva: 26 bales cotton, E. Bennett; 4 bales cotton, 200 bags maize, 404 bags cotton seed, ,T. S. Macfarlane & Co ; 29 bags maize, J. Coupland ; 300 bags cobra, 1 case planta, M. Niccol ; 1 bale wool, E. Bennett; quan tity of fruit and sundries, order.

; Per schooner Belle Brandon, from Diineclin: 120 bags flour, 10 bags barley, B. Tonks and Co.; 111 bags flour, J. Reid ;10 bags barley, Barnett and Levy ; 250 bags flour, H. B. Morton ; 1,170 bags flour, 9 bags barley 40 bags oatmeal, 100 bags bran, G. W. Binney ; 92 bags flour, 24 hhds. beer, order.

Per Mary Webster, Bishop, from Dunedin: 770 bags oats, 39 501b. bae;s oatmeal, 159 S£>lb. do. do., 10 1001b. do. do., 320 501b. bagj flour, 240 1001b. do. do., 370 2001b. do, do., 40 bags oats, order.

The schooner Fortune, 22 tons, Parker, from Awanui, Bay of Plenty, with 170 sacks "wheat, 48 bags maize, J. S.-Macfarlane.

The schooner Quickstep arrived at Levuka on Ist of July last from the New Hebrides. Captain Fitzharding reports having left Vita May 7, and cruised north to Santo Maria, getting fifty-one labourers. On May 7 cutter Ringdove arrived at Vita and left again ; on Friday, May 9, on east coast of Apii, saw a vessel's lowermast afloat close in shore ; on May 15 saw cutter Annie Russell under Menalha, at G p.m. : May 30, saw Ringdove under Cape Cumberland ; June lsfc, boarded by a boat from cutter Emma, having six teen men on board ; on June 14 arrived at Havannah Harbour and filled up water tanks ; the cutter Aquila, ketch W. S. Fox, and schooner Isabella, were at anchor there. The Quickstep brings fifty-one labourers, who are hired expressly for labour on the plantations of the Messrs Ryder Brothers, «b Maago Island. The schooner Success, Capt. McDonald, arrived at Levuka on the 30th ult, with G7 labourers.

The cutter Emma arrived at Levuka on the 13th instant from a labour cruise, bring ing 29 foreign labourers for Messrs Ryder Brothers' plantation, on Mongo Island. The cutter Vivid, from Auckland, arrived at Levuka on the lltb instant.

The schooner Clio arrived at Napier from "Wangapoa on the 10th: instant. |P There is no appearance of the steamer Wonga Wonga, due on Friday last, from Sydney and Melbourne. A steamer has also been due at the Bluff, from Melbourne, since Thursday last, and up to the time of ciur going to press there' is no word of her arrival. The s.s. Hero was to leave Sydney on Wednesday last, ancl may be looked for to-morrow. - •• . i ■

IgThe p.s. Comerang arrived at Napier yes terday. The s.s. Taranaki left Wellington for Auckland to-day. The schooner Mary Webster arrived in harbour this morning from Dunedin with a cargo of grain, &c. The brig Heather Bell returned to port this morning. . . The fine barque Natal Queen arrived in harbour on Saturday, after a very boisterous passage from Lyttelton, bringing a cargo. ;of grain. She left that port on the 18th inst., and encountered heavy S.W. gales with high seagto. the East Cape, which was passed on, the 21st inst. Had r a continuation of' heavy weather across the Bay of Plenty,' and until sighting Courier Island;'thence fine weather till arrival in harbour. Passengers : —Miss Gourlay, Miss Jessie Gourlay. Mr D. H. McKenzie is agent for the barque. The s.s. Star of the South, Capt. Andrew,, arrived' yesterdoy from Levuka, • via Suva. Passegers—The Hon. Mr Street (Minister of Native Affairs, Fiji); Messrs Hill, Brewer, Chris p, Phillips, and four in the steerage.

COMMERCIAL.

Fiji.—From the Fiji Gazette of the 19th instant we take the following :—Smith and Wilson report business generally. rather dull during the week, and the already full stocks have been increased by the arrivals of the Star of the South, from Auckland, and Meteor, from Sydney. Government notes we still/quote at 10 ' per cent discount for coin in ordinary business transactions, and from 10 to 15 per cent discount for good drafts in Sydney or New Zealand. The following are, the prices'current on the Beach,, little altera-" tion having taken place since'dur last report: Brandy per dozen, Hennessy's, 40s. ; gin, JDKZ, 38s, full contents, in demand ; other brands, 33s ; schnapps, 40s ; whiskey, 35s ; ale, quarts, 14s ; pints, 8s Gd ; porter, quarts, 15s ; pints, 9s; flour, £21 per ton, in demand ;^biscuits, 40s to 48s ' per' lOOlbs.; soap, 40s per case, stocks easy; kerosene, duty paid, 3s 4d per, galloji,, large stocks ex late arrivals still unsold ; tobacco, good, 2s id 2s Gd ; inferior Is 4d to Is 9d ; cigars, fine, 14s to 2Ss per 100; beef, guaranteed, in 2cwt. barrels, £4 8s ; kegs, 45s ; preserved meats, Is per lb., stocks "full; tea, 27s ; navy canvas, Is 3d to Is 7d ; muskets, slow of sale at 13s to 15s ; yams, prime sample, £4 10s to £5 per ton ; maize, 3s per bushel, dull of sale. : r/ y. .. ,'j ~, - , ixhhf riu; .'. :!' i

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Maixb will Close as under:— * t . : , For Thames, thJs day, at 6.30 p.m., and to-morrow, at 10.30, a.m. and 5.30 p.m. ■ n ■■ r Fo-" Corornandel, on Wednesday, 30th instant, at 12.30 p.m. For Gifborse and Napier, per Manawatu, to-morrow, ali 11 : a.jn4.. ;. ... i I QJ f< ForKawau, per "Wave, to-morrow, at 9 a.m. : > |_C For WhHianga. Tauranga, and Opofiki, per Southern Cross, to-mo row, at 3 p.m. . - ... ; For TaihfV, per Tairaa, on Wednesday,,3oth r\st, at 9 a.m. . ' ! , For the undermentioned places, per Luna, on Tnurs- j day, 31st inst., asunder :r- ' _' ~* " For India. China, Mediterranean ports, Continent of Europe, America, &c, at 8 a.tn.^ , . ' For Tararaki and Southern provinces, at 9.30 a.m. For Australian Co'onlesard'Unlted Kingdom, via Southampton; at 9!0 a.m. For United Kingdom, via Bnndisl, and late letters for Southern provinces and Melbourne, at 10 a.m. • For newspapers, at 8 a.m. '{■~ For registered letters and money, orders, on Wedn'sday. 30thinst., at sp.m. '■' _ ' \r ' (Signed) S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.'

At the annual meeting of the ratepayers of Howick township, Mr N. Barry in the chair, the report and accounts were adopted; A rate of the same amount as thai 'adojjted last year was carried, and Messrs JRaleigh, Pon souby Peacocke, W. Lundon, T. Heath, G. Webber, und J. Connolly were elected trus tees. At a meeting of the trustees, held after the general meeting, Mr Peacocke was elected chairman,. Mr Lundon treasurer, and Mr Thomas Garrity collector of the district, j

MARRIAGE.

Haasb— Stnden'.—On July 21, at tfie residence of . the Rev. A. Macdonald, Vincent street, Auckland, Henry, second son of William Ha»se, Esq., of Craw ford street, Bryanston Square, London, to Elizabeth Josephine, thi'd daughter of the late Joseph Sinden, Esq., of Auckland.

DEATH.

Smith.—On July 27, at his father's residence, Alber street, Chas. C. Smith, second son of T. H. Smith aged 2 years.

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

MONDAY, JULY 28, 1873.

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

.. A telegram received in town this after noon from Government Buildings, signed by Mr John Williamson, says that the Auckland members are unanimous in going in for a loan of one million pounds for this pro vince. ; The late find in the Green Harp has proved quite a godsend to the stagnating members of the Stock Exchange. To-day the Insurance Building has presented quite an animated appearance. It would be poetical justice' if the Green Harp after all turned out the rich field which the oracle workers of last year for their own purposes tried to make people believe it was. How these operators will bite their fingers when they think how they have over-reached themselves. Should the mine turn out a second Caledonian, and these scheming gen tleman; are out of the good thing they will do well to keep any reflections on their hard luck to themselves. An 7 out-spoken utter ance of their chagrin will most likely be only productive of the rejoinder "Sarve yer right."

To-morrow-morning at seven o'clock the extreme penalty,, of the law will be carried 1 out within the prison walls upon the felon Eppwright, The system of private executions, very properly adopted in this colony, arid which has siibsequently become the rule in Great Britain to obviate those disgraceful amd demoralising scenes common at public executions, will prevent the gratification of that morbid curiosity which, under other circumstances, might have tempted a section of the Auckland public to werid their way to Mount Eden, to - morrow. A number of young lads and others were observed exploring the hill at the back of the gaol yesterday, apparently for the purpose of selecting spots affording a view of the scaffold. Such precautions, however, will be taken as to effectually exclude the fatal drop from the view of persons outside the prison walls. Eppwright appears to be resigned and composed. A clergyman will stay with him throughout the night by his own request, and will remain to direct the thoughts of the condemned man to a future state until the sentence is carried into execu tion.

™We have received a letter from "L.G.," Ho wick, and a letter upon "Truth, "the senti ments in which have our entire sympathy.

The special correspondent of tha Star set I out for the Empire City in the steamer Wellington to-day, and the mysteries of political manoeuvring and jobbery will bo laid bare with an unsparing hand. We hope to give our readers a peep behind the soenes, and show them how matters are really man aged in Wellington,

At the morning service in the Wollesley street Chapel, yesterday, the Rev P. H. Cornford earnestly besought, as a last favour to the ill-fated man who to-mor-. row suffers the extreme sentence of the law, the prayers of the congregation on his behalf, "That he might, by true penitence, escape that ' seoond death,' which is the penalty appointed by ' the Judge of all the earth' to those who know Him not, and obey not His laws." Such a request beoomes the preacher and his sacred office, and might well be made to a wider circle, for when the law haa done its best and worst on the senseless clay "it hath'nojmore that it can do," for the agonised spirit shall have gone before a higher tribunal and a mightier judge. So long, however, as human nature remains as it is. that hideous adjunct of civilization — the scaffold—will, we fear, be in requisition. "The last argument of kings," some one has said, "is the cannon's opening roar," so the last and final appeal to the hopes and fears of the dangerous class will be the Tuesday morning's homily at Mount Eden, with its ghastly diagram figured out against the sky in the cold grey dawn. Through all ages, and in all climes, the "death penalty* has been regarded as the one supreme punishment from which man's nature shrinks in dismay—and we have it on authority, with which all must be familiar, strengthened by over forty centuries' expe rience—since the Evil One "put forth his hand " upon the Seer of Uz : " Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life." True, the sad and pitiful scene of to-morrow will not restore to life the dead, — cut off it may be "in the blossom of his sins " —or soothe the anguished hearts who in a far-off land mourn the loved and lost one that may never more return. The law, calm, passionless, inflexible—guarding without love, fulfilling without hate, and destroying without revenge—simply says: There is such a thing as iaJcing life to save life, paradoxical though it may seem ; and Eppwright must die, that in the time to come othor men may live.

The annual meeting of Whau ratepayers was held on Saturday evening, Mr j. Bu chanan in the chair. The report and state ment of accounts wore read and adopted. A rate of a jjenny in the pound was struck, and Messrs Bollard, Barraclough, J. Aickin, Sinclair, and Sansom elected trustees, anJ Messrs Hansen and Buchanan auditors. At a meeting held afterwards Mr Bollard was elected chairman and Mr Sansom secretary of the Board.

Tho anticipated sweepstake rifle match came off on Saturday last at the Mount Eden range. The day was favourable, and nineteen volunteers met for competition. The ranges were 400, 500, and 000 yards, and five rounds were fired at the several ranges. The prize at 400 yards was won by Mr A. Reid, and Messrs Aitkin, Thome, Cooper, and Hay, made similar scores. The 500 yards prize wns taken by Mr D. Hay. Mr W. Thorne took the (iOO yards prize with a score of 17 points. The firing was con sidered very good.

A few flays ago we referred to the start ing of a new brewery on the New North Road, under . the proprietorship of Messrs W. J, Suitor and Co., but tho building not being then quite completed, and a proper start scarcely efFocted, we had not an opportunity for seeing it in full working order. A pro per start has now been made, and a quantity of beer sent out, and judging by the sample furnished us on a visit to the establishment we may safely aver that the proprietors un derstand the business. The materials used are of the best description, and the building ia in every way sintable for turning out a first-class article, being lofty and well venti lated. The building has been erected under the personal supervision of Mr Suitor, who has everything constructed with a view of ease to workmen, speed and the saving of labour. The building is three storeys high, the copper, which'contains 400 gallons, being erected on the top storey, on which floor the cooler 13 also situated, and it is unquestionably one of the best cooling places in the province, being exposed to all winds. The second floor is occupied by a fermenting-room, which contains three large fermenting tuns, capable of holding 900 gallons each, a store-room, and a room for grinding malt. The ground-floor forms the cellar. There is a splendid spring in connection with the establishment, capable of producing one gallon of water per minute, and the water is of an excellent quality. Mr Suiter being for many years in tho busi ness is thoroughly acquainted with the prac tical working of large brewing establish ments, and if ;he continues to turn out beer of as good a quality as that on hand ere long the Eden Brewery will be one of the promi nent local manufactories of Auckland.

■ Funeral sermons on the lamented death of the Rev. David Hamilton were^ preached yesterday morning by the Rev. David Bruce, at the Whan Church ; and in the evening at St. Andrew's, Auckland. The little church of the Whau was crowded on the occasion; many persons evidently had come a long way to testify their esteem for the deceased. Outward signs of mourning were modestly, placed around the pulpit and among the congregation. The choir sang most effectively the "appropriate hymn, "For ever with the Lord." The Rev. D. Bruce delivered a very impressive discourse from Philippianß i, 21, " For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Mr Hamilton had preached his last sermon from these words, which induced Mr Bruce to take them for his funeral text. After elabora ting the text the rev. gentleman thus referred to his lamented brother of the ministry:— " Our beloved brother ia not lost, but gone before. He has gone to the spirit-land, to swell the vast family above, —the great pro cession of souls is still winding its way thitherwards ; and we, too, if faithful, shall join the throng. We need not wildly mourn then as those who have no hope, for our loss is his gain. It may now be said that from first to last, since he entered upon his labours, he never once murmured. Though, his dangers and difficulties were great in attending to his large parish, he never once , complained,—he had put his hand to the plough, and would not look back. His devotion was drawn out by the request of those who panted for the Bread of Life, and he laboured hard to break that bread to all. If there was no marked originality in his thoughts, his, preaching has beeen blessed to you all. It seems hard that a ministry begun with so much promise should so abruptly terminate, but God knows what is best, and acts in. accordance with His righteous wilL Fifteen months was a short time to labour, but the Chief Shepherd was little more than twice that time working on earth, but lis victories can never be told. Brief ministries are often productive of immense good, and if this early removal of your late dear pastor should deepen his influence on your souls, his life and death will not have been in vain. Let his labours bring forth in your lives fruit unto holiness, then can we say of him as was said of Abel, 1 JJe being dead, yet speaketh,'"

? A'man named Edwin Glover died on board the a.s. Southern Cross just before her arrival in this port from.Tauranga yesterday. The death was not unexpected .is deceased had been very ill for some timo past from heart disease, and was ooming to town for the pur pose of going' into the" Provincial Hospital. He was a wool-sorter by trade, and came to the colony some years ago from Victoria. *

Mr Edger, last evening in the-City Hall,* referred to the approaching exebution of the unhappy man Eppwright as a disgrace to Auckland, and as the last relic of barbarism. He announoed his intention of delivering a discourse on the subject of " Capital Punish ment, " on Sunday next, as entirely at vari ance with the spirit and teachings of Christianity.

We have been informed by the manager of the North Shore Ferry Co. that, owing to the inclemency of the weather, it will be impos^ sible to run the ferry steamer to-night to and from the North Shore.

Mr Dargaville will address the electors this evening at half-past seven in the school house of the Newmarket district.

/, n old , man named Hood, a pensioner of the sGth Regiment, was found dead in his bed on Saturday. Deceased has been well known for some time aboxit town as an in offensive half-witted creatuta whose wants were confined to a mouthful of bread and plenty of beer. He was (57 years old. An inquest is being held on the remains of the old man, as we go to press, at the Notting ham Castle Hotel.

"Education" writes complaining of the Newton school. He says if that school is a fair specimen of those constituted under the Education Act the sooner they are shut up the better. He says that many persons, having paid the education rate, sent their children to the Newton school, but were compelled to remove them because "the amount of evil they learned did more than balance any good they received." He says : — "Pass it at any time during school hours, and the boys are to be seen going about shouting and bawling as if the idea of school never entered their heads. If people wish to learn their boys to be rowdies it is a very good school for that, but nothing else."

We notice that the railway embankment in Mechanics' Bay is now carried right across the bay, and connects with the works at Fort Britomart. The last few truck loads of earth were "being brought up this morning to the connecting point, which is a little to the east of tho remains of the Wynyard Pier. The tramway is at present the only line laid on the new portion of the embankment, but within a few days we may expect to see the permanent way complete all along.

Mr W. Taylor writes oorreotinga statement made by our reporter in the notice of Friday's entertainment in the Wesleyan school-room, Pitt-street. He says :-«-" It was arranged beforehand that no encore^ should be given on account of the length Oi the programme. It was only at the request of the Rev. Mr Lewis that any encores were givea.

Early tbis morning a strong gale began to blow up from the xv.E. At daybreak the heavy sea running and the dirty appearance of the sky to windward betokened the advent of a regular "buster." All the craft in the harbour made themselves snug. Some diflv culty was experienced in keeping the ship Endymion from banking against the wharf on the rising tide, and levers had to be called into constant requisition. At 8 o'clock the sea was washing clean over the breakwater in Mechanics' Bay, which hr>s been left un finished by Messr3 O'Neill and Thomas. The sea-wall on the outside is of such a substan tial character that no clanger w,v. or!is likely to be done to it; but the unfinished end is being exposed to the wearing action of the wash, and will no doubt suffer considerably. Now that the work has progressed so far, it is a thousand pities that it Bhould be allowed to go back from inattention. We trust flb hear very shortly that some fresh airange inents have been made for continuing the work.

The anniversary meeting of the Temperance Drum and Fife Band will be held this even ing at the Young Men's Christian .Association room, at eight o'clock. Music, songs, reci tations, and speeches will form the enter tainment.

At a meeting held in Grahamstown on Saturday it was resolved to send Mr C. F. Mitchell to Wellington to urge the question of the Thames Valley Railway, Municipality, and Goldfield Water Supply Committees. Money to defray the cost has been sub scribed.

The Church of St Matthew's was densely crowded last ovening, and hundreds of out side visitors could find no entrance, and were obliged to'return to their homes without hearing either the funeral sermon or the music. The Rev Robert Burrows read the service, after which the Right Rev Dr Cowie, Bishop of Auckland, preached. His Lordship took his text from Sfc Mark c.B. v.6. "And He commanded the people to sit down on the ground, and He took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to His disciples to set before them, and they did set them before the people." The sermon was im pressively delivered, with especial reference to the character and virtues of the late min ister; their loss was a great one, but it was necessary as Christians that the loss should be borne with becoming fo/titude. The pulpit and communion table were clothed with the suitable semblancejof mourning, and many of the regular attendants also showed out ward tokens of inward respect for their departed minister. ' The choir gathered in fulllstrength, and the anthems were inharinony with the services.

Another of the. people's concerts will be given this evening at the Choral Hall, under the leadership of Mr Joseph Browne, by thirty of the more efficient members of the Choral Society. The programme is equal, if not superior to any of its predecessors, consisting of overtures, duets,.and a variety: of musical selections from the most eminent composers : Bishop, Beethoven, Benedict, Wallace, Donizetti, and others. Mrs Mit chell, the popular melodist, will sing two ballads' in the 'course' of tho evening, viz.'/' " Star of Life," and " Sing me an English Song." ■ The magnificent four-part song, the " Soldier's Love," will be given with drum accompaniment, and numerous!,other equally beautiful productions. The whole, will con-' elude, with the^ National Anthem. ; These' admirable concerts have an elevating and ennobling tendency; the promoters, musicians, and singers, aro entitled to the thanks of citizens, and their laudable efforts deserve the patronage of the public.

At a meeting on the. 24thinstanti at which nearly the whole of the residents of Lucas's Creek wero present—T. Forgham,,Esq., in the chair—the advantages .conferred on small districts by the Education Act were highly spoken of by nearly all present. The following gentlemen were then elected a school committee :—Messrs Forgham, Fearn ley, Datiby, Stevenson, Phillips, Morten, and' Pannall. After the meeting was closed the committee met and elected .T. Forgham, Esq., as chairman, and Mr Fearnley as sec retary ; and .the following resolutions were passed : —lst, to apply to the Central Board for funds for maps and desks ; 2nd, to have an assistant teacher, so that the school could be full time instead' of half ; and 3rd, to open the. school as soon as possible, ; ,

■; The sailing of the new steamer Manawatu has been postponed till noon to-morrow in consequence of the boisterous state of the weather.

Perhaps some of our readers can furnish the information sought for in the'following letter: —"Sir, —A subscription having been raised some time ago for the widow of the late Capt, Cheshire,",can you inform me the amount subscribed, and if Mrs Cheshire ever received it, and oblige your obedient servant,1 George Stone, Edwardes-street."

The members of Lodge,St Andrew, No. 418 S.C., will hold their regular monthly meeting this evening at the Star Hotel.

A meeting of the shareholders of the El Dorado Gold Mining Company was called this afternoon, at the offices of Mr F. A. White, Shortland-street, but only seven shareholders made their appearance'; ten being the requisite number to form a quorum the meeting lapsed.

REMARKABLE ACCIDENT IN HOBSON'S BAY.

A WOMAN HALF BURIED IN MUD,

A. remarkable, accident occurred in Hob son's Bay last evening which but for the assistance of a gentleman Hying in the vicinity would in all probability have had a fatal termination. About half-past 9 o'clock Mr Austin, who lives on this side of the bay, heard cooeys proceeding from the direction of the beach. For about an hour he took no notice of the sounds, attaching no importance to them. At lengbh, however, the ceoeys grew fainter, and cries as of some one in great distress were heard. Remarking to his wife that possibly some accident had hap pened, Mr Austin lighted a lantern and went towards the embankment on the Beach road, about a quarter of a mile distant from his house, whence the cries apparently came. The road in this place has been constructed, by forming a high clay embankment, and the late inclement weather has made this in such a fearful state as to be dangerous to man or beast. About fifty yards along this embankment Mr Austin saw a woman up to her waist in mud. As he approached she said to him in a low voice, apparently weak from exhaustion, •' For God's sake don't come any further, sir, or you'll sink in the clay the same as I have^done. lamupto my -middle in clay, and cannot move. I feel the cramps coming on, and if not quickly got out shall die. Better get a, rope to drag j me out, as it is impossible to get near." Mr Austin at once cooeyed to his wife, who was standing on the verandah, and called for a, rope. In the meantime Mr Hennings Sir George; Arney's gardener, hearing Mr Austin's cooey ing, thought some accident had occurred at his house, and went in that direction ; but finding that this impression was erroneous, he went towards where Mr Austin was standing. While, the rope was being brought, Mr Hen nings endeavoured to pull the unfortunate woman out of the mud; This, however, he found impossible, and sank up to the . knees himself in the clay. When the rope was pro cured Mr Hennings made a slip- noose and threw it over the woman's head. She adjusted the rope, and it then took the united exertions of the three persons some time to release; her. It was about a quarter to eleven o'clock before the woman was finally ex tricatod, she having been in the painful position, described since nine o'clock. -When released she was very much exhausted, and her lower limbs were devoid of all feeling. It wai some minutes before she had sufficiently recovered to walk with the assist ance of Meusrs Austin and Hennings to Captai.i Tilly's residence, where she is em ployed as a servant. It ir? hoped that no serious result will follow the unfortunate mishap, although the woman, is suffering severely from prostration. The Highway Board Bhonld at once see that the road is made passable, or we may have to chronicle some more serious occurrence. • •■ ■-

CITY COUNCIL.—This Day.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the1 City Council was held this afte. jood. Councillor Is.°r.C3 in the chair, owing to the indisposition of the Mayor. An offer from Mr Burtlett to keep the town clock in order .'or £5 a year was accapUd. Leave was granted to Mr Fisher to place a post in front of his door to fasten horses to, the work being executed subject to the ap proval of the City Surveyor. It was agreed, on a letter f;om Major Tis dall, to accept charge of the two Russian cannons in the Barracks presented by the Imperial Government. It wrs resolved on the motion of 'Counci lor Bold sh;.p that the footputh :n Custom house-strc it be form~d as far as Bell's corner, if the owners of prope; !y defray half cost.

|An extension of timetothe 11thof August was granted Mr Daniel Fallow, the con tractor for the haymarket-shed.

It was agreed, in compliancejwith a request from the Fountain of Friendship Lodge, to advertise the levels of Lome-street.

Consideration of a letter from Mr Thodes, Hobson-street, relative to the footpath in front of his premises, was postponed. I A letter was read from property-holders in Durham street, asking that the footpath be asphalted. The application was granted on the usual teims.

I It wrs agreed that the Volunteers be par mitted to use the Market for drill after busi nesa hours, subject to satisfactory arrange ments with the Market Committee.

| |Councillor Dargaville presented a petition from residents in -Napierjjand Union-streets, praying that the footpath iv Union-street be formed, and a lamp erected. ,The matter •vras referred to the Streets and' Lighting Committees, with power to act.- ... ! A deputation of stall-holders waited on the- Council to urge the opening of the Market Until five o'clock. ' A petition,bearing about 175 signatures against the extended hours was read.

I Councillor Hobbs said that some who signed the opposing petition kept, their own ißhops open until eight o'clock. He moved that the petition be referred to the Market Comnsittee for report, and that the Inspectbr of Nuisances in the meantime enquire how niany shops in Queen-street, are' kept open till after six o'clock.

• Mr Bettany stated that if < all the Queen street'people closed their shops they would not,.press their petition. • ..;

After i discussion the motion was carried and the petition referred to the Market Com mittee accordingly. «: On the report of the City Surveyor it was agreed to law down a few loads of scoria in Morton-street. It was also resolved that the lane at the, rear of Queen-street premises and leading) from Custom-house-street into Fort-street be metalled.

5 i A ■ number of suggestions by- the Market Inspector were referred' to the' Market Com mittee.

Various accounts were read and passed".' The Chairman urged the. finance committee to meet and examine the accounts: They were constantly increasing their overdraft,; and he felt convinced that it must be be cause the rates were not very regularly paid.

The following tenders for the stables, part shed," 'and fencing at the Market, were re-; ceiyed :—J, Hoe and J, Oram, £318; W.

Cameron, £Sl3 ; Shailer and Wright, £349 • G Rhodes, £347 IC3 J W. G. Conley, £273 ; Jones and Pollard, J292; J W James, £370 :B. Gosett, £39S ; E. Mills, £324 ; J. Taylor, £349. One tender, no deposit, was rejected, , , Mr Conley's tender was acoepted.

AUCKLAND GAS COMPANY.

The eleventh annual meeting of shareholders in the Auckland Gas Company was held thw day at the offices of the Company, Mr F. WWtaker was in the chair. Shareholders present : Messrs Wilson, Stone, Macffarlane Dignan, Burn, Beck, White, Pierce, iSomer ville, Kerr, and Newman. The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and approved of.

EeDort of the Directors of the Auckland Gas Company (Umited), presented to the Shareholders at their Eleventh Annual General Meeting. The'directors, In presenting the shareholders with their eleventh annual report, have much pleasure In codl-atulatin? them on the prosperous condition of the commnv's affairs. Notw Ithstr.nding the (.reat m creaseKe yprice of the raw materials, the directors te«fjustified?n recommending a dividend of 7* per cent for the half-year, making, vi tli the 5 per cent in 7n.niin.rv 12V ncr cent, for the year, 'lhree directors go'ou^f offlcr b y rotation, Messrs. WC. Wilson, P. Dignan, and Reader Wood; they offer themselves xor re-election. It is required also that two auditors be selected for the current year. I<\ Whitakeb, Chairman of Director.;. Balance-sheet of the Auckland Gas Company (Lim ited), 30th June, 1873.—Capital, £30,000. T) R £ s. d. £ s. d. To Capital .. .. 30,000 0 0 Number of shares in the Company, (5,000 Number of shares dis posed of, 6,850 .. 29,250 0 0 Shares not I'-'sposed of, 150 750 o^o £30,000 0 0 3.8C0 orrinpl shares of £5, all paid-up .. 19,000 0 0 150 original shares, sold at premium .. • • 1.47 C o 0 1,900 new £5 shares, sold at discount .. 4,977 5 8 Total amount received from shareholders .. 25.453 10 8 Additional sum taken from income, expended in completing works.. 3,250 5 1 g To amount owjng by the • Company .. -. . 87 16 7 To divided unclaimed .. 2 10 0 " Ruservefund ~ l.soo 0 0 " Proiit and loss .. 2,193 15 0 £32,493 17 4 ' Ck. • £ . d. £ s. d- Immovable property— Freehold land .. 1,482 8 9 Freehold buildings and plant, including mains and meters .. 27,329 0 5 23,811 4 2 Movable Property—- \ Stonkof coal,*"!. .. 772 5«0 Stock of residual pro ducts 30 0 0 . i 802 5 0 A mounts due to the Com pany , 280 14 11 Cash in Bank of New 1 Zealand .. .. 1,505 13 3 C ish invested in Govern ment Debentures .. 1,034 0 0 2,599 13 3 £32,493 17 4 PIIOFiT AND LOSS. & s. d. £ s. d. To coals, &c., carbonised .. .. 2,5!t8 0 4 To stokers' wages ... .. .. 477 17 0 General Expenses - Directors' and Auditors' fees 250 0 0 Insurance .. .. 8 5 0 Salaries .. .. ... 811 0 0 Ktationeiy, printing, ad vertising, and bl-jup.s 70 4 5 RatesandtPxes.. .. 02 5 0 Petty cash .. .. 21 3 9 Legal expcnsei .. .. 15, 0 8 Itent .. ;.. .. 105 0 0 Inspecting Meters .. 72 5 G Government ''cense .. 15 0 0 ■ 1,490 10 ■ 4 To mains, 1:01 .co-laying, &c. ■ 1,817 4 8 To wear and tear 001 2 8 To meters .. .. .. .. .. 110 To balance down 3,334 14 10 £'J,S2G 10 10 & s. d. By gas 8,901 (i 4 By residual products 774 18 5 By iut«rest .. .. .. .. 82 17 1 liy scrip transfer fees .. .. .. 5 14 0 By \>ad debt account .. .. .. 115 0 £9,52G 10 10 By balance at crc^'t, 30th J uno, 1572.. £1,734 0 2 By balance brought down .. .. 3,<534 14 10 5.0C3 15 0 . Dividend declared on 24th .Tv'y, 1872, and interim divi dend of 301b Janu s> y, 1878 .. .. .. .. 2.575 0 0 £2,193 15 0 E. B. Parsons, Secretary. Audited and found correct. ■ Geo. P. Pißacii r Auditors, On the motion that the directors' report be adopted, being put by the Chairmrn, and seconded, ,by Mr Burn, it wa3 carried unanimously. Mr Pierce p oposed, and Mr Somerville seconded, that the retiring directors, Messrs W. C. Wil on, P. Dignan, and Header G. Wood, be re-elected. Carried unanimously. Messrs Boardman and Pierce were elected auditors for the ensuing year.

LATEST FIJIAN NEWS.

The Position of the Ministry.

Statistics and Prospects of Fiji.

(From our own Correspondent)

Leauka, July 18. The s.s. Star of the South arrived here from Auckland after a splendid fine weather run of seven days, and after a detention of three days leaves this afternoon on her return trip via Suva, whence she proceeds for cargo.

PROSPECTS OF THE FIJI BANK.

No doubt some of your Auckland capital ists will be interested as to what the pros pects of the Fiji Banking and Commercial Company (Limited) are likely to. be; &l£ short, to a bonafide company, under a good management, the prospects are very inviting, and there can be little doubt that the scrip of this commercial enterprise will be equal to anything of the kind in the colonies, for years the business of the country has been carried on without the facilities of a bank, and the serious loss and inconvenience occa sioned thereby can only be realised by some of the" old identity of Auckland, who no doubt have been through the same fire in the early days of JSew/Zealand. It is no un common occurrence with a Levuka merchant to be unable to raise fifty pounds, although k£. may; have security for thousands. Exchanges|j|on the colonies too are > some tifcnes ridiculous, but if bills are to be met ph,e sacrifice must be made. The imports'and exports-of Fiji amount to about £350,000 for the currentJ year, consequently this amount of business would nearly fall to the bank; besides this there would be ad vances on bills of lading, deposits, note issues, &c., &c. Important concessions are expected from the Fiji Government in the shape of a monopoly of many years standing. This monopoly will, if I interpret the feeling of the community aright, never be granted. Let the directors of the Company ask for a two years' monopoly, as a reward for their enterprise and there can be little doubt this concession will be granted. Two years: will give the

Company ample time to obtain the confidence f ef their customers, and to fairly establish VI connection. There will always be one gre; I advantage in Fiji to banking corporation/^ I and that is in the matter of economy in th* / j. working, consisting, as Fiji does, of. a large number of islands, none of them of sufficient importance" to support a branch. The whole future banking business will hjtffe to be conducted from the present city of Levuka, which is right in the centre 0 { the whole group, so that all business will fall through the one bank, and the expe nge9 of the various branches will conaequeatjy be saved. J REPORTED MURDER OF CAPTAIN"* DAGGETT. The master of the schooner Quickstep arrived at Levuka on the Ist instant. He reports that Captain Daggett, formerly of the Daphine, had been murdered on Tannaby natives about the first week in June. Tie information was supplied to the master of the Quickstep by the Captain of the Isabella, SECESSION OP IMPORTANT CHIEF* FROM THE GOVERNMENT. During the past month political matters have become very intricate and perplexing in consequence of the rumored secession from King Cakobau's Government of two' of the leading chiefs, Maafu and Tui Cakan. who previous to the formation of the present Government were co-equal with Cakobau. The Ministers stoutly deny that such seces sion has taken place, bub admit that "unpleasantness" has occurred, which,, however, they state hr.T been amicably! settled. At present this statement of Ministers has to be confirmed. Should these chiefs continue obstinate to the: wiles of the Ministers to bring them back to their allegiance, the Government is wholly powerless to compel them to do so. Is it to be wondered at, then, in this unenviable state of affairs, that the _ people still persist in their cry of annexation ? Ministers are generally blamed for their weak native policy in giving these chiefs the opportunity of withdrawing at their leisure. PETITION FOR ANNEXATIOX. It i 3 fervently hoped by all who possess a stake in the country that the Commission appointed by the English Government will report in favour of annexation. The new Commodore for the Australian station; and the new Consul for Fiji—Consul LayarcT —will compose the Commission. By-the bye, Mr Layard will not be unknown to New Zealand, he having some few years ago been privatef secretary to Sir George Grey, the _: then Governor. ;[. SUGAR GROWING IN FIJI. The first marketable sugar has been on view in Levuka during the past week. It is our first production, and a very promising one too. It is ' manufactured at Messrs Brewer and Jorke's plantation at Suva, and this plantation alone expects to export some seven hundred ton* next year. The above few lines are very significant, especially to, the poor people of Auckland, if you possess' such a class, for it means sugar a penny $'! pound cheaper than at present. , *,yt SUCCESS OF THE EXPEDITION AGAINST THJb'! ; £. REBELS. Since the departure of last steamer the' natives in the centre of Viti Levu have re-, ceived a severe check, Cakobau taking over one thousand prisoners of war. THE COTTON CROP. Cotton is coming forward well, and fine growing crops are reported all round. Three Sydney traders leave here next week loaded to the hatches, including the s.s. Duke of Edinburgh. 500 tons ; and the barque Meteor, 300 tons register. .< THE SAN FRAKCISCO MAIL SERVICE. J ' The news that the San Francisco line of steamers intends to call at Kadavu instead of Levuka has caused considerable disgus|" ; g and disappointment. Why it should beCS so we are all at a loss to imagine. KadavuTii is situated to the South of Levuka, about ninety miles, and it would only take nine hours to reach Levuka, and nine to return again. But this loss of time is not at all necessary as the steamers can enter the group, at the eastward, and pass on to th&co-vy" lonies via Levuka. This route is perfectly^ safe, the narrowest, part being some dozen * miles wide. It was by this route the Syd ney line of steamers ran two years since. During the hurricane season, which is gene rally confined to March, if tin weather Was at all threatening the steamer would be com pelled to keep at sea in any case, aid it would be of little consequence which port the vessel was destined for. Hurricanes with us generally give twelve houi's' notice, and only visit us now and again, the last hurricane having occurred three years since. SHIPPING. The Dido still remains at Levuka, and the Clio is hourly expected. The Auckland schooner Jessie Niccol arrived here a few. , days since with an excursion party.

FROM THE "FIJI TIMES." Enquiries have been sent out from America Js to the American Consulate here as to ■-*'■' whether or not anything has been heard of the schooner Ogle, Bird, master, i on a beche-de-mere fishing venture. Her crew are supposed to have been massacred'!* amongst the islands contiguous to New % Guinea. The King will receive visitors on Tuesdays * and Thursdays only, between the hours of ■, two and four p.m. There are many "native :i gentlemen" in the adjacent towns who will ■■"<" receive visitors at any hour, and make them, more welcome if their visits be accompanied with "square." ..;, ..i. The acceptance of the resignation of the a Attorney-Generalship by Mr Forwood, arid't the appointment of Mr Sydney Charles Burt to that office was gazetted, on Saturday. ,fci It may not be generally known that all the petty .chiefs (with the one solitary exception ]£ of Mamasi' Tui Eroi) of Savu have long been in secret aud are now in open rebellion to JEis Majesty's Government, and unless1 the J* powers that rule in the metropolis take prompt, and determined steps to assert theiK authority at once we are on the eve of a l regular organised native revolt of a very j; serious nature. : . A gentleman from Rewa informs us that Cakobau followed up the enemy from Nasoro vakawalu (which fell into his hands after being abandoned by the enemy) into the Waikalou territory. ; There the mountaiheetfjj| soro'd and asked for peace. Cakobau gav^f orders for Tui Viria and Tui Waikalou'«l arrest, and also that a large number? of prisoners .should be taken. These latter, we believe, are being brought:-down the Rewa. Tui Viria was, wo are informed, to have been shot on. 'Monday last. It is' ' said that Cakobau intends to follow up his success by crossing the mountains and^ effecting, a juncture witli the forces at the- Ba. Such a stroke: as that,- if secured by planting a couple of military., outposts ia;T commanding situations, will tend to settl<O. to a'very great extent tho "mountain diffi^^i cqlky" of .Fiji. ~ . •»,• 'Th^'Gazette says :—The news has arrived that on Thursday last the Nil Desperandum had arrived in Suva. Her arrival is probably. ,/ a momentous era in the history cf Fiji, for, as is well known, she' brings a complete J crushing arid refining pla»t for Messrs Brewer ar.d Joske. Sugar is now Mrly started. Qq4 , •speed the plough, / '.*>:,*

THB EVE*l*f E STAR, MOff PAY, JTTffg SB, Wt9.



ft, HATS! BATS! • BtTSHBKOOK & BEIDGMAN ARE CLEAEING- OUT BALANCE OP GIRLS' AND WOMEN'S BLACK STRAW HATS, FROM Is. EACH, Abo, a Lot of CHILDREN'S WINTER JACKETS, WATERPROOF CLOAKS, FEATHERS, TRIMMINGS, ETC, VERY CHEAP. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite Atwiy and Navy Hotel), UPPER QUEEN STREET, AUCKLAND, ri A ~U T 1 O N OLSON'S TOMATO SAUCE. Connoisseurs pronounce this Sauce to be the BEST for general use in households, and, in con sequence of its high reputation, some unprincipled persons have been induced to Collect Empty Bottles bearing the manufacturer's name stamped thereon, and pass the sr.me off as ''Olson's Universal Tomato Sauce." The proprietor has in consequence caused his TRADE MARK to b* Registered under the provisions of the "Trade Marks Act, ISCfi," and proceedings will be taken against such persons as may forge or counterfeit such mark. The public are cautioned to ASK FOR OLSON'S SAUCE, and see that the name is Stamped on Bottle and Stopper, and wrapped round with his well-known label.



GREAT EEDTJCTIONB FOR THREE MONTHS ONLY AT THE AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY, 194, queen street, Nsxt Door to Savings' Bank. Cartes-de-visite reduced from 16s per dozon to 13s Bd. Maori Celebrities (largest stock in New Zealand to select from), reduced from 12s per dozen to 6s. Views from all parts of New Zealand reduced from 12s per dozen to 6s. Enlargements from Gartes-de-vistte 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 SMries, Stereoscopio Slides, &c, grsatly reduced. J. MoG A R R I G L E, Manaper. [Established 18G4.] FV STEPHENS ON & CO.'s CELEBRATED COFFEES, "EXHIBITION BRAND" "EAGLE BRAND" "CROWN BRAN ti," Are to bo procured at all" respectable Gkockub and Stoueiceepkus throughout the Province of Auck land. _ . 1 ! D. STEPHENSON & CO., WYNDHAM-STREET, AUCKLAND.



T COS aEA V E & CO. Are now holding an EXTRAORDINARY CHEAP SALE OF DRAPERY AND CLOTHING At their Premises. CANADA BUILD IN GrS, QUEEN STREET: