SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER : This evening, 0.0 ; to-morrow morning, 0.17 SUJN-SET: This evening, 6.43 SUN-RISE: Tc morrow morning, 5.45 MOON'S AGE : First quarter 10.25 p.m. to.-y&y

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

___ _ -_-___RIVAT.S

Herald, schooner, from Russell Speedwell, ketch, from the Thames Julius Vogel, schooner, from Poyerty Bay C'yd.e, schooner, from Wangarei St. Kilda, Flowerday, from Wanganui

DEPARTURES.

Sella Mary, for Newcastle Southern Cross, s.s., for Tauranga Atalanta, for Kaipara Wellington, s.s., for the South

IMPORTS.

Per s.s. St. Kilda, from Wanganus :—llOO sheep, 20 cattle, and 4 horses,

The oufcter Fawn arrived in the Manttkatl to-day from Waikato and Raglan with [a cargo of flour, tow, pigs, and hides. The s.s. St. Kilda arrived in the Manukau yesterday from Wanganui with the following passengers : Mrs Ross, Mr and Mrs Whit lock, Mr and Mrs Forrei_ber, and Mr Small.

The Prima Donna arrived at Whangaroa on Wednesday. She is loading bulk timber for Sydney.

The Merlin, schooner, and the cutter Gazelle, loaded for Auckland, were lying at Russell waiting for a fair wind when the Rowena left.

The s.s. Rowena arrived at nine o'clock Saturday from the Bay of Islands. She left Russell at noon Friday, and had strong head winds ( down the coast. to Point Rodney. Thence into port fine weather, with a light breeze from the east. She brings a cargo of 57 bags of gum, Henderson and Macfarlane j 19 bags of gum, Walker and Co. ; and the following passengers :—Mr. Reed, Mrs Flowers, Mr Capper, Mr Wm. Boulter, Mrs Anderson, Master Lusk, Master Flowers, Messrs Solomon, Nelson, Fairburn, and Archard, Mrs Culliwell, Mrs Reed, Mr Earl, Mr Jamieson, Captain Bur leigh (R. M.), and ten in the steerage. The schooner Atalanta has cleared at the Customs for Kaipara with a full cargo of stores, etc., shipped by various firms. The barque Beatrice has cleared out in ballast for Newcastle.

The barque Bella Mary sailed on Saturday for Newcastle in ballast.

The ketch Clio, Captain Jackson, sailed I on Saturday for Norfolk Island and New Caledonia with a full cargo as per exports. and the following passengers :—Messrs S. Christian, F. Nobbs, R. Nazer, Buffett, Loverock, R. Christian, J. Bailey, M. Mahseet, P. McCoy, and Miss G. Rositer. From the New Bedford Vineyard Gazette of November 21, a paper not often to hand in Auckland, we cull the following :—" A letter from Captain Holt, of the barque Hunter, dated at sea August 12th (had taken 300 barrels sperm oil since leaving the Bay of Islands) reports the loss from the barque in a gale of wind on the 9th Junein lat. 27 deg. S. long. 177deg. W., of Mr Remington, the mate, and a boat's crew ; thinks if they were not capsized the first night they may have gone to the Fiji Island." Also, "Captain Thomas Mellan, late of ship Europa, will take charge of ship Splendid, now fitting in New Bedford for New Zealand, and Wm. Earl, of Abington, will act as first officer." The schooner Herald brings a caro-o of coals from the Bay of Islands. ° ' One of the cranes lately on the North Shore ferry T has been removed ■to the A.S.P. Company's T. The crane in question is a very powerful one, being capable of lifting three tons, and is much wanted in its present position. Mr Biglow was the successful tenderer for the repairs to the ship Allahabad. Mr H. Anderson supplies the rigging. The cost of repairing the vessel will amount to about

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

A Good Tejiplae.—The paltry discussion abouttheNewmarketLiterary Association's vote has gone far enough. Your letter is declined.

BIRTH.

MuCabe—On Sunday, the 22nd instant, at her resi dence, Newton, the wife of Mr James McCabe of a daughter,

DEATHS.

Kick—On 21st instant, at Wynyswd House, Violet Eva, fourth daughter of T. Kirk, Esq., F.L.S., late of Auckland ; aged five years.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Undek :— For Thames, to-day, at 530 pm, and to-morrow at 10.30 a m and 5.30 p m ; -' ■ For Coromandel, on Wednesday ,atl&3o p in For Tauranga, Gisborne. and Napiet^peT s.s. Pretty Jane, on Wednesday, 25th instant, at 9 a,an (Signed) S. B. Bias. Chief Postiflastor.

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

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1874.

— ,t&— For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance; For the future in the distance, And tho «. nod that we can do

We have a very great objection to back door influence, and to anything having an underhand appearance. Proceedings of such a character are not calculated to advance any cause, and they have most assuredly a very strong tendency to damage a good one where freedomfrom suspicion is an essential qualifica tion. A deputation of five gentlemen wbo waited on Mr Vogel on Saturday as represent ing the Chamber of Commerce have laid them-

selves open to the imputation of attempting a back-door move, and also of trenching very closely on what an indignant member of the Chamber, who first learned of the deputation through the reports in this morning's papers, perhaps too forcibly characterises as " impu dent snobbery." The Chamber of Com merce comprises in its membership nearly all the merchants of the city, yet four of the number (accompanied by the Secretary) with out any consultation with the other members, assume to interview Mr Vogel and give expression to certain views as having the sanction of the Chamber as a body. They take into their confidence the ever "willing" editor of the "Cross," who undertakes their

introduction; do not deign to give any intimation of their movements to the other two city journals, but proceed at once to wait upon the Premier. A reporter of the Herald heard of the deputation acci dently, and attended ; but no proper official intimation was given to the office of our con temporary, which might reasonably havo been expected from a deputation assuming to represent a large section of citizens who would naturally be interested in knowing what was done even though they were not consulted in the doing of it. In order that there might be no misapprehension we have made inquiry from the Secretary of the Chamber why notices were not forwarded to the journals in the usual course, and he informs us that he understood re porters were not to be present, and although he heard from the President of the Chamber of Commerce about a quarter-of-an-hour before the deputation met Mr Vogel that Mr Luckie, as a member" of the House of Representatives, had been invited to intro duce them, he did not know that his presence was in any way connected with his jour nalistic capacity. We do not wish to strain this statement unfairly, but it has certainly very much the appearance of a desire to stifle publicity if afterwards deemed desirable. Whether the opinions ex pressed by the self-constituted deputa tion are sound, or whether they are such as would have been sanctioned by a majority of the Chamber of Commerce, it

*s not our business now to inquire. It is .sufficient to know that the Chamber was not consulted, and that what the deputation did was an absolute censure upon ' several other members of the Chamber who possess quite as much influence, have as large a stake in the community, are as closely associated with the mercantile in terests of Auckland, and are as capable of forming an intelligent judgment, as those who assumed the task of informing Mr Vogel what are and what are not the opinions of the Chamber of Commerce on certain questions now occupying attention. Messrs. Daldy, Philips, Stewart, Isaacs, and Boylan, (we are not sure respecting Messrs. Williams, Eaton, and Casey), whose vote determined the question of dock site in the Harbour Board, are active members of that Chamber which has been represented by an insignificant mi nority of four of its members as being utterly opposed to the western dock site. For the most part we agree with the views expressed, by the deputation, and we believe that if the questions which were to be submitted to the Premier had first bein brought under the notice of the members of the Chamber of Commerce at a special meeting, some good might have resulted; but we cannot close our eyes to the fact that, as carried out, the depu tation was not only a farce, but is abso lute insult to the Chamber as a body. There : was no necessity for indecent haste; Mr j Vogel does not Jeaye Auckland this week

and there would have been ample time to | Convene a meeting of the Chamber, have these questions discussed, and a deputation repre senting the views of a majority of the mem bers appointed to meet the Premier. In stead of this the deputation went without credentials, without even making known their intention to the public journals, yet undertook to compromise by their statements not only the Chamber of Commerce, but also to represent the views of "a large body of residents in this part of the province." We wish every movement likely to determine satisfactorily the dock question success and prosperity, biit we must confess that we do not like the way this one" has been carried out, and we shall be greatly surprised if the members ot the Chamber of Commerce do not resent in a marked manner the slight that has been offered them by a few members of their com mittee. >, If they were a parcel of children they could not have been treated more superciliously.

"f". A deputation consisting of Messrs. W. C. Daldy, .Ansenne, Holdship, Cadrnan, and PeaK^ack waited upon the Hon. Julius Vogel this morning for the purpose of laying before him some resolutions passed with reference to the floatage of timber at a meeting of mill-owners held last Friday. The deputa tion having been introduced Mr W. 0. Daldy read the resolutions, which bore prin cipally upon the necessity of legalising the driving of timber down creeks by mean 3of dams. Mr Daldy stated that the resolutions were passed unanimously and were without reference to any individual interests. Unless some clause legalising the erection of dams for driving was introduced into the present Bill the timber trade would come to a collapse. Mr Vogel, having listened to the deputation, replied that he was of opinion that dams were indispensable. The legisla tion on the subject last session had been hindered by the personal nature of the dis pute. He was unable to make any promises any action iv the matter, but they might depend on his laying tho matter fully before the Government, and in addition their object would have his warmest support. The depu tation then withdrew.

The p.s. l.alla Bookh on her last trip from Coromandel brought up between 50 and 60 passengers, of whom a large proportion are on their way to Northern Queensland to try their luck at the Palmer River dig"'m«s. Many miners aro also coining up from the Thames, having the same object in view. That a very large per centage of them are making a mistake which they will live to repent there can be no doubt whatever considering the nature of the climate and the many drawbacks of the locality when com pared to New Zealand.

To the Editor: Sir, —When a calamity befalls Auckland or any other place in New- Zealand, such as gales, fires, or want of water, ever so many good proposals are to be found in the local newspapers, but all these good proposals and good intention have never borne any fruit yet. When tho great fire in Queen-street could not be checked, the want of waterworks was severely felt. Much was written and said, about it, but have we

| any waterworks yet, or are any preparations \ under weigh to get them ? I doubt it. At present the psople severely feel the want of w_-ter, some of them have to come a long way for their daily supply. Will anything be done to meet their wants. The last gale we had the hue and cry was that the greater part of the damage was caused through want of precaution on part of the seamen. It was put on poor unfortunate "Jack," who is always run down in New Zealand, but very seldom defended. It is very easy to blame others, but not so easy to do better. All those who blame "Jack" for want of pre caution, I forgive them, they do not know better. The talk is the barometer indicated the change of weather but could any one of us smell that it would blow a hurricane ? I dare say that the most of the coasting vessels which came to grief were as well moored as could possibly be, and the harbour regula tion demands it; yet they came to grief. How many coasters have a barometer on board ? Two out of five at the very outside of it. Now to the many goods things such as storm signals, time balls, a gun shot at noon, which we are going to have in years to come (perhaps the next generation.) I humbly propose to have a barometer, a first-class instrument, so fixed that it is accessible to every one. I believe much good will be derived from it. Should the Harbour Board be unable to buy such an instrument. I would direct their intention to Geelong, viz., a place which is visited by a couple dozen vessels yearly, and half as many fishing boats are sailing out of it. I believe sym pathy with the owners of small craft and will induce the Geelong Harbour Board to accommodate Auckland with their barometer, seeing that there is by far more rise for a public barometer in Auckland than in Geelong. The coast of New Zealand is splendidly lit up, no doubt about that

It was intended that to the many lights on the coasts and capes of New Zealand we should have an additional one on Portland Island, but when will that be ? I believe we will get it when storm signals, time-ball, and. all the other good things for the benefit of Jack are up. The year, month, and day when all .these good things will make their appear ance is called—never. Speaking of lights, I would humbly draw the attention of the respective authorities within whose province it comes to erect lighthouses to the coast of New South Wales and Victoria. Between Port Stephens and Melbourne, a distance less than 400 miles, are not less than four teen lighthouses to be found (Kent's group included.) On the east side of New Zealand from the North to the South Cape are eight lights, a trifling distance of about 1000 miles or more. There is but little traffic between or rather'to Port Stephens, Tairo's Bay, and Twofold Bay,, but those places were neve lit up on account of the traffic, but for the mariner in distress to find shelter in a dark dirty night. We have some fine harbours to the northward as well as to the southward of Auckland. Are they lit up ? No ; the motto: is, either thrash it out or go on the rocks. Is Cape.Brett, not as important a point as Cape Howe or Cape Schent, and if so, why is not a lighthouse there. I wish I had supreme authority in New Zealand fox only three months ; I would alter nothing, but I would stick all those quilldrivers whom chance —not merit—put into their offices, into a smalL coasting schoner, in a dirty black night blowing a gale, looking for shelter and finding none. It would strike terror into their hearts.' lam convinced we would have a well lit coast in no time and a great many other facilities . which no.: other but the New Zealand authorities overlook. So for the future don't blame Jack—we undergo hardships enough without being reproached of neglecting our duty. If we were as slack in st■■._y-j ir£ our profession as some of the quill driv rs who blame us are in theirs the New Zeal md shipping would soon be in a sadder stat.: than it was on Monday, the 9th of Feb vary. Begging pardon for trespassing on j our space, remain, sir, Tit for, Tat,

■ A young lad named James Lawson, son of Mr Muir, Wyndham-street, was running across the road near the premises of Mr Heavey, pawnbroker, when he c tumbled on a broken bottle, the sharp point of which entered his thigh, severing an artery. Dr. Hooper, who was at once sent for, sewed up the wound, and the lad is progressing favour ably. This Accident shows the great danger of throwing glass into the street, and if it can be ascertained who the offender in the present instance was, steps should be taken to make him pay dearly for the mischief that has resulted from his culpable act.

The Royal Comique Company will open the Prince of Wales Theatre this evening with a varied entertainment consisting of impersonations, musical sketches, songs, and dances. The entertainment will be of a first-rate character, and Jwill undoubtedly command a large audience.

On Sunday (yesterday) afternoon an in tending passenger by the 5.30 p.m. train to Onehunga, arriving at the Fort Britomart station as the train was starting made a rush, for the last carriage, and attempted to effect an entry. The door was locked, and the man in his ineffectual attempts to enter the carriage stumbled and fell across one of the rails. He fortunately received little or no injury by his fall except tearing his clothes, but had another carriage been behind the wheel, from the position in which he fell, it must have cutoff his legs. People should take warning by this narrow escape from a frightful and perhaps fatal accident, and remember that by attempting to enter a carriage whilst a train is in motion they are endangering their lives and are also liable to a prosecution for a breach of Railway regulations.

We are requested to give notice that the working party which should be held at Bishop's Court to-morrow afternoon is post poned for a week.

As will be seen by our Tauranga telegram his Honor the Superintendent and party met with a most favourable reception at Rotorua, and have returned to Tauranga. We com mend to tourists the remarks of our corres pondent relative to the disfigurement of the beautiful natural terraces in the L ike dis trict. The following letter on water supply is valuable as coming from an old and respected settler ; " Sir,—With reference to the water supply I have read the "Cross," and am sorry to say that many statements therein made are calculated to mislead the publi c mind as to the amount and purity of the Western Springs One writer tell us that the cemeteiy water is shut out of these springs by the plans of Mr Moriarty when the fact is that tho stream from these springs has to run a quarter of a mile or so before falling into the cemetary water, and more the cemetery, stream has been dry these four months, and not running at all. Am. ither old settler walked across dry-shod, (he must certainly have worn very long boots). An other saw them nearly dry. Another could see no water from the road, whilst another not thinking all these things enough, takes up the spirit of prophecy and foretell', that they will be dry in no time. Thes3, and such like statements, are all bosh. I am a resident here for twent3 r-four years, and I can positively state that the volume of water issuing from these springs in all that time was never less than at the present time. I would suggest that the proper authority he requested to proclaim a public holiday be fore this dry weather is ended, and let Auck land make a pilgrimage to these springs, and for themselves judge quantity and quality. The city folk may thus spend a pleasant and profitable day, and, when all have seen and drank at this health-giving fountain, I venture to say we shall hear no more complaints of the bad quality and small quantity of these noble Western Springs.—l am, etc., J. McElwatn'.

A Pukekohe correspondent writes: —A soiree in connection with the WcstPukekohe Sunday-school took place on Wednesday evening last, and of course as is usual with such performances it was a decided success. Several gentlemen from Auckland, Thames, and Mauku gave instructive and amusing addresses to a large and appreciative audience. Two talented gentlemen of the locality favoured the company with recita tions, and the choir sang several pieces of music with good effect. The children's treat came off on Thursday, when they mustered in great force. They were regaled with many good things, and after amusing them selves with various games, etc., they returned home in a felicitous state of fatigue and enjoyment.—Rain is very anxiously looked for, as the fires are doing a large amount of damage. The loss is estimated between two and three hundred pounds worth of property. It is impossible to prevent the fire spreading, as the grass and every log and stump are like so much tinder. It is rumoured that the timber intended for the new school-house has been burned at the pits. If such is the case lam afraid it will be a long time before we have a school-house in West Pukekohe, as the people seem to be very apathetic in regard to educational matters.

We hear of numerous bush fires which have broken out during the past week, and which fortunately have resulted in nothing worse than clearing the ground. At Wood side there have been several outbreaks ; also in the neighbourhood of X apanga and at the Thames. The most serious of these appear to have been one at Tinkers' Gully, Jat JTararu, on Friday last, but which was prevented by the Ballarat and dunes' crushing plant through the prompt exertions of Mr Lynch and the men empoyed at the battery. Another fire in the evening broke out by the Piako river, but we have not heard whether any property was des troyed. Persons cannot be too careful with matches and fires this hot weather, as a single spark among the dry grass or ti-tree may cause an immense conflagration and lead to the destruction of life and property. The following peculiar literary production forms a sample of some of the corres pondents, journalists have to deal with :— Sir, —Will you Allow me A Small Space in the star to insert the following few Lines on good templarism i Beaing A member of that order : i Was out at the Whau on freiday Evening last i Was invited to go to A Publick meeting and of corse i Went : and i heard sum verey gud singing Witch Was Sung By Brethren Bell: Jackson : hapen : and uthers : in fact Every thing Went of verey Well until the closing speech : Witch Was given By Brother Barrowclough and Witch After he had finished caused Every one to Walk away in uter Disgust At the Remarks he made: i my selph can Not understand What he means hor What his obyect Was in makeing Euse of the Remarks he did he said that thay Wanted only men and Wommen of the loeist stages of life to join them and that Eney one Who had led A Sober life and thay Was to join them thay Ware No Beter than a lot of cold Bloodid frogs and Ware Not fit for Eney Society Whatever Perhaps Mr Editor you or som of the good templars Whud inform me Weather such Remarks generley Eused iv good templars Lodges and if so Weather it is laid down in the Rules for i my selpth ham at a loss to know i consider that such Remarks if Permited to Be made Euse of Will tend grateley to debar young men from joining such a society As that of gud templars By insirting this you Will grateley oblige A member of the templars Lodge.

A public meeting will be held to-morrow evening in the Temperance Hall, Albert street, for the purpose of opening a new Templar Lodge. Rev. P. H. Cornford and other brethren will speak on the immediate subject of the meeting, and the Pioneer choir wili sing and play musical and ballad selec tions.

Our prophecy that the Auckland Club eleven would be well thrashed on Saturday by the Coromandel team was only short of being fulfilled because no eleven from Auck land went down to Coromandel. Only seven members of the Metropolitan Club responded to the courteous challenge of their opponents, and the Auckland side had to be supplemen ted as best it could. The result was as we anticipated, that Coromandel won with nearly a hundred runs to spare on the first innings. Without wishing to be too severe on the Auckland Cricket Club—a club which it must be recollected was started with the avowed object of putting cricket on a proper footing in Auckland —we cannot help remarking that one or two fiascos of this sort will do as much damage to the cause of cricket as the Southern trip did good. Surely the officials of the club must have been guilty of some remissness when they could not look up a dozen members to represent the club, and at the same time enjoy a pleasant excursion to Coromandel. No doubt many members were guilty of promising and then neglecting to fulfil. " This is unfortunately a common fault in Auckland, and seeing that it is, would it not be as well to meet the contingency by providing a moderately heavy fine for infliction on any member not giving notice—say two days beforehand—of his inability to play in a match after having promised to do so ? The totals of the innings were as follow : Auckland C.C. Ist innings, 37 ; Coromandel ditto, 129 ; Auckland 2nd innings, 54 for 2 wickets down. There was no play worthy of remark on the Auckland side. For Coromandel, Crump, Col ding, Cadman, and Gat land all showed good form, and ran up double figures to their names. A splendid luncheon was provided by the home team, and every preparation made that could conduce to the comfort of their visitors. It is a matter of regret that such good feeling met with so poor a response.

We would a«ain remind our readers that the South Pacific Opera Company will per form this evening at the G'horal Hall. The grand piece of the evening will be Offenbach's " Magic Melody," described in the Star of Saturday last. The proceeds of the concert are to be devoted to the completion of the Hall

The Hon. J. Vogel proceeds to the Thames to-morrow, where he will be entertained at a banquet. A telegram has beeu sent to his Honor the Superintendent announcing the fact, and Mr Williamson will, therefore, proceed to the Thames direct in the steamer Southern Cross, in order to preside on the occasion.

To the Editor : Sir, —I wish to ask through your paper if there is any law to prevent cruelty to animals ? and if so to draw atten tion to a grey horse now in the Mount Eden Road. The poor brute is quite lame—one of the fore-feet as high up as the fetlock being doubled under the animal is just skin and bone. When I saw him he was eating the dry foliage blown from a pine tree, which no animal will eat even green, in an ordinary way. How he crawls to the pond for a drink is a wonder. The horse should either be shot or else placed iv such a position that he can live ; and I think i. is the duty of the policeman in the district to sec that one or the other is done.—l am &c, Kindness to Animals.

On the 10th instant a lad named William Rusk, aged six years, was accidentally burnt to death at Rupeccapicca gum fields, a wild district about twelve miles from Kawakawa, under the following circumstances : —The boy with his father Avas sleeping in a whare which from some unknown cause caught fire in the night, and before they could get out, the boy was very severely burnt about the head and other parts of the body. He was at once attended to by Dr. Dalton, from the coal mines, but died three days after the occurrence. There was no inquest on the body, as the medical gentleman deemed it unnecessary. The father of the boy was also injured, but is recovering. It is supposed that the fire resulted from a spark from the fire, or a match thrown on one side by the father, who had been smoking.

The cricket mat eh — North Shore v. Per ambulators—played at the North Shore on Saturday ended in favour of the local club by 13 runs on the first innings the respec tive scores being—North Shore 75, Peram bulators 02. A good array of spectators, nearly half of whom were ladies, were pre sent during the game. Mr F. Burgess, who played for the Perambulators, is said to be an English professional. This gentleman has just arrived by the Wave Queen, and has had no time to get into anything like form. It would, therefore, be unfair to criticise. We hope, however, that Mr Bur gess's skill is not exaggerated, and that we shall be able to include another crack player in the future eleven of Auckland.

Some interesting discoveries have just been made in a cave called " King Soloman's Cave," Mentana, United States, and an ac count of them is given by a correspondent of the Deer Lodge Independent, who formed one of a party of explorers of the cave in question. After crawling through several narrow passages into " a most magnificent chamber," the attention of the explorers was attracted by a massive shield made of copper, 57 inches in length, and 36 inches in width, leaning against the wall; about 10 feet beyond the shield, and eight from the floor, was a cavity in the wall. One of the party, by aid of some stones, climbed up to this aperture with a light, but quickly de scended in such a state of alarm that he was for some moments unable to explain that in the niche lay a petrified giant. The other explorers immediately climbed up to the aperture and gazed in. There, sure enough, was the monster man, whose dimensions on measurement were found to be 9 feet 7h inches in length, 38 inches across the breast^ and 2 feet deep. A helmet of brass or cop per of gigantic proportions was on his head, which "the corrosive elements of time had sealed to his brow." He seems to have been "a disagreeable customer," and it is per haps as well that he is dead and petrified for near him were two mammoth spearsheads one of them with a socket of silver in which to insert a large pole or handle. There was also a large hook made of bone, apparently manafactured fromV the tusk of an extinct (( leviathan of the land." On the wall were some strange looking-letters and pictures of three ships, each having three masts, the middle mast only two-thirds the height of the outward ones. There was also on a flat stone in the wall the picture of a large ma n with a spear in his hand, and of another ship. On removing this stone another chamber was discovered, in which were the bones, of several more giants, a primitive quartz crusher, and a number of tools made of copper. It is supposed taat these fpoor giants were at work a thousand years ago in the cave when a slide from the mountain above immured them in a living tomb. The search is to be further prosecuted; and in the meantime the explorers are described as " al most wild with the strange and curious things" they have discovered. This beats the "uw serpent" fa Ms.—Pall Mall Cfnzette,

Several cricket matches in addition to those we have elsewhere alluded to came off on Saturday afternoon. Eleven of the "Herald's" staff tried conclusion on the Barrack green (?) with eleven of the employes of the "Cross." Owing to the batting capabilities of Willis and Harwood, the " Cross " proved the victors by one innings and 39 runs. On the side of the " Herald " Lonsdale was the only one whose play was at all noteworthy.—The West End and Grafton Road Clubs played a mateh|atCarlton Gore, the issue of which was decided in favour of the former by 23 runs on the first innings. Nolan, 10, was the only double figure scorer on the side of the Grafton Club. For the West-enders Western (very appro priately many would say) played a capital innings of 29, which was well supplemented with 14 by Mr Hosking. The Auckland College and Grammar School again licked tho Parnell Grammar School. The scores on both sides were small, the respective totals being 44 and 24 respectively.

In our notice of the meeting of the Teachers' Association we inadvertently stated that the appointment of teachers should be under local school committees instead of under the Board of Education ; We should have said—" The appointment of tsachers should be made by the Board of Education subject to approval of local committees, and that all complaints be first made in writing to the teachers, and, if necessary, a copy to be forwarded to the Board of Education through the local com mittee."

The Technical Classes will re-open this evening at the Mechanics' Institute.

FIRING FOR DISTRICT PRIZES.

The first'day's competition for the District Prizes of the value of £75, took place at the range, Mount Eden, this day. Thirty men mustered under Captain Featon ; Captain Uerrom was also present, assisting. Sergt.- Major Bioughton and Sergeant Anderson were in charge at the butts. The weather was all that could be desired for good shoot ing, but the competitors did not make such extra scores. The ranges were 200, 500, and 600 yards, seven shots at each range. Volunteer Leigh, No. 2 Company, 64 ; Lieut. Kitchen, Engineers, 63 ; Volunteer Stone, No. 3, 62 ; Lieut. Devore, Artillery, 60; Volunteer Forder, No. 2, 59 ; Volun teer Cooper, Victoria, 5S ; Volunteer Cameron, No. 2, 58 ; Volunteer Mills, Victoria, 56 ; Vol. Haresnape, No. 3, 55; Vol. Morrow, E., No. 4, 54 ; Vol.. Fowler, Victoria, 54 ; Captain Morrow, No. 4, 53 ; Vol. McMasters, Artillery, 51 ; Vol. Brighton No. 4, 51 ; Vol. Soall, Musketry Instructor No. 3, 51 ; Vol. Putman No. 2, 50 ; Coyle, Navals 50 ; Vol. McGon nigal, Engineers, 49 ; Vol. Brighton jun. No 4 46 ; Vol. McDonald, No. 2, 46 ; Vol. Walker, 44 ; Vol. Burney, Victoria. 44 ; Frost, Ota huhu, 40; Vol. Lee, Royals, 40 ; Vol. Col lins, Victoria, 39 ; Vol. Davis, Victoria, 39 ; Vol. Ridings, No. 4, 38 ; Vol. Tierney, No. 3, 35; Vol. Finlay, Hobsons, 29; Vol. Broderick, Otahuhu, 21. The firing will be continued to-morrow.

WE THE CITIZENS OF AUCKLAND.

To the Editor of the Stae.

Sir, —I observe a deputation of the members of the Chamber of Commerce waited on the Premier on Saturday. Can you tell me if the members of this august body authorised these gentlemen so to act, and to endeavour to bias the Premier in favour of the views of a minority of one ot our local governing bodies 1 I observe one Government officer and one paid officer of the Chamber giving their opinions pretty freely. Is this not a little bit of a farce, and certainly resembles the three celebrated tailors of Tooley-street. We, the people of England. They'do not, however, seem to have done any good beyond exposing our miserable bitterness to the Government.—Yours, &c, Tyro.

ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

(From our London Correspondent.) London, December 26. THE AMERICAN NAVY. The Virginius trouble has blown over, and the vessel and survivors of the crew have been handed over to the American Govern ment. Thus, what threatened to be an awkward business, will most likely result in nothing worse than the abolition of slavery in Cuba. I say worse, because of course, in all countries in those latitudes, free labour means suppression of enterprise—at least that is the result of most observations. By the way, there is another result arising out of the Virginius. The Americans have discovered the weakness of their navy. I believe they had been under the impression that they were a great maritime power, but the last few weeks have taught them that they are nowhere, and that a third rate European power| could blow them out of the water as far as their navy is concerned. Already Congress has voted a] lot of dollars for navy purposes, but it is scarcely likely that in view of the coming hard times they will care to spend much money upon fleets. THE ANNEXATION OE KHIVA. The Foreign Office, aud of course Lord Granville, is in very bad odour about the annexation by Russia of Khiva. Russia has played us false in the matter, and as nsual England sits down with folded hands and meekly acquiesces in everything. I don't think any one thing has tended so much to get the Gladstone Cabinet into disfavour as the way in which it has tacitly permitted Eng land to be treated cavalierly in foreign, and especially European questions. It is per fectly evident at the present time that no nation considers the opinion of England worth enquiring after. At any rate in this last and worst affair of Khiva England makes a miserable show. The Khan of Khiva had done various things which he should not have done, and when Russia declared war against him she had ample excuse for so doing. But knowing the aggressive policy of Russia in the East, and remembering that Khiva was on the highway to our Indian possessions, there was an uneasiness felt with regard to Russia's ultimate intentions, and a note from the Foreign Office on the matter brought over a "•p-cia1 embissy f:om the Czar to assure us *hat the intentions of his sovereign were merely to punish the Khan and immediately withdraw his troops. Lord Granville expressed himself satisfied with this guarantee, and so the matter ended for the time. Now, however, we suddenly hear that a treaty has' been made between Russia and the Khan, by which the latter becomes the "obedient servant" of the former, and promises to enter into no negotiations with other governments without permission first had and obtained. Russian garrisons are also to be maintained in Khiva, and a Russian exploring expedi tion is going up the Amoo River. In point of fact Russia laughs at our beards, whilst Lord Granville looks on quietly, and at yet j has made no sign. It is not very satisfactory i for those who like to keep up the old. effete ' notion about " When Britain first, at Heaven's command, &c." THE ASHANTEE WAR. There has been good news from Ashantee land on the vihole. Sir Garnet Wolseley has done wonders with the troops at his disposal. He has engaged large bodies of the Ashantees at more than one place, and driven I them back with loss, Our native allies|h£.y§

proved themselves^ usewW^f I have an ugly habit of bolt; Ver4* 11 there is any fighting to he dofe^ I their officers to offer a front ht'^K I At one of the engagements, M_s*&3. 1 were eventually successful itl !°^ rpi I young British officer was left fc! ft« I P soldiery to face a number* oll^M 1 enemy, who were blazing aSM ■ behind trees. To them the nffi #H 1 reply with his revolver, by mean N^ 1 he was keeping up a rapid fiXj&fo I The Fantees called several tnllpW ■ leadertoretreatfromhispositionH.l? & M in their flight. To all SSt» 1 of course he turned a deaf ear tltio &* 1 followers, coming to the conclusif§g \ ft i one unless he were a lunatic 3 at ■* W court danger made a rush at him 1 him into an ambulance hammock d N I on a pole, and in spite of all his strTI 8 S M expostulations carried him sdtT^ M triumphantly off the field. I n nn ely M 1 Lieutenant Eardley Wilmott w 11 through the heart, and his bod?lSlti H covered with difficulty. ,The GeLl^ 1 has had a severe sunstroke, and W$ 1 compelled to remain for some timennv* ' the hospital ship Simoon, which V*^ " off the Castle. At MaderiJTiJW : has been established for the sick and*,!* V trpops. Hitherto our operatior^SS confined to a narrow belt of count™ I the, sea-board, and at no time W,? I troops been engaged at any great dSf c 1 from the : coast stations. Even under R I circumstances considerable difficulties I i been experienced in obtaining sunnli« T- I food and amunition. The rlldfc I will begin when the men are advanced* ! ther into the country. Moreover, atpres!! ! the general's plan is to keep our troops ! board ship, and only land them when tC is work to be done. By this means tWp. ¥:- cape much of the pestilential air of ft \m country. Of course this cannot be-do.! II when the front is advanced much furtta I The heat and miasma tell very w j upon the British forces when empl 0 J ! ashore, as might be expected, and this is the ' healthy season of the year. The enemy ' fight well, and are not to be daunted h 1 rockets or field guns. They return: to the W charge repeatedly and with great detenniM. X tion, and only retire, after a great deal of If slaughter. It is fortunate for us that th 4y 1 are horrid bad shots, and own shocking had I guns, otherwise we should have made avetv fi l_oor show. More artillery, marines, and I engineers are going out. The 42nd JEligh. I landers sailed the other day. They arenot I to fight in kilts, and have been siippliednith I light clothing suitable for bush work. Tie 1 2nd batallion IGth Regimentis under order! | and the 86th Regiment, now at the Capeof 1 Good Hope, is to take part in the expeili 1 tion. The whole sum and substance of the 1 fighting news is that the Ashantees are dis- mi pirited and are retreating in disorder upon 1 the Prah River, and that the General is 1 waiting for troops to follow them'i_p r . - jj| HERR BANDMAim . I Our old friend Bandmann has got a strange E| habit of getting himself into hot water p wherever he goes. Not long ago I .sent.: yon X an account of a scrimmage in which he took 1 part, and now I hear of him at Plymouth as g| having been hauled up on a; chargf'of i assaulting Margaret Mot t, who plays under I the name of Miss Montaigue, of the local | Plymouth Company. Bandmanh, it seemaj is 1 starring it in the West of England, and.on 1 the occasion in question was playing in' his 1 great role of JSJarcisse. Miss Montaigue com- H plained that in the third act when sheas 1 Madame de Pompadour had to subside into | a chair, Bandmann pushed her violently, and j| afterwards when she was dying in his: arms p, that he pinched her black and blue. L" Bandmann in defence said that, he | did not use more violences than, TO 1 necessary to make the plaintiff si' down quick enough and die properly, I arid that Mrs Mott's acting spoiled the b piece A doctor was produced to swear to | the marks of the pinches, and actors were | called who supported both sides, Me case 1 being eventually dismissed. i

SHADOW OE DEATH. A new picture by Mr Holman Hunt has called forth critiques from all the papers, and is creating a great sensation. Mr Hunts great celebrity and extraordinary skill in the treatment of sacred subjects has, I believe, saved him from a great deal of adverse writing. What would in most painters have been set down as wild and far-fetched, is, in, this instance, called poetical. I'<will give you an idea of the nicture, which is called " The Shadow of Death." The scene is laid in the interior of a carpenter's! work-.; shop in the City of Nazareth ; through the open windows are visible the purple 'tints of an eastern sun-set. The son of Joseph is re presented in his character of a journeyman carpenter, pausing, somewhat wearied by his day's work. At his feet lire scattered the tools pertaining to his trade. As lie pauses and stretches out for relief his tired arms he unconsciously throws upon the stone wall behind him a shadow which in consequence of his attitude takss the form of a cross; His mother, who is engaged stooping over and examining a magnificent casket of jeweK the gift of the Magi,; looks up arid'beholds; the shadow; we cannot see her face,: but •; from her evident start and gesture of .ala? 11 we can see that she has recognised cepted the token or omen of the death that is to be. It is in the details of the picture that its beauties are chiefly to bejiogtfj| Each figure, animate or inanimate, js quisitely finished, and the jewels are*> masterpiece of art. But then Mr Hunt Has. a great forte for jewel painting. mer paintings, such as that oi "y^A amongst the Doctors," &c, all the surrouno-;. ings are carefully correct as to date an place; the studies were obtained y the Holy Land, and the lands'^ itself is a sketch in Nazareth. -«»„ a great painting no doubt, but Sr^gj please so much as'; some former works tr .*, the same easel. Messrs Agnew are the V ' chasers at the very good price ofS^Av^S and I am told that the subscription for engraving will cover this amount.

MR VOGEL ON AUCKLAND MATTERS.

In reply to a deputation on Saturday ? Vogel is reported to have made the 'MFjg* interesting remarks concerning works mi ._-, province :— A j.| Waikato Railway.—There is no TOgi the. country that we. are more anxious m | finished, than the railway right through the South, and Mr Richardson has agrebj^j write to the contractors to ■ tell them ,J| the . Government will pay them *oW ,;, every month they save in the construct™ the railway to Mercer. With f g^rd w extension of the line South, as I sald - on3 l the Government are exceedingly X •_ Xjm that it should be done. We organised a body of men whom wen K*goß become good workmen, and, whenever satisfied, as to the route, we will Pg.^7■ line on as fast as possible. , j^.n meanwhile we are extending -a think! castle, as you are aware. felt iM that any anxiety which may ne. Auckland for the extension ot ■■ w» ~ rf ■ southward will at all exceed the *P* j^e ■' the Government oh the subject, the Government will take over any n -. portions of the railway between "fjS-njoj.* East Coast Eoad S .-WaikatP^^ _-There is a road feeing forced to ow» ~

man mama «®&M Monday, 2g iin



JJ AT S! HATS! SUM MER HATS ATREDUCED PRICES. IN-ORDER TO EFFECT A CLEARANCE RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN havej"decidcd 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-shiest, Auckland. fi A U T £ ON. OLSON'S TOMATO SAUCE. Connoisseurs pronounce this Sauce to be the BEST for general use in households, and, in con sequence of its high reputation, some unprincipled persons have been induced to Collect Empty Bottles bearing the manufacturer's name stamped thereon, and pass the same off as "Olson's Universal Tomato Sauce." The proprietor has in consequence caused his TRADE MARK to be Registered under the provisions of the "Trade Marks Act, 1866," and proceedings will be taken against such persons as may forge or counterfeit such mark. The public are cautioned to ASK FOR OLSON'S SAUCE, and see that the name is Stamped on Bottle and ■ topper, and wrapped round with his well-known abel. T COSGRAVE & CO HAVE JUST RECEIVED PER SUEZ MAIL: 1 case Self-coloured Gros Graini 1 „ Black „ 1 „ Best Paris |Kid Gloves 1 „ Best Assorted Colors. R B A A> I JSAMU EL COOMBES' ADVERTISEMENT sth Column*, Front Page,



150,000 FOR SALE, AT MY YARTJS» . . GOVEP.^MENT WHARF, ONEHUNGft..^ JAMES W. WALLER.