SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUN-SET: Thl« ovenins, 7.1? SUN-RISK: To morrow morning, 5.3 HIGH WATKR ;. This evening, 4.39 ; to-morrow morning, 5.9 ■ <

ARRIVALS.

Alarm, cutter, from Mangawai

DEPARTURES.

Governor Blackall, s s, for Kandavu (outward English mall) Merlin, schooner, for Napier

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Star of the Soulh, as, from Levuka, early .Alice Cameron, barqne, from Sydney Ladybird, ss, from the South, early Empreza, barque, from Liverpool. Sailed October Dauntless, schooner, from New Caledonia, early Beatrice, barque, from New York, via Adelaide Wave Queen, ship, from London. Sailed October 14 Anazi, barque, from London. Bailed October 31 Lauderdale, ship, from London. Sailed October 19 Queen of the Age, ship, from London ; , Rhyno, brigantine, from Lyttelton

EXPORTS.

Per Governor Blackall, for Honolulu—lßs coils rope, J. S. Macfarlane ; S4 ditto ditto, Owen and Graham ; 1 horse (hairless), Oat. The s.s. Governor Blackall, Captain Saun ders, took her departure for Kandavu with tho English San Francisco mail to-day at noon precisely. Passengers:—Saloon: Chas. Coombe and F. B. Passmore. Second-cJass : Mr and Mrs W. B. Oat, James Whitchell. Third-class: M. W. Brown, Frank Stanley, Geo. Prince. The schooner Merlin, Captain Little, sailed last night for Napier with a cargo of spirits, etc. The brig Albion has entered outwards for Newcastle. Mr Woods, of the schooner Jessie Niccol, announces his intention of sailing for Dun eclin in about a week's time. Upon the ves ael's return from that port she will make another trip to the Islands. The cutter Alarm brought a cargo of gum, sleepers, produce, etc., and several passen gers from Mangawai yesterday. The brigantme Kate Brain sailed from Lyttelton yesterday, bound for Kaipara.

COMMERCIAL.

HUXTER AND NOLAN'S REPORT, Horses : Very nearly the ordinary number were entered for disposal by auction, but bidding was slow, and sales most difficult to effect, a great many being withdrawn for higher figures. We quote hacks from £8 5s to £17; light draught horses, from £15 to £20 10s each. Cattle. —There was but a small muster of horned stock. Prices for both dairy and store stock had an upward tendency, and stores were firm, but the number offered was inadequate, and many more could have been placed at current rates. There is a demand for dairy cows of good de scription. The fat stock were much better up in condition than the previous week, and prices for well-fatted light weights advanced to 30s per 1001b3. Dairy cows sold from £6 to £9 ; yearlings, £2 2s to £3 ; two-year-olds, from £3 15s to £4 10a ; store cows, £3 (o £4 23 Cd each. Sheep were in ' moderate supply and good demand. The stores were of very indifferent description. . Store merino owes, 7s 6d each. Fat wethers advanced from 2s to 3s each. Lambs of -good quality were without alteration, but indifferent descriptions were neglected. Pigs.—Scarce and in improved demand.

Calls.

:, S, B. a. JJaie. AlWonCoalCo. .. .. ..0 15 0 Feb. 1 National B..nk of N.Z. .. 010 1 April 1 National Bank of N.Z. .. 010 0 July 1

PROVISION MARKET.

BUSTING PjUCKS, CORBECTED BY AXJCSLAUP DEALERS. - a. d. s. d. s d. a. d Butter,perlb. 0 o—l 0 Ducks,pair.. 2 6—5 0 • Cheese(new) 0 41—0 0 Geese, each 4 o—s 9 Eggs, per doz. 13—0 0 Turkeys .. 3 o—4 \ Lard per lb- 0 7—o 0 I Canterbury Bacon & Hams JFowls, pair.. 3 o—s 0 1 (bare) .. 0 0-0 S Good Salt Butter, 7—o 9 Do (in cloth) 0 81-0 91 Canter. Cheese. 6—o 7 Auckland 0 s—o_ 0 Hams, OdJ to Hd per lb. , ; XtKTAiii Prices, Farm and Datr* Pbodtjce. a. d. s. d. s. d s. d. MOle pornt. 0 Oto 5 Ducks each 5 o—6 0 Butter (fresh) 0 0-13 Geese, each 50—60 Cheese (new) 0 B—l 0 Turkeys, per 5 0-73 Been per doz. 1 B—o 0 Bacon, per lb. 0 B—o 10 Lard', per lb. 0 6—o 0 Hams .. ..09-16 Fowls, pair.. 4 6-0 0 Salt Butter.. 1 o—l 3 Butohebs' Meat. Beef.perlb. 0 4—o 7|Pork,perlb : 0, 6 Mutton ~0 4—o 5 Veal 0.6 ™ BKEADSTUFFS. . ; .. . FLOTJIt. , ~ ; ■', - .; WHOtESAtR. Millers' Price, per ton—lst quality.. .. ;... £17 Fina Flour—household -. £14 Adelaide.Flour ... ~ i-v. -. .. •'••„%„:• *»° Canterbury .. .. .. ..^ £12 to £14 . Seconds, £12. Sharps, £710s Bakers' Price, per lb .. .. .. ..3d. Beak, is 6d per bushel. ._• .. , ,',, Bbead, per.2lb. loaf, 4d to 4d. • •;■' ■ Malzo,, crushed and whole, 6s 6d to 5s 9d • .' ,-.,;., BISCUIT. ■■:■-■ i V •WHOLESALE. -ftrf ■ ' Maiza, 5s 6d to 5s Od ; inferiort 3s Od 9f4a ; • Oats, 5s 6d per bushel. I.W nll ' „■,' Potatoes, £3 to £3 10s per ton, ..^JTew Potatoes, £4 to £5 . : ' , ■ •■**■ Hay, £2 to £i.los per ton. Btraw, £210s to £3 per ton. Chaff, £010s per ton. : . . RETAIL Maize, 6s per bushel; crushed, 6s 3d _ , ... Oat 3, esperbUßhel.: : -i' \* j j ■ U',4 Potatoes, 4s 6d per cwt.; new, 7s to 8s ■.: Hay, cwt., 4s to os. Btraw, 4s to 5s per cwt. . . . ChlftfflK Clp FLAX MARKET.™ The following are the prices in ths Auckland g"m- Well scraped, best quality .. . > £30 to £32 Ordinary sorts .. .. .. .. ..£26 to £29 PL ax.-Finest quality «.. £15 to £18 Second ditto .. .. ~ £l° t t0 n -! U Tow .. •■ •• •• •• •• £7 to£B. V "' 'BUILDING MATERIALS. , . 7 Timbbk.—Boards and scantUnsf, 100 ft, 9s to 16s at mills, lls 6d ; planed, tongued, and grooved, 11s "Ve^ealand paUngs, 6-feet; IOJ; 6-feet, 1^ -M\ treo raib, £215s to £3 per 100 ; purfri pOßts, £6 per 100 shinffles 8s to 13s per 1000; HoDart Town palings iff 17s- Oft 19s; Hobartown rails, 755. ... ; sft., WB^OBj, iw,. FiBEWOOD MARKET. , Coai,.—Newcastle, on Wharf, nominal; delivered 60s vov ton. ■'■' i.;. .■~ . . Firewood.—Uncut, 14s per ton, delivered : cut 18« per ton, delivered. .:

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails wim, Clobk as Under :— For Thames, this day, at 5.30 jim, and to-morrow at 10.30 am and 5.30 pin. ! For Coromandel, on Friday next, at 1 30 p m. For Tairua, per Heather Bell, this day, at 6 pm For Whitiangi, Tairus, Tauranga, Opotiki and Napier j via .Tauranga, per Southern Cross, tomorrow, i at 4.30 pm, • . . . For Whitianga, per Mary Ellen, to-morroW, at 5 pm, ' For the undermentioned places, per Hero^ on Satur i day next, as follows :— : For India, China, Mediterranean Ports, and Continent of Europe, at noon. For the Australian Colonies, at 12.30 p m. For United Kingdom, via Suez (for letters specially addressed), at 12.30 p m., ■ For the United Kingdom, via Brindisi, and late :■ letters for Sydney and Melbourne, at 1 pm. ' ' For'money orders, registered letters and news papers, at 11 a m. : For Mahurangi, &c, per Lady Bowen, on Saturday i next, at 2 p-m. For Taranakr and Southern Provinces, per Taranaki, on Monday next, at 8 a m. i N.B.—A revised table of rates of postage can b obtained at this office. Price, 6d each. • '■'''' (Signed) ;g f b. Bras. Chief Postmaster,

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

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 1874.

■,■ \ •': " ' ■-, .■. .♦ . r -r ;..,-•■., ;-, -. . v :• ■ For.the cause that lacks aaslstance, . . : i • 'Forthe wrong that needs resistance, i ■>: ' . For.the future in the distance,, . ■ ! '.'""'' "And tho >ood that vfe can do ■ '• '■ ■ •■

We' ar<S ■pleased to see that our contemporary theliHe»'^Za!y'"consistently with all its previous action in the matter, has ttiis morning given expression to the general feeling of 'condem nation, entertained respecting the proposed site of the'graying-dock. And we are no less sorryto see that our contemporary', the Cross in denial of ali its former and forcible argu mentation commends what it has for years condemned., This course, is the more note worthy from :the vehemence with which our. contemporary emphasises the assertion that the course now proposed ■ for adoption is ■ tliat jwhifehj that journal has always recomniended. ."These," Bays our con temporary,, '.'are precisely the views we have.! held-ifrom the first in respect to | this matter." i And t with a self-' complacency that is rathsr amusing our contemporary proceeds,,;" We congratu late the Harbour Board therefore on having the; subject at length'brought before them

so entirely In Jcee-piiu) with the 'arguments that I have so frequently been pvt forward hi iJietie columns." The fact on the contrary is—if that is of any importance—that the Gross has for years in common with its contem poraries opposed the selection Of the site proposed. However, tlierearemoroimportant points in connection with this matter than the opinions of journalists. And even did we stand alone we should, in the name of the public health, in the name of our commercial interests', and in the name of common honesty, raise our voice against what is a gross and indefensible job. As we, said before, so vc reiterate that we in no way rellect on Mr Moriarty in connection with this decision. He expressly states that lie formed his opinion from information s\;p plied to him, and "having examined the several positions which have lean mggesied." We need not enquire whether Point Cal liope, opposite the railway terminus, was among the "positions suggested;" nor whether Drunken Bay has been among the "positions suggested." We have no hesita tion in saying that they were not among the "positions suggested," and that if they had been Mr Moriarty would not have disgraced bis professional reputation by overlooking these two sites which have been so. often eulogised by officers of Her Majesty's service quite as capable of forming an opinion as any one in the colony. We are not of course aware as to the nature of the " suggestions " made to Mr Moriarty, but we have little doubt that he was informed by his advisers that the Harbour Dock's Act precludcdthe selection, say, of Point Cal liope. Wo say this because the statement has been so often reiterated by those whose self interest is their sole guide in this busi ness that a good many people have come to believe it. And in order that neither Mr Moriarty nor the public may be in any doubt as to the position of the question we give the ipsisshna rcrla of the Act. In clause 3 of the Auckland Harbour Docks Act of 1871 there is this condition (No. 3). " That the docks and other harbour works be constructed in connection with the said

railway and terminus in such manner ns to afford the greatest amount of puLlic convenience in respect of both railway and ilocJas." Those who have been advocating fcho site for a graving, dock on the south side have attempted to emphasise the word " connection " as if it implied that the graving dock and all other docks must be in close preximity to the terminus. Whereas it is clear as noon-day that the "connection" is explained by the expres sion "so as to afford the greatest amount of pullic convenience in respect of both railway and docks." That that convenience might, in i\\&' case of a graving dock, be as well subserved by a position chosen at Point Calliope, tlie Birkonhead of Auckland, or even at Drunken Bay, or elsewhere, as on this side the water, no unprejudiced, man can deny ; and it is equally unquestionable that the sole intention of this condition is that the harbour works should be so constructed as to harmonise with the great scheme of railway extension in the province. That condition would .certainly be fulfilled by ordinary clocks being arranged in such proximity to the terminus that goods could be transferred between vessels and trucks with most facility, but never could it have been contemplated that such an exceptional thing as a ship-building and repairing dock and all " other har bour works" should necessarily be crowded into a place where ordinary docks and wharves are required. That indeed would not be affording the " greatest amount of public convenience in respect of both rail way and docks," and never would this clause have been tortured into such a meaning had it not been for the private.interests that are about, to be benefited at the cost of. the pub lic 'estsite: We appeal to Mr Moriarty to Vash his hands of any stain attaching to this business by clearly telling what is the information, and what the instructions, and what the '• several positions suggested," on which his opinion Has been based. And while we rdspeetfully make this: appeal to Ijimwe beg to tell him also what is going t 0 happen. So Boon as the dominant few in the Board gat the excuse they will'force a reso lution that will place further consideration beyond recall. This was done in the case of the Freeman's Bay job, -when despite cries of shame ! shame ! tenders were accepted, with ,out a moment's delay and the work was done. The same was tried on the other day when ■; Mr. Moriarty'a report: was first submitted to the Board, when, , without any sense of decency, an attempt was made to force its adoption; and unless Mr Moriarty interpose and tell his instructions the work will be complete tb-inorrow; and Mr Moriarty , will go back .to with his fair fame blasted, at least in Auckland,. for having assisted—unwittingly and. unintentionally we believe—towards the perpetration of a gross job that,'associated with the name'of Mr Moriarty, will remain to the injury of our commercial and general interests as long as Auckland continues to .be a port.

■. • : ,;, i i : ■ . • i ™ ■' ■■■■■•■•' Ix another column will be found the report of the Scholarship Examination recently held by a committee of the Board of Education. It will be observed! tha"t four scholarships for two years, and of the value.of '£30 per annum each, and with free tuition at tyx<3 Grammar School, were competed for,

as well as one Scholarship with a year to run, which has become vacant by a resigna tion. Of the four Scholarships three were confined to pupils of the district or common schools, of between twelve and sixteen years of age, who had attended one such school for six months preceding, and one was offered to all comers of like age resident in the province for twelve months preceding noinina nation. " Certificates" of proficiency were also awarded in accordance with a condition that such should be conferred only on those competitors who obtained one-halt at least of the marks possible to be attained. A very excellent provision was also enforced, namely, that all district schools within rive miles of Auckland wei c obliged to send up at least live pupils each for competition, if such a number could be sent in accordance with the conditions of age, residence, &c. This system affords an excellent means of testing the cflicieney of the district schools. It will be observed that the names of the unsuccessful girls are withheld. The examination, which embraced a very large number of both public and private establishments, has shown some curious results, to which at the risk of making comparisons we must; refer. Of the three scholarships open to the district schools, two were won by the pupils of Mr Worthington, the late teacher of Devon port School, now the teacher in City East; and the highest certificate was won by a pupil of the same gentleman. Again, more remarkably still, of the seven certificates awarded to girls, six were won by the pupils of one school, that of Mrs Shayle George. It is impossible to avoid admitting what these facts say for these two teachers ; or to fail to see the impulse that these com petitions will impart to our various educa tional establishments.

In the little island of Waiheke, lying somewhere in the ocean between Auckland and Coromandel, there are several hundred native and European inhabitants, and among these a number of, intelligent and respectable people. Their habitations arebhoinelyitis true, but cheerful withal, though suttiounded mostly with a forest of ti-tree. '>■ $pii\.e^highly cultivated patches of land too arer-peAjeptible to the eye on the slopes of the valleys. :At length, by some wicked inspiration, a little public-house was opened in the shadow of a row of gum trees; for, be it remem bered, there was not a Good Templar on: the island, and the people appeared; to be satisfied with < their rum,1 ' and ! did without beer. One old lady who grew a quantity of grapes annually transformed, them into a liquid that would have made Mrs Primrose dance with joy, arid.the good, vicar of Wakefield smack his lips. The people generally lived a kind of pastoral life, posßibly after the style of the patriarchs' of old; they had their cattle on the hills, and tuned the Jew's harp by the mountains side, played at quoits, and on Sundays read "Robinson Crusoe" under the trees. , Since the opening of the little signless taverri under the gums a change has come over the spirit of Waiheke, and it was thought desirable, as they had got a tavern for beer and whiskey, they should also have a little church for hymns and prayers, in 'order that the influences of evil might .be counteracted by't&e influences, of good. The church is being! erected on one of the sunniest knolls in the island, and will be opened for public worship in the month of February. , ■„.,, „.,. j;

It is proposed to have all kinds of sports, shooting matches, and a ball at Woodside (Stokes' Point) on the anniversary day. Great preparations are to be made for the same, and some very novel and amusing events are on the tapis, all of which, will be fully detailed in advertisements.

: The shareholders of the Vulcan Gold Mining Company will hold their annual general meeting to-morrow in Canada build ings for the purpose of receiving the report and balance-sheet, and afterwards to con sider the position of the company and to decide as to future operations. : : '

.Wo would remind the residents at North Shore that the election of a school committee for the Devonport district school will take place to-morrow evening. The extraordinary success which has attended the pupils of this school at the late examinations will we trust stimulate the residents to take an increased interest in the welfare of that institution. Wo understand that the achievement of one of the competitors at the late examinations will be acknowledged by a suitable gift, presented on the occasion. The Nelson Colonist notices favourably Reed and Brett's Auckland Almanac, and remarks:—"We can justly say it is an excellent work, both as regards the informa tion it contains and its typographical execution." A committeo meeting of the Auckland .Racing Club will bo held at the Glub room, Auckland Hotel, to-morrow (Friday) after noon, for important business. The Stanley-street drain, at the place where it discharges in Mechanics' Bay, emits at present a fearful stench which, unless at once remedied, will probably breed disease in the district. The Inspector of Nuisances should see to this at once, and take steps to prevent the discharge of filthy matter into the drain. Not bad for a youngster of XX :— The Maltose soldiers, who are pious (den, Uavo given His Holiness a golden pen ; And in reply. His Holiness the Pope, Hopes ho may lire to consummate their hope, Anil write the final triumph of the church, When on its dome no sparrow e'er shall perch. The City Band met last evening on the lawn in front of Government House, in the presence of a number of ladies and gentle men, and under the direction of1 Band master Impey played the promised musical selections. We learn that this very efficient band will tune up every Wednesday in tb,e same sylvan spot to the delight of pretty girls and the enjoyment of all true lovers of sweet harmonious sounds.

In commenting on the recent defeat of the A. E. eleven by the Victorians the Sydney Morning Herald has the following : —" All sorts of rumours have been in circulation accounting for the one-innings defeat of the Englishmen. Some have said that the pro fessional players sold the match—that there was a want of temperance alao among them. I merely allude to these reports to statethat I do not think the slightest credit is to be given to them. Jupp, who enjoys a very high reputation in England as a professional player, was hooted by a portion of the crowd when he retired for 0, and was much cut up at the treatment. He said that in the whole of his career he had never before met with sueli a reception. However it was only a small minority that indulged in such a senseless proceeding."

The Eight ilev. Dr Thomas Croke, Roman Catholic Bishop of Auckland has generously contributed £50 towards the Walter-street school, (irahamstown, the receipt of which has been acknowledged by the committee of St Thomas of Aquinas Boys' School. People can now get married cheaply in Victoria, all fees having been abolished for the solemnization of matrimony according; to the ritual of the Anglican Church. Bishop Perry thus delivers himself on the point : — "I have satisfied myself that I, as a bishop, have no power to authorise a clergyman, and that no clergyman has of himself to claim, the payment of any fee for solemnizing matrimony." Workmen generally are striving for better pay, not only in Auckland but in many other parts of the world. The carpen ters recently held a meeting for _ this purpose, and last night the painters met in the largo room of the Young Men's Chilian Association, Mr Watts iv the chair, when it was agreed that 9s a day should be taken as the standing rate of wages, and to this the masters present willingly acceded. The anatomical lectures in the Auckland Mechanics" Institute Exhibition are of a very interesting character, and give much, satisfaction. The subject of this evening's lecture will be " Our Brain," illustrated with diagrams. The annual meeting of the School Teachers' Association will be held this even ing, at half-past seven, in Mr Fraser's High School room, Symonds-street.

The people of G'oromandcl are agitating for the extension of the telegraph wire to the Tokatet, and a public meeting will be held to-night for the purpose of discussing the subject, and pressing it upon the attention of the Government. Those who arc at all acquainted with the district will understand how important it is, if the public convenience is to be studied, that the work now being advocated should at once be carried out. We arc accustomed to associate the word ideo graph with ideas of despatch ; but so long as the residents on the Tokatea are compelled to receive and despatch messages from the Kapanga, the time occupied in forwarding a telegram will be wretchedly slow, and the administration of the Telegraph department at (Joroinandel must continue to be unsatis factory, and the subject of frequently recur ring complaints. The Coromaudel Mail, the local journal, which is always foremost in pointing out the requirments of the district, has shown conclusively that the Telegraph de partment receives a very fair profit from the (Joromandel branch, and no doubt the busi ness would be very materially increased if greater facilities wore afforded those who use the wire. Facilities for speedy telegraphing aro of the utmost importance on a goldh'eld, and the matter is also one that largely con cerns many people in Auckland. We trust it will receive prompt consideration at the hands of the Government.

There is practical sense in the following let.er, received to-day :—" To the Editor— Sir,—Would you bo kind enough to insert the following : At a meeting of master-ship wrights yesterday I. see by your paper that they have not done what the men wished, and their reason, because it would drive trade out of the place. I want to know where? lithe men had 12s per day they would then have one shilling per day less than Wellington, and two shillings per day less than Duncdin or any other place, besides having to fetch material from Auckland ; so I don't think it likely a man would take a vessel from hero to Wellington, and pay 15a per day, and send to Auckland for timber.— ---1 am, &c, A Snii'WRTGHT.

The complimentary benefit to Mrs Gourlay will take place to-morrow evening in the Prince of Wales Theatre. The programme: is of a sturdy natm-e, including the nuich ad mired " Levee of Mrs McGregor" and the petite comudy of the " llights of Women." The performance) will be under distinguished patronage

We notice among the items of nows by the Suez mail, per Ellora, that "the most re markable Scotch woman of the present century is dead," and her name was Janet Hamilton Coleridge. What, thorofore, did Janet do to place her name above that of Joanna Baillio, and other eminent Scotch women of the present century ?" Janet was bom in the same sphere of life as-Barns, and some six years before his death. She always bore the charactor of a steady, thrifty, well conducted young woman, and in duo time married a sober shoemaker (souters were not sober in thosodays), named Hamilton. She shewed early a taste for letters, and iwroto many snatches of song, but though poetry was the delight of her youth it was not her prevailing passion"; Janet's idea of things was that expressed by Tennyson :—

" ITowevor it bo, it seems to me, Tis only noble to be good ; Kind hearts ire more than coronets, • And simple faith than Norman blood." Janet's verses occasionally filled a corner of the provincial newspaper, and sometimes a letter on some local or general subject would appear, well - written and fraught with sparkling common sense. But it was not until the late John Gassel, b published the " Working Man's Friend " in 1849, that Janet's name passed over England and her native land as the authoress of " Fifty Years' Recollections of a Scotch Village," and a number of other exquisitely written essays, which induced Janet in her autumn time to issue a volume of prose and poetical effusions; but what beside the facts that Janet was an authoress, a thrifty wife, and a; widow of ■ eighty-five, there was to entitle, her to the rank assigned her we cannot con jecture ; nor can we imagine what claim she had to, the name of "Coleridge," as she was plain Janet Hamilton, with a small literary pension and nothing more. -

To the Editor of the livening Star : Sir, — As your Harbour Board will be requiring a steam dredge shortly I would suggest that they; make arrangements for obtaining an ancient one that is well-.known in Port Jackson, being regarded there something in the same light as the Black Elephant here. I have no doubt that it might be bought as a favour, and that full information might be obtained from our Government Engineer, who, I believe, is here on a visit. It is very well known on our side of the water.—Yours, etc., Sydney Cove.

The steps known as Jacob's ladder in Cus tom-house-street are in a very dangerous con dition, and if left as they are for a very short time some accident is pretty certain to be heard of. The side rail on the left-hand side

going up has been shaky for some time, but now in the middle of the ladder it is com pletely broken down, while one of the planks forming the steps is broken in half, and only hangs together by a few splinters. These steps are not often used. at night, and it is perhaps fortunate that this is so or some one would come to grief. We have received, but too late f orpublica tion to-day, a letter on the case of "Hunter v, Vesey." It will appear to-morrow,

It ia notified to the public that there will be Jin excursion to the Hot Springs to-mor row by thes.3. Hero, which has been gener ously placed at the disposal of the charitable institutions of Auckland for the purpose of giving the children a trip by water to that delightful locality, and further of giving the public an opportunity of joining them at a reasonable return fare, the proceeds of which will be handed to the said institutions. The services of the stringed and city bauds have been engaged for the excursion, and will per form some of their latest and best dance music, selections, &c, during the day. The steamer will leave the wharf at half-past eight a.m.

The Rev. Mr Rigg, Weslcyan minister preaching at Dnnedin the other day, de nounced kiss-in-the-ring, at Church festivi ties especially, and spoke warmly against kiss-in-the-ring at any time, especially on such occasions. It had, he said, an evil in fluence upon those who took part in it, and was a blot upon our Christianity.

ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

(From our London Correspondent.) London, October 31. AUCKr.AfTOEU.S IN EXGT.ANI>. I met the other day two of your Auckland natives, both ordained clergymen of the Church of England. These were Messrs Grace and Kempthorue, who have been ordained deacons lately by the Archbishop of Canterbury, having as I hear passed excel lent examinations in theology. They have studied under the Bishop of Nelson, under whose guardianship they are travelling in England, and I am told that they are about to sail for the colony in December. Both gentlemen reflect great credit both on the colony which gave them birth place and their theological tutor.

THE GLADSTONE MINISTRY. The return of Mr James for Taunton has removed the likelihood of a general election. It had been generally understood that the result of the Taunton election would be taken by the Liberal party as a gauge of their course of action in the matter of a dissolution. H however they had really entertained any serious intentions in the direction of an appeal to the country, their necessity has been removed by their two. or three late victories achieved, and notably at Bath and Taunton. Mr Gladstone will meet Parliament therefore with a good heart, and even the Ashantee question will scarcely have any terrors for him, for whether it be the good nature of the English people or the effect of the arguments of the Government papers it is impossible to say, but certain it is that nothing has beien said, as might have been expected, about the ominous commencement of what can scarcely be anything but a fruitless campaign.

THE FROZEN MEAT ATTEMPT has turned out a failure, not through any fault of the system, but in consequence of the imperfect carrying out of the details. Mr Harrison, who came home in the ship Nor folk in charge of the meal; from Melbourne, states that there was too much hurry in the preparations, and that the tanks were so badly made that the leakage of brine was extensive, causing great waste of ice. On the thirty-fourth day out from port most of the meat had to be thrown overboard, but a single ton was kept in the hope of landing a specimen. Off the Azores, however, the last of the ice gave out, and the meat was lost. This experiment has done nothing more than prove that meat can be conveyed in ice if properly packed. The English market for such a commodity remains still untested.

MATTERS IN SPAIN

are more calculated to excite laughter than either pity or sorrow. The way in which the Spanish Republican aud Insur gent squadrons have been playing at fighting has been exceedingly amusing to newspaper readers ; and to the British fleet, which has been as it were acting as ring-keeper, the whole thing must have appeared like a prodigious farce. In the interests of British residents at the various Spanish ports the British fleet has been watching the Insur i gent ironclads, and whenever these get up ► team and start off for anywhere, either to; levy black mail or engage the Republican fleet, the British Admiral, accompanied by the French, American, and Italian men-o' war, all with the same object, at once get under weigh and follow them in line of battle. It's exactly like a row at the i Thames in the early days. When a pugnacious digger got walking about seeking whom he ! might devour, there was always a following ! of great hulking fellows ready to form a ling and see all fair and square. Senor Castelar seems to have suddenly become aware of the fact that his troops are besieging Oarthagena, and has sent them supplies, for which they were languishing ; whilst on the other hand the blockade of that port has been raised by the flight of Admiral Lobo, who was chased by the Insurgent vessels in view of Admiral Yelverton and his jolly tars, who were en joying the fun. The President has also sent orders to the forces opposed to Don Carlos to attack as soon as possible, and some de cisive action is probably impending. MR BRIGHT has delivered himself at Birmingham of his sentiments, and as it may be presumed, those of his Government. I don't know whether his arrangements will satisfy any r body or not, but can scarcely think they will. Those who are faltering in their confidence in, Mr Gladstone will hardly feel re-assured thereby, whilst the faithful ones will crj that the Government must mean much more than is to be found in the Chancellor's speech. He has thrown out several hints as to the future programme of the Liberals, but has not made any actual statement to which his name could be pinned hereafter. He alluded to the dis-establishment of the Irish Church as a sign that churches are not impregnable * he has said that as Irish tenants have had $heir rights recognised, so English tenants may expect some legislation in their behalf. The abolition of purchase in the army, he argued, proved that church preferment fay means of filthy lucre might be done away with. He stated his entire approval o£ the ballot, and also of the Judicature Bill, but objected altogether to the Education' BUl and pleaded illness as the reason that he had not opposed it. The national education of the people he acknowledgedto be the great question of the day. He was quite against ahy denominational system, and evidently thinks that the moral system of instruction to be adopted is a difficulty by no means in surmountable, as so many seem to think He thought the liberal party were to be con-' gratulated on the peaceable settlement of the American claims, and so far expressed an opinion on the Ashahtee war as to say th t he thought the day was not far off when we might withdraw from our forts on the African cqast. The freedom of land is another part of| Mr Bright's programme. He thinks that until land can be bought and sold as easily as, any pig, and until the game laws are abolished, the agricultural labourer will not' rise in the social scale. With regard to national expenditure he thinks there is room for improvement. The income tax he .considers unequal, and evidently will be for its abolition. Still in all this there is nothine new, nothing that Has not been talked of for years. However, Mr Bright said he. knew no; secrets; that Government secrets were ,not made up until November, and he was merely speaking his own mind to his own constituents. His reception by the Bir T£ gliam. 5 e? ple as most enthusiastic, and lf.there had been any doubt 4of him after his retirement it was removed by his abl« address. ■ ■ <■

. CATTLE FROM SOUTH AMERICA ' The importation of live cattle from South America is to be tried on a large scale. The Argentine Government has granted a seven years privilege to Don Juan Jose Mendezfor the exportion of cattle to Europe, and a large steamer expressly constructed for the trade, andi called the Archimedes; iis shortly to be dispatched from Buenos Ayres with a first consignment.

~j' ■ THE LATJDBRDAI/E, a. barque freighted by the. New Zealand pupping Company for your port, was run xnto^by a Yarmouth brigantirie ofFDungeness on, the 19th instant. , The.barque w£j Hot Jiuuch damaged, and remained at anchwr J: ortion of a letter from one of her passengers has ; been published, which rans thusi;— 1 erhapa you will have heard i of, oau aocideot qq1 Sunday night, but it 4id not

do us much damage. "V\e were ratW frightened at first. We had been in bed and were awakened by a terrible bumni ne noise. It then felt as though we were going down. It was no me to » e t up ; all we could do was to % there and anxiously listen. However in the morning we found that another vessel had smashed part of our bul warks in ; but the carpenters are at work repairing the injury. We are now at anchor off D,eal, and shall be able to get off tonight or to-morrow morning. We have a pilot who will see us fairly out of the Channel! They say we are not far from the place where the Northrleet was run into, so I for one shall feel relieved when we get safely off,"

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST FROM WAIKATO.

(From our own Correspondent). : ALEXANDRA. This day. The native meeting at Te Kuiti has con cluded. A monster meeting of all the tribes will be held in March next. Europeans will be invited to attend. Tapihana is here again to-day.

LATEST COROMANDEL NEWS.

POWDER AND TELEGRAPH BUGtfLA.

TIONS.

NOTICE SERVED ON THE PRIDE OP

TOKATEA

IMPORTANT ACTION" AGAINST THE

TOKATEA

COROMANDEL,

This clay. The case of Riordan and party versus Tokatea came off to-day ■at the Warden's ' Court. Mr F, A. Whitalier appeared for Slaintiff, and Mr Hesketh for the defen ant. The Court was crowded, and there was great excitement. J The plaintiff claimed land for mining purposes on which the cob-, pany's battery stands, on the plea that .the 1 company held no miner's right for i the ground. The defendant's admitted occnpa : tion, and claimed ownership. Mr McCabe, registrar, was called, and deposed that the Tokatea had held leaseholders {miners' rigLt since 1872, also that a single right was issued to-day, hut they held none until this morning. Mr Hesketb contended first that the. ground had not been proved auriferous, which was necessary under the Act of 1860, also that the leasehold miners' right gave' the company a standing in Court, and en abled, them to hold a machine site. The Company also was now in actual posses* ; sion under the deed of transfer from Daniel Tookey, the original holder. The Warden refused to give the nonsuit asked for by the defendants, on the ground of the 1866 and 1873 Acts clashing. . Mr Whitaker, for the plaintiffs, made;'k long and. forcible argument. .. ,'!' The Warden reserved judgment • after hearing all arguments. :I''v The Tokatea meeting re powder regula tions and telegraph takes place to-night. The Coromandtl Mail shows fiom Parlia mentary papers, that in the year ended June 30th, 1873, the total receipts at the Ooro mandel Telegraph., station were £396 18b. The total - cost of the maintenance is £223 18s 8d;, fcavini? flearly £173 profit. \> It' argues that; the district has a right to have the, balance expended in increased accommo dation so much needed. , , ?r " The Mining Inspector returned last night from an official visit to the Pride of Tokatea, and found only six men working. Notice wai served on the mine to-day. '■ ' The ..Rev. Mr Martin, master of the Go vernment school here, is likely to receive ft* call to fill the place of the Rev. Mr Tait, Wr signed. Sergeant Ogan, A.O.y has received Instruc tions from Inspector Bullen to-day to tell the powder dealers to issue powder as before un til further instructions ore received. v . The Tokatea lodged 57 ozs of gold, pro-' dues of nine days', crashing. ■ . -

LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS.

[Per Anglo-Australian Tele^am Company.]: DUNEDIN Wednesday. The inquiry respecting the Surat wa3 con tinued yesterday. It was proved that in addition to the persons already mentioned as being intoxicated, the fourth mate was drunk. Mr White wbb the only sobe* officer. The mate was described aa being incompetent. John Pieton, an able seaman, .deposed that on Borne of the seamen attempt^?,, ing to. cut the lashings of the boat the first: mate threatened to shoot them. The sea men in question and the steward were then goinj/ to fight, but the passengers prevented them. This was after the vessel struck!, Mr John Booth, one of the first-class passengers, appeared "'to; be the only person not excited, and he and the sailmaker worked the ship when the anchor was dropped; It did not touch the bottom, and the ship would have driven pn 4 the rock's had not Mr Booth ordered more chain to be paid out. She was then not more than half a mile from the shore. Fred erick Newman, another seaman, deposed that' after the vossel struck there was nothing but, confusion. Every one for himself and God for them all. The mate, who was in a state of! intoxication, threatened to shoot one> man* .trying"to get a boat out. The mate gave orders, and the captain countermanded tbim. The mate tried to stop the pumps'; being worked, but the passengers threat-" ened to cleave,his skull with an axe if he't interfered. He said " Let them drown, and go to the devil; he did not care a damn what became of them." At this time the ship was in a most dangerous condition, and her safety depended upon the pumps going at the time. Thejcaptain ordered the anchor to be let go, and the sails to be furled, as" the vessel could Dot be held. • James Mon tague Fauntayne,' a passenger, deposed that the confusion after striking lasted twenty minutes. The passengers worked the pumps m gangs of wxes. . At daybreak the land : appeared to be ten miles off. As they neared the steamer the vessel hauled up to, the wind, thuu losing all chance of getting into her track. The e&Sign was hoisted half mast high, but was directly afterwards hauled down iind not hoisted again for an v- Ur' • When the long boat was out of the ship the captain ordered it to come along side or ~he , would . shoot the occupants; y: pointing a revolver at them. There were about sO.,in,th ( },boat at that time. The ship I was'dragging her anchors. The boat went back, but soon afterwards went ashore, and also returned for more passengers. William ilargreayes, li^Beiiger, deposed that he went, .to ,^., t " captain with a chUduWns arms and..entreated-him for the wj[of to. • firev^a': iun or hoist a^Esfey of distress. He threatened to ah<PrZlk ope who did ao. At this tim© tHe^d} aad steamer wore in.«ightJ During the alter, cation with tho m&teiwith reference to lower »ng a. ftoat tije jpasaengers aiaanaea the mate,

I'HE'.IBYB HtSfc& &TAX, THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 1874



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HHKISTMAS HOLIDAYS, v J. COSGRAVE & CO. Are now holding their usual CHEAP SA.LE OF DRAPERY & CLOTHING r • -" ' * At thoir Premises CANADA BUILDINGS. THE SALE IS SOW ON, And will continue during the CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. J. COSGRAVE & CO. < QUEKK STREET. , . jFTitBISTMA-S PEES E NTS AND NEW TEAE'S GIFTS, FROM FIVE TO T WENTY-FIVE PER CENT DISCOUNT. R. BECK, JEWELLER AND WATCHMAKER, Will supply JEWELLERY, WATCHES, CLOCKS, &c, FOR CHRISTMAS PRKSENTSJAND NEW YEAR'S GIFTS, At a Reduction of 5 to 25 pku cent. Discount. N.B. —AH Goods marked in plain figures, and ranteed. 198, QUEEN-STREET. [Established 1864.] rv STEPHENSON & CO.'S CELEBRATED COFFEES, "EXHIBITION BRAND" "EAGLE BRAND" "CROWN BRAN D," Are to be procured at all respectable Grocers and Storekeepers throughout the Province of Auck and. D. STEPHENSON & CO. WYNDHAM STREET A V C K. L A S D XT A T S! H A T S!J SUMMER HAT SI AT REDUCED PRICKS. IN ORDER TO EFFECT A CLEARANCE RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN have decided to Sell the Balance of their Summer Stock o Children's and Ladles' Straw Hats at COST PRICE. ■ ' A Great Variety to select from. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN - ~ (LATE E. HOBBS), VVnOLKSALE AND RfiTAIL DKAr:EHR,[CLOTHIRBH,&O. JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) Upper Queen-street, Auckland. •