SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

HIGH WATER: This evening, 9.53 ; to-_owoi» morning, 10.19 SUN-aET: Tbla evening, 5.5; BUN-EISB: Tr- Baorrow morning, 6.48 MOON'S AGE: Last Quarter, 9th instant, 6.51 p.m.

ARRIVALS..

DEPARTURES.

lone, barque, Hutton, for Newcastle Mary Eliza, cutter, for Wangapoa and Levuka

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

Roratonga and Tahiti—Coronet, this evening Wanganui—St. Kilda, s.s , to-morrow from Manukau Kaipara—Wild Duck, ketch from Manukau For Levuka-Star of the South, s.s., Friday London —Anazi, barque, early

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Rangatira, s.s., from Sydney, about Bth May Southern Cross, s.s., from England Empreza, barque, from Liverpool. Sailed October 15 Jubilee, ship, from London, Sailed January 21 Rou;arell, ship, from London. Siiled February 19 Bella Mary, from Hobsrt Town, early Briton, barque, from Newcastle. Sailed April 22 Paterson, p.s., from the South, 10th instan Huntley Castle, ship, from London. Sailed Feb 21 sabella, brig, from Newcastle. Sailed 14th ult. Annie Lisle, barque, from Newcastle. Sailed 24th

ult. Mary King, schooner, from Adelaide, early Rose M., barque, from Oamaru, early Augusta, schooner, from Sydney, early Edith, schooner, from South Sea Islands, early

Messrs. Niccol and Son successfully launched a cutter this morning, which they have built to the order of a gentleman at Tauranga.

The departure of the mail steamer Cyphrenes is postponed till Tuesday, the 12th inst.

The barque lone took her departure for Newcastle early this morning. She carries with her the following passengers —Mr and Mrs Davidson, Mrs Ellison, Mr Macky, Mr and Mrs Atkinson, John, Joseph, and Hannah. Atkinson, Mrs and Miss King.

The preliminary trip of the Mission schooner was taken too late in the day yes terday to enable us to give more than the approximate result. Mr Fraser superin tended the trial, and his Lordship Bishop Cowie and several ladies and gentlemen in terested in the Mission were on board. The experiment was in every way satisfactory. No fault could be found in the working of the machinery, which was as smooth as could be desired. With a pressure of from 50Tb. to 551b. of steam the screw made 105 revolu lutions, and the speed attained was four knots, the measured mile being run over in exactly 15 minutes. It is confidently ex pected that quite five knots will be got out of her when the engines are finished off so as to permit the pressure being increased to 601b. or .01b.

Launch. —Messrs Henderson andSpraggon launched this morning from their yard at Smailes Point a fine topsail schooner, which they have built to the order of Messrs Jagger, Easdown, and Hooper. The launch, which took place at 10 o'clock, was a most success ful one. As soon as the shores were knocked away the vessel began her journey down the ways, sliding along with an easy motion and gently accelerating pace, and settling herself in the water as quietly and evenly as a duck starting for a swim. The ceremony of christening was performed very efficiently by Mrs L. Robertson, a sis ter of Mrs Jagger. The dimensions of the new schooner are as follows :—Length of keel, 68 feet ; overall, 77 feet; breadth of beam, 18 feet ; depth of hold 7 feet G inches. She is copper - fastened throughout, and is built with the combined object of carrying and sailing well. Her estimated tonnage is about 60 tons register, and on this she will it is expected carry overTOO tons of cargo. The keel was laid about six months ago. The schooner has been named the Atlantic, and with her beautiful outlines and substantial build will make an elegant and useful addition to our schooner fleet. The Atlantic is to be placed in the Southern trade, and will probably load in a few days for Lyttelton. After the launch the prosperity of the schooner was drunk in bumpers of champagne. Captain Hooper, late of the Effie Meikle, and one of the owners, will take command.

We are glad to find that our apprehensions yesterday, respecting the cutter .Swift, are groundless, as a letter from Mr Lockwood, the master, received in Auckland to-day, states that she is at the Great Barrier.

The cutter Elizabeth brings 20 bales wool from Turanga Creek.

The brigantine Coronet has cleared out wards for Rarotonga and Tahiti with a varied cargo of general goods shipped by Messrs Owen and Graham. She takes the following passengers :—A. Heather, T. B. Gillies, L. Jouaneau, G. Nicholas, T. Cape, Tapioca and Jim (natives), T. Pierce. The Coronet is to sail this evening.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

Wellington, this day. The mail steamer Cyphrenes arrived from the North at nine o'clock this morning and and left for Lyttelton at 11.30 a.m.

The Phoebe has left for the North with a large number of passengers. TAtrRANGA, this day. The s.s. Murray left for Auckland at 10.10 a.m. to-day.

PORT OF ONEHUNGA.

ARRIVALS.

St. Kilda, s.s., from Wanganul

DEPARTURES.

Ladybird, s.s., Andrews, for the South

COMMERCIAL.

CALL AND DIVIDEND LIST.

The following are the current calls and dividends payable in the companies named below:— Calls. & a. d. Date Auckland Whaling Co 210 0 May 9 Ruby 0 10 May 13 Lincoln Castle 0 10 May 13 Queen of the May .. .. 0 10 May 13 Una 0 0 6 May 13 Royal Oak 010 May 13 Pride of Tokatea 0 0 6 May 13 Windsor Castle 0 0 6 May 16 National Bank of N.Z 010 0 July 1

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Under :—

For Thame?, this dsy, at 5 30 p.m , and to-morrow

at 10.30 a.m. For Coromandel, on Friday next, at 12 30 p m. For Waiwera and Warkworth, per Lady Bowen, to-

m-rrow, at 10 a.m For Wanpanui, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago,

per St Kilda, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Russell, per Murray, to-morrow, at 3 p.m. For Wnangarei, &c, per Cycle, on Friday next, at

9 a.m. For Fiji, per Star of South, on Friday next, at 3 p.m, For Whitiangi, Taiiua, Tauranga, Opotiki, and Napier, via Tauranga! per Southern Cross, on Friday next, at 3 p.m. For the undermentioned places, per Cyphrenes, on Tuesday next, 12th instant, as under : — For Fiji.Sand wich Islands.United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign West Indies, at 10.30 a.m. For the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, at 10.30 a.m. For money orders, registered letters, and news papers, at 9.30 a m. Late letters bearing an extra fee of Cd will be received by tho Mail Agent on board up to time of sailing. iHgned) S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

MARRIAGE.

Rev-born— Ormiston.— On April 29, by the Rev John Wallace, at the residence ef the bride's father, Mr Robert Royburn. youngest son of Robert Key burn, Esq., J.P., Eriinton. Wangarei, to .Tessic, eldest daughter of William Ormiston, Esq., J.P., M.P.C., Totara, Mangapai,

DEATHS.

Snr.rnrciiD—This morning, in her 74th year. Mrs Shepherd, the widow of the late * lexander Shep herd, Esq., Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand.

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

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1874.

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

A NOTABLE effect of the recent fires and the warm agitation on the water supply question is the passing of the Waterworks Bill through all its stages by the Provincial Council at one sitting. This is a similar measure to the one

that excited such opposition in our legislature last session. The object of the Bill is simply to comply with that provision of the coloniaj Act which requires that the sanction of the Provincial Council shall be secured before money can be borrowed tinder the Act. The effect of this will be that tho City Council, with the consent of the ratepayers, may now borrow £100,000 for waler supply purposes. The final decision has been placed by the legislature in the hands of the ratepayers, and we trust they will be true to their own and the city interests, and will not raise objections that will further delay this im portant work. Upon their decision depends the health of the city, and, in a great measure, the security of property. The City Council having now the necessary power should lose no time in going to the ratepayers with the most approved scheme for securing what they have so long rightly regarded as a necessity.

The Onehunga concert on Monday evening in aid of the fund for shingling the Catholic Church, Otahuhu, was well patronised, and the hall was full of interested listeners. Miss Shanaghan took her seat at the pianoforte, and, by her skilful playing, contributed greatly to the success of the concert. The Rev. Fathers O'llara and Golden, and other friends from Auckland, were present, and evidently enjoyed the musical and vocal per formances. The programme was thoroughly carried out to the satisfaction of all in attend ance. The opening piece'was the "Fisher man's Chorus," (Auber). Mia Higgins sang the sweet song " Flora Lyle," which was encored. The "May Queen," from Tenny son, music by Bennett, and the "Vacant Chair," were highly creditable to the singers. Miss Naughton was true to the sentiment and spirit of Moore's beautiful song, "The Harp that once through Tara's Halls." Mr Tole gave the "WhistlingThief,"andapretty piece "When the Corn is Waving, Annie," which elicited applause. Miss Casey came forward, we believe for the tirst time in public, and sang, " Oh, give me Freedom ever." Several other exquisite ballads were given, also, the chorus of the "Bridesmaid," an<_ several duetts. The " Larboard Watch " was done in a masterly manner by Messrs Baillie an d Higgins, and altogether the amateurs came out vigorously and well. The entertainment closed with the royal anthem.

" Aurora Floyd " was repeated last even ing to a very fair house at the Prince of Wales Theatre, and the parts were well sustained by the various actors, Miss Stephen son taking the character of the heroine of that once popular story from which the drama is taken. The burlesque of "La Sonnambula" was also repeated with success. This even ing a new piece, " Under the Gaslight," will be introduced, which may exhibit some shades of the night side of nature. We shall see !

The story in connection with the Harp of Erin is not yet complete, but will possibly be finished on Monday next in the District Court. The three solicitors, Messrs. Joy, Russell, and Brookfield discussed at great length the points of law raised between them, and his Honor, after patiently listen ing for half-a-day to the arguments of counsel, said that he would consider the matter before the Court, and on Monday next would give his opinion as to whether it was worth while going on with defendant's case. If he did not con sider it expedient, a nonsuit would have to be recorded.

A correspondent at East Tamaki writes: —" Splendid sport. Newton and I were over Fairleigh farm by day-break this morning : lots of pheasants ; fired fifteen times ; knocked clown three, twelve having been carried away by their feathers. Newton saw something moving behind a furze-bush ; let fly, it fell, we ran, and found a bleeding fowl, Mrs Bumpus's favourite hen ; she had ceased to cluck ; she was, as old Scrooge said, dead as a door nail. Here's a go. Alec, said Newton ; bag her, said I. We cooked her by a camp fire yesterday ; she was very tender considering her years. We shall return to-morrow and leave a brace of pheasants for the Editor of the Evening Slar."

The concert in aid of the funds of the Onehunga Ladies' Benevolent Society in the Choral Hall on Tuesday was fairly success ful in point of numbers present. The singers in the first part were Onehunga amateurs, and they acquitted themselvesmost creditably Messrs Short, Hanly, and Purchase (2), Turnbull, Stevenson, Hamer, and Donovan, all received more or less applause. The second part by the Parnell Ethiopian Troupe was - well perhaps the less said the better.

A cluster of seven or eight young ladies was observed last evening gazing intently into the window of Mr Campbell, tailor, Queen-street; but what could be so attrac tive to young ladies in a tailors window we could neither conceive nor Imagine. Curiosity was excited, and upon gazing we discovered that the object of curiosity was not a new chignon, nor any newly-imported adorn ment to tho head or form of feminine love liness, but a sportsman's green surtout, worthy of Hoskins in the character of Charles Surface, The members of the Working Men's Union will hold their regular meeting this evening in the Tcmperanca School-room, Albert-street, for general and other business of importance to tho order. Mr Frederick Howard, of the United States Dining-rooms, being desirious of assisting towards making New Zealand the Britain of the South, has commenced the London system of supplying hot rolls and coffee to customers at four o'clock in the morning. Hot rolls are very acceptable on a cold morning for break fast, but in the old country the dusty sons of the trough regarded thorn as impediments to progress, as rolls chiefly imposed the long hour sy^ttiin on the pale fraternity. _ We remember one baker who was wont to sing - Hot rolls ! hot rolls I ye are a curse To u.H poor toiling bakers ; Ye press us down from bad to worse, Then to the undertakers. We may add— But Howard has a better plan, And robs of rest no journeyman. The Treasurer of^the Orphan Home, Par nell, acknowledges with thanks the receipt of the following sums:—Collected in box at Mr Waters', £4 2s Id ; collected in N. Z. In surance Co's Office, £1 lid. We notice that in our morning contmporaries the amounts have been transposed. To the Editor : Sir, —A paragraph ap peared in your Saturday's issue giving an account of the success which had attended the cruise of two. American whaling vessels which had put into the Bay r>f Islands, and the inference was drawn that if i tho Auckland whaling barque had been properly manned similar success might have attended her. It was also sug gested that Captain Bayley, of Hobart 1 Town, an old and experienced whaler, should ibt consulted regarding the present refit of tho Albion. Although though not a bad sug gestion, it would not, I fancy, be product ive of much good to the company. I think Captain Bayley's answer would be something to the following effect :—"All you want is a good ship, an experienced captain (Good Templar, if possible), a good crew, and the luck to drop across whales." But, sir, would it not be better to send the Albion to Hobart Town to be refitted out prior to going on another cruise. She could there get an ex perienced captain and a good crew, besides being fitted out at considerably less expense than it could be done in Auckland. She could also try her luck on the same whaling grounds as the Hobart Town vessels do. Their oil is generally got off the South-west Cape and middle grounds. I believe that if such a course was adopted the Albion when next she cyme into Auckland would be a "ful ship." While on this subject have we not in Auckland any firm enterprising enough to send out a whaler of their own ? Even in Hobart Town all the whaling vessels be longing to that port are owned by private individuals holding from two to three vessels each. Had the Auckland Whaling Company two or more vessels enough oil might have been obtained between them to prevent the present call of £2 10s. per share. —Yours, _tc, Suggestion.

We regreat to hear{of the death of Mr Hill, solicitor, after a very brfef illness.

In consequence of several members of the Domain Board being away in quest of pheasants the meeting announced for to-day was not held, only the secretary and one member being present. We may also add that the Council Chamber clock has the clock epidemic, and won't go.

We learn that the mail agent, who proceeds in charge of this month's San Francisco mails, will return with the English mail, which, according to time-table, should reach Wellington on the 17th July. As the General Assembly by that time will be in session, the Postmaster-General is arranging that memners and others whose business calls them to the session may have their correspondence placed in the Wellington bag by forwarding a request to that effect to the Postmaster general. As there is only one mail agent employed there will doubtless, with the ut most care, be a liability to omissions, but the officer will be instructed to be as exact as possible, and his work will be greatly facilitated by those desirous of participating in the arrangement giving the full addresses which their correspondence ordinarily bears. A circular telegram to the above effect has been issued by the Postmaster-General.

In preparation for the salvo of artillery to be fired by electricity at the Claus-Rekel concert to-morrow, at the Choral Hall, the guns of the Auckland Artillery Corps have to-day been placed in position outside the Hall, and Mr Goodall has been engaged during the day in laying the connecting wires. Every care will be taken to ensure this novel idea being carried out successfully. As will be seen by advertisement in another column, trains and steamboats will run for the conveyanco of residents at Onehunga and the North Shore.

The railway officials, which in this case mean the Government, must look out they don't have an action brought against them for culpable neglect, causing injury to body and limb. At the Penrose station the way from the platform to the high road is over some planking, in which the several planks are placed at intervals of nearly six inches apart. Beneath the planks is a depth of about four feet to the ground. The other evening Captain Rose, of the schooner Coronet, put his foot through one of the interstices while walking across in the dusk and narrowly escaped breaking his leg. If the road out of the station is to be continued by this route some alteration will have to take place or there will be an accident. | There are no less than seven fine dogs at the Police Station which have been collared by constables without collars, and if not owned or taken away by to-morrow morning the animals will be poisoned. It is shrewdly suspected, and even rumoured, that there is also a collarless dog in custody belonging to the Resident Magistrate, but we think this must be a mistake.

A PARK FOR PONSONBY.

,We hay _ just been looki at a plan of the Be]la y egta Estat Ponsonbyj which a nmn . ber of influential gen tlemen are desirous of turning into a public park for the increasing population of the p ] easanfc suburb of Pon sonby. The plan has been artistically pre pared by Mr Hammond, architect and sur veyor, of Shortland-street, and is now on view at the shop of Mr Upton, Queen-streeb. Ponsonby is continually becoming more thickly populated by many of our citizens, and ere long every foot of land will be bought up ; already it promises to become one of the most interesting of oity suburbs, and Good

Templars may point to Ponsonby as a locality without a tavern. We are not sure, how ever, that the inhabitants live entirely with out the wee drop of something nice. The Bella Vesta estate is eminently fitted for a people's park. It is situated on the beach ot the broad waters of the harbour, within ten minutes' steam-boat ride of the pier, and thirty minutes by road. The site is a, broad table land, bounded in the foreground by the two branches of the Ponsonby road, on the left by the cliff and high water line, on the right by a road front ing villa sites along the coast, and is roughly estimated to contain forty-five acres. The estate is admirably adapted for public recreation ground, the foreground being level, commanding extensive views of the surrounding country, and from the purity of the atmosphere greatly conducive to health The projected park will not only afford pleasant walks for citizens, but it will also afford ample space for a very conve nient cricket field, which will be required in the future, as the barrack ground will be finally closed to the Lilly whites, Pilches, Mynns, and Mumfords of Auckland. In fact it is about the best position in the" suburbs for all kinds of physical sport, and as Auckland promises to become the city of holidays and sports of all kinds the oppor tunity of forming the park should not be, allowed to pass. The means of communicas tion by water present nr.mnsl advmla^c as the steamboats plying to and fro between Woodside (Stokes' Point) by calling at the Park pier would prove a remunerative specu lation, even by taking smaller fares than under present circumstances. Quick 'a omni buses also run within a stone's throw of the entrance to the park, and render the enclosure easy of access from the city. The bridge across Cox's Creek would also bring the Manukau within an agreeable distance of the city ; it would, moreover, give to the settlers" in the neighbourhood of the mills a fine road, and induce them to erect small homesteads, which would be preferable to the cramped allotments hitherto parcelled out to the people by land jobbers. The plan is worthy of inspection, and shows that the estate might, with a comparatively small outlay, be transformed into a flowery, and health-giving Eden for the people.

OUR PROPHETS.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sir,—Commend me to the vagaries of your morning contemporaries now that the City Council are for the first time (or will be in the Superintendent giving his assent and notifying the day when the Water /\ct comes into operation), placed in a position to really do anything. The Herald coolly proposes a Water Company and further legislation. An incubus the Otago people long to be re lieved from we are advised to take upon • shoulders. Doubtless there are many _Ul —, ' 1 like it, and twenty per cent. here who wouiu. ' trnat -Southern dividends fben tru, p ~d untruth- Twaddler, with its indiscnmate!»_. _^ 0 ful abuse of everything and everybody >. does not think with them, seeks to cover the \ fact that to its determined opposition to a water supply, met with little favour in the Provincial Council, and they vent their spleen accordingly; and from this great luminary we also learn that whiie to-day the City Council officers are to blame for unseen drains, at other times they are endeavouring to tyrrenise over the citizens with ridiculous by-laws, and are held up to scorn accord ing y. Really I don't know which to pity most—Those who, trying to do their duty, nevur please ; or those who, professing con sistency, and to lead public opinion, are never two days alike in their ideas on any subject. It is well known that the present small water supply is in tho hand of the Provincial authorities, and that the City Council have no control whatever over it, but it is not truth but exaggerated inistatcment that the Cross writer desires. Probabiy for some ulteiior object yet to be made known does this persistent untruthfulness in casting un deserved blame make able and qualified citizens anxious to give a helping hand in the City Council and other local government or the reverse. —Yours,;Y.C.

ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

[From our London Correspondent.] CONVENT SCANDAL IN KKANCK.

Theio has been another little convent scandal at Keuas, near Cologne. It seems that a novice in the Female Carmelite Es tablishment at that place became lather too fond of her friend the Confessor, who, by the way, judging from the flaming accounts of the beauty of the lady, must be a gentleman of excellent taste. A third party appeared upon the scene in the shape of an imperti nent little biby, which deserved to be starved to death, as it was, for its very bad taste in obtruding itself where it was not wanted ; at least, that was the opinion of the Lady tSuperioress. The local authorities, however, were as obtuse as most magistrates, and failed to view the matter in a convontually-religious light, and so sentenced the Lady Superioress to two months, and the novice to one month's imprisonment. This recognition of the superior rank of the elder lady must have been highly gratifying to all the parties con cerned.

CURIOUS CLAIMS TO THE THRONE OF FRANCE.

i " Claimants " are all the fashion just now. Just at present there have been two who have come forward as heirs to the throne of France. There has always been a doubt as to what became of the Dauphin after the execution of his father and mother, Louis XVI, and Marie Antoinette. It was gene rally believed that the unfortunate youth was starved to death in the Temple, but circumstances have become known which now guide to the supposition that he made his escape from that prison, and out of the country. The argument is that a doctor was called in by the principal conspirators for the purpose of administering poison to the i Dauphin ; that the poison was given to an ; other youth who was brought in for this pur pose : that the Dauphin was at the same time drugged so as to simulate death, and being placed in a coffin was taken away for interment, and that the Dauphin was then taken out and conveyed away to a place of safety. He was, however, twice betrayed and imprisoned, but again twice escaped. In ISOB Josephine had him liberated, he then being aged 21, having passed seventeen years in prison and having forgotten his language. So far the story is acknowledged by both claimants to be true, but then comes the question. One man says that his father, the Dauphin, after many adventures reached Berlin, but having no passport could not enter the city. Some 1 one gave him a passport under the name of Naundorff, and this is how he came by that appellation. The other man, who claims to be the veritable Auguste de Bourbo c ~ says that after many adventures Louis the 17th escaped to England, and passed as Augustus Meves. He has compared notes with Naundorff, and he declares that if Naundorff has any thing to do with the matter at all he is simply the son of Meves, who was substituted in place of the Dauphin in October, 1793, and that he has heard the story from his father. The last named claimant has written a book to prove his title which is just about to bepub listed.

ROMAN CVTHOLIC OPPOSITION TO MASONRY

There has been quite a little sensation caused in England by the refusal of the Bey. Mr Cuffe, a Roman Catholic Army Chaplain, to bury a gunner of the Artillery on the ground that he was a Freemason. Mr Cull'ehaspublishedan explanation™ which he says that no Freemason can be a Roman Catholic, and the moment a Roman Catholic becomes a Freemason he ceases to be a Roman Catholic. This is rather awkward, because once a Freemason always a Free mason, and it is not denied that the Pope and more than one of his Cardinals were Freemasons in their younger days. Er go they are not Roman Catholics. Rather a " hobble" thip. The Tablet is rampant and mendacious as is its wont, and indulges in tremendous diatribes against the fraternity, at which the fraternity of course can afford to laugh. THE TREMENDOUS WAR PREPARATIONS which are still going on throughout the length and breadth of the European Con tinent are the source of a great deal of uneasiness. Moltke, in the German Par liament, has made a very lame attempt to excuse the conduct of Germany in this re spect. He says that it is merely for the pre servation of peace that the Government is amassing enormous stores of war, calling up all available forces, and fortifying all com manding towns. This is all very well; but it smells suspiciously. He says that the best guarantee for th-s peace of Europe is an invincible, armed power in its centre. There may be two opinions on this point also. It does not improve the general aspect of affairs either to know that Russia and Germany have shaken hands over a kind of Turkish bargain, in other words that Germany has agreed not to interfere with Russian aggrandisement in that quarter. Viewed in connection with the infringement of the Black Sea Treaty, the furious yet suppressed rage of France, and the angry temper of Alsace and Lorraine, as well as the Khivan affair and the extension of Russian military power in the direction of Afghanistan things may be said in colonial parlance to look very " dusty." Were the Gladstone Ministry in power it would scarcely be necessary to look with any alarm upon European complications since i was evident that the Liberals caredt little for the kicks and blows that for the last five years have been showered upon the long-suffering British Lion. But one great point in the Conservative programme is that which tells us that we must look for a renovation of our foreign policy, and that in future England is once more to take up the position of which she erstwhile boasted, a leader amongst Kings. Such a course would, i however, doubtless involve us in any difficulties which might arise, and it is difficult to say how long it may be before France and England once more find them selves as allies fighting shoulder to shoulder pro aris et focis. In France the military preparations are terrific. All the latest improvements, all the German inventions proved of value during the late war are being adopted. . Large orders are ' -en for Krupp's guns, and the Assembly has* votea ° large ad<iltional war subsidy— "over andabove WuZ* masked !" The French Government have also recommended to farmers the use of traction engines,, becaus. e > in time of war they could be made usetu» in the transport of war material. If these things do not point in a very disagreable direction, then it is impossible to read the signs of the times. BURNING OF DEAD BODIES. The subject of incremation still exercises the minds of the doctors and the scientists. A man has just come out very oppor tunely with a patent furnace for consumin human bodies. It consists of a kind of blast furnace in the narrow cylinder in which the body is placed. A rush of intensely heated air passes it, and consumes it rapidly, four hours being designated as the extreme limit of the operation, even in the case of a ponderous "subject." The cost would not exceed nine shillings per body, and the result would be about a handful of impalpable powder which friendß might have parcelled and labelled or sealed up in an ornamental vase, &c, at pleasure. REMARKABLE TRIAL IN FRANCE. France has supplied us with a good deal of our political and sensational gossip lately. The trial of that venerable old Republican, M. Raspail, for instance, has furnished much " table-talk," so intimately connected is his history with that of his country, un fortunate Fiance. His condemnation was a surprise to every one, since it was felt that his age and many excellencies should have saved him. His prosecution, like some others which have been carried out since the commencement of the Septennate, was both unnecessary and cruel. In the case of Ras pail it was, doubtless, instigated by the Jesuit party, which prevails greatly just now at Gallic Council Boards. The ground of prosecution was the publication in an almanac, of which Raspail has for years been editor and proprietor, of certain poli tical squibs which from time to time for year past have appeared in its pages. In these passages Raspail, absurdly enough, accuses the Jesuits of having been the source of every evil which has befallen his country for the past century, and says that the Communists of Paris were not the aukri of the incendiarisms and other diabolical acts which distinguished their career in Paris. Now Raspail is eighty one 3 'ears of age, and surely had a right to un opinion of his own. It is as if the Star should be prosecuted by the Government of New Zealand for deckr ing its belief that the Poverty Bay massacre was caused by the weakness of the Native office, and that the natives were not so black as they were painted. However, they manage these things so much better in France, ai.d they not only brought up the old man and his son as well as the printer, but succeeded in packing a jury which found him guilty, and the poor old soul was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and his son to six months. The Due de Broglie is a coward at heart. This is the Government of " moial order " forsooth. I have enclosed for you M. Raspail's defence, but am afraid yon will not be able to find space for it.

DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS COMPANY.

A meeting of the shareholders of the Daily Southern Cross Newspaper Company was held at the office of Mr. Charles Tothill, Shortland-street, this afternoon, at three o'clock. Only a few shareholders were present. Mr. Warwick Weston, Chairman of directors, presided. The following report was presented : — " In meeting the shareholders for the first time the directors have great pleasure in pre senting the balance-sheet of the company for the year ended on 31st March last. The revenue from all sources has reached and even exceeded the estimate made by the directors on the formation of the company ; but the estimated expenditure has also been exceeded in consequence of various improve ments effected in the management of the business, and also by reason of a change of premises, an event which was not anticipated when the company was formed. The directors purchased for the sum £500 the lease for twenty-six years of the new premises, which are in a good central situa tion, and well suited for the purposes of the business. The cost of improving, altering, a nd adding to the premises, together with %\xq expenses of removal 9f the plant,

amounted to £656 19s ; of this s^Sf 31 has been written off,'and efi% last year s operations, although tW ga,B»t t . tion extended over only tbremonth_>4N financialyear ;the balance of LSOOtW °f tt I propose to write, off during thn Wecto^ years by instalments of LIOO L.^ fi *> The assets of the company have ]%!*»**. fully examined. TheT plant or, • '"*•■ shews that with recent improveS**ll additions it is now in good world** a^ and in a condition superior to thatinS^' it stood when it was taken over WitSP* P*?y- The directors recommend a S-> of 10 per cent upon the A and A A.• ad shares. The directors recommend 2ft* honorarium to be appropriated for „> suing year be the same as that pakl W the last year. At the first meetloS 8 shareholders all the directors maX,* W£ h tJ e. artlcle. s of association, r£t Cc ■ office but are eligiblefor re-election £ a are Messrs W. Wesfon, G. Yon der___' T> J. T. E. Rogan, D. B. CrnShtk^ Owen and Charles Williamson, and tW accordingly offer themselves for re 32 7 -Warwick Weston, Chairman » Ctlon

BALANCE SHEET OF THE DAILY SOUHERN C Rn_ AND WEEKLY NEWS COMPANY, LImZ FOR THB YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, I$J To Capital 1,000 shares at £10 ' d each ... ... 10)000 . ~ Liess 100 shares retained by -Company ljsoo ~ Debentures 4 000 On ~ Bills payable ... ..[ ?J „ Sundry liabilities of Company 602 fi . ~ Interest on deben tures due Ist April, 1874 14 a (.. „ Due to Bank of New " ° n Zea f kQ,4 • 24612 9 ~ Due to directors 57 10 0 ~ Balance available for" dividend 48019 4 cr. "52? £ 8 rl By plant and copyright 7,714 4 8 ~ Less depreciation of plant... 214 4 g ~ Leasehold of new premises 500 0 0 ~ Premises account 500 0 0 ~ Stock, paper, stationery, inks, &c 1,09719 9 ~ Bills receivable 257 10- 0 ~ Open accounts 3,891 17 2 ~ Less bad debts 115 q,q ~ Cash in hand ... 28 14 2 ~ Debentures due on April Ist si 1874, retired on September, m '- 1873 ... 50f 00 . £14,161 1.1 PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT FOR THE ____, ENDING MARCH 31, 1874. Dr. £ 8. d. To postage and stationery ... 443 \m „ Telegraphic charges ... 277 2 4 ~ Thames and Coromandel agencies ... ... ... 72. 610 ~ Tiavelling expenses secre tary and reporters ... 31 6 0 ~ Boat and horse hire ... 79 £j_6 ~ Insurance and taxes ... 81 414 ~ Gas and coal 293 6 10 Sundry disbursements ... 170 6 0 I, Frelg-* and cartage ... 103 19 ~ Repairs > 28 16 6 ~ Law expenses' 26 1 10 ~ Disbursements on account of new premises ... t- 656 19 0 ~ Directors'honorarium ... 130 Q v o ~ Commission to country agencies ... ... ... 144 8 9 ~ Country and foreign corres pondence 352 3 4 „ Interest 196 19 5 „ Rent 421 10 0 „ Paper, ink, &c 1,952 3'M ~ Wages, literary and me chanical 6,547 610 „ Type, &c 235 14 8 ~ Depreciation in value of open accounts ..-. ... 115 0 0 £12,359 17 LIABILITIES. „ Six months' interest on £3,500 debentures, due April Ist, 1874 140 0 0 „ Due to directors for hono- j rarium 57 10 0 £197 10 0 Profit on year's transactions ... 480 19 4 £13,037 10 ll £ .. d. By advertising 6,638 1 10 1,504 M J „ Publishing MS 1? 0 „ Stamps sold 190 J..0 „ Transfer Fees 1 1 ° v ~ Rebate 6 months' interest on Debentures, due 31st March, _ 1874 .... 29 1%7 „ Plant "sold". m 100 ~ Disbursements on account of new premises to be written off in five annual instalments of one /* hundred pounds sterling each... 500 J J* ■ £13,037 Mil I Hereby certify that I have examined" the above balance sheet and statement of prons; and loss account, and compared *flem .Jf I**1** the books and vouchers, and believe two to be a true and correct statement ot w. affair, of the Company.—Richard G^uck, auditor; Charles Williamson, secretary Auckland, April 30, 1874. . f __ Mr McKay took exception to various jem. in the balance-sheet, and to the way W accounts were made up. The report was then adopted. There having been no other •J^g"™ nominated for the directory, ™e.T? w directors were declared to be re-appoinwu*

POLICE COURT.— Wednesday

(Before Thos. Beckham, Esq., R &) A WEDDED PIR _ George Jones, a man ofsmall *™&gi' charged with assaulting his wife, Jones, in the course of yesterday, whereoy she went in bodily fear. Prisoner pleaded guilty. ... Mr Joy appeared for *£■£*£, thought he should be able to shew *» the assault was committed unaei^ yoking circumstances ; his ™??% n jj fl : hard-working man, and every mghtwn^ went home he found his housemthen. state of disorder, and his wife im«g , state of semi-intoxication, tm guilty also of other vices. aß j bee«n Mrs Jones steamed up at once, and e W« of to lift her dress, with £**#_ showing a terrible bruise on her leg Court, where George had kickedhffl- i His Worship rebuked **• *2%rk_ , f duct, but as she persisted in shewing she was ordered out of Court. $ Defendant was ordered toenwr own bond of £30, and to .^ **° for m k of £15 #ach, to keep t^ P* 5*06 ft months. S ,„..,. ~"' , l\ William Knox, mxUr _b,# appeared io answer to a "SHE * ***

fiti mmm® m^w-mkmbkf may c utti



T3ETIRING FROM THE RETAIL J. COSGRAVE & CO. Are giving up their Retail Business in Queen-street. A SALE of the Goods will be held TO-MORROW, the 14th of March, and will continue until the entire Stock is disposed of. We are now landing THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS WORTH of DRAPERY and MEN'S CLOTHING, purchased by Mr Cosgravb from the English and French Manufacturers, which wiU be Old at V NPRECEDENTEDLY LOW PEICES. No credit will be given during the Sale.



T3USHBROOK & BPJBGMAN Have great pleasure in annourdng that they are NOW OPENING UP THEIR SHIPMENT Ex Ncrliaoo Castle, Hylton Castle, and Dorette, Consisting of— 56 CASES AND BALES OF NEW WINTER GOODS, And respectfully invite attention lo the same. GENTLEMEN'S CLOTHING, BOYS' AND YOOTHS' CLOTHING, HATS AND CAPS, HOSIERY. Children's New Felt Hats, ladies' Black Straw Rats, Flowers, Feathers, Ribbons &c. FANCY DRESS GOODS, FRENCH MERINOS, WINCEYS, WOOL PLAIDS, FLANNELS. LADIES' BLACK CLOTH JACKETS. CHILDREN'S AND LADIES' WATEPRROOF TWEED MANTLES. UMBRELLAS, Etc., Etc., Etc. FURNISHING GOODS, And a complete New Stock in every Department. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN Wholesale and Retail Drapers, Clothiers, &o JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotol,) Upper Queen-street, Auckland. T\ AM A G E D BLANKETS SALVAGE FROM THE LATE FIRE. 10 0 PAIR BLANKETS, SLIGHT.. DAMAGED, Must be cleared out this week. A. LINABURY & CO., CITY HALL. [Established 1884.] TTV STEPHENSON & CO.'S CELEBRATED COFFEES, "EXHIBITION BRAN D," " KAGLE BRAND," "CROWN BRAN D," Are to be prrcured at all respectable Grocers and Stob.>keepers throughout tho Province of Auckland. D. STEPHENSON & CO., WYNDIIAM S T R E E T, Auckland. Tjl H. LEWISSON Begs to inform his numerous frienes and." tho public at large that havin? been success ful in disposing of all his old STOCK at the recent CLEARING-OUT SALE, Ho has determined to RE-OPEN with an ENTIRELY NEW SELECTION OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OP JEWELLERY, WATCHES, Ac, And is resolved to offer to the Public Goods of tho best Quality at the LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICE. _3T Extensve Alteiations are about to be made in the Business Premises, which when completed will make them second to none in the Colonies. The Manufacturing Branch of the Business will be carried en as usual, and all Repairs or Orders for I Cutting and Mounting Greenstone and Quartz will be executed with promptness, . ~( , F. H. LEWISSON, 1 OPPOSITE UNION BANK, QUEEN-STREET, AUCKLAND. YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION, WeLLESLEV-STREET. WINTER COURSE OF LECTURES, 1874- May 8-OPENING MEETING, City Hall. Chair man, His Excellency the Governor the Right Hon. Sir James Fergusson, Bart. Addresses by His Honor the Superintendent, J. Williamson, Esq. ; Rev Dr Wallis, EerW. C. Oliver; J. C. Firth, Esq , A. Boardman, Esq. May 20-" Progress and Chemistry of Artificial Illumination, with Experiments on various Lights. Gases, &e."—H. A. Severn, Esq. May 29 -" Woman's Influence on the World's Weal"—Rev Alex. Reid June6—"The Tongue—lts Use and Abuse"—Rev G. H. Turner June 26—" The Approaching Event—Transit of Venus"—Theophilus Heale, Esq. July 17—" The Manuscripts of the New Testament" —Right Rev Dr Cowie, Bishop of Auckland. July 24-" Water"— Dr J. R. Nicholson Aug. 14—'- The Proper Place of the Sabbath In Christian Ethics" —Rev R Bruce Aug. 28—'• Superstitions"—Rev C. M. Nelson, M.A, Sept. 18—" Music —Its various Notations and Modes of Teaching"—Rev John Crump Sept. 25—" Science among the Cinders—A Grate Lecture"—Rev P. H. Cornford Oct. 16—"The Man"—Yen Archdeacon Maunsell, L.L.D., President. Tickets for the Course—3s each (to admit bearer and lady). Commence at. 7.30 p.m. To be had of Messrs Upton and Co, S. Wayte, 6. T. Chapman, and T. Turrell, Booksellers, Queen-street; of the Members of the Committee, and of the Librarian of the Asso ciation. Non-Ticket Holders, Is each.



Pi A U T [ ON. OLSON'S TOMATO SAUCE. Connoisseurs pronounce this Sauce to be the BEST for general use in households, and, in con sequence of its high reputation, some 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 this well-known label. TO THE ELEOTOES O F MEMBERS FOR THE HARBOUR BOABD. Gentlemen,- I beg to announce myself ss a Candidate for Re-election, mv period of oilice expiring during the current month. My views and votes on all important subjects connected with harbour improve ments are known to you. Should they have met with your approbation I ask you for your support. I am, Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, J. CASEY,