SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

ARRIVALS.

whaling barqne, from a cruise -elle Brandon, schooner, from Lyttelton

DEPARTURES.

Agres, cutter, for Waikato

ARRIVAL OF THE WHALING BARQUE ALBION.

The Auckland whaling barque Albion, Captain Hall, arrived in harbour this after noon,! after a cruise of seventeen months in the South Seas. She brings fourteen tons of sperm oil. This is in addition to seven tons which were landed at the Bay of Islands in May last. One death has taken place during the cruise, 'that of a seaman named Peter, a" native of the island of Tanna> wlio died from consumption and was buried on the 22nd October, 1873. Since leaving the Bay of Islands the only place called at by the Albion is the Chatham Islands, where she lav off and on for three months., leaving there on the Ist February. Since then the barque has been cruising about French Rock. Four whales have been captured during the cruise on the following dates :—February 18th, 1873, 70 barrels; October 15th, 5 barrels (a calf); March 16th, 1874, 50 do.; April 3rd, 1874, 90 do. It will be thus seen that no less less than 140 barrels out of 215 have been taken during the last month. This must be rather a tantalising fact for the shareholders of the company. The ship Dorette took her departure from her anchorage for the quarantine ground off Motuihi this afternoon. The Agnes, cutter, left the Manukau yes terday for the Waikato with 14,500 feet nf timber, shipp&d by J. W. Waller. The schooner Belle Brandon arrived from Lyttelton yesterday with a cargo of grain, &c. She is discharging alongside the wharf. The barque Serene, Captain Segerman, now lying at Wellington, has been chartered by Messrs R. Walker and Co. to supply the place of the East Lothian. She is' to sail for Wellington on Saturday, and will on arrival be placed on the birth for New York. The following, taken from the Dunedin Guardian of the Gth instant, is illustrative of the careless way in which the property of the unfortunate immigrants by the Surat has been looked after by the immigration officers down South. It will be remembered that when the vessel was sold the purchasers claimed all the passengers' effects, but an outcry was raised against it, and at. last an injunction was obtained from the Supreme Court forbidding their appropriation. It will be seen that between friends and foes the passengers have come to the ground :— " The luggage belonging to the Surat's pas sengers was on Saturday removed from Mr Miller's store, in Bond-street, to the Kaitan gata coal shed on the Jetty-street Wharf, Where it will probably be delivered to the passengers to-morrow. It is to be feared that the delay which has taken place in coming to arrangements for its delivery will have resulted in almost rendering it useless. Since the'injunction from the Supreme Court was served on the salvors they have not removed any of the luggage which was on board the Surat at the time. Since then several of the passengers' packages have been washed out of the ship and lost, it being nobody's interest to look after them." Since the above we learn by telegram that the passengers have entered an action against the captain for damage to their goods. The HawTces Bay Herald says :—"lt is re ported that Messrs Brogden intend laying the p.s. Patteson on regularly in the Auck land and Napier trade."

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

The Southern Cross sailed at seven o'clock last night. Passengers : Messrs Atkin, Jack son, Connor, Smith, and three in the steerage.

COMMERCIAL.

AUCKLAND STOCK AND MINING RE PORT. Bank of New Zealand, £1712s 6d; buyers, £17 10; sellers, £17 15s. National Bank, 76s ; buyers, 76s South British Insurance—Buyers, 51s ; sellers, 52s 6d. National Insurance, buyers, 31s. Standard Insurance—l4s, 14s 6d Buyers, 13s 6d. ' Fiji Bank—sss ; buyers, 52s 6d ; sellers, 555. Watchman, | lis ; buyers, \ lis ; sellers, 12s. Eureka Hill—Sellers, 8s 6d. Sons of Freedom—Buyers, £4 10a Eldorado—Buyers, 4s 3d ; sellers, ss. Windsor Castle, 4s 6d, 4s 4d ; sellers, 4s 6d. - Auckland Gas—Buyers, £11 2s 6d. Alburnia, 30s; buyers, 295; sellers, 30s. * City of London, 24s 3d, 255, 27s 6d, 25s 6d '; buyers, 245; sellers, 25s 6d Red Queen, Is 6d, Is 9d; buyers, Is 6d ; sellers, 2s. Crown Prince, 15s; buyers, 14s 6d. Cure, 7s, 7s 6d; sellers, 7s. Thames Gold Mining Company, Buyers, 62s 6d. Coliban—lis 6d, lis 9d; buyers, lis 6d. Oriana,.2s 3d, 2a 6d; sellers, 2s. ~ | Tokatea, 12s ; buyers, 10s 6d Queen of May—Buyers, 13s; sellers, 13s 6d gOld Whau—Buyers, £4 17s 6d Union Beach, 20s ; sellers, 21s. At _ Messrs. Tonks and Co.'s mart this morning the hospital endowments realised £51, and £70 for a lease of 21 years. At Mr. George Sibbin's sale of freehold property today, at the corner mart, there was a large attendance of persons, and the allotment 50 feet by 150, section 19, in Dock-street, with four small cottages there on, sold for £320. Messrs. B. Tonks and Co. sold to-day by order of the Government the lease for 21 years of two houses in Symonds-street, Pro vincial Hospital Endowments, and realised the following rentals :—House and allotment, corner of Haveloek and Symonds-streets, £51 per annum to Capt. H. F. Anderson; two storey house adjoining £70 per annum, to Mr James Smart.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Unher:— For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to-morrow . at 10.30 am For Coromandel, on Friday next, at 12.30 p.m. For Taranaki, via Waitara, per Go-ahead, to-morrow, at 8 a.m. For Waiwera aid Warkworth, per Lady Bowen, to morrow, at 10 a.m. For Taranaki and Southern provinces, per Ladybird, on Friday, at 7 a.m. For Napier, per Pater Son, on Saturday next, at 11 a m. ffigned) S. B. Bibs, Chief Postmaster.

MARRIAGE.

Sullivan—Hoi land—On the Ifith instant, at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Wyndham-street. Hugh Sullivan, to Annie Holland, both of Auckland.

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

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15, 1874.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And tbft good that we can do

It would appear that the despised " Teachers' Association--' - has inspired a kind of fear into the nearts of the local school committees of the city, who have combined for mutual protection. Feeling that they are more competent to judge of the qualifications of teachers than are the Board of Education or the officers of the Board, they deprecate the attempt of tbe teachers to have themselves under the appointment and contrcl of the central authority. We do not quarrel with the committees for this. They are simply the puppets in the hands of those behind the scenes, who are using them for the purpose, in this indirect way, of in fluencing matters educational. The glaring financial failure which has characterised the present Act has been more con spicuous than even the intense unpopu larity of the rating clauses, of which we have heard so much. With the outcry respecting the severity of that rate we have little sympathy ; but without any hesitation we assert that an Act whose only distinctive feature was financial, and whose finance has been such a wretched failure, is not worth all this wire-pulling and puppet acting for its conservation. Of course we know nothing at all of the intended features of the coming measure, but whatever it may be we hope that it will at least repair defects both financial and administrative which have been so glaringly manifest in the existing ordinance.

We really believed that the introduction of French ballet-dancers of the lowest class was a crowning feat in Dr Featherstone's mis management of immigration which would find no apologists. But we were mistaken The Government organ in Wellington (the Independent) thus speaks :—

" In some of the journals in the Colony an attempt was made to raise an outcry against the management of the immigration agency at home, by asserting that a number of the immigrants by the Queen of the Age to Auckland were French ballet dancers, and not the - tradesmen they had represented themselves to be. An enquiry was made, and it has been ascertained that the men are tradesmen, and before leaving for this Colony agreed to work at their trades. As it is probable that they will not find the.Can Can a profitable speculation, they will gladly fall back on their original occupations. The desire in some quarters to circulate charges against the conduct of the immigration agency causes some people to care very little whether their statements have a truthful foundation or the reverse."

These people, the Independent states, are tradesmen. Perhaps they are, but we should not like to state the nature of the trade by which they are at present making their liv ing. It is not a trade that the colony is likely to largely benefit by, neither is it one which the Government should endeavour to promote by giving the artizajis free passages; ~ although the

class of immigrants now being landed on our shores has swelled the number of tL-Se engaged in the business to an alarm ing extent. Our contemporary, we believe, speaks correctly when it states that "they will gladly fall back on their original occu pations." They have done so; but whether it would not have been equally as respectable and as conducive to the. public good had they remained in the Can Can business we leave judges of the degrees of immorality to decide. The Government organ tells us. that "an enquiry was made," when ? and by whom ? and what were the results? Had an enquiry been made I from the Auckland [police infonna**

tion might have been elicited of a character that would throw some light on the working of free immigration, unattended by a rigid system of inspection. The intro duction of these people is a standing disgrace to the Immigration Department, which no attempt to mislead on the part of the Govern - ment organ can get over, and it is much more becoming that the mistake should be

acknowledged and steps taken to prevent its recurrence than that an effort should be made to hush it up. The statement made by the Independent, though so palpably

false as to fail in deceiving anyone in Auck land, may, .and'CQ do\ibi) WMUd, if iihc6ntra dicted, mislead persons at a distance ; for this

reason we give it an unqualified contra

diction. The affair has been one of the most - scandalous that has ever disgraced the his tory of colonial immigration.

OtJK London correspondent, in his interest ing letter published yesterday, drew atten tion to a movement among; the middle classes in the direction of emigration to New Zealand. He very wisely discouraged the idea of persons anticipating that there is any lack here of educated labour to fill Government appointments, clerkships, and other kinds .of employment which the middle class regard ■as their peculiar sphere. Active energetic men with a little moiiey are desirnble acquisitions to Oiir population from whatever class of society in Britain they are drawn, and every effort should be made to induce them to cast in their lot with the colo nists ; but we llijnk it is equally a duty of emigration agents employed iv Britain to dissuade persons altogether dependent upon the higher classes of labour from making sacrifices to come to the colony. To these we really can hold out no inducement. Already they form more than a fair per ccn tage of the population, and are in many cases paid a lower rate of remuneration than the same class of labour in Britain. Farmers and tradesmen prepared to open up new branches of industry, and to supply thegrowing require ments of those already in existence, are what we require from the middle classes, but those entirely without cash, and destitute of technical knowledge, can scarcely expect to succeed here. Persons with small private incomes would however, no doub*-, find in tho colony many advantages —the cheapness of living and freedom from the frightful necessity for " keeping up ap pearances " not being the least. The middle class emigration movement elicited the fol lowing remarks in the Pall Mall Gazette: —

"Besides the exodus of the working classes, of which wo have heard so much, there is now on foot a scheme for the exodus of the middle classes ; and at the meeting held a few days ago at the Labour Agency As sembly Rooms, Long-acre, it was pointed out that a well-devised plan of emigration is the only means of alleviating the growing and extensive want of employment among tho middle classes. It is impossible that the upper classes can witness this depart ure of the lower and middle classes without a twinge of emotion, and even the most callous " man of tho world " will feel a passing regret when his valet, his grocer, and his tailor wave their adieux to him from the deck of the emigrant vessel that bears th?m to lands overflowing with unadulterated milk ?nd honey ; but the tears will soon be brushed from the eye, and tho necessity of self-help will leave no timo for useless lamentations. The population of this king dom will be reduced to what are vulgarly called the " upper ten thousand," and these will have to lead a very different life from that they have been accustomed to. There are many lessons in cooking, washing, tailor ing, &c, which they will have to learn, and the sooner they begin the better, for there is no time to be lost, and, above all, let them endeavour to live together as a " happy family." There must be no more Chesterfield Letters or anything of that sort. Honesty, frugality, and industry must occupy all their thoughts and attention to the exclusion of many little things we could mention."

The following extract from a leader in tbe Thames Advertiser shows how little sympathy should be extended to Manning, recently convicted at the Thames, and how unjusti fiable was the censure officially passed on the police for their successful efforts in trapping such a systematic wrongdoer:—"Condem nation of the action of the police involves practically sympathy with Manning, and if effective would really -impede the detection of specimen-stealing. We have already pointed out several features in the,case which make it quite certain that Manning was in the habit of dealing with specimen-stealers, and was eager to extend his trade iv that direction, and to these v c may add one or two others' When Cass went to him he asked him ' if he did anything in the speci men line ?' and the answer was ' Yes, when I get the chance.' No one can mistake what that means. Manning then told Cass to come at seven in the evening—after dark it will be observed. After crushing the specimens he named his charge, and then adds that when people are satisfied they always allowed him a few shillings more. Cass then remarks that these specimen affairs are dangerous, to which Maiming assents, and adds that 'when Cass came next time he was to come to the Willoughby Hotel and send for him,' so that he should not be seen coming to the yard These things and many others show that Manning was in the habit of making a trade of crush ing specimens, and ought to make every right-thinking man rejoice that he was en trapped. He could not be stopped in his career unless by a trap laid for him, and to condemn the police for entrapping him can only be caused by mental confusion and utterly mistaken sentiment."

The Episcopalian clergy in Sydney have (says an exchange) arrived at a conclusion which cannot be otherwise than satisfac tory to their congregations. There may be bazaars, but these are to lose one of their greatest feminine attractions. There are to be nO more raffles and no more lotteries. It has been decided in solemn conclave that raffling a pincushion worth half-a-crown, while asking for twenty members at a shil ling a member, is not altogether orthodox, and not in accordance with commercial morality. So .in Sydney, a resolution has been passed stigmatizing those practices in very hard and unpleasant language. And what, is more, all the clergymen have pro mised compliance with the unexpected ad monition.

About ten o'clock this morning the composi tors in the office of Mr: Atkm, printer, of High-street, were suddenly alarmed by successive shocks in the windows and the immediate crashing of glass. On rushing into the street two young sweeps, with their faces covered with soot, without either shoes or stockings on their feet, were seen taking deliberate aim at the windows. They were at once taken to the Police Court, and in a very gleeful manner told Constable Connor that they were only having a "lark," and that they had only succeeded in smashing two panes of the printer's window. They were locked up, and will be introduced to the Police magistrate in the morning. ,

As some doubt appears to be felt by the public as to the desirability of the Governor \ holding a meeting in the Waikato district j at the present time the public will learn with satisfaction that it is his Excellency's intention to confine the proposed meeting to Europeans and friendly natives only. The meeting is to be held in fulfilment of expecta tions long standing, and in accordance with the expressed wish of his Excellency's advisers.

Captain Marks has, we learn, been ap pointed to the command of the Governor's yacht. The Captain is one of the Auckland nautical notables/ahd has had several Govern ment commands dur'iflg his' connection with the New Zealand trade. We wish him eVery success.

A fearful coach accident near Lawrence is reported by the Tuapeka Times on the sth instant. It appears that Cobb's coach was descending the big hill near Beaumont's ferry when the brake gave way and the coach (which had eleven passengers aboard) Was precipitated down the hill and upset, seri ously injuring se\eral of the passengers, amongst whom were Mrs. Anderson, of Bellamy Station, and her little boy eleven years old. "Duff, the driver, and two or three of the passengers received bad bruises. Drs. Halley and Stewart were at the scene of the accident all last night, and found it necessary to amputate the boy's leg. Mrs Henderson had several ribs broken. As soon as the news reached Lawrence Chaplin's agent sent a coach and four to briflg in the passengers. It returned at mid-day with Duff and all the passengers, excejjting Mrs Anderson and her boy, who were brought into hospital by Tommy Pope.

P The leasee of the Prince of Wales Theatre has engaged the theatrical company lately playing in Dunedin, andnowin Christchurch, to give a short season at the Prince of Wales Theatre prior to their departure for America. Their stay will necessarily be limited to six nights, commencing from Monday next. The Company includes Miss Clara Stephenson, leading lady and burlesque actress; Tilly Andrews, a \ ocalist of consider able merit ; Mrs Charles Searle, character actress ; Miss E. A. Mortimer, soubrette ; Messrs James South, Charles Searle, H.. Taylor, Launcelot Booth, V. Simmonds, and Mr Denham, assisted by Miss Lizzie Busche, Mr .W. GCollier, and others. A good change to the general order of entertainments in Auckland lately will bo afforded by the visit of the Company. The season opens on Monday with "Medea." In noticing Miss Clara Stephenson in this character the Otago Guardian in a recent issue says :—" Miss Clara Stephenson appeared as Medea at the Queen's Theatre last night to a good house. Miss Stephenson's rendering of perhaps the most difficult part in the range of tragedy is not unknown to us in Dunedin, but it is only justice to mention that she does justice to the sustained passion involved in the portrayal of Euripides' character as very few actresses could do. To-morrow evening Miss Stephenson takes her benefit, and as she is about to quit Dunedin for some time our theatre-goers would do W-11 to testifyby by substantial patronage that they pro perly estimate the many times she has minis tered to their entertainment."

The meeting of the Improvement Commis sioners was not held to-day as proposed, as it was deemed advisable to adjourn the meet ing to Wednesday next for the reception of tenders in respect of certain works which will then be discussed and for other impor tant business.

The paper on tho Darwinian theory read by Mr Carlyle, at tho Newmarket Literarj- As sociation's meeting last night, was listened to with the deepest attention, a large audience being presont. The credit of Darwin was well sustained by the eliminator of his views, but the presumed idea of man's relationship to monkeys was generally repudiated. Mr Baber was tho first to criticise the paper, and the discussion waxed exceedingly warm as the evening waned ; and as other members of the Institute had eloquent speeches to deliver on the subject it was unanimously agreed to adjourn tho further discussion of the question to a future evening (to bo ad vertised), when Mr- Brown will take the negative side, and speak on the folly of Dar win's theory. Archdeacon Pritt, president of tho Institute, announced that the second installment of books for the Newmarket library had been received by the secretary, and could be obtained every Saturday even ing from six o'clock to nine.

The Olago Guardian, in speaking of the yacht Winona, says:—"She presents good lines for smart running, and -will prove a good worker on a wind, but we should imagine rather wet. She spreads a large amount of canvas, and may be expected to do well in a contest with some of our local vessels."

A public meeting is called in Ngaruawahia for Thursday next with the object of adopt ing some means of suitably receiving His Excellency the Governor. We trust that meetings will be held in all the other town ships, and representatives appointed to draw up a suitable address. An address coming from the whole of the settlers in the Waikato would be worthy of, would no doubt receive consideration at the hands of the Governor. We understand that pressing enagagements will prevent His Excellency proceeding further than Ngaruawahia during his immediate visit. We believe that there is not a settler in the Waikato who does not appreciate at its true value the dignified posi tion that Sir J. Fergusson has assumed to wards the natives. The native question is of vital importance to us, and that " diffi culty" should have due consideration at our hands. — Waikato Times.

The Harbour Board are advertising for tenders for the repair of the Devonport Wharf, North Shore. The tenders will be received until Tuesday, the 21st inst., at the office of the Board.

As the work of removing the hill on Par nell Rise continues the earth removed is em ployed very profitably in filling up the gully on the right of a person passing into Parnell under the railway viaduct. A stream, which partakes very closely .of the nature of a drain, runs into the sea at this point, and a scoria culvert has been built for its passage under the roadway. When the filliug-in is finished the road will be carried down from the Rise in a perfectly straight line instead of making a curve to the left to wards the bay1, just at the spot where the gradient was steepest. The work is being superintended by Mr Strange of the Parnell Highway Board, but as the stream referred to is the boundary of the city the Corpora tion have consented to pay half ,the expense of the improvement.

The Troy Whig infringes on the patent of the Philadelphia Ledger, and says :—

Bring out tho crape and toll the knell; i She's dead—a lovely Lockport belle; Her stomach failed away to get With ninety oysters on a bet. Dean's sweet receipt for courtship : — Two or three dears," and two or three sweets, Two or three balls, or-two or three treats, Two or three serenades, given bs a lure, Two or three oaths, how much they endure, Two or three messages sent in one day, Two or throe times led out from the play, Two or three tickets for two or three times, Two or three love-letters writ all in rhymes, Two or three months keeping strict to these rules, Can never fail making a couple of fools.

On Saturday last, writes our Dedwood correspondent, while the Ponsonby cricket ers were practising for the last time this season in the open space behind All Saints Church, the ball from one of the lads bats struck a spectator on the head, and the lawl immediately came out of his mouth. This incident brought the sport to a speedy close.

We have much pleasure in drawing atten tion to Mr Henry Gordon's benefit, which takes place at the City Hall to-morrow night. This gentleman has been the mainstay of the Carandini Company, and has earned great and well deserved popularity during his visit to this and other parts of New Zealand, To-morrow will be the last optjor'fctihity on which the tbe public Will have an opportunity of hear ing Mr Gordon, as it is his mtentiO-. t. leave the company in Sydney, at the ter mination of his engagement with the Carandinis. He proposes to proceed to Europe with the view of study ing under the best masters. A specially choice programme, including the best of Mr Gordon's songs has been prepared, and we anticipate, that a crowded audience will give eclat to the occasioH.

The Prince of Wales Theatre will be re opened this evening by the Vivian Company, assisted by Mr. Frank Verten and the cele brated Calefornian Minstrels, when a number of new attractions will be introduced.

At the District Court yesterday almost the whole of the day was occupied in hearing the case of Cundall versus Blewden. A number of witnesses were examined, and counsel on both sides having addressed the Court, his Honor Judge Beckham reserved judgment until next Court day.

The Wellesley-street Mutual Improvement class held a musical and literary entertain ment in Mr Cornford's Chapel last evening, which was very fairly attended.

A very interesting: tea meeting was given last evening in the Franklin Road Sunday school by the teachers to the scholars who are in the habit of attending on Sunday afternoons. The tea and accompaniments were provided by the lady teachers, of which about sixty children heartily partook. After tea an entertainment was held, Mr Kane in the chair. Several of the little ones recited pieces with great credit. The Misses Tre main and Greenwood sang "Rest for the weary" in a very pleasing manner. Tbe meeting was addressed by the Chairman; and Messrs Remus, Blackman, Parker, and Carlaw, and a very pleasant evening was passed.

To the Editor: Sir,—On perusal of your issue of last evening I perceived a malicious complaint made against Dr. Rosenthal. Is he a God that he can cure all? I, a patient of his, was made aware of his intended depar ture some ten days previous by himself, and was witness on several occasions to many successful cures he has made. I myself have to be very thankful to him, having been totally deaf for over ten years, and was many times greatly inconvenienced in my business by same, and now I am happy to say that my hearing has been quite restored. Thanks to him. It is hardly fair that such vile and bitter slander is made now. Trust ing that I am not trespassing on your valu able paper—l am, &c, A. H. B-R_sn>_.

Long white trousers for ladies are very much worn worn on the Continent. These trousers should be quite plain for wearing in the day-time and in the street; but those for evening wear should be made of fine cambric, or muslin ornamented with embroi dery, lace insertion, or heavy, rich lace frills or flounces, according to the taste and means of the lady herself. What could look prettier, or more modest, than to see a pretty, small, trousered foot in silk stock ings and *a neat sandaled shoe, appearing under the skirt of a muslin dress, the ankles buried, as it were, in several.rows of lace frill or flounces or fine cambrio or muslin trousers ? Surely, also, when a young lady of 18 or 19 is dancing, it is more modest, and it is certainly very becoming, to see the limbs hidden in lace-frilled trouses of cambric then in the present fashion. As I said this mode is very much seen on the Continent, among French, Spaniards and especially Russians. When at Barcelona a few years ago I remarked that every lady wore trou sers, some plain, some richly trimmed with lace frill or flounces. Two or four inches of the trousers were visible, setting off the small Spanish foot to perfection. I knew a very pretty French lady who used to wearmost becoming trousers in the evening, which were made of very fine cambric, or muslin, with rich lace frills up the calf of her leg, an inser tion between each frill. The lace frills of her trousers just touched the instep, but the rest of the trousers was visible under and through the transparent skirt of white muslin.— English Magazine.

We have been requested to remind all auctioneers that their licences expired yes terday, and that they cannot now sell until their licences are renewed.

Should the weather be favourable the Auckland Cricket Club will play the return match Married v. Single next Saturday.

We are glad to learn from the Provincial Hospital that the young man, George Read, who met with a severe accident at the Sash and Door Company's Mills by having his fingers cut off with a circular saw, is doing as well as can reasonably be expected.

It appears that persons have been in the habit of depositing rubbish in Alten Road, much to the annoyance of the residents therein. This fact having been noticed by the Inspector of Nuisances, he (Mr Goldie) is prepared to give a reward of twenty shillings to any person who will furnish him with in formation as shall lead, to the conviction of persons so offending.

We learn that Mrs. Mitchell's benefit concert will take place in the Choral Hall on Monday evening next, and will be under the distinguished patronage of his Excellency Sir James Fergusson, Lady Fergusson, Sir George.Arney (Chief Justice), his Worship the Mayor, and the leading members of the society. A splendid programme is in pre paration, to which we shall return on its appearance. The members of the Choral Society will assist, and will meet for practice to-morrow (Thursday) evening.

A grand concert will be given on Monday evening next in the Parnell Hall by the members of E. Clair's celebrated Magnet Troupe, whose magnetic attractions have so frequently drawn individuals together in hundred-fold clusters in the various halls of the city and outlying districts. This troupe possesses as a body very considerable comic and dramatic talent, and the troupe is the most unselfish that ever performed before an audience, and their motto is " Benevolence." On Monday the projected concert will be exclusively for the benefit of the widow and orphans of the late J. Granger, who was drowned at Napier. The concert will be of the usual character, including songs, dances farces and musical pieces by the principal amateurs in the darkie line. We may state that this will be the last entertainment in Auckland by this famous troupe, and conse quently the last opportunity the public will have of enjoying a rare evening's amuse ment.

A combination troupe under the title of the " Californian Minstrels" make their bow at the Prince of Wales this evening. Al though the troupe does not possess extra novelty in the form of new faces, it un doubtedly comprises talent. The entertain ment will consist of quartettes, _ songs, choruses dances, sketches of-plantation life, &c, together with the- exhibition of the hazardous feat of walking from the stage to the dress circle on a single wire, which will be undertaken by Australian George, who has acquired some repu tation as a colonial Blondin. Mr Verten, who is a host in himself, will appear in con junction with Mr Vivian and Mr Mason, assisted by Miss Melville. The programme is most varied, and should decidedly draw a good attendance.

_M, Gimbert, who has been long engaged in collecting evidence concerning the Austra lian tree "Eucalyptus globulus," the growth of which is surprisingly rapid, attaining be sides gigantic dimensions, has addressed an interesting communication to the Academy of Sciences. This plant,, it now appears, possesses an extraordinary power of destroy ing miasmatic influences in fever-stricken districts. It has the singular property of absorbing ten'times its weight of water from the soil, and of emitting antiseptic camphor ous effluvia. When sown in marshy ground it will dry it up in a very short time. The English were the first to try it at the Cape, and within two or three years they com pletely changed the climatic condition of the unhealthy parts of the colony. A few years later its plantation was undertaken on a large scale in various parts of Algeria. At Par dock, 20 miles from Algiers, a farm situated on the banks of the Hamyze was noted for its extremely pesti lential air. In the Spring of 1567 about 1,300 of the eucalyptus were planted there. In July of the same year—the time when the fever season used to set in—not a single case occurred, yet the trees were not more than nine feet high. Since then com plete immunity from fever has been main tained. In the neighbourhood of Constantine the farm of Ben Machydlin was equally in bad repute. It was covered with marshes both in winter and summer. In five years the whole ground was dried up by 14,000 of these trees, and farmers and children enjoy excellent health. At the factory of the Gue de Constan tine, in three years a plantation of eucalyptus has transformed twelve acres of marshy soil into a magnificent park, whence fever has completely disappeared. In the island of Cuba this and all other paludal diseases are fast dis appearing from all the unhealthy districts where this tree has been introduced. A station-house, at one of the ends of a rail way viaduct in the department of the Var was so pestilential that the officials could not be kept there longer than a year. Forty of these trees were planted, and it is now as healthy as any other place on the line. We have no information as to whether this beneficent tree will grow in other but hot climates. We hope that experiments will be made to determine this point. It would be a good thing to introduce it on the West Coast of Africa. — Homeward Mail.

AN EXPRESSIVE CRITICISM ON A PRO VINCIAL COUNCILLOR.

The liveliest newspaper war that has ever arisen in the province is now proceeding at Coromandel. The Coromandel Mail, the original and most widely circulated journal on the goldfield, for long treated with disdain the attacks made upon it by a little opposi tion paper recently started there called the News. At length the Mail entered the fray, and has satirised -the News' conductors in a way unequalled in colonial journalism. From yesterday's Mail we extract the follow ing referring to the attempt now being made to secure the Murray for the Coromandel trade, which we i republish as a sample of the pungent criticism at present being applied to Coromandel matters :—" The impudence of old Jerry is something to admire. Ten days ago we drew attention to his clumsy attempts at doing Superinten dent beyond the range, but we have just learned of an incident that shows he aspires not only to wield the power of the Chief Magistrate, but to be Superintendent and Provincial Council rolled into one. The dramatis persona were tbe elect of Coro mandel, and a steamboat proprietor, who as a ' bairn burned,' dreads having much to do with the 'Friday' of the News, and'conse quently declines to patronise that apology for a paper. Cadman had the ' dhudden' as usual in his mouth, and while wiping his mous taches on. both sides, as is his wont when his temper is sour, thus spoke :—' So you 'ont give the advertisement to the News. Mind, sur, ye wull be sarry for keepin it from oor joornel ; the soobsidies wull be cummin on direckly and you will be left out in the cold.' In reply, the steamboat proprietor called him an old ' Sneak,' and said if' the subsidy depended on his giving an advertisement he might go to the d . Now for the truth of this incident we are in a position to vouch, and it is indeed deplorable that Provincial in stitutions should have,, come to such a pass that such a man can—we will not say wield such _ power—but have the impudence to attempt to prostitute his position and the public money of the people -of this province to effect such a paltry object. The unfortu nate periodical that is dragging out an ex istence with the death-rattle in its throat must be hard pushed indeed for a little sus tenance when its godfather makes so huge an effort for so very little, and makes his direct threat for a couple of shillings. Poor News, if it ware not for the viciousnes of your friends we would pity you. Poor Cad man, if it were not for your impotence what a work you would do. But there are other people in the Provincial Council besides Jerome Cadman, and subsidies will be given not to favour friends or spite foes, but as may be considered best for the .yelfare of the country. We are quite sure that if men of the Cadman class constituted a majority in the Council the bitterness and spiteful ness of lilliputian intellects and pigmy aspirations would guide the distribution of public funds. Thank goodness, however, the Council consists mainly of gentlemen whose honourable minds would shrink from contact with a sneaking underhand attempt to spite or favour at the expense of the pockets of the people." And a man_ who would avail himself of his position to dip his hand into the public purse to benefit those who pecuniarily benefit himself would—well, we shall not say what he would do, but we expect that he would be capable of sending off his creditors with 0 in } the £, and then proceed in business more merrily than be fore.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M.) TDRTJ-KENNESS.

R. W. Birmingham and William Cox were charged with being drun_. last night in the public street and fined 10s each. John Roch, an old man in a most melancholy plight, who denied being drunk, but upon the charge being proved by Constable Naughton, he was fined 20s and costs or subjected to 48 hours' imprisonment. HARBOURING. DESERTERS. George Allen was char, ed with a breach of the Naval Discipline Act, section 25, by assisting- two of H.M. marines, named 1 Joseph Nee and William Thorne, belonging

to the Blanche, to desert from the said aY and employing them with the knn*S p ' i . that they were deserters. *&, '& Defendant said he was guilty of enmW; I the men, but not with the knowledgei ttf 2' they were deserters. Mr Broham asked for a remand in oft i • that the necessary witnesses might be sent to prove the charge." -*JBB_ , : His Worship remarked that theses were getting too common, and shonto!. be lightly dealt with. "mM Remanded until to-mOrrow. This was all the business.

ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

TH g ASHANTEE WAR. Every one is pitted at the intelligent which reached us las.1 Friday to the effect that the Ashantee war v7 as virtually at an - end. The fact was thafe wb" were all getting very nervous about the whole affair. Pj^jj beginning to end this war has .keen, on the part of the Government, a hug© intake and a stupendous blunder. The details i'TOe also, carried out in a blundering manner. Ko^-ore than ten days ago it had been fairly reah^ed that the troops were at a standstill on thO1 * road to Coomassie for want of provisions. The native carriers were too lazy and too frightened to work, and the two West India, regiments had been turned into bearers for the occasion. Had it not been for the genius of Sir Garnet Wolseley, and the earnestness and indomitable pluck of the officers and ' men under his. command, the whole thing would have collapsed long age. Asit'-t-. ' German missionaries, who were confined at Coomassie, have been liberated, and King Coffee has agreed to pay an indemnity of L 200.000, about an eighth partpf the expense of the war. It is presumed that the General will enter Coomassie, but in a peacefnl atti tude. Although rejoicing intheterminationof the war which will release from a position of peril and hardship some of the flower of the British army, one cannot help smiling at the predicament in which it has left the Glad stone Ministry and it apologists. We were told that our great mission was to wipe out the Ashantees, that snch a bloodthirsty race did not deserve to exist, and that Coomassie must be destroyed in justice to Africa. And now after suffering large losses and expenses we are about to make peace with this wretched race. a GERMAN ULTRAMONTANE STRUGGLE. A monster meeting has been held in Lon- - don to express the -sympathy of the English .-. people with the Germans in their straggle against theUltramontanesand a countermeet ing has also protested against what the Ultra- ' tramontanes are pleased to call the in justice of the German Government. It is as if you, the head of a large household, should 5 have a refractory son who inevery|possibleway tried to thwart you, broke your rules, defied your authority, and, worst of all, instigated his brothers to do the same, and you should give that son fair warning by saying "Ishall be most happy for you to remain undermy roof if you will obey the regulations which! have • made for the maintenance of peace and order, but if you persist after warning in disregard ing them I must turn you out of doors." I don't think you could be accused of injustice - if you carried out your plans in spite of your son and his machinations. But this is just. how the matter stands between Bismarck and the Ultramontanes, and the German Government is called over-bearing and tyrannical. THE TICHBORNE CASE Is drawing very near its close, and it is just possible that the mail which brings you this letter may also convey to you telegraphic intelligence as to the verdict. We have had a most masterly speech from Mr Hawkins, who began to reply on the 15th January, and brought his remarks to a closo on the 29th January. The next day the Chief Justice began his summing up, and is still at it. This has really been the great pleasure of the . whole trial. We have always before had the evidence placed before us more or less in a distorted manner by one or other of-the counsel, and moreover it was always presented as it were piecemeal, seme portions being- ' suppressed and others given undue prominence. Now we are getting a altogether in a clear and tangible form the entire sum and substance of the whole thing. And the consequence is that no honest man who has read his Lord- " ship's remarks can have the faintest doubt in his own mind, whatever he may say, that the defendant is the principal moving figure in the most impudent imposture of modern times. That others have been and are pull- , ing the strings there can be no doubt. E. will be well for Mr Whalley, M.P. for Pete borough, and Mr Guildford Onslow if they can clear their characters from the imputa tion of having had hold of some of JM strings. They have been implicated by the prisoner, Jean Louie, the pretended steward of the Osprey.' The way in which one piece of evidence dovetails into another ip a prove the case for the prosecution is , 1; something marvellous. For hardly a day during his whole life, from the time W played marbles in front of bis fathers shop in Wapping up to the moment of the com-, | mencementof the present trial is the de fendant lost sight of. The plot is traced ' back to its hatching, its incubation, its origin- The light of undoubted evidence breaks up the clouds of sham mystery in. which Orton vainly strove to clothe his _a_t life. J-/" Chief Justice is a wonderful man «>'*£• age. He has lost little of the fire ofiu* , youth. When he has concluded the otnw_ judges will make a few remarks upon w» moro prominent parts of the evidence, anu then will come the moment of suspense.

INCIVILITY.

[ADVER-ISEME-T.]

(To the Editor of the Evening Stab.) - Siß,-Would you be so kind to alio* f.» . few lines in your valuable paper to *" would do any good to men of »J, Auckland by teaching them how to.^ 3 .' themselves when they are asked a ciW4 tion. I put a few fowls in Mr Arthur* -,9» in the market-place on Friday, and " found out on Saturday morning '■««■■j daughter had put away a wroiig my husband would not have partea for any money, so I went down_to w , ket-place on Monday, and found that * i j; seller had bought all my fowls out the wanted, which I could^not find; so >, i. ■ . fc ; him if he could tell me anything apo^ . fc He said the butcher opposite^ W*.^, I asked if he thought he would give »^ as it was a mistake of my girl, so _ . over to him. The answer was he a ( _ buy it to sell. I went over B,?"? h l T tW i_tf him it was a great mistake, and v a ■ . give it back I would give him cwj. „j, f money he paid for it, but he saia * &r ■■# Editor, it was a terrible " fto, ?L P^t angry as I was the words of my ae*? ft rushed in my mind to learn w^fii. -jwv „ was preached on Sunday nigM W salt =-•. Mr. Turner to young men, butuv old ones too, so if Mr Butcher worn . on Sunday there is another of «*, i& _\ of j,. preached, it might do him a «°Jj jjg good. Mr Editor, you would n *-. < what eyes he looked at me smile nothing I like better than a p»^ ,p£ It does" my heart good. ... S&jfc-j*! wicked eyes. I cannot forget n.

fgjj ItlMlim SffiLE, trBDNIBBAt, AI.BIL IjUljjfr



TJETIRING FROM THE RETAIL. J. COS-RAVE & CO. Are giving up their Retail Business In Queen-street. A SALE of the Goods will be held TO-MORROW, '''the l-th ol Marfch, and will continue until the entire Stock is disposed of. Wo are now landing THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS WORTH of DRAPERY and MEN'S CLOTHING, purchased by Mr CoscutAV- from the English and French Manufacturers, which will be BOld at XTNP__o_n_N_Eß_Y LOW -RICES. No'credit will be glvMrduring the Sale, ■■'___m



SPECIALTIES FOR THE SEASON RU SHBROOK & BRIDGMAN, (LATE R, HOBBS), Are Now Opsnin- up their WINTER' SHIP ME NTS EX NORHAM CASTLE, and HYLTON CASTLE Comprising— SILK AND ALPACCA-'T.MBRELLAS. LADIES' BLACK CLOTH JACKETS, CHILDREN'S, MAIDS, AND LADIES' WATERPROOF TWEED MANTLES, In Great Variety and Newest Styles. CHOICE NEW DRESS GOODS I In Greatly Variety. FRENCH MERINOS in all shades COBURGS, WINCEYS', FLANNELS All Wool Plaids, Union, and All Wool Crimean Shirtings STRONG TWEEDS. GA.MBROONS WATERPROOF TWEEDS _ In Great Variety. Furnishing Goods, Blankets, Sheetings, white and grey White Linen Damask, Loom Damask Window Muslins, Muslin, and "Leno Curtains v icteria Table Covers, Printed Cloth ditto Druggets, White and Red Matting, &c., &c. ALSO, TO ARRIVE EX DORETTE— 34 CASES AND BALES OF GENERAL DRAPERY GOODS, CLOTHING, Eta, Etc., Etc. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN Wholesale and Retail Drapers, Clothiers, «_o JUNCTION ORAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) TP-En Q-EEN-SaTtEET, A-OKLAt-..