SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

POST OF AUCKLAND.

SUNSET : This evening, GAQ SUN-RISE : To morrow morning, 6.42 HIGH WATER : This afternoon, 2.52 ; to-morrow morning, 3.56

ARRIVALS.

Rowena, s.s., McGregor, from Northern ports Southern Cross, s.s., Sellars, from Tauranga Coraerang, p.s.. Chrisp, from Russell

DEPARTURES.

Luna, Government steamer, Fairchild, for Wellington (from the Manu.Rau)

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For Honolulu and San Francisco: Dakota, mail stea-.tier, 20th March For Cork : Polar Star, ship, hourly For Northern ports : Rowena, s.s., Monday next For London : Harvest Home, ship, early ; Glenhuntly, barque, hourly For Sydney and Melbourne: Hero, s.s., about 3rd March; Wonga Wonga, s.s., about 19th March For "Waitara : Go-ahead, s.s., Monday For AVansjanji, via Port Waikato : AVanganui, s.s., Tuesday For Southern ports: Wellington, s.s., on arrival of Dakota Southern ports, via Napier : Dakota, p.s., early

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Durham, %nip, from London. Sailed 20th November Edinburgh Castle, ship, from London. Loading Parser, ship, from London. Loading Lanr^a, barque, from Liverpool. Loading Thames, barque, from New York, via Sydney, loading Dakota, mail steamer, from Honolulu Hero, s.s., from Sydney Prosperity, schooner, from Melbourne Corredo, barque, from Sydney Drover, brig, from Sydney East Lothian, barque, from New York. Sailed 20th December Emulous, schooner, from Dunedin. Sailed 13th February Dauntless, schooner, from South Islands Harriet Armytage, barque, from Dunedin Paterson, p.s., from Sydney Coronet, brigantine, from Wellington Satellite, cutter, from Leruka Florence, schooner, from Dunedin Sailed 21st February Mary Millar, barque, from Newcastle. Sailed 11th February Success, schooner, from Levuka Albion, brig, from Newcastle Lady Bird, s.s., from Sydney (in the Manukau) Saucy Lass, schooner, from Napier. Sailed 17th February Tower Hill, brig, from Adelaide. Sailed 25th January Flirt, brigantine, from Lyttelton Briton, barque, from Newcastle

The owner of the yacht Spray has chal lenged the yachts Energy or Fleeting to sail round Tiritiri during a strong all-sail breeze for £50 a-side.

The schooner Florence, 54 tons, Captain Beaton, sailed from Dunedin yesterday with a full and mixed cargo for Auckland.

Another sailing match will take place next week between the cutters Phantom and Undine, the latter not being satisfied with her late defeat.

A steam launch, brought out by the Warwick, has been fitted up and undergone a trial. She works satisfactorily, and will be taken to Grahamfitown on Monday to trade between the Thames and Hikutaia,

The perils of those who '' go down to the sea in ships " are constantly receiving strik ing illustrations. Here : l3 another Intel ligence has been recpived at Hnll that the steamer Herald, Captain Jones, was run down while on her voyage from Hull to Dantzic. lhe tele-gram was from the fireman, who thinks he is the only one saved. He was picued up by a fisherman, and landed in safety. He did not know the name of the other vessel. The Herald's chief cargo was Iron, and the only hope for the remainder of the crew is their having got on board the other ship.

Seven seamen, sent home to England under arrest by the British consul at Bahia have been charged at Southampton with attempting to scuttle the ship John Prill, of Whitehaven, on the high seas in August last. Seven attempts were made during the voyage from Cardiff to Bahia to sink the ship by boring holes in her, and at last the captain, to intimidate the crew, destroyed the only boat he had. Prisoners were remanded, awaiting instructions from the the Board of Trade, who have the consul's depositions. The iron ship Durham sailed from London for this port on the 29th Nov. She is therefore 85 days out, and may be looked for in about ten days should she meet with favorable weather. She is almost a sister ship to the Warwick now lying in harbour, and is owned by the same firm—Messrs Temperley & Co. of London. The Durham is consigned to Messrs Crnickshank & Co.

The protests lodged with the umpire of the late yacht race against the Spray were not entertained by him, and the stakes are there fore awarded to that vessel.

The schooner Columbia has been placed on the gridiron, alongside the Wood-wharf, for repairs.

JIJThe barque Glenhuntly and ship Polar Star are still lying in harbour, outward bound, and waiting a fair wind to proceed on their voyage. The p.s. Comerang arrived this morning from Russell with five saloon passengers and the following cargo : —9O tons coal, G tons gum, and sundry packages. The s.s. Southern Cross arrived this morn ing from Tauran^a with eleven passengers. Cargo :30 bags wheat. She will leave again on Monday. The s.s. Rowena arrived in harbour at 4 o'clock this morning from Russel and Mon gonni ; she brings 13 passengers, 2 tons flax, and 2 tons gum. She will be placed on the gridiron this afternoon for cleaning, and will leave for the North again on Monday afternoon.

The Government steamer Luna Capt. Faircbild left the Manukau early this morn ing for Wellington.

The unfortunate barque Tell is being broken up as fast as the state of the tide will permit.

COMMERCIAL.

The following are the current calls and dividends narable in the companies named below :— £ s. d. OAXX.9 Missouri .. .. 0 5 0 Mrnh 3 Coromnndel Tuniel 0 10 o Mrch 10 Bismarck .. .. 0 10 Mrch 12 Otago 0 10 Mrch 12 American Eagle .. 0 10 Mrch 12 Inverness .. •• 0 0 3 Mrch 12 jßoyal Btnndard .. 00 0 Mrch 12 Scotty Hill .. •• 00 6 Mrch 12 MEETINGS. Central Italy, Grahamstown, 27th Febinary Ar"o Mr A. A. Browne s office, Wyndham street Auokliinr), 2 p.m., SSth February Thairi—, Gas Cornp.xny, Irsr-ance Bo'ldmsa, Auck l.wd Bp.m 2Gth Februai/ _ .... Pride of Tokatea. Jnsu'-anco Bnualugs, Auckland, 12.30 p.m., 3rd March _^___^

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mailstvill Clo3e ah Under :—

Yiyt Thcaien on Mondt-y, at ?O.SO a.m. and 5.30 p.m. For GovomraM, on Monday, at 12.50 p.m. For Gisborne, par Comet Miff, on Monday, at 2p.m. For Napier, per s.«s. Star of the South, on Monday. For Tahiti", p-r Primp, Donna, on Monday, at,3 p.m. For Taranaki ard Southern ports, piv s.s. WeMnjjuOn, immediately on the arrival of t'le p.s. Dakota from Honolulu. For Napier ai?d Southern po: is, per p.s. Dakota, six hours a. r\,nr arrival. Fo-r.Tr-^.AYanvaroa, and Mongonui, per Kowena, on Monday next, at:; p. m. For Great T^rre:-, AVfe'tians*, TaDvauy.r-id Opotiki, Dsr Southern Cro •*, on Tuesday next, p-t 3 p.m. tSMtrch OSt"OffiCe W' n b° Opel!ed •* TiH"f ngi °n "-(Signed) S , b. Bias, Chief Postmaster.

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

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1873.

J?0i" fche cause that lacks assistance, For the wrongs that need resistance, For the future in the distance,

And the good that we can do

There is an individual employed by the Cross as canvasser for advertisements, assist ant clerk, or something of the sort, who appears to have been selected for the same qualification as the renowned messenger of the Anglo - Bengalee Assurance Company. The extent and respectability of Bullamy's waistcoat are altogether eclipsed by the capaciousness and imposing appear ance of this individual's coat, waist coat, and walking - stick combined. Style is everything, and he has it. To see him walk up and down Queen-street, button holing business men in the most conspicuous places with an air of a bum-bailiff, who can enforce attention to his presence whether you will or no, is, we are sure, sufficient return for his salary. It would, no doubt, pay the Cross- to keep him walking up and down in front of their publishing-office as an advertisement. His gait looks so substantial,--and seems to appeal to the public "this is the way we do things in our establishment ; you'll get your moneys worth here." Now we have no objection to this sort of thing. We rather admire it than otherwise, and although we might have pitied the victims of the button holing process we should not have felt called upon to interfere so long as he re frained from crossing our path. But we find that this walking monument to the excellency of beef and beer is in the habit of clipping advertisements out of the Star, and waiting upon the advertisers, not merely with the view of securing an order for their insertion in the Cross — which would be legitimate enough—but for the purpose of damaging this journal in the eyes of the public. When an advertiser declines to insert the an nouncement in two papers, he endeavours by sundry references derogatory to the Star, to induce the advertiser either to withdraw his advertisement from our columns, or to demur at the price paid for its insertion on the ground that the Star is not as good an advertising medium as the Cross, and should not therefore be paid on so high a scale. This cannot injure us with legitimate adver tisers who know better, nor should we have noticed it but for another move on the part of the Waistcoat which demands exposure. We do not not wish in any way to detract from the merits of the Cross as an adverti sing medium nor as a creditably conducted journal, but it divides with an equally successful rival the field which the Star supplies alone. We entertain no feeling of jealousy towards our morning contemporaries, they compete with each other, but do not interfere with us in any way, as we move in an entirely different sphere, and perform a totaliy^ditferent office. We are content to give the news : fresh, crisp, and brief, leav incr the heavy details to our morning contem poraries. Since the course has been syste matically taken, however, by an employe of the Cross to detract from the merits of Star as a means of giving publicity to business an nouncements, we challenge the Cro-iS to the proof by offering to throw open our books to a committee of impartial men, aud show that we circulate in Auckland and suburbs double the number of papers circulated by the Cross, and an equal number at the Thames, Coro manclel, and in Onehunga ; or that we print and issue daily as many papers as the two morning journals combined. This is not mere boast, but a fact which we are willing to submit to the test of proof by a committee o£ advertisers, who should take note of the fact. The matter we have more immediately in hand, however, is the latest movement on the part of the man with the Waistcoat. A few days ago an officer connected with a Go vernment department inserted an advertise ment in our columns, and he was at once waited upon by. this touler, who demanded to know why an advertisement had been inserted in the Star and not in the Cross. The officer was informed that he had not right to do so ; that the Star had never received these advertisements before, and was not a recognised pa p er . am l other re marks were made evidently for the purpose of influencing the semi-Government official with the over-awmg ministerial proprietor ship of the Cross. Failing in this the can-

vasser went to a solicitor concerned in the case advertised, and induced him to bring pressure to bear upon the o<+^ , with the view of compelling I^ m tQ draw the advertisement ' the B[af insert it in the The officer, however, remained nY^ although the solicitor (wlv> a'\. no power to interfere in the matter), re fused to authorise the advertisement. We do not believe Mr Vogel would sanction for one moment such a course of procedure I towards an officer connected with the Go-

veniment. That gentleman, has hitherto been scrupulously'careful ill guarding against the charge of using his position as a minister to advance his interests as a newspaper proprietor, but this is a matter in winch the indiscretion of a subordinate involves his employer, and it is not the duty of the public to inquire whether it is mere pre sumption on the part of the understrapper or not. The effect to the public is the same, j and unless an employer checks a subordinate for taking an unjustifiable course, he tacitly winks at his conduct, although he may not ; directly sanction it. It is evident that the j Waistcoat is getting too tightly extended, and like other wind-bags, requires pricking. We have our eye upon the movements of its majestic possessor, and we entreat his friends to save him from himself, or he will inevitably come to grief. The strict punctuality practised on board the Golden Crown does not suit the dilatori-

ness of some people. This morning, in addition to leaving several intended passen gers behind, one was taken to Orahauistovvn muck against his will and inclination. He was in charge of a cart, and had conveyed a package on board for shipment, when the steamer moved away from the wharf. He was compelled to beg of some of the by standers to look after his horse and cart, and return it to his employer.

Mr Maurice Foley has complained that no enquiry was held into his complaints relative to the conduct of the Resident Magistrate in certain cases before him, when the Com missioners were here. He has, through his solicitor, communicated with the Government on the subjct, to which the following reply has been received by telegrah :—" From Hon. J. Bathgate. To John Sheehan, Esq. — Great difficulty in getting suitable com missioners to make enquiry. Those recently engaged cannot be spared further from their duty. The subject will come before the Cabinet immediately to consider as to further enquiry."

We are glad to observe that the Auckland Society of Artists will shortly open an exhi bition for the d^piay o f wor ks of art, and that pict;; ifes will )je rece ived at the City .^ii from Monday until Thursday, between the hours of ten and four o'clock. We understand that the exhibition of this year will excel that of 1871, and as we have many respectable artists about us who have done good work, and a3 the pictures, most of them, are of colonial life and scenery, we hope the exhibition will meet with a large amount of support, both for the encourage ment of rising talent and the credit of colonists.

The lessee of the Prince of Wales Theatre has received a telegram to-day from Mr Hoskins stating that the Dramatic Company will leave for Auckland by the next steamer. We may, therefore, expect them by the return trip of the Star of the South.

The artesian well-boring is proceeding satisfactorily, a depth of nearly 100 feet being attained, from which water is flowing freely from a strata of sand-rock. Fresh rods have been procured from the Thames, and boring operations will be re-commenced on Monday morning.

Tenders are required by the City Council for a supply of a quantity of stone flagging. Tenders for laying down asphalt pavement are also advertised for by the Council.

Articles of jewellery received in the pro vince are with an ad valorem duty of ten per. cent. It is not generally known to the public that any letters or packets containing such articles sent through the post are liable, with their contents, to be forfeited.

A meeting of the members of the Auck land Scottish Volunteer Company will be held on Tuesday evening after parade for the purpose of electing a captain.

The funeral of Brother G. L. Low, of the 1.0.0. F., who met with his deatli at Panmure, will take place to - morrow, at Onehunga. Brethren will meet at Cook street Hall at half-past one, where a con veyance will be provided.

William Solomon, familiarly designated Te Kooti, wishes the public to know that he has not gone away in the Polar Star, but contemplates an early visit to the Fijis. He is induced to make this intimation because an announcement published in a contem porary would lead his friends to believe that he had deserted them.

The contract undertaken by Messrs Arch ard & Brown for the erection of telegraph poles from Drury to Marmkau Heads is proceeding rapidly, and before many days considerable progress will have been made. The work has to be completed within ten weeks from this time, but if the weather permits it will be finished before the contract time. The inquest held yesterday at Panmure on the body of George Low. who was accidently killed by being thrown from a loaded waggon, revealed no new feature beyond what lias been already made public. A verdict of "accident:! death" was returned. The deceased will be buried to-morrow, the funeral leaving the residence of Mr. P. W. Cleave at three o'clock in the afternoon.

In a recent issue we had a telegram refer , ring to the inhuman conduct of a doctor at i Brunswick. The following are the details as I reported in the Melbourne Ac/c : —"On j Friday week two little children named Iteit ! schel were accidenfcly drowned in the Merri Creek at Brunswick, and although the accident was witnessed, and there could be no doubt as to the cause of death, Mr Candler the district coroner, gave instructions to Dr Talbot, to make a post-morte.n examination of the bodies. The parents rof the children, who were,in very poor circumstances, reside in a small wooden cottage measuring about 20 feet by 10, divided into two apartments, one being used as a bed room for the family and the others as a sitting room and kitchen The bodies of the children were removed to this house, and Dr Talbot proceeded there to make his examination. Haying com menced operations, he coolly requested the mother to assit him by holding the body of the child. This she naturally refused to do, and on remonstrating with the doctor for his conduct the latter unceremoniously turned her out of the house. The viscera and other portions of the body were subsequently thrown into a bucket, and the second child having been treated in a similar jmanner and | unnecesarily hacked to pieces, the contents j of the bucket were thrown out on the ground ' outside the house, as |if no more important ' operation than killing a pig had been per- j :ormed. These extraordinary proceedings ; on the part of Dr Talbot have naturally ex- ' cited a considerable nmount of indignation in the locality, which will no doubt lead to : the police making a full investigation into , ' the matter. 1

Dantzic pl — , ——— - tfivJ-f" . ri uc6, according to the Customs -~m, Comes under the category of beer, and is therefore admitted at the duty of Cue shilling per gallon. This article was imported some years ago. but a dispute arising between the importer and the Customs' authorities as to the amount of duty payable, it did dot go into consumption. The difficulty is now overcome, and.we observe that Mi' Sceats, of the British Hotel, has a consignment of this harmless and invigorating beverage so beneficial in cold weather.

An entertainment in connection with All Saints' Sunday-school will be given in the V.M.C.A. Rooms on Monday evening next, when a good pi-ogramme is promised, con sisting of songs, reactiftgS, and recitations. The energy displayed by the originators of these entertainments is deserving of great credit, and we hope to see a good house on Monday* A breach %vas made yesterday in the bar' rack wall to facilitate the construction of the ne\v road from Wellesley-street to Symonds street, which is proceeding as rapidly as possible. The Commissioners, in offering this wall for sale, wish to retain the North gate intact as a relic of the past. It is neither ornamental, nor is it likely to be useful, but we understand that they Avish to preserve it for the sake of the inscription, which by the "way is nearly worn off. The vyeather has not favored the promoters

of the bazaar in aid of the funds of the Sii treorge Grey Cadet Corps, although they have ventured, into the heart of the city. Visitors last night were few but liberal, and a large number of articles were purchased. The bazaar has been open since noon, and will continue open all the evening in the shop recently occupied by Mr. Dyson, in Queen street, and being a comparatively leisure evening with the majority of persons it is to be hoped that the undertaking will have a satisfactory close. As a horse and carriage belongingtotheHon James Williamson were standing in Princes street, the horse bolted towards St. Paul's church, and came in contact with the fence, when the horse fell, and in struggling to extricate itself broke the harness and one of the shafts, which inflicted a severe wound on one of its hind legs. Fortunately nothing more serious occurred no persons being in the carriage at the time. A considerable number of persons assembled at the Theatre last evening in the expectation of a treat, after having suffered nearly a week from evmri, to witness the entertainment promised for the benefit of Mr Tom Margets, but as neither Tom nor the monkeys made an appearance the people returned to their homes somewhat dis appointed. Tom no doubt will explain the cause of the disappointment.

Showers aro extremely beneficial ■when the earth, like thirsty mortals, requires a frequent wetting, but in the one case the wetting is productive of good, and in the other too often it is productive of evil. A drenching wet day, however genial and refreshing it may be to the parched soil, is not so to the pedestrian, even though he be wrapt in stout leggings and glossy mackintosh. But of all the scenes of our streets on a wet day perhaps a cabstand is the dreariest. The usually boisterous cabby is less noisy on a wet day as he shivers and wriggles under some temporary shelter, beating Jim Crow with his toes and heels or as he lounges against

his horse, continually on the look-out for some likely customer who may be out in the rain. His head is in motion as though set on wires, like those remembered images which pleased the children of other days with eyes in every possible direction. Wet days used to be fortunate days for cabby, but wet and fine days are now pretty much alike in point of financial value. The cabby of the old land was a man who had survived his testimonials, and took to the cab as a last resource—as the shadowy hope of a broken life He was an individual who had seen life in its lower phases and colours ; he had been gay and frolicksome, and had frequently strayed, as the Auckland cows are wont to stray, from the right and proper path, and had sometimes fallen under temptation. He could box and give you the strait tip with a sportive wink. Our Queen street cabby may have seen life, but he seeks not the calling as a refuge for the destitute, but as a means of profitable employment. We feel that there is a kind of fascination ; a freedom in the life of a cabby. He submits to no tyrant, he simply obeys the laws, does not murmur at the education rate, because he wishes his children may be well and cheaply educated. He appears on a wet day to the casual observer to be a melancholy object; but lie does not mind the rain—not he, —and he has the daily and hourly oppor tunity of seeing more of life than most men see, and yet he is not of the number of 2Sof>— the fatal number which we find in Mr JJroham's statistics for the year 1872. Cabby, moreover, has a touch of romance in his composition, and liia keen optics peer into life's mysteries ; nor that he spends his time in dissipation and folly. He has a decided objection to the drunkard's self-imposed five shilling tax, and prefers the open street to the confined bowers of Eden. The legitimate cabby carries a jolly face, or if he does not it will be necessary to look to your fare, for a thin-featured cabby is not the genuine article, and rarely to be trusted on a wet day. We are of opinion that a cabby's life |is a lazy life. He appears almost too indolent to move out of the rain as it streams down his mackintosh and drops from his grizzly beard. We had often wondered how cabby lived, and where he picked up the bread and cheese for his little ones ; but the wonder has passed. Would you know the secret of the existence of this child of nature. Walk by the stand on a wet day, at noon, when the horses and cab seem deserted, and if you have no eyes your nose will discover the truth. There sits cabby inside with as fine an appetite as a cabman can wish to possess, with a mountain of hot meat and vegetables before him, munching away with one of the morning papers or the Evening Star beside him. Cabby is ever in pursuit of knowledge under difficulties. He evidently takes care of him self, mentally and physically, and looks well to his horses. Our first-class Auckland cabby drives a pair of greys, which he proudly owns. A scurvy London cabby with a hired horse would be contemptible in our cabby's aristocratic atmosphere, especially on a rainy day. Cabby has the eye of a hawk, and. you have but too look in the direc tion of his cab, and immediately he calls, with his well-known shrill voice, " Cab, sir, cab ;" and, amid the pelting rain, he returns your shake of the hand with an independent smile —and why not ? Cabby is one of the most independent men of the colony. He cares for no man, and would ] not sell his vote for a mean consideration. His remarks, too, on tlie weather are generally correct. We shall have a fine day to-morrow if cabby says so. He is not, even in bad times, of a suicidal turn of mind ; the dreariest season never drove cabby to a lunatic asylum. He is a free, jolly, generally sociable fellow, and especially so when there's a " nobbier " in the way ; and as long as he behaves well, takes honest fares, has an appetite for a man's meal of meat and cabbage, and keeps free of the city by-laws, he may smack his whip in triumph for he is in a position " to weather every rainy hour, And welcome every Blty,"

We have received the following letter regarding the Northern fisheries, which -vve have much pleasure in drawing attention to:—"Sir: Kndwing that you are at all times ready to take an interest in. all enterprising people and the undefended; ybt notwithstanding you have overlooked the fisheries of the Northern Island — especially Wangarei, where Mr McLeod has been at great expense in purchasing nets, boats, &c. They have now in Auckland, well-cured in varioiis ways fc*r foreign orhomemarktits, i;he dried sc'lnlapper, either boiled or toasted, which is equal or better than the ling imported from San Francisco. Not only is the fish good for home consumption, but also for foreign markets, where it could b;e exchanged for articles we require, for which _ money has to be sent at present. I think the Goyern , Went should give a premium, anil assist in I having this article forwarded to such places as Manilla, Mauritius, Batavia, and Singa pore, where much fish is consumed, most of them being Catholic countries. —I am; &t%s P. J."

The subjects of discourse to-morrow at the Newton Kirk will be : Morning, " Principle and interest;" evening, ''"What are we to make of New Zealand?" .Services mednnec tioii with the Uhibii-siireet Wesleyan Chapel W its re-opening to-morrow will be conducted by the Revs. J. J. Lewis and T. G. Carr. The Rev. G. H. Turner will preach both morning and evening to-morrow in the brick Chapel, Pitt street. Subjects : Morning, " The Christian Warrior;" evening. "The Divine Ambassador.': The Ret. & Ectger has returned from the Kaipara, and will resume the City Hall services to-morrow.

The annual public meeting of the Aiickland Sunday-school Union was held last night, in the Young Men's Christian Association rooms, Wellesley-street, and was well attend ed, J. C. Firth, Esq., occupied the chair. The pro ceedings opened in the usual way, when the chairman, Mr Firth, delivered an eloquent address oil industrial, mental, and religious education, and urged the importance of making boys and girls useful in the world, as Cobbett taught in his admirable plain spoken iidvice to young men and women, jVlr Firth quoted the following statistics, which showed that the Union possesses an immense power in the colony, and which cannot fail in advancing the juveniles towards a better state of things :— In 1870 there were nineteen schools within the limits of the Union, with 220 teachers, and about 1,800 scholars; in 1872 there were 43 schools, 409 teachers, and 5,500 scholars, whilst they had issued 101,500 magazines from the Auckland depot durmg the past year, which appears at first sight almost incredible. It was further stated that the Union issued 2,800 magazines monthly, consisting of 88 varieties, at English prices varying from a half penny to sevenpence a number. Ad dresses were delivered by the Rev. R. F. Macnicol. and by Messrs. Ellyett and Barton, after which the chairman presented Messrs. Battley and Matthews, for their gratuitous services as secretaries of the Union, substan tial tokens of esteem, viz., to Mr Battley a valuable time-piece, and to Mr Matthews, a silver tea-service ; a purt-e of twenty sover eigns was added to Mr Matthews' presenta tion, which was, we understand the gift of the ladies. A very intellectual and interest ing evening was passed, and the proceedings closed with the doxolocy by the audience and the benediction by the Rev. Mr Corn ford.

The Civil Tribunal of St. Petersburg has just been occupied in trying Prince Michel de Lusignan, of Greek origin, on a charge of having endeavoured to negotiate some forged bills on the Russian Bank of Discount. Amongst the witnesses called was the father of the prisoner, who was formerly an officer in the Russian Hussars. He declared that he was of Royal blood, descending direct from the Kings of Cyprus and Jerusalem, and that he had received from his father a heritage of forty millions of roubles, but of which fortune he was deprived at Constantinople in IS2S. The president of the court stated that the documents put in as evidence fully corroborated that assertion. The testimony went to show that the accused and his father were sometimes much dis tressed in means, and that this young man had been enticed into committing the offence. The co\irt found him guilty and condemned "Prince Michel de Lusignan, bearing the title of King of Cyprus, Jerusalem and Armenia," to transportation to the province of Veulaseisk.

The French papers state that the number of cases of self-murder reported by the police in 1870 was 4,157, of which 3,371, or SI per cent., were by males; and 7Sfi, or 19 per cent., by females. There were 1.447 single. 1,330 married with children, 599 without, 464 widowed with children, and 199 without; the state of the 08 others could not be ascer tained. Of the 4,157 suicides, 1,354 were effected in the spring, 1,129 in the summer, fiOS in the autumn, and 975 in the winter. As usual, the means employed in the majority of cases were strangulation or drowning. With respect to motives, 383 cases were from poverty or reverse of fortune, 512 from family quarrels, 701 from love, jealousy, debauchery, or misconduct. 930 from suffering, including 515 from physical pain ; 1,377 from cerebral maladies, and 22 by the perpetrators of crimes. The cause of the 232 others is un-

known,

I The question of providing amusements for street boys as a remedy for larrikinism was brought under the notice of the Victorian Parliament by a notice placed on the paper by Mr Vale. Tn speaking to the motion Mr Arale said : —" Since he had put the notice on the paper he had observed in the People's Magazine an article on the subject con tributed by the clerk of the Queen's Execu tive Council, than whom no gentleman had taken a greater interest in the amelioration of the condition of the people. He Mr Vale desired to co.ll the attention of the Govern ment to the fact that out of over a thousand common schools not more than six were provided with proper gymnasium. He had been led to put this question because it was within the power of the Minister of Lands from departmental votes to have these gymnasiums erected, as he proposed. With regard to the objection that the larrikin element would destroy them he might point to the instance of the Victoria-park in London, where free cricket grounds and gymnasiums had been established with complete success. He thought that a gymnasium might be erected as a test in one of the public gardens sur rounded by a large population. The Hon. Mr. Casey said there was no doubt that the establishment of gymnasiums had been a chief means adopted by the Prussian Govern ment for the physical training of the people, and that within the last 30 or 40 years it had produced a surprising result. There was no doubt that such o means should be employed by every Government that undertook the physiciai and intellectual encouragement of the people. He was informed that there was a gymnasium in connection with all the public schools in the colony, and instruc tions had been given to provide the Indus trial Schools with them also. He must confess that he did not consider the public reserves the proper place to put gymnasiums in, but the matter Avas worthy of consider ation, and would be considered during the recess. '" '

The Rev C. M. Nelson will preach a sermon, specially prepared for working men, at St. Paul's Church to-morrow night.

A Provincial Government Gazette was pub lished to-day, fad contain notifications ntimating the re-entry of the following gold ninmg leases :-City of Boston Nebraska Golden Pang, Queen's Ferry, Occidental, and Brighton, Also leases granted to Henry Leon, George Bennett, Michael Hannaford, F Horsbrugh, John Borthwick, and James Boater, respectively; Tlie Gazelle also con tains a statement of" the affairs of tbe Bright Smile Gold Mining Company, various Native Lauds Court, and other notifications. From the half-yearly statement of the accounts of the Bright Smile Company, gazetted td-dfty* it appears that £3,l»0 have been paid in dividends. The Waiuku Agricultural Show was held on Tuesday, and was a great success. \\e notice that Mr McCrae, cooper, exhibited in three departments of local industry, and carried off three first prizes, which speaks well for the quality of Mr McC'fae's work. The Bay of Plenty times complains of the neglect shewn by the Government IB not locating immigrants iii that district, arid aisi* df the obstacles thrown in the way of persons desirous of acquiring land there.

If ever there was a man who was the vic tim of unfavorable circumstances, that man was Captain H. Gillbee, of the East Mel bourne Panes. On a recent Saturday even ing a woman, whom the reporters enpheuis tically describe as a member of the demi monde, was seen parading Bourke street wearing the cap of a volunteer officer, with a scabbard buckled to her side by a belt, a drawn sword over her shoulder, and a cigar in her mouth. With these martial acoutre ments she was going up and down singing " Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines," till a constable took her to the lock-up. She accounted for the possession of the sword and other things by saying that they belonged to Captain Gillbee who was at her place, If this were true, remarks the Australasian it is obvious that this gallant officer would have been guilty of a breach of discipline which it would have been necessary for the good conduct of the volunteer corps to have inquired into. Feeling this he went before the police court, when the case came on, and declared the statement was untrue. He never went inside the woman's house, but stopped at the house of a friend in Spring street, a respectable man, for a feir minutes leaving his hat and sword in the front room and when he came back they were gone. It is quite evident from this statement that the conduct of the woman is worse than it first appeared, and that if this kind of work goes on it is not only the character of Captain Gillbee, but that of every member of society that will be imperilled. A gentleman will not be able to call upon a friend without running the risk that his hat and cane, whish he left in the hall, will have been appropriated by a member of the demi-monde who happened to be passing, and that they are then figuring as " pro perties," while she sings " Tommy Dodd" songs in character to the delight of a crowd in Bourke street. Worse than all there will be the ordeal of the court next day. He will have to go to make an " ex planation," which he sees is listened to by the magistrates, and the clerk of the Bench, and the lawyers at the table with polite sympathy mingled with smiling unbelief, and with broad grins on the faces of the intelligent "members of the force" who have "hoard that story often before." Captain Gillbee's conduct formed the subject of enquiry by the Uolunteer authorities and he lost his com mission.

COLONISTS' REFORM LEAGUE

THIS DAY.

A meeting of the Colonists' Reform League was held this afternoon at two o'clock, at Sceats' Hotel, Mr John Mason in the chair, who opened the meeting by reading Mr Tonka' letter of resignation as he had been proposed without his consent; it was there fore proposed that Mr Tonks' resignation be accepted. Mr Andrews then read a letter from Mr Swan, of the Thames, who also begged to resign an honor which he had no ambition to reach ; especially as the name of John Mason was connected with the Association, and as that gentleman had acquired unenviable fame as the great advocate of exploded fal lacies. Mr Mason said that Mr Swan had shown the white feather, and he would expunge his name from the list of reformers for ever, and if Mr Andrews was disposed to pursue the same course he might go, for by the Lord Harry he would have none but good men. He had no doubt but this association would be a creeping association ; but they would creep

and go.

Mr Andrews said their principles had never been defined.

The Chairman said their object was the political regeneration of mankind.

Mr Andrews said the Midland Counties' men were fully prepared to go in for that ; but, like himself, they did not like to made fools of.

After some further discussion, The Chairman proposed that the Editor of the Star be elected President of the League in terms of h?s article of Monday last; also that Mr Cucksey, music seller (who was present), be elected vice-president; also that the resignations of Messrs Tonks and Swan be accepted unconditionally.

Mr H. G. Andrews proposed, as an amend ment, —-"That the meeting do now go into convivialities." (At this moment the waiter opportunely entered the room.)

The amendment was carried, and the original motion rejected neai. con., and the meeting went into convivialities. Person alities were being indulged in when our reporter left.

TELEGRAPHIC.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LATEST FROM THE THAMES

CRUSHING RETURNS

LODE STRUCK IN TARARU TUNNEL,

GRAHAMSTOWN.

This day.

Bright Smile.— The workmen have just touched No. 1 reef in the adit from the shaft, and have put a shot into it ha!f-a-foot with out reaching the back. The shot did not explode, btit a few pieces were broken out. The gold is of good quality, and shews freely through the stone. A strong stream of water is flowing from, the lode, which has been intersected sixty feet further under the flat than where the same reef was worked in the upper levels.

Waiotahi Tribute.—A crushing of 30 tons of stone has yielded 24 oi;nces of gold.

Bendigo Inbependent.—A trial crushing of (5 tons from the large reef gave 4 ozs. (> dwts., making a total of 94 ounces from 137 tons of stone.

Windsor Castle.—Forty pounds oi specl. mens were taken out last night. Monataiki Umok Tribute. —A crushing of twelve tons of stone has yielded G3 ozs. of gold. Golden Age.—A small crushing has yielded 2oz. 15 dwt of gold. What/. —The gold from the late crushing has been reduced-to 6120z5. 4dwts. of melted gold. A. lode a foot thick has been struck in, the T'araru- tunnel at a distance of 02Q feet in, It has not yet been tested.

ENGLISH TELEGRAMS.

ABDICATION OF KING AMADEUS,

A SOVEREIGN CORTES ESTABLISHED,

DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES EX-

PECTED TO FOLLOW,

THIERS' MEMORANDUM REJECTED.

LONDON.

February 8.

Mr Torr, Conservative, has been elected to a seat in the House of Commons for Liver pool.

The Committee of Thirty, appointed by the French Assembly to report upon the constitution of the French Government, has rejected President Thiers' memorandum concerning a modification of its decision in regard to his power of veto, and closed its sitting ; but on the motion for the adoption of their report, President Thiera spoke in the Assembly, and moved an amend ment which was ultimately agreed to, giving a, suspensary veto for three months. Mr E. B. Eastwich, member for Penryn, has again called the attention of the House of Commons to the state of affairs in Central Asia. The National Zeitung of Berlin has ad vocated annnexation by Russia of the Central Asian countries. It is stated that Russia is prepared to accept a boundary line in Central Asia de fined by Mr Gladstone. February 9. The exports from Britain for the month of January show an increase of four millions, occasioned by the increased value of coal and iron. The falling off in the yield from the York shire collieries shows a very marked decrease Colliery strikes continue, and house coal h now quoted at £2 10s. per ton. Mr McArthur tabled a motion calling on the Government to ascertain the wishes of the Fijian authorities as to a protectorate or annexation. Mr Pi. A. Macfarlane, the member of Leith, has revived the question of colonial annexa tion. J. M. Wilson, Premier of Tasmania, has been created Knight's Bachelor. The Committee of Colonists have met to consider the subject of the erection of a general colonial annexation, —The Pdght Hok. Mr Guilders presided. Money scarce ; discount firm. New Zea consolidated funds, 104. New Zealand hemp averages thirty-five j hides and leather active at a slight advance.' February 10. A committee of thirty rejected the pro posal of the Government respecting the creation of a second chamber of legislation and continuance of elective power during the interval of the proposed dissolutions. February 11. King Amadeus has expressed a resolution to abdicate the throne of Spain. His Ministry has endeavoured to dissuade him from this course. The King asks twenty four hours to consider the arguments urged •before announcing his final decision. Late telegrams state that the King has definitely abdicated. The Spanish Chambers have been consti tuted with a Sovereign Cortes. Great appre hension prevails in England and on the Continent that a disastrous state of things will follow. The metal market is quiet. Copper is quoted at 94. Black tin, 144 ; iron, Glasgow pi«, £6 15s. Early Kiinberley, in reply to a question put by Earl Belmore in the House of Lords, promised to procure papers relating to outrages committed on the South Seas. His Lordship gave a detailed account of the measures which had been adopted under the Kidnapping Act, and stated that it was intended to further increase the squadron He also desired to acknowledge the desire of the colonists to assist the Imperial i Government in putting down this nefarious traffic, and in punishing those engaged in it. February 11. The Secretary of State in the Home department has introduced amended rules allowing a space in Hyde Park to be used for holding public meetings. Mr Ayston vindicated the course he had pursued with regard to the matter, and a sharp debate ensued. The question is now considered cettled.

LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS.

(PER ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAPH

COMPANY.)

POUT CHALMERS.

This day. The Florence, 54 tons, Capt. Beaton, sailed for Auckland yesterday afternoon with a full mixed cargo.

*»1 WTSNpIQ OTAft, SATURDA*. S£ Ms'



T COSG-BAVE & C O.'S SALE OF DRAPERY & CLOTHING COMMENCED ON SATURDAY, FEB. 1. The Publio are requested to Inspect the Goods as the Reductions are Genuine. CELLING- OPE! DRAPERY! DRAPERY! B. 0 A S S, CHEAPSIDE HOUSE, 22 2, QUEEN STREET. DECIDED BARGAIN S. 3. C A S S. GREAT BEDTTCTIONS FOB THREE MONTHS ONLY, AT THE AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY, 194, queen street, Next Door to Savings,' Bank. Cartes-de-visite reduced from 10s per dozen 13s Gd. Maori Celebrities (largest steck in New Zealand to select from), reduced from 12s per dozen to Os. Views from all parts of New Zealand, reduced from l-2s per dozen to 6s. Enlargements from Caries-cle-viMe to Life-size, plain or beautifully finished in Oil or Water Colors, also reduced in price. Large Stock of Photographic Goods and Apparatus, Magic Lantern Slides, Stereoscopic Slides, &c., greatly reduced. J. M c G A R R I G L E, Manager.