SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HTfiH WATER- : tbi. evening, 2.40 ; to mor-ow morning 325 SUN SET : This evening, 5.51 ; SUN RISE : to me ■! i« ;.,.,_ iin ,0. id MOON'S AGS . New Moon. 6th April, 6.15 p.m.

ARRIVALS.

Eu'n\-i" M>hhi_e, tfieuch b.ig, Simmoneau, from Ad^lmde fair ,q.„ ,r iri.rri Ra C.'it-it G " • ■.<■■ ,e_, from Bussell ft'- tv-tJ i ill .ill. Ketch, tr>m .Ipoi ki

DEPARTURES.

Rio Loire bri ~ i . Wintfaroa Far , ',r'g ..ti .-. for yt>e:t n R, v- v-1 10 -„ c - for Fa?; oust Cor.lie cutr for Op'tiki PKOJE STICD ! KP.-RTrjRKS. F r N'«ciftn—-Derwent, brig, early Fo R i-.ell—K'.iiu. s.s F»r ih i -«ut.h-L. 4 dyti d, s.s, 3rd >pril Fo,- _n X anci-co-R.SL ss Cyph enes (English M.i 1). lOtu .>r xirno. For i a idon- Kapido, barque, early; W. W. Smith. ship, early For Dunedin—Maggie Paterson, schooner, early

VESSELS EXPECTED

Star of ihe South, s ~ from Levuka, early Tisioi>, brig, from the Islands W. vv. Smith, ship, front Lyttelton, earlr Oabarfeidh, marque, from Boston, via Table B_y ; sailed December 21 Emily McLaren, barque, from London; sailed 20th January

EXPORTS.

Per Mary Melville for Lyttelton: 10,000 ft timber, H. B. Morton ; 7000 ft. timber, D H. McKenzie; 15000 ft. timber, M. jSTiccnl : 600 sleepers, F. Whitaker.— M. Nicol, agent. Pr rUn . 0 r Ljt'elton—W.326rt whitepiue, 500 nett? drain ripes, P. H >cKenzie ; 10,<>(0ft timber, B. 11. Vorton; 4 tens man.Ja rope, J S Macfarlane art. Co: i€oo empty s_cks Thornton, Smith and Firth: 10 ca»es wine, J. a. Macfarlane and Co.-D. H. MiKenzie. a?ent Per A aHa for Napier (to be shipped at Mercury Bay)—4s,oooft kauri timber.— D H. McKenzie, agent.

IMPORTS.

Per Eudrxie Ad lphii.e. from Adelaide—S73S bags wheat 1 Inornton, i-mith and Firth : 25 cases wine. 80 do jim 31 hn.es or er: 10. caes, 8 &egs, T. &S. l_oiri_ —Cruickshank and Co , agents.

NEW VESSEL FOR THE FIJI TRADE.

The barquentiue Emu (auxiliary screw) is to Ffil for Knssell this afteruoon. ft^ r loading at the Bay she will return to AucK £.d and will the yn be laid on the berth for the Klin, in which trade, if she is fonnd to suft we understand, she will be Contoued by ilLrs Stone Bros. I* ?&° rd 3us Srea * JfjSi to hear that there is . PJgJg*^ the Fiji trace bein.s secured by Auckland Merchants before it slips over to Sydney.

Tbe 8.0. Emu has cleared for Kuasell in h-last She takes three passungers : Mr F. Stephenson, Captain Brown, and Captain The brigantine Flirt sailed this morning for Lyttelton with a cargo of timber, drain pipes, etc. . The schooner Fiery Cross is to leave the Manukau for Kaipara on Saturday next, and not to-day as advertised. The cutter Mercury sails to day for Wai kato Heads. She takes about 25,000 feet of timber, shipped by Mr J. W. Waller. "Xesferrlay Caprail Burgess, the Chief Har bour Master, paid an official visit to the Sa d -pit. light-house, gdfc'g down and return ing by the p.s. Hamraki. Ihe Morning l-ivdt, cutter, from Port Charts, brings 18,003 feet timber for G. H 1 f_;p and Co. Tbe schooner Mary Melville is to sail to morr. w morning for Lyttelton, with a cargo

of timber

The St. Kilda, bound for Wanganui^ cros sed the Manakau bar last night at six o'clock

T*«=> stf-atier B venose ciossed at 1 p.m., bound for Waikato.

he i.c s~.ii ODer Majrpie Patterson was taking in coal* all d^y yesterday at one of the hulks, fehe is to siil for Duneoin *t once. We le*m from the < hurch Gazette that the Melan esia- Mission vessel will, on her next voyage, pro bably pay a visit t< Sydney, probab-y in the early part of October. The Southern Cros3 is expected to be away about seven months. The bri-! sign died yesterd»y afternoon turned out as we anticipated, the Euxodine Adolphine, Captain Summone«u, from Adelaide. She has been del-yed o-> her passage by a succ ssion ot contrary wisris, whi s.U hive prol' nged over passage to over _ month Shf l<-ft port on the 28th February. an. had favour able weathrto Bass' Straits ; thence a su cssion of strong northerly winrta. wbien kept the vessel s> far sou h that the captain determined to come south aV.ur.'. The weather was very stormy o. the co*st Thf Elast C-D<* was rounded on the 2 'th ult. The brier an<-h rtd off t_« end of th* .haif soon after five o'clock P* senders—Mr E 'win Bird and family (fl) Mr Taylor and two others The cargo is given above The s-iils of the Levuka schooner, which have been altpr-rl t suit the rew Sj. an), have been bent and are fou- dto fit admirably The captain, w« underhand is iTU.-h pleased with the w*y Messrs Reynolds and Saunders have d no the « ork. They have '.nly lately sUrted i i business, in th-ir new loft, over Mr M. Niocoi's Cjstom-House-*treet. and as a specimen of wor'Tmn-hip, 'he sails of the Levuka cann it be beat. The schooner Fortune brings 21. sacks wheat from the H'a-t <!oaS-. The schooner Ebenezer has arrived in ballast from the Thames Th-> tern, schooner from Bnssell, brings 50 tons coal ..ir v r H Gilfillat, The H-len, sch'»ner, leaves from Om»ha with 500 glee ers and 4000 feet timber. toha has cleared for th*s*rnepo'tinball»Bt. The schooner .caoia cleared out to-day for Napier via Mercury Bay With a cargo of timber to be shipped at the latter port.

KAIPARA SHIPPING.

We are indebted to a gentleman who ar rived' from Kaipara this morning, for the following items of news : — Tha schooner Peerless is half loaded at the new mill, Aratapu. She is bound to Dunedia with timber, under Mr J. W. Wal lers charter. The schooner Pacific is loading at the old Aratapu mill for Wanganui on account of Mr J. W. Waller. The schooner Marmion is loading at the Kop 'Va mill for Wellington. She was ex pected to be loided to-day. r K.IP.EA HEAPS. The following-vessels were Iving inside Kaipara H-ads yesterday afternoon, whitin? for a fair win i to crofS Ui« bar:—The brigantine Hinnab. Bloomfield, b' v d for Wellington, loaded with ambers by the Te KoporuSaw miil Company; the cutter Her ; for Ocehunsa. with timber and gum; the schooner Am-ranth. for "Wai ganui, wi>h timOer, shipped by >>r J W. Waller, fom Aatapu; the brigantine Omaia bonnd to _ytt.lt >n, with timb-r. shipped at Aratapu ; the Kate MrGregir, bounl to We lio«ton, with timbe ; and a sch >oi.er bel rgiDg to the Maori Chief Paul, who has beea attending the .native Lands Court sitting.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

Greymouth, This day. The Charles El ward, with the 'Frisco mail, arrived at 4 a.m. to-day from West- P ' Lyttelton, this day. (From our own correspondent.) T'<ie Fairy sailed for Auckland this morning ■with a full cargo. The ketch Clematis arrived from .felorus Soudcl to-day, with a cargo of timber. She will commence loading in a few days for Auckland. Dunkbiw, this day. The scboonar Excelsior sails for Auckland to-r?ay with a full cargo. She is consigned to Mr John Reid. The fch-oner Agnes leave, to-day for Oamaru, where .he will load for Auckland.

STOCK AND MINING REPORT.

Busine's done to-day :— Bank of "New Zealand—Buyers, £18 j sel ler <, £18 ss. National Bank-Buyers, 70s. C lonial Hank—(3os paid up) -Sellers, 275. South British Tnsuranee—Sellers, 50a. Thames Gas Sellers, 343. Caledonian (double issue) -703. 'City "f London—Buyers, 45.. Go den Calf .(newissue) Sellers, ss, Queen of May—Sellers, lis. Union toa.h and Door Company—Bayers, 93 6-i ' B wmarck- 10a ; seller", 10a 6J. Tok.tr-a—Bnyers, 9s 6d. Poa'Oak hellers, 15a. Cure—S.lLrs, 7s. Pnde of Tokatea—Buyers, 2a 9d : teller., 3s. Otago—Buyers, Is 3d. Bright Snail^Buyen. 26j_ 0

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

MAILS lfUl CLOSE AS FOLLOWS .— For 'llinmes, to-m rrow at 9.3'J a m ands 30 p m For corooiad el to morrow, -til 30a m Fur Kusseli, ver ■ ben»-zer, >his day -at 5 urn For G-e.t -Wrier, jcr Dolly Vorden, this day, at 6 p m For ifiihurnn^i. Matakana, Mangawai, Waipn, &c., per Lady Bowen, on Saturd v> n.xi, a-, 10 » m Per s s Lad>biriion aturday next, as under :— For India, China, Mediterranean Ports, and Continent of Europe, at ail 30 am For Taranaki, Southern Provinces, and Austra lian Colonies, at 1 \> m For United Kingdom, via Suez and Southamp ton (for letters soecial y addres^d). at 1 pm For TJni ed Kingdom, via BrlurlM and late letters for Southern Provinces and Melbourne, at 1.15 pm lor money orders, registered letters, and news papers, at 11 am (Signed) S. B. Biss. Chief Postmaster.

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1875

For the cause that 1.-.elc^ a^i.-tnnoe, For the wrong ii-til nee.b resiiia_i.-e, *,9r the future in the tli-Unce. _j_- the good chat ne can do.

We draw attention to a sorrowful table in another column represen'ing the mortality in this city during; the past month. last Saturday " Cameo," in the Cross, came out with th»a following gush of exquisite humour : —" The epidemic of measles which we have been enjoying in Auckland for some time past, and which must result so profitably to doctors and chemists will turn out, —will it be right to say, a Godsend to the grave diggers. They have had a surfeit of work these past few weeks, working early and late, by candlelight and the early chilly 'morn. But Death has been too much for them siDgle-handed, and extra assist ance has been employed f,o help to. 'gather them in.'" We suppose there are those to whom this style of writing is enjoyable ; for why, otherwise, would it b. published ? Put in the face of that 7_iournful table, there is many a Rachel mourning for her children in Auckland - not to be comforted, because they are not —to whom such ghoul-like exultation in the grave-digger's " surfeit of work " will sound as very heartless merriment. It appears that the mortality of the past month has been very nearly five times greater than th. corresponding month of last year. And measles, which ha. been again and again described as of the mildest type, has, with its handmaids, dysentry and diarrhoea, proved a terrible scourge in the homes of Auckland. Omitting the deaths from this visitation, which total up to sixty two, the balance—twenty-five—is not very greatly in of the eighteen deaths by ordinary causes n March of 1874. So that in the appalling infantile mortality, we have the month's results of the epidemic. We believe mrny will be taken by surprise at the serious nature of this visitation, for we used to be told of solitary cases of death by measles, and even these were explained away by " carelessness" or neg lect,- or some unusual and inappropriate treatment. Now it appears thafc the joking which origina'ly greeted the announcement of fresh appearances of speckled faces has been turned into sad earnest that will, long be remembered in many a mourning family. We do not know a more affecting record than that tale of the three score little help less things between six dajs and two years, struggling with deadly poison in their veins, unable to know or tell what ailed theem, and at last yielding to the destroy er.

We would dirtct attention to the exceedingly interesting letter of our "Special" at Te Kuiti. f*o little is really known of that for bidden but interesting land, and so much im portance must attach to the great meeting assembled at the '■' King's Court," that -we anticipate for our readers a genuine treat from the graphic pen of our correspondent. We may state that he has peculiar advan tages in the matter of influence and confidence at head-quarters, and his delineations of matters viewed from the standpoint of Hau hau opinion may be regarded as entirely trustworthy. We may add that it has been a matter of extreme delicacy and difficulty and very considerable expense completing our arrangements, and we believe that unless some untoward and unforseen occurrence in terposes we .hall continue to rec ive details of proceedings at the great meeting,- pos sessing, as. we believe, the only " special" that v, ill be permitted to be present at Te

Kuiti.

We draw attention to tho additional particu lars respecting tho Refuge ernbr oglio us given in another column. Tiny will bo found to convey a very difloreut view of tho affaii from that given by the rtporfc of. the Com missioners, and wo bolioVo present a case that.emphatiottlly domands further investiga tion.

As will be seen from advertisement in another column the election for^ City East of a representative to the Provincial Council will likely be a warm one, as Mr Rees is on the war path, and meets tbe electors on Mon day eveuing. He was formerly announced, and subsequently Mr Holdship Was brought out on requisition. The.arididatesa-etheb.st of friends, and there will be nothing personal in the struggle. Thau Mr Holdship therelis n t a wor.bier cltiz-n in Au-klaud ; aud Mr R... sought to be in public life. Mis _ go and f.an.sst.ess a.c wanted there. Pity is there i. not room for both to be returned. We fel like the bothered lovier, Bow happy could I be with either, were tother sweet charmt-r away Complaints are rife on tbe Queen-street wharf at the negligence of the Harbour Board in not mending the stand-pipe at the co-ncr, adjoining Elliott', receiving office, which has now been out of repa.r for-nearly three weeks. From this stand-pipe the lumpers at work among the shipping the Custom-house officers, and the general body of workers at the bottom end of the wharf have been accustomed to slake their thust; aud now they are redact d to the direst straights to obtain a drink of water in the heat of the day, while the refreshing and innocent liquid is running to waste under the wharf. We are sure that if the Good Templars had a representative on the Board, this grievance would not be allowed to exist a single day, for the effect of it is to drive the men to the public houses. The subject brings us to the question of the importance of stand pipes generally. Any one who chooses may daily see very, pretty scenes round these all too few useful fixtures. Sometimes there are as many as twenty persons of both sexes, and aU ages round one of them waiting patiently for the water to be turned on. In dry we_.tb.er, such as that we have has for the last two months, in many households here is the main supply of water for domes tic purposes, and the daily pilgrimage to the standpipp at the corner of the street forms one of the ordinary duties of day. There may be seen John, the stripling of twenty, putting his own buckets down, and assisting Maggie, the red-cheeked lassie, who lives in the next street. Wine is falsely said to be the kindJer of the affections. let not the happy influences of water be forgotten. Many little love passages, leading to lives of wedded happiness, have taken place over the same business since Jacob wooed the "tender-eyed" Racbael at the well. Among the still younger atoms of humanity who assemble at the same place may be witnessed acts of self-denial and patience which present an encouraging pic ture to tbe philanthropist. And there is the darker side. There we see two women, whose features tell of visits to fountains of stronger liquid than water, their pitchers forgotten, and peihaps, too, tlieir crying babies at home, tattling to one another of their neighbours, and exchanging with gusto the choice little bits of scandal they had scraped together since their last meeting. And that poor old man, who is he, whose tottering stops can scarce support the load he is trying to carry ? Too old to add to the family store by his toil, aud with no put'lent savings to fall back upon, he is -hankful now to live upon the charity—if ii; may be termed so—of his children, for whom in return he fills the menial office of hewer of wood and drawer of water. Yes : many a touching lesson of life may be drawn from a stand-pipe. At present, as is well known, the supply of water is sadly deficient evtn at the few pipes which exist. What a blessing it will be to the poor when the new wati r works bring down to their doors the clear tide of Western Springs. Speed on your good work, contractors, and may it profit ye us much as it will the good city and citizens of Auckland. Since tho fore.oing was written, we have received a letter signed " Celerity," comp'aining that the stand pipe at the corner of Wyndham and Albert-street has been in a useless condition for the last three weeks, to the great inconvenience of the inhabitants of tbe surrounding property. Tbe authorities are greatly to blame for allowing this state of things, more especially with disease rumpint amongst us. The public welfare demands that it thall be looked to ot once. Sid n^ws reaches us from England Fugene Rimmel's perfumery depot in the Strand has been burnt down. Those who know anything of London as it has been during any part of the last ten years, must recollect Rimmell's. No one who has ever pissed down the Strand at the beginning of February can fail to have been arrested by the magnificent display of valentines and fairy-like trinkets exhibited in the window nearly opposite the Gaiety Theatre. None of your s-xpenny and shilling flimsies, with hearts and da>ts and Cupids and quivers, but really artistic and valuable presents calculated to app»al to much more than the mere sen'iment of the happy receiver. We can imagine the place burning. How the flames would carry aloft and around the fragrant odours of the essences they were consuming The firemen would not have to be told whereabouts the fire was. Only one place could spread such an enchanting savour, and to Rimmel's tbey would hasten at once. It does not astonish us that the destruction was not prevented. Imagination even goes so far as to fancy the multitude forcibly preventing the firemen disturbing the conflagration, which wa3 so agreeably tickling tneir nostrils. It reminds one of Bono and his burning pig : but yet what a vast difference between the smell of- crack ling and Rimmel's divine perfumes ! It is to be feared that something akin to the wanton incendiarism, which followed Bobo's discovery, may follow this fire also. It is pretty certain that insurance rates on per fumery depdts will be raised at once. In like manner as B bo's accident introduced into China a novel and delicious food, so it may be anticipated that Rimmel's fire will be instrumental in bringing out a new scent. The enterprising Eugene will, no doubt, be quite equal to the emergency, and it may be confidently expected that, by the next steamer, we shall hear how from the ruins he has succeeded in extracting a superlative essence, called perhaps the Kedivivus, which is all the rage in London, The misfortune would have been much more severely felt had not Rimmel been possessed of several establishments in other parts of the metro polis. This is what is termed, in vulgar phrase, All Fools Day, from the well-known, but not ancient, practice of passing some joke or deception upon children or persons who suffer from defect of memory, or possess an | easy disposition. We believe the custom of | making April fools is almost wholly confined to England and France, perhaps the two most enlightened nations upon the face of the earth. The French call the object of this nonsense tin poisson d' Avril, a name which they likewise give to that species of fish, which we don't get in Auckland, known as mackerel. They consider the mackerel a silly fish because like April fools, it is easily caught. In Scotland it is termed ' 'hunt ing the gowk," as the tbe following couplet .hews : On the first of April, Hunt the gowk another mile. And thus the poor simpleton was made to waste his weary steps until the light flashed across his mind that it was .April fool day. The pra.t cc however is dy;ng out of Scot land, and it were well were it dead every where Captain Logan and Mr D B. Cruickshank canvassed the town yesterday and got a liberal response' from tbe public in aid of the Gothenburgh suffereis. Men yto a con siderable amount was Bubscrioed in sums of from ss. to £3. We notice thafc Mr W. L. Rees will address the tlUctors of City East in the Mechanic*' I_nfcitute on Monday evening next, '

It will be seen by our English telegrams received yesterday, that Oxford baa at length scored a win in tbe University Boat Race. Cambridge has won each time since 1869, or five times running. Prior to that, Oxford had won nine times running The number of victories on each side since the inaugura tion of Ihe contest is about level. It will be seeu by our Kaipara shipping that six or seven vessels were yesterday lying wmd-bound in-ide the Heads waiting for a fair wind to enable them to cross the bar. Why does not some enterprising man -some one who will do the thing decently and not put on any ramshackle old cratt he can get hold of cheap-go in for providing fteam-tugs at this and other West Coast ports ? They are greatly wanted, and would i educe the duration of the coastal trips of sailing vessels by one half for quite that proportion of the time is at present occupied in waiting tc get out and in the different harbours. This great saving of time would enable ship-owners to pay liberally for tug services, and the venture should prove highly remunerative to its projectors. J. has sent us 5s in aid of the widow Holt ham, for which we thank him ; also ss. from XXX., and £1 from Mr Peacock. The April number of the Church Gazette is to hand. The church business information is complete as usual, and the particulars given of the various charitable funds will be read with interest. From the outlying districts of the diocese we have little budgets of intelligence which tell us how the great work is being carried on outside our daily ken. We have a short obituary notice of Captain Butler; a well-written account of "A Missionary tour through Coromandel;" a report of the state of Maori schools, and a description of Kohimarama and the Training Ship. In the " Correspondence" is a rather long but sensible letter on the vexed question of congregational singing. From this we extract the following :—" You will observe, sir, that I raise no objection to part-singing by the choir; for the simple reason that choirs are under command and the congre gations are not. Being trained, the choirs can, for the most part, do what they profess to do. let us combine the part-singing of the choir with the unison of the congregation. Let the choir hear the same relation to tbe congregation that the organ does to the choir ; treat it as an accompaniment, unison swaying and overmastering the whole." A letter of I >r. Collis, Canon of Worcester, on Funeral Reform, is published side by side with another in Dr. Maunsell's vigorous style, on the curious question of painting the bishop's residence. The editorials are upon " Lay Readers" and " Terra Incognita," the latter being a description of a trip to Northern Kaipara, well worth reading. The number contains several reviews of interesting works, and some carefully-prepared Sunday-school Lessons, the work of the Commiotee ap pointed by the Diocesan Synod. The City Council to-day advertises several important notices relative to water supply whi^h it is to the interest of all whom it may concern to peruse. The period for registering votes just closed has added 800 names to the electoral roll. The election for the representation of City West in the General Assembly, the vacancy created by the death of the late John Wil liamson, Esq., will take place on the 9th instant. A most successful concert was given in Otahuhu on Monday, towards the funda of the Episcopalian Church. Mr Justice Gillies began his judicial duties in Auckland this morning, by receiving one or two applications in Uhambers, It is not likely that his Honor will take his seat on the Bench till he opens the Quarterly Ses sions on the sth inst. Yesterday evening, while some men were at work on the North Shore Ferry Co.'s T lowering a railway truck into a cargo boat which was to take it to Riverhead for use on the Kaipara Railway, the chain which was passed round the truck and hooked on to the crane chain broke and precipitated the unwieldy carriage some ten feet through the air on to the top of another truck which had already been lowered. Happily the two men in the boat were well clear, and the accident was productive of no serious result. Great care should be exercised thafc the tackle used for such work ia of the proper strength.

TWO MORE SURVIVORS FROM THE COSPATRICK

We are indebted to Mr Best for a copy of the Glasgow Herald, of February 8, the latest date by the San Francisco mail, which contains the following :—" A Brixham pilot, named Salisbury, who landed yesterday at Brixham, reports having on Saturday even ing, off Torbay, spoke the full-rigged ship Coldstream, belonging to Messrs Leigh and Smith, Fenchurch-street. London. The captain of the Coldstream informs Salisbury that he had come from St. Helena and has on board two of the crew of the Cospatrick, who had been taken to St. Helena by an outward-bound vessel. The Coldstream is believed to be bound, for London, and is re ported as having passed Plymouth yesterday at 5 p.m. THE INQUIRY. The inquiry was resumed on Friday. Mr E. Smith, Despatching Officer to the New Zealand Government, Btated he was quite satisfied with the cargo and Btowage. He attributed the origin of the fire to some attempt to get .ither at the spirits or beer. Decision is to be reported to Board of Trade.' — Glasgow Herald, Feb. 8..

ONEHUNGA SOIREE.

The soiree held at Onehunga on Monday last, under the management of the Onehunga Branch of the H.A.C.8.5., was an un doubted success. The members of the Branch may reasonably congratulate them selves on the success which has attended this, their first effort in the way of providing amusement for the public. The officers ot the Onehunga Bi anch present, were: Pre sident, Mr Heenan; Vice-President, Mr McMahon; Secretary, Mr Lucas (who on this occasion ably officiated as M.C.); Treasurer, Mr Binghin, and a very large number of the members. There were pre sent also, the following officers from the Auckland Branch : President, J. Clarke ; Vice-President, J. Little, P. P. D. Fallon, and about twenty members of the Auck land Branch. After doing ample justice to a sumptuous repast, for which the committee deserve great credit, the party adjourned to the body of the hall (which was very taste fully decorated), and the dancing was entered into with that spirit for which the sons and daughters of Erin are so famous. The music was under the management of Mr Wright, which in itself is a guarantee of its efficiency A pleasing feature in the evening's amuse ment was the introduction to the ball room of the newly elected officers of the Onehunga Court of the A.O.F. They were received with great honor and applause by the officers and members of the H.A.C.B.S. As for the ladies of Onehunga, we can only Bay, that we have nowhere seen any ladies do so much for the visitors as they have done. Judging from the remarks that were made by the visitors from Auckland we should say that for the futuie entertainments of thi kind will be very liber ally patronised by the Auckland people. Great credit isdueto the Rev Father Paul for his endeavours to make every one com fortable, a task in which he was eminently successful. The party broke np at a late, hour in the morning.

THE GREAT KINGITE MEETING.

A Star Special Correspondent Reaches To Kuiti.

Description of the Country.

Four Thousand Natives Present.

The King's Attitude towards

the Government.

(FROM OTT7R SPECIAL COB7R7ES-

TPONTDETim)

TE KUITI.

March 28 IN MY WHARE AT TE KUITI. It is fitting that the Star, which has suc cessfully aspired to the achievement of the same position among colonial journals as that held by the New York Herald among those of America —the New Zealand journal which has been foremost in every effort to obtain reliable news by every possible expedient— by pigeon, telegraph, and special agents throughout the country—should be the first/ to penetrate by its emissaries into the great, territory beyond the confiscated boundary,\ where the Native Minister himself has not set foot, and where even Mr. Civil Com missioner Mackay, specially shielded by the great Ngatimaniapoto chief JRewi, only.went at the risk of his life. Here lam seated in a whare on this pleasant Sunday morning, looking out on the King's house in his great capital of Te Kuiti. How I came here let no one inquire. Sufficient to say that the Maori dearly loves rum, and your instructions to go to Te Kuiti and get a faithful report of the great meeting admitted of no gainsaying. The natives are wonderfully well informed here on what ia proceeding in the pakeha country. Anything affecting them which appears in the newspapers soon finds its way beyond the boundary. The Evkntng Star is well-known, and its recent description of the King in his meeting with Sir Donald McLean was duly translated to the natives, and seemed to give them satisfaction. But to revert to the more immediate object of my visit. First, then as concerns MY JOUENEY HERE.—PAKEHA MAORIS. The boundary line of the King country is the river Waipa, which ia crossed by a bridge just below the town of Alexandra. After that you never again see a road— nothing but a track which ia only wide enough for one horseman, so thafc after leav ing Alexandra you have to travel Indian fire. The first settlement you come to is Kopua, distant from Alexandra about seven or eight miles. Here there are a mixtu-e of people— natives, half-castes and two Europeans, who have resided there about five or six years and are cultivating Bmall tracks of land. The principal crops are wheat, oats and hops. The two Europeans aro George Emery and William Thomson. The first-named has been in New Zealand over forty years, and is getting an old man. The latter is a much younger man. They are both married to natives belonging to the Ngatimanipoto tribe and their wives own the land and are Hauhaus —subjects of the King. CROSSING THE FORDS. Before reaching Kopua you have to cross the Waipa river twice, and the fords are very dangerous owing to the swamps On my journey, between Alexandra and Kopua, my horae got bogged twice and my guide had to strip himself and go into the river to get the horse out, it beiDg bogged up to the saddle. The fords could be made very passable with fcitree, but the natives never do anything in the way of repairing roa-is or crossings, and when it becomes impossible to cross at one ford, they move to another. JOHN LEWIS'S STORE. Continuing your journey to the interior, you come, after riding fourteen miles over a very rough country up to your saddle in fern, to John Lewis' store, this is a very good store, and kept by a half-caste, who can speak English. THE ATTEMPT ON MR. MAC KAY'S LIFE. — HISTORY OF THE PRESENTATION WATCH. This is the place where Mr. Mackay's life was attempted to be taken, and where the chief Rewi prevented it. Mr Mackay pre sented Rewi with his gold watch and locket, but a half-caste at Kopua, named Alexander Thompson, for some months sported the watch, saying that Mr. Mackay had made him a present of it. He got drunk' one day, and hia horae stumbled in the river, so the watch was rendered useless. How ever, Mr. Mackay has aince had it repaired, and now Rewi, the real owner, has it. Thompaon'a native wife, however, kept the locket, and whenever she goes to Alex andra, or elsewhere, she wears it round her neck. At the recent Agricultural Show at Te Awamutu, she went aa usual, wearing it tied by a ribbon to her neck. THE COUNTRY BETWEEN THE STORE AND TE KUITI. Before you reach the store you have to cross three streams and two swamps, and the banks on each side of the rivers are nearly perpendicular. Leaving the store you go on to Te Kuiti, distant about sixteen miles, over a very, rough hilly country, heavily timbered, and after penetrating a very dense forest, you come out on the open ground, and begin to see the various settlements which surround Te Kuiti on all sides for about seyen or eight miles around the King's Town. There are about one thousand Hauhaus living around Te Kuiti. THE GREAT MFETIIVG HOUSE RELIGIOUS SERVICE. Tbe town itself is on both sides of the river which is easily crossed in a canoe. Te Kuiti means the Court House of the King, and there are prayers at six o'clock in the morn ing, and again in the afternoon every day during the week. The verandah of the Court House will accomodate about three hundred natives, and they usually sit out in the open air except in the wet weather. The greatest tribe and those -who own the balk of the land are the Ngatimaniapotos, their leading chief being Rewi, their head general, or, as he has been called ever since the close of the^ Waikato war—Munga, by which name he is now known. THE KING: HIS LAND, WIVES, AND CONCUBINES. The King's tribe is a small one. and they own no land at Te Kuiti. The King's land is all at Kawhia—the sacred port on the coast. The Government ia composed of the Kin? and five great chiefs. Munga is their general, and Manuhiri the Prime Minister. The latter is getting an old man. Munga is in the prime of life. The King has three wives, besides concubines. He has two sons and several daughters. The eldest son the Prince (!) ia learning blacksmith's work, from the European Moffatt, who has been living with them for some time, and who is greatly respected by all the Hauhaus. He is the European who went to England some years ago, and, together with Bishop Selwyn, recovered for the natives the Taranaki block of land. The King, and I regret to say his sons, are all given to tha native weakness of . being too fond of drink, and it is generally understood that at the deatk ef Tawhiao ono

of his nephews will succeed him, as they are not given to such vile habits.

CULTIVATIONS AT TE KUITI.

At Te Kuiti a large tract of land is under cultivation, they grow wheat, oats, maize, tobacco, hops and melons in abun dance. They have a large surplus stock of hops and wheat, which they intend to send for sale to Alexandra and Cambridge as soon as there is sufficient water in the river Waipa to allow the heavily laden canoes to go down. GENERAL FEATURES OF THE COUNTRY.—CATTLE, COAL, GOLD AND IRON. The whole of the country is a series of hill and dale, with some very high mountains and very extensive forest.. Pheasants and piga are in abundance, so also are pigeons ; their is a fair show of catrie, and horses can be had at reasonable prices. A very good strong hack may bi bought for £5, and inferior ones at much less prices. There are but few sheep, and many could not exist, as the land is entirely taken up with fern and ti-tree. In the river beds iron-stone is always to be found, ancfconly recently a very large reef of cannel coal has been discovered ; there is also alluvial gold found on the downß, and altogether the country is rich in the ex treme. THE NATIVE POLICY.—NOTED REBELS. / The natives have had such a lesson by the Waikato war that they have resolved never to make a road, sell or lease land to Euro-^ peans, or allow any telegraphy. They n/ doubt stand in their own light, but who can blame them ? Ido not, for one. At Te Kuiti you may see the celebrated Te Kooti, also Parakuta, who shot Sullivan and the murderers of Dodd. Ie would be a great benefit to them, and also to New Zealand generally, if the country were opened for Europeans, but as long as Manuhiri and Munga are alive no war will take place. They are all for peace. Their successors may alter the course of things and soon bring on a war. If they do, it will be the last; but before the country is vanquished, many thousands of Europeans will be slain. The natural features of the country are all m favor of the natives, and consequently act as barriers to the Europeans.

The Great Meeting.

THE ASSEMBLING--THE KING'S

ABSENCE

The long-expected meeting at Te Kuiti commenced to-day, the natives having arrived to the number of nearly four thou sand. Some disappointment was expressed by a few of the arrivals, who had come from a great distance at the absence of the King, and more especially as in this case the invi tations had been given by Tawhiao, and it is most likely the chiefs will decide to send to Kawhia for him, where he has been residing with his wife and children ever since his interview with Sir Donald McLean. Among those that are already assembled are Smith, chief of the Wanganui tribe, num bering about 250 or 300, also the tfgatiawa (Kupapa) or friendly natives, all of which carry their arms; many more are on the road, or rather track, as roads there are none, and when they have all arrived it is expected that they will number over six thousand natives. The whole of these, with the exception of the 250 belouging to the Ngatiawa, are Hauhaus. This is their tenth annual March meeting, and the only one that has taken place without the presence f the friendly natives. INVITATION TO THE GOVER NOR. • The Governor and Sir Donald McLean were, in the early part of the month invited to come to Te Kuiti to attend the meeting, the King at the game time promising him a safe escort there and back. They, however, thought proper— for reasons known only to themselves —to decline the offer, and suggested that the meedng should be held at Kawhia, promis ing, as an inducement, to build tne King a grand house. Ihe King replied that he had hundreds of houses, and did not want the Government's house. Bo the invitation was then declined, as they would not go to Te Kuiti. However, the Native Minister after wards changed his mind, and said they would come to Te Kuiti if they might bring with them all the |friendly natives. The King then replied that if they could not trust themselves without bringing all the natives armed soldiers, they h_d better stay away, and so the matcer ended. THE RUBBING OE NOSES. Monday, March 29. Yesterday, Sunday, the 28th inst., the first day appointed for the meeting, there was no business actually discussed, the chief thing being the greetings between the several tribes; which consisted of a very large share of crying aud rubbing noses. The howling of the natives, combined with the quarrelling of the dogs, for every native brings with him one or two dogs, lasted the whole of the night, and the noise they made prevented anyone from getting to sleep. DISCUSSION ON THE WRONG FUL SALE OF LAND BY THE WAIKATO TRIBES. The actual business commenced this (Mon day) moraing, the principal aud most impor tant of all being a discussion on the disposal of land by the Waikato natives to the New Zealand Native Office. These natives alter the close of the Waikato war were given land by the King to cultivate and live on, and whatever they produced waß for their support; but the land was never their own, and they are required to remove every third year to a new settlement, to prevent their being abje to claim the laud as their own by right of occupation, which they certainly would do if such a precautionary measure was not adopted with them. It was stated at the meeting that these natives have been in the habit, for some few years back, of receiving from the Native Office money in some few instances, but more generally what they call rations, mostly about the winter season when they are running short. These rations are well known to be flour and sugar, and they give in exchange, or rather sign certain deeds prepared at the Native Office for a lien on the.land on which they live but do not own. The Native Office is thus obtaining a lien on land from natives who do not own an acre of it, but are merely living there on sufferance. To put an end to thisuojust proceeding, thefive great chiefs and the King have fixed this as the main business of this annual March meeting, and it is fully expected that this year's meeting will be the most troublesome one that has ever taken place. This is the chief subject for discussion, and it is anticipated that the talking about it will last about a week, as each chief of every separate tribe is allowed to have his say in the matter. There are other subject, of minor importance also to be discussed, and it is expected that the March meeting will last about three weeks, and perhaps a little longer.

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

" Jankt Pride" was successfully produced last evening at the Prince of Wales Theatre, and which drew a good house. The drama is not without considerable literary merit as a piece of writing, and affords much scope for the varied powers of the performers The character of Janet was exhibited with its interesting associations with consummate fidelity by Mrs. George Darrell, who makes everything her own that Bhe undertakes to represent, and the reason is not difficult to understand. This lady brings to her task a love and thoroughness—the result of care ful study—which, associated with high

gifts, cannot fail in winning success. Mr. Darrell was also in fnll sail as hichard Pride, whose peculiarities of temperament and small vices he delineated to the letter. Ber nard, the Swiss watchmaker, was an <?'^cel. lent representation in its way, and wai x^ cessfully portrayed by Mr Thornton, 7S deserves credit for his manner of pictuting , J that character. Mr Holloway was happy aa ■! ' Black Jack, the bushranger, and well was I ' Mr Heriot introduced in the person of Mr*' Deering, a gentleman possessing talents as an actor which will brighten and develope themselves as the years roll on. Mr Sam ' Poole, as Dicky Trotter, was extremely funny, and set" the audience in a roar as is his wont. Mr Sweeney represented Sergeant Grey with his accustomed ability, and Mr Aveling appeared as Dr Roberts, and Minnie Grey found an excellent exponent in Mis Maggie Knight. The great snow scene by Mr Thornton was artist cslly portray<d. This fine five-act drama will be represented to-night.

MORTALITY IN AUCKLAND.

The following items respecting the deaths in this city durng the month ended yesterday, tell their own tale. They are extracted from the books of the Registrar of Deaths. During the month ending 31st March. 1875, there were 87 deaths registered within the city of Auckland. The number during the corresponding month of 1874 were 13 deaths : — \.Fov 1875.—Under 1 year 32 Do. 2 do 28 : Do. 5 do. 9 Do. 10 do 4 Do. 20 do. 3 Over 20 and do. 50 do. 11 Total 87 For 1874.—Under 1 year ,10 Do. 2 do 3 Over 20 and do. 50 do 5 Total 18 The following have been the causes of death during the past month : — Measles 44 Diarrhoea or dysentery 18 Bronchitis 4 Apoplexy ~.. 3 Typhoid fever ; ... 1 Accidents, Consumption, Convulsions, Debility, and other causes that human flesh is heir to 17 87 The following is the order in which the several districts rank as regards the number of deaths :—Freeman's Bay, 10 ; Albert street, 8 ; Chapel-street, 7 ; Lome-street, 7 ; Eobson-street, 4 ; Napier-street, 4; Queenrstreefc, Cook-street, E iwardes-street, Orphan Home, 3 each ; Wellesley-street, Cnancery-street, Wakefield-street, Pitt street, West Queen street, 2 each; Wynd ham-streefc, Baker-street, and others. 1 each. Three adults died of measles, one aged 39 years, and one aged 20 years, both in Free man's Bay ; and one of 29 yeare in Paget street. The single death by typhoid fever was in Freeman's Bay, an adult aged 42. Of the deaths by measles the great majority consisted of infants under two years, namely, 32 out of the 44. Of these 14 were under a year, one poor little thing being only six days in existence, another ten days, and another being only nineteen days old. 18 deaths by measles were of infanis of between one and two years, about fifteen months appearing very fatal. The was one death of a child of 3 years ; 4 deaths at 4 years ; 1 at 5 ; 1 at 6 ; none at 7 ; lat 8 ; none at 9; 1 at 10 ; 1 at 11 ; none at the ages between thafc and 20 years. In the great majority of cases the word diarrhoea or dysentery ii added to measles, showing the manner iv. which thafc disease usually results when fatal; in one case the disease was compli cated with croup, and in one case it ended with bronchitis. Altogether the month haa been one of terrible mortality in the city.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Messrs. Yon der Heyde and Hurst, Justices of the Peace.) APEIL FOOLS. Joseph Robinson, Hezekiah Mann, Joseph Carter, and John Sergeant Shea, were found drunk in the dawn of the morn, and were fined 5s each ; excepting Shea, who was in the horrors, and was remanded for a week. ANN AND ALICE. Anne Finne, an old offender, and Alice Hoskins, once fair; but now withering like ai autumn flower, were charged wiibh drunk enness an I riotous conduct last night. Alice was fined ss, and Anne, being a very old offender, was fined 10s. VERY SUSPICIOUS. William Hepburn, a young man who has recently led an indolent drinking life in the shadows of the Greyhound Hotel, and who had a narrow escape a few days since, was again brought up on suspicion of having pur- Honed a silver watch, value £5, which was found in his lodging on the inst. Sergeant-Major Pardy said that in this case the police had been unable to trace the owner of the watch, in consequence he would ask that the prisoner be discharged, but if the owner should be found the prisoner will still have to answer for the charge. The prisoner was then discharged. JOHN SMITH.

This member of the numerous family of Smith, was charged with stealing a coat, value £1, the property of William Steen, a seaman on board the Baron Aberdare. This case was again remanded in order that it may be heard before the Resident Magistrate on Saturday next. JOHN SMYTH. John Smyth, of Wellesley-street, again appeared on a charge of receiving stolen tools, on the 23rd inst, the property of Alfred Worthington, knowing them to have been stolen. This was adjourned until two o'clock. SMUGGLING TOBACCO. ..:;<:']

Tom and Tommy, two Kanakas, were charged under the Custom's Regulations Act, with having in their possession ten pounds of manufactured tobacco, with intend te defraud the revenue.

Prisoner's through an interpreter, pleaded not guilty. Mr T. Hill appeared for the prosecution. Detective Jeffrey deposed that on the 23rd lof tl 7 present month, from instructions fcece'Ved, he searched the prisoners' bag on teeming ashore, and fonnd ten pound of to f bacco, which prisoners said they had brought for their own use from the Albion, whaler-

Mr Thomas Hid, Collector of Customs ap plied iv accordance with his duty, for a fine of £100, the penalty incurred. The duty on tobacco ia 2s 6d ocr pound, which had not been proved. Tommy was discharged as it appeared he' did|not participat in the fraud, Tom therefore was held responsible, and was ordered to pay a fine of £100, or lie in prison until the tine be paid. . ~ The two prisoners were then charged with larceny, which charge was deferred until» later part of the day. - THE MCCARTHYS. James McCarthy appeared in answer to a t charge of ill-using and neglecting his Fife, Grace McCarthy. Mr Laishley appeared for plaintiff, and Mr McCormick for defendant. - I Mr Laishley said that Mrs McCarthy, who had not previously employed counsel, had made a mistake in laying the information, and he would respectfully ask that tha case migh. be withdrawn, in order that a proper .j information might be made out. >. > Mr JVJcCormick objected to such a courst*- • as his client was now in custody on warrant^ai After considerable argument, the_, Benca vj discnarged the defendant, and the McCarthy a took their departure.

broaching cargo. _ Hugh Kennedy, George Foster, William Luke, John Mitchell, George GolcUo, ««

THE KYfflrmO StAK, THUJRSPAY. APBIL 1, lt»*



THORNTON, SMITH, & FIRTH'S PEICES CURRENT (Wholesale :— £ a. d. Fine Flour, silk-dressed, " Crown Brand," per ton of 2,000 lbs 12 0 0 Ditto, ditto, "T.S. &F. Brand," ditto .... 10 0 0 Sharps, ditto 610 0 Bran, per bushel of 20 lbs * 0 1 3 Fowl Wheat, per bushel of 00 lbs 0 _ 0 Bags charged.—Terms cash. A GENTS FOR THE " STAR" The Star can be obtained fr.m the followi_g * gents at .'ir.y time after 5 o'clock p.m. : — D.awo u-Mr Brow.. T'e^vv- od St^re '•nsonby ToA'-MrM Kn-try, -onsonby Store lUa-oahaPE Ho.vo—Mr Y. Warren, Syde.lnni •*tore ; v(r Violi"I-,1'-, (Grocery .fre ' K-WMAkkET—Mr W-th. for', To ltnongery Store Kvber P*s«— r Burns, Grocery ; Mr T.ylor, Grocery store __ .. _. Oneii v ngv—Mr Oilman, Chemist; Mr Watts, Stora- Steer er Otahuhu-Mr J. Hall, Post-office Pah-ell—Miss Ryan, Groce-r tore; Mr R. Brown, Grocery Store ; Mr Aueur, Bootmaker North Shore—Mr O. Mays, Grocery Store ; Mr Dude-. Grocery Store ; Mr Bass, Grocery Store Wellington-street—Mr Todd. Grocery Store ;Mr T. bavward, Wellington Hotel. Corn re. or Wellington-street —Mr McCrea Grocer. ~ Freem-n's Bay Hotel, Freeman s Bay—Mr Stow _, _, __ . Alma Place _&d Neighborhood—Mr west Alma Store „, Gi eat North Road—Mr McGibbon. Glasgow Store tv Eden Vine Hotel. New North Ko_D-mi Pop'mon __ R"s s Ho.fi.. PTMO»rP-STBEET—MrEoso Newton Mr Mclnd'e'sS ■re NVwton New Nobth Road Mr Collins, BootmaKer Newton Road—Mr Walsh .. ~__verv temperance law^ithertn .framed admits the necessity of stimulants as medicine^mo no tetotaller of sense domes that they aiees enu elements of cure In a vaney o t & "^^V. fanatics deny the uW.ty of .m alcol oli^l The rapid and P°si£™ b £ t^r complaints, uterine dyspepsiakidng fc %™ 0 WolVk's Schiedam ailments, wioiglit^ wh _ fl «^ty CS~ ™^»'