SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

HIGH WATER: This evening, S.S . to-iaOMO morning. 5.21 SUE-SET: Thle evenlns!, 6.14; SUN-RISE J Tc morrow morning, 6.43 MOON'S AGE: Full Moon, 2nd May, 3.48 a.m.

ARRIVALS.

Pretty Jane, W. Palmer, from Napier, via Coast Tawera, schooner, from Kaipara (in the Manukau) Saucy La's, schooner, from Napier Mary Eliza, cutter, from Levuka Herald, schooner, from Lyttelton

DEPARTURES.

Rowena, s.s., for Russell Murray, s.s., for Tauraripa Alacrity, gunboat, from Manukau, for Sydney

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For Opoti-i—Fanny Kelly, ketch, to-morrow For Gisborne and Napier— Pretty Jane, s.s ,to-morrow For Poverty Bay— Julius Vogel, schooner, Wcdnes-

day For Hokianga—Lady Franklin, barque, at once Newcastle—Hylton Castle, to morrow Southern ports—Taranaki, s.s., Ist proximo (Suez

Mail) Levuka, via "VVangapoa—Daphne, early Napier and Southern ports—Cyphrenes, s.s , early London—Anazl, barque, early

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Cyphrenes, s.s., Mail Steamer, from Kandavu Rangatira, s.s., from Sydney, 28th instant Southern Cross, s.s., from England Empreza, barque, from Liverpool. Sailed October 15 Jubilee, ship, from London, Sailed January 21 Rouparell, ship, from London. Suled February 19 Bella Mary, from Hobnrfc Town, early Isabella, bn'g, from Newcastle. Sai'ed 14th instant Annie Lisle, barque, from Newcastle. Sailed about

20th instant Mary King, schooner, from Adelaide, early Edith, schooner, from South Sea Islands, early Excelsior, schooner, from Dunedin, early Serene, barque, from Wellington Clematis, ketch, from Lyttelton, early Merlin, schooner, from Lyttelton Ryno, schooner, from Lyttelton Flirt, brigantine, from Lyttelton

IMPORTS.

Per schooner Herald, from Lyttelton: 5 cases cheese, H. B. Morton ; 10 kegs butter, 18 cases cheese, Townsend Bros. ; 305 sacks wheat, order ; 23 do do, J. and J. Soppett; 80 sacks bran, order; 10 kegs butter, Osborne Bros.; 3 cases hams, order; 9 do cheese, T. Veale.—J. S. Macfarlane and Co., agents. Per Saucy Lass, from Napier : 120 hides, Ireland Bros. ; 1,500 bushels wheat, 30 do maize, 28 pigs, order. Per Mary Eliza, from Levuka : 93 bales pulu, 32 barrels salmon, 26 cases do, 334 brooms, 1 roll cloth.—M. Niccol, agent.

The schooner Effie Meikle brings a cargo of grain and produce from Napier and the Coast.

In consequence of the black north-easter ■which has been blowing all day, accompanied by drizzling rain, work among the shipping has been almost entirely suspended. The Dorette will not open her hatches till to morrow.

f^The ship Allahabad, which was lying last evening below the Blanche in the man-of war ground, got away in the ebb before day break this morning. With the wind as it is now she would not be able to do much good.

The cutter Mercury has cleared for Mer cury Bay with a small cargo of stores. The schooner Herald arrived last night from Lyttelton with a cargo of grain and other Southern produce. She comes con signed to Messrs J. S. Macfarkne and Co.

The brig Isabella sailed from Newcastle for this port on the 14th inst. with 408 tons of coal for Messrs Henderson and Macfarlane. The barque .Annie Lisle was to sail on the 20th with another cargo of coals. The brigantine Coronet has hauled along side the Anazi, into which she is engaged in to which she is engaged transhipping her cotton, etc., for London.

The s.s. Wellington, which left for the South yesterday, took a general export cargo, and the following passengers :—Mr and Mrs Mills and family (3); Messrs Loverock, Hood, Wilcox, Adair, Braithwaite, Morrison, Crow hurst, Nancarrow, C. Hood, Quinliviau.

The s.s. Pretty Jane arrived from Napier, via the East Coast, last night. She had a fine passage. Her cargo from Napier com prised 650 sheep, which were landed at Cape Runaway. She took another cargo of sheep and cattle at Owanui, and landed it at Orakei. The Pretty Jane brings the following pas sengers :—Messrs Horsfall, Johnson, Nicol, Boyd, Manning, Green, Walker, Rev Mr Roots, Lieut. Eyre, R.N., and four in the steerage. The cutter Mary Eliza arrived last night from the Fijis with a cargo of island produce. Captain Madden reports leaving on the 11th April, and arrived the same day at Kandavu, leaving again on the 14th. Made the North Cape on the 23rd. Light variable winds were experienced to the Poor Knights ; thence strong N.E. winds to port. The Mary Eliza was formerly trading in this port, but has been engaged in a labour cruise among the islands. Captain Gundry comes as a pas senger.

Messrs R. Walker and Co. have received instructions from their correspondents at home to sell by auction the barque East Lothian as she lies. The sale is to take place on the 27th May at Messrs B. Tonks and Co.'s Mart ; plenty of the time will therefore be afforded for intending bidders to thoroughly examine the vessel.

The Mary Eliza brings word from Levuka of the s.s. Macgregor bsiDg still in Galoa Bay. Captain Grainger expected to be ready to proceed to sea in about a fortnight's time from the 14th inst.

The ship Dallam Tower was taken into the Dunedin graving dock on the 15th inst. for cleaning and repairing. The brigantine Emulous,, from Kaipara to Dunedin with timber, arrived on the 15th instant at the latter port. She was off the Heads five days before, but was blown away by a southerly gale, which she encountered before she could run in. ,?

The European Mail says that the tonnage loading on the berth at London on the 19th of February for India, China, and the Cape of | Good Hope amounted to 49,723 tons; and for Australia and New Zealand, 38,075 tons. ■'A _______

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

Wellington, This day. Arrived: McCallum Mohr, the largest merchant ship which has ever come here. She is full of railway iron, and has no passengers,

COMMERCIAL.

CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST.

The following aro the current calls and dividends payable in the companies named below :— _______ 8.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Maxls wn.li Close ah Ukdeb :— For Thames, to-morrow, at 10.30 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. For Coromandel, to-morrow, at 12.30 p.m. For Napier and Southern provinces, per Mikado, six hours after arrival For Opotiki, per Fanny Kelly, to-morrow, at 11 a.m. For Gisborne and Napier, per Pretty Jane, to-

morrow, at 3 p.m. For St. Andrews', Kennedy Bay, per Rob Roy, to-

morrow, at 3 p.m. For Tauranga, per Vincent, to-morrow, at 4 p.m. Eor Waiwera and Warkworth, per Lady Bowen, On

Thursday next, at 10 a.m. For Russell, per Murray, on Thursday next, at 2 p.m, For Wanganui, per St. Kilda, on Thursday next,

at 6 p m For Chatham Islands, per Ocean Wave, on Friday

next For the undermentioned places, per Taranaki, on Saturday, 2nd May, as under:—

For India, China, Mediterranean Ports, and Continent of Europe, at 6.30 am For Southern provinces, and Australian Colonies,, at 7.30 a m i

For the United Kingdom, via Suez (for letters specially addressed), at 7.30 a m For the United Kingdom, via Brindisi, and late letters for Southern provinces and Melbourne, at Bam For newspapers, at 6 a m

For money orders, and registered letters, on Friday, Ist May, at 5 p m i! jgned) .. B. Bin?, Chief Portmaster.

DEATH.

Isaacs—On the 28th instant, Maude Leonora, infant daughter of Moss and Mary Isaacs, of Upper Queen street, Newton. "-'■■'

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

An Outsider has not furnished his name „ according to rule. , _ ..

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

TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1874.

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

And the good that we can do

We have received a •warmly-written letter __iVn.fl "Citizen" on the "Liberty of the Prefp," which for its truly noble sentiments we would in other circumstances have very gladly published. But our correspondent mn.t know that by rule, even if not restrained by a sense of what is becoming, I we are precluded from comment on the libel case now pending. Such reference might of course be tortured into the appearance of contempt of Court, and as in common with every good citizen we have the greatest respect for the highest court of judicature in the colony we desire to do nothing that may give cause to tlie enemy to blaspheme. Besides it would be unfair in us to do anything that might tend to influence a decision in the case. This we trust will be accepted as our reason for observing silence during the pending proceedings. At the same time we take this opportunity of ex pressing the pleasant surprise with which ■we have receivod from every side—even from many whom we had regarded as some what unfriendly to the Star—to strong assurances of sympathy and encouragement. Wo desire to express our cordial apprecia tion of such kindness, and assure our friends that they will find tho Star true to iF-ir and to the cause of right, and that neither now nor ever shall we show the _' white feather."

Wk "-ere glad to learn that onr remarks on the desiiableneFS of employin. steam in the pursuit of whales in the South Pacific re. oi veil con. ideration at the meeting of the Whaling Company on Friday last. We are not pleased, however, that the proposal was so li<_'htlv esteemed and so readiiy smothered with difficulties. No good r.ftßons were urged why such a venture ..sa steam whaler shoidd not bo entered upon. The objections to a vessel of that stamp were—so far as we can learn—First, that she would not answer ; and, second, that she would not pay. The first objection is urged on the ground that the sperm whale, being more timid than the Greenland whale, would be frightened by the noise caused by a steamer, and thus warned of approaching danger, would give its would-be captors.a wide berth. The same objection wa. urged against steamers when it was first proposed to employ them in the Greenland fishings. A cry wa« raised that the steamers would-frighten all th« whales out of the Greenland waters. but a ship-owner was found with courage and enterprise enough to try the experiment, and be succeeded. The steamer did not drive all the fFh ay.iv; it gavo creator expedition to the work of c-T'tarinsr the whales, and it took home a larger cargo of oil than the saving vessels bad If mm the habit of doing. In short, it paid handsomely, and a large number of steamers are now profitably employed at the same work. We are not familiar with the temperaments of the different branches of the celacea family, but if thero is any truth in the statement that the sperm whale is more nervous than tho northern branches of the family it manages to disguise its nervous ness wonderfully. Standing on tho deck of a steamer wn have repeatedly seen sperm whales spouting and sporting about in tho waFr ss if enjoying the look of a steamer. Had they been very timid they could not have feigned such boldness, for they were near enough to be within range of a harpoon-gun. But probably their bold ness was to be accounted for by the fact that; they had heard that there was not in the Southern latitudes sufficient pluck to c\ve them chase with steam and powder. How is it known that the application of steam to sperm whale fishing would be un successful ? Has it ever been tried ? If not, why condemn it in the face of such success ai has attended th« operations of steam whalers in Greenland? If it has proved suceesaful in northern latitudes there must be some reason other than the timidity of the Southern whalers why it is not tried here. Why, at the very moment this argument ac linst a steam whaler was being addressed to the shareholders of the Whaling Com pany, we had proof brought to our door that tho sperm whale is not afraid of steamers. The little noisy p.s. Devonport, while out on a surveying cruise, came across a school of whiles playing and skipping about in tho water between Tiritiri and the North Head, as if charmed with the appearance of the harmless little stranger. The Devon p r. makes far more noise than a screw boat would do, and if these whales were not frightened by that noise what reason is _ there for the belief that a screw, which makes comparatively little noise, would do such mischief. We cannot conceive of any, and must therefore abide by our previously expressed opinion—viz., that tbe employment of a vessel with an auxiliary screw by our local whaling company would b_ fraught with great pecuniary advantages to the shareholders. We do not say that a stepmer would return to the harbour three months after the date of her departure a full ship, but there is nothing in the nature of the thing to forbid such good luck, while there is reasonable ground to hope that such success would attend the venturo Had the Albion been able to give chase to some of the schools of whales which were sighted during her cruise her owners would have been in better spirits to-day. But she was helpless ; she could not get near the whales ; tlie wind would not allow her, and the raging of the sea forbade the lowering of a boat. . It does not require much observation to perceive that it would have been otherwise if the Albion had been fitted with an auxiliary screw, and had a harpoon-gun on her deck. The report of the gun might have shaken the nerve 3of the poor timid whales, but then if the harpoon had got a good hold of the blubber the nerves would soon have been quieted. It will not do to be behind the age in whale fishing any more than in any thing else, and if our local company desire to get quit of the uncertainties of old fashioned whaling they must leave the old paths and take to the new.

The weekly drill of No. 1 Royal Company was held last evening in the Drill-shed, and the»<- vvas a good muster of membeis. Lieut. Payne ..nd Sergeant-Major Haslem were in coir-.i nd. —

I beg respectfully to acknowledge the receipt of one pound from C. L. H. Joy, Esq., as a contribution towards the fund for the relief of the widow Mrs Redshaw.—T. B. Bannafobd, High-street.

Last evening, an interesting lecture was delivered hy Mr Blackmail (one of the 'Evening Star staff) in the schoolroom of All Saints, Ponsonby, to au attentive audience. Mr BVench in the chair The lecturer dealt with the life and poetry of Milton, reviewing bis early dajs at Morton, near Windsor, aud Cambridge, and led his hearers on through the vicissitude- of the poet's career, pointing out many of the beauties of his writings. The lecture was pleasantly interspersed with appropriate hymns by the choir, accompanied on the pianoforte by Mrs Hammond. The lecturercor.cluded his remarks by saying that to many young persons the beautiful poems of Milton are but a dead-ietter. The character of much of the liteiatuic of the ago is not commendable. It does not tend to strengthen the intellect and foster aspiratious after a purerand better stale of existence, butraiherin an opposite direction —enervai es the mind and destroys pure taste. I would say to youngmeu, study good authors, as Milton studied them. In his early years he was well read in the classics and sciences. He was skilled in Latin, and eloquently read the Bible in the j Hebrew tongue, which latter acquisition led I him, no doubt, to clothe his poems in re.tt.res of immortal beauty. Whenever Milton was about to commence any work, literary or otherwise, his invariable practice was ro invoke the spirit of the Highest to his aid in noblest strains and to re-echo the truths of Scripture. Milton, in truth, was one of the many evidences that Scripture is not antagonistic to intellectual culture, but that on the other hand i. has created science, developed the arts, fostered learning, and made human life sacred. Home of us prob ably, with Mr Johnson, may object to Mil ton's republican principles, but few of us, I presume, will not admire his self-denying character, his personal consistency, his love of truth, and the chastity of his life. In the calm sunset of his years the old poet in his physical blindness would sit and muse under an elm tree in front of his cottage, upon the spiritual Eden of the soul with its und'cayiDg trees and living waters, and dream of " Paradise regained," through the all-sufficient merits of the new Adam—the Redeemer of the fallen human race. He saw also, with prophetic vision, eras of liberty brightening tho horizon of the future of man kind, and felt a serene sati .faction in having reared by his genius and industry a monument more durable than wood and st me—a monument that would be re garded as one of the chief of England's many liter.tty glorie.—a monument upon which the gilted and Ihe good of all ranks, poets and patiiots, would gaze with lively admiration and profound respect while teaching their children reverently to lisp tho honoured name of John Milton. A vote of thauks on the motion of Mr King, seconded by Mr Jackson, was accorded to the lecturer, and the National Anthem closed the entertainment. W re may add that the choir sang remarkably well, and much credit is due to Mr. Hammond, Mr. Grainger, and tho friends who exerted themselves on this occasion.

The course of lectures for the winter season in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association has been arranged and will shortly be introduced to the public. The opening meeting will take phce in the City Hall on tho Sth of May, his Excel lency Sir James Forgusson in the chair. Addresses will b_ given by his Honor the Superintendent, the fie.. Dr. Wallis, and W. C. 0 iver, and Messrs. Firth and Boardman The selections of music by the choir will be under the conduct of Mr Cooper. Tbe first leetute will be delivered on the 20ch proximo, to be followed in due succession by other.*. The BUbjepts aro varied with nice discrimination, aud embrace chemistry, morals, ai-trommy, water, scripture, manu scripts, superstitions,the .-abbath in Christian cities, music, science among the cinders, and man ; but no biography of auy great charac ter, as was the case in tlie .yllabus of last year. This seems to be an o.ni_sion ou the part of the committee, as great examples of good lives are among tbe most useful and encourag ing of youthful studies. Still the programme ia a good one, and when the names of the lecturers are known as Right Rev. Dr Cowie, Yen. Archdeacon Maun.ell, Rcva. C. M. .Nelson, Alex. Reid. G. 11. Turner D. Bruce,

.John Crump, P. H. Cornford, and Messrs Severn, Heale, and Nicholson, a genuine and highly instructive series of discourses may be expected.

We learn Ihat the General Assembly meets for the despatch of bu moss on the 3rd of July. The Auckland members have been

advised of the fact by telegram

" One of our readers" writes enclosing an extract from the Ecclesiastical Observer shew ing that Mr. D. King, tlie author of the sermons on "Good Templary," is in no way connected with the Plymouth brethren. The extract shows that Mr. King preached to large congregations at Whitby in the meet ing bouse of tbe Society of Friends, the Congregational, Wesleyan, Primitive Metho dist, aud Free Church Methodist Chapels.

The owner of the sfeamers Macgregor and Mikado, Mr D. ___. Macgregor, of Leith, N. 8., has been elected member of Parlia ment for Leith, having polled no fewer than 4489 as against 19_:5 recorded for the pre vious member, Mr Mac fie, ,whoisalso a Leith man. Mr J. R. Macgregor, a well known broker of Melbourne, is a brother of the hon. member.

The Co-operative Bakey Society, Welling ton, baked 1,822 loaves on Saturday week, making a total of 4,(591 baked during the week, in addition to a large quantity of bis cuits and small goods. Too society have purchased some improved biscuit machinery made in Melbourne, and are about advertis ing for tenders for building another oven and making alterations to their premises in Willis street. When these are completed this will be the largest and best arranged bakery in

the colony. Mr Holloway, agent of the English Laborers' Union, is now in tlie Southern part of the province of Canterbury. He has telegraphed ro the Superintendent of Tara naki that he will endeavour to vi-it that province in about six weeks' or two months' time.

The police in Christchurch have been re moved to new and more co i.modious quarters in Hereford street.

Freight from Grey mouth to Reefton has temporarily advanced £5 per ton, owing to the state of the road.

The difficult problem of how to provide a good meal at a reasonable rate has been suc cessfully solved by Mr Wilson, of Wellesley street East. In his restaurant, not only is abundance given at the small cost of six pence, but the provisons are properly cooked, and all the appliances of the table are as clean and well appointed as it is possible to make them. Besides this there are rirst-class arrangements for lodgers, all of which are good and well kept. The example is worth following. For even on the small amounts charged tbe returns must be good if the num ber of people patronising the establishment be any criterion.

After a ahoi fc season the works of the New Zealand Meat Pre^ervto?; Company at Kakauui and Washdyke were closed last week. The supplies o_ cattle and sheep being abundant in Southamd, the Woodland woiks will be in opera'ion for four months yet. The Otago limes uuderstands that un less there is a better prospect of supplies next season the works will remained closed.

The Harbour Board received yesterday the official documents relating to the dock ques tion. Those comprise the report of the Engin.er-in-Chief, the opinion of the Attorney-General, and a communication from the Minister of Public Works, ihe report of Mr Carruther's does not condemn the site. He thinks all the sites from Parnell Point to Freeman's Bay equally favourable from an engineering point of view. He does not see how the graving dock will be benefited by connection with the railway, but calls attention to clause 3 of Docks Act, 1871, on this point, and says that the size of the work will involve the outlay of all the money which the Act authorise to be spent on docks generally. Tho report continues : ''If the area between the Breakwater and Queen-street Jetty were protected by the extension of the Breakwater, and by making a solid pier instead of a jetty, this would make available a better site, with the advan tage of fulfilling the requirements of the Docks Act." * * * The conclusion runs as follows .—"On the whole I consider the construction of such a dock as the one pro posed would not meet the requirements of Docks Act clause above quoted, and that the money which it will cost could be much more advantageously spent in other works, but that if it should be decided to build it the site is under present conditions the best which could be selected, and even if the Breakwater is extended hereafter tho present site is nearly as aood as the one behind the Breakwater." The opinion given by the Attorney General was telegraphed in full.

We understand that the amateur concert under the patronage of his Excellency the Governor and Lady Fergusson, and to he conducted by the Hon. Seymour Egerton, in aid of the funds of St. Stephen's Orphan Home, Parnell, has been unavoidably post poned to Saturday, May 2nd.

We learn by the telegrams received per the Omeo yesterday, that the New South Wales Government have addressed a remon strance to the Home Government on the sub ject of the irregular arrival of the San Fran cisco Mail. It is a fact that not one steamer has yet arrived here, or in Australia, since the establishment of the route without being two or three days behind her appointed time. The boat, now expected is already five days behind, and if the service continues to be worked so irregularly the pub lished time-table will be in a short time of no use as a guide whatever. The fault of this want of punctuality does not lie ia the class of steamers provided by the company to carry the mails across the Pacific. These steamers are in every way suitable for the work they are employed on, and as a rule havo accomplished their runs well within the contract time. It is in the passage across the Atlantic that the delay occur-. Last month the mail steamer from England arrived at Boston seven days late, and now we hear that the last steamer arrived two days behind time. The steamers employed are it seems an inferior class of Cunard liners up to about nine knots or thereabouts, and instead of the run across taking nine or ten days, the estimated time for a first-class boat, it is taking under the present circumstances from twelve to seven teen. The New South Wales Government have acted very properly in taking the matter up, and it would be as well if the New Zea land Government were to follow the example, and wire home a word or two of remon strance. The service is a great boon, and we would not be hasty in finding fault wherede lay is the result of uuforseen accident or un avoidable detention, It is impossible for such a,gigantic steeplechase across sea and land to be run without some few stumbles or even breaks down ; but where the cause of the irregularity is soeasy of removal, and there appears no intention to remove it, then it is time that those who suffer by such neglect should speak out. It is the old saying over again, "Tho ship is being spoiled for a half-pennyworth of tar."

The recent fires in Queen-street, Auckland, are thus mused upon by a Taranaki contom porary : —"This street has been for some time in course of renewal by fire. At one time we believe that owners of wooden buildings were allowed to insure them for the cost of replacing them in brick or stone in those parts of Queen-street and elsewhere where the law forbade their re-erection in timber ; and we have heard of a case where a retired military officer declined to assist on the ground of ' what injury has the man done me that I should interfere with his fire? It is burning very nicely.' On tho present occasion we are aware that the fire was quite an . accident, |at the same time we think it unfair to the oilier towns in the colony that Queen street should be renovated quite so fast. Perhaps the Auckland idea is to have a water supply after tbe old wooden buildings have been burned and restored in a shape more worthy of preservation. Tho idea is not a new one. The Emperor Constantine had Rso strong a belief in the efficacy of baptism, that he deferred being baptized until Jie hid committed all the serious crimes that he contemplated. Auckland is putting Queen-street, as the Emperor Napoleon did his son, ' through the baptism of fire.'"

Our Waipu correspondent writes : -There is a good bridle road now from Turauganui to Hick's Bay, a distance of about one hundred and twenty miles. The road is made all the way (but about five or six miles), but I believe the na ives want pay ment for the unfinished part being cut over their land. It is at a stand still. We have a good many travellers along the coast, and two or three sheep runs have lately been taken up. We have four native schools finished here, one at Tokomaro, one at Akuaku, one at Waiapu, and one at Te Kawa Kawa. Three of them have school masters and the other has just been finished, and is now ready. So far the native children attending the schools are getting on very well, and we all here think they will be a great success. As concerns the oil springs here the natives have agreed to hand them over to the Government to get them worked. As far as terms go it is not yet decided what the natives will get. Dr Hector, has been visiting them, and he says that the oil is far richer than \Poverty Bay oil. The handing them over to the Government is a great concession, as over all the land between Tokomaro and Cape Run away is a restriction from either leasing or selling, and the Eurqpeans living in this dis trict are only on sufferance. It would make it better for the country at large, we think, if the restriction was taken off, as all lease here are not worth the paper they are written on. This injures what settlers are living here a great deal. The natives are very willing for Europeans to live amongst them and lease their lands as well.

The following little jeu d'esprit was suggested by the sight of the Duke of Edin burgh and his intended bride skating at St, Petersburg:— ■

Here they are, the Royal pair, British Lion, Russian Be ,r. Tim's paws in muffs are hid, Leo's claws in gloves are slid, Let us hope thej '11 beep them there— British Lion, JKu.-iau Bear. The Vicar of Warwick has entered upon a crusade against the edition of hymns, known as "Ancient and Modern," and in a circular to his parishioners he denounces it as the worst collection of hymns which- has been put into his hands. The grounds of his objections are that they eulogise conventual life, and propagate Mariolatry.

Two and twenty years ago the copper coinage of Victoria seemed to have taken unto itself wings and flown. For several yeatsthe nearest approach to small change that one could get up the country was a box of matches, which was considered an equivalent for threepence ; while instead of sixpence, you might have your choice of a penny cheroot or two boxes of matches. Coming from the up-country diggings in 1857, through Castlemaine, I was given coppers for the first time since 1851, and can distinctly remember considering the tender of the base metal not only a slight, but as a sign that the golden age was passing away. The sight of copper coinage is now, I regret to say, no stranger to me ; and he would be a bold shopman who would offer me a box of matches instead of my change of three pence. It would not at all surprise me to find tbe farthing a current co;n yet in Vic toria, though what would he its purchasing power I "am unable to say.— Australian SJcetcher.

COURT OF PETTY SESSIONS— This Day.

(Before Dr J. R. Nicholson, Chairman ; Thos. ] Cheeseman and Wm. Hurst, Esqs.; and I Major Tisdall, Justices of the Peace.) UN CONSCIOUS SWEARING Henry McMullen was charged with being drunk in front of the Immigration Barracks yesterday evening. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr. Edward Brophy, Barrack-master, de scribed the case. Prisoner was drunk and very insulting towards him. He was a sailor, and intruded into the women's depart ment, and defied the master. His language in the presence of the females was obscene. Constable Allen proved the prisoner's in solent conduct, and took him into custody. Prisoner said he was unconscious of using the language imputed to him. The Bench having severely censured prisoner's conduct, and, as he had nothing to say in his defence, fined him 20s and costs for his drunkenness, and consigned him for one month to Mount Eden with hard labour. Francis Stewart was also charged with being drunk and disorderly in connection with McMullen.

Prisoner said he was not guilty. Mr Brophy proved the charge, but said prisoner did not make use of bad ianguage. Constable Allen found the prisoner in a state of intoxication in the female's room.

Prisoner said he was invited there by the girls and got in through the window. Fined 10s, and costs. Ebenezer Grey, for being drunk at the same place and time, was also fined 10s and costs. VAGRANCY. Laurence Reilly was charged with drunken ness and indecent conduct yesterday in a public place of resort. Prisoner p'eaded drunkenness as an excuse for his conduct, of which he had no recollec tion.

Sergeant-Major Pardy having proved the case, the Bench fined him 5s and costs, or forty-eight hours. ALLEGED EMBEZZLEMENT. Felix Seymour, a young man, was charged with embezzling the sum of £100, the pro perty of his employers, Messrs Eraser and Tinnie, on the 11th inst. Mr Broham asked that this case might be remanded in order to allow the prosecutors to ascertain more definitely the supposed dishonest acts of prisoner. Remanded until Tuesday next. UNPROVOKED ASSAULT. Henry Baristow was charged with committ ing a violent and unprovoked assault on Mrs Alice Walton, the wife of a stoker, on the 27th inst. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Alice Walton, who appeared with a dis coloured and bruised face, deposed that she was a respectable married woman, and that yesterday, while engaged in her domestic work prisoner leaped over her fence, walked into her room, hung his hat up be hind the door, .nd squatted Irmself down on a chair. She knew him only as a neighbour, nnd had scarcely ever spoken to him. When she asked him what his business was in her house he fell upon her and knocked her about the head and face, and caused her bruises. She sent her boy for a policeman and gave him in charge. Prisoner then made a long incoherent statement in his defence. He said that Alice was always gossiping with his wife, and harbouring her in her house. He did not like it, and when he went tojexpostulate Alice punched his head, and tried to knock him down.

The Bench considered the offence p roved, and ordered him to be kept in prison- with hard labour for seven days.

constable mulville and the dogs,

Elizabeth Ryan, who deposed that her husband was on the West Coast, and that she really was not a widow, was charged with allowing her dog to be at large without a collar.

Mrs Elizabeth Ryan deposed that the dog was not her dog, but belonged to somebody else, and that she did not consider herself responsible for other people's flogs. She had been a great sufferer as a keeper of cows, and now that her cows did not stray she was to be pestered about dogs, for which she had no particular regard, and it was hard to be the continued vic tim of persecution. It would seem that a woman without her right must have no right to a horse, nor a cow, nor a dog. The dog was not hers, and she objected to pay for a collar.

Constable Mnlville deposed that he was on his peregrinations about the city for the good of society in general, and that on the 21st of the present month he observed a little white, spotted dog in Albert-street, wagging his tail and barking freely, without a ticket attached to his body. He knew the dog to be the property of Mrs Elizabeth Ryan. She herself had acknowledged that fact, and also her daughter. There was no doubt about the ownership of the dog, which was known as Mrs Ryan's pet. As Mrs Ryan had no further remarks to offer the Court imposed a fine of 5s on defendant, recommending her to spend another 5s without delay in providing " Snap," her little spotted dog, with a legal collar.

John K. Hawksley was fined 5s for a like offence ; and Charles Melton was fined 6d, as he purchased a collar for his retriever since the summons was issued.

Stephen Foley was fined 2s 6d and costs for allowing his chestnut horso to wander in Abercrombie-street on the 21st inst.

fugitive boys

John Gamble Knox, Bernard Morrow, and George Kelly, three boys belonging to the Home for Neglected Children, were charged with running away from that institution. The boys appeared in excellent condition, were clean and neatly dressed.

They, pleaded guilty. Mr Stickley proved the case, and stated that the boy Knox was of an idle disposition, and he believed had induced the other younger boys to run away. The Court considered the matter, and ordered Knox to be whipped, and sent back to the Home. The other boys, who seemed repentant, were ordered back to the Home, where they had been well fed and duly cared for.

Mr Cheeseman strongly objected to whip-

ping, as he believed it was wholly ineff on i_ , *. for reformatory purposes. me««*Utl / The objection, however, was overmU i_ the majority, and the boy was ordered b_ V flogged. w 08 a husband's neglect. Wright Harrison was charged with uA been guilty of acts of brutality toward wife, Isabella Harrison, and with faflil? provide for her and her family within^ last six months. J m the Mr Joy appeared for defendant, and Mr Alexander for the prosecutrix. After some consideration outside,' . Mr Alexander informed the Court thaU was in hopes, from what had transpired th T amicablearrangementswouldbemadebew! the parties. He-Would ask therefore that ft case might be adjourned. c The Court granted the application, and » manded the case for a week. LUNACY. Mary O'Brien, a new arrival, was cWrf with being of unsound mind, aud upon th. testimony of Dr Goldsbro' and Dr Nicholson wr.s committed to the Lunatic Asylum, This was all the business.

MEETING OF JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

The annual meeting of the Justices of the Peace was held in the High-street office to day at noon. Present: Messrs Kic_tolso n " Tole, May, Cheeseman, Tisdall, Hurst' Philips, Allan O'Neil, Home, W. S. Graham Daldy, and Macfarlane. . '

Mr Philips moved, and Mr Isaacs seconded " That W. C. Daldy, Esq., be elected (W man of Petty Sessions for the ensuing year Carried.

It was moved by Mr Macfarlane, seconded by Hurst, and carried, " That Mr Joseph Cunningham be re-appointed clerk to the same at the usuai salary. Henry Richards to be bailiff.

It was proposed by Mr Joseph May seconded by Mr Thomas Cheeseman, and carried, " That the rota be made alphahe tically, so that each justice be summoned to attend four times a year ; rota to be printed and sent to each magistrate and Govern ment."

It was proposed by Mr Macfarlane, se conded by Mr"o'raham,|and carried, "That the attention of the Government be drawn to the repair of the clock noises outside the Court, and other little matters in connec tion with the convenience of the offici-isof the Court.

The meeting then separated.

THE CLAUS-REKEL COMPANY.- OPENING NIGHT.

Td c Claus-Rekel concerts will prove a decided success. The reputation gone before Mdlle. Claus is not only fully deserved, but the performance of this artiste is even beyond our expectation ; and Mdlle. Jeanne Eekel is a charming singer, and possesses the rare ability of enunciating every word clearly and distinctly, both when singing Italian and English. The concert last evening in the jCity Hall commenced with a duet by the Italian tenor, Signor Cecchi and Mdlle. Rekel. We could not but remark the ex ceedingly lady-like appearance and bearing of Mdlle. Eekel on the stage, and the same character impressed her singing. Signor Cecchi on commencing seemed a little hoarse, _ but after a few notes this disappeared, and as the music proceeded it was unmistakable, that it was a performance by genuine artistes. _ Mrs Mitchell follow ed with a ballad, '' Bright ■ Star of Eve arise," which she sang in her usual pleasing style. The next performance took ihe audience by storm. It was the " air varie" of Vieuxtemps played by Mdlle. Claus on the violin. The instrument becomes a living being in this lady's hand. It seems* to receive a breathing soul, the pianoforte accompaniments are reduced to nothing, and as the various phases follow each other yon feel the different spirit, the wailing and pleading accents, the strong martial notes,— all kind of difficulties such as bar- . monies and staccato passages written as if en purpose to frighten an ordinary per- former are faultlessly overcome, until at last the' audience were thoroughly won, and enthusiastically applauded the performer . when the concluding allegro was finished. Signor Cecchi had a most difficult task in . gaining attention* for his song following immediately after. This gentleman has a ' beautiful tenor voice, and showed it to great advantage in rendering the mellow Italian : melody. " I'm Alone," by Mrs MitcM, was a very creditable performance. The natural sadness of the song suits this Jadys voice. The only defect was a slight inacenr acy in some of the high notes. Mons. Eekel played a composition of his own very cleverly and with great execution, but we cannot Say that we admire this style of music. It was much of the same kind that Mr Anderson used to perform here some time ago, showing a deal of manual dexterity, and making a musical hearer exclaim "howclever, on not "how beautiful!" The performance next following was of another character. There was intense earnestness and expression . combined with execution and total comniano .. over even the smallest details. ThM_w» Mdlle. Rekel's " Nightingale Song,'" who? at my Window," etc. Every word came out as clearly as if it was spoken, ana the difficult runs and shakes were given wiw purity, showing perfect training ano > beautiful voice. 0 Mdlle Claus'viohn A "Echoes of the Alps," fully confirmed M» impression made by her first performance. The echoes were echoes indeed, anaJ, wonderful double notes repeated and vanw in different chords told like a quaint wa story. This is indeed the secret ortg... artiste's great power. She -ma *e_:i the instrument speak. The second part of*" , concert opened after a few minutes intf™. with the well known scena and aria, , Poco," by Signor Cecchi. Some of m,. s audience who evidently understood. notmng of Italian, and very little about m^, succeeded in checking the rising app» after he had finished. Tbeir excuse m . I be found in their profound ig°oran.° f f',. vel y ! Mitchell sung " 1 love the Mormng' ~ l prettily. A violin solo on our w^ifr. " Robin Gray" was next pVf'Xjjfa. ; Claus, commencing with the P^.r. tle We must confess that we did not ou{ notes, though broad and vigorons,ca d quite as beautifully as we aadhit&erw y Mdlle. Claus play, but shortcoming there were any, were amply m^ L&nce ■ brilliant variation following. I™..* to re- ' were in raptures, and Mdlle Clausi ha*^ „ appear, and played "Ye Banksano^ ffJg "Un bacio solo" followingneg, tf perhaps Signor Cecchi's best «ff°rV^ , pianoforte accompaniment being. written and beautifully VW**^ &*\, + came out with a fulness and ronn b -^ . could not help being apprectatea 3^ ?{ ~ those who do not i»-*r__M^^_i_ \ music. Mrs Mitchell's heart ww« > otT e; hernextsong. F quire great power or brlU*a3i Bg , and * ... sung with tenderness and &&%&}£ ceived with great applause. , the piano solos, a " #& All airs? was an o Jt.on. *# It was a .^^ quite as difficult as ««■ 0i js*. it cannot be domed fj^his^ possesses wonderful powe-r^^ ! ment, and P^t 8' t&^ I and smoothly. Mons. BeM *,

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lucl-land Whaling Co... .. 2 10 0 tubv .. .. ;. .. o, 1 0 .incoln Castle .. .. ..010 iueen of the May .. ..010 Jational Bank of N.Z. .. .. 0 10 0 Dividends. HdWhau.. .. .. ,, o 10 0

j_»a_o May 9 May 13 May 13 May 13 July 1 April 29



ON SAL E BY THE UNDEBSIGNED NOW LANDING EX TARANAKI -20 kegs Prime;Lyttelton Butter 20 cases Prime Canterbury Cheese. H|' GEO. W. BINNEY,":"'



SPECIALTIES FOR THE SEASON. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN, (LATE R. HOBBS), Are Now Opening dp their WINTER SHIPMENTS EX NORHAM CASTLE and HYLTON CASTLE Comprising— SILK AND ALPACCA UMBRELLAS LADIES' BLACK CLOTH JACKETS, CHILDREN'S, MAIDS. AND LADIES' WATERPROOF TWEED MANTLES, In Great Variety and Newest Styles. CHOICE NEW DRESS GOODS In Greatly Variety. FRENCH MERINOS in all shades COBURGS, WINCEYS', FLANNELS All Wool Plaids, Union, and All Wool Crimean Shirtings STRONG TWEEDS, GAMBROONS WATERPROOF TWEEDS In Great Variety. Furnishing Goods, Blankets, Sheetings, white and grey White Linen Damask, Loom Damask W.ndow Muslins, Muslin, and Leno Curtains Victoria Table Covers, Printed Cloth ditto Druggets, White and Red Matting, &c, &c. ALSO, TO ARRIVE EX DORETTE— 34 CASES AND BALES OF GENERAL DRAPERY GOODS, CLOTHING, Etc., Etc., Etc. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN Wholesale and Retail Drapers, Clothiers, Ao JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) Upper Qtjeen-sireet, Auckland. [Established 1864.] T\ STEPHENSON & CO.'S CELEBRATED COFFEES, "EXHIBITION BRAN D," " EAGLE BRAND," "CROWN BRAN D," Are to be procured 'at all respectable Grocers and Storekeepers throughout -he Province of Auckland. D. STEPHENSON & CO., WYNDHAM STREET, Auckland. T3ETIRING FROM THE RETAIL. J. COSGRAVE & CO. Are giving up their Retail Business In Queen-street. A SALE of the Goods will bo held TO-MORROW, the 14th of March, and will continue until the entire Stock is disposed of. We aro now landing THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS WORTH of DRAPERY and MEN'S CLOTOING, purchased by Mr Cosoratk from the Eng .sh and French Manufacturers, which will be old at unpreoedentedly low phices. No credit will be given during the Sale. TI. H. LEWISSON Begs to inform his numerous frienes and tho public at large that bavin* been success ful in disposing of all his old STOCK at the recent CLEARING-OUT SALE, He has determined to RE-OPEN with an ENTIRELY NEW SELECTION OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF JEWELLERY, WATCHES, &c, And is resolved to offer to the Public Goods of the best Quality at the "~ LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE. AST Extensve Alterations are about to be made in the Business Premises, which when completed will make them second to none in the Colonies. Ihe Manufacturing Branch of the Business will be carried on as usual, and all Repairs or Orders for Cutting and Mounting Greenstone and Qua-, .a will be executed with promptness, F. H. LEWISSON, 1 OPPOSITE UNION BANK, Queen-, .reei, Auckland. fi A U 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, soma unpilncipled persons have been induced to Co 1 Tect 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 proo_edings 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 ronnd^'with jhis well-known label.