SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

STTN-SBT: This evening, 7.16 BTTN-RISE: To morrow morntaff, 5 7 HIGH WATER : This evening, 7.49 ; to-morro* morning, 8.14

ARRIVALS.

v«? .^ c,hooner, from Napier JSffle Meikle, schooner, from Napier

DEPARTURES.

_, VESSELS EXPECTED. «,.r of tlie Soutl>, ss, from Levuka, early Alice Cameron, barqne, from Sydney Ladybird, ss, from the South, early Empreza, barque, from Liverpool. Sailed October Dauntless, schooner, from New Caledonia, early Beatrice, barque, from New York, via Adelaide Wave Queen, ship, from London. Sailed October 14 Anazi, barque, from London. Sailed October 31 Lauderdale, ship, from London. Sailed October 19 Queen of the Age, ship, from London Wueen of the South, barque, from Dunedin, early

IMPORTS.

Per Success, from Napier : 107 bales wool, YV. Potter ; 164 hides, Ireland Bros.

The schooner Success arrived in harbonr on Saturday afternoon from Napier, bringing a cargo of wool and hides. She had fine weather and light winds throughout the passage.

The Effie Meikle arrived on Saturday night from Napier with a cargo. The Golden Isle brings 116 tons coal from Russell.

The Tawera schooner from Poveity Bay brings 5 bales of wool, G. E. Reid ; 100 bales of wool, Johnston and Co. ; 173 sacks grass seed, 11 casks of tallow, 12 hides, 35 sheep, G. E. Reid.—J. S. Macfar lane and Co., agents.

COMMERCIAL.

At Messrs Coehrane and Sons sale of valuable freehold suburban residence sites at Remnera to-day, five lots were disposed of at the following pi ices :—£72 10s, £70, £45, £60, £75. The lots averaged from is acre to 1£ acres each.

Calls.

, . £ s. d. Date. Albion Coal Co; 0 15 0 Feb. 1 National' Bank of N.Z. .. 010 1 April 1 National Bank of N.Z. .. 010 0 July 1

CHIEF 'POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Under :— For Thames, this day, at 5.30 pm, and to-morrow, at 10.30 am and 5.30 p m - For Coromandel, on Wednesday, atl.3op m For Wangarei Heads, Waipn, Waogarei, and Mangapai, per Bertha, to-morrow, at 9 a m For Newcastle, per Glenhuntly, to-morrow, at lpm For \\ liitian, a, Tairua, Tauranga. and Opotiki, per Southern Cross, to-morrow, at 3 pm , (Signed) S. B. Bibs. Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

IKivkk —On the 18th instant, at her residence, Nelson street, the wife of G. Keven of a son.

DEATHS.

STArNHousB.—-At her late residence, Parnell, this morning, Mrs Stainliouso ; aged 70 years. The funeral will leave at 3.30 pm to-morrow. Friends please nccept this invitation. Stretton. —On the 17th instant, at Parua Jlxy, Wangarei Heads, William OeorgoStephenson, sixth son of Frederick Stretton, of Grey street, Auckland ; aged 1(5 years.

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

MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 1874.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance. And tho food that we can do

The annual district meeting of the Man chester Unity of Odd Fellows on Friday last suggests a subjectof the utmost importance to working men. We fear a very large portion of our labouring population may justly be charged with improvidence, and to this cause might in all probability be traced nine tenths of the cases of distress that arise in the community. With sickness and death everywhere around, reminding us constantly of our own liability to those human ills, we may well wonder that opportunities for making provision for what must sooner or later bef al us all are so systematically neglected, while sums of money much more than suf ficient to make ample provision for the dis tresses attendant on disease and death are extravagantly frittered away on trifles, or wasted in ways that actually promote the ills which through their agency the man is left so utterly unprepared to meet. Ib is not our intention to enter into any goody goody homilies after the fashion of certain periodicals and stump orators, by showing that every man who drinks three glasses of beer a week might, by investing it in an insurance policy, secure to his wife and family £100 at his death; nor do we in tend to adduce statistics with the view of proving how much a working man could save off his tobacco. Those who have really studied the trials attendant on a life of hard manual labour, and the fewness of its joys, will not begrudge the workman of his pipe, nor yet of an occasional and moderate stimulant in the middle of the day, when felt to be necessary. It is the night tippling, when home is deserted for the tavern, and debauchery takes the place of the refreshing rest of labour, that the gigantic evils are created under which unfortunately a large section of our labouring population suffers. Among the movements antagonistic to this habitual drinking wo are glad to recognise in Good Templary a practical common sense, and a freedom from the bigotry which has characterized many attempted reforms in the same direction. It is not, however, to the discussion of tern" perance that we desire just now to direct our remarks, although in the present social condition of the people drinking habits are, no doubt, in nearly all cases more or less associated with improvidence; but we would point out in a friendly way to the working men of Auckland (of whom we believe there is scarcely one who does not read the Siar), the necessity for devoting a portion of their earnings during the present season of pros perity towards making provision for less prosperous days. To depend, however, on mere saving in the ordinary sense of the term is not the wisest course. Our wants invariably increase with our means of grati fying them, and it is, after all, but human nature, and by no means its worst type, if the possession of more money leads to a little extra indulgence in the comforts and luxuries of life, and, pfirhaps, in an increase of liberality towards the many deserving ob jects of charity around us. Economy, to be successful, must be systematic, and it is hero that the great benefit of sick clubs and in surance becomes manifest. Through the medium of the first, working men are enabled to secure medical aid and provide for their most pressing necessities at a time when they would otherwise be left destitute, and by the second they may save those dear to them from having the pinch of want added to the distresses, of, bereavement. It is no doubt natural for all'to calculate on'a good lease of life, but events around are daily shewing how unsafe and inexcusably imprudent it is to do so. The cost of making the necessary provision alluded to is so small that no healthy working man in this colony, where labour is well paid, if he be' at all thrifty, need neglect to avail himself of one or both of these safe-guards against destitution. The njles of the most excellent order of

Odd Fellows, of Foresters, and kindred societies are generally well-known. Most of the societies in Auckland are, we believe, in a position to give guarantees of soundness, and even if it were not so it would only be necessary for intelligent working men to actively interest themselves in the management of such societies which are sound in principle, in order to place them on a firm and profitable basis. We need scarcely refer at greater length to the benefits conferred by these societies, but it will not be out of place to make a few passing re marks on the scheme of life a«suranco established by the Government, which is less understood and availed of than it should be by the working classes. In this institution, by quarterly payments of 10s 4d (being less than tenpence per week), a man of thirty years of age may secure £100 to his family at his death, or a thrifty housewife may, if her husband neglect the duty, make such provision in cate of the loss of the bread winner of the family. A man insuring at thirty must live to be 7S years of ago before he would have paid premiums equal to the whole sum insured for. It is true that the premiums if saved and invested at good interest would give considerably more than £100 by the time a man reached the a^e of 78, but years must elapse ere anything like a serviceable amount would be amassed by these smnll savings, while on the other hand in the case of insurance the moment one premium is paid, that moment is £100 secured in case of death. In how many instances, too, do wo find many shillings a week wasted without any provisions being made against the evil day. When the important duties wo have referred to are strictly performed by men, we are not of those who would restrict their enjoyments so long as they ate kept within the bounds of moderation and do not exceed their means. It is gratifying to see .1 working man take pleasure in beautifying his home even though the money so expended might, if hoarded in a long stocking, have gone a long way towards filling it. Where tastes and temperaments differ so widely men cannot all be tied down to one course nor guided by the same ixile. Experience has however shewn that that tlie small effort necessary to fccure regular pay ments in a sick club or insurance fund, tends to foster habits of economy and pro vidence which become developed in every relation of life ; and in the majority of instances the man who is sustaining these drains on his income will also bo the man who is most rapidly filling up the stocking. The question is one as largely affecting housewives as it does men, and to thrni tt'e would commend it. If they, by persuasiveness and wifely thrift, rigidly however eschewing Caudle lectures, will bring their inlluencc to bear in the desired direction a needful reform pregnant with benefit to all classes will soon be effected

His Honor the Superintendent leaves for the North this evening in the s.s. Itowcna. He will be accompanied by Messrs I*. Dig nan, M.P.C., G. M. Reed, Provincial Trea surer ; D. A. Tolc, Commissioner of Crown Lands; 11. All right, Provincial Epginuer; and W. Mitchell, Clerk to the Executive. It is intended to proceed to Mangonui by the Rowena, and thence return visiting the various ports in succession.

Two deputations waited upon his Honor the Superintendent to-day. One was from the Mount Albeit District Board in reference to the continuation of the New North I toad, His Honor promised to take the application of the deputation into consideration when it was put into a written form. The other deputation was from the Auck land Total Abstinence Society, praying his Honor to sanction a resolution passed at their meeting last night relative to selling their allotment. Tho Superintendent said he was willing to approve of their resolution on condition that tho proceeds of Lho sale of the allotments were paid into his hands to be dealt with as the Act requires.

It may be mentioned .is indicating the wide reputation of the Sletr that at the meeting of seamen held in Wellington to consider the rate of wages it was resolved that a telegram be sent to the Auckland Star announcing the result of their deliberations. This was the only journal in the colony which it was deemed advisable or necessary to take special measures to advise of the resolution arrived at by the seamen. We merely men tion this somewhat trivial circumstance in the hope of teaching a useful lesson to those 'who would endeavour by giving or withholding patronage to influence the inde pendence of the Star. The support derived from one or a score of the most influential men in Auckland would be dearly bought, even in a pecuniary point of view, if secured at the sacrifice of any of that independence which has gained for the Star a colonial reputation. We are woil aware that to sacrifice the freedom which we have hitherto maintained of expressing our views plainly on every public question would be the most eucidal policy the S/ar could pur sue, and must soon reduce it to such a state in popular estimation as would render its favour or onmity not worth purchasing. The Star is in a position to rely on the pub lic at large for support without courting the patronage of any clique or party. The wide circulation of the paper affords advertisers better value for their money than any other journal in New Zealand is in a position to do. And with bhat they must rest satisfied.

The pending divorce case Carpenter v Car penter will be commenced to-morrow (Tues day) morning in the Supreme Court at ten o'clock, and owing to the strange disclosures to be made—which are we imderstand of a very remarkable character—the case, it ia expected,, will occupy the attention of the Court during the.whole of the day and pro bably the greater part of Wednesday.

The ciicket match between the Auckland and North Shore clubs on Saturday termi nated in a victory for the latter, the numbers being :—Auckland, first innings, 52 ; second, 57 ; North Shore, first innings, 09 ; second, 10, with only two wickets down, the stumps being drawn at this stage of the game. The West End club played a friendly match against the Standard in the Albert Harracks, and came off victorious in one innings, with thirty runs to spare.

To the Editor : Sir, —By the account of the match in the Cross of this morning it would appear that the North Shore Cricket Club has not been beaten once this season. Such is contrary to fact. For in the two matches played this season against that Club by the West End Cricket Club the latter was victorious. The Graf ton Eoad Cricket Club has also beaten the North Shore Cricket Club this season. It should be observed that the matches against the West End and Graf ton Cricket Clubs were played on the North Shore Club's own ground —I am, &c, Observer.

Capt. M'Donald, of the Success, has adopted a style of fishing which is a novelty i n Napier. Several mornings recently he has exploded a charge of dynamite under water, the result being great slaughter among the fish. On the first occasion, in addition to a large catch of herrings, several kawai, a fine eel, a flatfish, &c, made their appearance on the surface of the water, and were picked up. Pish killed in this manner do not show the slightest sign of injury, and as articles of food arc in no way deteriorated,

We have received a copy of the Poverty Bay Herald, a journal printed at Gisborne in opposition to the Standard. Some surprise will naturally be expressed at the publica tion of two newspapers in a district so sparsely settled as Poverty Bay, but it is generally believed that the object in establishing the Hi nth! is scarcely so much to supply the wants of the district .as to meet the views of certain persons, who have taken umbrage at the independence displayed by the spirited paper already published at Poverty Bay/ For our own part we shall continue to prefer the Standard, and do not iear for its ultimate triumph over cliqueism. Hitherto it has been well-conducted, and as we believe it possesses the confidence and support of the bulk of the settlers in the district, Auckland advertisers desirous of reaching tlie people of Poverty Bay will find t'ae columns of the Standard serve their purpose.

To the Editor : Sir, —Having just seen re port of difference and dispute concerning the projected big dock for Auckland a relative thought arose in me, which I now offer to you. Query—Who are the deciding electors on this vc.rrtfa que-itio. Sir, you perfectly well know the standing House of Commons law pertaining to personal interest, biaw, &c. Sir M. I'etc, on accepting a Government con tract, did, of course, and in due regular course, vacate his scat, &c., &c. That is law. No personal interest to interfere with the great public good ! ! Here, now, does the property of the voters for shallow west side of wharf lie on same west side ? Does it? If it docs, sir, I say that they should not vote at all for it whichever is best.—l am, &c, W. E. Sadler.

In alluding to the prejudice that existed against the Otago members of the House of Representatives a few years ago, Mr Vogel, at the late banquet," told the following capital story, the truth of which he vouched for:—"A Dunedin member, having gone to Wellington to attend the Assembly, was looking for lodgings. He went to a house and he arranged with the landlady various details, and then he added, ' As I shall of necessity come home very late you will have to keep the door open for me.' ' Oh ! sir,' replied the landlady, ' when there's no Assembly .sitting wo willingly keep the door open all night. But now we can't do it, for there are a £{oo<l many people from Dunedin and Otago up here !' "

Mr Macandrow, the Superintendent of Otago, anticipates a season of depression after the present prosperity. In proposing (he health of the guest at the late banquet to Mr Vogel, he said : " We have got a few men who will insist that the fruits of Mr Vogol's measures will bo bitter fruits. I think there can be no doubt whatever tint the prosperity which pervades the whole of New Zealand at this moment will be followed by a season of depression. I think that is the law of Nature Pint, gentlemen, I believe, while that depression may affect individuals, the material progress and comfort of the country will be very greatly in creased."

On Saturday afternoon the officers of H.M. Customs held a meeting in the Insurance buildings for the purpose of pre senting the silver ink-stand and case to If S. MoKolla., Esq., to which we refeired in .Saturday's Star. The meeting was of an interesting character ; Mr A. Rose was called to tho chair, and presented the ink stand in the names of all the officers of If.M. Customs, both in Auckland and Onobunga, to which presentation Mr Mclvellar returned thanks. Mr McKellar hns acted as Collector of Customs for this port during the last seven years.

Writing of the English cricketers wlio In holy arrived in Melbourne, the Daily Tlmpx correspondent from that city says : —

' >f all tho snobbery which has come under my knowledge in this snobbery-loving community I think this of the All England Eleven excels all the others. The Eleven (or rather twelve) consists of five who are called " gentlemen," and seven who are called "professionals." The line of distinction is made broad and distinct. The gentlemen come out in the first-class, the professionals—low fellows—in the second. On arriving the gentlemen take up their quarters at a first-class hotel—but one of lower order in Bonrke street is thought good enough, for the professionals. But it may be said, after all, some difference must be made between gentlemen who play cricket, and come so far merely to play it for sport, and in the exercise of a noble emulation, and men who get their living by it, and are paid to come hero. Paid, quotha ! The head of the gentlemen and of the whole team is Mr. W. Ci. Grace, and lie, before coming, bargained for £1200 in advance. The other gentlemen stipulated for from £300 to £400 each, and the poor professionals get about £100.

A case of refusing the ritea of Christian burial to a man who died while in a state of intoxication has occurred at Queenstown, Otago. John Hayes, an old miner, was re turning home to the Shotover with his mates on December 30, and while resting on the top of a track, accidentally rolled over a pre cipice and was killed. A verdict of accidental death was returned. The man was affected by liquor. His remains were brought into Queenstown, when the priest refused to per form the funeral ceremony, and objected to his being buried in the Catholic department of tho cemetery. The trustees replied that the ground was theirs, and that tho inter ment should take place. The priest refused to allow any of his flock to read prayers over the deceased, and Mr Worthington, of the Church of England, read a prayer.

While such a return as that recently laid before the British Parliament forms a record of life in England we can hardly wonder at the desire which induces so many thousands to forsake their native land and look for a homo in the colonies. It appears from this paper that the number of deaths from starva tion within the London metropolitan dis trict during tho year 1872 amounted to 83 dismal cases, besides 13inthe easterndivision of Middlesex, The great majority of deaths were those of young children or elderly people. Referring to this return, the Pall Mall Gazette says :—" Deaths from starva tion are unhappily so numerous nowadays that the majority of people rarely pay much attention to the reports of the daily papers of inquests held on the bodies of those who die from want and privation."

The quiet folks of Wanganui are in arms against a rush of applications for public house licenses. The Wanijanui Herald, al luding to the subject, says : "We have heard it argued that low public-houses are a necessity for low people, and argued, too, by a magistrate. Now we have no sympathy with such a degrading doctrine. Nothing low is a necessity. Is it to be tolerated that people of low tastes and habits must be pampered in their vicious tendencies by those appointed to protect society ? We think not. Wo have heard it on good authority that three persons in this town intend applying for licenses at the next licensing day ; and we have also heard that two out of three have stated that they were going into the "public line" because they could not get livings in their own business. Well, we pity the creature who cannot " live " in these times in this colony. But grant they cannot "live," is that a reason why the community should be debauched by a, low shanty or two in every street,"

The Misse3 Taylor's graDd vocal and J instrumental concert will take place this | (veiling, at the Choral Hall, at the usual , hour. Tlie programme iv another column will .shew the names of many of the singers and the character of the concert, and Madame Moiler, Mr Reid, and many of our best amateurs will take part in the pro ceedings, and, as the weather is favourable, the entertainment will be largely patronised. We recommend those of our readers to take tlie opportuuityjjof listening to these ladies who have appeared with great success at the Crystal Palace and in Christchurch, as they may not have another chance of doing so.

To-night, and during the evenings of the present week, the splendid pantomime of the '• House that Jack Built " will be performed at the Prince of Wales Theatre by Messrs Collier, McGowan, and their efficient com pany. The scenery (by Mr Williams) is entirely new, and the grand march of the Lilliputian army of new recruits will be an interesting sight. A comic drama will precede the pantomime. A solemn pontifical requiem mass was celebrated this morning in St. Patrick's Cathedral for the repose of the soul of the late Itight Eev. Dr. Pompallier. The cele brant was the Bishop of Auckland. In London an intelligent policeman found a woman lying in the street with a fractured skull, and locked her up as a drunkard !

The promoters of the Mechanics' Institute Exhibition are determined to leave no stone unturned in order that the exhibition may suit every taste, and be completely success ful. This evening there will be a musical entertainment, commencing at eight o'clock, when the band of the Royal Volunteers will play several choice selections of music. The Waikouaiti Herald excuses the non appearance of a letter by saying that one of its compositors is " on the spree." _ One of the most important questions which the Superintendent and his Executive will have to grapple with is making suitable pro vision for tlie settlement of the large number of immigrants who may now be expected. We notice that the Canterbury Provincial Council has made a move in this direction by voting a sum of money " for the purpose of erecting cottages on certain unoccupied public reserves, for the purpose of providing accommodation for newly-arrived immigrants with families, thereby facilitating the settle ment of the country." The scarcity of labour in Canterbury is pretty clearly testified to by the fact stated in a Southern journal that a large saw-mill proprietor there would bo glad to get twenty bushmen at one shilling an hour and found.

On the Northern line of railway, near Kaia poi, about S,OOO young trees have been planted this year with a view of protecting the line from the sand which is blown about in this neighbourhood. The Total * bstdincrs held a large open-air meeting on Saturday evening on the old market site. The original platform, with its picturesque lamps, was introduced. Mr E. Carr filled the chair, and made an able speech, temperate and reasonable, to which numbers listened with marked attention. Messrs Adair and Robinson also spoke upon the subject with considerable power, and Mr Cieorgc Staines expressed his opinions on moderate drinking, and obtained a fair hear ing. Wo would recommend the friends to win over the Drum and Fife Band, and the Quo en-street teetotal scene would then form a subject worthy the pencil of Ceorge Cruick shank.

Dr. Temple, Bishop of Exeter, has dis covered a novel as well as a useful mode of spending his summer holidays. Proceeding to the isolated parish of St. Breward, in the north of Cornwall, he liberated the vicar, Dr Marcvn, for a month, and took upon himself the whole of the duties of the parish, per forming the usual services in the church and in the chapel of ease, two miles distant. The members of the legal profession in Napier have received a circular from head quarters to the effect that they are to appear before his Honor Judga Weston in full canonicals.

It is currently reported that on the re sumption of business in the Court of Session a few weeks hence an application for divorce will be filed by a young gentleman, resident in the outskirts ot Edinburgh, ■who was re cently bequeathed an immense fortune. It is stated that therewillbo several co-respond ents, one of whom is supposed to be travel ling on the Continent at present. The lady's alleged dishonoring of the marriage vow is said to have come to the knowledge of her husband through a letter, addressed to an other gentleman, accidently falling into his hands.

Bishop Suter, of Nelson, was present at the recent Church Congress at Bath, and made some remarks in criticism of the Confessional movement|which were not well received by the Anglo-CathoHcs present who seemed to forma majority. The following account is from the Daily News : "Towards the end of his speech the Bishop held up apamphletbeforethemeet ing, and announced that it was published by a committee who declared that it was to a priest that a child must confess his or her sins. At this there was a slight uproar. ' Now, ought I,' he demanded, 'to admit into my diocese a man who thinks that ?' At this there was more uproar, and discordant shouts of ' Yes, ;yes,' ' No, no,' and ' Ques tion.' Heading from the pamphlet, Bishop Suter continued : ' It is to the priest, and to the priest alone, that a child must ac knowledge his sins if he desires God to forgive him.' At this there was a great up roar, in the midst of which Dr Suter man aged to shout' 'If any man comes before me for admission to my diocese holding those views: I must say to him ', bub the sen tence was not finished. The Bishop's voice was drowned in the din, and the President suggesting that the case was really one for the Bishop's own authority, and the allotted ten minutes having expired, the speaker re sumed his seat, leaving us, by the nature of interruptions, to infer that the suppositions holder of the views quoted would have but the faintest chances in the diocese of Nel son.

Return of sick treated at the Provincial Hospital during the week ending Saturday, January 17, 1874 : —Eemained last return,* 63; admitted since, 13; discharged, 7; died, 0 ; remaining, 69 (males, 57 ; females, 12). Arrangement of cases: Rheumatism, 10; syphilis, 4; cancer, 2 ; lupus, 1 j scrofula, 1; phthisis, S ; paralysis, 4; opthalmia, 1 ; heart disease, 1; bronchitis, 5 ; asthma, 1 ; fistula, 2 ; dyspepsia*, 1; caries and necrosis, 5 ; abscess and ulcer, 7 ; psonasis, 1 ; keloid, 1 ; fractures, 4; sprain, 1; Avounds and contusions, 4 ; amputation, 1 j debility, 4. No death occurred during the week.

Our able contemporary the Wellington Post makes some very sensible remarks on the clap-trajJ which finds expression in the oft-repeated assertion that a man has or has not "a stake" in the country. The editor expresses his opinion with an amount of feeling which seems almost to bespeak ex perience that " one of the best possible stakes a man can have in the country is a large family. Property can be sold and the owner take the proceeds and depart. A large family is not so easily disposed of, and no man will be likely to take a greater in terest in the welfare of the colony than he who is tied to it by a large family, who has to look to it as the future home of his chil dren, and who depends upon the progress of the commonwealth to enable him to earn a living and provide for his offspring."

The Committee of the Turkish Bath Com rany will hold a meeting to-morrow evening in the Choral Hall, Onehunga,— the meeting proposed to havo been held in Auckland hav ing failed through insufficientaftendance. As numbers of shareholders reside m Onchunga a good meeting will possibly be the result. We are requested to intimate to the mem l.ers and adherents of the Presbyterian Church, North Shore, that the congregational meeting, inadvertently called for to-morrow evening, will he held instead on the follow ing Wednesday evening at the same pJace.

A favourite fishing ground for Europeans and natives was the mouth of the Kapanga creek, in the Coromandel harbour We learn that this year there is scarcely a fish to begot in this water, and it is conjectured that the refuse from some of the beach batteries and workings has poisoned or 'driven away tne finny tribe from this favourite haunt, To-monw the children of the Sabbath Schools at the North Shore are to be in dulged in a great treat, to wit an excursion and pic-nic on the island of Motuihi. The Takapuna, ferry steamer, will leave the Devonport wharf; at nine o'clock m the merning to convey the children of the schools connected with the English and Presbyterian Churches, and will return in the evening to re-convey the children to their homes. We understand that this trip is a special favour from the directors of the Ferry Company to the schools of the district, which embrace the children of the residents of every de nomination.

A new road has lately been made near the railway crossing at Otahuhu, and those who have travelled over it complain that for about a quarter of a mile it is the very worst bit of made road they ever experienced. The metal is said to be exceedingly rough and loose, and greatly in need of binding with red scoria ash or other suitable material. As the line will soon be open to Otahuhu, and this is the road to the proposed station, whoever is responsible should be required^ to make some improvement and alteration preparatory to the reception of the large portion of passenger and goods traffic:! which will be taken over this new thorough fare. Some of the settlers at Otahuhu are of opinion that the line might have been taken much nearer to the township, but it is rather late to amend this now as the vi ork is nearly completed. The station is about half-a-mile from the South Road, and to the non-professional eye there appears no reason why the railway should not have been in close proximity to it. There may, however, be some engineering diffi culties (which experts alone aie quailied. to speak about) which have led to the very con siderable detour to the westward which here takes place. Despite of this drawback the settlers in and around Otahuhu will gladly welcome the arrival of the iron horse in their vicinity, and trust no unnecessary delay will prevent his advent at an early date.

Much to the surprise of the residents in the neighbourhood, and despite of the ex cellent promises made at starting, the co operative store at Otahuhu is shut up after a very short life. It is also said there is a difficulty in getting at the state of accounts, and ascertaining how matters really stand. The local storekeepers will probably regard this as a triumph, but the majority of in habitants would most probably have been glad if the co-operative piinciple had had a little longer trial amongst them. It is not unlikely, however, that the affair will be revived again before long

According to a time-table published in Sydney the first mail via San Francisco will leave Liverpool on January 10th ; New York, January 23rd ; and San Francisco on the2Sth. The stoppage of the steamer at San Francisco is stated at thirteen days, the interval for reply in New South Wales eleven days, and in England five days. We hope the New Zealand Government "will publish a time table for this colony as early as possible.

One of the most serious and annoying dangers with which Russian statesmen have to contend is the chance that their capital may some fine day disappear altogether. It is well-known to the Government that St. Petersburg is insecure, and probably grows more insecure every year, but no precaution seems so be of any avail. On October 15, for instance, the capital must have been in frightful danger. The water driven by the wind into the Gulf of Finland met the: waters of the Neva, drove them back, and. caused a sudden rising of the river, ap parently to nearly 13 feet, flooding the lower parts of the city, and heaving up the wooden pavement in front of the Winter Palace for nearly its entire length. The streets, of course, were literally turned into rivers, and the bridges became impassable. But one other flood, that of 1824, has risea so high, and if the wind, which hurls the Gull of Finland on the Neva, were only to blow steadily for three or four days the piles might in the end give way. The Russian Government would, we have read, be willing to moye the capital but for the frightful expense attending it; but could not Dusch engmeern suggest some form of dyke ? The force of the Neva can hardly be greater than that of the sea at some places on the Dutch coast.

Great indignation lias been evoked at Darwen (Lancashire) by the prosecution of two Primitive Methodist ministers — the Revs. J. Hay worth and J. Crompton for street pseaching. They were each fined, and in default committed for seven days, both refusing to pay the fine. Mr Cromp ton spent one night in prison, and was then released, a friend paying his fine. Mr Hayworth however was marched off to Preton gaol, handcuffed to a navvy, whom he tried to convert, but who roughly told J 11™*0 ''shut up." A demonstration was. held at Darwen to protest against the perse cution. It was largely attended, and several resolutions were passed.

A young married man applied to the Islington Guardians for admission into the workhouse on the ground that his wife had deserted him. On being asked how many children he had he said there was only one child, whom his wife had taken with her. He was admitted to the house.

..■f thnlling catastrophe occurred on the lulls about five miles from Scranton. Penn sylvania, at a place called Buhn's Pach A large number of women and girls 'from Seranton were on the hills gathering berries when a storm came up from the south, and they rushed into an untenanted building to takeshelterfromthedownpouringraio About forty-one women and children found room in the old house, while seven were obliged to stand outside under the [storm With the increasing storm the sheets of fire began to descend, the lightning becoming more Mvid, and the peals of thunder seeming to advance from distant caverns until the old building began to tremble. At length a lightning shaft more vivid than any that had preceded it descended among the unhappy group of women and girls, killing two of them, and scorching in a frightful n anner four others, tearing the flesh off their limbs and producing a heart-sickening scene among the panic-stricken women. Word vas sent to Seranton, and with the utmost ci.'.spatch messengers were sent over the hills to the scene of the disaster with waggons, medical attendance, and bedding on which to convey the dead and wounded to the city "

Information reached town to-ayi/df a fire having occurred on ThursdaysSst in a paddock of Mr Starrot's, adjoining Mr 1 Lynch's fnrm near Otahuhu. A large quan- f',i tity of grass and some fencing were des. I troyed, and the damage, which is consider able, would have been much greater had it not been got under by the exertions of the f settlers near the spot before it spread on to Mr Lynch'fi premises. There is no evidence 5 as to the origin of the fire, but it ia supposed , j to have been purely accidental. ; The Rev. C. M. Nelson delivered a vwy interesting sermon at St. Paul's Church yesterd ay on the " Early Closing Association." We shall publish it in extenso to-morrow. |j The medilcal fraternity of the Wairarapa I'l has been augumented recently by the • i arrival of an individual whom I fear the members of it will hardly recognise eitbei as a man or a brother. The new-comer, is a foreigner, a stranger, an infant, i child-like, and uncommonly bland, who, if he be not a graduate in physic, ig a physician in fees. It is said that he kindly ' . undertook the cure of a sister cf a Maori Chief in this district who had been given up > i by the palceha doctors. It ia rumoured that he has not exactly effected a cure, nevertheless he has handed a little bill of " over £80 to our Maori Chief; and the latter, in spite of remonstrances from European friends, who have assured him that he is being robbed and swindled, lias paid 'ji it. The Heathen Chinee has got his money, and I hardly know which is ; to be more admired—the assurance of John Chinamen, or that touch of honor or affec. - tion in the Maori which has made him volun tarily pay so large a sum of money because he either imagined the heathen had bene fited his relative, or because he hadgiTenhia word for the payment of it.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., E.M.) DRUNKENNESS. Thomas Reid, William Pugh, and William Mann wore charged with this offence, and punished according to their deserts. William Beadle was accused of being drunk and disorderly and making use of obscene language on (Sunday, 18th instant. Prisoner pleaded guilty to the first charge, and said he knew nothing about the bad language. Constable Clarke and Mr T. Binney deposed i;o hearing the prisoner make use o£ the language. His Worship inflicted a fine of 20a and costs or 48 hours imprisonment for the first offence, aad 40 shillings and cogta or a month's imprisonment for the second. LAKCENY. - Maurice Sheehan was charged with f| feloniously stealing a pair of boots, valne 15s, the property of George Gallagher, on f the Bth January, 1873. y Prisoner pleaded guilty, and said it was through drink he had committed the crime. Sentenced to three months' imprisonment |; with hard labour. . '. FAMILY JARS. Matthew Carroll was charged with assault ing his lawful wife, Margaret Carroll, on the the 18th instant. The wife now appeared, and wished the charge to be withdrawn. His Worship, after cautioning the defen- '_ dant, ordered the case to be struck out. v USKOU.NDED CHARGE. . " 7' William Brown, who was remandec? last ffci Monday charged with stealing a carpet-bag &M and contents, value £10, at the Governor ': Browne hotel, was again brought up. Mr Inspector Broham now asked forth* dis charge of the prisoner. Since his rem,ia.l It had been discovered that the evidence against, the prisoner was insufficient. His Worship said he was glad to hear it, and afifer administering a lecture to the | prisoner on the evil effects of intemperance ordered his discharge. ; MALICIOUS INJUfIY. Henry Kahu was charged with unlawfully setting fire to a quantity of shingles, value ' £21, the property of Alex. J. Hatfield, at Hatfielcl Bay, on the 28th December last. The prosecutor, who is a hotel keeper, living near the Hot Springs, deposed to the prisoner having dinner with him on the day in question. They had a few words, and Kahu then threatened to Bet the b—— bush and shingles on fire. Witness then had to set out suddenly to Mahuvangi in a dingy. ,'■'- ;f|| in order to remove his cutter to another anchorage as a wind had sprang up from the sea which made it unsafe where it was. While rowing out he saw the bush burning. Ho did not return till the next day, when he found found that 30,000 shingles had been burnt, and a quantity of tools, and a little house. Mr Joy, who appeared. for the prisoner, cross-exainmed the prosecutor, but the drift ! of the examination as bearing upon the charge was not easily traceable. His Worship said he did not ace how it affected the case of the prosecutor supplied !|||lj the prisoner with one or twenty bottles of rum. Mr Joy explained that his object wn t < | show the little reliance to be placed upon the prosteeutor's word. A difficulty arose as to the ownership of the shingles. In the evidence of the prose cutor it appeared that the timber from which they were split belonged to him; but he was to pay i;he prisoner, who split them for 6s 3 i per 1,000 at the stump. Mr Joy contended there was no proof of ' ownership. After a good deal of discussion the poiflt | was held over in reserve. William Hanley, a carpenter, deposed to being alt prosecutor's house on the 28th Dec. At dinner there was a disturbance, and pra- » secutor had to turn prisoner oat. Kahu used ll very abusive language, and threatened if Hat field did not square up he would burn the. | shingles. Witness passed the prisoner twenty minutes after wards going in the direction of the shingles. He (witness) turned off before fzjm he got to where they were. By Mr Joy •: There was no quarrel between witness and prisoner. William Bunting, a lad of fourteen con- %i firmed the evidence of the two previous witnesses as to the threat used by the pri- fi*|j§ soner on being turned out. About half-an- m hour or three-quarters of an hour after tho '$& prisoner left he saw the bush on fire. He 1 told old Mr Hatfield, and ran up to the bush Iff, himself, followed by the old man. When he arrived he found the shingles and the w hare ?" fire> The shingles were in two heapH, 100 yards apart. One heap was close to the mm whare, and the bush and all were;§BH on fire together. The other heap ei-WM shingles was on fire by itself. The bust;i|§f was not on fire then. He concluded that'lß the shingles had been set on fire in two^fjgg different places. He met the prisoner about lou yards from where the shingles were w^ mD?- , ? e- then- hafl a Scotch cap an.vH When he left the hotel he had a white hat on. Irisoner did not afterwards return to MS tne hotel. He knew that the prisoner ! usually kept his Scotch cap at the whare ■ which was burnt. John Robert Hatfield, the father of the • prosecutor, deposed to seeing the prisoner f leaving his son's hotel on the 28th of De cember last. [The evidence of this witnesM corroborated that of the previous wj&m] ■ Witness, on eeeing the prisoner sitti- ' ■ "fcr.

THE EVmtIKG BTA&, MONDAY, JANUARY 19 1874



INSURANCE. THE NATIONAL FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND PROTECTS Insurers against Loss from either Fire or Sea disasters at Lowest Eateh of Premium. Advantageous arrangements can be marie whereby "Wool-growers and others can have their Clips covered from Sheep's back through to London. Open Policies are issued by this Company covering Merchandise to any amount to New Zealand and .Australian ports, savicg both trouble and expense to Insurer?. ■By a simple plan also Importers can Insure in Auckland Merchandise coming to them from United Kingdom, and all settlements in event of loss can be made with the office here, thus avoiding the vexatious delay attending adjustments in England. Auckland Branch Offices: 25, Queen street. ANDREW G. MILLAR, Local Manager. riaut i o n . LSON'S TOMATO SAUCE, oonnoisseurs pronounce this Sar.ce to be the ■BEST for general use in households, and, in con sequence of its high reputation, 8om» unprincipled persons have been induced to Collect Empty Bottles bearing the manufacturer's name stamped thereon, and pass the same off as " Olson's Universal Tomato Sauce." The proprietor has in consequence caused his TRADE MARK to be Registered under the provisions of the "Trade Marks Act, 1866," and proceedings will be taken against such persons as may forge or counterfeit such mark. The public are cautioned to ASK FOR OLSON'S SAUCE, and see that the name is Stamped on Bottle and stopper, and, wrapped round with his well-known label. fjHEISTMAS HOLIDAYS, J. COSGRAVE & CO. Are now holding their usual CHEAP SALE OF DRAPERY & CLOTHING At their Premises CANADA BUILDINGS. THE SALE IS NOW ON, And will continue during tho CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. J. COSGRAVE & CO. . Queen street. [Established 1864.] r\ STEPHENSON & CO.'S CELEBRATED COFFEES, "EXHIBITION BRAND" "EAOLE BRAND" "CROWN BRAN D." Are to be procured at all respectable Grocers and Storekeepers throughout the Province of Auck and. D. STEPIENSON 4 CO. wyndham street ■'Abckiaib p.SBISTMAS PEESENTS AND NEW TEAE'S GIFTS, TROM FIVE TO TWENTY-FIVE PER CENT DISCOUNT. R. BEC X, JEWELLER AND WATCHMAKER, *■'* Will supoly JEWELLERY, WATCHES, CLOCKS, &c, FOR CHtiIiTMAS PRKSEVTS AND NEW YEAR'S GIFTS, At a Reduction op 5 to 25 per cent. Discount. N.8.-All Goods marked in plain figures, and guaranteed. 198, QUEEN-STREE.T.



15000O FEET TIMBEE FOR SALE, AT MY YARDS, GOVERNMENT "WHARF, ONEHUNGA. JAMES W. WALLER. TTATS! HATS!.' SUM ME R H ATS AT REDUCED PRICES. IN ORDER TO EFFECT A CLEARANCE RUSTIP.ROOK & BRIDGMAN have decided to Sell the Balance of their Summer Stock Children's and Ladies' Straw Huts at COST PRICE. A Great Variety to select from. R.USHBROOK & BRIDGMAN (LATE R. HOBI5S), Wholesale and Retail DRArEEs,,CLOTniEits, &o. JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) Upper Queen-street, Auckland.