SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

HIGH WATER: This evening, 12 ; to-morrow morning. 0.11 SUN-SET : This evening, 4.61; BUN-RIBE s To morrow morning, 7.1 MOON'S AGE: Full Moon, Slst, 6.25 p.m,

ARRIVALS.

Fannie. cutter, from WangaDoa Ringleader. Revenue cutter, from a cruise Janet Grey, cutter, from Tairua

DEPARTURES.

Taranaki, s.s., Wheeler, for South, from the Manukau Dauntless, schooner, Millar, for Kennedy's Bay

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

Wangaroa and Melbourne—Rose M., barque, Annie

Lisle, barque, soon For Kaipara-Amaranthc, schooner, Tuesday Poverty Bay—Rover, schooner, 23rd instant For New York—Serene, barque about Ist June Northern Wairoa— Excelsior, schooner, 23rd instant For Gisborne and Napier—Pretty Jane, s.s, early For Newcastle—Dorette. ship, early London—Anazi, barque, early ; Hylton Castle,

barque, early For a Cruise—Albion, whaling barque, early

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Hero, s.s., from Sydney, about 2nd June Rouparell, ship, from London. Sailed February 19 Huntley Castle, ship, from London. Sailed Feb 21 Southern Cross, s.s., from England, sailed Jan 21 -Empreza, barque, from Liverpool, sailed October 15 Pakeha, brig, from Lyttelton Pretty Jane, s.s., from Napier and Gisborne, early Paterson, p.s., from the South, early P.C E., barque, from Newcastle. Sailed April 18 Florence, barque, from New York. Sailed Feb 14 Mary King, schooner, from Adelaide, early Augusta, schooner, from Sydney, sailed Cth May Glimpse, barque, from Newcastle, early Dauntless, fore-and-aft, schooner, from Lyttelton, sailed 20th May Edith, schooner, from South Sea Islands, early Clematis, ketch, from Lyttelton, early Charybdis, schooner, from Lyttelton James Wishart. ship, from London, sailed 18th March Queen of Nations, ship, from Liverpool, via Belfast,

sailed 17th March William Gifford, barque, from New York, via

Dunedin. Sailed Feb 15 Thames, barque, from Boston, loading Hylton Castle, barque, from Newcastle, early

The schooner Merlin has cleared for Napier and Kennedy's Bay. The ship Dorette, which is to sail for Newcastle shortly, will not return to this port to load for England as was expected, but will take a cargo of coals to Port Chal mers and there load for London. She is now taking in ballast and will leave in a few days. Sho entered outwards this morning. The p.s. Enterprise No 2, which has been on the gridiron for repairs during the last two days, is to leave for the Thames at 12 to-night. The barque Annie Lisle has entered out wards for Melbourne via Wangaroa. The old Mission schooner, having been thoroughly overhauled at the Gore-street jetty, was this morning hauled away and towed down to her old moorings at Kohima rama by the p.s Enterprise No. 1. The s.s. Southern Cross was taken off the gridiron this morning and went alongside the new eastern T, from whence she takes her departure for Tauranga this afternoon. A new cutter was launched at Mercury Bay on the 18th instant. She has been built for Messrs Hanson and Sellars, the con structor being Mr W. White, who has turned out the vessel in first-class style. Miss E. White performed the ceremony of naming the vessel at the launch, which took place before a large number of spectators. The cutter has received the name of the Brunette, and has the following measure ments :—Length of keel, 44ft. Gin.; breadth of beam, 14ft. 7in.; depth of hold, 4ft. 7in. j tonnage, about 19 tons register. : The cutter Wangarei brings 35 tons of the Wangarei coals which were being un loaded this morning at the main wharf. Mr G. W. Owen's new brigantine, just built by Mrs Darrack and Sons, arrived from Mahurangi this morning at about forty minutes after high water. She attracted a good deal of attention as she breasted the ebb in gallant style, and swung to her anchorage off the end of the breakwater. We gave a full description of this fine vessels a few days ago, and there is there fore no necessity to describe her again. The rigging and blocks have been supplied by Messrs J. and D. Oxley, while the sails have been furnished by Mr Williams, of Queen-street. The brigantine presents the appearance of possessing large carrying powers, being broad in the beam, and having her floor carried well forward. She is built something after the fashion of the Marmion, but with not so much sheer. Her registered tonnage will be about 130 tons, and on this it is expected she will be able to take a cargo of over 200 tons. The new vessel is a type of the most useful class of vessels that can be built for this port. Enquiries are being made on all sides for schooners to be employed in the Southern trade, and we should like to see more turned out like this one. The Helena, for this is her name, has been fitted out under the supervision of Captain Campbell, late of the Ryno, who takes command.

The barque Serene having finished putting out her cargo which has been landed in fine condition, will proceed at once to take in her cargo of gum and flax which Messrs Walker and Co. have already for her. She will load about 450 tons of the former, and 150 of the latter. -All claims against this barque must be sent in to Messrs Owen and Graham by Saturday.

" A very important shipping case," says the European Mail, " was before the magis trates at the Police Court, Waterford, the other day. A sailor named Moloney sum moned Captain Jackson, of the steamship Liberia, for £4 wages. It appears that Moloney was arrested on a charge of deser tion, preferred by Captain Jackson, and was sentenced to eight weeks' imprisonment with hard labour. On being released Moloney sought £4 wages, due prior to his imprison ment. The magistrate ruled that when the tribunal sent Moloney to gaol and did not mark on the committal that his wages were forfeited in addition to imprisonment he was entitled to his claim."

The schooner Dauntless, Captain Millar, sailed to-day for Kennedy's Bay. She will load there with timber and return to Auck land. She will then taken in cargo for Tahiti.

The P. and O. steamship Nizam, Captain A. S. Barlow, sailed from Southampton on March 12, with a cargo valued at the large Bum of £334,045 6s Bd.

The London Missionary Society have pur chased and equipped a steam yacht to enable the Society's missionaries to penetrate up the rivers and creeks of the New Guinea coast. The yacht has been built by Messrs Jackson and Watkins, of Millwall, and was sati sfac jorily tested a few days before the mail left.

COMMERCIAL.

There was a good attendance at Mr George Sibbin's sale of groceries, etc., to-day, and the following prices were realised :—Tea, 24s 6d to 32s 6d per box ; good sugar, 4d lo 5d per lb. ; flour, 15s to I7s; fish, gd per lb. ; eggs, ls 6d per dozen; onions, 2£d; maize, 6s 9d; oats, 5s 9d; candles, lid: kerosene, 2s 6d ; bran, ls 8d to 2s.

At Mr. E. Arthur's poultry sale in the market to-day, fowls sold at Is to 2s 4d • Brahmas, 2s 9d to 4s ; Cochin, 3s 3d ; Dork ine (fine), 4s ; ducks, ls 3d to 2s ; turkeys Is 8d to 4s 3d ; geese, 3s, and a number of pigeons at lOd. The stalls were generally well stocked. We noticed a very large quantity of fine brocoli, &c., at Mr

Smith's, No. 24 stall. At Mr. Fu ton's we observed a line of Taranaki but*6* in the bulk, sweet and fresh, at prices as stated in Fenton's advertisement; also » line of Wairoa che.se of good quality.

CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST.

The following are the current calls and dividends payable in the companies named below:— Calls. £ a. d. Date National Bank of NZ. .. .. 010 0 July 3 Red Queen 0 0 6 July 11

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Under :—

For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m. and to-morrow, at 8. SO a.m. For Mahurangi, Matakana, Mangawai, Waipu, &c,

per Lady Bowen, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Whitiangi, Tairua, Tauranga, and OpotiW, and Napier, via Tauranga, per Southern Cross, to morrow, at 1 p.m. For _ Napier and Southern provinces, per City of Adelaide, six hours after arrival For Wangaroa, per Annie Lisle, on Tuesday next, at

8 a.m. For the undermentioned places, per Phoebe, on Monday, Ist June, as under :—

For India. China, Mediterranean Ports, and Continent of Europe, at 6 a.m For Southern provinces, Australian Colonies, and United Kingdom, via Southampton and Brindisi, at 6 30 a m

For registered letters, money orders, and news papers, at 5 p m. on Saturday, 30th instant. Mails for Australian Colonies, via Melbourne, will close at Bluff to-morrow, at 10 a.m.

Note.—Monday next w*'* be observed as a postal holiday. The mails usually made up at this office on that day will therefore close on Saturday, 23rd inst, at 7.30 p.m.

fPigned) 8. B. Bias, Chief Postmaster.

BIRTHS.

Dally—On the 22nd instant, at Welleslej-street, the ■ wife of Cha-'. Dally, of a son. Prince— On the 20th instant, at her residence Rose Cottage, Parnell, the wife of Mr Albert Prince of a daughter.

MARRIAGE.

JosvpH—Asher- On May 20, at the residence of Mr Moss Isaacs, Unper Queen-street, Newton, by the Rev. M. Elkin Nathan, Lewis Joseph, of Hamilton, Waikato. to Louise, second daughter of Joel Henry Asher, of Aucklaud.

DEATHS.

Whit*.—At Howick, on May 21, 1874. Phillip Henry White, second son of William and Mary White, aged 4 years.

Pauk'b—On May 8, at his father's residence, 22, Wellington street. Charles Duncan Parker, the bo loved son of John Parker ; aged 3 years The funeral will leave his father's residence on Sunday at 230 p.m. Friends aro respectfully in vited to attend.

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

FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1874.

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

And *-lib good that we can do

I Ik last night's issue we referred to the op i pressiveness of the new education rate, its t inequality, and the impossibility of collecting it. We were then compelled to defer our comments on the latter view of the case for a future opportunity. When we stated yesterday that the tax "never can be col lected " we did not refer simply to the op position from the public represented by the meeting called for Monday next, for we believe that however greatly aggrieved they may feel, and however deeply conscious that a law is oppressive, the in habitants of this province aro so far law abiding that they will bow to the ruling of our Courts of Justice, and'will pay what the law prescribes, even though they pay it against their consciences and under protest. But the rate possesses within itself the weaknesses that will obstruct its collection, or if collected that will prevent it from realising anything like the money expected from it. It is provided by the Bill that tho tax shall be levied on the house alone, apart from the land attached to it. The principle involved in this reservation is both just and necessary in order to secure an equality, and to prevent country settlers from being excessively rated for their lands, which represent to them exactly what a business ia to a dweller in tbe city. If the tax included land, in the country it would not be a household but a property tax of a most objectionable and one sided kind. Admitting then the necessity for the condition which limits the rate, we must consider the possibility of working it. The value of a building depends to a large extent upon its situation. In the city the frontage to a street weighs very mater ially, as also the distance from the business centre of the town. A building which would not be .worth £30 a year in Dedwood or Parnell might bring £60 if situated on land fronting Symond-street, or some other city thoroughfare. On what principle will these inequalities be ad justed? If the rent is taken as a basis then the assessment is contrary to the Act by rating not merely the house but the land which gives it special value. In nearly every case the value of a building is affected by it s position. We will take the instance of a Queen-street tradesman who lives on the premises, because his business is not sufficiently profitable to afford a house in the suburbs ; is he to be assessed at the rate of a Queen-street rental while his more flourishing neighbour who builds a cottage in the suburbs escapes at half the rate ? Or will the bank messenger and Insurance Company's porter be assessed on the value of lofty mansions th&y occupy ? On the other hand, if the rental is thrown on one side as a guide, and mere wood, bricks, i and mortar, constituting a building, are taken as the basis of the valuation a well-to-do man, who bears with the inconven iences of a very wretched building in the city on account of the advantages of situation is better off than the one whose public spirit leads him to put up a first-class erection, or whose taste induces him to rent a comfortable well-built house out of town. We have noticed here some of the difficul ties in the way of an equitable valuation of city property which are trifling com pared with those which must be encoun tered in the country where proximity to roads, to water carriage, railway stations, or to well-cultivated farms, all affect the value, and it seems evident that to make anything approaching a fair valuation would swallow up a large portion of the rate, while it is equally clear that such special facilities are offered for resisting the rate on legal points that it could not be collected in the face of the determined opposition that is likely to arise. In view of these facts we were glad to learn from the statement of the Provincial Secretary, when the order of the day waa reached, that the Govern ment did not wish to proceed further with the bill until the highest^legal authority in Auokland had been consulted regarding the capability of the rating clausea

for accomplishing what is expected from them. The Government must see that the position in which the Council has forced the matter is a false and untenable one. Not withstanding the marked and unmistakable expression of opinion by the Council when the Government Education Bill was thrown out we think tke Executive would have acted more wisely had they again brought down the school-fee system and urged the Council to pass that with such modifications —in- cluding provision for free education in certain cases—as were deemed necessary, instead of placing the question as an open one before the Council. We do not doubt that with the existing feeling in the Council anything but the household tax and free education would havo been rejected by a large majority ; but their action would have relieved the Government from the responsibility which attaches to their yielding to the will of the Council so far as to propose the present objectionable and faulty form of taxation.

In another column we give insertion to a letter from Mr W. L. Bees in reply to the recent attack on him in the Cross. It was we observe offered to that journal and refused. We refrain from offering any opinion what ever on the questions in dispute, the subjects being still virtually suljudice. We refrain from offering any opinion on the conduct of bench or bar. We refrain from offering any opinion on the attack in the Cross or its re fusal of opportunity of reply. We refrain from comment of every kind and in every form. But so long as the Auckland Evening Slar continues to exist no man shall be pre vented in Auckland fiom raising his voice in the Press, and making his complaint reach the publio ear. It is quite unnecessary for us to say that we shall afford the utmost facility to any one, who with his own signa ture similarly appended to his letter desires to combat the statements of our correspon dent. -

A rumour is current in town to-day that information had been brought to Papakura with reference to the shooting of a man at Bombay Settlement, and that Constable Walker had gone up to investigate the matter. The police in Auckland have not received in telligence of the occurrence, so that the report cannot be verified, and wo publish it for what it is worth.

The recklessness of butchers' boys in riding through the streets of the city nearly had a serious termination to-day. As Mr John Abbot was coming down Shortland-street, a boy employed by Mr Dornwell came riding past at a rapid pace, and the horse, striking Mr Abbot on the shoulder and knocked him down. It was feared at first by those who witnessed the occurrence that Mr Abbot was badly injured, but this was found not to be the case, although the shock to his nervous system, caused by the nn looked for blow, was very severe.

We would draw attention to the circum stance that the postal authorities have noti fied the closing of the Chief Post Office on Monday, 25th instant, in honor of Her Majesty's birthday, and that the mails usually closed on Monday will be made up to-morrow at 7. 0 p.m.

"At Belfast tho other day," says the European Mail, the Plimsoll Act of 1871 bore its first fruits in the conviction of two gentlemen named Quinn for the offence of sending a ship to sea in an unseaworthy con dition. The caso was a plain one. It ap peared that the Messrs Quinn owned a small vessel called the Nimrod, and in November last sent her to sea on a voyage from Belfast to Scotland. Tho evidence overwhelmingly Bhowed that the ship wns then in a most un sound and unsafe condition. Some of her timbers utterly gone, others rotten, and in a word quite unfit to contend with wind and waves. Sho was officially ex amined at Greenock, and reported to the Board of Trade. At the trial the surveyor of the Board of Trade, at Greenock, deposed that the vessel was not seaworthy, and was dangerous to human life. The Messrs Quinn were found guilty, and Judge Lawson sentenced them to a line of £150, and two months' imprisonment each. This is a heavy punishment to respectable men, but it is only by severe sentences that the owners of vessels can bo compelled to sec that the ships in which poor sailors are sent to sea are not what are mournfully termed " man traps " and " coffin ships."

The City Council offices will be closed on Monday next, 25fch inst, Queen's Birthday.

Our scientific friends may be interested in the following, taken from the European Mail: —"MrMcLachlan recently exhibited at the Entomological Society of London a series of examples illustrating the natural history of onicigaster Wakefieldi from New Zealand. * * The series exhibited com prised the male imago, female sub-imago, adult nymph, and larva.. The lateral wing like, horny expansion of the terminal seg ments of the abdomen in the imago and sub imago are continued in the aquatic conditions on each segment of the abdomen ; and in addition there are similar formations along the back of the abdomen, placed longitudi nally and vertically. The adult nymph ap pears to possess no external gills or liminse, but they are conspicuous in the less mature larv_3 on each side of the ventral surface of the abdomen."

At the Kennedy entertainment last evening the songs of Scotland were greeted with general applause. We notice that these ex cellent entertainments will positively close on the 27th inst. The programme this even ing will be entirely different from those of previous evenings, and will be selections from the Noctes Ambrosianse of that noble Scots man, John Wilson, known the world over by his norn de plume of old Christopher North. Those persons who can enjoy a literary treat will not fail to visit the City Hall this evening and pass "'twa hours at bame" with the musical members of the Kennedy family. The Sir George Grey Cadets met last night at the Drill-shed for their usual monthly in spection. There was a very good muster, and the young soldiers went through their various evolutions very well indeed con sidering thai; a good number of recruits were mixed along with the old members

The hurried departure from Auckland of our dear and esteemed fellow-citizen, E. J. Cox, solicitor, having prevented many of his friends taking a final adieu, they will be glad to learn that he is at present on a prospecting tour in California, after three years' practical study of geology in the famous " Millbank University." His diligence was unremitting, and the heads of the establishment entered him on the books as free of board and resi dence, principally owing to his wonderful aptitude at imitating signatures-

We have received a copy of a serial of light and entertaining reading bearing the title " Saturday Night, " which is issued from the Southern Cross office. The new candidate for public favour is to take the place of the " Colonists' Family Herald, " which is, no doubt, still remembered as the best publication of the kind ever issued in the colonies. "Saturday Night "is very creditably got up both in a literary and mechanical point of view, and is worthy of the publishing enterprise of New Zealand.

In the Council, yesterday, Captain j" Morris's motion regarding tbe appointment | of a Select Committee to inquire into the operation of the Homestead .Act led to a long discussion of the disadvantages which the youth of the colony suffer under from having no provision made to assist them in acquiring land. All the speakers con curred in allowing that greater facilities should be allowed them, and the only point debated was whether this particular grievance should be dealt with by the Council by itself or be included in the general consideration of the waste lands which was to come before the Council in a message from his Honor shortly. Captain Morris, against the wish of many of his supporters, eventually agreed to withdraw his motion for Mr Sheehan's amendment, which inserted the words "the position of the waste lands of the Province" instead of the latter part of the motion. Mr Sheehan undertook to refer the matter to a select committee to consist of Messrs Sheehan, Byron, Shepherd, Carpenter, Sir B. Douglas, Captain Morris, Messrs Carleton, Buckland, Boylan, Swanson, and Wood. Mr Carleton moved, and it was carried — " That an address be presented to his Honor, requesting him to exercise the powers conferred upon him by section 30 Auckland Waste Lands Act, 1867, in favour of David Fisher Chapman. Messages were received from his Honor with plans of the intended utilisation of the old Supreme Court site ; also a bill to regulate the new Market site. This latter was read a first time. The East Coast District Sheep Bill was read a third time and passed. The Highways Bill was further considered in committee, and the first and second parts of the Bill got through. The Education Bill discussion in committee was deferred, and the Council ad journed at a quarter past eight.

Members of tho Auckland Football Club are reminded that there will be a practice game started at three o'clock to-morrow afternoon in the barracks. On Saturday, the 30th inst., a match will be played with the North Shore Club.

There was an array of Queen-street people at the Police Court this morning, the grave offence charged against them being that their verandahs were defective. Several of the cases were dismissed on the ground that the delay in executing the repairs was not due to intentional negligence. While it is very desirable that there shall be no laxity in observing the city by-laws, charges ought not to be laid to the inconvenience of trades men unless the ground of accusation is well ascertained, and the milder methods of notice and remonstrance have been repeatedly re sorted to. Their attendance at the Police Court to-day caused a loss of valuable time to the persons concerned, in addition to the unpleasantness of receiving a summons, and in the end no good object was served.

To the Editor: Sir, —The explanation of the missing key of Mount Hobson district school given by the junior master in yester day's issue of your paper is natural and straightforward, but it affords a singular co incidence of facts. During the previous week I had heard a report that the Sunday school was to be excluded from the building. On Saturday, the 16th, I mentioned this re port to Mr Dyer, and asked whether the Diocesan Board had given permission or in structions to exclude the Sunday-school. His reply was in the negative On Sunday morn ing the Sunday-school was shut out. Mr Sutton had forgotten the key, and blind chance or fate had brought on the fulfilment of the rumour. —Yours, J. Bauer.

The large native meeting held on the 12th, 13th, and 14th inst. at Galatea passed off successfully. Nine tribes of Ngatiawa, Arawa, and Uriwera connection were pre sent." Captain J. A. Wilson represented the Government, and conducted the business proceedings, which related exclusively to sales and leases of various blocks of land to Government. The meeting may be considered to be a good step in advance by the progress party among the natives.

To the Editor: Sir, — With all due deference to Mr C. Ludlow H. Joy, and his somewhat questionable taste in rushing into print in defence of the Mayor, allow me to confirm "Victim's" statement as to his being "snubbed," or—as Mr Joy so delicately puts it — subjected to " offensiveness of manner"at the hands of the Mayor, inasmuch as J was present when "Victim" made his reasonable and customary request touching expenses, and to remark that despite the law of the case I consider that the reply made to him by the Mayor was neither fitting nor considerate. So far from the Mayor giving " Victim " any satisfaction in answer to his query, he very curtlj. stated " that he (witness) would very likely have to lose another day." In all conscience it is hard enough for a working man to loose his time in a matter in which he has no direct interest without being insulted in the bargain.— Yours, &c, Abgus.

The Harmonic Society's second concert, held in the Lome-street new Hall last even ing was but poorly attended, probably on ac count of the rain. The choruses and glees were fairly rendered. Several songs were given by ladies in a very creditable manner, and generally the concert was satisfactory.

There was a large number of the members of the choirs of St. Paul's, St. Matthew's, St. Sepulchie's, All Saint's, St Mary's, and St. Mark's churches in St. Matthew's school-room last evening preparatory to the anticipated choral festival. The festival will take place Thursday evening next.

MR REES' REPLY TO THE "SOUTHERN CROSS."

(To the Editor of the " Southern Cross," per favor of the Evening Star. )

Sir, —In the leading columns of the '' Southern Cross " of Wednesday there is an article concerning me and my conduct which I feel anxious to answer. Not that the public deem it necessary, nor that anything is so charged against me as to require either a denial or an explanation, but because I desire to expose the evils of our position be fore I attempt their reform. You will not expect me to answer the mere abuse which that article contains. Abuse is the last resort of a weak cause ; and that abuse which is not founded upon the narration of facts, but merely consists in harsh and rude epithets, betrays the wretchedness of the case which it seeks to support. But when you assert facts, then it behoves your antagonist to meet them fairly. You will, no doubt, admit that I may well treat your article as having been written with the know ledge and consent of Mr John Sangster Mac farlane—at any rate it is written in his i interest, and to advocate his case as against me. Before I proceed to deal with the more serious features of the case I will brush away the little ornaments and fringe-work by which it is embellished. You say that people viewed this case from the first as a trumped-up one, and that by reason of subsequent events that view has been con firmed. As to the trumping-up or lona-fides of the accusation let the public judge upon the evidence produced. If the accusation be not true the prosecution is a conspiracy supported by perjury. Let Mr J. S. Macfar lane indict the prosecutor, or the witnesses, or myself, if he dare. With all his well known and loudly-boasted influence over the Bench and juries, the Press and the Govern

ment, he dare not. He may threaten one Resi- ' dent Magistrate, be closeted with another pending criminal proceedings against himself, and urge a third to institute a prosecu tion for libel against the Press. He may boast that no Auckland jury will give a verdict against him, but he dare not bring this matter to the test. Failing this, let him call a meeting of his fellow-citizens and take their verdict upon his character; and fearing this last, let some of his toadies and hangers on take round a sympathetic address—as was done in a former case—and see how many of the public will respond. To you he must resort. To your pen, driven only by the orders of your masters, he must look for help and defence. And, sir, permit me to express my pity that the pen of any member of the honorable guild of literature should be so used. In relation to the "Southern Cross " you can only act as a literary under taker. So sure is the decay and quick final extinction of that once powerful journal, that you can but prepare it for a decent burial. So selfish, so unprincipled has it become since Mr Vogel and his friends have had anything to do with it that no tear will fall, no regret will be uttered when the only " Southern Cross" to be seen in New Zea land will be that which shines and gleams upon us from the skies. You go on to allude to the impression made by the with drawal of Mr Brookfield from the case. Will it suffice you if I say that Mr Brook field now thinks, as he always did think, that Mr Macfarlane ought certainly to have been committed for trial. It was not any doubt of the truth of the charge which prevailed upon Mr Brookfield to return his brief. And now, sir, permit me to enter upon the more serious part of my task, and in your words " on behalf of public morals as well as in defence of the judicial institutions of the country," to lift up my voice against the evils and iniquities revealed by the late cases. As to the swearing of the informations, they wero sworn before the first justice who could be found, and the day of hearing was fixed, not by the prosecutor as you basely hint, but by the Clerk of the Court. During the hearing before Dr. Home and Mr Buckland the evident forbearance of the Magistrates in favor of the accused became matter for public remark. Three times tbe accused kept the Court waiting, but no notice was taken of his conduct. On one occasionthe Bench decided that certain letters tendered by me were not receivable in evidence, although they had not seen, nor did they know one word of their contents ; at another they decided that letters tendered by the defendant were receivable, although equally ignorant of their contents, and when no one knew who wrote them. At another time they said solemnly that unless I produced a certain witness on a given day the case would be instantly dismissed. It is ad mitted that one of the Magistrates dined with the accused at Canning's, and chatted familiarly with him for about twenty minutes, and I can readily sup pose after such friendly relations with the accused a magistrate would feel it hard to commit him to gaol. Mr Buckland did not deny that he was a partner with Mr J. S. Macfarlane, and the decision which was given was one so outrageous to my common sense that at first I could not believe it. The Magistrates said there was "no evidence." This was in the face of the direct and posi tive testimony of two witnesses, whose evi dence was not shaken by the searching cross examination of Mr Hesketh, and the inferential and highly corroborative testimony of two others. Mr. Buckland said, sententiously, that he had sworn to do his duty and would do it. I would a3k Mr. Buckland whether, 1 when he took the oath as a Justice, he be lieved in the existence of the Almighty God whom he called to witness it. These jus tices, with a host of others, ought to have been removed (on grounds of law at any rate) from the commission of the peace long since. They have no right upon the list, and if the Ministry had done its duty they could not have caused the grounds for severe com ments on the administration of justice in New Zealand afforded by this case.

Again, considering the question of the unimpeachable administration of justice, look at the action of Mr. Thomas Beckham, the Kesident Magistrate. On the morning after the informations were sworn by Mr. Harris Mr. J. S. Macfarlane was for a long time with Mr. Beckham in the Magis trate^ private room at the Police Court. What his business was I leave to be inferred. Three times the messenger of the Court was sent down to my office for the informations, and afterwards when I went up to the Police Court to issue the summonses Mr. J. S. Macfarlane was still closeted with Mr. Thomas Beckham. A few minutes later Mr. Harris and I went into Mr. Beckham's room to swear that it was necessary a sub poena should issue, and Mr. Beckham seemed then to be excited by some re cent cause. On Saturday afternoon I heard that Mr. Beckham was about to sit on the Monday ; and before I come to the scene in Court on Monday morning I should here like to ask how is it that the Golden Crown was laid up for one day only for re pairs at this particular time ? By the Golden Crown Mr Beckham was going to perform his duties at the Thames, and if she had gone he could not have remained in Auck land. In the first case Major Keddell stated that when Craig was charged with presenting a pistol at young Harris Mr J. S. Macfarlane, after sending him a threatening letter as to meddling in the matter, also told him that if it would be any convenience the Golden Crown would make another trip to Coroman del that week to bring him and his family to Auckland. Will Mr J. S. Macfarlane tell us was it in the same way and by the same in fluence the Golden Crown steamer was de tained and the effect brought about—Mr Beckham's presence onthe Bench on Mon day ? Eegarding the proceedings in the Court the public know why I advised Mr C. A. Harris not to offer testimony in support of the two remaining charges before Mr Beckham. And now from my desk, as I quietly write these lines, I appeal to every honest heart in this community to decide upon the wisdom as wf 11 as th c righteousness of the course I advised. In any other country but New Zealand—which is at the present given over to the pernicious and excited government of political speculators who care for nothing but their desperate game—the simple fact that a person accused of a fearful offence against the laws—an offence, the gravity of which under the circumstances could scarcely be over stated—was permitted by the very Magis trate before whom, in all probability, the charge would be investigated, to approach him privately, to utter words which would be heard by no other ears, to avail himself of an opportunity such as an accused man could scarcely hope again to see would surely be ground for applying to have such a Magis trate, however high his position or pure his character, removed from the Bench. I was amused at the indignant virtue of Mr Beckham as he leaned forward upon his desk and hissed, rather than spoke, "To the pure all things are pure, but to the impure and debased all things are impure and debased." Sometime since, in another celebrated case, Mr Beck ham began to teach me the duty of a gentle man ; now he assumes the role of a teacher of morality. I claim to be no better than my fellows, —no man is so conscious of my faults as myself,—but I say to Thomas Beckham : Peter, I know, and Paul, I know; but who are you ? Is it not enough, 0 ! Thomas Beckham, for you to claim that the mantle of Chester'

field fell upon your »Wtl» """"^' aspinngtothe apostolic sucS* would remind you to ftffjSgM W upon the journals of the HoLTSH sentatives senous accusations J %S which you have not an *^ £ I were a judge, and C» J made ag a .nst me of S^*r. righteous judgments" I would,£, „" «*• Government entertained such Ztfte place my commission in their &**., say: «I decline to act until my » tod cleared " But for three yean. Lf^t k content to lie quiet under these S VeW have urged upon the Ministry 0 vS?" I again the investigation of theseZS!o^ what step have you ever taken IS b »t the same conclusion. Do not f« ea* SS n yZ in£ ulc_* c 7 0UP teacC\/ tt that the Bench, like Crf *** should be above suspicion. L^, sir having settled with th« Do * fry let me settle down to try ZJT^t with Mr J. S. Macfarlane baSSS* lation to this case the evidence Mi ■* was given was clear and conclusive a" 8, 1' ask whether the whole of the mL. m l career does not corroborate tk7^«_!f Nt made by Craig that Macfarlane said«u ' such influence with the justices , n( ,T juries, and the Government, thatlSS ually shield yoa from harm." Has i influence with the justices ? WW . n. 0' is safe from his threats, his cajolemi* his entreaties. Take Major ReddS '" He first writes that gentleman alette, 0*86, taining a copy of that vile pamphlet ™7° a' ted by himself called « Craig's SKfe work full of the most libellous acc2 * against every one who took or seeST take an unfavourable view of CrjiT rather J. S. Macfarlane's position. A« f°' the letter itself that is cunninelv »«j ? " Be cautious," it said, afteraUn&gH pamphlet, " how you adjudicate decil upon the quarrel between these parties" I other words the letter read, "See how it fares with those who oppose me. I will accuse them, I will bring Government 3 Parliamentary pressure to bear upon them Even the Chief Justice is not beyond mi power and that of my friends. Take care of yourself. I know of your recent losses in mining ventures. I know of your po^ lam determined. Beware!" Andwhenhe sees Mr Keddell a few days after theletterwas written Mr Macfarlane' is all amiability "Oh, going to town are you, want to so this week with your family, do you ? Oh, yes, of course, the Crown only comeg once a week, but to please and convenience you Major, I will send her round again." And this is full view of the approaching trial I don't say that this influenced Major Ked del, whom I have known for many years, and esteem and respect, but I say that to permit a man to do this. to permit him to approach the officers of justice thus, alternately offering threats and bribes, is to tamper with right and weaken the confidence of the people. If I were a magistrate I would sooner take by the hW the foulest leper that ever wanderedftomtle gates of an eastern town than I would suhnjit to be tempted and threatened by any mil. however high his position or great his power. Has Mr J. S. Macfarlane not often boasted of his power with the Auckland juries. Did he not get that abominable libel signed by the jurymen who sat on the celebrated case of Mohi v. Craig ? I allude to the declaratia of the jury, for which each one of tha ought to have been committed. Ess he sot treated with contempt every court of justice in the province, and broken their orders as he pleased ? Has he not held up to contempt tbe proceedings of the courts, and published letters and pamphlets in the same strain almost without number ? Does he deny that he told Craig to shoot Harris ? It is time for the public welfare that the "respectable" citizen you speak of were fully known. He has attacked everybody—Messrs McCormick and McKechnie. Messrs Harris (senior and junior), Salmon, Murnin, Maehattie, Dnthie, Craig, myself, Sir George Arney, ; and Mr Justice Johnston. Nor have his other opponents escaped. Mr Swanson and Mr Henderson he vilified because they spoke the truth in the Assembly. Did he not strike Mr Thos. Russell in the face upon the open street ? Is he not held convicted of having given £200 ton member of the Assembly to resign in order that he might obtain the vacant seat ? Has he not, under the guise of being a friend to Craig, held his property these four years, so that if Mrs Craig had been penniless the family must have starved. Maehattie haunts the streets, and many others of his former friends, that is those of them who have not found a resting place "where the wicked cease horn troubling and the weary are at .rest.' he has flooded the press with libels, and is now, in this case, accused, on ,unco?" tradicted evidence, of inciting to murder. M for his influence with the Government, ana especially Mr Vogel, there is no doubt ot is The members of the Assembly in -^T (and none more than yourself) can testify this. Would your wretched pen be so earn est in his defence unless your patron «»» master (Julius Vogel) were his friend, how long, I ask, are these things to be> w ~i How long are the sentiments of tof^'Zi honor, and justice to be outraged? I »EP to the heads of families in the colony of A» Zealand to urge upon the Governments purify the Bench so that justice- may meted out equally to all.- I apM^ ministers and members of churches ot cv«; name and of every creed. I •PW.JJL Assembly, the fountain of lf^£s itself insulted by the action of vindicate its position and its honor, j j peal to the Government, especially w Vogel (who must surely be ignorant vm^ man was using his name toettect^ j purposes) to see that the P"?*|S Justice are no longer treated with conW I appeal to the people, the source ana w { ation of temporal power, to see> *° „ d * that their own liberties are ensured,■ » .^ they do not raise up tribunals « effi! ] perpetrate tyranny and injustice.., suffer," said an old English judge,■ suffer no impure hand to touch tMi» ,% of justice." And, failing all else, 1 m that God whose very existence some o men deny, whose laws thoy disregara, authority they dispute, to *fW%& the ances of the oppressed, and to pi""" guilty.—l am, etc.,

W. h-BEBS'

SMITH'S COMBINATION TROUPE.

_. ?e»m to* It is not a matter of surprisei to i { .^ Mr. Smith's renowned comp^mar artists should continue, b{ vellous feats and m. elodie%. a^te the f favour. Last evening, ***%&, 'f» favourable state of the ; *g cro ffded Prince of Wales Theatre JB3^^. with interested and ™^Jj»l «"' The proceedings opened^ with a £ gfc ture V the band, f^^ions -«J Vincent in his rtte of h^° g which were encored. Th^^. d -flj. nastic scene by the cKstro>J careful instructor -A. perfjj certainly the most >nd w* ance that we have ever witness the ages of the chUdren *£__^^i account-five, seven, :*?

THE BVHRNG STAR FftIDAY. *tAY 2&, 1874.



ri A U T t ON OLSON'S TOMATO SAUCE. Connoisseurs pronounce this Sauce to be the BEST for general use in households, and, in con sequence of its high reputation, somo unprincipled persons have been induced to Collect Empty Bottles bearing the manufacturer's name stamped thereon, and pass the same off as "Olson's Universal Tomato Sauce." The proprietor has in consequence caused his TRADE MARK to be Registered under the provisions of the "Trade Marks Act, 1866." and proceedings will be taken against such persons as may forge or counterfeit such mark. The public are cautioned to ASK FOR OLSON'S SAUCE, and see that the name is Stamped on Bottle and stopper, and wrapped round with his wei'-known label. ROYAL INSUEANCE COMPANY. NOTICE OF REMOVAL. The Office of this Company has been REMOVED from No. 15, Shortland-street, to Hobson's Buildings; on the opposite side, immediately adjoining the Post office. GEO. WM. JONES, Agent. Auckland, May 8.1874. TUST RECEIVED BY P. H. LEWISSON: Russell and Son's Keyless Gold Hunting Levers, Rotherham's Gold Hunting Independent Stop Watches, Rotherham's Gold Hunting [Ladies' English Levers, Rotherham's Gold Hunting Levers, Large size Gold Presentation Watches, Silver English Hunting Levers, Gold Hunting Genevas, best quality, Gold Open-face Genevas. BEST ASSORTMENT IN AUCKLAND. F. H. LEWISSON, JEWELLER, QUEEN-STREET. [Established 1864. ■T\ STEPHENSON &. CO.'S CELEBRATED COFFEES, "EXHIBITION BRAN D," " EAGLE BRAND," "CROWN BRAN D," Are to be procured at all respectable Groosrh and Storekeepers throughout the Province of Auckland. D. STEPHENSON & CO., WYNDHAM STjREET, Auckland. TJUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN Have great pleasure in announcing that they are NOW OPENING UP THEIR SHIPMENT Ez'Norham Castle, Hylton Castle, and Doretto, Consisting of— 56 CASES AND BALES or NEW WINTER GOODS, And respectfully invite attention to the same. GENTLEMENS CLOTHING, BOYS' AND YOUTHS' CLOTHING, HATS AND CAPS, HOSIERY. Children's New Felt Hats, Ladies' Black Straw Hats, Flowers, Feathers, Ribbons &c. FANCY DRESS GOODS, FRENCH MERINOS, WINCEYS, WOOL PLAIDS, FLANNELS. LADIES' BLACK CLOTH JACKETS. CHILDREN'S AND LADIES' WATEPRROOF TWEED MANTLES. U MB BELLAS, Etc., Etc., Etc. FURNISHING GOODS, And a complete New Stock in every Department. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN Wholesale and Retail Drapers, Clothiers, &o JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) Upper Queen-sinEET, Auckland. TJETIRING FROM THE RETAIL. J. COSGRAVE & CO. Are giving up their Retail Business in Queen-street. A SALE of the Goods will be held TO-MORROW, the 14th of March, and will continue until the entire Stock is disposed of. We are now landing THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS WORTH of DRAPERY and MEN'S CLOTHING, purchased by Mr Cosoravh from the English and French Manufacturers, which will be od at unp recedentj-bly low prices. No credit will be given during the Sale. fa O T I 0. E. The BANKS will be CLOSED on MONDAY next, 26th instant, Queen's Birthday,