SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER : This fevoning, 5.40 ; to-morrow morning, 5.59

SUW-SET : This evening, 5.54; BUN-RISE: To morrow morniug 6 17 MOON'S AGE : Full moon, 2nd April, 10.5S a.m.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

ARRIVALS.

Fannie, cutter, from Wangapoa Blanche, schooner-yacht, from Tauranga Rowena, s.s., from Northern ports Gem, schooner, 33 tons, O.teenwood, from Matakatia colonist, schooner, from Napier, via East Coast Pho.be, s .s., Worsp, from the South Clyde, schooner, from "Wangarei

DEPARTURES.

boutlier.n Cross, s, s „ for Tauranga

IMPORTS.

Per Colonist from Napier : 400 bushels maize, 2 tons furniture.—Master, agent.

The brig Thomas and Henry has taken in the following cargo for Kaipara:—Gooo bricks, 25 bags lime, T. Must and Co. ; 1 tank, 1 chain, I piece rope, 10 boxes sundries, 1 jar acid, 30 bags flour, 6 cases sundries, 1 parcel, 1 bdle iron, 1 do. dogs, I do. shovels, 1 bag bolts, 5 bars iron, 1 keg nails, Aratapu Saw Mill Company ; 2S pkgs luggage, 1 box sundries, Bradley. The yacht Blanche, having on board his Excellency the Governor, arrived at 9 o'clock yesterday morning. She was spoken by the yacht Daphne at 10 p.m. on Saturday, mid way between Cape Colville and Tiri, Tiri, aud the two vessels were in company all night. The Norham Castle has now put out all her cargo. We notice the commendable dispatch with which this vessel and the ships Queen of the Age and Wave Queen have been dis charged by Captain Nearing. In answer toan enquiry as to what is the fastest passage made by a sailing vessel be tween Sydney and Auckland we inform our correspondent that the time occupied by the barque Novelty, Captain Nearing, has never been beaten—viz., 5 days S hours from port to port. The run from Newcastle to Auck land was performed by the Alice Cameron, Captain Nearing, in the same time; and from Auckland to Newcastle last year by the ship Norhani Castle in about the same time.

The ship Hindostan is to haul off the wharf on Wednesday morning, and, weather permitting, to sail for England on Thursday. The new missionary auxiliary screw barquentine Southern Cross was towed erer from the North Shore to-day to receive her engines.

The barque W. C. Wentworth is to dis charge-the remainder of her cargo at the Breakwater.

The cutter Morning Light has entered in wards from Port Chambers with 20,000 feet timber.

_ The cutter Mercury brings 25,000 feet of timber from Mercury Bay. The barque Naworth sailed from Wangaroa for Melbourne on Thursday last with a cargo of 193,800 feet of timber. The s.s. Rowena towed her out to sea.

The revenue cutter Ringleader and the schooners Mary Thompson and William and Julia were lying windbound at the Bay of Islands when the Rowena left. The whalers Hunter, Obiceham, Baker, Coral, Martha, Lagoda, John Howland, California, Niger, are now lying in the Bay of Islands. The sohooner Colonist from Napier and East Coast, brings a small cargo of produce and five passengers. The whaling barque Matilda Sayers put into Mongonui on the 21st with 125 barrels of oil. The s.s. Rowena arrived from Russell on Sunday morning, having in tow the schooner yacht Blanche, which she had fallen in with off Rangitoto reef. The steamer had a fine passage up, and brought as cargo 24 head of cattle, 57 sheep, and 5 tons gum. The following passengers also came by her :— Messrs Heale, H. Williams, Hackett, Fair burn, Tolleston, Dickenson, Dr. Purchas, Masters Butler (2), Mr Hasketh, Captain Child, Misses Williams (2), Miss Butler, Mrs Kennedy, and 8 in the steerage.— Cruickshank and Co., agent. The s.s. Phoebe arrived in the Manukau early yesterday morning with a general cargo and the following passengers :—Mrs FitzGibbon, Miss Dudley, Major and Mrs Heaphy, Hon. D. McLean, Colonel St. John : Messrs. Halse, Wontner, Knipe, Chilling worth, Cowell, Mercer v Cohen, Dando, , Cochrane, Vavasour, Truelove, Samuels, Mackay, Mercer, and 12 in the steerage.— Combes and Daldy, agents. The Phcebe. brings the Auckland portion of the Suez mail, which has been in the colony over a fortnight. The s.s. Go-a-head arrived in the Manu kau from Wiitara. She brings 42 head of cattle, 250 sheep, and a small produce cargo ; also the following passengers :—Miss Reid. Messrs. J. Bayley, and Hawkin. The remains of the steamer Challenger have been condemned. The timbers received such a severe straining on the 7th ult. that nearly every bolt has started, and it will cost as much to repair the vessel as to build a new one. The latter course has therefore been decided on by Messrs Holmes Bros. The new boat will.be of larger size than the Challenger, and better suited for the Coromandel trade. The engines of the old boat are very little damaged, and will be used again. They are, as is well-known, very powerful, and capable of driving a steamer twice as large as the' Challenger. a The p.s. Golden Crown will leave for the Thames at 10 a.m. to-morrow, leaving the Thames at 3 p.m. The Auckland Steam Packet Company's new steamer which Captain Holmes went to England to bring out took her departure from Newcastle-on-Tyne on 21st January. She is named the Southern Cross, which would seem to be a rather too generally adopted designation. Her registered tonnage is 13S; gross tonnage, 262. Her dimensions are—length, 139 ft.; beam, 23ft. 6in.; depth of hold, 9ft. The engines are on the com pound principle, and the cylinders are 18Mn. and 36in. in diameter respectively. In her trial trip she made an average of ten knots for seven miles, on a consumption of 4i tons ' of coal per diem, and a pressure of 58 lbs to the square inch. The new steamer may he expected here about the end of next month Newcastle (N.S.W.) wafc to be the only port of call on the voyage. Captain Clayton has returned from the scene of the wreck of the Hercules at Kaipara Heads. He reports the vessel still holding together. The timber is being taken out of her and stacked on the beach, where it can be easily re-loaded. The sale of vessel and cargo will take place by auction on Thurs day according to advertisement. Captain McMeckan, of the Cunard steamer Calabria, who arrived in New York January 4, has a letter from C. Burritt Waite, j written in Paris, from which the following o an??f Ci: "You say> in y°ur letter to me, tnat the same accident might have ?erv rr tci d veonbO° ar?-n °ther which is Vm y e l?!f n ; Ptam SurmeQt- of the ship J-ft- d ,^ avre > w»8 a careful seaman, and didhisduty as well as any man could aSd cL al hi e bee£ ™the bridge, as Iwould have been had his ordergl-Which were to he would have had, as did the officer on duty plenty of time to haul a mile away We were struck in the engine-room -hut down below the water. Had the vessel b ee ««tr U Tk

elsewhere she would have floated much longer as she had five compartments tali oE cargo. But here was the empty space which took in 3000 tons of water. Had we been able to keep afloat five minutes longer I think all the life boats which were not broken—six in number would have been out ; but what could any crew of sailors (bothered by the firemen) do in twelve, or ten minutes, as it took at least ten minutes to get on deck ? No men could behave better than the three officers saved, also the purser, who worked well to save the passengers. The calmness of the ladies be fore the steamer sank was grand ; no one can comprehend it who was not there to wit ness it. I was three-quarters of an hour in the water, half of the time swimming with out any support, with two children aged three and live years clinging to ray Cardigan jacket. Just before I was picked up the little darlings, exhausted and dead, fell away from me much to my sorrow.

COMMERCIAL.

The sale of the cutter Leader 15 tons, with sails, anchors, chains, gear, in thorough repair, took place to-day at Messrs Grant and Morton's auction mart, Queen-street. There were not many bidders present, and the prices offered ranged from £50 to £S5. The cutter was purchased at the latter price by Mr Niccol.

CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Under :— For Thames, this day, at 6.50 p.m., and to-morrow at 9 30 a.m. i'or Gisborne, per Julius Vogel, on Wednesday next For Taranaki and Southern provinces, per Phoebe on Thursday next, at 7 a.m. ' For Napier and Southern provinces, per Mongol six hours after arrival.

N.B.- Mails for the United Kingdom, Fiji, Sand wich Islands, and Continent of Europe, via San Francisco, wiU be despatched from this office on Monday, 13th April.

(Signed) 8. B. Birp, Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

Niccol—On 29th instant, at Devenport, Mrs Malcolm Niccol, of a daughter.

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

MONDAY, MARCH 30, 1874.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the s-ood that we can do

The electors of Franklyn have no reason to complain of political indifference, or of any slight being put upon that constituency by aspirants to legislatorial honors. Consider ing that probably but one session (two at the most) remains of the expiring Parliament, the fact of there being no less than five suitors for the hand of Franklyn should make that rural district think no small things of itself. It is not our intention to trot out the candidates, or to attempt to give the "tip," but we claim the right to look on this election as on every thing else that may affect the general policy of the country. We observe that of the five candidates three have declared themselves to be in favour of supporting the public works and immigration policy of the country, and especially in its application to the province of Auckland. Mr Dargaville, another candidate who has not yet made exposition of his principles to this particular electorate, has already in the Superintendency conflict declared himself as intending to support the same views—views which we believe are shared in by the whole constituency of Franklyn. By this we mean not that Franklyn swears by King Vogel or ' any other individual, but that it believes that his policy, if fairly wg honestly carried put, will be productive

of advancement and prosperity to the pro vince and the colony, and chiefly that any

mere factious and obstructive opposition is simply irritating to no purpose, if not mis chievous. Mr Joseph May comes forth as the embodiment of all that is factious and

uncompromising. His views so far as pre viously made known are directly opposed to those of the electorate. And yet so re spected is Mr. May for many good qualities that a large number will strive to put him into the place where he can thwart the reasonable views of the people. Far be it from us to say one word against Mr. Joseph May's personal character. Ho is an upright deserving man, and a valuable settler. But he is as headstrong as a bull. We shall be interested in learning in what way he will gloss over his views at his various meetings, though we hardly think that he is really the man to say one thing and think another. And the oleotors of Franklyn should bear in mind that of all the candidates at present before them he is the only one that will offer an uncompro mising opposition to a policy that is accept able to the Franklyn electorate.

_ Judging simply from the results of exces sive sickness and death on board the immi grant ships to New Zealand we have been led to the conclusion that there must be something radically wrong j n our Govern ment arrangements in England, and we have not been backward in giving expression to our feelings on the subjaet. We have just met with an unexpected corroboration of the inferences that we were compelled to make, in information published by a gentleman who has recently come out from homo. In the April number of the Anglican Church Gazelle for the diocese of Auckland there is an in teresting article entitled " A voyage to New Zealand by the Mongol," written by the Rev. H. M. Kennedy. This gentleman, it appears, was a beneficed clergyman of the Established Church of Ireland at the time when that Church was disestablished a few years ago. He then resigned that post in order to facilitate a desirablo re-ad justmcnt of parishes, aud he became assistant to the Rev. E. Bowen, the rector of a parish in the North west of Ireland, who is brother of the late Governor of this colony. From what he heard about New Zealand from Mr Bowen Mr Kennedy became interested in the country, and ultimately accepted an invitation to coaio to the diocese of Auckland, which was made to him by Bishop Cowie's commissary in England Mr Kennedy must bo a very desirable sort of colonist if we may judge not merely from the tone of tho article before us, but also from the circumstance that a considerable number of his ex-parishioners— it is not stated how many—accompanied him in his emigration. They came in the Mongol, the large steamer which has been brought out to take its place on the Trans-Pacific line. The Mongol, we are informed, steamed the whole way, and made the passage from Ply mouth to Port Chalmers in fifty-one days, being the quickest parsage on record by this route. It was, says Mr Kennedy, a most prosperous voyage, and one which would have been ex tremely pleasant to me had it not been for the sad mortality which attended it ; brought on, too, aa it was, by want of neces sary precaution, imperfect arrangements, and deficient supplies." These are the words with which the article alluded to terminates, and they derive all the more weight from the circumstance that the facts on which they are founded are narrated without the least asperity or bitterness. Those facts speak for themselves. The Mongol convened 250 emigrants, who em barked at Plymouth. Bofore leaving that port grave apprehensions had been excited. "Many of us," says Mr Kennedy, "marked with apprehension the delicate and sickly appearance of the children belonging to our contingent, and of whom we had a large pro portion ; and when on the morning of the 23rd December, a few hours before we weighed anchor, a family of eleven were sent ashore as unfit for the voyage, we felt almost certain that scarlatina—known to have been in the emigration depot—would break out amongst us. Our fears in this respect were but too soon realised." There ensued much sickness, and sixteen deaths; and the Scimi tar, which sailed from Plymouth about the same time, was still more unfortunate. It is anote-worthy circumstance that not one of the party attached to Mr Kennedy failed to make the voyage in good health, and this indicates a fact, of which even in Auckland we have had too much indication, that one great fault in the working of the immigration machinery is the want of care in the selection of the per sons to be sent out. But this is not the only fatal fault that is becoming apparent. "Here," remarks Mr Kennedy, "I must take occasion to say, that there are some grievous defects in the emigra tion system as at present carried out. Ist. The preliminary medical in spection is_ not of a sufficiently stringent character, it generally amounts to ascertain ing simply whether the applicant has been vaccinated er not. 2nd. The Government in spector at the depot is not sufficiently strict. Plainly we should never have been allowed to sail when scarlatina had already showed itself, particularly when we had so many children in our party. 3rd. The dietary scale is defective. There is not nearly enough of milk, eggs, and light food pro vided. Our medical officer continually had occasion to feel that this want, particularly when so many children were taken ill. Had it not been for the kindness of a Dunedin lady, who supplied me with several tins of preserved milk, and other comforts which she fortunately had with her, I believe we would " have had greater mortality ' still amongst us." Other benevolent individuals are mentioned by the writer who joined in the work of mercy. The little incidents of the voyage are pleasingly told by Mr. Ken nedy, and he relates feelingly the very touching scenes connected with the throwing overboard the bodies of the children. These things occurred in the* case of the mag nificent steamer the Mongol, and for less conspicuous vessels and longer voyages it may be feared that matters would be much worse. Such narratives as that on which we have been commenting are sure to be read widely at; home, and why should they not ? We are desirous of having suitable immigrants, but we have no desire to conceal the truth, and so to aid in luring innocent families of our countrymen to misery and death. In the name of our common humanity, and in the interest of our heavily taxed colony, we renew our protest against tolerating or coutenancing a contin uance of licensed misprison of murder.

We are glad to learn from'papers received by the Suez mail that a bronze medallion of the Royal Humane Society has been awarded to Mr John Geddes, of Auckland, for his gallantry in rescuing Mrs M. Edgar, by jumping from the Tararu wharf. The cir cumstance must be fresh in the recollection of our readers, and we are sure that it will bo generally conceded that the award is well merited.

The letter of our London correspondent shows that the New Zealand Shipping Com pany have not diminished in activity. A fine ship for the Auckland trade has been launched, andwas christened "TheWaikato." Our correspondent states that the free pas sage system has resulted in a worse class of emigrants leaving for the colony than before, and he instances the Doretta for Auckland as a case in point. We were under the im pression that the Agent-General had scoured the back slums of London for some of^ the emigrants he has already shipped, and if a worse class still has been found we pity the colony. It was understood m Is ew Zealand that the free passage system was introduced for the purpose of aiding the deserving though poor agricultural labourer and mechanic, of whom there is a very large section in Great Britain, but if it is to be made the means of shipping to our shores the scum of the earth then the sooner it is abolished the better. The colony will be benefited much more by the absence than the presence of such a class of immigrants.

We are not likely to see the census returns for Auckland province published for another month. The reason of the statistics here taking such a long time to compile in com parison with that occupied by other pro vinces, whose returns are either already pub lished or are shortly to be, is stated to be that a much smaller staff is employed in Auckland than for instance in Otago. We do not see why this should be. It is also we hear the custom in Otago for the police to render much valuable assistance to the enu merators, an advantage which they do not enjoy here. Another mitigating factisthat this year all the returns have to be sent to Welling ton (last year the Northern Island returns were made up in Auckland, and con sequently all the schedules have to be re vised, and where necessary sent back for correction before they can be sent down), beforo alterations could be going on while the process of totalling was proceeding. Up to the present time only two districts have completed their statistics —Onehunga and City East. The former shows a total of 2.054 inhabitants against 1,859 in IS7I, being an increase in the three years of .195. City East has been very stationary, exhibit ing an increase of only three—the number in 1871 being 4079, and for the present year 4082. It must be recollected, however, in explanation of this tardy progression, that the area of the Albert Barracks comes within this district, and here the residents have been considerably thinned out since the be ginning of the improvements.

In the Church Gazette, published to-day, it is notified in the correspondence from Norfolk Island that the members of the Melanesiau Mission have nominated the Rev J. R. Selwyn to be the Missionary Bishop of Melanesia, in succession to the lamented Bishop Patteson. The nomination requires to be confirmed by the General Synod, which is about to meet in Wellington, but this confirmation is sure to be granted. The reverend gentleman won golden opinions for himself while ministering for a time in Auckland a few months ago, and had been popular here among his acquaintances years ago._ We presume that Mr Selwyn, who is quite a young man, has attained the age of thirty years, that being, if we do not mistake, the canonical time of life required for the supreme office of the Episcopal Churches. A missionary bishop requires pluck and bodily energy, and these qualities the bishop nominate possesses by right of inheritance. It will bo a remarkable thing to both father and son bishops at the same time, a conjuncture perhaps unexampled. Before the appointment was proffered to Mr Selwyn it had been urgently pressed upon Mr Codrington, the present head of the mis sion, who declined in consequence of the delicacy of his health.

A correspondent writes as follows on the tricks of trade :—To the Editor : Sir,—l am a late arrival, and a shoemaker by trade. I was somewhat surprised to see so many ad vertisements for men to work in my trade, but, upon application I found that they were not bona fule. Iv truth and in fact they were a deception. From the quantity of imported goods the supply of labour ex ceeds the demand, and it is scarcely fair for the masters to add to tho already depressed state of labour in this trade by deceiving new comers. In addition it deceives many at homo, who doubtless peruse your widely cir culated journal. It makes them wish to pro ceed to a country where shoomakers seems so much in dera nd, and is so well remun erated. The latter I deny, and I repeat that there is not so much demand for labour in the trade that the advertisments seem to imply.—l am, etc., Crispin-.

The little church of All Saints, Ponsonby, in one of the most picturesque situations of Auck land, has recently received additional beauty by a pair of beautifully painted windows, the presentation of Mr Hammond, of London, and gracefully written illuminated texts of scripture at the chancel end of the church. This congregation is gradually increasing in numbers, and as new homes are continually rising in Ponsonby and Dedwood there is a prospect of the church being ere long free from debt. The congregation and minister have had pecuniary and other difficulties to overcome, but they have struggled bravely with hope of ultimate success. Yesterday a sermon was preached by the Rev. Robert Burrows, from Romans chap, v., verse xix., "As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." The dis course was plain and practical, and listened to with thoughtful attention. We noticed with regret a paucity of sing ers in the choir, and consequently the musical parts of the service were exceedingly tame and destitute of spirit. There are many young men and women in the neigh bourhood with sufficient music in their souls to form that fitting choir which appears to be a want at All Saints. We shall be glad to see a movement made in this direction by the people of Ponsonby. An excellent op portunity for amateurs to acquire musical knowledge will be given by Mr Joseph Brown who promises to commence a sing ing class on Friday, the 10th ultimo, in the Oddfellows' Hall, Cook-street, on the Hullah syatein, a system at once the simplest and easiest of acquirement of known systems. It must be evident to every enlightened attendant at All Saints that there is a great deficiency in the singing department, and that the system of John Hullah, about to be taught by Mr Brown, is an argument of hope to the members who long not merely for the attainment of an innocent and rational gratification, but an improve ment in con gregational melody. We notice further that a "soiree and concert will be given this evening in tho Ponsonby new hall, when a select band will be in attendance! Miss Lizze Carandini has kindly proffered her assistance, and will sing that exquisitely pathetic ballad, the "Exile." This lady, in company with Mr Blades, will also sing the duet " Povero Cor." Miss Leaf, Messrs J Cruiekshank, Howden, and Connell will take part in the concert, and Mrs Wooley, one of our lady music teachers, will preside at the pianoforte. We !;notice that Quick's omni buses will leave the Union Bank for the hall every half hour. As the concert is intended to aid in liquidating tho existing debt on All Saints' Church we anticipate a fi*R attend ance this evening,

Mr. D. Berry informs the trade that the fortnightly meeting of the members of the Auckland Shipwrights' Protection Society will be held this evening in the Albert-street Temperance Hall for general business.

We often hear of d man 6i! a tVofflatl being open to an engagement, and in siich ease we take it M gfanted that the person so described is Willing io* a Sertaitt consider ation to perform certain SeT'titfeo, It is notorious that money will induce sofflc people to do almost anything, and we have heard of countries where men are allowed and actually offer themselves to undergo judicial penalities in the place of con victed offenders against the laws. The announcement in the Provincial Gazette of last Saturday, that "pheasants are open to be hunted, shot, taken, or killed during the months of May, June, and July" would seem to imply that the birds this year have no great idea of the skill of our local sports men. No doubt their willingness to expose their lives in the reckless fashion arises from this cause. Frankly speaking we believe in many cases they may run the risk without any great danger. There are plenty of sportsmen hailing from the famous region of Cockaigne with whom they are perfectly safe. In one respect ( the announcement in the Gazette is slightly wrong. It should have run, "are open to be shot at." The consideration for which they are so self-sacrificing is not mentioned ; but no doubt it is that they shall for the re mainder of the year be at liberty to eat any amount of maize or other sown grain to which they may take a fancy. If it is so the pheasants have a long way the best of the bargain, and we hardly think our up country settlers are so green as to agree to the terms. The addition "or be killed" is evidently only a little bit of pleasant sarcasm on the part of our feathered friends, which it does not take a magnifying glass to see through. It is a little bit extra thrown into the scale to entice a customer but, there is not much chance of it coming into the question.

We have to acknowledge receipt of an "Astronomy for Beginners who live in the Southern Hemisphere," by Archdeacon Stork. The work is issued by Mr F. A. Bowden, 8.A., of the New Zealand Educational De pository, Featherston-street, Wellington, from which so many valuable school-books, adapted to the requirements of schools in the colony, have been issued. The present work is published at the low price of fifteen pence. It removes many of the difficulties under which begin ners labor in studying astronomy from books written for the Northern Hemisphere, and places the cardinal joints Q f astronomical science clearly and succinctly before young students, so as to be understood by beginners. The work is illustrated by diagrams, and is altogether one that will be welcomed by those engaged in imparting instruction to the young.

A rather curious point of law cropped up in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Coromandel, on Friday, and one which would appear to involve a technical legal difficulty. The New Zealand Quartz Crushing Company were sued for an account due for goods delivered. The sum mons was left at the office of Mr. Pittar, the agent and attorney for the Company in New Zealand, but the Court was not satisfied that the summons had been duly served, and it appeared doubtful whether Mr Pittar could ba legally served with a summons for debt on a company which was not registered in New Zealand. It does appear rather hard that a company formed in England, and having an agency in New Zealand, cannot be sued except at their head office. No doubt how ever an order could be issued by the Supreme Court enabling creditors to Bue the agent of company in New Zealand.— Coromanndel Mail.

We are pleased to learn that the friends of the Rev. A. M. Tait, late pastor of the Pres byterian Church at Coromandel, have received information of his election to the pa3toral charge of a church and congregation at Newton, a suburb of Sydney, where his preaching is no doubt much appreciated.— Coromandel Mail.

Tho Rev J. W. Williams, who took his leave of Coromandel on Thursday, says the Mail, was accompanied to the steamer by a number of friends and admirers, amongst whom we noticed the Revs. T. Scott and T. Stewart. He will have an opportunity of taking his leave of friends at the Thames, where he preaches twice to-morrow, and in Auckland, where he preaches on the following Sunday, leaving for Balclutha, per steamer the next day.

To the Editor: Sir, —Permit me as a citizen to express my opinion of the petition now in course of signature praying for the remission of the sentence inflicted on Mr Dornwell in the late case of assault. Are the originators of it aware that such a course is a direct insult to Mr Beckham, the magis trate who presided on the occasion, and cal culated to have (if the prayer of it were en tertained) a very pernicious effect hereafter on magistrates of less firmness and. indepen dence of character when called on to adjudi cate in such cases ? For my part these offences have been all too common, and I think Mr Beckham has earned the thanks of the community for his righteous decision.— Yours, &c, John Bull.

We understand that yesterday afternoon the teachers.and children of the Newton Congregational Sunday School presented Mr Noah Wood (who is leaving for England) with a beautiful and valuable collection of New Zealand ferns in a handsomely carved case of mottled kauri, as a token of their re spect, and as a recognition of his services in connection with the school, and more es pecially for the part he took in the erection of their present comfortable schoolroom in Edinburgh-street. The young men's class also presented him with an album bound in morocco, and containing their portraits. Mr Wood has for many years past been secretary of the school, and also teacher of the Young Men's class. We are sure Mr Wood must feel an inward satisfaction that his past efforts have been successful in no small degree. He carries with him not only any special tokens of appreciation, but from everyone who has come in contact with him, expressed or unexpressed regret at his re moval. Not only has the church in Newton lost an eminent worker, but in many other matters in the city, which bore in a christian direction in which he was specially useful, must lose considerably. He leaves in a few days for England, and we hope the result of his labours in Auckland will bear much fruit.

The Vivian Royal Coraique Company at tracted a large number of visitors on Saturday evening, and the performances gave much satisfaction. "I want to go home to mamma" and the "London Coster," by Mr Vivian were enthusiastically received. Miss Nellie Melville sang with considerable suc cess "How my heart beats" and several other pieces of a kindred type. Mr Ned Mason was equally at home in his dances, -Ethiopian representations and comicalities. 1-he sparkling comedietta, entitled " Cup board Love," was full of wit and very taking. We understand that this talented company will conclude their entertainments this evening. We would call attention to the fact that to-night a special programme will be presented at this theatre, and the perform ance^ will be especially for the benefit of

The meeting of the Golden Age Gold Mining Company announced for to-day lapsed for want of a quorum.

The members of the Newmarket Literary Society will give an entertainment to-morrow evening, in the Presbyterian School-room, when several glees, ballads, and choice read ings Will be presented to the audience. We are glad to notice that this society is flourish ing, arid that there ia a union of head and heart among its members.

Mr Ooliier aflnOUnces his intention of giving one of his dhoicfe entertainments this evening in the Onehunga Institute, consist ing of ballads^and a variety of amUSettie^t^, in which he * will be assisted by Mr C. Vernon, Miss Lizzie Bushe, and Miss Milly Collier. According to the programme the inhabitants of Onehunga will have an intel lectual and musical treat.

Messrs Clarke and Poole have arranged to play a billiard match this evening at the Governor Browne Hotel, Hobson-street. The successful man will receive a silver cup from the hands of Messr3 Dunningham and King.

We notice that the talented Carandini Company will give a grand selection of sacred music in the Choral Hall on the evening of Good Friday, to consist of the best selections from the "Messiah," "Creation," "Elijah," "Samson," and other favorite oratorios. Mendelsohn's celebrated "Hymn of Praise" will be included in the programme.

At the teachers' meeting on Saturday Mr Fraser's amendment was put and carried, viz., " That the remuneration of teachers by the Board of Education be not solely depen dent upon the average attendance of scholars. At the same time the teachers desire to ex press their appreciation of the efforts of the Board in their behalf, and their perfect con fidence in its dealings with them." It was also resolved that an institute of teachers be established, and that Mrs Shayle George's plan for a high school for girls be submitted to a committee and reported thereon.

We have been requested to state that the concert on board the Golden Crown to morrow evening (Tuesday) is strictly private. No one will be admitted on board without the production of a ticket issued by the com mittee, or a ticket of membership of the Harmonic Society. This announcement is made in consequence of its being rumoured that tickets can be had on board or by pay ment.

A gossiper in the Melbourne Toion and Connlrg Journal relates a good story :—Did you ever hear of effrontery ? A young gentleman who is the son of a very rich Melbourne merchant had the chee_3_ to tell his father the other day that he wanted to marry a governess. Considering that his parent had married his own cook it did not seem to the youth that there were rocks ahead. But he was mistaken. " Marry the Governess !" cried the the old gentleman in a rage ; " I'd sooner see you run away with a barmaid 1" " But isn't it better to marry a governess than a cook ?" retorted the son rather severely. "No fear," was the reply; "the one would save you a lot of money, the other would make you spend it." What true ideas of economy.

The anniversary tea meeting in connection with the Mount Eden Sunday School will be held this evening. Several friends of the movement will address the meeting after tea, and the choir will sing appropriate selections of music. This little school is gradually extending its influence.

Mr Waller has started a circular saw and planing machine at his timber yard, These will be an advantage to those interested in the timber trade of Onehunga.

The repairs to the Garibaldi (now lying in the basin, Onehunga) are rapidly approach ing completion.

By advertisement in another column we see that candidates for initiation at the Onehunga lodge of Good Templars, who have passed their election, are requested to appear on Tuesday evening at the Choral Hall, Onehunga. This is one of the most go-ahead lodges in the province, and intending mem bers will do well to attend to its request.

One day in the early part of the week at Nelson a thermometer placed in the sun marked 130* of heat. The day was the hottest experienced this season in that city.

A sub-committe of the Wellington Educa tion Board has drawn up a report to the Provincial Government recommending, as the basis of a Bill to amend the present Educa tion Act the Bill on this subject which pas sed the House of Representatives last session but did not make its way through the Legis lative Council. Some special alterations were made by resolution. One was suggest ing compulsory education instead of the com pulsion being left optional with the school boards. A uniform rate of a pound a house, in preference to a rate upon the annual rental, was proposed and carried by a majority. A marriage has been arranged between Sir Charles Dalrymple, M. P., for Buteshire, brother of the Right Hon. Sir James Fer gusson, Bart., Governor of New Zealand, and Miss Hunter Blair, second daughter to Sir Edward Hunter Blair, Bart.

Consequent on the much-felt want of house accommodation at Dunedin the Pro vincial Government have called for tenders for the erection of ten double dwelling houses, to be built near the Anderson's Bay road, Kensington.

The Prince and Princes of Wales arrived in London from Sandringham on the 4th February, and on the 9th the statue of Prince Consort on the Holborn Viaduct was for mally unveiled by the Prince, who was warmly received by the citizens. On the following day the Prince and Princess started for Russia to be present at Prince Alfred's marriage.

The Leith Flour Mills have been burned down.^ The loss is calculated at £200,000, and 250 men are thrown out of employment. At Portsmouth Dockyard property valued at £50,000 has been destroyed by fire.

THE NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY.

LAUNCH OF A SHIP NAMED THE

WAIKATO

THE RESULT OF FREE EMIGRATION

THE ROOPARELL FOR AUCKLAND

(From our London Correspondent)

On the 19th instant the second ship of the New Zealand Shipping Company was launched from John Blumer's yard, and named the Waikato. She is the sister ship to the Rakaia (a magnificent ship of over 1,000 tons), and will be commanded by a Captain Rodder, many years inDundass employ. The Waikato will take in her dead weight at Sunderland, and come round to London and take in her emigrants and sail for New Zealand about the 20th of March.

The ship Dorette, Captain Avles, sailed from Gravesend quite full of both emigrants and cargo on the 21st. I "mentioned in my former letter that she has been purchased by the company ; she was built in Ham burg in 186 S. The master (who built and snled her) informed me that she sails well, and has left iD good trim, and under a smart commander she Qijght to make ft good passage, f

I fear through thisTw will not have such a good W mi^to Those on board the^eS °{ Alf the average. Single SuY* fa f T board They appear .fijMv o^ht to make good SC rvi nd« The following is a list of ii PM board the Donate for Aucfc*^^' Gravescnd on the 21st of J,JJJ *hicl, couples, 94 souls; single^ :-%y women, 33; children-boys?'.9s! IS infants, 16 ; 315 souls ; 2601 l L I am glad to notice that $?s*>■ ' ; which you send home from £?> h. .. always put on board of I vessel for the use of passenSHy ' g£* pver their sea-sickness, sou >£' be weLUp to Auckland's dJSj arrive thei'e*. The next ship foT you will be tv ship Rooparell, Al, 1040 tons 'Si years old. She will sail 'Mu.'C% next month. I fear she will jotV ' passengers, for she measures for $$(

ARRIVAL OF HIS EXCELLENCY GOVERNOR & LADY FERGUSSO

The arrival of the yacht Blanche w.l Excellency the Governor and LL?* soft, expected on Saturday, did LL* place till Sunday morning, v s°'^ the Blanche was descried from «/• hill, andthefactofhisExcellenevW^ was immediately made knownWJ^ the expectant citizens, who were W 1 at the time fast asleep in W^ ' yacht came into harbour towed i 1 s. s. Rowena, and anchored off the wJ 1 Pier about 9 o'clock. She had U^l and fine weather throughout the pasJl. The vice-regal party landed wi^ y ostentation or display a short time ai t y anchor was dropped, and repaired at 01 b Government House. His Excellent : family attended service at St. Paul's rl' in the morning. "-"■;

POLICE COURT.-Monday.

(Before Dr. Nicholson, and Joseph H, .* Esq., Justices of the Peace.) "' OVRP.DP.AFTS. A young Maori rejoicing in thenar'! George William Patteson, and James IL were severally charged with being drual-J the public streets, and dealt with kfe? ' usual way. John Coleman was fined 20.ai costs for being drunk and disoiderly. I MARY BOURKE. Mary Bourke, a diminutive Me hi whose face was familiar to the Court n" ' again brought up on a charge oi dnrntennes and with being a rogue and vagabond.' M_rv said she was not so bad as she seemed, tie..' were other Mary Burkes besides ki, both' in Ireland and the colonies.

A reference was made to the Police Gout: chronicle, and thirteen charges of a 'similar nature were recorded against tte ptison.er. f Mary still persisted that there mW b i some mistake as to personal identity, ■■'> I:: Constable Mulville was then caM4 I. recognised prisoner as the veritableHtj ■ whose name appeared on the'charge-ski I It was subsequently shown that lay | had been convicted within the lastteo; four years no less than forty-four tinm, i . At this stage of the enqtiry MatjWii pulled her hat over her eyes, andmuraffil " Guilty, by faith, and it's me that's Mhj.y Burke, from the county of Kilkenny."

The Bench sentenced prisoner to m. days' imprisonment for being drunk, if ■

one month for vagrancy, the last sentence! commence at the expiration of the first, j BREACH OP PASSENGER ACT. 11l John Flamock appeared in answer t< summons charging him with;* bread section 4S of the Passengers' Act. Mr Joy appeared for the prosecution, £

Mi Russell for the defence. , Mr Russell asked that the case aiglls adjourned in order that the master of ly steamer Mongol might he present, bat L his client should not be mulqted in coifej The Bench adjourned the ease untiltj arrival of the steamer, the question off*'' to abide the event of the hearing. This was all the business. j

THE OTAHUHU RAILWAY STAR.

To the Editor : Sir—Allow me to *| a mis-statement in your article of tk instant . referring to the Otahuhu raff station. Quoting your own words, yoaj " We must protest against the notiony has been broached of making the ref., connection between the Great Souths by means of a circumbendibus coarse, «" by the distance of that road from the fc. would be fully a mile, to which m r . added a half a mile between the m, emergence on the highway and the PV Otahuhu," thus making the whole Wj a mile and a-half. Now the fact! A these: there are two lines of road»| upon by the Government, n*me| r;. connecting the station with the M%:l road, and the other connecting do, *y Great South Road. The ftst-M* will be used mainly by the Mangere sejj being the nearest point to thatnfß hood. The second road is in l *"»■'■ from the station to the Great Soutn » the total distance by proved W«g from station to the Criterion Hotel m chains, or 1166 yards, just a &MJ. two-thirds of a mile, instead°f a^L half as you state. I havetakentfce w . Hotel as the centre of the town, » naturally be the principal point ol»»! to the travelling public, and having the principal shops in its immedu; r bourhood. It may perhaps be say to state that the whole of tho Jano ,n ), for roads, as well as two acres for tw has been giyen by me, viz.: * ° . 2 acres ; roads, 7 acres; reduced p for railway line, 2 acres; total, w | I am, &c, John Paired.,

CONFIRMATION SERVICE PAUL'S.

The Church of St. Paul's, aft*jj| Shortland-street, was attended yes , numbers of persons not closely conns. the usual congregation, m consequ« l previous announcement that w^V^ ' Dr. Cowie would administer tne of Confirmation to a number ol FJ „: ■ of both sexes. The service, UJ^ , third Collect was performed i>y * f the Rev. CM. Nelson, fA- J ]ir , lessons for the occasion, viz.,* 27, and Luke -xlx, g 28. «& PMM read by Rev. F. A. Hare, His Excellency the <??»«! third collect the anthem ***£&!& twenty-second psalm, versesq^j^ «My God, my God, why kg , p! .„ me? Why art thou so far fr J. , and from the words of my ■* tboo -^. God, I cry in the daytime, N» d * not and in the night £^£,tg;. silent. But thou art holy, V^g habitest the praises of Isr*«* ful anthem, expressive oftfi^ g^' ; row under discouragement, Jf g{ ,\K , due solemnity by the cho^u . assisted by Madame 0g d oJ , Carandini, Messrs Sh«JJJ-^ The Bishop jpreached a y^ keX^ appropriate sermon frprn^ Wf -41 ancl 42. Immedjatflly D menoeraentief th^w^ 10

mjjrrgjmw if ah, Monday, march 36 mi



XJAljljOa

£ s. d. National Bank of N Z. .. 0 10 0 rational Bank of N.Z. .. 0 10 0 'rinco Imperial 0 10 Jha 0 0 6 LZ. Shipping Co 0 10 0 lolden Point 0 0 6 11 Dorado 0 10 ioyal Standard 0 0 3 »tag0 0 10 VhangapouaG.M.C 0 16 Jure 0 10 Dividends.

Date. April July April April April April April April April April April

1 1 2 7 7 8 8 S 8 8 13

Thames Gas Co. .. ..016

March :

31



150 000 :FEET TIMBEE FOR SALE, AT MY YARDS, GOVERNMENT WHARF, ONEHUNGA. JAMES W. WALLER. YOUE VOTE. The last week In which you mr.y qualify yourself to VOTE. After Tuesday next no other opportunity for another year.-; FORMS AT STAR OFFICE. TJUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN (LATE R. HOBBS), Aie now opening up, and have to arrivo EX NORHAM CASTLE, HYLTON OASTLE, INVERALLAN. and .ROSLIN CASTLE, A Very Large and Choice Assortment op AUTUMN AND WINTER DRAPERY GOODS IN EVERY DEPARTMENT, To which they respectfully Invite attention. These Goods coming direct to their own order from the first Home Houses they are prepared to dispose of at LOWEST REMUNERATIVE RATES. Further particulars in future advertisement. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN Wholesale and Retail Drapers, Clothiers, &a JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) Upper Queen-sibeet, Auckland.