SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SIGH WATES : XiiU avaning, 8.0 ; M-mOKU>' morrjlng 8.19 BUJ>'.»BT : ?fe<» *?an!xi?. 5.7; 8UP«8I8S: To teorrow rooming, 7 3 MOON'S AGiG: Last Quarter, 6th pros., 10.25 &.m.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES

For Kandavn— Cyphrenes, ss, (English Mail), 4th AUCfURt For the North—"Rowena, s.s, Monday next For Lyttelton—Elm Urove, barque. Prince Alfred, ba-nueutin-. and Vllrt, b iprantine. early For Sydney—Victoria, s s , turee da>s after arrival For Wansamii St Kilda, to-morrow, noon For ;S uthern ports—Phccbe, s s , Saturday, 10 a.m. For Levuka—Bella Brandon, and Ivanhoe, schooners, early For Portland, Orrgnn—.Tames Wishart, barque, early For Kairarn. Trornas and Henry, brig, early For Melbourne--]M:'tiades, ?hii>, ear!y For the Islands—Papu* nnd Ed th, schooners, early For Chatham Islands—Magellan Cloud, biigantine, early , For London—Hrlton Castle, barque, early; Countess of Kintore. ship, early

VESSELS EXPECTED

Ft. Kilda, from "Wsjiganni, this evening Victoria, s.s , from Sydtey, about 4th August City of Auckland, ship, from London; sailed 20th May Thames, barque, from Boston, via Adelaide, early Loch Urr, ship, fmm London ; sailed 3rd June Kerndale, barque, from London ; sailed May 5 Oxford, ship from London : sailed 7th June Eleanor, barque, from Newcastle, early Pearl, ketch, from South Sev Islands, early Coronet, bripantine, froan Tahiti, early BioLoge. birque, from Lyttelton ; sailed — Magel'an Clnud, schooner, from Lyttelton Clematis, ketch, from Lyttelton, early Wave, brig, from Oaraaru Mary Meluil'e, schooner, from Dunedin ; sailea 18th instant Harrieit Armitage, barque, from Duuedin ; loading

The schooner being built by Messrs Bigelow and Sons will be ready for launching on Saturdaj'. A barque is signalled supposed to be the Briton, from Newcastle. The barque Bella Mary has cleared in bal last for Hobart Town. She is to sail either to-night or to-morrow morning. The schooner Julius Vogel cleared this afternoon in ballast for Whangapoa where she will probably load timber for Dunedin. The brig Transport has cleared for New castle in "ballast ; and the brig Syren for Melbourne with a load of timber tobe shipped at Tairna by Mr J. W. Waller. Both vessels are ready to sail. The brig Pusanne, having discharged what little carsjo she brought from Samoa, was this morning sailed over to'the North Shore tobe re-fitted on Mr Niccol's slip:r,

The schooner Belle Brandon is discharging her careo from Levuka alongside the wharf.

The ship Miltiades is still at anchor in tho stream. It is expected she will be able to come alongside about Monday, by which time it is expeeteel the James Wishart will be ready to clear out. The Elm Grove is now nearly full up with timber for Lyttelton. The brig Syren hauled away from the •wharf this morning and anchored in the stream. She is about to sail for Tairua^ where she^s to load for Melbourne. The barque Novelty is taking in ballast after putting out all her cargo in excellent condition. She will probably sail for New castle or Sydney on Saturday. The ship Queen of Nationa has put out all her iron. Captain Donald is awaiting in structions as to the future movements of his fine vessel. These will probable arrive by the Victoria, The schooner Ivanboe is discharging her island cargo into the Hylton Castle for tran shipment to London. The Hylton Castle is a full ship this even ing. Her loading has been conducted with unusual dispatch. Her departure for London ■will take place at the first opportunity. The schooner Saucy lass has cleared out •with 25,000 feet timber, shipped by D. H. Mackenzie, for Wellington.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

Lyttelton, this day. The Cyphrenes with the Suez Mail arrived here from Dunedin at noon.

ARRIVALS.

Southern Crors, s s., Sellarp, from TanraDga

DEPARTURES

00-ahead, s?.,for Taranaki and Wanganul

COMMERCIAL.

CALL LIST.

The following are the current calls payable in the companies named below:— Calls. £ s. d. Date Queen of the Thames .. 0 7 0 — Aug 11 Una 0 0 6 - Aug 12 Fl Dorado .01 0 — Aug 12; LißColn Castle .. ..0 1 0 — Aug 12 Protty'sTlill 0 0 4 — Aug 12 Vanguard 0 0 6 — Aug 12 ' Italian 0 0 6 — Aug 12 Alburuia 0 6-0 — Sept 9

COLONIAL PRODUCE.

Buyikg Prices, Corrected by Auckland Dealers. s. d. s. d. s d. s. Butter, per lb. 1 9—2| 0 Ducks,pair.. 2 6—4 6 Cheese (new) 0 s—o 8% Geese, each 3 6—4 0 Eggs, per doz. 1 6—l 9 Turkeys .. 2 6—3 6 Lard xier lb 0 6—o 0 I Canterbury Bacon & Hams Fowls each 1 C— 2 01 (bare) .. 0 9— 9} Good Salt Butter Is—l 4|l T>o (in cloth) 9^—o 10 Canter. Cheese. 6—o 8J | Auckland 0 6—o 9 Hams, 9|d to IOJd per lb. .Retail Prices, Farm akd Dairy Produce. s. d. 3. d. s. d s. d. Milk, per tjt. 0 0-0 6 [ Ducks pair 5 o—6 0 Britter (fresh) 19-2 0 t Geese, each 5 o—6 0 Cheese (now) 0 7—o 11 I Turkeys,- each 4 6—6 6 * Eggs per doz. 1 9 —2 0 | Bacon, per lb. 0 6—0,10 "Lard'per lb. 0 6-0 8 Hams .. .. 09 4 0 Fowls, pair,. 3 6-5 0 | Salt Butter.. .10—1 8 Btttchkrs' Meat. -Beef per lb. 0 4—o 9 I Pork, per lb. 0 6-0 1 Mutton .. 0 4—o 7 I Veal.. .. 0 5-08 BREADSTUFFS. FLOTJK. ■WHOLESALE. Millers' Price, per ton—lst quality £16- Fine Flour—household £14 Adelaide Flour £17 Canterbury £12 to £13 Seconds, £12. Sharps, £9 Bakers' Price, per lb .. .. ..-^.. 8d Bran, Is 6ii per bushel. ; Bread, per 21b. loaf. 4d to 4£d. Maize, crushed and whole, 7s BISCUIT. Cabin Biscuit, per 1001b, .Retail 22s MAIZE, OATS, POTATOES, ETC. WHOLESALE. Maize, 5s 6d Prime Sy Mey Oats, 5s to 5s 6d per bushel American Oa , 4s 6d to 5s Potatoes, £<J , Hobsrtown, £7 5s flay, £6 to £7 10s per ton. Straw, £3 to £3 103 per ton. Chaff, m 10» to &1 10s per ton. Onions, scarce, Sd to 5d lb RETAIL. Maize, per bushel, 6s Oats, 6s per bushel. ' Potatoes, 6s 6d to 7s 6d per cwt. Hay, cwt.. 7s 6d. Straw, 4s to 5s per cwt. Chaff, 7s to 8s per cwt. KAURI GUM AND FLAX MARKET. The following are the prices in the Auckland market :— Gum—Well scraped, best quality .. .. £26 to £27 Ordinary sorts £25 to £26 FLAX.—Finest quality .. £18to£20 Second ditto £10 to £14 Tow £7 to £S BUILDTNG M.4TERI LS. Timber.—Boards and scantling, 100 ft, 9s to 15s ; at mills, 11s 6d ; planed, tongued, and grooved 11s 6dtol8s«! New Zealand palings, 6-feet, 10s ; 6-feet, 13s; ti tree raik. £210s to £3 pur 100 ; puriri posts, £5 per 100; shingles, 8a to 15s p?;r 1000 ; fToDart Town palings 6ft., 17s; 6ft., 18s : Hobartown rails, 75s COAL AND FIREWOOD MARKET. - Coal.— Newcastle, on Wharf, 455; delivered, 60s per ton. " Firewood.—Uncut, 15s per ton, delivered oat. 17s per ton, delivered.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as follows :— For Thames, tomorrow, at 10 30 a.m. and 5 30 p m. For Wangnnui, per St Kilda, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Taranaki and Southern provinces, per Phcebe, on Saturday next, at 1 p m. For Tauranga and Opotiki, per Southern Cross, on Saturday next, &t Ip.m. For Gisborne, per Effie Meikle, on Saturday next, at 3pm For Chatham Islands, per Magellan Cloud, on Fri day. 31st instant For the undermentioned places, per Cyphrenes, on Tuesday August 4, as under : — For Fiji, Sandwich Islands, United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South' America, and British and Foreign Went Indies, at 12.30 p.m. For the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, at 12 30 p. m For money orders, registered letters, and news papers, at 11 a m. Late letters bearing an extra fee of 6d will be received by the mail agent on board up to time of sailing. N.B. —Mails for Australia, via Melbourne, closo at Hokitika this day, at 5 p.m. S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

MARRIAGE.

Smith—Keals.—On July 25 1874. at Marine Villa Parnell, by the Key Warlow Davies, W. J Smith, Kaq., to Mary Jane, only daughter of It. Heals, q., architect, of his city. *

DEATHS.

Macdowalb—On 26th July, at Wellington, NT. 7., Alexander diaries Phipps Macdonald, Assistanjt Under -ts oeetaty, eldest son nf the lato Captain Alesi.der Macdonald, Staff Officer of Pensioners, Howiek; aged 39 years.

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

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 1874.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For tho wrong that needs resistance, For the future in th* distance,

And the good that we can do,

Foe, cool and defiant impudence we think the following letter received from the General Manager of the New Zealand Telegraph sur passes any thing fwe have read. We may r remise th.it some few weeks ago a memorial was presented to the Colonial Secretary from all the evening papers in the colony showing the injustice with which they were treated by the Telegraph Department in their lawful competition with morning journalism. It waa there shown that the telegraphic charges imposed on evening papers were more than four times larger, word for word, than those imposed on merning papers, the evening] papers paying four and twopence per hundred words, and the morning papers one shilling. The prayer of the evening papers was that the two classes of journalism should be placed on a level platform. And this is the reply :—

"lam directed by the hon. the Telegraph Commissioner to^inform you that he regrets

he camuifc comply with youi% request as tlie present press tariff" is as llhtfal as Hie country ■can afford. — I have the honor to be gentle men, your cbetlioat servant-., " C. Lemon, " General Manager." " The present press tariff is. as liberal as the country can afford," he says, and so it is in truth to the morning papers. In fact it is not improbable that it is more liberal than the coxintry can afford. But if the ur.try is being robbed to prop up journalism we protest that evening journalism should share in the plunder. We made no demand for a more " liheial Press tariff," but merely that an hour should be set apart in tlis m omirig for evening; papers, as three hours are set apart at night for morning papers, during v.hich the benefits of the "liberal Pre ss taiiff" mi^bt be enjoyed by all ; or in default of this that the " liberal tariff' might be altered, and that morning should be compelled to pay as much as evening journal" ism. The injustice at present existing is so gross that it will be hardly credible to most, and with a cool effrontery that is simply adding insult to injury the General Manager tells us the arrangement is all right, and the "Country" cannot afford to do anything more. If we did not know that Mr Lemon is a mere creature in the hands of his supe riors, prepared to bear the odium of their dirty deeds, we might have attributed the palpable unfairness to a mind not formed by nature for taking a very comprehensive and impartial view of things. But we do not see Mr Lemon in this. Evening journalism has generally shown itaelf too independent for Mr Voeel ; and this is only one of many a little dodge to prop up the two or three rotten newspaper concerns with which that politician is connected, and to humour a few others whrso support is desirable" to assist him ia carrying out that mottled patchwork thing he calls his policy.

We have so much correspondence on hand that there is no prospect of clearing it off except by summarising it into very brief com pass. " Ratepayer" justly stigmatises the repairs .in Wvn'lham-st-ect as "botched work." When owners of property along half the frontago have been at the expense of asphaUing tho footpath the lenst the Council could have done was to insist on others doing the same. The metal lately thrown on the footpath is a nuisance and destructive of the adjoining asphalt. We should imagine the street to be fully ns important ns Wakefield - strreb. Whence then the difForer.ee in treatment ? — "Observer" remnrks that the patriotic re linquishment of offices for the public good is not always such a sacrifice as the Herald appears to imagine, there being such a thing as the sale of contracts and acquired interests. "A Lover of Flowers " offers a very good sugcestion, namely, thatihekindheartedamonguawhoare in a positiontodoeofthonld make contributions of flov/ers to the hospital, in order that the brd-riflden patents may in their enforced confinement sniff the fragrance of the blossoms that gladden the outer world. Ho commends the charitable task to young ladies.—"Hawk Eye" takes "A elecent man " to task, and hopes there are not many " elocent men" -in Auckland if the one who has furnished a elesciiptiou of himself is a fair specimen of the class. " Dion Snip" writes on a subject which would be likely to evoke a bitter controversy if our columns were thrown open unreservedly to partizans on both slides. We think it bast therefore to nip* the elisciiFsion in the bud— " Inquirer" wonts to know if the comet now so much talkeel of is the sam^ comet as the one that appcarorl some two yqars ago over an hotel near Papakma? As wo are not familiar with Papakura astronomy wo arc unable to supply the desired information. A little volume has come under our notice to-day which deserves morn than a passing lino. It is called the " Miltiades Record," and is a brochure of some 40 pages. As the name implies, it is mainly a record of the events which have characterised the voyage of tho ship Miltiades to this port. In addition to.including a diary of the passage it contains original articles by the passengers and immigrants on subjects suggested by occurrences on board. We have short dis sertations on "Crossing tho Line," "The Burial of the Dead Horae," "Bird Catch ing," &c. There is a shorb story of " How Pat Murphy got to England," and some very fair original poetry. About the best specimen we have come across of the last named is a piece called "TLe Miltiades," which is a good-humoured skit on the officers and passengers of the ship. If the reading of tho book is not very brilliant it is quite up to the average of such maritime memoirs. It gives us an excellent insight into the routine of the life on boafd. Six numbers of the Record were published in manuscript during the yoyage. These are all bound up in the pre sent volume. It will no doubt be sent home by4he passengers, and in the neatness of its get up will not disgrace our colonial printing establishments. It is issued to the public at 9d per volume, and may be obtained of the booksellers. Messrs Meyers Brothers and Co. have: commenced business in Christchurch as mer chants, grain, produce, commission, and ship ping agents. The firm is prepared to receivej consignments of timber and merchandise.; An-office has been established in Lytteltonj to give prompt despatch to vessels consigned] to the firm. We have received the following for inser tion, but as we are wholly unacquainted with.; the merits of the case we offer no opinion on. its contents :—"ihe annual meeting of the ratepayers of the Weiti Highway District was held on. Saturday, July 25, at the resi dence of George Fallowdown. Mr Inglis was called to the chair. The Chairman opened the meeting by saying that it was a long time since lie had attends 1 a meeting at the Wade. He did hoc wish to rake up things gone past, but business was not honestly conducted at that period. He hoped that there would be a great improvement on this occasion. The chairman of the late Board being called upon to produce the accounts for the past year; produced a book which Mr Inglis objected to read, as there was no balance-sheet, nor had the accounts been audited. .Andrew Jack stated that there was no legal rate ; it waa afterwards proved that a clique had mot at the public house late one evening and levied a rate without the consent of the ratepayers ; the person who proposed the • levying of the rate received the lion's share not only of what was illegally collected from the ratepayers, but also a portion of the money given to the Government. Is not this a case in which his Honor the Superinten dent could greatly benefit the residents in this district by incorporating it with some other district where the trustees would be men of truth and honour. The meeting was adjourned for a week in or" rto give the Chairman aud the trustees time to show what has been done with the money illegally extracted from the pockets of the ratepayera.—l am, &c, A Katepayjie,

About a year ago it was mad© law by the "General Assembly that the masters and raa^es of all vessels trading from the colony should possess certificates of competency from the Marine Board. At first intending candidates for the preliminary examination were obliged to go to Wellington to "pass," but this was seen to be giving them needless trouble, and was soon altered, a local examining Beard being appointed in each of the more import ant ports of the colony. In order to give tho unqualified officers a chance of rendering themselves efficient, the ordinance has not up to the last few weeks been strictly carried out with regard to the mates. Vessels have been allowed to come and go in the port of Auckland without interference, although it was well-known that their chief officers had not seen the inside of the examination room, and did not even know the subjects they ought to he conversant with to stand a chance of "getting through." But suddenly the condition of affairs is altered. The word has now gone forth, and every ship, barque, brig, or schooner railing from the port must now have at least two certificated officers on board before she is allowed to clear. We believe the rulo to be an excellent one. Tt is quite right, and indeed requisite, that the safety of life and property at sea should bo preserved in this manner. The experience of nations has proved that shipowners are not to be trusted of themselves and without State interference to take proper measures for the protection of their employes. But we think on the other hand that there has j been a little capriciousness about tha carry ing out of the law. The sudden change without warning from laxness to the strict inflexibility of the Medes and Persians looks j rather as if the authorities wanted to catch j owners and captains. Whether they iutend j it or not they have certainly succeeded. Wo j can mention more than one instance in which the edict has operated injuriously on tho trade of the port. Two vessels within the last few days have been stopped ! because their mates were unprovided j with the necessary certificate. One has now been detained nearly a week from this cause. It may be said that mo captain and owners knowing the law ou»ht to have secured a j proper oifieer. This is true to only a certain extent. The law not having been carried out inviolably hitherto they mi^ht be ex cused for thinking that they would be al lowed to ovorstep it again. The local Board should certainly have made their intentions more public. The very least that could have been done, would bo to have had a notice put i un in the shipping (llice at the Custom Rouse warning skippers to take tho neces sary steps for qualifying their vessel for eleor nnce. So far as we can learn no warning at all has been given, and so not unreasonable dissatsfaction has been produced. _ The warning was the more needed owing to the scarcity of certificate! mates in tho port. The difficulty is intensified in the case of small vessels trarling away from the co^st. The trade returns of these will not permit tho master to pay his chief officer a large salary, but according to the law he is obliged to employ an assistant having just the same degree of efficiency a3,the first mate of a 1000 ton ship All the " passed" mates of course look out for the largo vessels, and the schooners are left in the lurch. Some modi cation of the law might, we think, be made with, advp.ntage with respect to craft — say under ICO tons' reeifter. While on this subject we might suggest that service certificates ought to.be granted to old illiter ate officers whose time of life would render it impossible for them to qualify themselves in tho usual way, but whose years of expe rience might well bo taken as a set-off for their theoretic deficiency. These were is sued in 1-ngland by the Board of Trade when theexamination ordeal was insisted upon there, and it would bo nothing more than what is fair to.a very deserving class of men to introduce tho system here. To the Editor : Sir, —I sec by last eveing's Star a letter signed "Alex J. Brown," alluding to the decay in the atone (I sup pose) of the new Supremo Court House. Ho tells the way to preserve them from decay. But in what manner ? and with what mate rials ard we to ronovate and bring to its former grandeur the stone that ja decayed ?— Thomas Kelly. To the Editor : Sir, —In answer to "De corator's " surprise I beg to inform him once more the return tickot he took from Newmarket to Onebunga was Is 2d, tnd the ono he took afterwards from Newmarket to Auckland was^Gd making a total of la Bd. — Yours, etc., W. Baker, ticket collector. At the inqneßt yesterday afternoon at the. Masonic hotel, North Shore, before Dr Philson, on the body of the lad James Pitts, whose death resulted front*the kick of g horse in June last, the jury after hearing material evidence returned at verdict of "Accidental Death," adding a ViSe* expressive of tbeir disapprobation of the conduct of the-High way Board in' allowing ca,%tle and horßes to vrander in the distfiol unattended. A small poet who wears a ■whito hat — a contributor to Saturday Night — sends us the following,1 -which shew 3, he re marks, what a woman will do for the man she loves :— A Templar visited'his Lodge, L "Where lads and lasses meet, [, '''«■' nd then he played another dedge ' Than that of Albert-street. He bonpht a bottle full of rum, To clear his husky throat, And said, "Dear Kate. I come, I come, . With something 'neath my coat!" He planed it on the »h»lf, but she Resolved to have a taste And, smiling, thought In roguish glee, "It shull not run to waste I" Then reached her hand above her head, \ The rum took from the shelf, |. "This is your curse, my lovo," she said, And drank it all herself. There is a great outcry in Auckland about the dearness'and Bcaroity of frenh butter, and trades people are advertising for dairies. A milkman this morning replied : "No wonder! the authorities won't allow the cows to eat the grass." Hydrophobia, writes our London corres pondent, ig fast becoming an epidemic in England and something will very shortly aye to be done in the way of curt legislation on the subject. Not anly in all provincial towns but in London itself cases of mad dogs are frequently occurring, and bittoa persons almost invariably die horrible deaths. It is felt that the dog tax is not heavy enough. That except in the case of shepherds, the keeping of dogs is a luxury which should be paid for, and that an increase of the tax i would diminish by one half the risk of oon tagion. The question has assumed a serious aspect, and in London all dogs have been or dered to be destroyed which are not found to be under the immediate care of some one. In the Wandsworth road the other day some fourteen people were bitten by a huge dog in a rabid state. A policeman chartered a cab, pursued the brute, and finally killed him with his truncheon, amid the cheers of a !are;e crowd. In the North of England, the disease is also prevalent. Several persons have died from it, and two entire kennels of foxhounds have been destroyed. Whilst talking of epidemics, I may cay that the probabilities of a cholera visitation next year have been largely lessened by the fact that in Munich and other Continental towns where it was raging last year the cases have dwindled down to an almost imperceptible ration. Thia is a considerable comfort,

An inducement to get up early in tha morning in addition to the standing reward of "catching the worm," is a view of the comet. The beat time for seeing this new ornament to our firmament is five o clook a.m., when the comet is well up above the horizon, in a South-east direc tion. It is very doubtful, indeed, whether the sight is a sufficiently brilliant one to re pay a person for forsaking his comfortable quarters and exposing himself to the chilly morning air, and we should adviße all who are not enthusiasts in astronony to leave the comet exclusively for the contemplation and \ instruction of milkmen until the moon has | waned so that tho stranger can be seen to ' advantage. At present spectators would not \be greatly edified by a sight of the pheno- I menon, and might be disposed to ask " And lis it for this we have gone through so much." ; The luminousness of the tail pales before the ! superior light of the queen of the heavens, j and it is therefore difficult to distinguish the I comet from any star not blessed with a caudal appendage. The thievish propensities of the roughs and ; loifers about Ponaonby have become uubear : able. Valuable llowers and shrubs are torn I out of gardens, and any trifle easily remove ! able cannot be kept safely in an exposed | yard. Ono of the sufferers who has been j wearied out of all patience gives notice in ' another column that he will fire at any peraou 1 found illegally on his premises after dark. !We trust he will ba successful in placing a barrel of shot in a tender part of one of these ; sneak thieves. The oldest newspaper in the world is supposed to be thePekin Gazette, still printed on yellow Bilk, as it was a thousand years ago but it is not conducted by its original editor. Strange to say it has changed hands several times since its first number was issued. The income of the British and Foreign Bible Society last year was £220,700, and its circulation of copies of the Biblo two and a-half millions. Rev. Simuel Edger is suffering from ill health, and his friends and congregation feel that case and change of air are absolutely necessary for tbe preservation of his strength. It was therefore resolved last evening at a meeting held in the Albert-street Temper ance Hall that Mr Kdger should go to Sydney for at least three months in order to recruit; his health. A social gathering was also re solved upon, to be held in the course of next week to take a "temporary leave of the teacher, when we understand a substantial presentation will be made to Mr Edyer. Mrs Tomes' fourth monthly concert will be held this evening in .Newton hall, and judging from the programme we anticipate an excellent entertainment. The concert will bo in two parts, and will consist of songs, selections of music, solos, readings and reci tations, concluding with the "National Anthem. The Rev. G. H. Turner will re-deliver his lecture on the " Tongue : its use and abuse," this evening at the Choral Hall, Onehunga. The members of the Auckland Wesleyan Ivluiual Improvement Society will hold their fourth musical and literary entertainment to-morrow evening in the school - room at tached to the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church. The Rev. Alexander Reid has promised to take the chair. According to the programme we may look forward to an intellectual treat. The entertfiument. will embrace several line English glees, such as *' Ye Shepherds tell me," "Victor's return," "Here in cool grot," "In tho Merry Spring," and others of a kindred type. The readings will include Washington Irving's "Broken Heart," "The Musical Butcher," "Paddy and the Bear," Spurgeon's "Tall Talk," which has been given at almost every " penny readings " in almost every village in England, and "How I edited a paper" (original) which we under- Bland will aim a few sarcastic shots at journalism in general. The "Vacant Chair " and the " Death of Nelson " will be included among the ballads of the evening, and the cboir will add greatly to tho interest of the meet ing with several musical pieces and choruses. Tho annual meeting of the Newmarket ratepayers was held last evening. The report, of the out-going trustees shewed the receipts to be : Kates, £185 17s ; Government grant, £.72 13s ; dog nuisance, £8 12s ; sundries, £50 17a. Total, £315 17s. Expenditure: Roads, £77 2s 2d ; metalling and channelling, £1791255 d ; other works, £15 4s; commission for collecting, £11 153 ; salaries, £30 11s 7d; printing and advertising, £15 15s 2d; dog nuisance, 193; total, £330 19s 7d. After the usual noisy dis cussion, the balance-sheet was passed and a rate of one penny on the selling value fixed for the ensuing year. Messrs Clayton, Morgan, Osborne, McNeill and Keane were then chosen trustees, and Messrs Wrigley and Lawry auditors. At a meeting of the new Board held subsequently Mr Clayton was re-electod chairman, and Mr Morgan treasurer. To the Editor: Sir, —I am desirous of publicly thanking Mr Charles Gobbutt, farmer, Little Muddy Creek, for his great kindness in giving myself and horse shelter and food on the night of the 28th mat., whilst on my way to the Huia. I might also state for the information of marriageable young women, that several settler* are de sirous of entering into the holy state of wed lock with suitable partners. To new arrivals' and : others this is a first-class opening to secure good husbands and comfortable homes. —I am, etc., Your Reporter. To the .Editor : Sir, —On visiting an An glican Church in the suburbs yesterday I 1 was surprised to find that they all stand ■■while the collection or offertory is.-being made, and the choir sing the sentencos J»y, 'way of anthem. Now, as I hava be«n reared^ in the Episcopalian faith, and, I may say, under cathedral shadows without having ever seen such a custom carried out any where else, I suppose I must characterise it as peculiar to the New Zealand branch of our church. Naturally enough I turned to what might be called the rules or rubric of the. church as laid down in the Book of; Common Prayer, and find that the priest is directed to "say one or more of these sen tences as he thinketh most convenient in his discretion," and "while the sentences are in reading the churchwardens shall receive the alms for the poor." Now I cannot conceive by what dispensation or authority such sen tences as " Let your light so shine before men, &c." and "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, &c," should be set to music and sang as anthems addressing words in praise to the Almighty only intended to be addressed to tae people while they sit and give their alms. The remarkable ab surdity of this must be plain to the most ordinary intellects, and hence these lines Really, Mr Editor, I could never understand until yesterday an expression made use of by a character in one ©f Fenhnore Cooper's novel^in which she denominates another as ?'belonging to the 'standing-up religion,'" meaning ho doubt Ritualistic Episcopalians who take a hint in this respect from their , friend the Pharisee in the temple.—l am, «&c, Ralph Stanleigh.—P.S. On expressing my surprise and making enquiries I find that 'this practice is not common to the New Zea land church, but peculiar to this parbiculiar church, and I also learn that a large number of the congregation disapprove of it, but. conform rather than bring themselves into hostility with the minister, who is, I am told, a worthy man in other respects,—R.S

The Provisional Grand Lodge _of Good Templars will meet to-morrow evening in the Alb-. r!i street Temperance Hall for business of importance.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE.

Yestfrday evening a labouring man residing in Union-street, City West, went into the Ptobert Burna Hotel and asked for whiskey, but ;«s be was under the influence of drink and in a greatly excited state the landlord (Mr Daffsy) refused to serve him. He was angry at this, and went out of the house, and on reaching his home went into his bedroom and tore up some of the bed clothes, which he twisted together into ropn-fashion, and, making a noose, he fast ened the other end to a large nail in a beam. Having placed his neck in tne noose he kicked the chair from under him, the fall of which brought his wife into the room. She at once discovered her her husband suspended by the neck from the nail. Blood was oozing from his nose and month. With remarkable presence of mind she inshed into the next room for a knite— he was then kicking violently—and cut him down. He fell heavily on the floor. She bathed bis face for some time, when he slowly recovered his self-possessioa and came round. It appears that he had been drinking heavily, and was suffering from delirium tremens. We were not able to learn the name of the would be-suicide, but he is well-known at the hotel, also in the neighbourhood of Union-street, and is recovering from his folly.

SUPREME COURT.-This Day.

SITTINGS IN BANKRUPTCY. (Before His Honor Sir G. A. Arney, Knight, Chief Justice.) Tie Simon Drydest. Mr Alexander for the bankrupt. The bankrupt, in this case, was a miner who had, a short time back, an allotment adjoining the Bendigo Independent. An action for trespass was brought against him by that company and a verdict returned in their favour. This led to Mr Dryden filing his schedule. The assets of the bankrupt in cash and scrip in September, 1873, were £339 14-; 6d, while the liabilities were only £91. la March, 1871, the bankrupt's balance fchcct shows a deficit of £473 53. There was no opposition and the discharge wao granted. Re William Er mukd Sadler. Bankrupt was described as a grocer in Par nt.ii. His liabilities were put down at £107 03 9d. Pressure by a creditor was ascribed as the cause of bankruptcy. Be tween November, 1873, and May, 1874, the receipts were £52; son's wages, £19 10s ; borrowed money, £1; taking the census, £10 -total, £82 10s. These were absorbed in household expenses, leaving a deficiency of £114 03 9d, against which assets consist ing of stock-in-trade, yalued at £7, had to be set.

Theie was no opposition, and the discharge was granted. Re Thomas Milne Machattib.

Mr frees appeared for the bankrupt. This was an application for his discharge on the part of the bankrupt, who is well known. The preliminaries in this bank ruptcy were taken some years ago, but the order had been withheld in consequence of the interminable disputes arising out of the accounts.

Mr Machattie now received his discharge subject, to an affidavit being filed that he liau given due notice of his intention to claim his discharge.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Thos. Beckham, Esq., R.M.) FUN, FROLTC, AND COSTS. James F.very was charged with being drank yesterday hi Shortland-street. Prisoner said ho was a carpenter, and was out for a bit of fun. It appeared that while prisoner was in a merry mood he went into Mr Hesketh's office *nd seated himself in the office chair, and declared he would not resign his position under £20. A constable was sent for, who touk prisoner to the station house. He had forgotten the circumstances, and was fined 10s and costs. —Richard Kelly, a new arrival, was also adjudged to pay the same amount or to go to prison for twenty-four hours. NAOMl's EXHIBITION. Naomi Boatwright appeared in Court with her faca radiant with smiles, charged with being intoxicated and very disorderly this morning in Nelson-street. Prisoner acknowledged that she had exhi bitad herself this morning very early, and that she had taken a wee drop over night. She was vary anxious to see the comet, but was not successful. Naomi was ordered to pay a fm9 of 20a and coats, or adjourn to Mount Eden for twenty four hours. . . T/N-NEIGHBOUBLY NEIGHBOURS. Jane Smith was charged with threatening to burn down the house of Johanna Grace on the 26th of July; and Johanna Grace, a quiet-looking" elderly lady, was about to be charged with threatening to kill Jane Smith in June last, Mr Laishley appeared for Mrs Smith and Mr Joy for Mrs Grace. The parties were neighbours living near to each other in the locality of Mount Edec ; and Air 3 Smith, it appeared, was not of a sober disposition, but she intended eotne day to become a Good Templaress, but not yet. When in her cups Mrs Smith S!dd strange things, and made threats which made tha mind of Mrs Grace so> unhappy that, she could notsleep o' nights. She feared Mra Smith might oarrj her threats into execu tioa and burn down her house. Mr Laishley informed his Worship that he had done his best to conciliate the parties but without affect. Mr Joy had also used his persuasive eloquence to little purpose. Mrs Smith was at length bound over to ke»p the' peace for three months, herself in £20 and two sureties in £10 each.

Mr Joy asked that the case might be adjourned until to-morrow, as it had taken his client, Mrs Grace, by surprise. Adjourned accordingly.

MEETING OF BOARD OF HEALTH.

A meeting of the Board of Health was held to-day at the Proviucial Government Offices. Present : Messrs Dignan, Reed, Phillips, and Dr. Philson. A considerable amount of correspondence was read relative to bring ing the Health Act into operation in various districts. Reports were received from the two Health Inspectors recently appointed relative to the nuisance in their several suburban districts. The Board to whom the subject had been referred recommended the carrying into effect as soon as possible the removal of the slaughterhouse from Newmarket and the erection of suitable buildings on the Bite recommended by the committee of the Pro vincial Council, namely, at Ann's Bridge. Further action was taken with reference to the depot at Arch Hill, and it was inti soated that the City Council were earn er, tly endeavouring to overcome the diffi culties of this unsavoury question. Ap plication wa3 received from -Warnock Brothers praying protection against the City Council who have given them notice to remove their soap-boiling establishment

from Chapel-street, or that in the event of n relief being afforded, that all similar estah! lishments should be placed on a similar foot ing, and compelled to remove into the conn try. A reply was ordered to the effect tW no interference with the action of the City Council would be made, but that no permit sion would in future be given for the establishment of such .manufactories in thj midst of populate- P^Yand. flqbgAion waa^j, ceived from V^■ !'«tz^orDer mission to esr^^^r^bgf^ *«<£ at Mechanics'^- \£k&&!. regjiisf 6 engaged to ha^**^, . K "t«fl tallow all done SF .^to^SfS-kfifo merely the operatio^^WJ the, M] * with ebemicala p£^* ' J» innocuous »-&&> ' ,% On «? see* »£:' t£- iff^pjKga refused permission, confii^i! V'/^"', vious resolution of the local J"/B _ Health, which bad been hostile to till °? cation. Letters were read complainff. %f the offensive and noxious smells emanate from Mr A {lender's soap factory, at Parnelf during the process of boiling and rendering fat, and counter statement! received as to the absence of nuisance, tthn Central Board ordered the secretary to com municate with the Parnell local Board of Health,- directing them to prohibit Mr Allender from further boiling and rendering fat on bia premises in Parnell. The Bowl adjourned for a fortnight.

PARLIAMENTARY.

[By Electric Telegraph.]

MILLIOIT AND A-HALF LOAN.

On the House meeting yesterday after. noon Mr Vogel announced the result of the million and a-half loan. Tenders were called for at 98 per cent., but certain allowances were made which reduced it equal to £96 9a and £673.400 was disposed of at that figure the balance £52G,600 averaged £95 4s 2d. ' TH7, ELECTORATE BILL. Mr Vogel further said that the qualification of Electors Bill was not of such a pressing nature as to warrant the lengthening of the session. It would probably not be proceeded with this session. Mr Stafford expressed himself perfectly satisfied. MEMRERS AND GOVERNMENT CON. < TRACTS. The Speaker read the House a letter from Mr Montgomery, setting forth that in ignor anceof the Disqualification Act he had entered into a contract for sleepers with the Govern. men*, and now prayed that the House may inquire into the matter and determine whether his seat was vacant. Mr Richardson placed all the papers in relation to the matter upon the table, and a select committee is to be appointed to enquire into it. SECOND READINGS. The New Plymouth Exchanges Validation Bill was read a second time.- The Nelson Waste Lands Act Amendment Bill was read a second time and referred to the Waste Lands Committee. PROMISES TO NATIVES. „ An adjourned debate took place on the question of unfulfilled promises to natives la the Middle Island. The Premier thought that if the natives had a grievance why not move the House by petition. He must discountenance the motion. Mr Macandrew observed that the matter was getting too much of a joke. The claim ■was for two million acres. They knew that besides^ complying with the deed of cession the Provincial Government had paid £5,009 as liquidation in full for .all claims ao asto prevent any litigation, but not as a matter of right. Mr Kelly suggested that as the session would probably close in a week or two the matter had better be referred to the Public Petitions Committee. Mr Gillies recommended the same course, though he had good reason to believe that the Middle Island natives had too good & claim for the House to treat the matter cavalierly. These claims might be exagge rated, but they "cere undoubtedly bbß stantial. Mr.Sheehan said it was useless asserting , that the natives had no claims ; for that they have, which had been put upon the records of the House. He hoped the Commission would inquire into lite whole matter. Mr Tairoa said that arrangements had been made with Colonel Wakefleld: namely, that the natives should have one acre out of ten, which was not carried out. He could also refer the House to the Constitution Act to shew that the purchase was not properly made, but as it was the wish of the Hoase he would refar the matter to the Publift Petitions Committee. The original motion was withdrawn. * DESPATCHES TO THE AGENT* GENERAL. Mr Vogel's lato despatches to the Agent- General, relative to immigration, have beep laid on the table, and denounce in very strong terms the want of proper inspection aria carelessness manifested in the selection of persons sent out. The Premier instance! various vessels, the immigrants by which were drunken, immoral, professed thieves, and diseased. He also animadverts strongly upon the shipment of paupers by Mrs Howard. Dr Featherstone in reply to the latter;complaint statejj that Mr? Howard-had been discharged before the Premier 1! tell* gram waa received. lih SECOND READINGS. The Haw&e'S Bay Waste Xindi Bill mm Wellington Waterworks Loan Bill were read a second time. On the motion 'tor second reading of tm Wellington Reclamation Bill the Premitt pointed out that the Bill was not specifio enough as to details of the operations for which it was proposed to borrow the largo aum of £150,000. They could not be,too cautious with such Bills. It was referred to. a Select Committee. MAYORAL ELECTIONS. *■<* On the motion for second reading.of fcßuj to provide for the election of the Mayor of Wellington by the burgesses, Mr Sheeh»» moved that the Bill be so altered as.to ntt» it a general measure applying to the wholf colony. In Auckland, on the West Coast, and in other places the ratepayers were anxious to have the power of electing t"e Mayor without the intervention ef Conn* cillors. a . Mr Richardson thought such an importanl alteration in the present law should notM made so summarily. Some municipall??* might prefer the existing arrangements. Sir C. Wilson and Mr Wakefield took » , similar view. -\ _..._£gji"wf Mr Macandrew hoped the~*«*fc*»^ f dealt with in its original form. If 8 s=;-^j tended only for Wellington. 'jeu^ I , Mr Fitzherbert opposed the alte.»c,rx f the Bill. ■ T*< It was read a second time as introda >a» The Southland Waste Lands Act .Am 6?"' ment Bill was read a second time ana re ferred to the Waste Lands Committee. Upon the motion of the Premier the com mittal of the Nelson Waterworks Loan Bw for £25,000 was postponed for a order to learn more as to the disposal 01W j money to be raised,

ffli -mtwMm 'gisi'a;;gtftr"RßPAy > toby so, igw.



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