SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER : This evening, 766 ; to morrow morning 7 9 SUN «B'j : Tt.i» e»enHg. 63 ; BHN BI8E: to morrow mom in-- 6 il MoONh -iGJi . Last Quarter 30ih, 4.4 p.m.

ARRIVAL.

.uerwent bri*. from Newcastle D<l yv a dnn, ci.tia , f-o.u Russell Chrisina, scuopue , from ussell

DEPARTURES.

Wellington, s s, f. r the South (from the Manukau)

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For T'ns^ell— ijuh s.s ti-mo riw 6 p ra. F- rle o 1) I ioe c, >i, *8t • instant For I c mi Ka 'rin i,M.qn.- early ; U-l.nlora, ship, 2-ri. uifita-i ; VV W niilh ship, early Fo- h U ff in Pa hh*p. «-*-lv For Nfu-cvn,- i., a barqixX ti-mnrr w For \iun-. in-l«ai,f la ratt, ,-chi.O'ier, *arly ; Ma?gi - (Sterol,., acho n-r, .»riy

UNKNOWN.

He rn 1» from Sydney *b-lit 26 v Cty t.t « itt.-nin-. ( ■ .«ush JlaU;, from San Kiai.cisc , 26t i ii.sta >t Wonga Wonga from Sydney, early Tmu s's, from Dunedin, sailed 15th inst. W. xiv. Smith, ship, from L» ttelton early Cabarfeld, • argue. from Boston, via Table Bay ; sailed Deceouber 21 Emily JAc a.en, barque from Lojdon; sailed 20th January Ca irr n ship,KMPK, from L ndon ; sai'ed Terngleu. ship, from London : <-ai'ed 2nd 'anuur Shooting Siar, Darque, KSIiV, from London ;s tiled T>ec 23 Raolrto barque, PORL, from New York, via Adelaid. lochna/ar. i>arq ie, from ' • noon, calf Ti«n I'sin, birque, f-om Launceston, e»rly Syr'n ru, from t yttelf n Ittdoxie «dolDhine, brig, from Adelaide Ryno, br'gat.tine from Rotumah early Dauntless topsail sch oner from Noumea, early Blanch.., s hiont-r, fr m ttarnto'.ga Papua, schioier from Karotonßa, early Balle R'andon, sch oner, from the Islands, early Penri ketcn, from tin Isauds. arly Phosb-, s s frum 1 c outh, 25th ns'ant JxceLior, scho 'lie', from llnne .iD, early Elm throve, barque, 'rom^ir'ney Mary Blair, barque, fr m Me bjurne, via South

IMPORTS.

Per Derwent. from N wea tie : 314 tons coal, 17 tons code. —J. W. Waller, aer«at.

EXPORTS.

T*er Glemra for Ton ou 3 ugs pltfe and linen, J. B B-athwaite; 107 bUe* wool NZ. I oaa and M. Co ; 15 casks t-dliw, "Warnouk Kros ; 186 b*gs copn, aquantit contain bulk. 2 bale*io ton, 6 bah s wool, Cruickshank & 'o :6 do do. -t ne Bros ; 1 do do, J. Howard: 3, boxes curios, 1 parcel wuchen, Shirley H'l; 1 1 rig case, A. A. Smi h ; 159 bales wool. J. Osborne & Co ; 222 do do, 173 do cotton, Owen * Graham : 6 ba'e* wool, W I. Ta>lor ; S2I cases hauri jtuiu. Walfcer * Co ; I<9 bales wool, t'omhes % Da ay; 206 cages kau>i gum, Brown, Campbell & Co ; 3 pgs merchandise, Mc vrthur, Shera & Co ; 21 bales wool, John fcarrott & C>; 60 bags manganese, G. Grah m: 16 bales leather. 1 do wool, Gittos & Co; 8 bales cotton. Fiji B.C C : 14 do wool, Robeiton & Co ; 1320 bags copra, 1 bag wool, A. Busk land : 17 ca«ks tallow, 28' sO shank bones, A Dornwell: 2 Cises specimens Dr Berg^ren ;22 casks oil, -ender son & Maifarlane: 4 keg 3 spikes, H B. Morton ; I case m*rchantdi-e, E. Beck ; 2 boxes effects, Turner ; 1 piece of t.tmbor *. A. Smith; 2 leather portraan teans, 1 c*«e minerals. 1 do clot hi v , J. Jenkins; 40 ca ks talow, Watt Brrs ; 6 c+ses merchandise. T. * 8. Morrin ; 7 cases arms, x .Z. Govt ; I caso plants, Palmer ; 1 cas* me'chantdite, M Clarke; 16 ingots lead. 33 rtozinn, 5 casks dros<, I tank c ipra 35 casks tall w. 12 do glae pieces, 8S i>hank and thighbone , A . Stuart; I c »se app o-el, J. R McFarlane ;6J bales wool, F Winter.—o*en and Graham, agents.

Captain Waterman, late of the cutter Wackvvorth, goes S ■uth in the Wellington to-day to take command of the brig Albion no«- at Lyitfltm. The s.s Wellington left for the South this morning. She crosse 1 the b*r ot noon. Mr Lpvy was the only additional passenser. The ship Glenl rt is to'haul aw»y fro-n the wharf to moMi* m-.r me, and if h« wind *11 ws, t*keher deianure for Lo don right away "he Uto clear out at th Cust'in-8 lite th s af.er. oon for London. We to-'iay give h-r Cit>g'~» v der the hear of exports. Pa-sen*es: aloon —Mr and vrs R. Hack, Captain and Mrs Kich, *ii^s hsti'er Conrtrey. Mrs F Jones, Archibald O. McDufT, Captain R rrhimpson, Mr "Walner, Rev Mr Stewart, Mrs Stewart and chilrt Steera c —H, Lv combe, Mr and Mis William Sutton, Miss Caroline M .c*. R. Fe nandez, Al/rert Ballon anrt tw-.i children Mrs Jane all 'n, Mr 1 rouel Keith and four thi-iren Mr -nd Mrs Lowery and four rhi dr»n, Mm K. Kiley. William Mejnard John M. Patrick, W. Palling*--, Mrs The barquo Ala, one of tho smartest barque* ever seen in this harbour will lea^efor Newcastle (weather permitting) 10-rao-row, with SOi) tons of railway iron part of her original careo fiom London. The ■ hristin-s schooner, brings a full cargo of coals from the Bw of I-landn.

The Anszi was passed by the Derwent off the Hen anrt Chinhen» at 4 o'clock ye»terd*y afternoon. The new wharf at Russe lis progressing fast. Th - timber is now all on the spot. Thi cuter Dolly Varden arrived from Eussell th s morning with a cargo of coals for Mr H GUfltlav.

Th« Dolly Va'den on her way from th« Bay of Islands, p .sied the s 'hooner Golden Isle, the S-haoner Policeman, tr c ketch Sp edweU, and t>e BChn nar William and Julia all bound cotheß^y

The Ah. iv. Company have taken the Wonga Wonga from th-; Auekl nd service for the presei t to ru. to o"ktonn The A.=lN. Comp-my g *gent has not yet received aovice of what boat is to supply her place ■ h- schooner Roderick Dhn is to be launched to morrow morning in Me ba ic'n **ay

The brig D»rweot arrived rarly th s mornin? from JSpwc stle whiih was let on tha 4th ins'ant. C pt'iin B <wer reports a sncce S.on of easterly and N.K. wi ds af er starting, U' til within 50 miles of Cape Marion Van L'ieman ihe 'l hree KiDgs were sifjnt'd O'-' -aturrtay n^ght at n;ne o'clock. Thenc* B,W windsi"to 'ort. Ihe Oe^-went brit gs a ca'*o of c als f r Mr J W Wll r P»-s*-ngera. .Mr* Williams vii-s Jes ie Will aois, Miss liraize.

Th* Karon At>erd»re U to come int • the berth now occupied by the Ada as soon as it is vacated.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

W"Li.i>arov, This day The Phoebe ha« left fnr Nelson and the North. Pa-^entfe s Mr and Mr- B.ewer a d children Messrs Levy Be^wicir, Pickett Li<btb*nd, Koburt son, Ogilvie, Broadbent, El ioi, De Morville, Twenty maun, M-Uar, steerage : Three Europeans and six natives. (From our own Cor'eaoondent). Lytteltoh, This Day. The je^oonsr Fairlie arrived at Ly tie.ton fr 'ir> Dunedin Hst, night bho is to load for Auckland with «ien.»toh

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as follows,— For lhames lib morrow, t 9 -<0 am and 5.30 pm For orotnandel, to morn*, nt ll 30 am ' r Ne«c»Bile, >S. W per Ada. to morrow, at 9a m For v\ a ngaiei, *c, per W»ngaiei, tomorrow, at 3pm For hus*ell, Wangaroa, and Mon^ouui, per loaa, 10-norrnw, at 4 n vi. For Waiweraaud WrKwoith, per Lady Bowen, on Tnur.-daj rext, at to a vi For Au<ir»liai. i oioi i«3 per City of Melbourne, six hours-utter h, r Mjrival from h"o olula Cor Taranaki m d Southern Provinces, per Phoebe, on -atnrd*.v, 27i.h ins ant, at 5 p m N XX. — Ihe At .il< *h cli are usually made "p at this offi<e • n F i inys, will this w e« be closed on rhutsday, ht 0 p.m. (Signed) S. B. Biss Chief Postmaster.

DEATHS.

McKLNNON—\ this late residence, Freeman's Bay, Hector McKinnon, aged 42 years. The luneral will lake place to-morrow (Wednes day), at 3 o'clock. Friends are respectfully invited tv attend.

SMITH—On M-irch 22, Olive Maud, infant daushter oi Htrbert and Emma Smith, aged 14 months. The luneral will have hur i-aieut's residency, Grafton Koad, on Wednesday, 24th instant, at 3.30 o'clock. Friends are invited to attend.

COWIE-On the 23rd instant, at his parent's re sidence, Freeman's Bay,- David Henry, second son of "Wm. Cowie, aged 2 years. The funeral will take place to-morrow at 2.30. Friends pleas 6 accept this invitation.

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

TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1875.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong tint needs resistance, "w the future in the distance- Aad the good that we can do.

The meeting of Sir George Grey with the electors at the Choral Hall last n ght was, as we anticipated, an unqualified success. And this, whether we considrr the nobhnesn of the themes, the manner of their treatment, or the reception accorded to the speaker. Sir George Grey has occupied high position, and borne high honors, but we do not hesitate to say that the sifiht of such an assembly of free citizens bounding to their- feet, and bursting forth in such a welcome, was a scene of which he or any other man might well feel proud. It was the recognition of a crisis in the history of the Province, and of the Colony, and the recognition that one • had come forward in whom was placed strong faith that he was able to lead the people through. His address last night was a masterpiece, and differed widely in its tone from the usual style of the hustings. He advanced theories and prin ciples which he must have known were not held by many of those before him. But he advanced them with so much clearness, so much faith in their soundness and in his ability to give them lealization, that we venture to say he made many converts. But it was not for his peculiar views that the candidate last night obtained such a reception, and mauy a man for the time placed his views on constitutional questions on the one side nd cheered lustily for the hero of so mauy hard-fought constitutional conflicts, who had now come out as the cham pion of our just rights in the coming struggle. The subject matter of the speech was sugges tive in the extreme, and will afford many an opportunity for further reference, buffice it for the present to say that the able and statesmanlike utterances of last night, have given a fresh impulse to the enthusiasm evoked by the prospect of the Superinten dency being confided to the hands of Sir George Grey.

The nomination for the election of a successor to the late John Williamson, Esq , as Superintendent of the proviuce of Auck land will take place to-morrow at noon. It is pretty well assured that Sir George Grey will be returned un< pp sed. It has been arranged by his commitee tha Mr G. M. O'Eorke, the De| uty-Sup«riuten dent shall propose, and Mr Robert Graham second, the nomination of Sir George After t he full ventilation of his views at Auckland d nd the Thames, we do not anticipate th t any lengthened address will be delivered on .he occasion of hia election. The proceedings will, in accordanc with usual custom, com mence in the Mechanics' Institute, and an adjournment will then take place to the Barrack Hill, whtre a hustings has been erected.

Among our Southern telegrams yesterday appealed one from tbe Press Agency giving some particulars of a fire understood t • hay« occurrtd in Wellii gton The same telegram re appealed in the morring papers. Yes r, eday afternoon we communicated with ou- W elhngton correspoi.dent for more pa ticu lars and he replied, "No fire here." Tnere can be little doubt but that the telegram referred to the fire at Oamaru of which further particulars appear in our telegraphic columns today The J-outh British Com pany have rece veda telegram referring to the fire at Oamaru, which give the insurances somewhat different from those of our own correspondent, 'i he following are the ri«ka according to tbe telegram mentione<l : —New Zealand, £3,900; Royal, £900; South British, £500 ; National, £450 ; Norwich Union, £300.

A meeting of the creditors of Mr B. McKerras, bootmaker, was held at Mr Brookfield's office to-day. Liabilities r ughtly estimated £2,500; the entire assets were covered by a bill of sale in favor of Mr James McKerras. After considerable expression of indignation the meeting resolved to resist the bill of sale, and oppose the; -debtor's discharge in the Bankruptcy Court.

As Mr Motherwell, farmer of Papatoitoi, was driving out of Mears' livery stable yard, about one o'clock to-day the hor^e (a youn# one) became restive, commenced kicking, aud threw one of his shoes, which bounded with considerable force on the pavement. The horse backed vigorously, and overturned a truok, Mr Motherwell, who is advanced in years, leaped out of the vehicle, when one of the shafts snapped. Just at this moment Mr Webster, saddler, came out and secured the animal when about to bolt up Queen-street with the broken Bhaft. The scene caused quite a consternation, but fortunately no in jury was done, beyond the breaking of the shaft, either to man or horse.

There might have been noticed on the whaif this morning a cutter yacht of about tons register bring hoisted by the large crane from the water on to a trolley on the > orth .-hore T. We learned that the boat was the Maid of Kent, fishing-boat, be longing to Mr. J. fcto Smith, who was trans ferring it to the Manukau, where he is forming a regular little fishing fleet. Mr. Sroi.h expresses hia intention of trying for the Government bonus.

We understand that the system of local directors, adopted by the National Bark of New Zealand at the commencement of opera tions, has been given up throughout tbe various provinces of the colony.

We h<ve had the pleasure oi inspecting at Messrs Uptoo's, a handsome piize cricket bat, which the members of the .North Shore Cricket Cub have subscribed top'esentto Mr VV. L. Re<=s, their c«pt»in Mr Rees well deseives the couiphmeut thus pud him, lor he may be well called the father of ath lethsin Auckland. He bas fosteiel the North Shi.re Club with true parent-J soliei iu le, and by his sinaie effaits has brought it to a most prominent pos tion among the cricket c übs <>f the Proviuce Mr Rees in a mm—a- dwe wish there were more of ihem —who tak^sthe riaht view of the importance <>f encou a.int; healthy outdoor exercises. Re se « in them the ui'-an- of ket-piug yom.g men < ccup ed during their Je sure hours in (U'sui's which tetid to strengthen both their b -*ii< > frames aud their intellectual capa bilities. Be was one <'f the keenest oppo nents of the sfh me wnich has deprived us of our ci'y recreati n t-f'-n. The bat is a «-erv well s■ ec ed one, wi ha 9ilver plate be 'ring an L.scrip'iwn

The te u'ar montaly meeting of the mem bers of the Mystic Lodge of Orangemen will be held This evening in the lodge room of the Young Men's Christian Association.

The opening service of the Ponsonby Bap tist Chapel will take place this evening ia the school room. I he tea will be generously provided b> the ladies, and be on the table at half past six. Subsequently several friends will ad livss the meeting, which will he of aa int.-resiing nature.

The Good Templars are talking of erecting a Tempi >r Hotel on the vacant piece of land between Short an l-street and Chancery-lane, which, if carried out, may have a good moral effect ou the wild, drunken inhabitants of that locality. Such an idea is not realised, however, in a week, but ultimately it may be seen. A foo'pa'h is to be constructed at once, at the expense of the Provincial Government, from the railway station, Onehunga, to the wharf. The work is a much needed one. Mr Lit leuale, of Onehunga, was the suoce-s ful ten <etc- for carrying out hu contract, being £7S Ins.

An enquiry into the cause of recent fire at Oison's tomato sauce manufactury, will be held before Dr Phiison, coroner, at the Windsor ' astle Hotel, Parnell, on Saturday afteruoon at two o'clock.

Mr Robert Brewin, of the market place, who is always coming forward with some thing new in connection with the vegetable kingdom, has forwarded a bottle of his Al tomato sauce. The brand is another good addition to an excellent table, sauce, and confers a favour on the consumer by offering itself as a sacrifice upon the altar of his palate.-

COURT OF PETTY SESSIONS.

[Before Messrs W. C. Daldy (chairman) W J. Hurst, Joseph May, G. M. Mitford, G Yon der Heyde, and Drs Home and Ken derdine.] TONY LUMTKIN-. Fdward Dean, alias ■ ouy Lumpkin, was again brought up on a charge of d unkennes-*. I be unfortunate man was found bereft of reison uuder the potent iufluence of King Alcohol by Constable Allen.

As this was Tony's i hird offence within a few days, he was sent to prison for seven days.

OF THE GREEN ISLE,

Patrick Murphy, who bore a striking re semblance to L'arleton's port ait of a hedgn schoolmaster, was charged with being a rognu and vagaboud, a disorderly person, and with having no visible lawful means of employ ment.

Prisoner pleaded noi guilty. Detective < J race depose) that ho found prisoner drunk last night, and he was the coustant associate of thieves, especially of tne man, Pepper, convicted yesterday. Ho would not work, and was an active member of the dangerous character. Detective Jeffrey corroborated the fore going evidence. Prisoner denied that he was such a char acter, he was a hard-working man, and had been working at Otahuhu. It was a hard thing for a respecable man of his standing in a city to hive hs character taken away with impu-nty by detectives, thus filching h.s trood name which makes him poor indeed.

A loot; bst of convictions against the prisoner, "induced the Court to sentence the prisoner to two months imprisonment with hard labour.

MR CVFFRAY'S PUP,

William Barnes, reminded from 3'eßterday, wai a_'aiu brought up ova charge of stealing MrCiffray's puppy, Cleopatra, and the rug belonging to tie said William Caffray, valu^ £1 on the 20th inst

P isoner sai I h>- had the pup given to him

Willfam Caffray deposed that he was tin landlord of the Cosmopolitan, and that on tie evening of the 20;h inst. the prisoner took the little dog and rug from the kitchen and went to the Grej hound ; hefuUpwed him an i found pnsouer with the little dog folded ia the rus*. He induced him to go back to his house, when he said the dog and rug were given to him. Mr luspector Thomson informed the Court that prisoner had ouly lauded from the Baron Aberdare two hours previous to the commission of the robbery.

Detective Jeffn-y took prisoner into cus tody, when he re-asserted that the dog was uiven to him by a shipmate, whom he named. Witness saw this person who denied prison er's statement.

The Chairman said it was lamentable to see an apparently respectable young man in prisoner's position. He must have had an idea that there was no law in Isew Zealand. He would now bear the reputation of being a thief, and learn within the walls of a prison that the public were protected here as well as at home. He must go to prison for one month with hard labour.

MISAPPROPRIATION.

William Hepburn was charged with the larceny of a puise containing £18 in gold, and two cheques, value £2 10s, the property of William McCutcbeon, on the 21st inst.

Mr Inspector Thompson asked for a remand in this case, as the money had not been found.

Remanded until Thursday. A SIMILAR CHARGE,

Tom. a Kanaka, and another were charged with stealing £12 10s. in gold and silver, on the 23rd inst., the property of Henry Jeffries. There being no interpreter in Court, the case was remanded until Monday.

A MITHERLESS BAIRN.

Henry Pell, a neatly dressed boy, of eight years, was brought up under the .Neglected Children's Act, with being a neglected child. Mr. Inspector Thompson stated that both the father and mother of the boy were dead, and that the care of the boy devolved upon his sister (a respectable young woman in Court), and she was unable to support the boy, and had no control over him j it was a fit case for the Home.

The Chairman said he knew from his own knowledge that this was a genuine case, and the Court would commit the boy to the Industrial Home for six years, to be brought up in the faith of the Church of England. This was all the business.

"THE RIVALS."

Sheridan's fine comedy the "Rivals" was presented last evening at the Prince of Wales Theatre, in a style worthy of the approval of the public but in consequence possibly of the crowded meeting in the Choral Hall, the play was not patronised in accordance with its instrinsic merits and the peculiar claims of the talented players. Mr Hoskins as Sir Anthony was as perfect in his delineations of that lively character as possible. While Lydid Languish in the person of Miss Col ville was "charming. Messrs Aveling as Absolute was lifelike, and the other male characters by Messrs Poole, Deering, and

others were evidently equal in their sever* re presentadve portraits. Miss Clara Stephen; sou's elocutionary powers were shown mJulia, atcLMri Jones made an excellent Mrs Mala pro/. Miss Patty Holt was as winning as ever in LUC} 7, 'n pom sof merit the " hivals" was a success. The "School for Scandal" by the same author will be the performance of this evening, Mr Hoskins taking his favorita character, Charles Surface, Miss OolviLe the inimitable Lady Teazle, and Mr Dam 11, Joseph -urface. A great treat there fore is ia store for the lovers of the drama this evening.

TERRIFIC EXPLOSION IN UPPER QUEEN-STREET.

A Half-ton Boiler driven

through two Buildings.

Onm of the most extraordinary accidents that has ever occurred in Auckland, or indeed anywhere else, took place about ten o'clock this morning. A firewood, hay, and chaff yard has been carried on by Mr Lamb at the corner of Edwardes street and Upper Queen-street, with the entrance from the latter thoroughfare. In the corner of the yard farthest from Queen-street and close up to the embankment forming Edwardes street was an engine-shed with a boiler of about three horse-power, which was used for the purpose of cutting wood, chaff, etc The boiler was an ordinary cylindrical boiler of about two feet in diameter, and eight feet Ion?, with dome ; its weight about B^cwt. The boiler was built in with bricks. Adjoining the engine shed was a two-storey building, in which the hay was stored and chaff-cutting machine was placed. Shortly after ten o'clock this morning, Mr Lamb with a boy were engaged up stairs preparing the chaff-cutter for u.e, when they were STAKTLhID BY A TERRIFIC EXPLO SION. Upon running down stairs Mr Lamb found the whole of the engine shed a complete ruin of bricks ond broken timber; the fence tewards Edwardes-street was broken down, and a quantity of rubbish) and the end of the boiler had been driven into that thoroughfare, but the boiler itself was missing. It was not, however, difficult to trace THE TRACK THE BOILER HAT) TAKEN. At the opposite side of Mr Lamb's yard, and higher up Queen-street, are Frazer's livery and bait scubles, and closely adjoining these, the large block of two storied wooden build ings, including the Queen's Head Hot-d and a number of shop. The shop of this block, lowest down the street and consequently nearest Lamb's yard.'is the one occupied by Mr. Hay ward, mattra-ts - maker. Kight through the roof of Frazer's stables and through tha weatherboards at the side of Mr Hay ward's premises, at a height of about fifteen feet, there had been driven a broad track, the stout weatherboards having been broken and splintered like chips. Hayward's lmuse fronts Upper Queen-street, and on the side next the street, a similar opening had been made. In fact, the whole boiler, like a gigantic projectile ftom a mammoth cannon, had been

DKIVEN THROUGH TWO BUILDINGS. From Hayward's it had passed right over Upper Queeu-stieet, over the fencing at the embankment near this spot, and been brought to a sudden standstill by a stout blue-gum tree within a few feet of a small cottage in the gully occupied by a family named Myers. The shock here was so great i as to smash one of the windows in the cottage, ' yet the boiler remained unbroken. MIRACULOUS ESCAPES. Strange to say, the passage of this mur derous projectile was unattended with any injury to life and limb, and that it should have been so is really marvellous. The most miraculous escape in connection with the occurrence was that of Mrs. Hayward. The room through which the boiler pas?ed was a bedroom, and Mrs. Hayward had been engaged in making up the beds and the child's cot ; she was just leaving the room, and had reached through the door, when the boiler came crashing through the room, and, passing within a yardof her, and strdwing destruction on every side, disappearing through the opposite wall, driving some of the pieces of furniture with it. Mrs Hayward did not know what had happened She had just sufficient presence of mind and strength to stagger down stairs in a most agitated state, and then fainted. Mr Bay ward, who was below at the time, also thought that a thunderbolt had struck the house. The boiler did not break away the floor in passing through, but crossed it at a height of about 1£ or two feet, and the injury it effected therefore is mainly to the furniture, which is a complete wreck, to the walls of the building, in which an opening of about five feet by four has been broken, stiirs leading to a higher floor were carried away, and partitions broken. There were few people on the street at the time ; but the Onehunga 'bus had only just passed and when the boiler crossed the street was only about twenty yards further on, opposite Mr Staine's premises Thus no one was injured, and we are glad to learn that Mrs Hayward has recovered from the severe nervous shock which she sustained.

MR LAMB'S STATEMENT,

Mr Lamb informs our reporter that this morning the fire had been lighted in the furnace as usual. That he invariably atten ded to the boiler himself. That it was to day full of water, and steam was not higher than the usual working average, forty to forty-five pounds. That the steam had not been used when the accident occurred, but he was just about to go down and turn it on. He purchased the boiler from Mr Sherston, and had used it about twelve months. He cannot account for the accident, but is satisfied that the boiler was well filled with water.

PROBABLE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT,

The statement by Mr Lamb that the boiler was well-supplied with water, is borne out by the appearance of the boiler itself, which shews no sign of having been red hot. It is also a strong boiler, as may be imagined from the fact that it remains unbroken after such a journey. The bottom plate, blown out, although a little rusted in one place, also looks strong and capable of standing many years. These circumstances together lead to the conclusion that during Mr Lamb's absence in the hay-shed, steam must have generated far beyond what he believed, and this would be facilitated by the fact that the steam was not being used at the time. Competent authorities have estimated, judging from the appearance of tbe boiler that from 100 to 120 pounds pressure would have been necessary to cause the explosion. It is possible that an enquiry, which will no doubt be held, will throw some further light on the accident. THE SCENE

was visited by large numbers of persons during the day, who were unanimous in their expressions of of surprise at the course the boiler had taken without causing loss, of life. Its projection in the direction taken may be explained by comparison with a rocket where the escape is from the lower end, and the motion is in the opposite direction. Bricks forming part of the foundation were scattered in all directions, some falling over in Wakefield-street, some in Grey atreet, and one reached as far as tho Anchor

Hotel. But fortunately not one struols. anything destructible, either animate or inanitiiate; and the injuries done by the accident are comparatively speaking, small.

THE SUPERINTENDENCE.

SIR GEORGE GREY'S ADDRESS AT THE CHORAL HALL.

Last night, Sir George Grey addressed the electors of the province assembled in the Choral Hall. When eight o'clock arrived, the hall was filled to overflowing with an audience' which more completely than any audience we have seen within its walls represented all classes of society in Auck land and all shades of public opinion. On the platform were about fifty of the leading men of the province. Mr Swanson, in a short speech, proposed that J. T. Boylan, Esq., take the chair. This was seconded by J. Co3grave, Esq., and carried with acclamation.

Mr Boylan's advent to the chair was hailed with cheers. That gentleman, having briefly referred to the disinterested motives of Sir George Greyin coming forth from ease and re tirement to re-enter the busy life of politics, said he had no doubt the assemblage were impatient to get to the business of the even ing, and he would therefore, without further delay, introduce Sir George Grey to them. Sir George Grey, on coming forward, was received with deafening cheers, which were kept up for a long while, the people rising to their feet. When silence was restored, after acknowledging the com pliment, Sir George Grey began his address by referring in touching terms to the death of the late Superintendent, whom he had known so well, and had such an esteem for. On passing his house only the other day he was reminded of a trifling circumstance in the life of Mr WilliamsoD, which, trifling as it was, had an important bearing on the present occasion. Mr Williamson, as some of them might recollect, once kept a shop in Shortland-street. One day he saw a bright-looking boy looking into the shop. He asked him what took his fancy. He replied that he had built; a little boat, and he should so like to buy two little cannons which he saw there, only he had no money He took the boy into the shop and bought the cannons. The boy said his father was a mechanic. Some years afterwards he met the same youth in Nelson. The youth stopped him, and pulled from his waistcoat pocket the same little cannons, and showing them to him said, "I have never parted with them, sir." Now what had occurred in the interval ? That boy's father, the mechanic, was Mr Robinson, Superintendent of Nelson; and the shopkeeper of Shortland-street was Superintendent of Auckland. (Cheers). He considered that one of the chief charac teristics of New Zealand was the free acees-. to the highest positions it afforded to worth and talent ;. and he deemed that man an enemy to his country who would interfere with that feature. Holding such opinions, it waa his object that night not to confine him self to mere Provincial questions, but to touch upon topics of a wider character. He would assail no one's character. What he attacked was institutions. He held that if the people of a colony thought that any institution was injurious to its prosperity, they had a right to demand its alteration ; or if necessary, to sweep it away altogether. Beginning with the office of Governor, the speaker alluded to the different systems which had prevailed of electing a Governor, and deprecated the present system which made it almost a matter of necessity for the representative of Her Majesty to be no more than a mere machine of the Ministry of the day. (Sir George Grey here repeated his opinions concerning the tenure of the vice- Regal office which he had expressed at the Thames.) He had known Governors re moved for the most trivial causes. In 1867 a singular occurrence took place. When the Imperial support was withdrawn from the colonies, it was generally settled in Eng land that no one was fit to govern any of Her Majesty's dominions unless he was born in the "purple." It was afterwards attempted to be impressed upon the people at home that the people here wished to be governed by only those who were born' in the "purple." (laughter.) This plan operated most unfairly, and placed most arbitrary powers in the hands of the Ministry of the day. He had known instances where Governors by means of their large salaries had managed to recoup themselves for losses they sustained in contested elections at home. He had also known cases where men who bad ren dered themselves obnoxious at home had obtained Governorships abroad. They had {■i in their own power to get this altered. Another reason why this state of things re quired alteration was that Governors could receive leave of absence from home, without the colonists being admitted to a voice in the matter, and during their absence receive salaries larger than that received by the Premier of England. Sir George Grey next referred to the constitution of the Upper House. The ability of the Ministers of the day to call a man,into that assembly and give him a pension for life was injurious to the interests of the colony. A Minister had once agreed with him that there ought to be an elective Upper House, and the Constitution was drawn with the idea that there should be an Elective Upper House, but then the question arose as to how things would work if all Upper Houses were elective, and the principle was applied to Great Britain itself. Then it was abandoned. It could not be right that men should be put into the Upper House who represented no body. Most of them did represent one man— the minister who had put them in—but even those in some cases represented absentees. He would not detain them further on that subject. Then as to the House of Represent atives. The rewards for men who had deserved well of their countrymen were at present most obnoxious. For instance a sort of local peerage had been attempted to be in troduced, and a most obnoxious peerage it was. It was proposed to give a man the rank of the son of a baron within the limits of the colony of New Zealand:—a most absurd and at the same time illegal restriction. A system of life peerages had been introduced at home, but it had failed entirely. It had been there . proved to be altogether illegal, and what was law in England on that point was law in New Zealand. One reason why in early youth he had been led to seek new countries, was that he might find a country where the abuses of the old were left behind. He considered that the Minister who advised the institution of those life peerages, and who received the order himself had inflicted a grevious wrong upon the liberties of the colony. (Hear.) He strongly ob jected to the newly introduced order of knighthood. He regarded that order as a bastard order. It had ODly been previously conferred upon Greeks and Mal tese. (Cheers and laughter.) They desired no other rewards than those which were re garded as honorable in England. If their statesmen were admitted to the old and ancient orders, it was pleasant to reflect that while, a man might be sitting in a cottage in New Zealand his banner would be hanging among those of the noblest in St. George's at Windsor and West minster Abbey. (Hear.) These were in a few words what his opinions were on the Constitution of the Colony. The question of the Land Fund was more intimately con nected with the subjects he had touched upon than they were aware of. The first accumulation of Land "Fund was made by himself in Auckland. It was about £25,000. That sum was made over to the New Zea land Company .by Act of Parliament. The Chairman of that Company had sent to him demanding that money. At first he did not know what to do, bat he foa ad out that by

contract, which the Government had made, he was not bound to give up the money, and bo he refused to do so. He went *> England soon after, and when he arrived there he called upon the Secretary of State but was told he was not at home. He thought he was, but was Sd he was not (;au«hter). He afterwards had an interview with the Law Adviser of the Crown, Mr Merivale, aud that gentle man showed him a despatch which had passod him on the way home. It was a most severe «" rowing " On mm for disobeying an Act of Parliament. Such an extraordinary thing was never before known After read thing was thought to himself, IQ g that despatcli, n s d now silence is golden « looked at St! MekX £d Mr^Mlrivaie looked at Sttetas 6 tytry t^r^e Le taught he was quite tight, «***'»£ renort that he was (laughter). -Next day aa had Ln interview with tne Secretary of atate .nd a very agreeable interview ie Was. But Se New Zealand Co. got the money after afl forlsoldier succeeded him,« oft none he had to obey orders. (Laughter) The history.of the Land fund was no doubt tell known to them ; After gtong a short sketch of the creation of the Jfuna, Sir George Grey said it was principally the go»- Son of the t-and Fund which hadbr«mgh him from his retirement. (^Ueers ..) They had been told that in consequence of the?institutions being badly managedl, the management should be taken from tbem and committed to others. Because they could notTay for gaols and lnttatic asylums some body eTse wfs to pay for them J that is to say they were to be taxed to do it them selves. (Laughter.) If they thought that other people would, pay for th-rlu-t«s SSUaf} 1 Ihellectr: <7ci^S £S*«4- }. g -t many.things^ on this subiect. They were told that any man was dishonest who said a word Snst the compact of 1856 as it was called. What the electors of City East should have been told was at least what he should tell E for be spoke now as their represen^ tative and Premier of the colony-was that if they thought themselves wronged, he wouW yappoiat gall the judges of. the Supreme Court a Commission to enquire into their grievance. (Hear hear) Next he would refer £the Resolutions of last Session. Pasnng rom the first part, which abolished the pro vinces, he would take the second, which said that Wellington should be the declared 2stal _& was most illegal. (Hear^ear The Constitution Act as well as the Statute law, plainly set it down that no place could be declared the capital: and for very good reasons. Suppose an enemy or a mob were to gain possession of Wellington they won d not be able to legislate at all They would have to sit down and fold their bands /Laughter) That could not tike place ; they Le»d notfear it He did not like to impute bad motives ; but he could not help thinking that the only object of. the framer of those resolutions in putting in such a clause was to bnv a certain number of votes (Cheers). What he would say was that the present machinery of the General Assembly was an ingenious device to keep them from the Queen and from the people of Great Britain. They need not sup pose that even the Minister decided the qnestions sent home. These were settled by the clerks in the Colonial Office, (^ughter) They settled what matters should be laid before th* Minister, and then of those sub jects which did go before the Mimst-r only very few came before Parliament. If there was any complaint the blame was laid upon tbe Parliamentary clerk. He proposed as a change upon the present plan of everything coming through the Colonial Spcretary that they shonld have a Secretary of S-ate of their own, who should be a member of the Privy Council, and as big a man as any of the other Ministers. >nch an ' officer would not have to depend for an introduction to society upon a great man at home as their present agents sent home were He would have a position of his own and Would be under obligations to no one. Thus they would have a direct and close connection with the Queen, and their affair would become more intimately known of her, and they would derive great benefits from the change. (Hear.) He then came to the great question what was to be done with the General Assembly. If all w=is transferred to Wellington, he thought the future of Auckland would be an extremely gloomy one. He thought on the contrary that if the General Assembly, as it was now, were swept away, they would develop great centres of trade like Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide and would also become enlightened and more civilized, and would send men home who would do them credit. If the General Assembly were to absorb everything, he was confident that it would be bad for them all, intellectually as well as commer cially. (Hear, hear.) Arguments of vari ous kind* were used on the other side, but he had heard none which convinced him he was wrong. What he proposed was to have a small General Assembly, and do away with all the attendant and exuberant expenditure, such for instance as allowing travelling ex penses to ministers in the absurdly extrava gant way they did. Their loans were not raised upon the credit of one or two indivi duals, but upon the security of their land fund, and upon their farms and stores. (Hear.) What use was it for them to borrow loans, and to be told that, if they did not get them they must be ruined. When the money was spent, the story would be just the same. What they ought to do was ,to fix upon some far-seeing policy which should be permanent. They must re collect that their increase of revenue was not altogether the result of improved prospects. Increase of revenue might be the result of—in a certain degree—increase of taxation (hear hear). He believed that if the present system was maintained in after years a large revenue would be raised from an immense population, sunk like - that of England in misery. The time was flying fast, and he must not detain them further. What he had endeavoured to sketch out was a Constitution such as would land them in a happy future. The line of action he had traced out was one which, if followed, would create thousands of happy hoaaes in the North Island, a sys tem which would confer honor and rank upon their public men, and not create a nominal aristocracy. Men who would join him ia his endeavour must not expect money or bribes, but must be actuated by a desire to do good to the province. His was a sys tem which would make mothers and girls see a bright opening for their sons and lovers, which would make them say to those dear ones, " Help Sir George Grey. " (Cheers.) Men of this kind would be worth tenfold of those who opposed him, and they would be Bure to prevail, for he believed that truth^and justice would yet be estab lished in the colony and in the British Empire. In conclusion, Sir George thanked the audience for their patient hearing, and assured them that if they elected him as their Superintendent they might depend on his doing his utmost to serve them. Sir George Grey sat down amid tumultous applause.

Not a question was asked, the audience appearing.completely carried away by the brilliant speech they had listened to. Mr Robert Graham said he would without

preface propose the following resolutions :— "That the electors thank Sir George Grey for his address, and express their confidence in his fitness and ability to undertake the duties of Superintendent of the Province." Captain Daldy in seconding the resolution could not avoid expressing his opinion that Sir George had by his speech that night conferred a benefit upon the Province by opening np a broad platform of public

; ; ________%&,. .: A7 1 ■''<**'■■*, opinion : such a platform H*^ . fjl for ten or twelve years paflt. ' '%_ A. Sir George's principle of ntesisU jfejßßHfe-; was. the right one, and it was av^ ' / them that at all their meetings^yV J not attended to it before. (Cheers. "IV. ;"* The resolution was put and cajedr^ 'Jij acclamation, the whole assemblage % ]Jja J their feet and cheering vigorously. y\ Sir George, in returning thanks, sa,\ %, their Welfare would be his chief care \ they might depend upon him, not onJf Superintendent, but as a positive friend. 1 Three hearty cheers having been called! by Mr Graham and heartily responded to, I most enthusiastic meeting Auckland has si m for ye o-s concluded with a vote of thanks to the Chairman.

OHINEMURI.

[Per Star Carrier Pigeon.]

GOLDEN STONE PROM THE PROSPEC TORS' CLAIM.

NEWS FROM ROTOKOHU AND WAI-

TEKaURI.

(From our Special Correspondent.)

This day,

The Prospectors' have taken out blocks of stone from their reef similar to these exhi bited containing gold.

The Rotokohu reports are confirmed, and miners there are pleased with the prospects and are settling down to build. ,

The news from Waitekauri is not very important. Leahy and party are put. ting in upper and lower drives, and

expect to tap the reef in a few days more driving. They have seen no gold in the stone, but got good prospects in panning off.

Ihe claimants for JSo. 1, south of the Prospectors, have amalgamated their inter eats, with the exception of Porter's party, who intend to fight for possession, and good '

grounds for doing so, if being first in posses sion me ans anything.

PIGEONS FROM THE THAMES.

OHINEMURI.

(Fbom " Advertiser" Reportbs)

MACKAYTOWN,

Monday,

The prospects of the place are improving, if the number of parties who are able to say they bave a fair show of gold on their clainu. is any proof of the fact and really, these are the very announcements we havejbeea wishing to hear since : the district was-finfe ooened to the prospector. It has always been considered doubtful, even if'the pros pectors who claimed to be the pioneers of the place could show gold, whether any more good payable shows could be found within a reasonable time. Bus the matter is no longer problematical; it is now an undqubt&d fact, hence I say the prospects of the Add are improving. , .... Gold ha 3 been shown by the prospectors, and co mistake about it thia time. Mr' Mackay has some good stone, which wis taken out on Saturday. It is not rich; btt bears an unmistakeable evidence of tne existence of the precious metal in the reef from which it comes. It is considered on til hamls to be good payable quartz. Erpoitlie Kotok.hu, or the Basini as it is called, several good prospects have been brought ia by different parties, all of whom are sanguine ot a good .show there before many days. ,^_ A good road is abcut to be made $0 Rotokohu, and cutting has been commenced for this purpose near Lipsey's Hotel.1 Mr VV. A. Clarke has. two prospecting parties out in the Kotokohu disfltricti ahd they -re port; favorably of the ground tried. The improvement in the feeling of those assembled here has been more marked during the last day or two, land new and more substantial buildings are going up on all hands in consequence. Mr i <Bulia- Lloyd is busy serving notices to all and sundry relative to claims to: possession of ground, which a week ago might h»?e been had for the asking for. Everybody now claims to have been first on the ground on the memorable third, and the Warden will no longer have dull times up here, if he is to be called npon to listen to all the swearing which will follow the tin* of the bailiff to various claims. J healths* the Catran's announce their intention to try and oust Porter from the ground next the Prospectors. , ' The streets in Mackaytown are to be formed without loss of time, and men have already been put On to the Work. Thetra^ to Waitekauri is likely to be com menced at once. The prospectors of that district, Leahy and party, expect to cut the reef directly, and' are very sanguine of the good show in store for them, lhere are eight or ten parties there with a large amount of work to their credit, some having tunnelled 40 or 50 feet in hard country. Mr Farrell is busy preparing for the erection of the Government offices, which are to arrive by Bteamer to-morrow. Thp place will soon begin to assume a decent civilised aspect when a few more wooden buildings are put up. The coal seam is to be surveyed at once, and work is expected to be commenced upon it without any more loss of time. ■•'"* . The prospectors (Smith and Coleman s^d party) entertained their friends, in all to the number of fifteen, to d; iner at Clark's Cm on Sunday. There was a quarrel between a fighting Maori and a pakeha last night, which caused some amusement. The_ Maon rushed imto a bar and obtained in rapid succession three hobblers of brandy. The maid inquired somewhat- anxiously if the Maori was contemplating suicide j (by poison, I suppose), but was relieved when she ascertained from his gesticulations that he only intended to fight some obnoxious pakeha. After swallowing his third dose of courage-inspiring liquor he went for the pakeha in true Maori style, arid was soon pounding away at him. The Maori was «1» ---mately taken away by a brother of his after Constable Madill had appeared on the scene and frightened him somewhat. , V our corre spondeht, who spoke of Leydoa s postal delivery did not give John credit for the accommodation afforded to the mineis and storekeepers. He receives a shilling a week from a number of tradespeople, and •conveys all letters to and from the Paeroa or Puke for that low rate of remuneration. B« is becoming quite an institution—an itiner ant post-office. He provides casuals with stamps and safe delivery of their letters for the low charge of sixpence. One great improvement and advance has been made in our community—an improve ment aesthetic and civilising. Our "hotels can as yet only be so styled by courtosy, seeing that as'yet they are made up mostly of unsubstantial calico. But behind their bars we have now, instead of rough, rude men, throwing nobblers roughly down before those who asked for them, graceful bar maids, whose attendance gives an additional charm to the refreshments they dispense.

LATEST THAMES NEWS.

GRAHAMSTOWN.

(From onr own correspondent;) ' Ai , ■ A man has been missing from Pnriri since Clpstma* last, He left Say's one afternoon

HI X Ft. I'l I Hi^l ißit . JI9.A_.RI.LfI. ZiO JLwkak



XJTTE HAVE RECEIVED Per S.S. Hero, THREE CASES 0» BLACK AND COLOURED SILKS, Purchased a Job'ln London by our - Mr Grah.m. WW The ENTIRE LOT will be disposed o at SELLING-OFP PRICES ! a 3. COSGRAVE & CO. fi I T T H ALL. HATS, CLOTHING, PRINTS, DRESSES. CA.RPETS, FLOOR CLOTHS, CHINA. MATTING. M.LUNBRY, UNDEHCLOTHINO, BABY LINEN. AT COST PRICBj effoot i% Clearaace for extensive alteration of premises. HOLLOWAY * GARLICK, CITY HALL.