SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET: This evening, 5.21 SUN-BISE: To morrow morning, 6.37 HIGH WATER : This afternoon, 3.35 ; to-morrow morning, 4.7

ARRIVALS.

Go-ihead, s.s., from Waitira Rangat'^a, s.s., Hepburn, from Tauranga

DEPARTURES.

Taranal' l, s.s., for Southern ports

IMPORTS.

Per s.s. Rangatira, from Southern ports : 46 boxes clocks, 20 cases chairs, 50 cases axes, 20 pgs clothes pins, 1 _ a se harmoniums, 6 cases handles, E. _ & £. Isaacs ; 5 bales, 1 parcel, 4 cases, 5 boxes, 4 iron barrels, 4 casks, 76 cases, order ; 100 boxes candles, 5 bales pap' rfr> Bueholz ;45 bundles arms, Ido long arms, 4 boxes bolts, order; 16 do insulators, 90 coils wire, 1 box shackles, Telegraph; 1 parcel, Bank of New Zealand ; 1 box, 1 chair, 1 bundle bedding, Pox.— Combes & Daldy, agents.

The steamer Paterson has been detained until to-morrow, at ten o'clock.

The steamer Challeftger has not arrived at the Thames. She has probably taken shelter along the coast.

RThe departure of the Comerang for Russell, and the Golden Crown for the Thames, was postponed to-day owing to the inclemency of the weather. The T;&N. Co.'s s.s. Go-ahead, Captain McGillivray, arrived here this day at noon. She left Waitara at 5 p.m. yesterday, with a full load of stock, and crossed the Manukau bar at 9 a.m. this morning, arriving here as above. Expeiienced strong N.E. winds with smooth water throughout. Passengers— Messrs Hoskins and Elliott. Cargo :42 head cattle, 200 sheep, 3 horses, order ; 10 kegs butter, -Brand.

The departure of the s.s. Hero has been postponed until Thursday afternoon next, at three p.m. No cargo will be taken on board after four o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, and all passages must be engaged at the offices of Messrs Cruickshank and Co., the agents of the steamer.

In consequence of the strong north-easter blowing in the harbour the several outward bound vessels and coasters have been unable to proceed to sea. The brig Heather Bell put back this morning, and is anchored off the wharf. There are still no signs of the steamers Banga tira and Bowena, nor has the Southern Cross yet put in an appearance at Tauranga. An easterly gale is reported as blowing at that port with the sea rising. Jack Ashore.—"Pay-day" on board H.M.S. Clio having come round during the recent stay of the ship at Hobart Town, the tars are reported to have celebrated the event as follows :—" About a dozen men had hired an omnibus, which had been decorated in a decidedly novel fashion. A piece of quartering had been nailed on the roof lengthways, and " astern" the projection served as a sort of davit, to whicb a wheelbarrow had. been slung. On the pie •'- of quartering that pro jected over the front of the 'bus, a large doll had been fixed as a figure-head, and there was a barrel of beer on the box. There were various other decorations, including some sheets of painted canvas, bearing mottoes, and three or four large flags. The costumes of some of the occupants of the vehicles were most extraordinary. One had his trousers ornamented with rope ends, which hung like scalp locks from the leggings of a Bed Indian,' another was dressed in a parti-colored trousers of blue and white, two were dressed in women's costume, with flowers in their hair, while others wore battered white hats of the bell.topper order. A cab that was driven behind the 'bus also contained some strangely dressed individuals. As the vehicles were driven through the town one of the men in the omnibus took '' soundings " with a bunch of carrots tied to a long string, and the same operation was carried on in the cab behind, sheep's head serving for the lead in this instance. The sailors all seemed bent on fun, and they drove through the streets singing merrily. Whenever-the omnibus and the cab stopped, and it was time to start again, the order " all aboard" was shouted out, and the driver was commanded to " shove off" without delay. Coming up Elizabeth-street, at half-past three o'clock in the afternoon, a marine fell from the box of the 'bus. The cry of a " man overboard" was raised, the vehicle was "brought to," the wheelbarrow lowered, and the marine placed in it and restored to his former seat on the box. Subsequently several members of the police force were severely handled by the sailors in an attempt to apprehend several of the men by order of the Commodore.

COMMERCIAL.

Me3srsß. Tonks and Co. offered at noon to-day by order of the Auckland Improve ment Commissioners fourteen choice allot ments as villa sites, fronting Symonds-street and Grafton Road, upon lease for a term of ninety-nine years. These were the first allotments offered by the Improvement Com missioners, and consisted of very eligible pro perty situated in the immediate vicinity of the business centres and commanding an extensive and. beautiful view of the harbour and domain. The land also being beyond the limits of the Building Act, brick erections are not compulsory, but the leases stipulate that buildings £300 in value shall be erected. The sale attracted considerable notice, and there was a very large attendance. For the first few lots bidding was dull, and the lots were knocked down at figures scarcely exceeding the upset prices. As the sale advanced bid ding became spirited, and the remaining lots were keenly contested. The hon. Julius Vogel became the purchaser of ten out of the fourteen lots submitted. The following are the prices realized :—Lot No. 1, frontage in Symonds-street, 107 feet, £16 per annum, ndh. Julius Vogel. Lot No. 9, 80 feet frontage, £16 per annum—Hon. J. Vogel. Lot No. 10, 66 feet frontage, £15 per annum —Hon. J. Vogel. Lot No. 11, 66 feet front age, £20 10s per annum—Hon. J. Vogel. Lot No. 2, 77 feet frontage in Grafton road, £10 per annum—Hon. J. Vogel. Lot No. 3, 66 feet frontage, £10 per annum —Hon J. Vogel. Lot No. 4, 34 feet frontage and 63 feet frontage in Wynyard-street; £12 10s per annum —Hon. J. Vogel. Lot No. 5, 66 feet frontage, in Wynyard-street ; £14 per annum —Hon. J. Vogel. Lot No. 12, 66 feet frontage, in Symonds-street; £22 10s per annum —Mr Barnett (Barnett & Levy). Lot No. 13, 66 feet frontage, £25 per annum—Mr Cass. Lot No. 14, 66 feet frontage, £25 per annum—Hon. J. Vogel. Lot No. 6, 66 feet frontage, in Wynyard-street; £12 per annum —Mr D. Stephenson. Lot No. 7, 66 feet frontage, £13 per annum—Mr T. Williams. Lot No. 8, 66 feet frontage, £15 10s per annum —Hon. J. Vogel. The total rents realised by the sale amount |to £227 per annum.

MINING. $88B£i The following are tbe current call and dividends payable in the companies named below }— £ s. d.

MEETINGS. 1 Margaretta, Mr A. A. Browne's office, Wyndham street, Auckland, 3 p.m., 23rd April Black Angel, Grahamstown, 23rd April Biink of New Zealand, Bank, noon, 21th April Alburnia, Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 3 p.m., 24th April Buffalo, Coromandel, 20th April Ne Phis Ultra, 41, Insurance Buildings, Auck'ard, 11 a.m., 2Sth April Otago Insurance Buildings, Auckland, 2 p.m., f 9th April Dixon's No. 1, Mr T. L. White's office, Canada Build ings, Auckland, 3 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, Scoats' Hotel, Auckland, 2 p.m., 14th May

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Under :— For Thames, this day, at 5.80 p.m., and to-mo:row, at 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. For Mahurangi and RusseV, per Comerang, to moivow, at 11 a.m. For Taranaki and Wanganui, per Go-Ahead, to morrow, at noon. For the Australian Colonies, per Hero, on Thurs day. 24th inst., at 2 p.m. (Signed) S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

Eyre.— On April 21, at Canary House, Selw.n Terrace, ParneM, the v-ife of F. Hampton Eyre, Esq., of twins : . on and daughter.

DEATH.

Kennedy.—At the Provincial Hospital, on 21st inst., Malcolm Kennedy, shipwright ; aged 45 years. The funeral will leave tho Hospital to-morrow (Wednesday), 23rd inst, at 2 p.m. Friend are respectfully invited to attend.

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 22, 1873.

« For the cause that lacks assistance, For tho v. -ongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance, And the (?ood that we can do.

It is quite possible that the Auckland City Improvement Commissioners may abuse powers vested in'them, and they will require watching, as does any in stitution dealing with public interests. But we feel inclined to view their labours as likely to tend in the very highest degree to not only beautify but increase the conveniences and pro mote the welfare of the city. Our city is not peculiar among colonial cities in being a standing monument to the folly of its founders, but wo think that in this respect it possesses special distinction. The Improvement Commission comes in to repair the errors and the evils of the past, and as such deserves the earnest sympathy and support of all those who desire to see the city worthy of its unquestion able commercial position and capabil ities, and can be viewed askance only by those whom long habit has con firmed in the immovable love of the things that were. As will be observed from notices appearing in our columns, sffc is contemplated to ask for extended powers for the Improvement Commis sion, and it may with confidence be said that unless some such extended powers are given the contemplated ad vantages of the Commission will be to a large extent neutralised. If the mere improvement of the military reserve were intended, not much difficulty would attend the planning of squares and the letting of allotments, but an opportunity is now afforded of opening up increased facilities of com munication between the wharves, the business portions of the city, and the country, which if now neglected will probably never again be presented. It is idle to suppose that such improve ments can be carried out without inter fering with private rights; but if the principle is admitted that a railway may be constructed over private pro perty when public interest demands, i there can be no unusual interference with private property if compulsory powers are given to the Improvement Commissioners to appropriate allot ments for the purpose of forming streets of the greatest utility. It is needless to say that full compensation for lands appropriated will be given ; in fact experience tells that these compulsory powers are usually exercised in a way which more than conserves the interests of those whose lands are appropriated, and arbitrators appear usually to have a bias in favour of the man whose land is being taken. But the great benefit of such compulsory powers is in the preventive afforded against the extortionate greed of any one who, taking advantage of his power, might interpose insuperable obstacles in the way of improvement unless his own extortionate demands are satisfied. To have the power to have the pro perty of such fairly valued, and on paying the fair value for it to proceed with the work despite the opposition I of obstinacy and extortion, is all that is implied in the possession of such compulsory powers; and as an oppositionist of such a kind is not likely to meet with general sympathy we cannot think that any difficulty .

will come in the way of tlie Com missioners in the effort to obtain such extended powers. The streets proposed to be made will be exceedingly advantageous, but we should regret to see the labours of the Commission con fined to these. The continuation of "Wyndham street, opening up connection between Queen-street and the various new streets to the east, would be one of the most important improvements which the Commission could under take; while no other would with so much certainty recoup the cost incurred. This we have no doubt, as well as many other valuable improvements, will re ceive attention if the hands of the Commissioners are only sustained by public sympathy; and we can hardly imagine thepeculiarmental constitution of any one residing in the district who will not hail with cordial satisfaction this first great scheme for the renova tion of a city in which there is. ad mittedly so much room for improve ment.

The success that has attended the South British Insurance Company is something surprising. The interest excited at its initiation was great, and it has not abated; on the contrary it has not only increased, but the interest now is of that kind which is most valuable from being based not merely on speculative anticipations, but on tangible and realised results. It affords an evidence of the value which people set on mutual co operation, and of the confidence reposed in the results of the principle. The large number of members scattered over the colony, even if not actively canvassing in favour of the institution have atjleast afforded a guarantee that its interests will be watched, and the

response which has been received to the re distribution of shares cannot be over-looked

as a most convincing testimony to the per manent success which has been achieved. Wo cordially rejoice in the prosperity of this company as of every ono that develops the principle of self-help, while we regard it as but one of many enterprises which if launched with similar spirit would meet with similar success. The following is tho number of new shares applied for so far as returns are yet to hand, the applications to the sub-agencies being as yet unrepoi ted : —At the office at Auckland, 9144; Dunedm, 3445; Christ church, 3909; Wellington, 1174 ;*fmlson, 2(317 ; being a total of 20,292 applications for 1250 shares to be rioted at a premium of 15s per share. Whatever may be the sad anticipations of any there are evidently those who do not believo that either the end of the world ha_ come, or that Auckland is tumbling down the hill. The attendance to-day at the auction leases of the Symonds-street lots, the spirited bidding, and the rentals obtained have manifested a faith in the future that was believed by some to have departed. The situation certainly is of the choicest and the length of the term of lea^o is almost the same as perpetuity so far as the present generation is concerned ; still the large amount of annual rental obtained, when times are so dull, must be regarded as evidencing confidence in coming prosperity. To the Improvement Commissioners this firr_L instalment of their future revenue must afford considerable satisfaction, and there can be little doubt that if the remainder of their estate is brought forward with judg ment the annual receipts of the Commis sioners will place them in a position for great public usefulness. In connection with this sale we cannot but express our satisfaction at rinding that Mr Vogel has become so large a purchaser. We had formerly been persistently told that he seriously contem plated shuffling off the mortal coil, a state ment which was belied by his appearance hale and hearty, and we have latterly been persuaded that, as Sir Julius, he was about to abandon colonial life and enter public and social life in England ; but we presume we may accept the proceedings of to-day as indicative that Mr Vogel intends neither the I one departure nor the other as an immediate j thing, but to make of Auckland his perma- j

nent home.

Etheringfcon, one of the seamen charged with scuttling the Alsager, was acquitted last evening by the Bench, as nothing had come out in the evidence to show that he had any hand in the diabolical act. The other two prisoners were committed to take their trial at the next Criminal Sittings at the Supreme Court. Green is a young fellow, of fair complexion, but of a most determined look. He has won unenviable fame in the prize-ring, and was the general boxer of the ship. He struck terror into the whole crew. His language was thoroughly pugilistic and entirely at variance with good taste. Moore appeared a calmer man, with a sarcastic smile, and possibly all the more dangerous under the mask.

The readiness of the Hebrew race in finding apt answers to complaints was perhaps never better exemplified than in a recent instance which occurred in Sydney. Visitors to Sydney may know Moses Levy's eating-house, and may have tasted his capital soup, which he dispenses at a penny a basin. Not long since one of his customers, a cabman (cabmen are fond of soup), having quickly consumed his pennyworth, told the accommodating Hebrew that his soup was bad, he had found in it a piece of worsted stocking. Levy retorted, " D'ye think I can afford to put bits of silk, stocking in soup at a penny a basin."

The annual inspection of the Engineer Company and Cadets will take place to morrow evening, in the Drill-shed, at half-past seven o'clock. The Cadets of this company, although a large number of them are recruits, are to be complimented on the efficient state to which they have brought themselves by careful attention to their drill. This is partly owing to the conduct of the officers of the company, as they have held out every induce ment in the shape of prizes for attendance, &c, and have taken a great interest in the ads under their command.

It is rumoured, we are unable to learn on what authority, that in addition to enforcing the penalties against Mr Webb Mr T. Russell carries with him instructions to make inquiry amongst English shipowners regarding the terms upon which a new Sari Francisco service, with a superior class of steamers, could be started. Any proposal must of course be submitted to Parliament, but this route is unquestionably the right mail and passenger route for New Zealand, and the information which Mr Russell could obtain would be valuable in guiding our legislature to a decision upon the subject.

There is the old tendency to grumble about something lingering amongst us. It is_ an importation from the old country, and is a fine old privilege. Sweet is it to grumble, and happily in our city we find ample food, so to speak, to satisfy this hungering and thirst ing after Ihe new Jerusalem, with its streets of gold and its palaces of silver. One mur murs about the education tax, another about inefficient laws, and at length a shrill mosquito hum has sounded forth from the Police Court reporter's box. That boxjwhich we prefer before the one opposite is not '' the thing " it seems for our unique reporter—it is far too low for him ; but he should be considerate, and think of shorter men, men of narrower intellect, and s who only stand four feet eleven inches and a quarter in their last new shoes. Our buzzing reporter, with his higher intelli gence, has reached the manly height of five feet one, and being keenly conscious of his lofty position thinks it is high time that the reporter's desk in the Police Court should be raised three inches to meet the requirements of his nose ; that the ink-pots should be daily replenished, and a plentiful supply of quill pens scattered over the polished desk.

Toadyism is comparatively a new word in our vocabulary which does not add beauty to our Saxon language, but its meaning is pretty-generally understood. The world un happily i^ full of toadies. Persons who flatter and fawn at the feet of wealthy and frequently unworthy objects from the meanest of human motives. Even newspaper writers are not all free from this miserable servility. Fortunately, however, for the cause of truth and common honesty, all are not afflicted with this impotency of spirit. The woi d toadyism originated in a little fairy tale about two sisters, amiable and «namiable. One possessed a kindly disposition, and was in the habit of speaking encouragingly to a decrepid old woman, and for these offerings of a gentle spirit she received the reward of dropping precious pearls from her tongue whenever she spoke. Her churlish sister for her contumetious treatment of the same afflicted creature, who represented want and misery, was visited with the misfortune of dropping toads with her conversation. Such is the simple story which conveys a beautiful lesson to ill-conditioned persons, who in their slightly removed sphere c-f life are never satisfied with those who are willing to serve them. The fact is, such murmuring people drop toads, and expect others to eat them, the law of kindness rules not their tongue. Some persons appear to relish toadyism, but it is not a dainty dish with people generally, and those who appear to have a taste for it revolt against it in their hearts under the guise of cant. Equally detestable is that phase of servile toadyism which panders to bad taste, though popular, and social rank without merit, pobtical sham and outside show from selfish motives. Toadyism is becoming rampant even here; where life is supposed to have freer course and wider liberty, and it is eating down into the vitals of society like an incipient cfipease. What toadies men become inquest ii sine cures and imaginary ease? We m/de war against the small-pox by every .physical means, and it passed away ; but a hauler task is the banishment of toadyism from our midst. Better would it be for humanity at largo if true worth received the attention which is given 'so liberally to the- polished exterior when it should be given to the true man ; but this will not be -PiitiL men rely more upon the resources and hj^hef principles of their own nature, and leave/sycophancy and toadyism to lick their kindred dust.

The new street from Princes-street to Welleßley-street-east is to be graced with an avenue of trees, which of course will take several years in reaching perfection. The idea how-Ver, is|poetical, and stretches beyond the thought-level of the age. By-and-bye, therefore, the projected street may become a sylvan reality, where birds will warble and prospecting couples speak the language (per haps, ) of the heart.

Mails for Australian colonies and United Kingdon, vift Melbourne, close at Hokitika at seven p.m. to-morrow.

The popularity of the South-British Fire and Marine Insurance Company is shewn by the applications for the new shares issued in accordance with the resolution passed at the last meeting of the shareholders. The number of shares offered was 12.5C0, but 18,000 were applied for, 9,000 being from Auckland. When it is considered that the price fixed for these shares was 15s. premium the result must be regarded as very satis factory.

An accident occurred last evening which might have been attended with fatal con sequences through reckless riding in the dark. As Mr and Mrs Lawford and their daughter, accompanied by Mrs Outwaite, were passing along Grafton road about seven o'clock, come mad-brained fellow on horse-back rode furiously into the middle of the party and knocked the ladies violently to the ground, and galloped off without waiting to see what mischief he had done. Fortunately no bones were broken, but} we hope the reward of £5 will be the means of bringing the scoundrel to the bar of justice.

The escaped prisoners, Chamberlain and Levy, were, as our telegrams informed us, captured in a hut about five miles on the Westland side of the Otira Gorge. From Southern papers we learn that on arriving at the hut the police, thinking that they had perhaps anticipated the fugitives, remained in the'hut, waiting the arrival of Chamberlain and Levy. At about 7 o'clock in the morning the correctness of the surmise of the police was proved by the approach of the two men to the ambush. They came along, each wearing a sack over his shoulders with a hole cut in the middle, for his head to go through, and carrying their shoes in their hand. They came up to the backdoor of the hut, and, when within a yard of it, Mr Commissioner James flung the door open, and he and those with him rushed out upon the two men. Mr James seized Levy, and threatened to blow out his brains if he resisted. But Levy had not the least notion of making any resistance. He flung up his arms, declaring with a loud voice that he was unarmed, and that he surrendered himself a prisoner. Chamberlain was equally submissive, and admitted afterwards that even had he been armed he could have offered no resistance, so sudden was the sur prise, and so completely was he covered. Both prisoners were very much stunned at the unexpected capture, and reproached each other of being the cause of it. Their faces were in a filthy condition, almost black, and they looked most deplorable objects ; they were wearing sacks poncho fashion—with holes cut for their arms.

The Waikato Steam Navigation and Coal Mining Company will commence on May Ist to carry good? between Auckland and Wai kato,

In a Gipps Land Police Court, the other day, a man named Charley Mann, a barber, was charged with using obscene language— that convenient police phrase —and in defence, spoke as follows:—" Your worships, I am the victim of misplaced confidence ma jealous and designing woman. I never can attend a public meeting of an evening but that on my return she harrows my feelings by an ill concealcd suspicion of my'constancy. _ I am a barber, your worship, and my domicile is | unfortunately of limited dimensions, conse quently, after a close and unflinching atten tion to business throughout the day, when the shades of night approach I require fresh air. A barber, as your worships are doubtless aware, requires to keep his hands scrupu lously clean and neat (derisive laughter). Consequently, sirs, if my wife, in a fit of jealousy, throws a bucket of slops and dirty soapsuds over my head, I submit, your wor ships, that it is sufficient to wake my wrath and stir my very soul —in fact, enough to rouse the fire of the, British lion much less a poor barber. Ah ! when I think of it, I ex claim, with Beauseaunt, in the 'Lady of Lyons,'. ' My bile o'erbiles ; my circulation stops ; my very blood's acidulated drops.' " Here the injured wife ejaculated, but was immediately silenced by a severe frown from the Bench, who, after listening patiently to Charley's able address, remarked that if the Government funds were not immediately in creased to the extent of 20s, Charley might retire to the secluded shelter of Mr Cassidy's suite of. apartments for the brief and fleeting space of 48 hours. "I'll take it out," echoed through the court in manly tones from the object of interest ; and, with a majestic wave of his hands, and a smile of supreme contempt illuminating the classic beauty of his features, "I'll take the whole of it." His amiable better half now mourns his absence. L'Opinion of the 17th of July last relates the following occurrence, which happened in Paris a few days since : — In June last a Belgian named George Francois, an engraver in copper, and residmg in Paris, married, in spite of an advanced age of sixty-five, an attractive young "blonde," for whom he nourished a deep affection. Scarcely had a week elapsed since the wedding, when sud denly the young bride vanished from her home in the " live dcs Amuendieerss," with out giving a single reason for her disappear ance. From this moment the man busied himself with the task of seeking his wife, and did not again appear in his studio. His friends, who at first thought he had left Paris, at last became uneasy, and having given •information to the Commissioner of Police of that quarter, that functionary at once pro ceeded to open his rooms, where they found him stretched upon his bed as if asleep, and in an advanced stage of decomposition. His death, which was calculated to date no less than three weeks back, was the result of suicide through suffocation. The police officers now instituted, in the presence of several witnesses, the minutest investigation of the locality, in the course of which a dark closet adjoining the bedroom was pres_edinto by those present, and horror of horrors, here they discovered hanging to an iron hook of a wardrobe, the corpse of the wife he so dearly loved, and whose disappearance had led to his unhappy end. Many conjectures are rife W"to this discovery. J3n. revisiting the Samoan Group a few jSonfhs since, after a lap^e of several years says Jl writer in a Levuka paper, we were pairifGlly struck with the altered appearance of things. A sad change has come over these lovely islands. Instead of peaceful villages, neat efeapels, luxuriant groves of breadfruit and cocoanuts, endless plantations of bananas and plantains, many miles of coast are now disfigured fey deserted villages, charred re mains of dwellings, and ruined plantations. And what has {produced this mournful change ? On either sple of Apia harbour are large native forts, frortirvvhich the sharp rattle of musketry and the heavy booming of cannon may every now and then be heard. Civil war has afflicted Samoa for about three years, and has wrought evils which wi'l not cea-je to be felt so long as the race endures. Imd is being parted with for the most paltry considera tion.

Saturday is frequently, by the habitues of the Police Court, called "provokinglanguage" day. On the other days of the week persons charged with theft or such like crimes are disposed of, while upon Saturday have to be dealt with all those caces in which pot has. been calling kettle black, and in which each of these vessels resorts to Court to prove that it is a foul wrong that it should be so denoted. When men are concerned in the_e cases both parties invariably look a little foolish— as if they could not help feeling that they were in rather a. paltry and unworthy position, and that they were making themselves rather a ridiculous spectacle. The i]l will between the parties is often evidently only skin deep, and one feels somehow that if the chance were fairly to offer one would rather do the other a good turn than not. The proportion of cases too in which men are alone concerned, and in which the parties settle out of Court —get ashamed of the whole business after paying for a summons and subpoenas and possibly a lawyer—is large. But in the cases in which women are concerned, how different ! There the parties are implacable, and will listen to no persuasion from bench or bar. Hatred, spite, malice, almost superhuman—impossible at least for the stronger sex—are in these openly and ostentatiously exhibited, as if they were feelings which humanity ought to be proud of. Men in their evidence confine themselves to the offence, but women take every chance to blacken the character of their opponent. If the parties are married women, the first one who gets into the box, after detailing the offence, states that she knows that the other paity—who till a few days before was her bosom friend—is in the habit of breaking one of the command ments—of course, the Seventh! Her op ponent retaliates in kind, and says that if her adversary's husband knew what she knew . Every opportunity is taken of giving a stab with a poisoned dagger. Is it any won der if magistrates, lawyers, and even news paper reporters become sceptical, cynical, and misanthropical, ready to exclaim with our "general ancestor," according to Mil ton :—

0 why did God, Creator wise, that peopled highest heaven With spirits masculine, create at last This novelty on earth, this fair defect Of nature, and not fill tho world at once With men as angels, without feminine ? Cases of theft, or murder, or arson have no thing like so depressing an effect upon any one who would fain think well of humanity as those cases of insulting language. It may be said that the women who come into the Police Court are not fair specimens of the sex. We should hope not, but we are con trasting them with the men who also come there ; the meanness shown must, to some extent at least, be the quality of the sex, and in many cases the parties regarded as being quite up to the average of social respectability. Mr John Stuart Mill insists that many of the defects of the female charac ter would be cured by conferring upon women political rights. If that be so, let us give them the -franchise at once. — Thames Advertiser.

The Hobson and Scottish Companies of Bifle Volunteers will assemble in the Drill shed at half-past seven o'clock to-morrow evening to pass their annual inspection, .

The following concerning dress and colour will be valuable to those wishing to dress for photographs :—lst. Dark brown, dark green, maroon, and plain black goods, without gloss, will take a rich black colour. 2nd. Silks of the same colour will take considerably lighter. 3rd. Snuff brown, dark leather, dark drab, scarlet, cherry, dark orange, crimson, and slate wi'l take a very rich drab colour. 4th. Violet, blue, purple, pink, and magenta will take very light, and should be avoided in dressing for photographs. sth. The hair Bhould never be wet or glossy.

The fortnightly meeting of The Harbour Board was held this afternoon. The business was mostly of the ordinary character. £75 was voted to Mr Duder in compensation for hir. losses by the North Shore wharf. The report of the comnr.ttee appointed to consider the question of port charges was adopted.

The cutter Gazelle arrived this morning from Matakana. She encountered very heavy weather, and had the whole of her deck cargo swept away.

There is no foundation for the report that the Nebraska had put back to Rangitoto reef last night.

The annual inspection of No 1 Royal Com pany, Victoria Company, and Cadets will take place this evening at the Drill-3hed, at half-past seven.

The pavement in Vulcan Lane is being laid with asphalt on both sides.

A person named Andrew Hope, contractor, met with a serious accident this morning while coming into Auckland on horseback along the Great South Road. It appears that he met a horse and cart near the Harp of Erin when his horse swerved into the cart and his right leg came in contact with the wheel, causing a fracture of both bones. Mr W. London, of the Harp of Erin, kindly took charge of the sufferer and conveyed him to the hospital, where his leg was immediately set bythe Provincial Surgeon. We are glad to learn that Dr Philson anticipates no serious consequences beyond that pertaining to a simple fracture.

A verdict of death from natural causes was returned by the jury yesterday which sat to enquire into the cause of the death of John Higginson, before Dr Philson. It appears that Higginsoh was not alone in his last moments, as Major Walmsley was with him. Deceased had been drinking very freely, but was not without means. The property about him was valued at £70.

PETTY SESSIONS.

THIS DAY,

(Before Joseph May and T. H. Cheeseman, Justices of the Peace.) DRUNKENNESS. Four persons were severally charged with this offence and subjected to the usual fine or imprisonment. BREACHES OF BY-LAWS. William Soutter was fined five shillings and costs for allowing his horse to stray in Nelson-street on the 12th inst. John Slattery was fined five shillings and costs for allowing his horse to stray in Nelson street on the same day. Zachariah Sandell was fined twenty shillings and costs, this being the fourth offence, for allowing his horse to remain unattended on an unenclosed piece of ground in Hobson-street on the 15th inst. William P. Barber was fined five shillings and costs for allowing his horse to stray in Queen-street on the 12th inst. cows. William C. Campbell was charged with allowing one cow to stray in Ponsonby road on. the Gth inst. ; also, with allowing nine cows to travel unattended in Nelson-street on the 17th inst. Mr Campbell pleaded guilty to both charges, but as the offences Were committed unwittingly the accused was subjected only to 7s.- Gd. and costs for the two charges. William Costello was fined os. and costs for permitting three cows to ramble on Barrack Hill on the 14th inst. HOUSE AND CART. Sampson Worsnot, having left his horse and cart without a boy in Nelson-street, on the 14th inst., was fined ss. and costs. LAMPS. William Philcox was charged, at the instance of the City Council, with failing to keep sufficient light in a broken lamp near a hoarding in Fort-street, from sun-down to sun-rise, on the 14th April. Mr Bartlett stated that the lamp was left to the care of a young man, who neglected to keep the lamp burning. Fined 10s. and costs. CHIMNEYS ON EIRE. William White pleaded guilty to a charge of permitting his chimney in Wellesley-street to take fire on the 15th inst., but as the constable said it was not a serious case, which began and ended in smoke, the Bench fined the accused in the lester sum of five shillings and costs. Daniel Sullivan was charged with a similar offence in Mechanics' Bay on the 13th inst. Mrs Sullivan stated that she had only just got into the house, and was not aware that the chimney was in a foul condition. Fined five shillings and costs. BREACH OF PRISON ACT. James Lindsay was charged under the Prison Act with holding unlawful communi cations with prisoners in Mount Eden gaol, on the 17th inst., contrary to the provisions of the said Act. Capt. Eji-e deposed that from what he heard he caused information to be laid against the prisoner. He was arrested by one of the warders in the act of communi cating with one of the prisoners through the fence, without having permission to do so. Capt. Eyre said this was not a solitary case ; had the prisoner come to him in a proper manner he might have had the privilege of seeing his wife. Prisoner knew the rules of the gaol from experience. James Peacock, warder in Mount Eden Gaol, deposed that he detected the accused in the act of talking with a female prisoner throught the fence. He then moved away. He took him into custody. Prisoner said he did not know that he was doing wrong. He went for the purpose of paying a fine j he could only say he was very sorry. Serjeant PaitfJ- said the prisoner could not be ignorant of the rules of the prison, as he was well acquanted with them from a series of forced experiences. The Bench sentenced him to pay a fine of ten shillings and costs, or seven days' impri sonment. ASSAULT. James Fraser was charged with violently assaulting Henry Neale at his residence in Grey-street on the 12th inst. Complainant stated the case, and said that on the day in question the accused, who i was a stranger to him, was staggering along the street, and stopped opposite his house and took a survey of his premises, and then picked up a stone and threw it at witness's house. He went out and collared him, and asked him how he dared to throw a stone at his window. He then went for a policeman, but did rot succeed in finding one. He then came back; and as he did not see the accused he thought he would let the matter drop. Presently, however, prisoner returned I

to'his house; he was not in a sober con dition, and he thrust him down the steps ; and in putting him out of the outer gate the accused gave him a terrific blow, gave him two black eyes, and almost broke the bridge of liis nose. ..,-,. Mrs Neale corroborated her husband's statement. Mr Teesdale, baker, of Grey-street, saw a part of the fray. John Henry Snow by his evidence showed that the row was caused chiefly by the complainant, who lost his temper, and by his conduct exasperated the accused. Mr James Fraser cross examined the wit ness at some length, and addressed the Bench in defence. " The Bench considered that an assault hi been committed, and regretted that so respect able and intelligent, a man, should have been so overcome with drink as to forget himself so much and strike complainant. For this offence he must pay a fine of twenty shilling, and costs. The fine was immediately paid. A STREET KOW. Henry Price and John Carroll were charged with kicking up a row in Aber crombie-street on the Bth inst., and fighting therein to the terror and annoyance of the peaceably-disposed inhabitants of tha locality. , Remanded till to-morrow m order that the necessary witnesses may appear. _ The case of John Enwright for assultmg Cornelius Donoghue at Helensville was also remanded until to-morrow.

This was all the business.

ANNUAL MEETING OF JUSTICES.

The annual meeting of the resident Justices of the Peace in the district of Auckland was held this day for the purpose of choosing a chair man of petty sessions, and settling a rota of attendance for the ensuing year. Present : Messrs Joseph May (chairman,) W. C. Daldy, Thomas Cheeseman. W. Young, John. Tole, G. B. Owen, Drs. Home, T. B. Kenderdine, and J. B. Nicholson. Dr. Home proposed, and Dr. Kenderdine seconded, "That Dr. Nicholson be elected chairman for the ensuing year." Carried. Dr. Kenderdine proposed, and Capt. Daldy seconded, " That the clerk of the Court be instructed to prepare a rota of attendance in accordance with the Act, and to get it printed and sent round to the Justices of the districts." Carried.

It was proposed by Mr Cheeseman, seconded by Dr Home, and carried, " That Mr Cun ni"ham be re-appointed as clerk of the court for the ensuing fyear at the same rate of salary."

It "was proposed, seconded, and carried, " That Henry Bichard be bailiff to the.court of Petty Sessions." It wfs proposed by Mr Cheeseman, seconded and carried, "That the court be properly cleaned, andnewmatting andlextraaccomoda tion provided." Captain Daldy called attention to the want of a proper waiting-room, for|the accommoda tion of witnesses, wuo are forced to stand about outside the court, or go to a public house.

It was moved by Captain Daldy, seconded by Mr Owen and carried, '• That the clerk be requested to write to the Government that a room may be provided for the_accommodation of witnesses."

A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the meeting.

SUPREME COURT.

Civil Sittings,

Yesterday.— Ccntimied. (Before His Honor Mr Justice Johnston.) GRAHAM V. THOMAS AND OTHERS. The evidence of Michael Keenan concluded the plaintiff's case. Mr Whitaker applied for a nonsuit on the ground that possession had not been proved. His Honor thought there was sufficient evidence of possession to go to a jury. For the defence Mr Whitaker called William Thomas, miner, who deposed that the allotments had been used for laying quartz on since IS6B. The mine workings extended under those allotments, although the surface was not broken. The land was taken up under miner's right before plaintiff commenced to negotiate for the purchase of the land. James Mackay, jun., deposed that the allotments were within the schedules of the Goldfields Validation Act. The natives asked witness to lay off the flat as a township, but Mr Graham purchased it in the meantime, witness, under the instructions of the Govern ment, offering no opposition. He stipulated that "he should have the laying etF of the roads. Mr Grahams' survey of the land pur chased by him encroached on the goldfield so as to include those allotments. The Crp^vh grants given by the natives to Mr Graham included those encroachments.

James Stewart, miner, and one of the de fendants, depoLed to the allotments having always been included in the Queen of Sheba and Queen of Beauty claims.

The Court then adjourned until next morning.

THIS DAY.

His Honor took his seat at ten o'clock. Mr James Mackay, Jan., recalled by Mr Hesketh. The whole of allotments 623 and 624 are included within the agreement with the natives, and in the plan attached to it. I made this plan, and it is correct. The allotments come within the schedules 2 and 3 of the Goldfields Proclamation Validation Act. There was no native residence, culti vation, or burial reserve, which included those allotments. There was no reserve for a township on the 9th of March, 186S, which included those allotments. The whole of the land between the base of the hills and the sea is called Waiotahi flat.- That land was not under cultivation. There were peach trees, which might have been there twenty or thirty years. The natives never made any stipulation for Waiotahi flat, ; for a cultivation. The Waiotahi flat in /jlv agreement is included within the lands Gpeii^ \ 1 for gold mining. In my report to the Govern- ' ment I stated that it was not distintly stipulated that Grahamstown was open for mining, but being a township the inference, was that it was open for mining. The plain tiff Jonew it was a township, because he asked me to lease it for him as a township. I have a letter to prove this., The townships were afterwards excepted by the Government from mining in order that there might be no sur face dmaage. In the verbal arrangement of September, 1867, the five or six feet of the allotments 623 and 624 were included within the line cut as the boundaries of a proposed reserve, but .that agreement never came to anything. It was superseded by the agree ment of 1868.

By Mr Hesketh : The first notices put up on the ground adopted the cultivation line as the boundary of the goldfield, but a second notice was put up making Bella-street the goldfield boundary. The reason why I adopted _ Bella-street as the boundary was because it was more even, and gave access to the goldfield which would have been cut off if the cultivation line had been followed. At the time of tha agreement of March 1867 there were notice boards up indicating the boundaries alluded to in the agreement,

THE EVENING STAB, TUESDAY, AmtL 22,1W8



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