SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER : Tbis evening, 11.33 ; to morrow morning. 11.54 SUN" SET : This evening, 5.55 ; SUNRISE: to morrow mornuu\ 6.17 MOON'S AGE : .Last Quarter, 30th, 4.4 p.m.

ARRIVALS.

vessie nenaerson, schooner, from Waikato (in the Wannkau). Fiery Cross, schooner, from Lyttelton (in the Manu kau\ Advance, schooner, from E»st Coast, Luna, Governt»nnt pa . Fiirchild, from-TauraDga. Fawn, cntter, D,m fr^m Ru.-vell. Vincent, cutter, from Tauranra, Albatross, schooner, from Ly telton,

DEPARTURES.

City of Melbourne, s s , for Sydney. Go-ahead, s s. for Gishorne »nd Napier. Sir l«u,c Kewton, brig.«nt)ne, fo1" sus°ell. Phoebe, s s, for thu f-outh (from Opehunga). India, ship, M Ph*il, for ihy Bluff.l .Ada, barque. Asuls. for iVewcvtle. Isabella .f rat, schooner, for Dunedin.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For Wanganui and West Coast ports—St Kilda, s.s, to-morrow, ' For San FrarfSisco-R.M. ss Cyphrenes (English Mail), 16th proximo. For Sydoey—Hero, ss. Wednesday Forlendon— Eapido, barque, early; W. W. Smith, ship, early For Dunedin—Mag-gi9 Paterson, schooner, early For Lyttelton—Flirt, brigantine, early

VESSELS EXPECTED.

.Ladybird, s s fmm the South, to-morrow Star of the South, s s, from Levuka, early Vision, brig, from the Islands W. W. Smith, ship, from IMtelton, early Cabarfeld, barque, from Boston, via Table Bay ; sailed December 21 Emily McLaren, barque, from London ; sailed 20th January Caller <>v. ship, KMP X, from London ; sailed Ferngjen, ship, from London : sailed 2nd Janu.iiy Shooting Star, Darque, KSKV, from London ; sailed Dec 23 Sapido, barque, PGRL, from New York, via Adelaide Xochnaear, barque, from London, early Tien Tsin, barque, from Launceston, early Syren, brig, from Lyttelton Eudoxie Adolphine, brig, from Adelaide Ryno, brigantine' from Botumah, early Dauntless, topsail schooner, from Noumea, early Blanche, schooner, from Barotoaga Papua, schooner, from Barotonga, early Belle Brandon, schooner, from the Islands, early Pearl, ietch, from the Islands, early

IMPORTS.

Per Fiery Cross from Lyttelton: 846 sacks wheat, Bycroft.—J W. Waller, agent. Per topsail schooner Advance from the East Coast: 41 bales wool, 14 casks tallow, 78 hides, 174 bags grass seed, Owen and Graham.—J. S. Macfarlane and Co., agents.

Per s.B. St. Kild*, from Wanganui, 72 head cattle 960 sheep.

Per Albatross, from Lyttelton: 4 cases, Barker. 2 cases hams, Binney ; 6 cases cheese, 10 kegs butter, Eaton ; 160 bags oatmeal, 8 cases cheese. Owen and Graham ;20 kegs butter, T. H. Hall; 113 bags oat meal, 60 sicks bran, 212 sacks oats. W. J. Hur«t; 139 bags bran, 40 loose cheese, 16 hams. 20 sides bacon, 6 sacks bacon. Eaton ; 129 bags oat", "Belcher; 336 bags wheat. Thornton, Smith, and Firth.—C. A. Harris, agent.

EXPORTS.

Per Jessie Henderson for Lyttelton: 63,000 feet timber. '

V- Per City of Melbourne for Svdn«y: 1 case pictures. J. C. Hr.yte. 10 bales tow. J. S. Mncfarlane. For Melbourn*: 332 bundles hifles. 100 bundles calf skins, A. Dornwell.—H. M. Jervis, agent, A. S. N. Co.

The ship India for the Bluff, and (he barque Ada for Newcastle left yesterday mornin? at high water. The brigantine air Isaac Newton sailed for Russell on Saturday evening. She is to load coal there for Naprer.

The cutter Vincent brings 20 bags wheat and some .pr< due» from Taurgnga. The Government p.s. Luna arrived from Tauranga yesterday morning to take in csals and stores. Pas spngers: Captain Fraser, Captain Marks, Messrs Wrigley and Vaulkner, Miss Marriner, Miss Wrigley. The ss Ladybird is due in the Mannkau from Son* hern Pets to-morrow.

There was little sign of the day being a general holiday on the wharf to-day. Owing principally to the discharging of the ss. Hero and sHp Baron Aberdare, there was plenty of business doing. The schooner Albatr as arrived from *arly this morning, after a good run of six days. ihe dale of the whaling barque Albion is advertised to take place on Friday next, at Mr George Binney's mart.

The barque Annie Lisle sailed from "Wangoroa on Tridny, with a full cargo of timber for Melbourne. The schoonsr Isabella Pratt left on Sunday morning for Dunedin, with a cargo of timber and sundries. The mall steamer City of Melbourne left for Sydney on Saturday evening. Passengers from Auckland : Mr E. BarriDser. Mr 'S Davenport, Miss Florence Davenport, Mr Ch»rl«3 F. Hennesey, Mr George Easter, Mr *nd» Mrs Thomas Har is.

The s s Pboeba took h»r departure for the South yesterday morning. Mrs Gorman, Mrs A. V, Mac donald, Mrs "W". Beat. Mrs Bidwell, Miss Bidwell Mrs Barton* Mr atifi Mrs B. Smith, Mr a*d Mrs Hoskins, Mrs Dunn, Mrs M. JoeS, and 16 in the ste> rage.

The s.g. St. Kilda arrived In the Manukau from ■WaHganTil this morning, being off the Heads at 8 a m., and at-ttie Onehucga wharf at 11. Passengers: Mrs Miller and 2 children. Mr McDonough. Mr Shera, Mr Barro,. Mr Leonard. Mr Kingdon, Mr Eussell, Mr Drmnmond, and Mr "Wilson.

The training »hip boys had the schooner Southern Croig under weigh this morning. The Camilla arrived from Hobart Town at Lyttel ton on Friday last, with a full cargo of Tasmanian timber »cd produce, consigned to Myers Bros. It is highly probable that after discharging her cargo, she will load with grain lor Auckland.

The icbooner Fairlie is to lnave Lyttelton on Thurs day next for this port, with 300 tons breadstuff's, &c.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

Nelson, This Day. Th»iadybird left yesterday for New Plymouth and the Mttukau.

COMMERCIAL.

At Mr 31. Arthur's fruit sale to-day, the attendance Was not large owing to the holiday. The following prices were realised:—Apples, 3>£d. to 4d.; pears, 2^d. to 5d.; damsens, sd. ; quinces, l%d, to 2d. ; onions, Id. to l#d. ; potatoes, 4s. Mr L W. Eaton reports of his sale to-day :—Nelson apples, 3d. to 4<l. ; quinces, l^d.: pears, 2d. ; onions, l^d.; 'Nelson fresh butter (in kegs) Is. 7d.; Sydney salt butter (good) Is. 6d.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Maixs will Close as follows . — For Thames, this day, at 5.30 pm, and to-morrow, at 9.30 am For WaDganui, per St Kilda, to-morrow, at 10 a m For Kawau and Matakana, per Lady Bowen, to morrow, at 10 a m For Napier, Gisborn*, Wellington, Canterbury, and Utago, per Southern Cross, to-morrow, at lpm For Rue sell, per Golden Isle, to-morrow, at 11 am For Tsuranga, ppr Vincent, to-morrow, at 5 pm For Russell, per Fawn, to-morrow, st 4pm For Australian Colonies, per Bero, en Wednesday next, at 11 a m Mails for India, China, Mediterranean ports, Continent cf Europe, .and United Kingdom, via Suez and Brindisi, will close at this ottice on Saturday, the Sid proximo. (Signed) S. B. Biss, CWef Postmaster.

BIRTHS.

LEYS—On March 27, at her residence, Franklin-

street, the wife of Mr T W. Leys of a daughter. EATON—On the 28th instant, Mrs Albert Eaton, of Kegent-street, of a daughter.

MARRIAGE.

FINLAYSON—FENTON—On March 23, at the resi dence of tho bride's father, II obson-street, Auck land, by the Rev. P. H, Cornford, Thomas Finlay son, to Emily, third daughter of Mr Francis Fenton, both of Auckland.

DEATHS

WRIGLEY—At Lindley, England, on the 25th Dec, 1874, Jane Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Mr John Wrigley of this city.

LIGHTFOOT—On the 27th March, at tho residence of his parents, West-street, Newton, George Albert, youngest son of Edwin and Kliza Lightfoot, aged 2 years.

LODGE—On March 28, at Edinburgh-street, George Thomas Lodge, infant son of Thomas and Eliza Lodge, aged 1 year. WHITE—On tho 2'Jth instant, at Grafton Eoad, Clara Lilian, infant daughter of T. Leigh White, aged 15 months.

The interment will take place at 4 o'clock p.m to-morrow.

BEITH—On the 28th inst., at hia father's residence, Summer-street, Mount Eden, Thomas, second koh of Mr James Beith, aged 15 years.

The funeral will leave ;it 2 p.m. to-morrow Friends will please accept this invitation.

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

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 1875.

For the cause that lacks nKsint.ince, For the wvong ii^ut needs n;<i»tauce, ■""ir the future in the distance. And the good that we can do.

So long as the present colonial ministry re mains in office we may assume that the mysteries of the land purchase department will not be fully revealed. But occasionally we are favored with glimpses into what is pro ceeding, and from these we can form an opinion of the rest. We observe from a Southern paper that the Government have acquired on lease for ninety nine years an immense tract of comparatively level land lying between the Wanganui River and Taupo, known as the Morimutu country, and have forthwith re-leasad the huge territory to Messrs Studholme and Co. of Canterbury. The rental paid from the Colonial treasury to the natives for this country is £3,000 per annum, which of course is to be regarded as money spent for opening up the country to settlement. In what par ticular way the acquisition of such a prin cipality for the benefit; of a firm of capitalists with great political power and extensive political connexion may con duce to the settlement of population on the waste places of these islands may not be very apparent to the general mind; but we have no doubt that as a stroke of policy and statecraft this act is not without importance, at least to the powers that be. Most people I •would be inclined to think that this huge territory of valuable land would in the hands of the native owners be productive of a much general good as in the hands of Stud holme and Co. ; and the friends of the exist ing Government cannot wonder if grave suspicion is attached to a Ministry that can lend itself in this way to the locking up of lands against human beings and opening them only to sheep and cattle. This transaction with a firm as wealthy in political influence as in dollars, is one of those that could not be perpetrated without coming at once under public observation, but from it we may form a conception of what may be proceeding in the darkness, the fat commissions, the pick ing out the " eyes " of the country for the benefit of friends, while barren rocks and wastes are acquired for the people, all of which is possible without the outside world being anything the wiser. We have no doubt that a day is coming when a flood of light will be poured in upon these transac tions, but we have little hope that the people however exasperated at the revelations made, will be able to reverse what has been done, or shake off the incubus imposed by these years of really irresponsible rule.

It is worthy of note, while Sir George Grey's proposal for the substitution of Secretaries of btate with seats in the Privy Council in lieu of the present system of Governors, is occupying attention, that a somewhat similar proposal has been agitated in colonial circles at home. The Hour says it is generally admitted, that a scientific consolidation of the Empire wiJl become one of the great colonial questions—shall we add Imperial duties?—of the future. The appointment of Agents-General of the Colonies has been a valuable innovation, but the question was asked pretty freely at the Koyal Colonial Institute on Tuesday1, whether, the time might not come when these gentlemen would be given seats ex officio in the Impe rial Parliament. It would be premature to pronounce an'opinion upon this weighty problem; but whether Colonial■•»'officials oufehttobe inside or outside, the Housefof i

Commons, they should be listened to much more respectfully and with much more sym pathy than afc present. We cannot now even touch upon the speculation as to whether a really^ahd veritably Imperial Parliament could co-exist with a Parliament .of the United Kingdom, just as the German Reich stag co-exists with the Prussian Chambers. But a solution of a temporary character, even, if it were-opJy to prepare the way for a more perfect nut hod ot securing Imperial Union, is already possible. Mr Froude has shown us than the machinery of the Privy Council is adequate to give eminent colonists a voice in the government of the cmp>ire. It may be doubtful whether Colonial representatives ought to be mem bers of the House of Commons or of an Im perial Senate, but there is no reason why they should not become Privy Councillors. lude?d, as Mr Froude has reminded students of constitutional history, the very title of the " Committee of the Privy Council for Trade and Foreign Plantations," suggest this moderate and, as we beiieve, most pro mising expedient.

The following i« the return of the sick treated at Provincial Hospital for the week ending Saturday, March 27, 187-5 t Re mained last return, 77 ; admitted since, 8 ; discharged, 9; died, 2 t remaining, 74 • males, 02 ; female*?, *2. Arrangement of cases : Zymotic, £5 ; constitutional, 9; local 24 ; developmental, 5 ; violent, 11. Two deaths occurred during the week, viz : Ist, T. S., fsmale, aged 22 years, on 25th inst., of inflammatiett of stomach and intestine; 2ud,JT, 8., male, aged 47 years, on same d.^te of dysentery. Thanks are re turned to Mrs Edward Londsdale for parcel of Illustrated London News.

The injuries to .John Anderson, tollgate keeper, Newmarkets, appears to be more serious than was anticipated. After being confined to the hospital for a week, he was ao far recovered as to walk down to his old employer's residence in Hobson-street (Mr Russell, Queen-street Wharf), when he was seized with swelling in the eyes and f;:ce, and symptoms of the brain being affected, h<? was removed again to the hospital to-day in a very low condition, after remaining two daya in great pain from his head.

Mr C. A. Harris, senior, who came over from Whangapoua on horseback on Wednes day morning, says the Coromandel Mail, speaks in the highest terms of the Govern ment track lately cut between Wangapoua and Coromandel. The road from end to end is, he says, a most excellent one, and will be a very great convenience to the inhabitants cf Wangapoua, who are now brought with an easy two and a half hours ride of the steamer in the Coromandel harbour. This is one of those works for which the district is indebted to the late Superintendent, who took an active interest in the concerns of the gold Held.

A correspondent relates another instance of the honesty of our 1 miners in tho fol lowing letter : Sir,— I can speak in high terms of the honesty of at least some of your mnners. You have one of this name of Halloran, who nins the Newton district, and to him, a few days ago—at niaht—l gave a piece of gold in mistake, and it was awaiting me on the next day, as soon a3 1 saw him. Such specimens of thorough honesty shonld at least be made public, where no other reward is accepted. 1 am, &c. John Walmsley.

Mr Smith, the well-known enterprising manager, last litre in connection with the best Combination Troupe that has ever visited. Nt-w Zealand, including "Val Vose, the ventriloquist, the St. Vincent's, and other talent, is »naturally indignant at the unauthorised uae of his name by individual members of his complete company. He writes to us from Singapore Villa, South Yarra, as follows :— " I am quie'ly rusticating for the pre?ent in my cosy little nook, letting show business takecaieof i'self. Since tho departure of Mnith's Kiiglish and Continental Combina tion for China and the East, I have seen no less than three advertisements with Smith's name figuring exten.sivt-ly at the head of each. I hope my friends will give me the credit to state I have no company in New Zealand or any part of the Australian colo nies, and when I do the public may rest assured that Smith's English and Continental Combination will contain artists par excel lence, and not " duffers" who have to travel with my name at the head of their bills and advertisements, to obtain money enough to pay their expenses. I sinceraly hope they will settle, and not let their little account 3 be presented-to me on my next visit to New Zealand. Glorious name Smith, John Smith particularly.

In the Australian telegrams by the Hero, one of the items was to the effect that the Key. Wm. Penny, the new Bishop of Mela nesia, had arrived in* Melbourne by the Great Britain. There must, we imagine, be a mistake here, as to the position which the rev. gentleman is to hold. Our readers will remember that Mr Selwyn, sou of the Bishop of Liehfield, was elected to the office vacated by the lamentable death of Bishop Paterson, and that the confirmatien of the election was postponed, and negatived, by the General Synod at i+s session in Wellipgton last year. Ihe electing body, we may observe, for the Bishop of Melanesia, is the staff of the mission, which is located at Norfolk Island; and the confirmation rests with the General Synod of New Zealand and Melanesia, or, in case of not Waiting for the triennial session of that Synod, with the Standing committees of the various dioceses. We have not heard that the mission staff has delegated its power of election to any person, in England, nor that any such delegation has been made by the confirming bodies. Mr Penny, no doubt, is about to join the Malanesion Mission, and he is, we believe, expected in Auckland shortly.

A very distressing case of bereavement is revealed in the J blowing letter:—"Dear sir, —Permit me th .ough the medium of your valuable paper to lay the following case of genuine distress before the public, trusting that the ' one touch of pity which makes the whole world kin,' may in this case prompt the generous action of your readers. John Holtham, a bricklayer, his wife, and six children, the eldest only 12 years of age arrived in Auckland by the Warwick, on the 22nd of January last, he was unable to obtain employment, and with his family, lived in very straitened circumstances at. Newton, where a fortnight ago he was seized with gastric fever, and succumbed to that disease on Good Friday, leaving; his wife and chil dren totally destitute. I may leave this narrative of suffering and poverty to speak for itself to the humane feelings of the public. —'Yours, etc., Alfbed Bird."—[We shall be happy to receive and acknowledge sub scriptions towards this worthy object.—Ed. E.S.]

The anniversary of the Sheridan-street Sunday-school will take place to-morrow (Tuesday) in the chapel. lea will be on the table at ha!f-past six o'clock, after which the evening will be passed with speech and song in an agreeable manner.

Mr P. Doran's benefit concert, to which we drew attention in Saturday's issue, will take place in tae Lome-street Hall this evening. As a large number of tickets have been circulated, and as the programme is a good one, we expect a full house in honor of Mr Doran.

The journeymen bakers had a full and interesting meeting on Saturday evening at the British Hotel, and a great deal of sym pathy was shewn with members in the objects of the Association. These sons of King Dough have established a sick fund on the iiuutuaJ principles of self-help, so that by a weekly subscription of one shilling and an entrance fee of ten shillings, subject to the rules of the Society, each member in times of, sickness, will receive a weekly allowance of t £l.

. The official enquiry an to the cau^of the lat>te fire at the Tomato-sauce manufactory of Mr Olson wag v concluded oa Saturday eve ning, after a patient investigation before Dr. Philson, and a respectable jury of fourteen gentlemen. The enquiry occupied nearly five hours ; nothing, however, was elicited in evidence beyond that which has previously appeared in th Fvy.Ni^o *TiJ?. Mr S. Kplly, a farmer, of Wait&hene, was the first witness, as he was staying,1 ak Mrs. Meurantfs house, near the factory, and was the first person who discovered '!:.• flro isfsnlng from the back part o? Mr Olroa's premises Mr Blundon, a clerk in the South British Insu rance Company's officn. pave similar evidence, and on seeing the flamrs gave the alarm, and. took immediate p<""ps fca preserve his own premises. William Martin^ who had been in the employ of Mr Olson for four years, gave evidence ns to the condition of the premises. He left about four o'clock on the afternoon of the fire and wevt into town. He then described the premises, and said that no smoking was allowed, and every care had been exercised. He could not account for the fire. Mr Hans Olson, the proprietor, was examined at great length, but could not account for the fire, which had completely ruined his business. He was •o.t Ponsonby at the time of the outbreak. Mr Olson then enumerated his stock, as follows :—My stock of tomato-sauce was in sured for £2000 ; the plant, utensils, stock of spices, sugar, vinegar, garlic, empty bot tles, and planting utensils, for £050; the factory, £400 ; and timber, rough, and manufactured into cases, £50 ; dwelling house, £300 ; furniture, £100; making a total of" £3SOO. I had nine vats containing sauce on the premises. These held 2100 gallons, valued at 103 per gallon. There were about IGOO or 1700 dozen pints of bottled eauce, valued at 13s per dozen ; 1100 or 1200 dozen half-pints, valued at 8s fid ; 05 crates empty bottles received by the Ada, the value of which was £275. There were four crates of old stock not used, valued between £17 and £18. The plant there conpistfd of two large coppers, worth about £30 ; two weighing machines, worth about £10; crushing mill, £5 ;11 vats, about £100 ; a dozen strainers, £24, and a quantity of utensils, 5 barrels vinegar (180 gallons), value £30. The stock was composed entirely of this year's crop of tomatoes, which were of a very good quality. Mr. A. Boardman, manager of the South British. Insurance Company, described the property on which Mr. Olson held policies. Mr. Reals, architect, in his evidence, be lieved that Mr. Olson, whom he had known seven years, but with whom he had not been on the best of terms, was an industrious, persevering, hard-working man. The jury, having .thoroughly considered the facts before thorn, returned a verdict "That the late fire originated on the premises of Hans nJson, but how or by what means no evidence thereof has been laid before the said jurors." The enquiry, on the part of tho police, was ably conducted by Mr. Inspector Thompson.

The occurrence of attempts to rob and murder on English railways supplies an argument to those who wish to introduce the system of carriages with through communi cation. An instance of the danger of our system of isolated apartments occurred lately. Three men, strangers to each other, were in a compartment of an express train at night. Two of them went to sleep, and tho third, having robbed one man of his watch and chain, was about to repeat the operation on the other, when the gentle man awoke. The thief jumped out of the train, which was at the time running down an incline at the rate of sixty miles an hour. Shortly afterwards a man bruised and bleeding presorted himself at a si«nal-box on the line, and begf»ed to be sent back to London, alleging that he had accident ally slipped out of thn train. The signal man wisely detained him, and a telegram sent back from the next station, giving an account of tho robbery, led to the arrest of the thief. When the man was brought up before the magistrates, a letter was received from a Mrs Price, of Walworth, stating that the prisoner was an escaped lunatic. In his possession, however, the police found a pair of false whisker.", a double-edged dagger, and two watches and chains, including the one he had stolen in the train. While in prison he wrote a letter to his wife, informing her that he had "been at it again." The most wonderful thing about the affair is that he was not killed in jumping from the train. Proba'oly he was not born to die that way.— London Correspondent.

Tho Melbourne Library contains about 70,000 volumes, many of them being rare and valuable works : but the management of the library does not seem to give general satisfaction. Lntely many complaints have been made, some respecting the incivility of the attendants, and many regarding the large numbers of "very small boys, and very dirty loafers " who are allowed to assemble in the library. These are said to do nothing but " spoil books, go to sleep, and make spittoons of the matting." It is also stated that some of the rules of the library are very vexatious. The use of ink is denied those who desire to make extract s from any author, and while they are making extracts with a pencil, they have the consciousness that, when they return home, if they desire the legibility of the extracts to be preserved, it will be necessary for them to racopy the whole.

Captain Braddick has kindly forwarded us the following particulars of the passage of the Countess of Kintore from this port to London : — " The Countess arrived home safely after a passage of 9G days from land to land, and for fine weather it has been unequalled ; I had f> days calm near Cape Horn, when some of the pas sengers played chess and other games on deck in cemfort, and again, in the English Channel I was becalmed four days, thermometer at 65°, and weather beautifully fine—in fact too fine for me. Ido not speak of the light winds we experienced in and about the tropics, we expect that but for the weather from the Azores to London in the month of January it is extraordinary. Nothing of interest oc curred on the passage, I saw no ice, but spoke a French vessel that had seen 20 bergs. The passengers all seemed to enjoy the passage, we had of course the usual little squabbles and differennces, but fewer than I expected with so many children on board. The barque Thames was reported in yesterday's Lloyd's list, as having arrived at Plymouth on the 4th February, (the day I went into dock,) what she wants there I don't know. [This vessel sailed from Auckland pome three weeks before the Countess.—E.E.S.] The of the Countess is uncertain."

A few days ago Mr Hugh Hamilton, a gentleman employed in the house of Messrs Sargood, Son, and Ewen^was married. His fellow-employe's honoured the occasion by presenting him with a handsome silver English lever watch, with an appropriate inscription on the dome, engraved by Mr Payne. Mr Hamilton has been five years with Messrs Sargood and Co., and has well merited this expression of esteem on the part of his companions in harness.

THE KING'S RIVAL.

Such was the title of the drama of Saturday evening at the Prince of Wales Theatre, in which Mr Hoskina represented Richmond, and Miss Colville Mistress Nelly Gwynne. The play possessesf'much'historic";'interest, and in this wise, is one of ihe most instruc tive of stage representations of late. The drama was well sustained throughout: Miss Stephenson as Franceses, Mr Deering as Major Wildman, Mr Holloway as the Second Charles of England, Mr Aveling as Lord Biickhursfc, and the inimitable Sam Pepys, the son of the Tottenham tailor, by Sam Poole. Mr and Mrs Hoskins are gone South ward, but Mr and Mrs fDarrell are still in Auckland, and will commence a fresh series

of dritmas-to-night, under a new engagement, *with Mr .Darrell's own performance, " Struggles for Freedom," Mrs Darrell as Blanch, and Mr Darrell as Konald Ilvera leigh. _________

POLICE COURT.— This Day.

(Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., K.ul.) OTTT IN THE BUSK. William Baker and John McCorry tfers charged with being drunk. Baker wtvj fiaed 20?, and McCorry in the same amonnt, the offences having been committed en thr> Sabbath day. THE I,4NGUA(JE OF fjATCAJH ANN. Sarah Ann Matter was brought up under the Vagrant Act, with usins terrible language in Elliott-3treet, on the 27th instant. Mv Inspector Thompson spoke of the language as very indifferent. Mrs Marter, a respectably-dressed woman, the mother of a young family, said she was guilty, but was extremely sorry His Worship : What are you ? Prisoner : I am a respectable woman, living upon my husband's allowance. It was shewn that Mrs Marter was living apart from her husband, and holding the position of housekeeper to a hairdresser of the name of Mr Jones.

The Court ordered her to pay a fine of 40s, or sent to prison for a brief period. Prisoner here tried to shed a few tears, and drew a pitiable face, as she bowed and left the Court.

Sarah Ann Kelly, a smarfc-looking young woman, daughter of the above, was charged with obstructing Constable Gordon while in the execution of his duty.

The young woman said she was guilty, as she was anxious to save her mother from the hands of the man in blue. She was excited under the circumstances by the position of her mother, who, with all her faults, was still her mother. Mr. Inspector Thompson said the daughter he believed was sober, and the endeavour to keep her mother at home was but natural. Bis Worship thought with the consent of Mr Inspector Thompson, the case might be withdrawn. Mr Inspector Thompson consented, and with a caution Mrs Kitty was discharged. SAWS AND CHISELS. Alexander Graham was again bronght up on a charge of stealing a bag of carpen ter's tools, value £12 10s. the property of John Worthington, on the 21st inst. As the evidence was not complete ; the case was again remanded. YOUNG AND WILD. George Carter, a thin, sharp-looking lad of 12 years, was again brought up, under a breach of Naval Training Act, with having been found abroad without proper guardian ship ; and sleeping without shelter under the starry sky. The father of the lad, Mr Joseph Carter, deposed that he was the father of the lad, and regretted to say that he had lost all control over him. He should be glad to get him into the training school, and he would willingly contribute towards his support. His position at the Lunatic Asj'lum hindered him from looking after the boy. Mr. Constable Mulville stated that he had received complaints from persona in the Market about the destitute state of the boy, who was in the habit of Bleeping there and subsisting upon the sixpences contributed by the stall-keepers. Under such circumstances, he felt it to be his duty, apart from the dictates of humanity, to take the boy in charge. The father expressed his sorrow at the unfortunate condition of his son, and had several witnesses in court, in vindication of his conduct ; he would be glad if his boy could be sent to the training school, as he was utterly unable to care for him. His Worship ordered the boy to be sent to tho school for two jears, on the promise of the father to contribute the sum of 20s per month. DESERTING A WIFE. James McCarthy was charged with de serting his wife, Grace McCarthy, on the 4th inst, and leaving her without necessary means of support. The case wns remanded until Thureday, when Mr and Mrs McCarthy will make a full statement of their matrimonial differen ces, unless they should agree to settle thoße differences previously, and imitate those little birds which, as Dr Watt says : "in their little nests agree." THE KANAKAS. Tom and Tommy, charged with appropri ating £12 10a, the property of Henry Jeffrey son, were again brought up, and again remanded. The case will be heard on Thursday. ; LAKCBNY OF SHIP'S STOKES. i The six sailors and three passengers of the ship Baron Aberdare, were again brought up at the instance of Capt. Simmonds, charged with larceny of ship's stores. Mr Inspector Broham informed the Court thatihe had been instructed by Mr Brook field, to ask for the discharge of the three passengers, Harper, Bew, and Edwards, for reasons not named, but, probably, because he could not identify them with the robbery. The three men were accordingly dis charged, and the six sailors remanded until Thursday. This was all the business.

EASTER MONDAY.

THE HOLIDAY.

The festive season of Easter, or the resurrec tion of Christ, is a time of rejoicing in all Christian lands. In the old country of Alfred and Shakespere, Easter indicates the resurrection of the flowers from the sleep of winter, which gives to it a sweeter meaning than can be given to it in New Zealand. In the sixteenth century Passion Week, or the six days between Palm and Easter Sundays, were devoted to religious service, and that custom has been revived at our Anglican Churches in Auckland during the past week, without that most interesting part of the old custom, so agreeable to the ladies, the Easter kiss ; and the inspiring exclamation, " He is risen." This day, to the people of the city, will be regarded as a memorable day, as the day on which the first sod of the promised waterworks was turned. The people long for plentiful streams of the pure element and have long prayed that another Moses would smite some rock with equal effect. The particulars of this interesting event will be found in this day's issue of the Star. The holiday could not have been given, nor the weather more propitious for wanderers on the shore and. loungers in green and shady places in and about this happy city. The means of conveyance to places of pleasure, both by rail and boat, were ample, and hundreds ofj persons, in accordance with their cherished tastes, visited favourite spots. Numbers went by the p.s. Hauraki from the Queen-street Wharf to the Kawau, the ocean-circled island home of Sir George Grey, where, as stated picturesquely in Reed and Brett's Almanac, " beautiful sea views are obtained, in some places taking in the charming island scenery of the island scenery of the Hauraki Gulf, in others stretching away without a speck or break, unless it may be a pasßing sail, until the sea and sky melt into a softer haze." Others again availed themselves of the accommodation of the railway, and passed swiftly from the confines of the city to the refreshing gardens of Ellerslie, which have been adorned and gaily trimmed by Mr Robert Graham. Numbers are enjoy ing themselves in the gardens of Ellerslie, as we go to press, drinking in the landscape, enjoying the odors of flowers, and witnessing feats of strength in connection with sports that give freedom and elasticity to the body, and health to the mind. Signor Gonzalez, the famous acrobat, and Eugene, the won derful contortionist, have amused the assem bled hundreds in the Ellerslie gardens to day. '

THE SAN FRANCICO MAIL.

(Tfco "Star's" 'Speoial and Foreign Stunmwy).

The Cospatrick Board of Trade Inquiry.

GENERAL ENGLISH NEWS.

T!;c liberal Party Split Up

Mr Ycgel's Vindication

Great Cold in Britain.

The British Channel Tunnel

LONDON

February 1 to March

The mail via San Francisco left on February 7. The weather tip to that time had been very coicl, and snow -was still on the ground. Deaths had also been very numerous in con sequence. The frosts in ScotlaEd were very severe, and Loch Fyne was frozen solid. The World has been having a little chaff at Mr Vogel's expense, in a political article apropos of the leadership of the Conservative and Liberal parties in Enpland,. It alludes to a joke put forward about a politician, who, having carried all before him m the colonies, had come to England in search of new fields of victory, and was as yet ma state of uncertainty whether to nil the vacuum caused by the retirement of Mr Gladstone, or to supersede Mr Disraeli. The Theatre Royal, Edinburgh, was burned down on Saturday night, February 6, owing to an accumulation of gas. The Queen would have opened Parliament in person, but for the illness of Prince Leo pold, who is now recovering. The barque Bell Hill bas been wrecked on the coast of Ireland, and thirteen lives were °Slt la rumoured that the father of Don Carlos with others has raised a large sum of money in London to carry on the struggle The ship " Sydney Dacres," abandoned ott the Irish coast, has been picked up and towed into Cork. The New Zealand Shipping Company sent out under contract with the New Zealand Government last .year, sixty-three ships, of a total registered tonnage of 62.255 tons,_ and carrying 15,938 passengers, and not a single casualty has befallen any of the company s vessels The Werrington, which sailed for Otago on February 3, is the 91st vessel the company has despatched. Prior to her departure a trial took place at Plymouth m launching her boa's in the presence of the agent of the New Zealand Government. The experiment was most satisfactory. The boats are provided with a 281b. tin of pre served meat each. The British Government intend to intro duce a measure for applying Ihe lash in all cases of violent assault, which are becoming of so alarmingly frequent occurrence. The retirement of Mr Gladstone has bpen a fearful blow to the Liberal party, which may be said to have almost ceased to exist. It is split up into so many contending factions that even Mr Gladstone was unable latterly to keep ib in hand, and now it is hopele^ly divided. Machines for tunnelling, similar to those used at Mont Cenis, are being prepared to commence the Channel Tunnel. An English company has been formed under the chair manship of Lord Richard Grovsenor, and a French company will co-operate. The tunnel will extend' from fit. Margaret's JBay, east sid« of Dover, and west of Calais. The only difficulty feared is meeting bard rock in the centre instead of the soft chalk anticipated. The cost of the tunnel is estimated at a million sterling

It; is reported that categorical instructions have been forwarded to the Roman Catholic priests throughout Britain to refuse absolu tion at the Easter confessions to anyone witbolding belief from the Vatican decrees and Infallibility of the Pope. Dr Dallifton, formerly principal medical officer to the British forces in New Zealand, pnd for ten years a rredical practitioner in in Yokohama died on January lOtb.

Mr John Bright's ill-jndged spoech at Birmingham has greatly disappointed his admirers. It was simply a savage'attack on the "Rstablished Church.

The Princess Beatrice, it is announced positively, is to marry the Hereditary Grand Duke of Baden. Both are eighteen years of age, and the marriage will take place in twelve months.

Bills amending the International Copyright law, and placing the entire metropolis of London under one municipal Government have been introduced into the Bouse of Commons.

Detractors of the Colony.

A letter from Dunedin, denouncing New Zealand, has appeared in the Manchester '' Courier." It is signed James Stansfield, Joseph Norman, James Edwards, William Clark, Thomas Wilson, Benjamin Whetton, and James Beid, and is dated Dunedin, November, 1874. The letter asserts that "hundreds cannot get work, and the people cry shame on the Government for inducing them to break up their homes by false repre sentations." They complain of their treat ment at the depot. The letter says : "When people arrive here they curse the induce ments that brought them out, and continues "If I were in England now with my little colonial experience, I should look upon any man who tried to induce me to come out as a scamp, a trafficer in the welfare of his fellow men, and one who for a paltry com mission of 10s per head, would consign to irretrievable ruin happy and respectable fami lies." Much more of the same kind of denun ciation is contained in this lying epistle, which is calculated to do much injury to the colony. The Courier avails itself of the text thus furnished to read the working men of Eng land a lecture on the blessedness of their condition and the fictitious statements made regarding the colonies, which this Avarning should open their eyes to.

Mr. Vogel on the Financial Position of New Zealand.

In the February number of Fraser' Maga zine, appears a letter by Mr Vogel, in reply to the strictures of Mr Fellowes. The letter is dated Paris, January 17, and says : — " Sir, —In your last month's number an article appeared, signed Charles Fellows, in which the writer, to the best of his ability, said everything he could against the finan cial position and the Government of New Zealand, past, present, and future. In eccentric fashion he grouped a great variety of statements, some being merely his own assertions, others supported by scraps of speeches, and others again by reported con versations with persons whose names were not mentioned. Were the article to appear in New Zealand with Mr Fellows' signature, very little, if any, notice would be taken of it, for he is known there as a person who (under the norn de plume of Master Hum phrey) wrote for an opposition newspaper letters attacking the Government. Those letters at first excited surprise ; then their extravagance caused amusement ; and at length people became weary of them. Mr Fellows left New Zealand, and I have heard that in Sydney he published a pamphlet attacking the New Zealand Government, but 1 have not seen it. He has now chosen a larger theatre, and his statements become of importance since they appear in your in fluential magazine. I crave permission .to expose the^' misrepresentations and the false deductions therefrom in Mr Fellows' article." He (Mr Vogel) then points out

that the cardinal point in Mr FelW charges is'that the colony yearly mannf? > !■ tures surpluses by spending borrowed mod on purpose's which should be provided.M \ . out of ordinary revenue. He answers &'\ \ by a~ statement of facts, "leaving /o<i \ readers to realise how Mr Fellows WI iO distorted (hem or given to them fa 1' !' i; mfarin^s." He then narrates the^J ,! /. ; tory e.f the colonia': finance, and givea tw o l ' \ tubulated statements showing expenditu* I ■ out. of the revenue for native and defence J purposes,' and expenditure out of loan for th» I same purpose?, siDce 1853 ; total, £5,970,427 of which £1,761,964 was out of the revenue £ He maintains frcm these figures that the ' colony hss done the best that could h»ve§ I been expected to meet such abnormal exJ' | penditure from its revenue, and has manfnljy fared and overcome a difficulty, and accepted a burden from -which oilier colonies were free. A sfcond table shews that if the interest on loans for this purpose, which has been paid out of revenue, be added cumulatively at 5 per cent., it will be seen that the colony h as paid £3,528,811 for native purposesof the revenue. He defends the colony from the charge of "applying borrowed money to maintain the regular establishment of the Government," and declares it to be quite un true ; and presumes that no one will dispute the right to charge the cost of engineers surveyors, draftsmen, and other -officers engaged in labours connected with the con- U struction of works as fairly inclndable as * part of the cost of such works. Be describes as a scandalous perversion of fact, the stated ! ment that borrowed money is used to pay1 interest on the public debt, and controverts Mr Fellows' statements as to immigrants and immigration. He vindicates and ex plains the policy of public works as reviving; confidence and. trade, and increasing land sales and settlement, as well as largely augmenting the wealth and revenue of the colony ; and meets the charge of extravagance in public buildings by showing how.much ' ; New Zealand is behind other colonies in these matters, and how careful the expenditure on them has alwa?3 been. He exposes Mr Fellows for the stress laid on Southland, and'other failures in public works, which are old and forgotten things, and have nothing to do with the General Government. He refutes, his statements as to the Port Chalmers Rail way, and deals with all his assertions most fully and in detail, quoting facts and figures in support of them, and shows what the \ great resources of the colony (landed and otherwise) really are. Eidicules Mr Fellows' as one who came to New Zealand prolific of ccmplaints against Vancouver Island, the :: colony from which he then came, and as one I of those persons of whom France produces so ■; many, who find it impossible to be contented with any Government under which they live, - and concludes, " I have answered Mr Fellows tinder circumstances of. difficulty. I received your number containing his article. at Florence, several days after it was pub lished, and my reply has been written amidst the weariness attending a slow re covery from serious illness, and with fent few books and documents accessible., I should have liked to do more justice to New Zea land. The colony is as prosperous as any country in the world. It has immense resources, and is sure of a great future. But not only in its resources does it depend. As a comparatively recent colonist, I may. with out egotism, say that far above climate, soil, and mineral, and other capabilities, the strength of New Zealand depends on its people. A country may support population even in spite of original sterility, as -witness Utah', not to mention many spots in Europe. Upon its people depends a country's success, and the colonists of New "Zealand have those virtues of? frugality, faith, industry, and energy, which ensure success and happiness to their posses sors. In the New England States the grand qualities of the early Puritan founders show themselves in their remote descendants. Generations will live and die in New Zea land, and still the homely virtues of its Pilgrim Fathers will be reproduced and will earn for the land a great place amongst the dependencies of the Empire, to which, I . believe, they will, like their ancestors, glory to belong. To the people of New Zealand who have won their way to success through ?o many difficulties, that happy phrase, "the heroic work of colonisation," is peculiarly applicable. The reply covers nineteen pages of Fraser.

The Cospatrick Inquiry.

The Board of Trade Inquiry into the burn fng of the ship Cospatrick was held at Greenwich, on February 3 and 4. Counsel appeared on behalf of the Board of Trade, the Crown, the New Zea land . Government and the owners, la opening the case Mr A. Cohen, Q.C., representing the Board of Trade, dwelt upon the singular rapidity with which the fare spread, the absence of all preparations for using the boats, the fact that the boats .left the ship without oars, masts;'or provisions. Mr Francis W. Miller, Clerk of Customs, was the first witness: called, and proved that the Cospatrick had 1,732 gallons of linseed oil and 2,551 gallons of spirits aboard.—Henry Macdonald, second mate of the ship, deposed that £he fire originated in the boatswains locker, where pitch, tar, etc,, for ships use was kept. Twenty tons of coal, a quantity of oil and turpentine were also stowed in the fore part of the ship in proximity to the locker. Witness was asked what the colour of the smoke when he first observed the fire, but he replied that he did not know. There was no time to make any observations. They were all running about like wild men. It was impossible to extinguish the fire. Abundance of water was thrown on the place where the fire was. All the boats except the port life-boat and the starboard quarter boat (which capsized in lowering with 80 women in it) were burned on deck. The starbeard boat was afterwards righted by men clinging.to a mast, and so was the other boat which left the ship but had not since, been heard of. Only two hours elapsed from the discovery of the fire till the mizenmast fell. Everything possible was done to sare the ship. During all the confusion, Captain Elmslie was perfectly calm. It was too late to provision the boats while launching them. In the port boat was a whole sheep, which was thrown out to takejin a man out of the sea. While the fire was raging the Captain went to the helm and took the steers man's place. He called out, " Every man for himself." The doctor and the captains wife and the boatswain were all together. The Captain stuck to the helm till the last. He believed the fire extended from the boatswain's locker to the cargo. It was, no doubt, the spirits that blew out the stern. He did not think the immigrants could, have got at the liquor in the boatswain's locker.—Mr. W. "Williams stated that the New Zealand Government had paid £5,183 for the emigrants' passages. — Lewis and Cotter, the two seamen rescued with Macdonald, were next examined, and cor roborated Macdonald's account of the catastrophe. Cotter said that the crew were constantly sent down into the boatswain 8 locker to fetch tar and rope up. When he went he always took a covered oil lamp. When a tin of oil was required it was also brought out of the locker. He was certain the tire originated in the locker. He was below at midnigt when the alarm of fire was given, and when he awoke he saw smoke comiDg through the cracks of the division into the forecastle ; he also smelt tar and ropes burning.—The decision of the Court of investigation, which, was composed of Mr Patterson, magistrate, Captain Price and. Mr Turner, shipwright's surveyor, had not been finished when the mailjjeft.,

FOREIGN NEWS.

It is believed that the Carlist war will be brought to a termination during the comins; spring. A report says three thousand troops recently deserted from the Carlist army, and that fifty men were recaptured and shot.

u ;™;g^J^ MABCH 29,1975



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