UNKNOWN

HIGH WATER : Tbis evening, 465 ; to morrow morning. 5.23 SUN SET : This evening, 7.6 ; SUN RISE •; to morrow morning, 6 23 MOON'S AGJC ; New Moon, 6th, 7.34 p m.

ARRIVALS.

»m._^ , D»ISIB«URES. AiDatross, schooner, Tor Wangapoua v -a , f ROJE'3TED DJEPARTURES. tor Norfolk Island—Magic, cutter, to-night ■ *or Lvttelton— Peerless, schooner, this evening -For Newcastle—Jungfrau, barque, to-morrow ffor the South—Taranaki, to-morrow, 4th • ifor the Islands—Kenilworth, schooner, early For New York-Ayr, barque? early ; Edith Eose, . barqne, early y For Honolulu and San Francisco - Macgregor, s.s., 19 th February txoz Sydney—Bero, s.s, three days after arrival *or London—Glenlora, ship, early

VESSELS EXPECTED

Hero.s.s, from Sydney, about Monday Anazi, barqne, f rem, London; sailed October 28 Ada, birqae, from London ; sailed Nov 24 India, ship, from Condon ; sailed Nov 24 Baron Abedare. ship, from London ; sailed Deo 8 • Papua, schooner, from Karotonga, early Wellington, s.s, from the South, Monday, Bth Bapido, barque, from New York, via Adelaide Magellan Cloud, from Lyttelton, early ' Ryno, brigantine', from Botumah, early Helena, brigantine, from Lyttelton, early Memento, barque, from Newcastle, early Prince Alfred, barquentine, from Russell, early Wonga WoDga, s.s, from Sydney, early Fiery Cros3, schooner, from Oamaru. early Bella Mary, barque, from Hobart Town, early Xsetitla schooner, from jDnnedin Helena barque, ftorn Adelaide; sailed nightingale, brigantine, from Melbourne ; sailed Ist instant

EXPORTS.

Per Peerless, for Lyttelton :—1,500 cases kerosene, 50 cases chairs, 50 barrels plaster of parig, 200 barrels rosin, Arnold, Hines and Co. The schooner Albatross left early this morning for Wangapoua. .. The schooner Kenilworth has been taken alongside the Gore-street jetty for an overhaul, before com mencing to load for the Islands. We learn' that.Mr G. W. Binney is the consignee of the YarravUle sugar on board the Nightingale, at pre sant en route from Melbourne. Messrs Cruickshank and Co, the agents of the Hero, have received telegraphic advice of the intended departure of that vessel from Melbourne for Sydney and Auckland on the 29th ult. She would be due according to this about the Bth inst. The a.S.P. Co.'s Southern Cross left Napier at ■Loon yesterday for Auckland, with 600 sheep and the following passengers .-—Messrs Banks, Aitken, John son, Goddard, Wright, Miss Buckland, Mr Henry Jragate. The steamer is due to-morrow. The loading of the barque Ayr will be completed to-morrow evening, and the vessel will probably sail lor New York on Friday morning. The barque Jungfrau, not having been able to secure sufficient cargo for London, her charter with the New Zealand Shipping Company has been can celled. She entered outwards this morning for New castle, and mil clear and sail to-morrow if all goes ■well. The barque Empreza has taken a berth on the west side of the wharf. She took possession this after noon, and will commence putting out at once. A large quantity of the iron rails irom the Dilharree are being transhipped in lighters to Eiverhead, for the Kaipara railway. After discharging her coals, the Emu is to load timber at the Thames for the South. The schooner Fairlie, recently bought by Captain Norrisguid Messrs Meyers, has been chartered by Mr GoodhTfiß? on behalf of Arnold, Hines and Co, to tranship part of the Edith Rose's cargo of kerosene to Wellington and Dunedin.- • 1 < The ship Inverernewas brought alongside the outer Tof the wharf this morning. She is to begin dis charging to-morrow., ...... ■ » The topsail schooner Dauntless is to receive a thorough clean put and overhaul before she takes another voyage. The cutters Maud and Miranda have cleared in ballast for the Great Barrier. The schooner Peerless cleared out to-dny for Lyttel ton with a cargo of kerosene, &c., transhipped from #the Edith Rosip She was to sail this afternoon

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

Napiek, This Day. s . a The s.b. Pretty Jane left for Ancldand via Gisborne half-past one yesterday afternoon. „ Picton, This Day.' The Ladybird arrived at a quarter-past twelve to day, and sailed for Wellington half-an-hour later.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as follows :— For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to-morrow, at 9 30 a.m For #oromandel. on Friday next, at 10.30 a.m. For Waiwera and Warkworth, per Lady Bowen, to morrow, at 10 a.m. For Taranaki, Southern provinces, and Austra.ian Colonies, per T«.ranaki, to-morrow, at 1 pm. For Wangarei, per Sovereign of the Seas, to morrow, at 1 p.m. For Napier, Gisborne, and Southern provinces, per Southern Cross, on Saturday, tho 6th instant, at Mails for United Kingdom, via Suez. India, China, an<l Continent of Europe, wi.l be made up at the office per s.s. Wellington, on the 11th instant. (Signed) S, B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

DEATH.

MAf'iNToln^Wßllliruiry 3, at Symoncis street, Annie, the dffaiTtirS&iitifirof Mr "William Macin tosh, teacjp«; aged 9weesS.' •

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

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1875

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong tiiat neeils resistance, For the future in the distanc:. And the tfood that we cun do.

As the epidemic of measles ia fairly estab lished in Auckland, many may suppose that it is useless attempting to stay its progress, and that all children are destined to pass through the fire. But this by no means fol lows, and we hold it is the duty, not only of parents but of all having charge of children, to take at least the simplest measures to prevent the spread by contagion. We urge this now, especially when the public schools are all re-assembling ; for in this epidemic, which is now sweeping over all these colonies, jt is the public schools that have been the agents for the spread of the disease. This has been shown in every place where the epidemic has yet appeared, and if vre are not taught *by " ex perience so freely furnished, we may/expect to see the re-assembliifg of our followed by a very general outbreaslf*and then we shall have the public schools closea* as they are now closed in m anyfoth eivplace3— a circumstance which may easily be obviated if guarded against in time. There Is a strange selfishness which appears to manifest itself in parents and families that have in. fections disease in their homes. In nine cases out of ten they are utterly indiffer ent to the risk of imparting it to others, and even resent it as an affront if others show a disposition to keep themselves or their children and so avoid infection. It is to c regretted that there is no way of punishing those who show such wilful disregard of others welfare. If a man strikes another in the face, he is fined or sent to gaol, and yet the blow may leave no wound or suffering that will be seen or felt the following day. But a man may send his infected or convalescent child into the society of healthful children, and the consequences may be weeks of anxiety and sickness fol lowed it may be by a vacant chair beside the family * ml**. And there is no punish ment fori. a', s, but, on the contrary, the man feels he is an ill-used man if anyone has the audacity to express any objection on the "We have said there is ho punishment «f or this, but we do assert that the teachers and i|he school authorities are responsible for the protection of the little ones entrusted to their care, and that it is their positive duty to scrupulously forbid the entrance into the school of any pupil in whose family the pre valent malady exists. And we go furtner arid say, that the teacher who does not do so is morally accountable for the sickness or death of any child that becomes the victim of his negligence. It is nonsense to say that such a course will thin or interfere with the school. Any other course will close the school, as all the schools are now closed in the large town of Ballarat and in many other places, and as it promises to be the rule as the disease spreads. As we desire to aid in any thing that will keep trouble from the homes of Auckland, we shall be much obliged if any one will tell us of any school, in which there is either a pupil recently convalescent from measles, or one in whose family there are any ill of the disease, when it will afford us much pleasure to give the public information on the subject, and parents can either remove their children from the danger, or leave them at school, if they please, and so run the risk of sickness and death. And it will afford us still greater pleasure, if any school teachers are taking precautions in

this respect, to be the medium of making the fact generally known. We are aware that such precautions have been already taken by the Principal of the Provincial Grammar School, and if similar care is taken by other educational establishments, we believe it will be found that our public schools, instead of being nurseries of the epidemic and then closing, will be able to continue their duties, while the malady will be circumscribed in its range.

We may assume that the official notification of the vacancy in the representation of Auckland City West will be made imme diately, for beside us as we write is the requisition to Sir George Grey, bearing the signature of Mr T. B. Gillies, this morning appended. As it is desirable now that the lists should be completed as speedily as possible, and as a few are still out we shall feel obliged if they are sent into this office immediately, in order that the requisition may be published piior £d its pre sentation to Sir George Grey. If there are any electors of City West who have not yet appended their names, but are desirous of doing so, an opportunity will be still afforded in a list remaining at the Herald office, or in one at the office of the Star The requisition ia, we believe the largest and the most truly representative that has ever been presented from any single constituency to any candidate in New Zea land ; and representing as it doe 3 every class, anU every party, and every shade of opinion in the" city, it may be well regarded, as we ara confident it will be, by the recipient as the best proof of confidence, as well as the highest compliment and honor that the con stituency could present.

Our telegrams from the Colonial firing! an nounce that a written protest has been entered against Lieutenant Skinner, the winner of the Champion Belt. Beyond the fact that "it is not a Thame3 man this time," we are not vouchsafed any informa tion regarding the mover in this dirty business, but unless he shews much better grounds for his course of action than any we are acquainted with as really existing, we hope he will be tabooed'by his comrades and be measured with hi 3 own standard at any future competition he may take part in.

The dog in the manger principle, developed so frequently in the manngemeat of colonial railways, receives another illustration in the case of the Mataura line, Otago. as will be seen from to-day's telegrams, although the line is in a sufficiently finished state to afford means of transit for the wool clip now coming in, the Government have refused the con tractors permission to .work the line for the benefit of the farmers, who, like our own, would be only too glad to avail themselves of the advantages afforded by railway commu nication.

To the Editor: Sir,—l posted a letter he c addressed to a friend, ia Dublin, on 29th October per Macgregor, and received a reply to it on Ist February. I am not sure the Macgregor left on the 29th, perhaps the 30th. Had the Mikado not arrived on a Sunday, I would have had my letters a day sooner. By search you will find that the outward mail from London closed some hours before the arrival of the inward. This is accounted for by the American steamers landing their mails at Cork. Consequently even the North of Ireland people have their American and Australian letters about 11 hours before the Londoners. —CD.

Mr W. H. J?arnall, who is still carrying on the works of emigration in Belfast, Ireland, has addressed a letter to the News Letter of that city, giving extracts from the speech by Sir James Fergusson, on the.position of the colony. The News Letter, coiß|beiiting on the communication, says : —" One ls^nclined to take Tather a romantic interest iir New Zealand. *<■>.* * The full significance of the importance of the settlement about being formed under auspices of Mr George V. Stewart, in New Zealand, has yet to be real ized. It not only means the departure of a class of men from our shores that we can ill afford to lose, but it also means, if the prospects held out to those who accompany Mr Stewart are fully realised by them, a steady emigration in future years to a colony that up till now has received but an intini tessimal quota of the enormous numbers that are annually leaving us. It is certainly time that something were done by those at home who are supposed to be responsible, unless they wish to see the country drained not only of the bulk but of the best part of its population."

The Independents are not shewing that vigour*, for*, which they were as a body re markable some few years ago. The branches of the Church appear ijp be withering in every direction away frorii the main stem. In first one district, then another, Congre gationalism is giving up the ghost. Last to lose its niinjster and to* be wiped off the face of the earth, is the Remuera Indepen* dent chapel. This unique building has been erected about seven years ago, it's shepherd resigning his charge of the flock to keep a cattle run in the Waikato, about three years ago, since which time is was temporarily in the hands of the Wesleyans, and has lately been purchased and pulled down by the Presbyterian body, who have bought a fresh site near the Newmarket Railway Station, on which the pulled down edifice will at once be rebuilt. The Albert-street Chapel, whose very name ia dear to the memory of old Independents here, has passed into the hands of the Temperance Society. Its congregation, however, will have a new church shortly in Beresford-street. The High-street chapel has not been well sup ported for some time ; ifc has been open and shut by turns, while its rev. held, who is a good old Trinitarian, divides his time be tween allopathy, .homoeopathy, and the pul pit, and does a world of go;od*in.a quiet way.; Mr "Laishley, resigned his charge lIT One-! hunga," and~lelt Auckland ; while Mr Booker of Albertland, was accidentally killed, and, no successor has been appointed. Verily ■ time is making sad havoc of Congregational ism in Auckland. • "

*In his recent charge to the Grand Jury ati Liverpool Assizes, Mr Justice Mellorfrankly; acknowledged " he had been one of those) who had long looked with horror on a return! to a system of flogging." But recent events j have converted him to the conclusion that I further legislation and further powers must j be conferred upon those who administer I justice in such cases. For this purpose he thinks flogging Qgght to be extended to cer tain criminal .assaults, to assaults upon women and children, to arson, and to such wanton and deadly mischief as placing ob structions on railways.

Solomon Skinner, of Brooklyn, has begun suit against Rev. Henry Ward Beecher for the recovery of $600 and interest ; the amount is due for fenr sets of teeth, supplied, it is alleged, to the wife and father of defen dant with his knowledge. Beecher, through counsel, denies the allegation, and demands that the case be dismissed on -the ground that mo services were performed for him; and, besides, cause of action is barred by the statute of limitation; the services, according to the complaint ha viug been rendered six years ago. -'•* i>' ,

The regular meeting of the members of the Domain Board lapsed to daj for the want of quorum. The only members present were Messrs Mitford and Prime. The business consisting of letters chiefly, was therefore ad journed until the next monthly meeting.

|jk> the Editor : Sir,—Can any' of .^pbr numerous readers inform the writer of any rule for obtaining thagigroper amount of metal required between? rivet holes of boilers, so as to obtain the greatest amount of strength in the seams; and also, the difference there may be, if any, between the strength of rivetted seams and solid plate, and what would be the difference allowed in pressure between punched holes and drilled holes ? It would be of great benefit if the Government Inspector would lay down or rather lay open some of the rules practical for boiler-making, as at the present time, where -all is dependant upon the pressures allowed by him, I should consider it but right for those in the trade to know by what rules, if any, he calculates the pressures boilers are capable of standing.—Yours, &c, Boh.br-Ma.ker.

We have no -loubt the following communi cation is capable of explanation: —"Sir, — Some five years back the s.s. Tauranga was run into by another vessel at night; went down, and all hands lost. The general public (as the New Zealand general public al ways have) most liberally subscribed for the assistance of the orphans, widows, and rela tions of those who so fearfully perished. I am instructed to inform you that Mr Shera, Shortland Crescent, was appointed treasurer. A portion of the amount subscribed was divided amongst them, but I am instructed to inform you that Mr Shera, as treasurer, hold at the present moment a large balance— some hundreds of pounds—which ought long ago to have been divided ; and, moreover, Mr S. is reported to have informed an appli cant for a sum from that fund that it was contemplated to divert the residue into another channel—that is to cay, although the sum in his hands was subscribed for the assistance of the sufferers, through the loss of relatives in the Tauranga, it is contem plated to set all feelings of honesty on one side and apply the remainder to another purpose. A very ugly word springs up to one's lips, or flows to the point cf one's pen, if such be really the facts of the case. Mr Shera is bound to explain, and not only ex plain, bnt publish a balance-sheet, which has never been done.—l am, Ac, T. B. Hanna ford." The Rev. George Brown delivered his second lecture last evening on the Weslayan Mission to New Guinea and the adjacent islands. The lecture was given in Pitt-sfcreet, Wesleyan Church, to a large and highly attentive audience. C. J. Stone occupied the chair, supported by Rev. Alexander Reid, Wesleyan minister. The chairman having briefly introduced the lecturer, who waß already known to many persons, he, Mr Brown, opened his subject with special reference to the mission in which he was so closely identified. He had been stationed at Samoa, and had formed the idea of extending the mission to the shores of New Guinea. The missionary committee of the Sydney Conference had approved of the main features of hia plan of prosecuting the work. He was glad to inform his Auckland friends that the mission had been successful among the people of Samoa. Mr Brown characterised the natives as very gentle when their passions were not excited. The ledurer, with graphic power, sketched their phraseology, common saj ings, or proverbs, with illustrations of their natural powers of keen observation. The Samoana wire not cannibals, like the Fijians ; they were a milder people and destitute of art ; the soil was prolific and fruitbeaiing, and alive with vegetation ; the natural productions of Samoa were yams, bananas, cocoanuts, sweet potatoes, and the bread-fruit tree. The inhabitants are well housed ; and the whole of the Bible has been translated into the native tongue; a periodical has also been established in the language, with the happy title, "A Feast of Good Things." Ten thousand copies of the translated Scriptures were at once taken up, paid for, and circulated. There had heen disturbances which had caused the mission to remove, but these dis turbances had ceased, and the natives now looked up to the Missionaries as their truest friends. The Missionaries were careful not to take either money or land from the natives which prevented anything like suspicions of self-aggrandisement among their Christian teachers. The lecturer then proceeded to notice in detail the ingenuity of the native mind in connection with mat making, fishing, boat* and. house-building, and carving of curiosities. These tendencies, however, v ere not specially remarkable, but peculiar to the aborigines of every country ; but their strict integrity and personal self respect are not ao common as in Samoa. These laudatory .-princip'es formed a pleasant theme for the lecturer, and upon which he dwelt with much elo quence. He also described his cherished plan of extending the mission so satis factorily begun in Samoa to the shores of New Guinea and the islands contiguous, and thus concluded ah able and instructive lec ture of two hours, to the satisfaction appa rently of every listener. A hearty vote of thanks, on the motion of Mr Thomas Leigh White, seconded by the Mayor (Mr Prime), was unanimously accorded to the lecturer.

A cricket match has been arranged to take place at the Domain ground on Saturday next between Parnell and the North Shore. Last year the North Shore team proved too strong for their opponents, and no doubt with Rees and his '' slows " will make it difficult for Parnell to regain the lost laurel. There is, however, a very fair team to be selected from Parnell, and a very close match will no doubt be the result.

We learn that Mr Wheeler, the newly appointed Auckland agent of the New Zea land Steam Shipping Company, has secured the premises between Mr G. W. Binney's store and the United States Dining Rooms, where the agency business will be carried on. ,

We again remind our young friends that Mr Brown's part-singing class will be com menced on Monday evening next, in the Well esley-street Young Men's Rooms, ac cording to announcement.

A repetition of the performance of the previous evening was given last evening at the Prince of Wales Theatre with equal success before an admiring audience. The Girardg were greatly applauded in their astonishing grotesque contortiona of body and limb, frofessor Jacobs also was ex tremely amusing in the magic circle of in visible people from the spirit world or somei other sphere of voices. Miss Maggie Knight \ sang and danced with precision and success.' We observe that an entire change of pro gramme will take place this evening, calcu fated to enhance the interest of the public and ensure a full house.

A dividend of 5,:« will be found (the first) in the estate of Mr J. C. Morrin, is an nounced for Friday.

A lady read the following paragraph in a paper:—"A young wife one cured her husband of a disposition to absent himself from home at night by providing a good dinner, and saying to him afterwards, George, if you find a sweeter "spot than our home describe it to me, and I will rival it if I die in the attempt.' A kiss and a few words completed her victory." This lady tried the game on her husband. He wasn't melted a bit; he merely said, " When you can get the boys to come here and smoke cigars and talk politics, and you set up a keg of lager, you can count me in. I like the company of these, I do." Oar lady saw' that sentiment had no effect upon him. So she didn't throw herself on Iris neck and hug and wet his paper collar with tettjs ; but she took a saucer and fired it at his .Lead, and followed it up with a cup, and ended by slinging a dish of strawberries on his shirt bosom. Since that time he has been anVxemplarf^msband. Yet he does seem very tf^^us Wr her to visit her dear mother as^ffin as four or five timei a week, <J

The remains of Mr John Anderson Gilfillan iin old coionißPand merchant of this city, were conveyed to their last resting place this afternoon, in presence of a number of friends of the deceased. Mr Gilfillan expired on Monday last, in the fifty-fourth year of his age. He had in years past taken an active part in colonial politics, but ill-health obliged him to sever himself practically from his earlier pursuits, although the welfare of the people was ever at his heart. In private life, by those who knew him most, he was most prized for his social habits and genial disposition. The funeral cortege left the residence of deceased this afternoon, a few minutes after three o'clock, followed by a number of citizens and friends. The Pro vincial and other^dffices were closed to-day out of profound respect for the general character and virtues of the deceased.

A meeting of creditors in the estate of Mr Thomas Fish, chemist, late of Princes-street, was held this afternoon on the premises, but the business was chiefly of a conversational nature. On"'beuwDat to the vote as to whether the Pi«§Swshould be admitted, their, exclusion was carried by four to kn"ree>*and the reporters were m formed DjK'Mr Brock, the bankrupt's ; soli citor, that it was purely out of consideration for themselves that the matter was put to the vote, as there was really nothing of im portance before the meeting. We are obliged to hold over the letter of "A Victim." J>-^3?he^inexpected change B** site for the Slau^tS|toouse to Oriehunga, appears to be received*j|iNtjj dissatisfaction by the trade generally, as alfieeting of butchers has been talked of to decide on the site which would best suit their interests, and be also to the benefit of consumers. The last meeting held at NewmajJij^was understood by the vendors of meatinHgwn to have been in tended for residents "in the vicinity only, which prevented their attending and giving expression to their desires in this matter.; It is now suggested that a final meeting be held, open to all, and have the subject freely discussed both by residTsn^s of Newmarket and By., tbosejn the meat "trSWU^The present is the cfiticplHime. Wtioever^hath any thing to say let him say it, or for e^er hold his peace.

In an article advocating New Zealand above all other colonies, the Belfast News Letter says that although it is satisfied that working men who emigrate to this colony have a good prospect of success, but it never theless Strongly opposes emigration on the ground that Ireland can support twice its present population. In the same issue, i 3 an account of the picking up of a mason's labourer, who was dying of starvation by the roadside, in consequence of inability to get employment. Comment-ia^eedless.

Madame Riafcori and company who are ex pected to visit 'j£ustralia and New Zealand a few months hence, was performing at date of last advices in the West Indies, after making a tour of South America, which says an American contemporafy, has added much to her reputation and her wealth. Her company comprizes thirty members.

Another batch of beautiful oleographs and chromes have arrived to the order of Messrs. Phillipps and Son, Wyndhj.m-str«et, and were exhibited in their window yesterday and today. They are certainly superior to their first importations, and are very good. The subjects are varied, and are copies from the renojvned paintings of Landseer and others o£"frr#| repute in art. The Auckland people are special in their appreciation of this class of drawings, and as a proof a, con stant supply must be kept, as they are pur chased very quickly. This firm mean to place these goods in the hands of their cus tomers at a small profit. Many ©f our suburban drawing rooms ara already graced by many pictures bought and framed by the Messrs. Phillipps. Another shipment is expected in about a month from now.

Vulcan writes : " I wish ' a Good Temp lar,' had the good "sense to answer my enquiry in the Star of 30th ultimo, without attacking the supposed writer. It is evident ' a Goqd Templar' is either mistaken, in 1 Vulcan^>eaF iftftntity wjtiat he says about him lmalse " Our correspondent also forwards us &vj|Qy of old mother Skipton's prophecy which was published in Auckland papers mont hs ago, and is so familiar to most people that it would be a waste of space were we to reprint it.

For a sample of the rubbish which men claiming intelligence above tbeir fellows can sometimes give utterance to, we refer our readers to the remarks of Mr. Thomson, President of the Otago Institute, published among our Dunedin telegrams. Mr. Thom son thinks New Zealand should enter into competition with the European nations and America in scientific observation, and seri ously urges that our Government should endeavour to rival the costly and futile Polar Expeditions of Northei n nations by undertaking tfio work of Antarctic explora tion. Did it not suggest" itself to Mr Thom son's mind that large' tracts of territory in New Zealand, and even withinNfche boun daries of his own province, remain as yet unknown and untrodden by Euro pean footstep's*,. Th^e work of explora tion and colonisation within the limits of our own colony will afford ample employment for the Government of New Zealand for genera tions to come without venturing on investi gations relating to other lands and other worlds. , ■ • , -\ •

The London Graphic tells us that Monte Christo's escape from the sack in which he was flung into the sea from4Bfe Chateau d'elf has been imitated by an ingenious! Persian. Having incurred the displeasure: of a high functionary at Shiraz, Mohammed; Mirza was condemned" tstjpe fastened up in a sack with a viper, a cock, and a cat, and; after an hour's time, when this happy family had improved their acquaintance, the sack and ita contents were to be thrown into.the! river. Fortunately for Mohammed Mirza, I his executioners forgot to search his pocket—which contained a small knife.l Directly the mouth of the sack was closed npon him and his companions he cub in half' the viper, which was already incircling his; leg, the cock and the cat were next dis patched, and our Persian occnpied the remainder of his hour by simulating a violent { fight of the three animals; and giving forth the moat excruciating cries of agony. In due , time the sack and all -were*..consigned to the water, and then Mohammed "Ming, speedily j freeing himself .from the prisonf^famed the ! other side of th«-river and came post-haste I to Europa, for "the future a voluntary exile from his fatherland.

Commenting on the decline of the. Ameri can shipping trade and commerce, a San Francisco journal, after, reviewing the rise and progress of the maritime greatness of the United States until it nearly equalled that of Great Britain, continues :—•" In 1870 there came a chilling frost upon our commerce, when we found that our tonnage had fallen to twenty-five hundred thousand tons, while that of Great Britain had increased to seventy-five hundred thousand tong. Of the one hundred and^-fittf^j steamers which1 ply between. New York attd . thtf ports of Europe, -not OBfei floats the, flag of our eountry^-at it*r-masthead. The cawefci^of this destruction of; onr**feom-" merce ia'CalHy seen. Jn <^er to protect American interests we havepuli Buch high duties upon iron, lumber, copper, sails, cordage, and all othe* TirtfeTew^wKi in the construction of ships, that they cannot be built against foreign competition. No do we allow our citizens to buy them abroad and enter them as American tonnage. Germany and France both do so. Their steamers are built upon the Clyde,, and they, derive-the profits of their, trade. Bufc^jur citizens are neither permitted to buy. cheap vessels from thoie whocanbuild them cheip nor allowed

ARREST OF MR. F. C. LEGGETT, CLERK OF PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

We learn with sincere regret that Mr F. C. Leggett, who has for nearly four years past filled the office of Clerk to the Provincial Council, was to-day arrested on a charge of embezzling £80, the property of the Pro vincial Government. The facts of the case are very simple. Some twelve months ago, a chequeforthe amount mentioned was given to Mr Leggett by G.M. O'Eorke, Esq., bpeaker, to be applied ir terms of a vote of the Coun cil, to the purchase of books for the library. Mr Ibeggett was instructeftsjjp purchase a draft in faVour of "a London bookseller, and forward it :mlh instructions regarding the books that were to be procured for the library. Months passed on, and no intelli gence was received regarding either draf b or books, and a letter was, we believe, written; regarding the non-comjjktion of the order. ; To this a reply was'receivfcil by the Mikado, •.disclaiming all knowledge of the matter; "and inquiries were, therefore, made at the Bank* of-New Zealand, where the Govern-, merit account is kept. It was here ascertained that Mr Leggett had cashed the cheque, but it did not appear that he had purchased any draft with the proceeds. Mr O'Eorke was consequently driven to. tne performance of the painful duty of sweariri^ninformation for emirazrement against his CWfk. When Mr Legge*H^aSinformed that matters had culminated fl*»police proceedings, he walked down to the guard-room, High-street, to-day, voluntarily with Messrs O'Horke and Tonks, and was there given into custody. The an nouncement will cause a general feeling of surprise and Borrow,. v especially on account of the family of "towLaccused. DariDg^ their residence in AucM^jjd Mr Leggett and fcmilx have made many friends, to whom the'anijouncement of his arrest will be a great shock, as he was generally esteemed as a straightforward man, pains taking and assrduousin the discharge of his duties iv connection ""ypth our Provincial Legislature. The case wflNc^me before the Policerygnrt to-morrow, whenthe evidence will, weimdsisfaftd, be" very simple, consist ing wholly ofthe^testimony of Mr O'Eorke refative to the- drawing of the cheque, and the purposes for wi}£ Q was givea to Mr Leggett, of the ofecJ^Nifthe Bank of New Zealand regarding ttie casWßg of it; and of Mr Tonks, l*rovincial Treasurer, in proof that it had not been devoted to the purposes intended. . - ,;.^

VARIOUS ACCIDENT.

NARROW ESCAPE FROM DROWNING. Yesterday nforning, between one and two o'clock"; the- captairi'and crew of the Emu screw batrqueritine lying alongside the Breakwater, were anwmed by hearing screatntproceed from- "tn^^rater in the immedisrcK»neighbourhood of Their vessel. The mate and several of the crew were soon on deck, and guid^jpity the directions of the sounds they discovered the form of a woman with her head jusjiabove water hanging on to one of the fender! between the vessel and the Breakwater wall. The nflte, whoße name is GeoTg»*Wililains," assisted by some of the crew, very quickly got down and managed, with some difficHHj, to rescue the woman, who was so exhausted, when brought on deck that the fainted. She was taken into the capt ainV^clWhi, and, "proper means being adopted, catae to after some length of time. Deeming her condition critical, the mate, by desire of the captain, communicated with the police at once, and Constable O'Heilly arrived before thesufferer revived. She gave her name as Jang Kelly, living in Grey-street. She was apparently ;>J^ween 20 and. 30* years old, and respectably' dressed. In answer to the questions what she was doing there so late and how the accident occurred, she replied that she was taking a quiet stroll in the coolness of the night, and**ajaecame dizzy as she stood^ at the edge oT v the quay, and so fell into the *water. Captain O'Connell is of ..opinion that if means of resuscitation had not been at once employed, she would not have rallied. The woman is not known to the police. About ten in the morning she was so far recovered as to be able to walk home. It is fortunate that in falling she did not strike hos^head against either thfk^wall or the side ctf^fche vessel. In either*case she. would probably have been drowned without a soul knowing it.

AMERICAN NEWS.

GIGANTIC. EAILWA^*>«£HEME. Senator Scott of has intro-. dueed a bill and memorial to Congress ask ing aid for the Texaa^ Pacific Railroad and the Atlantic and PacifiV'jßailroad, to the extent of some 70,000,OOOdolla*8SkThe lines are to be and ex~tendwN»loDg the line ofTthe thirty-second parallel of latitude to the Pacific coast, passing through Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. Twenty sections of the land on either side of the road in the Territories and ten in the States to be conceded to the companies. The Go-; vernment is asked to guarantee the interest upon gold-bearing bonds at the rate of five! per cent forSO.OOO dollars per mile of thej open or^glaui1 country, and 40,000 dollars per mile in tH^rough or mountainous country, Government to have a first mortgage on all the road, rights, lands, "franchises, equip-j meats, and other property of the corporation. To retain 5,000 dollars per mile of the bonds afl an indemnify fund for interest, in the event that the business for the Government in transporting troops,' munitions of war, j mails, etc., does not equal the interest account. ■ '•-«„

TERRIBLE MORTALITY IN A GOOLIE SHIP.

New York, Deoam^er 13.—The British i ship Forfarahire hasar?!VßH from Calcutta via -Demarra.While on voyage she was visited by a fearful chalera.apideniic, followed by measles among the children. Fifty-two coolie passengers died before^^^hing port and were buried jit sea. The^xsnolerifc^roke out the second day" after passing Sand Heads, * the first person attacked being a woman. The experienced medical force on board were unable to stay the course of ) * disease and when ten days out forty coolies ware down with the disease. The deaths averaged one each day. Third mate, apothecary, and engineer were attacked, but the first two recovered. ' The victims were sick, only about four hour^when death ensued, which was infallibly indicated by the eyes turning npwfcr.d in- the /.sockets.. When the cholera abated" the nie*»sle» broke out among the children, and the captain's two children were the fin»t,.^.fa^ l| jjo T?^,f»»n»^y +v,i. visitation was less severe Wan the cholera. On arriving at Demarara an official investi-. ;gation was made before a British Emigration Agent, and a report sent to the Emigra | tion Commissioners at London. The total i deaths were 1% w"6men, 13 men; and; 22 children (ftoiflfcmeasles). 52 deaths in all. FATALI)UE2s<S^CI!iA. jA Havana letter of December 19fch, says: I —A duel was'fongTyyußtwday morning at Guanalay, a village about thirty miles jfrom Havana. The contestants were, Don. Jose Castellanos, the S6nyjf a well-known jlawyer of this city, a Cuban, and Don jDiego Mendo. Figneroa, whilom-'a Gi>yem jment employ^ aH^a^Jhriter for the Fozde jCSJa," a Spaniard. Tn©-<l*iel was fought a labarriere r e»ch^ party1' ikdvancing, and at the third exchange of shbtii^astellanos fell dead, with :> gullet imbedMcNyafcsreeix hia eyes. The funeral took place this morn ing. The cause of the quarrel waa^a reflection upon CaitolUnoa' father, tko lawyer, in rel«

tion to exorbitant legal fees, and contained in an article published in the Vozde Cuba. Th young man sought an explanation from the writer, and in the angry discussion which followed struck his opponent withfjhis own cane. A challenge followed, with tfie unfor tunate result above stated. To add to the misery entailed upon the families of each Castellanos had been married but^a year and his wife but a few days Bince'gave hir+k to her first child. =* .....: S *lrth ,| • i CLERIC AL'SCANT)ALS. V The Beecher case seems to have whetted th§ : appetite or the American readers for clerical scandals, and the supply does not seem tl ' all behind the demand. One case that has A ■obtained considerable promise was *» eharce % brought against the Rev* John 8. Glenden. - ing, Presbyterian minister of Jersey ofty o f immoral relations with Mary E. Pomerov The Presbytery, after inquiry, has 'expelled the accused from the Church. Their rewnt shoWs that several distinct charges werev malel each withspecifications, and that the! ' : lattmi we.re voted; upon separately! The'/ charges o\ seduction and falsehood wete not? s,u3t«ined-t-the vote on seduction stood' nine' for>and twelve against. Thefourtkcharce was for unministerial and tinchristian con duct—the second specification charging i« effect, that Glendenning compromised hig character by. making Miss Pomeroy m anY valuable present3,\and visiting her aijssnch unseasonable hoursV-was sustained by* v o j e of sixteen to fivel, V -o At Baltimore aiiolherbhnrch scandal has been made public TheuSey. Daniel Somer of the Christian Church, balled a meeting at the pablic hall, and before a large audience read \ lengthy statement, in which he publicly accused the Eev. A.W. Gilbert pastor •, of the Congregational Church, of gross immorality with the Bisters M'He specified occasions, and gave as his authority the name of Eev. W.L. Haydeh. of PhUa. delphia.

THE GRAND CONCERT TO-MORROW.

The. rehearsal preparatory to the great concert in aid of the! friends of the Young Men's Christian |A.Bgociatioir took place ILast evening, and was well at tendee by members; Mr. Eics s con- • ; ducted with his wonted ability, and judging from the evening's performance, the;forth coming concert to-moriow evening must be a success. The programme, now. before the public, cannot fail in bringing a large num ber r f music-loving persons together es pecially whea ,»4t is • known that those eminently gifteft^ladies MiBS Christian and Mrs Fmythe will com* forward with several sweet ballad compositions, such aa the "Beating of my ownJheart," "TeT Bam menti,"^'Mountebank," and that charming duet, "O^Friend Beloved." We are sure that the k^^Jy services of these ladies will be thorougmy appreciated, and that the languishing, heart of the^Associatioa :wjll re vive in consequence^. But above and beyond the charms of musicHbere is that in^the coming coricert which'^wiH"appeal to the feel ings of the people. The Young Men'B.Chris. tian Association is, of "all our-local ,in&tn tions, one of the most valuable and deserving, ,It is in shallow water, and this concert at the Choral Hall to-morrow night is a generous helping hand held out by the sister institu tion, the .Choral Society. Wo do trust that public approbation will be expresaed-*in a bumper house and an overflowing treasury.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before R. Graham and B. Isaacs, Esqg., [ ; ; Jastices of S the Peace.) ■ • excjessofspik.it. George Craig and William "Brpwn'^ere found in a lamentable state of drank entesu last night; the former in Graffcon Koad, and the latter in Queen-street. The men pleaded guilty, and were fined 5s ■ ■each., ■/.- '■.;.:, , ■■■■■, LV; -.■;.■.■:,-::*■> fi>? .AGED POLLY. : ; ' ■> -'P Mary Dogherfcy, alias Polly Eubinose, well known as a midnightwajiderer, .was chirced with being foun«k*nf*£3Eier usual state of drnnkenness in Victoria-street last night. Mary put her white handkerchief to her nose, and acknowledged she "was wandering both in body and mind on the nigbtin ques tion. She was about to take a nap at a door step in Victoria-street, when she felt a gentle tap on theahoulder, accompanied by a gentle voice saying " Polly, Polly, you mnsfcnot Blumber here." !?he opened, her eyeß'atid discovered Constable Muiville'by her aide. He took her to her old quarter where she rested for the night ;" The Bench inflicted the smaller penalty of 53 and costs, which Mary, said she- would pay- ■'. .' ; "" ' ■ ';;.:;" i; /'",,,-> ■ BRTJTAI. ASSAULT. , f ; : John Allen was charged with brutaUy and violently assaulting Constable Walsb, otf the 16th January, by striking, and kickiiig!linn while in the execution of his duty. ,?.7SI Constable Walsh deposed to the facts of the case.1 He was'on duty on the evening of the 16th of January near the Waitemata Hotel, when he observed the prisoner Tlpng on the pavement in a state of flrunkenneis. He tried to rouse him from his torpid condi tion, shook him, and with some difficnl§y raised him. Prisoner^fchien began jto : , aibjwe him, and struck hinl,witti >great"violence with his clenched .fist. He tqpk him in custody, and when, within"aJiund:r%d'<yi!frdß from the hotel prisoner wished to know where he was about tobe;taken. He informed him, 3 when prisoner-said with an oath that he would^not .go,; and began kicking the^ebnstabl^ |'^ immediately blewMswhistleiwhen.Conßtt|ble ; Shttwcamqtohisassistance, ortheresuitwojjjd have heen-3ar.- more serious. He was very much injured. fiadLkept his bed almost up to the present time, and had been, attended by Dr Dawson. He feared th&t he was injured for life. ■.•'''". ~. i^l Constable Shaw, and a young mannamed Duff, a cabman, deposed to the rough treat ment the constable .had.,received »t-the hands of the prisoner. '' 1 --. * vtL ;/i Mr Broham said he expected Dr. Dawson; who would give evidence as to the severe | injuries inflicted on the constable by the ■.;; | prisoner. t jg I The Bench sentenced prisoner, who main tained-a stolid indifference tnroughonti to two : , months' .;imprisonment -with' '< bard labour, and- to: find sureties at the termin* atibii of his imprisonment, for his good Jlftj haviour for six months ; himself, in £50, and two other sureties in £25 each. "* ASSAULT WITH INTENT. Edward Patteaonj a young man of respect able appearance, was larw^Kt up on a charge | of indecently assaultirrg*Vlittle girl, named ; Nellie Howe, residing witlr her parents at Otahuhu, on the 30th ult. , ; Mr Broham r .as]fced. for. a remand of this j; case until to-morrow, in order that the ! several .witn esses inigb t be present. The Bench printed the application. SONS OFNEPTDNB.-, r, .^h^-Jonk Anthony Anderson, a rough loefciflg-sailor with a dreadfully cut face, was brought >"ng" ; dn a charge of absenting himself' yesterday, j without leave from the British ship Wair^ | CsPHsoiie* ssud it wa,3, true; he gbt^drnnlt « land was ashamed to go back to the ship. ; Captain James Skinper proved the <?§*rge« I The' Berich!' asked prisoner, if he was ;willing'to^o backMibithe ship. '■";' ' . Prisbner^rWa mpst~impertinent manner, said he rwdulc^^> back, but he would not Iwork either for Captain Skinner or the d—l. ; The Bench imnsediateiy or4ered .prisoner to Mount Eden for "one month, wifch^fiard 'Jabour. * — ~ "~? * .. '" [' ,' ! Henry Barnett was brought up on a sim^P lar charge, to wit, desej-ting from the ahip^" Dilharee, nowia the J)ort of Auckland, on the 2nd instant. , Prisoner said he was gujlty.Jbut- w^ould rather'not go back to'th^^nip, he had had enough, of it. .. .'^iK ! One month's imprisonment with hard labour. j v.- rjf vr <■. )si .k \ This w« all th« bu«ine«i. iH



W^ili^N^L BANK or LAND), Limited, CAPITAL.. £2,000,000 SUBSCRIBED ~./ ... £1,000,000 RATES OF INTEREST ON DEPOSIT : . On Deposits fixed for 30 days', 5 % $ annum On Deposits fixed for 3 months', 5J % $ annum On Deposits fixed for 6 months', 6 % $ annum *""S^*AIP HEAtf, < Manager. I Auckland, 17th December, 1871 j|',': ! ' WK ' * r\ I T V H A L L. ] ■ ■'•'-'■■"■' " HATS. -■*:. ''-CLOTHING, ■■■■ « —'*' % ' .' - • :■•■ PBISTS, DEEBSE3. I CARPETS, PLOOE CLOTHS, ___ CHINA MATTING. I ' • ' MILLINERY, , > UNDERCLOTHING, ' BABY LINEN. AT COSTJ£B*eET~ ■■£■ To HjJ.ii i ffiiiiiin iifor extensivpaUifßiMonof 1 'Ski "' rv 'T ■*. ' "■■ premises. X^^^^A 3 f ; holloway & garlice;,jo , CITY HALL. UJStION BANK OF AUSTRALIA. I „ :[E|TABLISHEb 1837.] I ': ' ',' . ■ .. . ■ ••'■■', -.v; i ■.-'■■' PAID-UP CAPITAL ... ... £1,250,000 f- RESEfIEE FUND jti ■' J. ■?! £400,000 I ' ' «#■ THE HIGHEST CURRENT KATE OF INTERHS ALLOWED ON FIXED DEPOSIT. |g t JOSEPH E. POUNDS, Manager. NEW ZEALAND INSURANCE % . COMPANY;;. 8 ! ■ ■ | FIRE AND MARINE^ Capital, pai<* - *"'*".' .*hfe-.k • • £240,000. , IE of every deß ,. . I with: this Com ,-:■: Hme>. Merchan y steamers and -- .:! . - ■ a| '-■ ■ ■ >ject to special



T C 0!S GRA V E & C 0. 1 Beg to inform the inhabitants of Auckland that they have entered their WHOLESALE PEEMISES IN HIGH-STREET, Lately occupied by Cruickshank and Co. They win therefore hold a Sale of the ENTIRE BJETAIL STOCK of DRAPERY AND CLOTHING ■ QUEEN-STBEET, ON SATURDAY, THE 30th JANUARY. In order to effect a speedy clearance, the whole of the Goods will be sold at COST PRICE. There will be no Goods entered during the Sale. rpHE FEBBTJAKY NUMBER . | OP THE PRESBYTERIAN ChURCH NEWS IS NOW PUBLISHED. P R Ifß-TH R E EP E N C E. To be had of Messrs Upton and Oc.