SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

ARRIVALS.

| 1 J_ona, s.s, Macprrpgor, from the ftforttt I I a a<rJle- "Chfeonrr, fmm Lyttelton ; sailed Ist mat I II Syren, 'tig, from LytteUon il' Charybis, schooner, fr t -m Ljttelton and Oamaru ; ;; Bowma, s.s from ia.ara>-e» I !<!^ ral f le■'«'«, frW ~,otul. I j-l; Jiffort, p.B, froir, the Tnames

DEPARTURES.

, Speedy. fc etchi for R^sell |;1 ; Bont*iern Cross, s.s, f L r (Hokianga

IMPORTS.

j| , fer Oharybdis. fr-m O'maru: 150 sacks SI oats, 120 s.-cfcs flour,' 47£ sacks flour, 10GJ II sacks flour, 51 sacks pol?a-.i, 189 s'cks oa's. I Order. Sipped ft Lyttelton: 319 sacks I wheat, 111 jacks ba-lev. J. S. Macfarlane ; 113 casks beef, D. H MeKenzie ; 2 cases, I 5; George. — J S. Macfarlane & Co., agents. Per Fairlie, from LyrteUon : 181 sicks I ?ra*s feed, 32 k»gi hutter, 20 cases cheese, I 240 bags oatmeal, 1432 sacks oats, 194 sacks I malt, 32 eases meats, 340 sacks flour, 100 I bags flour (100), 320 bags flour (50), 117 sacks | sharp*, 607 sacks bran, 60 sacks barley.— I H. S. Meyers & Co., agents.

EXPORTS.

1 w^ er Oretl- for Napier, 1800 sleepers, F. | Whitaker, 19,000 shingles, D H. McKenzie; r 423 pieces timber, John Reid.—John Eeid, | agent. The s.s. Tona left Russell at 1.15 yesterday , | and arrived in the Tnraaki at 6 a.m. this |j morning; She met with strong E.S.E. wind I with heavy sea and thick weather during I the passage. The lona came alongside the ■wharf during the morning We are indebted i | to Mr W H. Stodarr, purser, for report, &c. Cargo : 25 head cattle, 1 horse, A. Buckland; I 54 bags gum, H. D Rolph & Co. ; 10* do do, R. Walker & Co ; 36 do do, Stewart and |j Anderson ;11 do do, Stone Bros.; 49,000 |j shingles, D. Goldie ; 2 bales wool, T. Mac- I 1 kav. Passengers: Messrs Busby, Alle.n, j Tabeteau, Pavieon, CJark, Harrop, Stovin ; Mrs and Miss Higginson, Miss Taylor, Miss Levy, Mrs Lewis, Miss Reynolds, Miss j Taylor, Mrs McLeod, Miss Maxwell, and j | eight in the steerage.—Cruickshank and Co., I: agents.

The schooner Cbarybdis arrived from Oamaru and Lyttelton this morning Like the Fairlie, she had a slow passage to the East Cape, and fresh easterly weather thence into port. She brings a cargo of grain. The cutter Coralie, from Opotiki, brings 221 sacks of potatoes, 12 bullock hides, Buchanan ; 100 sacks of potatoes, 20 half sacks of wheat, Close Brothers.

The schooner Atalanta is expected to leave the Manukau far the Kaipara to-night. The cutter Mercury is loading timber at One- Eunga, on Mr. J. W. Waller's account, for Waikato.

The schooner Oreti cleared to-day for Napier with a cargo of sleepers, shingles and timber. She is to sail as soon as possible. The brig Albion, we learn, is loading with grain at Lytelton for Adelaide. From Adelaide, as at present arragned, she is to load direct for Auckland.

The s.s. Bowena arrived last night from Tauranga with cargo and passengers. The s.s. Southern Cross, Captain MeKenzie, left for her new trading ground on the West Coast this morning. She is bound first to Hokianga.

The a.S.P Co.'s steamer Pretty Jane has been taken into the Mechanics' Bay intake, and laid along side Messrs Fraser and Tinne's wharf, -where she •will have her engines removed. Her hull is to be repaired on the adjoining slip, on Messrs McCullum and HcQuarrie's allotment.

The three-masted schooner Fairlie arrived at eight o'clock thiS morning from Lyttelton, with a cargo of Southern produce. Advantage was taken of the state of the tide for the vessel to come alongside to the westward of the wharf immediately on her arrival. Captain !\ orris reports leaving Lyttelton on the 3rd instant, and experiencing light baffling •winds as far as Hawke's Bay. and thence fine easterly breeze. The Fairlie comes consigned to H. -. Meyers and Co. The Fairlie passed a vessel sup posed to be the Maggie Paterson, about 40 miles to the southward of the East Cape on lhursday morn ing.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

Napier, this day. The Go-Ahead left for Auckland at 6 p.m yesterday.

COMMERCIAL.

Mr. G. W. Blnney sold at auction to-day on the vessel, the whole of the whaling fit tings and gear of the barque Albion, now lying alongside the western outer T. There was a capital attendance of bidders, but a

! large quantity of the goods went at prices far s below their value : for instance, the try ! works with copper cooler, only fetched £19.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as follows . — For Thames, oa Monday next, »t 9.30 pm and

5.30 p m "or T«ranaki, Southern Provinces, and Australian

C lonics, per We lington, on Monday next, at 10

am (Tor Whitiangi, Tairua, Opotiai, and Kapier, via

Tauraoga. per Jtiowena, on Monday next, at 3 p m For WsDgarei, *c-, Rusaell, Waoga'oa, and ' Mongonul, per lona, on Monday next, at 4 pm

Per s s Cjphrenes, on Friday, 16th instant, as under:—

For Sandwich Islands, United States of

America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and S/uth America, and British and Foreign West 1 nodes, at 1n.30 am.

for the United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, at 10.30 a.m. ifor money orders, registered letters, and news paper*, at 9.80 am Late letters bearing an extra fee ef 6d will h" received by the Mail Agent on board up to time of sailing (Signed) S. B. Bias, Chief Postmaster.

DEATH.

MoNEILL—At Newmarket, on the 9th inst., Annie, the faithful wife of John MciNeill, baker, aged 33 years. The funeral will leave her late residence to morrow (Sunday), at 3 p.m.

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

SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 1875.

For the cause that lacks assistance, i'or the wrong lhat needs resistance, *9r the future in the distance. Aa d tha L'ood that we can do.

One of those dreary leaders which appear occasionally in the. Cross —not* from the pen of the editor—and lead one to think that'the writer must live on a daily dietary of cathar tics, heads the leading columns of our con temporary to-day. It opens with the vigor ous informatioo that Sir George Grey's refusal of the delegated powers " may be remarkable or not according as people view circumstances," and so on ; leading to the infallible conclusion deduced in every article by this slashing pen, to wit, "if this be so, possibly it may be so, indeed we think it is." The first thing that comes in the way, is the Superintendent's desire to get control of the railway. The action of the General Govern ment with respect to the Onehunga and the Otahuhu lines has been such as will doubtless prepare people for the invincible logic of the writer, who urges that the railway should remain in hands of the Wellington Government. The conduct of Frank B. Passmore here—and it has been tenfold more astounding on the line at the Empire City itself—has prepossessed people in favour of this ; and when we consider the fragmentary character of our railway sys tem we are sure everybody will conclude with this convincing writer who says : " Respecting the railways experience teaches that centralization of management like the centralization of the Ulegraphio

system, is largely connected with succesß." But it is on the subject of the goldfields' powers, and the refusal of the Superinten dent to accept them without funds to carry out necessary works, that this writer is grand. The style of his argumentation requires reading of the article for its proper appreciation. "We should have imagined," and "we should fancy," and "in our simplicity we had thought" that "the General Government and the House of Rep resentatives had provided funds for goklfieids purposes and placed them at the disposal of the Provincial authorities," while the writer knows perfectly well that the money he is speaking of was for specific works, and that money advanced on loan t<> the Pumping Association cannot be diverted to open up roads through the wild gorges of Ohinemuri. The writer, who appears to thiiak it a little thing to misappro priate public moneys, suggests that the balance not yet advanced to the Pumping Association might be spent on other works. "Perhaps" he says, "the Government would be disposed to pay the money. Perhaps they could not refuse." And per haps we might add the money could be turned out of its course without either the Government's or any body else's consent. These things are sometimes done, but we cannot expect that Sir George Grey, if he have any regard for his res tige, is likely to sympathise with such loose principles of morality. The fact is, the stand at pre sent being made in behalf of justice to the goldfield and justice to the province is one that should be backed up by all good citizens. And although we respect the Cross for con sistently standing up for Centralism, and desiring in consequence to thwart the Superintendent in his efforts for the province, we are astonished at our contemporary allowing those whom provin cialism has spat out, to degrade its columns with so feeble twaddle, throwing out reasons so feeble as to show they are not self-felt, and that if opportunity showed, and pro vincialism smiled, it would be a case of " whistle and I'll go wi' you my lad."

Tx a late edition of the Star last night, we published a special telegram announcing that the boundaries of the Thames goldfields h;jd been extended by proclamation intheGont-ral Government Gazele so as to include 100,000 acres of land, mostly owned by the Crown, and hitherto outside the goirlfields area. The boundaries of this block are desctibed in the proclamation published in our advertising columns. The addition ha? been made in order \o bring within the goldfield the coun try around Tairua. It is well known that the whole Coromandel peninsula from Cape Colville to Aroha is more or less gold-bearing, and the raDges at the back of Tairua present such geological features as led Messrs Preece and Graham to the conclusion that gold bearing lodes would be found there With the view of testing the question they employed a prospector, whoa fhnrfc timo ago was successful in discovering a w<-11-d< fined re>f. About fifty pound* of qtnrtz from this reef were taken to Grahamstown and crushed at one of the batteries, giving a handsome yield. The matter had been kept quiet in order that the discoverer's rights might not be vitiated by a premature disclosure. But we believe that wince the proclamation the prospectors claim and another have been pegged off Messrs. Preece, Howard and Co., the owners of the land on which the find has been made, have, in anticipation of a rush, taken the Effort off the Ohinemuri trade and sent her round to Tairua. In a special telegram from our Grahamstown correspondent, all that is definitely known regarding this new dis covery is told. AYe have not the slightest doubt that new discoveries such as the one just reported will be made at different periods for years to come along the rough unexplored country of the Coromandel peninsula, and we cannot but regard with the greatest satisfaction those additions to the gold-producing resources of our province.

A social gathering of friends of the Park Road Mutual Improvement Association w.<s held lost evening in the Graftcn Road Dih t'ict School, in aid of the funds of the society. Th«re was a good audience, and the songs, dialogues, aud readings were evidently appreciated.

The second Sunday evening lecture on the prophetical portion of the Apocalypse will be given to-morrow night by the Rev Dr. Wailis, who announces as the subject the second and third seals—the red horse, to the rider of which was given power to take peace from the earth, that they should kill one another, and the black horse, with a rider who held a pair of balances in his hand.

We learn that Mr Watson of the Thames, who obtained the contract for renewing another section of the -wharf has failed to execute the necessary bond, and a speoial meetrag of the Board is convened for Monday next to consider the other tenders.

A very handsome embossed memorial card of the late John Williamson has been pre pared. The card bears the following appro priate lines :—

He gave his honors to the world again, His blessed part to Heaven, and slept in peace

A mi, to add greater honors to his age Than man could give him, he died fearing—God

The Committee of V.M.C. Association has lost none of its activity. A week ago Mr Dennes gave, in aid of the Society, a lime light exhibition, which was well received by the public, the proceeds of which the Com mittee at once laid out in a new lot of books, a list of which we now call attention to in another column. This list adds some excel lent and eagerly looked for volumes to the library. We would only add, that for an outlay of 2a. 6d., three months' reading in this excellent library may be enjoyed.

We notice that the Rev. W. A- Cathcart who has recently arrived in this country from (Scotland, will conduct Divine service to-morrow morning in the Presbyterian Church, North Shore.

We would draw special attention to the announcement of the anniversary services at the Piimitive Methodist Church, EJwardts street, to-morrow. In the morning the service will be conducted by the Rev. Dr. Wallis, and in the evening by the Rev. S. Edgar, B. A. The annual tea meeting takes place on Tuesday next, when various ministers and friends will address the meet ing. This being the day fixed upon for the marriage of Mr J. McCosh Clark in the city of Melbourne, the house of Messrs Clark and Son waa closed in order to give their employees and friends an opportunity of being merry on the happy occasion at the expense of the firm. Accordingly, the "Scotsman" was engaged, and at niue o'clock this morning she received on board at the Breakwater, the gentlemen of Messrs Oiai k's establishment, tueir sweethearts and wives, numbering about one hundred persons, aud proceeded gaily, with music aud baiiueis tv Moiotapu, where the party had proposed to celebrate tho wedding by a picnic aud dance under the trees. Mr W right's band was in attendance and played several lively airs at Blarting; also Mr Canning, of Queen-street, with a plentiful supply o£ reireshments. As the day has proved favourable, the party, no doubt, have enjoyed the trip on the water, and the rustic festivities and aoenery of the island.

Sir Samuel Baker, in his new volume of African adventure, tells us of the notable effect of music upon the natives. "I believe," he says, " a London organ-grinder could march through Central Africa followed by an admiring crowd."

In our report of the Hamilton concert there appeared three printer's mistakes as fellows : First—Mi3S Sage is the correct name ; Page is wrong. Second - " Finest lathering," not "First." Third —Evening's entertainment, not "English."

Mr Joseph Pridmore has called to say that the report of a, quarrel between Mrs Tigbe md his daughter Fanny, was not of sose<iou a nature as was reprpsented iv thu report of Thursday. It appears that it was a repiti tinn of "much ado about nothing," and that Mrs Tighe did but give Fanny a punch ■n the back, for which sha has to pay £1, that is, Is fine and 19-t costs. We learn that Mr Tighe is on what may prove his death bed, and she has eight young children to support. When this fact was made known to Mr Beckham, he kindly allowed time for the poor woman to pay the fine, and ex pressed regret that a cross-action had not been brought to have enabled him to bind VTrs Fridmo-e over to keep the peace. Mr Pridmore was the peace-maker, and was exonerated by the Court.

The inhabitants of Clarence-street, Pon sonby, like the people of other localities, have suffered in consequence of a scarcity of water. There was one well, however, which seemed to promise a moderate supply until the coming of the rain. Thr-ir hopes, how ever, were yesterday blighted by the wilful act of a boy who attends to several cows which have a character for intruding into their neighbouring gardens. The lad had been reprimanded for his negligence, and to avenge himself he has been at the trouble to nearly till up the well with a quantity of dirt and filth, and hss thus deprived the people of Clarence of water from this public well. The young cow-herd deserves a whipping.

Among the many new buildings which have recently sprung up, and which have tended so much to improve Queen-street, none present a nobler appearance than the line of new shops leading from the Bank corner of Wyndham-street, and conspicuous amongst these is the house of Messrs. Phillipps and Son. These gentlemen, who, for twenty years, have steadily reared a successful business in the oil, colour, glaes, and paper hanging trades, have just removed from Wyndham-street to their finished warehouses in Queen-street, which are amply fibted up with every convenience for carrying on the various departments of their extensive trade. The first floor (of large dimensions) is devoted to an immense stock of paper hangings of every colour and pattern. There are also neat business offices. Another room is reserved for oili, white-lead, colou-s, paints, brushrs, and trade sundries. There are al^o separate floors for storage of various-kinds, and one large room entirely reserved for plate glass, with machinery and facilities for cutting and removing the same, with commodious back premises for tho reception of goods, with a crane for lifting heavy packages in and out of the several storeys. The stores of Messrs. Phillpips are really worth a visit ; the very sight of them tends to strengthen faith in the future of tho colony. On one side of the lower office we noticed a beauti fully stained g'ass door, quite a novrlty, wi-,h its rainbow hues ; also, a fine gallery of chromo-lithographs, photographs, and other pictures, which have attracted a large amount of public attention. Many of thess pictures are from the pencils of such famous nrfint.H as Kowbottom, Birkefc Foster, Wain wright. Pr-nley, and other English limners It would be superfluous to attempt a descrip tion of these really beautiful works of art, which include a series by that gifted Indy Miss Edwards ;as fries by Foster, from beneath the green hills of Surrey, where the artist resides. Hence we were not surprised to find among his collection "A Cottage in Surrey," " Children Gathering Flowers neir Oodaltnins»," and the " Pathway Style " Other pictures by other hands depicted the fir-it " Napoleon in Egypt," "Grace Darling in the Storm,'' and iiumerous otiier illustra tions of sea and land. As new buildings rise upon the ashes of the past to adorn and beautify the outer aspects of the city, so we trust in like ratio trade and labour will advance, andcontribntejypt mnre to th^ com fort and happintS3 of the people of these colonies.

The boot and shoe maker's connected with the boot factories of Auckland, some time -ince, formed themselves into a protective association, and on Monday evening next, they will hold a meeting in the Wellesley street Institute for the general business of the Society. We learn that there are hundreds of men belonging to the gentle craft in the city, but whether they are such public spirited men as one of their order, James Lackington, described them to be, remains to be seen, we are not aware that we have any remarkable shoemakers amongst us, although we have many good shoemakers who silently protest against the introduction of asphalte. This Society of Crispinians was established chiefly for mutual benefit in times of sicknesss rather than as a political or trade union, and in this respect it is praiseworthy and laudable. The nature of the craft formerly was conducive of habits of self-culture and the expression of the poetic faculty ; but the introduction of machinery has scattered the elements of poesy, and the modern shoemaker is no longer a visionary but a scientific worker in leather.

Services will be held in the Primitive Methodist Church, Edwardes-street, mowi ng and evening ; and Newmarket Primitive Methodist Churcb, afternoon and evening.

Late Telegrams.

CHRISTCHUECH.

(From our own Correspondent.)

This day.

Funeral Reform

At a meeting of the promoters of funeral reform yesterday, the sub-committee made the following recommendation :- 1. That an association be formed to be called the Cbristchurch Funeral Reform Association. 2 That all persons may becume members by payment of an annual subscription of 2s 6ii, and by signing a declaration to the undermentioned effect: " That all funerals overwhich they have control, they will adopt a plain, inexpensive style of coffin, and will discontinue employment of mutes, the use of palls, mourning, coaches, scarvss, hat bands, and providing gloves. That hearsys, if employed, will not carry ' plumes, and horses should bear neither plumes, cloths, nor trappings of any kind. 3. That further declaration be signed by those who desire to do so, to the following effect :—That we will discontinue to encour age the discontinuance by others of unnecessary expensive mourning. That a committe be formed for the purpose of col lecting information on the subjects of funeral ann mourning reform, watching the progress of movements in other places conferring with undertakers and the like and that they be requested to report to the agents of the meeting and members of the association. A long discussion ensued as to inserting a declaration to entirely discoun tenance wearing mourning, bub the matter was ultimately adjourned until it is known what is the opinion of the committee of ladies which has been formed to consider the ques tion. The meeting then adjourned till Ap-il 30th. The trial of Mercer for the Lyttelton mur der was continued this morning. The case for Crown is exceedingly strong, and has just closed. No witnessesß will bo called for the defence.

Sabbath services to-morrow, as follows i— Lome-street Hall, by the Rev. S. Edgar: morniDg and evening. Wellesley-street Baptist Church : morning and evening, by the Rev. P. H. Cornford. Pitt-street Wes leyaa Church. ; morning, by the Rev. H. Dewesbury ; evening, by the Ilev, F. G. Carr. Congregational Church, Beresford^ street : morning and evening by tue Rev. Warlow Davies. United Methodise Free Church: morning and evening by the Rev. G. id. Turner.

The Graf ton Road Highway Board give notice that, unless rate 3 are paid within fourteen dtys, legal proceedings will be taken. Also, that dogs' collars for the current year must be procured.

Mr Halstead, V.S , has purchased the racer Isleman for £140 ; and Mr M. Corcoran Kußtic from Mr Perkins, of the Occidental Hotel, who is proceeding on a short visit to America.

Mr Smyth, agent for the Eev. Chas. Clark writes stating that the talented lecturer will re- vi&ifc Auckland on his way back, and will preach in aid of the city charities.

Mr Samuel Worms has been gazetted agent of the Government Industrial Insurance for the Excelsior Lodge, 1.0. G.T., Auckland. Mr Worms was instrumental in putting the beneficent provisions into practical operation, and his appointment, noted above, is well merited.

We understand that Sir George Grey in tends to pay a visit to Onehuuga on Monday next. He will go out by the two o'clock train, accompanied by Mr G. Mr O'Rorke, M.G.A., the member for the town.

Nothing more has been heard of the miss ing youth John A Stewart, and his parents have come to the conclusion that he has tun away, which, in view of the whole circum stances is the most probable explanation of his disappearance.

Lamentable Death of a Child.

An inquest was held this afternoon, before Dr. Fhilson, Coroner, and a jury, at the JKob Roy Hotel, Freeman's Bay, on the body of the infant child of Mrs Barton, of Willow street. From the facts elicited it appears that the mother of the child had been more or leas mentally afflicted for the last 12 years; that she was the %vife of William Baroon, a labourer; and that on Thursiay, the Bth inst., in a state of restlessness, she turned her sister-in-law ouc of doors, using fetrange menaces and threats. A Bhort time after, within the space of an hour, Barton's little girl, who had been playing with other children, came indoors, and to her astonishment fouud her mother in bed, and a newly-bonie dead baby on the floor.

At the inquest this afternoon the jury was sworn and viewed the body. Dr. Bayntun then stated that as it did not appear whether there was anyone present at the time of the birth or not, it would bewell that the mother should be in attendance. He suggested that the inqueat should bo adjourned. This opinion was coincided in by the Coroner, and the inquiry was accordingly adjourned till Thursday next.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Thomas Beckham, Esq., Tt.M.) " Ihey clepo U3 dumkanl.-s "

— i/AKLIT.

John D-ize, a native of Spain, was charged with being drunk on the wharf last night. Prisoner, a seamau, denied the charge ; he was only giddy. Constable Robinson proved the charge. Prisoner was lined 20s and costs. Patrick Dunne Brown, with a dreadfully out face and an iujured nose, waa charged with btieg drunk. His Worship: How came, you with that terrible face ; you ahould have your picture taken.

Prisoner : Can't afford it, your Worship. His Worship to Serg..Major Paidy : These men should be photographed and have their likenetses hung abovt their necks, so that they may see themselves as others see them. Prisoner : I am a single man, you Worship. H:s Worship : I see a long list of offences against you, which shew that you bear a bad character. Prisoner: I haven't stolen anything for months, and haven't been diuuk above five times this month. His Worship : You must go to prison for two months with hard labour. Take him away.

ON THE WKON'G ROAD

Robert Burns, not of Ayr, was brought up agaiu on a charge of stealing a watch, gold chain, purse, pocket-book, ami £2 in gold, value £10 on the Si.li inst., the property of James Carmody.

The prisoner, a young man who has been loafing about the Greyhound Hotel recently, a sail-maker by trade, pleaded not guilty.

On the application of Serjeant-Major Pardy, the case was remanded until Mon day next.

ISABELLA DONALD,

This person, who bore a respectable but careworn appearance, was brought up on a charge of stealing a box, coutaining glass, clothes, and other articles, value £15, the property of Samuel John Fergusson, of Auckland, on the 6th inst.

Prisoner pleaded not guilty, and as she had witnesses to call in her favor, the case was remanded until Tuesday next.

STRANGERS.

A man of color, Known as John Nickles, or Happy John, was sent to prison for three months, as a rogue and a vagabond.

Baba, a native of India, was brought up on a similar charge, he having been found exposed and destitute in Chancery-lane. The old man was described as inoffensive and infirm, and was remanded until Monday to see what could be done for him.

This waa all the business.

W. KIRBY TO MR. DARGAVILLE.

[AD VERTIS EMENT.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sir, —Having at once closed all further cor respondence 1 request insertion to the follow ing, whether at my expense or otherwise, namely, that on the morning of the nomi nation for the election of a member for the Franklin district, Mr. Sheehan, jun., called to my house requesting ma to pro pose Mr. Dargaville, at the same time producing his letter to that effect Having proposed him, I am now told publicly that my statement was a fabrication, or in plainer language, a lie. Had Mr. Shee han been here, I should have called upon him to state in writing that what I said in my letter is strictly correct, for a liar is always worse than a rogue. In the hall at Otahuhu, where there could not be less than a 100 electors, there was but one hand raised up in his favour. There were three gentlemen then proposed of well-known local standing, and Mr Dar gaville has lately consulted his own interests by retiring. If he wanted to lose an election he would ask me to propose him. But I should consider myself far the lowest of the low, were I not his equal, either in social standing, birth, or education, In everything that constitutes the principlej and actions of a man I claim to be his equal. There is a figure of speech named Onymorou, derived from Onus a wise man, and Moros a fool, and if he were not a fool, in public print he should not call me a liar, knowing well I did not go. to Otahuhu to propose him without having his written sanction to do so.—l am, &c, William Kikby. P.S After Mr Dargaville coining back, had we no conversation about the Franklin election in Shortland- street^

THE GREAT KINGITE MEETING.

Further Account of the Country.

Interesting Notes

(FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRES-

PONDENT.)

TE KUITI

April 5, 1875. THE MEETING AT A STANDSTILL.

As THE great meeting has come to a stand still, wai'ing the arrival of Tawhaio from the ooa«t, fthe chiefs having sent for him,) T have thought it might be interesting to your readers and. the public generally to hear some further particulars o? this interesting, but unknown country. Every one here now makes it, as the natives say, "a walk about," and as I feel rather tired of doing nothing, I thought that perhaps a few more lines from your special correspondent might not be taken amiss.

ACACIA GROVES —KINGITE BURTAL

GROUNDS

Ido not think that I have previously mentioned the numbers of Acacia groves that are met with throughout the King's country. The nearest one to each settle ment is generally chosen as their burial ground, and is therefore held sacred by the natives, and no white man dare put foot inside the fence without running a risk of his life. However there are very many which you can freely enter. When you see them from a short distance you are surprised at the clear and bright green appearance of the trees and the dull vegetation around. The flowering season has passed but what a sight it must be when the bright yellow flower is mingled with the green, and, I believe, the perfume is wafted by the winds for miles.

THE CROPS.—OUR CORRESPONDENT

WEIGHS THE YIKLD

With respect to their crops of wheat I may state that I was present at a half caste's threshiDg and took the weight of the wheat myself. Munga (Rewi) was there also with me for three whole days, it being the custom to help one another. Munga had threshed oat his corn before I arrived, and being at liberty he went with me. to the half caste's threshing ; though of course neither he nor your correspondent worked but looked on. Now the land the wheat was grown on was a little over an acre and when I added up the weight, I found that it yielded 46 bushels 32ib. of wheat. lam informed that about 23 bushels is the average yield for the province of Auckland, so that in this country it is double that of the rest of the province. About SO or 90 natives came quite needlessly to assist at the threshing, about half of them being in the way, but they are rot fond of work, and like a walk about, or a smoke at frequent interval?, according to their fancy. BKEAKFAST.—NATIVE COOKING. We get breakfast at seven o'clock, and perhaps it may be new to some to hear how it is cooked and eaten by the natives b<:re. All the whare's are made of raupo, but there is one devoted entirely to cooking, s^me distance from the sleeping whare. There are no windows in it, but openings are left in the raupo to let the smoke out. The fire is in the centre of the room, and the pots are hung by iron chains from a cross bar—a manuka rail, supported by two up rights, also of manuka. Then the wabine cuts up the pork, and together with fresh cabba«e, kumera, and unripe maize, is put into the stew pot The kettle is used for boiling water to make tea with. So much for the meat and trimmings, but where are the potatoes ? Going outside the kitchen, and at a safe and respectable distance from it, you will find the copper-m&ories at work. A round hole is dug in the ground about two feet deep, and then the wood is put in and set fire to ; it is then covered over with round stones, and covered up. When the fire has burnt down to ashes, the stones are very hot, and then the potatoes are put in on the top of the hot stones, and about a quart of water with them ; they are covered over with mats and bags and on the top of this, earth is put to prevent the steam escaping. The cook knows when the potatoes are ready by the steam working its way through the mats.and earth. It is then uncovered, and the potatoes are carried in Maori kits to the various groups of natives who have been summoned to their kaikai. Now commences a scramble for the best pieces and potatoes between the natives, dogs and pigs. The natives have no knives or fo ks (excepting thsir pocket-knife, which is used only for cutting up the native tobacco), so they go into it with both hands. Whenever a pig is killed, the liver is always found to be diseased, solely caused by the pigs swallowing potatoes very hot, just after leaving the copper - maori. Their bread is baked in a camp oven, and at the threshing, where I was three days with Munga they had to bake a hundredweight of bread a day. The camp ovens are common property, and one can see, as I have done, as many as eight or nine of these camp ovens at once, baking bread. There is a fire at each end of the row, and the ashes are put under and on the top of the oven until the bread is baked. Of course dinner and tea are exactly the same as I have breakfast, the only difference being that at the evening meal tea is served out in pannikins. MELOIvS, TOBACCO, ETC. During threshing time it is customary, at eleven o'clock in the morning, to have a feed of melons ; each person is supplied witfi a melon, so in this case there is no scram bling. They prefer the watermelon, but as I only eat rockmelon, a fine rockmelon was always brought to the pakeha. Their native tobacco is to be purchased at Is. 3d. alb., but as I do not smoke tobacco, cannot pretend to be a judge. I happened to bring a pound of good m merican tobacco which I gave to the Euro pean Moffatt as a preseitt, and before long, I assure you, it was all distributed. Munga got two plugs, and the King's brother-in-law one, I also took up some short clay pipes, and Moffatt regretted that he had not one left to give his wife when he got to Mata tiruru, his own home.

STRENGTH OF THE NATIVE POSI

TION.

With respect to the question whether the natives are now in a stronger position than they were previously, I thnk I may safely say that they are There does not appear to be any lack of either powder or arms ; but as to the actual reserve, I do not know nor is it likely, they would tell any European, no matter what con6dence they might put in him. If ever there is another war, the Europeans will find that they have to face a very differently equipped enemy to what they have had to encounter in all former wars. Now it is well known, and may be seen in Dr Thom son's second volume of his work on New Zealand, page 254, that in ths year 1857, by a New Zealand Gazette, for reasons known only to the Native Office, the hitherto very stringent restrictions for preventing Euro peans selling arms and ammunition to natives was rescinded. Gazette of the year 1857. The Melbourne and Sydney mer chants, it is well known, as published by Dr Thomson, availed themselves of the with drawal n[ this restriction, and sold to the natives thousands of arms, and a very large quantity of ammunition, so much so that the Native Office got frightened and again pro hibited the sale of such articles to the ra tives. Even when liberty was given to sell to natives, it was only under certain conditions. Now, I ask, why was the prohibition ever withdrawn ? Was it to prop up the totter ing Native Office? If the natives had no

arms or ammunition, what excuse had they for not cleating them off the land at the close off i the war. Borne long-headed man in the Na- Iffci tive Office sees this, and, to keep the Native f V Office alive, he natnrally says: '* We must *• allow the Europeans to sell arms and ammuid- .vg j tion to the natives tinder certain restrictions, fW and after we think they have got enough to %*, mjike themselves an enemy to be respected, N <*' we can prohibit the sale again, which waa actually what took place." CAUSE OF ARTHMA AMONG NATIVES. I think that I have discovered the reasoa why so many natives suffer from asthma. ■ You may see them lying down in the; cook-house, smoking' for hoars, and suddenly get up from this over-heated room, and- rush out in the chilly air, with nothing on them, but a loose blanket. Thia is, I believe, the real cause of the pre valence of so much asthma amongst them. You do not find that they are subject to many complaints like Europeans, and the reason is that they live more natural, whilst ■ the Europeans life, especially in large towns, is all artificial. Look, for instance, at the teeth of a Maori, and then on the yellow, half-decayed ones of a European. They are well aware of the Native Volunteers on the Thames, and express surprise that Sir Donald this year should himself order what he would not sanction last. They ask whether they are intended as an escort for him when at any future time he might pay a visit to the King ?

CANNEL COAL. In 3 former letter I believe that I men tioned that a valuable cannel coal seam had been recently discoverftd. The seam was discovered by Moffatt. It is at a place dis tant from here about three hours' journey on horseback. The natives now carry it in sacks or pack-horses to Moffatfc's smithy at Te Kuiti, so that he now uses coal instead of wood at his forge. Where the coal is, there appears rather recently to have been a landslip," which has exposed the seam to view. The seam is about thirteen feet deep, and it is supposed to extend throughout the entire length of the range of hills in which it is found.

CART BUILT BY MOFFATT. A curious v^^g to be seen hsie is Mof fatt's cart ■*,> ;<rere are no roads. It ap pears t" nO^- 1D g l as t year, he found the remain's of what appeared to have been a ~ waggon. All the wood-work had decayed with sge and exposure, but he found the tires of the four wheels embeddep a good depth in the ground. He had them dug out, but on examining them found that they were deeply eaten away with rust, however, he welded two together and made two wheels out of the four. He then makes the woodwork of the cart, and there it is in a country where there are no roads to use it on as natural as can be, but a very straDge object as you may suppose, SNAKE STORY. The natives tell me that up the Pirongia Mountain may be seen the skin of a snake. JSowwevery well know that there are no snakes in New Zealand. But I fully believe a skin is there, but not of a snake. "Whenl was living in Canterbury at a place called Milford I was told that an immense eel eleven years old had been caught by some natives in the deep creek which runs by the village. It took several men to drag it out of the water. They said it weighed 491bs. and had a beard on it like a man. It was exhibited to the public at Timaru. Now I firmly believe that the skin on the Pirongia belongs to one of these monster eels, and that it has been carried up the mountain by some of the natives. SHEWING ONE'S LOVE. There are some peculiar notions amongst the Maoris which I have never before found amongst any natives in all my travels abroad. Let me mention one, it is what they call . "shewing their love for you." A native makes you a present, which, he says " shews his love for you," but in return, sooner or later, he expects to be presented with goods or cattle about ten times the value of what he gave you. I will illustrate what I mean by a case in point. Alexander Thompson (poor Thompson again before the public, it's too bad of your '' special "), the half-caste at Kopua, some few years back, accepted & present of a horse from a certain native, j^ome short time after, this same native came on a visit to Thomoson, and admired one or two of Thompson's choicest things which he had in his whare, Thompson bearing in mind the present of the horse is reluctantly compelled to give him them. But that is not all, some short time ago Thompson went to assist a neighbour to get in his harvest, or at all events, to help him with his work what ever it was, the aforesaid native comes to Thompson's place during his absence, brings some others with him, and they carry away between twenty and thirty maori kits of Thompson's potatoes, as they think Thomp son is rather dilatory in returning" his love to them, so they help themselves, Thompson now sees that it would have been much cheaper in the end if he had paid for the horse. Supposing you have a good coloured meerscham pipe, a native sees it, admires it and wants it, you do not refuse him as Euro peans do to each other but you tell him that up to the present time you have not seen his " love for you," and so you get out of the difficulty.

SALE OF TOBACCO.-GROG-SHOP AT

TE KUITI.—A MOA SEEN.

Fortunately for them, their land will pro duce good tobacco, as they all smoke—men, women, and even small children. The tobacco is rolled up and pressed, similar to what is known among Europeans as Barrett's twist; it is sold in the King's country at Is 3d per lb. A chief called •• Coolie," and . who keeps a grog shop at Te Kuiti, told me that about ten or eleven years ago, he saw a Moa up the Pirongia mountain. I said " Why did you not shoot it?" He replied that it was too far off, and in trying to follow it up it soon got out of his sight. He has not seen any since, and believing from what he could judge this bird must have been ten feet high. Now whether this is true or not, I cannot tell, but many moa bones are con stantly seen up this mountain and in the gulleys. It is therefore not to be considered a very extraordinary thing for one to have been seen alive eleven years ago. TE KOGTI BEE-HUNTING Te Kooti and many others have gone up the Piranga Mountain honey-seeking. Te Kooti is acknowledged to be the best bee hunter in the colony. They will be away about a a week or ten days, and if each man does not return with a hundredweight of honey on his pack-horse for winter use, he will consider that he has been very unsuc cessful. DIFFICULTY OF COMMUNICATION. I think that for the present I have written enough, and hope to be able to send you re ports of each chief's speech when business is again resumed, which will be as soon as the King has arrived. But during the truce the meeting is going on with business, the difficulty is to get a native to leave it and take my letter to Alexandra. It i» quite possible I may give it to one who will promise to go, and will also perform it, but time is no object with him, so if I see him leave here with it, lam not certain but he may visit the various settlements on the way down, and thus delay my despatch for at least *■ week. However, I will do my best, and you may depend that your "special" will not leave a stone unturned to gain his object. You are aware that I have some influence in the highest quarter, so I hope I may get over the difficulty which I see looming in the distance. It is easy enough to get them to go for a bottle or two of rum, now there is no business doing at the meeting.

«n x* iirtt«js*aj&, sATtrfeUA.T, ap^il 10, %m



I /?« I T V HALL. I THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 15. I At the request of several leading Gentlemen, SENOR AT>r»LPH GONZALLES Will take a BENEFIT on or alxrat WEDNESDAY ■next. A host of Volunteers have kindly offered their services. LOOKOUT! I For particulars see future advertisement. ] UNCTION DRaP.iIRY WAREHOUSE. "We are now Opening up j OHE NEW STOCK AUTUMN AND WINTER ! DRAPERY & CLOTHING, To Hasd Ex Adi, Baron1 Abkdare, &c, To our ' order direct from the Manufacturers. FRENCH MERTNOES in all colours ALL WOOL PLAIDS WI>CEV3 SKIRTINGS SHIRTINGS FLANNELS BLANKET 3 fcsHEETINGS And every description of FURNISHING GOODS. .:}. A Choice liOfc of I CHILDREN'S, MA.iD'=l, AVD LiDTEH' "WATER- I PROOF CLOAKS AND MANTLES I LADIES1 BLVCK CtTH JACKETS. I HO..HRY-, ETC. I FANOY DR3SS MiTJSRULt in great variety. I ! NEW CLOTHI >'G, ETC. To be fol'owed by furher shipments ex Emily MoLarren <.nd Dunedin, EUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN, (La.T'4 R. Robbs), JUNCTION DRAPFRY WAREHOUSE, Opposite the Army and Navy Hotel, Upper QuEEtf-STRBET, Auckland. 1 ANGLO-NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAPH AGENCY Has arranged, in connection with McLEAN'S TELEGRAPHIC BUREAU, 39, LOMBARD-STREET, LONDON, ' ' FA, EXCHINJE BUILDINGH, LIVERPOOL, 1 For tie tranamUsios of private tele«rims of one word andup»vd , be wean New Zealand and Europe a tuo lolloping tn-itf :— Sand )!•'« *<id receiver's names and ad ares estuclusirtj if previously registered £1 0 0 E»r;h -wiidi-x the body <if tae m<>»*age .. 010 0 ISS" <o chi-g* is nude for Registration. Menmg^s c-in alb« irausmittefi without previous registration, at tr c following •. htes viz :-£i f,, r the first word ia the addre<», and los for each word af er. By registering t,h« arldre s*« the cost of lran«mi»slon is reduced o a minimum ad .he atossity of always incurring the eipenre of a twenty-worir <ie pitch la avoi 3<t, and a l*rge economy is re^liz«d Within two moi>thaafwr registration hera, it will be available lor adding magrages. g^Kames may be registered at tbe Auckland Agency— i| HENRY E. WILLIAMS, H Np. 2, Insttkanoe Bohidinos,



TYTOTICE OF KEMOVAL T. EL IKON BOOTM A X B, HAS REMOVED TO TEMPCP.ARY PREMISES Opposite the New Market, Queen-street pITY f CLOTHING IyTART, 92, QTJEEN-STEEET, 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, 02, QUEEN-STREET. pOOD VALUE FOE MONEY AT THE CITY HALL. NEW GOOD IN ALL DEPARTMENTS By every Vessel from England. C 3?" Opening up now— WINCEYS, MERINOS, SILKS, FANCY DRESS MATERIALS BfiANKETS, SHEETING, QUILTS, DAMASKS, boys' & men's winter cbothing, laoies' hats, underclothing, fancy hosiery. HOLLOWAY & GARLICK", CITY HALL, 230, Queen-street, Auckland OUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION LIBRARY AND RE vDING ROOMS. NEW BOOKS ADDED TO THE LIBRARY: ---'• The Sunday Magazine," 1H74 "Leisure Hour," IB7i "Golden Hours," 1874 " The. People's Magazine" " Cassill's Magazine," 1574 "Life and Explorationß of Livingstone" " The Coming Race" (Lord Lytton) " Emilia's Inheritance" (Miss Worboise) " The Two Guardians" (Miss Yonge) "Against the Stream (Schoinberg. Cotta series) " Mrs. Mainwaring's Journal" (Mrs. Marshall) " Young Men in the Battle of Life" (Dr. Landtlls) " Dare to do Right" (Matthews) " Sceptres and Crowns" (Misa Wetherall) Miscellaneous — Thirty Volumes (Standard Works). Teems : —Reading-room and Library (open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.), 2s Cd each per Quarter, payable in advance. Where do you Live ?—in a salubrious locality, or in a region the atmosphere of which is periodically tainted with malaria ? If in the latter, it ia not unreasonable to suppose that when the regular time for the development of miasma arrives every year, you are just as regularly phaken up with the Fever and Ague. Let us hope not, but if you are, lose no time in procuring Udolpho Wolfe's ScHiEDAif Aromatic Schnapps, which, if used re gularly, will protect you from the next visitation.