SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER : This evening 8.13 ; to morrow morning. 8 34 SUN SET : This evening, 5.3; STJN BI8B: to morrow morninit, 6.52 MOON'S AGE : Ist Quarter, 12th, 7.16 p.m.

ARRIVALS.

isur Isaac Newton, brigantine, from Napier fflthel, brigantine (new), 160 tons, McLeod, from Malmrangi Teerless, schooner, Lewis, from Danedin "W". W. Smith, ship, from Lvttelton Kowena, s s, Sellars, from Tauranga

DEPARTURES.

Kate McGregor, schooner, for Wangaroa'

PROJEOTED DEPARTURES. For the South—Pbeebe ss, Bth; Ladybird, ss, 12th; Taranaki, s s, 18th inst. For Wanganui—Bt Kilda, to-morrow, noon

IMPORTS.

Per Peerless, fror^ D une din : 1987 cases kerosene, Arnold t Hines and Co. ; 152 bars iron, 100 bundJ. es i roilj Order ;35 hhds. ale, 3 hhds. stou^, John Reid.—M. Niccol, agent.

The W. W. Smith, under chartor to the jtfew Zealand Shipping Company, ar rived this afterneon from Lyttelton, after a passage of five days. She has experienced similar weather to that reported by the Peerless. _ The W. W. Smith is partly loaded with Canterbury produce for London. She will fill up her cargo here, and sail for London in about three weeks time.

The schooner Peerless arrived from Dun edin this afternoon, after a fine run of six days. Left on the Ist. and had strong Sonth-west winds at starting. On Sunday night hove to off Cook's Straits and remained till evening ; thence South-west weather to East Cape, which was passed at eight o'clock on Wednesday morning. From that till last night light, baffling winds. For the last twelve hours experienced a N.E. gale. The Peerless brings a cargo of kero sene, ale, etc.

Messrs Darrach and Son, of Mahurangi, have laid the keel, and aTe now engaged in setting up the frame of a fore-and-aft schooner for Captain H. F. Ander son. She is to be about 60 tons register. Length 56ft., beam 18ft., depth 7^ft. Her completion will occupy about nine weeks from the present time. The brigantine Sir Isaao Newton arrived this morn tag from Napier after a tedious passage of 9 days, during which she has experienced heavy S.W. gales. She brines a few sheep, but very little other cargo. The Captain reports a ship bound in, hove to off the Great Bairier, and a barque inward bound The wind was from the southward at the time (yesterday afternoon). 169 sheep were shipped at Napier, but owing to the rough weather nearly 100 have died. The schooner Columbia seems to be pretty smart in her movements just at present. She arrived aa we have already reported at Lyttelton on the 28th ult. Yesterday a telegram was received by Mr Compton stating that she had arrived at Napier, and that the Captain intended leaving "on Saturday for Kennedy's Bay

The schooner Christina brings 05 tons coal from Kussel for M. Mccol.

The schooner Koenezer cleared out chis morn'ng lor Wangaroa with two tons of flour and other stores. The barque Elm Grove, which started for Newcastle yesterday, put back this morning and anchored off the Beads in consequence of the weather outside. The Bella Mary, the Glimpse, and the Wave, which were also ready to go away yesterday are still in har bou.'r from the same cause

~Mr G. W. Owen and Captain McLeod's new brigan tine the Ethel arrived from Mahurangi tt 10 o'clock last night. The Ethel is a fine stroDg-looking brigan tine of about 160 tons register.' Messrs Dartach and Sons, of Mahurangi, her builders, launched her from ther yard at Mahurangi Heada on the 4th inst, tally rigged, and with her sails bent. She is 90ft. long by 23ft. beam, and 12ft Cm. depth of hold. Her ends are very fine, especially below the water line. In the upper part of the hull her lines are full and rounded, giving the appearar-ce of Rreat carrying capaciiy, while her risa of floor, which is considerable, should enable her to stand well up to windward. Messrs G. W. Owen and McLeod, the owners, inteud her for the Southern trade, for which she is eminently suited, and in which she will make a worthy companion of he Helena. Mr Owen imported the sails and rigging * rum England.

COMMERCIAL.

MISSBS H/ffHTEB. AND NOLAN'S WEEKLY REPORT. —Horses : Theie has been continued activity in the market; above the average number wero entered for disposal by auction, on Friday, and wer u almost with out exception placed, and an. unsatisfied demand remained for good sound young horses of ereiy de scription. We quote hacks from £6 to £16 10s; light harness horses, £11 17s 6d to £20 10s ; strong horses suitable for packing, £12 5s to £18 ; heavy draugbt, £35 to £47 10s. , Cattle : There has been a moderate supply, and a corresponding demand for stores ; but dairy and fat stock attained extreme rates.—At Messrs Brown and Sons' sale, Mount Koskiil road, there was "a good attendance of buyers, and highly satisfactory prices were obtained. The cows sold at from £910 ito £18; thiee-year-old filly (by Matchless), £47 ; mare, £85 10s ; foal (by .Matchless), £11 ss.— Ai Papaknra there was a good muster, and com pared with Newmarket, higher prices rulod. Fat beasts are not being brought forward ia numbers sufficient to nujiply immediate requirements, and stocks on hand being very limited, competition was brisk, and advanced rates rnled ; for light weights well fatted, 40s per 100 lbs having been given ; dairy cows sold at from £10 10s to £15 2s 6d ; yearlings, from £2 to £2 17s 6d ; two-year old steers, £3 17s Od to £4 10s ; store cows, from £2 17s 6d to ±5 ; store bullocks, £5 to £6 16. Siieep : The number penned was not so large as the previous week; there w«,s very good competition, and prices advanced slightly. Pigs vary scarce : high prices freely given.

There was & good attendance to-day at the Corner Mart. Mr Sibbin reports :—Tea, 2s 3d; good sugar, 4%d; flour, 13s; oats. 4s ; bran, Is 3d ; posatoes, 6s ; and a large quantity of sound onions, 1 16. ; eggs, Is 6d per dozen.

At Mr R. Arthur's poultry sale to-day, fowls real ized Is Id to 2s 4d ; turkeys, 2s Id to 3s lod ; geese, 3s 3d to 3s sd; pigeons, 9d ; Canterbury potatoes, 5s Auckland potatoes, 3s to 3s (id ; onions, ljd.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as follows . —

For Thames, this day, at 6.30 p.m.. aud to-morrow,

9 30 a m For Taranaki, Bouthern Provinces, and Australian

Calonies, per Phcebe, to-morrow, at 8 a m For Mahurangi. toatafeana, Mangav/ai, Waipu, etc,

per Lady Bowen, to-morrow, at 9 a m For Cornmandel, on Monday next, at 11.30 am For Whitianga, Tairua, Tauracga. and Opotiui, per

Kowenu, on Monday next, at 3 p m For Wangarei, &c , Kussell, Wangaroa and Mongo nui, per lona, on Monday next, at 4 p m Per City of Melbourne, on Eiiday, the lith inst,, as under :—

For Sandwich Islands, United States of America, Canada, 'British Columbia, Central and South Ameica, and British and Foreign West Indies, at 10.30 a.m. For the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, at 10.30 a m. For money orders, registered letters, and news papers, at 9 SO am Late letters bearing a late fee of 6d in addition to the postage, will be received on board by the Mail Agent up to time of sailing. (Signed) J. K. Cobby, Acting Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

CONSTANCE—On the fith May, the wife of Charles Constance, Onehunga, of a son.

DEATHS

VERCOE - On the 7th May, at her parent's residence, Mangarei, Amelia Catherine, third daughter of Henry and Amelia Vercoe, aged 4 years. The funeral will leave at 3 p.m. on Sunday, 9th instant, for Totoroa. SHIELDS —At Mrs Fotheringhana's residence, New ton, Euphemia Shields, aged SO years. The funeral will take place to-morrow, at 3 p.m. Friends are invited to attend.

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

FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1875

For the cause that lacks assistance, lor the wronjf tint needs resistance. *Br the fmture in the distance. Aai tbi good that we can do.

If any person in the province of Canterbury had ventured three months ago to predict the statements made by Sir Cracroft Wilson yesterday in the Provincial Council of that province, as reported in our telegraphic columns, he would have been pronounced fit only for the Lunatic Asylum. Rudely, how ever, as the public mind has been awakened in the City of the Plains, it is more than probable that the true position of Canterbury is not yet seen, either by the Executive, the Council, or the people. As for the Press, that, in common with a large portion of the papers of the colony, is "dazed" still and purblind to the hazardous position of public affairs. Not that we believe Sir Cracroft Wilson to be guilty of wilfully hiding from himself, or his constituents, any stateof things, however fraught with peril and anxiety. That hale old man, soldier and gentleman both, would revolt from any thing mean and cowardly. But do they even yet in Canter bury 'look far enough forward ? Where will they find funds sufficient to carry out those plans of public improvement, for which the expenditure of their vast revenues in past years has merely laid the foundation ? Upon what sources of revenue will they draw to complete so grand a, fabric ? And, if those schemes he left incomplete, they will not alone leave Canterbury ridiculous, but they will fail to render an adequate return for the millions expended. It is easy enough to talk of taxation, but with a bankrupt General Government thundering at the gates, how will the people' relish the imposition; of new provincial burdens ? Indeed, when the price of labour falls, aud the Government treasury no longer rolls out its golden tides, and the inevitable re-action sets in, will the majprity of people, even in wealthy Canter bury, be able to bear any great additional demands? When the streams of the Vogel and land fund Pactolus run <jry, to what waters will they turn ? jNo true man can be pleased at the sound of "breakers ahead" in any part of. the colony. We rejoice rather in the absolute faith that—spite of all difficulties, and'spite of the present errors and vices of the Government both General and Provincial—New Zealand ia destined to prosper ; but no honest man can close his eyes to the fact that the present ad ministration of the borrowed money, of the land funds, and of the consolidated revenue, being inherently vicious and-gendering error and corruption, must bring upon us as a people trouble and disaster which might have been avoided. We.have been repeatedly talAl !m* seven provinces are bankrupt. Q»nterbury (; is now on the high,road to. join

one hope for colonists'} will, at any rate, exist; —we shall once more be on a common level, and be willing to work shoulder to shoulder for the common good. From this opening of the closet in which Canter bury's skeleton was concealed, another lesson is given to the people of New Zealand as to the necessity of prudence in the expenditure of vast sums of money, even in useful pub lic works. If the people do not rouse themselves at once to their position, the General Government—spite of its clever Pre mier who can negotiate millions —will be found in a state of utter disorganisation and disgrace, to which the affairs of the worst managed province in New Zealand will bear an infinitely favorable comparison. That Government is conducted fraudulently in nearly every department, and imprudently in all. It is loading the people with an incu" bus of debt, ever increasing. The Execu tive in Canterbury went out of office because they were afraid to reveal the true state of things. But whenJMr Vogel's ministry goes out, we dare to say that a state of things will be found which will thrill the people with

dismay.

In another column will be found a letter from an festeemed correspondent relative to the. Wynyard Pier. To the general public the matter may seem a trivial one, and only of local interests—to the residents in the im mediate ndighbourhood and to the man-of war's-men. But, taken as an illustration of the entire indifference that is shown by the General Government in relation to the wants and wishes and interests of the people here, the smaller the matter, the more striking the illustration. Our correspondent deals properly with the immediate grievance. The action in relation to the Wynyard Pier is a case of simple contemptuous indifference. That jetty has been long a popular and fre quented convenience, and with supreme indifference the officers of the General Gov ernment practically close it up. A punt is now established for the convenience of the people of Parnell, connecting the two points of the Mechanics' Bay breakwater. It is quite unused, and only because of the difficulty of access at the same place, where exists the grievance relative to the Wynyard Pier. Does any one suppose that these wantonly inflicted incon veniences would have been tolerated if the administration of our railway affairs had been at Auckland instead of Wellington '! Does any one suppose that a carriage-shed would have been planted right at the foot of a wide street, shutting it out from the harbour, when a few feet distance to one side would have quite equally suited railway con venience, and left an open space the width of the street, to be some time utilised, for continuation of the street to the water's edge ? It is a little thing this. Yes we admit it, but feathers show how the win 1 blows ; and the refusal of a telegraph receiving office down stairs, or the stoppage of access to the Wynyard pier—quite as clearly, as the withholding of a just share of public works expenditure, or the refusal to give public lands for settle ment, or the total stoppage of such settlement — shows the covert hostility to the province that actuates at least some of the members of the present Colonial Ministry. Wo wonder how many in Auckland now have the glamour remain ing that was thrown over us all by the launching of the Grand Policy. We wonder how many vote 3 would any candidate for Parliamentary honours now receive on the merits of that Ministry, and on the promise of supporting the same system of treatment which we have received in the administra tion of this great policy during the past few years. By-acd-bye we shall all for sooth be desperately fond of Centralism. Our experiences are so pleasant. Every little thing is helping to build up our publir opinion, and noble as is the conception of a Great Britain of the South—quite as noble as was the grand id6e of Works and Immigration, and as was the great South Sea Bubble—we think that people are beginning to open their eyes, and to feel that there are more than Esau who have sold their birthright for a m ess of pottage. ,

A deed of assignment for the benefit of his creditors has been made by Mr George Giles, butcher, of Queen-street.

Mr Alderton has left on exhibition at our office a Bample of red ochre taken from the Soda Water (Springs at Wangarei, and also a peculiar description of verj light clay. This clay when taken out of the ground appears like heavy pipe clay, but atter being exposed to the atmosphere its moisture is gradually absorbed, and the clay becomes as light as pumice. Doctor Heccor, when at Wangarei, took samples of the clay away with him, but did not venGure to say wbat it was. Some think it to be meerschaum, others fuller's earth, and others again whiting. Something like whiting, tnougq, ia found in a separate strata imme diately above the clay we have been deacrib ing. It has a well dehned formation of strata, almost jet black in colour, and this, too, when exposed to the atmos phere dries and becomes light, and what is most 'remaikable turns as white as snow. It answers the purpose of whiting admir ably. These peculiar geological formations are characteristic of the Wangarei district, and we learn that Dr Hector will report on them on his return from England. A fine seam of limestone is adjacent to the Sod a water ttprings. Mr Alder ton'' also informs us .of " a striking phenomenon to be witnessed in the district, which is not generally known. Above the Whau Whau coal mines there are two small lakes, apparently extinct craters (about 500 feet above the sea level). Close to the water edge of one of these, there is a small hole in the rock, from whence issues some poisonous gas, probably carbolic acid gas. Around this hole is an immense heap of dead blow lilies, which are poisoned by the gas. Mr Alaer ton applied a lighted match to the hole, which was extinguished immediately. He then set fire to' a quantity- o£ dry ti-tree and placed it over the hole, when the flame was extin guished in the most sudden manner.

To the Editor: Sir,—Will you kindly allow me through the medium of your paper to call attention of the " Powers that.be" to the very dilapidated state of Napier-street, Union-streot end. The path never having been, made, is full of holes and traps for the unwary, as I found t6 my cost last evening, experiencing a severe fall through the slippery state after the rain. A ; little scoria would obviate this, and oblige—Yours, etc,, The Harbour Board have commenced emptying the siit-basins. , The work is being superintended by Captain Nearihg, and up to the present time is creating no nuisance. The filth is Joeing $hrown on to the edge of

To the Editor:— Sir,— "Typhoid.fever, so frequently fatal in its progress, is in our midst; hence it behoves every person to do his best to remove whatever may tend to aid the spread of this disease, which usually springs from bad drainage and places which emit unpleasant odours. The sense of smell was given, like the other senses, for detect ing and avoiding everything which may be injurious to health and morals. Where ever bad odours are experienced by the sense of smell, that sense acts as a monitor or sani tary guide. There are many spots about the city undetected by the keen eye of Inspector Goldie, and it is necessary that persons in the immediate locality should apply the remedy and see that such nuisances are speedily removed or reported upon. It i 3 scarcely possible for a nuisance of this na ture to exist in London, and we believe since the establishment of the Board of Works, chiefly through the instrumentality of the late Sir John Thwaites, suggested by the earlier works of Dickens, a healthier place than London can hardly be found in the wide world. In pacing some of<! the more retired of our city streets, we often feel that we are in an unhealthy neighbourhood which needs simple remedial measures, and one such, to which our attention has been drawn exists in Vincent lane, City West, where a number of persons reside with their families. The nuisance complained of is a filthy gutter which runs down between the houses, who seems to evince little or no regard for the laws of health,—l am &c, A Resident.

Mr. Southgate, so well known at Wark worth, Mahurangi, has, we learn, disposed of the business and freehold of his hotel, with about aa acre of land adjoining, to Mr Montgomery, late of the Swan Hotel, Mechanics' Bay, -who intends to settle down in that prosperous township. The price mentioned is just under £1000. It is stated that several improvements will be made to the hostelry, under the new proprietorship. Mr Southgate, who in his capacity of host, haa earned the respect of all who have ever visited the place, intends in futureto devote his energies solely to the lime-burning trade, which has lately become of such value to Mahurangi. The Swan Hotel has been pur chased by Maurice O'Sullivan, of the Ex change.

Two boys, aged respectively six and eight, have just been admitted into the Parnell Orphan Home. The parents of the boys were passengers from England by the War wick, and immediately on arriving in Auck land, the mother died, leaving the father with four children in a comparatively help less conditiou. The ease was represented to the patrons of the Orphan Home, and the two boys were provided with comforts which the surviving parent was unable to supply. The case shews the necessity of such an institute in our midst, and which should receive the liberal support of persons in happier circumstances.

Our London correspondent, " Greenstone," who is always well-informed, in reviewing the many honors conferred lately on colonial dignitaries, says : " Look but for your own beloved Julius Vogel next. He will be com ing out as something very big indeed : per haps as baronet. Quie.n Sale." From our telegrams to-day it will be seen that a rumour is current in Is 7apier, reported to be on the authority of a cable message, that Mr Vogel is very ill in London. Not improbably, however, this statement rests on no better foundation than the fact, which is well known, that Mr Vogel does not usually enjoy good health.

The inhabitants of Newmarket held a meeting last evening in the Presbyterian school-room for the purpose of considoring the expediency of removing the toll-gate. A considerable number of persons were pre sent;, and Mr James Baber was voted to the chair.—The meeting was addressed by the Chairman, Messrs Wrigley, Tonka, Dennison, Wren, McNeil, Bybnrn, and McCall upon the immediate object of the meeting, when it was determined that the following petition should be presented to the Provincial Council at its next meeting:— To the Hon. Provincial Council of Auckland in session assembled.-r-The petition of the undersigned humbly sheweth : That, during the last session of you Honorable Council, certain resolution having regard to toll-gates were passed. That resolutions have not been carried out at Newmarket. That the inter ests of the inhabitants of Newmarket suffer from the present position of the toll-gate. We therefore pray your Honorable Council to take such steps as to you may seem meet, in order that the resolutions referred to may be carried out.—And your petitioners, &c.

The Prince of Wales Theatre was well patronised last evening by playgoers, who evinced their approbation of the entertain ment of Mr and Mrs Case in sounding terms. The title of the entertainment was the "House Warming," the details of which evidently warmed the house, and elicited great laughter. The plot of the programme was simple enough, simply shewing how a man and wife had taken a tour round the habitable globe, and resolved to settle down in peace. They invite their amusing friends to the house warming, and, amid the festive scene, a number of odd characters ap pear, such as named in the bill of fare. Their. odd sayings and doings are full of wit and humour and make up a pleasant evening party. The solos on the violin and Scotch airs on the concertina were exquisitely rendered by Mr Case. The House-warming will be repeated this evening, and persons who are care-worn and desire a revival of spirits will find a gracious anti dote at the Theatre.

The members of the Edwardes-street Tonic Sol-fa singing class met last evening in the school-room for their usual weekly practice, and to present to Mr Charles Bloomfield, their able conductor, a token of regard in the form of a beautiful valuable metronome clock. Mr French, also a teacher of the 801-fa system, |presented{the clock in the name of the class, acknowledging its indebtedness to the master for the assiduity and attention which he has ever displayed towards the class. Mr Bloomfield acknowledged the present in suitable words, expresiive of his desire to advance the members in their musical studies. The next class will commence on the evening of the 27th inst.

Mr H. Walker, an employee in the house of Messrs A. Clark and Sons, of Shortland sfcreet, met with an accident yesterday, but which fortunately was nob attended with any serious results. The gentleman it appears was riding in from his establishment in Parnell on a spirited young horse, and on reaching the turning in Princes-street, the animal suddenly darted off at a fast trot. Mr Walker, not being an experienced rider, lost his foothold in the stirrup, and clung to the horses neck. When opposite, the Provincial Offices, he fell heavily to the ground, and was assisted to rise by a lady who was passing. We are glad to state that with the exception of a. bruise on his right cheek, Mr Walker escaped unhurt.

Messrs. Welsh and McCabe, we are glad to Bee, are doing their best to keep the side path and road round Fort Britomart fco the station, •where they are excavating, cleas and passable for foot-passengers. The Harbour Board are also engaged in a good work kore. They have already laid down a plank bridge over the part of the railway approach, whore the water lies in pools, and are now digging a drain to carry the surface water into the harbour. This will effect a great improve ment when completed; but the road will never be in a proper s;fcate till it is raised about 18 inches above its present level.

Decorations are plentiful in Berlin. The Gerrrian Crown Prince has no less than 58 stars and crosses which he is entitled to wear ; Prince Bismarck has no less than 40 ; Counts Moltke and Roon have 39 each. It is a little odd that really great men should care for such trash, and not leave it to the people of whose jmerit there ia no_ojjheif_

No steps have been taken in relation to the Executive except those stated in our yesterday's issue. Mr. Reader G. Wood has accepted office as Treasurer, and will be gazetted. Any other offices are still held like bundles of carrots before donkeys !

The funeral of the late Mr A. G. Millar took place to-day in the Presbyterian part of the cemetery. A large number of insurance officials and friends of the deceased were present. The Insurance offices were closed during the afternoon.

Messrs Cosgrave an Co. notify to the people of Auckland that, owing to extensive shipments to hand, they have iound it necessary to call a sale of men's clothing, which commenced to-day. . The stock offered is estimated at £75,000.

A combination scratch match will be played to-morrow (weather permitting) at the North Shore, on which the Auckland, Parnell, and North Shore teams will take part. PJayers — this side—are requested to be in time to catch the 2.3tf o'clock boat. Members to appear in uniform.

THE REVIVAL MOVEMENT.-CON FERENCE OF MINISTERS.

A confbbtcnce of the ministera and office bearers of tha various Churches in Auckland was held at' the Young Men's rooms last evening, for the purpose of seeing what evangelistic efforts could be brought to bear upon this city. Every section of the Church was represented. The Rev. Archdeacen Maunsell occupied the chair; It was agreed to hold a united prayer-meeting in the large room of the Young Men's Christian Asasoei ation on Wednesday evening next at 7.30 , when addresses will be delivered by the Rev. W. A. Cathcart on the revival of religion in the Home Country ; and by the Rev. E.N. Bree, on the conditions upon which we may hope to see such a revival in the land. The ministers present agreed to give up their usual Wednesday evening services in order to give their people an opportunity of meet ing together for prayer for the object stated, and to give prominence ta the subject next Sunday evening.

Accident.—Lucky Escape.

A workman named McConochie had a narrow escape from being killed yesterday afternoon. He was one of the gang employed by Messrs. Walsh and McCabe in the work, sending down the sandstone and earth from the western faoe of Fort Britomart, to be used in filling in the new portion of the Break water. Yesterday, about four o'clock, McConochie was enguged with a pick near the crest of the cliff', when a piece of detached earth rolled in his direction. In stepping aside to avoid it, he incautiously placed his foot too near the edge, and the land giving way, he was precipitated from the top to the bottom of the Forfc, some 40 feet. Fortunately at the base, there was a large heap of soft dirt which had been sent down, He landed on this, and it received him much more kindly than mother earth is generally in the habit of receiving her sons who approach her in that unceremonious fashion. The man got np and shook himself, and other than feeling a little bruised, said he was not hurt. We hear that he was not well enough to work this morning.

RACING.

Thb following handicaps for the forthcoming race meeting have been issued by the Racing Club to-day : -

Birthday Handicap. — Parawhenua, G years, 9st 81bs ; Yatterina, aged, 8s 121bs ; Maori Weed, aged, Bst 21bs ; Ngaro, 3 years, Sst 21bs ; Elfin King, 3 years, Sst ; ,Tha Belle, 3 years, 7st lOlbs ; Bedouin, 4 years, 7s{! Sib ; Skylark, 4 years, 7st 41bs ; Belle [of the Isles, 5 years, 7st. Hukdlk Race. —Islesman, aged, list 71bs ; Shamrock, aged, list; Kate, G years, lOst 121bs ; The Arrow, 6 years, lOst lOlbs ; Moose, 5 years, lOst 2lbs ; Middy Ashore, aged, 103t ; Don Ju*n, 5 years, 9st 91bs.— William Pekcival, Secretary.

MATRIMONIAL.

(To the Editor of the Evening Stab.) Sir, —A local of some length appeared in your issue of the 29th of April referring to an action I had taken againsb a settler at the Northern Wairoa named McOaifch, for the recovery of certain monies owing to me, for in the first place procuring him a wife, and secondly, monies advanced to and work done for the lady herself, for which he was answer able, when she became his by wed lock. Written as that local was in a pleasant vein I could afford to join your many readers in a hearty laugh over it, as it "broke no bones," it had, however, the effect of provoking a reply from James McCraitb, the defendant teeming with such vile untruths, that I not only at once answered it, but enclosed a letter of his to me, giving me directions to go after the bridesmaid in a carriage to Parnell, and ex pressing a hope we would not be late at the ceremony ; and begging my acceptance of a pair of white kid gloves, giving the con tradiction explicit to his unblushing asser tion, that I had, without his consent, en gaged a carriage to take myself, an uninvited guest to the wedding. That letter' you thought proper 'to suppress, merely acknowledging its receipt in last Saturday's impression, stating that being sub judice, too much had been said about it, and recommending silence until the matter came before the Resident Magistrate. That I felt pained at my letter's suppression I acknow ledge, although I grant it was probably the wiser course, as I was not only prepared to scatter every point of his defence to the winds, but through the evidence of a witness I had subpoanaed from the Thames, the opinion of all right-minded persons would have been against him. That that witness was forthcoming McOraith became aware, and knowing that he had not the ghost of a chance of successfully defending the action, he settled the matter and beat a precipitate retreat. Now sir, the fact of his so doing, should be conclusive proof that his letter which appeared in the Star on the 30fch of last month, was a tissue of misatatements from beginning to end, and now were I to pass it over in silence it would have a damaging effect on me. I can confidently appeal to the numerous couples I have been the means of bringing together, whether I was ever guilty of extortion, and I could show you scores of letters, not onlyirom different parts of this province, but Wellington and Taranaki, begging me to come and see the happy homes I had been the means to a great extent of building up. Now the idea of a matrimonial agency did not occur to me in an idle hour ; nor was it devised without proper foundations on which to base my reasens for so doing. The imperative necessity for an agency of such a peculiar character has been forced on my mind through the hundreds of letters I have received daring the past 12 years from out-settlers bearing on that subject, and thatsubjeet alone. 3sovr, to show you what a mean man McCraith was on the wedding day, he left me and tha bridesmaid together, but before leaving the parlor he counted the almonds and raisins to see how many we had eaten in his absence. The - bridesmaid noticed it, and told me of it after he had gone. So between us we managed that he should have very light work in counting when he came back, for we cleared the plate. When I think of the really handsome woman I have helped him to as a wife, and the plainness of McCraith himself, T am irresistibly reminded of the fairy tale of the "Beauty and the Beast," not that I for one moment wish it to be understood I c&U the bridegroom a beast, for that would be libellous you know—or at all events a breach of good manners, which I am at all times most careful not to commit.—

EXECUTION OF THE LYTTELTON MURDERER.

He Protests his Innocence on the Scaffold-

CHKISTCHURCH,

(From our own Correspondent.)

This day.

Mercer, the murderer of Elizabeth Thomp son, was executed at eight o'clock tins morn ing. Thef c was no change in his demeanour since his condemnation. He slept soundly last night, and walked with great firmness upon the scaffold. The Rev Mr Fergusson visited him at seven o'clock this morning, and wrote out a docu* ment asking prisoner to make a confession at the bottom of the paper. Mercer, with a linn hand, wrote the words—" I am not guilty of this crime. On the scaffold he said—"Good bye, gentlemen ! God have mercy on my soul; and, as the black cap was being drawn over his face, the words " I am an innocent man, were uttered by him. It is supposed that he said—" lam ; but that the utterance was interrupted by the drawing of the cap over his face. After the fall of the drop, the culprit struggled for some time, and his heart beat for three and a-half minutes afterwards. The fall was four feet. There is no doubt that the culprit died with a lie on his lips, as the evidence clearly proved that he had murdered the poor girl, after vainly attempt ing to commit another shameful crime. At the inquest the doctor stated that the prisoner's neck was not broken, but that he died from suffocation.

RESIDENT MAGISTRATES COURT.— This Day.

(Before His Honor Judge Beckham.) EMMA WELLS V. HENRY HILLS.

Claim £10 16s 6d. In this case which has been frequently before the Court, the plaintiff sued for goods supplied and money lent. It was at length submitted to Mr Hesketh for arbitration. Mr Hesketh's award was put in and read as follows : I find the plaintiff's claim proved to the amount of £9 Is, and the defendant's set off to the amount of £6 11s 6d, leaving a balance due to the plaintiff of £2 9s 6d. This sum is exclusive of any coats, buc inclusive of Mrs Mills' claim for making two pairs of ladies' drawers, which claim I have allowed, considering the amount of abusive and strong language which passed between Mrs Wells and Mrs Mills, all of which. I had to sit and listen to. My costs will amount to £1 lls 6d.—Signed, Edwin Hesketh, arbitra tor. May 6. WM. L. RT.ES V. H. KBESING, JUNR. Claim, £17 12s 2d. This was a claim for bill of costs, f and in the absence of witnesses was adjourned for another week. JAMES COTXPLAND V. ISAAC GOODWrN. Claim, £7 Bs. Mr Thome for plaintiff. This was a claim for goods supplied to defendant who did not appear.. Judgment for plaintiff, with costs £2 4s. This was all the business.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before F. L. Prime, Esq., Mayor, and Dr. Home). ESTEBKIATRD.

Maggie Condron was charged with being (Uunk last night in Queen-street, and fined ss. and costs.

JOHN JONES,

This well-known person was brought up under the Vagrant Act of 1866, charged with making use of obscene language in Shortland-street on the evening of the 6th insb. Prisoner scorned the charge. He was a gentleman, as he could prove by creditable witnesses who were not present. The case was remanded until Monday, in order that prisoner's respectable witness might be present. ANOTHER DOG. Timothy Hays was summoned under the Dog Nuisance Act, to shew cause why he allowed his dog " Blucher " to be at large in Queen-street, without a collar, on the sth instant. In accordance with the wish of Mr. Hays, the case was adjourned until Monday next. This was all the business.

FIRE IN CHAPEL-STREET.

Two Houses Destroyed

When the clock was on the stroke of 10 this morning, our citizens who had just settled' down to the day's routine of business were startled by an alarm of fire being given from one firebell after another, till about half-a -dozen were clanging away together. A volume of dark smoke rising from the high ground near the sea end of Chapel-street soon indicated the situation of the conflagra tion, and there was a general rush to the spot. Arrived there, flames were seen to have taken possession of the roof of a house forming the northern portion of a bl«ck of two having a frontage to Chapel-street, and situated im mediately in rear of the Star Hotel. They belonged to Mr Asher, draper of Queen street, and were occupied by Mr and Mrs Lawrence, newly arrived immigrants by the India, who- used the southernmost building, and the upper part of the other as an American boarding-house; tbe lower part being used as a dwelling-house by Mr Craw, asphalter, his wife and family The block was of wood, two-storey high, with weather-board walls and the rooms plastered inside. Two high brick chimnies appeared above the roof. On the sea-side of the houses was an open plot of ground, and on the other side an allotment atrip of land belonging to Mr C. O. Davis, *& which there were several out-houses, skirting the upper part of the continuation of West Queen-street. The Outbreak. The outbreak was so far as we can learn, first observed by Mrs Nichol and Mrs Warrell, two persons who occupy cot tages oh the opposite side of Chapel street. Mrs. Nichol states that she had smelt burning for aome minutes previous to seeing any indication of fire, and had mentioned the circumstance to Mrs. Warrell. About ten minutes to ten one of them saw flames burst from the roof of the northern building, close to and south of the chimney. This version of the outbreak is also given by a lady living at the Star Hotel, who saw the flames burst out. The Alarm- Mrs. Nichol, on seeing the flames, at once rushed over the street, knocked at Mrs. Craw's door, and gave the alarm. They also shouted to a man to ring the bell. Mrs Craw was sitting in the back-room at the time with her youngest daughter, who was engaged washing a dog. There were of course very much frightened, and their first impulse was to rush out of the house. The Furniture is Saved Immediately on the alarm being sounded, Mr^Hawkeswood summoned the men in his foundry, Hobson-street, and all rushed down and were amongst the first at the fire. They at once commenced the work of saving the furniture from both houses. The fact of the. fire having begun in the roof, enabled these and other volunteers-who came for ward as usual most zealously, to remove the greater part of the furniture. To this

for there was no water stfpply at hand, an) the fire had gained too complete posseisi?u of the roof, to be prevented spreadingV i having a few pails full thrown on it.y V gfibtier amount of care seemed to be eLi.;. cised in the moving than is usually | * case. Mr§ Craw mentions Messrs Pink^ Mitchell, Tremaine, and Detective Graced who were very prominent in saving her furniture. This was first piled on the opposite side of the street but had to be carried further down afterwards. By the the time the last of the furniture was out, the entire upper portion of the premises wag a sheet of flame.

The Fire Brigade arrived on the scene about nine minuter after the first alarm of the bell. The posv tion of matters then stood thus : The whol« • of the furniture in the buildings had-been taken out and the' flames had such a firm hold on the roof, that without a very heavy body of water there was n 0 hope of saving the block. The heat wu intense and the wind from the north-east was blowing the mass of flame across Chapel street, towards the wooden cottages on the other side. The two just opposite Asher'a ■ were owned by Mrs A. Duthie, and occupied by Mr Dent and Mr Orr. Next Mr OrVg was a house belonging to Mr Walter Graham, and occupied by Mr Tremain; and be tween Dent's and the corner shop (which was occupied by Mrs Warrell) were, two cottages occupied respectively by Messrs. Mason and Nichol. On the roofs of these places, willing volunteers were mounted, among whom we noticed Messrs H. Isaacs, E. Lewis, Asher, and various insurance company officers. Blankets were spread on the roofs and a very plentiful supply of .water obtained from the rear, which :\wag thrown freely over the shingles andfront. Two small hand engines were also got to work by the Fire Brigade, and were found very naef ul. The blankets spread over the ' front palings were several time* burned up, and Dent's house was twice on fire., The : smoke and sparks were also blinding;1 and the heat at one time so fierce that it wg impossible for anyone to remain a minute in front of the buildings. Notwithstanding this fact, those who had devoted themselves to this part of the work faced it out gallantly, and through their exertions ia due the fact that the fire in that direction was not more furious and destructive, as in ' all human probability had anyone of the six cottagw caught, not only&the whole of them would have been destroyed, but the fire would has extended through into Hobson-street and perhaps have involved the East side of I that street from West Queen-street to the sea in general destruction. "What the Fire Brigade did. -

When the Fire Brigade arrived they nn out hose in various directions apparently at random, for shortly afterwards they tolled them up again without any attempt to con nect. The next effort -was made to obtain a supply from the stand-pipe next Lewis Brothers bonded store, but this failed. Meanwhile the brigade were almost helplew for good, and the whole of the building, which burned like tender, was a mass of 1 flame. Some members of the brigade assi* ted in the work of sousing the buildings opposite with water, and of knockingdown the row of out-houses which extended from the burning buildings to the cottage of Mr C. 0. Davis, which fronts Upper "West Queen-street. There was, however. a most manifest want of system, of control, or of any defined policy for extin- I guishing the fire. One man flourishing I an axe tried to knock down one part of an outhouse, another rushed at something else, and the greatest of confusion prevailed. It seemed to us that pending the securing of a permanent supply, (which was ultimately obtained from Messrs. Thornton, Smith, and I Firth's mill, after the fire had burned 'itself . '" down) the engine might have beent'akea through Mr Davis's allotment, and attached to the tank full of water, which was left un touched till the fire was nearly over, a sup ply would have been obtained that would have kept the fire from progressing a« « v. did to the rear,' partly against the wind. . The brigade have no doubt a great deal to contend against in the want of any rep» lar water supply, but that is I organisation, promptitude, and fertility of resources is the more necessary, andwwu generally remarked that these were absent One man, Butterworth, seemed to grasp tht importance of the position of vantage attain" able at the back of the block, and worked like a Trojan single-handed, succesifjiUy fighting back the flames on the north m» ot the out houses. Destruction of the Out-housfls. On the other side of the row of out-noWiei. on Mr Davis's property already mentioned a number of men worked assiduously witnaxes, ropes, grappling irons, etc. Among the more energetic volunteers at work here we noticed Mr J. E,. Vaile and Mr W. Aitken. aTO| was, however, here no concentrated effort, J. on one place to form a break be***? 11 , the place where the fire was raging, and the small buildings further away from it. borne of the most stupid things were dene. ,«" man for instance was engaged £™"T.|J assiduously cutting down a peach. "•*» thirty feet at least from the fire, until he WM called upon to desist, when he set't»°^|| another harmless little sapling with:*** worthy of a better cause. Meanwhile The Flames made Rapid Progress- f along the row of out-houses towards the rw-igl dence of Mr C. 0. Davis, the • destruction ot which now seemed so inevitable that the furniture, which had hitherto been left un touched, was now bundled out pell-mell- i-»o ■ doubt to its considerable detriment. The far* I in the main building had now expended i« fury, and there was no longer any danger » m the bouses on the opposite side of the street j|| and the burning out-houses were more easily manageable. What the axe had not com pleted, the fire finished, for the bnrnwg through of the joists of one of the sb*U buildings enabled the many willing hands « M work to pull it foyer. A large supply ot water was now passed along in buckets from the tank already mentioned at the ba?"\°j , Mr C. O. Davis's house, and from a bMTM ■ at the side which had all this time remain* 1 :• unused, and by these combined and concen- m trated efforts on the narrow row of sn»u )| buildings the

Flames were Conquered, and their progress stayed. Up to thi« time . i nearly three quarters of an hour from tne outbreak of the fire, there had twice been a little water from the engines, which w*- ;| played upon the front of Nichol andMaionil cottages, and on the side of 'Laurence" > house, but the quantity was so small*"*' be practically valueless, and there *" j*? doubt the extension of the fire was presented independent of it. Now, however, a P^ B-r°i I supply came along the hose from the mill, ana this with the rain, that shortly afterward* commenced to fall, soon reduced the'&o«*W 4 a black mass of charred timber and W» gaunt chimnies. A large concourse 01 spectators, attracted by the nearness of tne fire to Queen-street, watched the, work 01 j. destruction, which was over in about *hr^** quarters of an hour. Sergeant-Major raray and the police rendered good service W various ways during the conflagration. Insurances- ■ .. The houses destroyed were insured in tfle Norwich Union Fire Insurance Society by. the owner, Mr Aster, for £400. . *ne I furniture and effects by Mr Lawrence m same office for £250, which ia subject to §ai- ,m vage. Every article was carried out. ', Mr 0. 0. Davis was not insured either vi house or furniture ; his loss was two «n»u : aheds pulled down, and damage done jn j taking out his furniture. He estimate* nia | loss as at least,£loo.": •: ■ :-, ' •' "' $1 Mr Warrell's three cottagesi Wcoupiea RM

fhb jmm m» mab, fbidai ,- j£M% iiW



TUESDAY, MAY" 11. COPPER, ANCHOR, LAMPS. . r\ ; NO RESERVE. E. & H. ISAACS "\TTILIj sell by auction pa Tuesday 7 - YT ■ ; ■ next, at 11 o'clock, 1 cask, containing Copper, Anchor, Lamps •(guarded). Colza and Kerosene Burners, j ■•-.;. '. ,;-, justlanded ex Fernglen, from London, in splendid order. ' No RfiSEBVE. The Lamps will be offered previous to the Ship's Stores. TUESDAY, MAY 11. "!' V 287 PACKAGES SURPLUS STORES, *■~>■•' . _. ' Ex ' Feenglen.' E. & H. ISAACS HAVE received instructions from the New Zealand Shipping Company, to sell by auction, at their Rooms, i'orfc-street, on lueaday, May IX, - * ; IMMIGRANTS STORES EX FERNGLEN, comprising— Oatmeal, Kice, Sugar, Flour, Currants, Salt, i—' Milk, Lime Juice, Coffee, Preserved Meats, , • ''■/'■ and Soups. ,Treaole, Tea, Soap, Biscuits, Baisins, Brandy, Beer, /Port, Sherry, Lan terns, Tanks, &c, &c. -^ ST I "■)' '■'. 'No Reserve. ._,■' •.. ' TUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE 1 We are now Opening up OTJ E NEW ,S TOO ;Z OF AUTUMN AND WINTER V DRAPER V & CLOTH IN G, To Hand Ex Ada, Baron Abk^dabk, &c, To oiuc order direct from the Manufacturers. FRENCH MERINOES in all colours , AliL WOOL PLAIDS ' .! WINCEYS SKIRTINGS •' SHIRTINGS FLANNELS BLANKETS ■-V- 4 ■•■ ■■ . , SHEETINGS And every description of FURNISHING GOODS. A Choice Lot of ■'■■''-■ ' CHILDREN'S, MAID'S, AND L4DTEB' WATTCR ' ' PROOF CLOAKS AND MANTLES LADIES' BLACK CLOTH JACKETS ; HOBISRF, ETC. FANCY DRESS MATERIALS in great: variety i ,■; w NEW CLOTHING, ETC. To be followed by further shipments ex Emily ' ' McLarren and Dunedin, RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN, ; - '"• ' ; (Lath R. Hobbs), ■ JinjfdriON , DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, , 1 Opposite tha Amy wd^F^^^*^__i_



-TTT EAR-RE SI STING FABRIC FOR BOYS' AND YOUTHS' CLOTHING. A. LINABURY & CO, Have just opened up a large quantity of Real Home Spun Melton Cloths, specially adapted for Boys' and Youths' Clothing, Double . Width (nearly Two yards wide), 3s 6d, 3a lid, and 4s Gd PER YARD. FIFTY DOZENS PAIRS [w SUPERIOR KID GLOVES, Jn all the leadiDg colors, ONLY Is gild PER PAIR. T QOSG-KAVE AND £i . BEG- to inform the Inhabitants of Auckland that, owing to excessive shipments to hand, and expected, they find it necessary to call a Sale of their DKAPEKY and MEN'S CLOTHING, botU 'Wholesale and Retail. The entire Stock, valued at «e75,000, has been Re-marked, and will be offered to the Public at COST. m" The SALE COMMENCES THIS DAY (FPJDAY), the 7th May, pt our Retail Premises, Queen-street.



Wiiat Protects Us Against Disease ? The preservation of bodily vigor and a regular action of the various organs. When a strict observance of the laws of Hygiene is not alone sufficient to prevent our vital energies from flagging, and our organs from lapsing into irregularities, we have the satisfaction of knowing that there is a most efficient and pleasant coadjutor in the preservation of health, upon which we can rely, viz., Udolpho Wolfe'» Schiedam Abo matio Schnapps.