SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER :; Thi3 evoning, 10.32 ; to-mowow morning, 10.51

SUN-SET; This evening, 6.24; BUN-RISE: Tc morrow morning, 5.58 MOON'S AGE : Last quarter, 11th, 9.13 p.m.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

_, ARRIVALS. ±|ho 3 f rom Southern ports Queen of the Sea, barque, 3°3 tons, Robinson, from • Adelaide Ruby, schooner, from Wanga*-oa Pretty Jane, s.s , from East Coast ports, via Thames JNorham Castle, barque, 62S tons, Carey, from London Star of the South, s s., from Levuka

DEPARTURES.

Rowena, s.s., for the North Southern Cross, s.s., for Tauranga Winona, yacht, for Dunedin

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

JYiongoi, s.s., forKandavu (San Francisco Mail), IGth instant Hindostan, ship, loading Wave Queen, ship, forLyttelton

VESSELS EXPECTED.

. »wia, ss, irom oyciney, early Mongol, ss„ from the South W. C. Wentworth, barque, from Sydney Emprcza, barque, from Liverpool. Sailed October 15

IMPORTS.

Per Star of the South : 63 bags copra, 21 casks oil, 16 bags maize, order ; 8 bags cocoa nuts, Canham ,- 120 sheep skins, 23 hides, Brewer ; 100 bunches green fruit, order. Per s.s. Pretty Jane from the East Coast: 530 sheep, landed at the Thames, J. Banks.

Per Queen of the Sea from Adelaide : 500 bags rice, 50 chests tea, 240 boxes tea, G. W. Binney ; 1,500 bags flour, 2,030 sacks wheat, order.

All accounts against the barque Lauder dale are to be rendered in duplicate before noon to-morrow to Mr John Batger, agent of the New Zealand Shipping Company (Limited).

The schooner Ruby has entered inwards with 28,000 feet of "timber and 10 empty casks from Wangaroa. The brig Carl left Dunedin for this port on the 26th ult.

The Dolly Varden, cutter, has cleared out for Wangareiwith 3 cases ale,. 7 casks stout, 7 bags salt, 1 cask ale, 2 cases brandy, 21 bags sugar, 24 bags grassseed, 4 chests tea, 333 pieces of timber, 1 box soap, 1 keg soda, 6 cases port.

The cutter Mercury has entered inwards from Gisborne and the Coast with 12 head cattle, 75 pigs,' and 1 case cheese, Hunter and Nolan. ••.-■. . ": '

. The s.s. Star of th*e South arrived from Levuka yesterday evening. Captain Farqu har reports arriving at Levuka on Saturday, the 28th ultimo, after leaving the Macgregor ashore at. Kandavu. Went alongside the German barque Carl Auguste, and towed her np the harbour. On Monday , discharged cargo and took in cargo, water, and. 9 tons coal. At half-past six left for Kandavu, having been chartered to land passengers. Arrived at Kandavu at 9.30 a.m. Found H.M.S. Pearl engaged trying to get the Macgregor off. Found ten feet of water in one of the Macgregor's forward compart ments. The Pearl had been endeavouring to get her off the night before, but had not succeeded. Left again at 10 a.m., but stopped outside to receive the Commodore's mail, which was'sent off in the Pearl's steam launch. Experienced fine weather the whole of the passage. Arrived in Auckland at 9 p.m. yesterday, making the passage in five days nine hours. She brings the following passengers : —Mrs Gundry, [Mrs Morris, Messrs Brewer (2), Woolley, Cruickshank, Kelsall, and two in the steerage.—A.S.P. Co., agents. The Star comes into port in a splendidly clean condition, a fact which re flects great credit upon her captain and chief officer.

The ship Queen of the .Age and the barque Anazi began to discharge to-day. The s.s. Phcebe arrived at Onehunga yes terday with a general cargo and the follow ing passengers : —Mesdames Spratt, Mason, Hull, Graham, Misses Cowley and Parkes, Dr. Alexander, Rev. Mr. Kennedy, Messrs. Simpson, Tizard, Sutton, Coney, Walker, Hook, Gibso*.i, Rowe, Steward, Green, Nan carrow, Brown, and 44 in the steerage (including 38 Government immigrants.)— Combes and Daldy, agents.

The Norham Castle barque, 628 tons, (lately a ship), Captain Carey, from London arrived in harbour last night after being signalled the greater part of the day. She anchored in the powder ground after dark. The _ orham Castle has made a fair average passage. Captain Carey reports leaving the docks Nov. 27th, and the Downs Dec. 2nd. Anchored off Folkestone, and sailed again same evening. Fresh S.E. winds for first few day. Had very light N.E. trades, which were picked up in 13 N. On the 26th December sighted Cape Verde Islands, and lost the trades. Crossed the Equator Jan. 3, in 28.23 W. Took the SE. trades off the line, and carried them to 27 S. From thence had fresh but variable winds. Sighted Tristan D'Acunha on January 17, and passed the meridian of the Cape on" the 24th Jan nary. Run down the easting between 46 and 47 S. Rounded Tasmania on the 21st ult., and thence had S.W. winds for three days, afterwards N.E. winds to the Three Rings, which were sighted and passed on Saturday last at 2 a.m. Down the coast had strong northerly winds and heavy rain. The Nor ham Castle brings no immigrants, but a full general cargo consigned to Messrs. Cruick shank and Co.

The Norham Castle brings the following passengers :—Messrs E. P. Tippett, and W. Bankhead. Steerage—Messrs Shoebridge, H. Digby, F. Evans—Cruickshank and Co., agents.

The yatch Winona sailed a second time for Dunedin yesterday morning. The barque Queen of the Sea, in command of Captain Robinson, lately master of the barque Freetrader, came into harbour on Saturday evening after a long passage of 30 days from Adelaide, with a cargo of grain, flour, tea, etc. The captain reports leaving Adelaide on the 3rd ult. Had a succession of contrary winds till four days after round ing the North Cape on Monday, the 2nd inst. On Friday caught a fine N. breeze and ar rived as above. The Queen of the Sea brings two passengers—Messrs Montgomery and Prince, and cargo as per imports. The s.s. Pretty Jane, from the East, Coast, arrived yesterday at 4 p.m. after landing her cargo of 530 sheep at the Thames. She had fine weather throughout■: the passage, and brings the following passengers :—Cap tains Petherbridge and Ellis,. Messrs Wells, Mills, Frugert, Turner, Barber, . Evans, Whitson, Pollard, Jones, .-. Oliver, Butler, Bacon, Miss Shields, and five in the steerage. —A.S.P. Co., agents. The steamer Victoria may be fexpected in harbour to-morrow. It will be seen by our telegrams that the Wentworth wss to leave Melbourne to connect with, the Victoria at Sydney on the 28th ult.

COMMERCIAL.

CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST. Ca__s. 5B8_& ;: Y'"ijr__?s National Bank oVn.Z." \\ .X 0 ASS 1 National Bank of N.Z. ;. oW 0 JiSy 1 Hmo „,_ . Dividends. Sons of Freedom .. ~ 0 © Feb 18

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

Catholic's letter shall appear to-morrow. Alexander Lynch.—Your letter received too late. It will be inserted to-morrow.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

M.A.r__ will Close _b Under :— Po,r^ ames' this cJay- at 5-30 Pm> and tomorrow at 10.30 a m For Coiomandel, on Wednesday, at 12 30 p ni For Tauranga, per Vincent, this day, at 5 pm For Matakana and Kawau, per Ln-iy Bowen to morrow, at 10 a m ' For Gisborue and Napier, per Pretty Jane, on Wednesday, at 3 p m For the undermentioned places, per s.s. Phcebe on Thursday next, the 12th instant, as under :— For India, China, Mediterranean Ports, and Continent of Europe, at 12 noon For Southern Provinces and Australian Colonier at 1 p m ' For the United Kingdom, via Suez (for letters specially addressed), at lpm For the United Kingdom, via Brindisi, and late letters for Sydney and Melbourne, and Southern provinces, at 1.30 pm For money orders, and registered letters, and newspapers, at 10.30 a m For IVapier, per Star of the South, on Thursday at 4pm ' For the undermentioned places, per Mongol on Monday, 16th March, asunder :— * For Fiji.Sandwich Islands.United States of America Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign West Indies atlo.3oa.rni ' For the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe via San Francisco, at 10.30 a.m ' Letters bearinglate fee will be received until 11am For money orders, registered letters, and news papers, at 9.30a m (Signed) S. B. Biss. Chief Postmaster.

BIRTHS.

-OSORAVE-On the 4th instant, the wife of J Gosgrave, of a son. Sl^E^r°„ n ar? h 7- at the residence of Mr James Doull Seafield View, Mrs William Sharp, of a daughter. *■• " - Logoik—On March 9, at her residence, Wakefield street, the wife of James Loggie, butcher, of a daughter.

MARRIAGE.

™m Sr^Tr^ 11 S? residence of the bride's uncle, JVIr H. Stokes, Wyndham-street, by the Rev. A. Macdonald, John S. Leslie, of Wellington street, Auckland, to Miss Jane Smith

DEATH.

B^r 0,? aT c, h 7 > at the residence of Mr James Doull Seafield View, Elizabeth Agnes, infant daughter of Mr William Sharp, East Pukekohe

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

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 1874.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance. For the future in the distance, And 'the cood that we can do

The proposals for draining the Thames goldfield and testing the reefs at a deep level are, we' understand, assuming a definite rorm and shape, and there now appears to be every prospect of the entire scheme bein^* successfully carried out. This scheme,'it will be remembered, was the result of care ful enquiries; made by the best mining/and engineering skill of the Thames "goldfield;"' *?^: the Proposals made were to sink the Bumping Association's shaft to a depth of! 7UO ieet, to sink a drainage shaft on the Waiokaraka fiat to a similar depth, and to drive the Kurunui tunnel so as to open up all the principal mines in that locality and give them immense "backs." i s„_ .for this scheme is only-£IOO,OOO, and his Honor the Super intendent assured the recent deputation from the Thames that he saw every chance of obtaining the money as a loan, but that; the repayment of it must be well secured. The Pumping Association have, we believe, offered to give their plant and freehold property as security as well as se curity over the Tookey, Caledonian, and Golden Crown mines subject to the acquies cence of these companies. This security we consider ample, and there should be no difli culty in at once handing over a -small sum i to enable the Pumping Association to'

resume the sinking of their shaft. It is of the utmost importance to the Thames that this work should again proceed, and we therefore trust that the Provincial Government will be able immediately to afford the relief so much needed. The' proposed drainage shaft on the Waiokaraka flat is a work second only in importance to the sink ing of the Pumping Association's shaft, and the subsidy asked for from the Government does not exceed £25,000. The repay ment of this loan can be well secured by a drainage rate over the mines benefited, and there should be no difficulty in arranging for an advance "on account," until a suitable law can be brought into operation. Of the details for the Kuranui Hill scheme we have heard no particulars, but we believe that certain gentlemen inter ested in the matter are engaged in framing a scheme which it is intended to submit to the Provincial Government for approval, for tho repayment of the money advanced. We would impress upon His Honor the Superintendent, and upon those who are interesting themselves in this great scheme for draining the most valuable por tions of tho Thames goldfield, that prompt and decisive action in this matter is absolutely necessary to prevent the goldmining industry from languishing, and to save the population from floating away to other and more flourish ing fields. We say in all honesty and good faith that we believe the lending of this £100,000 to the Thames goldfields will in the end repay the province a thousand fold.

The gale on Saturday evening appears to have been severely felt at Wellington, for on glancing at our telegraphic columns it will be seen that the particulars aro given of the total loss of two vessels and the sacrifice of no less than seven lives. The ship Welling ton and the barque Cyrus—two colliers— were lying between Lyall's Bay and Sinclair Heads, waiting for a chance to get away to Newcastle for coals, when they were caught by the gale, driven upon the rocks, and in the end smashed into " ten thousand pieces." Two hands on board the Wellington, the cook and a seaman, were drowned, while the captain and the remainder of the crew just escaped with their lives. Those on board the barque however fared -till worse. A poor woman and her two children, who were passengers for New castle, were literally smashed to pieces by the falling of the deck-house, while the second mate and a seaman, who were gal lantly attempting to rescue them by means of a rope, were washed oft' the rocks and never seen again. Both the captain and tho seamen appear to have behaved nobly in this sad case, and the two men who faced death at the command of their superior officer were as true heroes as ever trod the quarter deck.

A special meeting of the members of the Auckland Christian Doctrine Society was held yesterday afternoon in tho St. Francis Hall, for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements for the school children's fete on St. Patrick's Day. Mr Peter Dignan, president of the society, filled the chair The Rev. Father Golden, S.D., and about hfty members were present. Mr Diguan stated the objects of the meeting, and asked that some members would propose a site for the holiday fete, when it was resolved that the Domain should be the spot wherein to honor the patron saint on the 17th inst. The Secretary was then instructed to apply to the Secretary of the Domain Board for permission to carry out their resolution. Committees were also appointed, and the collections, amounting to £50, were handed over to the Secretary.

To the Editor : Sir,—Although the Pon souby club was beaten by the " Cross " club on Saturday, the 28th February, and again by the Standard club on the 7th inst, they have resolved to struggle until they have regained the proud position they previously occupied ; they intend to practice every evening on their ground behind tho All Saints' Church, when the weather will per mit, aud they look forwar d with confidence to the no distant period when they shall be Al. among the ijclubs of the city.—One oe the Lads.

A fire broke out early this morning at the corner of Welleslcy and Elliott-streets. The fir<s was first discovered among a quantity of shavings where carpenters had been work ing. Messrs Odium Brothers, who reside close by, were the first to observe the lire, and their exeitions alone saved the buildings from destruction. One. of the brothers wasengaged throwing water on the tire, while the other was ringing the fire-bell. Inspector Broham with some of the police, and Captain Asher and his. fire brigade men, were quickly on the spot, but their services were not required. The cause of the fire is not known.

On Wednesday evening next the grand La Troupe Parisienne will appear in their beauti ful; poetic dances, poses, &c. ; of which due particulars will be given in the programme.

The majority of our readers will he pleased to hear that Madame Carandini and her talented daughters will make their appear ance in the City Hall on the 21 at, of April, and will give their grand operatic and ballad concert, assisted by Mr Henry Gordon, the renowned basso and descriptive vocalist, and Walter Sherwin, and the celebrated mimic, Mr George Cotterell, who will appear in selections from his humourous and trans formational entertainment, entitled "Quiz, or Faces and Fancies," but we shall refer at greater length to the programme in a future issue.

The charges against the eight sailors of the ship Queen of the Age were investigated this morning before W. C. Daldy and D. Tole, Esqs., Justices of the Peace. The charges were all proved or confessed to, and the Bench inflicted heayy sentences, accom panying the infliction by some appropriate comments, which will be found in oumreport elsewhere.

The recent London fog (says a writer in the Medical Times), will be long remembered as onis of the most disastrous this generation has known. To persons with cardiac and and respiratory disease it has, in numerous instances, proved fatal. This has been shewn to a remarkable extent in the daily obituary of The Times, particularly the 23rd 'December, when the deaths of 14 persons— viz., 11 ladies and three gentlemen— are recorded;1 whose united ages amounted toi 1,205 years, giving the extraordinary average of raore*tnan:S6 years to each of these' persons. The oldest was a lady who had peached the great age of 93 years, the young- I est of the same sex being 80 years of age. I Of the gentlemen, the oldest was S9, and the ; youngest 84. The following were the res pective ages—viz.,.Bo, 81, 82, 83, three at 84, 85, 87, two at 89, 91, and two ladies at 93. They -were, in•; addition. to- the above, eight septuagenarians, whose united ages amounted to 582 years, giving an average of 72 years and nine months.. The oldest was 76, and the youngest 71 years of age. While: newspaper paragraphists and cor respondents are continually calling public attention to road defects in almost all parts \ of the city and suburbs, not a word is said about Wyndham-street, which is in about as rough a condition as could be imagined, con sidering that it is the " Fleet street" of Auckland in relation to the press ; as the Evening Star shines on one side of the street, and the Herald, with its lamp, which is never lit, on the other* I V A A.I

We are glad to learn that Mr. James Lynch, who acted some time as assistant clerk in tho Police Court, has received an appointment m the police force at Fiji.

Captain Peek preached an excellent sermon yesterday in the Mount Eden school-room on the importance of labour in relation to the general well-being of humanity.

We regret to learn from a telegram re ceived in Coromandel yesterday that Mr Ping, of this place, while on his way to the VV aikato, accompanied by Captain Steele (of Waikato) met with an accident. By some means not stated the trap which they occu pied capsized while crossing the range at Razorback. Both occupants of the trap were thrown out and were considerably bruised, but fortunately escaped without any broken bones. They managed to reach Point Russell Hotel, where they rested awhile, and were then able to proceed on their -journey. — Coromandel Mail.

In Saturday's issue appeared '' A Moral and Immoral Tale" from our London cor respondent, which many of our readers no doubt have read. Desiring to be equally just to our Catholic brethren, we give the London Tablet's version of the affair, dated January 30 :-*-" Some time ago, one Gaetano Plebani, formerly a Carmelite friar, was found assassinated in his house at Alessandria. It was then reported that he had been entrusted with the fortune of a young woman, who wished to marry a man of doubtful character, and that the young couple determined to kill the old friar in order to get the money and abscond to gether. Now the Liberal papers inform the public that Plebani's relations with the young woman were of an improper kind. He was, they say, her confessor when she was a nun in a convent in Rome, and took an oppor tunity to lead her astray. This and other scandalous charges they bring against the dead friar out of the formal act or process of accusation laid against his murderess. But it is clearly probable, out of the records at Borne, that Plebani never was a con fessor in Rome, and that the young woman never was a nun."

The following is the return of sick treated at the Provincial Hospital during the week ending Saturday, March 7, 1874:—Remained last return, (i(i ; admitted since, 0; dis charged, 8 ; died, 3 ; remaining, 01. Males, 51 ; females, 10. Arrangement of cases— Dysentery, 1 ; rheumatism, G ; syphilis, 5 ; tumia, ] ; cancer, .1 ; phthisis pulmonalis' 3 ; paralysis, 3 ; blindness, 1 ; heart disease, 2 ; bronchitis, 2 ; pneumonia, 3 ; asthma, 1 ; fistula, 3 ; dyspepsia, 2 ; cystitis, 2 ; hyoviele, 1 ; cariesgand necrosis, 7 ; abscess and ulcer, 4 ; psoriasis, 1 ; fractures, 4 ; wounds and contusions, 3 ; amputation, 1 ; debility, 3 ; scald, 1. Throe men died dur ing the week, viz., on the 3rd instant, M. X.. aged 46 years, of chronic dysentery • on the Gth instant, J. 8., aged 55 years, of paralysis and pneumonia ; aud on the'7th instant, J. S., aged 07 years, of paralysis. Thanks are re turned to Mrs Sadlier and Mrs Prosger for bundles of old linen.

To the Editor : Sir, —An assertion was made by Mr Hesketh before the Bench on Thursday last in the case Kenealy v. Eaton to the effect that they had on that day been fortunate enough to discover a person who could state that the land now held by the man Eaton (and the land therefore named in the impounding case, Eaton v. Cutler), had been under cultivation. As this may effect me I hereby deny the assertion, and challenge Mr Hesketh to produce the evidence. If he does so I am prepared to forfeit the sum of £4 10s, that being tho costs of the case.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, John Cutleu, Remuera.

HJThe cricket match, Auckland v. North Shore, commenced on Saturday, was only partly played out. At the conclusion of the afternoon's play the scores stood as follows : —Auckland, lirst innings, 139 (of these Yates HO, Cotton. 28, and Mooney 2G, sup plied the principal contributions.) North Shore, 5 wickets down for 22. The game will be resumed next Saturday.

An error occurred in Saturday's issue in Mr Arthur's report. Batter is quoted at 3d to l-..d instead of 3d to 91-d.

The Thames Advertiser says that there is likely to be another difficulty with regard to the coal supply. In fact scarcity of fuel is already felt, and at least one crushing-mill, the Morning Star, has been brought to a standstill in consequence of not being able to procure a supply. We learn that there is a scarcity now at the Kawakawa coal mines, and that there is no immediate probability of any increase in the output for some time. In consequence most of the colliers are taken off the trade, and except those vessels which are chartered by the Pumping Associa tion, Caledonian, Bright Smile, and other large coal-consuming companies, there are very few arriving with cargoes for disposal to others who require coal.

A meeting of the Auckland milkmen will be held this evening for important business at Eden Vine Hotel. Messrs Walters, Scott, and others will address the meeting. We un derstand that, owing to the shortness of grass and the scarcity of water for cattle, the question of raising the price of milk will be considered.

Charles's great diorama was exhibited on Saturday to a large audience, and will be presented again this evening ; when, in ad dition to splendid pictorial attractions, one hundred costly gifts will be distributed in the shape of household utilities and decora tions.

Our correspondent "X.Y.Z. " is labouring under a cloud in reference to the advertise? ment of the Sash and Door Company. The junk there mentioned is not ship's beef; but timber of a certain class. The word is pro nounced jungle, and applies to a Chinese vessel, also to old ropes.

The Artillery Volunteers will muster in full force to-morrow evening in the Drill shed, and be put , through their monthly evolutions.

There is a- miserable little thoroughfare known as Moreton-street, consisting of eight or ten houses, lying off Cook-street, neair Freeman's Bay. The homes of the homeliest order are inhabited, apparently, by a'Class of persons who are entirely left by j themselves, unvisited by either priest or itract distributer. Yesterday afternoon, in ;one of these places, a fire broke out which might have resulted in serious consequences, but through the prompt activity of .the neighbours the flames were at once suppressed. We learn to-day that the outbreak was through the careless ness of the inmates who had been spending the Sabbath morning in heavy drinking, and I had drunk to noisy excess. We would re commend the police and the social reformer to visit Moreton-street in their peregrinations for the public good.

The journeymen bakers held their half yearly meeting at the British hotel on Satur day evening. Mr Bell was in the chair. The report, a most interesting one, shewed that the Bakers' Society has taken a permanent position, and that the members have stuck together in a praiseworthy manner. The report and balance-sheet were adopted, after which it was resolved to commence a- fund for the benefit of sick members and members out of employment, and visiting members were appointed. , .

This afternoon an inquiry before the coroner aud a jury was held at the North Shore, with respect to the origin of the fire by which Messrs Duder's store was burnt down list week. The enquiry was com menced too late for us to get any particulars of the evidence.

From a Fijian letter from a town near Nadroga we learn that the late gale assumed there the aspect of a hurricane, and made a clean sweep of everything. Fortunately, however, no fatal accident is reported.

To-morrow evening the Rev. B. C. But land will lecture at the Young Men's Chris tian Association Rooms. Subject : —"The Bible in manuscript, or history of the book and of the methods of writing before the age of printing." The lecture will be illustrated with specially prepared diagrams and en larged illuminated fac-similes of new testa ment manuscripts. Dr. Maunsell will occupy the chair, and selections of sacred music will be given during the evening.

An emergency meeting of the Lodge Ara will be held to-morrow evening for the purpose of installing Mr. Charles Samuel, commercial traveller. A lecture on the first tracing board will also be given.

An open lodge meeting of the Sir Heni'y Havelock Lodge of Good Templars will be held to-morrow evening in the Edwardes street schoolroom, and will be of the usual character, comprising songs, recitations, and speeches. The speakers will be Captain Peek, Rev. W. Tinsley, Messrs S. and G. Hemus, and Mr Madden A very interest ing meeting is anticipated.

A meeting of amateur minstrels was held on Saturday evening at the Exchange hotel, some of whom had recently arrived from London, for the purpose of. forming a new and permanent troupe. After some conver sation it was resolved that the name of the new company should be the "Ohio Amateur Minstrels." The first public concert will be held in April, the proceeds to be given in aid of the sufferers by the late boiler explosion at the Thames.

In Freeman's Bay yesterday morning as people were wending their way to their re spective places of worship) a somewhat novel procession was observed proceeding from the new cutting up Drake-street. Three men, followed by a crowd of juveniles, were bear ing the dripping form of an unfortunate female to her residence in one of the houses at the rear of Mr M. Henderson's, in which they deposited their burden in an uncon scious state. It appears that the unfortunate in question, after her usual nightly orgies, had partaken too freely of the bottle, and in her delirium proceeded down the cutting and at once deliberately plunged into the water, the tide al. the time being near high water. If it had been her original intention to end her career speedily she suddenly changed her mind, and struck out lustily for the shore again. Assistance was promtly rendered, and she was once more on terra jirma, and con ducted in the above manner to her home, where one of her male "pals" was in waiting to receive the dripping form, and after care ful attention had the satisfaction of seeing her sturdily moving about again in the course of the afternoon, apparently nothing the worse for her voluntary immersion.

LATEST FROM FIJI.

(From our own Correspondent)

Levuka, March 2, 1874. The detention of the Star in Fiji will no doubt create some little uneasiness in Auek 1-in.d as to her safety, however the arrival of the mail steamer Tartar will dispel any fears you may have' entertained. The Star was chartered by the Levuka. merchants to take down a deputation to Kandavu to mc«t Mr Hall and Mr Samuels iv reference to the port of call, but I believe without any defi nite result The detention of the Star at Kandavu caused us some little uneasiness in Levuka, as she was away nine days, and a vessel was on the point of sailing for Kan davu to look after her when she was sig nalled. *

The intelligence she brought of the wreck of the Macgregor was received in Levuka with anything but satisfaction, as it is thought it will prejudice the people in the colonies against Fiji as a port of call. From first to last there is a screw loose somewhere in making Kandavu the port of call. I have heard it asserted that it is on account of land speculation, but as far as lam concerned the rumour requires confirmation. Levuka is the proper port for the arrival and departures of the mail steamers, and I have no hesitation in saying that sooner or later the various commercial centres in Australia will demand that the steamer, * call at the only commercial port in Fiji As a resident of many years in Fiji I have never known of a wreck of any vessel be tween the colonies and Levuka with the exception of the Kauri, an Auckland schooner, which, no doubt, foundered at sea, as she was known to be in bad trim when she left this port. Again, in opposite direc tions towards the Manuka passage (many miles wide, with no obstruction) thousands of trips have been made to Tavenui by our local craft, some of which are sailed by men who never pulled a rope before, and I have never known of a wreck Arid now we are told by two or three masters ot mail-steamers, with all the latest im provements, etc., and sailed with large crews, that the route is not safe. Is it not absurd on the face of it?. I may also "in form your readers that our waters in the group are never so rough as about Auckland as the various islands break the water We have also a piece of water (two miles by one) for the steamers to turn in if necessary, al though the harbour is much larger for smaller vessels if not for the large ones. Besides tne vessels can come in one passage and out of the other The objections made to mak ing. Levuka the port of call by Captain Grain ger, have been the approach to the group from 'Frisco through the * Nakuku passage on account of the islands only being visible sometwenty or thirty miles at seat but with a good, lighthouse, which could soon ,be erected, this objection could ; soon be done away with. In the event of a hurricane, which would not happen to catch the mail steamer once in a dozen years, she could keep at sea, and I am sure under such cir cumstances, the people in the Colonies would forgive the steamer for being a day or two behind time As it is Captain Grainger came through the Nanuku Passage on his1 late unfortunate trip to Kandavu. With re ference to the loss of the Macgregor you will know more than I can tell, you before you receive this letter. As far as Kandavu is concerned the .place .is ,i so, isolated as' regards traffic, to Levuka that' we re ceive more news frpm any part in the colonies than we ;do V from V Kandavu 1 have been trying to discover who is to blame for the loss of the vessel, but without avail. I am.told the vessel was in charge of a pilot appointed by our despot, the Hoh G -°S- c aPP<>intment, was made some eight months since, yet it Would seem that the passage to thebarbour, etc., has not been sounded arid buoyed: hence the loss of property, perhaps worth £100,000, for which it will be very poor satisfaction to discharge a wretched pilot. Who is to blame? Sex ation may now be counted a certainty The natives are all in favour of it, arid the Com paodore is now at Bau, the "royal resi

dence" (native bure), where.all the chiefs are congregated, and where I believe the terms of annexation are being agreed upon.

[From the Fiji Gazette.]

We hear that the late storms have created a disastrous flood upon the Bewa, but par ticulars have not come to hand. At Bau the late gale destroyed some dozen houses, while the Missionary houses, both at Bau and Viwa, were unroofed.

News from the Ba has arrived to the effect that the late gale has caused fearful havoc in that district. Particulars are not to hand, but we hear that Mr Ireland's plan tation is a total wreck, and all his cotton blown out of the ground, while nearly every other settler has suffered to almost the same extent. We trust that the reports will prove to be exaggerated.

Two robberies have been reported to the police within the last two days, and in both cases the blue-coats succeeded in apprehend ing the offenders. In the first instance the accused is a man named Perry, who is sup posed to have taken the cashbox from the Auckland hotel, containing some £10 in money and £20 in securities. Perry pleaded not guilty, and is committed for trial. The greatest part of the stolen property has been recovered. The second robbery was of the coolest description. A Fijian calmly walked into the Parade hotel while the boy was sweeping out the bar, assimilated 10s and left. Information was promptly given, and the premature annexationist is refreshing himself with enforced rest in Totogo logs.

FOUNDERING OF THE STEAMER VILLE DU HAVRE.

A passenger's narrative.

The following story of the disaster is related by Mr C. B. Waite.of New York :— " The awful rapidity with which the ship went down after she was struck is scarcely credible. We were sleeping tranquilly in our berths when a dreadful crash and the shiver ing of the vessel awoke us in a moment. The passengers, men, women, and children, rushed on deck, some of them half dressed, others in their night dresses. At once we saw the extent of the accident which had occurred. There were the bows of a large sailing vessel project ing over the deck, and there, too, was a frightful hole in the side of our steamer, i through which the water was rushing furiously in. The crew, under the orders of the captain, were manning the two long boats and helping passengers into them as fast as possible under the excitement of those terrible moments. While they did so how ever the mainmast fell with an awful crash, bringing down the mizenmast also with it. These two masts fell upon the longboats and killed a number of the passengers and injured many others. The terror which prevailed among them at this time prevented a great many of the passengers from making any attempt to save their lives. Some of them in a paroxysm of despair thew themselves on the deck in earnest prayer. Although there were eight boats altogether belonging to the ship, owing to the brief time in which she sank the crew were only able to get the captain's gig and whakboat into the water. The whaleboat was launched by the second lieutenant, who, with several of the crew and two or three passengers, succeeded in getting into it just in time to escape going down with the ship. Some others got into the captain's gig, and the few lives saved in these two boats and some others picked up afterwards by the Lochearn were all that escaped out of the 313 souls on board the Ville dv Havre when she was struck. The Lochearn, after clearing away from the sinking vessel, put off to a distanoe of about half a mile, where she hovo to, and sent her boats to pick up any of the passengers and crew who might happen to be floating on the sea. Some were found on pieces of plank, some clinging to portions of the broken spars, others on life-buoys, casks, and various other remnants of the wreck. Not a single person was saved from the deck, the panic being so great and the time so short before all was over. The captain and second officer be haved with great courage through this scene of agony and despair. They both remained on deck to the last, and went down with the steamer, but came to the surface and floated for three-quarters .of an hour, when they were picked up by the whale boat. The mental anguish of some of the fortunate few whose lives were saved was heartrending in the extreme. One lady (Mrs. Spafford, of Chicago) had lost her four children, and another (Mrs. Bulkeley); had lost three. A gentleman, who was taking his sister to France for the benefit of her health, was among the saved, and his grief on finding that his sister had gone down in the vessel, found a parallel only in that of parents who were lamenting the loss of their children and children the loss of their parents. Never can I forget the harrowing scene which I witnessed on the deck of the Loch earn—a scene surpassed in agony only by that I had beheld just before od the deck of the ill-fated Ville dv Havre. Ladies and gentlemen who had never before known a single privation were standing there shivering a,nd| destitute, and officers and seamen whose lives perhaps had been spent in travelling the ocean suddenly found themseves help less, and deprived in some cases of everything they had possessed. About eight o'clock we sighted the American ship Tremontain, bound from New York for Bristol, and upon our; signalling her she hove to, and bore down alongside of us. We were then all transferred to that'vessel, on board of which we were treated with the utmost kindness and consideration both by Captain Urquhart and his-officers and men. Thanks to their kind attention, in two or three days nearly all j the survivors had to a great extent re covered from the serious effects of their im mersion in the sea.

INARKATTVE OF ONE OF THE SAILORS. .. The following is the narrative of one of the seamen belonging to the Ville dv Havre, which is related as nearly as possible in his own words. He says :— _ - j Lthink it was about twenty minutes to two o clock when I felt the shock of the collision. I had been on the sick list for some days, and was then sleeping .in my be.,th.v The first thing I heard after our ship .was struck was a call for all hands to come on deqk.) I rushed up the gangway at once, and then I saw what had happened. We—that is, myself .and some of my inajtes—tried to get one of the boats ready, but • the[/panic ■ was so great that we could not do it. The passengers were cr#iag> shrieking, and calling out, ' Help ! help !' They made arush at the boat, and I don't believe you could have kept them back ; no, not even if you had, threatened to shbot them, Didn't we see. the Lochearn coiling? Well, -yes, I believe somebody must have seen her, for there were twenty men or more on the deck. Heard that the second officer saw her fifteen minutes afore she struck us ; but, of course, I can't say. The captain came out of his berth just as her jibboom was a comin' over our bulwarks and he ses to the quartermaster, ' Why didn't you call me?' He blew the whistle, but it Was too late then. She was down on us with a crash like a thunder-clap, and the water f came pouring in terrifically. Don't say ;aiiything against the captain, for he had been three days and nights keeping watth

aud only laid himself down thatn^T" the sofa about half-past eleven. Wv, °n was struck the passengers, as'l said rushing up from below and began to fill*!? 6 boats. There was about 50 of them c of the longboats when the mammas? ft bang on it; and oh ! I shall never wl\S * there scene. Some of them were ffl' ■"' ri/l hto?i f°T heads smS others had broken their arms and legs Tt,' squealing of the women—but, there _ilf tell how awful it was; the mast struck^- ,' across the forehead as it fell, and the h i swain was killed by my side. Some offl sailors I picked up with their legs brobn but all we could do was just to move th» out of the way, poor fellows' tvlf mainmast brought down the mizennS W along with it, and that, too, smafi a boat with o0 or 60 people if-' ' 1-1„ \ Sll^ e.v^ b°dy » that boat x£ ' either killed or in j ured Could we not ha„'> i got some of the others into the boats' Lo? bless you, sir, they were too frightened2':*' excited. If they had been quiet and w&i_Sl a bit, we might have saved some of them but there was no order, not a bit. But the» it's always so. I've been shipwrecked thi times myself, and nobody knows what mM scenes are that don't go through them. TJ, * Lochearn smashed two of the boats with her spars and rigging, and when the two lon* * ones had been broken up by the falling ««_''l m there were only four others left, and two of them were small. It was them masts, how ever, .that did all the mischief afterwards;' If ; they had not a fell, and if we only couldhava kept the passengers quiet a bit, I don'tS believe 20 of them would have been lost, - Why did they not jump on the Lochearn'a bows? There warnt time for that, sir. She. was going at 12$ knots, and we were doing' ' 12, so that she bounded back and was gone iis from us almost directly. Our captaia re . mained on his bridge all the time giving I orders, and was on it when she went*dotiifS below the water. I went down with her too ; I should think 20 or 30 fathoms. On coming to the surface again I looked round and saw many - poor struggling creature in' i: the water. Then there was a boatnearme V and I held on to the keel until I could get I inside. I pulled in three or four women • leastways, I gave them a hold on the boat until they could be dragged in. Then I pulled, off some of my clothes and jumped into the water-ind swam to the Lochearn. Three" or four lines were thrown out to me, and at last I was hauled on board. That's all I can say about the collision, but I should just like to say a word or two about our captain. He was always very careful, and in the fog. , never seemed to like trusting much to his officers. He was the la3t man on the bridge, and remained there till the very last moment: ' The second officer was a very good officer, but it's my belief the captain had a good * deal of suspicion of him, and used to watch ■',l! > him close. I don't like to say much aliou... them as he is gone, but I do think he might have called the captain sooner than he. 1 did." "

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before W. C. Daldy and D. Tole/Esq..'," Justices of the Peace.) DRUNKENNESS. Elizabeth Hart, T. T. McC»ul, and John Kavanagh were convicted of this offence,. and fined in the usual amounts. * LARCENY. * V ; Richard Taylor, charged with stealings . pair of trousers, value 10s, Ythe property of Thos t-'outh, from the barque Tien Tsin, on the 28th inst., was remanded till to-morrpw, - 1 UNFOUNDED CHARGE. * "" Walter Gregory, remanded on a,charge .of purloining a dog, value £5, the property of - Henry Clarke, on the 28th January, was,Yj; again brought up. Mr Inspector Broham now said the police had no evidence to adduce, and he should request that the prisoner might be dis charged. ',;YY Discharged accordingly. '"•'*, ASSAULT. , ,' -V . ~..:>,;,y| John Morrow was charged with unlaw:* fully assaulting Henry Peckham, landlord of the Forester's Arms, in Albert-street, on ; '. the 6th of March. 'A ''['~7^!i£ti' The prosecutor said that prisoner came | into his house on the night in question and„_ ordered some ale, for which he tendered a.f penny in payment. Another man then came in and the prisoner picked a quarrel with : him. Witness went to turn them out, when prisoner struck him. -.■:,<>. The Bench inflicted a punishment of 48 i #; hours' hard labour | WIFE BEATING.—WOMAN'S. FOBBEARAKCB. r Jno. Crawley was charged: with crnelly - assaulting his lawful wife, Ann Crawley, by beating her about the head on the 28th ultimo. , " ,fA . The complainant, who appeared in.the,.,'' witness box with her head and one .of. her hands covered with bandages, and seemed to be in a very weakly condition, now said she did not wish to press the charge. .: "I.- Mr Inspector Broham said it was usual to dismiss such cases, but the present was •,; j such a serious affair that he plight, to be let ' off so easily. . ... The Bench Were of the same opinion.■'..-;■_ sJ? The prosecutrix however declining to give-';| any evidence * whatever , against her '^J;.^. natural husband, .._'"' Their Worships dimissed the chargejafjf 7(j„ giving the defendant a good lectured THE DISTURBANCES ON BOARD FHE' t; ,QOEEN OF THE AGE. ;; ~,.< BBEACH OF MERCHANT SHTPPING ACT, ,185_.v Frederick Archer, William "WM^ James v, ... Lambert, William. Evans, __om_s-:_IoWJV A:■ John Thomas Dinesj Robert • Lkty-f -;«™ r' Rudolph Klunder, seamen belonging to we ship Queen of the Age, were charged- committing the above-mentioned 'p^fP^&tifi' broaching the cargo of the ship .'oirorj f»»» \J ■ theT4thday of January, and stealing pi**: perty, including dresses and shawls, p*" j served salmon, crockery ware,- perfuineryrf. shirting, &c, to the extent of about flw. The prisoners all pleaded guilty. ___*$ The . Bench intimated a wish that tne : circumstances of the offence should be J6' A ■• counted to them, They had at presently idea of the mahner.or extent of the'crinae. - .; / Mr Hesketh said that anfapproxun^V; j amount had been mentioned-in the.inform*-^ | tion, but it was impossible; at. present^,* | tell the exact- extent.,, of VtheYaeprearY, § tions owing to the cargo *!*'^V*jSl \. being broken open in that -part- or *'t*?4+' [ ship where - the. broached, cases lL,:fßMk I stowed. The entry in the log detailed^ , different cases-broken into.^ The: entry msfe I read by the learned counsel, when it aPP 6*^ I that in addition to the' ctees broken into an stolen from, a case of coaliver-fOA"f^^i i f broken open, hut its contents were'deacn^ y m as "untouched." ' .._*. - f'.: The prisoners being asked if theyj«« W *•, |~ thing to say : White said the hatches Wg- M left open for six weeks. _ They did not » ( . half what was down against them. -~..*, | Another of the prisoners said he aw see why they should be punished,-an^ f rest of the crew, who were justasgrni'-J j they were, be left alone. _-„Jn-»tf'' lv Sentence was deferred-until t_e he*" 11". ' the other cases, wns I DISjBEDIENCE TO LAWFUL' COMMA*£ •.£ . Thomas Hay, or Howy, was <*»*&». gfl . wilful disobedience to lawful com"**" 110 ■ I* ■ the 30th December. ' , . |L Prisoner pleaded guilty.' ( *££} B

Ms mmmc *__ monhat. _ a rch 9 im



]fj A T S! HATS! SUMMER H A T^S AT REDUCED PRICES. IN ORDER TO EFFECT A CLEARANCE RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN have decided to Sell the Balance of their Summer Stock of Children's and Ladies' Straw Hats at COST PRICE. A Great Variety to select from. RUSHBROOK. & BRIDGMAN (LATE R. HOBBS), WHOLESALE AND RETAIL Dr._F-eR,<-, C-OTHrEK.-., &0 JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) Upper Qtteen-s*ireet, Auckland. T COS GRAVE & co HAVE JUST RECEIVED PER SUEZ MAIL -. l case Self-coloured Gros Grains 1 „ Black „ 1 „ Best Paris Kid Gloves 1 ~ Best Assorted Colors. Q A U To [o N . OLSON'S TOMATO SAUCE T>-S?£* aenT3 Pronounce this Sauce to be the BEtaT 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 md pass the same off as "Olson's Universal Tomato J?™*,..™ p,r ,°P. ri.tor has in consequence caused his TRADE MARK to be Registered under tho 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 topper, and wrapped round with his well-known abel. 150,000 EEET ™BS* FOR SALE, AT MY YARDS, GOVERNMENT WHARF, ONEHUNGA. JAMES W. WALLER.