SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

jeiaa WATE- , -bis cv»nng 4.28; to r SUN SE; : Thise uW-, 7.18 : -T'S Bis I' : to m-.-rr w ajoraiu ■. i.53 •ViUON*H ,-.<_ iS r j as . Quarter, Jatuaiy 8. 1875

ARRIVALS.

"nwsna. «s. f-om Rn«:se!l Clyrte, schooner, irom Wan'ewei

DEPARTURES.

"•«i.s.xfc"san-j, iort-ie K.=w»->

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

vr v ewca ti e —Crowning Beauts, barqu-j, early For the South— v elhqfct.o. , S s. Tuesday For l,»svuka-Belle Brandoa. schooner early T"or I y.te'ton Waitansi, sbio, early; Albion, brig shortly ; Mary King, schc oner, and flirt, brigan tine, eirly For harot nj,a—Blanche, sch<wr-er e*ily F>-r San Prarcis"—Condor*n shia early For London— City of Auckland stain, isWvJ«ra For a 'taise—aouthMfnCros-*. Missionary barquentine early

VESSELS EXPECTED

Hero, s.s., from Sydney, about sth January next Macgregor, s s, from San Francisco, about stu Jan Clematis ketch, from Napier Papua, schooner, from Ravo'onga, early Cospatrick, ship, from London ; sailed *Bth September Glenlora ship, from Lontion ; sailed September 26 i>«lhareo, barque fr-m London; saUo-i October 2 Warwick, ship, from London ; sailed October It Inverene, ship, from London ; sa Id October 30 Anazi b»rqoe. f ?'-m Losdoo • sailed Oct.iher 28 Bapido, barque, from New York,via Adelaido, loading Edith Rose, barqne, from Sew York; sii-'ed Sept. 18 Chanticleer, brig, I'om Hobart Town early ■Vision, brig, from Dnnedirs, eaily Fdith, schooner, from *o nth Soa Islands, early Dauntless, (2), schooners, from New Caledonia JSurora, barque, from Sydney, early Kenilworth, scaooner, from Samoa, early

EXPORTS.

Per Phoebe, "Worsp, for Southern Ports: —Under bond: 1 case, His Excellency (he Marquis of Nor manby; 1 package, Jenkins; 15 half-chests tea, 1 case cigars, Isaacs. Duiy paid: 16 packages, Owen and Graham; 109 ditto, 'T. and S. Motrin; 2 ditto, Porter aud Co.; 20 bags bark, Ireland Brothers; 2 packages, Brown and Co.; 1 bale, Lusk; 4 cases, Hooper and Co.; 37 pieces timber, Gibbons and Co.; 30 kits oysters, Welby ; 1 parcel, Bank of New Zea land ; 1 bundle scyths, Morrin ; 20 cases fruit, Eaton; 1 package, Battray; 200 sacks maize, W. D. Brewer ; 1 quarter-cask, cWkweil; 1 case, Bank of New Zea land ; 6 sacks potatoes, Wilson; 13 ditto ditto, Jenkins and Wilcox; 2 casks oil, Gittos; 3packages, Smart; 12 ditto, Soloman and Margetts; 2 ditto, Owen and Graham; 1 ditto, McArthur, Shera and Co.; 1 case, Eaton; 3 packages, Mase.fi eld and Co.; 50 kits oysters, "Welby; 1 case, S. W. Hill; 3 bales, Ireland Brothers; 83 bags potatoes, K. Bilkey ; 7 hogsheads, J. Reid; 2 parcels, Hill; 1 box, McDonald.—Combes and Daldy, agents.

Th 9 s.s. Hero is due to-morrow from Sydney and Melbourne. The barque William Gifford arrived at Lyttelton on Saturday. We may mention with regard to the result of the Champion Race at Lyttelton Regatta, that the victory of the Albatross was in strict accordance with trie tenor of a letter received from Captain Lewis, of the Peerless, by Mr M. Niccol a few days before the race. Captain Lewis informed his fellow-owner that after seeing the course over which the race was to be'sailed, he was of opinion that a handy " fore-and-af ter " would stand much more chance of winning than a topsail schooner, for which the in and out turns Would be very awkward.' The fact of their being so many collisions in the race would tend to show that the course must have been a very awkward one indeed. It was lucky that Mr Harris' smart little schooner was on the spot. We notice that our con temporary the Cross congratulates our Auckland builders on beating the fine vessels of the Southern provinces. The Cross would not seem to be aware, that nearly every schooner in the race was built here. The Rowena arrived at midnight on Saturday from Russell, with the following passengers: — Messrs Beetham, Farle, Davis, Misses Munro and Fairbum. The R.M.s.s. Macgregor is due from San Francisco •with the English Mail to-morrow. The Wellington leaves the Manukau to-morrow at 4 p.m. for the South, instead of 3 p.m., as advertised' in the front page. The Rosario left late on Saturday night for the Kawau. From thenca she goes to Tauranga and Wellington, prior to proceeding to Adelaide. The whaler Callao was to leave the Bay of Islands to-day for a cruise.

"We learn ttt=Lt the yaclit Pearl was smashed up in the gale of Friday night. This is the hoat from which poor Barney Waymouth was drowned. The s.s. Phoebe left the Manukau on Friday for the South, with the following passengers:—Saloon: Rev. P. Walsh, Messrs Bleazard, Nashau, Isaacs, Hoyle, Murdock, Hamilton, MeGlashan, Mesdames Marks, MeGlashan, Hamilton and child. Steerage: Messrs. Johnson, O'Neill, McConnell, Budden, Bly, Message, Joyce, Thompson, Rodda, Anderson, Mrs Bly and six children, and Mrs Rodda. The brig Vision, daily expected from Oamaru, has been chartered by Mr Brewer to proceed to the Fijis. She will leave in about ten days.

The cutter Echo brings 44 tons of coal from Russell; and the cutter South Carolina, from the Barrier, 400 feet ship's timbers.

The schooner Prince Rupert has cleared for Wan garoa in ballast.

The cutter Fawn, which cleared for Russell to-day, takes two of the Government immigrants' cottages.

The schooner Rose cleared for Gisborne and the East Coast to-day, with a large cargo of miscellaneous merchandise.

The Frowning Beauty cleared for Newcastle, in ballast, on Saturday.. Passengers:—Mrs Campbell, and Masters Campbell (2).

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

Lyttelton, this day. The hrigantine Helena arrived yesterday, from Auckland via Mercury Bay.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Clob.s as follows:— r.

For Thauie?, this {tiny, at 5.30 p m For Coroiuandei, t'!-morr«.w, at 10.30 a m For Kawau a^d Mataiana, per Lady Bowtn, to

morrow, at 10 a m lor Kiwa Kawa and threat BarrUr, per b-uth

Carolina, to-morro*', at 3 p m For Wanparei, Ac. per Oiyv.», to-oiOTriw, at 3 p m for Btuscll per t.clio, this d<-y, at, 5 p m For Tiima, per Jaael Gray, to-morrow, at 11 am For Whitiangi, Tabu*, Opotiki, aud fcapier, vi*

Tanrrtnijii. to-morrow, at 3 p in ForTarai^ki, and skinborn {.rovinces, per Welling ton, to-morrow, »tl p na Late letters will be received till 116pm For Austrniiari Colonies, per Macgregor, six hours

after bt_r a>ri«ikl N. b, — Holders of private letter boxes wh* de-are to reU'n'the locks from fielr old boxes are ieqaesttil to iatim*!e the same to this office inmiedntoly. 8. it. Bi^h, Chief Postmaster

MARRIAGE.

Corvish— C zens—On Jarni-rv 1, 1575, ne St. rJepi''cher's Ouuich, by the _R»v B. T. Dudley, J.ilin Ooiiii-h, of -"-ndd-wid, to linnet Czeus, of Jiury Ht iCdinunis, Suffolk, England.

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

MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 1875.

?rr th* etiise that luelts wstetano*, For ihe wrong that r.'ieds reslKtsac^ for th« fstai-e In th« distance, _rlari tec swid t_»i we can _».

It is customary with those who have their political purposes to serve to revile our local institutions as a "disgrace." The Gaol has come in for the sweeping denunciation made by those who have never inspected it, or made fthemselveslacquainted with the difficulties, chiefly arising from impecuniosity in the coffers, under which discipline is there carried out. And then those whose hopes are in the smiles of the great, join with commendation in the stupid and ignorant charge, until we believe a good number of the unreflecting public really believe that the administration of the gaol ia an abuse, and the whole affair an Augean stable. And then from time to time a dtunken or refractory warder who has been cashiered, or a prisoner who has felt the stiug of punishment, gives vent to' his venom in an anonymous letter, or in confidential communications to the willing ears of Provincial Councillors ; and so the changes are rung. In these cir cumstances, it is refreshing to hear the remarks of such a man as Sir George Arney, who has nothing to gain, either from the smiles of the great or the approbation of the mob. Sir George, it appears, has visited the gaol and inspected it for his own satisfaction, and has to-day given a tribute of, we believe, moat justly deserved praise to Governor Eyre.' Captain Eyre has one of the most invidious positions that man can well occupy. He has to do with confessedly the worst classes of the community, who, if en couraged by sympathetic remarks, are all too happy to visit on him their resentment against society, whose minister of justice he is. And he has his duty to carry out with confessedly defective machinery. In such circumstances it behoves those who wish well to society to make allowances for the difficulties of the position. But Sir George Arney has done more than this; for speaking with the voice of the highest judicial authority ill JNew Zealand, and dealing, on personal knowledge, with a matter with which he may, if any one, be presumed to be conversant-namely, the punishment of criminals, he bears testimony of the most effectual kind to the excellent manner with which the government of the gaol is carried out. Such a testimony from such a man is worth a hundred flippant, thoughtless, claptrap, platform utterances as to the institution being a " disgrace."

As in time the wave of public feeling in favour of funeral reform will reach Auck land, it will be interesting to many of our readers to know the actual objects intended by the promoters of this leal effort for the emancipation of the people from the tyranny of conventionalism. These cannot be more Buccintly and explicitly conveyed than in the following series of resolutions, just passed at a public meeting held in the Temperance Hall, in Sydney, at which were assisting Sir Alfred Stephen, Mr Holt, Canon King, and a large number of others of the most influen tial men of the sister colony. It was unanimously resolved tbat the members of the association should bind themselves to adhere as closely as may be to the following : t. jgf; That the coffin be plain and, as far as may be, free from adornment. 2nd. That BO pall he used ; that neither scarfa nor hat

bands be worn, nor gloves be provided; neither shall there be mutes nor plume bearers. 3rd. That the-hearse or carriage in which the body is couveyed be plain and devoid of decoration; that the horses wear neither plumes nor trappings ; and tint, in lieu of mourning coaches, ordinary vehicles be employed. 4th That the hearse and otht-r vehicles b-s driven at a somewhat quicker p see than the ordinary walk. sth. Thai the c be no funeral processioD ; that mourners other than relatives or special friends meet at the mortuary or bin id ground only ; and that no invitation to a funeral appear in the public prints. 6th. That mourning af ;er the present costly, in convenient-, and unhealthy fashion be avoided ; and tbat the ordinary attire, both of men and womeo, with the addition of a biack crape or cloth band or ban Is on the hat or left; arm, be considered respectful and sufficient mourning."

A number of "Auckland Almanacs and Provincial Handbooks" having been issued with defaced fronlsipieces, we have to request that application will b8 male to this office, where a satisfactory view SI the city may be oetained without charge. The views in the first copies of the Almanac issued were spoiled by being pressed when the paper was damp. Their appearance does not do justice to Mr R. H. Battlett who executed the views. The copies now being issued are, however, satisfactory, and compensation wdl be made for the disappointment which may have been caused to purchasers by the issue of perfect views.

To the Editor : Sir, —It is pleasant to know that the young ladies in the employ of many of the Auckland milliners and dress-maker.-, have not only been permitted to enjoy the pit awes of this festive season, ly the r salaries paid without deductions— iudeed some firms have given Christmas boxes to their fair emp'o^es. There is, however, a dark sido to the picture. A firm not a hundred miles from the top of Shortland street informed their fair machine and needle drivers that tli^y could work on New Year's Day if they liked, those who determined, however, to keep holiday would have the day's pay deducted ! Pah ! it is pitiful.— Yours, etc., Argus.

The regular monthly meeting of the Acclimatisation Society was exiled for two o'clock to-day, at. the Chambers, Princes street. The Secretary aud a member met, and after waiting some time, the meeting lapsed for want of a quorum. The Secretary int'mated to those present that he was ad vised of a shipment of plover and parbtvlger, which took place' enling November, but the ship was not mentioned. The swallow's e^t-s, which came per last Hero, were duly set, and as the period of incubation ceases in a few days, the long sought for bird may show its appearinc3 We hope thi* bird may be introduced, as it would be one of our greatest boons The members will be duly notified when tbe next meeting is to be held.

The directors of the N.Z. S.JN". Company made a wise selection in the appointment of Captain Lloyd to the command of the s.s. Taranaki. Captain Lloyd has been for the last eighteen months in charge of the Kangi tira, and during that period won golden opinions from all those who bad the pleasure of travelling with him. not only for his "er.eral affability, but also for tbe able and skilful seamanship shown by him in times of difficulty and danger. We cordbdly congratu late Captain L'oyd on h:s well-earned pro motion.

There is a good "yarn," an Auckland correspondent writes to a Dunedin journal, told about an old lady's doings on board the Hero on the run across. Tne old lady, a Mrs Malaprop in her way, had been itching, from the that moment she discovered that his Excellency was on botrd, to have a chat with him. She tried many manoeuvre!! to *' put ia a word," but, as there was always a crowd in the immediate vicinity of vice-royalty, she found some difficulty in carrying out her intentions. One morning, bowever, coming on deck early> she was over-joyed to find his Excel lency seated alone. Hushing frantically along the deck, the old lad?- plumped herself down alongside tbe Marquis, and gasped, "My dear Lordship, I have so long wanted to ask you—How is the governess ?'' Is is recorded of his Excellency that he smole a smile, and , made reply with his back turned toward the ased female, while at the same time he nearly lost the run of his handkerchief down bis throat. The same individual, upon Miss Howard mak ing known the loss of ber jewellery upon board, immediately craved an audience with the young actress, and begged of her to search her boxes. " You know," said the old dame, "it is only right we should be all searched, and if the Governor and Governess are to have their boxes searched, of course it's only right that I should submit." "This is the way the credit of Auckland business firms is spoken of by the Auckland correspondent of tbe Otago Guardian in a letter which appears in that journal on the 23rd December: —"Commercial matters do not look at all healthy here at the present moment. One firm has "gone' for £22,000, and a second for over £10,000, while others are on the verge of insolvency, owing to over-trading and the putting on of the screw by the banks. Goods have been rushed into this market in the wildest state. At the present moment, the bonds are full to the doors, and heavy shipments are daily due. The day of reckoning is at hand, and I feel sure, with out wishing to croak, or be sensational, that the new year will bring a few houses up standing."

The January number of the JNew Zealand Presbyterian Church Newe has just been pub lished, and may be had at Upton's, but our review of it is crowded out till to-morrow.

Mr Bainfoid will sing to-night, two of the most celebrated English naval songs in the language, viz, the "Bay of Biscay," and Dibdin's "Tom Bowling," songs which will be sung through a thousand years.

The carpenters and joiners of this city will hold their regular trade meeting this even ing in the lower room of the Christian Young Men's Association.

We are glad to notice that the two sons of H. IV. Warner, for whose personal safety fears were entertained by their anxious parents, returned yesterday to their home by the Gemini from Riverhead, where they had been driven by the storm.

The children of the Home for the Neg lected Children are holding their New Year's festival as we go to press, and are enjoying themselves over tea and cake. A Christmas tree and other pleasures have been provided by friends, which will have a beneficial effect upon the minds and memories of the children.

The majority of the people who inhabited the haunts of Chancery-lane are in prison, and out of the remaining few, two have gone mad through excessive drinking during the holidays. One of these lunatics is a sweep, and the other a woman who has long lived in the locality, and who on Saturday afternoon was raving, and with clenched fights was loudly challenging: the best man to come and she would kill him.

The following is the return of sick treated at the Provincial Hospital for the week ending Saturday, January 2, 1875:—Re mained last return, 75; admitted, 15; dis charged, 15 ; died, 1 ; remaining, 74 (males 60, females 14). Arrangement of cases— Zymotic, 11; constitutional, 13 ; local, 34 ; developmental, 6; violent, 10. One death occurredduring the week, viz , D.S.M., aged 28 years, on December 27, 1874, of dysentery nine hours after admission. Thanks are re turned to Mrs. Garde for cakes and straw berries to Mrs H. Williams, Mrs George Boyd, and Mrs Gorringe for parcels of old linen, and to Mr Brighton, Domain Gardens, for strawberries.,

Owners of hackney carriages and omni busses, also drivers, carters, P»f fs > anCJ owners of private carrs are reminded that all licenses have expired, aud that new ones must be obtained before Saturday next, the 9th inst. . . l;>

Miss Chiistian will sins; at Mr Rainford's benefto conceit tc-nightin the City Hall.

HORRIBLE MURDER OF A CHILD AT TUAKAU.

BEVEALF.D IN' A DREAM,

VERIFICATION OK THE DREAM

TBE CSILJD CUT INTO FRAGMENTS,

A GUILTY FATHER

Tuakau, Friday. On Christmas night Mrs Brown, after placing her child in her little cot in a room adjoining her own sleeping apartment, shortly after re tired to bed, where her husband wss then sleeping. Early in the evening Mrs Br^wn had quarrelled with her husband respecting her infant daughter. She had wanted to purchase for it a new pair of boots. The husband replied by asking why the boots the child wore could not be half-soled ? She said this was impossible as the boots required new uppers. High words ensued, when the hus band deliberately walked into his bedroom, where ke.undressed, and then flung himself between the sheets, and apparently fell into a deep Rlumber. . Mrs Brown, who sleeps at the back of the bed, crawled iv at tbe foor, that she mi^ht not awaken her husbaud. Shortly after she fell into a broken sloep, when she dreamed that she saw her husband get out of bed and go into tbe next room, when, taking a butcher's knife, he cut off the child's head, which he wrapped in a copy of the Weekly News. He then cut off both the child's feet, and its left arm a', the elbow joint. 'I hese he placed in a flour bag, together with the rem under of the mutilated cospae. Then tbe mother dreamed that she saw her husband take the parcel containing tbe child's head, together with the flmr bag, down to the river, when he dropped them in, when both immediately sunk, and disappeared. There was nothing to he seen. At this horrible moment, the mother started up from ber sleep in a cold perspiration, and putting out her hand she felt ber hnsbaud by her side still sound asleep. The mother then doz'd off again, and again dreamed the same terrible dream. Sbo awoke in another cold perspiration, put out her arm and found her husband still by her side, and still S-eop'ng soundly. A third time did the mother doze off, aud a third time she dreimed the same dream. Again she awoke in a cold perspiration ; put out her arm, and found her husband had left his bed. It was nw daylight. The mother rose, and scarcely giving herself time to dress, hastened down to the river, where she was only too well couvinced thit her dream was true. The piper parcel and bag had dis appeared, and there was nothing to be seen but the >ippleon 'he wat^r. W'orror stricken at the ghas'.ly deed, she returned to her own room and sat down and wept. Then she was overcome by an unconquerable but unaccountable desire to visit the room where the foul murder of ber only infant daughter h%d been committed. Gently lifting the latch of the door, she entered ; and there on the cob, the clothes partially turned down, she beheld her child, in a sweet sleep Almost at the Same instant, the husband entered from the garden with a b-isket of early pofaloes, which he had got np to dig for breakfast;. This affair, together with the death of a child from bronchitis, and two coroners, both wanting to hold an inquest on tbe remains of a young lady at tbe same time, as related in the Cross of this morning, bas caused such a general feeling of deapondeucy among the residents at Tuakau, that a memorial is about being addressed to the Government to change the name of the settlement, that these sad events may be allowed to pass out of memory.

SPECIAL SITTING OF THE NATIVE LANDS COURT.

MRS. MEtfRANT'S CLAIM. Tn;s interminable case seems at last to be a^sumiag some shape. At the last sitting of Parliament, in a Committee of the House, it was aluiitted that Mrs Meurant had an c juitable cla m, and autho i^ed a special sitting of the Naive Lands Court on the 4th J.nuary, to enquiie into tbe case, and report tie ar.a of the lmd claimed, if any, and the amount of compensation entitled to. In pursuance of these instructions, Judge Fenton sat in Court this morning at 10 a.m., with Mr MacCormick, instructed by the Crown, and Mr Hesketh for the Meurant family. The whole case is one that would puzzle our most astute legal gentlemen. It is a claim by Mrs Eliza Meurant for about twenty to thiny acres of land in our most fashionable suburb Bemuera. The dats of gift goes as far back as February 1844, when, according to a vast pile of Maori documents, Mrs Meurant, a native, was given by her Maori friends of the tribe, this disputed plot of land as a gift to her and her children, as .one chief says, "for ever, and ever, and ever, amen." The claim has occupied the attention of the Parliament for years, including that of Earl Grey, Secretary for the Colonies, and every Governor from that time, and even become of such dimensions in dispatches, that the noble Earl said he would cease to have anything more to do with it, he himself having gone astray in his view of the award. As each successive Government toak up the cause, they gave their assent, but completed nothing, and so it has gone on for years. The amount of correspondence on the subject is astounding, and volumes of it went down in the " White Swan," and were lost many years ago- The land was, as it now appeared to the Government— wrongfully seized from the claimant and disposed of by the Crown to various persons — setting aside her claim because the land was not in the power of the natives to give, their title, as it was said, beiDg extinguished mauy years before that period. The preliminary conversation of the Court was not finished when our reporter left, but, after several hours of question and answer, it appeared that the Court under its present instruction was completely without jurisdic tion, as tli3 claim was one for compensation, and the land in question was not native land. Mr MacCormick said that his instructions were rather limited and indefinite, and he thought the best thing to be done under the circumstances was to report back to Govern ment suggesting that a specific claicn be put in, and positive instructions given as to the form of proceedure. This accorded with Mr Hesketh's views, who said he was pre pared to put in at any time a specific claim for compensation.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Dr Home, aud G. M. Mitford Esq. Justices.) MILL LANE WILDINGS.

Kate Maxwell and Mary Bushranger wera charged under the Vagrancy Act, with having no visible lawful means of getting a living.

Mr Broham said the girls were among the worst in the town, they were new arrivals, and were found in Mill Lane on Saturday in company with a lot of drunken sailors. The Bench legretted to see young women in such a pitiable condition, and sentenced them to three month's imprisonment with hard labour. MASTER TOMMY AND HIS COMPANION IN THE WET. . I Thomas King, and Maria Price, were charged with trespass under the Vagrancy Act, having been found on the premises of Mr Matthew Carr, on New Year's Eve. ■ Prisoners pleaded guilty, but it was all

owing to the wet; he went m for shelter ,^t was three o'clockin the morning ; ajdMrn followed him. He had been spending tne e^t« be was in charge of the premises, and found In ropW to the bench, the prisoner King, said ho Lew nothing about Mana Price Se was a stranger, and they were < stranger vet " He was a respectable land owner at Cabbage Bay and hud come to Auckland to pass the Christmas. D i, awn ' Unfortunately for prisoner, it wss shewn that he had been several tim'S f ljV>cted 'lt this Court, and was an habitual drunkard. Maria was silent. _•.,.«,„ The Bench sentenced them to fourteen days' imprisonment with hard labour. MAC'S CHRISTMAS C-VPERS._ John McMurray again appeared in answer to a charge for displaying his affection ior his wife Annie in an unnatural and objectionable maimer on Boxing night. _«•'« Mr Broham said that Mia McMurray Wished to withdraw the charge. Her hus band was exceedingly kind to her, excepting ■ when he gob drunk, and then he would ul ' Prisriner promised to amend hia conduct and treat his wife better in futuie. The Bench recommended him to take the P Prisoner said he intended to join the Good Templars at once ; the regalia was ready in preparation. ~ On this promise, John McMurray was dis charged.

THK EOOT MYSTSRY. Robert Harris, remanded from Saturday, was ag'dn brought up on a charge of stealing a pidr of children's b:>ots, value 6s Gd, tho property of David • larkson, of Queen street. Piisoner could no^, account for the fact of the boots bein_,< in his kit; it was a mystery. ' As Mr Ciarkson did not wish to press the charge, prisoner hay ng previously borne a ,^ood character, he was therefore discharged with a caution. TWO PAST, MY LAI) ! William Hannah was summooel for fast driving, and with having.no visible number on his vehicle. The Town Clerk she'-ved that it wssneee? sary for pubic vehicles aud carts to have tbe council number pained visibly on a con spacious part, and that carters could not be allowed to shift their numbers from cart to ".art, or if they persisted, must suffer the penalty of disobedience The bench imposed a fine of 5s and costs. A HORS3 AT GRASS. Thomas "Hollywood was summoned fir alio wins hi 3 ho: so to graze on the wayside of Cook-.vtreefc on the 13th of December. Mr Hollywood pleaded guilty and was fined ss. andco3ts. UNNUMBERED. James Butcher, the well-known carman, of Napier-street, was summoned for failiug to keep the number of his cart on a conspicuous part of the same. _ Mr Bircher complained of the unfairness of the charge. He was simply picked out and pounced upon. His man bad removed the number inadvertently. The Town Clerk, in reply to the Bench, refuted mainly the statement of defendant. The Bench considered that promptitude in business was best, and in order to save more words, fined the carman 10s and costs, which Mr Butcher paii with one grambie and departed. This concluded the busiaem

SUPREME COURT.—This Day.

CRIMINAL SESSIONS. (Bafore His Honor Sir G. A. Arney, Chief Justice.)

The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court commenced this morning. His Honor tool bis seat on tho Bench at 11 o'clock, when there was a large number of spectators assembled in the Court.

GRAND JURY. The following gentlemen were sworn in on the Grand Jury -.—Messrs. J. L. Camp bell (foreman), W. C. Daldy, J. M Dargaville, J. T. Boylaa, J. Dilworth J. P. Dv Moulin, A. K. Taylor, G. B Owen, G. S. Graham, G. S. Kisslin C. H. Macintosh, G. P. Pitrce, C.|Roskrug- b James Wallis and Major Geoige. Messrs J S. Macfarlance and R. Graham, when called did not respond, but the policeman who served the summons not being present to prove its service, a five could not be imposed. Mr G. S. Graham asked to be released from attendance, having, as an Insurance Agent, an interest in two cases of arson to be heard which caused him a delicacy in sitting. His Honor said that in such cases it was usual for the grand juryman so interested to with draw when.the case was called.

THE CHARGE. The Chief Justice then proceeded to charge the Grand Jury, and in doing so, spoke of the importance of regular attendance by the Grand Jurymen. In England, he said, where the whole of the Magistracy formed the Grand Jury, it was never difficult to get twenty-three, which secured to every prisoner the privilege of having the question whether his case was a proper one to try or not, determined by a majority of at least twelve of his educated countrymen. Here the Government studied the convenience of gentlemen upon whom the onus of filling the office rested, and as it was impossible for the Sheriff in issuing the summonses to calculate the probability of some served not being able to attend, the Court was occasionally left, as on tbe present occasion, with barely sufficient to secure the twelve. He had been com pelled that day to put on Major George who was suffering from a complaint which ren dered it difficult to give careful attention to anything, and if that gentleman could not sit, and another juryman fell out during the day, the whole business of the Court would be stopped. He must however say that usually the members of the Grand Jury were regular in their attendance. Beferring to the calendar, His Honor said the business was not of such a formidable nature as many had considered, although it was true that there were one or two serious crimes—one charge of murder and two of arson. When the case of arson against a child came under his notice, he was led to inquire what means there were for carrying out any punishment imposed by the Court. It was a rare occur ance for children to be brought before that Court, and for reasons which he would shortly state it would be a long time before that special provision for such cases could be made here as was carried out in larger com munities. He must congratulate the jury, and especially those of them who were magis trates, upon the great improvement in the gaol as compared with what it was. .In making this remark, his mind did not carry him back to the time when the only gaol was the one in Queen-street, the memo y of which was very painful to him, but, to the gaol of a few years ago. The hard .labour men are now provied with cells separ ate from those of the penal servitude men, and a system of classification among those pre viously convicted before has been established. Three or four in some oases still sleep in the same room, but the whole arrangements certainly shew marked improvement. Another thing, he said, that struck him was the number of women in the gaol. It seemed hardly credible that in a small town like this about thirty women should befoundin prison; the majority of these had no doubt been committed by Magistrates. It occurred to his mind that a great responsibility must rest somewhere. Women were very much what men made them, and he did not think they would frequently commit offences unless under strong inducement. It might also be asked how it was that these women when liberated almost immediately went back to gaol, unless tb_te was either great laxity in supplying them with drink, j which, was th* chief cause of their inenrcey.

"1- L .v. furnishing them with, the money !Ei doubt heard of an enquiry into the maniemcnt of the gaol, but it seemed to bun fo beßi that could be desired. He was led to these remarks from the cirou instance* arising of the charge, agam-t the girl Cecum Aim If convicted of tbe crime alleged father, she could not be sent to the iEstriS School andno reformatory had been : tabliahcd. He did not cornp am of th U would indeed be unforcunate it child, en wo so managed in this commu nicy .to enable them to maintain a large reformatory Ration with all its necessary «*g * local reformatory, would not be F^ctic^le for «ome long time to come, but a few suen KfltSdoD-"might be provided for the whole Sony. l\ SSdrea^Snd* the reformatory ysS were sentenced to the same shorn terms as men, their case might be more easily dealt with. In referring to the case o Gallia Allen, whioh, Hia 11 onor remarked had not unnaturally caused some sensation f the community, he said it was not neces sary for the Gi4nd Jury to consider the question of intent. If they found it proved ?hat the girl set fire to the budding a true bdl should be returned. If -he did set fire to the place, the question arose, how far she was aware of the nature of ihe action she was guilty of; but that was. a matter which must be left to the Court. Thare was another case of arson to be tried, of a singular nature. It appeared from the depositions that the pr/soner, Kenasiey, wa.s nob present in the destroyed house as the time of the fire. The jury would have to consider whether tbere was evidence to shew that the accused bad been on ihe premises within a reasonable time from the occurrence of the fire. The prosecution resctd its case entiro'y on a number of sus; icious circum stance. Fnct, that the building was iargtly insured, or insured bejondits value. Second, tbat the prisoner had removed some of his goods, and endeavoured to dispose of them under the name of another person, as if with desire to conceal ihe sale. 1c was also sug gested that some iumuure whicb had been tAea a,way was nos sufficient for the use of bis family had he intended to remove them. Fur.her that in the debris of the fire there were not found those evidences of ; iuinish^d apirtroeots which usually exist. He merely sketch d out fthe nam features >\hic-h they would have to consider in dealing wi'h ihe case. The only other case he need allude to was a cha go of murder agaiasfc a native, the alleged motive for which was jealousy. The inquest bad not been held until some days after tbe occur rence, so tbat the body was so much decomposed as to render it impossible to ascertain exactly what amount of violence it had suffered, but the examination of Dr. Goldsbro' snowed that tbe ligaments con necting the boius of the spine at the neck were so ruptured as would inevitably cause death. Theg doctor would tell them tbat this might have bern caused either by a fail or wrench. Ho believed there wa3 no evidence to shew tbat deceased ha 1 suffered a fall. Then they were led to inqu.re where she was last seen before death and this brought them into connection with the prisoner. The deceased was last .seen by a boy with her bead lying between tbe prisoner's knees while be was leaning over her. The jury must determine whether the prisoner, at or about that time, had wieuched ber neck so as to cause the injuries described. There wm then a question of motive. They h^d evidence to show that the prisoner hsd threatened that if the girl went astray with any other native he would lei 1 her. 'She had subsequently been seen by bim in company with another native, and tbe question was, whether, moved by jealousy, be had seized.her as she was going home iv the darkness, aud caused her death either by wrenching her neck across bis knee or otherwise. The prisoner bad adhered to one story regarding the occurrence—namely,, that she had been punished by God, or. as we would say, had " died by the visitation of God." His Honor closed his charge by a brief reference to the case of Jackson, held over from last session, and to the mode of procedure in finding on bills in which tbere were more than one count. TRUB BILLS. The Grand Jury found true bills against William Mirehouse, for embezzlement; Wm. Perry, breaking and entering ; and John Thompson, on several charges of embezzle ment "and larceny; also against Thomas Morris, forging and uttering ; and William Wilson, larceny as bailee.

STEALING FROM THE PERSON. Jane Gledhill, a married woman, aged 29, but who was unable to read or write, was arraigned upon an indictment charging her with having stolen from the person of Tho*-. Skellon, on the 14th November last, the sum of £11.

The prisoner pleaded guilty. His Honor, in pissing sentence, said as there was nothing against prisoner's charac ter, and as in a moment of temptation she had put forth her hand and taken the money, the judgment of the Court would be impri sonment with hard labor for six calendar months.

EMBEZZLEMENT AND LARCENY. John Thompson, aged 32, was arraigned upon indictments charging him with embez zling certain sums of money during the last six months, the propeity of his master, Mi- Francis Quick, in whose service he had acted as clerk.

The prisoner pleaded guilty to the several charges of embezzlement and larceny. Mr Brookfield solici ed the leniency of the Court, as prisoner had never been previously convicted, and in consequence of his wife and young family. Prisoner wished that several gentlemen might be heard in his favor..

The witnesses to character not being present, tbe judgment of the Court in this case was deferred until nine o'clock to morrow, at which hour his Honor aunounced the court would sit.

• BREAKING AND ENTERING. William Perry, aged 28, was arraigned Upon an indictment charging him with breaking and entering the dwelling house of Wiiliam Richards, blacksmith, of Drake-street, and stealing therefrom a watch and chain, studs, and gold dust, on the 13th November, of the value of £13 10s.

Prisoner pleaded guilty. Mr Brookfield informed the Court that prisoner came out by the James Wishatt. Prisoner said that he was under the influence of drink or he should not have committed the offence.

His Honor in passing sentence, remarked that new comers, if they commenced a caieer of crime on reaching this colony, they must not hope to escape detection and punishment. The colony possessed an active and most intelligent body of police; the sentence upon him would be fifteen months' imprisonment with hard labour.

EMBEZZLEMENT. William Wirehouse, aged 31, was arraigned upon an indictment charging him with em bezzling £10, and other monies on the month of October last, the property of Robert Frederick Spencer, his employer, ot Queen stivet Auckland.

Prisouer pleaded not guilty. Mr Brookficld appeared on the part of the Crown."

The prisoner was undefended. Mr lirookfield opened tbe case. Robert Frederick Spencer, grocer, of Auckland, deposed that prisoner was in his employ as clerk in the month of October last. On the 30th Sept. he gave a promigsoty not© to prisoner instructing him to go to the Thames and get the cash for it off Mr Ketley, Mr McDowell was also indebted in the sum

of £11 Is which he was also ii.ttw&alßß to received, and return to him. JmrVsf flfl him on the' 4th of the following mc^rfC* eo^B| prisoner said that although he V Ywfrgyipt tbe £10 in his'cash book, it J?"SSSS \^B'.: paid. He never accounted fcfio ■,_ "Jy|Bf| for the latter sum of £11 lis 6 V ...„,.- ..+.■**/.■ which he said had not betn paidJ* . Z^-SB'. , ;^Mrs Sarah Tet'.ey, wife of, l *Z'| Tetley, of the Thames*, remember, ' "ffil| , calling at her house and asking P'BfiGu'S% s , * . duo to Mr Spencer. ?• he paid l\ - - ./ou^H account of tUc promissory note, and as W-l H husband was out he said he would call again H| ior tbe 10s, when be would hand over" the ft?" note. He did not do so. k J William McDowell, keeper of a restaurant, I 1 d-posed lJh.*t prisoner ealied a,; his house fur H ,i'l: otld due to Mr Spencer, _ which he paid. W PiitO]).'.')' was the worse for itriiik at thetiinp, fe| which he did hot observe until he had paid g* the irn ney. jh Deteciive Jeffrey deposed to takiDg prf. W son^r into custody on the GAti October, whea ,-*'.%£ he acknowledged"that he had taken the £10, ¥j\ and spent it in drink, but that he knew ■Ji nothing of the £11, which was owing to the J1 firm by Mr McDowell. __ • ZZ ||§The prisoner then addressed the jury. fa- His Honor then summed up the evidence I and the jury after a brief consultation found the prisoner guilty on both counts. _ I gj The prisoner was then seutenced to eighteen | months imprisonment with hard labour. | LARCENY BY A BAILEE. | William Wilson was anaigned upon an I indictment charging him with the larceny of a watch and chain eutrusted to his care, the property of Thoma3 oemrneJl, of Cambridge, . on tbe loih December. _ I Prisoner pleaded guilty, and as he had been convicted of larceny on five previous ! occasions he was sentenced to three yeais' | penal servitude. '

TELEGRAPHIC.

ALEXANDRA.

(Per Pre&3 Telegram Company.) This day.

New Year's Day being wet and boisterous, the sports were postponed till the 2nd. '1 he weather still being unpropitious, they were again postponed till tne 29th instant. A number ot natives down, to contest the events, have gone back disgusted.

LATEST SOUTHERN TELEGRAMS

DUNEDIN,

(From our own Correspondent.) This day.

Girl Burst to Death- At Invercargill, a girl named Holmes, aged six years, was burnt to death through her ciother taking fire.

Supreme Court Criminal Sessions. Tue Criminal Sessions opened to-day. Mr Justice Chapman, in addressing the Grand Juiy, said the calendar only shewed an. average number of prisoners. Consider ing the number of new- arrivals, and large increase in population, the province might have expected a slight increase in crime. He congratulated the province that none bad taken place. It was only fair to recent arrivals to say that in the whole list there was ouly one a recent arrival, and he came from Tasmania. In the case of Jane Morecombe, attempted suicide, the bill was thrown out.

Increase in Customs Revenue. The Customs revenue for tbe March quarter was £92,064; June, £55,340 ; Sep tember, £94.257 ; December, £52,507. Total, £357,199, against £233,778 in 1573. Gold Returns —Fall over a Precipice. Ttie Cromwell Company's crushing ot" 818 ounces was from 200 tons of stuff. A canier named Adam McLeod wa3 killed by failing over a precipice at Taieri He was driving into town to attend the games.

The Caledonian Games. The attendance ao tbe Caledonian games on Friday was the largest ever known. There were between 7000 and 8000 people present, ike principal foot laces fell to Henderson, a new runner here ; and in the walking match, always the most exciting contest of the games, Jacbs.-n, a Canterbury man, fairly out walked the local competitors.

Cricket Match. Owing to the ram not more than 2000 per sons were present at the Oval, where the luvercargill v. Dunedin cricket match was played. Invercargili winning the toss, sent their opponents to the- wickets, but the lat'-er made 114 before they were disposed of, Clark contributing 21 ; Khodes, nod out, same number ; Collinson, Marshall, Lam bert, 11 each. Invercargili in the first innings only got 34 ; Yoratb, the captain, being highesi, with six. 'J he second innings was played on Saturday, in a pouring rain, and only resulted iv 40 ; Cook, with 18, not oui, being only one who got into double figures. In the early part of the second innings regular slaughter was made of wickets, the first going for 1 ; the fourth lor 13 ; and the seventh for 17 ; Dunedin won in one innings, with 34 to spare.

Mr Justice Johnston's Farewell- Judge Johnston, after charging the jury this morning, addressed a few farewell re marks to the Court, bar, and public, saying he might not, have another opportunity of dcing so. He displayed some emotion in bidding farewell to a place where he said he had Bpent so many happy years of his life. Auckland Bonded Stoic and Kerosine

Depot. It is notified in the Gazette that Qruick shank^ Smart and Co.'s warehouse in High- | street, Auckland, is no longer a bonded warehouse. The store and cellar in Queen street, and the upper portion of the store . built of brick, wi h iron roof, in a lane between Custom-house-street and Fort street, known as Cruiekshank's bond, is to be a warehouse for the reception of goods under bond. Mr Goodhue's scoria building in Mechanics' Bay, is appointed a warehouse for the recep tion and stowage of kerosine, and other oil, under bond.

Burned to Death.

At Drybredd, a man named Jones was ; burned to death in his hut. , Nothing was "; known of the occurrence till Monday, when the hut was found in ashes.

WELLINGTON.

(From our own Correspondent.) This day. Flax adulterating Manilla Rope- Flax manufactorß should make a note of this fact, that when the fall which was raising the locomotive oat of the hold of the Soucher was examined it was found that a large ad mixture of the supposed Manilla rope con sisted of New Zealand flax. New Years' Holiday- New Years' Day was dead. - The evening was drizzling, close, wet, and uncomfortable. Neither the attendance nor the competition at tbe sports came up to expectations. The Governor attended, and was received with hearty cheers. The Artillery Volunteers presented Captain Pearce with a sword.

NEW PLYMOUTH.

(Per Press Telegram Agency.) This day. The Go-Ahead does not leave Wa.tara for the A^Aaukau till this evening.

WELLINGTON.

This day." (Per Press Telegram Agency.) The schooner Marmion has 'cleared W Kadpftra. *



TV[ EWCASTLE COAL. NOW LANDING, "■v EX DSRWENT, EOR SALE ALO > GSIDE VESSEL, j-;- In lots to suit buyers at 4 a PE R TON, CASH JAMES W. WALLER, Z ' CUSTOMHOUSE-STREET. '11/ E HAVE: OPEN: ED Pbb Ship Hydaspes: Jr':. ; 2 2 C A, S E. S OF MEIT3 AND BOY'S CLOTHING, PANAMA HATS, FELT DO, in Men's and Youth's Sizes. J. COSGRAVE & C 0., H| IMPORTERS. EDWIN HOLLOWAY AND J. TONSON GARLICK Beg to lororm the inhabitants of Auckland ' .-'"they have purchased the Stock and is—— -—.'" Premises bno wn as I THB CITY HALL DRAFERY, CLOTHING, AND CABPET ESTABLISHMENT, UPPER QUEEN-STREET, Prom Messrs Cosgrave & Co., k AT A: LARGE DISCOUNT OFF ENGLISH COST. A SALE OF THE GOODS Will be held When that New, Extensive, and recently-imported ' tock, purchased from the Manufacturers of England JFOB CASH, will be offered to the public at ;Z IMMENSE REDUCTIONS. * Drapers and Storekeepers are invited to attend this gnat Sale, as it is the intention of the proprietors, to Lft^ft OIBAB OUT THE PRESENT STOCK, to make Jeitensive alterations in th ?«nlendld opportunity for Counfy Settlers to HOLLOWAY & GARLICK, CITY HALL. JN BOOKS OF FEBNS HAK DSOMRLY^OUN t/cranwell, parnell. Booker, ?>MMz 4C ti?the kiodof thing to choos. ■:±&%__m^ss!£~ •—■— " « »or a drawing-rouu* mlthern Cross. meat could befound. f £*,K3swsi* bear his name -A^lmmlooo>^^£^ n_CmmV»^^ m I**••*^St<ffl *& Co.. Wayte, CranweU «d Co.



%. KW Sl'MiMh.R D ESS GOODS l, ■ - We have just pencd a v ry choice lot of NEW SUMMER DRE<S GOODS, C mprisicg- NEW PRINTED MU-LIJNS, IN GREAT VRIKTY. GRENADINES. PLAIN BLACK, BLACK STRIPED, and COLOURED STRIPED GRENADINES. THITE SATIN, STRIPED MUSLINS, CHECK MUSLINS, Etc., Etc., Etc. The above are NEW GOODS, just landed, and worthy of special attention. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAJN, (LATE R. HOBB8,) Wholesale akd Retail Dbapers, Clotkiebs JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, (Oppoaito the Army and Navy Hotel,) Upper Queen - street, Auckland.