SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATEK ; >PMa evening, 7.51 ; to-monow tuomiug, 8.5 rtU'is-SBT : This evening, 6 30; SUN-RISK: To morrow nkorub^ 5.53 MOON'S AGE : Last quarter, 11th, 9.13 p.m.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

ABEIVALS

Tartar, s.s., 1478 tons, Ferris, from Kandavu, (San Francisco Mail) Briton, barque, from Newcastle Anazi, barque, from London Ladybird, s.s., from the South

DEPARTURES.

Julius Vogel. schooner, for Poverty Bay Bine Meikle, schooner, for Napier Tartar, s.s., for Sydney Bonita, schooner, for Mongonui

IMPORTS.

Per s.s. Ladybird, from Southern ports— 1 case, T. Boy lan ; 2 crates/ 1 parcel, Bank of New Zealand ; 1 bale, McArthur, Shera and Co. ; 1 coil rope, H. F. Anderson and Co. j 4 cases, 2 casks, Keinpthorne, Prosser and Co. • 8 cases, order • 5 hhds ale, Williams and Co.. j 1 parcel, Upton and Co. ; 3 parcels, Combes and Daldy ; 1 parcel, J. Bull; 1 case ferns,, Murdoch ; 1 parcel, McCormack and Co. ; 1 case, Union Bank ; 5 kegs butter, T. Wrigley ; 1 pkgs, J. R. Randerson ; 17 half barrels ammunition, 1 case caps. 1 truss, Major Tisdall; 1 case, J. H. Henderson ; 1 pge, J. T. Eowe ; 13 kegs butter, 1 case fruit, J. Soloman and Co. ; 1 case, "D. Johnson ; 1 case, G-. M. Taylor ; 1 parcel, J. Eeid ; 72 case fruit, R. Arthur; 1 trunk, Constable Green ; 8 cases butter, T. Veale ; 1 small box, 7 cases butter, A. Barnes; 15 cases butter, M. Hood.

Per baTque Briton, from Newcastle : 650 tons coal. 5 A-tons coke, Henderson, Macfar lane, and Co. . "..

The s.s. Ladybird, H. !J. C. Andrews, commander, arrived at Onehunga wharf early this morning. She left Port Chalmers at 7.30 p.m on the 24th tilt; arrived ot Lyttel ton at 4 p.m. on the 25th, sailed at 5 p.m. on the 26th ; arrived in Wellington at 9.30 a.m. on the 27th, sailed at 3 p.m. on the 28th ; arrived at Picton at 7.45 p.m. same evening, sailed at 10 p.m. same night; arrived at Nelson at 9 a.m. on the Ist March, sailed at 6.30 p.m. on the 2nd ; arrived at Taranaki at 1.30 p.m. on the 3rd, sailed at G p.m. same day, and arrived here as above. Ex perienced thick foggy weather outside the heads, had to anchor for one and half kours this morning. Passengers:—Mr and Mrs Bowden, Mrs Gibbons and five children, Misg Meehan, Miss Gibbons, Miss King, Miss Pike, Miss E. Neal, Miss Lambert, I Mr and Mrs Graham, Mr and Mrs Pike, Mr Forcus, Messrs- Kilgour, A.' Campbell, Beethatn, Levy, .Gray, Kirk,, Wrigg, McKellar, Patterson, Wilkinson, Overton, Rev. Paton, and ten in the steerage. We are indebted to Mr J. Dougherty for files and report of passage. The, s.s. Tartar sailed for Sydney at four p.m. She took the following passengers from Auckland :—Messrs. D, Niccol,- M. Hegarty, Jas. Liston, and Henry White. The Colonist, schooner, has cleared for Napier, via Wangapoa, with a cargo of timber. .... . .... The Merlin proceeds to Wangaroa to load 36,000 feet of timber for Lyttelton. V The Saucy Lass has cleared outwards for Mercury Bay and Napier with a cargo of timber, slate?, &c, to be transhipped at the former port.." The schooner Herald cleared for Wangaroa with 2000 bricks and a general cargo. ••■ The New Zealand Shipping Company despatched their fine.iron ship Doretti, 870 tons,: Captain Ailes, for this port on the 19th January, with 280 emigrants and a full cargo. The. Clyde-built iron ship Roopsrell, 1050 tons, was to follow on the 3rd February. An :exciting boat-race took place yesterday afternoon between a crew selected from the Inspector's Office, Bank'of New Zealand, in the Colonist, and a crew from the Head Office, in the Wonder. The course was from the Breakwater round the Daphne, moored off Judge's Bay. Both boats got away w.ell together, and kept so until rounding the Daphne, when the Colonist forged ahead and came in a winner by several lengths. The names of the crew are as follows : —Colonist : Messrs. Millar.s Butler, Mclntosh,: Gorrie (stroke), and iHaultain (cox.) Wonder : Messrs. Mackay, Philson, Ferrier, Hargraves, and Yon Tempsky (cox.) -■ - The s.s. Star of the South arrived in Leyuka on the 14th ult., and left that port for Kandavu on the 19 th ult. She would have to return to Levuka the mail, and and would then sail immediately for Auck land. , She may be expected within the ne xt few days. .■•. ; ■' ' .*,■ The moonlight concert on board the Golden Crown, which was to have come off last evening, has, been postponed till to morrow evening in consequence of the steamer being engaged assisting the Anazi. Several persons who did not know of the postponement came down at the time adver tised but were disappointed. The barque'Tien'Tain" is advertised to be open for freight or charter. The barque Briton arrived in harbour last night from Newcastle after a .passage of 22 days, having left that port on the lOfch of February. Captain Dyson reports having started with an EiS.E. wind. Next day had a strong easterly gale with heavy sea. The gale continued for three days. On 16th light N. and N.N.E. winds, from thence E.N.E. gale and heavy beam sea.. Passed the Three Kings on the 27th, and North Gape on the 28th, and Cape Brett on the 2nd inst. Thence light airs till arrival. She brings a cargo of coal and cbke for Messrs Henderson, Maefarlane, aad Co.. The tonnage loading on the berth at Lon don, December 24, 1873, for India, China, and the Gape of Good Hope amounted to 52,831 tons, and for Australia and New Zealand to 31,382. ' The Kate Brain arrived at Dunedin. from Kaipara on the 22nd ult. . The barque East Lothian from New York ■with a general cargo for Dunedin and Auck land,, arrived at Dunedin on the 18th ult. She was to leave for this port about the end of last month. The schooners Magellan Cloud and Ryno were both loading at Lyltelton on the 27th ult. for this port. The ship Wave Queen hauled off the wharf to-day. She has taken in her ballast aad wiil sail for Lyttelton at once, The Golden Isle, schooner, took her depar ture for Russell this morning in ballast. The Julius Vogel, schooner, and the Erne Meikle, which have lain in harbour wind bound some days, were enabled to gee under weigh for their respective destinations this morning at ten o'clock. The barque Anaai entered at the Customs this afternoon.. n .<.. Among those gentlemen who were on board the Golden Crown on Monday when the steamer was.engaged trying to haul off the Anazi, we should have included the name of Mr E. Coomb es, who took a prominent part in the proceedings, directing the operations of the boats' crews. The schooner Fairy has sailed for Hokianga with a general cargo, shipped by various firms, /ii The barque Anazi, as we anticipated in our yestm-^ay's issue, wrs float d easily at thereof the tide yesterday. Lon? before Inghwater she sv\ung to her anchors which .".'. C :•■ '■■:>. .\ r.i r

had been carried out to 70 fathoms further f by the Golden Crown during the day. On seeing this, Captain Farquhar steamed in, and attaching a hawser without difficulty towed the barque out into deep water. It was at this juncture that the signal was ex hibited at the North Shore, " Barque being towed up." The "Crown" brought the Anazi right on to the powder ground, which was reached at a little after six. Here the barque anchored. She has come off from her perilous position with little damage. The only known injury inflicted on her is that done to her false keel, which has had a por tion broken off. A notice lias been published by Messrs. Owen and Graham that the ex penses of her extraction, &c, will huve to be sustained by all consignees on the general average principle. These will have to pay a deposit of 1 per cent before getting a delivery order for their goods and sign a bond pledging themselves to pay the remainder when the average is struck. The following account of the s.s. Tartar is taken from the Sydney Morning Herald of the 7th ult. : —-'This fine ship, under charter for the conveyance of the mails between this port and Ban Francisco, arrived at Sydney|on February 7. from Hongkong, via Melbourne. She is truly a magnificent ship, and is far superior in appearance to either the Mac gregor or the Mikado, She was built by Messrs. Dobie & Co., of Glasgow, of the very best material, and forms one of the New York, China, and London Steam Company's fleet;. She is 300 feet lcng, 36 feet beam, 21 feet depth of hold, registers 1476 tons, and is rigged as a three-masted schooner. She has a splendid sweep of a spar deck, which is fitted with steam winches, &c. Attached to the windlass is also a small but powerful steam winch, which purchases the anchors. The steering-house is placed for ward, as is now usual in all large steam ships ; but the steering gear is of the ordinary description. She has nearly a straight stern, but its being finished off with a full length ngure gives to the bows a very light and pretty appearance. The engines, built by Howden and Co., of Glasgow, are compound, of 450 horse-power nominal. The cylinders are 90 inches and 48 inches, with a 4-feet stroke. The engine is a beautiful specimen of mechanical skill, and is ex quisitely finished; steam is generated in three boilers, with twelve boilers to each ; the consumption of coal per day is 25 tons, and with this the ship can easily attain a speed of 12£ knots per hour ; in fact, the Tartar bears the reputation of being one of the fastest screw boats afloat. The whole of the machinery is of the newest pattern, and fitted with every late improvement. The screw is four-bladed, on, a patent principle. The accommodation, although not so exten sive as the Mikado's, will berth 45 persons in fine large enclosed cabins In the saloon, which is an elegantly-furnished and ,well ventilated appartment ; attached is a ladies' saloon, fitted with bathroom, &c. The cabins for second-class passengers are not yet com pleted, but will be found well-ventilated and commodious. In fact, the constructors of the Tartar have evidently done their best to turn out a first-class clipper steamer. She made the run to Shanghai, including all stoppages, in 41 days, and her passages on the coast of Japan have been the fastest on record. It may also be remarked that the Tartar carries a steam-launch on her star board waist, ready for lowering at a moment's notice. The cutter Dante arrived at Onehnnga from Port Waikato with 63 pieces of timber, Waller ; 32 bales of flax, Hutchinson.

COMMERCIAL.

At the several commercial sales in the city to-day scarcely any goods were sold. Bid ding both at Mr. Sibbin3's and Mr. Binney'» was spiritless, and the majority of lots were withdrawn and reserved for a future day. The market presented a remarkably quiet appearance to-day—most of the stores being closed. Were it not not for some half-dozen storekeepers the market would be a dead letter. We notice that the olosed stores are offered at a low rental for storing goods, etc., by the Inspector.

AUCKLAND STOCK AND MINING REPORT.

-Bank oi .New Zealand—Ll7 os. ' : National Bank—64s 6d ; buyers, 64s ; sellers, 655. S. B. Insvirance—4ss ; sellers, 45. National Insurance, 24s ; buyers, 245. Bay of Islands Coal Company—Buyers, £3 10s. Caledonian—Sellers, £11. •City of London—Buyers, 19s. ■ Crown Prince — Sellers, 14s. jMoanataiari— Sellers, 37s 6d. iGolden Calf- 12s 3d ; buyers, 12s 3d. ; Union Beach—l6s ; sellers, 20s. ' ! Central Italy (double)—los.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

For Thames, this da)', at 5 pm, and to-morrow at 10.30 am For Russell, per Janet Gray, to-morrow, at 9 a m For Tairua, per L'satitia to-nvrrow, at 9 a m For Tsr<*naki and Southern ports, per s.s. Ladybird to-morrow, at 6 a m For AVaiwera and Warkworth, per Lady Bowen to-morrow, at 10 a m For the undermentioned places, per Tartar, on Monday, 16th March, as under : — For Fiji.San iwich Islands.United States of America, ; Canada, British Columbia, Central and South ; America, and British and Foreign "West Indies, i at 10.30 a.m. For the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, via San Francisco, at 10.30 a.m. Letters bearing late fee will be received until 11 a. m For money orders, registered letters, and news ] paper at 9.30 a m iFigted) S. B. Biss. Chief Post master.

DEATH.

Langsfobd.—On March 3, at the residence of his parents, Pitt-street, Frederick William,' youngest son of Charles and Margaret Langsford, Lnged one year and ten months,

The funeral will talic place to-morrow (Thursday) afternoon, at 3 o'clock. Friends will please accept this invitation ■

OLEMING—TIie infant daughter of Thomai twirl .Mary A.. Fleming, atred seven months, at tho residence of II Puckham, Forester's Arms, Albert-street.

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

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 1874.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And tli a cood that we cau do

In the arrival of the "Tartar" with the first English and American mails we may recognise the actual existence of the new trans-Pacific service. Hope deferred has made the heart sick, and it would be nauseous to launch out, in eulogy of the "countless isles" that "gem the surface of the Pacific,' or to get on the back of the American eagle that perches on the rocky mountains and covers all creation with his wings. We feel prosey, because we were too gush ing before, but we rejoice none the less in the presence on our waters of a class of steamer that, in its shipshape appearance, has more of hope for us than the great un couth side-wheelers that used to come lum bering up the harbour, with their ugly rock a-cradle uppervvorks reminding us of the year of one. We believe the service is established in a satisfactory form, and the unfortunate accident to the Macgregor at Kandavu is no more to be regarded as a precursor of ill than are the high falutin utterances of the well-lined stomachs at Pelmonieo's to be regarded as correctly descriptive of the wondrous commerce about to be developed. After what has happened in the past we feel inclined to do our rejoicing sadly. No New Zealander capable of raising his mind above the devious paths .of. political intrigue can doubt that the creation of a great highway for com.

merce across the Pacific is one of the first esseniials in raising New Zealand to her rightful position ; and abuse Mr Vogel as we may, New Zealand will yet do him honor for the dogged perseverance with which he has clung to this object through a protracted struggle with untoward circumstances abroad and political and party strife at home. It is true he has not effected all that he desired, and that the Fijian connection with an Australian service was ever bis hele noir. '■ But the " fork" that has been formed is in comparably better than what we should have had without his efforts, and gives far brighter promise of satisfaction and permanence than any system that would have reduced the great Australian colonies to a subordinate position. We may admit it now, we tuere fighting against nature and geography. Fiji is unquestionably the natural point of con vergence and divergence for an oceanic service connecting the Australasian group and America : and it is in the highest degree gratifying, that; in this service now inaugura ted nature and diplomacy have shaken hands To the: enterprise of the Australasian and j American Mail Steamship Company we most cordially wish the very highest success. The chartered boats are magnificent, and if these steamers are surpassed or even equalled by those about to be specially built, the unfurling of the new flag will be the harbinger of good things to Auckland, to New Zealand, and to the whole of th Southern seas.

The signing of the postal contract of the new American and Australasian mail service was signalised in New York by an incident that is deserving of more than a passing notice. As the rejoicing of all England's sons and grandchildren is inseparably associated with feeding, a banquet was of course necessary. But while on this side the Pacific we should

have got up a beggarly subscription ist, one gentleman, Mr ft. W. Cameron, a merchant engaged in the Australian trade, invited the most brilliant assemblage of notables that could be collected from the ranks of commerce, .politics and society, and celebrated the event in such a fashion that we find it said " The dinner was one of the most sumptuous ever prepared •yen by Delmonico.

We would direct marked attention to a state ment in our telegraphic intelligence from Napier. It tells of an outcry at Poverty Bay on the discovery that the Gisborne town sections had been sold piivately by the Go vernment during the Superintendent's visit. The Herald says the action is on a par with that of many who have beensentenced to long tei ms of penal servitude. With reference to tbis we would remark in the first place that the sales alluded to are such as have taken place in every township in the province all the time since the passing of the Auckland Waste Lands Act of 1867. In clause 20 of that measure it is thus enacted :— , :

"It shall be lawful for any person within twelve calendar months after any auction to become the purchaser by private contract of any land so put up for sale as aforesaid and not knocked down to any bidder, on paying for the same in cash the upset price at which the same was put up for sale."

In accordance with this any land put up for sale by auction and not sold is, as everyone knows, open for selection for twelve months at the upset price. The Gisborne lands, [in question, had been put up for sale in May

last. A large number^of lots were not sold. Hundreds of pounds worth of these have 3ince been taken up at upset price by appli cations lodged in Auckland. Similar applica tions were made at Gisborne to the -Commissioner of Crown Lauds, then accompanying the Superintendent, and accepted by him subject to the condition that if previously applied for in Auckland since the departure of the Commissioner, the deposit would be refunded. There was nothing done that has not been done at every port visited by the Commissioner of Crown Lands in his trip with the Superintendent ; and even since his return a number of Gisborne allot ments have been similarly dealt with on application from a resident in Auckland _ But we wish to speak especially of the action of the Poverty Bay Herald in this matter. We know that it is at the bottom of this affair; and its conduct is quite intelligible. That paper has been started at Poverty Bay to promote Napier interests. Ita patron is Mr Ormond, Superinten dent of Hawke's Bay, and representing those who demand the annexation of Poverty Bay aud the ascendancy of the runholders, it has naturally viewed with suspicion the visit of the Auckland Superintendent and his scheme of special settlement of population. It is under the conduct of b a scoundrel who is a disgrace to journalism, and whose officious sneaking attentions to the Superin tendent when at Gisborne were only equalled by his insidious undermining of Provincial influence and his praise of his own patrons in the columns of the

paper. The paper was started against the Standard, a most respectable journal allied with the popular interest though reason ably supporting the interest of the sheep owners ; but the new paper, as it deserves, is running itself to death by expen sive mismanagement and dummy adver tisements, affording indications, to the eye of newspaper men, of speedy dissolution. Its unscrupulousness and the unprincipled conduct of the Hawke's Bay land-robber gang are well exemplified in the unfounded charge as above against the Superintendent, a charge which will be taken at its value by any one with the merest smattering of knowledge of our Waste Lands Act of 1867.

We arc obliged to make a wholesale exclu sion of items of general interest in order to give place to the " Tartar."

Tilt) Tv'cw Zealand Agricultural Society held its meeting yesterday at the Criterion Hotel, Otahuhu. A number of interesting letters were road by the secretary from Messrs. ".Taincsß Wallace, W. J. Cawkweli, E Box, 15. I'lnnt, and otheis. The chair was ably filled by Mr. Good fellow. Mr. Hunt expressed his regret in not baing prepared with his promised paper on sugar-beet culture The question of sngar-beet was the subject of a long discussion between Messrs. Woodward, Goodfellow, Cawkwell, Bent, Andrews, and others. It was finally re solved, on the motion of Mr. Robertson, "That the Society obtain 100 lbs. of the best seed, and that Messrs. Goodfellow, Woodward, and Bent be appointed a com mittee to obtain information on the matter." A long and interesting letter was then read from Mr. Firth on wheat-growing, full of valuable hints and suggestions. The Chair man read a critical reply to Mr. Firth's letter, which met with the general approval of members present. A vote of thanks to the Chairman closed the mecttug.

About iifty members attended the Onc hunga Perpetual Land Building: and Invest ment Society's fiist meeting on Monday evening last. Mr C. Fleming presided. The rules of the society were p.issed, and the following officers appointed to con duct the affairs of the society, viz :—Presi dent, R. C. Barstow, Esq. ; vice-president Mr J. W. Waller; treasurer, Mr C. C. Fleming ; trustees, Messrs Hardington, Arm strong,, and Stevenson ; committee, Messrs M. H. Rowe, E. Y. Wing, Robb, Mclntyre, T. Clark, A. M. Sheppard, and C. V. Hill; secretary, J. D. Jackson ; auditors, Messrs J. R. Hendry and S. J. Williams. Solicitor, R. Laishley, Esq. Mr Heggarty left to-day for Sydney by the steamship Tartar, after completing a very successful tour through New Zealand as lessee of the Queen's Variety Troupe, which comprised some of the best talent than has ever visited New Zealand. This is Mr Heggarty's pioneer visit as a caterer for pub lic amusement, and from the judgment and business tact he haß shown we hope that his business engagements in Sydney will enable him on some future occasion to visit Auckland in a similar capacity, feeling assured that the character he has earned as an upright man of business will ensure him a warm reception. It is to be regretted in the interest of the theatrical profession that there are not more men of a similar stamp. We wish him success.

Thomas Mason Jones, of Trinity College, Dublin, died after a few hours' illness on the 13th December, 1873, of disease of the heart. Mr Jones, in the year 1858, came to London, as many other young men had done, in the hope of winning fame and fortune as a man of letters, but in these respects he was doomed to disappointment. He possessed splendid talents as an orator, and his orations on Milton, Swift, Bolingbroke, and Burke commanded wide audiences, but they did not pay. He sub sequently established a Political Reform Society in London, numbering among its members John Bright, Milner Gibson, and others, from which he managed to gather a sufficient income. Mr. Jones was generally respected, and was an orator of very great ability.

The workmen of the iron trades held a large meeting last night at the Governor Bowen Hotel for the consideration of the lock-out in Sydney, but with what result we are not yet informed. The fire-bells rang out last night, and hundreds of people were immediately out of doors looking in all directions for a fire. Fortunately, however, nothing more serious had happened than a chininey on fire on the premises of a lady in Victoria-street. 'An engine was called out and hands were ready , for action, ;but: they were not required to ' act as the • fire was extinguished in a few minutes after the alarm was given. There will be no practice at St. Paul's Church this evening. The practice will be held on Saturday at 7.30 p.m., when all mem bers are particularly invited to be present. Some of the tradesmen of Lower Queen street complain of the natives who squat at' their doors to the annoyance of customers.

The New Zealand Mail from England, brought by the Tartar, has come to hand in a most terrible state of confusion. It is stated that it will take upwards of 36 hours to sorb it at the Post Office. No New Zealand mail agent was on board.

Mr. Plunk et's audience last evening con sisted chiefly of young persons, who listened to liis readings from popular authors with marked attention.

An emergency meeting of the Auckland shipwrights will be held this evening in the Temperance Hall, Albert-street, for special business. It is particularly requested that all shipwrights will attend in the interest of the trade.

Charles's Diorama was largely patronised last evening at the Prince of Wales' Theatre, consisting of scenes of the late war and pictures of the famous Nile. This diorama, under its new head, promises to be a success. Mr. Collier lectured on the scenes with clearness and talent. The music, moreover, was exceedingly good, and aided the enter tainment considerably.

The reading of Tennyson's Enoch Arden last evening in Newton Hall was not patronised to the extent of its merits. Mr. Thomas evidently appreciates the finest passages in this admired poem ; but high-class readings of. the Tennysonian type arc " not tho thing" for the majority of the Auck land people ; they are for the thinking few. The sublimest nights of Milton would fall dead upon the ears of the admirer of the nigger melodisb and the gallery youths of the theatre.

A deputation of merchants from Levuka, who arrived at Kandavu by the s.s. Star of the South, waited on Mr Hall, the contractor for the Pacific Mail Service, on the 25th ult., for the purpose of urging upon him the desirability of constituting Levuka the port of call in the new service instead of Kandavu. The deputation consisted of Dr Brewer, American Consul; Mr Hennings, Mr Sahl, German Consul; Mr Eider, and most of the merchant of Levuka, in all about twenty persons. They offered to guarantee Mr Hall a trade of £20,000 a year, and although they all admitted the superiority of th e harbour of Kandavu, they promised in the event of their application being enter tained to put bnoys and lights along the channel and render the Levuka navigation easier than that of Kandavu. Mr Hall said he was unable to give the deputation a deci sive answer, but promised to lay their pro position before the Company at the earliest opportunity.

Captain Lloyd, of the Rangatira, met with a serious accident on Saturday afternoon in the office of the N.Z.S.S. Company. The accident happened in a very simple manner. Captain Lloyd and Mr Martin, jun., were passing each other in the office, and in a "larky" spirit Mr Martin caught Captain Lloyd by the shoulder, intending to swing him round. In the swing Captain Lloyd lost his footing and fell, doubling his left foot under him. When lifted it was found that the nnltle war dislocated, and upon being removed to the Pier Hotel, where a medical man was quickly in attendance, the small bone of the leg was discovered to be broken in two or three places, and one of the muscles snapped. Captain Lloyd will probably be laid up for six weeks. In the meantime, Captain Hepburn takes command of the Rangatira. — Wellington Independent. The Good Templars of Union-street held their proposed entertainment last evening in the dilapidated Union-street school-room. Before the chairman, Mr Webster, took his seat the room was crowded to the doors by eager listeners. The meeting wak opened in the usual formal way by the chaplain, and the members of the Tonic Sol-fa Society voiced forth a preliminary hymn. Mr Hemus, jun , addressed the meeting at great length ; other speakers followed, and a few recitations were given. Unfortunately for the audience, through the fintense heat two of the speakers weighingover fifteen stone each were obliged to leave the room and go home to bed exhausted before they had delivered their sentiments. We recommend to the managers of Good Templar entertain ments, during the hot weather, to put the fat men first and the thin men last on their programmes. The members of the choir of the Tonic Solfa Society were very successful with their several selections, viz., "Sports of Childhood," " The Mountain Maid," "Over the ice by Moonlight," and several others. This musical society, we may add, is ever ready to give their services for every good cause, under the guidance of Messrs. French and Bloomfield. Mr. Rhodes gave the "Lady's Dream" very creditably, and Messrs. White and Parker spoke in favour of the cause.

ARRIVAL OF THE S.S. " TARTAR" WITH THE English and Cali fornian Mails.

THE S.S. MACGREGOR ASHORE AT KANDAVU.

I The s.s. Tartar left her moorings at Syd ! ney on the 14th February at half-past twelve I p.m. Came to anchor at Watson's Bay , awaiting the arrival of the s.s. Rangatira with mails and. passengers from Melbourne ; was detainad there till the 15th February, the Rangatira having been delayed by adverse winds; 9.30 a.in. weighed and proceeded on our voyage. Experienced strong head winds arid : heavy cross seas all the passage. Arrived off j Kandavu at 8 p.m. 22nd February, and lay off till daylight.; took pilot on board at 8 a.m.., and went into harbour; made fast alongside of s.s. Mikado at 9 a.in! transferred mails, passengers, and cargo At 4.30 p.m. son the 23rd the s.s. Mikado weighed and proceeded on her voyage to San Francisco. On the 25th the s.s. Mac«regor arrived from San Francisco, and came along side at 2 p.m. to transfer mails and passen gers. At 11.45 p.m. the s.s. Macgregor cast off, the Pilot slating that he could take both of the steamers to sea that night by the s.s. Star of the South leading the way\ All the steamers proceeded slowly towards thb entrance of the harbour. The leading steamer failing to find' the passage as the moon had gone down, judged it desirable'to anchor till daylight. At 5.45 am on the morning of the 26th the ss* Macgregor got under weigh in charge of Pilot Frost, the Tartar weighing and following slowly in her wake. At 6.15 a.m. the Mac gregor struck on the shoal inside the reef- the Tartar came near to the stern of 'the Macgregor and anchored. At the request of Captain Grainger passed hawsers to tow him off. After a trial of several hours during which time we parted all our best hawsers, it was thought expedient to lighten the Macgregor forward, and await the night tide. This was accomplished by *£ c ,Star of he Soutb-' Soing alongside the the Macgregor and receiving from 80 to 90 tons cargo from her for transhipment to I Auckland. Made, fast to Macgregor by

stream chains and best hawsers. After three hours trial it was thought advisable to remove aft a portion of coal remaining forward in the Mpcgregor and make another trial by the day tide of the 27th, which likewise proved unsuccess ful. It was then considered inexpedient to make any further trial to get the s.s. Macgregor off Until she was thoroughly lightened forward. We found, after ccn sultationj that this Would occupy too much time, and it was thought advisable to transfer all mails and passengers to the Tartar, This was accomplished, and the Tartar went outside the reef without a pilot at 7 p.m. At 8.30 p.m. proceeded on our voyage to Sydney by way of Auckland. Captain Grainger expressed himself as fully confident that on removing all his coal and cargo aft his ship will float off the shoal, and that he will then proceed to Sydney without delay. The Sole blame of the mishap is attributable to Pilot Frost, as with ordinary caution no danger need be incurred in entering the harbor of Kandavu by day, and when the lights now being placed are in position it will be equally safe by night. On passage down the Tartar ex perienced strong E.S.E. winds with heavy cross sea. At 2.30 p.m. of March 3rd was abreast of the Poor Knights. Anchored off Rangitoto reef at 10.45 p.m. (3rd). Time of passage down 4 days 2 hours. At 5.45 a.m. of 4th weighed and proceeded in harbor; arrived alongside the Auckland wharf at 6.30 am.

Passengers :- For Auckland—(Saloon) Mr and Mrs Pearson and child, Dr. Roche, Mr J. Erringfcon, Mr Geo. Lynch Steerage : Miss McLean, Messrs A. H. Smith, J. C. Ellis, W. Lindsay, J. R. Linfoot, R. 0. Lin foot, J. D. Hoskins, Sam Mewhick, J. W. Carter, Robert Gammie, William Cuiry, P. jrainbonnie, J. B. Auttreman, R. Daiby. For Dunedin.—Saloon :Mr Gco. Duncan, G saloon, 14 steerage. For Sydney (from the s.s. Macgregor).- Saloon : Mr and Mrs H. H. Hall, Hon. Saul Samuel, Mr S. Dalgarno, Mr J. Blackbourne, Miss Mitchell, Miss Higgins, Messrs. Chas. Foster, George Bartlefcte, Jas. Adamson, J. R. .Kilman, Charles Anderson, Edward Anderson, George Winship, George Urnnin, mail agent. Second Cabin : Miss J. Tarlton, Miss H. Argyle, Mr P. Cullinir, Mr G. Tucker. Steerage : Mr and Mrs P. Calihan and three children, Mr and Mrs Aikins," Mr and Mrs Agnew, Mr and Mrs Baum, Mr and Mrs Wilson, Miss Boyle, Miss Sauger, Messrs P. Sanrord, A. Dren, J. Barron, J. H. Hall, J. Stone, Geo. Stones, J. Hoskins, D. Garland, H. Stanton, C. Hammond, R. J. Champion, J. Feague, Robert Stephens, Robert Northey, C. F. Charlion, R. Hoebuer, J. Hall, Owen, Keegan, H. McKenzie, 11. Bennett, 0. F. Barnett, So Sun. 15 saloon, 4 second cabin, and 33 steerage ; total 57.

9, Cargo : 912 kegs sugar, 405 mats ditto, Cruickshank and Co.; 144 kegs salmon, 80 ditto syrup, 210 pkgs. sundries, order.— Henderson and Macfarlane, agents. We are indebted to W. JR. Hodgkins, purser, for prompt delivery of our files and other favors.

THE NEW AUSTRALIAN LINE.

[From the "Alta California."]

The pioneer vessel of the new Australian line of steamers arrived here about the time Mr H. H. Ha)l, the general agent and business manager of the company arrived overland from the Ecst. Mr Hall expresses the utmost confidence in the success of the enterprise. The resources of the company are ample, and he declares that if the public are not satisfied, and the line should not succeed, the fault must be his. He has been busy while here in the interest of the company. He is confident that his negotiations with the Kailroad Company will lead to a fast train from San Francisco to New York, carrying the Australian passengers and mails. He has succeeded in getting specie over this line, and he hopes to be able to add a good deal of fast freight when is negotiations are completed.

The idea of an Australian express is very good, and if the Railroad Companies could and would give one on the arrival of the Australian steamer, it would encourage travel this way, and be also the means of stimulating other commercial interests.

Mr Hall says the first of the new Clyde built iron screw steamships for this line will be launched in August, and will arvive here about January, 1875. He is already negotiating for a fortnightly service, to be conducted by four American and four Eng ish ships. The Company, he says, is two thirds American, that proportion of the stock being owned by American capitalists. They will be 3CO tons each, and built very much on the plan of the ships of, the White' Star Line Their machinery is of the latest and most improved pattern. They are supplied with three compound engines each, two of the low and one of the high class, with separate condensers, so that ii? | case of accident to one, two remain in working order. The ships are guaranteed fourteen knots an horn-, sea speed loaded, while the contract calls only for twelve knots. •The Macgregor will leave to-night at 12 o'clock. Mr Hall says she will make the trip down in twenty-eight days. The City of Melbourne will be the next of the new line to arrive. The Macgregor was fitted up and repaired while here at a cost of $7,000. Mr Hall returns in her to Australia. [First Australian Mail.—A telegram from New York dated January 23 says: " The first overland closed ma<l to Austra lia, consisting of one hundred and thirty bags, arrived at this port yesterday at; 4 p.m.. and in five minutes after wards was loaded upon the waggons and went West by the Central New Jersey Rail road via Allentownj £>nd then to San Fran cisco. It takes the steamer of the 31st in stant for New South Wales. This is under the Postal Convention recently concluded between Postmaster-General Creswell and Hon. Saul Samuels, Postmaster-General of ■New Zealand. The Montreal brought the largest European mail ever received here, consisting of 203 bags of mail matter."

AMERICAN NEWS.

Chicago,' February Ist. —A despatch has been received informing ■Mr Spier, of St. Louis, who is attending the B'nai B'rith Convention here, that his jewelery store there had been robbed of its entire stock and dia monds, worth about $50,000 The person supposed to have taken them is a clerk named Pyle, who has disappaared with the combina tion and keys of the safe. In London, Clinton county, la., Miss Beetle attempted to light afire with kerosene. She will probably die. • (N.Y.), February Ist.—Afire was discovered in the knitting mill of O. W. Kine and Son this evening. It burned nearly two hours, but was confined to the interior of the building. The damage is $15,000 or $20,000. Columbia (S.C.), January 25th.—An engine on the Greenville and Columbia Railway exploded last night. It killed John Lane, the ablest engineer on the road, and seriously wounded a fireman and a wood passer. The former is probably fatally hurt.

Pennington (N.J.), Jannarv 2^T^ Presbyterian Church here took fal . T l** from a defective flue, and was eJ- ,to'^S stroyed. Loss, 25,0C3d0]5.

DEATH OF THE SIAMESE.

New York, January 25th ~A NS from Mount Airy, N. 0., published Ws' morning, gives an interesting conv^^ between a correspondent and Dr ft fi- Oa worth, who was the first physician tn? 8' at the residence of the Siamese Twi mve their death. Dr Hollingsworth doaX ft* lieveEng's death was caused through anv•*' connection or artery passing throveW 1 ligament connecting the twins. W a not believe in the existence of any vital ' ' nections. He had attended them frem,^?' when one had been sick and the oft- y good health. He often noticed two £? of the twins' pulses differing in time ■*' i eng's death was undoubtedly bur „"' . SHOCK AND TERROR, • °> Inspired by his union with Chang's d i body. An attempt to sever [the Heatn v after Chang's death, would only v ' hastened the death of Eng, by increasin v terror. '. i . Wf _ THE OPINION OF FRIEUDS. ... 1 The friends of the twins maintain that ' artery was contained in the ligament; &! that after Chang's death the blood fromi2:; body flowed into Chang, but that thereit no response of' the artery and! S Eng died from exhaustion and. loss of'to Up to the time ofEng's death the tigaiS was quite warm to a point where it enters Chang's body. The ligament ; wag fZ inches wide and as thick as a man's wiist ard extended from the abdomen of one to that of the other, and the navel of the twins was in its centre. THE BODIES TO BE SOLD FOR A POST-MOSTm ' The bodies have been temporarily interred' It is said the relatives of the twins are new' tiating to dispose of the bodies on morebro" fi table terms, and are asking .SB,OOO or §10 00() for allowing a post-moi tern examination,' The bodies after being embalmed, "were placed in a coffin and encased in a large tin box, which was soldered up and made &; tight.' All was then put into a large wbodei' box, packed with charcoal, made secure and • placed in the cellar of their house, JftV reported that the bodies will be. diaposedof at an enormous price, to some museum or medical college, or placed on exhibition. This is to be subject to the decision of the members of the family. The charge v made 1 that a veil of mystery lias been thrown over the death of the twins, and that the^eal cause of their decease has been^suppressed! for the purpose of obtaining possession, of" their bodies for the above stated object. !: Li A dispatch from Greensborough savsDr ' Joseph Hollingsworth, brother of the doctor who attended the twins, while eaHroiiiein the North stated that his mission was to dis pose of the dead bodies of the twins on the most favorable terms that he could negotiate. The sum asked for the privilege of a^orf, mortem examination is said: to feifrom $8,000 to $10,000.

AMERICA AND AUSTRALASIA.

DINNER TO THE HON. SAUL SAMUEL; AND H. H. HALL, ESQ".' '

(From the New "York Evening Post, Jan, 19;) A complimentary dinner was recently, given at Delrnonico's by Mr E. W; Cameron,l. -the eminent Australasian shipper of-this ■ city, to the Hon. Saul Samuel, Postmaster- General, and Vice-President of the Execu tive Council of New South Wales, and S. H. Hall. Esq., U.S. Consul at Sydney and Managing Director of the Australasian and American Mail Steamship Company. •> ••• ■ When the cloth was removed Mr Cameron - introduced his guests in a few)well-Sen;>!, words. He remarked that Mr Samuel was the only representative of the .colonies.. forming the antipodes in this* country who, had ever visited New York in'a pufclift capacity. The occasioD, in his opinion,lfffif of more importance than a.casual observer/ would be inclined to credit. Mr Samuel arrived in this country to settle "a postal;,;? treaty with this Government for the purpose $ of establishing : a monthly communication^ between the United States"and the new Britain of, the Pacific.' It was only seventy-six years ago sinee >.%-._ vernor Phillips, the first Governor of Sydney,, entered that colony, which had .now, with the younger colony of New Zealand, granted a for a period of seven years $400,CD0 ayear .:> to establish this line of steamers, and that *•■' on the failure of the-Webb Steamship Line, which failed for want of sympathy .and 'sap^ff port from this Government. He complin:? mented the Governments of New South! Wales and 'New Zealand on their liberal ty; and predicted for it the happiest. ; i results. Mr Samuel informed him that when" he arrived in Washington he was met by Postmaster Cresswell in such a liberal spirit that within forty-eight hours everything was brought to a satisfactory conclusion. [4P& plause.] The Chairman regretted that the,:•• United States had not taken the initiative in '■?■ this matter-but the step was now tekffy, ;:.; and he was sure that from this country" it would receive every sympathy and encourage ment. He concluded by introducing Mr... Samuel, the guest of the evening. ' ,—--• Mr Samuel, who was received with ap plause, said that it might appear somewhat ~ strange that two colonies liketNew Soatfi- j Wales and New Zealand should establish \a^* line of postal communication with the'mbther_, country, Great Britain, by way of.thelJnitw States," and that they should assemble to' do' honor to the representativel of that °00-/t munity. It might appear presuming on F*'] part of these colonies to take so prominent a^ positionas this step indicated, biittheydesired; not only to open up communication with the mother country, but to enter into com' ir mercial relations with this great BepubW.;.; (Applause.) It was not a question.that.! admitted of doubt that trade would increase if i the United States was willing to trade with-tnem. He did not desire to discuss. political questions, but he thought /that W this country if they would accord the same ; freedom to trade as they did in everything i, else, that spirit of enterprise which W'^ longed to the American character wowa arrive at that acme of ■ perfection wilier he believed would prove most advantageous. He was sorry that he could not say au taw colonies acted together in friendlycommerciai,., alliance with uniform customs duties, pu*" looked forward to a period when they woi» ; become one dominion. The population « the Australian Colonies was only 2,000,WU,t,| but their annual imports and exports we • £24,000,000. Their resources were immense, . and they produced everything in the snap of natural productions, and all that wj required for their development was increaa population, which time would br"#...J t the line of steamers which they txaa j established communication could bf;... ft between Australia and New York, J"ggi two instead of fifty-seven days, and }t%UO \ was in itself one that would receive.B"^*'; passenger traffic than any other, .■ _-^ I' earnest desire was to open up comw 9^r. relations with this country, andhf;^ 88 the result wouid be beneficial to^ aC« -q & % In proposing the health of B'-P^-.-^ Esq., United States Consul at-Sydney, Cameron could not resist, expresW|gjdi admiration he felt.for that g^K. \<&fl!s* and ability in having carried ' ii,er aspi- ! and profits of the new line f '''"'J % nAlja yfcss'■ nfttJ Mr C, k»w that Mr lk\l im

wra wfmtm %)pab, Wednesday, mahch 4is?*



TCOSGR A V E & CO HAVE JUST RECEIVED PER SUEZ MAIL: : "' , 1 cas9 Self-coloured Gro3 Grains 1 „ Black „ 1 „ Best ParisJfKid Gloves 1 ~ Best Assort \ Colors. JJ AT S! HAT S ! SUMMER HATJS I'll RE DIT CED PRICES. 1 IN ORDER TO EFFECT A CLEARANCE I , RUSHBROOK h BRIDGMAN have decided to Sell the Balance of their Summer Stock of Children's and Ladies' Straw Hats at COST PRICE. A Great Variety to select from. KUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN (LATE R. HOBBS), Wholesale ant> Retail Drapers, Clothiers, &o : JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) .! ' 'JPPER QUEJSN-SaBEBC, AtTCKLAND.