SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

! This evening, 6.50. SUN-RISE: To morrow morning, 0. SI . _._ . HIGH WATER: This evening, 8.42; to-morrow, morning, 8 57

ARRIVALS.

DEPARTURFS.

Bowena, as., for Bay of Islands

PROJECTED DEPARTURES. For Noumea: Prima Donna, schooner, to-morrow For Newcastle : Southern Bell, barque, early For Sydney: Wentworth s. a, early For Ton don : Countess of Kintore, ship, early For Moukle: Edith, schooner, shortly For Sydney: Hero, s.s., early

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Phcebe, s.s. (in the Manukau), from Southern ports St. Leonards, ship, from London, early i SHmmer of the Seas, from New York, via Dunedin and Wellington .. .. ! Gemsbok, barque, from New York, via Dunedin Sea Gull, brigantine, from Tutuila, early Fiery Cross, schooner, and Southern Cross, Mission schooner, from South Sea Islands, early Star of the South, from Levuka, early Resolution, brig, from Clarence River Wentworth, s.s., from Sydney Berar, ship, from London. Sailed 15th May Fontenaye, ship, from London. Sailed City of Auckland, from London. Sailod 4th June Fairy Queen, brig, from Timaru Bella Mary, barque, from Hobart Town Princess Alice, brig from Lyttelton Flirt, schooner, from Lyttelton Magellan Cloud, from Honolulu, early Ataltt'ota, French man-o'-war. from Sydney Privice Alfred, barque, from Melbourne

The completion of the unloading of th« barque Southern Belle has been delayed by the wet weather. A very small portion of cargo remains to be discharged, and the vessel will clear for Newcastle in ballast before the end of the week. j The brig Lalla Rookh and the barque Alice Cameron have both hauled alongside the wharf, and will commence discharging cargo to-morrow. ,'

The sailing of the Prima Donna has been deferred till to-morrow. i

- The Alia California of 20th June reports the arrival of the p.s. Nebraska, Captain Harding, from Honolulu, after a passage of nine days fourteen hours. The Honolulu Ovzette says, "Her appearance there was quite unexpected." H.B.M.'s S.S. Repulse.—This noble speci men of modern naval architecture', bearing the pennant of Rear-Admiral C. F. Hillyar, arrived off Honolulu, !4l days from Paita, South America, which port she- left on the 2nd of May. The Repulse is an iron-clad, having six-inch. armour-plates in battery. She carries twelve nine-inch nine-ton guns, two twentyrpounder breech-loaders, and two nine-pounder field-pieces. Sheisascrewofßoo-i horse-power, and numbers 569fmen and officers.! Her length on deck is 2_2 feet;!breadth, 59 feet; height between lower and main decks, 11 feet 6 inches—the greatest height between decks of any vessel afloat—height between main and upper deck, 7 feet 6 inches. She draws 24 feet 8 inches forward, and 26 feet 2 inches' aft. .She will remain here a fortnight, but owing to her great draft of water cannot enter' ouri harbour.

The Hawaiian Gazette says :—"The new ■ iteamer Costa Rioa haa, arrived at Honolulu rtfteraquick passage'iof %\ days.. A sailing ahip, the Phcenix, oncc'mad* the passage from San Francisco to Honolulu in 8 days 5 hours." - "-""«ffi'-' "•*««" *"■ '< "■

COMMERCIAL.

HONOLULU. —The Hawaiian Gazette of 25th June Bays i—We have to report thro* foreign arrivals ' this' week: the wair-ship, Repulse, anchored in the roadstead.'and'the.British brig Robert Cowan, the latter in ballast from Valparaiso, via Callao,- seeking.. The brig has neen laid on by Mr Theo. H. Davies for Sydney, and will load sugars, making the fifth vessel.to. sail for that port. These are the schooner Dauntless, Bernll; 150 tons ; schooner Serena Thayer, Bro,wn,, 450 tons; schooner ;Mary- Foster, Clilney, 150' tons ;j brig Onward,1 Ballastier, 300 tons; brig Robert Cowan,'.,Reyeley,- 300 tone.; mak ing a total of thirteen hundred and fifty tons, mostly dark sugars, which will pro bably net about four cents a pound, or not far from one hundred thousand dollars in value. The Sydney market is generally our best outlet fbr dai_ gradtiSA which of late have'been comparatively high priced there. The schooner Mary Foster sailed yesterday afternoon to be; followed by the Onward on Friday, and the Robert Crown on Monday next, all for Sydney. . .

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

JIAH.9 wn_ Close as Under i— -. . A i < )'. ■' i For Thames, this day, at 5.80 p.m., and to-morrow at 10.30 a.m. and 6.80 p.m. For Coromandel, to-morrow, at 12.30 p.m. . v \ For Russell, per Ocean, this day1, at 4.30 p.m. - — For the undermentioned places', Iper pa. Luna, !on| Thursday, 28th inst., as under: — For India, China, Mediterranean Ports, and Con-' tinent of Europe, America, &c„ at 9.80 a.m.! I'l For Taranaki and Southern Provinces, at 10.30 a.m! For Australian Colonies and United Kingdom, via Southampton, at 10.30 a.m. For United Kingdom, via Brlndisi, and late letters. for Southern provinces and Melbourne, at 11 a.ra. I • For newspapers, at 9a.m. . .;,..■ For money orders' and registered letters, on' Wed nesday, 27th inst., at 5 p.m. Lji„ ■ '■ | .j,: .(Signed) S. B. Biss. Chief Postmaster.

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

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1873.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance,

And the good that we can do

The early closing movement carried through so successfully some time ago seems to be now in a fair way of break ing down. One shop after another is opening its doors after six, and every addition to the number of late-trading establishments renders it more im perative for those who adhere to early closing on principle to consider whether their action is not giving rival shops a great advantage, which may operate to the material detriment of those who close early. Where all are united, and a recognised hour of closing pre vails, there can be no possible injury to any establishment; and if the pub lic were invariably considerate and sincerely desirous of extending to an over-worked class the same amount of relaxation as they enjoy themselves, rigid adherence to a liberal prin ciple would benefit rather than injure business men. But we know that many of the public are not usually so considerate. When it is possible to get what they want at night, people are extremely apt to postpone their purchases from the more busily occu pied- hours of day to the leisure of eveningand drapers' assistants and other classes of shopkeepers are made the victims of the procrastination of their fellow-citizens. There are few persons who woiild not give their assent to tho abtract principle that from eight to six o'clock is quite long enough for any human being to be kept in servitude, and yet there are, we undertake to say, equally few who, if they really wanted an article, and saw a shop open whore they could get it, would deny themsolvcs rather than make the purchase after six. We are not surprised therefore that one establishment follows another in this very objection able practice. But wh at, we would ask, is.the Early Closing Association doing that its voice is silent noW(when the system for which so hard a struggle was made is fading away into a thing of the past. Are the members satisfied that it should be so, and are we justified in taking their silence as assent? Unless the class most nearly interested in this ex tension of business hours takes the initiative in endeavouring to ;secure a uniform time of clos ing, we fear the public will look upon the collapse of the early [closing, movement with very much greater indifference than that ap parently manifested by the employes affected by it. There are, we know, many masters in Auckland who regret the alternative which now seems inevi table^ and it womld be a graceful act on their part to identify themselves publicly with the Early Closing Asso ciation, and by a direct appeal to other 'masters endeavour to come to some amicable settlement of the question. Failing that, the association should go to the public; let their voice be heard with no uncertain sound, and their views be disseminated far and wide ; make the principles bf early closing appeal to ;the i,public; from every board and hoarcl ing in the city ; from the pavements, and with every parcel of goods sent out from early closing shops. There must be no mincing of matters if this effort is to succeed. First of all let 'the request be quiet and respectful, but failing success let it ring with a determination and be followed up with a vigour that must sweep all opposition before it. Now is the time for action, for in a few mouths the evil will pro bably liave grown to such proportions as to baffle the most strenuous efforts of the reformers.

The contract undertaken by Mr Geo. Henderson,' under the superintendence of ,ofc Captain Nearing, for removing and're placing the mooring buoys in the harhdur has now been completed. The terms of the contract included, lifting two anchors on the east side of the Queeu;stieet wharf, and sub stituting a screw mooring in their place, and placing two, screw moorings on the west side of the wharf, (one of these has only been lifted and fixed in another spot.) Captain Burgess, the harbourmaster, has inspected the work clone, and has expressed his approval. ,': 'OWpig to the inclemency of the weather the attendance at the .Popular Concert in the Choral Hall last evening was very small. : The depressing effect of empty benches, was : reproduced in .the lack of spirit shewn by some of the performers. The band was not up to the mark in the various overtures. The glee, " Chapel," was also rendered very in differently. Mr Yates sang the ballad "Mollie Darling" (local copies ot which have just been published, and are now "oil j ■"_ sale at the stationers). The air is very sweet, and the song was rapturously j applauded. A gentleman amateur made his first, appearance with the song, "Adelaide," and was very successful. He possesses a good robust tenor voice, and; is likely to become a great favourite. Mrs; Mitchell Bang in her customary pleasing; style, and her contributions to the pro gramme were, as they always are, well received. ! -..

The meeting in favor of total abstinence at Newton school was very well attended last evening. Speeches were delivered by Messrs Hemus and Spragg, and recitations by Mr; Webster and others, but a slight disappoint ment was felt as there was no music,'the har monium being out of repair, M.tff L'llO \lt'i 11.1.jA 1.11 1.7 , ■

A meeting of the Market Committee was held this morning to consider the report of the Market Inspector referred to the com mittee by the Council yesterday. The com mittee was disposed to regard favourably the Inspector's suggestions, and after discussion it was agreed that the Market be thrown open free to all country settlers bringing in produce. The use of the weighbridge will also be given free. After standing two hours in the Market settlers will, if they desire it, receive permits to hawk the remainder of their goods through the city, and the charge of one shilling for permits to hawk without an attempt having previously been made to soil at the Market is to be strictly enforced, and persons committing breaches of this by-law will be sued. The Market In spector is also empowered to receive con signments of produce from settlers living at a distance from town, and to dispose of it without commission. This arrange ment will confer great benefit upon settlers living at Howick, Panmure, Otahuhu, Papakura, Drury, and other settlements, as they will be able to for ward their produce for sale without in curring the loss of time, or the expense of a journey to Auckland. Our producers will now have no cause to complain of want of liberality in the Market regulations ; and if the Market-place does not become the great depOt of farm, dairy, and garden produce the blame must be thrown upon the settlers, and not upon the Council. We hope to see a marked increase in the busi ness of the Market-place next Friday in consequence of these regulations.

Mr John Duffy, porter, has called to say that ho is not the individual who figured on the drunkard's list at the Police Court yes terday.

His Worship the Mayor has taken the initiative in a very deserving case of charity. We have received from him this morning the sum of £1 on behalf of the widow and family of the late William Cranch. The circumstances attending the unfortunate death of the late Captain Cranch are so fresh in the memory of our readers that we need not repeat the details. He was a sober and respectable man, and had gained the esteem of all who knew him. The sad acci dent which robbed him of life left his family in a very poor position to battle against the troubles and privations of life. We appeal with most confidence to those who knew the deceased intimately to come forward with subscriptions in this case. The list which Mr Philips has so kindly opened will lie at our oflice, and we shall feol pleasure in acknowledging all additions to it.

The Auckland Ethiopian Troupe will give a grand concert this evening at the City 1 lall for tho benefit of the funds of tho Hobson Company's Fund. They will bo assisted by several of our leading city amateurs, and pa tronised by tho officers of tho several volunteer corps. Tho programme is of a very interest ingcharacter, including songs and farces, co_» eluding with a select quadriilo party.

The funeral of Captain Cranch yesterday was attended by about two hundred pertona. The coifiu containing the.body was placed on a gun-carriage, accompanied by the Naval Bri gade band, playing the " Sicilian Mariner's Hymn. Tho funeral service was road in a very impressive manner by tho Rev. Dr. Kidd. The deceased was a strictly sober man, and much respected in tha neigh bourhood of his residence. He leaves a widow, three sons, and one daughter, all under twelve years, to lament their loss.

To the Editor: Sir, —As your paper is emphatically the ally of those whose " cause needs assistance," and the foe of those who work "wrongs that need resistance," I feel sure yon will permit me to ask a few questions as to the present state of tho Auckland College and Grammar School. How iB it, sir ? Can you tell me ? perhaps you can ; how is it that the entire stall" of masters who conducted this school, when Mr Mcßae was appointed head master, have one by one been compelled to resign their appointments ? —First of all Dr. Kidd, who is, I believe, acknowledged to be the best classical- master in the province; secondly, Mr Wyatt, the English master, a man of very extensive and varied acquire ments. ; and thirdly, Mr Joseph Flower, the painstaking and laborious master of the third and fourth classes. This last is universally liked by the boys themselves, and respected by the friends of the boys, and his resignation will be a loss to the school fenerally. Having a boy to send to school take an interest in these matters, and I own that I can neither explain nor understand the conduct of those in authority who have allowed or compelled these gentlemen to resign. I notice in your columns an advertisement for a qualified master for the 6th or Junior Class. Can it be possible, sir, that Mr Flower wished to send in an application for this appointment, and was told that it would be useless, as the Head Master would not sanction it ? If this be true it looks very like a quiet shelving of all the original masters, simply because they were the original masters, and as such to be got rid of at any sacrifice, even to the present ruin of the prospects of an estimable and cleVer teacher like Mr Flower. I may be wrong in my judgment and impressions, and I am always open to conviction, but until I am convinced to the contrary these are my most painful impres sions. Perhaps you or your readers may have something to say on this subject.—l am sir, yours, &c, Paterfamilias.

A San Francisco artist, Mr Muybridge, has succeeded, after several experiments, in securing a perfect photograph of Gov. Stan ford's, race horse, Occident, taken while the animal was at full speed, moving at the rate of 38 feet to the Becond. So perfect is the picture* that it shows the spokes of the wheels of the sulky just as if they had not 'been in motion. It is considered the most wonderful feat in photographing ever accom plished. ><-•'-■ ( *

.An errorioccurred in our last evening's issue where it was stated that the extension of the works abandoned by Messrs O'Neill and Thomas was being carried on by Messrs Owen Jones and Co. The firm alluded to are merely to continue their present con tract from Fort Britomart to meet the em bankment from Barnabas Point.

:. Messrs J. Roberton and Co.; have received a telegram from the owxiers of the Resolution (expected here with a cargo of maize), stating that her destination had been altered to Melbourne.

At the recent fire in Baltimore 100 build ings and four churches were destroyed.

The, follow my items are. from the -IZte California of a recent date :—There is some probability that the Pacific Mail Company will re-establish the New Zealand Line, but it awaits the action of the- Directors. of the Company in New York, for which port the New Zealand Commissioners have left San Franckco. —David N. Hawley, for many years a leading hardware merchant of this city, has been compelled to make an assignment for the benefit of his cre ditors. His liabilities are $220,000.— Geo. F. Train has been at length declared by the courts to be a lunatic—a fact which most people believed years ago.— A second corres- Eondent of the New York Herald, in Cuba, as been i arrested as a spy, and placed in Fort Carbon*,

We have very great pleasure in commend ing to the notice of our readers the announce ment which appears elsewhere relative to the technical classes established in connection with the Mechanics' Institute. Thoroughly competent masters have been appointed, and the classes will open next week under very favourable auspices. The object aimed at by the promoters of these classes is to provide youths apprenticed to mechanical professions and artizans with facilities for acquiring that technical education which is so requisite to success in all trades. These classes will impart instruction of a character that cannot be acquired in ordinary schools. The hours of meeting are convenient for those who are occupied during the day, and the subscription, Cs 6d per quarter for two evenings each week, is so moderate that none we should think need be deterred from taking ad vantage of the classes on account of the charges for instruction. We are glad to learn that several masters have intimated their in tention of paying the fees for some of their junior apprentices, and we should like to see the example generally followed. It must be to masters' own ultimate gain that their ap prentices should be made acquainted with knowledge of a kind calculated to increase their proficiency in business. We sin cerely trust that these classes will be well supported.

The Town Clerk, in answer to an inquiry sent to Sydney some time ago, received the following letter this morning:—"Town Clerk's Office ; Sydney, 2nd August, 1873.— Sir, —In reply to the enquiry contained in your letter of the Ist ultimo I have the honor to state that the Mayor of Sydney is eleoted by the Aldermen, and that I ?m not awaro of any instance in these colonies in which a different method is adopted. For some years previous to 1853 the citizens elected their Mayor from the City Council j but the law was then repealed, and has not since been re-enacted, although an effort has been made to do so.—l have, &c, Cuas. H. WoohcoTT, Town Clerk.—Tho Town Clerk, Auckland, New Zealand."

The recent lecture on "Spiritualism," by Rev. James Hill, has moved the hitherto passive spirit of the Thames Philosophical Harmonists. They have taken a store in Brown-street, and have held two meetings, and purpose continuing them on Sunday evenings. The title of the Thames spiritual ists is pretty and most inviting, with a poetic charm about it, but from reports of their proceedings the language of some of their leaders is neither poetical nor harmonious nor brotherly. A hive of bees, however, under tho most perfect government, will buzz and make a terrible stir, and sometimes sting when their harmony is disturbed ; so is it with the Thames Philosophical Progres sionists who have ceased to rely any longer upon table-turning and physical manifesta tions as these can bo otherwise explained. They rather depend upon the volubility of their tongues for success, which are not yet attuned to harmony.

Details of a horrible tragedy are given in the New York, papers. A man named Hennessy, upon returning to his house after some hours' absence, could not obtain ad mittance to his apartments. After some time the door was opened, and his wife, pointing to a tub, said, in an unearthly voice, that the children wore all right —they were " happy now." The room was pervaded by a sickening odour, and upon going near the tub, which was close to the firo place, the man saw that it contained the bodies of hiß two . sons, aged respectively three years and five months. They were completely naked, and so mutilated that the features were not recognisable. The flesh had been burned from their faces and shoulders, the eyes from their sockets, and their lips were awfully disfigured and swollen to an unnatural size. A daughter, aged seven years, was in the attitude of sleeping peacefully. Mrs Hennessey was suffering from puerperal mania, and, it would appear, murdered the'ohildren by strangulation. Sho is a native of Dublin, and aged 20 years. When in health she is said to have beou remarkably beautiful.

The Catholic population of the United Kingdom of Great Britain is estimated at 4,500,000, who are supplied by 2,500 priests. The Catholic Peers in Great Britain and Ire land number thirty-three, including a duke, a marquis,, seven earls, four viscounts, and twenty barons. Twenty-four of theso are members of the House of' Lords. There are also forty-eight Catholic baronets, and thirty six Catholics in the House of Commons.

The eighth anniversary of the Church of St. Sepulchre will be held to-morrow (Wed nesday) evening, when the services will be conducted by the Rev. J. R. Selwyn.

At the City Council, yesterday, Council lor Dargaville's motion, making the Mayor elective by the ratepayers instead of by the Council, was thrown out by a majority of one. It was agreed, on the motion of Councillor Holdsmp, that the Government be requested to extend the borrowing powers of the Council for waterworks from one hundred thousand to one hundred and fifty thousand. It was agreed that the levels of Franklyn-street be fixed in conjunction with Ponßonby-road, also the levels of Pitt-street between Hobson and Grey-streets.

A splendid equestrienne, who rides grace fully through the crowd of carriages, looking neither to the right nor left, is the ghost that troubles Rotten Row, London, just now. Her face is oovered with a mask, arid she wears a heavy cavalry sabre, a carbine, and a cartridge box. '~'..''"_" i'■„{,'. We have received, via Sydney, late files of Hawaiian and Californian papers. Extracts will be found elsewhere.' A.:'.: '7

The Protestant Episcopal1 Church in the United States has seven missionary Bishops and 215 other missionaries distributed throughout the South and We3t- Twenty years ago the communicants of this church numbered 120,000, now the number .is 240,000, indicating a very healthy growth.

Iceland, with 50,000' inhabitants, has 300 priests of the Lutheran Church. The govern ment pays their, salaries—from $20 to .300 per year. One priest built his church at his own expense because he could receive ho salary while.jhjs, people wore destitute of a house. A , . .. . i

A correspondent of the Daily Newt ridicules j the American department of the Exhibition I at Vienna, and gives the following as the l] correct list of the articles to be seen in the j section assigned to the United States : Two cases of Colt's firearms, three binnacles, one ! stuffed eagle, two salt cellars, a dentist's, chair, and six bottles of water taken! from the Mississippi river. The ex planation of the display is found' in the ' former, mismanagement of A the American section, and it is confidently hoped, now that the new Commissioners and exhibitors" have: gone actively to work to I repair the evil effects, that goods from! America will be speedily unpacked, and that! exhibitions from that conntry ,-^rill come up to the standard. ' ;' OAs 'I Z i H

The Hawaiian Gazette says:—" The Missionary Packet, Morning Star has gone on an eight months' cruise in theMicronesian i group. She is under orders to visit some! islands which have never been visited by the vtMels of the American Board,"

An old man named Timothy Savage met with a serious accident to-day while working at Mr Firth's mill.

The members of the Auckland Troop Royal Cavalry Volunteers are requested to meet at the Market this evening to proceed to the performance in aid of the Hobson Company's Band.

Sir,—-" Good Templar," in his letter to the Cross this morning, has made an important discovery. That moderation which has so often been lauded by poets of old times,-and philosophers of our own days, as the, " aurea mediocritas," "the golden mean." *' the happy medium," is, in the case of drirk, a wolf in sheep's clothing. When we read "Good Templar's" magnificent language on the subject —" It is .! the , fancied manliness of ' moderation'—'using and not abusing'—that allures the thousands and tens of thousands from the paths of rectitude; which leads to intemper ance, poverty, crime, and 'too frequently a drunkard's premature grave. The father, teacher, doctor, lawyer, judge, mayor, member of Parliament, general, admiral, minister of the Gospel, president, or king who takes his tumbler of ale, glass of wine, tot of spirits, &c, as the case may be, is the example "that is ruining alike the brightest sparks of genius, the loftiest intellects, and the semi-barbarian "—when we read this I say shall it not be treason any longer to use the proverb " in medio tutissimus ibis. Well done, Good Templar, it has taken thousands of years to find out the secret, and to you at last belongs the honor. But now, having found out the case, it remains.to prescribe the remedy ; and as a practical rider on "G. T.s" letter I suggest the following alterations ia our laws on the subject of drunkenness. No intoxicated person shall henceforth be taken into custody, but shall be allowed to roam at large, and do all the harm he can, and rather be encouraged than not to afford a deterrent example to others. That after the manner of the ancient Greeks each head of a family shall be bound to keep a menial who is under articles to get drunk at least three times a week—the liquor to be found by the employer—with the same ob ject. That a scale of punishments be con structed in inverse proportion to the number of glasses of strong liquor taken by any in dividual. The punishment for one glass to be 10 years' penal servitude, and one year less for each glass afterwards V so that for 10 glasses—which may be fixed as the average drunken point-the penalty will be reduced to nil. We are not sure that it would not bo wise to fix a scale of rewards for each glass beyond, in proportion to tho beastly way in which the drinker acts, as an efficient "warning." Finally, that a system of police supervision be adopted over all who have never been convicted, or rather rewarded for drunkenness and who havenever signed the pledge—in fact over all the "cursed moderationists ;" for doubtless, as " Good Templar" says, it is these who allure " the thousands and tenß of thousands from the paths of rectitude." To be sure the ex penses of legislature would.. be-i .vastly in creased, but that is of little importance look ing at the groat good which would be effected; and possibly '* Good Templar" can suggest how the money can be found.—l am, &c, Reformer. ._., ~

STOVIN v. THAMES G.M. COMPANY.

To tho Editor of the Evening Star. Sir,—Permit me to correct the following statement in Mr Stovin's address/to the jury, in your last night's issue. MrStovin says:— "I suddenly heard he had absconded, and was told at the same time that he had been com mitting forgeries, and selling Thames ana other shares belonging to other people. It instantly crbfse'd my: mind' that, -as he had victimised others, most likely I had not escaped, particularly as he had just bought for me theso seven ' Thames' shares.": The first intimation of Stevens having sold Thames shares withbiit authority Was'givtfii ly Mr Stovin himself. . No one, know that anything, was wrong until Mr Stovin discovered that Stevens had transferred his seven Thames shares. Mr Stovin's foundation-tone is therefore removed; for what follows is based upon the assumption that as evil reports were abroad in regard to Stevens' forgeries, Mr Stovin was moved to the action he took to see how his interests were affected. I could corrcet several other inaccuracies in Mr Stovin's statement^ but.aa the; matter^is now settled I leave these —particularly the story about the Christmas Box transfers—to Mr Stovin's own conscience,— I am, &q.,: f'H Robert Sommerville, 7 . , *'■ Secretary Thames Company.

THE POISONING CASE.

A man named Isaac Best, 50 years 'of age, the proprietor of the Hibernia Hotel, Wakefield-stre_t, died in great agony yester day through taking poison. It appears that Best had been drinking hard for tho last four days with a lodger, an old man named Harris, of 90 years of age. In the afternoon Best laid down upon the bed in a back-room. Shortly after he called loudly to his wife to bring him some drink, as he was dying of in tense thirst. His wife answered to the call, and upon going into the room found Best, in strong convulsions. She immediately sent for Dr Stockwell, who upon reaching the house found that the man was past the power of healing, and was dead. Deceased had Sreviously told his daughter that he had rank the contents of. a bottle .which; had been' given to him by " tho eld man," and contained, as he believed;1 carbonate of soda. Dr Stockwell, upon, .examining' the bottle, discovered that it had contained a quantity of crystallized strychnine. Neither Best nor Harris were able to read j' conse quently they were ignorant 6i the, Written warning on tho label. Harris,: upon-being interrogated, denied that he gave the bottle to Best. f-. 1 ;r.,. i .\ ..,.,-' :„• ..7 „A

inqu'est:--Th_s';pa£_; .;.,: \ An inquest was'held this, afternoon at two o'clock, at the Globe Hotel, Wakefiejd-street, on the body of deceased, before T. Ml Phil son, Esq., M.D. • > ,I»a'J , The evidence of Sarah Nightingale shewed that the deceased was 44 years old. He had been drinking with a lodger named Harris, but not heavily. At a quarter to two o'clock her father; who was sitting by the fire, was seized with convulsions, She sent for Dr. Stockwell. Two of the lodgers, Jane Sutherland and Ellen O'Neil came into tho room ; deceased asked them to hold his feet, as his limbs were in a state of agitation. He said,: in reply to Miss Sutherland!,' ©the bottle, the bottle, over the top of the door," in the passage, which I contained a small quantity of white crystals. She got it down and found from the label that it contained strychnine. , She had not seen,the. bottle previously. " She ' went after her mother, and upon returning to the house her father was dead. ,He had not been depressed in ' spirits.' He never expressed a weariness of life.' _[c was generally cheerful. ' She had no doubt but that he took the poison, thinking it was baking powder. Harris was riOt'ui the house at the time., He was at worlfc at Dukinfield's. A,' The inquest was proceedine when we vent to press,

PETTY SESSIONS.—This Day.

(Before Dr. Nicholson, Chairman; G. P. Pierce, A. K. Taylor, and Thomas Cheese man, Esquires, J.P.'s.) Breaches or By-Laws.

houses,

Richard Pascoe was charged with allowing three horses and one foal to stray in a public place in Parnell on the 14th instant. Fined 5s and costs. Edward Stallord was charged with allow ing one horse to stray at the same time and in the same place. Fined 5s and costs.

COWS.

Alfred Eustace, a young cow-keeper of eighteen, was charged with allowing one cow to stray in Parnell on the lGth inst. Fined ss. and costs. . James Carlin was charged with allowing his whole stock to be at liberty in Brighton Road on the 14th instant, consisting of seven cows and one calf. Defendant said he could not help it, and supposed he might as well plead guilty. Fined ss. and costs. FAST DEI VINO.

Matthew Harford was charged with driving fast round the coiner of West Queen-street, thereby endangering the lives of Her Ma jesty's subjects, on the 19th instant. The accused said that he was driving rather fast, but did not know that he was doing wrong. He never read the newspapers, and did not know of the existence of the by laW- mi i c The Bench said that his plausible plea of ignorance would not avail him to any large extent, but under the circumstances he must pay the nominal fine of Is and costs. P. G. Gleeson, landlord of the Aurora Tavern, Victoria-street, was charged with failing to keep a light burning in bis lamp over the principal entrance to his hotel be tween the setting of Phoebus and the dawn of Aurora on the 19th instant. Mr Tole, on behalf of defendant, pleaded guilty, but under very extenuating circum stances. His servant in cleaning the lamp had broken the glass, when he sent at once for the glazier, but who did not come that evening to repairjthe damage. Mr Gleeson ob served from his bedroom window at one o'clock the next morning that the light was burning; there was then a stiff breeze blowing, which swelled into a hurricane, and, he supposed, blew out the light through the broken square. .The, Bench said that as it was a mishap, arid that Mr Gleeson would have to be at the expense of mending the lamp, the fine would be simply 2s Gd and costs.

THREATENING TO SMASH A MAN.

Robert Wilson, a quiet-looking man, was charged.with using threatening language to wards Nathan Wright, and swearing he would smash him on the 24th inst.

Prisoner pleaded guilty to threatening to smash the man, but never intended to be so inhuman. Prosecutor had annoyed him by fencing in a path leading to "his house, which -was a serious inconvenience to bim. He certainly called bis neighbour hard names because.he was angry, but never intended to put an end to his mortal existence. The Bench ordered, as the most practical means of keeping him in order, that he should find securities for his good behaviour, himself in £10 and two others in £5 each, to keep the | peace for three months towards Nathan Wright and all her Majesty's loyal [Subjects. , i

STEALING BOOTS,

Samuel Taylor, a man advanced in years, and James Miller, a little man, were charged with breaking into the shop of Duncan Campbell, of Vulcan-lane, on the 17th inst. Mr Broham asked that Miller might bedis charged as no evidence could be gathered tending to criminate him. Miller was there fore discharged. 'DtfncJdi Campbell stated that he was a bootmaker, residing in Newton* On Saturday evening he left his shop, in Vulcan Lane, about ten o'clock, and was careful to bolt his doors and fasten his windows before going home. , On the Monday following, at seven o!clbck, upon entering his shop, he saw the back door wide open, and discovered that five pairs of boots had been stolen, value £3 16s. George McEwer and William Wright proved to seeing prisoner in Alten-road.with the parcel of boots in his possession. Constable Jackson upon receiving infor-, mation of the robbery, went1 to" prisoner's,: jhome in Scarborough Terrace, Parnell, and found him in bed. He asked what ho had done with the boots the boys had seen in his Iposseßsion in the Alten-road. He replied that after carrying them some distance he pitched, them away. He afterwards found the parcel of boots in a bunch of ti-tree. He took the prisonerinto custody on the charge of stealing the goods from the shop of Duncan Campbell. , j I The Bench ruled that the evidence was not sufficient to sustain the charge of breaking I into.,and stealing from the premises*. The accused must therefore be dismissed on the present charge. The prisoner was then chaTged with receiv- I ing four pair of boots, value £3 10s, the property of Duncan Campbell.

The evidence of the several witnesses was again taken. The Bench having reviewed the evidence committed the prisoner for six months, with hard labour.

THE NEW THEATRICAL COMPANY.

The first appearance of the new theatrical company was made last night under very disadvantageous circumstances. The night was very stormy, wind and rain alternating in sweet succession. But for all there was a goodliOqse,; and the company may certainly make a favorable deduction from the fact. The pieces presented were the three-act comedy*; "Not Such a Fool as He Looks," and a? farce,." The Irish Boy and the Yankee Gall'.*'"ln regard to the comedy the piece it self must be pronounced most amusing, and well constructed. The dialogue is spark ling; and'the positions effective. If a fault can be found it is in the lack of incident. The plot may be hriefly.explained as follows : —Florence' Flutter (Miss Lizzie Bushe)'is married, to a rakish young husband, ielix Flutter (Mr G! W.' Cof'ier). A young aunt of Mrs Flutter, named Aurelia Howard (Mrs Walter Hill), is a widow, with a ferocious lover, Sir Pertinax (Mr Walter Bentley). Thei characters of the piece are completed with the addition of a cousin of Mrs Flutter, who rejoices in the appellation of Blush (Mr Lachlan McGowan). Blush is secretly in love with . Florence Flutter, but lacks courage to declare his passion, aud Felix Flutter is in love with every good look ing) woman he comes across,nmore especially when the pursuit' of his passion causes ad venture and excitement. In one of his excursions of this nature he follows up his own wife without knowing it, and Aurelia Howard takes advantage of the mis take' to wbrk a cure of his erratic propensities. Blush is tho funny man of the piece. He is continually trying to arrange differences, which he makesfworse, and is'earnestly entreated to keep secrets, which he as. earnestly swears to do, simply because he knows nothing about them. His attempted declaration of love to his cousin is one of the most amusing parts of the play. It will be sufficient to add that the means adopted by Aurelia Howard, together with the intervention of her admirer, Sir Pertinax, are bffcetive in the reformation of the gay hw

band of Mrs Flutter, and the play ends haprjuA for all parties except the unfortunate Blush Mi 3 Walter Hill, as Aurclia Howard, viras very successful. The part is one w_j c _ j, well calculated to ahow off to advantage the versatility and lively acting of this favourite artiste. Looking at the continual dash and sustained exertion which the personification demands from beginning to end, we should pronounce the character no easy one to per. form; and Mrs Hill must be possessed of more than ordinary energy, as well as great dramatic talent, to have rendered ft 8o effectively. Miss Lizzie Bushe, as the injured wife (Florence Flutter), - called forth decided marks of approbation. The acting of this young lady is natural and un. affected. The part was well conceive! and smoothly rendered any of that exaggeration which is too often the fashion on the stage. Mr G. W. Collier is an actor of established reputation, and will we pro phesy be a great favorite in Auckland. JJjg acting is decidedly much above the standard which we are accustomed to view in the con. panics that are in the habit of visit, ing us. His declamation and gestures are excellent, and he is evidently a keen appreciator of character. We have.little doubt that this gentleman's appearance ja other roles will,prove him to be»t_at ro* avis-among actors—a good general-character delineator. Of Mr Lachlan McGowan as Blush we can say without fear of contra diction that he is one of the best low coiriedy representors we have seen here. Those who have not enjoyed a good laugh for some time and who' wish to do so, shouldlose\ no time in pay;ng a visit to thfe' Prince of Wales Theatre, if only to A fit ness this gentleman's acting. Of !_. Bentley we cannot say a good deal, iRe looked very fierce (which was quite 1 character,) and jumped through the window in a style we have rarely seen equalled! As a whole the "go" of the piece for a first night was remarkable. There was not a hitch, and every one was well booked up; so well indeed that not once did we hear the prompter in the course of the piece. The farce which followed was productive of much amusement. Mrs McGowan, ni the " Yankee Gal," made a decided hit* The best evidence of this was afforded in the fact that after the conclusion of the piece,, when the audience were retiring from .#s,. theatre, the efforts of ambitious juvenuesto imitate the eccentricities of the character were very noticeable. Both Mr and Mrs McGowan gave dome capital character songs, "My Johnny was. a Shoemaker," by ifjs latter, being enthusiastically received by the audience. Mr Colder, as the old man,' seemed quite, as much at home as. in the young husbrnd of the foimer piece. The Irish 'Boy, by Mr McGowan; was a most side-split.-'ng performance, and the audience went home in the best of humoori- It is so long since we had any theatrical company on our local boards that a good company like that we now have the oppor tunity of appreciating is certain to prove, eminently attractive. The company advertise; the same programme for to-right. The; orchestra was under the direction-'.^ >fons/DeLias, who proved himself to be as skillful a conductor as he is a musician.

PARLIAMENTARY.

[By Telegraph.]

Last Night's Sitting of the House;g

(From our Special Correspondent.) V .- . -. . 'Wll :L 77 7,I^7.WELLINGTON.- - 77. '7 ; 77 7 This dayA^ The House sat| at' 7-30 last m'ght, -~ . >vi Progress of BUIs. \ m The Promissory Oaths Bill was read ft* second time without debate. . '_$$& Mr- o,Rorke ; moved the, second, reading of the Weights and Measures Bill The main alterations of the law is to make fines payable to the provinces. Mr Rolleston considered the bill was only an instalment of justice. The Generic Government should provide the entire, info, chinery if ordainl"nq. the expenditure. Mr White moved that it be read that day six months. It was a hybrid based on no principle. Mr Wood supported the amendment. The inspection k should be placed in the hands of" the police." * t» Mr Bathgate said the opposition was mere factiousness.

Mr Gillies said it was usual for bis side to criticise" measures, and it was usual for Min isterial supporters to defend their measures. He had never -read the bill.

The biU was read a second time,

New Native Lands BiU. Mr McLean moved the second reading^, !the Native Lands Bill. The objectis topro vide a less costly, and, more effective means of ascertaining the titles of natives to laud. A bill was drafted during the recess. Owing, however, to the- experience gained during the sitting of the Hawke's Bay Native Lands A Uenation Commission and other reasons it was "decided to with draw that bill and introduce a fresh one. In framing the present one they had the valuable services of Judge Richmond and other gentlemen who possessed a large know ledge ,of I native matters, also Sir William- Martin. It waa proposed that the officer of each district should not be a new creation, but the officers existing should inquire so as to ascertain to whom land every where belonged. It would be their duty (and this was the principal introduced the first time) to find wnat amount of land natives would permanently require for settlement. The rest would then be ;available to 'be put into, the Market when owners desire „to dispose of it. The judiciall powers'-of judges would be similar to those under the former Act. The salaries, hojvever, would in future be voted annually, by the House. The Go vernment would also take all responsibility^ 'in the matter, which'was not the case for merly, and would reserve the right of stop-f ping the proceeding-of the Court, *nd 0$ stopping surveys when they thought necesV, ;sary for the peace of (the country. There; was1 a vicious itheory. 'whieh,*.»had in the past affected the proceeding of ths La^ds Courts to the effeot tliat tjie. judges should: hot look at anything not coming directly under their cogniza ace while?; in Court. Owing to the operation of thiif theory grave injustice had frequently been done. The present Bill made it neces* sary that judges should fully acquaint them-' selves with all matters affecting title to. lands. ;| .-,„■ :;,,- ,~, . .A Mr Rolleston felt that it was great preaump.; tion on the ( part of any member to criticise & native mil. At leas, that appeared the ■ opinion of the House as shown during the debate on the Native Reserves Bill. He . would, however, express the opinion that ft j seemed to be thought that all native matters a ; should be left to men acquainted with the ' Maori language and customs. The state of J things in Hawke's Bay, where Maori 71 doctors • were more plentiful than anyi:<_?j where else, was a signal refutation of this theory. He thought that the salient points of the, BiJI were not fairly sat before ' the House, -The -Bill would not be operative til districts ' *c.c! defined. The Bill also^ wpnt liaql?' to tlj. principle of tl*e MWMMu '" '■ *" ... .. A:. » U _l_ill<_

wii Bviaciys «____ i, Tuesday, atopst s_, im:



vjiiulu, .; ul ... i-a )mU\ oil* So luu. t>. .<■ ■■'- j olid -.'..'■ :. IMC! ■._,) ...'V '■■ 'nl:alA orfw ■.'.' i.i I 'ill J. .-. '.-. J_l»_%_, 'l dii'tJ_K)ii{ia'i_LliJOW I guKiuijio OOSCHRA¥E & CO. » ■. ~ •_.. bite cm«*i> imd €«D la «-<>«> J Axe now holding an '! J EXTRAORDINARY eHEA_? SALE / 3 3 t>K> f 0 01- 101: DRAPERY AND CL OTH IN G „- hen.k.'-i w i 7; i , At their Premises, i; i f,i CAN !.)>-. 3 ItLDiIN GEM .'.-•■rr.LL.'-'.iOo a rAJ. „io QUEEN IS TREE*. »8S /} A;/ IT. /.;';T;;^ 11,:, ftji ;,9 i , J , !{ .Pl ' ' ..OLSONS Sg^PljA^ oa | Connoisseurs pronounce this Sauce to be 'the BEST for general use In households, and, in con-| sequence of its high reputation, some unpilnclpled "persons have been induced to Collect Empty Bottles . bearing the manufacturer's name stamped them,r >n, and pass the same'biff as ''OWbh's Universal Tomato Sauce." The proprietor ,'hasL in; consequence; caused his TRADE MARK to be Registered under the ■( provisions of tho "Trade Marks Act, 1866," and; proceedings will. be- taken against such persons as| may forge or counterfeit such mark. The public are. cautioned to . n J ASK FOR OLSON'S SAUCE, • ' ' and see that the name is Stamped on Bottle and Stopper, and, wrapped round with' h_ well-known _bel. ■•" "•■• i-woM iis i ''-.ui.i.i <i>: I D STEPHENSON & QOL's* CELEBRATED COFFEES, I "EXHIBITION'BRAND" ' ' y . I . "eaglebrAnd- '""A,'■'•'""" : "CROWN BRAND," ; Are to be procured at all respectable Gboojlrs and Storw.__i-_rs throughout the Province of Auck ud, ! -, j^'V i^''"\. i %** > '_cj^^-l><_ y ND. STO*HE^B€W iheel., i IWbY NJ> H AM,,,8.11R..8 ET, | 1 4TJCILASD, i' f|fl«:l.l-jJlA ill li|U'»j.„ aiuH I •, .<-•'*> ~. /JlTllHtlUil i_ is ill | Taaasi ma iiH rid



FLOUR! FLOUR! 1 TONS DUNEDIN "BEST JL-»J»\_/ SELECTED" BAKERS' FLOUR now Landing. B. TONKS & CO.