SIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

GH "WATER : This evening 1.23 ;6 >to aw morning. 1.54 ;N SET : This evening, 458 ; SUN BISB: to- Fov? mornine. 6 55 JON'B AGE : Fall Moon, 20th, 6 29 p.m.

ARRIVALS.

• Kfcl(:r 'e Brandon, schooner, Olhson, from Rotum&h, Aucklauth Sea Islands an en ' ot Melbourne, as, Brown, from Sydney . DEPARTURES^ •which to, s s, Farquhar, for the North price.

IMPORTS

THE ' er °' Melbourne, from Sydney: 2 parcels. ;w. Jcrvis; 1 canvass pge, M. Montague; 2 cases, fask. R. H. Bartlettl; brx, Grabam Tooth 1 eel, \, C. Cnmtnices; \ r g e , Ttattray; 1 bottle Q c rylinders, Cruickgb'^nk and Co : 3 pgs. A, Cla k i Sons ; 1 pgo. Sa>- S 10 d. Son &Co ; 1 rase 6 pgs, : M. -Tervis ; 1 l>ox samples, LD. Nathan &Co ; larcel books, E. Hesktth ;36 ke?s apples, H M. The f vis: 1 P«cel, The Speaker: 1 parcel printing iterUls 1 pgetvpe. New Zealand Herald; 2 pgs, •iodio»',s, T Turrcll: 2 pgs, Upton <fe Co ; 1 par el. ■jj ' Ola-rks and Sor>a ; 1 parcel, Chantaloup & Co ; 49 uf-cases fruit. L. W. Eaton ; 5 boxes silver coin, 1 Xii' c °PPer coin- Bank of New Sonth Wales ; 1 parcel ohs, E. Ue?keth.—H JVt Jeivis at;ent. a S.N. Co. ■ggPer Belle Brandon, schooner, from Rotmnah: 26 q,xis cspra, 12 tons cocoanut oil 2tons beeche de mer, pon shirk's flnkes, 2 bales cocoanut fibre, a quantity jjjpearlshell, &c— Stewart and Anderson, agents.

aOh] ATmiVAL OF THE CITY OF MELBOUItE. sing i The' k. M s.s. City of Melbourne; if J W. Brown )imn»nder, nrrivert this morning from Sydner She ast offf-om fne moorincsllS wm on the Bth. and . Tooeeded s'owly down thfi harbour, and cleared the leads nt 2 15. with light IST.W. -winds and fine weather rhich continued f-r'she first 24 hours; thence fresh ireezes. with i high cross sea and heavy showers nf iin and squally weather to the Thrpe Kings, which, . . ~' r ere passed h.t 8 am oh the lP.th, and rounded • ht^° r t-W: at 2.15 the saire day, and arrived h+ ■ 4tlcHMd at 7.4o'iim, this morning Through Igny^^sscng-rs: . Saloon-Mb s lain, Mias T. C. Reed, iss Hutchinsin. Madame CharViouoct and child, IWrs Keeve, child, and servant, ;Mrs M. McTntyre. Sirs Mnore, Mrs Younghusba-nd, Mrs \. Hutchinson MMr J Mitchell, E A. Lewy; C D W. Wray, J. H. fTnmner, J. o. McLaren; G. Clavel, W. -Jain, «. nWothorspnons, Captain Perks, Captain Audley Coote, Monsieur Charhounct, M Rorrowdale, Mr Reeve, D. SMcKingly, T. S. Tait. D. McTntyre, A. Rosenflsld, T, jWTahen, and 27 in the steerspe. For Auckland: iSaloon— V. Morton. J. Hotherldo, L. O'Brien, J. B. Durance, and 45 in the steerage.

• The brig Jane sailed from' Hobart Town ck for this port on the 3rd inst., with, a full * icargo of palings, timber, jams, fruit, hops, ■ n! &c. She comes consigned to H. S. Meyers ]S and Co. I The schooner "Pelle Brandon arrived yesterday 'evening from Kotumih, which was left on the 30th ! nit. Waia, one of the V)]i Group, w*s sighted on | the 3rd inst. Cape Brett was mide on the llth at 10 jP,m The Belle Brandon expe-riecced'a very rough | time of it throuehout the pxsaage. The topsail schooler DauntleeS is to sail without i fail tm «atu'day for Kaipara. She will load at the I Ar?.tipu mill for TSunedin direct. H The lona took away a considerab'e quantity of *j careo and a full compliment of passengers for the °j north yesterday evening. '.{ The cutter Wanparei cleared out to-day for "f Wanearei and Man?apai with a general cargd. ~ "1 The cutter Oralie has olesred for Opotiki Vrith an i exsenoive assortment of stores. The schooners Golden Isle, and the Gem, have 1 cleared in ballast for Eussell. The schooner Queen, from TTokianga, brings 200 ! post" and mils 4 tons gom, 40 hitfes, 3 tons barlt, and 13 b<-xes for different firms. The Sydney Mommy Herald has the following in reference to the City of Melbourne:—" This vessel under the command of Captain Brown, has proved herself- one of the fastest'steamers traversing the Pacific: and judging from her,'excellent trim the present passage will prove no exception to the refu tation sho has attained The machinery has been carefully overhauled, and is in first-class order.

ENGLISH SHIPPING.

The ship ForfarsMre, 1,239 tons, clearedfroln Lon don on the 18th March, and. sailed for Auckland im mediatcy after.'

The ship (,'ountess of Kintore; Captain Braddick, sailed from London for Nttpief and the Bluff.

The barque Ferndale. which left this port for Lon , xlon, on the 24th November last had hot arrived up to the 19th March.! She,was then 115 days out, f. Tie following vessels were loading for Auckland on the riepartnro rf Ih* mail:—?leehe'O. ship, 7:-.O tons ; Latterwoith, ship, 832 tons ; liobina Eunlop, barque, ■ 498tcfis " ■■*.*■ The ship Dunedin was- spoken on the Ist March in > lat 25 N., lota g,21 W. > L': '! '.') The Auckland freights from Liverpool aro qnoted 25s to'4os per tdn (general). London ratos : Kongh measurement. 30s ; flee 40s; liquids, 50s; weight, 30s; cement", 55.6 d ; berr, 10d per dozen ; salt, 355. On MareTr'the 6th Messrs Waidock' and Murray, Port Glasgow, launched from their shipbuilding yard a steam screw hopper barpe, named the Sumoer. This barge represents the first part of a contract of dredeing plant dredger and hoppers—for the Provin cial Government of Canterbury. After the launch the Stunner was towed to Olasgow to receive her machinery,- European Mail.

AUSTRALIAN SHIPPING.

The barque Albion, Captain Pennal, arrive 3 & Sydney on the Ist inst, after a passage of 14 days. The s s Mucgr'gor arrived at Sydney on the 2nd inst. tifter a run of 6 days. She s s Hero arrived at Sydney on the 7th, after 6 dayst passage-, timing which she experienced heavy hor'iheriy gilds. The ship iiaron Aberdare arrived in Newcastle on the 2nd inst. She occupied 12 days in the passage The barques Marathon, expected In this pott, was still lying at Sydney when the City of Melbourne Vft The trig Devwent arrived at Newcastle on the 20th nit. 1 H;M s. Saopho, attached to the Australian squad ron, as relieving,- ship to the Bosario, arrived from England at Pvdrjey on the 23rd ult She is a very handsome composite screw, built last year by Money "VVigram &Co from designs by Mrßeed. She measures 8&4 tons, is fitted with engines of 120 hurse power (nominal), and is armed with 4 rifled guns of six and • seven inch bore of tbe newest pattern. She sailed ;frdm Gibraltar at the beginning of November, and has touched at Madeira, Tristan D'Acunha, (Jape, Freemantle, and Adelaide, on the way out. The following is ft list of her officers : Commander Tiall S. F. bigby, Lieutenant W. ». Still, F. H. irfender son, Navigating Lieutenant H 8. Perm, Staff Su geon P. A eelan, Paymaster J. Ash ton,, Sub-Lieutenants A. G. Kempe, F. Kooke ; Assistant Paymaster, B M. jrearson : Engineers, T. T/ilmott, A. Spalding; mid shipman, W. H. Arnold. , ,[

COMMERCIAL.

Melbottbne.— Melbourne telegrams to May 7, re port :—Patna rice is easier ; sales on spot, and to ar rive at £17 10s to £18. fiennessys brandy, line of

pale, sold at 8s: about 100 quarters old Martelt's dark. 8s 4d Maize is very scarce, and a considerable advance on yeste«day's;rate is obtainable. Wheat holders are very firm asking 5s Id.—Ten thousand cases of kerasme ho d at Is 2d to Is 3d, for diamond .- and brilliant. Tasmauian hops are selling freely at la ltd to Is lid for good. There have been sales of 9000 boxes of candles at very fall prices ; large sales of Tennent's bottled ale ; malting barley is selling very freely, at 6s to, 6s 3d. Moor is very firm. Wheat is not so firm. Dried fraits are still inquired foi viry Jreely for export. .. ,'.'' •■ ■■•<■'. •< Sidney, May 8 —Stocks of old maize are ex hausted ; new, offering readily at 3s 6d to 3s 9d ; Adelaide wheat, 4s' 6d ;: best Adelaide flour, £12 to £12 10s ; (candles, active demand, sales in first hands, 9£d to 9|d;.. inferior, 9£d to; 9% ; i£oz, b%& ; naif sardines, 9a; quarters, 5s to 6s 3d; dried ling and white herring never so low. ' Currants improved, sjd to 52£ d : figs scarce,'B4 to BJd ; muscatel raisins, la ; eleme, 8d; sultana, B£d; Tasmanian hops, Is lid to 2s 2d ; English malt, lls : Martelis case brandy, 27s ; other good brands, 22a 6d upwards ; Hennessy's pale, in balk, 8s 4jd; Martells dark, 7s lO&d to 8s i good second brands, 6s ed-to 7s 3d ; geneva, lls t6 13s ; iiwaine Bords gin, lls ; Burnett's, 133 6d ; ..^lOwndes'.ram,>scarce, 4s 3a to 4s 6d ; I<enjon Hai,ts; 3s'9d'; 'Danville's whisky,' 17s for case, and 5s 9d for balk ; ordinary .eicotch, 13s for ci»he, 5s for bulk. Bulk' ale Very firm Up to £&, 10s; good seconds, £6 17s 6.d to £7 10s. Bottled is dull at 9s 6d to 10s 6d for best, and 8s upwards ior iaferior. Bulk porter nominal. Bottled stout, firm, 9$ 64 to lls 6d for best. Java rice, lit.-Jo of best available,- £22 to £25 ; ..Honolulu expected to realise £28. Prices .of salt ■havei burdened; coaise Liverpool, '£5 ;■ fine, £6. Sugar realises a shade better rates, but not uatisfac toty to importers. Tea . supplied, no change. Tobacco: No aromatic obtainable except in small quantities and at extreme prices ; tuns, 10Ad to Is Id.* alow sale;' light-weight Havana-shaped Manilas dull at 65s for No I, and 60s for Cortados. ADBLAiDK, May 7.—Telegraphic newa state that wheat is firmly held at 4s Id.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

MArxs svii'i' Close as follows. — For Thames, to-morrow, at 9.30 a Jn For Commandel, per Manai, to-morrw, at 11-.SO a m For Wangaroa, per Sir Isaac Newton, to-morrow, at 3pm "** Per|City of Melbourne, on Fiiday, the 14th inst,, as tinder:— - . For Sandwich Islands. tTffl&ft^Statfcß -ol America, Canada, British ' Columbia, Central and South Ameic&, and British and Foreign West Indies, at 10.30 a.m. For the United Kingdom and Continent of Europ<va'G 10.30 am. For money orders, registered letters, and news papers, at 9.30 am Late letters bearing a late fee of 6din addition to thfi postage, will be received on board by the Mail Agent up to time ot sailing. (Signed) J. E. Cojskv, Acting Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

DPaNNAN—On the Cth May, at Riverside, Kauka pakapa, the wife of .John Brinnan of a daughter.

DEATHS,

GALLA.OHE'R—On the 12th May, at the Provincial Hospital, Eliza Christina, second daughter of Christy anil Margaret Gallagher, aged 10 years. The funeral will leave the Hospital at 3 o'clock

to-morrow. Friends please accept this intimation. EDGECOMBE —At her residence., Northern Hotel, the, wife of Mr Edgecombe, aged 63 years. The funeral will leave her late residence at 2 p.m.

on Saturday next. Friends are respectfully invited

to attend. BISHOP—On the 13th May, at Vincent-street, Alfred John Samuel, infant son of Captain J. J. Bishop, aged 3 months. The funeral will take place at 3 p.m. to-morrow. Friends, will accept this invitation.

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

THURSDAY, MAY 13, 1876

for the ca\iße that lacks anaistancp, For the wrong ti.ni needs rosl»t-u,t A. w Vi ths l'oture in the din!>i>i«<. Ju&& the arood thii wa cu:i it«

Mr. Bees' motion for a committee of enquiry into the proceedings of the land purchase department of the General Govern ment is one of the deepest interest, and is pnbably fraught with important results. It is true such enquiry may Toe regarded by that Government with the hauteur that usually characterises it in relation to pro ceedings of Provincial Councils, and any deliverance of the proposed Committee may be treated with contempt. Nevertheless light must thereby be thrown in upon this dark subject, and facts elicited that may become the basis of action not in the power of the General Government to control. For straDge things have reached our ears, and the robbery and corruption that are reported to characterise the dealings in native lands are in all men's mouths. If the labours of the Committee go no further than proving these things to be merely idle rumour it will be well, and to the honour of our institutions. But if one-tenth of what is said, and openly said, on the matter is true, then will there be a heavy bill of indictment against the administration of the funds voted for the purchase of native lands. In yester day's sitting of the Provincial Council some of these charges were made openly and with a circumstantiality of detail, that conveyed the impression of vraisemhlance; and the temper in which these statements were received showed that no councillor doubted that the case was to a large extent as repre sented. The payment of purchase money over again with commissions, &c, attending, for land already the property of the colony ; the picking out of the "eyes" of blocks for wives and wains, while the miserable carcase was purchased for the public ; the duplex functions of agents as purchasers for the 1 Government, and for private persons and : companies ; the purchase of lands by salaried ; officers, and the completion of the transaction 'by other agents paid on commission of so much per acre ; the illegal bartering of rich blocks of land in one district, for valueless blocks in another to which attached the make-believe bogie of some native complica tion—these and multitudes of other similar mal-practices are confidently charged ; and one prominent member of Council went so far as to say that if cases which he knew ? were pressed home, "respectable" men would be standing in the felon's dock. While there is smoke of this sort there must be fire, and we trust that so far as enquiry can be pushed, every effort will be made to search some of these charges to the bottom. When we think of the wrongs under which the residents in this province already suffer, in respect of the distribution of the public land funds of the colony ; when we think that as a show of reparation the sum of £250,000 —in the liability for which borrowed money we have our share—was voted for acquiring a landed estate for the province, it is really too bad to thua heap wrong on wrong, and to insult and vic timise the residents in this province while a eeming to confer a favour. But it is mani fest that while these arrangements—by which the lands are purchased under the direction of those who have no local interest in their success, and by the hands of those who are paid by commission on quantity not quality, and. who are not precluded from supplementing their commissions by higher commissions from private parties—are calculated to lead to irregularities, actual results confirm the suspicions that the land purchasing depart ment is a very sink of iniquity. It may be argued that the shortness of the present session must prevent the enquiry being pushed to any very great extent ; but all who have anything to tell should volunteer that information; and we think it will be found that enough evidence is Iclose at hand to reveal some startling facts, arid-1-enable us to imagine the rest.

The detailed English and Australian news by the City of Melbourne to-day, is unusually interesting and importont. gAmong the former will be found particulars of the alter native contracts submitted to tender by the representatives of New Zealand and New South Wales, in the matter of the San Fran cisco service. Also items relative* to the four.-million loan, Mr Vogel's illness, the labour traffic, the great religious revival, and many other topics of general interest. The Australian telegrams will repay^careful perusal. ,

The San Francisco mail steamer City of Melbourne, which leaves to-morrow, will take a large number of old colonists. Sir George Arney, our late respected Chief Justice ; Mr TonkS, ex-Provincial Treasurer; Mr Henry Isaacs, ex-Mayor; Mr ft. Lusk, and CajStain Petherbridge, are names familiar to every one in Auckland. Mr Seymour, Superintendent of Marlborough, is also a passenger. The steamer had to leave behind several intending passengers from Sydney, and to-day new berths have" had to be constructed for the accommodation of those from New Zealand. This fact pretty clearly indicates the- growing popularity of the line for passenger traffic.

Captain Petherbridge, formerly of the Countess of Kintore and the St. Leonards, one of the best known and most popular skippers on the trade between London and this port, has arrived in Auckland from the South, with the intention of proceeding to England Via San Francisco to-morrow. During the past year or two the worthy captain has been engaged in the colony, organising Messrs. Shaw, Saville and Go's shipping business, and his large practical ex perience and natural energy have led him to make many improvements, which will doubt less bear fruit to his piincipals in increased business.

Notwithstanding the sharp and frequent showers of last evening, the theatre of the Prince of Wales was largely attended. This was the final appearance at least for years to come, of Mr and Mrs Case, who interesting entertainments have eiven so much pleasure during their brief professional sojourn in this city. Their performance of last night was for the benefit of Mrs Case, and con sisted chiefly in repetitions of characters of previous nights, hence we need only say that these1 were sustained with equal power of imitation and loquacious interest as on pre vious occasions. The musical accompani ments by Mr Case were also of the same finished character.

The Rev. R. S. Hassard will deliver the second course of his lectures on the " fliatory of the Church," this evening, in the room of the St. Matthew's Church Union. As these lectures are free and of a very instructive character, there should be a good attendance.

The large room of the Young Men's Christian Association was filled last evening on the occasion of the first of a series of weekly revival meetings, consisting of all denominations of Christian people, llev. P. ff. Cornford was called to the chair, and on the platform, we noticed the Revs. Messrs Bree, Macnicol, Cathcart, Kingsley, Williams, Davies and Macdonald. The proceedings opened with a hymn, from the prepared selection, in which all joined, led by Mr Theo Cooper. Rev. Mr Cornford explained that he bad been selected to fill his position simply because he was the senior minister of those present at the preliminary committee meeting. He then briefly sketched the immediate object of the contemplated meet ings of which he considered Auckland was in need at the present time ; he also, stated that there would be another meeting (to-day) in the Hiph-street Congregation Chapel, and that on Wednesday evening next, there would be a general meeting in his own chapel in Wellesley-street ; he stated further that the Yen. Archdeacon Maunsell was unable to be present ; but that he had expressed the warmest sympathy with the revival movement. Rev. G. H. Turner was also prevented from being present in con sequence of indisposition. Rev. R. F. Mac nicol then reaa. in a distinct voice the account of the descent of the Holy Ghost from the Acts of the Apostles. Between the devotional exercises the beautiful hymns on the paper were snug by those present. Rev. Mr Cathcart, in an interesting address, detailed hia experiences in connection with the work of Messrs. Moody and Sankey in the old country ; he spoke of tho enthu siasm of the thousands wko attended, and of the order that universally prevailed, and of the marvellous effect of those meetings on the people. Mr. Cathcart then referred to the general conduct of these meetings, which he considered worthy of imitation :no speaker was allowed more than five minutes, and no prayer was to occupy more than three minutes. Persons of all ranks and condition were admitted, from the gen tleman to the beggar, and after many discouragements, tho Moody and Sankey meetings were a great success. The Rev. Mr Williams then engaged in prayer, after which the Rev. E. N. Bree read nn essay on the shortcomings or laxity of ministers and of the necessity for combined action in the work of revivalism. Mr Bree referred especially to the scepticism which prevailed and which he deplored, and expressed a desire that fana ticism and bigotry should not be permitted to interfere with the progress of the cause they had met to disseminate. .The Rev. Mr Tinsley having engaged in prayer, the rev. chairman pronounced the benediction and the meeting dispersed.

The extreme simplicity of the Tonic-sol-fa method of singing appears to commend it to several of our leading ministers of religion, for they have engaged Mr Charles Blomfield to instruct the young people of their con gregations in this pleasing and useful study. Mr Blomfield announces elsewhere m our columns that he will commence another ele mentary class on the 27th instant.

We understand that Captain McKenzie's motion at the Harbour Board relative to the abolition of the charge on ballast for foreign vessels is likely to be favourably recom mended by the committee to which it was referred, and in all likelihood the charge of one shilling will be abolished until the end of the year, when a new tariff will be brought iuto operation.

At the annual meeting of the Otahuhu Mutual Improvement Society on Monday, the report shewed the Society to be in an active, healthy condition. The following officers were elected :—Mr Tuke, President; Mr Sturges,Vice-President; committee: Rev. F. Gould, S. Tuke, A. Sturges, J. Gordon, and F. Johnston; treasurer, Mr J. Hall, secretary' MrE. West. As we announced in a late edition last night, and as expected, the City Council election resulted in an overwhelming majo rity for Mr Isaacs. The numbers were •— Mr H.lsaacs ... 941 Mr G. Staines ;.. ... ... 254 Mr Isaacs' majority ... 687 Mr 8 Isaacs returned thanks, and said : " Gentlemen, —If I were to say that I did not feel highly flattered and surprised at the result of to-day's polling I should simply be acting the hypocrite. I certainly did expect to be returned, but not by so large a majority. I can now assure you that, by having been returned as a member of the Council, I shall do my best in their chamber for the interests of the ratepayers. honestly and without fear of clique, which I am certainly not aware Exists I hear, hear), I shall support measures brought forward solely on their merits, and hope at the end of the term of my political career my actions in the Council will be such jbhat will warrant me to ask you for your suffrages again to return me to the post to which you have placed me to-day. I have omitted however to say- that although I have beaten my friend Mr Staines I do not exult over him, and must say that I never saw an election gooff so harmoniously and with less personal ill-feeling than the present one. I cannot say I am sorry I have beaten him, but I do say that we were friends before the election, and hope we will remain bo here after. Although this day I am considered the best man of the two, there are a good many worse than he." (Cheers). — The defeated candidate (Mr Staines) on coining forward, candidly confessed he had been grievously sold—"led like" a lamb to the slaughter," He had expected to poll fully

The b.s. City of Melbouane is to leave for San Francisco to-morrow at noon punctually., The Police Conrt was densely crowded this morning by apparently disinterested persons who seemed to have no better mode of spending their time: His Worship en quired of Mr Inspector Brohain it the majority of the crowd could Hot be brought up under the Vagrancy Act with having no visible lawful means of support. Mr Brbham said, if His Worship's suggestion was acted upon, it would have the effect, of thinning the spectators considerably, but Mount Eden gaol would have to be enlarged. A general titter ran through the crowd, but not ohe of the spectators left his position. The question of additional lights for the wharf was, we believe, considered yesterday by the Wharf Committee of the Harbour Board, upon a communication frtim the Super intendent, enclosing the rider appended by the jury at a recent inquest upon the body of a man who had list his life through falling over the wharf. The committee naturally considered it impossible for them to prevent drunken men from failing over the wharf, but it was announced that three new copper lamps, with patent reflectors, had recently arrived, having been imported bj the Board for the special purpose of lighting up the wharf. These will be fixed in position as early as possible, and will effect a very great improvement in the lighting of our main pier. Mr G. W. Binney will sell to-morrow at auction, by order of Mr J. W. Waller, the villa residence occcupied by that gentleman ; also, freehold land, jobbing mill, freehold timber, coal-yard, etc. The sale will take place at twelve o'clock, and the terms will be cash. We are again kept out of our Suez Mail correspondence a weekj[longer than necessary owing to the stupid arrangements for for warding the mail from Australia. Although it must have beeen perfectly well known that the City of Melbourne was leaving Sydney for Auckland on the Bth instant, the Auckland portion of the mail was sent on with the Southern portion by the Tararua on the 3rd inst , from Melbourne, and arrived at the Bluff the day before yesterday. It will yet be a week before it can arrive in Auckland. The connecting steamer between Sydney and Melbourne arrived at Sydney on the 7th instant, twenty-four hours before the City of Melbourne left. We cannot help complaining of this thoughtlessness on the part of the postal authorities on the other side. By the expenditure of a little trouble in having the letters for the North and South Islands separated, it would ba easy to accom modate both extremities of the colony. The Globe Parcel Express Co. do not participate in the negligence of the postal authorities in this respect. They have forwarded the Auckland parcels by the City of Melbourne ; a simple business arrangement for which they do not, we are sure, expect any great credit. It is the neglect of such obvious expedients that merits censure.

ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF MELBOURNE.

Latest English Telegrams.

GERMANY AND BELGIUM.

London, May 4. The Belgian reply to the second diplo matic Note from Germany has been communi cated to the Chambers. It promises to follow »ho initiative of Germany, and to biing about a modification of the law. Resolutions for the suppression of religious orders have been introduced into the Prus sian Diet.

SPORTING

T ondon, May 4. Freeman is the winner of the Chester Cup,

THE POPE.

London, May 4. The Pope is suffering from weakness.

THE WOOL SALES

London, May 4,

The May wool sales opened this evening. The quantity catalogued being 205,000 bales. Upwards of GOOO bales were offered. There was a large attendance', and the competition was brisk, prices ranging about the same as those of last Beries. The sales will terminate on June 19, and the third series commence on August 17. The fifth series has been abandoned.

THE MAILS.

London, Mny 4. The Australian Mail, via San Francisco, has been delivered in London.

Latest Australian Telegrams

MOODY AND SANKEY'S VISIT TO

AUSTRALIA

SIR GEORGE BOWEN'S RECEPTION IN ITALY. MELANCHOLY DROWNING CASE. CRICKETING TEAM FOR NEW ZEA LAND.

SYDNEY.

May 8. ! A meeting of citizens is convened for Tues day next, to advocate the propriety of the' annexation of New Guinea by Great Britain. Mail advices show that Sir Charles Cowper's health is rapidly improving.—Mr Frances White, M.L.A., for the Upper Hunter, died on Tuesday, May 4th. — Gold has been struck twelve miles from Parkes, in Forbes district. Half penny weight to dish. A rush has set in.—- Provision has been made in the Appropria tion Bill for building all public schools at public cost.—lt is probable that increased facilities will soon be given for the loading of sailing colliers at the port of Newcastle.— The whole of the correspondence, telegrams, &c, bearing upon the San Francisco mail service, was laid upon the table of the Assembly last evening by the Postmaster- General.—A bill has been introduced into the Assembly to increase the number of the judges. Government has sent the necessary instruc tions Home to ensure proper representation, of their interests in the great squatting appeal case of Jachim and O'Shanassy.—The s.s. Hero has arrived.—There is no change in the markets.—Commercial rumours of a disquieting character are rife.

SPECIAL ITEMS TO THE STAR

FAILURE OF STUBBS &CO. FOR £100,000.

May Bfch, noon,

Messrs Stubbs and Co., auctioneers, have failed this morning. Liabilities about £100,000.

MELBOURNE.

May 7. , The late accident on tl"i North-eastern railway has brought a report from Mr. Meikle, head of the locomotive department, who says that the system of promoting engine-drivers is the same as in England, and our break ■ downs are not so serious as those that happen elsewhere. —The Melbourne Local Board ef Health intend to prosecute the proprietors of several work rooms and factories for a breach of the sani tary regulations.—The Presbyterian As sembly received a note from Messrs. Moody and Sankey, stating that they will probably visit Australia after they return to America. —Charlotte Loveridge has been committed

colony in September.-rjAt Rome, King Vic tor Emauuel and the Royal Family of Italy showed Sir George Bowen great attention, in consideration of the reception Australia gave to the Duke of Genoa at the time of his visit in an Italian war vessel. —Garibaldi intends to send his aon Ricciotti to settle in Melbourne; and the Italian Ministry are dis posed td encoiirage em'igra't-'pn to Australia, instead of to South America,1 $hfit& large numbers of Italians go. —His Holiii&sg the Pope granted Sir George Bowen an audience. The Rev. Charles Clark has returned from New Zealand, and opens a new chapel on Sunday next —The Theatre Royal proprie tary pay a dividend of 10 per cent., and carry a good suttf to the' reserve account.— Three seamen we're drowried wliile: attempting to escape from tlie ship Carleton,- at the Heads. They jumped overboard with two life-buoys and a'piank: Cries for help were heard from the steamer dmed, arid a blue light-was shown, but nothing wa3 seen of the men, and the Carleton sailed without them. —Meetings are to be held to organise a league against the denunciations of Roman Catholic priests and in defence of the Education Act. Defence Associations will be formed over all -the colony.—A team of six players each, from Sydney ard Melbourne, to visit New Zealand, is likely to be organised for next season. It is their intention to leave Melbourne after the Intercolonial Match herenextChristmas. — The report of the Polynesia Company animad verts on the dispatch sent by Bit Hercules Robinson to the Home authorities criticising the claims of the company as owners of land in Fiji. The company have appointed a de putation to wait upon Sir Arthur G-ordon, Governor of Fiji, when he arrives here. A. dispatch has been received by Sir W. Stawell, from the Earl of Carnarvon, in reply to the Polynesia Company's memorial. The dis patch states that the claims of tl-e company will be dealt with by Sir Arthur Gordon—7 The Commissioner has promised measures for further railway extension next session.— A public meeting declared in favour of a pro gressive land tax. —Gardiner's Lurline leaves for Adelade to run for the Cup, and Flinders leaves on Monday.—A shoemaker named William Lynch was found dead in a shaft twelve feet deep at Chinaman's, near Dunolly.—The new Exhibition building is rapidly approaching completion.—The Mel bourne conference of local bodies met to day and passed resolutions condemn ing the abolition of tolls, but decided to wait the expected action by the Government. — Arrangement's have been concluded for float ing the wreck of the Blencathra, which is now nearly cleared of cargo.—The Melbourne Presbyterian Assembly have decided to ask Government to alter the Education Act so as to allow ministers to give religious in struction during school hours. —By an ex plosion of fire damp at Scarsdale, three per sons were injured, one seriously.

QUEENSLAND.

May 7. The news from the diggings is quiet. Flour and provisions are generally much advanced in rates at the Palmer. The roads are much cut up by recent rains.—The Japan (s.) and the Scotland (s.) have arrived. The Japan brings 1000 pasßeDgers. The Scotland brings 1200 passengers. Two other steamers ara also shortly expected, and a still larger influx of Chinese.—The Assembly has voted to resume 700,000 acres of land for runs in settled districts.—A Parliamentary Hansard has been determined on.—A man named Isaac Griffith, living three miles from Gympie, was murdered — stabbed to the heart. A man named George Prit chard and his mother have been arresttd on suspicion of havmc committed the crime.— Mr Huiih B. M'Knight, manager of tbe Queensland National Bank, Stanthorpe, was drowned yesterday by the upsettiDg of a boat on tha river during a squall. Four other persons who were in the boat with him, were rescued by the Llewellyn steamer.—NothiDg further has transpired at Noumea as to the fate of Eastoul and his companions.

ADELAIDE.

May 7

The opening speech in Parliament s-poke with thank fulness of the bountiful harvest; Parliament will make provision for the fami lies of Judge Wearing and other crown ser vants lost in the Gothenburg. In July next and each succeeding month, the Government expect to be able to throw open 60,000 to 100,000 acres of land for selection.

SUEZ MAIL.

Creditors of the New Zealand Land and Coal Company (Limited) are required, by April 1, to send details of their claims to the liquidators at Liverpool. The New Zealand loan of £4,000,000, authorised by the General Assembly for the immigration and public works, 1874, and offered to the public by Messrs. 'A. M. Rothschild and Sons, was all subscribed for in the short space of 48 hours. The letters of allotment were delivered on March 4. Rumours were current on Exchange that the brokers took £2,000,000 at 91, and that the vendors secured the residue at 88 ; but this is not the case. Rothschilds pay .New Zea land £91 nett.

THE HANDBOOK,

Anglo-Australian, remarking on the New Zealand Handbook, says : —Nearly all the whole of the views seem to have been taken very early in the morning, before the sun got too high up, for the signs of busy active life are wanting to render the idea complete. The Supreme Court at Auckland seems to be a very quiet place indeed for a Court of Justice, as the only representatives of the city in the neighbourhood are a lady and two gentlemen, two natives, a boy, and a small dog. This is to be accounted for, I suppose, by its isolated position ; so that re dress at Auckland may be supposed to be up hill work.

NEW ZEALAND SWINDLE

A correspondent, signing himßelf " Cau tion," desciibes a visit which was recently paid to a widow lady at the West End by " a dark, handsome man," who pretended to be the bearer of tidings from her son in New Zealand. He had also photographs, keep sakes, and a sum of money for her lodged with a solicitor whom she knew, arid which would be delivered next day on payment of expenses that had been incurred upon them. In this case the sharper secured £20 from his victim, and in another, also known to the writer, the booty was £15. , .

COSPATRICK RELIEF,

The Cospatrick relief fund amounts to £3,000. £500 has been awarded to the two orphan daughters of Captain Elmsley. Mr M'Donald, second mate, has been appointed Dundee agent for Messrs Aimball and Mor ton, sewing-machine manufacturers.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.

A fire broke out in the Advocates' Library, Edinburgh, endangering that valuable col lection, 10,000 volumes were destroyed.— Killean House, Campbelltown, on the com pletion of extensive additions, was partially destroyed by fire ; also, part of the manu factory of Mr Sehdeseman, Dundee, loss £120,000 ; an old mill in the heart of Brad ford, inhabited by several families, £7,000. An explosion took place at a fuse factory, at St. Day, Cornwall; four women perished. Messrs Martin's extensive timber stores and sawmills, Dublin ; loss, £50,000. The Southminster Theatre, Edinburgh, has been completely destroyed. Messrs Ogden's cot. ton mill at Oldham, containing 24,000 spindles; damages, £15,000. RAILWAY ACCIDENTS. Another collision has occurred on the Midland line, near Nottingham. It was attended by severe mutilation to passengers and great destruction of rolling stock. A t»«Jn nf twelve carriages ran off the line about

AFRICAN SLAVE TRADE For* Mozambique, otf the East Coast, has , been 6aplured by the ships Nassau and RlDe 'inan, saWl handed over to the Sttlt*n ot Zanzibar. Another" vessel, the Thetis, cap tured two sbfe dhows, and released 301 slaves, and then proceed to attack a large barracoon. MR VOGEL IN LONDON. "Anglo Austrailian" writes in the Hiiro \vedri Muiti-*" This month's Eraser's con tains * rejoinder from Mr Fellows to Mr Voeel's WO} to1 Mr fellow* on the finances of New Zealand. tiftHvetl at iho best of times are very-dull reading, and as the article is in Mr Fellows' usual vein, it will feardly interest you. The success of the recent lofin is evidence sufficient that the diatribes of the writer, have missed their mark. Mr Vogel, whd is stiti in London, has somewhat re covered frtftfi AliS late indisposition though dae of his legs is' so' tf«afc *8 to aecessitate the use of a crutch." TftS CONVERTED "BENDfOKV Some scafidlai 4'as bferen tatised by the bact sliding of one " Beridl^d/'.onfce t«e '■ champion of England" in the prize ringr, biii few years a revivalist preacher. The NotMngJianl Jour nal stated that he bad attended a pigeon match at Beeston, near that towD, betted freely, and used such language as to call down upon him the rebukes of the bystanders. The Telegraph says that a great open-air service Was held on Sunday last, when Bendigo aopeared on the platform and admitted having been at the Match and bet upon a bird} but lie denied having used bad language. He ettid tthen lie found he had done wrong he went home and told God, who had forgiven him and taken him bad again. After this confession there was general re joicing, and Bendigo, assisted by the con gregation, sang the following verse : —

The devil had me once, but he let me go, Glory Hallelujah! He wants me'again, btit 1 don't mean to go, Glory Hallelujah 1

SHOCKING TEAGEDIES IN SCOTLAND.

On February 27, at the farm of New Downies, Forfarfhire, abdtit nine miles from Dundee, Mrs. Robb, in delicate health, cut the throats of two of her children with a razor, and afterwards inflicted a deep wound on her own. Both children when found were dead. They were both girls, one of three years and the other an infant of two months. Mrs. Robb, after committing the act, left tbe house and tried to drown herself in a shallow burn, where she was found by her husband and carried home. The house in which the act was perpetrated consisted of two rooms, and in one the husband slept with four children, his wife occupying the other room with the two youngest. It is expected that Mrs. Robb will recover. On March 1, at Stirling, the bodies of the wife and infant of George Owen, blacksmith, were found in the river Forth. Three weeks ago the poor woman was confined, and being left alone for a little time; she dressed herself, and taking the infant in her arms went out and was not heard of until her body and that of her child were found in the river. When discovered, she was holding the infant in her arms, as if in the act ef nursing it.

THE MORDAUNT CASE AGAIN.

Tbe most miserable Mordaunt case has cropped up once more, and so far as relieving wife and husband each from the other, may be said to have terminated. Sir Charles Mordaunt has obtained a dissolution of his marriage with Miss Moncriefe, and his last effort was not attended with much difficultj, for neither the respondent nor co-respondent offered a defence. Whether the existence of a child, presumably the heir to the Mordaunt property, may lead to further litigation, is a question that outsiders are scarcely in a position to answer. Less notable divorce cases have been before the court day alter day, and the evidence given goes to show that the extreme decency and respectability of our lives are in many cases simply cloaks for much of misery, misfortune, and crime.

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

London, March 23.—The English Press anticipate much benefit to India from the visit of the Prince of "Wales.—March 24.— In the House of Commons last night, Sir H. M. Bavelock announced his intention, after Easter, to call the attention of the House to to the state of the Indian army.—The civil service estimates amount to £12 625,000 showing an increase of a quarter of a million over last year.— The Navy Estimates amount to £10,784,644, an increase of £344,539. March 27. —Germany has proposed a mixed commission to arrange the difficulty arising out of the Gustave affair, condi tional apon the payment of l0,0l»0 thalers as an instalment. Spain has agreed to this. A deputation from the Aboringines' Pro tection Society presented an address to Sir Authur Gordon previous to his departure. Ho expressed a hope that he would be able to suppress kidnappping in the Pacific.—The Prussian Government have requested the Bishop of Breslau to resign.—Tbe Prussian Bishops are holding conferences at Fulda.

[From the Correspondent of the Sydney Morniny Herald.] London, March 18. THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL CON TRACT. The Postmasters of New South Wales and New Zealand have issued, through Sir Daniel Cooper and Mr. Thomas Russell, invitations for tenders for a regular mail service between those colonies and San Francisco, for one voyage each way every four we«ks, and for a period not exceeding eight years. Three routes are offered, namely.— A. From San Francisco to New South Wales and New Zealand alternately direct, calling at Hono-' lulu and Kandavu, the mails to and from the colony not directly served being transhipped at Kandavu.—_B. From San Francisco to Sydney direct, and New Zealand to San Francisco direct ; mails te New Zealand being transhipped at and forwarded from Kandavu, while mails from Sydney would be forwarded to and tran shipped at the same place. C. From Sydney to Auckland, Honolulu, and San Francisco, the contractors conveying the mails from Auckland, Napier, Wellington, and Lyt telton to Port Chalmers. Each tender is to specify the route chosen. If A or B be selected, not less than five vessels must be provided, each of a minimum gross registered tonnage of 2,500 tons; if C, not less than four such vessels, and one of 1,500 tons minimum. Speed is declared to be of the essence of the contract; and separate tenders are required fora speed of 12, 11£. and 11 knots an hour respectively, The tenders are returnable by the 23rd inst., but it is probable tha time will be extended to June, in order to give time to the A.S.N. or other local companies to tender.

ACTION BE THE CYPHRENES CHARTER.

The action brought by the owner of the Cyphrenes against' Messrs Lawrence and Clark ended nominally in a verdict for the defendants, but really a compromise was effected by which each party bore its own coats, and the defendants paid a sum of £1,500 besides. The action was for £6000 charter money due. Mr Hall produced a letter, shewing that he had associated him self with Mr Forbes, a well-known China merchant, and Mr Debusche, and was to have one-third of the profits with out having to find any part of the capital. He stated that he had power to appoint agents, and that the defendants had been duly appointed as London agents of the newly-formed company. This was im portant evidence, because when the com pany was registered the only parties actually singing were Mr Lawrence, Mr Clark, and one of their clerks, and it had been said that the company went no further than that said house. Mr Hall's statement took the responsibility in a large a^_——^^..ff tt, n ■ Forbes how-

not to be found, and Hall was without means. The action lasted two days, and ended as above described.

WOOL SALES.

I I have not seen the last wool report; b# the general result of the aeries is a recove*. of a penny since the opening of the sales. A fall of three half-pence was experienced then so that this upward movement is satisfactory. SIR GEORGE BOWEN MAINTAINS NEW ZBALAND'S SUPREMACY. / A full and influential meeting was .hel / last Taesday at the iloyal Colonial Indti* tute in Tail Mall, the Duke of Man-' Chester in the chair, and three Australian Governors being present, viz., Sir George BoweD, Sir James Fergusson, and the new GWernor of Fiji. A Ions; and interesting paper" on New Guinea' was read by Mr Michie, tn<? Agent-General ior Victoria, in which he advocated the annexation of that country, separated from Australia by a nar row strait, as important for stn^etical reasons, because any hostile force occupying it could cut off intercourse with the Queens land coast from the north. Captain Moregbv of the Basilisk, spoke of the survey he had % made of New Guinea, and testified to the broad distinction observable between the: mild, so&iable, and light-skinned people of the east coast, and the savage ebony-black Papuans higher ftp in the mountains. What ever was done, htf trusted the rights of the natives would be respected. Dr. Mullens, of the London Missionary Society, next spoke, regretting the hard tone of the paper, aad its entire silence upon the Christian view of the question. He wished the country annexed, not so much by the high hand of force as by the victories of the Gospel. He described tha similarity of New Guinea to Java, stated that his society had a mission among both the classes of natives mentioned by Captain Moresby, and ended by expressing a belief that even Mr Michie would shrink from facing the savages amongst whom the missionaries were labouring. He could scarcely resume his seat without an allusion to his recent travels in Mada gascar, and speaking of the injury to European health caused by resi dence in tropical climates. Mr E. Wilson, of Melbourne, was for leaving the matter to the initiative of the shrewd men who were to be found in the Australian colonies. They had their eye upon the case of New Guinea, and when they Said the time for annexation was come, we ought to accede to their wishes. He caused some amusement by referring to a party of Ballarat diggers going to New Guinea and confusing them with the affair of the brig Maria. Sir George Bowen spoke of New Zealand as the Italy of Australasia, healthier for Englishmen than even England itself, and fov etidence he stated that whereas the deaths afiJUmg soldiers here were 20 per 1000, there incfadwg the men who bad been killed by the Mao^f^he mortahty rate was only 7in the 1000- c Hon Arthur Kinnaird and other addressed the meeting

March 1&

THE NEW GOVERNOR OF FIJI. Several deputations waited, onWednes lay, upon Sir Arthur Gordon, K.G.M.G., in order to present to him addresses previous to his departure for Fiji. The principal one was composed of members of the Aborigines Protection Society, and included Mr- Me- Arthur, M.P, Sir Charles Wingfield, X.C.S.I-, Sir F. Fowell Baxter, Dr. band with. C.8., and others. In replying to the address, the new Governor said : - 1 thanff you most heartily for the good opinion which you have done me the honour to form, and bo express, with respect to my past admims brationtf colonies placedundermygovernment and for the kindly wishes towards myself personally which your address conveys. ±ne foundation of the new colony of Iruisin many ways a matter of no slight moment ; but it is, as you have observed, in connection with its bearing on the abuses of the so called labour trade that it i« chiefly in teresting to the society which yen repre eut. 1 trust that in the exercise w «ie large powers with which it is, I believe, W" tended to entrust me as her Majesty's High; Commissioner in Western Polynesia, I may be enabled materially to check, if not wholly to suppress, those acts of piratical violence which have excited Buch just and general re probation throughout the civilized world. I perceive, howeeer, with, satisfaction that whilst stigmatising as they deserve the attrocities of this nefarious traffic, you are not insensible to the ad vantage of a well - regulated system of immigration into the new colony, without which it would, I' fear, be impos sible to anticipate a speedy or extensive development of its natural resources, and which may, I believe, under proper safe guards, prove to be an equal benefit to the employer and employed. The important questions to which you call my attention will all undoubtedly receive my most careful consideration. I rejoice to know tbat'you recognise and appreciate1 the spirit in which Her Majesty's Government has dealt wun such of these questions as it has already handled ; and I need, I trust, hardly assure you that it will be my endeavour to carry out in the Bame spirit the instructions I may from time to time receive." '^Ln THE POLYNESIAN LABOUR TRAFFIC. The Standard has on article approving oi the till which has been introduced by Lm Carnarvon for the protection of the Taoinc islanders, wherein it is proposed to extend to the ships engaged in the pearl and other fisheries that protection which is at present wanted to the vessels engaged in conveying lobourers under the colonial regulations; while power is also to be given to the local Courts to condemn the cargoes in offending ships, as well as the ships them Selves. _ THE MOUNT AND MORRIS CASK. The decision of the Supreme Court of Victoria, to which Mount and Morris owed their release, has been upset by the Prwy Council. The paper above quoted says■: ------" Such a decision is so far satisfactory as that it clears up the perplexities in which the I**1 has hitherto been involved, and will enable the local Government in future to deal mote effectually with offenders guilty of the mw practiees of which Mount and .-Moms- »" been convicted. la the meantime tn«e malefactors themselves have escaped, andare now probably beyond the reach of Bnusn law. Nor for this great miscarriage of justice would it b« fair to blame the Supreme Coun of Victoria alone. Had the local Govern ment been less sensitive in the matter of ofr taining the sanction of the Secretary of State as by law required, for its very excellent ant sufficient place of detention at Pentridgfi there need have been no difficulty at all v this case " ■_~,. MOODY AND SANKEY'S REVIVAL. The American Evangelists have^begui their campaign in London. At first tneij was some danger of shipwreck upon the roq of sectarian differences, «>me RitualijXJ clergymen claiming a right to take Par * " the work of the Inquiry rooms. But smw the services have begun, the difficulty *i pears not to have risen to the surface.. went to the Agricultural Hall last. w«W Arriving two hours before the advertise time of commencing, I was passed int the reserved area immediately in f™n^ the platform. Last time I saw the^a* it was at the Horse Show, a huge oval Dei* I cleared in the centre for exhibiting | hunters, and providing hedge and .waf jumps. Now all was covered wlth, c% the parts beneath the galleries boarded o but space being left to seat over 18.0UU pePF! At half-past six the second bell rang.JJ.. volunteer stewards hastened to their placet and the doors were thrown open. |l was a tickets night. Nothing is P* I for tickets; but, to prevent a monopau about half the services are limited to ao to whom the agents, working all over *~ north pf thesnetropolis, have given oraere . admission. There was no rush, but graaw the area filled. Far away, in a side gaU^ | were 50 to 100 telegraph boys•; close °^f me were •party of Varsity men, co™ <^M . «■ - '■ ■.*■'■ • r i _..._ u;i«4. «« t.H« raised Dim

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