SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH "WATER : This evonlng, 355 ; to-mono* morning, 4.31

SUJN-SET : This evening, 6.18; BTTN-SI8S: To ttorrow morning, 6 2 MOON'S AGE: New moon, 18th, 4.41 p.m.

PORT OP AUCKLAND.

ARRIVALS. Thomai pnd Henry, brig, from L; tteltos Clyde, schooner, from Wangarei *

DEPARTURES.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES. Star of the South, for Napier, to-morrow Murray, for Tauranga. Monday, 3 p.m. Eangatira, s.s., for Sydney, to-morrow WelJfngton, s.s., for the South, 17thinstant Mongol, s.s., for Kandavu (San Francisco Mail), Monday

EXPORTS.

Per s.s. Eangatira, for Sydney and Mel bourne : 10 boxes cigars, G. Biles ; 100 casks bottled beer, J. S. Macfarlane ; 10 qr.-casks brandy, Combes and Daldy ; 2 qr.-casks wine, Brown, Campbell and Co. ; 4 qr.-casks wine, Grant and Morton; 5 boxes gold, Bank of New Zealand ; 2 coils rope, Brown, Campbell ; 2 bales leather, Ireland Bros. ; 140 bags flour, G. W. Binney; 11 bales fungus, 36 bags ditto, J. Eeed.—H. M. Jervis, agent A S.N. Co.

The s.s. Eowena arrived from the Bay of Islands this morning at seven, o'clock, and having landed her cattle at the Tamaki, came up the harbour at eleven o'clock, and with considerable difficulty, owing to the gale, brought up alongside the North Shore ferry T. The Eowena left the Bay at 230 p.m. yesterday, and had N.E. winds all the way up, accompanied by thick weather and rain. Passengers : Messrs Webster, Adam son, Lewis, Smith, the Eev. Mr. McKee, and Mrs. Hill. The Eowena also brings 25 head of cattle, H. Williams.

The barque Glympse, 350 tons, Hornsley, master, left the Otawatea, Kaipara, for Melbourne on Sunday last with about 290,000 feet of timber, shipped by Must and Co. Mr and Mrs Geo. Henderson and family were passengers by this vessel for Adelaide. The schooner Eover has cleared out for Poverty Bay with a general cargo shipped by various firms,

The s.s. Eangatira has cleared at the Customs for Sydney with cargo as per ex ports. Passengers—For Sydney : David Bernard, Aaron Le,vy, John Hindmark, Launcelot Watson, Frank Graham, Giovanni Blanchp, Anne King, Mrs MaiyF. Day, Miss Mary Day, Mr and Mrs Lipstine and infant, Misses Lipstine (3), MasterLipstine, Thomas Kinsall, Eobeit S. Sutton, Mrs Elizabeth Lee and two children, Miss Lee and Masters Lee (3), John Beatson, Edward Butler, Charles Wood, Mrs Jane Hall, Messrs Hall (2 >, Jno. Nagle, Carl Liebig, W. J. Borth, Malcolm Henderson, Auguste Louis, James lVcLellan, . Butterworth. For Melbourne : Miss Martha Cochrane, Mrs Ann White and infant, Masters Percy and Frank White, Alfred Wood, and Lee Foy.

The p.s. Lady Bowen did not make her customary trip to Mahurangi and \] the Hot Springs this morning. The whaling barque Dodona, eight months out from TSew Bedford, aivived at the Bay of Islands yesterday morH.ng, having taken 50 tuns of oil.

The barque Nar worth, loading with timber for Sydney, the schooner Herald, and the war schooner .Alacrity were lying off Wan garoa, when the Rowerja passed during her last trip. The barque Briton having; nearly com pleted her unloading has cleared out in bal last for Newcastle.

The s.s. Star of the South hs.s cleared at the Customs with a large general cargo for Napier.

The schooner Mary Ellen has, we under stand, been purchased by Messrs Brogden and Son.

The schooner Clyde arrived from Wangarei yesterday with a general cargo and several passengers.

The brig Thomas and Henry arrived in harbour last night from Lyttelton, after a week's run. She bring a cargo of breadstuffs. Captain Bishop reports having left port on the 6th inst. Had light N.E. winds for the first 24 hours ; next day encountered a fierce S.S.E. gale with high confused sea; thence fine weather and easterly winds to the East Cape, which was rounded, on Tuesday last; thence thick dirty weather from the east ward with heavy rain.

CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. Calls.

* s. d. Date National Bank of NZ. .. 010 0 April 1 National Bank of N.Z. .. 010 0 July 1

R. Arthur reports a good attendance at his poultry sale yesterday. The following are the price 3at which he sold :—Fowls, 9d to 2s 2d ; turkeys, Is Id to 3s 9d ; geese, 3s ; duck, Is 4d to 2s 6d each ; fantail pigeons, 2s each ; kidney potatoes, 4s 9d per cwt. At his sale of produce, groceries, ftc, the fol lowing prices were realised :—Potatoes, 5s per cwt. ; onions, Id to ljd perlb. ; cheese, 6-^d ; salt, 5a per cwt. ; tobacco, 3s 5d per lb. ; tea, half-chest, 2s per lb.; box tea, 23s each; pastilles, llfd to Is per lb. ; flour, 12s per lOOlbs. ; vinegar in casks, 9Jd per gallon; rice starch, 3d per lb; wood matches, 5s 6d and 4s per gross ; knife pow der, small size, 7s per dozen ; assorted lol lies, Is per lb. ; show glasses, Is 7d per lb. ; household furniture, etc., at good prices.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails -wtli, Close as Under :— For the undermentioned] places, per s.s. ftangatira, this day, t iz.:— For India. China, Mediterranean Ports, and Continent of Europe, at 6 p m For Australian Colonies, at 6 p m For the United Kingdom, via Suez and South ampton (for letters specially addressed), at f. n m For the United Kingdom, via Brindisi. and late letters for Sydney and Melbourne, at 5 pm For money orders, and registered letters, and newspapers, at 4 p ra For Thames, on Motday next, at 10.30 a m For "Whitiarga and Tauni'ga, per Murray, on Monday next., at 2 p m For Kussell, "Wangaroa. and Mongonui, per Eowena, on Monday next, at 3 p m. For the undermentioned places, per Mongol on Menday, ICth March, as under : — For Fiji.Samlwich Islands.United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign West Indies at 3 p.m. For the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, via San Francisco, at 3 p.m. For money orders, registered letters, and news papers, at 1.30 p m Letters bearing a late fee of 6d, in addition to the po tage, will be received by the Mail Agent on board the steamer up to time of sailing. For Taranaki and Southern provinces.per Wellington, on Tuesday noxt, at 7 a m. 'Pigned) S. B. Bias. Chief Postmaster.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Eliza.—The letter, which you say you found is clearly a stupid forgery of your own. It is, moreover, so ignorantly writ ten that it would be almost impossible to "lick it into shape." Why not try an evening school.

BIRTH.

Boucher—On March 13, at Somerset House, New North Road, the w'fe of Mr E. Boucher, of a daughter.—Somerset and Devon papers please copy.

DEATHS.

Cookb—On March 14, Beatrice Ellen, infant daughter of Mr Thomas Cooke ; aeed 11 months.

The funeral will leave her late residence, Albert street, East Newton, on Monday, 16th instant, at four o'clock.

Anderson.—At the Governor Browne Hotel, Robert S. Anderson, r jed 41, at six this morning. The funeral will leave his late residence, the Governor Browne Hotel, Hobson-street, at 3 p.m. on Monday next. It is requested that all his friends will assemble to accompany his remains to their lr.-,t resting place.

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 1874.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the s-ood that we can do

Where there is smoke there is generally fire ; and whenever we find our two morning contemporaries, as this morning, contempo raneously 'inspired from the self-same source, we may be sure there is something in it. A few days ago we published a telegram from the South giving a little insight into the arrangements going on in Lon don between the hostile shipping com panies, and we supplemented it with in sinuating some other circumstances of which we are aware. The allusion may have disturbed incohate negotiations, at all events there is something that will not bear to be blown upon, or the two papers would not have been simultaneouly moved as they have been to-day to say Hush ! And yet it is a fact that there is something exceedingly suspicious in the present re lations of the rival shipping companies under the paternal management of Dr Feather ston. It is not the raising of the rate of freight alon« that should cause alarm, but

lit is evident that a way has been discovered, j we know not how, of evading the strong .desires of the people of New Zealand, and again playing our immigration into the hands of Shaw, Savill and Co. It appears that the agent of the New Zealand Shipping Company could not fill his ships, we know not -why ; that Dr. Featherston was made acquainted with the fact, and " sent for" the representative of Shaw, Savill and Co., who was quite ready with his vessels, smd accordingly took over the busi ness. Some of the vessels already chartered by the Shipping Company were even passed over to Shaw, Savill and Co., and by them the loading was completed. We are aware of one lot of goods—others miy tell of many others—which was peremptorily ordered by the consignees to be shipped by the Shipping Company's boats and none other, but which in the course of these little arrangements is now on its way to Auckland in one of Shaw, Savill and Co's ships. Disguise it as"we may, inspire the papers to say "hush ! " look pleasant a a we may, the] Agent-General and Shaw, Savill and Co, are too wiley customers to be caught tripping. Some time ago, as every one remembers, when tenders were c?Hed for the transport of immigrants, Shaw Savill and Co's was the only tender, and that for an amount considerably in ex cess of that for which this firm had been pre viously doing business for Dr. Featherston. The moral was obvious, and the trusty firm was conclusively shown to be indispensable. Now a different ruse is proceeding, and it is not an improbable conjecture that the extra ordinary activity to which the Agent Gene ral has been waked up, the vast numbers of emigrants being raked together, actors, dancing girls, prostitutes, and all the sweepings of the infamous dens and fever stricken pest-houses of London, have had their origin in the desire to overwhelm the New Zeplaud Shipping Companj, and to show in another way that the faithful firm of Shaw, Savill and Co. is indispensable to New Zealand. At all events it is clear as noonday that there is something fishy We should never dare to insinuate that any gold had passed from the one firm to any one cornected with the other, any more than we would dream of insinuating that the Agent-General received a percentage on shipments and passengers sent by the vessels of Shaw, Savill and Co. But in some way or another we feel in a fog about tho whole thing, and generally uneasy ; for in the darkness, in some undefinable way, we think we smell treason.

Onoe a month the Gross prepares a highly spiced article for English readers, and the pub lic have become so accustomed to being bored with a column of "high falutin" twaddle every four weeks that they have almost ceased to complain. But the dose administered in this morning's issue is really too strong for even an English reader to swallow. We are told by the Cross-writer that never since the colony was founded " was the favouring wind that h'llcd the sails of the ship cf State so strong or so steadily persistent as now;" and "never was trade more brisk and more prosperous ; never was the revenue so steady in its increase, and yet the complaints of the taxpayers co little heard ;" but after this delightful picture we are let down by being assured that " it is pos sible to be too prosperous," because it may in duce carelessness : and worst of all we are told that " to a great extent the summit has been reached. What does our contemporary mean ? His logic is bad, and his simile still worse. The ship of State, we are told, has been sailing along under a favourable breeze until it has gained the summit 1 Ships do not usually sail up hills, and the simile will not hold t»gether take it which way we may. It is only equalled by one of Sir Boyle roach's, who asserted that he smelt a rat and saw it floating in the air, and expressed a determination to nip it in the bud. What our contemporary probably means is that the colony has reached the summit of its pros perity, and that it must necessarily begin to go down hill, but the writer got his ideas considerably mixed by introducing the ship simile. Well, we take exception to any such doctrine. That some portions of New Zealand are in a highly pros perious condition we admit, but that other portions are in a very beggarly condition is equally true. On the surface there is a good deal of apparent and unreal prosperity, but beneath there is a great amount of rottenness. The public works policy is still little better than a paper scheme, and mere assertions to the contrary on the part of the Cross will not prove it otherwise. So far it has been a coatly failure, and is producing little or no revenue. And if we have reached the sum mit with our ship of State—as the writer puts it—what may we expect when we bes;in to go down hill? If the summit has been gained now, God help us when the reverse comes upon us—as come it undoubtedly must when the ship reaches the valley again.

A deputation of the settlers at Woodside (Stokes' Point) will wait upon his Honor the Superintendent on Wednesday next respect ing the making of an approach road to the projected new wharf.

We learn from our contemporary the Southern Gross that the cricket match Auck land v. North Shore will be resumed to morrow at the North Shore. We regret that our Auckland cricketei's should be so far influenced by the opinions of the Gross on the Sabbath question as to venture to pitch their stumps on Sunday. We under stand that if it should be wet Hie members will go to Church.

Divine services to-morrow (Sunday) at Nekton Kirk, by the Rev. Dr. Wallis. ' Morning " Matthew, the Publican;" evening, "The Condition of the Soul between Death and the Resurrection." Lome-street Hall, by Samuel Edger, B.A. Morning, " Paul, as a Man and a Christian ;" evening, " The Reality, Greatness, and need of Conversion." Albert-street Congregational Chapel; services 'conducted by Rev. Warlow Davies, M.A. (Last time in this chapel.) Epiphany Chapel, West Newton ; sermons by Revs. B. T. Dudley and W. R. Kennedy. Services as usual at Wellesley-street Baptist Church, (Rev. P. H. Cornford); Edwardes-street (Rev. W. Tinsley) ; Cook-street (Mr Carr); Sheridan-street (Mr Booth) ; and United Methodist Free Church, corner of Vincent sfcreet, (See adrertisements.) tdl

Again, to-day, no steamer left either for Coromandel or the Thames, and a consider able number of persons were put to serious inconvenience and annoyance in consequence of the extreme timidity which appears to have taken possession of our steam-boat owners. The policy, lately adopted, of re maining in port during every little "blow" is so entirely new to the travelling public, and so extremely inconvenient to business men, that they do not take kindly to it, and begin to talk vaguely about the want of more com petition, the injurious effects of mdliopohV.S) and so on. The Thames people complain very bitterly about the treatment they have lately received at the hands of the Auckland Steam Packet Company, and not without good cause. It seems that the Crown is frequently taken off the line at a moment's notice, and no proper provision is made to supply her place. i This was the case when she "Went to the assistance of the Anazi; and during the present week she has not kept to her pub lished time-table. Yesterday she was adver tised to leave Auckland at eleven o'clock, but did not leave for two hours afterwards, and in stead of leaving Tararu on her return trip-in the evening she remained there all night. The weather could scarcely be an excuse, because it was of the same unpleasant character throughout the day, and if it was fine enough to go down to the Thames it was fine enough to return to Auckland. What the people most complain of is that the Auck land Steam Packet Company do not take the trouble to give public notification in the ordinary way of their intention to lay up or take off their Thames steamers One intend ing passenger came in this inornlng from Onehunga, but he would have been saved much trouble and annoyance had a notice been published last night announcing that the Crown would not if the A.S.P. Co. are in such a dreadfully impecunious condition that they cannot afford to give public notice of their intention to lay up their steamers, we will, for the sake of the public convenience, intimate in a gratuitous manner their intentions and proposals respecting the Crown. It is to be hoped, however, that when Messrs Holmes' new boat is on the line that a little whole some competition will bring about a much needed reform in the management of the A.S.P. Co.'s affairs

The American Eagle.seems to have laid an egg down South, aud the chick has chipped the shell at Timaru. The Herald of that place—which used to be a well-written and sensible paper—" goes for" Sullivan, and the vision of that man " weeding polyanthuses" produces such a whirl of blistering, blasting, deafening, agonising, shrieking, burning epithets that we stand aghast. The " ugly dunk" must be an unfledged eaglet. He shrioketh thusly :—"He was not chained, or even made to share the ordinary labour of tho gangs, but was kept a good deal in doors, and employed for amusement and exercise in light work about the yards and gardens. It was a strange sight; this frightful nightmare of coagulated wickedness—blistered with horrors ; indurated with the life-stream of victims; blasted by the isolation of his unique enormity j deafened by the soba and shrieks of agonised despair ; quivering be neath the rigid grasp of dying hands ; branded by the burning gaze of eyes which looked their last on this world, and their first on God—quietly standing! "i the sun with a rake, weeding polyanthuses round the gaoler's door. If ever innocence and guilt, beauty and deformity, Heavep. and Hell were brought together into contrast, they were so there. Well, well—he's gone, and the sooner he's forgotten the better. Wo only hope the Californians won't pay back the compliment, and send us a shipload of ofl'al in return."

The autobiography of the late Er Guthrie is a most interesting book, and may bo had ill our Auckland libraries. Here is one of the Doctor's Scotch yarns about "Lucky Dad :"—One of the most curious cases of old age I over heard of was told me by Lord Ardmillan, who, to the integrity of a judge, and the graces of a genius, and the piety'of a Christian, adds such a knack for story telling as makes his society quite delightful. Mr F. Dundas, M.P., a friend of his, having heard, when on a visit to Shetland, of a very old man who lived on the mainland, or one of its inlands, went to see him. On approaching his cottage he saw an aged but hule-looking man at work in a field close by, and not doubting but that this was the person he was in search of, he made up to him, but had no sooner begun to moralize on topics suitable to old age and the close of life than the person he address-ed turner! round on him to say, " It'll be my fayther ye've come to see ; there he is, sitting at the cheeko' the door." And there, on walking up to the house, he saw a grey-headed, venerable patriarch, sit ting on a stone by the door, warming his cold blood in the sunshine. On going up to him, and introducing himself as a traveller, who had come out of his way te see oue who had seen so many years, he was much sur prised when this old man, pointing his staff to the door, said, "It will bo my fayther ye've come to see—he's in the house, there !" He entered ; and there, in one who, with bleared eyes and furrowed brow, cowered over a peat fire, while he stretched out his palsied hands to catch its warmth, and over whose shoulders, bent under the weight of years, fell a few spare silver locks, he saw the very picture of great old age. He was sure that he had now got hold of the veritable man. Kaising his voice, for he found the aged patriarch deaf almost as a door-post, he let him know the purpose of his visit. But what was his astonishment when this withered form by the " chimney neuk," pointing to the door of an inner room, said, " It'll be my fayther ye've come to see ; he's ben there !" and an old woman who sat by the fire, and added, " Surely, Sir, you'll not go till you'ye seen • the Lucky Dad' ?" And " ben there," to be sure, lying in a " box bed," he found the father of the other three generations, alive indeed, but more like a dried mummy than a living man.

The Auckland Stock Importation Company met last evening, according to announce ment, in the Newmarket Junction Hotel, Mr Basset in the chair. The minutes o£ the previous meeting were read and admitted, after which Mr Bassett informed members that in consequence of the stallion " Young Performer" having been purchased, the com pany was indebted to the extent of £225 Is lid, and the question before the meeting was to take steps to wipe away the company's liabilities. Mr. Joseph May considered it of great importance that "Young Performer" should be retained in the province, and he made a motion to that effect, which, upon being seconded by Mr. Wallace, was carried. Mr. Buckland proposed " That the number of shares in the company for bhe currenb year be limited to eighty," which was seconded by Mr. Bainbridge, and unanimously agreed to. It was further agreed that all members who did not at once pay up should forfeit their shares.

Owing .to the increasing violence of the heavy N.E. wind blowing this morning, the departure of several vessels lying in harbour, and ready to sail, has been postponed till the weather moderates. The s.s. flangatira and the s.s. Star of the South are both announced to start to-morrow. The Lalla Rookh was also unable to leave for Coro manclel. There has been no «ommunioation. with Coromandel since Monday last.

To the Editor: Sir,—You kindlygavo in sertion in a former issue, to a letter m Avhicn we, Stewards of the steamer Macgregor, ex plained how we were treated after the wreck of that vessel, and how we were left here in Auckland without a penny, although our namea are on the ship's articles, and there are three months' wages due to us, If we were in Sydney we could have legal redress. Sere we are helpless. We offered yesterday to pay Mr Jervis half the amount of passage money to Sydney in cash d'own^ iind the' Other half when we got to Sydney. Mr tfetviti would ntft accept our offer, although Mr Yon der Heyde, wtid was with us, urged him to do so. We asked him to take two of us on these terms, so that our case could be represented in Sydney, but he would not do tins. In fact he would do nothing. Mr Yon der Heyde has been very krnd to us in giving his advice, and Mr Howard, of tho United States Dining Rooms in Queen-street, has given us board and lodging, knowing that we have no funds until we get to Syd ney, where we shall immediately prosecute our claim against the company which has used us so badly. It seems s. very hard c^e that we shipwrecked seamen should be left here without means when we have money due to us which could be recovered in Syd ney. Thanking you for the space you have given us in your columns, we are, &c, Henry W. Gilmork, Jeim Shaw.

We notice that "Rev. Dr. Wallis will resume his admirable series of discourses on the apostles in Newton Kirk to-morrow morning. The subject of this, the eleventh ot the series, will be V Matthew the rublioan,"

A dinner was given last night at the Northern Club by the members of the club to Mr Jno. Wilson on the eve of his antici pated departure to St. Louis, Missouri, per s.s. Mongol, on Monday. Mr Wilson, during a five years' residence in Auck land, has ingratiated himself with a large circle of friends, and this farewell com pliment to him on his return to his native city comesi in very apropos. Mi\ E. Ben nett officiated as chairman on the occasion, and about twenty members of the club, all of them personal friends of Mr Wilson, sat down to au excellent menu supplied under the superintendence of the chef of the estab lishment. The dinner passed off most plea santly, and some excellent speeches were made. Mr Wilson's departure was spoken of in terms of regret by all. Although that gentleman, during his stay in this city has not been directly engaged in any branch of commerce, ho has made the acquaintance in some way or other of nearly all our leading business men, and one and all have found him at once a genial companion and an astute man of the world. An a traveller he has visited every quarter of the globe, and his retentive faculties being singularly acute his store of general information is exceptionally large.

The most popular man of the people of England at the present time is Joseph Arch, the Warwickshire peasant, in whom the hopes of more than 80,000 of the Anglo- Saxon race are centred. This man arose from the humblest and most oppressed of the labouring classes, and the immense in fluence he exerts is due as much to his character as to his natural eloquence. Arch was peasant-born in the agricultural village of Barton, in the year 1828. His parents were poor, and had to struggle with those almost insurmountable difficulties which for ages have surrounded the farm-labourer, and of which Cobbott and Fawcett have so bitterly complained. The boy received the simple rudiments of education, and at an early age was hurried into the fields for the purpose of adding his mite to the general pittance of the family ; but of Arch it may truthfully be said, " Whatever his hand found to do he did it with his might." His aim invariably was to complete his work in the most perfect manner, although his weekly wages in boyhooil amounted to no more than eiahteenpence. As he grew in years he en deavoured, by the means within his reach, to improve his mind by observation and study. He became an expert hand in all the varying pursuits of agriculture, and amid the silence and poetry of pastoral life became something more than a dreamer. He was conscious of the fact that his native county had produced a Nhakspere, and in his leisure hours he made it his business to the secret of Khnkspere's universality, and pondered over his thoughts while following the plough and trimming the hedge. He saw, moreover, that the peasantry of his native land were down-trodden, and still—amid preachers, bibles, and tracts—in comparative serfdom. Why should such a state of things exist he thought whilst all nature beams of happi ness and plenty ? He married at twenty five, when he was earning but nine shillings a week—a peasant's average pay. He worked hard for the support of his uife and children, but found it impossible to rise above his penurious condition, and so he rebelled against his circumstances and became a job bing labourer. He began to talk about the wrongs of the people, and to suggest the remedy, and as he had qualified himself for a better position by self-culture, moral recti tude, and a love of the beautiful and true, he won respect wherever he went. He possessed, moreover, the gift of speaking fluently, and his pleasing style and open countenance made him a general favorite, especially with those whom he sought to elevate. Joseph Arch was not a mere demagogue, but a man of sterling character, whose honest words car ried weight and conviction home to his audiences. Ho is the same among all classes, unassuming in his manners, but unwavering in his principles. The greatest men of Eng land, including the Prime Minister, listen with profound interest to the common-sense pleadings of Joseph Arch, who has heartily espoused the common cause of the English labourer, and who by common consent has become the champion of freedom and the leader of the peasantry, not to revolt and re bellion, but to a consciousness of their rights duties, and the true dignity of toil. Joseph Arch is not an advocate of emigration to any great ex lent. He has been pursuing his in vestigations in Canada, and it is reported that he will proceed to the Australian colonies and in all probability to New Zealand' He declares that in all his efforts to serve the agricultural classes he was actuated by no personal motives, but by a desire to serve his country, for he believed that the best way to secure to England peace and pros perity was to turn the land to the best pos sible account, and to hold out inducements to the labouring classes of the country to remain at home. The land he considers was not producing more than one-half what it might be made to produce without any great injustice to anybody. What was required were the full cultivation of the laud at present lying idle, and plenty of labour for the agricultural classes. Until this was done he did not expect to see peace and comfort for his fellow-agriculturists in Eng land. He wished in his heart that he could see the agricultural labourers in England as comfortable and independent as he had seen them in Canada. If Joseph Arch, the self taught English peasant, should be induced to publish Ms experiences, his book will sur pass in practical interest, the volumes either of Wentworth Dilke, or Anthony Trollope. J In consequence of the inclemency of the weather last evening Mr. Clark's "Early Impressions" were not read at the Dove Mutual Improvement Society, halt postponed until Friday next.

The annual meeting of the members of the Young Men's Christian Association was held last evening, Archdeacon Maunsell m the chair. The Chairman having referred man excellent speech to the progress and position of the institution, called upon the secretary, Mr Thomas Buddie, to favour the audience with the reading of the report, from which it appear* that there were 401 subscribers on the roll; that 343 vdoßtfß, at a cost of £79 14s, had been added to tn6 library. The lectures had also been fully in tended, the gross receipts amounting to £G8 17s Alterations had been made in the lecture hall and corner premises which cost £125, but which would repay the Insti tute amply in tinte. The visiting agent also reported favourably on his efforts to assist immigrants on landing upon these shores, and impart religious information. Mr Osmond Lewis, the treasurer, read the financial report for the past year, which showed the receipts and expenditure to be as follows -.—Subscriptions, £219 9s 9d ; lectures receipts (net amount), £46 'a 3d; miscellaneous, £09 2s ; balance in Bank of New Zealand, £1 Is 4d ; total, £335 Ids 4d. Expenditure : Trustees' account, £75 4s 4d ; gas, £38 3s 9d ; books, periodicals, &c, £96 10s lid ; repayment of loan, £25 ; seats for lecture hall, £23 18s ; insurance on stock, £5 ; miscellaneous, £71 14s 4d. Total, £335 16s 4d. Captain Daldy moved, in an interesting speech, the adoption of the report, which Was seconded by Mr. G. M. Main. Mr. Main (who takes a lively interest in the affairs of the association) said that when the present management took up the working of the association two years ago, they found a subscribers' roll of 120; monthly issue of hoolid fflbont 100 volumes ; and an expen , diture on H6# book* of £10 per annum. The roll now shewed over 4QQ subscribers ; monthly issue of books, 960 volumes ', irhile nearly 1000 volumes (new works) had been added to the library during that period. The motion was carried without a dissenting vote. The followed gentlemen were then elected to office for the ensuing year, viz : — President, Yen. Archdeacon Maunsell, L.L.D. Vice-Presidents : Captain Daldy, Colonel Hauitaiti, Messrs J. Newman, A. Boardman, W. Ratfcray, P. Herepath, and H. Ellis. Secretary '. Mr T. Suddle. Treasu rer :Mr O. Lewis. Committee j Messrs Hammond, J. Coupland, J. GittoS, W. Thome, G. M. Main, H. Barton, Longmore, S. Wells, Tinne, J. McLachlan, Lyon, Cheal, J. Buttle, F. Ewington, McMaster, and C. Major. Auditors : Messrs S. Wells and J. Batger. Several excellent speechs were subsequently made by the Rev. C. M. Nel son, Key. A. Reid, and Rev. G. H. Ttl rner; also by Mr Ewington. The meeting closed with the benediction.

We have noticed recently in several schoolmasters' communications a great di versity in ' the style of their handwriting— some write clear and legibly, while others write in such a careless, slovenly style that it is almost impossible to trace their meaning. Even the printer's deA\; l turns away from some of these lucubrations with fear and trembing, and " gie's 'em up/

Notwithstanding the want of water during the early part of the month, and the scarcity of labour at the Thames, a very considerable increase in the month's yield of gold is shown. From the Advertiser returns we find that G,130 tons of stone were crushed, and yielded 8,3400z5. of gold, being an increase of 1,4220zg. above the previous month. And with the present prospects in the Old Whau, Golden Calf, Central Italy, and other mines ib is extremely probable that the return will continue to grow month by month. Much dead-work has been going on in the Waio-Karaka flat district for some time past, and several mines in that locality may shortly be expected to be classed in the list of gold-producing mines. The Bright Smile Company are also putting in another level, and -will shortly be in the dividend list again. The Sons of Freedom and the City of London have paid handsome diridends during the month, aud others may reasonably be looked for. On the whole we think the mining interestsof the province are in a more hopeful condition than they have been for a long time past.

The wet weather, while it makes thou sands of hearts grateful, seems to have a shivering influence upon (he cabbies and ex pressmen ; a shrinking effect upon the young ladies' dresses, and a " curling up " power upon the city reporters. We noticed this morning a cluster of these usually busy characters leaning against a wall, apparently aghast at the weather, buttoned up in great heavy coats, with their billy-cocked hats drawn over their ears, as though in the midst of an English winter, with noses beautifully tipped with a pinky red, and one was actually dozing on a stool iv the immediate vicinity of the Police Court; but when we remember the day (Saturday), and that some of the poor fellows work hard during the night, our heart gushed with a lively stream of sym pathy. The reporter has been described as the hardest worker on a newspaper; a sort of Uhlan sent out to scout and forage for news, one posted up in everybody's affairs ; the barbers, the shoe-makers, the Good Templars, the lovers, and indeed everybody's business rolled into one. At one time he is expected to be downy, when the whole truth should not be disclosed, and at the Drill-shed jhe should note who had drill and were supposed to be competent at shooting. He is a per son, or should be, of wide experience, whose familiarity with the events of every-day life renders him almost totally indifferent to the principles which agitate" the minds of the different sections of society, and who oscillates between the poles of thought as though they had no existence, treating every event with professional coolness, seeing men as they appear to be, and not as they really are, and watching from his tour of observation every known method of in fluencing society in general. He may be seen everywhere, sometimes with a Cross look, striding through the mud after a para graph ; at another time on the wharf strug gling to Herald forth the news of a ship coastwise, or illuminate his intelligence with the brightness of the Evening Star.

The first number of a new and enlarged series of the " Auckland Journal of Com merce" is before us, with a complete report of the market and an elaborate and care fully got up price current. We notice that not a single trade or calling has been omitted from the closely-printed pages of this useful chronicle, which forms a desideratum long needed in this city. The editor's connection for many years with commerce and trade is a sufficient guarantee that the journal of commerce will be conducted with truth and ability, and that, as he briefly states, the information to be given in future will be most carefully com piled from the best sources of information, and "will be as accurate as the means at his dis posal can render it." The present issue gives au account of bonded stocks in the chief towns of New Zealand, monthly Customs returns, impoits and exports, with a detailed account of shipping, of the arrivals and departure of ships, and of vessels expected. This publication is valuable, and greatly to be commended to the consideration of mer c chants, captains, and traders, and to all per-" sons who take an interest in the growth and prosperity of the colony.

The entertainment of ttieOxfojir3s nation Troupe at the City Hall W was not so largely patronised as cm *Si vious night in consequence of iU n° Pre> welcome weather. The perW,l W{ very good throughout, and the "2"? : J Messrs Verten and Fox was well » / Miss Blanche Fane was more at l'*6oßl^' on the previous night. Mr Reid 0*16 tllaa and pleasing with songs, and Menu? 8 abl« and Culhmore performed on the v yniOu t with their usual ability. ™oforte In a Provincial Gazette issued to-fl notified that- the Provincial Gove^^' s offices will be closed on Tuesday «iUtl Patrick's day. The tender of D? J «?St- Newcastle, has been accepted for %$> sleepers for the Wakato Railway I

HAMILTON RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT.

[By Electric Tflegraph.] (From our own Correspondent) Hamtltok, Friday,** The usual monthly sitting wasteMt day W. N. Searancke R.M., p les ii The follow, ng cases were heard :— M'CASJf V. HEWITT. This was a complaint for allowing ay to be at large. Mr Hay for complafoj; Mr Leary for defendant. Judgment for plaintiff, 20s and costs. M'CANN V. HEWITT. Damage to a heifer. Mr Hay for plaintiff. Mr Leary for defendant. Judgment & plaintiff, 20s and costs. m M'OANN V. CLIMENTS. _ Claim, £16 7s 6d, for damage done ona» imperfectly fenced run. Mr Hay for plrintiff, Mr Leary for de{ ea . danfc. a'lu witness proved trespass aid damage to the amount claimed. Defendant showed th<*fc the land was fa. perfectly fenced. Mr Leary urged that the case should be . dismissed on that ground.

Mr Hay, for argument's sake.wonld adroit; that the land was totally unfenced, andttea he would be entitled to a judgment accord ing to the common law, that owners of cattle must fence or keep a person in charge, Judgment was deferred. Robinson v. Simpson.—The amount in dispute was £4 12s ; £9 18s having bwa paid into Court. Mr Leary for plaintiff and Mr Hay for defendant ; the debt wss not contracted by defendant, and there being no guarantee in writing Mr Hay contended that under the statute of frauds plaintiff could not recover. Mr Leary said the statute did not apply.—Judgment deferred, Parker v. W. Clarke. Claim, £12 lOsfor pigs destroyed by defendant. Mr Lewy for plaintiff, and Mr Hay for defendant,- Judgment for defendant with costs.

THE NAPIER RACES.

(By Electeic TelegeaphJ

(From our own Correspondent.)

FIEST DAY. For the first day's races the weather was beautifully fine, and there was a good attend ance of visitors, including the rifle represen tatives. The first race was the

Maiden Plate—so soys., added to a sweep stakes of 5 soys. ; weights for age; dis tance, H milcT ; open to all horses that have never won an advertised stake ex ceeding £20. ' Murtagh's Phoenix ..." 1 Munn's Brag % Coulton's Whakahihi ... ... ;-,3 Flying Stakes—3o soys. ; distance, f-mile; entrance, 3 soys., half forfeit; weights for age. Stevens' Whitefoot »• J Munn's Ben Nevis ... >■• * Hawke's Bay Stakes—SO sots. ; distance, 2 miles ; entrance, 8 soys., half forfeit; weights for age. Watt's Kakapo ... - * Maori Weed • ••• ••■ Rattling Raven ... ... ••• : ••• ■ Scurky Stakes—3o soys.; distance, 1 mile; entrance, 3 soys., half forfeit; weights for age. Kakapo . ... "'9 Maori Weed ■•; { Whitefoot ... ..-•••'!

SECOND DAY.

The weather was fine during y«te^ morning, but heavy rain came on during tw afternoon. His Excellency the Governor, was on the course most of the day. \5,

Hurdle Race—3o soys. ; distance, 2 miles, over 6 flights of hurdles, 3 feet 9 inch® high; entrance, 3 soys., half forfeit, •welter weights for age. , Isleman (Steven's) •" » Shamrock ... •" v » Comet ... ... ... ••■-«""« Provincial Produce Stakes—so_ sots., with sweepstakes of 5 sots, added; a|" tance, 1 mile ; weights for age; open to all horses bred in the province thatM™ never won an advertised stake exoeeding 20 soys. ; winner of Maiden Plate to cany 7 lbs. penalty. j Alonzo ... ... ... •■• ."■' n Girl of the Period — . yr£, Town Plate Handicap—so soys.; ™*fz H miles ; entrance, 5 soys.; «™r_Y declared on the evening of the first a»y» racing. j Maori Weed... - ... •■< "'"2. Marquis ••• '"3 Rattling Raven •••. -"JiO In this race Kakapo was ta^K stone. Cutts started pluckily with tM»» but puUed up after the first mile, seeing had very little chance of winning. .. j. Selling Stakes-25 soys. j . d*V; miles ; entrance, 2 soys. ; weights Wh, if entered to be sold for £40, Mff 7g. if for £30, aUowed 141b5. ; if <°r **■ allowed 211bs. . . ;__ 1 Maori Weed ••• '" '', 2 Consolation Handicap—2o«ovs. ; distance, 1 mile ; entrance, 2 soys. \ Ben Nevis ... ... •• "' \

NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY.

To the Editor of the Evßl?lNG^ o f SiR,-The leading article in *j/S>-■ to-day and the local m the CW»,. ■&■. dently inspired by the same wr» oßr would seem to be the mouthpiece aggrieved directors. If these V^V^li intended to dispel the nfJagem*1* and other shareholders as to tne■» w» » tb ,t of our company's affairs I cau only J @ be . in my opinion they simply p»J». j^e. yond any doubt that in h >- I completely fallen into the enemy b j^. now begin to believe all lately been hearing, and \*£ B l ord* , for a meeting of the that our directors may have an w of publicly and officially »* bOIIf brought against our manage« „ Mystifying newspaper articles

f HIS ITMHre WtA% SATURDAY, TftAftOfl 14 IS?4



THE AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPANY, PHOTOaBAPHEES TO THE AMERICAN, MEXICAN, AND NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENTS, In consequence of increase of business have REMOVED to more EXTENSIVE PREMISES (Cobneji Queen and Wellesley-stheet), Adjoining B. CABS, Draper, Cheapside House Whore Photography in all its Branches will be carried on as usual JOHN McGARRIGLE, MANAGER. 150 000 :pEET timb&r FOR SALE, AT MY YARDS, GOVERNMENT WHARF, ONEHUNGA. JAMES W. WALLER. pi A U T CO N . OLSON'S TOMATO SAUCE. Connoisseurs pronounce this Sauce to be the BEST for general use in households, and, in con sequence of its high reputation, somo unprincipled persons have been induced to Collect Empty Bottles bearing the manufacturer's name stamped thereon, and pass the same off as "'Olson's Universal Tomato* Sauce." The proprietor has in consequence caused his TRADE MARK to bo Registered under the provisions of the "Trade Marks Act, 1866," and proceedings will be taken 'against such persons as may forge or counterfeit such mark. The public are cautioned to ASK YOU OLSON'S SAUCE, and see that the name is Stamped on Bottle and topper, and wrapped round with his well-known Abel.



pUSHBEOOK & BRIDGMANI (LATE E. HOBBS), Aie now opening up, and have to arrive EX HORHAM CASTLE, HYLTON CASTLE.. INVERARI4.N. and " ROSLIN CASTLE, A Very Large and Choice Assortment opl AUTUMN AND WINTEE DEAPEEY GOODS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT, To which they respectfully invite attention. These Goorts coming d'rect to their own order from the first Home Houses they are prepared to dispose of at LOWEST REMUNERATIVE RATES. Further particulars in future advertisement, EUSHBROOK & BEIDGMAN Wholesale and Retail Drape as, Clothiers, &o JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) Upper Queen -si tiekt, Auckland. T)ETIEING FEOM THE EETAIL. J. COSGRAVE & CO. Are giving up their Retail Business in Queen-street. A SA.LE of the Goods will be held TO-MORROW, the 14th of March, and will continue until the entire Stock is disposed of. We are now landing THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS WORTH of DRAPERY and MEN'S CLOTHING, purchased by Mr Coscikave from the English and French Manufacturers, which will be SOld at UNPRECEDENTEDLY LOW PIIICES. No credit will be given during the Salo. "XT 0 T.I ~~C E. BANK HOLIDAY. The B^NKS will be CLOSED on TUESDAY NEXT, 17th March (St. Patrick's Day)