SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIUH w .TBI. -Thio afternoon. 10 33; to-morrow a_orn>ng, 10 49 BTJN H.J_r Thl» evening, 7.6 HON RISE— To morrow morning 5 21 iiMOON'S AGE—First Quarter, 3rd Feb, 1 32 p m

ARRIVALS.

Pretty Jane, s s, from Gisborne

DEPARTURES.

Hawea, Wheeler, for th-? South

Rowena, s s, for Taurantra

Y*rra, brigantine, for the Thame. 'Favorite, -chooner, fo'the Th.raes Xeo, cuter, fur Rus<tll JJcLo, schooner, for Mtrcu'y Bay

PROTECTED DEPARTURES.

For New York—Lizzis Fox, barque, early For Sydnov—Hnuraki s s early For San francisco—City of S»n Francisco, ss, 14th Feb fEncrlish m.il) For Norfolk Island aud New Caledonia—Canterbury

schooner, at once For ijt.Ldon—Cltv of Auckland, ship, about Feb. 4 For the Sorth - n awe ~ Tuesday; City of San Fran cisco, to-morrow; Phoebe the sih inst

UNKNOWN

Her\ ss, from Sydney avout 9th Feb H.M.S. Barracouta, from Fji, early Brodick Castle,ship, frolu • oiirton Salisbury, ship, from London ; sailed 15th Nov Glenlora, .hip, W.__>_\ f r , m London ; sailed 25th Oct Ardvar, ship, frbm Glasgow, sailed 25tb October Benvenue 'ship, HPNQ, from London sailed _.h Oct Jessica barque, from r<.ew Yo-k ; sailed 2nd June Marathon, b.rque. from New York; called October 12 H©l»na, lirlganttnf, fgom Samoa, eirly Clirapse barque, frnm Newcastle, early Vision, brig, from Samoa, early Eyno, brifaattne, from Islands, early Prank Gut, schooner, from Sydney, early Amher.«t schooner, fiom Sydney E. W. Tucker, schooner, from Mclbourno Loch Leo. achooner, from tho Islands, early Dauntless, schooner, from Fiji Coronet, schooner, from the Islands, early Bella Maty, barque, from Hoba t Town Mary Melville, schooner, from the Inlands Fairlie, schooner, from Sydney, early ewellyn, from Levuka, 3rd Feb ,

Theb.H. Hawea left this afternoon for the South. Passengers :Mr W. Henry, Mr and Mrs Hunter, Mr W. Newman, Miss Longdill, Miss Bedford, Mr J. Dodd, A. Boyden, Mrs Gordon, Miss Rouse_ Mrs Collins, Mrs Brett, Mr Trenwell, T, Hazlett, Ashender, Har greaves, and 14 steerage, besides others booked at Onehunga.

The bvrque Bella Maty n_r.y be expected daily from Hobart Town.

The steamers V retty Jana from Gisborne and lona from tho North arrived in harbour last evening The loi a brou .lit 23 pasfengcru, including Bishop Cowie, and a qti-ntityof general car.o. The Jauo brings 151 bales of wool, 250 sheep, and soma pi-s.

The thips t'bnlora and Ardv,»r aro 99 days out respectively from London and Glasgow. Tho ship Benvenue is 95 days fro-n Loudon

We are requested to siato that the detention of the lona w»» not causi d in any way by a break-down in her machinery, but simply by stress of weather. The Icraa has never yet been detained au hour by any defect in her machinery.

COMMERCIAL.

Mr George A. Binney hold a sale of flour and pro duce to-ri»y. ex Yarra. all more or less damaged. Flour realised £8, to £1012s 6d; maize, 3s 61; oa s, 2s 8d '. bian, lOd ; wheat, 4_ lOd; and Chii:t.hurch hams 9d.

Me<srs Tonka and Co held a sale of maize, bran etc, to-day; but as the goods were damaged, tha prices realised were according to quality.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND

Mails will Close as follows:— For Thames, to morrow, at 5 30 p m For Coromandel to-morrow at 1030 am For Wangarei eta. Ru=se!l, "Wangaroa, and Mongonui per lona. this day at 4 p m For Napier, and southern"provinces, per City of San Francis o, five hourj after arrival of Grariada, or (ia case of Granada's previous non-arrival) at 0 a m to-morrow For "Wanganui, per St Kilda, to-morrow, at 10 45 a m For Australian colonies, per Granada, immediately after arrival For Gisborne and Napier, per Pretty Jane, on Thurs day next, at 2 p in. For Watwera, Warkworth Matakana, etc, per Minnie Casey, on Thur d«y next, at 10 am For Taranaki, and. Southern provinces, per Phoebe, on B»tu'd»y next, at 1.15 pm Mails for India, Chin*, Mediteranean ports and Con tinent of Kurope, United Kingdom via Suez and Southampton, and via Bindist, will be made up per Taupo, on Tuesday next,_Bth Instant. N.B. —The mails which are usually made up at this office on Saturday will this week bo closed on Friday at 7 p m (Signed) S. B. BI3S, Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

O'BBIAN—On the 23rd January, at tho Oratna Hotel, Henderson's Mill, the wife of Mai tin O'Briau of a daucfhtor.

SELLERS-Cn the Ist February, at her rpsidenco, Remuera, Mrs. 11. J. B Scllors of a daughter.— Home paper, please copy.

DEATH.

STEPHENSON—On the 20th January, at, Waifeauae Dairy. Poverty U:vy, William Francis, infant sou of W. V. Stephenson, aged 11 weeks.

HANCOCK—On the 31st instant, at her residence, United Service Hotel. Phil is, the beloved wife of Mr John Hancock, after a lingering and painful illness.

The funeral will take plaos at 3 o'clock on AWd nesday. Frienclnaro respectfully invitfd to attend.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS

Mr Calitb Eotiinson, Grey-street. — The adoption by the Regatta Committee of your suggestion renders the publication of the letter unnecessary. Bet DisruTFS —Two queries relating to bet disputes will be answered to-morrow.

The Evening Star. WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening news, The Morning News and The Echo.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1870

For the cause that lacks assistance, I-'or the wrong that needs resistance, I-'or the iitturc in the distance,

And Ihe _ooJ lli.it vrc c;ui do.

The petition to the House of Eepresentatives by Mr James Mackay, jun., against the elec tion of Sir George Grey for the Thames was formally lodged yesterday. In what capacity Mr Mackay is acting on this occasion we hardly know, but looking to his connection with the Government it is not too much to suppose he is moving with the approval, if not under direct instructions from the Ministry. That the petition is a foolish and futile one is the expressed opinion of all the leading Southern journals, not excepting those which support tho Ministry, bufc^ it „»v»w_cr_--rTrsm*i!nrctTd_i Petitions Committee. The Canterluri) Press, a paper not at all friendly to Sir George Grey, has pub lished two able articles shewing not only English but colonial.precedents for thecourse pursued by Sir George Grey. In its issue of the 26th instant, after referrinc. to Mr Moor house's return for_a West Coast district aft.r a prior election, it quotes the contest in the old country between Mr Gladstone and Mr Garthorne Hardy, and says : " When Mr Hardy, having just been elected for Leo minster, undertook to contest with Mr Glad stone the seat for Oxford University, and carried on the contest during the prolonged period which is still required to complete University elections, and eventually elected to sit for the University upon the double return which was the consequence of his success on both occasions, it is im possible to imagine that all parties were not well advised as to his eligibility. Whatever may be the case here, it cannot be supposed that Mr Hardy would have been permitted by his friends, or for that matter, by his opponents, to contest the seat with Mr Gladstone, if it was not well understood on all sides that there was no legal objection to his doing so. Mr May himself, to whose work so much reference has been made, was at the time Clerk of the House of Commons, and we can hardly doubt that it was in ac cordance with his' personal opinion that the step was taken. In one sense therefore the precedent is of even higher authority than* if it had been the result of a formal decision of an Election Committee, inasmuch as in fact the question was considered so clear on all sides that no decision was required."

A deficit upon the Colonial Treasurer's reventie estimates, amounting to £118,890 for the first half of the present financial year, or at the rate of £237,780 per annum, is a very serious matter, and one of the first duties of the new parliament will probably be to meet the financial disarrangement and provide for the increasing liabilities of the colony. The returns for the September and December quarters of 1875, published in the New Zea~ land, Gazette, shew that this defect is con tributed to from all the sources upon which the Treasurer's calculations were based, with the single exception of judicial fees and fines from which no increase was anticipated. That any further revenue can be drawn either from the Customs or Btamp duties, already burdensome to an extent that is oppressive to trade, we do not believe, and either the land fund must be seized •as colonial revenue or income and property taxes are inevitable. Session after session the Government, by every possible expedient, more particularly by charging against loau liabilities whioh should properly have been met from th. revenue, have staved off the financial crisis whioh

° very thinking man in the colony, has seen t ooming in the distance, but this can no longer be done, and the difficully must be fairly grappled with. The following tabulated statement shews the difference between the actual results of the first half of the current financial year as shewn in the Gazette, and the estimates of the Treasurer for the same period : — Receipts Estimate for half- fur half year, v^ar. Customs Duties .. .. _3530 (MO £.02,500 Customs Fees 7 28*1 8.175 Stamps f0,251 02,500 Postal .. 3'{,098 4 5.500 Telegraph 20 010 81000 Judges Fees and Fines .. 17,062 10.000 Registration land .. .. 5 7(17 6 75n „ Doeds .. .. 7,517 8.575 „ Births, &C. .. 1,853 2,500 Crown Grants .. .. 2,143 3,00. Miscellaneous Fees .. .. 1290 1,850 Incidental .. .. .. 22,732 3.500 Totil £701,405 £879,850

Mr Justice Gillies, in his charge to tho Grand Jury at the opening of the last Crim inal Sessions of tho Supreme Couit, spoke vo:y strongly against the practice of. cashing cheques indiscriminately, which ho consi dered a direct inducement to the crime of forgery. Mr Justice Johnston appear., to have been still more severe in his i-.trictuies upon this subject. In his charge at tho Christchurch sessions he is reported as having said that " tho best .(forts of the Judges to suppress the crime of forgery had been futile, and it would perhaps bo necessary so to legislate that those -who afforded, undue facilities for Hhe cashing of cheques and orders should be punished, in common with those who actually "commit tho crime." Most questions have" two sides, and this ono affords no exception to the rule ; moreover we are disposed to thiuk that tho practical aud sensible side ia the one which tho learned judge at Christchurch has wholly ignored. Working men, and especially bushmen, are frequently paid by cheques and orders, at times aud in pkc.s where they must rely upon the good offioea of tradesmen for cash or goods ; aud extreme hardship would some times result from any undue caution on the part of storekeepers in dealing with this form of currency. It is reasonable to suppose that the monetary interest which any man who cashes a cheque or order has in its genuinones3 will lead him to exercise a reasonable discretion, aud if Mr Justice Johnston would divest him.elf ot his unim peachable black suit and starched frills, put on a pair of moleskin trousers, roll himself in his back garden, and then,with pick over his shoulder, go out and try to cash his own cheque, he will have no cause to complain of auy excess of trustfulness among trader.-1. One very certain result from tho embodiment i" statute of his honor's views, would be a gol den harvest to those cent per cent gentlemen who already fleece bushmen, sailors apd other working men to a considerable tuna by cashing orders and advance notes, that are perfectly bona fide and worth their full value. Wc suppose, wo are bound to accept all utterances from the woolsack as double distilled wisdom, but if anyone of less note than a judge in tho discharge of one of his most important duties had advocated the punish ment of tradesmen for cashing cheques, he would simply havo been laughed at. It is truo that forgery casos on the Criminal Calendar would be diminished by Mr Justice Johnston's original prescription, because any tradesman who was unfortunate enough to receive a forged cheque would boar his loss quietly and allow the criminal to c.cape rather than bring himself within tho opera tion of tho law, but whether tho ond. of justice would bo advanced by this we leave Judge John-ton to decide. A muoh_ more evil would be tho enactment of a statute compelling payment for work aud labour in cash, aud then a penal clause against careless cashing of cheques might be less inequitable. But even coin payments are utterly imprac ticable in the circumstances of colonial life. Saw-mill managers and others employing labour at a long distance from any banking facilities, must still pay by cheque or order upon firms in town, and any interference with their right of doing so would be an unwise and irksome hampering of com mercial transactions. Every tradesman understands the difficulty that besets this question. In many cases the refusal to cash a cheque would result in the loss of payment for a long-standing-account, and sometimes of a honest customer, for plenty of people will always be found ready to cash likely-look ing cheques or orders for a " consideration," and when the average bushman has once fingered the coin, his creditors may whistle for their little bills. Under a common system oi payment by cheque and order, such as prevails here, forgery is bound to bo a crime of frequent occurrence, but tho legis» lature might as well attempt to stop thoft by punishing the loser of the stolen goods, o r embezzlemenfc by sentencing the employer who left cash exppsod as a temptation to his employe, as adopt Mr Justice Johnston's extraordinary antidote for forgery.

Dr. Ellis's promised lecture on the " Auto biography of the Earth," is unavoidably postponed until the Bth inst., when it will be delivered in the large room of the Chris tian Young Men's Association. Last evening we were favoured with a private View of the panorama imported by the Auckland Sunday School Union from the parent Union in London for exhibition among the schools in this and other parts of the colony. This is the fourth panorama which, the Union has obtained, and we are of opinion that is decidely the best. The pic tures are larger and more highly finished than those previously obtained, and alto gether present features of uncommon interest. The scenes are taken from a journey from Amsterdam, up the Rhine through Germany and Switzerland to Italy, taking us to the principal cities with their rich historic asso ciations. The first exhibition of this pano rama is to take place at the Beresford Hall, in aid of the funds of the Sunday-school in that place. The description of the scenes as they pass will be given by Mr Henry Barton. The Mahurangi Agricultural Show will be held on Friday next, and the now famous Hobson Band has been engaged for that day. In the evening their celebrated minstrels will give an entertainment in the Mahurangi Pub lic Hall, for which an original programme has been provided, including the names of Messrs McComish, W. and T. Seton, Rice, Christian, and the brothers Lonergan. Captain Casey's steamer, the Minnie Casey, will convey pas sengers from the Auckland wharf to the show on Thursday at the hour named in the adver tisement. The members of tho Auokland Choral Society will meet this evening for praotioe. The subject will be Mozart's " Requiem Mass."

A volunteer contest is arranged for Satur day next between eight qualified representa tives and eight non-representatives of the Thames. The representatives are: Messrs Armstrong;, Murray, Fenton, Fagg, Gordon, Brown, Hicks and Thomas, and the non-re presentatives will be chosen from seventeen of the leading non-reprcsuntativts of the district.

Captain Casey expresses as his reason for going to Riverhead on Regatta day that ho was unaware of having been appointed um pire. If that is really the case of course he is not to blame.

A letter from Mexico in the Cologne Ga zette gives an interesting account of the decline of the influence of the Roman Ca tholic Church in the Mexican Republic. In 1554 the city of Mexico contained twenty nine religious houses, with about 500 monks and nuns. All the religious orders have now been abolished, and the extensive buildings which formerly belonged to them aro used as barracks, schools, and'so on. Some of them are magnificent specimens of architecture. Several of tbo .churches aro need a3 store houses, two are used for Protestant ser vices, and some aro already falling into ruin. The law which forbids clergymen to wear their clerical costumes unless they are iv church or at homo, has deprived street-life in Mexico of much of its media-val pic tuvefqueness. The: clergy are still recognis able by their high black hats and their long brown or black cloaks, but there aro no mote nuns or monk*. Even the sinters of charity have been expelled from the hospital- ; religious processions in the streets are strictly forbidden, and the outward life of Mexico presents as litllo of a religious cha racter as that of any Protestant town in Ger many. Notwithstanding this however, the correspondent thinks that the Mexicans will find before many years are ovor that the masses of the people are still too uncivilized to bo able to dispunce with tho moral disci pline formerly exercised by the clergy; and the church, which still possesses very great influence among the women, will then regain its old power in tho Republic."

At a mooting of tho members of the " Gleam of Sunshine " Lodge of Good Temp lars, hold at Newton last evening, the fol lowing ofiiecrs wero elected for the ensuing quarter : Brother C. Moss, C.T., Sister Knox, VT, Sister Bagot, Secretary, Bro ther M 8.-ren, F.S., Sister A. Hamilton, Treasurer, Sister Glenn, Chaplin, Sister Donald, Marshall. Brother Paul, Guard, Bro ther Scudder, S.. f-isler ]_. Hamilton, R U.S., Sister McConnaok, L.H.S., Sisttr Cash, A.S.

The mail steamer, City of San Francisco, was broughtalongside the wharf this morning andduiiog tho day was thrown opon to visi tors Many persons availed themselves of the opportunity of inspecting this splendid specimen of modern mariue architecture, and expressed their unqualified admiration of her accommodation, fittings, and appliances, which were courteously explained by Captain Lachland and his officers.

We arc gratified to learn thero was no in tent to burn tho well-known Queen-street store of Mr Staines. Tho bask*et-mal_er'_ boy ne'er intended to destroy tho house with all its furniture aud panes. The stuff ho merely dropped aud round the corner popped, and to firo tho Champions store he did not try. It was but an idle whim peculiar to him ; his mas'er says ho would not hurt a fly. Still tho Champion shakes his head and a firo still seems to dread, which some rogue with stealthy tread may light when he's iv bed.

An entertainmont in aid of the Manukau Cricket Club, was given last evening iv the Choral Hall, Onehunga, which, considering the unfavorable state of tho weather, was fairly attended. The first part was a concert, to which some of the local amateurs contribu ted. The pieces generally v. oro of a lugub rious character, land mostly exhibited numistakeable .signs of a want of preparation. Iv many of the songs it was impossible to catch the words, aud some of tho singers turned their faces away from tho audience, and so in a great degree mulfled their voices. Tho porformers being amateurs, it would be unfair to draw comparisons, suffice it to say, •Tho best was bad." A spelling bt.e followed in which six competitors took part, Key A. N. Tomlinson being pronouueer and judge. The lirat pnz* was carried off by a young lady between 10 aud 17 years old, for correctly s&e}_iai\_g bu . and "hydrogen," she having appeared quite taken aback, when asked to spell tho latter words, which caused much discontentment among the audience. " Box and Cox" was then performed by Messrs O'Callaghan, Calvert, and Hamer, and elicited loud ap plause. The proceedings wound up as usual with a dance.

The correspondent of the Herald at Kati kati writes with reference to the native, Petera Koikoi, who was murdered at Tairua by JriJppiunia, who was believed to bo be witched by the murdered man, and for which supposed crime, the native's life was sacri ficed. The murdered man belongs to the (Jriweras, a powerful tribe south of Tauranga, hence the pouri (koeping dark) of the friends of Hipinma. They are not willing to give their man up to justico, and yet they are afraid if they do not that the Unweras will kill some of them as utu (payment). The chief has communicated with Sir Donald Maclean, asking for arms and ammunition to defend themtelves iv case of an attack. The natives of the district do not muster more than 100, so that tho settlers are quite composed as thoy think that any disturbance would be confined to the native populatioxt. The cor respondent is of opinion that the murderer will soon be in the hands of justico. i

In accordance with a resolution of tbe Wesleyan Conference during its recent ses sion at Wellington, the Three Kings' insti tution will be re-opened as a college for Maori students, on the plan recommended by the Auckland District Meeting, and Europoan students will be placed under tho oharge of tha principal, the Eev. Mr Buddie.

An impudent robbery was committed last evening at Mr Sykes Turkish Baths, Upper Queen-Street. The thief, it appears, passed into the passage leading towards the baths, and put his hand through the aperture where payments are made aud tickets is sued and from the till withih extrated the sum of 15s with which the mean thief escaped be yond the hands of justice.

Our Polioe Court reporter appears to have been indulging in his fancy, a perhaps not very rare occurrence for him, in his report of the case against James Madigan yesterday. Mrs Madigan, it appears, did not address her husband as Jim.

The latest letter from Commander Mark ham, of the Arctic Expedition, saya : —" I do not believe we encountered any of last year's ice, all that we came throne.li having, in my opinion, been formed this spring. Then what has become of the heavy ice ? It must all have been blown far south by -the late prevailing winds. That this indicates ah open season for us to the northward I have little doubt. We are naturally much elated at our success so far, and quite count upon reaching 85deg. without any serious check. In a week's time we ought to be on 'the threshold of the unknown region,' when our real work will commence. Hitherto it has all been child's play." In a postscript added on July 26, the Commander saya :— "I hope my next letter to you will say that we have achieved a grand aud glorious tri umph. Everything, including minimum sun spots, points to this year as being the one for Arctic exploration. I hope it may prove so. The temperature of the Surface water rose to-day (Monday), at 4 p.m., from 34degs to 40 °. It was also also 40 °at 6 and 8 p.m. What is the meaning of it ?Is there no more ice in our vicinity ? I believe we are going straight up Smith Sound with out, a check.'} '"J

The well-conteßted match between the Auckland United and Auckland Cricket Clubs in the Domain closed in favor of the former by three wickets. At the close of tbe match Mr Rice gave three cheers for the winners, which were heartily responded to. Mr Buckland then presented the cup, con gratulating the members of both clubs on their excellent play, and this closed one of the best contested games that we have wit nessed in Auckland.

MrE. D. Davies, tbe premier ventriloquist, has kindly consented to give an entertain ment on behalf of St Mary's Orphanage, which will take place on Friday next, under the p-ttonage of Sir George Grey. A precentor in a free church at Leith has acquired seme notoriety through the vagaries of a young woman who lately conceived a violent attachment towards him. The girl who is named Margaret Campbell, is a sempstress, and a most uninteresting personage, being sadly deformed. She had attended the choir of the church in which her Apollo' conducts the psalmody, and made herself very conspicuous by her open endearments. The attentions of the young woman became so obtrusive that it was found necessary to forbid her from entering the choir. This proceeding seems only to have increased her ardour. The persecuted precenter was followed everywhere, and the misguided young woman went so far as to ex hibifc a shirt whioh sbe had made with cords at the neck instead of buttons, the reason sbe gave being tbat "her dear Robert wouldn't choice sac easy if he evoiy got a dram." The " dear Robert" at last sought the protection of tho police, but none of the medical men who examined the pirl would certify that she was ■ insane*. Dining the last few days, however, sho became very out rageous, and the landlady in the Kirk gate considered her removal to an asylum was imperative. On Friday afternoon the poor.giri was taken away in a cab, shriek ing loudly, and to the last calling on her "dear Robert" to come and rescue her.

Tho murderer Sullivan is Btill a source of difficulty to the Victorian Government. The Launceston Examiner of January llth says : —"The master of the schooner Secret, which left here on Saturday for Melbourne via Night Island, stated openly before leaving that he had been engaged to tnke the mur derer Sullivan on board at Melbourne, con vey him to New Zealand, and land him anywhere he phased. So lonr. Os Sullivan was put on New Zealand ground the master's work was done, and he would be paid the amount agreed on."

POLICE COURT.—This Day

(Before R. C. Barstow, Esq., R.M.)

MERRY SOULS.

We ihrce Wont out last niizht to havo i> jolly spree, And found our noddles where ouf feet abonld be. Thomas Wilson and Walter Lean, for bning drunk and disorderly, weie fined 20s each and costs, and Thomas Burn 3, for being drunk, was fined "is and costs. LITTLE MARY. Mary Harrison, alias the " Lily of the Valley," was charged under the Vagrant Act with having no visible lawful means of support, and with behaving in a manner calculated to provoke a breach of tho peace. Prisoner said she was guilty, but uuder very peculiar circumstances. Her hufcbaucl did not como home and she went after him, and very likely made a noise. Mr Broham said, prisoner was drunk, and tho more sho was spoken.to, the more noise she made. ' Prisoner was fined 20s and costs. pat's sheltlr. Patrick Holland was charged under the Vagrant Act with being found in the bed room of Edward Lysas.ht, of Hobson-street, without any lawful excuse. Prisoner did not remember anything about it; ho must have got into the wrong place ; he was looking for his cousin, Mary Anne, who resided there. ; • Prosecutor denied that prisoner's Mary Ann lived there. He was fast asleep this morning at half-past three, when he felt a strange hand passing over him, from his stomach to his toes ;it was not light; he leaped out of bed, and collared tha prisoner, who was a stranger to him. Ho g."^" The Court found prisoner'guilty, ana sen tenced him to two months' imprisonment. ANOTIIEI.. William Swanson, was brought up on a similar charge, ho having been found last night, in tho houae of Levi Coupland in Lornc-street. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Levi Coupland, corn dealer, deposed that last night ho heard strange noises at the window. He got out of bed, struck a light, and found prisoner in his front room crouch ing beneath the window ; he said he merely wanted a night's lodging. Constable Graham deposed to taking prisoner into custody, he said he only wanted to sleep.. On looking over the list of convictions against the prisoner, the court found that they occupied one sheet of foolscap paper, and sentenced him to nine months imprison ment with hard labour. THE OILLESS LAMP. Mr Georgo Rhodes appeared in answer to a summons, charging him with failing to keep his lamp burning in Victoria-street on the night of the 27th instant. Mr Rhodes objected to plead guilty, ia the lamp should have been alight,, Sergeant O'Connor deposed that on the night in question the moon had failed; in giving forth her silver light, and Mr Rhodes' lamp, possibly for want of oil, had gone out, so that the passers-by had only the reflection from the lamp opposite to guide their feet: in the right way, and keep them from stumbling into the holes and indentations caused by the march of modern improvement. He turned his official eyes especially upon the unlighted spot, and was certain that from the going down of the sun, until his rising glory tinged the mountain tops with gold, there was no lij-ht in Mr Rhodes' lamp. His Worship was of opinion that the lamp was not lighted on the night in question, and fined defendant in the sum of 10_. and costs. Shis was all the business.

AUCKLAND DISPENSARY.

Tub subscribers of tho Auckland Dispensary held a meeting last evening in tho hall of the Mechanio's Institute, Mr W. bwanson in tho chair. Dr John U. Hooper, the medical officer, read the report for the last quarter, of sick cases -which had come under his care. The report shewed that during the first month of the quarter there were-210 new cases io addition to a number of old ones. The ailments of the patients were mostly rheumatism and catarrhal, and one of scarlatina. During the last six weeks many persons had applied with diarrhoea aiid many children had been brought to him troubled with febrile affections. Twelve cases where the patients bad neither homes nor friends were sent to the hospital. On the motion of Mr James Coupland, seconded by Mr P.iruo the report was adopted. The balance-sheet, also adopted, w as as follows •— Dr.: To cash in hand, £23 l s _fl; to balance-due. £56 12s 2d .- total, £79 13s 6d. Cr, :By accounts to pay, £5 18s 6d ; Dr Hooper, £43 15s ; Mr Welsman. £30 -total, £79 13s 6d. The Secretary pointed out that there was thus a deficiency of £56 12s-«d. Ttie election of officors was then proceeded wi th, and the following gentlemen appointed :-Patron. His Ex cellency the Governor; chairman, His .Honor, the' Superintendent; vice-chairman. His ■Worship the Mayor; treasurer, Mr J Coupland.. secretary, Mr K. B. Shatters. Committee—Messrs P Darby G- P Pierce J Wiseman, W i_a.tray, J M Shera, E Waters, J M Lennox. W Atkin, J M Clark, P A Philips, F L Prime, T MoMasters, W Wilson, and W Bwanson, iha Secretary informed the meeting that the Govern ment used to give £iSO per annum towards the Dis pensary, and as this sum was insufficient the com mittee had applied for a further bonus and had obtained a grant of £100 for the six months ending July 31st. Up to the end of the year thty had only collected £23, which was insufficient, as their liabilities amounted to £75. Beapplied to his Honor the Super intendent, who replied that, in the preaent financial position, the Provincial Government could aot guar antee the contribution in aid of the Disp .psary..or a longer period than three months' from the Ist inst., for which period a sum of £50 would be made payable to th« '.riMurer of. the Di_pen/j»_y, and a further

sn m ot f6O would bepaidfo.'the Bhonld theto be sufficient P^f* t^^J^ot the discussion npnn the present state andPn*P ecJ f™ l Mr collected by them."

TELEGRAPHIC.

GRAHAMSTOWN.

(From our own Correspondent.) v This day,

The Roman Catholic school children, num bering about 500, headed by a band, marched to Parawai Gardens today to picnic. The largest parcel of Little Lime.gold fetched £3 5s 7d per r Z the small £1 3s Bd. The Caledonian has 119oz 12dwtsfrom 110 °The Rough and Ready cruehed 1 ton for loz4dwts. ,___,- The Only Chance has sozs 12dwts.

HELENSVILLE.

(From our own Correspondent.) v This day.

The Melain© Ashore. The Melaine has parted a chain and hawser and gone up the beach. The decks are beginning to open.

DUNEDIN.

(From our own Correspondent.) This day.

Mdlle. De Murska. Mdlle. De Murska opens at the Queens Theatre, Dunedin, on Monday, the 7th of February.

WELLINGTON.

(From our own Correspondent.) This day. Press Telegraph Agency. Captain Jas. Holt and Mr F. McCarthy, the present able manager, have, by purchase, become sole proprietors of the Press Tele graph Agency.

MAKETU.

(From our own Correspondent) This day. Surveys in Native Districts. The Te Puke survey has commenced. Captain Lloyd, surveyor, and H. Mitchell, Esq., with a large party of Waitaka and other tribes interested iv these lands, pro ceeded to the South side of the block to start the surveyors. Mr. Mitchell also takes the trigonometrical observations from Otauema nuteu, from tbe summit of which the great trees are being cleared by the new dynamite process. The surveys of the Government purchase and leases are being watched by the Arawa chiefs with much anxiety. There is no obstruction frsm nativeß.

POET CHALMERS.

(From our own Correspondent.) This day. Sailed : Albion Company's ship Auckland, which is the fifth wool ship of the season, for London, with cargo valued at £144,000.

WELLINGTON.

(Per Prees Telegram Agency.) This day.

London Arrival. Arrived—Ship John Milton, from London, 100 days out; no paeseDgers. She brings a full cargo and two hundred kegs of powder. During the passage a man fell off the jibboom but was rescued.

NAPIER.

(From our own Correspondent). . . ! This day. Heavy Eains.—Eaces Postponed- The Telegraph reporter has just arrived from the race-course, lie reports the course in a fearful state of puddle, owing to exces sive rains last night. The stewards have gone out, but owners will refuse to run their horses. There is no other course but post ponement. Meanee district is again under water. One settler has brought hia wife and family to town.

ALL SAINTS SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNUAL TREAT.

[To the Editor of the Evening Star.3 Dear Mr Editor,—As lam fond of enjoying myself quietly on a holiday, I thought I could not do better, living as I am in the aristocratic district of Ponsonby, than stroll out to the picturesque snuggery of Masefield's and Watch the children of All Saints fcunday School amusing themselves. Arrivirjg on the grounds about 9 a.m., an indescribable bustle met my eyes. Teachers unloading the pro visions ; children laughing and playing, spreading all ove. the grounds, till the boats, kindly lent by Messrs Townsend Bros., Field, and others, were got round the point, when some of. thefmale teachers took in charge a boat load each for a pull round the beautiful bay. I then strolled up to a building at the top of the hill, where I heard the cutting up was going on. On looking inside I remarked to a^friend '"What a strong muster of lady teachers you must have." "Oh no," he said "none of these are teachers, or at least only one, Mrs C, the rest are all friends outside the school altogether." I .aid, "You must have more than one though." "Yes," he answered, "We have a lady superintendent and one or two more, but they will come down and do some looking on when all the work is done." Well, I thought to myself, it. is almost enough to frighten anyone. There I saw around of beef, a ham, a tongue, three or four dozen loaves of bread and piles of cakes, buns, &c How the children eat it all I don't know. At 12 30 the chil dren were assembled for dinner, when after singing grace and a hymn or two (during which time I noticed a photographer busily engaged,) one would have imagined the children had been starving themselves for a

week in order to get into proper condition. After dinner off they started for the beach, where for three hours such a scene of racing jumping, skipping and scrambling ensued, that defies description. I noticed particularly the superintendant and teachers, and a chap in a smoking cap, who evidently was made of india-rubber; (he seemed at half-a-dozen places at once,) busily engaged in getting rid of (it seemed to me,) a never failing supply of hats, dolls, balls, thimbles and skipping ropes to the girls, and bats, balls, etc to the boys. The best fun was*the girls racing for some neat little hats. After the racing and games were over, the bell was rung for tea, when a similar if not larger quan tity of food was disposed of than at dinner. Then came the cheering, three each for Rev E. N. Bree, Messrs Hammond, Masefield, Grainger, Miss Evans, the teachers, them selves, and 1 don't know who else, after which they all went home, after, I am sure, a most enjoyable day. I quietly followed, almost wishing I had been one of those who had laboured so hard for their amusement. I only heard of one quiet grizzle by a lady who said she was" afraid the children had not had enough to eat. she must have had an appetite. —Yours etc, Snooks.

r, The destructive floods at Poverty Bay, have . been improved by the Presbyterian, and Episcopalian clergymen resident there. The former took as his text, part of the 25th verse of the 7th chapter of >t. Matthew's gospel, "And the rain de_ cended, and the floods came, and the winds blew." The latter preached from Job. 17, ver. 11, "My purposes are broken off." The Key Mr Root stated that ther. had not been such an inundation since 1853 ; and then the loss was comparatively small from there being so few crops, and but little stock. The des truction on the present occasion was very great, from its being harvest timo, as well as from the crogef being __iu6__ mare prolific than they were for many years past,

Fire at Papatoitoi.

A fire occurred at Papatoitoi yesterda* morning about two o'clock, by which th cottage of a labourer named Stodart, in «.'■'" employ of Mr McLaughlin, was burnt to tha ground. The cottage was situated on v- \ McLaughlin's farm, and belonggj* tL y, j gentleman. At the time of__.t-_g. -ftm_ Stodart and his wife were asleep if_-W " They did not discover their peril till the fita had gained too firm a hold to be put out, and they had no time to rescue any of their' p__., sonal effects, with the exception of two bell', toppers, which they snatched up in theij precipitate flight. The house was insured in the New Zealand Office for £150. -

The Murder at Epsom.

TIDINGS OF THE MURDERER.

We stated yesterday tbat it had beenpUctj I beyond doubt, that the fugitive Ha_iWi-iata i or Harry Wynyard, fled in the direct. __, 0 f i Orakei on the morning of the murder. _}_...» 1 tive Jeffrey's arrived this molrning from the | Maori settlement at that place,. imd-bri_j__ I the first clear md definite information v<i_ the 1 rascal's movements Bince the commission of I the crime. With his usual energy and acute. I ness, this officer has followed up elite upo__ I clue, and is at laßt able to present ub with I I connected chain of traces, j which end in the I person of a well-known Hauha_%ti.e' 1 named Brassey, who came up with Jefirey'a 1 from Orakei this morning. The first clue ob- 1 tamed by the detective was from a little boy '-, who, declares that between 5 and 6 6'.lo§kon P Thursday morning he met a Maori manj__ n . \ ning along the Epsom Road in the direction of Orakei, and noticed that his white duck trousers were smeared with blood. The1 _e__ trace of him was heard of in the neighbnn.. |; hood of Mr. D. B. Cruickshank's hon_e a. ! Remuera. Three people will be prepared at the inquest on Thursday to swear that they saw the murderer on the road near this place. ! >One of them Hari spoke to, asking bitti if he || could tell him where a native named'B._.__ey || lived. Between this point and tbe bridge no I less tban eight persons can-be produced who | are certain they saw him. Of five of them 1 he asked the same question about Brassey, I About a mile from the bridge he .went into 1 a house and enquired whereabouts .iff the T neibgbourbood it was that some 'l-lao-ia j worked. He was diiected and is next B heard of at the house in question.^ Here p he was Been and spoken to by tWo men || who noticed how flurried and j haggard he was, and also that h_B trowserj i were dripping wet to the'knees, as if..he had r waded a creek, or washed them ah&'pu.: them on wet. He made here the;%me l enquiry about Brassy and begged for „ small | quantity of rum which he offered to pay for. I In all of tbese meetings the time tallies to | within a few minutes which would elapse !.. between tbem. While going over Orakei 1 bridge Hare met another European whom he I endeavoured to avoid in a manner'.fhich provoked the * passer's curiosity. jOp. the j further side of the bridge he was met ( py a ■ Wahoo or half kanaka, half maori, whom he 1 again asked about Brassey. The next fl person he meets is from all -accounts B 'Brassey himself, who was the Maori B who admitted to Mr Brown, the-inter preter, that he had seen the fugitive. 1 But our readers will judge for the_oselves whether the Maori's account of the interview .-., j| is likely to be correct. When asked by Mr | Brown if he had saw Harry, he answered ■ '.' • Yes." " Did you speak to him ?"; *J Yes." i " What did you say*?" '• "I asked'him to J come in and have some breakfast." '"What 1 did. he say ?" "He said 'tenakoe.'.]and j would not stay nor look at me." '.'JWbat J did he dn then?" "He f ,went on." Oar readers will aot require to be told that/this §3 version'of the interview is very _mpr.ol.able, ; after the discovery that the.murderer had '§.': asked nearly a dozen personss^?'tn_ very ;|- | man, as if his life depended on his finding g him. Brassy is rather a tall,j»thle-i© look-ffl ing Maori, with black curly beard.jand good .-. J.i features iv his face, though with a sullen .| expression. When seen by our reporter, he | was reclining ia an indolent mahner^ltthe ' stones of the watch-house, w'th^ji-sback . ..•*_*_•*-_-utr-«rT*iic pillars. ...Ste" refused to give- any further l infbrn_a-io-_ to T day,jbut , promised to be present atthe "logoff.' on Thursday. With that understanding, he was allowed to go at large. Brassey.isJ^nown g as a regular Hauhau, and got Into trouble 1 during the Maori 'war fOr supplying, the natives with arms. . He admits .that he I knows Wyuyard well, and it has been dia-^ ! covered that the two have worked together for years. After his meeting with Wynyard, '- the tracks of the fugitive altogether dis appear, but there is ample evidence to prove ,;■., that Brassey must have been keeping him in concealment somewhere handy right.up to Saturday. Since that it is thought he has gone to the Miranda en route for the King | country. Detective Jeffrey was yesterday ; : searching the scrub all round the; "settle- M ment and the coast in that direction'/'bnt | could obtain nothing further. There is no question, however, that at length the police > are on the right track, and the probability ■.. is that the blackguard will be captured. A I difference of opinion exists as to whether the » king natives would give him up or./not. Detective Grace and Constable Clarke are , still searching at Orakei. , We cannot avoid expressing our surprise at the absence of caution displayed by the murderer in his

The Kingites Expecting Wyn yard.

HAMILTON.

(From our own.Correspo_.dent.)"" ■v . •:- [TJ ; Thisd^. The Waikato Times Alexandra correlpon- | i dent telegraphed that, the murderer, "Wyn» . yard, is hourly expected there. It iStfelt he will seek shelter with the King, and that |j Tawhiao, influenced by his family, will pro tect Jtdm. WinataV family all reside a,tTe Kuiti The native, Paiwhenna, who'pro tected Mr Jas. Mackay from the murderous J assault made upon him while sleeping in a I tent at Te Kuiti when he was: up there | demanding the murderer of Sullivah_- is 'one . of Wanata's brother-in-laws, and another is I residing near Alexandra. , There can be no doubt that Wahata will make straight for Te Kuiti, and that he will be assisted in passing all parties looking out to catch him.

SCHOOL COMMITTEES

PONSONBY. The residents of Ponsoiihy held a meeting In their hall last evening, Kevpflf. n. Bree in the chair^for the purpose of eleptiog their new committee The report of the old Committee was read from whioh it appeared that an increase of 2; scholar* Over the previous year was a proof that good was being done in Ponsonby. The school • now Numbered 90 boyfl and 61 girls. The following gentlemen were then elected:— Key E. N. Bree, chairman : Messrs Morton . Jones, W. Woods, Francis QuicK, and James Morton. PAR-TELL At the Parneli meeting last evening in the district school-room Mr W. H. Hassling in the. ohair, the report stated tbat the average attendance during the year had been about SO- The committee further siated that Mr Leonard, the master, continued to dive much satisfaction as a teacher, and exhorted parents to see that their children attended regularly at the school. The members 6f the previous year's committee were then re elected; namely, Messrs Dyer, Gol.jnan, Wood. Catlyle, and Kissling. A vote" of thanks closed the meeting. _j£*- NEWTON. A meeting of ratepayers of the * Tewton district was held last evening in St. David's school-room, the Ker. Or. Purchas in the chair. The report shewed that the average d*ily attendancei at St. David's School was 106, and at Newton 180 The committee stated that Mr John Edwards, the master of St t avid*, had given g te.-t satisfaction to parents and the committee b. his ... attention and mode of teaching. The other tea-ftS-. also were entitled to praise. The following genW •*s_. men ware elected on .the new committee ;—Dx. Pur chas (chairman), Messrs S. Stevenson, Joseph Warren, H. Sidings, and William MQBkinning. Tho meeting closed in the usual way.

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JJ-OTICE. -JTOTIOE. JUST TO HAND— A. Large Parcel of Double - width Waterproof Tweed, Melton Cloth, Blue Diagonal, Ac . spccinlly adapted for Bays' Clothing, Ladies* wear, &_., Bought at Auction at con siderably less than English Invoice Price, and to be sold very chean. .. ~ ~~ auzmi—iiliTWmfu^iAn&i Cambric Handkerchiefs, from 5s Cd per doz. Upwards of 50 o" czen Men's Cotton Shirts, B i Jean, Napier, the newF Shirt, etc. Abtsinnian Cord Tr sbrs. Men's Tweed Waistcoats, and a num ber of other Special Lines at much below usual price. INSPECTION. INVITED. KUSSBJBROOK & BRIDGMAN, [Late R. Hobbs], VNOTIO'N DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, Opposito the Army and Navy Hotel, . Upper Queen-street, Auckland T>Y PARTICULAR REQUEST. r i ; To Cab and Omnibus Proprietors and Drivers, Carters, and - Grooms. , A Meeting of> the above will bo held at the Odd Fellows' Hall, Cook-street on TUESDAY Evening, February Ist, when' Mr J. G. Baiter. Travelling Agent for the Government Industrial Life Insurance Office, will explain how a man, in good health, may maio an immediate and certain provision of JEIOO for his wife and children for about One Hhiliing-a week. The chair will be taken at 8 for half-past 8 o'clock. TTMON BANK OE AUSTRALIA. [EST.vBXISHED 1837.] KS ' A ' .' PaW-up Capital .. .. .. £1250 000 Reserved Fund ;... '.. „100.000! NOTICE TO~piOPRIETORS. ADMdend of One Pound Fifteen Shilling., to gether with a Bc-irui of Five >-hillings per Share, for the half-year ending 31st December, 1875, equal to sixteen per cent, per annual on the pild-up capital i of this bank, having been declared at the meeting of Proprietors hid in London, on the. 10 h Instant, Proprietors rjjgi-tetei in Christchurch on i ha former date will receive the warrants for t,i eir dividend and bonus on application through branch - angers, (Signed) , JOS. PaLMKR Chief Officer, New Zealand, Union Bank of Australia, Chii._chur_h 26th January, 1876. OPECIAL TO HOUSEKEEPERS. iVA CALL AT THE CITY HALL, \ i-n __2_NSPEOT — '—— TBE FOLLOWING GOODS, WHIOH ARE jOP >-»t EXCELLENT QUALITY, AND VERT; j .-, ;■/!, CHEAP:— White Bheetlng, 2yds wide ........;... 1/1 per yard ,ir,„. t ,,. „ Twilled, 2 yds wide., v. 1/6 „! _dd „ Plain and Twilled, 2J yds wide.. 1/9 „ j " ■ ~,. . ■ .... ,4 „.::.. Vn . „ j Good Waterproof Sheeting, at ....i..-. 3/9 , „ \ ■ ■■'■-■ Colored Table Covers, 3AI; usual price, 6/6 „ ~ ~ 6/9 .. 8/6 . Fanoy Table Oil Cloth, ljyds wide, 1/3 per yard • Leather. IJyas wide, 1/1 per yard Mahogany and Oak Table Oil Baize, 1/3 per yard- Cheap Summer Hats for __adie. a_id Children. ~ , „ Underclothing ; „ „ „ Clothing for Men and Boys „ Dresa Goods, reduced prices • . 85 dozen White and Drab Stays, 2/3 and 2/11, a decided bargain. ' :.v.it '.".'.'.'.".'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.v.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.'.~.'.'.'.'..v.v.'.'. : i I HOLLOWAY & GARLICK, 1 v CUT- HAM,, 1 1 y Queen-Btreet, Auckland. j



J COSGRA YE & CO. will hold their Annual Sale previous to the Christmas Holidays, com mencing THIS DAY, ( Wednesday), the Bth December, and will continue until (he end of the pear. The entire stock will, be offered at Cost Price. HH I M B E E. The Union Sash and Door Company, Mechanics' Bay, are selling1 their largo and varied Stool, of Timber, Sashes, Doers, and Mouldings, at very low rates.



Facts of the Case are that during tho last quarter of a century, maladies involving: bodily prostration or a deficiency of vital power, all affections of the c. n-itiv.i o-tr-ins, kidney and bladder complaints, bivnchial troubles, sleeplessness, indiges tion, and the nervous ailments to which the feebler sex are ctpeciaily subject, havo invariably yielded to the operation of Udoli-ho Wolfe's Schiedam Aromatic ScHNArrs —ihe purest, safest, ami best article of its kind in use.