SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

HIGH WaTRB : This evening, 11.14 ; to-mono* morning, U.3J SUN-SET: This evening, 4.46; BUN-RIBE: To morrow morning, 7.11 MOON'S AGE: Last Quarter, Bth. 0.67 a.m.

ARRIVALS.

Queen, schooner, from Russell Maid of the Mill, ketch; from Russell Wharata, cutter, from East Coast Gem. schooner, from Wangapoua and Tauranga 1 William Ackers, barque 2C9 tons, Brown, from Newcastle Rowena, s.s., from Russell

DEPARTURES.

Yacht Blanche, for the Mauukau

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For Lyttelton—P. C.E., barque, early ForKandavu—Citj of Adelaide,as'., (English Mail

via Pan Francisco), Monday, Bth June For Sydney and Melbourne—Hero, s s., about the 10th instant ! For New York—Serene, barque, early London—Anazl, barque, at once ; Hyltoa Castle, barque, early For San Francisco— Jubilee, ship, early For Taranaki and Wangahui—Go-ahead, s.s., Friday For the South—Wellington, s.s., 7th instant For Lyttelton—Helena,-schooner, early For a Cruise—Albion, whaling barque, c -rly

IMPORTS.

Per William Ackers, from Newcastle— 453 tons coals, IOJ tons cokes, 790 felloes.— Cruickshank add Co. Per schooner Dauntless, for Noumea: §0,000 ft timber, Cruickshank and Co. _ ~ '

The s.s. Rowena, Captain McGregor, arrived in port from the North early this morning, and having landed her cattle at the Tamaki, came alongside the Queen-street Wharf at eleven o'clock. She left Russell at half-past one o'clock yesterday and had fine weather with S.E. winds throughout the run up. She brings the following passengers :— Captain Norris, Messrs. L. Lewis, R. Drew, _F. Stephenson, W. Ord, A. Williams, J. Bird, H. Mair, Reynell, Mr and Mrs W.-H. "Williams and two children, and three in the steerage. Cargo: 58 bags gum, H. D. Rolf ph. and Co. ; 19 hides, 2 bundle skins. Ireland Brothers; 2 kegs tallow, 1 hide. B. Gittos and Sons; 21,000 shingles, D. Goldie ; 23 bags gum,-Arnold, Hines and Co, ; 20 head cattle, A. Buckland ; 32 bags gum, H. D. Rolph and Co. ; 36 bags gum, Stone Bros. ; 10 bags gum, H. B. Morton. We are in debted to Mr Stodart, purser, for report and other favors. ■ - The barque William Ackers, 299 tons, Capt Brown, arrived from Newcastle this morning with a cargo of coke, coals, and felloes. She left port on the 24th ult. Had west winds for two days, veering round to the eastward. About a week after sailing the^wind backed round to the southward. Rounded North

Cape on the 4th in at. Had fine weather with W.N. W. wind down the coast to the Hen and Chickens. S.E. and E. from thence into port. . . v ■■ i m sCThe departure of the Anazi is finally settled for Monday. The brig Alarm was to sail from Wangaroa today vith llO^OOOft* timber. The schooner Ruby and the cutter Dolly Varden were both loading timber for Auck T

land at Wangaroa on Thursday. The re venue cutter Ringleader arrived early on Thursday morning. The whaling barque Callao, Captain Lees, was to leave Mangonui last, Thursday for the whaling grounds. * '. The barque Fleur de Maurice, loading at "Wangaroa, has 170,000 ft. on beard. She is to take 210,000 ft. The barque Palace has taken in. 160,000 ft. out of 220,000. The barques Rose M. and Annie Lisle have both commenced loading at the same port.. The barque Tasso was towed in by the Rowena on Thursday afternoon. The brig Chanticleer, J/,H. Harvey master, whose arrival from Hobart Town we announced last night, left that port on the 24th ultimo, and has made a very good run of twelve days. After clearing. Cape Pillard she experienced moderate -southerly weather for two days. From the 27th to the 30th had easterly winds with calms.: Sighted the- Three Kings on the 3rd inst. Down the coast the wind veered round from west to South. Took pilot on the sth, and an il chored shortly after midnight. j] The schooner Golden Isle ha 3 cleared in | ballast for Russell. .;*i.: ' '.:'; l! - The schooner Charybdis, Captain Braund, j! arrived from Lyttelton, via Waikato, yester -1 day, with a cargo of breadstuff's. (The barque Anazi last night- came within an ace of involving herself and the barque Florence in common grief. Between ten . and eleven o'clock, at about high-water, it I v, as blowib^ pretty fresh from the • eastward, I and the Anazi was lying at anchor about t 300 yards below the Florence. J-ither from 1 not having enough chain out, or from some ■ other unexplained cause,' the Anazi >began to |i drag, and slowly drifted in the direction of the 1 Florence, -Capt Williams wasnotonboardthe It Anazi, but fortunately the Captain of the || Florence observed the other barque .coming jl down upon him and raised the alarm. The | Anazi came steadily on right athwart the || hawser of the Florence. By the time the I two vessels came in contact Captain .Smith I had all"kinds of fenders improvised to avert I the shock of the collision. Planks and the | vessel's stu'nsail booms were utilized for this I purpose, and by this means the.twos vships j] | were prevented doing each other any "dam |] age. A lighter wag alongside the. Florence El on the port side,' and as the Anazi I j swung : in * her direction ;. she h_ul |. to ill least off and drop astern. She was 111' not, however, able to get clear without some p| damage. The Anazi brought up soon after « wards none the worse for her little escapade. 1 {Had Captain Smith not taken precautions in j;|6ime the Florence would have, been lucky if ||bhehadgot off with" no more damage than H She Anazi herself sustained-from the P.C.E. :Jj in a similar way the other day. , , ii|| A Bill to provide a.training ship for-the I j I Port of San Francisco has been signed by the !ij Grovernor. The project is made conditional llJpn the Navy .Department providing the {I Uhecessary vessels'properly equipped.

jl | The latest thing in life-buoys is Dory's II Patent Water-bottle Life-buoy. -0 This is g| Simply a tin water-can-constructed in the 11 jprm of a parallelogram- about 3 inctfesi deep 11 ivith rounded edges, and slightly curved to 1 j fit the body. -' It is capable of contaihinij 5" or A' quarts of water. Some experiments were ijßecently'madei at Queen's Bridge, N;S.W., flrad the result was- eminently satisfactory. jiLVith two cans strapped to him a man was IBnable to sink'with 211b weights in "his (j,| ands. One is quite sufficient to keep a iljserson afloaj;. < . - ; . ::.:"':

jj.j;"' The barque Mary Fraser arrived from the |||-haling grounds early in the week. 'She ilfiisbeen very successful during her-cruise, living taken no less than 680 barrels sperm I and 600 barrels whale oil. Her cargo is Jued at about £6000. The schooner Gem brings 23,000 feet sawn nber from Wangapoua, having loaded there her way* from Tauranga. The cutter Bertha' brings 110,000 shingles >m the Puhoi. . failed for Thames : May 30, William and | Ua, 40 tons coal; May 30, Policeman, 80 ha coals; June 1,: Ebenezer,' 44 tons coal • | be 2 Speedwell, 55 tons coal; June 3* i i ud, 50 tons coal; June 5, Julia Price, l6\ ».| scoal, ' '

The ship Rooparell broke bulk this morn ing. The barque Serene has taken in all her cargo for New __"ork. The City of Adelaide left yesterday at 2 p.m. for Auckland. The vessels loading at the coal mines on Friday were the Mariner, the li'awn, and the Rowena. The topsail schooner Dauntless has cleared for New Caledonia with a cargo of timber, shipped by Messrs Cruickshank and Co. . * The Alaska has gone upon another cruise and the Rainbow sailed on Thursday with a cargo of oil for New Bedford. The Heather Bell, brig, was to leave New castle on the evening of the 24th for this port.

PORT OF ONEHUNGA.

DEPARTURES. Hero, 20 tons, "Watson, for Kaipara Amaranth, schooner, 51 tons, J. O. Smith, for Kaipara Tawera, schooner, 55 tons, R. Church, for Kaipara. The Amaranth, Hero, and Tawera cleared for Kaipara to-day with cargoes of miscella neous merchandise.

PORT OF RUSSELL.

ARRIVALS. Mary Frazer, whaling barque, 801 tons, Nye, from « cruise

DEPARTURES.

June 2—Alaska, whaling barque, 840 tons, Fisher, for whaling grounds June 4—Rainbow, barque, Ssl tons, Gray, for New Bedford _—,

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

Napier, This day. The s.s. Pretty Jane arrived early this morning from Auckland.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close ah Uspbe :— For Thames, on Slonday next, at 4.30 p.m. \- For Rapanga, on Monday next, at 11 80 p m. For Tarannki and Southern provinces, per Welling ton, to-day, at 5 p.m. For he undermentioned places, per City of Adelaide, on Monday, Bth June, as under :— For Fiji.Sandwich Islands.United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign West Indies, at 12.30 p.m. For the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, at 12.30 p.m. - For money, orders, registered lotters, and news papers, at 11 a.m. Late letters bearing an extra fee of 6d will be received on board the steamer up to timet of sailing. j - ' For Russell, Wangaroa, and Mongonui, per Rowena, on Monday next, at 3 p m.

(Si ned)

S. B. Bias."Chief Postmaster.

MARRIAGE.

Jonhs—Frassi— On June 6, at St. Patrick's Cathe dral, Auckland, by the Rev Fathtr Walter McDonald, Gustivus A. Jones, to Isabel, second daughter of the late Mr G. B. Frassi, C. J5.

DEATHS.

Smith—At the Provincial Hospital, on June 3, James

Smith, late n.yht nurse, aged 33 years, Harris—At his nsidenee, Willow-street, Joseph Harris, aged 39. Native of Cornwall, England. Homerpapers please copy.

The funeral will leave his late residence at three o'clock on Sunday. Friends are invited to attend.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

T. B. Hannaford.—Do not expend your gems of thought upon swiue. Oar space is valuable.

Alexander James.—We cannot give spaoe in our columns day after day for your stupid contradictions. Your letter can only be inserted as an advertisement,

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

SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 1874.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For tho futuro In the distance, And Ui« grcd that wo can do

Ourgtelegrams to-day are unusually inter esting and diversified. It will be seen that another plague ship has arrived in a colonial port, the Northampton, with 370 souls, hav ing reached Lyttelton harbour with small-pox on board. From the fact that seven deaths are reported out of thirteen eases it may be supposed that the disease is of a virulent type. The ship has been quarantined.—A fire at Picton has destroyed Mr Overend's Provincial Hotel causing insurance losses to the extent of £1500 which falls equally on the New Zealand and Victoria.—Earthquake shocks have disturbed the people from Christ church to Timaru. The Anglican Church Synod has had two more important matters under its consideration, and has brought its deliberations to a close. Coming nearer home, we learn by telegram from Grahams town of an explosion of fire-damp, and of large land purchases at Upper Thames. Other minor items make up the budget.

The football match, Auckland v. Parnell, £S going on at Ellerslie this afternoon.

The Parnell Highway Board held a meeting this morning to censider the erection of soap-boiling works in Stanley street, referred to in last night's Star. It was intimated that no permission had been given for the erection of such works in that locality, and an intimation had been sent to the Central Board of Health requosting that the workß mentioned shall not bo sanctioned. The Board cannot take any action until operations have actually been commenced, but desire that attention should be drawn to the following clause of the Public Health Act: — " The business of a blood-boilor bone-boiler fellmonger slaughterer of cattle horses or animals of any description, soap-boiler tallow melter tripe- boiler or other noxious or offen sive business trade or manufacture, shall not be newly established in any building or place within any district, after this provision is applied to the distaict in which such place or building is situate, without consent of tho Local Board, unless the Central Board of the Province within which such district is shall otherwise direct ; and whosoever offends against this enactment shall be liable for each offence to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds, and a further penalty of forty shil lings for each day during which the cfl_nce is continued ; and the said Local Board may from time to time make such regulations with respect to any such businesses so newly established as they may think necessary and proper, in order to prevent or diminish the noxious or injurious effects thereof."

Sir, —I begto state for the information of -" A Parnell Ratepayer" that no permission has been given by the Parnell Local Board of Health for the opening of a boiling-down and soap-boiling establishment in Mechanics' Bay near the Railway Bridge.—l am, Sir, yours &c, W. H. Kissling, Chairman P.L.B. of Health, 6th June, 1874.

Notice having.been taken of the removal of one of the trees planted in Government house gronnds by H.R.H. the Duke of Edin burgh, we are, requested to state that the tree in question was unfortunately planted among a quantity of stones, the remains of the old Government building, and over a main drain, * which caused it to show signs of perishing. In the course of trenching the lawn with a view to its being levelled and laid down in good grass, the tree has been accordingly moved to another part of the ground, where it is hoped it may recover. Another of the trees planted by H.R.H. died some time since; one is flourishing, and the fourth, though not doing so well,-it will be attempted to revive by slightly altering its position and placing soil around it.

This morning the departure of the s.s. Lady Bowen for Mahurangi caused quite a stir upon the wharf. Mr H. Palmer, of Wark worth, has the contract for the No. 2 section of the new road from Mahurangi to Port Albert, and he has selected twenty-live of the Rooparell male immigrants, who went down this morning upon the work. Mr Palmer had great difficulty in finding men who were of the class he required. The men engaged are to. have 15s. per week and their tucker, and the Government pay their expenses down. Messrs McLeroy and Kelly aro sub-contractors under Mr Palmer for his section of the road, which is that lately in hand by Mr Mills. We understand that the different sections of tlje road are well forward, and it is expected, with decent weather, to get it right through in about two months from this date. When it is finished it will be an immense benefit to the Port Albert people. These have at present to go 30 miles over a fearful road, including a wade through an arm of the Kaipara, when by the new road the distance between Port Albert and Warkworth will be i about 16 miles. '

The long-continued disturbances between Guilford and McCaul, at the Whau, was con cluded yesterday in the Resident Magistrate's Court, when his Worship, after listening for the greater part of the day to a mass of contradictory evidence in relation to a dead cow, found for the defendant, McCaul, with costs L 9 14s,

Smith's Combination Troupe were greatly successful last evening with their various performances, and elicited much applause. The house was, as on previous occasions, full. The De Castro family and Airee went through their aerial and gymnastic fe^ts with their wonted agility and fearlessness. The talk of Johnny Trotter and Mrs Brown was brim ful of wit and quiet satire on the follies of the times. Mr St. Vincent and Mdlle Mpn tebello sang several livoly songs, and will open a new portfolio this "evening. Smith's Troupe continues to maintain its popularity, and will doubtless continue to receive the suffrages of the people to the closing hour.

On " Signs and Wonders" a correspondent thus addresses us :—Sir,—The sign-board of Clarbson and Co., bootmakers, was found quietly reclining under the window of Mr Edson's chemist shop this morning. The proprietors say on its behalf that heretofore the sign-board has been very well conducted, doing its duty, though somewhat ostenta tiously, still in a becoming manner, and we must therefore look in other directions for an explanation of its eccentric conduct. They think it must have been led out of the usual tenor of its way by the evil example of some of the hobble-de-hoys who had been honored with an invitation to the servants' ball. It may have been, however, that mythical policeman who people aver has at distant periods been seen in the grey of tho morning wending his weary way barrackwards from tho direction of his humble cot in the suburbs. The worthy guardians of the night should guard other things beside the night, and put a stop to sign-hoards going for medicine at such untoward hours.—Yours, &c, D.X.C.

A meeting of the carpenters and joiners of this city will be held on Monday evening next, at the Young Men's Christian Asaocia tion, Wellesley-street, for special business connected with the association.

A correspondent writes as follows: — " June 2nd.—Dear Starr that Shines so Bright.—Dear Sir,—This new Education Pole Tax is causing a great sensation amongst the learned population of Auckland Province. Rtill their seems no remiedy. now a new Chum from Cork tells me that the pigs in Ireland is very inteligcnt creatures and that their is at the rate of three tons of Brains from theso creatures throwing to the Do_;s every day. Now as you have some Tnfnlanco with tho General Govcrnmantyou would much oblige your readers by adviaing them to fraight one of the fine ships belong ing to tho New Zoland Company for a cargo of County Cork Pifijs Brains the cargo will lost nothing and the Benefit to tho province of Auckland will be great by serving on pound to each member per day as a ration at say 3d per pound to pay frate. Sir I wish for the present you could get the Council to alter the Bdl from the Pole to wheel Barrows as I and many more besides me is Bald headed and not able to get a wig. Tho Idea of a poor Batchelor earring an Education tax for a twelve months on his Bare Pole especially when that is a weako one maturely dear rao tho idea is torriable. I thought my self that the Councel members might be two fresh and that Botteling them for 12 months at the Glass Blowers might give them a better Appitito for the people, but my landlady dear Old Creature she most bavo come from Cork her self she caw my error at . once. Sure Bayes she if you take the trouble to bottle the likes of them it moßt be in Stone Bottles and well sealed and stamped with tho Auckland Crest if our friend Mr Philips would kindly lend the same for so good a cause. Now I will give you young Barneys Idea git an everlasting Bill passed to destroy all Idiots when born and that will save the next Generation from all such Blunders. Please to Tnscrt this in the Starr that always shines for the Good that you may do Yours Affec tionate Baldy.

At the half-yearly mpeting of tho National Insurance Company held on tho ISth May, the directors' report of tho first six months showed that tho premiums received amounted to £20,029 5s 4d (loss re-insurance, £1,001 2d), leaving £24.008 3s 4d ; to which had to bo added—interest, £1,153 lis Id, and transfer fees. £235 ss, making a total of £20,050 19j sd. The Expenditure was sum marised as follows :—Losses, commissions, returns, premiums, and charges, £0,292 3s ad : preliminary expenses, £2,528 14s 4d : making a total of £8,820 17s 9d, leaving at credit of profit.and loss, £17.230 Is Bd. The directors therefore recommended that a divi dend, at the rate of 10 por cent, per annum on the paid-up capital be paid, which would absorb £2,500, leaving £14, 730 Is 8d to be carried to a reserve fund, which tho directors found was considerably more thin was re quired to reinsure the whole of the floating risks of the company." Tho success of the company was a subject of great congratula tion. Agencies had been established in all pfirts of the colony, Sydney, Melbourne, and London. The report was adopted, the retir ing directors re-elected, and Messrs A. Bigg and A. W. Morris appointed auditors.

Diyine service -to-morrow (Sunday) at Newton Kirk, by Rev Dr. Wallis—morning, " Christ knocking at the door ;" evening, " Christ lifted up, drawing near."—City Hall, by Rev Warlow Davis, M.A., —morning, "The Religious movement in Scotland;" evening, "An Emigrant of ancient times."— Lome-street New Hall, Rev Samuel Edger, B.A., —morning, " Paul's devotion to a Catholic Christianity ;" evening, " Elijah in solitude." —Oddfellows' Hall, Cook-street, — evening, Mr Frank Cavenagh.—Wellesley street Baptist Church, P. H. Cornford, pastor,—morning, "Communion, and how to enjoy it ;" evening, " All for Christ."— United Methodist Free Church—morning and! evening, as per advertisement, by Rev G. H. Turner.—Services at the usual hours at Christian Meeting House, Cook-street ; Newton Hall, and at Edwardes-street and Sheridan-street chapels.

- The Kennedys had a good attendance last evening at the/North Shore, and the songs of Scotland met with an enthusiastic recep tion! On Tuesday next this musical family willigive an entertainment for J;he benefit of the Ponsonby people. On Monday evening they appear at Otahuhu. To the Editor: Sir, —I was rather sur prised to see an account in your paper of the football match, played between the Mount Hobson and the Grafton Clubs, last Satur day. S With referonce to the latter club hav ing Obtained one poster and seven touch downs I beg leave to state that our best players did not arrive on the field of play till late in the afternoon, consequently the number of touch-downs obtained by the Graf (ion Club. Allow me to remark that though I have played against Rugby, Harris', and the Civil Service, I never met more gentlemanly and more pleasant opponents than the Grafton Road Football Club.—l am. &c, Harold E. Sutton, Captain Mount Hobson Football Club.

The active young men of the Naval Bri gade, met last night 'tween the light and the shade, and went through their drill with a heart and a will. Lieutenants Chapman and Bartlett inspected the men, and looked at their movements agaih and again ; and Cap tain Leßoy was pleased to declare, that the Naval parade was exceedingly fair. The Captain then ordered them right-about face, and said that on Friday next, at the usual hour, the men must meet in their strength and flower, and undergo their monthly in spection ; after which a meeting would be held, in the Drill-shed,

No less than seven young .lads of tender j years were brought before the Police Court to-day : four on charges of stealing pig iron, and three with attempting to pass counter feit coin. Two of the boys pleaded guilty of stealing with the utmost indifference (< and seemed to treat the matter as a good joke. One boy, calling out with a loud voice, said, "I only stole two hundred-weight, your Worship," which he sold to a man named Samuel Moss, for] a half-penny a l-oand, and who, for his conduct in the affair, received such a lecture as he will not soon forget, and which may be of advan tage to him in his future dealings with boys. The difficulty with the magistrate was to know whft to do with such untamed juve niles, and keep their hands from picking and stealing. Some of the boys it appeared were sons of respectable hardworking parents, but who had associated themselves with bad companions. The law it appears could not touch the man Samuel Moss under the cir cumstances, as he was simply Samuel the medium, and was not licensed a3 a mirine storekeeper; the act also has not been put into practice in this part of thecolony. The light punishments previously infl.ctel upon young offenders have been compir - tively ineffectual in preventing the recur rence of theft. His Worship, therefore rather than bear the responsibility of lotting, such arabs run lo^se immediately upon society, took the initiative in giving them six months expierience in Mount Eden, where we would, suggest a classification of juvenile wards, and provision judiciously made for the reformation, if possible, of our juvenile criminals.

We are compelled by pressure of other matter to hold over our report of the Choral Society's concert until Monday evening's issue.

To the Editor: Sir,—My attention has just been drawn to a notice in your paper of the 4th inst., relative to the launch of the steamer Scotchman, in which you state Mr Ross is well known as a steamship builder, being the constructor of the Duke of Edin burgh, Golden Crown, Southern Cross, and EfFort. Now sir, allow me to contradict thi3 statement as untrue. Mr Ross had as much to do with the construction of these vessels as you had, with this exception that he had worked on them as other shipwrights, and saw the work executed as I directed. Of this every shipwright employed on the above vessels is aware. I distinctly state that Mr Ross in no way had anything to do with their construction, or assisted me to do so ; neither was I aware that he had any know ledge how to construct a vessel.—Yours etc., A. DUXL-lE.

A return ball to the servants of Govern ment House is to be held at the Choral Hall on Wednesday next.

At the Provincial Council yesterday Mr Bjylan's motion in favour of Government aid to denominational schools was negatived by the largo majority of 31 against 8, the follow ing being the division list:—Ayes (8) : Messrs Boylan, Oadm.n, Carleton, Dignan, Douglas, Lundon, O'Rorke, Peacock. Noes (31) : Messrs Bagnall, Ball, Bevcridge, Brown, Buckland, Byron, Carpenter, Cheeseman, Dargaville, Hamlin, Hay, Hurst, Johnstone, Kelly, Lloyd, McLeod, Macready, Moat, Morris, Ormiston, Philips, Prime, Reed, Roche, Reyburn, Sheehan, Shepherd, Swan, Swanson, Taylor, Wilson. Mr Prime then moved, "That it shall be optional with the School Committee to allow a portion of the Holy Scriptures to be read at tho opening of the school, without com ment by the teacher provided also that no child shall be compelled to be present at such time without the consent of its parents or guardian." A division was taken without discussion a3 follows :—Aye3 (13) : Boylan, Cadman, Carleton, Cheeseman, Douglas, Dig nan, Lundon, Moat, Ormiston, O'Rorke, Peacock, Prime, Tonks. Noes (23): Bagnall, Ball, Beveriilge, Brown, Buckland, Byron, Carpenter, Dargaville, Hamlin, Johnson, Kelly, Lloyd, Macready, Philips, Reed, Roche, Reyburn, Sheehan, Shepherd, Swan, Swanson, Taylor, Wilson. The final clauses of the Education Bill, printed in last night's Star, were carried, and tho bill ordered to lie read a third time on Monday.

Mr William Garrick, of West Queen-street' requests us to state that he was not the author of the letter on the bachelor tax which appeared in last night's issue of the Star. He says he paid the tax last year, and is prepared to keep the law as every good citizen should do. We can confirm tho state ment that he is not the writer.

A correspondent suggests the erection of a platform near the railway crossing on Mount Stuart road, as a number of people arc living about that spot, and further still from Onehunga, who complain of the long walk.

Our Mangonui correspondent writes :—A pastoral visit has just been paid here by the Rev. Dr. McDonald, to whom great credit is due for his zeal and perseverance, especially amongst the Maoris residing at Herekino, Wangape, and settlements on the West Coast north of Hokianga, where the various ser vices wore solemnised, children baptised, and several weddings took place. The Maories appeared most seriously to appreciate the visit of this worthy D.D.

THE NEW CALEDONIA MURDER.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.)

Sir, —In your issue of this evening you publish a lettet- from your correspondent at Noumea containing an account of a murder recently committed in New Caledonia. As the fate of the individual and his mistress v whom your correspondent styles Mr. and Mrs. Bateman, does not interest me in the slightest degree, I should not trouble you with this communication but that your cor respondent describes the murdered man as " a very fair specimen of the average French officer—a notorious roue, gambler, and brag gadocio—a very different stamp of man from what we Englishmen are accustomed to expect in an officer." It is somewhat difficult to find words strong enough to express one's sense of the ignorance and presumption of the writer of the passage just quoted. His estimate (so confidently pronounced) of the average French officer would be utterly un worthy of notice But for the fact of its appearing in a newspaper having a consider able circulation lam inclined to think that if this precious letter from Noumea had been read by you in the first instance it would not have appeared in your paper, or, at all events, would have appeared in a very modified form. You will, however, hardly refuse to publish the few remarks I have to make upon it. There are doubtless in Auckland many persons who have been in France, and know something of Frenchmen, and also of French officers. To them your correspondent's re marks about the latter will appear very much in the same light that remarks couched in the following strain, if made by a French man writing an account of the murder to a French newspaper would appear to English men and Frenchmen having any knowledge of England and the English. What, would be said if something of this kind appeared in a French paper: "There have been living for some time past in New Caledonia two persons known as Mr and Mrs Bateman. Although the woman was not the wife of the man she was always styled, ac cording to English custom, Mrs Bateman. These people formed themselves a very fair specim,6__ of the average English manage (or

household)." Here would follow a descrip tion of their characteristics. Absurd as this would appear it would not be one whit more so than your correspond ent's description of " the average French officers." Those who really know French officers know that as a class they are brave, honourable, and highly educated, possessing perfectly well-defined notions of what is worthy of respect, and always disposed to treat with respect and consideration those who by their character and mode of life deserve to be so treated. I unhesitatingly affirm that no people on the face of the earth have a higher sense of the sacredness of family ties than the French. Those who know the nation, not from the novels of Dumas the younger or Alphonee Karr, or even from having spent a month or two in Paris (where by-the-way English people sometimes permit themselves to be seen in places and under circumstarces such as they would be careful to avoid in England or even in the colonies), but from having lived in the provinces and associated with French gentlemen and gentlewomen, will admit the truth of my assertion. Your coi respondent further stated that " the verdict" (upon Bateman) was " ten > years' seclusion, which means that he shall be placed under surveillance for that period." Indeed! If it should ever be your correspondent's fate to have a a similar "verdict" pronounced upon him he will find that reclusion (the word is not seclusion), means the jiame kind of "sur veillance " that Sullivan the murderer under went from the time of his conviction until his recent liberation. Your correspon dent seems to have very hazy ideas of the meaning of the expressions he employs. I enclose my card, but will ask you to allow me to subscribe myself yours, &c, N. Auck land, June 4, 1874. [Our Noumea corres pondent evidently intended that his remarks should be taken as referring specially to the " average French officer " in New Caledonia. It cannot for a moment be supposed that such a sweeping condemnation is applicable to the whole French army, or was ever used in that sense. Whether such strictures are justified in the sense that we under stand them to be used we cannot lay sufficient claim to the personal know ledge which our Noumea correspondent possesses to hazard an opinion. It is quite possible that there may be an inferior class of officei'3 in charge of tho convict station. Unless " N" possesses some knowledge of the state of affairs in Now Caledonia, his conclu sions drawn from a general knowledge of officers in France are not quite to the point. — Ed. E.S.]

ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

[from otjr loxdon correspondent.] Lo^PON, April.

VIRGINIA AS A FIELD FOR SETTLEMENT. I was introduced the other day to a gentle man who had just returned from the much vaunted and extolled eastern states of Amer ica— i.e., Virginia and Carolina. He went out there to farm, and is now engaged in the business, chiefly in cotton-raising. He does not say much for the climate, and tells me that the chief difficulty is the procuring of labour. It is no unusual thing for a planter to be unable to secure his crop simply for lack of hands, and he has seen large plantations of cotton with the crops rotting on the ground, and the niggers lazily regarding it, too indolent to work at all. But the worst point of the country as a home for English folk is, he says, the invet erate habit of swindling, which pervades the mercantile classes. It seems to be thought no disgrace to cheat a neighbour; indeed it is rather a # smart thing than otherwise, and as for the courts of justice they are a perfect farce, and the man who fees the judge in the largest amount always gains the day. Few Englishmen would care about that sort of thing. " LIABILITY OF HUSBANDS FOR WIVES' DEBTS.

A Lancashire county court judge has given rather a singular decision lately, which has struck consternation into the hearts of the tradespeople. A tradesman sued a husband for debts contracted by his wife for articles necessary for household management. The husband pleaded that he allowed his wife sufficient money for housekeeping, and that she had no right or authority to incur debts. The Judge held that no trades man had any business to give credit to a wife unless she previously proved that she had her husband's consent. This is, after all, only tit for tat, for we all know how tradesmen lay themselves out to induce women to spend money at their shops, and, as a husband, I felt rejoiced when I read the decision and knew that one of these sinners had got nipped.

THE ECHOES OF THE TICHBOB.NE CASE.

Goodness knows when we are to hear the last of this wretched Tichborne ease. No sooner was the convict set to work at oakum picking—at which, by the the way, he made rather a poor show—than aU his relations and friends the Ortons took to writing in the papers about him. First Charles Orton rushed into print and gave us a most circumstantial account of how he had recognised his brother at the outset, and how he had been bribed, to hold his tongue; how he did manage to restrain that unruly member as long as the supplies came "regular," and how when the money was stopped he-turned traitor. Next we had the sisters, the Mesdames Tredgitt, and Jury, who told us that Charles was a vagabond and a liar, and that his statement was false from beginning to end; They re ferred to the convict as an " unfortunate gentleman," and asserted their entire belief in him, and in the extreme probability that any friend of their brother would only be too happy to present them with large sums of money as the " unforturflbte gentleman " had done. Then came Mrs Pettendreigh con tradicting the sisfeers, and asserting that the old Dowager Tichborne herself did not believe in the fat man, and had con fessed the fact to Mrs Pettendreigh, and last, but not least, comes Miss Mary Ann Lacier, who declares that her old sweetheart recognised her at once the first time he saw her,, and addressed her as Mary Ann, before he had time to remember the part he was acting. And so we go on. The whole affair is getting stale, and a trifle wearisome. Dr Kenealy, however, has not heard the last of it, and the Benchers of his Inn are sitting upon him with a view to consider his conduct in using the language he did towards the Bench. Mr Whalley, too, has for once been heard in the House, and has, very much to his own astonishment, succeeded in getting a committee to consider the circumstances of his imprisonment for contempt of Court. There is nothing members are more jealous of than their privileges, and of course there is no telling what might happen if a jackass like Whalley happened to be popped into gaol just before session time, and could not take his seat. Good Heavens ! The Empire might totter to its foundations !

THE ASHANTEE LOOT.

As far as loot is concernel the capture of Coomassie has been a great disappointment, and so all the reckless talk of the Daily Telegraph about the profusion of gold to be found everywhere turns out to be a pack of nonsense. "Traveller..' tales, sir, travellers' tales." Sanguine people say that the prize money will amount to about a balf-penny per man. 11 this is so, and it seem, almost too good to be true, there ought not to be so much delay, as has often been the case, in the distribution, For once let our gallant

soldiers *njoy whatti_eyWe^??^ The appearance of themenwhen^^ told more more than wort. tf^N* privations they had endured^ &h 1?) Fusiliers, who had not +hl _^c _^ f get.upto^hefront^S'S^S looked the worst of/the W. Afe%§ ■ Highlanders, who were in the th;-? e M and m point of ki]_ ed and J most > looked healthiest In th o 23rd.it « manifest, thatto W»£ inactive m such pestilential "ill «P a deal worse thanbei™ _£*■-■?-» i« fullbruntoft^i^tffiSi excitement and exercise The frT**of brella, captured;by Sir Garnet $? > has been presented by him to theQtfjK she has been pleaded to send it to tM*" 4 Kensington Museum for exhibition?&*' was a of curios at Cape {$$** before the troopsleffc; and many oS^T 6 brought home some very curious !^ave such as silver bound calabashes and^ 8' heavy gold masks, lanterns, crossTr*' chairs &c. The_ descriptions g^S condition in which^he city of CoontM^ found are awfully disgusting.

Threatened Intertribal Row in the North.

The Natives in; Aral

A CORRT.SPONDENT writing from Wtul Bay of Jslands, forwards 8 particnU^ dispute between the Maoiis which iglxV to end in open hostilities. A party 0 f5J; y had been digging gum on a piece of S ground near Kaikohe, on the Holdaiia ffi* of Waimate, and had collected bet*K and 40 tons of it. When ffiSfi expended weeks of labour in this' *U? and were about to remove the™ Mohi Tcuhai (a leading fighting cMeflS his party objected on .the ground that th« land was tapu, and claimed the gumfw himself. This was naturally enoug.i &___, red against by the party which had dnrtha gum, and the two fact.oas ranged t^m^C in hostile bands, mustering from 150 to 180 a side, all well armed; * The natives who duS the gum remained by it. to protect it'»_| erected a pa on the gum field, while Mohi Tauhai and his party went over to the pro perty of the gum-diggers and' cotnML an onslaught on their potatoes, An and sheep, on which they have been' living in good style for over a Week. Jfohi has also built apa a* Tuhuna. The. _»%« protecting the gum are now getting short if food, and Mohi is determined to starvethsm out. It was thought not improbable, there fore, that shooting would commence between the contending factions-yesterday (Friday), The upshot will probably be a loss oikfe and the destruction of the gum by Jbimiitig. All Europeans have been ordered by MiJhi not to buy the gum.

Murderous Assault at Panmure.

MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR.

The inhabitants of the rural district of Panmure were thrown, into a gcef&iifc& of excitement this morning by the news that' an old settler named Taylor, an: itinerant fishmonger of the township hadbeenattackie1.,' and nearly murdered while returhingttf lujjf home last night., From accounts. yfhich have reached us of the affair it seems that Taylor was proceeding: along the road in ha cart at about ll o'clock, and whenjie«^ the entrance to Panmure Bridge, waspuiel by a man on' horeeback/"to whom be:«__.3t " Good night." A mpmeht later Taylor felt a tremendous blow on the back of the ,he»p| and immediately afterwards another on bis face, smashing the bridge 'of his nose. - - Al though fearfully wounded the injured jam still contrived toJ?tick to his iseiris anddrom his cart oyer, thehridge tothetollhoas-^whietr his partner in the fish-trade kept. Whether the cowardly ruffian-was ,disapppint^ e a|: not felling'his victim: |dth ihe two!W^^ from what caused is not known, the assailtat"* did not follow up his attack, nor could;/-w^ v lor say who it was or what he was [like,? The toll-keeper, whose name is H. Jorw. »<£ Swede, took Taylor into hiscottageand went,., immediately for Dr Fitzgerald who .lost^nq^ time in visiting the sufferer.; By this fame a - he was faint from loss of blood. The blood | f , having been washed away, the doctor isM. an examination and found that extensive and dangerous injury had been inflicted. The. blows it is conjectured were given by a piece^ of. scoria on the end of a stick, as'thrDocW has extracted small pieces of scoria from t»er wounds. The Ho wick and Pantoure police are on the track of the would-be murderer. -.

ANOTHER ACCOUNT.

The quiet settlement of- PanrntareWM thrown into a state of excitement last ejm ing in consequence of a report that an. old man, named George Taylor, known infjg neighbourhood as a vendor of fruit, had been knocked down and murderously assaulted;, The man was returning from Auckland wittt;, his horse and cart when, reaching the rise tfi' Panmure Bridge, he must, as circumstances show have fallen from his cart. The old man stated that he was met byj horseman, who struck him with a nam mer whip ; but as the neighbours Withers was neither horseman nor vehic c passing « the time, it was probably a Taylor's, who was evidently under^ the m fluence of drink. Taylor cooed loudly and,,,, several persons went *° J.?. assMt£f«^ , found himin a helpless condition. mediately sent for Dr Fitzgerald, who speedily arrived, and found ... had received a terrible cut in the fore head, and the doctor fea* , that his skull was fractured. W wound was immediately two pieces of scoria, gravel WjJJ-.. On examining the spot.it was evident* b * Taylor had lost a considerable Q«antl^ ) blood,, which was also visible.on the-JOgj-^ of the wheels ; and there.is httl.doubt; D that he had fallen out ' the injuries described. Dr. f "^^ sidered that Taylor was in • - and considered it necessary that be snou placed undermedicalcare. Accordmgg*. ■ -, neighbour, Mr J. Kerr, a settler, "W^ W assistance of the cohstable^ana^nau^ , conveyed to the Provincial Hosp^ * he now lies, and is doing better *^ botb anticipated. [The above accounts Have been, furnished us as strictly, rel-aw* readers must judge between them.j

POLICE COURT-This Day.

(Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., lowly laid. __ -fere , John Collins and Thomas rearson^^ found drunk and sprawling mt^s^n night. Collins was fined 20s, ana „ 10s, or the usual imprisonment "OUT AND ABOUT. -~ t He William Quibbel was cliargeq, v Vagrant Act, with using obscene lanj^ , ; and with indecent induct W vyj, . street yesterday,

fWB BVMffINGSDAB, BATTTRIDAI JTTIf® M#M"



f\ A U T I O N . O L 8 O ITS. T O M A T O S A TJ OE. Connoisseurs pronounce this Sauce to be the BEST for general use in households, and, in con sequence of its high reputation, soma 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 lias in consequence caused his TRADE MARK to be Registered under the provisions of the "Trade Marks Act, 1866," aud procoedings will- be taken against such persons as may forge or counterfeit such mark. The public are cautioned to ASK FOR OLSON'S BATJCE, .and see that the name is Stamped on Bottle and stopper, and wrapped round with Ida well-known. abel. _■•-'■ j a "DLAIxKETS! BLANKETS! RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN Beg to notify that,they have now landing Ex KoDP_-.ei.i_, And to open up in a few days, 10 BALES SUPERIOR BLANKETS IN ALL SIZES. 3.0 wh'ch they invite particular attention of intending purchasers, being to their order direct from the manufacturers, and will be. sold at the XOWEST LIVING PROFIT. Also, I,ARGE STOCKS ON HAND, AND TO OPEN IN - Flannels, . Crimean Shirtings, Winceys, French Merinoe», . New Fancy Dress Goods, White and Grey Calicoes, Plain and Twilled White and Grey Sheetings, White Toilet and Marsella Quilts, Toilet Covers, &c. Childrens', Girl's, and Ladies' Winter Hosiery, New Black Straw (Tats, Flowers, Feathers, and Ribbons, New Fancy Wool, Collarettes, Ties, Scarfs, Infants' Turbans, Hoods, Boots, Bootees, &c. A SPLENDID STOCK OF NEW CLOTHING, CRIMEAN SHIRTS, and GENTLEMAN'S HOSIERY. ;". HEAVYTWEEDS, Suitable for Winter Wear, &o, &c, &c. j , RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN (LATE R. HOBB_), W noLV.aA.-LH and. Rktaix Drapers, Clothiers, Ao. JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) Upper Qtj^bn-siiviebt, Atjokland. JUST RECEIVED BY F. H. LEWISSON: Russell and Son's Keyless Gold Hunting Levers, Rotherham's Gold: Hunting . Independent Stop Watches, Rotherham's Gold Hunting .Ladies' English Levers, Rotterham's Gold Hunting Levers, „ I 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, r / ' 'jeweller, queen-street. [Established 1864. TV STEPHENSON & CO.'S "celebrated coffees, «j jjfj. HIBIT IO N BRAND," * " EAGLE BRANt)," ! "CROWN BRAND," Are to be procured at all respectable Grocers and Storekeepers throughout the Province of Auckland. » D. STEPHENSON & CO., •WYNDHAM STREET, Auckland. TJETIRING FROM THE RETAIL. J. COSGRAVE & CO. Are giving up their Retail Business In Queen-street. A SAtyE of the Goods will be held TO-MORROW, the 14th of March, and will continue until tho entire Stock is disposed of. I Wtf ; are now landing THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS WORTH of DRAPERY and MEN'S CLOTHING, purchased by Mr Cosobave from the English and French Manufacturers, which will be Od »t VUPBEOEDENTEDI-Y LO W PRIOES. | i No credit will be given during the Sale. '