SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET: This evening, 5 0 SUN-RISE: To morrow morning, 6.45 j...,, . ~, ... HTGH WATER: This evening^ 10.49 ; to-morrow nurning, 11.5 • >(\ . . , .

ARRIVALS.

Swallow, schooner, from Mercury )Bay

DEPARTURES. I Nil: Z(y '1

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

Por Sonthern ports: Wellington, a.s.;, Mondiy I For Sydney: Energy; schooner, early ' . For Newcastle: Alice Cameron, barque, Saturday For Sydney and Melbourne: Wonga Wonga/ s.s., ; about6thMay, Hero,1 BS., early For Northern porta: Row<.na.s.s., Monday next For' Melbourne : Dauntless, schooner,'this evening^

VESSELS EXPECTED.

jsamDurgn irastle, ship, from lOndon. <-sauea sWtu December

December )■ -i , i » ■• •■■ Parsee^ship, from London.l Sailed 12th January Agra, ship, from London. Sailed Countess of Kintore, shfji,; from London: Sailed' . Woodlark, ship, from London. '<■'. Ssiiled 22md February Hylton Castle, barque, from London. Sailed City of Auckland, from London. Loading Zanga, barqu«£f*dni Liverpooll. Sailed 17th January Thapjcg; barque foomNew York.'ViaSydney. Sa'led Akbar, ship, frqra Boston, via Melbourne Satellite, critter, fronTLeruka ~[arv yfebstpr.^chnoneij/from Adelaide. Sailed 21st iM>'rch-(for'fhe"'Man'nkan) "'"' :" :01' TTnolu, schooner, frbmi"Samba : •"•'* T.-fhrr, brig, from Newcastle. Sailed 30th March Emulous, scho.oner, from Dunedin. Sailed 2Sth April Success, schooner from Levuka !\ Emelie, schooner, from Tahiti I Ivanhne, schooner, "from New. Caledonia , r „, ~, j Mirgaret Cfemfcibdi, schooner. from Dunedin 1 r 1 4 '"/^BT.i&fflFPi Kftmj.^e^ide., Sailed 27th March Prinin Uonn'a. schoonet, 'from Levuka Bita. brte. frcira'Lyttßjt<»fc.,;gAUed 29th April. ■ >'iiVbrig,,frpmLytfcelt«jm Sailed 29th April..,. > Feronia. barqi}^ from Lytteltoa. Sailed 26th Aprllth ;■ ,-.n «.- - ,-ji ■ ■ .. The schobner'S^ll^hks reported at the Customs from MerdOry Bay with 16,000 feet of tSttibiar.l She 'has' sfiiee cleared Outwards for her return trip. ,* ' y •' ( . (f , , The well-knowh barquentine Prince Alfred, now; daily expected toarriye in this port, is r fW^aafe;by Owei('& Gi'aham. She is what is termed a dry^lhiipi and "usually turns ont her cargo in first-rate order. B barque is signalled as : ,we go to press. The s.s. St Kilda will be lengthened' 20ft. and not 50ft. \ias stated in error yesterday. She will undergo- T^ry extensive, repairs in addition, including an almost hew boiler. This, with .thf ship-work.-yrill be supplied by _Mr ;^..Wt.A J?rfe!oman. J^^s'^?»sefield and rCo/t-w^be.e^trpatfed^iwithJthe engine work. Her engines will have their character almost entirely-altered. She will receive new surface conderisers/Tfiett-1 pistortl &ndu£istbn tods, cylinder re-bored, the old trunks done away with and new guides substituted iii their place, new decks',- deck-house and bridge. To receiva these alterations .and , repair^ the Bteamer v^iH be taken on to the slipin Duthie's ■ yard. ': ''" ' ' nolJ" ■',"■[ .■■■'.;}. J: '. ■' ' x "'

COMMERCIAL.

Mr. A. Buckland held a flax and wo°l sa^e this afternoon. There was a limited number of buyers present, and bidding moderate.: Greasy wool sold from 4-Jd, to 10£ d. per lb. flax, from 16s to 23s per cwt. Three large, parcels were withdrawn for higher rates.

Mr 8.. Arthur's sale to-day was largely at tended. Fowls realised 9d to 3s each; Brahma Pootras, 16s ; turkeys, 3s 3d to ss; ducks, ls lOd ; geese, 2s 6d to 3s 4d ; pota toes, 4s 3d to 6s per cwt. ; onions, to fd per lb. ; butter, 4Jd to 8d ; bacon, 7d to lid ; oatmeal, '2d per lb. There was a good attendance at Messrs B. Tonks and Co.'s sale of grocers' stock, and fair prices were obtained. The spring-cart, horse, and harness, realized £30.

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

fpu »■ 1 Mtaenfeoft.' ' Green Harp, Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 3 p.m.,' eth'imy t.QTS AAA'I ixmg Drive, Mr Tothill's office, Auckland, 8 p.m.,, 7th May Mk All Nations, Mr Tothill's-office, Auckland, 2 p.m., 7th May W- Bright Smile, Grahamstown, 13th May , - >t ' .Lincoln'Cas'tle','Sceats'-Hotel, Auckland, 2 pAn.,-14th 5 May U j Durham -Ox, .Grahamstown, 19th May ~ ~ , . OffnttTand Bdhd, Griha*ifisto#n, ZftfrMatr' > •' South Britygh^Fire and Marine Insurance Company, Company's Oflfcey Quif«eM street; Auckland, 21st Mjiy

CHIEF POST-OFFICE AUCKLAND.

. Mails frtinl CloS* Ab Unot*' :— • L For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to-morrow, atflD.'3oiftjfa.'Jftitd BMp.hLl U Q 21- 2 For Whitianga, per Swallow, this day, at 6 p.m. For Mahurangi, &c/, per tLady/Bp^en, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Napier and Gisborne, per Comerang, to-morroW, at 10 a.m. For Whitianga, Tauranga, and Opotiki, per Southern Cross, to-morrow, atl p.m. For Newcastle, N.S.W.. per Alice Cameron, on Saturday, the 3rd May, at 10 a.m. For the undermentioned places, per s.s. Wellington on Monday, Sth prox., as follows:— For Taranaki and Southern provinces, at 12 noon For India, China, Mediterranean ports, and Co » tinent of Europe, United States, Canada, &c, via England, at 11 a.m. ' For the Australian Colonies and United Kinjg; dom, via Suez, at noon „ For United Kingdom, viaßrindisi, at 12.30 p.m. For money orders, registered letters, and news papers at 10a.m. Letters for Southern provinces and Australian Colonies will be received until 12.30 p,m. ; For Russell, Wangaroa, and Mongonui, per Rowena,' ' on Monday, 6th inst., at 11 a.m. i (Signed) S. B. Bibb. Chief Postmaster.

I H A short time ago we drew attention to tlje inconvenience and injustice that would be caused to seamen connected with this po^fc by the working of the Merchant Ships' Officers' lamination Act. We then urged the ap pointment of local examiners, so as to,avoifi r! .' 'the necessity Mot; I! to*Wvl3i)n£b6*.' to obtain certificates;— A— meeting of seamen -j ywa.U . held,, ; and resolution: I "f6r tran^ m'ssioß to,tb*Groveriunf!iitjupon(,the subject i "adopted; .We^ -are M glad' •tp'' learn-that •the • Goyernmetff^ hM^ac'ted, :up6ti vi^e l<> suggestions thrown W.%,' and has 'appointed i. Captain G. Til]y.Mana M* :G. Cb#t6n k ' '■■ local board of^xaminerS; Wfthjfoweir tef gr^nt " certificated °TlBU K>ir xW l.ifo^lOi^ Jifth* direction,-^and/fth^i i»ppoi»tments.. will ,give - general satisfaction, as the gentlemen are both thoroughly qualified, for the office, and j )afef p'o^tilar witttinA-Seafamngi Community? j The leading amateurs in Auckland*are making preps&fi6ris) (ihik grand scale for a performance, fig be giv.en.qn.Mqijday, evenl ing' next, atfthfe ''Ptfrfk of Wales Theatre This will be! the' fecciaisidri' of'd''compliment^ ary benefit tendered' to Mjss Campbell, a very pleiafeinfi; 4ady aiiateiir, who has on' r Be vera! occasions'lent .valuable assistance at ■■■ the performances of our Thespian*J both here' ; at Coroiriandel; ahd'tjiel; Tfc^^s, and in " return theiy Jare.determined to shew -their apf - preciation of her kind .services by-setting '■' apart a performance for.her especial beri&fit: , The programmie is an adimfjilble, .one, aiid rinJ j eludes both comedy, music, and dance, and < the pubUc may rely on a capital' evening's entertainment. The performance will be , tinder the patronage of . hJ9 Worship thi I , iilf.l - (hulls if! HO JJio r.bM.i Ii !

MARRIAGE.

Nightingale—Best.—On May 1, at the residence of the bride's parents, by the Eev. Dr. Wallis, F. W. Nightingale, eldest son of Mr W. Nightingale, of Me son street, to, Sarah Lena, youngest daughter of Mr Isaac Best, of Hobson street.—No cards.

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

FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1878.

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.

To colonists one very interesting item of dntelligencec contained in the Eng lish telegrams is that which tells of the "formation of another line of communication between the colo nies "and Europe. The "Torres Straits route " is to Queensland what the Trßns-Pacific route is to New Zea land, and not less than with ourselves in relation to'our own special, service it has long been regarded as intimately bound-' tip with the welfare of' tlie "Northern colony. And just as tbe trans-Pacific service will benefit,though perhaps in a secondary degree, the iwhole^oi; the group, so must the ( new service by the East be of exceeding advantage to every one of the colonies. It will have indeed one special value,' for just as overland lines of telegraph are benefited by being stretched along by the side of the highway, so will easy communication by, sea to every point of the Anglo-Australian lines of telegraph tend greatly to keep our tele graphic communication with England in'a state, of efficiency. But besides this , the direct communication with "the wealth of Ormus anjl of Ind," and the new ; and corhjofeting line of communication with the mother coun try cannot fail to vastly promote the commercial welfare of the entire group of colonies. Some annoyance has been expressed in, England at the tendency in i the to sustain these separate services. But on this side of the line we shall not view the matter in the : same light;; but! eveti though tljese various services arise from inter colonial /jealousies or rather rivalrie^, the direct and Special interest which', each colony, Y will. haye in its own 1 pet line J will .."result in good to all.' Queen slan d-,. ; , for ; the Torres Straits; service, Victoria,) for. the Cape service, and New Zealand, for that across the f .^neripan, .^onijinent,' will t each strivb iW.ith.an intensity of individual and 'spebiaV Mterisst,'.w^ich, even. I '.though begotten-of'ipure self-interest must result in bringing all the colonies closer 3tSS th*£ centre >of 'all .Jifi^Vis1 jjWgre^ivjß in the age, (I t ± ;,"./,"•, „~. - a

JTh»leoturer« for 'the'iUnivorsitv i evening classes haVe, We'hfeari'btedh appoiuted, and the clashes' will (ioihinence \'&tl 'ah early dat^. The appointments are, not tpiite, completeq, : 'md it 'is"f^j&mvjj. considered* desirable by ,t^e Bpa,rd to f malie any o£^cj[f JL^npunce "mfeiit it 'present); 'hul;' it .'is .pretty well understood thas Mr. Mc,Rae .wUI tfdfe thje Mathematical Class; Mr. Anderson, the Latftfy'Dtf Kidd,1 the Lojtic; Mr. Severij, the'Chehiical; and M.Theorell, the French. I The class for history .will ,not be fofmed for the 'pieaerii, ami* We are soiTy 'th ile&i iha,i 'Mr HiighiLusk has been obliged by pr^sstare df other duties to decline it. A meeting of all intereptqd r K take p|acq shortly,^ and b« i^uljK j advertised/ ,At iphe t mepting)--thiß classes will be 'fo^jrjed^ . 9Jrid ney. adipiasiphs wilri.beh'be diflSciilt', as-they would l^ead tb iy^range^rtt:;. ] M'<MM^W#^f WW?' Jbf a'gbdd.attenaan«ce,wh«!n the meeting is held, i The place of'-meeting will - probably; be the Bjrf&rd'R'bbtfi ■"/. ] •ii i iFifty lof the inhabitants [of Frankfort;'J ak • willbb |,sWeh'by\bur' M^ligh| i|tfel4^ramfei;' havb sacrificf^d their ;live&:ih|)refferehce to sub mitting' to i a rise in. the price of their I beer. I Notwithstanding their sincere love Of the barley-juice it is doubtful whether Englishmen .would have gone so far in its defence as their German friends. - ' ' ,'

, Sif, James Ferguson, the new Governor of this colony, accompanied by Lady Ferguson, left.London for NewZealapd viaßrindisi on April 18th. Hia Excellency may therefore be expected here about the Jmiddle of June, and will be in ample time to open Parliament w,hieh in all probability wjll not; flaeet before July. ' Ay,, '■.:' .■"'".'....

:■ Wf -. j i ill Tho Russian expedition &ainsto.Khiv^| has sot out, and an unimportant Viircojy m . reported. Tho inaccba^blis haturo of the' country Will, fetidor the con<|uust of tho KhivatoS a difficult task, even though the the opposing forces are so unequally matched. The correspondence between England and Russia, as laid before the House of Commons by Mr Gladstone, does not appear to have embodied any defi nite terms, the Russian assurances being more of a negative than a positive character; Public feeling at home, however, seqms to be satisfied that Russia entertains no aggressive intentions .towards England's Eastern posses sions at present. At the last meeting of the City Council, Mr Stannus Jones moved that a premium of ten guineas be given to any society or private person who will introduce,swallows into New Zealand, but from some unknown cause his motion was withdrawn. Mr >Toftes asserted as his belief that a few thousand swallows would abolish the moscpiito nuisance If his ■assertion be true it is a matter of regret that the motion was not carried by the combined wisdom of the chamber. Perhaps councillors} 'considered that ornithology and subjects per taining to natural history were more properly the business of the Acclimatisation Society,' and did not come within the sphere of i gen tlemen whose thoughts should be confined to the study of roads and rates. The swallow is a very delicate bird, and is held sacred by the .peasantry in rural parts of England. Many rude rhymes are still chanted which tend to foster a superstitious regard* for swallows, which migrate to warmer'region^ as the winter sets in and insects disappear.' Swallows have a peculiar ri&de of flying with little flutter of the wings, and prey upon gnats and other insects in their flight, so that Councillor Jones, who is somewhat of a naturalist, may be right in say ing that swallows would destroy mosquitoes. By all means therefore, if possible, let the premium be offered, and let us have the swal lows. These birds are regarded with peculiar interest by agriculturists ; they come at May-time and depart iv October. If swal lows fly low and skim the water it is a sign of rain ; but if they circle high in the air then fine weather is certain! Their geographical range extends over the greater part of Europe; Asia, and Africa, so that in all probability they could exist in New Zealand. Interest ing accounts of the' habits of the swallow may be found in the pages of Gilbert White," Sir Humphrey Davy, and other naturalists, The Tichborne claimant has been arrainged for perjury, and we are informed by telegram that two hundred witnesses will lift up their voices against him. Allowing half that number for the defence an estimate may be made of the work cut out for the twelve •if good men and true " to whose lot the duty of deciding the question will be submitted^ The claimant continues to live well and enjoy life. We learn that the projected Shoemakers' Society has " dissolved, and, like the baseless fabric of an upper, left not a sole behind." These sons of Crispin held several meetings at a tavern in Victoria-street, and wont so far into the principles of, self-help as tojJW a set of rules, and here they made a deAd pause and, like Lot's wife, "looked back," and their energies became paralyzed. 'The English telegrams to hand make mention of a brain disease with which the Sultan of Turkey is afflicted, and report a probable change in the dynasty. From the fact that His Majesty has beenplaced under restraint it would appear that heTiaii-bfccome completely deranged. The many friends of Mr Hugh Carleton will be glad to learn that that gentleman is recovering from his recent accident. From a private telegram we learn that he is now able to walk about toiyn, and will soon be all right again. The darkness and raininess of the evening did not prevent a large number of persons from visiting the City Hall last night to | listen to the Carandini concert. The enter tainment commenced with Mozart's "Mar ,! riage of Figaro," by the sisters, followed by a | solo and chorus by the company. Mr Gor don next gave 4 " Bandits Life," in which he displayed much power. Tom Moore's " Last I Rose of Summer" was faithfully rendered by i Madame Carandini, and would have gratified Moore himself could he have listened to his favourite song which,; in a brief compass, is 1• a mental biography of the poet when he felt, . like thfe fosei of a poetic summer '' iii the j cold world alone.". Madame Carandini ex ! pressed the true meaning of those sentimentp I which have made Moore's songs universally j acceptable. The singer, by experience and | practice, was mistress of that necessary j transition which gives to the melody its , lively and plaintive charms. She was also j successful in "Ye banks and braes o' bonny Doon," by [Burfl^'i a similar composition, expressive of gaiety and sorrow. The sisteip displayed much—appreciative skill in the ballads, "The winds that sigh at dead of : flight, ."Elly's' reasons}", amd I f Wheii Sthe . roses,bloom again." The operatic selections | and duets were effective and pleasing. '''Thje 1 ' (?b,lncert concluded with the V Gipsies, merry choi-us.' r, To-night the. programme will be ; changed, > and among ' other ballads and selections of music, lsy old friend John and the ''Land o'the Leal?' will be sung..': j To the Editor: Sir,—As a great many of, th|e public are- under the impression that thje Garrick Club is connected \vifch the amateur dramatic performance to take place at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Monday evening next, allow me to state that the Garrick Club have no connection with it whatever.— A. Smith, stage manager, Garrick Club. The/ i committee! .appointed iota I previous meeting for the carrying out of a project, inoble; inii^j.devils, the;e3tabUshm.ent ? o£ i* "i^efu^e for the destitute," met yes<|erdfl,yi!at I ~four.p.m. inthe, .office of. Mr Stovih, Insur ance Buildings. .Thei>Bi&hop of Auckland was called'to the chair. Mr Philips, thpughjt that a public meeting should be called, and a subscription list opened to extend the Old Men's Refuge, or a new one should tie established. The Rev. Dr. Cowie considered . that young fvomen generally, would nqtjen-' dure ,the confinement of pa refuge., Mij^Sto vfn then read a pape^ whiph he had prepared on .the subject,'tlie merits of 'which elicited, some discussion. Mr Kissling then moved, That Messrs Philips, :Stoviny.and, Vickers db form a committee to wait 'upon' the Superin tendent aUd ascertain.;if any, arrangement can be made to connect the proposed institt - 'tioni-with the Old Men's Refuge,<and repoit therepn r at their next meeting., The motioi "wiis seconded byCol.lllftuJtain.' A vote <f ..thanks was given to. the rev. chairman, anl the, meeting closed. (< • ■ . , ' It ife a griite deal eaiaei; tew be a philosopher after a man haz had hiz dinner, than it iz when he don't know where he iz- agoing tew S^^iA ■ ' ';':,'';:■■ \U IKTXY7/ ."! ' j . A meeting of the members of the Aucklank iQjuoiting Club will be held oriShtiirday evteii ing next. -■ •'•;•'>' '' ■'■ -' Mails will be made up for the United Kingdom, via Suez; ati Monday next. ' Tbey will be forwarded by ihe Wellington, via thb South. .','„;', The; Parnell Hall will be sold by auction on Monday next by Messrs B. Tonka & Co, .'■"•AA <I>" / i! : :' !

" r-.V . '.', i^F^ A ; .- '^v'pTl pßiAHlib ojnriion is decisive in declining that \ ,tfie''ySraikat6. murderers must betßrought to 1 justice. The Waikato 'Times, alluding to the subject says : —'.' The Ngapuhi tribe has offered to take the matter into its own hands. •It-would suit-us to grant the whole of the land owned by the King's people as a reward for bringing the opponents of law and(6raer to their senses. It matters not to those in rebellion by whom they are brought under subjection. Either the white man or the ! brown will have to produce the murderer ot murderers of poor Sullivan, to be hanged as a warning to those Who may take td similar eccentricities. The murderer must be hanged, j and, as we said previously, the duty must be I speedily done. We trust that the natives I will not be foolish enough to drive us to ex tremities, otherwise the annihilation of the Maori race is tolerably certain tp take place. The murderers must be hanged* and the* ac-. complices receive at leadt a heavy, topri Of imprisonment.-The Alexandriacorrespbhdenti of the same journal, speaking of the feeling entertained by the settlers in that frontier district, says:—lf the murderers are all handed over—well; if not, there is but one alternative left— we must take them. We have received the following with a re quest for'its insertion :—" Sir,1 -^! have been much edified by reading in the columns Pf one' of your contemporaries this morning, a letter, from " D.8.," and dated Devonport. It tells how a person at a dinner party spat up a piece of his shirt and jacket which had been shot), into him, together with a bullet,'gome years previously. It appears the Ib^ull re mained, in the man's belly, and used occasion ally to keep moving about there to his great inconvenience. Sir, I know a more interest-! ing case than this. A friend of mine, att officer in a crack regiment, was engaged in active service in the Punjaub, when he was struck in. the small of the back by a shell from a howitzer. Having been discharged from a short distance and with a feeble charge, instead of rending his clothing, the missile tore with it in its course his panta-j loons, and such was their strength that the shell, after passing through the body, waS drawn back with a rebound, and • both the missile and the breeches remained lodged in his abdomen. The wound closed and healed, and though the bulky substance:in the , iriSide produced considerable inconvenience, he was not debarred from the pleasures of society j On one occasion he was at a Government ball in Calcutta, and after. dancing w»s seized like "D.B.'s" friend with a fit of coughing^ when at length one, leg of his breeches came out of his throat, and hung dangling from his mouth. To push the article back was fount^ impossible without choking, and as it was known that there were matches and per cussion caps in his pocket,within, close tp the shell, thos6 present were afraid to pull for fear of an explosion. They fled from the scene, and my unhappy friend to this day, goes about with the shell in his inside, and^ the-leg of his I breeches, hanging; oiit of 'jhis mouth.—l am, &c, B.M. It was rumoured shortly after the first re port Of the murder Of Sullivan that it was in consequence of a lizard having made its way into bhe stomach of the murderer;, and it was alleged that this rather awkward circumstanca imposed a^necessity upon the man,' as inevit able as destiny, thai; he,should commit mur der. Thereappearstobeabasis ih-Maori uaages .on which the rumottr was founded, but not of the kind stated. We' have 'it on the authority of one for many years intimately acquainted with Maori law and cristom, that the swallowing of the lizard is a voluntary act, and intended to produce that courage which will dare anything. That a lizard Bhould voluntarily go xlown the. throat of Maori 'would argue gr"eat want bf Consideratipn|on the part of lizard, and great carelessness 'on tW"part of the Maori in sleeping with his door open, and with vermin about. But it has been a frequent incident in Maori history that-'a gteat warrior has induced' a green lizard, the kakariki, to crawl down his throat through the simple operation of pinching its tail. The purpose served was twofold. Not only was it, believed that the reptile, for which a Maori has the utmost repugnance, believing it to contain the ghost of his grandfather, inspired the warrior with fierce and dauntless daring and implacable cruelty, but an equally important' purpose was served in the moral influence exerted on the folio wers of a chieftain who had per formed.the revolting act. Rob oidy/Wfts it accepted as a sign thab- the ■ man meant, to enter on some terrible pareer, but it was be lieved that a man deliberately opening his mouth and putting a lizard into his inside was capable'of stopping,^ nothing ;ih which latter idea most; pakehas will agree. It is 'known that the chief Taraia 'swallowed a .lizard, before entering oh his care jn. of v mas I ,sacre,. apd Hori-Tnpaia, who *i,'iKftti Kati swallowed even two lizards to. nerve;him for action^;; J9,i believed to: bei.the last thatrha? practiced the disgustitig rite. That Sullivan's murderer^ swallowed a lizard is considered to1 'be exceedingly unlikely, biiVju he did it would have, according to Maori lore, imposed no necessity whatever' upohhinvto,commit n^u,rder, but wouldhayebeen done for the.purp 'ppse of noting himsejl.to the.diriiig deedl, and of confirming the faith of his^followersi .. j As an instance of the popularity of Misfi Colville in Wellington we quote the following ; from; tiaQ-Independent of the 26th ult :-W" Ii was left for " Frow Frow" to draw decidedl; r the best house of the season, but probably that pleasing result was due more to the fac b that it was the occasion of ': Miss : polyille' i Ibenfefit.' Whatever th& real (Sause mig|t jbe the house was an exceptional one. Not-ft-sba; was vacent in'the l6w6r part1 or the hall, am I ithe* dress i circle was: the' largest arid n^os b brilliant of' thb'season. Sir Gebrge; Abie;r and his secrleti'ry, Captain Machell, were pre - sefat.10fth6i)i^e^er^littldhded: b6bi,idi^xcept that,itii'siOf ther.same sehooliisi '-'iCamille,:' audi'!',':Formosa."ii It rabpundflainiithe. Sam j kind of sensation, the Same false sentimentL and tho same affecting, final .scenes." offrol A „lt,wilj.bei^(9ppllected ithat. spjpe u tirae ago we inserted a notice .to the effect that one oi the "runners" "of this1 paper, an honest laxL named Mackay, had received in mistake ab night a half-sovereign instead of a sixpence, and that, ,the,kd was, flrixions to .restore it to the owner.''"There wore about a dozen appli cants for the list'piece,''and it wasgiyentj) ■fykflot fhe^doieh'.'1 Last hight a half-soVereigri was similarly given iri ihistake for a sixpence to Thomas Mackayy Al brother of the abova . menjapi^d }ad, .andjthe ]t)oy y ,vvith. the h?nps,tv that'appears to be in the blood, has brought the coin to our' office, asking us to find the j.owiner for.him..,, Let.thetownec come foEWSrq, but please, gentlenaen,,<ipp't all speak at oncej. We shall give no clue as to where or bow the" coin was passed, which our runners tell us from experience will facilitate the discovery of the rightful owner.. While iuithisppnppd-" tjon, we,may, relate a^case withffnothjer aspect. <On Monday'night last one ot 1 oilr l ruHnere paid atoay t % 'half-flo^erM^ri in mistake for a sixpence. Will the receiver step forward ? The new!svferid& in questifeh 1 tells us that he has one pocket for shillings and another for : sixpences.'.7 Into! theMatter/Zreceptaot^! he alleges that I he; I must have-placed a'half sovereign, received in mistake from a gentle man who haS^'sirice fclaimed' tho lost coin. • The runner dpes,hot deny ; that, hpmay havje received the.cpiri,; but if so he says; he placed it among his sixpences, and paid it away in change/, WiU the person to whom h^ paid it step forward;!'. We trow.not. Honesty iv ' the best policy, but in practice it is not' always the most profityblfy PO jsontje of the runners say. /,' .. . -' 'I ■! !.!.1! II M An' j

A SKETCH OF THE PRISON DISCI PLINE AT MOUNT EDEN.

A short time ago we published a letter from i'A Sufferer," describing how persons awaiting trial are treated at Mount Eden. The letter attested considerable attention in all quarters, and was not without good results. We give to-day a sketch of the interior of the gaol by the same Writer as the previous article ; it will prove interesting; although some of the complaints are palpably unfair, and no doubt prbnlpted fey1 the' e'Acrisably . bitter' spirit created by the recollectiofi ctf the' suffering, undergone by the writer when in gaol, and which now casts a shadow' oh his life after his release. The remarks regarding the want of classification deserve attention, and have often before formed the subject of comment. We append the communication :— ' uPkK>ox Bjs©vlja*iof Atfr, No. 1. " Deprivation of lihfeM# and compulsory labour are the appointed penalty, of c'rifrtS. Prisoners while undergoing the punishment attached to their offences by the laws they have broken are exhorted to remember that society, while it punishes, in order to deter from crime, has also another object in view— an object of the deepest interest to criminals themselves — viz., tha!t the period of their imprisonment may be to them a period of salutary reflection, that while withdrawn from the temptations to which they have yielded they may acquire calmer and more rational views of the circumstance of life, and, upon expiration of their sentence, leave the place of their confinement better men! and better citizens, whatever their calling' may be." ■.. ■ ■ The whole aim arid object of this establish ment is strictly confined to the ' first sentence of the above paragraph, and all the accessories to its effectual attain ment are as fully successful as could j possibly be designed in creating the very;, contrary effect to the apparent spirit off the remainder of the paragraph. I shall j come to that in time if it does not sufficiently; appear as Igo on. The first' thing on enter-i ing the gaol as : a prisoner is the bath,| search, shaving, and close docking the hair. My experience of the two latter is mentally a sense of wrong inflicted by an unnecessary mutilation, and deep-felt curses, with im potent vows of revenge, on the society Which allows the debasement to be inflicted. It' is to those subjected the most exquisite tor ture, such in every way as those suffered iwhto./in times gone by, had' a similar dose, on crossing the Line for the first time' —an inexpefiejfcofl ! barber; a razor or two which has to hack over 100 faces, unset even on requisition to the authorities ; soap with the highest admixture of coarsest material, giving rise to earaches, weak eyes, neuralgia,; toothache, and inflamed faces. Thus docked; andidisfigured,. and. clad in appropriateigar-, ments, the neophyte stands to all outward appearance a fit and proper person to be in troduced to thet mysteiiea and privileges of Pandemonium. The hours in the depart-j ment in; which'!l'riow'!writb—i.<= f. the hardi labour —are in no "way obje'dtionable ; six ta five.in summer, and seven to/free in' winter. The diet in .quality, is the same as that ia the "waitingjtriaT' department^-every thing the wwt of its kind. The .gruel, morn-, ing and evening is-simply disgusting, at most; times rotten- aod^ heated* >Ke-dried; and mag-' goty. It neither.tastes, smells, nor looks like, oatmeal <gniel,- aiwHs qnflaypuredrbyi either sugar•or'waltr WM' ytfrr'ingtitute-a 'siiiall 'c'oivpaif Sdh to prove 'tajt 'asstertiOi^ j Gpt three ounces of' gooq meal, .'JfooiT it' for sjiph time and with sufficient watecto-bring it'to such consistence as !that; it will'ttiri with some little cohesion, .but,quitb,fi!e6ls» off a Spoon ; add thereto balf-an-ounce of sugar. Take.it to the gaol and oompare 'it in quantity and quality with what is supplied to those labor ing hard, and I will stake'the veracity of these iriy letters on yohr being surprised. The meat at dinner ia of the quality men tioned before—hocks,, shins, n*ck, and jowl, with dodges of fat scraps. Here I will men tion the anomaly of putting new arrivals on lo.w diet ana; hard labour.tpenqpiirage them to begin with.', The want.of.knives >and forks to* cdfc the food is, if possible, more revolting than at the other side a much greater number knawing and ■ tearing at the Same time. Imagine your vis-a-vis (even at a less'repulsive meal in itself,) with out any front teeth endeavouring With might and main to ljpnd w^th such back pn.es as .are1 left a piece of the strong muscular tissue of an old working bullock's neck, and you have ah appetizing, spectacle indeed. In fine,, as! to food it is watery, unnutritiou£|, bad,' defi-j cient in weight and quantity to distend the stomach, totally un6t for sustenance of menj doing the work required,, ip£ imppyerisljing 'the blood.'rendert.the'men^hmre Siiseeptible of the cold of the coining winter; and, as*isj now a receivedt fact,; suchi diet is itself a cause for a very low moral tone. Clothing is the'sam^ and winter y how 'tot thai! is any one can judge. .Bidding also the same,) and has been aired but I twice in six months (notwithstanding the' Statement !of " Jjover, t" 'in the:^e^M),,'iihdithen,it had better be let alone, as you may well imagine when blankets are' spread about' on a grayelledj yard to absorb.dam^ arid, pick; n^'g^avelJ and be worse thah'whSn takfen down." There is no way of j hanging* .them up. The same thing renders the 'Opportunity said to be, given on Saturdays f^r : washing a farce ; if the article be w"6t there as,but brie foot to dry it.| The thin^r called privies ' ior closets (both .misnopners) are,the greatest abpipinatiqn,.(!onJ ceclvftbl.e. J^fchpyi are in tho ihosfc expOspc^ placesanithe yard;: That wdthin^w/vUs oppo site, i t^e-passage eoritaeeting the yjuds'un-j "diyidlcj^^' wiKh^ti^ dpbrs^ts' niade fajplkcQ of shade in the stihimer and shelter in wwtprj and W&tifffmKffii five feet from one of th# otttdOOr^ Seats.' All sense of decency ,and delicacy ,ia.utterly ilost, ~ There is actlially no provision for cleanliness at .these .places—a Siece of waste';ptt|ter'or'-new^pa^er' being etected renders the prisoner liable to soli tary confinement—the substitute, is, indescri bable. iVdulal hiv^ ' \m this' urisaid^bht strange toi3tiy{t44'B'aid,to''byihe reason fortha absence of a v the pflpr brutes in their remaining instinct .'of cleanliness filch th^ leaves of any book i/they may /find. iWhjf should this be,---w- why should not a newspaper be allowed? After five years one .leaving '/priip^ 1 ai^, unknown worm"' a' prey' to"' thie"" nrst' trajV—the pld.;.re|iin.^-''of' 1 robbery and re-capturel The chief and...most atrocipus^erroris L howl ever, in the entire absence of classification—j- Jall£'grsde^ ai£ hftddted into an hgte^pge^uji mass, or hot-bed of vice, spreading its pilots through thfeeomOduriiti£.A Pittfe selectionand I old gaol birds mixed with those new to crime! j'aKd|h^LtMiity:/ourihdjfoiS^eiSgh^}ipti^a|ofr drunkards, worst of all in their dirt, vermin! and disease.iusing the/6aine sebts, tablesL and utensils as those who endeavour to keep themselves clean,—The latter, too, are the only hearers of news from the outward world ;< >yo t u),;<si*n wily guess its origin^^wMjf I have shown : Ist—mutilation. 2nd~j brutality in feeding. -3rd—want of sufficient food and clothing. 4th —absence of mental ciflthVe. r Bth—uncleahfl&tfjr M ;f,le^iSilljr 1 compulsory* with the' labour; I have con scientiously sought for. some' thing to be commended, buJL could. Jind nothing. I re tract as to the hours on consideration—up anjl tb sl^diri^hydark;''WorkathalfLpiMtSeveffa.m. to five in- winter is more than enough. »i• A radical change is needed, commencing by eradicating the old.soldier element in toto, .".,7s'iff ".'. •■•*.:.. b u'i^ mKal :mih "

substituting for that system owe of kindness and humanity, and encouragement id reform. I must close this letter, which is already too long, but perhaps you may consider the subject sufficiently important to finish at some future time with omissions and tbe state of the penal department when I meet a little bird in the shape of a canary (convict) whom Ltxpect out soon, and.who will give me all particulars.—Yours, &0., A Sufferer.

ENGLISH TELEGRAMS.

(PER JAVA CABLE.)

The April Wool Sales.

Trial of the Tichborne Claimant. . / , ~,., Two Hundred Witnesses fitfSSiatt Expedition against Khiva- Agreement Witfo England. The Sultan of Turkey under Restraint. Opening of Torres Straits Mail Route. Epsom; Spring Meeting. The Russian Movements. Riot at Frankfort.—Fifty Civilians Killed fty the Soldiery. - New Cape Steam Service. The New Governor of New Zealand.

Commercial Intelligence.

The s.s. Alhambra, Captain Under wood, arrived here at seven a.m. She left Melbourne on the 26th at three p.m., and brings thirty saloon and thirty steerage passengers. Cargo. -30 horses, 6 ponies, and 280 tons general for various ports. She sails at I four p.m. for Dunedin.

LONDON.

April 24. ? The wool sales have opened. Six thoiisand and five hundred bales were offered out of two hundred thousand. The arrivals from Victoria are, mostly offered.1 The attendance is large and bidding spirited. Prices same as Feb ruary. ,The Tichborne claimant has been 'placed oh trial for perjury. There are two him&rPd witnesses for the prosecu tion. The Russian campaign against the Khivahs has'commenced. The Russian troops: won a trifliDg advantage. In the House of Commons Mr Glad stone; said »the correspondence with Jlussiaembodied a negative pledge that Afghanistan svas outside the sphered her influence in Asial, 'Sdeohdly, the settlement of the Affghanista&bdiin daries ;,,and thirdly, a pledge that Eng land would use her influence to restrain Ameer from aggression. Earl de Lewar has committed sui cide. p> >,r q • :y .' ":: r '' The Sultan of Turkey is suffering from brain disease, and is under restraint. A change in the dynasty is iininineht. I Robert Lowe's budget resolutions passed with the exception of the sugar duties which are to be recommitted The Government defer considering the question of local taxation; Russian movements continue to cause much irritation in England. The Eastern and Australian Mail iGpmpany's prospectus has beenissuqd. It proposes to give a monthly service, to Queensland ahd Sydney via Singa pore. The capital will be one hundred: anil1 fifty thousand pounds. One! steamer has been purchased and twoj other chartered. Queensland pays £20,000, as an annual subsidy. At the'1 Epsom Spring Meejbhag Mornitogton won the City and Subur ban Handicap ; Cremorne, second; and Bertram^ third.' ~"; ,\ ! News' has been received of the safety of the Baker Expedition, sent to the relief of Livingstone. The French indirect revenue for the qtfifffer * fending' March, is six hundred and fifty thousand sterling beyond the estimates.'- - "- ' - 1 ' T6e Pope has recovered frPm! a dangerous illness, but it is expected dhatjjhi^rpaj condition is kept secretor Beer riots have occurred at Frank fort, the brewers having raised theprice. Several1 breweries have' been' sacked, causing great-deSthiction1 tp property. The'soWiers -madfe; ah 'attack oh the rioters, killing- and wounding fifty persons. A large number have been arrested* 8 ° y- ' ' "aa„a*i ;. i >«« Affair^,'in(Spain are in a, [deplorable state: Insurrection at: Madrid is im i. .' ~,,, iOOil'l .'>.. i ..I.'!' minent. ' ' t *■ ' vThe February Spilthath^oh! mail has arrived, ov.\ a. t a a :■ iutl> i h Fawcett's Abolition Dublin Univer sity Tests Bill has passed .its , second ijeadfog.Vl /:;!.;■'■:''' ' ~i-;,u>?wi'«:iiT The principal information filec ag^pst Mr Plimsoll, M.P., charged "with'libel,'was'his work on the: sf^r cantile Navy; ; sb;ipowjierrh >the.prpse,cutffr, ~ ~ • ■~.j..• ] ■>> '; .> ; ,• Evidence'takeri^t the enquiry into the loss of the steamer Atlantic ;lprbVfedrthefc6%fts a deficiency 6f dbals Jahd"lg4Wetal' bad 'management. The captain'^ certificate has been suspended for' twdy fears. , The prospectus of tbe Anglo Ausj. Steam r Navigation Company for a service, via the Cape ia announced The capital is a million and a quarter. 'Siix steamer are to be employed, and the "trip; is to be done in forty-two days. 'Ihe Great Britain is to be taken at a valuation. qro'jSjj?, James and Lady Ferguson, the new Govfernbr for New Zealand, sailed dn the 18th April by the Brindisi, mail steamer, for New Zealand, via Mel-~ bourijteu cfl <>€~",:aa

The Great Australian G-old Mining Company is announced with a capital of £200,000. The Dutch troops have been re pulsed on tbn island of Sumatra. Commercial.^-Tallow (mutton), 44s to 45s ; beef, 41s to 42s ; wheat, fall ing; copper, £98 ; tin, £142. Shipping.—Arrived, Cossack, irom New Zealand. The mail steamer Bungalore has ar rived at Gall efrom Australia. ,p

AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

Differences between Mr. Parkes and Mr. Francis.

Vote of want of Confidence on the Victorian Ministry. New Zealand Loan in Australia- New Caliornian Mail Service. Three Women Overcome a Bushranger. Five cases of Murder. .>.. Commercial Intelligence [Per Anglo-Australian Tbi.kop.am Company] GENERAL SUMMARY. MELBOURNE. April 26. Sir George Bowen is to be invited by the President and Speaker of the Houses of Parliament to a banquet at Castlemaine. •^-A tender of £38,0(W for^the con struction of the Castlemaine and Dun nolly railway has been accepted. one transport has rut in with Com munist prisoners. One, of j*he , $>m munistsescaped;from the vessel and the authorities refused to arrest him. . There were five categjof murder tried at the Bathurst assizes." Mining and the share market are much depressed. It is. understood that J >' Wil liams retires shortly., up. .J 1500 superannuation allowance, anu the Attorney - CSreneriil • succeeds «to the vacant judgeship. Robart has been committed for trial for altering a bill from £100 to £400. A gas and water pipe foundry is being established. A shock of an earthquake was felt near Melbourne on the 22nd inst.

ADELAIDE.

Tii .: .. aaaaia , 'o-i April 25. The <£30 surplus from thS GovewlSr Ferguson banquet fund has been dis tributed amongst the different public .sbarities. iW , .... w, A man stuck up^£ar.ee women in. a vehicle,near, Clones/ The women so courageously resisted; that jjthe man decamped It is rumoured that Mr "Westcott, letter of ttoi Northern Territory pros pecting Company, has eohuhitted suicide. ;^pestcott was. formerly a resident at Sandhurst. The. Government propose, to alipw drawbacks on all dutiable goods via thfe Murray. • 'The antagonism between Mr Fran cis and Mr Parkes is increasing. The border duties question_ is virtually shelved. '" A memorial has been sent- to the Privy Council on behalf of Mount and Morris convicted pf complicity in the Carl murders. ."',',"_ . " ~,., An application for an order to wind up 'the Polynesian Company was re fused. A m&gnificent present has been sent by the Germans of Victoria to Prince Bismarck, a a • n •; t The top pripe of wheat is 5s Bdj_ „ "n Thpr6 has' been k \ gws^i $ai|<|% Sandhurst Hustler's stiock, resultinglh a heavy fall.

SYDNEY.

,:•! A. ./. ir z aA< 1 April 26. Parliament has been prorogued. 'The Legislative Council negatived the Californian mail resolutions. iMri i ; intimates that great changes will be made in the tariff next session.! T a a *.i i /: <, ,• . :i A :•! ■:< r■- ;• •i•>v \;j §

ADELAIDE.

a>i/ Uviiufei-Hutvj.iAv.ajKi i : . ;,,April 26/ . Wheat' is receding. The top price is os 3^d per.bushei. Rt i.!,.;, , u -. Twenty thousand 'tons havo been exported to date.

LATEST UNPUBLISHED TELE.

'tli^kkMmsm-• v mwwwiA.-»r«ME>« r>-3 .■,..:.;. [ April 26. Oats are 'vieryfirih at extreme rate's. It is anticipated that prices will keep up for a considerable time. %$. 'It is' jpijimpiured that an organised >— opposition against the Government will be formed, and that a vote of want of confidence will be moved upon the address in reply,! thei ground being the failure in the, Joan and the breakdown of the educational1 machinery, idilt islsurmifjed th^t .the New Zealand ;four per- cen#i' loan will be a failure Sem, < vThe bahfc'.!fipftsng it, is saving ■"hOthingi' 7 :!liv' •'•'"'f "' 310''t: '.-, . Arrived^Q-aribaldi, Italian frigate, froih'Kaples via the Cape. Northum *berland,.from London; after a passage of^iim^^^^

SYDNEY.

';,-< ; :1,.i ,!,',, ;j •;•- ..,, ~. A ,p ri i 2 6. It is rumoured that several lar£e failures are imminent through impro vident mining speculations. .; Impiediate steps will be taken by Ministers,to esftablish a Pacific mail service. i!'jThe'Alardusi a Q-ermaii immigrant s%j bound' for; Queensland, put ia

jjjjEVJlfell BTAK, TRIDAT, MAY 2, l»ll



White Rose .. .. 0 0 6 May 14 .icilibaA . i.il JL.I 6/1 <W w 1 CvclOps' .. ..010 May 14 . ... r 0 0 6 May 14 >»W^ctyDH8EHil(I O'/t) HI May 14 Queen of May .. 0 10 May 14 .. ,Una ...jj „,,, ... , , r 0, 0, ,6 , .Mfiy, ,.14,, - .1 i I Golfle^. Ekfd PS A. cfl of ©I CS A i M»y! 6S1 . Bank of Tokatea .. 0 0 3 May 14 .Middle. Star.. , ... , 0 6 ,0 May 14



GR EAT B3 D TJJ3 TIO N.S ;■_;.. p j^h aa '•.THE BE MONTHS ONLY at ms AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY, 194, queen street, Next Door to Savings' Bank. Cartes-de-vislle redttttfeA from 16s per doien to liis 6& Maori Celebrities (largest stock in New Zealand t» Select from), reduced from 12s per dozen to 6s. Views from aU parts of New Zealand reduced from ,; , 12s per dozen to 68. Enlargements from Cartes-de-visite to Llfe-siie. plain or beautifully finished in Oil or Water Colors, ' also reduced in price. Large Stock of Photographic Goods and Apparatus, Magic Lantern Slides, Stereoscopic Slides, Ac, greatly reduced. j. Mo GARRIGLE, Manacer. . •■'. A". I I. ; l ' i • ■ ■ 1.1 - ■ ' • : [Established 1864.] T\ STEPHENSON & OO.'s CELEBRATED COFFEES,. " EXHIBITION , BRAND " " EAGLE BRAND " ; "CRO WN ■ '■ BRAN D," Are to be procured at 'all respectable Gkocebb and Storekeepeks throughout the Province of Auck land. D. STEPHENSON & CO., WyNDHAM STREET, * j Auckland. , GL E,T S & C 0., • GENERA L PRODUCE MERCHANTS, SHIPPING AND COMMISSION AGENTS, WyNDHAM. STiIEE*-,; Next the Evening Star Offlce.