SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUN-SET : This evening, 7.6 SUN-RISE: To morrow morning, 5.24 HIGH "WATER : This evening, 8.58 ; to-monrow morning, 9.11

ARRIVALS.

DEPARTURES.

PEOJECTED DEPARTURES.

snip, ior .London, early Clio, ketch, for "Wangapoa

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Wave Queen, Bhip, from London. Sailed October 14 Alice Cameron, barque, from Sydney Anazi, barque, from London. Sailed October 31 Empreza, barque, from Liverpool. Sailed October 15 Bylton Castle, barque, from London. Charybdis, schooner, from Lyttelton •Excelsior, schooner, from Dunedin Victoria, s s., from Sydney, due . Beatrice, barque, from New York, via Adelaide Queien of the Age, ship, from London Sailed Nov. 15 Queen of the South, barque, from Dunedin, early Bella Mary, burque, from Hobart Town Zior, schooner, from Wellington. Sailed Feb 2

IMPORTS.

; Per Taranaki, from the South—6 pgs, Sargood ; 7 pgs, Stephenson and Co. ; 4 cases, Kempthorne, Prosser and Co. ; 2 do. Mon tague ; 4.d0. Waller ; 5 hhds, Eeid ; 1 bale, McArthur, Shera and Co. ; 1 case, Phillips ; 2 do. Turrell ; 15 pgs, Combes and Daldy ; 1 case, Harris ; 1 do., Adams ; 1 do., Levy ; 1 do.,Binney; 18 pieces machinery, Brown, Campbell and Co. ; 10 cases, Hall; 1 do., Carter ; 7 do., Morrin ; 2 do. 7bags, Stephen son ; 1 parcel, Bank New South Wales; 1 do., Upton ; 1 do., Wayte ; 2 do., Bank New Zea land ; 1 do., National Bank New Zealand ; 5 boxes, Telegraph ; 2 cases, Collector of Customs ; 1 pg, Wright; 20 cases fruit, Marshall, 185 do. do., 4 kegs butter, Solo man ; 15 kegs, Nathan ; 7 cases fruit, Arthur and Son ; 1 bale, Hall; 1 box, Page ; 1 trunk, Clark ; 2 sacks, Bank New Zealand ; 16 bales ■wool, Owen and Graham; 1 case, Stephenson ; 5 do,, Vale ; 1 pg, 6 cases, Barnes ; 15 do., Hood.

EXPORTS.

Per Pretty Jane/ for Poverty Bay and Napier—2 casks, Cawkwell; 1 winch, Jor dan ; 9 tanks, 1 case, Owen and Graham; 8 do, Solomon and Margett's ; 4 pkgs, T. and S. Morrin; 10 cases, Close Bros; 4'rolls matting, 2 trusses, McArthur ; 32 pgs, W. Phillipps and Sons ; 1 phaeton, Gee and Potter; 160 drain pipes, Morton Jones ; 1 donkey engine, Fraser and Tinne ; 7 pgs, Walter Graham; 10 boxes soap, Warnock • 1 bale leather, 2 cases, Ireland ; 1 box, 1 truss, Holland and Butler ; 6G pgs, T. and S. Morrin ; 4 do , A. Clark and Son; 1 case, Wathlen ; 1 cask, Morton Jones ; 2 cases, Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co.; 1 bag sundries, E. Porter and Co.; 8 pgs, Jordan; 2 cases, Winks and Hall; 2 parcels, Upton and Co.; 20 bags flour, J. S. Mac farlane ; 15 cases, Solomon and Margetts.

The s.s. Taranaki arrived in the Manukau this morning from the South. She left Dunedin at 6.30 p.m. on the 27th ; arrived at Lyttelton at 3 p.m. on the 28th ; left; at "4.30 p.m. on the 29th ; arrived at Welling ton at noon on the 30tli, and left at 2.30 p.m. on the 31st ; arrived at Picton at 8 p.m., and left at 10 p.m. ; arrived in Nelson at 8 a m. on the Ist of February ; left at S p.m. on the 2nd; arrived at Taranaki at , noon on the 3rd ; left at 6 p.m., and arrived at Onehunga at 11 p.m. on the 4th. Passen gers :—Saloon : Messrs. Reid, Daldy, Mur doch, Mackay, Cameron, Ashenden (two), Hunter, Levy, Meyers, Silk, Young, Hall, Mrs Churton, Mrs Smith, Mr and Mrs Coates. Rev. Mr Hill, Rev. Mr McKinnoy, Mr and Mrs Law, Miss Buckland (two), Mr Macky, Mr Smith, Mr Milner, Rev Mr Tinsley, Mr Mahon, Mr Deverell. Steerage : Messrs. Crawford, Sharp, Tobin, and two natives.

The steamer Pretty Jane left for Poverty Bay and Napier to-day with the following passengers : His Honor the Superintendent, Messrs G. M. Reed, J. Sheehan, D. L. Tole, J. Allwright, Woon, Bogie, Phillips, W. Pollard, J. G. Martyn, Mrs W. McKenzie.

The schooner Queen, from Russell, brought 70 tons coal.

The Herald and Merlin have cleared for Russell in ballast.

The s.s. Wellington, which sailed for the South yesterday, took the following pas sengers :—Saloon: Mrs Connell, Mr Beere, Mrs Eadford, Miss J. Ferguson, Miss Ack, Messrs Rees, Corbett, Fraser, Marshall, Hood, Templar, Wigram, Levi, Brown, three natives, Miss Finlay, Mr Beetham and sons (2), Captain Marshall, Mrs Lloyd, Mrs Kirk, Messrs Lewisson (2), Wells, Barron.' Mr and Mrs Beere. Steerage: Mr and Mrs Samson, Mr and Mrs Ede, Mrs Maynard and family, Mrs Reilly, Miss Ruddell, Messrs Maw linsey, Byrne, Milne, Caskell, Falloni, McCaskell, McPherson, Chiplin, Ranger, Jackson, Monk, D. McGoor, M. Kennedy, J.Jones, McGuire, and two Maoris.—Comber and Daldy, agents. The barque Lauderdale hauled alongside the wharf yesterday evening. She will com mence discharging her cargo at once. The s.s. Southern Cross arrived from Tau rahga yesterday late in the afternoon. She brought cargo and several passengers. s»s#pi The schooner Queen arrived from Russell yesterday with 90 tons coal.

The schooner Amaranth cleared for Kai para yesterday, via Waikato, with a full general cargo.

The cutter Vincent has cleared outwards for Tauranga with a cargo of stores. The Margarita, barque, has cleared in ballast for Kaipara.

The ss. Governor Blackall, for Sydney, took the following passengers :--Mrs E. J. Burk, Messrs A. Ducrow, W. Thompson, J. Jacksou Thomas Simcox, .H. Tucker, W. Faraday.

The s.s. Murray for Wellington via the East Coast took the following passengers :— Mr and Mrs J. Close, Miss E. Combes, Messrs R. Pollock, Gibson, Bickerton, S. E. Cooper, King, Simmons, Hock, Duke, Rey burn and Gold.

COMMERCIAL.

The sale of Yankee notions by Messrs B. Tonks and Co. was well attended to-day, and packages comprising whisks, hearth brooms, butter moulds, faucets, army pails, Mders, potatoe-smashers, wood spoons, spice-boxes, mouse-traps, flour-boxes, and lemon-squeezers, realised from £12 to £15. The novelty of the packages as specimen* of Yankee utilitarian notions attracted very considerable attention.

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

WEDNESDAY , FEBRUARY 4, 1874.

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

It seems certain from the testimony of those who were acquainted with the cutter Flora Macdonald—which there is so much reason to believe has been lost on Manukau bar that the vessel was in an unseaworthy con dition. Nor is this a solitary instance in which vessels quite unfit for ocean traffic are permitted to sail from our ports, and to con vey passengers, who, as a rule, can have no opportunity of judging of the soundness of the craft which they venture their lives in. The revelations made by Mr Samuel Plimsoll relative to the shipping of Great Britain, where there is a universally recognised system of classification, lead us to fear that in New Zealand, where there is neither in spection nor classification, matters must be in quite as deplorable if not in a worse state—proportionately, of course, to the trade—than that proved to exist in England. Year after year life is imperilled and often times lost by the recklesness of persons who, dead to every consideration but that of gain, send vessels to sea which they well know pugat to be condemned, Yet the public are

completely at their mercy; the Government, although, rigid enough in its inspection of steamers and examination of officers, takes no note of the condition of hundreds of sailing vessels that are built in various parts of the colony, or arrive and leave our ports. "We say it without fear of contradiction that vessels are often built in New Zealand for sale which are anything but faithfully put together, and are unfit for further service after for our five years wear. Seamen know this, business men know it, and insurance agents know it, but the Government remains blind or oblivious to the fact. We do not say that this was the case with the Flora Macdonald, bub it has been publicly asserted that the vessel was unseaworthy, and in the interests of humanity we demand that an inquiry shall be instituted into the condition of the vessel when she last left Onehunga, and the blood of the drowned passengers will assuredly cry for vengeance if it is shown that the cutter was known to be unsea worthy and was yet allowed to continue *n such a dangerous trade. It is only when such calamities occur that the public and Government can be aroused into activity. The boiler explosion at the Thames the other day has at length induced the Government to grant the inquiry which has been urged upon them for years. This second catas trophe perhaps will result in another needed reform ; but how are the widows and father less to be compensated. Insurance companies, owing to the callousness of the Government and the absence of any machinery for adapt ing Lloyd's English system of inspection and classification, have been powerless to take measures to obtain any guarantee for their own security from loss in the case of colonial built vessels, or for the protection of life and property, but the establishment of an agency of Germanic Lloyd's in Auckland has removed this difficulty, and we trust the insurance companies will encourage the proper inspection and classification of vessels, if not by insisting in all cases on classifi cation, at any rate by greatly reducing their premiums for vessels that are classed. This Avill not remove the responsibility of inspec tion from the Government, but must soon lead to the construction of a better class of vessels, and will conduce largely to the public safety. The rules of the Germanic Lloyd's are almost identical with those of English Llyod's, exceptthat colonial woods are classed and agencies established in all the colo nies where vessels may be inspected and placed upon the company's register. The fees are reduced to the lowest rate that will cover expenses. A proof of the different character of construction required of vessels built under the supervision of the Lloyds inspector is furnished by the fact that an Auckland vessel in course of con struction with the view to being classed has cost £50 more than it would otherwise have done in consequence of the better character of the bolts, &c, required by the rules of the association. We have much pleasure in appending a letter from B. Tonks and Co., the local agents of Germanic Lloyds with 1 reference to this subject :—

" There appears little doubt but that the sad loss of the Flora Macdonald on the Manukau bar was owing to the unsea worthiness of the vessel, and it is admitted by nautical men that nearly the whole of the wrecks on our coast are caused by the same means. Our Government, while ensuring the seaworthiness of steamers by compelling periodical surveys, provide no means whatever for similar inspection of sailing vessels, though so many lives and no little value ia daily risked on our Coast through the carelessness of greedy owners. We wish to point out a remedy that exists for this evil. German Lloyds, who we have the honor to represent here, provide means not only for classifying vessels built under the supervision of our surveyor, but will rate ail vessels that can pass a proper examination as to hull and equipments ; and our rules provide that all vessels so classed shall of necessity undergo periodically a thoi'ouc;h examination as to hull and equipments. If the means thus provided were more generally availed of we believe the number of marine disasters on our coast would con siderably diminish. Our lives sacrificed, and our harbours have a better reputation. The various insurance offices and shippers of goods might materially assist in this by com pelling owners of vessels to produce a survey report before effecting insur ances or shipping cargo. We may add that German Lloyds is an institution formed not for pecuniary gain, but to ensure by strict periodical survey of the seaworthiness of sea-going vessels, and the fees are con sequently fixed at very low rates, but the examination is most strict and seaching.— We are, &c, B. Tonks & Co., agents Ger manic Lloyds.

Telegraph communication to-day lias been interrupted It is believed that one of the pillars suspending the wire across the river Thames was burned by a bush fire. Men have been despatched along the line to ascertain the cause of stoppage.

The good influences of Good Templary ai-e being felt in the community, and especially in the neighbourhood of the Police Court. The drunkaids are evidently diminishing in numbers, and those that appear in the box, though old offenders, begin to wear a look of shame,'as though they were a thin and iso lated people, This morning the only busi before his Worship was the dealing with two of these unfortunate persons, who were left to choose between fine or imprisonment, or to be disposed of according to their indivi dual circumstances.

A paragraph in our yesterday's issue gave a free translation of a threadbare classical quotation, and the vernacular has given a start to the gobe-mouche of the Cross. " Fiat justitia, ruat coelum," has been quoted by every one, and if there was any one on the staff of the Cross, as there is not, understanding Latin, the original would have been as shocking to him as its English rendering. Our contemporary takes the opportunity for a personal attack on a writer connected with this journal, who from absence has not taken any part whatever in the Sabbath-railway question. We had thought that suchpersonal attacks as between, the papers had ceased. It appears not, but on the contrary attack is made when it is sup posed reply from, the person assailed is im possible. But the reply will keep. We would recommend our contemporary to apologise for this morning's paragraph.

The various companies of the Rifle Brigade will undergo monthly inspection this even ing under Major Cooper at half-past seven. A meeting of the City Band of Hope was held last night in the Albert-street Temper ance Hall, which was well attended. Mr C. Anderson filled the chair. Recitations were given by Miss Carr, and Master Chalken. The speakers were Messrs Clark son, Parker, and Coupland. It is gratifying to learn that this little band, under the judicious manage ment of its able secretary, is increasing in numbers and influence.

That the Auckland Almanac is known and esteemed in Australia as a work of reference is shewn by the following extract which we clip from a recent issue of the Sydney Morning Herald. Advertisers should note this fact. The leading Sydney journal says:— We are in receipt of " Reed and Brett's Auck land Almanac and Provincial Handbook and Strangers' Vade Mecum for 1874," published at the Evening Star Office, at Auckland; 164 pages octavo, with an appendix of seventy four pages of advertisements. The book has been very carefully compiled by the editors, and is fully equal in merit to the first number of the Auckland Almanac received with so nmch satisfaction at the commencement of 1873. The descriptions of the city, surbur ban, and country districts have been com piled with the aid of the local authorities, and supply valuable information as regards those districts. After the "calendar" (properly so called) there is a guide for the gardener and farmer during every successive month of the year in New Zealand. There is also an in teresting article on the flora of the province of Auckland, which is well deserving of an attentive perusal. Next after this corned a variety of information relative to the Post Office regulations in the Auckland province, the New Zealand stamp duties, wharf dues, and crane charges, boundaries of the electoral districts, and rates of Customs' duties leviable. The book, also, at its 125 th page gives an ex cellent account of the different rivers in the province, with an account of the Several har bours, etc. Such other statistical information as is usually appended to an almanac will also be found in this useful book.

At the City Improvement Commissioners' meeting yesterday the following tenders were accepted :—Park place, £849 10s, Mr Alcock ; Princes-street, £1,381, Mr Blew den; Alfred-street, £763 12s 4d, Mr Alcock; O'Uorke-street, £1,079, Mr Blewden.

Mr William Jones, the chartist, who some forty years ago, in conjunction with Frost, ex-mayor of Newport, and Zephanniah Williams, led a mob in the vain hope of over turning the Government of England, died at Launceston lately in very straightened cir cumstances. During the Chartist riots in England the mob led by Jones and his coadjutors, after much trouble and bloodshed in a conflict with the military, was scattered and the leaders capture'!. Frost, Williams, and Jones were sentenced to death, but re ceived commutation to banishment for life. It is worthy of note that all the measures for reform that the Chartists of Ihat day endeavoured to wrest from the Governmet by force have since been peaceably conceded to the nation, and are the law of the land. Jones acquired property in Tasmania, but lost it through unfortunate speculation, and latterly he carried on businesss in a small way at hia trade as watchmaker in Launces ton, where he died.

A meeting of Good Templars was held last evening in the Choral Hall, Onehunga, and our correspondent says: "The room was was crowded. Mr Xeale, the chairman, spoke eloquently on tho subject of Templary and was followed by the Rev. G. H. Turner, and was followed by Messrs Hemus, sen., and jun. The result of the meeting was the addition of thirty-six members to the lodge.

A large section of the Germnn people epend the Sunday entirely in amusement, the parks, beer gardens, and public halls being the favourite places of resort. An American writer says :—"Men, women, and children, old men with their wives, and younger ones with their sweethearts, throng these places every Sunday, and enjoy them selves, careless of what impression they make on their fellow-citizens of American origin, to whom the sound of brass instruments on the Sabbath air is anything but welcome or edifying."

The Princess of Wales is described by the correspondent of a New York paper as being one of the loveliest looking women he ever saw. She is tall and perfectly formed. Her manners are winsome and wholly unaffected, and her very movement graceful. Her face is all sunshine and sweetness, and one never to be forgotten. Her popularity is very great, all classes regarding her with peculiar affection, not more for her peerless beauty than for her faultless character as a wife and. mother.

The Kaffirs are still giving trouble. Re cent papers from South Africa state that a small party of the Carbineers was surprised and surrounded by GOO Kaffirs, who fired from behind rocks and boulders and killed three Europeans, three native allies, and five horses. The country where the encounter took place was steep, ragged, and stony. The troops have suffered great hardships in the pursuit. They were three days on the top of a mountain without food for horse or man. They performed wonders in marching, being in the saddle IS hours and 2\^ hours. The Kaffirs are well armed with guns and assagais, and drilled.

The old Pukerangiora chief, Aratapa Whatitiri, who died on the sth inst. at Te Pekatu, inland of Te Arei, Taranaki, was a man of some note. About 25 years ago he insulted Sir George Grey, then Governor, who was on his way to visit the Pukerangiora pa, a place of notoriety in connection with the invasion by Waikato of the Ngatiawa country. Whatitiri refused to allow Sir George to go to the pa, and shook a toma hawk over his head ; but the tomahawk^was afterwards given up to Sir George as a peace offering.

The administration of justiceat Poverty Bay does not give satisfaction. A woman recently committed to gaol for contempt of Court had to be liberated owing to the want of accommo dation in the local gaol. The Standard says: "In no other province but Auckland, and in no other town but Gisborne, would such a state of things be allowed to exist ; and we earnestly hope that the General and Pro vincial Governments will see to the instant removal of scandals, which are the outcome of persistent neglect. The business of the Court is increasing weekly, the sittings occupying three or four days in the week."

One of the principal contractors for the Canterbury Southern railway recently com missioned an agent in Auckland to send him any number of suitable men, offering a bonus of ten shillings per man up to two hundred. A Timaru paper, commenting on this, says : " The probability is that the agent will earn but a very small part of the £100 offered, as labour is in great demand, and very highly paid in the North as well as the South. The statements which have appeared from time to time to the effect that labour is going begging in Auckland, while works are at a standstill elsewhere for want of it, appear to have no truth in them. There will always be a floating population of neer do'weels going about asking for work and praying Heaven all the time they may not get it, but these cannot be considered as labour, and are no more likely to be em ployed in one part of the colony than another."

A very comfortable precaution is taken by German parents to save their children from one of infancy's most serious troubles. A bag of feathers is tied on the toddlers backs, so that v hen they tumble over they have some thing tc fall back upon. Mr Goodfellow, of Otara, has publicly an nounced his intention of offering himself as a candidate for the suffrages of the good people of Franklyn in the place of Mr Archi bald Clarke, who is about to resign his seat for that district,

The treasurer of the Orphan Home acknow ledges, with thanks, the receipt of £5 2s lOd, from Messrs Cruickshank and Co., being portion of money received from passengers in the s.s. Hero on her trip to the Hot Springs.

The monthly inspection parade of Eifle Companies Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, and the Royal Company will take place to-morrow evening, and not this evening as stated in a contem por.iry.

" Squanderer" writes with reference to the late wreck on the Manukau bar. His letter is evidently prompted by ill-concealed motives of animosity against Captain Wing, and we therefore decline to insert it.

Perhaps some of our readers are in a posi tion to supply the information requested in the following letter : Sir,—As I wish to put myself in communication with the governing authorities in educational matters in San Francisco would you inform me to whom I should address my letter ? and how it is that whilst such high rates are ruling there in the matter of teachers' salaries I see in a late issue of the Btdleiin the expression that there are no places for professionals there but in the gaols or lunatic asylums.—l am, etc., A Constant Reader.

The Otago Good Templars have formed a Provincial Grand Lodge, and held an inaugu ral session.

To the Editor : Sir, —Having read in your columns of yesterday the account of the desertion of the crew of the schooner Pacific, in which it is stated that there was double rations aboard, I beg to state, being one of the crew, that if there was double rations— which I very much doubt—the quantity which the men received was not enough to live on, but just about sufficient {to linger on, and that was the reason that all hands left her. —I am, &c, Charles Lockler. BjTo the Editorj: Sir, —May I t suagest to the Auckland and North Shore Cricket Clubs that it would be better for them to try con clusions in a new match next Saturday than to resume the late one. Had time allowed last Saturday, what with Messrs Rees and Swanson being well in, and the Auckland bowiiug completely collared, the North Shore men might have saved defeat in one innings ; but to resnme the match next Saturday, when the odds are so greatly in favour of their opponents, seems to me simply absurd. That the North Shore men were shamefully beaten no one can deny, and they owe this result mainly to their wretched fielding and throwing in, and also to their captain bowling swift in stead of slows, and to his keeping on the same bowlers when he saw runs being freely made. Let the Auckland men have the victory which they have so well won, and let the two elevens tackle each other again in a new match.—l am, sir, Yours, A Lover of Cricket.

MEETING OF THE PRESBYTERY.

An adjourned meeting of the Presbytery took place this morning at St. Andrew's Church. The Rev. Mr Norrie, Moderator (pro tern), presided, and the clergy present were—Revs. Macky, Bruce, Stewart, Tait, Rev. Mr McNiccol (clerk). Messrs Steven son, Sommerville, Thomson, and Peacock, elders.

The proceedings having opened with devotion,

The question of the Rev Mr Stewart and Rev. Mr Tait's resignations was entered upon.

Mr Tait said he had, according to instruc tion", preached at Cambridge and Hamilton, and intimated the resignation of the R.ev. Mr Stewart. He did not find any prepara tions made for his reception.

The Rev. Mr Tait, of Coromanded, being called to enter upon the cause of his resigna tion, said he saw no reason to enter into the reason of his resignation as he saw by the Eveninc Star that the congregation had agreed to give a call to another minister. He did not wish to cavil, and would therefore give liis reasons. When he went to Coro mandel four months ago he did not intend to remain. There were only a handful of Pres byterians in the place, and he felt it incum bent upon him to seek a wider sphere of action. The place was one whicli was better suited to a young and inexperienced pastor. He. felt proud to think that his labours had been so productive of good in his late charge, and he regretted leaving it very much.

The Rev D. Bruce moved, and Mr Peacock seconded, '' That the Rev Mr Tait's resigna tion be accepted."

The Rev D. Bruce, tbe Rev Mr Macky, and Mr Peacock, who spoke to the motion, all deprecated the motives of Mr Tait in re signing.

The motion was then put and carried. The question of Mr Stewart's resignation of the charge of Waikato East was gone into. No appearance was put in by the congre gation of the district.

The Eev. D. Stewart; said lie was still of the same mind as at the last meeting. He hoped his resignation would be accepted. The Rev. Mr Bruce, in moving that Mr Stewart's resignation be accepted, said he was extremely sorry that it was necessary to entertain the resignation even on the ground of ill health. Their relations in the Waikato had not been satisfactory. A letter was at this moment placed in the hands of the clerk who read it.

It contained a resolution passed by the congregation, namely, " That the chairman be instructed to write to the Presbytery acknowledging the announcement by Mr Tait of the resignation of Mr Stewart." The tone of the letter, whicli was indica tive of the congre^atfon feeling slighted in some way, caused some discussion, after which Mr Sommerville seconded the motion which was carried.

The Rev. D. Bruce moved, and Mr Som merville seconded, " That the Moderator pro. tern. proceed to Waikato for the purpose of declaring the charge vacant. The Bey D. Bruce suggested that the de claring of the Coromandel charge vacant be left over.

This was agreed to. An application from the Whau was next entertained, asking for a minister to moder rate in a call.

The Bey D. Bruce said he should like to know whether the Whau people still ad hered to their request. A telegram from the Rev MrCallum beina put in, Mr Sommerville begged on behalf of the congregation of the Whau to withdraw the application.

.uEaI Bruce moved that for toe future the Moderator of the session have the power to moderate in a call, without waiting for the Presbytery to do so. . .

The motion was seconded and carried The Bey D. Bruce moved that a certificate be granted to Mr McCallum as soon as he required it. Carried.

lhe Clerk intimated that he had received a medical certificate from the Rev W Mctiae, who had been granted leave of absence.

* .ft 6 Jl ub J ect of a certificate bein granted to Mr Tait, Mr Sommeville moved That the Clerk be authorised to grant M rait a certificate when he applied for it " -This was seconded by Bey Mr Macnicol • but on a show of hands the motion was lost' an opinion being expressed by the Bey d' Bruce and Mr Peacock that no release should oe granted provisionally.

CALL FROM COIiOMANDEL, i A call from the people of Coromandel was read by the Clerk inviting the Rev Mr Stewart to take the charge at a salary of £200 per annum and manse. A discussion took place as to whether it was necessary that the charge should be preached vacant before a call was entertained. It was decided that this need not be done. The Rev. Mr Bruce was appointed to con duot the induction service at an early date, the edict being made in the usual manner. The question of supply for the Waikato was left over. Mr Bruce moved, and the Clerkgseconded, " That Mr Sommerville be appointed to sup ply the Whau, and the Rev. Mr Mason to supply the North Shore. THE OTAGO DEPUTIES. The Very Rev. Mr Hill and the Rev. Mr McKinney, having entered the Church, were warmly congratulated on their return. This concluded the business.

TELEGRAPHIC.

THE CUTTER DAWN SAFE,

NGARUAWAHIA.

This day. The cutter Dawn is safe at Waikato Heads.

SUPREME COURT.

Civil Sittings. —Yesterday,

(Before His Honor Sir G. A. Arney, Knight

Chief Justice.) GRAHAM V. THOMAS.

William Barker, James McCabe and Patrick Walsh produced their miners' rights and interest in the claim, and John Robertson proved the issue of those rights to the three defendants who had been thus privileged for several years. . James McGregor, George Kerr, William and John Smith were also called to shew that the allotments had not been cultivated within their recollection of the spot. This closed the case for the defence.

Mr Gillies, for plaintiff, said that Mr Graham rested his case on the lease obtained under the Crown grant in IS6S, while de fendants relied for their' title on miners' rights, and that they had worked the land in question as land included in the goldfields; but the chief point was whether the allot ments were included in the reserve agreed upon with the natives for cultivation. He then called Judge Maning to give his inter pretation of the first clause of the agreement. Judge Maning, of the Native Lands Court, then stated that he had lived among the Maoris over forty years. The best Maori scholar he had ever met was Mr E. Williams of the Bay of Islands. He affirmed further that there was fifty times more difference between the dialects of Lancashire and York shire than between the Maori language as spoken by the Ngapuhi and Ngatimaru tribes. Judge Maning interpreted the clause of the agreement as follows:—"All lands within the boundaries above written have been opened as goldmining lands for all persons, but the sites for houses for the Maori people and the fields for cultivating food for themselves, and the places of burial which are within those boundaries, which are written above, have been excluded from those goldmining lands." The words '' mara ngakinga kai" in the agreement meant culti vations existing or to be cultivated, although they did not literally express that meaning. The mode in which the sentence was put would convey the idea to a Maori that the cultivations were to be in the future.

Archdeacon Maunsell was then called, and deposed that he had been nearly forty years in the colony, and had a knowledge of the Maori language. Dr Maunsell then Save his interpretation of the clause, as did also Mr Williams, of the Bay of Islands, and Colonel McDonnell, and the difference be tween the versions given by these gentle men were virtually alike. The Court rose at six o'clock.

THIS DAY.

His Honor took his seat at ten o'clock.

Willoughby Taipara was sworn and deposed, through Mr Brown, interpreter, that he knew the allotments in connection with the present action, and remembered the setting out the line dividing the goldfield from the township. He was present with Mr Mackay and other natives at the time. We started from the Karaka, and walked along the stream to the Moanatairi creek, leading by the base of the hills. He was well acquainted with the loca lity of the boundary of the gold field over which he and others walked. All the owners of the laud and some europeans were there. Mr Thomas Sandes and Mr Eyre, the surveyors, were with them, and they had a chain with which they marked out the boundaries. The survey was commenced from the Moana tari stream. The ground was pegged By Europeans, according to agreement with the owners. When the chain passed from one peg to another the pakehas rushed forward and pegged out their claims which lay on the hill side of the line. He remembered Mulligan putting in his peg, when Mr Mackay tried to keep the chain i clear. Mr Eyre was hurt in the foot while surveying by Mulligan, who in his eager ness to peg his claim stuck the peg into Mr Eyre'a foot. There was a great rush with the miners at the time of making the boun dary line in order to secure their claims. That was the only line that was made to his knowledge dividing the creek from the gold field. He knew of no other. He always understood that this was the fixed boun dary. The first land that was given up for gold-mining purposes was in IS£7. By Mr Whitaker : There were boards put up by the Government at the time of making the boundary warning miners not to work in certain places, but there were no other boards , put up. The parts which the natives in tended for cultivation", when they signed the agreement, were excluded from the boundary line. Two pieces of land were surveyed, but that was an arrangement between himself and Mr Mackay. It was for his own culti vation, and the use of his family as a place of residence. There were pieces of land surveyed as cultivation reserves at the time of the agreement, namely Otoi, as a burial place, and Wharau and Hontikore for other purposes, [Left Sitting]. •

THE CHORAL SOCIETY'S CONCERT.

The performance of Haydn's " Seasons " last evening by the members of the Choral Society was an unqualified success. The hall was well filled with an attentive and ap preciative audience. The baud was very com plete—comprising five first, and four second violins, two violas, one violincello, and one conti-bass organ and full wind band, all in perfect practice. The orchestra numbered sixty voices, and the many magnificent passages in the oratorio were beautifully rendered. Mrs Mitchell sang the soprano songs with her usual grace and finish. Mi- Harper was equally successful with the tenor and Mr Newbury with the bass. The ver formance adds another to the many laurels already gained by Mr Brown as a con ductor. The concert was as perfect as care, attention, and musical skill could make it, and that the audience was more than satisfied was amply testified

by the frequent and vociferous apnlan«T*T demands for encores. The niece ot a^ the Society for its next perfoSß% " Israel in Egypt," and all ourrausSffi »■ is invited to take part in it. iS ?^ ---members of the Society are admitted "Si? out payment, being only required to find H, •"" own music. Copies of " Israelin Eevnt" " be obtained from Messrs Upton and Co y from the secretary ; price one shilling tr cannot too strongly urge all lovers of mngs.-i 6 join this society, which has done so muclf ' ' the art in Auckland, g?and combines W^-f . membership all our best musicians. Thefi practice for the forthcoming concert trif ' place on Tuesday next at 7.30, all intend!* 8 members therefore should intimate at nn to the secretary their desire to join. ■■■ '

THE OBSERVANCE OF THE LORD'S DAY AND SUNDAY TRAINS.

It is contrary to our custom to insert letf* in reply to communications which have peared in our contemporaries, bub as rt" Cross, apparently ashamed or afraid of+v position it has assumed in relation to tif desecration of the Sunday, is now carry! on the war in letters, some of them evident! 8 written within the office, or to order feel disposed to publish the following cxc? lent letter, from the pen of an old ami' esteemed correspondent:—"Sir,—l v read with considerable interest the varion 6' opinions expressed by correspondents of th ' Cross relative to the Sabbath question, ft seems to me thab the whole scope oftt argument from a religious point of view resolves itself into the question " Is the Sabbath a purely Jewish institution or not ; and has it been entirely abrogated?l' One can hardly conceive it possible, if are to accept Bible testimony, that it should' for one moment be contended that the Sabbath was not instituted centuries prior to'1 the Jewish dispensation ; that it wasknowi as a thing in existence at the time of the deliverance from Egypt, when it was set apart with certain ceremonies as"» sign," just as the day was changed from Saturday to Sunday as a sign to all Christian people that their Lord had indeed risen. On this point I cannot do better than quote tie words of Matthew Henry in his commen taries-on the creation, whose opinion, the result of devout study of the word of'Go£V the majority of people will prefer to thatof the scribblers in the Cross. He says:-. " The solemn observance of one day inseyen as a day of holy rest and holy work to God's honour is the indispensablejduty of all those to whom God has revealed his holy Sabbath;- Sabbaths are as old as the world, andlsee no-reason to doubt that the Sabbath being now instituted in innocency, was religiously observed by the people of God throughout the patriarchal age. The Sabbath of the Lord is truly honorable, and we have reason to honor it for the sake of its antiquity, its great author, the sanctification of the first Sab bath by the holy God himself, and, inobedience to him, by our first parents in innocency." The Rev S. Edger—who in this movement sees a chance of notoriety by opposing bis clerical brethren—in a letter to-day says:— "Seeing that the Jewish Sabbath is aban doned, by what authority can the Jewish command respecting the seventh day be applied to a quite different day? So loose a method of treating a Divine command is cer tainly not Biblical." I would simply ask Mr Edger whether he considers the ten commandments binding on people ot the present day, or whether he "if prepared to argue that the Jewish mora! law has passed away with the ceremonial Plainly the question resolve 3 itself int< whether the Sabbath has at present any clam upon Christian people or not as a reli gious institution. If it still has, th Bible tells us how it should be observed but if it has not its observance become a mere matter of expediency, and see no reason whatever why working me should demand a whole day's pleasure out < every seven. A half holiday in a counti where fresh air is every where obtainabl where the hours of labour are short an increased industrial power greatly require! is ample and more than eqtinl to a da in any large English city. Is Mr. Edg< prepared to explain what right anyone hs to expect this day of rest unless he claims i from the sanctification of one day in seven b God himself. A correspondent underth signature of "Freedom" in to-day's Cm says—;"As to the introduction of the Sat bath with its condition and penalty no on can question it was given to the Jews. Bn to all mankind—many eminent divines demu as do the Jews to this, and we ask when where, and in what terms it was imposed o: mankind generally before we feel found, t obey." If he is really sincere in bis desii to know whether there is any scrip tural command binding on other than Jews I will enlighten him. In hi beautiful predictions of the coining c Christ and the commencement of a dis pensation, in which Jew and Gentile alik should receive spiritual blessings, Isaiaj says: (chapter 56, verse 2-8) "Blessed,i the man that doeth this, and the son of m3i that layeth hold on it; that keepeth th Sabbath from polluting it, and keepetl his hand from doing evil. * * Also the sons of the stranger that giv themselves to the Lord to serve hin and to love the name of the Lord to be His servants, everyone that keepetl the Sabbath from polluting it and takett hold of my covenant, even them wil I bring to my holy mountain and mak< them joyful in my house of prayer their burnt offerings and sacrifices shall bi accepted on mine altar ;for mine lionse: shal be calUd a house of prayer for all people The Lord God which gathereth the outcast! of Israel saith yet will I gather others toK® besides those that are gathered unto Him-' Again in Isaiah 59, verses 13-14, '$ thou turn away thy foot from;utb< Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my hoi] day ; and call the Sabbath * delight, thehol] of the Lord, honorable ; and shall honor him; not doing tliine own ways, nor finding thin* own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words : Then shall thou delight thyself « the Lord ; and I will cause thee to ride upoj the high places of the earth, etc." Theque/: tion of steam boats v. trainß* which has been imported, is a merj catch : one is quite as bad as the othe-r; but if an agitation against the ferry steamy had been got xyp it would have been oppose on the ground that a section of the community was attempting an unwarrantable action calculated to injure private interests; Steamboat proprietors, although &6l have to answer to their own, con sciences, are not required by law *; present to uphold the right observance 0* the Lord's Day as a national ■ institution, which is incumbent on the Government' By the reduction of the number of trains P the minimum the Government injures no one ; no one is oppressed ; a revised timfl" table is announced, and the public fall ■*! with it. We cannot secure a cessation.« unnecessary Sunday ferry traffic until in Government first recognises the broad pnjj* ciple involved and frames laws tosecurei * desired end. Ttfe Municipal Tohce-A^', under which Sunday trading intta cIT o r' forbidden, does not apply to the ;**s|gj| harbour; and although •an old English * - is still in force forbidding Sunday-/tr*l^,;, people are loth to put it in operation n* V -lam, & c t , : ALo^?^r

toe Brarnre beau, Wednesday, February aim



L S ,O/N!S T OMAIO SAUCE Connoisseurs pronounce this Sauce to be the BEST for general use in households, and, in con sequence of its high reputation, soinn unprincipled persons havebeen induced to Collect Empty Bottles bearing the manufacturer's name stamped thereon and pass the same off as "Olson's -Universal Tomato U0 ™a™ 6 OTS^ 01! ha 3ta Col>sequenee 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 Mb well-known abeL



JJATS! HATS! SUMMER HATS AT REDUCED PRICES. IN ORDER TO EFFECT A]CLEARANCE RUSHRROOK & BRIDGMAN have decided 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, &o JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) Upper Queen-sireet, Auckland. [Established 1864.] pV STEPHENSON & CO.'S CELEBRATED COFFEES, "EXHIBITION BRAND" "EAGLE BRAND" "CROWN BRAN D." Are to be procured at all respectable Grocers and Storekeepers throughout the Province of Auck and, D. STEPHENSON & CO. wyndham street Auckland 150 000 :PEET timber FOR SALE, AT MY YARDS, GOVERNMENT WHARF, ONEHUNGA. ! JAMES W. WALLER. INSURANCE. THE NATIONAL FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND PROTECTS Insurers against Loss from either Fire or Sea disasters at Lowusi Rates of Premium. Advantageous arrangements can be made whereby Wool-growers and others can have their Clips covered from Sheep's back through to London. Open Policies are issued by this Corrmany covering Merchandise to any amount to New Zealand and Australian ports, saving both trouble and expense to insurers. By a simple plan also Importers can Insure in Auckland Merchandise coming to them from United Kingdom, and all settlements in event of loss can be made with the office here, thus avoiding the vexatious delay attending adjustments in England. Auckla Branch Offices : 25, Queen street. ANDREW G. MILLAR, Local Manager pHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, J. COSGRAVE & CO. Are now holding their usual CHEAP SAL OF DRAPERY & CLOTHING At their Premises CANADA BUILDINGS. THE SALE IS NOW ON, And will continue during the ICHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. J. COSGRAVE & CO. Queen street. chief post-office, auckland. Mails will Close as Under:— For Thames, to-day, at 5.30 p m, and to-morrow at 10.30 a m and 5 30 p m For Coromandel, on Friday, at 1.30 p m For Tauranga, Opotiki, uisborne, and Napier, per Pretty Jane, this day, at 4 p m For Russell, per O.ueen, to-moivow. at 3 p m For Levuka, (Fiji), per Star of the South, on Friday, 6th February, at 2 p m For the undermentioned places, per on Thursday, 12th February, as under : -- For Fiji.Sanriwich Islands, United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign West Indies, at 10.30 a.m. For the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, - via San Francisco, at 10.30 a.m. Letters bearinglate fee will be received until 11 a.m For money orders, registered letters, ana news -papers, at 9.30 a.m. ''(Signed) S. B. Bras. Chief Postmaater.