SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET: This evening, 6.20 SUN-RISE: To morrow morning, 6.SS HIGH WATER : This afternoon, 4.38; to-morrow morning, 5.0

ARRIVALS.

Lsetitia, schooner, Smith, from Lyttelton Lady B Jrd, s.s., 286 tons, Daniels, from We'Mngton

DEPARTURE.

Paterson, p.s., Kennedy, for Southern port? Taranaki, s.s., for Southern ports

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For Friendly Islands: Kenilworth, schooner, this afternoon Ft»r Southern ports, via Napier: Paterson, p.s., to dry ; Rangatira. s.s., on F 'day For Northern ports : Rowena, s.s., to-morrow For Sydney and Melbourne: Hero, s.s., to-morrow afternoon ; Won-*:-, Wonga, s.s., about 6th May For England : Mo-s Glen, barque, early For Levuka : Marion Renny, schooner, to-day For the Navigator Islands : Zior, sohooner, to-day

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Edinburgh Castle, ship, from London. Sailed 29th December Parsee, ship, from London. Sailed 12th January Agra, ship, from London. Sailed Countess of Kintore, ship, from London. Sailed Woodlark, ship, from London. Sailed 2znd February Hylton Castle, barque, from London. Sailed City of Auckland, from London. Loading Zanga, barque, from Liverpool. Sailed 17th January Thames, barque, from New York, via Sydney. Loading Akbar, ship, from Boston, via Melbourne Satellite, cutter, from Levuka Mary Webster, schooner, from Adelaide. Sailed 21st March (for the Manukau) AUce Cameron, barque, from NewcasUe. Sailed 29th March Upolu, schooner, from Samoa Dauntless, schooner, from Samoa Esther, bri-j, from Newcastle. SaUed 30th March Emrlous, schooner, from Dunedin Prince Alfred, barque, from Adelaide Pakeha, brig, from Adelaide Success, schooner, from Levuka Emelie, schooner, from Tahiti Fnergy, schooner, from the Islands Prima Donna, schooner, from Levuka Ivsnhoe, schooner, from New Caledonia Margaret CampbeU, schooner, from Dunedin Amateur, barque, from Adelaide. Sailed 27th March

IMPORTS.

Per s.s. Ladybird: From Dunedin—l parcel, Hoare; 1 trunk, 1 case, Sargood and Son; 1 bale, J. Reid ; 6 cases, J. Hall; 1 case, Bridges. From Lyttelton—3Bß sacks barley, order; 7 cases chicory, D. Stephen son ; 5 do do, Brown, Barrett and Co. ; 10 bags bacon, Binney. From Wellington—l parcel, lOpkg., Combes and Daldy; 1 parcel, Onyon; 1 case, McArthur, Shera and Co. ; 1 case cigars, Lusk ; 3 cases, Collector of Customs ; 1 parcel, Judge Johnston; 1 parcel, Sackland. From Nelson — 7 pkg. luggage, Andrews ; 1 box, Solomon; 54 sacks, malt, order. From Taranaki—ss sheep, Buckland ; 10 hides, Gittos; 3 cases butter, J. J. Bennett; 15 hides, Gittos ; 6 cases butter, Barnes ; 8 do do, Hood ; 6 do do, Veale ; 3 do do, Osborne Bros.—Combes and Daldy, agents. Per Lsetitia, schooner, from Lyttelton:— 303 sacks wheat, 230 do oats, 70 do bran, D. H. McKenzie (agent).

EXPORTS.

Per p.s. Patterson for Tauranga—l qr. cask whisky, 1 do rum, 2 cases brandy, Coombs and Daldy ; 1 music stool, Halliday ; 1 waggon pole, Cousins and Atkin ; 1 piano, A. Bowring; 1 gun case, Wiseman; 1 brl beer, 3 casks do, Whitson and Son ; 2 cases, Lewis Bros.; 1 parcel, W. Atkin. For Poverty Bay : 3 cases drapery, Sargood and Ewen ; 1 bale leather, 1 case grindery, Ireland Bros. For Napier : 4 qr. -casks whisky, Cruickshank and Co. ; 501bs gunpowder, 5601bs shot, 388 cartridge, 2 kegs, 2 casks, 2 bundles, 2 pair axles, 1 package saws, 7 bags seed, 72 camp ovens and covers, 44 bars iron, 17 bundles do, 1 keg wedges, 1 bag nails, 1 case hard ware, 1 do sheet iron, 1 cask shares, T. and S. Morrin; 20 bales tow, 5 kegs butter Close Bros. ; 1 case drugs, 2 packages do, 2 cases acids, Kempthorne, Prosser and Co. ; 1 .parcel, Miss Senior; 5 cases drapery, 1 trunk boots, Owen and Graham; 1 case, 1 bundle hardware, J. and J. Dickey ; 1 case coffee, Brown and Barrett; 2 cases, drapery, Sargood, Son, and Ewen; 1 parcel gold leaf, W. Phillips and Son; 1 ditto stationery, Bank of New Zealand ; 1 bundle leather, 2 canvas bales, 1 barrel, 1 package, Ireland Bros. ; 8 pgs furniture, 1 piano, Miss Campbell ; 1 case fancyware, 57 pgs mer chandize, 1 billiard table, Solomon and Mar getts ; 40 cases Snyder arms, Colonial Go vernment Storekeeper ; 1 bag wood turnings, J. Morgan ; 1 parcel clothing, Harrington ; 20 cases biscuits, Partington ; 1 box, 1 par cel, Montague ; 9 pgs, Lewis Bros. ; 5 pgs baggage, Floyd; 5 cases, 1 bale drapery, McArthur, Shera and Co. ; 1 bale saddlery, J. Wiseman ; 4 pgs, Mrs Gunn ; 1 parcel, E. Wayte ; 1 parcel paper, R. Lusk ; 7 cases, 2 trusses drapery, A. Clark and Sons. For Wellington —8 coils rope, J. S. Macfarlane and Co. ; 1 parcel, Green ; 1 case, 1 box hardware, Munday ; 48 pgs sundries, 1 gross shovels, 6 centres, 25 pieces timber, 550 drain tiles, J. Brogden and Sons.—Morton Jones, agent.

ARRIVAL OF THE LADYBIRD.

The s.s. JLadybird, Captain Daniels, arrived in the Manakau to-day. She left the Railway Pier, Port Chalmers, on the 15th instant at 5.15 p.m., and arrived at Lyttelton Wharf at 3.45 p.m. on the 10th ; departed from Lyttelton on the 17th at 8 p.m., and arrived at Wellington on the 18th at 2 p.m. ; left on the 19th at 1.30 p.m., and arrived at Picton at 6.45 p.m. same day; departed from Picton at 3.20 a.m., and arrived at Nelson at 0.40 p.m. on the 20th ; left on the 21st at 3,30 p.m., and arrived at New Plymouth on the 22nd, at 8 a.m.; left again at 3.45 p.m., and crossed the Manukau bar at 7.45 a.m. on the 23rd, arriving at the wharf this morn ing. From Dunedin to Wellington experi enced moderate head winds with fine weather; thence to New Plymouth, strong S.E.; thence to arrival, strong N.E. and E., with rain. Passengers :—Madame Carandini, Misses Carandini, (2) Messrs Sherwin and Gordon, Mr and Mrs Andrews and family (2), Mrs Daniels, Mrs Leys, Messrs G. Sibbin, Thomson, Andrews, McShane, Norman, Buxton, MrsGarusen.

.The steamer Paterson, Captain Kennedy, took her departure for Tauranga, Poverty Bay, Napier, and Wellington at eleven o'clock this morning, with a full general cargo and the following passengers: —Saloon : Mrs Gunn, Mrs Hetherington and two in fants, Miss Feltus, Miss Campbell, Mr and Miss Simpson, Mr and Mrs Jordan and child, Messrs D. Asher, Jas. Buchanan, Biddulph, Robt. Shaw, Kelly, and Grant. Steerage: R. Edgworth, Spriggs, H. Byginn, W. Brown, John Watson, George Beatson, H. F. North, and Miss Blank. The steamer Enterprise, from the Thames last night, reported having passed the p.s. Challenger anchored off the Sandspit. The s.s. Rangitira will leave for Poverty Bay, Napier and Wellington on Friday after noon next at three o'clock.

The s.s. Hero has been the only vessel dis charing cargo at the wharf during the past two or three days. She will leave for Syd ney to-morrow afternoon at three o'clock. The fine schooner J-*>titia made the har <ja -j- b this morning after a Bf>i 6n did run of 4J leaving Captain -S m ith reports last with astfe^r on P™* evening as far as the E^st\ breeZ + t' whlCi^ mT ued E.N.E. winds with toST^ISSS brings a fall cargo of wheat «Soateco£ ngned to Captain D. H. McKenzie,

Notwithstanding the strong N.Egaleblow ing this morning the Golden Crown took her departure for the Thames at her usual hour. The s.s. Taranaki took her departure from the Manukau at half-past four yesterday for Southern ports. The strong N.E. gale has continued to-day with unabated vigour. The whole of the coasting vessels waiting a change of wind are lying to the westward of the wharf. For tunately the gale has done little or no damage to the harbour improvement works along the shore.

COMMERCIAL.

MINING. The following are the current call and dividends payable in the companies named below:—

MEETINGS. Bank of New Zealand, Bank, noon. 24th April Alburnia, Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 3 p.m., 24th April Buffalo, Coromandel, 26th April Ne Plus Ultra, 41, Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 11 a.m., 28th April Otago. Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 2p.m.,?9th April Dixon's No. 1, Mr T. L. White's offlce, Canada Build ings, Auckland, 3 p.m., 30th April Roe and Shamrock, Mr SommerviUe's office, Short land street, Auckland, 2 p.m., 30th April Long Drive, Mr Tothill's office, Auckland, 3 p.m.,

7th May All Nations, Mr Tothill's office, Auckland, 2 p.m.,

7th May Lincoln Castle, Sceats' Hotel, Auckland, 2 p.m., 14th May

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND

NT ilia will Close as Under :—

For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to-morrow,

at 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. For Coromandel, on Friday, 25th inst., at 12.30 p.m. For Russell. &c, per Comerang, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Australian Colonies, per Hero, to-morrow, at 2 p.m. For money orders and registered letters, at 1 p.m. Mails for the Australian Colonies and United King dom, via Melbourne, close at Hckit'ka this day, at 7 p.m. (Signed) S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARK INCORPORATES The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.

WEDNESDAY. APRIL 23. 1873.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the w.ongs that need resistance, For the future in tlie distance,

And the good that we can do,

The dearth of public amusements will pre pare a hearty welcome for the warblings of the Carandinis, but their stay will not be a prolonged one, and we feel inclined to strongly urge the organization of a permanent series of entertainments in which the best of our amateurs might at stated times present their most attractive programmes to that portion of the public which desires cheap, innocent, and good entertainment. In one respect the series of concerts commenced at the Choral Hall, whereof the second is to be given on Monday next, is exceedingly desirable, and will we believe be attended with great success. But whatever may be the wishes of its promoters, this series will appeal to but one class of the public, namely, that class possessed of some musical culture, and whose tastes are in the direction of the higher class of music. Nowweare veryfar from dispafaging the effort to cultivate this class of entertainment. On the contrary it is for the general good to aim after the elevation of the musical taste of the masses, and there cannot be a doubt that as the most cultivated mind has the most intense appreciation of intellectual enjoyment, so the most refined musical taste can derive a delicious delirious rapture from sweet sounds that never can be attained by the un tutored ear. The influence of the Choral Society in this city has been beneficial to an extent that probably is not generally supposed, and we sincerely hope that the Monday evenings' concerts, under the able conduct of Mr Brown, will prove a complete success. At the same time there is a large class of our people who will not patronise the concerts at the Choral Hall, simply because they cannot understand high class music, and it is for this very numerous class that we would strongly advocate the organi zation of Saturday evening concerts at the City Hall. Any one that has seen what success attended *the Saturday evening concerts in the City Hall in Glasgow, at million prices, must be impressed with the extent of field for similar effort which exists in Auckland. On Satur day evenings our streets are thronged with exactly the class of those who would drop into the City Hall if excellent music of a class suited, to the popular tastes were presented at a cheap rate. The simple songs and ballads that wake up reminiscences of childhood's home are those which would attract, and we venture to say that the City Hall would be crowded every Saturday night with multitudes who would for the time be not only removed from the influence of temptations but be interested and bettered by the moving influences of strains associated with scenes of other days. We are confident that the pro prietor of the City Hall, under the influence i of public spirit, would place the hall at the disposal of such an organization on very easy terms, and while the receipts would pay for some account of professional talent many of our best amateurs —and nonelothers should be permitted to appear—would cheerfully lend their services. We by no means make this suggestion as intending any rivalry to the treat which will be provided by the Carandinis, any more than to the Monday evening con certs, but by organization now the series might be s farted immediately after the de parture of the professional warblers, to the pleasure and profit of the people.

On Monday last we gave insertion to a paragraph extracted from a Hawke's Bay con temporary, speaking in a facetious way of the trip to England of Mr Grey, inspector of Post Offices, and his being accompanied by Mrs Grey. Having been informed since of the correct circumstances of the case it affords us very great pleasure to place them before the public in' correction of the wrong im pression likely to be conveyed by the remarks of our contemporary. It appears that Mr Grey is not making the trip in the capacity of a public officer, but for his health. This gentleman has been recently under the ne cessity of undergoing a severe surgical opera tion, and as he is regarded by the Govern ment as one of the most valuable officers in the service of New Zealand, he was willingly given six months leave of absence, with no duty or work of any kind imposed on him, the only condition imposed being "get well as soon as you can." His being accompanied by Mrs Grey was a necessity in his state of health, and as the terms of contract for the carrying of the mails left two free at the disposal of the Government there certainly is nothing in any degree either objectionable or unreasonable in this provision being availed of for the purpose of enabling a very valued officer to recruit health that has suffered in the public service. We are glad to hear that Mr Cucksey has met with considerable success in connection with his effort to extract the precious metals from tailings. In the first place his invita tion to "a boy of poor but honest parents" was met by a response from quite twenty boys, who each declared that their parenis were poor and honest, and who expressed each a willingness to aid in the development of our mineral wealth by turning the wheel for extracting that wealth from rejected tailings ; and we have no doubt that it was gratifying to Mr Cucksey to find that there was so much honesty in the midst of so much poverty in the city, and that virtue is not confined to brocade and broad cloth. Again we are pleased to learn that after the tailings, which were from the " Black Angel" and other valuable claims, had been passed through the galvanic machine turned by the lad of impoverished but vir tuous parentage, Mr Cucksey was able with the aid of a powerful microscope to discover the presence of silver; and there is every reason to believe that when the lens is di rected to the search for the more precious metal it will also be found in like encourag ing quantity. We should not be surprised if this invention revolutionises the whole order of gold mining, while the exemplifica tion of the principle of honesty being the best policy as evidenced in the profitable labours of a boy of poor but honest parents will serve to confirm the often asserted state ment that if honesty had only been brought to bear upon the production of gold at the Thames the yields would have been incon ceivably more satisfactory to shareholders. Whatever may be our political or socia defects we are a great people for holidays and Saints' days ; not so much from any settled veneration for the memories of St. George or St. Patrick, or any other name in the almost endless calendar of saints stretching far back into the mists and shadows of unrecorded ages. This is St. George's Day—St. George the the martyr, we presume. But as far as the British are concerned it might be the day of George Fox. or George Whitfield, or George the Third, the demented King of England. St. George might have had Romish, or Pro testaut, or Arian proclivities for aught we know. He has, however, been discarded by Romanists, and we suppose was subsequently cherished by Protestants ; but we are not sure of that, for his portrait and works are too remote for our limited percep tions. Whatever St. George may have been the weather to-day has been savagely against him ; the rain and wind have milled his memory. Gibbon, the historian, considered the canonization of our mythical George a Protestant error, that he was really a " turbulent and unscrupulous Arian." Gibbon, however, cannot be de pended upon in such matters, for he was ever wavering in his theological opinions. He was by turns a sceptic, a Church of Eng land man, and a cold worshipper at the shrine of the Virgin. Notwithstanding the in numerable churches dedicated to St. George no writer has yet been able clearly to identify him. Some say he was a good man, and died a martyr for the new faith ; others that he belonged to the old faith, and was kicked out by its early adherents, while some have the hardihood to affirm that, like Thomiis A'Becket, he could use his fists and light like a tiger. But these things are of no consequence to us so long as we can get a holiday. We would, however, mention the fact that on the twenty-third day of April, three hundred and nine years ago, was born on the silver banks of the Avon the child William Shakespere ; and on the same day of the month, two centuries later, William Wordsworth : so that we have something like a reasonable excuse for closing our banks and warehouses, and shops, and dream ing of some " forest of Arden" in the Domain, and enjoying a sight of the poetry of nature from the summit of Mount Victoria on St. George's, or rather on Shakespere's day.

Volunteers desirous of competing in the Auckland Rifle Association for the Autumn prizes must forward their names to the hon. secretary before Saturday.

The annual inspection of Auckland Scot tish Volunteers will take place this evening in the drill-shed. The gallant Scots will appear in full dress.

An extensive sale by auction of oilman's stores, &c, willjbe held to-morrow morning at the stores of Messrs John Roberton & Co., Durham-street. Mr B. Tonks will wield the hammer on the occasion.

Sirßartle Frere and his suite arrived at Zan zibar on the 12th January. On the following day he delivered Her Majesty's letter toSeyd Burghash, the Sultan of the island. The slavery party are holding religious services, and reciting passages from the Koran to avert the suppression of the slave trade under the Sultan's sway. Accordingto a correspondent an envoy of the Sultan and his troops had been surprised by Mirambo, Stanley's foe, and a hundred of them had been beheaded. A Calcutta telegram, dated 2nd February, says that the chief of Cutqh has denounced the Zanzibar slave trade, and threatens slave 1 dealers with confiscation. By the Indian mail we learn that her Majesty's ship Magpie had destroyed a native vessel at Madagascar engaged in the slave trade. About one hundred and fifty persons sat down at the anniversary tea-table last even ing in the Wellesley - street chapel. The scene was very lively and interesting. The minister (Rev. P. 11. Cornford) occupied the chair, and spoke on the position and prospects of the Sunday-school in connection with their church. The harmonium gave forth sweet sounds at the bidding of Mr Lambert, the talented harmoniumist, while the musical voices of the choir assisted in filling the church with "harmonies divine." Mr Symonds read the school report, which was satisfactory. The receipts of the past year were £106 13s 6d ; expenditure, £97 19s lid ; balance in hand, £8 13s 7d, according to Mr Battley, the financier. Several excellent speeches, were delivered by Messrs G-lanville, Turner, Battley, and Ewington. A passage from Handel's "Messiah," and votes of thanks to the chair and choir, brought the Baptist anniversary meeting to a happy termination,

It is gratifying to read the following, which \ we take from the Coromandel Mail :—We noticed lately that there was not a miner unemployed in this place, and that some of the managers indeed had a difficulty in se curing suitable hands. There is another class of labor also much wanted by persons in busi ness, that of boys. A few smart active boys of from 12 to 16 years of age would find work at once in Coromandel and at remunerative wages. The Inspector of Miners Rights has issued summonses against the Argo and Van Com panies for not taking out their usual annual : companies miners' rights. The rough weather felt in Auckland lately has extended to Coromandel. The Mail of yesterday says :—" Yesterday during a large portion of the forenoon the sun was visible for the first time since Tuesday last. During the intervening period we have been visited with some of the severest weather which has been experienced here even in the roughest winter season. The wind has blown half a gale continuously, relieved by occasional squalls of greater violence. Not much damage has, we believe, been done beyond the driving in of a few window-sashes ; but some idea of the force of the wind may be gathered from the fact that two of the omni busses plying to the wharf on Saturday were capsized. The horses were at once unhar nessed and brought home, and the 'busses with considerable difficulty righted. They were then brought to an anchor by filling them with stones, and remained thus unoccu pied till the gale moderated yesterday morn ing."

The cottages in Lome-street, disposed of by the Improvement Commissioners, are being pulled down to make room for the continua tion of Rutland-street.

The Bishop of Auckland, Dr. Cowie, will preside at the annual meeting to be held in the City Hall to-morrow evening in connec tion with the Orphan Home.

At the inquest on the body of Wm. Perry, a constable of the Cardiff police force, who was fatally stabbed recently by a butcher, named Jones, the medical evidence went to show that the murderer was in a very excited state at the time, but was neither insane nor suffering from delirium tremens. The further hearing was adjourned. The Western Mail sa y S : —The deceased man Perry was a well known and efficient officer. Strange as it may seem, it is no less strange than true, and mournful as the circumstance is in itself, those who believe in the efficacy of dreams as prognosticators of future events will, per haps, derive r.ome gratification from it. On Sunday night Mrs Perry (who resides at Mel rose-cottage, Heath-street, Canton), had a dream which too faithfully predicted the sad tragedy of her husband, In the midst of her sleep she taw, te use her own words, a large crowd following her husband down the Cowbridge-road in the direction of the West gate hotel, where the murder was committed. She saw, in tbe horror of her dream, a knife plunged into the breast of her husband, and drawn out again, blood-stained and grimy, by some cruel but unknown hand. She saw, too, the murdered form of her husband borne away, and little thought, when brooding over her awful dream, that it was a " dark pass age," and the precursor of what was Loon to be a terrible reality. The dream occasioned her great uneasiness, but she mentioned it to tr> one until the dreadful tidings of her hus band's death reached her on Wedncday morn ing, when the circumstance forced itself vividly upon her recollection.

The church of St Matthew's is newly shingled, the spire is up, aud the mellow toned bell is in its proper position, still one inner improvement is yet necessary to render St Matthew'd one of themostperfect churches of the city. St Matthew's has an excellent choir of well-trained singers, a capital organ, and a foremost organist, but three hymn books in a service are cumbersome and perplex in". The church is sufficiently airy in sum mer time, and breezy enough in winter ; per haps too much so for persons susceptible of colds ; but these are trifles. The alteration to which we refer is simply the removal of the organ from its present position, co that its front may not protrude beyond the inner side of |the church, as it does now, dividing the congregation and hindering the letting to advantage of a number of ueats. Persons who go to church do not like obstructions to their general church view, and the expenue of the suggested improvement would not be large, and would be returned in due time with interest by the rents of the now neglected seats.

At the fortnightly meeting of the Harbour Board yesterday afternoon a letter was read from the Thames Gas Company offering to supply the Board with gas-piping. The offer was rejected. The report of the En dowment Committee in reference to leasing allotments in Freeman's Bay was brought up. It recommended that the allotments be leased for a term of fourteen years, the ground rents to be paid in advance, and the lessee liable for all repairs. Considerable discussion took place as to the right of the Board to monopolise the whole of the water frontage. Captain Casey objected, and said the Board had no right to shut out mercantile people from the water's edge. He recommended that there should be a public quay if the Board did not contemplate leaving a roadway along the sea-wall. The matter was left in abeyance until the committee report on the subject. The Chairman in formed the meeting that the General Govern ment hadjpaid the last instalment, amounting to £3,300, of the twenty five thousand pounds voted to the Harbour Board. Various accounts amounting to £1,214 12s 4d were ordered to be paid. With regard to the artesian well it was "proposed to continue the boring to a depth of 350 feet, at a con templated cost of £216. The well is already 280 feet deep. It was agreed by the Board to purchase the galvanised iron shedding in Fort Britomart from the General Government for £150, for the purpose of erecting ware houses on the wharf. Other matters of minor importance were discussed.

I The annual inspection of Nos. 1 and 2 Companies of Grammar School Cadets will take place to-morrow at half-past one o'clock. The Sir George Grey Cadets will be inspec ted at five p.m. and the Auckland Rifle Brigade and Cadets at half-past seven will be held in the Drill-shed.

Our Thames morning contemporary, which has throughout been a strong opponent of the present Government, offers the following opinion regarding the stability of the Minis try :—"The present Ministers will no doubt be difficult to get quit of, not because they have brought the country into a flourishing condition, but because they have brought it into such confusion and difficulty that no other men can hold out a hope of easily getting it out again. There is a feeling that some bold stroke is required for our extrica tion, and that Mr Vogel is as likely to make that as any other man, or rather more so."

We are requested by Mr Ward to state tha the performance announced in favor of Mrs Brooking, by the Ethiopian Troupe, is un avoidably postponed, as the City Hall cannot be engaged until after the Bth proximo.

The memorandum of agreement for a lease of the Whangaparoa coal mines is published in our advertising columns. The lessees are open to treat with capitalists to work the mine or to form a company.

THE ALEXANDRA CHURCH.

(To the Herald, per favor of the Evening ; Star.) ' g IRj _It is a Tery unpleasant and paintui duty for me again to refer to the "Alexandra Church." I should not have done so had it not been for a letter signed " Puritan, m your WeeUy Herald of April sth. "Puritan admits that what your correspondent stated in bis letter published by you in the Weekly Herald of March 29th, respecting the house of God (built here by all denominations) being barred against the Rev. Mr McCallum, : Presbyterian minister, unless a sum of os j was paid is correct; and if any higher sum was bid by another denomination no doubt they would take the preference. However, the Sunday following after the appearance of your correspondent's letter, the Rev. Mr McCallum was allowed to preach twice the same day in the church without any charge being made ; he went to the school-house as usual on that Sabbath, his congregation following him there, but was told that the key of the school was lost, and he must go to the church. Was the key of this school lost at all? Query. To return to " Puritan's " letter. He states " that from the earliest days of our church here it was an established rule to return one-third of the collections made from whoever preached in it for the repairs of the fabric. Ihe church never wanted repairs; therefore, how could that be? " Puritan " goes on to say that; the receipts of the minister who now officiates in the pulpit of that church have been rated to a far greater proportion than five shillings for Sunday, and yet he never raised his voice against it, knowing it was necessary." I believe that part to be an un truth, which I think can be proved. How is it that at the end of the year the com mittee found that a large sum was required to make up their minister's stipend to what had been promised, and that the rev. gentle man had serious thoughts of leaving the district unless his yearly stipend could be made up to what he was promised. Perhaps " Puritan " will be kind enough to contradict my reply; if he does I shall again be prepared for him. The latter part of his letter is not worth wasting ink over. Allow me to give "Puritan" this advice, "mind thyself. The editor of the Herald left out tbe latter part of "Puritan's" letter, being of too scurrilous a nature for the columns of that journal. " Puritan "is no man or he would have signed his real name to his letter, and your correspondent would then have known how to have dealt with him. He has been, I suppose, so accustomed to malign his neighbours that he thinks retribution will not" overtake him, P.S.—I wish you to insert the foregoing letter "For the cause that lacks assistance and for the wrongs that need resistance. "—Correspondent

SUPREME COURT.

Civil Sittings.

Yesterday.— Continued.

(Before His Honor Mr Justice Johnston.)

GRAHAM V. THOMAS AND OTHERS.

J. W. Preece deposed that the meaning of the cultivation reserves in the agreement with the natives meant land under cultivation. Waiotahi flat was under cultivation at one time, but was not so in ICGS. James Dennis Kelly deposed to the regis tration of a mortgage deed for the land to Messrs Earl, Howard, and W. Morrin.

This concluded the plaintiff's case. Mr MacCormick called rebutting evidence

F. D. Fenton and J. Munro, Judges of the Native Lands Court, gave evidence regarding the meaning of the agreement as related to cultivated lands.

Daniel Tookey deposed that two months before the opening of the goldfields pump kins were growing on that part of the gold field. He saw cultivations on the two allot ments in 18G7.

John Charles Young deposed to having seen cultivations on the Waiotahi flat.

Wiremu Taipara deposed that it was ar ranged the goldfields boundary should be at the°base of the hills. The line cut by Mr Mackay did not go through the swamp. The Court theu adjourned until next day.

THIS DAY.

His Honor took his seat at 10 o'clock. The case of Graham v. Thomas was pro ceeded with.

His Honor observed that it appeared to him the whole case rested upon the point posses sion or no possession. If the plaintiff did not prove af rightful possession as against the defendants then the action for trespass would not lie.

Mr MacCormick maintain«d that the plain tiff had a right to enter an action for trespass dating back to the time when the title to the land accrued. He quoted the case of "Butcher and Butcher" in support of this view. His Honor said that in the case quoted the title was relied on, but the title had not been set out in the present case. Of course h« did not know why the title had not been pleaded in accordance with the rules of the Court.

Aperham, a chief of the Ngatimaru, deposed through Mr Grace, interpreter : I remember making an agreement with Mr Mackay about gold-mining. I know the line fixed for the goldfield. The line was at the end of the cultivations at the bottom ©f the hills.

The Maoris still retain the name of a cul tivation for the piece of land within the line.

Maungo asked for payment before he gave evidence, but having been sworn, his Honor ruled that he must give evidence. He said he was interested in part of Waiotahi. He did not ask Mr Mackay to make his part a township. It was lately agreed to be a town ship, but at first it was a cultivation. He agreed with Mr Graham that his piece should be made a town. It had never been made into a town until he gave it to Mr Graham to make into a town.

lt was after I signed the agreement that I let my part, which was set apart as a cul tivation, to Mr Graham. Mr Mackay ob jected to my letting it to Mr Graham because he wanted to manage it himself. Hohepa Brown stated : I was one of the owners of Kauwaeranga No. 5. I have lately conveyed my interest to Mr Graham. I remember a line being taken along the base of the hills to divide the goldfield from the pieces of land intended for cultivation. Mr McCormick tendered in evidence the Governor's proclamation defining the limits of the towns of Grahamstown and Shortland to show what the limits of the goldfields were, and that the locus in quo being within those limits it is therefore exempt from gold mining under the proclamation of April 1861.

Mr Whitaker objected to the admission of the proclamation, on the ground that it was issued under the Mining Districts Act, while the claims of the defendants had been acquired prior to the passing of the Act, and could not therefore be affected by it.

His Honor admitted the evidence, leaving counsel to argue regarding the inference to be drawn from it.

Edward Allen, surveyor in the Inspector of Surveyor s office, deposed : The map pro duced contains the whole of the allotments 623 and 624.

Mr MacCormick put in the proclamation | published in Provincial Gazette of January ' 23rd, 1872, to show that the pieces of land '

mentioned in the agreement of 1868 as |bemg exempt from goldmining were so exempt. This concluded the plaintiffs case. Mr Whitaker then proceeded to address the jury, and concluded shortly before two o'clock, when the Court adjourned. _ Upon the Court resuming Mr MacCormicK addressed the jury for the plaintiff. His Honor commenced to sum up shortly after four o'clock, and had not concluded when we went to press.

THE ENQUIRY INTO THE LOSS OF THE ALSAGER.

An enquiry into the loss of the ship Alsager was opened at the Court-house, High street, at noon to-day, before T. Beckham, Esq., R.M., and Capt. Clayton, Nautical Assesor. Mr McKellar, Collector of Customs, con ducted the enquiry. Mr Richmond attended to watchjthe case, on behalf of Captain Rae, master of the vessel. Robert Geddes Rae, on being examined by Mr McKellar, stated that he was commander of the ship Alsager, and held a certificate from the Adelaide Board of Trade, but as the evidence adduced was the same as that produced a few days since on the scuttling case, it will not be necessary to republish it.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M.) INEBRIETY. Frederick Pass, Laurence McGinly, John Bruce, Robert White, and Alice Hoskins were charged with being drunk last night, and fined 10s. A STREET ROW. Henry Price and John Carroll were brought up on the charge of unlawfully creating a disturbance in Abercrombie-street, thereby interfering with the unanimity of that quiet neighbourhood, and terrifying the respectable inhabitants. John Carroll pleaded not guilty. Price said he was drunk. Mr Cook said he saw the prisoners fighting on the Sth inst. together, and witness was alarmed, being woke out of his sleep ; and some twenty or thirty people were terror stricken. He also saw a woman bleeding. There was a general row in the street. The prisoner cross-examined the witness at some length, but to no object. Patrick South, grocer, of Abercrombie-street deposed that he saw the prisoners fighting, but he did not think the neighbours were very much alarmed, he did not hear of any one fainting. The prisoner Price said that the row oc curred in consequence of his wife's drunken ness ; she got drunk at Carroll's house. His Worship said the public peace could not broken with impunity; the prisoners must find securities of £5 each. ASSAULT. John Enwright, on remand, was brought up on the charge of assaulting Cornelius Donoghue, at Helensville, on the 17th inst. Mr Joy appeared for the informant, Cor nelius Donovan, not Donoghue, as stated on the charge-sheet. Mr Joy st-ited that the informant's name was certainly Donovan, as the Donoghues had never left Ireland.

His Worship said one thing was certain, he was an Irishman.

Complainant stated that he was a labourer at Helensville, and remembered the prisoner coming to his house on the 17th inst., when he behaved in a wild and most outrageous way. He called him "a verdant child of Erin" and an "insignificant little spy," and s 'id. " I'm drunk, and I'll sarve you out." It was in the middle of the night, at the " dead hour," and the annoyance was kept up till six in the morning. He had not got a watch ; could not tell the time o' day, but knew it was night. Cross-examined by the accused : " You caught me by the throat ; ye did, ye." His Worship : " What is it you say." "Well, your Lordship"—(a laugh)—well, sir, he rolled me about for two hours like a barrel of flour, and said he would kill me. I said, kill on my boy ! but he did not kill me though ! To His Worship : He had a pair of drawers on when he attacked me ; he was drunk, he had no doubt of that.

Alexander Porter, clerk of the Magistrate's Court at Helensville, took the charge and went to Judge Rogan's house, and found the complainant in the protection of some women. The com plainant examined the prisoner at his request, and found some marks about his person, and his trousers were torn very much. The accused was very drunk at the time, and wished to lay the information against Dono van. Enright was a boatman and bailiff in Helensville.

The accused cross-examined the witness at great length, but as the circumstances were trivial, and not bearing directly on the case, the Court stopped him. Dr Mark E. B. Nicholson, medical practi tioner, deposed that on Saturday morning the complainant came to him to be examined, when he observed some slight scratches, as though done by fingernails. He had also ex amined the accused and found a number of scratches and bruises about him, but nothing on either complainant or prisoner of serious consequence. Prisoner, in his defence, said he was not drunk, but very much excited. Mr Porter could not say he was drunk. Mr Porter was recalled, and could swear that prisoner was drunk, for |he cpuld smell the liquor, but he had never seen prisoner drunk before. The complainant was sober.

Sergeant-Major Pardy stated that the prisoner was a special constable, but he knew nothing of his character. Special constables were appointed by His Honor the Superin tendent.

Mr Joy called the attention of tbe Court to the state of the complainant's breeches and other clothing. His Worship commented upon the nature of the case, and told prisoner that he had placed himLelf in a very serious position, and by his own conduct had rendered himself liable to imprisonment. He must pay a fine of £10 and £5 lis 6d costs, and find two sureties of £15 each and himself in £30, to keep the peace for six months, or be im prisoned for two months.

MARGARETTA AND ARGO GOLD MINING COMPANIES.

The adjourned general meeting of the shareholders of these companies was held this afternoon, at three o'clock in the com panies offices, Wyndham-street, for the pur pose of confirming certain resolutions passed at the last extraordinary meeting on the 12th March, also to elect directors and an auditor for the ensuing yeai

Mr Moss was called to the chair

The secretary, Mr Browne, read the adver tisement convening the meeting, also the minutes of the previous meeting, which were confirmed.

The following resolutions were carried.— " That the alterations in the articles of asso ciation, made at the last meeting, be con firmed."—" That the retiring directors be re-elected."—"That Mr Heath be elected auditor for the ensuing year," and " that Mr Waters be elected a director of the company,"

HA vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting.

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST THAMES NEWS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT).

Specimens from the Golden Crown.

Black Angel Crushing.

GRAHAMSTOWN

This day. L j Black Angel.—The general crush- J ing is still showing up better than 2 ounces to the ton. Point Russel Company.—A crush ing of 100 tons will be started next week.

Golden Ceown. —There is a nice show of gold in the face of the inter mediate level. Twenty pounds of specimens have been taken out. A new company has been formed under the Joint Stock Act to work the old Lucknow and Savage claims, Karaka, with a capital of £6,000. They intend to erect machinery. The prospects when previously worked were good, but the water was very

heavy. The sharemarket is dull. Cale donians, £18; Black Angels, £1 14 ; Cures, 15s 6d ; City of London , 13s 6d ; Bright Smile, 48s Gd.

ARRIVAL OF THE LUNA.

ONEHUNGA

This afternoon, 3.15.

Tbe Colonial p.s. 1 una is now coming up the harbour from Welling ton.

TAURANGA.

This day.

A letter from Mr McLean in answer to memorialists says instructions have been forwarded to the Agent-General to send 300 immigrants for the Bay of Plenty. Instructions have been given to open the land office at Tauranga. Delaney has been committed for trial at Opotiki on charge of horse stealing.

LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS.

The Carandinis at New Plymouth.

Ryan Acquitted of Shooting Detective Fairell.

Mr Fox's Speech to his Consituents

His Views of the Ministry,

WELLINGTON,

This day. The Post quotes the thirteenth sec tion of the Public Works Loan Act to prove the payment of interest out of loans illegal. Captain Tucker, of tbe barque Camille, died last night. The Breechin Castle sails shortly for Lyttelton. A telegram from Mr Vogel states that he will remain in Auckland three or four days longer. The first call on the seven hundred shares in the new coal company has been taken up. The Colonial Museum is being en larged. The Council of the University yesterday decided to supply the University Calendar and Minutes to all affiliated institutions for their read ing rooms ; and a motion to prepare regulations for a course of study, general examinations, &c, was adopted. The Rev. J. C. Andrew was appointed nspector of affiliated institutions. Great apprehensions were felt here yesterday regarding the steamer fiangatira. The public mind was, however, greatly relieved upon re ceipt of news of her safe arrival at Auckland.

Mr. Eox addressed his constituents last night at tbe Hutt. He reviewed the position of the colony in IS6S aud 1869 when M~. Stafford held office without a working majority, and was only saved by the casting vote of the Speaker. During that time the east and west coasts of this island were steeped in wa:-, a settlement being impossible, and tbe whole colony stag nated. The Eox Government altered all that, and made peace with the bulk of the natives; rendered Te Kooti powerless, and pushed tbe roads into tbe interior, and by McLean's aid brought the Maoris to their present friendly disposition. They are now selling land, thereby enabling coloniza tion and progress. After quelling the disturbance his Government sei about lifting the colony out of the " slougJw. of despond" by the aid of Vogoi's*lt Public Works and Immigration scheme. ? Vogel was undoubted^ the parent of the scheme, and had worked up its details. He said Mr Munro's remarks about the colony wanting railways was in keeipug with Nelson " stick-in-the mud " policy which had left it as it is, " Sleepy Hollow." He contended that railways which might not at first pay expenses might indirectly be a source of great national prosperity. He said Mr Stafford was too wise to endorse Mr Munro's opinions, and took the other view, and advanced the scheme, condemning the originators and adminis tration. He denied that Mr Staffor ever gave any sign of initation of such scheme beyond calling for a return of the number drowned in the New Zealand rivers, which he said ought to be bridged. He contended that the defeat was unfair. Witnesses were jurors, and anxious to scramble into office themselves; many of them weye

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DIVIDENDS. Hauraki Saw Mill Co. Ha.'bour View CALLS. Sons of Freedom .. Thames Gas Waitemata .. Watchman Queen of May Una Daughters of Freedom Red, White, and Blue

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