SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER : Tbis evening, 0.39 ; to morrow morning, 1 33 SUN" SET: This evening, 6.1 ; BTJNEIBK: to morrow amrnin?, 6 3 MOON'S aGIS : lfirst Quarter 15th, 0 44 p m

ARRIVALS.

vo-Ahesd, ss, from Gisborne Pretty Jane ss, FernM ez, from Gisborne l-ly.-o, schooner, from W.'in.nrei Tt»raii{iki, s.s., from the South

DEPARTURES.

■Feerlnss, Fchocmer, for Katpara Sdi-Hli, brig, fqr.NowO'ScJe ■AjE'es, suhooit'T, for Dunedin Wave, brig, foy Timntra

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

jfot Leßflon- Eaj.ido, barque, early For UuneJin—lsabe la rratt, schooner, early. For s ftn Fraaauco-Mikado, s.s., (next English

Wail), March 19 i"or the Jslfiuds - Martha, barque, early For Naoter—lnverene. ship, early For London-Gl^njora. s:up, early Daphne, for Levuka, at once For Ho»art Towii —Belta ivl»ry, barque, to-morrow For u»» -*<-uth—Taranaki, ss, 18th inst Tor iiunedin—Ma^gi^ Patersoa, echooner, early For Lyttelton, via Kaipara-Helena, brigantine For Bluff- India, ship, early

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Hero, s.s, from Sydney, about 23rd Wonga Wonga, from Sydney, early Caller Uu, ship, KM PK, from London ; sailed Fernglen. ship, from London : sailed Baron Aberdare. ship, from London; tailed Dec 8 Shooting Star, oarque, KSli V, from London ; siiled Dec 23

IMPORTS.

Per Taranaki, from the South :—2 cases, Bank of New Zealand ; 2 bales, Anderson ; 6 plates iron, Masefield ; 2 casks, Renshaw; 1 cask and 1 case, Kempthcrae, Prosser, Co.; 2 cases, Kohn; 11 bales, Clark & Son ; 1 case, Roe.; 12 hhds. ale, Ryan & Bell ; 1 pkg Breadbent; 41 sacks, Suiter; 4 cases and 8 kegs, order; 1 case, Bail way depart ment ; 5 sacks, Jakins & Willcox ; 3 cases, Telegraph; 2 pkga Upton ; 4 bales and 2 cases; Major Tisdall; 4 bags, Binney; 1 pge, National Bank of New Zealand; 3 boxes gold, Bank New Zealand ; 12 kegs Solomon; 2 pkgs, Bannea ; 1 box, Drake ; 2 pgs, Reid-; 6 do, Paddon ; 2 do, Morrin ; 4 empty hogsheads, Seccombe; 10 cases, Veale ; 2 do, Lewis Brothers ; 9 do, Hos- Mns ; 2 do, Barnes.—W. F. Wheeler, agent N.Z.S.S. Co.

THE PRETTY JUNE.

The A.S.P. Company's screw steamer Pretty Jane arrived in harbour early this morning, after a suc cessful passage from Gisborne and Big River, where she has been lying ptranded for some weeks past. After being raised (particulars of the raising have already appeared) her engines were cleaned, and she was ex pected to come up in company with the s.s. Go ahead, which left Gisborne on Thursday. But the steam launch which was bringing her gear stuck on the bar, and prevented her starting till Friday night at ten o'clock. The engines, considering all things, •worked wonderfully well. vr hen off Hick's Bay at noon on Saturday the bilge- x nunps Wore found to be choked, and Captain Fernandez put into ttia Bay to clear them. Here the vessel remained till 7 o'clock the same evening, when a fresh start was made. The ■weather could not haveljeen more propitious for the journey. There was a scarcely peceptible head wind and the sea was as calm as it could well be The Hole in the "Wali was passed at 8 o'clock last night. Cape Colville was rounded about midnight, and the .harbour was made at seven thiß morning. The b.s . Southern Cross, Captain Holmes, was passed on Saturday morning at 8 o'clock, about eight miles south of the' East Cape. The Pretty Jane, as she lies alongside the A.S.P. Company's T, presents a very sorry spectacle. All her bulwarks are gone; her saloon is comjiletely gutted'; the galley has disappeared ; her decks, which have ■slightly been started in pl»ce3, are covered with patches of planking ; thef boiler casings have been carried away, and sacking appears in their place ; in short, she shows ample indications of the trouble she has gone through. In addition to what damage appaaraon the surface, other and more serious injury lies hidden bslow. Amidships her plates, from her bilge to her keel, are bulged in in such a manner as to warrant tha belief that she must have broken in two had not prompt measures rescued her from her criti cal position; plates are started here and there, and, with the main leak, have had to be temporarily repaired. Several of her iron knees are so sttained as to be useless. The hole made by the anchor is on the starboard bow, flash with the foremast. This h*s an Iron plate riveted over it ontsido. Mr W. ladder, who has been instrumental in raising the steamer, came back to town by her.

The s.s. Taranaki, 299 tons, Captain C. Uoyd, arrived in the Manukau to day. She left Dunedin at 2.30 p.m. on the 6th ; Lyt telton at 5 p.m. on the 9bh ; Wellington at 2 p.m. on the 11th ; Picton at midnight samo day ; Nelson at 1 p.m. on th** isit. , mP*,r± enced strong 3N.W. winds to Taranaki, arriv ing there at 7.30 a.m. on the 14th; left at 1 p.m., and arrived at Onehunga at noon. Passengers :—Saloon : Mrs Tennant, Messrs Higs&n, Fitchener, Chamberlin, Laurence, Mrs McAwloff, Messrs Pollard, Wallace, McLean, Martin, Fox, Mr and Mrs Fox, Mr Kearnes, Miss Higginson, Colonel and Mrs Mould, Messrs Anderson, Harris, Mr and Mrs Nathan and child, Mr Collins and family, Mr Donald and family, Mr and Mra Smith, Messrs Levy, Garble, Oapt. Souar, Mr Kobinson, Mrs Humphries, Capt. Eussell, Mr Russell, Miss Smart, Captain Ellis Messrs Clsjton, Thompson, and 52 steerage.. We are indebted to Mr C. J. Edmiston, purser, for files and report. The s s Go-Ahead arriv d from Gisborne on Satur day night After landirg hir passengers she pro ceeded to the Tatnaki to put out her cargo of sheep and cattle. She returned to harbour on Sunday morning And has been since placed in the gridiron for clean ing. Passengers: Cabin-Messrs Moss, Owen, Scarfe, J. and W Gay, Kelly. Hart, and Horsewell. steer age : Wi Wlabierl and sister. The s.s. Rowena leaves for the North at five o'clock this evening,

The schooner Clyde arrived from Wangarei to-day at noon. She had a fine weather trip up, and brings her usual cargo of produce and 12 passengers. The brisjantine Helena was brought alongside the wharf to-day, to take in ballast prior to leaving for Katpara, where she is to load lor Lyttelton.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

• ,-.,..•• Nelson, This day. The Ladybird arrived from New PJymouth at hals past ten yesterday morning. Lyttelton, This Day.

The Albion, with the Suez mail, arrived from Oamaru at half-past six on Sunday mornihg, and the Wellington left with the mail at 4 p.m. for 'Welling ton and the North.

Port Chalmers, This day. The s.s. Phoebe, arrived from Lyttelton with the 'Frisco mail at 1.30 p.m. yesterday. Napieb, This Day. " The Southern Cross arrived from Auckland at 130 a, m. yesterday. Manttkatt Heads, This day, 11 a.m. The Taranaki is crossing the bar. (From our own Correspondent). • Poet Chalmebs, This Day. The barqnentine Falcon, Captain Bendall. arrived on Sunday from Melbourne. The Captain reports that on March 2nd, encountered severe S.W. gale in Bass Straits. Had the life-boat smashed. The cargo shifted a little. Hove to a few hours under the lee of Tasmania. All welL

Sailed :,Emu, barqueutine, for; Auckland. The ■chooner Laatitia from Auckland is nearly discharged.

COMMERCIAL.

At the sale of leises of allotments to-day for a lease of 99 years, at the Auction Mart of Messrs B. Tonks & Co, of Qaesn-itreet, th* following sams were realised at annual rents:—Section 3, lot 3, £25 10 a, purchaser Elliot SSeyei; lot 4, £26, James Ansenne; lot 5, £21 10s, Or. "Waller: section 4. lot 4, £21 10s, Colonel Balnea via; lot ,5; -£23, Alfred Bm»rt; lot 6, £23, Alex Campbell; lot 7, £21, Thomas Belcher ; section 5, lot 9, £23 103, G. A. Ayey; section 6, lot 1, £100, Wm, Crowthor. The Ilotments are situated in Symonds and Wellesley treets, and were disposed of by order of tliu Auck mnd Improvement Commissioners.- -

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as follows .— For Thames, this day, at 4.30 pm, and to-morrow at 9.30 a m For Kawau and Matakana, per Lady Bowen, to morrow, at 10 a m For Levulsa, Fiji, per Daphne, to-morrow, at 11 am For Gisborne and Napier, per Go-ahead, to-morrow, at 3 pm For Taranaki and Southern Provinces, per Taranaki. on Thursday next Per s.s Mikado, on Friday, 19th instant, as under: For Sandwich I»land3, United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign West Indies, at 1i>.30 a m. Kor tha United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, at 10.30 a.m. For money orders, registered letters, and news paper?, at 9.30 am Late letters bearing an extra fee of Get will b"> received by the M*ii agent on board up to time ol sailing (Signed) S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

DEATHS.

STOW—On March 14, at tho Freeman's Bay Hotel Freeman's Bay, Robert, infant son of Itobt. Stow aged 5 mouths.

The funeral will leave his father's residence at 2 p.m. to-morrow. Friends are invited to attend.

McDONALD—On the 11th March, Douglas Percy McDonald, aged 1 year. The funeral will leave Portland House, fiobson street, to-morrow (Tuesday), at hiilOpast 3 o'clock. Friends x'leasc accept this invitation.

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

MONDAY, MARCH 15, 1875,

For the cause fms l'iicSs ftpsistnnce, For th.c wrong li.iil net-as resistance, f<t tke fftture i:i tho uislar.eo. Lni y>e sioi that we eaa do.

We learn that the Williamson Testimonial Committee are now fairly ab work, and the opportunity will be afforded to; those who are willing to show their respect and esteem for one departed, whos3 life has be^-n a life of devotion to tho public welfare. The fol lowing, which is the heading of tho subscrip tion lists, explains the objects of thopromotei! of the movement :— '• Ths Williamson Testimonial. — Subscriptions arc invited for the purpose of raising a fund to be in vested in the names of hia Honor the Deputy- Supeiiatendrnt, G. M. O'iicrke, Fsq. ; his Worship the Mayor, F. L. Prime, Esq. ; J. M. Shera, E«q ; W. C. Wilson, Fsq. ; and P. Dignan, Esq , as Trustees, with usual and proper power for investment, appointment of new trustees, and for the following objects, viz, 1. To provide an income for Mrs Williamson for her life, and after her decease for Miss Williamson, if she should survive. 2. After the decease of the survivor, to establish a ?cbool in Auckland, or a scholarahip in do Jiu«ii laxia Grammar School, at the discretion of the trustees to be called the Williamson Memorial School or {-cholarsbip. Any subscriber to the amount of £5 at least, directing that his subscription shall be treated as a loan for the bsijefifc of Mrs Williamson only, to ho entitled to have his money returned at her death. The loan may be extended for the benefit of Miss Williamson for her life also, and will be returned at the death of the survivor if so desired." Portions of the objects as stated here may not meet the views of all, and their insertion may possibly be considered a mistake; but we have no doubt that the original intention stated of calling together the subscribers after the money is collected in order to arrange the best form for its disposal, will be carried out ; when the second and third proposals may doubtless be subject to modification. We are sure that the prevalent feeling, actuated by sentiments of justice as well as kindness, will be to do the very best that can be done for Mrs and Miss Williamson, and that other objects will be regarded as very subordinate. However, in the mean time we sincerely and earnestly hope that a warm and generous and liberal response will be made to the requests of the various collectors, and that the united efforts of the people will speedily place the project in a position to give satisfaction and pleasure to all the friends of the late Superintendent.

We have much pleasure in giving prominence to the following contribution respecting the four million loan, over -which, without con sidering who it was that made this additional burthen a necessity, some feel disposed to sing "Io triomphe" to Mr Vogel :— " Sir : I am glad to see the independent tone you have taken with respect to this last negotiation. When Webb took us in hand he was to get our wool duty free into the States, use up all our coal, and get us the monopoly of mail-carrying through the Continent. Then Brogden was to help us over the stile, and now it ia Rothschilds. The last will be like the others. They will just make what they can and while they can, and drop us like a hot potatoe when they find they can make nothing more out of the colony. However, whether they are now the agents of the colony, or whether the Bank is, or Julyan and Sargent are, ths tele grama don't tell us. They leave us thoroughly in the dark as though the addition of four millions to the public debt was a matter of no concern to the peo ple of the colony, and a mere departmental affair. lam not sure, however, that your correspondent, M.P.0., was right in stating that the debentures are for only seven years. If so, the price is ruinously low; but the Act allows them to be for a longer period, and they may be for more than seven years. If you take up the "Receipts and expendi ture under the Immigration and Public Workß Loan Acts, 1870-73, for the year ending 30th June, 1874," as laid before Par liament last session, you will find £500,000 ■ of '4J jrtsr cents sold then at 98, and £100,000

at par. You will also see that the total receipts for the year were £3,198,785, which included a cash balance from previous year of £105,423, a sum from tbe Banks of England and Kew Zealand of £810,000 against debenture?, and a draft of £400,000 on the Crown Agents, also against debentures. When the deben tures were sod, the £SIO,OOO was repaid to the Banks, bub the draft on the Crown Agents was s. ill left out standing. On the 30th June, 1874, there was out as the result of the transactions, £208,043 in hand, and against this there were liabilities in Fngland fur the beßt part of the amount;. Your correspondent, "M. P. C," therefore un derstated the case when speaking of seven millions out of eleven as spent up to the present time. He forgot appar ently that Hie expenses incurred since 30/7* June 1874 are to be paid for out of this £4,000,000 negotiation. Taking the netfc proceeds of the loan at £3,500,000 after paying Commissioners &c, and deducting from that amount the outlay since 30th June last, it will be seen that we have dipped pretty heavily into the loan already, and need nob look ixpon it as money still altogether at our disposal."

In reply lea correspondent, "C.5.," who in quires "who it is that acts as Auckland correspondent to the Ha^ke's Bay Herald," we ui-derstand that it is a person of the name of Hawthorne, a Sorb of storekeeper in Major Ticdall's office, whose particular busi ness appears to be to keep Sir Donald Maclean posted up privately on current matters. We cannot inform our correspon dent whether Hawthorne's salary is charged to the secret service cr hot; but in the Native and. Defend, depaitmont as at present conducted, there are a good mauy services required that arc conveniently covered by a lump vote, over which the assembly .exer cises little supervision. It is quite true that the Civil Service ruie3 forbid civil ser vants fvotii writiDg on political matters to newspapers, but Haw I home appears to be a useful man and his position is exceptional.

"We Lave men among us who anonym ously put down their names" so said our editor in his leading article on last Saturday. He says he did it calamo currenle, whatever in all the world that means, and that had lie glanced over the sheets before they were snatched from his pen by the devil and taken to the printing room, he would have lifted the four monosyllables, " pub down their names,1' which a love oi simple Anglo-Saxon phraseology had induced, and put in their stead the teiin "eubjciihe. 11 Bnt ilnt is all fudgo. Hois a countryman of Sir Boyle Roach, who smoit a ratj s::w it floating in the air, and then nipped it in the bud.

We are obliged to bold over till to-morrow a let'er signed "Frank," on the subject of railway confusion aud mis'naanageruoat. "An Aspirant's" Jettor v,ill also appear to morrow.

A.letter fiom Mr John Brennan, which had been mis laid, states that in the case of Brennan v, Patterson, the names of Mary Anne Genr and Charles (rear should be sub stituted for thosQ of Mary Ann and Charles B^arrl, as printed in oar report. He add:: that the Boards are mo-t mpectaclo people.

The performing members of the Choral Society will meet to-morrow n'ght for the practice of Acit; and Galatea. Members are requested to bring their copies.

The P.tt'Sireet Wesleyan Yonng Men's Society oj em this evening at half-past; seven o'clock. The inaugural address will be spoken by Rev. W. (J. Oliver. The meeting is expected to be a veiy good ono j and a literary treat is expected from the Vice- Presidont. We hops to sen « g<>'><i <*uamacc.

Return of the sick treated at Provincial Hospital for the week ending Saturday, March 13, 1875 : Remained last return, 72 ; admitted ainee, 25; discharged, 18; died, 1; remaining, 78-(males GG, females 12) Ar rangement of cases: Zymotic, 24; consti tutional, 9; local, .'SO; developmental, 5; violent, 10. One death occurred during th<i week, namely—B. II , male, a«ed 31 years, on the 12:h inst., of Bright's disease of the kidneys. Thanks are returned to Messrs Biuney and P. A. Philips—tho former for 12 volumes of Chamber's Journal, and the latter for papers and books.—JS'.lJ. Old linen required.

Yesterday evening the Rev. A. Reid, who officiated in the Wesleyan Pitt-street Church, made an eloquent appeal to his congregation to come forward on Tuesday evening and assist the Young Men's Christian Association out of its present monetary difficulties and place it on a sound footing. Were it allowed to be closed, said the rev. gentleman, it would be a disgrace to the city of Auckland, aud when known in England would deter people from coming to this part of the colony. A people who could not support such »■ worthy Association as thi3 could not expect to progress or prosper.

Mrs Walker wishes to return her sincere thanks to Mr Whitson's men, of the Albert brewery and other friends who, unsolicited, so liberally assisted her at the death of her beloved son.

Messrs Hall and Dilworth have sustained a serious loss by the burning of a large area of flax at Taupiri, planted three years ago at a cost of 30s per acre. The fire was caused by the carlessness of a man burning off fern.

A^ singular and painful accident occurred at the Thames on Friday evening. Mrs Moyle, an elderly woman, was returning home, and when between the Kuranui and Shellback she took the wrong path and fall down the hill. After rolling some distance she struck against the stump of a tree, which rendered her unconscious. Upon recoveiing she managed to attract the attention of some neighbors, and was conveyed to her resi dence. Upon examination there by Dr Huston, her spino was found to be so severely injured as to cause general paralysis, and it •was deemed advisable to remove her at once to the hospital, which was done.

The young man, Pettif", committed for trial this morning on a charge of violently assaulting a lady in Vincent-street, as re ported in our polico column to-day, is another example of the effects of reading those pernicious publications which are now circulated by wholesale among the youth oi this city, and read by them with unsatiable voracity. Young Pettit, who had been in the baking trade, was a great patron of such books as "The Skeleton of the Dark Cellar," "Highwayman Dick," "The Death Grasp," the "Enchanted Mouse," and "Buffalo Bill," until he found it impossible to read any book of a better type. His first ex periment as a highwayman has been frus trated, and we trust it will have a salutary effect upon his future career when he shall regain his liberty.

The Town Clerk notifies through our ad vertising columns that any person guilty of defacing walls houses or fencing by pasting any placard or writing thereon will be prose cuted under section 8 of by-law No. 6.

Some sensation and a feeling of alarm was created in St. Patrick's Cathedral at the nine o'clock service yesterday morning by the fainting of the Rev. Father Simpson, the officiating priest. The Rev. gentleman, who does not enjoy very robußt health, had become much exhausted by the Lent fasting and was overcome by the exertions of the morning service and the closeness of the cathedral. He was assisted out into the open air, where he soon recovered. The Rev. Father O'Dwyer concluded the service.

The Auckland Volunteers are moving in the right direction. While we go to press the troop of Royal Cavalry Volunteers are undergoing their monthly, inspection, under command of Captain Isaacs, in MrGwynne's paddock, at Epsom. This evening at half pa,3t seven the Artillery Volunteers, bat'jery and band, will assemble in the drill-shed for monthly inspection, and those who are ab sent from parp-Oe without leave of Captain Burns, will be dismissed from the force. We learn lhafc an amalgamation of the Auckland and Otahulm troops of cavalry, uhder Cap tain Isaacs, is likely to be effected>

Mr Thomas Buddie, the honorary secre tary of the Young Men's Christian Associa tion announces that a public meeting; will be held at the room 3 to-morrow (Tuesday) evening, to receive a repoit from the com mittee in respect of the financial position of this useful institutej and to consider the ad visability of winding up its affairs. We trust that this institute, so liberal and use ful in its character, will meet with that living support which is due to it, and that citizens will not permit its door 3of know ledge and oral enlightenment to ba closed against tha youth .of this city.

The Rev John Curwen, a name well known in connection with music, as the originator of the lonic-sol-fa mode of musical annotation, which system has becu success fully taught to large numbers of young persons in Edwardes-street, by Mr Bloom field, was in January last presented with a substantial testimonial in the form of a purse

containing £500. At the same time Mrs Curwen was presented .with an excellent porfcraii; of bbr liuaband. These presents were made by his pupils, in proof of tho in terest they take in his work, and of advance ment made under his tuition. Mr Curwen announced his intention of devoting the money to-'.ards the establishment of a Tonic Sol-fa College,

The wells in many parks of Auckland are dry, and during the past week there has been a continual hunting and begging for water wherever a well wafs known to contain a few fett of wat,»r tolerably pure. Women have been wagging their tongues for water and wondering what they should do on washing diy, while the geese have been cackling for the half pure element. Water is evidently very scarce in Auckland at the present time, there is plenty of beer, bub that even cannot subserve the purifying health-preserving pur poses of water, and the cry of the heart of Auckland is give us a water supply. Every now and then we notice a promising indica tion of the good time coming when there will be no lack of water, and when that day dawns, we may even hope for a purer morality among the people, when fewer of. thorn will exhibit their dirty face? to our Resident Magistrate in the Police dock. Nearly all the wells in City West arc dry, but there was one on an unen closed, allotment belonging to Mr William Wilson, in Union-street, which possessed a never-foiling spring, and which durinc; the past week his supplied at least one third of the population of the district. On Saturday last the owner had the well cleaned out", and to the Surprisa and chargin of the neighbours, Mr Wilson secured, chained, and locked up the well, which will put the people to much inconvenience. We Itant Mr Wilson will unlock the well and allow the people to drink freely from the spring which nature ha? provided.

The pavilion in Market Square on Satur day evening was largely attended by sight seers, and the Leopard" JJoy and the Little Lidy wore extremely communicative and courteous to visitors. The calculator afforded much interest by hi 3 wonderful play of lignrcs, evidencing the science of arithmetic. iCfew opportunities only of witnessing thi3 exhibition remains to the public.

The Iliv Tt. S. Hassar.i is delivering a course of extempore Sunday evening dis courses in St Matthew's Church, on " Little sins," and last evening lie chose for his subject " Thoughtlessness," founded on the Ist chap. Isaiah, 3rd ver&s, "My people do not consider." The discourse contained many pifcby points in illustration of this human infirmity, and was one of tho best of the rev gentleman's short sermons to which we havo hud tin pleasure of listening.

The sixth session of the Auckland Wee ley'an Mutual Improvement Association will he commenced tliia evening with a prayor meeting and an address by the Key. W. 0. Oliver. We notice by the new programme of the Association that, the committee have adopted a very excellent niolo of communi ca'ing useful knowledge among its members, viz., that of having readings from the best English classics. Three evenings will 1)3 devoted to this .agreeable exercise, in cluding selections from Addison, Milton, and Maciula}', whrse names rank firit in the literature of the past and pro3cnt. Amonn the subjects of the essays to be delivered, we notice " Chirles 1.," "Conscience and its Counterfeits," Power of Eloquence," " Desultory and Systematic Headings," and the " Waldcnses." These subjects are all interesting and useful. We are glai to see that there is an absence (of theological sub jects, which tend to divide rather than har monise ; so that young men may meet and express opinions on matters of universal interest without fear of giving offence to others holding different religious views.

Tho Victoria Company, A.R.V., will hold their monthly inspection to-morrow evening, at half-past seven. All members are re quested to be present.

The block of wooden structures at the junction of Vulcan lane with Queen-street, including the premises of Messrs. Waters, Coombes, Ellison, Williamson, »nd Heslop, is to be superseded by a two-storey block of brick shops, four fronting Queen-street, and three Vulcan-lane. The block will be erected at a cost of £5000. Mr. R. Keals, architect, is preparing plans for Mr. H. Somervel, the owner.

The members of the Hibernian Society, to tho number of 100, in accordance with their rules, yesterday morning proceeded to St. Patrick's Cathedral in procession and par took of the sacrament. They were after wards addressed in St. Patrick's Hall by tho Rev. Father O'Dwyer, who complimented them on the evidence their attendance that day bore to the cultivation of a spirit of devotion. The Newton cats are succumbing to the elements of sickness, and are said to be moving about in every stage of emaciation. A suffer ing member of the feline race went up stairs into a bedroom and crept under a bed to die. The mistress'of the-house was searching for her boa, saw the tip of pussy's tail, and mistook it for the end of her lost article of apparel. On pulling the same energetically out was startled to find it the cat's append-

a^e. The poor creature was carefully nursed near the fire, but love's labour was lost, for she shortly expired, and lie 3 buried in the garden, with a small cross (erected by the children) over her grave as a token of remem brance of their playmate.

The measles have interfered with the an nual Sunday-school fete on St. Patrick's Day in connection with the Roman Catholic Church. At the services in the Cathedral yesterday it was intimated that bo many children were suffering from the prevailing epidemic, that the Vicar-General had deter mined to postpone the fete till a more- con venient season. This order, however, will not interfere with any pat-ties that may be arranged for by individual schools.

ELLERSLIE SPORTS.

The number of entries for the sports at Ellerslie Gardens, on Wednesday next(St. Patiick's Bay), have exceeded expectations, and, weather proving favourable, the gather ing will be the most successful of the season. The grounds are now in good order, and will form the chief attraction on the approaching holiday, both for picnickers and lovers of

spor\ The summer Beason is 'now over, and there will be few opportunities for out-door enjoyment during the ensuing few months, so that we may anticipate a large gathering of families on the day named. We append a list of the entries for the various events :— 440 yards—ll entries ; for 150 yards handi cap-13 entries; for one guinea cup (the great event of the d;^y) 7, and for the quarter of a mile hurdle race, 4 ; for the mile handi cap, 7. Entries for the walking m%tch, the 150 yards race for Hibernian, sash, and the smaller events of the day will close on the ground. The names of the competitors, with colours and handicaps', will appear on the cards of the races. It wiil be seen by adver tisement in another column that a display of tight-rope walking, after the manner of the Chevalier Blondin, -together with the exhibition of the remarkable leopard boy and the miniature little lady, will be among the attractions on the ground.

ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

(FROM OUR LONDON CORRESPONDENT.) NEW PAKIS OPERA HOUSE-.

Whilejreferring to matters theatrical I may en passant allude to the opening of the new- Opera House in Paris. The Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London went over to be present at the spectacle and you mayimaoine the ex citement amongst tho gay Parisians, whohave a mosb extraordinary notion of the power and grandeur of the ruler of London. The Lord Mayor they regard as in no way inferior to Her Most Bles3ed Majesty of tombstone notoriety in power and glory, and to have amongst them with his trumpeters sword and mace heralda, and flag bearers, was^indeed a splendid^ occasion. Lord Majf&r Stone will not soon forget the magnificence of bis reception. He was feted and dined and mads much of by all the grandees, and he has witnessed a magnificent spectacle. The Opera House is a noble taken in detail, but aa a whole it. is meretricious; and its architecture of a heterogeneous character. Some of its decorations are more than doubtful and the pro prieties are shocked by much of the painting and statuary. On the whole it was a sad sight to see a natidn so lately at; the mercy of the conqueror expending so much money and energy on what is simply a a revival of the dissipation of the Empire. Nillsson was to have sung, but at.the la,3t had an operatic cold, and Mdlle. Krauss took her place. This lady is a. Viennese, and was trained at the Conservatoire under Madame Mafchese. , She carried away all the prizes and medals, and made her debut in William Tell at Vienna. She has even pleased the King of Naples, who is reported as difficult to satisfy. Mdlle Krauss is the youngest of a fnmily of twelve, and is small in stature. Phe lives very quietly and simply, rarely goe3 out, and resides with one of her sisters, who is slsd a singer. She ia great in Beethoven and "Weber's music, and knows every note of Gounod by heart. CRIMES OV VIOLENCE.

I think I have mentioned before the strong feeling which exists respecting the cumea of violence which are now so prevalent iri"Fng hnd, and especially in Lancashire. They do nob decrease in numbers, but rather in crease, and the question is now being dis cussed whether it would not be better to legislate for the use of the lash in the case of wife-beaters. Two or three roughs have been bung for kicking paeple to death within tho past month, and stfll these crimes go oa. SALMON IN THE TIMARU. The Tlmavu has sailed from Giapgow for your colony with a large consignment of salmon ova. She has in her hold an enor mous cht at of wood about twelve feet square, full of ice. In the centre of the ice are buried a number of boxes full of ova—aboxit 200.000. The eggs are most carefully packed in m 033 so as not to touch one another, and it is expected the ice will remrdn unihawed until March, when the vesyel ought to arrive at her destina tion. Round the ice chest is another case with sawdust packing, which will tend to praveut heat approaching the ice. The ex periment is not quite new, as yon are per haps aware. Both salmon and trout ova have been successfully exported to Australia and hatched all right. The work of collect ing tho eggs has been rather severe this wintry weather. As fast as they were taken from the fishes they were sent to the Ice Company's works at Glasgow and frozen solid. So intouse was the cold that the nets used to take the fish were frozen hard like wire as soon as they were taken from the water.

OHINEMURI.

(From our own Correspondent)

PAEB.OA.

March 11

Hope Deferred

"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick" i3 an old saying, which carries considerable truth with it in these parts. The stream of life that last week set in to Ohinemuri with such a rush has commenced to ebb, and by the numbers going down the river in the steamers, evidently at a rapid rate. No goldfield ever before opened has presented such difficulties as Ohinemuri. Several times before oq the verge of being opened, the native difficulty suddenly reared its head and barred the way. At last it is opened ; then occurs a dispute about a piece of land, that was to prove beyond a doubt that Ohinemuri was rich in the precious metal. The land, however, is locked up after 401bs or 501bs of golden stone has been shown as coming from a reef somewhere. The electric wire flashes the news to all parts of Now Zealand, and there is joy in the land. But, alas, it is shortlived, for it is suddenly remembered that a reef carrying gold was not shown. No one satisfied, and all is mystery. A sunny ray appears, and hope rises, for a large golden stone is found —but, alas, it was not gold, only mundic. Worse than ever—better had it never been seen—for are we not in danger of the.rush to Ohinemuri being called the mundic rush ? Anything but that ; for the geological for mation of these hills speaks to the miner— the real miner, who knows mundic "from gold, and who could pass an examination on the geological formation of auriferous belts— speaks to him in great big block letters that gold for a certainty exists, and those who would find must seek. Nature never lies. PROSPECTING. I was away in the ranges the other day, seeking for treasures that lie buried below. It rained hard all day, and myself and com panion, an experienced old digger who was with me, came in for as good a ducking as our worst enemies, if we have any, could have wished us. We commenced operations in the Rotohui basin, and followed for a long distance one of the most unpromising-looking creeks for gold to be found in a day's march. Not a particle of quartz could we find in the bed of the creek, and the prospects resulted, as we expected, in nil; at last we cams to a waterfall, which from an artistic point of view was no doubt very beautiful* but to us was commonplace, there being no indications of reef or gold, so we successfully scaled it, and passed on further up the creek, country still the same sandstone rock, and no quartz; at last between two sandstone boulders we tried a dish of clayey mullock, and to our astonishment there glistened at the bottom of the pan a speck of yellow gleaming gold about the size of a pin's head ; further on a better prospect could be obtained, until at last we suddenly came upon a party of diggers -prospecting their claim ; it is temith and party, and the locale is christened Smith's Flat. Here a good show of loose gold and rubby quartz has been found. Smith arid his mates are well satisfied with what they have in hand; the value of it, however,' cannot be ascertained until their workings1 are more developed. By this fcime the afternoon was' beginning to wane, and having » good few

rr>ile3 to travel over a rough country before we could reach our tents, we were obliged to retrace our steps, which we did at a smar pace, and were very thankful when we could -jasfc off the clothes that had been clinging to U8 all day like a wet swab. DESPATCHING THE PIGEONS. The interest exhibited by the diggers whenever a birdie is started with a message has induced mo to believe that a few worrls respecting these interesting members of the feathered tribe wiLl not prove uninteresting to your readers. In places such as Ohinemuri, where there is no direct telegraphic communi cation with the large centres of population, the p;geon is brought fotward, and very succasfully fills up the vdid. Almost every day two or more pigeons of the carrier breed are brought up in boxes by the steamers for the use of the reporters connected with the different newspapers at the Thames aid Auckland. When a message is to be sent, the bird is carefully taken out of the box and the letter, written on the thinnest of piper, is wound round its leg, just above the claws. It is then fastened with a piece of cotton or worsted being wound round the paper and tied in a knot. The pigeon is then ready to go upon its aerial flight. The person starting the bird throw it as far as possible in theair, and the pigeon is ofl; sometimes straight away, at other times, when up a good height, it circles round, and then Hies towards home, sweet home, in a straight line. Sometimes it happens that poor pigeon never reaches homo, but falls a prey to hawks and other vagabond birds, who attack it whilst on the wing. A pigeon of the true carrier type will travel from Ohinemuri to Auckland in one hour and a-half. One bird I started the 'other day for Grahamstown, reached home in twenty minutes.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Mes3r3 Williarri J. Hurst, and George S. Graham, Justices.) INT THE BROAD R'AD.

William Leamish, William Williamson, John ■'Russell alias Bedford, George Gold, and Joseph Quick, were severally charged with being drunk in the public 3treets on Saturday evenieg, and Wars fined accordingly ; Leamish 20s arid the others 5s each, with the exception of Quirk, who did nob appear, andconsequenilyforfeiSedhisbail. Quirk, it appears, was found in a state of grent excitement opposite the office of the Star in Wyndham-strect,- where ia the hear-, ing of the constable, he was repeating, with outstretched hands, the child-rhyme : •' Pr ;tty little Evening Star, Ilcvr I wonder where you are." THE OLD STORY. ' A man named Thomas Gavenny was brought up on a charge of threatening to kill his wife, a respectable woman in years, who stated that she went in fear of him. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and the case was remanded until to-rnorro?/. USTOETIOA.L "ROBERT BCXfiJJS. Robert Burn?, a young man, was brought up oa a charge of thrcitaning the life of his father on the evening of the 13th iost.

The Bench expre^sd an opinion thai pri soner was not quite sane. Mr Inspector Thompson expressed a sitni la* opinion ■ Prisoner eaid he hid been pfflicted for sortie tim?. His father assaulted him and he put him out o£ doors in quick steps. The father, William Burn?, said lie was reajly afraid of his son ; a tomahawk had beeti found under his bed. The bench considered thab prisoner was a fit subject for medical enquiry. Toe prisoner was therefore remanded until Wednesday next. FATHER, COME HOME. Thomas John McMaaus was summoned to show legitimate cause for desorting Ilia wife and four children without food, and leaving them to the chaness of time and tide.. >Jz . wa3 alleged that defendant had de eattrjed, aad was gone in the direction of the Woi'katoS The case was than withdrawn for the present until the fugitive should hs found. ALL'S "WELL THAT ENt>'r3 WELL. An assault case, in which all the parties had subsequently smoked the calumet of peace, wa^ withdrawn. A SAULT WITH INTENT. Henry Peltifc, a young man, again appeared on a . charge of violently assaulting Mrs Cornford the wife of Mr H. Cornforcl, solicitor, with intent to rob, on 28th Deoambar of ia?t year. Mr Inspector Thompson condaciel the case, and Mr Joy appeared for the accused. Mrs Ciara Cornford, wife of Mr Henry Cornford, solicitor of Napier, deposed that on the 2Sth of December she wa3 on a visit at the house of the Reverend Mr Cornford, in Vincent-sfcreet. On ihe evening <ef that day she was at ths back of the premises ; it was about half-p ist five. She went into an out-house, when the door was suddenly pushed open, and. the prisoner entered. He said "What have you got? 1 will have it all." He pushed her down on tho floor and sat opposite to her; and placed his foot against the door so as to prevent her escape. He said " I want all you have got;" when she said she had nothing. She called out "Mother! mother!" He said, "You need not make a fuss ; I will have it." He had a knife open in his hand ; she saw the knife in his hand, and sprang forward and caught the knife from him. H8 grasped her by the throat and held her by the dress. He swore at her and tore her dress; she threw the knife to a distance. She promised that' if he would let her go, she would give him all the money she had in the house ; she had none upon her person. He wished to know where it was kept; she said she would give him a pound ; but he replied he would have £10, and no less. She said "Yes, only let me out." He said he inusb go out first. He then opened the door and she sprang out and fell down upon the scoria. She was frightened and greatly exhausted by the struggle she had with prisoner. No one came to her assist ance. She at length got into the house, when prisoner leaped over the fence and ran across the paddock. Her arms were bruised by prisoner, and her ancle was injured by the fall upon the scoria. She was then in a delicate state of health, and was ill for some time after the assault. He might have been drinking, but he was not drunk. He seemed somewhat excited, but knew what he was about. The prisoner was quite a stranger to her, and certainly he had no business on the premises. James Dellison Clark, formerly a tinsmith and gasfitter, but now a schoolmaster, of Union-street, deposed that the llev Mr Corn ford told him there was a knife missing from his house, which he thought was down the closet, and he wished him to search for it. He did so, and found it, as indicated, with the blade open. The knife produced was . the knife which he found there.

: Detective George Jeffrey remembered taking the prisoner to the Rev Mr Cornford's house on Saturday, when he was at once identified by Mrs Cornford aa the man who had assaulted her. Prisoner acknowledged that he had committed the assault, and said he intended to plead guilty. Detective Martin Grace simply corrobor ated the statement of Jeffrey. He accom panied him to Mr Cornford's housa with the prisoner. He owned that he committed the offence, but at the same time (putting his hands to. his head) said he must have been mad. Thia was all the evidence. Mr Inspector Thomson considered that he had established a prima facie case, and one which the Bench should send for trial. Mr Joy said that the evidence shewed no thing beyond the commission of an assault. There wag not, he thought, sufficient evi dence to shew that robbery was contemplated. It might be dealt with by the Beach in a summary manner without putting the coun try to ths expense of a trial.

Mr Hurst thought it waa the duty of thi Bench, ill the faca of the facts, to commit the prisoner. T&3 clerk of the Court then read over thi depositions. The prisoner was then asked if he had '^S anything to say, but answered in the aega- tive. ' r>*%i| Mr Joy said he wonid reserve his defence. ' The prisonar waa then fully committed for trial'at bbc next criminal sitting of the ~' Supreme Court.

OHINEMURI.

(PER STAR CARRIER PIG.EON.J :

Work at the Prospectors Claim.

Great Incitement and Row, (From our Special Correspondent.) MACKAYTOWN. - Thiaday. A large crowd went with Thorpo and party to their claim on Saturday afternoon,;,, and there was very nearly a row. Sooa afterDt1 arrival, they demanded of Thorpe to show I gold. He replied tLat he was not the prospector, but hip mates, and that they could not be' expected to show the reef at a moments notice. After some argument, one of the pro. gpectors pointed to a widzs, full of water, and said the reef was there. They then got a bucket and rope andjj baled .until only two feet of water were left.:'j| TK=:ee was great excitetneut, the spectators '? increasing every moment. Stuff waa raised out oi the water and washed for the pro spectors, but there was not much to show for it. The prospectors said that when they, got \' the reef they would show gold, but the diggers wanted an immediate show. They started a drive to drain the water. ■'■ from tiic winze and continued working. A crowd collected round Thorpe and . shouted and gesticulated in an excited ~ manner, Thorpe took high ground and told them, %. that the claim was his, and that they had no right on it, and if they did not clear off he would get fifty Maoris and drive them off. ~J This most imprudent speech roused their s? passions and incensed the disappointed ;? diggers, who shook Thorpe and threatened ■% him. Sub-Inspector Newell with a small force 'A arrived on the spot in time to prevent a *! serious row. The prospectors then continued to work ,ts without interruption untii midnight on, .Sat urday, and began again at break to-day. ,; They expect to have the reef this afternoon, J and declare that they can show payable ;:■■ gold but nothing rich. The great bulk of ' men are still incredulous. ; : The storekeepei'3 at Mackaytown have" r organised a prospecting party of six men. Father Mahony and Eev. J. Crump '• preached yesterday. A large number of miners have left the i district.. .- -■■ ,-\

Gold in Thorpe's, No. 2.

Revival of Confidence. - PAEROA. (From our own Correspondent.) This day, 1 p.m. lload works were started again this morning. In Thorpe and party's No. 2 claim, on the Nor:li side of the creek, a fair show of / gold has been obtained. . Several parties have gone towards Wai- • tekauri with timber for sluice-boxes. The prospectors at Kurangahake are put ting in a tunnel to tap the water from the." reef, and expect to be in by Wednesday. They are very sanguine . A meet ing of storekeepers commenced for the purpose of sinking a shaft on Mackay town flat collapsed. Several business and residence sites at : Mackaytown abandoned are expected to be again taken up and built on. Altogether things may be said to be look ing a little better.

A TOLL-KEEPER IN TROUBLE.

It was Dickens, was it not, who represented a man revenging himself on the world for its ill-treatment of him during his early life, by keeping a "pike" in his old age. It may be surmised from this that "pike" keeping is not a "bed of roses." Experience goes to prove on the other hand that a toll collector's life is subject to considerable vicissitudes,^; and liable, more than the general ran of occu patioos, to the " ups aud downs" of fortune. The Newmarket pikeman, John Anderson,.,_. got into bad tiuie3 on Saturday night, or rather on Sunday morning, for the occur rence) we are about to relate happened about ■ half-past one o'clock yesterday morning. It ',-■. appears that at that time Mr. Edward Per- .^ kins was driving home to the Junction Hotel, • accompanied by Mr. Geo. McLeod. Arrived at .Newmarket the toll-gate was found closed, i Mr Perkins called out " gate, gate " and in a few minutes Anderson made his appearance,-, and demanded the toll. " Chargo the June-1 tion " replied Mr Perkins alluding to the fact of his paying a weekly toll. Andersen was not satisfied with this answer and refused to open the gate. Mr Perkins than got down . from the trap and attempted to open the gate himself. Anderson hereupon tried to prevent him doing this and according to Mr Perkin's statement, seized the latter by the throat, nearly throttling him. Mr Perkins on this exerted his strength and threw the tollman from him. Anderson fell on his face with considerable violence : Perkins immediately opened the gate ajid drove" on. A minute later, Mr McGarry", who rests the gate, hear ing Anderson shouting loudly, came out of. his residence, and found him with his face covered with blood and with a large wound over his left eye, the scalp being stripped and sent down over the eye. In answer to McGarry's demand what was the matter;:, Anderson replied that Perkins had struck, him over the head with his whip. The (; wound was deemed so serious that Mr Me- ; Garry procured a trap and had- Anderson taken to the hospital, where his head was dressed by the, house-surgeon, Mr Norton.' To that gentleman Anderson made the same statement ag to McGarry, but later on.ia.tho day he altered his story, and took the blame on himself, saying he was drunk, and felliM* a stone when Perkins pushed him. He *' denied to Detective Grace that he ever said Mr Perkins had struck him.. To Constable ,- Jackson earlier in. tha day he made the sanw „ deniaL There is little reason to'doubt th» | Aaderson was the worse {for liquor »t to* |

¥s:t tfiiiii WiAX MoHigAt, teAntta is, kin



J^* O T I C E. I - THE BANKS wffl be'CLOSED 6b WEDNESDAY, 17th March (St. Patrick's Day). SB W ING M A/d HIN E.S., if DEMOLITION OF THE FITTING shop, yULCAN JAHR Having received notice 'to quit on account of w-buHding, I Trill OLBAR OUT^artof my Largo . BtOOK Of ,^ FIRSTiOLASS SEWING MACHINES .' 'A ' ■■•A^r'J^>^asaAiat,P ( Bioß.j ■>■ .-. vj :i "^ The iiXßorax Stock in Nkw Zealand. 'FBiI.OBS BARGE IBOM 40s IO £78 ©SO. W. HESLOp; IWniWcdß. I tijMEk ; } £y.SITJ aA ?I



WE HAVE EECE IV E D Per S.S. Hero, THREE CASES 03? BLACK AND COLOURED SILKS, Purchased s Job in London, by our Mr trrahsm. ■ trite ENTIRE LOT will be disposed of at SELLING-OFF PJXICES ! J. COSGRAVS & CO.