SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER : Ibis evening, 11.60 : to- Qrrow morning. 12 SUN SET : This evening, 6.3S ; SUN BI8E: to .orrow morninc, 6.31* MOON'S AGE : First Quarter, 18th, 9.12 a-m. .1.7/

ARRIVALS.

El hoebe. s s, Worsp, from the South (in the Manukau] 11 Jo-ahead, s.s: from Gisborne and Napier || »cean, schooner, from Mercury Bay

DEPARTURES.

Mbatross, schooner, Well?,for Levuka | )erwent, brig, Brewer, for Newcastle I )reti, brigantine, Kerns^ forTNapi'er (j| Rowena, s s, for Tauranga 1 ton a. s s, Macgresor, for North I Wellington, s.s, Cnrey, for. Southern Ports (from the J;1 Manukau)

IMPORTS.

Per s.s. Phoebe, from SoutheriLports : 6 1 cases, Veale ; 8 cases, Hoskins ; 3?05 shfeep, I Skinner ; 10 bales hops, Hall • & Q_. • 49 cases, Longdell; 1 case, 10 '«p\-casks, j .Combes * Daldy; 2 cases, Postmaster; 1 I case, Stewart; 1 parcel, W»;yte ; 2 cases, j Kemp; 2 caiea, Barnes; \ case, 1 parcel, 1 National Bank; 10 cas"^ Harker ; 5 cases, j Cass Brothors ; 1 boy } Arch. Brown ; 3 cases, Telegraph Department; 8 cases frdbacco, Waller ; 4 bojees do., Williams ; 3?:. case, I Kohn ; 1 horse, Hawkins; 2 pigs, Porter and Co. \ 1 case, Kempthorne and Co. — ; W. P. Wheeler, agent.

EXPORTS.

Per Welliagton for Southern ports, 1 pge., A. H. Au«tin ; 1 prcl., Back N.Z.; 1 case fruit, Hatswell; 2 drama soda. 13 casks. G. Wilson ; 1 Back oyaters Pitholm ; 10 sacks seed, A. Buckland ; 1 package, Ireland Bro.; 450 kitß oyter*, Wallby ; 1 cask, H. P. Anderson ; 1 prck, Stephenson ;30 deadeyes, Ledger.—W. P. Wheeler, AgentN.Z.S.S.Co.

The s.s. Phoebe arrived in the Manukaujthis morning from the South at one o'clock. She experienced moderately fine weather, with light variable winds throughout the passage. She brings the following passengers : —Mr and Miss Proud. Mrs Carmthers, Mr*. Mills, Miss Kingdom, Rev. Dr. Purchase, Rev. Mr. Penny, Messrs. Purchase, Peony, Hayman, Mattheson, Scott, McNeill, and twelve in the steerage. The brig Derwenttook he departure for Nevfc-.stle this morning. She took a cart cwsjo of timber, ■hipped by G. Holdship and J. W. Waller. Passen gers—Mr and Mrs John Kemsley and four children, ' and George MaHin. The vessels cleared and entered in at the Customs to-day Wr re only small coast-rs. The s s Go-*head arrived from Napier at half-past nine this tnornitg. She landed some tattle at the Tsmabi, and came up to tbe tffi'irf at noi n. The ps Tffort is adverti-ed to leave f< r the new goldfleld atTairua to-morrow morning at 11 o clock. The mail steamer Cyphrenes is due from Sydney on Thursday sex* She is to leave for San Francisco on Friday morning. The schooner Oc*an brings a cargo of timber from Mercury Bay for Mes«rs and Ansenne. Ihe s a Wellington left Onehunga this aHernoon fir the South The following passengers booked in town: —Wiss Jones, Dr Eos«, Messrs Murray, Brondbent, H.. P. Gorrie, and 10 in the steeraee. The schooner Isabella Pratt arrived at Dnnedin on Saturday last. The auxiliary-screw barquentine Emu is announced to leave for Levuka next Friday.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

GREYMOUTH.

April 10-Sailed: Otago, for Melbourne, with 5705 ozs gold. jjfe MELHBiKNE. April o—Arrived, 3rdj^^id*, from Wanganui. NEIWfSTLE.

April 6—Arrived, 3Ut ult: Duke of Edinburgh, from Dunedin; April 2, Anazi, from Auckland; April 6, Hero from Sydney. Sailed: Italy, ior Lyttelton.

COMMERCIAL.

Messrs B. Tonks and Co sold to-day at their Queen-street mart two six acre pad docks situated at Mount Eden for £70 and £90 respectively ; also, a large quantity of Nelson fresh butter at Is 8d per lb.

STOCK AND MINING REPORT.

Business done to-day:— * Bank of New Zealand —Buyers, £18 ■ellers, £18 ss. National Bank—Buyers, 73s ; sellers, 755. South British Insurance—Sellers, 51s. National Insurance —Sellers, 295. Thames Gas—Sellers, 345. Caledonian (new)—l2s 6d ; buyers, 12s. I Union Beach—Bpyers, lis Royal Oak—Buyers, 7s 9d Cure—Sellers, 10s Pride of Tokatea, 3s ; sellers, 2s 3d.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as follows . — For Thames, this day, at 6.30 pm, jmd to-morrow, at 9.30 a m For Kawau and Matakana, per Lady Bowen, to morrow, at 10 am For Whitiangi. per ■ 'cean, to-morrow, at 11 a m For Norfolk Island, per Southern Cross, on Thurs day, the 16th inst, at 9 a m Per s s Cyphrenes, on Friday, 16th instant, as under :— For Sandwich Islands. United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South .America, and British and Foreign West Indies, at 10.30 a m.

For the United Kingdom and Continent o: Europe, at 10.30 a.m.

For money orders, registered letters, and news papers, at 9.30 am Late letters bearing an extra fee of 6d will bn received by the Mail Agent on board up to time of sailing

Notice.—The Steamer Albion is expected to leave Bluff at 11 a.m, on Tuesday, the 13th instant. Tehgrams for the Australian Colonies or Euiope via Java Cable, will be received at this office for transmission to Bluff up till 10 a.m. 13th instant. (Signed) S. B. Biss, Chief Postmaster.

DEATHS.

HUMPHREYS—On the 12th instant, at his parent's residence, British Hotel, Queen-street, Thomas Owen, the beloved son of Owen Humphreys, aged 1 year and 9 months.

The funeral will leave the British Hotel on Tues day, 13th instant, at 3 o'clock p.m. Friends please accept this invitation.

PITTS—On the 11th instant, at Devonport, Ada Pitts, aged 2 years and 9 months.

The funeral will leave her father's residence on Tuesday, 13th instant, at 4 p.m.

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

MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1875.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance. "or the future in ihe distance. And the eood that we can do.

Now, when the struggle is evidently ap proaching between Centralism and Pro vincialism, it is exceedingly awkward for the advocates of a single Government established at Wellington, that Centralism during the past five years has been so irksome, so un successful and so disastrous to this portion of the colony. It may not be essential in Centralism that such unpleasant results should arise, and it may be owing to antipathies and predilections on the part of the personnel of the present Colonial Ministry. But the fact remains the same that it is exceedingly awkward that the action of the Central Government has been such during the past few years as is calculated to move the bile of the people of Auckland, and to prejudice them against a principle which can hardly be dissevered from the indivi duals and the system which have exhibited it. We recently referred to the gross-and scandalous unfairness with which Auckland has been treated in the carrying out of the Public Works policy, and espe cially in the matter of railway construction. To that we shall refer again. But no less is the treatment apparent in relation to the lands of the province. Need we speak of the reluctance that has been shown by the General Government to handing over the purchased lands for settlement? While Southern Provinces have been slashing into their public lands, promoting local works with the proceeds, but withal settling an industrious and thriving population, settle ment in our province has been virtually stayed. For, the most fertile lands, and in enormous quantity, are retained in the hands of the General Government, who, dog-in-the manger-like, neither promote settlement

themselves, nor permit the Provincial Government to do it. The present land Act of the province is perhaps the most attrac tive, as it would be the most conducive to settlement of all the land Acts of the Australasian colonies. But it is entirely in operative owing to the dogged opposition of the Central Government. The late lamented Superintendent had set his whole heart on getting speedy possession of fertile lands, and the immediate formation of special settlements, but at every point he was thwarted by the Central Government and notably by Dr Pollen, and to this day not one special settlement, nor we might add, any settlement has taken place under our magnificent land Act; and at tbe present hour with vast public lands of great fertility, it is all but impossible for a man to get a farm. Need we point to the administration of the goldfields and the Ohinemuri muddle ? Stolen or smuggled miner's rights ; refusal of every thing that would open up the country to prospectors ; paralysed industry ; dis gusted miners. And then Dr Pollen flings up the portfolio in disgust at his own failure and manifest incapacity. Need we point to the Kaipara railway, begun by local enter prise, and progressing till death's hand in the form of Central Government influence i wa3 laid upon it ? Of what avail were the expostulations of the Chamber of Commerce on the subject ? Of what profit the pressure of our public opinion on the progress of this work—pressure before which no local govern ment could have stood a day. Why the very small request most humbly presented to have the telegraph receiving office removed down stairs was too much to be granted, although most iniluential names, and in large number?, were presented to obtain the small favour. Need we speak of the miserable toadying that results on the visit of a " minister of the Crown," and the crawling sycophancy to catch the great man's ear. That is pleasing to some we know. But is it the style of thing that is congenial to the great body of our citizens—freemen asking, not for favours, but for right and reason ? Descending to smaller matters, we need not speak of the difficulty even which tradesmen encounter, as every one knows and too many feel, in obtaining payment for work done for the same distant authority, the slow and tedious circumlocutory correspondence that delays payment for the veriest trifle. Or in contrast need we point to the salaries showered on the favoured minions of the Ministry in contra-distinction to the meagre income, which local supervision sanctions. For ex ample, Colonel Russell received £000 a year for inspecting a few native schools ; our school inspector receives half the amount for inspecting and examining all the schools of the province, performing duties sufficient for two men and certainly at least ten-fold greater than those performed by the employe of the General Government. No wonder indeed that the lovers of sinecures and those to whom fat salaries are as manna sent down from heaven, spurn the paltry rewards which local Government holds out, and become ecstatic over the services and greatness of a Colonial Ministry. It is all very well to talk of the future greatness of this Britain of the South. But a Government which wrings a quarter of a million a year out of Auckland and gives back virtually nothing for it : expends it lavishly in promoting that " greatness" and compels the people to levy household rates and even to wring them from the poor by distraint of household goods is hardly ''the Government to ask the people to hand themselves and their interests over to its sole guardianship ; and whatever may be the relative merits of Centralism and Provincialism, it is certainly very awkward, to say the least, for the friends of the partial abolition, or even the entire abolibion of the provinces, [that Auckland in its relations with the Central Government has had such an unsatisfactory account to show during the past five years.

The complimentary benefit to Senor Adolph Gonzales, prior to his departure to the United States, will take place on Thurs day evening in the City Hall. The pro gramme (an elaborate one) includes the names of the leading amateurs of the city, and the projectors are no doubt right in saying that the whole forms the ' • most ver satile combination ever presented to the public."

Mr Joseph Pridmore states, with reference to the case on Thursday, that Tighe is not ill, but was working in Wellington-street on Saturday, and that Mrs Tighe has only three children—not eight.

A concert in aid of the Whau Church Harmonium Fund, is to be given on Tues day, the 20th, when St. Sepulchre's choir will attend, and render various musical selec tions. A pleasant trip by moonlight, and a still pleasanter entertainment at tne end of the journey, is in store for those Auc kland ers who make up their minds to go.

In our description of the improvements to be made at the corner of Vulcan Lane, it was stated that the old buildings were pulled down by order of the City Council. This is not so. Mr H Somervell exercised his own judgment in the matter, and on learning that the buildings were calculated to en danger the surrounding property, gave his tenants notice to clear out that he might commence a new building.

Mr J. M. Dargaville will address the electors of City West, this evening at the Newton Hall, Karangahape road. The poll ing takes place on Wednesday so that the " free.and independent " should be preparing to exercise their electoral privileges in accord ance with their views of the merits and pro bable usefulness of the respective candidates.

The members of No. 2 Company held their monthly firing on Saturday at Mount Eden range for Lieut. Robinson's medal. Sergt. Partington was the winner, with a score of 42. He tied with Cooper ; but Partington having made the best score at the last range, took the prize. The next firing takes place on Wednesday morning at 6 a.m. sharp.

We are glad to learn that Master Stewart has been found. He was reported as having been seen at the Kohimarama Native Settle ment by Mr Scott, millwright, of Auckland. Mr. Stewart proceeded yesterday to the settlement and brought him back.

The usual weekly meeting of St. James' Young Men's Association will be held this evening. Mr A. McCulsky will read an essay on the interesting subject—"Flirting, is it wrong ?" All are invited, and seats reserved fpr ladies. We don't know what view of the subject Mr McCulsky will take, but we are inclined to think the majority of his auditors, not excepting the fair portion of them, will incline to think that, "Though very naughty, its very nice."

The members of the Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Society will meet this evening in the Pitt-street school-room, to hear an essay on "Desultory and systematic read ing," by Mr G. M. Main.

Mr Jamgs Maguir*, well-sinker, of Is'or^ folk-s-treet^'ff p.jiißdnby rdhd, who ii^eS next to Mr Aiidef'son'fc; res.den.ee/ has palled at buy office to say that he ha*, a well with a'never,, failing spring of pure water which anyone in the vicinity is at liberty to Use during the present dry season.

While the kind and charitable intentions of Mr P. Doran, in relation to the widow Holtham have been anticipated by Mr E. Clair, we would bring under the notice of the former gentleman, or any othfer influenced by the same beneficent and kindly dispositions, an equally deserving case—that of a widow Houlden. She came to the colony accom panying the family of a son, who is in so frail health that he is utterly unable to do any work to support his little children. She is, therefore, adrift and wholly destitute, and being very aged and quite deaf, her position is really a pitiable one. She applied to the Ladies' Benevolent Society, but it appears they cannot get sewing for her, nor any light em ployment compatible with her performance of its duties owing to her extreme deafness. She has evidently seen better days, the vestiges of which remain in a refinement of manner and disposition that makes her case a very affecting one. She sees her way to self-support if she had but a very few pounds to start, and we believe that if Mr Doran, who has evidently learned the way to enlist public sympathy in the cause of kindness, and whose name is now becoming a household word, became acquainted with the case, we should hear of a bumper re sponse, and of one aged heart being made happy. We very warmly commend this cas; to charitable consideration, and if any person wishes to give a little to relieve tem porary pressure, or to aid in making this poor aged lady able to earn a livelihood, it will afford us great pleasure to be the medium of communication.

Mr George Sibbin wishes to call special attention to his sale to-morrow, at 12 o'clock, of very superior household furniture, at the residence lately occupied by Mrs Fosset, Har bour View Boarding House, Shortland Cres cent. The goods are almost now, and are very handsome, especially those of the draw ing and dining rooms.

" Are dogs religious ?" This is a question which has escaped the thought of Dr Dar win, although he is the owner of some fine specimens ot rarest breeds in his pleasant Kentish home. The faithfulness and saga city of dogs have been shewn in a hundred instances by the late Edward Jesse, the naturalist, and other writers. Whether dogs are, or are not, religious, cannot be satisfactorily stated, but it seems they have a liking for the services of the Church of England, as instances prove. Recently at So Matthews' these animals have been observed walking in at one door, pacing the aisle 3 with great leisure, and then walking out at tbe other, wagging their tails with apparent satisfaction. The dogs of City East appear to have the same tendency at the Chuich of St. Pauls, and yet dogs, naturalists say, have no ear for music. The Rev C. M. JS'els n had occasion yesterday to remark upon tho number of dogs which regularly attend St Paul's, which the rev. gentleman considered a nuisance. He sug gested that dogs should not bo permitted to be present at service-time, but should be duly kept at home, tied up if nc.cessarj, where their services might be needed in guarding houses and property, while their owners went to pray.

The anniversary tea-meeting of the Edwardeß-street Primitive Methodist Church will be held this evening at half-paafc six o'clock. The mooting will be addrcasad by several ministers und friends ot tba unuec, and a pleasant evening may be anticipated by visitors.

The remains of the lato Miss Nixon, of Onehunga, were conveyed to their last resting place yesterday afternoon in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, the Rev. Father Simpson, of Auckland, being the officiating minister, and the pall-bearers (who were appropriately dres-sed in white) were the Sisters Douglass (two), Holt, Jackson, Moody, and Purcell, the deceased being a Good Templar. On the coffin was placed the deceased's collar, as she had held the rank of Deputy-Marshall in the Order. The deceased having expressed a wish at her death that tho members of the Hibernian Society should also attend her fuucral (her father being a member of the Order), a large number proceeded from town by train to pay their last tribute of respect to the deceased young lady. Owing to the extreme length of the procession, which was the longest ever witnessed in unehunga, and which fully testified to the high estaem in which the deceased lady was held, the' funeral cortege proceeded along Queen street, up Albert-street, thence to Church street into the Cemetery. Tho coffin was borne by members of the Hibernian Society, Brother W. G. Connolly officiatipg as Mar shall. The following waa the order of the procession :— Relations of the deceased ; Hibernians (in regalia), to the number of 80, under Presidents James Clark (Auckland branch), Hecnan (Onehunga), and McHroy (Otahuhu.) Good Templars, about 50 (with out regalia), under Brother W. Spragg, Chief Templar ; and private citizens, about 300. It was estimated that there could not have been less than from four to five hundred persons present in the paocession, besides hundreds of spectators. We noticed also amongst those present from Auckland Vice- President Little, Past-President Fallon, and Past-Treasurer Dempsey. There were also other officers present from the Onehunga and. Otahuhu branches whose names we regret we did not ascertain.

CITY EAST ELECTION.

NOMINATION DAY.

The electors of this constituency are notified that to-morrow at noon, at the Mechanics' Institute, they will be called on to nominate candidates for election to the Provincial Council to fill the seat vacated by the resigna tion of Mr P. A Phillips. There are two in the field—Mr W. L. Bees, who was announced as a candidate through these columns in the issue succeeding the announcement of the re signation of Mr Phillips, and Mr Holdship, whoa few weeks after was announced on re quisition. Both are members whom we should greatly desire to see in the Council. Mr Holdship has among his friends all who havo the pleasure of being acquainted with him, and is respected and esteemed by many others who know him by repute as one of our worthiest and best citizens. Mr Bees, by his outspoken demeanour, and by his defence many a time and oft of the weak and the poor against wealth and power, has made himself many enemies among the class who dislike interference with their projects, but is very popular with many who believe in a man speaking out his convictions when necessity demands, cost what it may to him self of personal evil. The contest will be a keen one, we have no doubt. Both the candi dates are known to the electors, who will no doubt choose between them according to their knowledge of the respective ability and fitness to represent tha interests of electors and to baaefit the province.

Fire at the Native Settlement of Orakei.

Yesterday afternoon, about 1 o'clock, a whare in the upper settlement of Orakei caught fire, and owing to the dryness of the weather for the last few weeks, the rubbish, always so plentiful in a native village, was in a fit state to communicate the fire from one house to another. When once caught the fire spread among the raupo walls and thatch with great rapidity. Every effort was made by the resident Maoris to clear the whares of all moveables. This was pretty successful in all but the first two which caught fire; but two store houses, ia which

a>krge quantity of potatoes sVere lying in tmlk, could hot be cleared, hence ia^? n 0I tM! winter stock of potatoes is lost. Another ! store-house was saved By being unroofed, and the burning docks around beaten out by determined charges of men and women armed with branches of peach trees. Five dwelling whares and two store houses were destroyed in all.

Special Commercial Telegram.

We are indebted to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company for the 'following English commercial telegram received per Tararua at the Bluff: —London, March 27 : Wool—The sales closed at the level of last sales ; 110,000 bales have been taken for the Continent. Nearly all descrip tions have advanced Id. to lidd. The prin cipal advance has been in superior greasy. Superior and ordinary clothing washed, market easier. Trade in the manufacturing districts is dull.—London, March 31 : Tallow —Market quiet. P.Y.C. on the spot is qupted at 41s. per cwt. Leather—Market easier. Copper—Market dull; Burra worth £90 per ton. New Zealand Hemp continues dull of sale. Market is flat. Kauri gum— Market firm; fine qualities in good demand.

THE FIRE AT SMAILES' POINT.

SUtubday night seems a favorite night for fires. Almost all the large conflagrations which have taken place in Auckland during the last eighteen month.H have occurred on that day of the week. Perhaps some solver of social problems will tell us why this is. The fire bells on Saturday night rang out at a quarter to nine, and it was soon apparent that the premises which were in flames were situated at the foot of Albert street, close to tho watch edge. On arriving at the scene it was discovered that Messrs Henderson and Spraggon's work shops under the point had caught fire, and were burning rapidly. Sergeant Martin of the Water Police, we believe, first saw smoke ascending from the buildings and was on the spot before the flames had well burst out, but there were no buckets at hand with which to utilize the full tide in the harbour, which almost laved the flaming shed. In ten minutes from the outbreak the Fire Bri gade arrived with an enaine, but though there wa3 the water under their nose, from some unexplained cause, it was not before half-past nine, when all danger of the fire spreading was past,before a stream could be got to bear upon the flaring wood work. The premises destroyed comprise the shed where the fire originated, Mr Ingles' shed, Mr D. Gouk's workshop, and Mr Armstrong's workshop. All the sufferers are shipwrights, and totally uninsured. When it was found that there was no possi bility of preventing the total destruction of the sheds, efforts were made to restrict the ravages of the fire to the premises it wa3 already in possession of. The greatest dan ger existed all round. On the top of the cliff, under which tho sheds stood, is the house occupied by Mr H. Somervil. The wind being from the north blew the smoke, sparks, and even flames right over this building, and also over that occupied by the Misses McLaughlin close by. A corrugated iron fence along the «brow of the cliff, happily served as a protection, and this, together with the number of willing hands who were ever ready to put out the sparks ay they fell and to extinguish the first appeal ance of fire, proved effectual in pre venting any serious damage in this direc tion. On the north, or water side, several partially built vessels wero on the stocks, and although the wind carried the flames away from them, yet they were so close to the burning buildings that the utmost danger was apprehended. A half-finished schooner of Mr Armstrong's was actually on fire more than once, but was fortunately little damaged. A dozen buckets were obtained from Messrs. Dickey's, and came in vejy useful in putting out tbe little outbreaks as they were de tected. The Bchoonen.Ta*vera, lately on fire in Mechanics' Bay^^as apparently in for another roasting as she was hauled upon Mr D. Gouk's slip, audi her bows were not 20i't. from the flames. Although she did not catch, we understand that a great quantity of'her gear ra&a&'m Mr Gouk's shed and was destroyed. %Ijr Arahard puts down the value as abjut £SQ. A new cutter belonging t_ Mr Gouk an^r 'Captain Nearing, and schooner being built by Bigelow and Son also had narrow escapes. Detective Jeffreya did good service with some volunteers in removing timber and pulling down fences in tho direction of the Solid Rock Baths. Ha(J it not been for thtse exertions it is highly probable that the fire would have assumed much larger proportions, ffhe firemen and engine, we are sorry to say did not do much good, and what they did was counterbalanced by an Occident—nearly a fatal one—which resulted from sheer carelessness. While the firemen were running with the engine down the hill from Albert-street to the siding on to the beach, the crowd was so great that Mrs W. Kirby was not able to get out of the way, and was knocked down and run over by the wheels. She was picked up by Mr H. Isaacs Harper, and other spectators,and conveyed to the Waitemata Hotel, from whence she was afterwards removed to her home, when it was discovered that her injuries were not as serious as expected. When the jet was at last directed over the burning sheds, the flames had sensibly decreased. By ten o'clock they were quite subdued. Messrs Henderson and Spraggon put down their loss at £1000 ; Mr Gouk assesses his at £400, and Mr Arm - strong his at £500. A large quantity of shipwright's tools were destroyed. The crowd at the height of the fire numbered over two thousand.

OHINEMURI.

(From our own Correspondent.) Thursday.

THE PROSPECTOR'S REEF. Long ere this letter can reach you the news that the reef has been cut in the Prospectors, Karangahake, has appeared in your columns. The reef now to hand makes the second one already cvt —one is about four feet in width, the other over three feet, and what is of the utmost importance both reefs shewing gold, the two reefs giving a total of over seven feet of crushing stuff, considered by the shew; of gold in the rock to be payable. There is. yet another reef in the ground, which is expected to be cut before very long, and should this when tapped, prove as auriferous as those already in hand, the stampers when erected will have a busy time of it from this mine alone.

THE WAITEKAURI.

Favourable news has arrived this afternoon from! the Waitekauri district, the report being that in Dan Leahy's claim something really good.has been come upon. The reefs in that district being of large size, anything at all like payable stone will pay hand somely.

THE ROAD WORKS

The road party are making good progress with the new line of road from the Paeroa to Mackay town, and if the weather holds fine a short time longer, drays will be enabled to go straight to Mackaytown without crossing the rivers, which in the event of a flood would be an impossibility.

CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE.

More confidence in the future of Ohinemuri is now felt by the miners and storekeepers, many of whom are about to erect substantial wooden stores in the room of the calico shanties heretofore occupied. The fact of the Prospgftfcprs' reef showing gold wherever cut, has bffiSbo little to do with the present feeling, and the prosperity of this district is considered to be merely a question of time.

THE TAIRUA GOLDFIELD.

I^r Star Carrier Pigeons.]

[By fto ''Aaw rtiS er's'' own Reporters The extension [of the goldfield, to, hlch. reference was made in Saturday's issue 01 the Advertiser, is likely to prove as impor tant as it was unexpected. I started on • Saturday afternoon for the Tairua Gold field by way of Puriri. On my way up to Puriri I met several persons returning, whose opinions I asked, but these opinions varied according to the temperament of the person offering them. On two subjects all were agreed—that is, that the road was a frightfully difficult one ; next, that gold had been found in fair prospects. And on the latter rhe opinion was unanimous, com parisons being drawn between Tairua and Ohinemuri, to the advantage of the former. The proclamation of the Tairua as a goldfield was as well known amongst certain sets at Ohinemuri on Friday afternoon as it was amongst a few favoured individuals at the Thames. Amongst those who were down from Ohinemuri were Messrs Hennelly, Cashell, Bates, Smyth, and numerous others; and from Grahamstown were Messrs Beeche, Adams, Hopkinson, W. Williamson, and about a dozen others. I met several of these when I reached Say's Hotel at Puriri. Beeche, Hennelly, and Bates had just re turned from Tairua after pegging out, and knowing that Beeche was in with the pros pectors. He described the locality accurately enough, and informed me that two reefs were opened in the lease. One of these was only a foot thick, and it was from that the stone came which he had crushed recently- The other Was a large reef exposed on the side of a hill, Where it had been stripped by the falling of a large kauri tree. In both good prospects Were obtained, but he could not estimate the prospects at more than three-quarters of an ounce to the ton for the large reef, and an ounce for the small one. The road was just as described. The ascent is for miles unbroken by a single stretch of flat, and, to make matters worse, the path is for the most part through the bush, which is so thick that the sUn has had no power even during the present long dry season to dry the track. The mud is in many places of the consistency of thick putty, through which travelling is difficult, and to make matters worse, the roots project in many places more than a foot above the track. The last three miles is entirely impracticable for horses. The track is only what has been beaten roughly by the gumdiggers. In many places the fallen timber form the only track, and in others the pedestrian is only left the choice of crawling under tbe fallen trunks of trees or endeavouring to clamber them. The pathway from Puriri leads for some distance up the valley, and then de scends the spur in the vicinity of the old Dawn of Hope claim. For several miles the course of the track is due east, but for som time before the dividing range is reached the path strikes north, or back towards Grahams town ; then again, after taking the fall to wards the East Coast of the peninsula, it takes an easterly course. Before reaching the prospectors' claim, I passed several deserted gum-diggers' camps. They were taken possession of by gold-seeker 3, and the firnt of these was occupied by the two Messrs Fratee, Mr Cameron, (formerly manager of the Russell battery company), MrDownes, Mr Pierce, Mr Kneebone, and a number of others. The difficulties of the road, which hitherto were sufficient in all conscience, increased from this spot, but I did not observe any great difficulty in the formation of a passable pack track. This path carried us to the southern boundary of the prospectors' lease, and before I was aware of it, 1 found thas I had reached the centre line of the lease. The centre line is laid off due north and south, but the other boundary lines are not yet cut. I followed up this centre line, in

company with Mr Frank Day kin, Mr .Logan, and two other prospectors, and after traversing it for about 200 yards, we reached tracks of the prospectors workings. The centre line of the claim is carried along the ridge of a spur which falls with great steepness to the eastward, forming a precipitous fall on descent of probably 500 feet. Massive kaur? trees of more than eight feet in diameter hang on to the sides of the hill in a most surprising manner, It was on chis eastern

i side of the spnr that the reef was opened ! which first attracted attention. Two huge ,- kauri trees dragged clean away from the be<* rock exposing below the ridge a quartz lo "' There are Several workings in the neigH° ur" hood of this face. I examined f e, }^%& carefully, and incline to the opinion "that it is the blow or turn of the cap of a reef. I There is no defined reef exposed so far as I could observe, but there is quartz of a very kindly character; and better still, it produces good prospects when the rock is pounded and washed. I saw numerous small parcels treated in this way, and the results, so far as I could judge, were in variably payable if there was a proper mode rof treating the stone in quantity. The , underlie of the reef, or blow, is to the east- I ward, corresponding with the fall of the I ridge towards a branch creek of the Tairua i river. The top portion of the reef—if reef it is—is composed of hard quartz through which • there are heavy dabs of hard mundic, not at i all dissimilar to that which I have seen in the brown quartz of some of the Moanataiari mines. Underneath this crust there is a rubble of quartz which is really fine looking stuff, and still further down i against what might be called the foot wall,, there is a yellow mullock, and from some of this I saw fair golden prospects. To the northward of the face there was a sort

of bastard sandstone full of fissures, but the course of the seams in this were about north | west, and the sandstone itself was evidently at the back of the quartz. The course of the

latter appears to be due north and south. To

the northward of the face a curious sand stone bluff, about 18 feet high, rises perpen dicularly. It is covered with lichefc. moss, and on the top of it trees are growing. The face of this rock has been broken in several places, and little stringers of quartz pervade it. Between the face and the bluff there are I think about a dozen small openings, searching for the reef. In some there are traces of it, in others not, but in all there is a skin of dark cement under the sur-

face,; and this cement contains gold. So far as my own observations and those of others who were on the ground go, there ap -1 pears to be a satisfactory prospect in this i claim, but I have not yet seen sufficient of the reefs, or of the country, to give an accu rate judgment. There has been, in the opinion of everyone with whom I have spoken, a great mistake made by the Government in having this field opened under the Mining Districts Act. It is a hard day's work to go round the boundary line of a 30-acre lease in such a country as 1 this, and the blocking up of such an extent of country on the line of reefs is unfair, and 5 will prevent the thorough prospecting of the | ground. Bitter complaints are made of those on the ground, which are jully justified by the fact that three 30-acre leases pegged [ out on the line of reef exclude them from all chance of pegging a claim for themselves with any hope of coming on the lode. The No. 1 North East has been pegged out by Hennelly and party. This is on the fall of the spur towards the river, and adjoining this to the northward David Stewart and party have taken up a similar area. Walter Williamson have pegged out the No. 1 South. This iB on the rise of the hill. It is very steep where it rises above the boundary of the prospectors' area. A large extent of country besides these areas have been marked out. One party has been on the ground day after day for the last week, pegging out hour after hour in order to be sure to peg out when the proclamation issued, and this party now claims the No. 1 South, which has been pegged by Williamson. Numerou 8

claims of ten or twelve men's ground have been pegged in those leases by parties holding miners 5 rights, and should the place prove a payable goldfield there . ? Will be any amount of litigation, and pro- |*S bably Dome rows. According to the If. Mining Districts Act the ground need not be f 1 occupied for ten days after pegging. Accord- IW ingly, those who hare marked out have left I I the district for the present. There are at f' f preseut, I should imagine, about 30 men on f. i§ the ground besides gum-diggers. The miners F intend to remain for some time and test the * districts, trace the reefs and if possible secure claims for themselves should their efforts be satisfactory. _____.__._ PI may mention, for the benefat ot those! who have to travel over this route, that there* ' - is,'no water to be had for drinking, or any > other purpose, from the time they rise the hill from the Puriri Valley to the gumdigger's ■ j camp, a distance of about ten miles. It ia therefore advisable to carry a bottle of water, for the journey is a hot one, and a drink might be requiredly fcadly. There is a new : ~? accommodation-house to be started on the rise of the hill. Charley Rowley has pegged :r , out, and taken possession of a wooden budd- .Ay, inw'on the spur of the old Dawn of Hope ■'. claim, which was formerly, when there was a " mining population in Puriri, used as a public house. __^____————

WAIWERA (Hot Springs.)

(PER STAR CARRIER PICE ON.)

This day, 1 p.m. A remarkable cure from a severe attack of dyspepsia has just been effected, after two days only. Invalids generally doing well. Hotel crowded again since last Saturday, by fresh araivals from all parts of the colony and Australia. Steamer Lady Bowen just starting for Auckland with the following passengers:- Miss Whitson, Mrs Rattray, Mr Rattray, jun., Mr Weaving, Mr Craig, Mr Levy, Mr Lewis, Mr Robert Graham, jun.,, Mrs Cook, Mr and Mrs Robinson.

Nothing new otherwise. Weather fine and wind fair. Expect steamer np early.

DISTRICT COURT.—This Day.

(Before His Honor Judge^eckham.) JAME3 SID?'ONS V.H*J<JH HART LUSK. Claim, f" ¥---r* J^ Mr B/ | .i'"]pP\intiff, and Mr MacCormick for deioaaauti • The action was brought for the recovery of money paid and expenses in connection with the purchase of some land ia Gisborne, where plaintiff resides; the particilars of the transaction fully appeared in the Evenim* Star of the 23rd ult. His Honor proceeded to give judgment, and in doing so said that he hid carefully examined the various point of evidence be fore the Court, and he considered that plaintiff was certainly entitled tea judgment for a portion of the claim. Tbe judgment, of the Court would therefore be £10, for coming to Auckland from Gisborne ; £3.10a expenses while in Auckland, anl £10 loss of time ; total, £23 10s. ] Judgment for plaintiff to this amount— costs, £17 Us. ROBERT BATED V. CHARLES NBJS.'.' Claim, £26 13s 6d, In this action (Mr Laishley f« plaintiff} the claim was for a dishonoured cheque.: Samuel McConnell, in the employ of plaintiff, deposed to defendant's signature to the cheque, which was duly presented and dishonoured. Plaintiff had not received any portion of the amount. The bheque was presented in October, 1872. I Judgment for plaintiff. y- m ' ' [j?j ■/,i) ( CHARLES RING- y. THOMA^QTT. ft -

£33 claim. \ff\ f... Mr James Russell appeared for plaintiff, who resides at Coromandel. Tie claim was; for a promissory note of £30, and interest thereon.

Plaintiff having proved his claim, judg ment was recorded in his favor, with costs, £5 9s.

JAMES MORTOV>?- RICHARD ONYON,

Claim, £70 4s ' . - This was auction for the recovery o£ of pr^ssory note, but as defendant^ *who resides J t^ie Thames, was not able to ba present; case was adjourned until next court-dJ-

JA1 ,o SMART AND CO. V. JAMES SHIRLEY. *aim, £31 15s 2d. s In this case, Mr Hesketh for defehdant, the amount claimed was for gooda-sold and delivered. V^i— ~- ..y Mr Heskethin^^J the Cart that de-

festfraflff who was not present^ had express, sed his intention of confessig judgment, [f and paying the debt by instalmnts. The case was allowed to stad over pend ing arrangements. DEPENDED CASESi - George Taylor v. W. Lunda, claim—£so damages. ..... --■ Mr Bees for plaintiff, and ty Hesketh for defendant. ■ *'

In this, case, plaintiff claiffid for an as sault, said to have been comntted on him by defendant. .!"'•• ' ' Mr Bees informed his Honorhat the mat ter was likely to be settled whout the iu tervention of the Court. Mr Hesketh, having consenjd, the case was withdrawn. ADJOURNED CASESJ Cruickshank and Co. v. Mire, claim— £31 13s 2d; Samuel M. Leers iW. Adams, claim—£so, commission. ■ ■

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

.-• - . ■ i (Before J. M. Dargaville ankF. Ooßgraro Esquires, J.P.'s)| OUT AT NIGHT. Timothy E. Button was fial 20s; and Elizabeth Best, ss, for Saturjy evening's libations. '-■'. . i ■ POOR ALI BABA. j Baba, a Hindoo, who was reanded on a charge of vagrancy, in order th^it might be seen what would be done withhim, as; he was very old and decrepit, was kin brought UP- ._ ■ ■'..

Sergeant-Major Pardy said nhing could be done except sending him to 01. The Bench, out of kindness,trdered the prisoner's confinement in Mou Eden for three months. ] ~"■"',■ LIGHT TO WAYFAREI Robert Roach, of the Red Li( Hotel, and Philip Harkett, were fined Is ea and costs, for permitting their lights to gout during the night. NUISANCES. Thomas Smith was summonei in a charge of neglecting to keep his premis clean. As Mr Smith was stated to b<bsent from home, and his wife sick, Mr JB. Russell, on behalf of the Corporation, nsented to : the adjournment of the case. Patrick Gleeson pleaded guiU to a charge of burying filth in the back yar t the hotel. Mr J. B. Russell, who app red for the Corporation, pressed for the f penalty of £5. He said that Mr Glees had been : writing letters to the Corporati complain ing of a nuisance existing in 1 neighbour hood, and impugning the am of the Inspector of Nuisances, wit a view to securing the dismissal of that Eicer. One' of these letters asked that t Inspector should be compelled" to do his ty without "fear, favour, or affection.'Upon Mr' Goldie going to the vicinity, found that, the nuisance arose from Mr C ison's own yard, where the contents of ai arth-closet had been buried. When this a stirred up, the stench was enough to kr j an able- , bodied man down, and was mc dangerous to the public health during th resent dry season. Mr Russell thought riew of the defendant's conduct that an c: jplary fine should be imposed. Mr Gleeson stated that he d refused to pay Mr Faulder's last bi ia conse quence of an overcharge, ,nd sinoe

KB* _xWSKtm SttAß, igOKBAt, APML 12, gjfgj



JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE. We are now Opening up OUR N E "W STOCK OT AUTUMN AND WINTER DRAPERY & CLOTHING, To Hand Ex Adi, Barojt Abeda.be, &c, To our order direct from the Manufacturers. FRENCH MERINOES in all colours ALL "WOOL PLAIiS WINCEYS SKIRTINGS SQIRTINGS •■ ■:: /■■■'-.' FLANNELS BLANKET? fcnEiGTINGS And every description of FURNISHING GOODS. A Choice Lot of CHILDREN'S, MAiD'=«, AND LiDEV WATEB PROOfI" CLOAK* AND MiNILRS LADIES' BLACK CL TH JACKETS. HO SURF, ETC. FANCY DRE3S MaTSRUL-J in great variety. NEW CLOTHING, ETC. To be followed by fur1 her shipments ex Emily McLarren end Dunedin, KUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN, (L .t« E. Hobbs), JUNCTION' DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, Opposite the Army ar.d Navy Hotel, Upper Qxteen' -street, Auckland. ANGLO-NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAPH AGENCY Has arranged, in connection with MCLEAN'S TELEGRAPHIC BUREAU, 88, LOMBARD-STREET, LONDON, F4, EXCHANGE BUILDINGS. LIVERPOOL, For the tra»sjni"ios of private telegrams of one word and upward*, between New Zealand and Europe, at the following tariff :— Sender's and receiver's narnen and ad dresses inclurive, if previously registered £1 0 0 Each word in the body of the message .. 010 0 taTNo charge is made for Registration. Messages can alao be transmitted without previous registration, at tbe following rates, viz :—£l for the first word In the addrow, and 10s for each word afier. By registering the addre sa« the cost of transmission Is reduced to a minimum, and the necessity of always incurring the ejOMj»se of a twenty-work despatch is avoided, and a large economy is realized. Within two months after registration here, it will be available for siding incases. Names m;iy be registered at the Auckland Agency— HENRY E WILLIAMS, No. 2, Insurants Buildings.' A Vehicle of Health.—A ptare stimulant possessed of tonic properties has ever been regarded as the great desideratum for diseases which dram the system of its vital power, for overcoming the debility which follows sickness, and for remedying constitu tional weakness. Knowing its absolute purity, its Dowerfully invigorative and corrective action,, and its value as ah- anti-dyspeptic and diuretic, it is no wonder that physicians so frequently prescribe Udompmo Wows'* ScHDCPAie Aaosuxio Schnapps. ■



MOTICE OE REMOVAL » T. ELLISON BOOTM A X R, HAS REMOVED TO TEMPORARY PREMISES Opposite the New Market Queen-street piTY /CLOTHING TV/TART, 92, QUEEN-STREET, NEXT DOOR TO THE AUCKLAND HOTEL AND Opposite the National Bank, mcc entire business A is now carried on in the One Establishment, where the Public will find an ENTIRELY NEW STOCK, which, for Cheapness and Quality, cannot be Equalled in New Zealand. Every requisite for Gentlemen's wear in stock. Men's, Boys' and Youths' Clothing, Hats, Caps, Scarves, Hosiery, Portmanteaux, &c, &c. SAMUELCOOMBES, 92, QUEEN-STREET. Q.OOD VALUE FOR MONEY AT THE CITY HALL. NEW GOOD IN ALL DEPARTMENTS By every Vessel from England. o^~ Opening up now— WINCEYS, MERINOS, SILKS, FANCY DRESS MATERIALS BLANKETS, SHEETING, QUILTS, DAMASKS, BOYS' & MEN'S WINTER CLOTHING, LADIES' HATS, UNDERCLOTHING, FANCY HOSIERY. HOLLOWAY & GARLICK, CITY HALL, 230, Queen-street, Auckland NOTICE TO CORRESPONDENTS. Letters from "Captain Fernandez," "Pater; familias," "William Baron," and "Coun try Settler" will appear in duecourse.