SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATKB : This evening. 6.11; fo-mowa* moroln?. 537

SUN'-SEf . T!!s *venißj, 5.53 ; STTS-KISB: So morrow mor uag, 5 49 M XjHTS aof : Full Moon, 26th, 9.46 a.m.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

ARR'VALS. Pwowena, s b., (put back disabled) Southe;ii Cross, r.s., Holmes, from Napier

DEPARTURES.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES. I"or the South—Taranaki, s s., Friday For Sydney—Hero. p.s.. Thursday, 2 p.m For Richmond River—Gem, chooner, shortly For NeweiStlfe—Montana, barque, and Isabella, brig. early For Sydney— Harriet Armitags, barque, early . For London—Countess of Kintore. ship, to-morrow

Thames and Ferndile, barques, early For San Francisco—Lorh Urr barque, early For DunediL — 'Vaifcatn ship, early For Sydne*- and Me.bourne—Victoria, S.S., three days after her arrival

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Vivid, from f ircular Head. "■ asmania, daily lien Tsin, barque, from Launceston, daily Taranaki, s s., from the South Victoria, s.s , from Sydney, uncertain Jackson, ship, from London ; sailed ZeaUnriia. ship, from London ; sa'led 9th July Btariley Castle, barque, from London ; sai.'ed 9th July Hyrlaspes, ship, from London ; sailed August Assaye, shit), from London ; Failed August Waitatigi, ship, from London ; loading Dauntless (Hawaiian schooner), from New Caledonia, early Vision, brig, from TJunedin, early Paaehi. brig, from Oamaru ear'y MaeelUo Oloud from Chatham Islands, early Pearl, ketch, from South Sei Islands, early Emn. auxiliary screw schooner, from Lyttelton, early Kenilworth. schooner, fr^m the Islands Belle Brandon, schooner, from Levuka, early

EXPORTS.

Per Atlanta, for Napier : 43,200 ft tim ber, 11.000 shingles, Is. H, McKenzie; 10 tons drain pipes, Boyd.—D. H. Mockenzie, agent.

ACCIDENT TO THE ROWENA.

The s.s T?owena "fas compelled to put back last night owing to having met with an accidfnt to her screw. We have been furnished with the following report of the occurrence : —" The s.s Eowena yesterday morning, at half-past six, while off Tutukaka, 80 miles from Auckland, and about four miles from the land, all of a sudden broke Jbfcr shaft and lost her propeller. The boat was going about six knots against a head i-wind under easy steam ; wind N.W. and no heavy sea. Neither captain nor engineer'can in any way account for the accident. Captain Macgregor at once made for Auckland under canvas, arriving in harbour last night at nine o'clock. Unable to land passengers owing to the heavy seilo'ii " The Kowena was observed anchored in one of the little bays close to Orakei at an early hour this morning. She had lost her foremast head. She had not come up the harbour at a late hour this afternoon.

The A P.P. Co.'s s.s. Southern Cross, overdue from Napier, wss observed under steam early this morning trying to force her way up against the westerly gale. t-'he was only able to make headway very slowly. The s.s. Hero has been detained until two o'clock on Friday next The schooner Atalanta cleared out this afternoon for Napier with a cargo of timber Bhipped by D. H. Mackenzie.

The Coromandel beat Hauraki has had her departure deferred till eight o'clock to-night. The Star of the South was intended to sta»t for Napier and the South at five o'clock punctually.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails wtll Close as follows :— For Thames, this day", at 5.30 p.m.,- and to-morrow,

»t 10.30 a m. '"or Coromandel to-morrow, at 5.30 p.m. For Taranaki, via Waitara, per Go-ahe3d, to

moTow, at 10 a.m. For "Waiwera and Warkworth, per Lady Bowen, to

morrow, at 10 a.m. For Anstralian Colonies, per Hero, to-morrow, at 1 p.m. For money orders, registered letters, and news papers, at noon Late letters for Sydney and Melbourne will be received till 1.30 p. m, For the undermentioned places, per Taranaki on Fri 'af, 25th instant, as under:— , For India, China, Mediterranean Ports, and Continent of Europe, at 5 a.m. For Taranaki, Southern provinces, and Austra lian Colonies, at 6 am. For the United Kingdom, via Suez and South ampton, at 6 am. For the United Kingdom, via Brindisi, at 6.30 a. m. For newspapers, at 5 a.m. ■

For money orders, and registered letters, o Thursday-, 24th instant, at 5 a.m. For Whitiangi, Tairua, Opotiki, and Napier, via Tauranga, per Southern Cross, on Saturday ij^xt, _ at 1 p. m. - Mails for Australian Colonies, via Melbourne, close at Hokitika at 1 p.m. to mm-row. S, B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

KißKwonD— On "eptemher 22, at Al ci Eoad, Mrs Jno. Kirkwood, of a daughter.

DEATH.

Rakkin— On September 23, at the residence of Mr George McCrae, Oratei Road, Remuera, Margaret Rankin, relict of the late Mr John Rankin, Kilmarnock

1 he funeral will leave her late residence at 3 p.m. on Friday, 25th instant.

Jones—On 23rd instant, at Fden Terrace, Eiward Oeorge Jones, only son of Fdward and Mary Ann Jones ; aged 1 year and It months.

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

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1874.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance. For the fature in the distance. Ami the good that ttb can do.

It wili be interesting to watch the solution of the present " difficulty" respecting the navigation of the Piako. Within tho water sheds of that river are situated a large area of the most fertile lands in the 2Corth Island, and no inconsiderable portion of it has been acquired by European holders. Now certain chiefs presume to interpose their authority, and forbid the communication between thi g district and the outer world, and in a letter to the Thames Advr-ri iser proclaim that tho navigation to the Piako is btopped. "This is the wrong ; listen," say our sable brethren, "the niggardliness of their regula tions for ihafc steamer to us, to the Maories." As is well put by the Thames Advertiser-, the " niggardliness " probably consist* in the disinclination on the nart of the owners to

carry the Maork-s and their goods gratui tously. Kow it is difficult to withhold a feeling of sympathy, if not admiration, for these Maories, and we assert they are doing what is perfectly right;. Of course this very much depends on the side or point of view from which we look at the question. But we look at it from their point of view, and so viewed the course taken is quite proper. Of course it may be said that the extension of commerce and settlement in their district will be to their advantage, and they probably see that as well as we do. But they have not the least desire to stop either commerce or settlement, but very wisely to levy a little black mail, and to have their sorrows soothed by the motherly hand of Sir Donald McLean. Quite as well as we they know what a bug bear there is in a "native difficulty," and how inopportune just now would be the rumour wafted to England of an imbroglio with the Maoris. Therefore friend salutations, this is our word, the way of the steamer is stopped. They do not specify how many bags of flou r or kegs of rum they require on this particular occasion. That is a matter for subsequent detail. They will get all they want, or we greatly mistake, and what is to be done should be "done quickly. Not improbably the "niggardliness " of the owners of the steamer in their dealings with the natives—to wit in charging them for conveyance, will require to be rectified by. a Bubsidy of

such an amount as will give free freight and passage to the niggers. It will be charged to native and defence purposes, and as no one can enquire into the expenditure on this account there will be no bother about it. If it were any where else but in New Zealand, and under any other Government but one whose native policy is based on flour and sugar, a gun boat would accompany the Buona Ventura' and " friend salutations this is our word to you, the way of the steamer is open, 5' would be significantly whispered in the brazen muzzles peeping over her sides. However this is not to be thought of when everything must be subordinated to the necessity for raising money in England, and so it is advisable that the rum and the flour and the saddles and the sugar should be handed over at once, so that the hearts of those who desire advance of settlement may be relieved by gracious words of concession from oar dark-skinned masters.

"Oxonian" writes strongly protesting against the proposed amalgamation between the Nonpareil and Italian Companies. He says :—lt is admitted on all hands, and the reporters in the Gross arid Herald only last week said as much, that the Nonpareil mine is as good as ivorTced out unless they go to great expense in sinking another shaft about 350 feet deep. On the other hand, the Italian mine is almost intact, and they have just got on to the well-known No. 1 Non pareil lode or reef, which is showing gold already. Shares in the latter mine are selling at 2s. 3d., and on enquiry at the Exchange to-day I find the Nonpareil paid-up scrip can be bought for ss. In the face of this is it reasonable to suppose that the Italian shareholders will agree to give four oi theirs for one in the Nonpareil, andalso to hand over all their funds to the said Nonpareil Company, when shares in the latter will be further reduced in value by the issue of 4,500 new scrip. I would recommend the Italian shareholders to defer the considera tion of amalgamation for a short time longer, whea according to all appearance the manager will be in a position to pay them a dividend as no further dead work has to be done, and they are now breaking down a golden reef. After that the Nonpareil directors will pro bably make us a fair and reasonable offer.

"We are informed that in the event of the Taranaki not arriving to-morrow or the gale continuing, the Suez mails will be forwarded by the Hero via Sydney. The Government had arranged for the Taranaki to connect with the Tararua, and but for the heavy weather we are having nothing would have interfered with this arrangement. Definite information will appear in t.he postal notices published to-morrow.

The. first of the series of popular lectures was delivered last evening in the Grafton-road school by Mr Battley, C. J. Stone, Esq., in the chair. The subject was archaeological discoveries among the ruins of Pompeii, the temple of Jara, and classical vestigea of other marvels of the sunny East. The lecture was of a most interesting character, and evidenced great research and reading on the part of the talented, lecturer. At its close Mr Battley received the thanks of the audience.

The Auckland correspondent of the Dane din Tablet says : " The most unpopular man in the Province of Auckland at this moment is Mr Vdgel. On the other hand the most popular of our political characters is Mr O'ftorke."

Mr J. P. Sweeney thus bears testimony to the efficacy of the Hot Springs, Waiwera, in cases of paralysis. — "I, as is well known to many in Auckland, had been suffer ing for about three months from a paralytic stroke, my right arm and los; being compara tively useless. By the advice of some of my friends I was induced to try a course of bathing at the Hot Springs, and commenced it on the 6th inst I took a bath of twenty minutes duration every morning and evening, and after each re mained for from one to two hours covered with blankets. Alter the first three dajs a great improvement was noticeable, and on the 18th inst. I was convalescent. I beg most respectfully to express my gratitude to E. Perkins, Esq., and other gentlemen who advised and assisted me to visit tho Springs, and also to Mr and Mrs Webb, tiie host and hostess of the Waiwera hotel, for their uni form kiudness and attention towards me while 1 was there "

One of the vagaries of the wind this morn ing was the sweeping away of an original map of the Waikato, prepared by Mr J. Wareham, a,tid upon which three months labour had been expended preparatory to printing it. Auy one who may have picked it up will be conferring a favour upon .the owner and subscribers by restoring it to the address named in advertisement elswhere.

An EvESIXG Star runner writes furnish ing the name of a customer who ha 3 done him out of (sixpence. Our runners are trades men on their own account, and if they con tract bad debts the loss falls on themselves ; it is, therefore, a great hardship for them to be robbed of their just dues, as it is the lowest depth of meanness for any person to take and read a paper at the cost of hard working lads. \Ve trust the defaulter will take the hiut and square up.

The following requisition is in course of signature in the Newmarket district, and has already 25 names appended to it :—" To Messrs \V. Morgan, Jas. O.sborue and John McN'eill, trustees of the Newmarket High way Board. We, the undersigned ratepayers of the Newmarket district, respectfully request you to resign your offices as trustees of the above Board.'' The chairman and one member of the Board have already resigned in consequence of differences amoiif4 the members, who havenot worked harmo uiously together, and if a majority of the ratepayers desire that the remainder should give up their offices in order that the Super intendent may appoint a new Board, we cannot sec how the members so requested can becomingly continue to manage the affairs of the district. Unfortunately the Newmarket ratepayers entertain such strong viesvs, tending in wholly opposite directions, that a thoroughly popular and successful Board is almost an impossibility.

A meeting of St. James' Presbyterian Sunday-school was held last evening in connection with the Sunday-school Union Exhibition. After a hymn had been sung by the children Mr Hammond addressed the meeting in a well wordei speech, followed by an address from Mr Webster. The choir rendered two pieces during the evening in excellent style, and the meeting was brought to a close by another hymn from the children and prayer

A meeting of ihe ratepayers of Newmarket will be held this evening in Mr Sceats' Royal George Hotel for the purpose of electing two trustees in the places of Messrs Clayton and Keein, resigned. We have been requested to notify that the first general rehearsal for the Festival of the Diocesan Choral Union will take place to-morrow (Thursday) evening at Sfc. Paul's Church at half-past seven o'clock. A correspondent writes:—"l trust your readers are|not weariedwiththeconstantdran upon their benevolence. I would solicit their sympathy and a donation if possible to the succour of a poor widow — Mrs McLean—who is now struggling with poverty and sorrow, together with five poor orphans, whoa short time ago were left friendless by the accidental death of the father, who was killed by the falling of a tree at Ramarama. The poor man was working in the bush to support his poor family, and in a moment was hurried into eternity, leaving them in almost starvation. lam sure this unfortunate circumstance has only to be more public, when a"practical, sympathetic response will be given in her aid by our now proverbial Auckland philanthropists." We shall be glad to acknowledge any donation. A list also lies at Messrs Close Bros., who will receive the smallest and largest tributes. The Minstrels were highly successful last evening at the Prince of Wales Theatre in their comic representations and sentimental melodies. Several new songs of a local char acter were introduced, such as the " Auckland Fireman,"and others, which drew immensely. " Bill Jones' Cousin " was also applauded. Mr Herman was excellent on the violin. The farce entitled the "Lunatic Asylum" was well received, as well as the other features of the programme. This is a first rate entertain ment, and as the California Minstrels will bring their series to a close at the end of the present week every person who has not en joyed, their ministrelsy, frolic, and fun should take an opportnnity of seeing them. Whoever causes a hearty laugh among his fellow men does so much good, and a good laugh is an antidote to biliousness. To-night there is an entire change in the programme, which is both lengthy and varied.

At Mr Gr. W. Heslop's Art Union draw ing of sewing machines last evening, in the Mechanics' Institute, the following were the successful numbers :—lst prize, No 24 ---2 nd, No 73 ; 3rd, No 169 ; 4th, No 59 : sth' No 117; 6th, No4S; 7th, No 2; Bth, No 189; 9fch, No 202; 10th, No 32; 11th, No 104 ; 12th, No 159 ; 13th, No 160; 14th, No 172. The first prize was obtained by Mr Atkin, printer ; and the second, by Mr Ebenezer Hadrill, shipping reporter to the I New Zealand Herald. . I

I The rough windy weather last evening prevented numbers of persons from attending Mrs Tomes' concert at the Newton Hall, otherwise the concert was meritorious and successful. We hope Mrs Tomes will not be deterred from continuing her excellent con certs in consequence of unavoidable circuai-

The members of the disbanded Auckland Volunteer Artillery Corps held a large meet ing last evening in the Provincial HoteJ, Sergeant Hatswell in the chair. A letter was read from Mr. E. H. Featon requesting a copy of the resolutions and the result of the meeting, as he had determined not to be present. Mr Devore, secretary, read a com munication from the same retired officer, dated September 17th, resigning his trust and disclaiming any further connection with the corps. The "balance in favour of the corps was £30 9s 3d, which the members might use as they liked. It was proposed by MrDavies, and seconded by Mr McMaster, "That the statement of accounts supplied by Mr Featon be not accepted ; and that the moneys, £30 9s 3d, now in the Bank of New Zealand, and the property belonging to the corps, still in the custody of Mr Featon, be handed over to Mr J)evore." It was also re3olved " That the' moneys be divided in equal proportions among the members of the late corps who may be entitled to receive the same." It was further resolved " That Mr Featon be compelled to account to the members for the money received and ex pended by him in connection with the late corps." After a good deal of discussion upon the conduct of their late commander and the accounts, the secretary moved, and Mr McMaster seconded, " That Mr Featorj having premedifcatedly refused to attend the meeting the membars of the late corps are of opinion that he is unable satisfactorily to account for moneys received by him." This was carried almost unanimously. Mr Skin ner, however, could not vote in favour of the resolution, as he considered that it- was a packed meeting, and a feeling of spleen against their late worthy officer seemed to pervade the meeting. He was not the champion and defender of Captain Featon • all he wished for was fair play. Several other resolutions were passed in relation to Captain Featon expressive of disapproval, and the meeting separated in the usual way.

A ludicrous incident happened this morn ing in Hobson-street. A worthy butcher, not a hundred miles from the Prince of Wale 3 Hotel, imprudently opening the bick door of his shop, which, admitting the wind, caused sad havoc amongst suudry chop 3 and steaks, literally sending them Hying into the road, to the intense delight of a number of small boys who were amongst the spectators.

The Excelsior Good Templars wiil hold an npon lodge soiree this evening in the LJdwardes-afcreel; school, when speeches, recitations, ballads, and musical selections will be given. The examination of George Thorne, ]nn.., in the Court of Bankruptcy, will be resumed to-morrow before His Honor Sir G. A, Arney, Chief Justice

The grand concert in aid of the funds of the Auckland Volunteer Engineer and City Band, unrlc- the patronage of the Mayor and officers of the Volunteer corps, will take place thia evening in the Choral Hall. An excellent programme will be offered for the occasion. A meeting of the members of the Auckland Fire Btigade will be held thi.3 evening at the Albert-street Engine-station for business of importance iv connection with the brigade.

The committee of the Early Clo3in« Associa tion have decided to have their annual ball in the Lome-street Hall on the evening of Thursday, the 24th inst. We learn that a large number of tickets have already been sold, and that the drapers' ball i 3 likely to be a great success.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Thomas Beekham, Esq., R.M.) .TOMS AND ANNE.

Nancy Finnc and John Green Black were charged with being top-heavy, their legs refusing to perform their natural functions, in consequence of which Nancy ami John found were sprawling, the former in Chancery atreet, the latter in Queen-street. The prisoners pleaded guilty, and being their second offence were fined 203 and costs or the usual term of imprisonment. A STOWAWAY.

Walter Stewart was charged with having no visible lawful means of a livelihood. Prisoner, who appeared to be a youth of weak mind, pleaded guilty. Mr Broham aaid prisoner had come from Duuedin as a stowaway in a vessel, and was found in a destitute condition on the wharf. Hia Worship remarked on the strange appearance of prisoner, and recommended soap and water to his face, and that he should be examined by a medical mau. The case was theiefore remanded until Saturday. ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE. Charles Blake, on remand r was again brought up on a chargo of violently assault ing Thomas Rennie on the evening of Sunday last, and robbing him of his purse, containing £3 10s and some silver. Thomas Walter Rennie, with a terribly bruised face, deposed that he was a seaman, and was paid off the Prince Eupert on Saturday last, and that on Sunday evening, about seven o'clock, he was induced to walk out with prisoner as far as Symonds-street, when the outrage was committed upon witness, accompanied with robbery, as described in last night's Evbnixg Star. Witness stated that prisoner threatened to murder him if he did not at once hand over all the money in his possession, swearing and striking him all the time; he feared from hia manner that he would carry his threat into execution. Prisoner escaped and ran down Abercrombie street. He identified the purse and the notes (Union Bank) as his property. To His Worship : He had known prisoner about six months ; he used to work on the cutter "Scotsman," and boarded in the same lodging house in Queen-street. John McMahon deposed that he lived with his parents in Abercrombie-street, and on Sunday evening last, alittlebeforeelghto'clock, he heard cries of " Police !" and " Murder !" proceeding from Symonds-streel;, and. observed the prosecutor, Rennie, coming to wards him with a dreadfully cut face, covered with blood and dirt. According to his request I assisted him to the Police Station. He had seen prisoner at Mrs Lastie's, in Wakefield-street, about two o'clock on the Sunday, when he stated that

he had no money and was "hard up." Elizabeth Stringer, a married lady, staying at Mrs Lastie's, deposed that on Sunday aforementioned prisoner came into the house with John McMahon. He (the prisoner) had promised to lend witness some money to assist in buying some furniture. He went away, and returned a little before nine o'clock. He appeared somewhat excited, and asked her to speak with him in the kitchen. He then gave her two £1 notes. She changed one the next day, and the other ahe gave to Mrs Lastie. Prisoner hav ing given her the money went into the yard, His clothes were soiled, and one of his^hands was swollen ; he said he had fallen down and hurt it. She handed the purse and the difference of the money to Serjeant-Major Pardy.

William Laatie deposed that he lived with his mother in Wakefield-streefc, and remembered the circumstances described by Mrs Stringer; he corroborated her evidence.

Alexander Barr, of the Globe Hotel, Wakefield-street, deposed that the last wit ness came into his hotel on Sunday evening, and got change for a one pound note for Mrs Stringer. The note produced is the same.

Sergeant-Major Pardy deposed to receiving

information of the robbery from prosecutor, who described prisoner as the man who had assaulted and robbed him. He went to the house of Mrs Lastie about ten o'clock and found him asleep on a sofa. He roused him and charged him with having robbed Thomas E-ennie of a purse containing the notes and silver. He denied the charge and all know ledge of prosecutor. He searched him, and found 10a 4d on him. Mrs Las ie and 'Mrs Stringer told witness in pris ne 's prese-ice that they had seen him with a i.lack leather purse in his possession, which witnr-ss foaud secreted in. the yard. The depositions of the several witness s were then read over, and the prisoner, who maintained a stolid indifference throughout the healing of the case, was fully commiUeit for trial at the next criminal sittings.

THE PAPATOITOi

KrILIATIOX CASE,

■William Laxon, jun., of Papatoitoi. again appeared on a charge of refusing to contribute towards the support of Harriet Green's baby, he being the putative father. Mr Armstrong appeared for the young woman, and Mr Laishiey for defendant. Mr Laishiey asked that the evidence of the witnesses previously examined might be read over in order to* refresh their minds upon the matter at issue. Frederick Hayborough, of Papatoitoi, knew the complainant, and had a conversation with her at Burnside's ; she told him that a Mrs Carr had been spreading a report about her, aud that if the report was true, it was all owing to her husband, John Carr. To Mr Armstrong : He was never on intimate terms with Harriet Green His Worship : It is a very marvellous thing that the girl should tell you these things, and you a bachelor. How came she to tell you of the circumstance. How did it begin. Witness : I really don't know.

Hi 3 Worship: It is of great consequence to the girl, and I feel it to be my duty to demand an answer.

Witness : It is so long ago that I cannot remember. She had been to Carr's, and said that sho had been blowing up Mrs Carr. William Laxon, senr., deposed that he had never se^n any familiarity between his son and complainant. Mr LaUhley then addressed the Court. His Worship ordered defendant to pay eight shillings per week.

LITERARY PRIZE FIGHT AT CORO MANDEL.

stances.

A telegram from our Coromandel corres pondent last week announced that the notori ous personal onslaught between the editor of the Moil, the goldflelds journal, and a small party organ called the News, had cul minated in the former punching the head of the latter. A correspondent furnishes ns with the following graphic account of the affair:—"An event that has long been looked forward to with an immense amount of interest by the sporting fraternity of Coro mandel has, I have received an intimation, at length been settled. Odds have varied very much ; first one and then the other haa been backed. Latterly, in consequence of one of the combatants not paying as strict attention to his training as his friends could have desired, he was much too fleshy. That his wary opponent perceived at a glance, and consequently did, as the boys in the street are often by onlookers urged to do, viz., "Go in, little an, and win," jwent in, although perhaps taller, yet evidently much lighter. It is not often in our days that there is a combat regarding a ' faire ladye,' therefore this became the more interesting. The combatants feeling it to be a matter of such immense importance, did all that could be done to give uclat to the whole proceed ings, and would not, as you or I Mr Editor would have done, had a ' rough and tumble' on the ' village green,' but met to ' do or die' under a silken canopy. The Pakeha- Maori, better known by his sporting friends as 'Podgy,' and the Tasmanian Pet, well known here as 'Cockey-Wall,' met—'no second, no bottle-holder, no sponge even, that might be skied, the usual token of defeat in all pugilistic encounters, was there ; no dofeat on either side was dreamt of, there fore the onlookers shuddered as they met to commence round the first. ' Podgy ' came up smiling,—but, oh, such a smile ! ghastly, sickly, deathly, are all to feeble to express the horror depicted in his face when ' Cockey- Wall,' thehero of a hundred fights (in writing) stepped into the magic 24ft square (that is near enough as to space, certainly an empty tobacco case or two might have made the arena a trifle smaller) with flashing eye and compressed lip, looked his opponent over from head to toa (not far between them) with determination clearly stamped on every line o£ his face. ' Podgy ' commenced by shuffling round a bundle of long-booka, and one of the empty cases before spoken of. ' Cockey' waa not to be had ; he was too wary to follow his man le3t he might stum ble, and give away a chance, stood with head erect, shoulders well back, left well to the front, and eye beaming defiance, th© picture of a Gladiator (on a small scale) eyed his man as a ' More Pork' would a mouse. Seeing his man at some distance ' Podgy' feinted with his left, and hit out over his head with his right, but his man wasn't there. ' Cockey' noticing the evident confusion of ' Podgy' determined to have a shy, so he let fly with his left out of distance, fiddled in a little closer, shot out his right, still he was short; he rubbed his arms and smiled, evidently trying to coax ' Podgy' out of his corner. ' Podgy' not to be had. ' Cockey' at last espied an opening, and availed himself of it, and then (to those engaged) a more desperate bloodless round was fought than is to be found recorded in the pages of ' Baxiana.' ' Podgy,' finding his time was come, determined to do or die (he did nothing, and did not die), but he deceived himself, and the lookers on bundled out, head down (much resembling a small bale of black cloth rolled out of a corner), evidently meaning to deal destruction to somebody or something. ' Cockey's' know ledge of the ' noble art' now stood him in joocl stead, for by a piece of splendid ; nanoeuvring he got ' Podgy's' head in chancery,' and the 'fibbing' which would lave ensued would have been as great and dolent as that which has lately appeared in >rint, but of a different character, and with out a doubt the punishment; he would have idministered would have been of such a evera character that poor 'Podgy'would have ieen laid up for months, if even he had ever ecovered. But fate or the devil ordained it therwise (the latter I should say, for folks

otherwise (the latter I should say, for folka tell me he is fond of his own), for just as * Cockey' had ' Podery' at his mercy a bundle of Silk fell between and separated them). No other round was attempted, although 'Cockey' earn* up smiling, anxious for another shy, by * Podgy,' in direct contradiction to all the eulogiums that have been passed on him by his f— (1 was going to say friends, but Ido not think he has any, without they are at the old Maori place of residence), died the most per fect dunghill that can be imagined. Ob, Mr Editor, can man be descended from the ape. Apes are vicious, and I hear ' Podgy' is going to evidence his valour by bringing to a Court of justice for thrashing him a man about half his weight and old enough to be his father. If this be a specimen of your colonial pluck and prize-fighting it will be a very long time before I will be induced to back any man for a cent, without I first have a shake-bag with him to know what he is made of,—Yours. P.R." B

ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

(FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT). LoxDorf, July 28 FASHIONABLE MASKED BALLS.

Masked balls are becoming very fashion able in London. One of the most successful was given by Lady Marian Alford, and was an extraordinary affair. The Prince and Piinecfw of "vTj»les were there, and. every one in the Wi-st End. To prevent mistakes it h (1 bf c■■ arranged that married women i slioul'l wear red feathers in their hair, and unmarried ladies white ones ; but no pro vision was made for distinguishing married men, an that some really melancholy mistakes' occurred since the men all wore dominoes ■which hid the face. In more than one instance it was reported that both husbands and wives flirted with each other unwittingly with great ardour till supper time came and masks were removed, when disclosures of great interest took place, and sundry sarcastic remarks were made. On the whole the ball proved more agreeable to the hostess than to some of the guests. THE QUEEN'S MANIA FOR TOMB STONES. The Queen is just now afflicted with a ciaze for tombstones. She has long had a sepulchral sort of turn, but latterly she has not been content with Albert memorials and mausoleums, but is beginning to smell about J the bones of her long-buried and forgotten I ancestors, and to erect late in the day monu ■ ments to their glorification. I suppose an j old lady with an enormous income, tind very j little to spend it on must do silly things j sometimes, but it seems a, pity that she should not lay out her coin on works of usefulness, such as orphanages, churches, and things of that kind instead of senseless piles of stone to the memory of folks whom very ! few people ever heard of and nobody cares | for. The latest thing has been to remove the Duke of Branfort's tomb in the south aisle of St. George's Chapel, Windsor and to erect in its place a gorgeous chapel and monument to the Duke of Kent. What with Frogmore, the Hyde Park memorial, the Prince Consort's Chapel at Windsor, the tomb to General Grey, and the sarcophagus for the Emperor Napoleon, to say nothing of minor erections, the Queen must have spent a million of money on these follies. Of course the money is her own, and she has a perfect right to do what she likes with it, but it seems a pity that she should Hot set a better example of use fulness to her subjects. If she were to set the example of building a hospital and en dowing it people would soon follow suit. NEW TYPE DAILY. The Printer's Register makes an announce ment at once so startling and gratifying to newspaper proprietors that I cannot do better than quote the words in which it is put forth :—" The combination of the Type Founding Company's patent type-casting and finishing machine, with the type com posing machine, whereby the fitsed metal is within two minutes converted into a perfect type, and whilst yet warm*conveyed through the two machines into the stick of the compositor, indicates the dawn of a new era in daily newspaper printing, it being an ascertained fact that the manufacture of new type daily for the composer is attended wig| less cost than the distribution and resetting into lilies for the machine. Wej therefore, confidently look to the time—not by any means distant—when one at least of our leading daily journals will every morning _ appear with entirely new founts, the Patent Type Founding Company having already de livered a first instalment of the machinery, and busily eDgaged in cutting new punches of minion and bourgeois to the order of the enterprising firm who will inaugm*ate this mo3t startling of trade innovations. SUICIDE OF ANT AMERICAN GOVERNESS. You may remember some little time ago the fact of the suicide by jumping off Waterloo Bridge of a young American lady named Alice Blanche Oswald. This unfor tunate girl had been engaged as a governess by a Scotch "lady" whilst travelling in America ; had been brought by her to England. When this person did not any longer require the ser vices of her governess she. dismissed her, refusing to either send her back to America or afford her temporary shelter. Not suc ceeding in obtaining another situation, and in view of nothing but the streets, the poor girl made away with herself. The history was a very sad one, and the Scotchwoman became a marked individual. The girl was buried by subscription at the working necropo lis, and a committee of American ladies have erected a most beautiful monument over the grave. It consists of a rustic cross in marble resting on a cluster of rocks chiselled out of white marble. On a slab placed on the rocks is the following inscription : - "Alice Blanche Oswald—kithless, kinless orphan. Died of despair in the Thames, sth September, 1872 ;19 on the 20th of the month. By Thy infinite goodness forgive me." Crowds, of people have visited the monument. THE QUEEN AT A NATIONAL REVIEW. 1 must give you an item or two about the Cobham review, as I had the fortune to be ! very near the Quean, and so had the oppor tunity of seeing things that every fellow did not " spot." The Queen drove on to the ground in a very shabby carriage drawn by four ill-favoured greys. I tell it in grief. The escort consisted of four men and a boy with a trumpet, the whole under the com mand of Marshal-Provost Prout. The Queen wore a hat, which, considering her age and appearance, did not become her in the least and I hope some one told her so. She looks. much better in a bonnet. Her Majesty made an excellent luncheon of a salad, some sandwiches and brandy and seltzer, and she was quite at home amongst these refections. John Brown, bless the man, was all there, and un packed the hamper, and bareheaded served his royal mistress, and afterwards made very pretty play himself among the broken victuals. The Illustrated News artist stood near me sketching the Queen's hat, and the mob were at a respectful distance. It is pleasant to know that the Queens-appetite, and that of John Brown, are uaimpared by time. I hope the readers of the Stab will properly appreciate the foregoing bit of " Jeamesism." IMPROVIDENCE OF WORKMEN. \

The extravagances of the uppsr strata of society are rivalled and even exceeded by those of the labouring classes. If a noble man gives £1,000 for a piece of china, or a wife of a manufacturer spends twice as much on a garden party, there is always this to be said for them, that they do not in committ ing such follies either deprive their families of necessaries or bring ruin upon themselves. But -with our labourers it is different. They exhibit a reckless indifference to the present and future, and a forgetfulness of the past which is truly lamentable. The miners are the worst examples. A story is told by a local paper of a miner at Atter cliffe, near Sheffield, who entered a butcher's shop and ordered a steak to be cut from a piece that lay on the block, saying, "he was not particular to an ounce either way." The meat was cut and one shilling and four pence paid for it when the man quietly dropped it to his dog,' waited till the animal had devoured it, and

then sauntered off. taneonaL^\7p miner was seen to fc """"Ma * and give them to Hn A __ i 18* hand, only af c w day^ ■£ Hi otW and his wife were T^** £r^ for neglecting their cu TVn^ A «vij" wereflund by the ,|T^ S<>.»&?*? lying oca heap of cot; DR? <* C lo /H ture of the home, a^te N, l* was "a bucket, fendftK^^g,^ mattress, covered with filth, on wW^ii* whole family slept." The father i^. |* toxicated, and the mother ■was bo $jJ\ that she could not hold the baby in if arms. The man was in receipt of £2 IQ week. After this who will aay that hill? wages mean prosperity. tt DEATH OF A NEW ZEALAND VETERAN. *D Major Villers Le Marchant Butler of th 65th Regiment, died suddenly the other day He was wounded in the New Zealand n?Z' and was widely known and respected as an officer of great gallantry and a gentleman of most kindly and genial disposition. g« was found dead in his bedroom at his lotto ings, Regents Park, in a pool of blood «&" at the inquest it transpired that the breaKm? of a blood-vessel was the cause of death

CRUSADE AGAINST BETTING. The great crusade against betting W resulted in the summoning of Mr Chaplin M.P., before the magistrates for' permitting betting to go on at Newmarket. The magistrates dismissed the ease, but granted an appeal, and the matter is to be taken be fore the Queen's Eench. The Jockey Club is greatly excited'; and as for the legion of blackguards and black-legs who livCj aixd live well, by swindling at race-meetinga, they are all " standing on their heads" in terror.. The admirers of the turf declare with tears in their eyes that if betting be excluded from the race-course the breed of race -horses -trill decline, and that with it English horses everywhere, and even England herself, will g0 to the bad. But of course such an assertion must be accepted with extreme caution more especially as the Jockey Club itself has lately admitted that racing is injuring the breed of horses ; and those who think that tbe demoralization of mankind is of more importance, than the elevation of the hone will in any case probably agree that no matter what the result, the gambling system which strikes at the root of all our prosper ity as a nation ought to be done away with at once.

THE STORM.

SCENE IN THE HAEBOTJB.

The equinoctial gales seem to have set in with unusual force and persistency this

Spring. For nearly three weeks, with but slight intermission, have we now had a" continuance of hard westerly gales, which, from the accounts received from the potts on the West Coast, and from vessels arriving from Australia, would appear to nave pre vailed over a very extended area. Last night, instead of abating, as it usually does towards evening, the force of the wind increased, and the gradual fall of the barometer, as well asthe dirty appearance of the horizon to windward, gave every indication of what is vulgarly called a "sneezer." In the haibcrar the masters of the vessels lying on the west side of tie wharf began to look very serions orer - it, and people generally recollecting the shaky condition of that part of the wharf from the watermen's Btep3 to the ferry T, and looking at the weight of the vessels pressing against it, began to speculate as to whether it ■would stand the strain or not. The barque Montana, which had taken advantage cf a lull in the early morning to haul away from the wharf, was hanging with both anchors down only about 100 yards above I;he City of Auckland, and threatened throughout the night to come down upon her. A little cutter laden with bricks, and named the Helen Msegregor, was the first to succumb to the storm. Being very heavily laden she filled and sunk just before suntet. One of Mr Thos. Henderson's ballast boats, the Triad, with a load of shingle for the Moneynick, had dropped in close to the wharf, and the blow coming on while she was in this position she hung *in great jeopardy during the night, and soon after five this morning she too filled and sank - the.twb men on board having to jump overboard, ■: and be hauled up on to the wharf. At three o'clock this morning the gale had at tained hurricane force, and the sea was breaking over the vessels moored broadside on to it at the wharf with very grand but most unpleasant effect. It was at this time barely possible for a pedestrian to keep his footing on the wharf, v hile the spray wai nearly blinding, flying over in great white showers which at a distance looked more like clouds of steam. Captain Rails, of the City of Auckland not feeling exactly comfortable with the big hull of the Mon tana looming threateningly on his starboard bow braced up his yards and made every preparation to ease off a collision if it came* This appeared inevitable towards daybreak, for it was evident that the power of the wind was too much for the empty, castle like, American-built barque, in spite of her two anchors and a warp made fast to the . screw mooring, and she drifted slowly tut surely down, carrying the buoy with her. Fortunately, however, the set of the tide at this time was outwards, and she went clear. At eight o'clock she had drifted down past the • Ferndale and the Hero,: and brought up about 100 yards below the wharf. About two o'clock this morning the cutter Seabird, belonging to Mr Roe, which had been at anchor off Smale's Point, dragged away from her anchorage and came down with a run upon the solid portion of the wharf. She struck just to the south of Messrs Waikere 1 gum warehouse, and her stern and keel were extensively damaged by grinding on the scoria stones! of the embankment. The yacht Fleetwing, belonging to Messrs J. and D. Oxley, dragged her anchor towards morning, and by nine o'clock was bobbing, nose under about 50 feet from the port bow \ of the barque Loch TJrr. At ten o'clock her '■■ owners determined to make an effort to safar* her if possible, and promised a substantial reward to any crew who would take out*; line and make the yacht fast to the square buoy to the westward. A crew of vqluntaerfc was soon made vp v and Captain Rails offered one of his ship's gigs for the work. The men f were furnished with cork jackets, and *U being ready the boat was lowered from the' davits. As soon however as she touched the waters she began to go astern, and in spite of * all the efforts of the men to make headway they were unable to, and ultimately had to drift round to leeward of the wharf aud give over the job. Captain J. Kennedy, of the schooner Effie Meikle, and his crew—George: Strugnell, Thomas Wyatt, Oscar Schultz*; r and Peter Collins—next offered to make the attempt, and, having obtained the use of the _ beautiful light whale-boat belonging to the Golden Crown, started from the east side of the wharf. Quite a crowd i>jt persons watched their determined efforts to make way against the cutting blast sai^o^. heavy sea. After nearly an hour's pulli||f^ they fetched under the lee of the coal buli| and there had a spell. Then they sta rtfd ; again, and after another hard, naif howr 1" managed to reach, the buoy. The rest of the work was comparatively easy to men used to v. work on the West Coast like C»pt,Kennedy

smi sfiiriMi ifc&st wctibmi* irtiffEfcMfeifli 23, ttffi



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