SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER : Tbia evening, 5.22 ; to morrow morning. 547 ___ ____ , SUN SET : This evening, 5.8 ; SUN RISE: to morrow roorninsr, 6.50 MOON'S AGE : New Moon, Oth, 2.43 a.ra.

ARRIVALS

Kate McGregor, schooner, fiom Tauranga

DEPARTURES.

Southern Cross, s.s, for Raglan and Waikato (from

the Manukau) ~ , . "Wellington, ss, for the South (from the Manufe.au) Onw*rd. schooner, for Bussell Golden Isle, schooner, for Russell Gem, schooner, for Russell Atlantic, schooner, for Russell

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

ForLendon-Kapido, barque, early; w. w. bmitn,

Fo/ti^'Ts'liuids-Vision, brig, early; Charybdis,

sohonner, early For the North—lona, s s, Mon days For San Francisco-City of Melbourne, ss, 14th May For Newcastle—Elm Grove, barque, early For Hobart Town—Bella Mary, barque, early "For Thames—Prince Alfred, barquentine. at once For Kaipara—Atalanta, schooner; Wednesday, sth

For Kaipara—Tawera, schooner; Thursday, 6th lust.

VESSELS EXPECTED.

.1 Robina Dunlop, Bhip, from London i Lanarkshire, ship, from London ! Caller On ship, KMPK, from London ; sailed ■ W "W. Smith, ship, from I/jttelton, early I Shooting Star, oarque, KSKV, from London ; sailed | Emily McLaren, barque, from London; sailed 20th January . ! Cabarfeidh, barque, from Boston, via Table Bay ; i sailed December 21 Marathon, barque, from Boston via Melbourne, early Dnnedin. ship, from London ; sailed Feb 13 I Ebpeculador, barque, from Lyttelton ( Estelle, schooner, from Invercargill Lsetitia, schooner, from Dunedin Rapido, barque, PGKL, from Sydney, early Falcon, barquentino, from Port Chalmers ; sailed Bth insfc

IMPORTS.

81 Per Kate McGregor from Lyttelton: 255 bags II wheat, order. From Tauraa£a: 2 bales wool, order. if —D. H. McKenzie, agent.

I The s.s. "Wellington left the Manukau yesterday afternoon for the South She conveyed a large quantity of cargo and the following passengers :— Saloon : Mrs Hendry and 3 children, Mr and Mrs Floyd, Mr Ronaoas, Mr and Mis Bay ley, Miss Smart, Messrs White, Brown. Kohn, Key A. Reid, Messrs "Wheeler, Hawkins, Hamer, Hyman, Miss Woolley. Steerage: Messrs Larabert, Smith, Kerr, Boyle, Sharp. Yfittß Miss James, Messrs Bigermat, T. •Wardell, J. M. McFarlitne, A. Waddell, J. Smart, Bishford, Wah 3ug, and nine others. "The barque Shooting Star is now-132 days out from London. Her prolonged passage has already had the effect of increasing the rate of insurances on her cargo to 5 per cent. The schooner Charybdis.. bound for the Friendly Islands, takes the usual assortment of cargo adapted Bfor trade among the islands of the South fleas. Messrs Pavies, Owen, and a native go as passengers The schooner Kate McGregor airived yesterday ■ from Lyttelton via Tauranga. She left the latter port on Friday. Her careo consists of. wheat from ILyttelton and wool from Tauranea. To the Editor : Sir,—l bad no intention of entering Into a controversy as to the merits or demerits of Germinic or English Lloyd's when I made bold to correct a paragraph 'in your paper la«t week, nor did I know that the statement was made on the authority of the Surveyor to German Lloyd's andjthe two prif eipal shipbuilders in the place. However, that will not deter me from again asserting what I Ihen did ?ay, viz.: That the requirements of Germanic are Jess stringent, in place of beiDg more stringent as stated in the paragraph referred to, than that of English Lloyd's A case in point last year I made enquiries in Nova Scoti* for a vessel of a cer tain size to be classed. In answer I got replies from several bniWers, giving particulars and dimensions of vessels on the stocks, how to be rigged, cost per ton buiWers' measurement, or per ton gross register, tn be classed (according to choice) seven years Fnelfch I loyd's or pieht years Gernnn Lloyd's. So it mnst necessarily follow that the requirements of Geiman Lloyds are less stringent when they will class a vessel eight years, when English Lloyd's will only class the same vessel ssven yearn. If necessary, I can give the I name and address of the builders referred to. ( know, of my own knowledge, that much satisfaction was exprpss'd by shipbuilders in the lower provinces of the Canadian Dominion) at the time that Germanic Lloyd's fstablished agencies ameng them as being less stringent and giving their vessels a loDger class than the English Lloyd's would ; and Falso know that a great many builders patronized Germanic Lloyd's on that account. Ido not write this for Ihe sake of contradicting the Surveyor to Germanic Lloyd's or the authorities quoted by him, but to correct what may create an erroneous opinion among some people that have no opcortunity of knowing better.—l am, etc., D. H McKenzie. The Charybdis leaves this evening (weather per- Owing to ihe showery weather to-day very little ■business was done among the shipping. The ship Fernglen is alongside the wharf in the Hero's berth. She has not yet broached her cargo.

Commercial.

Mr. R. Arthur sold to-day fruit and jams, ex Bella Mary, at the following rates :— Apples, l^d to 3Sd : walnuts, Is 2M per lb ; hazle nuts, Is -Jd ; Wilson's 'jams, 7s 2d per dozen ; Holroyd's, 7s to 7s Id per dozen. Mr L. W. Eaton sold at his store 500 cases ©f apples and pears, ex Bella Mary. Apples realized from lfd to 2|d ; pears, ljd. Messrs Samuel Cochrane and Son to-day disposed of 4 hhds. of whale oil, the produce of the two whales recently caught at the Thames. The price realised was Is 8d per gallon. The ketch Fanny Kelly was offered at auction by Mr G. W. Binney to-day, but •withdrawn without any bidding.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as follows .— For iiawau and Matakana, per Lady Bowen, to-

morrow, at 9 a m. For Thames, to-morrow, at 9.30 a.m. For Gisborne and Napier, per Go-Ahead, to-morrow,

at 3 p.m. For Wangarei, #c, per Clyde, to-morrow, at 3 p.in Per City of Melbourne, on Fiiday, the 14th inst,, as under: — For Sandwich Islands, United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South Ameics, and British and Foreign West Indies, at 10.30 a.m. For the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, at 10.30 am. For money orders, registered letters, and news papers, at 9.30 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. E. Cosny, Acting Chief Postmaster.

DEATHS

LTTCA.B—n n the 28th April, at the Windsor Castle Hotel, Parnell, James Lucas, lute of H.M. 68th Regiment; in the 62nd year of his age.

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

MONDAY, MAY 3, 1876

For the cause that Jacks assistance, lor the wrong tint nee^ls reolKiaaca, °OT the future in the distance. Ani the good that we c&a do.

We would direct attention to a valuable and suggestive letter from Mr. Newman, in an other column, bearing on railway mismanage ment. The present dunder-headed conduct which characterises our local railway is patent enough in its results, to the eye of the most casual observer. But we have not the smallest expectation that the enlightened and sensible views, of which Mr. Newman is in his letter the exponent, will be enter tained until there is a clean sweep away of the present management. The illustration of the conditions of progress exemplified in the penny-post is thread-bare, but it is none the less valuable. A hundred instances of rapid and startling progress can trace their origin to the bold daring of Rowland Hill, but a hundred, thousand such in stances would be thrown away upon the class of menwhp see not farther than the tops of their noses, and whose minds could by no possibility be expanded to the noble conception of throwing a sprat to catch a mack erel. When the railway policy was projected we were assured ad nauseam that the profits of railway extension in a new country would be indirect; that not the immediateTeturns in freights and fares would be sought, but mainly the promotion of settlement and other colonizing objects ; and through these railways would ultimately be made to pay first for the '' fat required for the carriage wheels," then working expenses, then interest on cost of construction, and then profit to the revenue. But, like many another fair dream of fancy that attended the birth of the Great Policy, all this has vanished into thin air ; and now the necessity of providing pabulum for the whole army of bloodsuckers who have fastened an our public service, and the necessity of pur chasing political support, have entirely reversed the order of things, and the con ception and realization of the Policy have been as opposite as two things well can be. The fact that the Onehunga 'busses are successfully competing with the railway, supplies a striking commentary, not only on the local railway, but on the utter failure of the great Policy in our portion of the colony at leaßt. It has been a case of bit* promises and little resultß, plenty of cry and no wool.

The suggestions made by Mr Newman are such as might present themselves to any intelligent man ; and it is almost impossible to conceive how any man invested with the power of using these means of success could be so utterly stupid as to neglect them. To have the fires banked up, and the engines sim mering at the terminus—while coach after coach runs to and from Onehunga, while the rails are lying unused, and the interest is accumulating, and the hands are drawing pay, and the public are growling at the dis regard of all ideas of convenience—altogether combine, to produce an illustration of how not to do it, which could hardly be exceeded. Our correspondent alludes to the absence of any public notification of the hours of the departure of the trains. Perhaps it becomes not a journal to endorse this, and especially one that lies under the awful ban of Mr Frank B. Passmore's displeasure, because of our strictures on the incompetency exhibited in the management of this railway. But there are two other daily journals in Auck land besides this, and how is it that no one knows when the trains are to leave ? For the saving of a few shillings invested thus, pounds are lost, and the public are put to the extreme of inconvenience. All the sugges tions of our correspondent as to "sidings" for the convenience of settlers, etc., are quite in the practical spirit that is so characteristic and necessary amid the exigencies of colonial life; but "imported" talent picked vp — Heaven knows where or wherefore—cannot be expected to look at these thingg in other than the "haw haw" stylo that becomes those who bask in the lustrous splendour of the "great policy." For the realisation of Mr Newman's simple practical sensible ideas, we must only look to the inevitable sweep ing out of the rubbish that has aggregated during the past few years of public extrava gance. And it cannot be far distant now.

Rome was not built in a day, nor can we ex pect that our noble harbour shall have all the appliances it requires until after the laps, of time. But there is a very simple and not expensive appliance which we think should be among the earliest supplied. We refer to a crane or shears capable of lifting a boilc or other ponderous machinery, say of 20 tons from a ship's hold and depositing it on a wharf or pier. An illustration of its necessity is afforded in the case of the repairs contracted for in the steamer "Wellington." We under stand that reasonable as is the cost at which our local enterprise has undertaken these repairs, there might have been a saving of fifty or a hundred pounds; and more important still, of at least two weeks of delay had such an implement been among the tools of trade of the Harbour Board. It is true that the occasion would be a rare one on which its use would be absolutely neces sary, but even these rare occasions would pay a very large per centage of interest on its cost, while its absence may have the effect of preventing such occasions from arising, to the great detriment of our commerce and our local industries. The needless delay of such a valuable property as the "Wellington" steamer when she might be during those two weeks profitably employed by her owners, is part of the evil; buc there is also th<^ risk attending the lifting of her boiler by makeshift means, the possi bility of breakage, and of the boiler dropping through the ship's bottom, contingencies against which we are sure Mr Yeoman would gladlyi'pay a good round sum to provide, if he could take the steamer round to the point of the breakwater, or some other similar posi tion and there with such a shears "whip" the boiler out of the Wellington and land it on terra firma. The cost of this "tool of trade" we have heard variously estimated at from four hundred to one thousand pounds, but for such purposes as that indicated, and for lifting other ponderous portions of machinery it would be invaluable ; and if all the expenditure of the Board is as sure of a reproductive return as would these shears, the operations of the Harbour Board will be indeed a success.

Letters to the editor have got ahead of our space, and we are compelled to resort to the ''boiling-down" system. "Bourgooia" writes on the subject of "Public Griev ances." He attacks things all round, but particularly what he designates the "orna mental " parts of our institutions : mayors, town-clerks, and so forth. The silt-basins he considers a failure, and not nearly so good as he could have designed. Our correspondent then discourses in the following sweeping terms on the city employes: — "We have from four to twelve foremen going about with their coats on, tippling with the men, who are sweeping the streets with long-handled brooms, some gathering little stones, others weeding (the streets) on their knees, jobs fit for little boys; it is truly amusing. Look around, and see what kind of work is done of late years up to the present. What an amount of useless work has been done, and what a large amount of money is spending and spent, and so much of the work that will require to be redone, and some undone. I consider the market useless, except for one thing. It opposes the owners of shops on the outside of Queen-street. It draws a large amount of ready money on Saturday nights away from the suburban shops, where the people get credit■'; it must be visible to every one that the people ask credit from the shops outside of Queen-street, and go to the Market and spend their ready money ; and the shop keepers have to pay 2| per cent, on all rent to uphold this piece of folly." Mr James Gerrand, storekeeper, Rangiriri, writes com plaining bitterly of the way the local post office is conducted. He says : "I have seen respectable females go and look in and had to come back till the bar was clear, or send some male acquaintance to ask for their letters. Very often you cannot get stamps, and if you are not there at the scramble when the bag is capsized, you generally get no letters. One-fourth of my letters and invoices said to be sent from Auckland, I never get. I generally send about £300 per month per letters to Auckland, but as the office is conducted,' I have to send or go either to Newcastle or Mercer to post, or trust some private parties going down."

All tender* for the Ferry Company's new steamer must be sent in by noon to-morrow, or they will not be received.

Eight milkmen have been summoned under the Food Act, for adulterating their milk with water. The cases selected are the worst of the twenty-four samples tested at the Provincial Laboratory. The adulteration amounted to from twenty or thirty per cent.

Alley, the gum-digger, who was reported in our Saturday's issue as missing from the Whau block house, has not yet been dis covered. A few days before his disappearance he had asked Smith and Johnson, fishermen (the last named of whom died so suddenly yesterday,) for the loan of a punt to take some oysters to town, but was refused. The punt is now missing, and it is just possible that he took it. But circumstances generally point to the other conclusion already suggested, that he has been drowned in one of the many water-holes in the district. He was a solitary old man, seldom speaking to anyone. The block-house, where he lived, was in a shocking state of dirt—ashes were piled in an immense heap in the centre of the floor, and a few old rags in the corner formed his bed. His gam spear was left lying in a corner, and Borne kindlings, which had evidently been prepared ready to light afire,, remained unused. '

Tha election of a member of the City Council, vice Mr H. Isaacs, takes plaoe on the 12th instant. We would remind rate payers that everyone in the city who has paid his rates is entitled to vote, as there are no wards. The candidates are Mr E. Isaacs and Mr George Staines.

The election of a member of the Harbour Board in the place of Mr Tonks will take place on the lOch instant. The requisition and reply to Mr M. Niccol, and announce ment by Mr H. S. Meyers of his candidature, appear in our advertising columns.

The following additional licenses to kill game were issued to-day : —James Simpson, Newton Road; W. H. Cassin, Parawai; James Golding, Coromandel ;SamuelCoombes, Auckland ; Joseph Paice, Mount Aihert; Richard Marden, Auckland ; Stephen Fore man, Auckland. Additional licenses to sell game : Charles Curtis, Grahamstown.

We regret to hear that the Yen. Arch deacon Maunsell has been seriously ill during the last few days. Gastric fever is men tioned as the reverend gentleman's ailment. Yesterday, Archdeacon Clarke and the Rev. Mr. Burrows filled Dr. MaunselFs place in the pulpit ab St. Mary's, Parnell.

We are requested to state that Sergeant King, A. C, has not withdrawn the action for false imprisonment commenced by him against the Board of Inquiry at Tauranga, but intends to carry it into the Supreme Court.

Five more boys for the training schooner at Kohimarama have, it will bo seen by telegrams elsewhere, been despatched from Dunedin.

The Kawakawa Co-operative store has declared a dividend of ten per cent. The nett profits last quarter were £121 14s lOd.

At the confirmation service by the Bishop, yesterday, in St!|Sepulchre's Church 29 can didates were admitted.

It is surprising that accidents do not frequently occur with the cockle-shell boats in which some of our venturesome youngsters launch out upon the waters of the harbour. One of these unsafe crafts, however, did capsize on Saturday afternoon, leaving its two occupants struggling in the tide. They were, however, perfectly at home in the watery element, and soon attained a place of safety. Mr Jackson, of Tairua, is cutting a good horse track from his store to the upper camp, which will be completed in a few days. He is reported to have 10 packhorses on the road conveying Btores from his Tairua to his upper store ; and ships innumerable, so th at the freight of his goods from Auckland ia a mere song.

The sudden change from warm dry weather to cold and wet is not pleasant, but wo may console ourselves somewhat in the old way, by comparing our own with our neighbours' discomforts. From our Port Chalmers tele grams it will be seen that the winter has commenced in Dunedin with cold, snow, sleet, and rain, and that the hills are covered with the white mantle spread by King Frost, unknown in these latitudes. Last week the Ion? contiued drought was alarming the residents in the Southern capital and threat ening their water supply.

Some time ago the Harbour Board made it law that gunpowder should no longer be landed at the Wynyard Pier, but should be deposited from the lighters on an allotment specially set apart for the purpose in Mechanics' Bay. The allotment in question is about the iniddla ono of tho series extend ing from the railway bridge to Fraser and Tinne's new foundry. When this arrangement wa3 made, no doubt this was an excellent place for landing explosive material, as it was some distance from active seats of industry, and \va3 as safe from accidents—from falling sparks, etc., as any place near town could be. But things are changed now, and it would be as well if the Harbour Board were to reconsider tho suitability of the spot un der present ciroumstances. Close handy to the gunpowder allotment are now being carried on two ship-building yards, a foun dry and'a brick-kiln. Fire 3 arekeptconstantly going in all these places. This would not look very much like safety even if there were a covered shed to put the gunpowder in when it is landed ; but there is no such pro tection, and the barrels have to be exposed on the quay till they are carted away. The present arrangement might possibly exist for a century without an accident, bub it is as well to notice these things before public attention is directed to them in an unplea sant manner.

The following is the return of sick treated at Provincial Hospital for the week ending Saturday, May 1, 1875 : Re mained last return, 84 ; admitted since, 17 ; discharged, 9; died, 2 ; remaining, 90; males, 75 ; females, 15. Arrangement of cases: Zymotic, 26; constitutional, 6; local 36 ; developmental, 4 ; violent,. 18. Two deaths occurred during the week, viz. : Ist, J.W., male, aged 30 years, on 25th ult. of phthisis pulmonalis; 2nd, G.McC, male, aged 34 years, on 29th ult, from con cussion. N.B.—Old linen very much needed-

Fire at Otahuhu

A fire occurred on Saturday evening at Otahuhu,, which resulted in the destruction of an outhouse on the farm of Mr John Taylor, and of a valuable bull which it was found impossible to geb out. Mr Taylor had a short time before been feeding the bull, and it is supposed that he must in some way have caused the fire. The out house was near two stacks of hay, but fortunately those did not catch fire. Mr Taylor's loss is considerable, as the out-house contained besides the bull, several tons of potatoes.

Awfully Sudden Death

An occurrence illustrating the fearful uncer tainty of life happened at the Whau yester day morning. Two fishermen, named Arthur Johnson and John Smith have for some years lived in whares built on the beach, in a little bay, about 100 yards from the Whau block house. They were deserters from the ship Percy, twelve years ago, and have continued mates ever since, amid many changing for tunes, sometimes working as bushmen, and sometimes gum-digging, but for the last five years, following the life of fishermen, with their little smack, on the waters of the Manukau. On Saturday, Johnson came into town. He was apparently in excellent health, and had nerer compTained of illness. He returned in the evening, and was per fectly sober, in fact, he was a man who seldom touched intoxicating liquor. The two mates occupied their separate whares that night, and in the morning both got up quite well, and breakfasted together. After breakfast, Smith went out to feed the horse and left Johnson in the whare. The latter com menced Bweepimg it out with a broom, and shortly afterw»r« Smith heard him cry oat "Oh! my leg I" He ran immediately to see what was t&* natter, and wai jtist im time to catch the poor fellow in his arms aa he was falling. Johnson expired a few minutes afterwards. His mate, who was very much distressed by this sudden dis solution of the bond of friendship that had existed for so many years, sent word to Newton, and Constable Clark went out with an express and brought- the body in to the dead-house at Freeman's Bay to await an inquest. The deceased waß about 29 years of age

THE INQUEST was held thig afternoon at the Freeman's Bay hotel, when the above facts were de posed to by Smith, the mate of the deceased, who was the only one near when the unfor tunate died. The inquest was proceeding when we went to press, but there is no doubt the verdict will be death from natural causes : disease of the heart.

RAILWAYS AND THEIR MAN ottp AGEMENT.—A CONTRAST.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) g IB) lam glad you have on behalf of the public undertaken to expose the blunders of our railway management, but I fear you will have a long struggle before you can accom plish much, and perhaps a few thoughts from a correspondent may help to promote your object. The question, Will the railways repay the interest upon the money borrowed to con struct them ? or will they repay the work ing expenses ? or will they pay for the fat required for the carriage-wheels ? is so often asked with a slialce of the head, and a serious look, that you are led to suppose that the existence of the colony depends upon the answer. Well, I confess the future success of the colony does in a great measure depend upon the future success of the railways—and yet paradoxical as it may appear, I think the present profits of the railway _ traffic should in a great measure be lost sight of. for the purpose of securing the one grand idea of universal prosperity to the people. _ We are nearly in the same position with our colonial railways as the Post-office autho rities were when Rowland Hill assailed them. The charges were high, but the entire revenue was required, and no scheme could be entertained that would entail any loss. Reduce the charges, said Rowland Hill, and increase your accommodation to the rmblic, and eventually your returns will be increased. But his Grace the Duke of Man chester and' another nobleman have a life interest in the Post-office revenue, and you endanger their pensions. Never mind the Duke of Manchester, said the advocates for reduction, reduce the charges, increase the accommodation to the public, and the Duke's pension shall be paid. After years of struggling a concession was at last made, and the old shilling charge gave way to four pence, but half-measures generally fail, and the fourpenny charge failed entirely. The contest became hotter, still abusive language was bandied about pretty^ freely even in the public press. Ruin, nothing but ruin would be the result of the penny postage. If the shilling was required the 'penny could, not, would not meet the Government require ments. Happily the penny was tried. The results are known, and the Post-office reve nue is now larger than even in its shilling days,, but what is far more interesting to your readers, every village, every hamlet, and almost every house hears the postman's " rap, tap, tap" every day in the week. It will require a wiser head than mine to tell how intellectual culture, social intercourse, and domestic enjoyment are promoted by these penny letters, and it would require a long array of figures to tell how much the general revenue of old England has been augmented by the increase of com merce brought about by the increased means of communication. This is rather a long introduction to my subject, but I just want to show that the old argu ments are reproduced. "It won't pay, " " it won't pay," so the opponents of railways have said from the beginning. Nothing so cheap as water traffic —so says the ship owner, so the advocates for the old Graves end sixpenny steam boats contended, and with a good show of reason on their side, when the boats were loaded ten times a day,_ and often endangered by over-loading, but where are theynow? Why, the railway on each side of the Thames takes the passengers, and leaves the boats nearly empty. But say the ship-owner's |heavy cargoes such as coal and grain will require to reach their market by shipping, thus abandoning the passenger traffic and admitting the superiority of the rail for travelling. Tho advocates for shipping contend that produce and coal must go by water ; but returns show that nearly all the vast increased consumption of coal in London finds its way to the city by trains, while fche quantity conveyed by ships remains nearly the same as it did five years since. This result is brought about by pro viding increased accomodation to the con en mer—by extending railways to the West End of the city—and under ground ones for the centre. N'-arly every one finds a railway coal depot within half a mile of his coal shed, and the consumer is not slow to avail himself of the advantage ; and yet, with such facts before us, our railway managers appear unable to compete with the Onehunga bus. lam almost tempted to cry fhame on the railway, bat the matter is too serious to jest about, I rather prefer to urge forward some changes. Let the proposed tension of the line be carried out at once, and Gx the terminus at the wharf; let tramways bo laid to the end of the pier, and along the street if necessary and let our railway managers be impressed with the fact that the ordinary rules of commerce cannot b9 set aside without injury to the community and loss to the Government; and however well qualified the present managers may be in some departments, they shew themselves to be entirely regardless of the requirements of the people who use the line. Time-tables and rates of charges should be made known as widely as possible ; (this rule of trade is almost ignored at present). Then increased accommodation must be pro vided and charges lowered; so as to make the rail the cheapest and the best for the public. Some engineers advocate a train every hour to Onehunga and Drury, and contend that, as the fires have to ba kept burning all day, and the men en gaged by the week, it would add very little to the cost of working ; and running fre quently would enable the manager to run fewer carriages, and thus increase the speed. If this course were adopted, the Onehunga 'busses would soon become an event of the past : like the Gravesend steam-boat. The fact of these 'busses running is proof posi tive of some mismanagement somewhere. Then the farmers and country people living along the line will require inducements beyond what are at present offered.

Sidings should be provided for every producer to enable him to load his hay or grain or potatoes without carting to the station, perhaps two miles distant; and when tramways are laid along our wharves and streets the truck-load of prodnce will be conveyed to the store or ship without reload ing. If the cost of the siding is too great for the Government, let the need of this auxiliary bs tested by the farmer being required to contribute a fixed portion of the cost. There will be many other methods suggested to the managers, let them be wisely tested, and whatever tends to increase the prosperity of the people by all means adopt it. Present returns may to some ex tent be left in abeyance, only give the people the power to get wealth and the Government need not fear. The success of the people being secured, the railway of necessity will succeed also, but lower charges and increased accommodation to the public must be their motto.—l remain, yours truly,

Joseph Newman.

THE LATE ARSON CASE.

(To the Editor of the Stab.)

Sir, —Taking your motto for my guidance, " The wrong that needs resistance," I hope you will allow me space for a few words in your journal, which is always foremost in defendiug the oppressed. On the night of the fire in my house, I was the first who discovered it and gave the alarm, and it was principally owing to my exertions, together with the aid of Mr Syms, that a whole block of buildinss was saved from destruction. This could be proved by Mr Syms, who was the first person to enter the house : a man of respectability and standing, who saw me in a nude state trying to extinguish the fire. Still this gentleman, who should be the first witness in the caße, was not required by the prosecution, although they were informed of the fact. And why ; was he not required T Simply because he could have told the truth Truth is seldom wanted when a conviction is

required ; and even taken for granted the whole facts of the case to be true, as heard in Court, was that sufficient grounds for the action taken by the police in refusing ad mittance to my wife and family into their own house. This was denied in Court, but such has been the case, as could easily be proved. Further, they retain possession of my workshop for three days, and when handed over, half my tools are missing, and no satisfaction is given about them, lam simply told they did not steal them, and the Insurance Company refuse to pay for them. I would ask, who is responsible ? Surely the police, when so smart on one side, shottld not be lukewarm on the other. I believe it is their duty to protect property. I could say more, but Ido not wish to occupy your time.—l am, sir, your'a respectfully, George D. Burke:.

May 3, 1875.

OHINEMURI.

(from our own correspondent.) Paeroa^ May 1. STATE OF ROADS. The question of the day now is how are stores to be got up to Mackaytown, suppos ing that the rainy weather continues for a te% more days. The roads are fast setting impaseable, and the river has risen several feet Yesterday a dray attempted to reach Mackaytown with a small load of timber, and accomplished the feat with great diffi culty, and the assistance of additional horse flesh If the miners were not compelled to go to Maokaytown on account of the Warden's offices being there situated, there would be no occasion for any one to go near the place, for it is out of the way from the steamer landing to either the Kara ngahake, Rotokohu, or the Waitekaun. As it now is the Government have compelled the diggers to cross the river several times at a ferry charge of twopence for each crossing, so that to get to Lipseytown from the Pae roa there is a toll of sixpence per head, the river having to be crossed three times, and when there is a heavy fresh sixpence has been charged the unfortunate travellers in crossing the river from Mackaytown to the Pros pectors', on the Karangahake spur. RETURN RUSH FROM TAIRTJA. Several miners have returned from Tairua and say that in going there they jumped out of the fryingpan into the fire, _ and that the whole country is frightfully broken, the roads impassable, and the diggers in a state of confusion respecting their right to ground ; they have pegged out on account of the leases taken up. They all admit, however, that the Prospectors Claim is rich in gold, but nothing to speak of has been discovered elsewhere, n -^ nrrn THE NEWDISCOVERY AT ROTOKOHO. The claim in which the new reef has been discovered at Rotokuhu has been been registered the Cambria. The hundred weight of stone and mullock taken from the cap of the"! reef and crushed at Mr Quints; one stamper at Grabamstown yielded 4 dwts of gold, or at the rate of 4 ozs to the ton. The gold is of the same value as the Pros pectors, Karangahake, namely about two pounds fourteen shillings per ounce. The Cambria reef is situated about a quarter of a mile from Snowden's claim, lower down towards the R,orokohu basin. The reef, crosses the creek from a spur running east and west from the main ridge, which shoots out of the Karangabake Spur, and the Cambria lode presents a some what similar appearance to the reefs found in the Prospector's, being composed of rubbly quartz and a reddish clay bound, together with a kind of cement. It is nearly thiee feet in width and has two defined narrow walls of brown clay. Almost every dish of stuff taken from the reef, when pounded and panned off, shews more or less gold ; some times coarse, jagged pieces similar to what is found: in the creeks, and at other times the gold is so fine that it is with great difficulty discovered. Although the reef has only been opened a fortnight, 112 lbs. weight of stuff has already been crushed at Graham town, and I believe it is tne intention of the shareholders to forward to Grahamstown next week one ton as a further and more complete test.

HUNT' 3 PARTY.

Hunt's party have pegged out a claim adjoining the Cambria's western boundary in the creek, and another claim has been taken up higher up the spur to the eastward. The course of the reef, as far as can be ascertained at present is about E.S.E. and W.N.W., with'an underlay if anything, for it is nearly perpendicular to the South. If there had been many diggers left in Ohinemuri to rusbl—the surrounding ground would no doubt have been pegged out for a long distance, but there is really no one here to rush, consequently only a few claims have been taken up. SMITH AND SNOWDEN'S. In Smith and Snowden's claim work is still carried on below the clay slide, but the air is very foul and the work is carried on with some difficulty, a leader hag been cut but does not shew gold, and they will, I think, have tb confine their attentions to the risk run which they have in hand along the slide. Most of the claims in the vicinity of Smith and Suowden's have been abandoned, and the owner* left for the Tairua Goldfield. THE KARANGAHAKE.-7.-~- On the Karangahake, work is progressing; not however in all the mines so satisfactorily as could be wished ; probably from want of that very necessary article—dubbed, funds. The prospectors at last I hear are about to have a battery erected. It is now getting along for three months since this ground was opened, and the stamps ought to have been at work or nearly so by this time ; now that the rain has eet in there will be some diffi culty 'in carting machinery to the Gorge. The Alii Nations are in good country, and have found gold ; and the Home Rule may be expected to cut one of the Prospectors' reefs very shortly, but without batteries to crush the stuff the mines as they now stand are of little value.

PRINCE OF WALES THEATRE.

The second entertainment by Mr. and Mra. Case, which was produced in accordance with announcement, on Saturday night, was quite as successful as the first. The general design ->f "Apartments for a Bachelor" is almost identical with that of the " Latest Intelligence" sketch. Mr. Case personifies .the bachelor, whose lodgings are invaded by all manner of queer people, who worry him, tease him, and frighten him till he is on the verge of lunacy. His visitors include Kate Mooney, an Irish maid of all work ; a "nip ping" landlady ; Captain de Boots, a military swell who sings two songs, Deborah. Griggs, a school girl, with a penchant for singing ; a country bumpkin ; Bob' Jinks a cabby. This ended the first part of the performance., In the second half of the entertainment the visits are continued by Miss Minerva Cassandra a poetess who inflicts highly ■wrought fancies on Mr Case j following her we have a dancing girl; a singing genus, Mr Horatio Gingline, who pours forth in gushing tones " Though art so near and yet so far ;" Miss Martha Evergrowl, a misanthropic old lady; and a Sleepy Boots. These widely different characters were all assumed by Mrs Case with an ease and finish which were re markable. It would be difficult where all are so good to select any qharacters which are rendered more perfectly than others, but if any preference is to be given it is, strange to say, to those in which Mrs Case departs furthest from her natural voice and deport ment. Among those on Saturday night were the old landlady, Miss Evergrowl; and the counf y bumpkin. Mr Case was as clever as be fore in his wonderful instrumental solos. His performances on the concertina again called down thunders of applause. No two per formers could be more adapted for acting in concert than Mr and Mrs Case. Their talents are combined to produce the best en

tertainment of the kind we have witnessed in Auckland for a long while. They will appear to-night with the same programme.

POLICE COURT.-This Day.

(Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., R.M.) DRTTNK.

Thomas Airay, Alexander Walker, Thorn«« H. Mason, Henry Jones, Albert Tudberry, and John Nash pleaded guilty to having been drunk, and were punished as per usual. Alexander Walker, and John Carr, out on bail, did not appear, and their bail waa ordered to be forfeited. .EXPOSURE.

George Dysetfc was charged with wilfully I and obscenely exposing himself in Queen, street on Saturday night. The offence being admitted, his Worship commented upon the frequency of such cases, and ordered the prisoner to be committed to prison for three months with hard labour. SUNK IK INIQUITY. Agnes Conlon, one of the most inveterate offenders who are seen in the Court, wag charged with being drunk, and also with being an incorrigible rogue and a vagabond. Prisoner pleaded guilty to both charges, and for the first received, a sentence of seven days, and fot the second —four months' imprisoa ment. A HOW IN JERMYN STREET. Walter Pell was charged with wilfully breaking a pane of glass, value Is. 9d., and iniuring a door to the extent of 305., ,the property oE Mrs. Conley, in Jermyn Street Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr. Rees appeared for the defence. ! Susan Conley, residing in Jermyn Street, deposed that last night, about 10 o'clock, she sa*v the prisoner knocking at, her door., and driving at it with a stick. He used J" frightful language to her daughter. He poked the stick through ; the window and injured the door to the extent of about 30a. She did not know the prisoner. He had no reason for doing what he did. By Mr Rees : She was quite certain she did not see the prisoner at the Royal.Hotel, on Sunday afternoon. ' :^ . Mr Beckham : Perhaps you are forgettinfif the fact that yesterday f?aa Sunday, Mr Rees ; they could not have been there yea-a, terday. - Mr Rees : I am not so sure of that, your ( . Worship. The witness steadily swore that she had never seen the prisoner before," either by himself or.in. company' with a man named Mahoney. Annie"Hassell, amarried daughter of the last witness, said the prisoner came to her mother's door last night just as she was going to bed, and made a great disturbance. He wanted, to come in, and said if she,didn's, open to him he would break the house down. By Mr Rees: Her mother, at the time the prisoner was breaking the door, was return ing from seeing a friend home. She was in the act of opening the door when he pushed the umbrella produced through the glass. It was not the umbrella produced in Court, but a much heavier one. He broke the" door with the umbrella. . She did not know whether her mother had offered to withdraw the charge for a sum of money. Mary Conley deposed to being the first to hear the prisoner at the door. He said his name was Pell. She called her sister.. She saw the damage done,to the window. ..„,,_ . Constable Hanley said he went toj Jer-. myn-Btreet in consequence of what he heard from Mrs Conley; -He found the door and window ' damaged. The window had a small hole through it. •al though a stick had been pushed through it. The panel of the door injured was an upper panel. It could not have been damaged by a kick. He arrested the prisoner at Fer nandez's hotel later on. ' , . Henry Mahoney deposed that he himaelr, Pell, and the prosecutrix were all together^ in the Clarence Hotel on Sunday evening. Pell asked Mrs Conley to have a dtink: She. had a glass of port. His Worship : And what did you-have ! Witness : Sherry your Worship. ; ' His Worship : Oh ! sherry, eh ? and what did Pell have ?

Witness : He had port, sir. ; His Worship: Why, it must have been quite a nice little party. - (Laughter.) And on a Sunday evening, too. I trust the police will take notice of these pleasant little gatherings at the Clarence Hotel. ... Witness: After drinking, Mrs Conley went out by one door, and Pell by another. He was quite sure that Pell and Mrs Conley met, and spoke' to one another at the Clarence Hotel last evening. The drink was served by the landlady. His Worship said it would be as well to get the testimony of the landlady. There was perjury somewhere. He should ad journ the case till to-morrow. The prisoner was admitted to bail on his own recognisances of £10, and the case was adjourned. "?.''■:*.

- LAJRCENY. Daniel "Donovan, accused of stealing articles of wearing apparel from the Pro vincial Hospital, was , remanded, on the application of Mr Broham, till Wednesday.

HOCUSSING. . Alexander' Campbell alias Douglas, and Martha Nicholson,were, charged on remand with stealing £8, 'tW "property of Owen Martin, on the 27th ultimo, in West Queen street. • • ... i c ■ ... ~

The male prisoner is a man about 35 years old, with a dark bushjbeird.- The female prisoner is a pretty little girl' about 13, who seemed wholly unaware of the Berious nature of the charge brought against her. • ■ \ . ■=. Owen Martin deposed, that he came up ~ from Corpmandel last month. He went to the Qld House at Home to stay. On the fy 27th ult. he went to"have dinner atNiehol-' " son's Boarding-house, in West Queen-street. After dinner he felt queer, and went up stairs to lie down., ( He had- one, fiye:pound '' note, two one-pound notes, a sovereign, and some; silver in his pocket aat the"1 time.) ■ He had fixed a pin in his waistcoat pocket to prevent the notes' getting dut.^ He was .. roused in his sleep by feeling the girl taking 1% money from his pockets. She had some-: silver in her band. He took the money V away from her, and .'gave her a "box,*' He did not count the money. He searched his pockets"before" he left the house and found all his money gone except the silver he had taken from the female prisoner. He saw the male prisoner before he went for the * police. He asked him to go out, but he would not. He pointed out the room where Camp bell was to the detectives. The notes pro duced were similar to those he had lost. He could not swear to them.

By Mr Laishley: Although he took the beer a week ago and still felt the effects of it, he was woke up within half-an-hour of drinking it by the female prisoner taking the money out of his pockets. The prisoners asked no questions. Detective Grace deposed to going to the house in question at the solicitation of Martin. He spoke to tha male pri soner, and asked him if he knew anything about the money. (lie replied in the negative. Witness then asked him if he was in the house when the prosecutor went up to lie down. He replied that he was, and that he had been about the house from dinner-time to the time when prosecutor complained of the loss of his money. Witness then told the female prisoner to put on her hat as she would have to come to the station with him. Campbell asked witness to go and search the closet aahe had seen prosecutor out there, and he would sooner see the money found than see the girl go to gaol. He accom panied the prisoner out to the closet where he searched about the boards with his hands. They could find nothing. A short distance off there were some sticks of firewood. : In lighting up one of of these witness plainly saw prisoner drop from his coat sleeve one five pound note, and one one pound note (produced). He then charged him with the present offence. The prose cutor pointed out to him the room ia a

ttus' wnmfßQjNtAs, mondai?, may 3, im ;



PURCHASE OF TpREEHO LD s FINDING-we had not sufficient room for onr fast increasing trade, we have PURCHASED THE FREEHOLD of the I CITY HALL PREMISES, Extending from Queen-street to Lome-street, ■which •will enable us very shortly to meet the wishes of our numerous friends and public by opening a SHOW KOOM on the Ground Floor for Millinery, Under clothing, and Fancy Goods. Due notice will be given on the completion of the extensive alterations now proceeding. HOLLOWAY^ GARLICK DRAPERS & CLOTHIERS, 230, Queen-street, Auckland. *»* N.B.—The Hall and Large Cellar to let for a ongor short period. piTY /Slothing ti/takt, 92, QUEEN-STREET, NEXT DOOR TO THE AUCKLAND HOTEL AND Opposite the National Bank. the entire business is now carried on in the One Establishment, where the Public will find an ENTIRELY NEW STOCK, .which, for Cheapness and Quality, cannot be Equalled in New Zealand. Every requisite for Gentlemen's wear in stock. Men's Boys' and Youths' Clothing, Hats, Caps, Scarves, Hosiery, Portmanteaux, &c, &c. SAMUEL COOMBES, | 92, QUEEN-STREET. rY¥T EAR-RE SI STING FABRIC : I FOR BOYS' AND YOUTHS' CLOTHING. A. LINABURY & CO. j pave just opened up a latjje quantity of Real 1 1 Home Spun Melton Cloths, specially adapted iOrJ?M. Youths' Clothing, Double II Width (nearly Two yards wide), IBs 6d, 3a lid, and 4s'6d PER YARD. |j| FIFTY DOZE.iI PAIRS ||STJPERIOR KID GLOVES, Ek ,In all tho leading colors, ■ ONLY Is lid PER PAIR.



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