SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER: This evening, 0,f5 ; to-morrow morning, 1.68 SUIS'-SKT : This evening, 6.41 BUN-RISE: Tr morrow morning, 5.46 MOON'S AGE : Second day of first quarter

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

ARRIVALS

mernn, schooner, from iiussen Fairy, schooner, from Wangapoa Vincent, cutter, from Tauranga

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

\juiie, snip, xor jjuiiuuii, iiumeuiaieiy Hindoston, ship, loading Tartar, for Southern ports, about Ist proximo Mongol, s s, for Sydney, sth instant

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Tartar, s.s., from Kandavu, with Pacific Mail, early Star of the South, s s., from Fiji, early Albion, brig, from Newcastle, early Alice Cameron, barque, from Sydney Anazi, barque, from London. Sailed October 31

Lmprcza, barque, from Liverpool. Sailed October 15 Hylton Castle, barque, from London. Queen of the -Age, ship, from London Sailed Nov. 1 Magellan Cloud, schooner, and Kate Brain, from Lyttelton, early Mongol, s s, from Southern ports, 3rd instant

EXPORTS.

Per Flirt, for Lyttelton—4o,ooo feet white pine timber, 11000 feet kauri timber, 20 tons drain pipes, 1852 feet skirting, 1236 feet cornices, 2300 feet mouldings, 46 doors, 35 pair sashes, 5000 empty sacks, Union Sash and Door Company.

The Fairy, schooner, brings 26,000 feet of sawn timber from Wangapoa. The Merlin, schooner, brings 65 tons coal and 3 tons iron from the Bay of Islands. §@The schooner Tawera having completed her repairs has| cleared out in ballast for Kaipara. This schooner has been purchased by Mr Archard from her former owner, Captain Read, and will be employed in the timber trade between Kaipara and the Manukau.

The schooner Julius Vogel entered at the Customs this evening with a general cargo from Poverty Bay. The schooner Daphne has hauled along side the ship Hiudostan, into which vessel she is discharging her cargo for transhipment to London.

The Bella Mary, bound for Newcastle, was still at anchor in Rangitoto Channel early this morning. The continuance of the N.N.E. winds effectually bars her passage out of the gulf. The ship Chile and the barque Beatrice are still lying in the stream. The former is in want of a few more hands. Under any circumstances she is likely to sail before to morrow evening.

The s.s. Wellington left for Southern ports yesterday with a general cargo and the fol lowing passengers :—Mr and Mrs Boulton, Mr and Miss Chisholm, Mrs Waller and family (3), Mrs Warren. Miss Walker, Miss Hudson, Mr Walters, Mr Rogers, Mr and Miss Pike, Mr Stout, Mr Bayley ; Mr and Mrs Watt and servant, and twenty in the steerage.—Combes and Daldy, agents. The cutter Vincent which arrived early this morning, brings 60 sheep and 30 sack's wheat, from Tauranga. The brigantine Flirt, McKenzie, master, has cleared for Lyttelton with a cargo of timber, mouldings, etc., shipped by the Union Sash and Door Company. She has hauled into the stream and will sail imme diately.

DEPARTURES.

Matmion, schooner, for New Caledonia, via Wangapoa

BIRTHS.

Higciin-s—On February 23, (he wife of Mr John

Biggins, Wellington-street, of a son. Pye—On Febraaiy 23, at her residence, Wyndham street, the wife of William Pye, of a son.

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

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1874.

For the cause that Ir-^ks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And thn stood, that we can do

The result of yesterday's debate in the City Council regarding water supply justifies our expressed opinion that the Council was nearer a decision and less divided in opinion on the question of source than had been represented. They came to the only conclu sion that lay open to them upon the facts adduced. The number of members present was not so large as ib should have been when it was known that a subject involving the expenditure of a very large amount of public money was at issue, but the members who attended to do their duty acted rightly in going through with the business, declining to accept the onus of any subsequent asser tions by absent members that they had no opportunity of voting ; if they do not value their privilege sufficiently to perform the duties even at the cost of some personal in-

convenience they should give way to men who will. There is, however, no reason for believing that had there been a full Council the decision would have been different from that arrived at yesterday. The pi-obabilities are that the motion ultimately agreed to would have been carried by a larger majority if all the members of the Council had been present. It is amusing to notice the altera tion that has taken place in the Cross, erst

so full of schemes, so weighty with calculations and plans proving uniin peachably the superior claims of Nihotupu, and so reckless in the publicaton of vile charges and iuuendos (many oE which were pure inventions) against all connected with the Western Springs. No vague rumour or obscure hint damaging to the Western

Springs and all connected with it, failed

to meet with the approval of our con temporary, and to find a place in its columns in the largest type ; bub now a change has come o'er the spirit of his dream, dating, it is shrewdly suspected, from the time of a pleasant excursion undertaken by several gentlemen, including the Cross's engineer, to the mountain fastnesses of Waitakere and the sacred stream flowing in its shadoAvy bed. A leading article in to day's Cross says:—"A careful, and we be lieve faithful, examination of the Western Springs and the Nihotupu has been made by Mr Anderson, the City Surveyor. It may be fairly said that so far as re. gards this examination' any question of partiality or tampering is fully removed." This is all very well, but is it suffi cient apology for all that has ap peared in the columns of our contemporary relative to the tampering with guages, dam ming of streams, &c.? Is it a manly acknow ledgment of belief that charges damag ing to a fellow citizen which had been accepted as true were really without a shadow of foundation ? We think not. As in the case of the vile slanders against the party agitating for a cessation of needless railway traffic on Sunday, our contemporary has shewn wonderful boldness in accusing, but an unmanly reluctance to confess error when discovered. The additional information laid before the Council yesterday is so trifling that comment on it is unnecessary. The cal culations of the City Surveyor set at rest any doubt that might have existed regarding the adequacy of the supply. He shewed that the flow of water at the Western Springs exceeded that of Nihotupu stream by 587,849 gallons. After the resolu tion approving Mr Moriarty's recommenda tion as to site had been passed by the Council yesterday, Mr Macready withdrew his motion for a survey of the Nihotupu scheme, which we suppose may be accepted as a striking of the colours that have so long waved over the smaU and waning party .vhose motto has been "gravitation at any price." The war that has waged in the Council for years has now, we may assume, for the' present been settled, and the committee appointed yesterday will, no doubt, take steps|to get a bill embodying the Corporation's views submitted to the Provincial Council during its next session. When that is passed it wiU remain for a majority of the ratepayers to say whether Auckland shall have a good water supply or not. Notwithstanding the long protracted preliminary battle the real issue still remains.for settlement, but we trust it wiR be determined promptly, and will no longer delay the very needful work of sup- j plying the city with plenty of pure water. 5

A correspondent asks what is the matter with the Cross ? Notwithstanding the reso lution of the City Council to adopt the most practicable scheme for a water supply, not a word comes from the Cross' prophet. Is it true he was nearly drowned in endeavouring to cross the Nihotupu River, or that he looked in vain for water, and found some rather hard rubs from his companions ? "Verily wonders will never cease 1 After so many columns of balderdash and misrepre-1 sentations to a visit and then ominous silence. '

We are informed that very strong sus picions, just short of absolute proof, are entertained regarding the author of the dastardly attempts recently made to throw the train off the Onehunga lino. The cause of the act—as might have been supposed— seems to be malice arising out of a dis pute in connection with work on the line. The party assumed to be the offender has about as much respect for the sanctity of the Sunday, and for religion gen erally, as the " Cross." He is known to have been a warm patron of Sunday excursion trains, and an enthusiastic admirer of the peculiar morality advocated lately in the columns of our contemporary — a fact which may perhaps, in some measure, account for the benevolent and kindly feelings towards his fellow citizens which prompted him to send them to bliss as quickly as he could. We trust the missing link in the chain of evidence will be supplied and the scoundrel made to expiate his crimes at Mount Eden.

The Hon. Julius Vogel took his departure this morning for the Thames in the p.s. Golden Crown.

We are glad to learn that the dispute aris ing out of the late fire at Ho wick, by which a house in the occupation of Mr McLaren, and owned by Mr Pye was destroyed, has been amicably settled. Mr Kent, who set fire k> the docks which 'communicated with the building destroyed, has become the pur chaser of the property and pays all expenses. We may state that the occurrence was purely accidental, but it shews how necessary it is that great caution should be exercised in burning oil rubbish during the present dry weather. Thanks are due to Messrs Bro ham, Lundon, Pye, and several inhabitants but for whose exertions the fire would no doubt have extended to adjoining properties. Some very pretty passes were indulged in by Councillors Hurst and Macready at tho City Council yesterday during the discussion of the vexed question of Avater supply. The former gentleman, while urging that the Nihotupu scheme should be considered out of the question, said that nine respectable citizens had lately gone to that source, and were ashamed that they had ever advocated it. Councillor Macready : "Name, name!" Councillor Hurst did not see the necessity of introducing names, but ho felt convinced that none but those who had intercsbed motives would persist in advocating that source after the adverse reports made by competent men upon the quality and accessi bility of the watei. Councillor Macready : " Whom are you referring to?" Councillor Hurst :"I am referring to Councillor Macready, Avho, with Mr Dargaville, the other day moved for a fresh survey of the Nihotupu source." Councillor Macready : " Yes, and I'll move it again to-day." Councillor Hurst: "There gentlemen—lie has the audacity to say he'll move it again." Councillor Macready : "My character, sir, is unimpeachable, and I. don't care for your insinuations." Order was here called by the Chairman. Later on in tho debate the same two gentlemen again crossed spears. Councillor Macready was speaking when Councillor Hurst made an observation in reply. Councillor Macicady : " Don't interrupt me, sir. So long as you let me alone I'll let you alone. But |if you don't I'll ." Councillor Hurst : j " Oh, don't you make me tremble." Councillor Macready : " Yes, it doesn't take much to do that." The Chairman : " Order, gentlemen, you must really stop this un seemly argument." Councillor Macready : " I say, sir, it does not take much to make Councillor Hurst tremble—his pluck is not very great." The debate was then resumed, and resulted, as announced in late edition of the Slar last night, in the following motion, moved by Councillor Hold''hip being carried : -"That so far as the source of a supply of-water for this city is concerned Mr Moiiaity's report be adopted, and the follow ing councillors be appointed a committee to carry out all matters in connection there with : The Mayor, Councillors Isaacs, Prime, and the mover."

The miraculous cures effected from bathing in the Hot Springs at Taupo arc daily in creasing in number. The latest that Aye have heard of (says a contemporary) as related by a gentleman Avho Avas lately there, is that of a man used to Avearing spectacles for some eighteen years, but after spending a Aveek at the lakes and indulging in a few baths, can read easily small print without the aid of glasses. Tho Wellington Independent says, the building for the accommodation of the female electricians shortly to be attached to the staff of the Telegraph-office is fast approach ing completion, and the army of feminine cadets Avho have already offered their ser vices Avill shortly be Aviring into the rudi ments of their new profession. The building is a continuation of the old Telegraph-office. We have received the following valuable suggestions concerning the mode of taking the census : Sir, —Consequent on a circular grievance published by '' Old Growl" the other day, and a statement said to have been made by Mr Vogel that he would be pre pared, with certain reservations, to advocate the mode that publicans should have the section of the British (or othenvise) public who are Avithhim exposed to the British public who are without, I would beg to suggest, for the peace of the country and prevention of those feelings of anger, hatred and malice, which Avould possible be excited in the minds of the British (or otherwise) public, Avho from an attack of impecuniosity, or the fear of detection by the v eagle eye "' of Brother Q.X.P.U.8.E.T., are unable to attempt the grand discovery of the secret, who draws the worst beer in Auckland. In order to save .unfortunate publicans from the awful ex pense and the loss of business which would be consequent on their living in crystal _ intoxicating fluid palaces, and, to satisfy the minds of the curi ous N.0.K.T.0.F.F.L.1.K.E.R.G.T. ones, I would beg to suggest that the General Government supply hotelkeepers with return forms bearing spaces with the following headings, such forms to be filled up every evening, and handed to the first visible con stable seven and a half minutes after closing time :—Name, trade, and religious persua sion (if any), description of liquor consumed, whether the drinker mixes, and if so, Avhy ? smell of breath on applying for first drink in this hotel ; does he carry cloves or charcoal biscuits ; does he shout, or does he prefer free drinks without grimaces ; does he seem in good general health, and can he beat seventeen at Yankee grab. I venture humbly to think that these queries, if faithfuily re plied to, will give every information to the most impertinently curious to be dug out of any lodge or society in the colony.—l am, &c, Mel.

Mr. A. C. Strode, as President of the (Otago Benevolent Institution, referred to ' three matters at the annual meeting of the subscribers last week which he considers should secure the serious attention of the Legislature at an early period. A growing evil, Avith Avhich he said it was necessary legislators should grapple, Avas the desertion by " lazy, drunken husbands of their families;" secondly, it was necessary that the committee of the Institution should have power to make arrangements for apprenticing the young, to recover their wages, and enter into agreements on their behalf, and, thirdly, the Government should be recommended to provide a home for inebriates. Were the latter suggestion adopted, and made appli cable to either sex, half the amount of distress yvhich existed would he believed disappear.

A meeting of the iron-workers of the city was convened by the Amalgamated Society of Engineers for Saturday evening to con sider what could be done to assist the men employed in the Sydney and Melbourne iron industries in connection with the struggle noAV going on between the masters and work men. Over eighty persons connected with the iron trade attended in response to the invitatipn. The nature of the differences be tween employers and workmen in Australia was fully explained, and the following re solution was put and carried : "That the members of this meeting will do our utmost to support our fellow workmen, now locked out in Sydney by the tyrannous and ar bitrary conduct of their employers in abruptly breaking the agreement mutually entered into, and form ourselves into a com mittee, and that each member of the iron trade be requesttd to contribute one day's pay a week, or as their circumstances will permit, so long as matters in dispute may remain unsettled.

A foolish freak, Avhich has had a fatal re sult has occurred in Fifeshire. A lad Avhile passing along a secluded part of the road near Markincb, after dark, was confronted by a person enveloped in a white sheet. Terror stricken he could not move from the spot, and was Avith difficulty got home. The nervous system received such a shock that after lingering for a few days he expired.

A correspondent writes complaining that a printer's error in his letter spoiled the sense, and asks Avhether retributive justice cannot be dealt out to the offending typo. We envy our correspondent's innocence. What is his single affliction to our daily torment ? As well expect to get grapes from thistles indeed as to look for your own literary chicks unmutilated from the hands of the Goths who, under direct inspiration from the evil one, undertake to convey individual opinion to the many headed. At the present moment our shipping reporter is vowing vengeance against tbe whole printer race on account of all Saturday's shipping being repeated in last night's paper, and a large portion of yester day's shipping omitted. He feels his reputa tation is at stake, knowing his brother of the Cross to be ever watchful, and prepared upon the smallest opportunity to announce in very doubtful English, "We are requested to state that the schooner Whats hcr-namo did not arrive yesterday afternoon as stated in our evening contemporary, but came in during the morning." The leading columns are by no means sacred. In last night's remarks on the Chamber of Com merce, the sentence "the deputation Avas not only a farce but an absolute insult," Avas rendered not only a farce but is abso lute insult." These remarks may tend to mollify our correspondent by shewing him that he is nob alone in his afllictiou. It may also induce readers Avhon they see a some what puzzling sentence in print to make large allowance for the characteristic eccentricity of the printer tribe, and lead them to exercise their intelligence in arriving at the real intention of the writer, notwith standing tho misinterpretations placed upon his manuscript by^the devil's interpreters-

The Royal Comique Company commenced , its series of popular entertainments last evening at the Prince of Wales Theatre, con sisting of songs, dances, and humourous sketches. The programme was exactly of the kind to gratify the people who feel the . most interested in theatrical performances, [ and Avho rarely look for other sources of '. enjoyment. At this season, too, Avhen there j has been comparatively a dearth of evening j amusements any company is exceedingly ! Avelcome. The feast of last night comprised I tbree acts or courses, all of them sufficiently ! varied to be pleasantly palatable. The first j part opened with a capitally-performed over ' turo by the members of the orchestra. Then Mr Vivian, the favourite comedian, stepped forward with " American Drinks, " and "Rorty Tom." This gentleman also gave "Happyold Grandfather Ben," and the "Mad Butcher," in comic style Avith equal success. Mr Vivian is sure of public favour in his particularly funny line of character song. The two lively pieces in company Avith Miss Melville, viz., " Courting in the Rain," and "Jemima and Nephew Sam," Avere exceed ingly taking, the lady bein<_: both in person and manner of acting fitted by nature to the characters assigned to her. This lady's rendering of "Dolly Varden," was very fair. The "Happy Pair" Avas a happy type of two characters, that of Ferdinand Honeyton (Mr Arthur Vivian), and the lovely Constsnce (Miss Melville), and Avas very fairly represented by the artistes. The nigger delineations by Mr. Mason Avere Avell done, especially " Leave me Alone," in Avhichlittle sketch Mr Vivian, assisted. '• Love Among the Maoris" was ac cepted with applause, and was offered as a very good parody on " Love among the Roses" rather than as a composition par excellence in the Avay of merit. Some of the other songs on the programme, such as " X.C.8.," " Salamander Sam," and " Pop sey Wopsey," have long become general favorites with the public. Mr Vivian's "I am on the Teetotal " would have pleased the most conscientious teetotaller, and would have gratified even a Good Templar.

Several times in the course of yesterday a strange-looking man Avas seen in Queen street quizzing the people through an opera glass ; shooting in and out of different stores, to the astonishment of the storekeepers. As his wild gestures and manner seemed to indicate that he had escaped from an establishment a few miles off he was secured about five o'clock last evening, and with his pet glass led gently aAvay by a friendly arm. We understand that the recently formed Dedwood Cricket Club can boast of some good players, as their weekly matches on Satur day afternoon have unmistakably proved. The club has issued challenge after challenge to other clubs, but as the secretary has re ceived no replies the other club has con cluded that other clubs consider themselves over-matched by the Dedwood iads. The City band will play on Government House lawn to-morroAV evening at six. Pro gramme :—Grand March, "La Roses" (E. Migetti); Fantasia, " Fleur Dor" (L. Cour turier) ; Quadrilles, " Riche en Cceur" (L. Courturier); Selection on Irish airs (W. Eisen); Waltz, "Ethel Newcombe" (Henri Laurent); Galop, "South Cork Militia" (Dr. Gregg.) God Save the Queen. " Atticus," writing in Saturday's Leader says :—"Talking of cricket reminds me of a good thing I heard the other day. ' You are smart enough as colonial barmaids go. But you should see them in England. So sprightly and. quick in serving you ; and then can't they chaff.' So spoke one of the English cricketers in one of the cafe bars the other evening, adding, 'By the way, has my friend Mr B been inquiring for me to-night ?' ? Not that I'm aware,' demurely: responded the rninistrant Hebe. . Dear me, that's odd. I wonder where he can be ?' remarked the other. ' Perhaps,' retorted the damsel, * he's staying at home to sit on the duck's eggs.' Exit English cricketer somewhat hurriedly, having made a round 0, together with his friend Mr B."

A land society is about to be formed in Onehunga, and a public meeting for that purpose will be held in the Onehunga Choral Hall to-morrow evening at eight o'clock. An Invercargill paper states that among the decorations at Win ton on the occasion of the Governor's arrival, the most noticeable was a large Scotch thistle, tied to the top of i, manuka polq in front qi a hotel,

THE MURDERER SULLIVAN IN AUCKLAND AGAIN.

The present Ministry have got an awkward mi', to crack. The murderer Sullivan, sup posed to have been safely shipped oil to Dunedin—the place from whence he . f; me— is, it appears, still in Auckland with his keeper, and has been in the locality ever since the Mikado repudiated his company and would take him no further. Me was taken out to Onehunga for the purpose of being shipped off by the Phcebe, but being a man of an independent turn ot mind, and not entertaining any love tor Dunedin gaol, he refused to go, and the keeper, knowing that he had to deal with a privileged individual, or remembering the fate of the unfortunate West Coast victims, thought it better not to thAvart the innocent lamb, so agreed to remain with him here. This convicted murderer appears in a sin gular position both as affects himself and society. He appears to be neither tree nor bound. He is understood to have been pardoned on condition of his leaving the country, but there is, of course, great difficulty in getting him away. He must, therefore, be strictly speaking iv the position of a prisoner illegally at large, if h-s is at large. On his side he may urge that Avhatever his crimes may be it is unjust that he should be deprived of the clemency of the CroAvn extended to him. The Government ought certainly never to have let him out of gaol without having been prepared to meet the difficulties which were pretty sure to arise in his case. A corres pondent suggest that the hon. Mr A^ogel might take the opportunity at the banquet on Thursday of explaining Avhat the Min istry intend to do Avith this last AA'hite elephant of theirs. The people of Auckland Avili nature!ly object to Mr Sullivan being in their midst, and Avould greatly prefer his room to his company. That some definite decision will have to be come to by the authorities in respect to Sullivan there can be no doubt Avhatever.

FORTUNIO'S MAGIC SONG.

It is evident that the efforts of Choral Society to please their friends by the pro duction of operettas are destined to be suc cessful. Several of these elegant and amusing compositions have now been put on the stage of the Symonds-street hall with extremely re-assuring effect. Light and airy as these works in general are, they yet evoke great and assiduous pains in mastering them sufficiently Aveli for public representation We can testify that the members of the Society do not shirk the difficulties of the tasks they undertake, and they are Avell deserving of the fruits Avhica attend their labours. Per haps there is no class of acting Avhich re quires greater talent or study (if the former is sluggish) than opera buffo. The happy mean between comedy and farce must be attained. Too great propriety of action or speech makes the piece laboured and heavy, Avhile an unguarded levity incurs the charge of vulgarity Though not the best piece that has been presented by the Choral Society, the Magic Melody or Fortunio's Song given last night made a decided and palpable hit. Upwards of GOO persons attended the performance, and throughout evinced complete satisfaction Avith the entertainment jirovided them. The seats were raised towards the back of the hall, affording the hindermost spec tators quite as good a vieAv of the stage as Avas enjoyed by those in front. This ar rangement is a great improvement on the ordinary dead level system. The full and complete unfolding of the plot, which Avas given in these columns on Friday last, renders it unnecessary in the present notice to do more than allude to the performance of the individual characters Avith a glance at the "go" of the piece as a Avhole. Dorrick, the old scrivener, was taken by a gentleman who, we should say, Avithout inquiry, has studied the part Avell, but has had no great amount of practice in the mimic art. He played the character by fits and starts, so to speak, evidently at times forgetting the old man and resuming the vivacity of youth, and then suddenly dropping into the " sere and yellow leaf" in a manner that caused unintentional mirth. The conception of the part Avas good, and Avith more consistency of deportment the delineator Avould make a good performer. Arnold, the love-sick clerk, Avas very fairly rendered. The part is an extremely difficult one, as unless the tender passion is expressed in the happiest manner the result i 3 Avholly and solely ludicrous. Ludicrous in some degree it must be, for love-making of the most genuine kind is ahvays ridiculous in public. The actor of this character Avould have prepared for his task advisedly had he gone in for a week's diet on bread and water. His robust physique and jolly appearance altogether Avas anything but suggestive of ths pining lover, Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad, Made to his mistress' eyebrow. This gentleman has a good voice, and in spite of a trifling nervousness made good use of it in his songs " I love her," and the "Charm Song." The part of Toby, taken by a Avell-known Auckland performer, was the character par excellence of the piece. The gentleman in question is possessed of vocal accomplishments of a very high order, and is gifted with histrionic powers that a professional would have cause to be proud of. The humour of the role was ex pressed in a manner at once telling, yet free from vulgarity, and there was no tendency, as there too often is in such characters, to ipver action. The story of his three rejections in one day was well told, and provoked great laughter. His description of a picnic possesses the " soul of wit" if it is not complimentary to the fair sex. "One or two Gals and plenty of Grub" is graphic at any rate. The other performers must not be offended if we say that without Toby the piece would have been dull. Mrs Mitchell's valuable aid Avas called in to re present "Grace," the Scrivener's Avard and Arnold's inamorata. The character called for well sustained action and a large amount of feeling which it is superfluous to say our favorite contralto was quite equal to.' In the song, "Best not go too far," and in the duet Avith Arnold, "Did ever eyes," Mrs Mitchell's beautiful tones called down loud applause. Miss Leaf acted Betty, the kitchen wench, Avith an ease and modesty combined that was very pleasing. The four clerks were all Avell versed in their parts, and did their best. Of the music we cannot say that it is very lively, although aa in all Offenbach's operettas at times it bursts out into melodies of indescribable sweetness The drinking song " Adam's Ale," and " Long Ago Now-a-days," are jovial ditties ol the best description, while for sweet pathos Fortunio's Cnarm Song is remarkable. The Waltz Song, sung as a duet by Toby and Arnold, is a very characteristic effudion but the words owing to the quickness of the time were indistinguishable. The chorus is unique, and we give it here :— Delicate charms, Marble-white arms, Tickling and teasing, .-_,. Glorious curls, r- Teeth, too, like pearls. '\ Scrumptious squeezing," How they'll affect us ! Eloquent bliss, ll' Drawn from a kiss, That's the prospectus ! . The climax of the piece was admirably I

worked up to, and the fall of the curtain was the signal for a general ebullition of the pleasure afforded by the performance. We cannot omit to pay a compliment to the costumier, whoever that person Avas. The different characters Avere dressed in admir able taste, and the colours harmonised very prettily. The scenery was well arranged. The Choral band gave good effect to the in strumental portion of the operetta, and con tributed in no smaU degree to the marked success of the evening.

ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

(From our London Correspondent.) London, December 26. MILITARY PREPARATIONS IN GERMANY. Germany is making tremendous military preparations. The fortifications round Stras bourg have been made doubly strong, and the city is now surrounded by_ a cordon of impregnable forts at such a distance as to effectually prevent anj- future siege from having destructive effects on the town itself. The Cavalry branch of the German service has been doubled in strength. A. fleet of gunboats is permanently to be maintained, on the Rhine. The numbers of the field army are given as 587,000 bayonets, 68,000 sabres, 2,080 guns, and 13,000 engineers, and these arc independent of the reserve troops, There are 18 army corps, each composed of tAvo divisions, each division being complete in itself with its train of equipage and special services, being indeed a complete miniature army or "marching unit." SHIPBUILDING IN AMERICA. The revival of shipbuilding in America is a noticeable feature of the times. Whilst in England the trade is sensibly on the decline, in America it is on the increase. This is chiefly attributable to the high wages and dear coal in this country. In America coal is becoming daily more abundant, and labour is cheapening. Thus, as has always been maintained by free traders, things will right themselves if they are only let alone. For cingtrades, by means of protective measures, only produces a temporary false prosperity and this Americans have found to their cost. It will not be long before free traders have it all their own way in that couatry. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. The Board of Trade has been having some thing to say lately on the subject of raihvay accidents. These have become horribly fre quent, and directors have shown such a dis regard for the comfort and safety of their passengers that public indignation has been thoroughly aroused. At last the Board of Trade has addressed a circular to the chair men of companies, asking whether nothing can be done to prevent the frequent recur rence of accidents, which it is almost inva riably proved have their origin in parsimony or negligence, or both. It seems that her Majesty the Queen ha 3 been at the bottom of this movement. Shocked at the daily dish of raihvay smashes which the papers exhibit, and, perhaps, half suspecting that even Royalty itself might not escape in such days of wholesale destruction, her Majesty sent an autograph letter to Mr Gladstone suggesting that the Executive Government should take some steps to prevent these constant accidents. It. was thus brought about that Mr Chichester Fortescue's circular Avas Avritten, and I believe the Cabinet has determined, if matters don't mend, to intro duce a very stringent measure on the subject next session. GERMAN STRUGGLE WITH ULTRAMONTANES. A great deal of sympathy is felt in Eng land just now Avith the German Government in its struggle Avith the Ultramontanes. I am not sure that English people are ahvays wise in their sympathies, and on this occasion I suspect that they are making a great mistake. The fact is the German contest savours very much of persecution on the part of Prince Bismarck and his party, who, if there ever was civil and religious liberty in Germany are doing their very best to stamp it out of existence. But English people at the present moment are disposed to look upon the Ultramontanes Avith special disfavour as representing a class Avho are trying very hard to ride roughshod over the English Church, and destroy its honesty and purity; and so, in spite of the suspicion of persecution, so abhorrent to English ideas, there is a strong bias in favour of Protestant Germany, and on the 27 th of January Earl Russell is to preside at a great Protestant meeting in St. James Hall, Avith the object of "expressing to the German Emperor and the German people the sympathy that Englishmen fee for them in the arduous struggle with Ultramontanisim on which they are now embarked." Each of the large towns in the Kingdom is to be represented at this meetng by two representatives. COOK, THE BILLIARD CHAMPION, has performed the unpi ecedented feat of scoring 936 off one break. He had once before scored 752, and had often said that he expected some day to score the 1,000. This he was Aery near doing a few days ago. He was playing against Joseph Bennett, who had scored 38G, when he had to sit down and see Cook, who was at 152, finish the game. Mr Cook's break 296 spot strokes, 273 of which were consecutive. It is said that as large scores have been made at the American game, but that game is played with four balls, and consists cf winning hazards, cannons, and forfeits. There was extraor dinary excitement and enthusiasm in the room when Cook reached the higher figures. BARON REUTERS PERSIAN SCHEME. The great Persian scheme of Baron Reuter ;has collapsed. From the first it Avas manifest that there would be some difficulties of rather a distressing nature to be overcome before these wonderful schemes could be matured. The Baron, you will remember, obtained from the Shah of Persia the entire ;inonopoly of the construction and working for a number of years of all public works in Persia. In other words the Shah agreed to lease Persia to the Baron for a term for certain considerations. This was all very well ; but Avhere was the money to come from where vvith to carry out Avorks of such magnitude ? The intention and hope of the Baron was that there would be no difficulty in floating loans to any amount in Europe for the pur pose. And this hope would hot have been fallacious had there been the slightest guarantee thatjthe Shah would, in vulgar par lance, stick to his bargain. But it was felt that in all probability the arrangement had been entered upon without due consideration. The Shah had just witnessed the wonders of civilisation in Europe. He had viewed with wonder and delight the wealth of England and other great commercial centres, and like a child he longed to make Persia rich and himself more Avealthy at the same time. The Baron had his ear, and his suggestion that the royal road to wealth would be to let him have the job all to himself, was listened to eagerly and closed with at once. So far so good. But since then other " Barons" have probably been at work, and other lips have whispered that perhaps the Shah might even make a better bargain for himself. And so . it has come to pass that the autocrat (whose ■ [decisions who shall question ?) has said that 1 !Baron Reutei-has broken the conditions of 'his bargain, and the Shah has cried "off." Reuter says he has kept to hia terms faith fully, and probably he has, but that what is the word of a Barou worth as compare^ with that of the Shahi

MB. BRIGHTS REPUTE is sadly on the decline since be ' • H Gladstone's ministry. He has ahX* '^ II certainty in his principles and a wi. 1"* I in his statements which have ♦ I shake the confidence which once w * I him by his supporters. Words v- *> 1 once uttered perhaps thought]*, i to 1 which undoubtedly he has uttered I' I an antagonism to the further ext P •'S I the franchise, are now being raked 31011 I thrown into his teeth. . And worst aftn* I has left any honesty he might even V, 7 behind him, and scruples not to d ' own sbatements, and in his speeohw 0? ]< sort to such an amount of scurrility ,6 I say Billingsgate as has quite aliened v^ 1 from the best of his quondam friends r 1

COURT OF PETTY SESSIONS.- This Day.

(Before J.. R. Nicholson, Esq. (Cha;™. Drs. Home and Kenderdine, andy?l Isaacs and G. S. Grahame). f DRUNKENNESS. \ Anne Knox, George Thomas, and W- I Gilmore were fined ss. each for this off.. OFFENSIATG LANGUAGE. I Archibald C. Cumming pleaded not mii]k I to a charge of using very offensive Ui2 $ to certain ladies in Fort-street last night I Constable ShaAV proved to the comm.tt.l I of the offence ;he heard the words used 1 Prisoner in his defence made a 1 rambling statement about the vicissiy^ travels, and afflictions of his life, and didn'. believe that he could have made useoE tt ■ offensive language. The Bench considered that the chargeL' I been proved, and it was high time jjA I things should be put down; prisoner mv I therefore pay a fine of 20s. and costs, or % I to prison for one month. • y- * 1 ANNE KNOX. Anne Knox, an old offender, was chaw. 1 with having no visible laAvful meanstf I support. Mr Madden, on the part of prisoner 1 pleaded not guilty. Sergeant Connor, Detectives Jeffrey and § Ternahan, proved that Anne Knox led a I disreputable life, and bad no honorable way 1 of getting a living. Mr Madden called a witness in prisoner. 1 favour. ;.... m Joseph Riley, a miner, deposed that he allowed Anne Knox 103 a week for washing |p and sundry little domestic offices which a 1 single man needs. In answer to Mr Brohani : He generally f had two pairs of trousers Avashed, two flannel § shirts, &c, but then there were other little I jobs which he need not mention;he to 1 willing to pay 10s a week; his wages were I two guineas a week ; of course she mended , his trousers and sewed his shirt buttonson; l! he did not grudge the money, she earned it, I The Bench considered that as'prisoner I bore a very bad character she must undergo p: three months' imprisonment with hard lj! labour. SMASHING. Walter Pell, a little old man, was chargd If with breaking two panes of glass, valuers, 1 the property of Thomas Phillipson, on the j| 15th. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. George Hudson and Thomas: Phillipson proved the charge. k Detective Ternahan had no doubt, iron m the description given, that prisoner was the |4 real offender ; he Avas a bad character aid had been convicted on similar chaiga | before. r: IS Prisoner said he was in another part of the j. city at the time and fast asleep. ...... I. The Bench said that prisoner's unsupported j testimony would have no weight, as Ms y. character was an indifferent one. Hejwoild t be fiued 23s and costs, and must pay the 8s M damage, or go to prison for one month.' 1 MAN AND WIFE, '~'.■ ',■ I Charles J. Little was charge^-with unto* |, fully assaulting his wife in the course of yes- 1 terday. . . r; f ]:.{.y wk Mr Laishley appeared for defendant, and ■ was about to ask for an adjournment" when 1 Mrs Little, an interesting little'woman,; said | she did not wish to press the charge ag* B her lawful husband if Charles would pw- B mise to use her well in future. The Bench : You wish to make matterstp | then, and forgive your husband. . 1 Mrs Little : " Yes, your Worship,' that* | exactly what I mean. [j I The husband and wife here exchanged | mutual smiles, and the case was dismissed. FIRING GRASS. ' 1 A youth named AndreAv Drummond was | charged with wilfully setting lire to aMK | tity of the grass in Howe-street, on *f e ™ If instant. ■ :;':*'';'., I Prisoner pleaded guilty. . Mr Brohamsaid he was sorry to bring a youth like prisoner before the Bench,-w I these occurrences were becoming,so senro that it was necessary they should be stopped- | The prisoner was smoking at the time- | The Bench gave the boy a salutary,-Wft j J and would say, as a warning to other om I that the Bench intended to deal severely m I any similar cases that might come before i m and give such lads a severe whipping as I most effectual remedy in such instances; j Bench was :oso surprised that so MftS I should be guilty of smoking, and dwWV* him. .■:■■••' 1 LARCENY. _ ..-*, I Maria Grey was charged with ste*T° 0 j 1 cash box, containing £17 Us, the proper') I John Higgins, of the Wellington HoW., the course of yesterday. y 1 Prisoner pleaded not guilty. ,-7 •«& 1 Mr John Higgins, proprietor of ■■WJTu 1 lington hotel, Wellington-street, a2j,. that between three and four o'clock T^ | day he was sitting on the sofa in v I parlour when he saw prisoner P a3B,?*; j^f, i the bar. She could not see him for »■" j He thought his daughter was in i the time. He saw prisoner a few »"£ I after leave the bar. He then Wjfc I the woman, and asked her ; .^- 1.,, business she had behind MS. ~A ■ when she held up the box contain ■ money, and begged, to be let off,.. v^, I replied that he could not do that, as u^- | been robbed so much. He though" y, | daughter Avas in the bar at the tiDJ^^. m she had gone up to her mother ;.he «jjjj; I a constable, and gave her into custoay. , said she did not intend to steal it.. eB prs Here a great discussion arose ». tw° n ■ Nicholson, Home, and Kenderdine y j information, and some loud (not M&flflU cussion followed, when some one saw ■ shall decide when doctors disagree^ It was agreed to continue the °a a _y ejt-. I information as laid, Mr Brohaui,*gj}fr'. pressed it as his opinion that V> correct. .;" ~ , i^M I Andrew Clarke, constable ot t §§ police.force, deposed that he arresga^^ m on the present charge. She said | that she took the box and P^'g^ ff »B» ■ she did not intend keeping »•, | poor person with four small .■oiuwj, t0 & i Prisoner having no trial>! 1 witness s.he was then oommittea g^reinkH the next criminal sittings, ot w A$M Court. ___, A-.A'H - TRANSFER OF WCEJ Sg enS eS 1* 1 Applications for transferer v Freeß iaii* H granted from Samuel Jagger, f£os M Hotel, to Robert Stow^jun, ,I^^' H Sceats, of the British Hotel, JWZtfMt ■ phreys ; from John Clarke, of tjo*,^, B Castle, to EUw^wi«ssi W ™*

USE WTB&fttQt BTA&, "TtTESIDAY, 24 lg?4



MOUNT WELLINGTON HIGHWAY DISTRICT. A LL Rates not paid to the Collec ■£&- tor, Mr George Keough, Panmure, by SATUR DAY, 28th Febmary, 1874, will be placed in the hands of a Solicitor for recovery without further notice. EOBT. N. RYBURN, . Chairman. JJATS! HATS! SUM MIE R HA T S AT REDUCED P_>R;.l 0E S. INjLORDER TO EFFECT A .CLEARANCE RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN havoyiecided to Sell the Balance of their Summer Stock Children's and Ladies' Straw Hats at COST PRICE. A Great Variety to select from. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN (LATE R. HOBBS), WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DRAPERS, CLOTHIERS, &0 JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) Upper Qtteen-siiieet, Auckland. Ci A U T [ ON. OLSON'S TOMATO SAUCE. Connoisseurs pronounce this Sauce to be the BEST for general use in households, and, in con sequence of its high reputation, soma 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 be 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 FOR OLSON'S SAUCE, and see that the name is Stamped on Bottle and stopper, and wrapped round with his well-knowa abel. T COS GRAVE & CO HAVE JUST RECEIVED PER SUEZ MAIL: 1 case Self-coloured Gros Grains 1 „ Black „ 1 „ Best Paris jKid Gloves , ■ '.'.-■ 11 I „ Best Assorted Colors. CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND. Maics will, Close as Under :— j For Thames, to-morrow, at 10.30 a m and 5.30 p m For Coromandel, to-morrow, at 12.30 p m - For Tauranga, Gisborne, and Napier, per s.s. Pretty Jane, t-.-morrow, at 9 am For Newcastle, N.S.W., per Eliza Mary, to-morrow at 11 a m For Wangarei Heads, Waipu, Wangarei. and Manga pai. per Southern Cross, to morrow, at 3 p m For Tauranga, per Vincent, on Thursday next at spm For Gisborne, per Julius Vogel, on Thursday next ; at 11 a m ' (Signed) S. B, Bias, Chief Postmarter,



150,000 PEET TIMBEE FOR SALE, AT MY YARDS, GOVEBNMENT WHARF, ONEHUNGA. JAMES W. "WALLER.