SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PORT OF AUCKLAND.

SUN-SET: This evening, 7.12 SUN-RISE: To- I morrow morning, 5.16 | HIGH WATER : This evening, 2.20 ; to-morrow morning, 3.6 1

ARRIVALS.

Margarita, barque, from Oamaru £una, p.s., from Wellington Dauntless, schooner, from New Caledonia, vlaNorfolk Island Rover, fchooner, from Poverty Bay Columbia, schooner, from Napier Southern Cross, s.s„ from Taurenga

DEPARTURES.

Augusta, brigantine, for the Thames

IMPORTS.

Per Dauntless, from Noumea: 32 tons whole oil, 2-J tons whalebone, 10 bales wool, 74 hides, 2 cases wine, order. Per barque Margarita from Oamaru : 360 bags bran, 373 do pollard, 1200 flour, 25 do wheat, 31 do barley, IS9 do oats, 7-5 do maize.

SHIP QUEEN OF THE AGF.

The following is the cargo on board the ship Quean of the Age, Capt. Montgomerie, for this port. She is now 72 days at sea, and may be expected in about a fortnight:— 99 casks order; 100 casks, Cruickshank and Co. ; 100 cases stout, Brown, Campbell, and Co. ; *6 cases, order ; 2 esses, Thos. Wilson ; 1 machine, 2 casts, order; 1 case, Kempthorne, Prosser, and Co. ; 4 cases, order; 94 pkgs, Chas. S.:hofield ;17 cases, 100 bdls wire, 50 boxes, 1 case, order ; 4 cases, Kemp thorne. Prosser, and Co.; 3 cases, E. and H. Isaacs ; 3 do. Winks and Hall; 1G64 pkgs, Superintendent Public Works ; 28 pkgs, Stewart and Anderson ; 8 tanks, Combes and Daldy; 10 J-cask's, 100 cases, order; 1 case, 4 casks, R. Cooley ; 3G2 casks, E. and H, Isaacs ; 191 pkg3,106 cases, Minister of Public Works ; 8 pkgs. order ; 6 cases, 5 bales, Winks and Hall; 1 cask, J. and J. Dickey ; 11 casks, A. Buckland ; 22 anchors, 4 chains, 3 pkgs, Williams and Co.; 18 kegs, 17 cases, 60 barrels, 8 pkgs, 5 cases, 17 bales, 18 cases, Lewis Bros. ; lOhhd?, H. S. MeyeTS ; 610 sash weights, 6 casks, 10 kegs, J. and J. Dickey ; 17 bales, 18 cases, E. Porter and Co. ; 4 pkgs, J. S. Macfarlane ; 1 case, E. Wayte; 4 pkgs, order; 14 cases. Hamilton and Co. ; 44 pkgs, 60 bdls, 275 barrels, 175 boxes, 220 plates, 62 casks, 3 cases, 2 kegs. 36 pkgs, 12 do, 701 sash weights, 4 cases, 26 boxes, 180 kegs, 1 machine, 21 pkgs, McEwen and Co.; 13 pkgs, 24 bales, 13 pkgs, 36 kegs, 60b3X^*s, T. and S. Morrin; 32 pkgs, 130 cases, 480 kegs, 3 pkgs, E. and H. Isaacs; 32 pkgs, order; 20 pkgs, J. Cosgrave and Co. ; 20 pkgs, order; 1 pkg, H. Slatter; 1 bale, order; 13 pockets, 125 cases, 50 drums, 55 ?.-casks, 30 coils. 500 cans, 18 cases. 5 kegs, 40 casks. Brown, Campbell, and Co. ; 250 boxes. 31 boxes and cases, order; 4 cases, E. and H. Isaacs ;24 pkgs. R. Lusk ; 17 bales, order ; 158 c ises and bales, McArthur, Shera. and Co. ; 1 case, H M. Jervis. — New Zealand Shipping Company, agents. i The Government p.s. Luna, Captain Fair child, arrived in the Manukau from Welling ton late last night, having on board the Auckland portion of the Suez mail. She bring the folio-wing passengers. The schooner Dauntless, Captain Moller, arrived From New Caledonia, via Norfolk Island, yesterday evening. She brings a cargo of whale oil, hides, wool, &c, and the following passengers :-Rev. Mr Jackson, Messrs Nazer, Loverock, Conroy, Nobles, J. Buffett, jun., McCoy, S. Christian, R. Christian, C. Buffett. C. Buffett, and J. Buffett. The captain reports having left Auckland on 30 th October last, and arrived at Norfolk Island on the 6th November ; left there on the 10th, and arrived at Noumea on the 17th ; left for Norfolk Island again on the 26th, and arrived on the 4th Dec. Had to stand out to sea on the 12th owing to a strong sea setting in from eastward. On the 13th finished loading, and sailed for Noumea, arriving on the 17th ; left again for Norfolk Island 23rd; arrived 28th. After experiencing great difficulty in loading, owing to heavy swell on the coast, took in passengers and sailed for Auckland on the 13 th. On the 19 th and again on the 21st, sighted a large ship on the latter day, 15 miles N.E. of Three Kings. Rounded the North Cape on 24th, 7 a.m. Arrived as above. The Hamburg barque Margarita, 3SB tons, arrived from Oamaru at 11 o'clock last night after a fair weather passage of twelve clays from port to port. Captain Ketals reports leaving Oamaru on the 15th. Had northerly winds first part of passage; light and vari able since sighting North -Island. Passed East Cape on Sunday morning. -Anchored in Rangitoto Channel as above. The Mar garita came up the harbour at seven o'clock this morning, and anchored off the wharf.

COMMERCIAL.

The yachts Elizabeth and Petrel, offered to-day for sale on the wharf by Messrs Cochrane and Sons, were withdrawn, there being no bid sufficiently high to tempt the vendor to part with them.

AUCKLAND. STOCK AND MINING REPORT.

BUSINESS DONE:— " Bank of New Zealand, £17 5s ; buyers, £17 National Bank—Sellers, d6s. National Insurance—Buyers, 21s 6d. Thames Gas—Sellers, 365. • Sash and Door Company (new issue) — Buyers, £7 ss. New Zealand Insurance—Sellers, £8210s. Alburnia—Sellers, 6s. Black Angel—Sellers 18s. Caledonian—Buyers, £10 15s ; sellers, £11. City of London, 255. Crown Prince—Sellers. 17s. Middle Star, sellers, £5. Sons of Freedom, sellers, £13. Thames G.M.Co., £3 2s 6d: buyers, £3 2s6d. ' Tookey, (double), sellers, £S. 1 Biiby, sellers, 4s 6d. Tokatea, 15s. . '.. ■

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Under :— For 1 hames, to-day, at 5 30 p m, and to-morrow at 10.30 a m and 5.30 p m For Coromandel, to-morrow, at 10.30 a m Por Wangarei, Wangarei Heads, Mangapai, and Waipu, per Bsrtha, to-day, at 4pm For the Australian Colonies, per s s Phoebe, to mouow, at 2 p m For money orders, registered letters and news papers, al 1 p m. Late letters for Sydney and Melbourne will be Efe received t; 11 2.30 pm g. g For Wbangarei, &c., per Souther.i Cross, to-morrow, at 3 p m Fo: Gisborne, per Ju''us Vogel. to-morrow, at 5 pm Mails for Australian Coloni-s (via Melbourne), will clase at H okiiika, to-morrow, at 2 p m N.B —The Mails which a~e usually made up at this office on Thvsday will tHs week be closed on Wednesday (to-mowow), at 5 pm. (Signed) S. B. Bias. Chief Postmaster.

MARRIAGE.

Wade— Harvey—On December 30, at All Saint's Church, by the Rev E. N. Bree, John Wade, to Jane, daughter of W. Rochford Harvey, both of this city.

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

TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1874.

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

The propriety of running excursion trains on Sunday is attracting a very large amount of attention both here and in Dunedin, and we exceedingly regret that a section of the press in Otago and Auckland has arrayed itself in opposition to the religious element on this question. While we cannot but re cognise the very great amount of good which journalism has conferred on the world, we should be blind indeed if we failed to see that the desire exhibited by many ournalists to pander to the wishes of the masses, to catch the spirit of the popular voice in its first breathings, and swim with the tide of popularity or seeming popularity, instead of endeavouring to guide and stem the stream where necessary, has led to much evil. The fact cannot be con cealed that the press of the present day, at any rate in the colonies, is often the|exponent of that species of indifference to religion- or in fidelity which flourishes under the attractive but greatly misapplied name of liberalism. Our contemporary the Cross, following in the wake of some journals in the South, this morning puts forth the stock arguments in favour of railway excursions on Sunday and !on the duties of clergymen, and in doing so •indulges in remarks which, where they do not merge into harmless twaddle, become most offensive to the clerical gentleman of Auckland and especially to one denomination. "They themselves," says the Cross, "are fall ing behind, and asaconsequence, clerical influ ence threatens—perhaps more than threatens —to decay. Too many of them still linger in the dusty corridors of the dogmatic past, and fear to step forth into the brighter light of the living present." What that means it is difficult to understand unless it be that the clergy decline to alter or distort scripture teaching to suit the looser observance of the present day. It proceeds to harp on what it is pleased to consider the failure of their preaching, the impossibility of making people good by law, and introduces the argument so readily imported into any con troversy ; the privileges of the rich and poor. At the present moment, as our con temporary is surely aware, a law is in full J force in the city, which closes shops, stores and all other places of business, withoneortwo necessary exceptions on Sunday, and, although perhaps not a breach of the letter, the run ning of trains, except so far as necessary for the exigencies of traffic, is a breach ofthe spirit of the law which is enforced against private tradesmen. It is not only defensible but absolutely necessary for the well-bein" pf society that the law shall often step in and restrain the practices of a portion of the community, and although we can neither make people good nor moral by law we may reasonably prevent them from exhibiting their recklessness and immorality in a way offensive to others, and detrimental to the public weal. The running of trains here is not necessary for the enjoyment of "fresh air and pure sunshine," and such an argument, which might hold good in closely populated cities cannot be therefore legitimately used in

advocacy or extenuation of the practice. The most effective cry will doubtless continue to be that the opposition arises from the ". unco quid," the ultra sanctimonious, and so forth. Working men should be extremely cautious in giving credence to this kind of reasoning. In this question of Sunday traffic is involved the great British right of every man to have the Sunday for himself to use according to his conscience. It is a question of six days or seven days labour—and the ex perience of France should teach our workmen that between secularizing the Sunday and devoting the whole or a portion of it to business there is but one step, and that but a small one, which may be easily bridged. If the Government, or whoever has the con trol of the railway, possesses the right to exact seven days work from the employees they cannot deny that right to private em ployers of labour. Let working men (and particularly those who have been so active in connection with the early-closing move ment) beware. There is aprinciple involved in these Sunday excursions which if conceded must ultimately re-act to their own detri ment. It is only the sacredness which re vealed religion has thrown around this day that has preserved it for ages to the people, and if they themselves destroy it the evil re sults must rest on their own heads. In Britain and America, where the necessary traffic by rail is a thousand times greater than here, there is a marked diminution in the number ot trains run on Sunday as compared with the week day, and Sunday excursion trains are almost unknown. It is utterly opposed to the spirit of the British Sunday to make the day one of pleasure-miking instead of a day of rest and moderate relaxation. So far as the action of the clergy, so much decried by our contemporary is concerned, we should have regarded the ministers in Auckland as being guilty of gross inattention to the spiri tual interests of the community, and as ex hibiting an litter disregard for the quiet peace fulness of the English Sunday, if they did not come forward and protest against the open contempt at present being shown for the sacredness of the day. To the fact that they do not move more frequently in such matters may more easily be traced their comparatively small influence in the com munity rather than to their non-progressive tendencies. Past experience, it: it teaches anything, proves that those divines who have had most influence over the people have been men who came out boldly and opposed themselves to the tendencies of the age, rather than to any readiness which they manifested in yielding to the cry of the unthinking. The respectability of the city will, we believe, ally itself with those who . are now resisting unnecessary Sunday traffic on our railway.

The Government steamer Luna arrived in the Manukau this morning with the Suez mails. We publish elsewhere extracts of interest from papers by the mail. We also give in our telegram columns later English and Australian telegrams per Omeo at the Bluff. Some misapprehension has beon caused by a paragraph in to-day's Herald comment ing upon the striking of an education rate of twenty shillings for the present year. The Board of Education has, we understand, . merely done soin terms of Jthe Act, and it re mains with the Provincial Government to levy the rate, which will not be done un til the matter has been submitted to the Provincial Council in May. The expenses of the Board for teachers, schools, etc., ; amount to about £20,003 a year. The ; promise made by the Executive to the Provincial Council during its brief ses sion will be adhered to, and the necessary funds for carrying on the work of education will be supplied by the Provincial Govern ment in the meantime. Our Christchurch telegrams contain the interesting announcement of Mr Hoskins' marriage with Miss Colville. Sir Cracroft Wilson gave empressment to the occasion by giving away the bride. The information will doubtless be tearfully pondered on by some of the Auckland sparks. At the meeting ofthe Harbour Board held this afternoon a letter from the Chairman of North Shore Board relative to Stokes' Point Wharf was referred to the Works Committe . An application from Mr Alex. Mackenzie for 1 a site on Rangitoto for quarrying, and a site , on the breakwater for landing stone, was re fused. A petition from the watermen to re duce the license fees was referred to the s Wharf Committee. A petition for an increase of pay sent by the pilot crew at the North Head was referred to the Finance Committee. 1 Twenty-five pounds were voted to the Regatta Prize Fund. Messrs G. Yon der Heyde and W. H. Kissling, the mover and seconder, spoke in favour of encouraging good boat : building. The latter thought even more , ought to be done by the Board. The account showed receipts, including balance from last year, £14,518 IGs 9d ; against ex ! penditurc, £13,423 15s 4d, leaving a balance ,of £1,095 Is sd. The permanent works ■ account showed receipts £17,632 15s 2d; ; expenditure, £1G,020 3s 4d ; balance in bank, ( £1,800 lis lOd. The statement of compara tive revenue shows a balance in favor of 1873 ©f £34S 153 7d. The whar/ dues received under the old tariff, 1572, were £G,341 18s 3d. : Those received under the new tariff, 1873 : £6739 15s 7d ; difference in favor of 1873, \ £397 17s 4d; the difference under the old and new rates |of pilotage is thus shown : From January Ist to 30th June, under old rate?, £549 6s Sd ; under new rates, from Ist July to 31st December, £783 15s Od : Loss shown under new rates, £111 Id. The Treasurer's annual report and balance-sheet were laid upon the table. The general accounts are audited by B. Maclean. The , Treasurer laid upon the table a comparative estimate of revenue collected by the Harbour Board and Provincial Government. The Harbour Board collection in eighteen months was £7,591 8s Sd more than the Provincial Government. Mr Isaacs gave notice that he would move next meeting that £10 be given to C. Hopkins for his bravery in rescuing the body of Captain Blythe. The half-yearly meeting of shareholders of the Shotover Co., convened for this afternoon, lapsed for want of a quorum. The directors report, prepared for presentation, which we have not space to-day to publish in extenso, stated that except on the battery site no mining operations had been carried on by the company since July last, and work had now been totally suspended on the advice of the manager. A section of the mine from the 70 feet level had been let on tribute, the company to receive 32 per cent of the gross yield. The tributers were working vigorosly, but as yet without success. The directors hope soon to be able to sell the crushing and pumping plant, which is in good order. L 216 2s 4d remains to the credit of the com pany ; debts, L 7 15s. A meeting of the householders of Mount Hobson educational district wts held at the district school yesterday, Mr A. Beveridge in the chair. The following gentlemen were elected as a Board for the ensuing year :— Messrs. William Rattray, John Angus, James Wrigley, X Newman, and the Yen. Archdeacon Pritt. The [thanks of this meeting be accorded to Messrs A. Clark James Dilworth, and the Yen. Archdeacon Pritt, for their subscriptions for prizes, and to the diocesan trustees for the very liberal manner in which they have met the views of the school committee,.

A correspondent, under the signature i "Anti-Presbyter," writes in opposition to those who are now moving for the abolition of Sunday excursion trains. We cannot afford space for all the rubbish which the writer endeavours to pass off as reason and logic. One sample of it will suffice : — "When mankind shall abandon the superstition that to commune with his Maker he must enter a certain edifice and employ a func tionary, and'shall see Him in the dew drops, and hear Him in the whispering breeze, then it will be seen that a train full of happy ; excursionists may enjoy themselves in the fields or on the shore in as devout and thank ful a spirit on a Sunday as fills a con gregation at communion,- aud the stoker may feed his furnace with the same devotional feelings as possess the bishop administering the sacred emblems." We wish our correspondent no greater ill than that he, like the devout stoker, may be con demned to feed a furnace or to perform bis ordinary business duties, whatever they may be, for seven days each week year after year. Judging from the tone of his letter he is extremely likely at no distant date to become acquainted with a furnace that is not provocative of devout feelings ; and with Old Nick for stoker it is to be hoped our excur sionist will find his happiness complete. It is nothing short of an insult to the common sense of the community to ask people to accept the idiotic assertion that a journey in the train to Onehunga is specially favourable to devout feeling, or indeed that it has not entirely the opposite effect. We refer to this subject in another p_»rt of to-day's issue. A shipwright requests us to insert the fol lowing : "Sir, —I was greatly amused by reading Mr Brown's letter in your paper last night. Mr Brown seems to be dread fully afraid of losing the goose that ]a\'s the golden eggs. He is afraid (or I suppose that is what he means) of the work going to the bush or to Australia. Now Mr Brown knows that the smallest wage paid in Australia to shipwrights is twelve shillings per day, and at Lyttelton fourteen shillings ; and he must also recollect that some time ago men were fetched here from Tasmania, and what were the results ? They would not work here. But he seems to forget altogether that vessels willbebuiltwhere the best material is found. And let me ask him if he considers he was telling the truth when he said that the men here are constantly employed ? And if he can finish his work with apprentices let him do so ; and, of course, as he does not pay them so much as journeymen, he will be able to build so much cheaper. Another question I would ask him—What does he charge for his apprentices on old work in particular? How many does he pay with 5s or Gs per clay, and charges 12s for them. The master shipwrights say the men want 14s per flay. We ask for 12s ; they want 14s for themselves, and 2s per day from each man besides. In England a master considers (id per day plenty, but here 2s is not enough, and some of them get 4s and even Gs per day profit on some of the hands they employ. Sir, the master ship wrights told a different tale a few years ago when they carried the box on their backs themselves. But it is an old saying, and a true one, "Pub a beggar on horseback and he will ride to the devil." Let the masters recollect that one day they will have to give give an account of their stewardship. If they only kept this in view we should hear no such twaddle as we have heard during ] the past week—masters saying that there is no profit in shipbuilding. Oh, no ! they lose by each one they build, and they only build , at all because they do not like to see men idle ! and yet this is the golden egg Mr Brown is afraid of losing. Only build to employ men ; not that there is any profit in it. Oh, no ! What charity! How good to the poor ! I only hope such charity will cover, if not a multitude, at least some sin." The Newmarket Progressive Society of debaters and essayists will meet this evening at their rooms for the purpose of discussing the topic of Sabbatarianism versus Sunday trains, when a lively discussion is anticipa -1 ted. Captain Miller, of the Dauntless, brings ■ advices from JS oumea, New Caledonia, up to ■ 23rd December last. He reports trade dull. '• Timber market isstill overstocked, and prices lower. Market for other goods well supplied. A grand billiard match will be played to night at the Governor Browne hotel between ] Mr Clark and Mr Pool, the latter receiving [ 300 points as on a previous occasion. The ' billiard table of Messrs Dunningham and ' King, as a work of art, is the finest we have seen in the colonies, and a credit to the maker. , At the meeting of the City Council it was agreed to allow a line of omnibusses between [ the Army and Navy Hotel to the railway [ station, Fort Britomart. It was further [ agreed either to compel people to remove ; their own rubbish ; or, on the suggestion ' of the City Surveyor, to pay a small fee for having it removed. A letter was read from ' the Provincial Secretary authorising the removal of the dead-house to Ereeman's Bay. ' Mr G. S. Graham's request to asphalt a certain portion of Fort-street was granted. ' The trustees' of the Auckland Savings' Bank held their annual meeting yesterday afternoon in Bank buildings, the vice-presi dent, Mr Wm. Kattray, in the chair. The balance-sheet, which was adopted, gives a most satisfactory account of the bank, and shews that there is a great deal of prudence, thrift and forethought among the settlers in , this part of New Zealand, and that their . savings have increased during the past year by £23,107 over that of the previous year. ; The balance-sheet of December 31, 1873, gives £5G,96S 19s Gd to the credit of . depositors, and in proof of the value of savings to the workers it ■ may be stated that £2,028 10s lld was added by way of interest to the savings of the 1,926 depositors. The receipts, balance of pre vious year, and interest from various sources for the year ending December 31st, 1873, amount to £67,812 16s, while repayments to depositors and sundry expenses amount to £54,021 15s 3d, leaving a balance of £13,791 0s 9d deposited in Bank of New South of Wales. The City Band will play on Government House lawn at half-past six to-morrow even ing. Programme :—March, German, (Hiine); overture, Fra Diavolo, (Auber); quadrilles, Rossini, (C. Godfrey); selection, Grand Duchess, (Offenbach); waltzes, Juliet, (Coote); polka mazurka, Queen of the Ball, (A. T. Hill). God Save the Queen. A meeting of the Pioneer Lodge of Good Templars will be held to-morrow evening at the usual place and hour. The Good Samaritans met last night in the Wellesley street lodge and elected a set of officers for the ensuing quarter, and among them sister Wilkes. It was arranged that entertain ments should be given on the 16th Febuarv. 16th March, and 13th April. The anniversary tea-meeting and soiree in connection with Edwards-street Chapel will be held this evening. Tea will be on the table at half-past six o'clock. Captain Peek has promised to take the chair at the public meeting, when addresses will be delivered by the Chairman, Rev Messrs Turner, Sharp, Imsly, Messrs Hemus, Battley, and other gentlemen. The speeches will be inter spersed with selections of sacred music by the members of the Tonic Sol-fa Society, and a pleasant evening will undoubtedly be the ' result. '.'.'■'

Any gentleman having a recent copy of j Bradshaw's Railway Guide will greatly oblige by leaving it at our office to-morrow. It will be returned on the following day. The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders of the M-cklle Star Gold Mining Company w-s heldHhis afternoon in the Mechanics Institute, Mr S. E. Hughes in the chair. The Directors', Mine Manager's, and Mining Surveyor's reports, and the half-yearly bal ance-sheet were read, discussed, and adopted. The balance-sheet shewed that the receipts for the half-year ending 31st December, 1873, were £4,960, and the disbursements, £4,78875, leaving a balance of £177 13s to the Company's credit. The following gentlemen, on the motion of Mr Paul, seconded by Mr Hannah, were re-elected directors of the company :—Messrs S. E. Hughes, B. Levy, and A. H. Nathan. The minutes of the present meeting were read and passed, and the meeting separated. We understand that the committee of All Saints' Church have decided to hold a mon ster bazaar to help pay off the debt on their place of worship. The teachers of the Sun day-school have already nearly sufficient goods for one stall presented to themby fi lends in England, and some of the parish- I ioners are already hard at work for this object. Any person who is desirous to further the interests of this rising district will do we 11 to communicate with any ofthe church officers or Sunday-school teachers, who will give them any assistance in their power. The bazaar will be held about April next. We are pleased to be able to report that the Auckland Choral Society have of late been making very good progress in the practice of " Haydn's Seasons," which we believe they intend shortly to perform in the presence of their honorary members. The subject has been a very popular one in England, and we think that in its perform ance the Society will not fail to please and gratify every member who hears it. The practices are held every Tuesday evening, and from the large attendance of performers, so soon after the holidays, we would be dis posed to infer that the Society mean to make every effort to maintain their character for efficiency. On Thursday evening (the anniversary of the province) the inhabitants of Otahuhu will be favoured with a visit by Mr E. Clair and his noted troupe of efficient minstrels —the only existing troupe of the many troupes of warbler 3 that have had their day and passed among the things that were. This living cluster of songful brethren will take possession of the Otahuhu public hall and go through their self-imposed musical task, consisting of songs, dances, Indian juggling act, sensational bar feat, sailor's hornpipe, ethiopian sketch, and the farce of the " Shaving Saloon." The programme is full and varied. Mr Reid will sing that fine baUad "The Anchor's Weighed," in his own masterly manner ;Mr W. Doran will give the serio-comic ballad " Parisian Arry ;" Mr. E. Ward wi'l move the audience to a fit of laughter with his inimitable " Yellow Gal ;" Mr. E. Clair will do the "Juggling Act" without exposing the secret; Master Pitts (tenor) will sing " Little Footsteps ;" Mr J. Elder, the one-legged gymnast, will perform on the horizontal bar, and Mr E. McCleary wi'l dance the sailor's hornpipe to the delight of the spell-bound au lience. The second part of the entertain ment will comprise "Negro Comicalities," " Molly Darling," "She's only Seventeen," and other sentimental and comic effusions: The "Intelligence Office" will be presented in due and lively form by Messrs Frost, E. W. Ward, and Reid. At the close of the melodious parts of the entertainment, in order that the audience shall not complain, there will be a select quadrille party, free of charge, to be kept up with violin accom paniment until two o'clock in the morning. From the variety of musical and vocal talent to be in attendance we anticipate a grand night at Otahuhu. In advertising that an inter-provincial re gatta will be held at Wanganui the AHerald breaks forth in the following exuberant strain: —"It has taken a long time, and has entailed much unrewarded trouble, to awake the peo ple of Wanganui to the fact that they are located on the banks of the very finest boat ing river in New Zealand. For years they have let the river flow onward to the sea without ever taking a hint from its placid current that its broad smooth bosom was just the place for ther light graceful racing boats to display their sharp outlines upon, and to exhibit their flashing speed, impelled by sinewy arms, whose owners inhale health and manhood m Ith every respiration of the ozone-laden breezes that come from the sea to replenish with their aerial reservoirs in the shape of water-laden clouds the ever flowing current of our beautiful river. Mr W. I. B. thus gives his first im pressions of Rotomahana in the Tauranga journal:—" In a moment the gates of a most delicious future seemed opened. I felt that I was on the confines of supreme happiness, and the very air seemed redundant with the divine harmonies of melodious cherubims. This is the irrefragable truth." Sir, —I regret to observe in this morning's Cross that Mr T. B. Hannaford, though more temperate in his physical habits, is not so otherwise. Why should he rage because mine host of the "British" has bought a yacht ? and why should a man of his sober years and intellectual calibre growl at a " lynx-eyed publican ?" Mr Hannaford has many advantages ; he can make capital speeches and print them, and in his lyrical line bids fair to become the Burns of Templary. I would say to him, compose yourself, friend ; study the text " Let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." Take an airing at Motuihi on Thurs day, and pray do not look longingly on gin and water.—Aqua Puka. ' " The peaceable let-me-alone inhabitants of Freeman's Bay generally wore saddened faces this morning, and appeared to lack their would-be cheerfulness. Upon enquir ing into the cause of the apparent depression we were met by the answer " Don't you know? The Provincial Secretary has au thorised the removal of the dead-house to Freeman's Bay !" The panorama of the Arctic regions was exhibited last evening in the Young Men's Christian Association rooms, Wellesley -street m aid of the funds of St. James' Presbyterian Sabbath School. Mr Battley was the lecturer and he illustrated the series of views in a pleasing and intelligible style. Life in the .Polar seas, with Esquimaux dwellings the beautiful aurora borealis, and other natural phenomena were presented in a very agree able manner. ° The wonderful " House that Jack Built " was again open to the public last evening in the Prince of Wales Theatre, and crowds flocked to see this remarkable building in its renovated aspect. The "Capital Match-" or "Happy Pair," was produced by way of introduction, with its sparkling touches of genuine humour; but the animated scenes associated with the extraordinary freehold' and the little army of volunteers, seemed to win the greater applause. Altogether it must be pronounced a first-rate entertainment and Messrs Collier and McGowan, and their lady-assistants, are to be congratulated on their successful efiorts to please a fasti lious people. The grand masquerade ball will take place on Thursday evening, and the drf sses are nearly all taken, '

ENGLISH SHIPPING.

NEW ZEALAND SHIPPING COMPANY. ' LAUNCH OF THE RAKAIA. THE HYLTON CASTLE.—RAPID PAS SAGE. QUEEN OF THEAGE FOR AUCKLAND. (From our London Correspondent.) j LONDON. November 25. Since my last shipping to all ports in New Zealand has been exceedingly active, and the New Zealand Shipping Company have had great demand for tonnage tbeir ship the Queen of the Age, which sailed for Auckland on the 13th, having shut out over 400 tons of merchandise. To meet the de- . mands they chartered the fine barque; Hylton Castle, which will positively sail from here for Auckland on the 4th of December. The Company has not the slightest difficulty in getting freight to fill up all ships to advertised date. The first of the Company's new ships was launched by John Blumer & Co., of Sunder land, on the 19th inst., and was christened by Miss Martha H. Bell. She is called the Rakaia, after a river in Canterbury, and is 1050 tons register. Henry Rose, Esq., w:!l take command. He has been for many years in Shaw, Savill & Co. 's employ, and is well known as one of the oldest traders to New Zealand, having had about fifteen years' experience. The Rakaia is a very handsome model, and ought to sail well. She will bring round dead weight from Sunderland, and embark here, leaving for New Zealand on the 10th January. Ship No. 2, now building for the company, wi'l be launched on the 17th of next month. Nos. 3 and 4 keels are just being laid, and all by the same builders, —one to be launched in January, and the other in February. The dimensions are—2lo feet between perpendiculars, 35 feet beam, and 21 feet depth of hold ; about 1120 tons register. The fine ship Queen of the Age sailed on the 16th instant, and made a capital run down Channel, being only 3G hours from Gravesend to the Start, with a fine easterly breeze. She has on board 90A married couples, 2S single men, and 3G single women, making a total of 154Jf adults. The run home of the barque Hylton Castle is believed to be the smartest on record from your port. She left Auckland on the 11th of August, and was 27 days to Cape Horn, 23 days thence to the Equator, and 27 days to the Lizard, doing the passage in 71 days from Auckland. She was several days getting up the Channel, bavin? to seek shelter during a severe gale. The Hylton Castle has again been chartered by the Shipping Company for your port. The Woodlark, which was laid on by Shaw, Savill and Co. against the Hylton Castle, also made a good passage, but al though several hundred tons larger than the barque she was beaten by the latter. The Woodlark left Auckland on the Ist August at 8.30 a.m., and occupied 25 days to Cape Horn, 28 days to the Equator, and 35 days to tlie dock, being 80 days from port to port, or S3 from land to land. The ships lone and Langstone are loading for Auckland. The Norham Castle has been loaded by Messrs Shaw Say.''l, and Co., and leaves here to-morrow for Auckland. [We learn by telegram that the Hylton Castle sailed for Auckland on the 3rd December. The Norham Castle had aJso sailed. — Ed. E.S.]

TELEGRAPHIC.

LATEST THAMES NEWS.

THE LATE FATAL ACCIDENT. GRAHAMSTOWN. This day. The inquest on Alfred Cook was continued to-day Air Severn was examined as to the cause of the accident, and proved that the water in the boiler contained nearly sufficient salt to constitute a saline solution. He was of opinion that the collapse was sudden, and not gradual, owing to the watergetting down suddenly through fissures in the crust to the red hot plate, and generated steam so rapidly that in about ten seconds the pressure would be equal to 200 lbs to the square inch. In the Warden's Court the case of the Bendigo Independent and Dryden, damages £500, was heard. It is an actien for encroach ment. The Warden said his judgment must be for the plaintiff, but deferred his deci sion and the amount of damages to Wednes day next. The Una has lodged 67ozs. 17dwts. 12 grains, being an average of Sdwts. to the ton. The Golden Calf is retorting now. The result will not be more than 2 ounces to the ton. They found no amalgam in the boxes.

LATEST SOUTHERN NEWS.

(From our own correspondent.) LYTTELTON. This day. The ship Pleadies' boat, when going to the ship last night, and when off the Break water, was caught by a north-west squall filled, and sunk. Of the five hands three could swim. One lad named Banks, an apprentice, sunk, and was drowned. The mate saved one boy. The survivors were picked up by a waterman's boat, much ex hausted. The body of Banks has not been recovered. Flags are floating half-mast high.

NAPIER.

This day. The telegram published through the An<do Press Agent at Napier respecting the car penters demanding 20s a day is totally false. The men asked 12s. The working men are indignant at the telegram. The steamer Pretty Jane left for Auckland this morning with 703 sheep. The Star of the South leaves at ten this evening with 600 sheep, 20 bullocks, and 3 bulls. The country is fearfully parched, aud rain much wanted. (Per Anglo-Australian Telegram Company).

MARRIAGE OF MR HOSKINS AND MISS COLVILLE.

CHRISTCHURCH. William Hoskins and Florence Colville were married at St John's Episcopalian Church this morning. Sir Cracroit Wilsen gave the bride away. The Church was " densely crowded. J

BLENHEIM.

A very large meeting, 'fi the Superintend^ I was held last night. It lasted till 11 30 —- 5 tSmot«? a tOY Seymom'! Bix a^H

NELSON.

To.- A special session of the Provincial^ ay< \ opened to-day. The Superintend W' posed to obtain permission to l^ I £250,000 for certain specified public »•?* H also to apply for immigrants at the wS ' 1 " 150 per month. He asks the ConS . authorise a temporary advance in anf • S tion of the loan for completing the ***" 1 road from Nelson to Greymouth an^ •n? M* port. a We 8t- :i

LATEST ENGLISH TELEGRAMS.

PER OMEO AT THE BLUFF.

BLUFF. This day, The Omeo left Melbourne at 7 p.m. ou » y 21st, and arrived at the Bluff at 7 nr the2 7th. She brings thirty saloon and fifty I steerage passengers, and 430 tons of cargo and 25 horses for all ports. She sails h Dunedin at four p.m. * i A I

LONDON.

January 18;;- |p The Prince and Princess of Wales hay arrived at St. Petersburgh. The Papal Bull i 3 causing a sensation Three hundred and seventy thonsatid H pounds ofthe New Zealand Loan hare been ! taken at £97. The corn market has advanced sixpence}*. ' a shilling. Home deliveries are small Foreign arrivals inconsiderable. January 19, . Disquieting rumours abroad concerning the relation between France, Germany, and Italy have been contradicted. The ffori V- Deutshern Zeitung says the relations between 1 France and Germany depend on the attitude I of France towards the Ultrainontanes. • 1 Important gold discoveries have beenmadj in Na +al, where nine hundred diggers are t working. Access from the coast is difficult !■

MADRID.

January 19. The ironclad Numancia and convicts have surrendered to the Spanish Government, but 1 the insurgents retired to Algeria. ■■'* —

TURIN.

January 19; I A circular has been issued by the Italian 1 Government guaranteeing absolute freedom I to tae Papal Conclave in electing a successor to Pius the Ninth. ' n

PARIS.

January 19., The Assembly has reiected the amend. I ment on the Mayor's Bill, the Governing. I having a majority of four.

NEW YORK.

January 19. The Hon. Saul Samuel, having been enter- i tamed at a banquet at New York, has left I for San Francisco. He concluded a postal 1 convention with the American Government. |

GALLE.

January 19, . $\ The Bangalore left for Melbourne on thi \ 17th. *, |i [ ♦

AUSTRALIAN TELEGRAMS.

(PER OMEO AT BLUFF.) M 1 THE MIKADO TO.LEAVE PORT CKiL- I MBRS NEXT MAIL. ENGLISH CRICKETERS IN SYDNEY." \t MELBOURNE. „, I January 21. _ Governor Weld arrived by the mail, and I is likely to remain in the colonies several 1 months. He will probably visit New Zea- 1 land. ; I The German corvette Arcona is expected 1 at the end of February or beginning of I March. The steamer Mikado returns from Sydney 1 to Dunedin to commence the service at th»t 1 end next month. The English cricketers are in Sydney. 1 They arrived to-day. A very strong eighteen I has been chosen to play against them, includ- *r ing all the best cricketing talent in. th . 1 country. y.iti f,| William Robertson, defaulter of Colac, ha -. f died. It is stated that he is worth half* I million. Mr Ryan's horses, including Ace and Leo, were sold for 2,505 guineas. Ace brought g 875 guineas, the Persian colt, 2 years old, I 600 guineas. I Good rains, have fallen in all the colonies., | The Margaret Galbraith, from Glasgow to Otago, was spoken on December 8. The overland line was interrupted for font 1 days. ;' The new steamer Otago had a trial trip on *~-. Friday before being placed on the S«? | Zealand line, A new Italian Opera Company, wit" | Signora Palmerie as prima donna, comment a season here next March. Nearly all the West Australian loan wtf taken by the National Bank. ... § Sugar making at Joahua Brothers new nu" commences next week. • Melbourne Commercial.—Wheat is very I scarce, 6s 2sd is given ; oats also very sca«jj 5s 2d to 5s 4d ; kerosene lower, Is 7d; 1» f 1 was given for 5000 cases ; corhsacks areseU' fc ing freely at lis 9d; case brandy 28s *>. | Sugars in fair demand at market rates. j • 'A: . m

SYDNEY.

January 26. V A meeting of the Rifle Association resolvw | to a3k the views of Victoria and New ZewtfJ on the weapons for next Inter-OoW^ I match.

A vessel was found bottom up <>* '•*' 'g beach at Port Halking. It proved to be t^ j Alice Jane, trom Maryborough to -«on?g ( This is the same vessel seen by th« •**B, ■ j».*' Cameron. AA M A large amount of gold has been recei* from the Northern goldfields.

QUEENSLAND.

Quinlan's store, Brisbane, was burner , was insured for £10,000. ~*_h

fHE imamre bi?ab, Tuesday, janttary aj 1.874



150 000 ¥E E T TIMBER FOR SALE, AT MY YARDS, GOVERNMENT WHARF, ONEHUNGA. JAMES W. WALLER. ri A ~~U T I O F LSON'S TOMATO' SAUCE. Connoisseurs pronounce this Sauce to be the BEST for general use in households, and, in con sequence of its high reputation, sora* 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 EOR OLSON'S SAUCE, and see that the name is Stamped on Bottle and stopper, and wrapped round with his well-known &bel. INSURANCE. THE NATIONAL FLRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND PEOTECTS Insurers against Loss from either Eire or Sea disasters at Lowest Rates of Premium. Advantageous arrangements can be made 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, saviDg both trouble and expense to insurers. 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. ANDEEW G. MILLAR, , '*: Local Manager \



pHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS,If I J. COSGRAVE & CO. Are now holding their usual CHEAP. SAL OP DRAPERY & CLOTHING At their Premises CANADA BUILDINGS. THE SALE IS NOW ON, And will continue during the CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS. J. COSGRAVE & CO. Queen street. TXATS! HATS! SUMMER HATS AT; REDUCED PRICES. IN ORDER TO EFFECT A CLEARANCE RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN have decided to Sell the Balance of their Summer Stock Children's and Ladies' Straw Hats at COST PRICE. A Great Variety to_selcct from. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN (LATE R. HOBBS), Wholesale and Retail Drapers, Clothiers, &o JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel,) Upper Queen-street, Auckland.



Coffee.-Brown, Barrett. & Co.'s StandardM^-JJ ' oth delicious and strong. Brown, B*"*'^^ oi j ■ Excelsior Coffee deserves preference to anyw'B^* j.-.. account of purity and distinctness of fl*TOT'_j 4 _]k' i Ei' lie brand*. Sold at almost every grocery t W""". »w»t in town and provlnoe.- f Adyt. 1, m