SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

BTGH: WATER—_ /This Aftienooit, 928 R?'^ <sii"rc3 ~ (To morrow Morning, 947 fe morrow ?E nlng' Ma ST™ BISJ58" MOO^^ria^uarterlltb^pm

ARRIVALS.

OrPn » ,' -SS> from Cnrf.?* bn««Btlne. from Adelaide v^naiina, schooner, from Bussell

DEPARTURES.

«t Kilda. fflowerday, for Wanganui ianny Fisher, barque, for Guam

VESSELS EXPECTED

30th nit mson' bar(3ua fr°ifl Lyttelton, sailed City of Sidney, eg, from Kandavu (English mail via T 'Fnsco)9tb instant aonn Manias, from Portland, TJS ; sailed 7th June Canterbury, schooner, from New Caledonia, early **?arl. ketch, from Penrhyn Island, enrly «artha, barque, from the Islands, early walmea, ship, from London ; sniled 30th May ■aaranui, ship.rom London, early ADernyte, ship, from London, sailed June 80 H&aun Lee, ship (HLJS). from London vity of Auckland, ship (KMTE). from London, sailed Orari, ship, from London, sailed Ist July Agnes, schooner, from Chatham Islands, overdue Helena, brfeantine, mhe Islands, early Augusta, brigan'ine. from Levuka, early Prince Aif re d, barquentine, from Lyttelton ; sailed 27th Instant Wollomai, schooner, from Lyttelton; sailed 27th instant Minehaha, schooner, from Lyttelton Flirt, brigantine, from Lyttelton

IMPORTS.

MrKenzi?, \gent "' 12 cases wine ~D- H> m bag 3 flo"r-F:ender S on and Macfarlane.

EXPORTS.

B and 'v* BsW' ior South :-3 bales, 10 bags fungus, v a, Isaacs

JhessTaranafci, after completing hw present round trip, will return from thfi South to Wellington, and 'will be laid up off the Lion Foundry to receive her new compound engines and b Hers, wh'ch arrivprl -T OIS. E££ lancl by the Hbrsi. The Ladybird will take up thi Taranafci's running; next trip, and continue the coastal service until thn completion of the Taranaki's m th ODS) WhsCb ate expectf dto occupy about two

We are informed by Mr Pierce of the New Z-aland Insurance Office that several attpmpts have been made 11 vjll to rsght the Clemntis, but up to yesterday ail had proved unsuccessful, the geai" employed not being: sufficiently strong. Yesterday the contract for turning the vessel over was let for £60, and it is ex pected that she will be placed upright to-day, when tne anx!etv of friends as to any remains being dis covered will be set at YRst. The as Go-ahead loaves Onehunga for Raglan direct this evening at 9 o'clock. ror Th, U atm r<lUe Fann J" *ishcr left yesterday evening

The schooner Edith er.tered out to-day for Huahine 0n4;, 0f *h* Society Islands, The bvjrantine O c »ola arrived from / drlairto at r late nr.ur la«t night, after r. splendfd rnn of in day-, captain McKenzie report? as follows : Left Adelaide \ i Avß" &na hnd westerly winds during the V'fioje of the passae«. Made the K>'nt»s on the btn inst. in the mornintr. and anchored off the North idearl st 17 p m on the 7th The Oceola brings a cargo of wheat, flour, bark. wine. <»c.

COMMERCIAL.

Mr Greenwood reports his sale this day of fowls, produce, &c, as follows :—Turkeys, 2s 6d to 3s 6el ; geese, 2s 6d to 4s ; fowls, 2s 7d to 4s Id each ; ducks, 2s lOd each ; potatoes, 4s to 5s Gd per cwt; bacon and hams, Gd to 7id 1b ; cheese, Gd to 7Jd. Othev produce and trees, &c , at averaged pnees.

Mr R. Arthur's weekly sale of produce and groceries was well attended to-day. Potatoes (various), fetched 3s 3d to 5s 3d ; onions, Mtol £d ; pumpkins, 3s ; carrots, 3s 6d to 49 ; apples, Hto3d ; Canterbury bacon and hams, 9Jd to~lld ; pro do, 6J to 7d ; half-chests tea, Is 9d 1b ; butter (salt), 6d to 9d ; beef, Hd ; Wilson's jams, 7s Gd ; Johnson's do, 7s 9d. The furniture sale was satisfactory.

Messrs Morton Jones h Co. held a produce, poultry, and general sale to-day, which was largely attended, with good results. The produce met with a ready sale; the Spanish fowls sold at 6s to 7s Gd.

Messrs Cochaane and Son's furniture sale was well attended' end average prices ob tained.

Messrs Grant and Morton continued their sale of the drapery stock of Mr W. Wilson, on the premises in Queen-street throughout the day, and a large quantity of goods were disposed of at fair prices. PMr Sibbin held his weekly sale to-day, and fair average prices were obtained. Potatoes, £4 5s to £5 10s ; oats, 2s lOd ; maize, ss; tea (boxes) 295, half-chests 2s to 23 8d; sugar, 4|d ; flour, £13 to £14; candles, IOJd j cheese, Sd.

The land at the month of the Orewa river, consisting of 3CO acres, including dwelling house, etc., sold for £122.

AUCKLAND CATTLE MARKET.

Mr A Buckland reports :—At Femuwaon Thursday dairy cattle were unusually numerous, and generally of good quality; they were required, and sold freeH at fully latn values, the greatest number varying from £8 to £0 10a each ; store cattle wern in usual supply, nnd not so free of sale as for several weeks ; a few were withdrawn. Fat cattle were in average numbers; 120 head bought by the trade. Consequent on the rough weather preventing shipment, prices were higher, about 30a per head, and ranged from 2Sa to 353, averaging SOs the lOOlbs. Store sheep in mode rate numbers and better enquiry; prices at auction vere fully 20 per cent higher than have hitherto ruled. Fat sheep in usual numbers ; 500 sold, mostly of good quality; prices advanced, 3jkd being the current rate obtained.

Mkssrs Hunter akd Nolan's Wefkly Report. —Horses : Dulncsa has characterised the market. "We quote hacks, from £7 to £12 10s ; and light harness horses from £12 to £23' Cattle : There was a mode rate muster at Newmarket, and a very large one at Papakura. We quote dairy cows, £7 to £10 lOi ; yearling steers, from £2 15s to £3 4s; 2 and 2£-year old steers, from £4 10s to £6 5s ; 3-year olds, from £6 to £8 ; beef, from 27s 6d to 32s 6d per lOOlbs. Sheep : The demand has been steady, and prices have been sustained, and there has been more doing in stores, particularly at Papakura Fat sheep sold from 10s 6d to 20s ; store ewes and lambs sold from 14s to 17s the couple. Pigs : Supply very limited. Demand brisk.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAKD

Mails will close as under:— For Thames this day at 530 pm For Coromandel. per Argyle, on Monday, at 1030 am For Whitiangi, Tairna, Tauranga, ana Opotiki, per Jlowena, this day, at 4 pm For Waiwera, Mahurangi, Matakana, Mangaw.il, Waipu, etc., per Anne Mil bank, to-morrow, at 10 am For Taranaki and Southern provinces, per Taranaki, to-morrow, at 945 am, Late letters will be received till 10 am For Australian colonies, per Llewellyn, to-morrow,' at 11 am Late letters for Sydney and Melbourne will be received till 1120 aia For Gisborne, Napier, and Southern provinces, per City of Sydney, four hours after her arrival from Ksndavu. For Bnssell, Wangaroa, and Mongwrni per lona on Monday next, at 4 pm Mails for India. China, Jlediffirranian Ports, Conti nent of Burope, and United Kingdom, via Suez and ' Southampton (for letters specially so addressed), and via Brindisi, will be made up per Hawea, on Monday, 18th instant. Signed) 8. B. BIBS, Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

DAUBY—On the 30th August, Mrs. P. Darby of a son.

MARRIAGE.

BIRNIE—ROBERTSON— On the Bth August, at St. Panl's Church, by the Rev. C. M. Nelson, M.A. John Blrnie to Agnes Robertson.

DEATH.

LYLE—On the Bth September, at Domain "View Terrace, Parnell, Kobert Lyle, Esq., aged 74 yoara, late Chief Clerk in the Crown lands Office.—Home and Sydney papers please copy.

The funeral will leave his late residence at 3 o'clock on Sunday. Friends are respectfully invited to atttend.

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

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1876

For the cause that lacks asifatanes, For the -wrong that needs resistance. For the future in the distance, And the pood that we can <*o.

Officialdom at the fountain-head is agitated by a rumour that many members on the inflated colonial civil list will find the number of their mess cut off under the free pruning which Mr Whitaker, aided by Messrs Hall and Ormond, is applying to the estimates. The consternation has been heightened by a further rumour that all salaries of over £150 will lose something of their goodly proportions under the same process. More than One Minister has de clared that the members of the legislature are so intimately allied with civil servants by ties of relationship or friendship that no Government reducing the civil establishment could hold their seats. We trust we shalj be afforded an opportunity for seeing whether this is so. The reverse proposition is pretty well proved by the fact that the longest Ministerial reign in New Zealand has been co-incident with the doubling of the mil service. To be parliamentary, we must assume that a Government majority in the House lias not been dependent upon a happy

facility for discovering suitable niches when ever the wife's brother or other dear and needy relative of a safe vote required provid ing for ; of course the extent to which the civil service has been used in this way is entirely due to the discovery of special aptitude in the relatives and friends of legislators for filling public office satisfactorily. And this no doubt ig the charitable explanation of Mr Stafford's recent avowal that some of the most blatant advocates of retrenchment in the Houne are the very men who send private messages to Ministers, requesting them not to abolish particularly fat sinecures, which may far the moment have aroused the virtuous ardour of some colonial >Toe Hume. A. more painful outcry against retrenchment arisesfrom the wives and families of those who are suddenly deprived of their ~ inem of sub sistence. Civil flemn t s nave mouths to fill, c -<«ren 4o clothe and educate, and rent to pay, and when a balance is struck at the end of the month, eighty per cent of them could not shew anything on the right side of the ledger. Retrenchment is always a popular cry before constituencies, but the term is really synonymous with a want of employ ment an important department of labour and the plunging of many families into distress. Civil servants are lers able to fight; their way in any other capacity when thrown out of employment than people who have been pitchforked about the world, picking tip a living in divers places. And, 'perhaps, the crop of genuine suffering flowing from the Vogelian dynasty will be more closely associated with the necessary cutting down of an establishment that has enormously outgrown the require ments of the country than with any other cause. The hot-house growth of a class ooking to public office instead of to industrial pursuits for a livelihood, is one of the chief rascalities for which the late Administration must account. Our prolific local growth proved unequal to the demand and it was oven deemed expedient to import the article in thr> shape of fancy inspectors and engineers, This has reached its limits, and an annual deficit of a quarter of a million sterling compels retrenchment whatever sacrifices may be involved in the process. But the operation should begin from above ; the members of the civil service who do the actual drudgery are poorly enough paid. If the rumoured reduc tion of all salaries over £150 correctly repre sents the intended system of reform, it is intrinsically sound, and Ministers mi^ht make a very good commencement in their own persons by coming bnck to the old £1000 a year. The presence of a majority of new members in the House who have not yet had a chance of placing their poor relations on a grateful country presents a favourable oppor tunity, and the Cabinet, if wise and sincere, will go at ib while the House is young.

The strong westerly winds of the last fort night have interfered considerably with the progress of the coffer-dam for the dry dock. As a rule the pile-driving has had to be knocked off during the day, and only pro ceeded with during the early morning and late in the affernoon, when the force of the wind is less. Had it not been for this inter ruption the whole of the piles would have been driven by this time. The moat trying time for the contractors will be the first tide after the water is shut out, and while the struts or supporting piles are being fixed. It is to be hoped that fine woather will be enjoyed when that ticklish time arrives. The City Surveyor is preparing plans of Napier-street, the first work to be carried out. with the money which was to have been swamped in the Drake-street cutting. All the new works determined upon by the Council out of the £5000 loan should be pressed on this summer. Howe-street, Beresford-street, Sale-strset, and other adjacent thoroughfares on the west side of the city are in a disgraceful condition and ought to be put in order before another winter.

We are informed that a report has been circulated casting doubts upon the necessity for an entertainment in aid of Mrs McManus From whatever motives this rumour to the detriment of a poor widow and two children may have arisen, we are assured that it is wholly false. Mr Duggan, who is exerting himself in the promotion of the charitable and deserving effort, writes to ns, soliciting public sympathy for the object, of the genu ineness of which ho has carefully satisfied himself.

The following elegant simile was compoged by a gentleman at Mr CanniDg's last even ing :—" Vogel is like the wick of a tallow candle ; as long as the tallow, which repre sents the fat of New Zealand lasts, he shines with a bright light, but the instant the tallow is all used he goes out with a Btink." By the death of Miss Martineau, of which the mail brings intelligence, we have lost one of the ablest women of the last generation of writers. A remarkable autobiography appeared the day after her death in the London Daily News, for which it had been expressly written 21 years before, when aha was anticipating her early decease. Her work was then really done, but she lived to falsify all the predictions of the doctors.

A statue of William Tyndale, the first translator of the Bible into English, is to be placed in one of the gardens on the Thames embankment.

The Wesleyan Missionery Society propose to despatch Mr Adcock, one of their mission aries of the Gambia to Timbuctoo, on a tour of inquiry and observation. A skating rink is being laid down opposite Albert Square, Clapham road, London, on a grand scale. The skating area comprises seventeen thousand square feet; of highly polished white marble.

It is believed that in prosperous years the profits derive: £ rom the concern of which the late James Baird, Scotland's iron king, was so long the head, exceeded a million sterling. As a landed proprietor Mr Baird occupied a prominent position, owning extensive and valuable estates in various parts of Scotland. Other members of the family own estates in different parts of the country valued at no less than two-and-a-half millions sterling. All this wealth was amassed in Mr Baird's own lifetima.

After the Lord Mayor of London's last great ball, a jewel of great value was found, which had been dropped by one of the guests. It was recognised as one which formed part of the stolen Dudley jewels, and was handed to the police. As yot no claim ant has appeared. The Duchess of Manches ter, at the same ball, dropped a diamond solitaire ear-ring, valued at £1200, and a lady had a diamond-mounted comb trampled into dust by the dancers.

Since the appearance of the young couple at the High-street court, which was noted of the Stab, who went for the purpose of getting married, but who did'nt, a gentleman in Victoria-street has offered to advance the marriage fee, 22s 6d., rather than two loving hearts should be left out in the cold ; and a lady recently married, and so comfortable, is willing to raise the means by subscription. We have now the pleasure of informing this lady and gentleman that the couple referred to, after partaking of a nobbier at the hotel, walked boldly up stairs to the Registrar's office this morning, and were unhesitatingly married at 10.30., without the aid of the parson.

A meeting of the Royal Standard Lodge of the Free Templars sick and general societj% was held in their lodge-room, Nelson-street, yesterday evening. After the general business of the Society was disposed of, the degrees were conferred on several of the members by Brother E. Liohtfoot, the D.P. In future th:> meetings of the Society will bo announced by advertisement in the Evening Stab.

Mr Wayiand, the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, wan compelled to attend at the Resident Mastintrate's Cotlrt yesterday, simply to prove the registry of the Crown Princeps Go'cWniiisr Company, and which, hindered him all the morning from prosecuting his official duties s Mr Wa'vland having to wait two hours before his cape was called on. Mr Wayiand was naturally un easy sfc his detention at the Court, us h' extjoctcd that; one or two young cmiplea were waiting u i 9 binding influence in High-street, and several mothers on the stairs anxiou* to register their spring offerings at the phrine of the Puegistrar. We should have thought, that some means might be devised in satisfaction of law, without taking the Registrar from his duties to waste his hours in " the desert air."

The nomination of a Councillor in room of Captain Daldy will take place on the 16th instant, and the election on tha 22nd inst.

The immigrant and self-respecting bachelor on coming for the first time into Auckland naturally asks for a quiet, comfortable board ing house, and the question in a city like ours is a proper one. We believe there are many respectable places where men mny be comfortably fed and bedded in Auckland, and where they may dream away the mid night hours in slumbers soft without fear of molestation, Such comfortable lodgings may be found in Nelson-street by W e il e sley-Htreet in a now, first-class boarding house, occupied and furnished by Mr J. Jackimn, who was

" mine host" of the Sailors Home in its palmy days. Mr Jackman has a seventeen yeirs character as an Auckland business man, and his present establishment poswessp^ sin«lfi and double bedrooms, and an excellfn'' bathroom with every other convenience. The boarding-house, moreover, is separate and quito apart from the proprietor's household and servants.

As our readers have concluded from our report of the inquest at Parnell, on the body of Mrs Ann Taylor, the verdict of the jury

was, "Death from exhaustatinn, brought on by exefissivo drinking." The evidence of the neighbours, T)r Wright, and Constable Jack son, disclosed a Jamontable fifcate of thing? arising from the continual uro of intoxicating drink. But it is better that a veil should be drawn over the errors of the dead in con sideration for the living. The Northern Wairoa Pioneer Lodge, No. 30, of Independent Order of Good Templars, ipspcctfully beg through the columns of the

EvENier; Star, to return their sincere thanks to the Star of Newton Lodge of the same fraternity, for their kind exertions in giving an entertainment to the benefit of the bereaved widows and orphans left by the sari boat accident on the Northern Wairoa, the

result of which entertainment was the sum

of £0 2s. 0(1. being added to the fund which w?is so readily subscribed for their benefit. Ln the case of the Crown Princess Gold

Mining Company v. R. A. Heald, being a claim for calls, £14 4s od., Mr Tyler for defendant; Mr Heßketh, who appeared for the company, accepted a nonsuit. A trifling claim of £1 Is. was brought by Charles Woolear against Thomas Thorpe for dama ging a fence in taking down a fowl house, resulted in a judgment for plaintiff, costs £1 0s 6d ; being within sixpence of the amount claimed, and which ought to have been settled out of court.

Through the closing of the Mersey forge fifteen hundred workmen have been thrown out of employment at Liverpool. The schooner Herald waa offered at auction in Wellington last week, and bought in at £975, the resorve being £1000. The schooner Merlin was also put up, but passed in. The Bank of New Zealand is opening a branch at Whangarei, and we are glad to learn that Mr M. T. PhiJson has been appointed manager. The selection of Auck land-born young gentlemen for such onerous positions furnishes very high testimony not only to personal ability and integrity but to the efficiency of the higher educational insti tutions of our city. A steam laundry on the American plan is in full work at Dunedin, and Mr H. Bennett, late providore of the Union Company, con templates the establishment of one in Wellington, upon the following design :—On the ground floor of the building there will be reception, sorting, washing, drying, ironing, and despatch rooms. There will also be parlor, dining-room, kitchen, and five bed rooms on the upper floor. The laundry will be fitted with all the necessary appliances A. swing bridge, which is five hundred and thirty feet long, and forty-eight broad, with six spans, was opened over the river Tyne at Newcastle, on June 14th. It is a magnificent structure, and cost £233,000. The river has also been deepened so that vessels of any size can go up to Newcastle. A shocking accident has occurred at Meok's mill, Oamaru, Otago, through a man named Macmortrie, being caught in the shafting. His leg was torn off, and shortly afterwards ho died. He left a wife and eight children in a destitute condition. 'The Mount Ida Pastoral Company (com-

posed of small capitalists) possesses one

hundred and fifty thousand acres, stretching from the Waitaki to the Taieri rivers, Otago. and capable of carrying sixty thousand sheep.

A curious instance has lataly occurred of the force of puplic opinion in England even though ifc is but a side-wind that set is in mo tion. The animals brought back by the Prince of Wales from India, and placed in the Zoological Gardens, had all pet titles, or nicknames, conferred upon, them, which were printed over their respective cages. Who was answerable for these names know not, perhaps the PriDce himself, or his companions, or even the sailors on board the Serapis. However, two of these titles are now covered with a veil, the susceptibilities of a certain section of the public being too tender to allow the sacred names of Moody and Sankey to be associated with two kitten-like leopards.— London Correspondent. We call attention to the change marlo in the price of admission to the Saturday Night's Entertainment as per advertisement. A somewhat hard case was heard to-day at the Police Court, in which a young man without any friends in the colony, was charged with a breach of the Railway Regu lations, by thoughtlessly leaping into the train while in motion, to save the trouble of walking to Panniure for the purpose of leaving in time for hie duties. The poor fellow was discharged in consequence of having to leave his work to appear at the court. >In addition to his misfortune, he had no money to pay the £1 Is 6d fine and costs, was sent to prison for four days with hard labour, to herd with criminal fora trifling offence apparently done in ignorance and [, haste. We find that the prisoner's state -1 ment was correct, and hope that, when the ' young man's'term at Mount Eden expires, his employers may be disposed to reinstate him.

It is said that the venerable Archdeacon Williams has refused to put himself in nom ination for the bishopric of Waiapn, rendered vacant by the retirement of his father through failing health. : The salary is about £500 per annum.

We understand that a brbther of the late Mr Geo. Gordon McKay is shortly expected from Melbourne for the purpose of taking out letters of administration in his brother's estate.

The Rev. Mr Mcßae, of Waipu, who went to Australia for the benefit of his health about a month ago, has written saying his strength has been mnch invigorated by the change of air and scene. If he continues to improve it is likely he will return in about two months.

The rumor is current that the new Cabinet, with Whitaker, Hall, and Ormond, are pre paring wholesale reductions in the numbers of the overgrown Civil Service, and also in all salaries over £150.

A series of scientific conferences has been held in connection with the Loan Exhibition of Scientific Apparatus now on view at South Kensington. Dr O-askell explained an apparatus called the plethestriograph, inven ted by Dr Mosso, of Turin, and designed to test the quantity of blood in any part of the htiMan fraifift 3tt is a very simple and in expensive affair, and to delicate Shafe when an experiment was msn'c wibh a classical scholar, who was given first a Latin, and then a Greek book to faad, it showed fcbat more blood iff needed for brain work to read Greek than Latin.

An interesting athletic contest took place on the sth June at the grounds of the Irish Champion Athletic dub, Dublin. The com petitorn were picked men representing England and Ireland, and the former won nine out of the thirteen events. Walter Slade, one of the English team, won the half mile race with the shortest time on record, viz. Imin. 59£ sec., and he reduced this by a second at the Irish Civil Service Sports on the following day. A learned Chinese savant has been lectur ing in Paris in very good French, on the con dition of women in China, the harem of the Emperor, containing it seems, 10,000 women, and the description of a Chinese household of the middle classe?.

The notorious "doctor" Turner, had a little daughter with him when arrested, and the poor girl has been left to the mercy of strangers in Christchurch. Fortunately she appears to have fallen into kindly hands, in the person of a good-hearted landlady. Whilst in Auckland, the fellow used to beat this girl so shamefully to compel her to per form circus feat?, that his landlady gave him peremptory notice to quit. A remarkable little oil-painting was on view to-day, in the window of Mr Chapman the bookseller. It represents Auckland in 1840, and in the property of Mr J. George, once so well known in connection with the City Council. The city of to-day is represen ted by halt-a-dozen tents, a square hut (the government store), by the water side, and dense bush on the nifce of Chancery-street. Mr George informs us, that at the time the nsctare was painted by Mr E. Webb, Dr Campbell occupied one of the tents. The waters of the harbour then came up to Short land-street Mr Crook exhibited his series of beautiful photographic views of London and Westmin ster, last pvening at Sfc Matthew's. The room was well filled, and the proceedings much relished, especially the plum cake, and ham sandwiches, which were handed round on a scale akin to the liberality of the olden times. The death ig reported of Mrs Ann Truswell, at Egmanton (Notts) at the great age of one hundred and three years and eleven months. Her son is nearly eighty years of age, and is able to work as a farm labourer. The new American song, " Darling Little Jessie," just published in a cheap form, has met with great demand, one-half the edition being already sold out. Copies may be ob tained from any of the city stationers. The Archbishop of Canterbury has £5,000 a'year, the Archbishop of York has £10,000, and the Bishop of London £10,000. Durham haa £8,000. Winchester receives at present £7,000, but after the next avoidence of the see the income of the Birhop will be £6,500, instead of £7,000, and the saving of £500 a year will go towards the income of the Bishop of St. Albans. Ely receives £5500 a year. The Bishop of Oxford, Gloucester, Worcester, Roches ter, PLincoln, Salisbury, Exeter, 1 (Bath, and Wells, £5000 a year, Ripo.n Norwich, Peterborough, Chester, Lichfield, and Carlisle get £4500. Hereford, Llandaff. Manchester, Chichester, and St. Asaph receive £4200. Bangor only receives":£4ooo Rochester will be £4500, instead of £5000. at the next avoidance of the see, the £500 saved going towards the income of St. Albans.

The Star supplement will be unusually interesting to-morrow, containing the " Bridal Wreath," the "Little Dreßsmaker," "A Picture of Maria Antoniette," "The Bargain," " On Smoking," " Garabaldi's Wife," " Liebeg when a Boy," facetia, scraps of thought and poetry, "Light for All," " Sonnet to Karl," and the " Old Friends." A Football match will be played to-morrow afternoon, between the Ponsonby and Graf ton Clubs, the game to take place in the paddock adjoining the Government House grounds by special permission. This will be the first trial of strength these clubß have had this season, and the teams being well matched a well contested game is expected. The team of the Grafton will be chosen from the follow ing :—Bodle, Castelli, Clarke, Croxton, Donovan, Ewen, Earl, Gatland, Green, Mason, R. Moss, Orchard, Reid, Russell, W. Tonks, Whewell (captain). The Ponsonby team as follows :—Jones, Mackay, Herries, Harvey. Haultain, Yafces, Dunaett, King, Hanna, Kerr, Luke, O'Sullivan, Tookey, and Townsend.

A meeting^of the committees who had the managemant of the late Interprovincial Foot ball Match, was held last evening at Messrs A. Clark and Son's sffice, Shortland-street. All the accounts had been sent in, and on a balance being struck between the receipts and expenditure, it was found that the funds in hand, and to be received, will as nearly as possible cover the liabilities. The reports sent to the Christchurch papers by the Can terbury team, of their treatment in Auckland could not be penned in warmer eulogy of their entertainers, and now that it is dis covered the Committees have given their visitors such a good impression of Auckland hospitality, and at the same time have kept themselves within bounds as to expenses, we are of opinion'^ that the gentlemen com posing them, merit the warmest thanks of the citizens of Auckland, for so worthily, and carefully upholding their good name. Taken as a whole, the late Interprovincial Football matchjmust be pronounced a highly successful affair, and the hard earned victory of our lads, was only a suitable finish to what has been throughout a very well managed enterprise.

PARLIAMENTARY.

(Prom our Special Correspondent.) WELLINGTON. This day. The afternoon sitting of yesterday was taken up with the usual members discussion, and nearly the whole evening was devoted to the amended Debtors and Creditors Act. Passage of Arms. Several passages of arms took place in the afternoon ef some interest. One arose upon a motion of Captain Morris for money to erect; a bridge in the Opotiki district. One which was inexplicable, being a debate on the rights of Provincial Councils and Superinten dents, and the impropriety of membersmaking bargains with Ministers for public works in their districts. Sir George Grey, and Messrs Rees, Bastings, Stout, Moorhouse, Douglas, and two of the Ministers took part in the debate, which became both hot and personal, especially between Douglas and Grey. The upshot was that the motion was withdrawn. Disqualification of Ministers. Mr Rees moved for a committee to con sider the disqualification of members of the Government,, and in moving it made a good and temperate speech, which led to the com mittee, once before refused him, being unV hesitatingly appointed. The position of the Government is seriously compromised by this question of disqualifica tion. It now appears that in appointing nine Ministers the law was beyond all question

broken, and two at least, Mr Hall and Mr McLean, are disqualified according to the opinion of the Solicitor-General and Mr Travers, to whom the matter was referred. If; is held by many lawyers tiat all the Ministers are disqualified, as there is no way of ascertaining which two are ™allydi* rmilified. In such a case all would have to «obaek for re-election to their constituen cies and some would find it no easy matter to get One, namely, McLean, £ oa ?S certainly lose his seat for Wai-

kGVesLday, the Premier admitted that the Curium ww wost'serious, as it involved a penalty of £100 a day on each disqualified "^Td^matiopwillatoncebelaidlo test the question. _\h@ OiMJositipßi Caucus- —topo?- ---"tant jkeafilations. At yesterday's meeting of the Opposition members, a large number were present. « was agreed to support Mr Macandrew s resolution respecting Ota*o, *nd alsc» that Sir George Grey should bring Ui a bill to make Abolition optional in each province, and to allocate the liability of the colony on the principe adopted in the resolution on Separation. It was agreed that no long debate should be taken on either proposal, but that they should be placed on record as the platform of the Opposition.

POISON LEAD TANKS.

(To the Editor of the Stak.) grt^—Will you allow me a small space in your valuable paper in answer to "Poison Lead Tanks" of the 4th inst. I have been a worker in plumbago now 23 years, and have had great experience in England. Nearly every house in London has one or more lead cisterna, and if the lead is so poisonous, as alleged, it is surprising that thousands of people have not died yearly. I have taken down leaden cistern over 100 years old, and found the lead good and valuable. How many iron tanks would have been required in that time ? The writer of the 4th instant tells us that he has had a lead tank on the roof of his house nine years. He does not tell us that the cistern receives what the birds carry about, nor that it receives the smoke of the chimney off the roof. He even does not mention how many times he has had it cleaned out. Rain-water will soon form a kind of a slime in any cistern, and very soon becomes stagnant. No cistern ought to be without a standing waste pipe, so that anybody can take it out and clean it at least once in three months where it receives everything from the roof. If you take tea out of a cup for a month, and do not wash the vessel, your tea would not taste nice. Would you then blame the cup ? People in London are not so easily persuaded to have their lead cisterns removed. Slate cisterns are very damp inside a house, and iron tanks you cannot repair when leaking. It has been proved in England and Scotland that? nothing stands better than lead, and that it is not injurious. People need not be frightened because they have got a leaden cistern in the house. —I remain, &c, Plumber from London. To the Editor: Sir,—Some years ago I attended a lecture on chemistry given by Dr. Cameron, City Analyst of Dublin. That gentleman, a most eminent chemist, stated that any "soft" water, that is water contain ing ammonia had, more or less, a solvent action upon lead, thereby rendering the water poisonous. He showed the audience some lead piping which had been used to convey the water from the main into a house in the city—it was completely honeycombed by the action of the water. He quite disapproved of the use of lead for domestic cisterns and service pipes, but said that if a certain pro portion ofitin was'mixed with the lead, the water would have no injurious effect on the latter metal. " Hard" water has no action on lead to render it (the water) nnfifc for domestic use.—l am sir, yours, &c, Edward H. Falkneb.

REV. W. TINSLEY ON SMOKERS.

To tho Editor of the EvENXsa Star)

Snt, —I have waited some days before writing about Mr Tinsley's " exceedingly liberal " remarks about smokers not being gentlemen, expecting to see some one of more ability than me take up the cudgels in defence of those who smoke the " fragrant weed." I beg leave to differ from Mr Tinsley, and would undertake in two minutes to name a score of smokers living in thi3 city to whom Mr Tinsley could not deny the title of " true gentlemen." A Presbyterian minister told me a little story about Mr Spurgeon, which it might do Mr Tinsley some good to know. A minister, who, on one occasion, was speak ing in the Tabernacle, said that he had been a smoker, but that by the grace of God he would never smoke again. Mr Spurgeon rose, and said that by the grace of God he would smoke a cigar before he went to bed. Some people cavilled at this remark, when he explained that he found smoking a cigar often enabled him to sleep, when he could not otherwise have done so, and that, there fore, by the grace of God he would continue to smoke. Personality, I find smoking has a beneficial effect on me, as it acts as a gentle aperient. In conclusion I must say that Ido not think Mr Tinsley's remark shewed that ' 'Christian charity" which should distinguish a minister of the Gospel.—l am, etc., A Believer in Spurgeon and Smoking.

Sir, —Would the Rev. Mr Tinsley, and Caleb Robinson, of Grey-street, inform the smokers of Auckland what habit they do not possess that is more injurious than a pipe of tobacco. Caleb Robinson—Bah !—William Newton, Karangahape Road.

Sir, —As so many just now have tobacco-on the-brain, will you kindly let me go mad with the crowd ? Mr Tinsleyjsays no man can be a gentleman and smoke, and Mr Rob inson seems to think we poor smokers ought to be put out of the way as a public nuisance. Perhaps it would be wise to make an addition to the city bye-laws, and then the Inspector of Nuisances could have an eye upon us. But apart from joking, I should like to know how far us smokers are doing right or wrong. First: Philosophy has proved that nature never works without a beneficent purpose, and we are taught that every creature is good, and nothing to be refused if it be re ceived with thanksgiving. We know that those creatures—both animal and vegetable —which possess within themselves the great est powers of reproduction are specially in tended for the use of man; and, though as yet in our imperfect knowledge we may not be able to account for the peculiar uses of some, from analogy we come to the conclusion that, as cereals in the vegetable world and fish of all kinds amongst animals are the most productive, they were specially devoted to man's use. Prom the earliest antiquity, nar cotics have been used by the human race ; for in Asia the use of the betel leaf is uni versal through the South, even where tobacco has since been introduced. It is taken rolled round the areca nut, and encloses a little chunum-lime produced from shells. It soothes the nervous system at the same time that it promotes digestion and increased pulsation. 1 could adduce many other narcotics to shew that, spread as they are, nature intended them in some way to benefit mankind ; for whether in civilized or savage life, man's instincts discover them and apply them to still an inborn craving. Now of all narcotics, that which seems to agree best with the human constitution is tobacco. To what ever clime! it has penetrated, whether; as seed to be cultivated or as dried leaf to be consumed, there tobacco-smoking takes its firm hold; and all the sophistry of the Jeameses, the followers of that royal pedant's counterblasts, will never shake the estimation in which it is held, simply because it min iQ.er.3 to a natural want. Where nature gives

a "strong tendency, there must t be a strong reason in the caus*, and still more so when sheßuperadds a pleasure; so th«^ smoking has become an instifcufcion-a neoes.- ity. aw* what but a few years ago was the luxury. £"; the rich or the true gentleman, is nowtne solace of overworked clerks and others, whose employment binds them to dosey warehouse, or workshop for the greater part of the day.—l am, &c, H. Waitk. ' [The further discussion of this subject; would be vain and unprofitable. The rev. lecturer has been saddled with a too literal interpretation of a passing remark. Looking to the wide prevalence of smoking among all classes, be clearly could not have m^ant that no true cpntleman smokes. A more common sense acceptation of his statement is, that smokies being, in bia opinion, an undesirable and uncleanly habit, detracts from the true acntleman. Tobacco has gained popularity through a natural craving for narcotic and sedative action ; and probably, except on account of the dirtiness of the habit no greater objection can be offered to a mild in dalcence in the fragrant weed, than migUbe urgfl against any other luxury Thtaoom pondenee fe now closed.-Ed U.S.]

AUSTRALIAS CABLEGRAMS

o —— [PRESS AGEtfOyJ. SYDNEY, September 7. ARRIVAL OF THE HERO.

The Hero was arrived. Another important discovery of a tin; bearing district is reported here. RANDWICK RACB^. For the Craven Plate, only Valentw and the Valetta colt started, /.grand race ensued, resulting in a dead heat Ihe owners divided the stakes President's Handicap: Rigwood, 1; Terrawa, 2; Cheva ler, . MELBOUR - NE) September 7. The electoral Bill was read a second time without division. , Rich alluvial digging havec^ s sco.co. ye"d in the Heathcote (New South Wales) du trict. —=—=="

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before R. C. Barstow, Esq., R.M.) ALCOHOLIC ACROBAT. Zachariah Vare was charged with drunken ness, and dealt with in the usual way. THE TWO M AGGIES. Margaret Jones, a well-known cvwacter with two black eyes, was charge* with drunkenness and riotious conduct, an rl nned 5 and costs. Margaret Barlow was charged with a similar offence. She was violently drunk ooposite the Police Court. His Worship thought it was strange that the woman should get drunk so near the station. lined 103 and costs. DREADFUL ENCOTTNTER. James'.McLennan and John Main, were charged under the Vagrant Act with ex perimentalising on their skulls with Nature's horny defendants, on the 7th inst. Prisoners pleaded guilty. Sub-Inspector Pardy said that the prisoners ran against each other at the corner of the Anchor Hotel; and at once stripped and had a"a voice : Your Worship, I saw all about it the beginning, the "middle, and the ending. I am John Main's wife your Worship ; may I speak? Susanna Main said that the man McLennan came across the street, and up with his fist and gave her husband a "buster' on the rifht eye, which covered his poor face with blood. Her husband, 'like a man, pulled oft his coat fora "set to," which she tried to prevent. After one round the constable came up and walked them off to the station. Constable Reilly depicted the scene in language forcible and picturesque. It waa a dreadful encounter. His Worship having commented upon the case, ordered McLennan to pay 40s and costs or 14 days, and Main to pay a fine of 20s and costs or seven days. A DANGEROUS EXPERIMEOT. George Saunrlers, was charged with com mitting a breach of section 19, of the Railway Regulations, by jumping into a carriage on the Auckland and Mercer Railway on the 4th inst, while the train was in motion. Defendant pleaded guilty, accompanies with a plea of ignorance. He had travelled nearly over the world, and had done the same thing in Australia, England, and France, without any remonstrance. His Worship said ignorance was a poor plea ; as the regulations were printed, and might be read at every station. Defendant said he was sorry to say he could not read. His parents had never sent him to school. If he had not have done what he had, he should have ;had to walk eleven miles. The Court: You must pay a fine of 10s and Is 6d costs. Defendant: I cannot pay it your Worship. I have no money, and have lost my employ ment in consequence of this mishap. I was employed at Messrs Ireland's at Panmure. The Court: You must go to prison for four days with hard labour. A LIGHT IS THE AIR. Alexander Wilson was summoned to answer for his chimney in Grey-street, which, startled the neighbours by blazing up and causing a light in the air on the 3rd inst. Defendant pleaded guilty. He had since had his chimney swept;. He was not aware that it was in such a foul state. His Worship said that the summer was fast approaching, and it wag necessary for people to look well to their chimneys. Fined ss, and 5s 6d costs. HO ! FOR THE SHORE. John Heaven was charged with absenting himself without leave from the good ship Bebington, on the 7th inst. Prisoner pleaded guilty. He west on shore for an hour's airing without intending any wrong. The captain said he did not wish to press the charge against the seaman, who was generally well-conducted and trustworthy. His Worship said he was glad to hear such a favourable character, and discharged him on payment of 68 6d costs. OUT OP TAMPER. A young man named Abraham, of New market, was charged with ill-treating hia lawful wife, Jane, by pinching her, pulling out her natural hair and destroying her pad. The prisoner, a delicate little man, pleaded guilty to being cross with Jane, but he wonld not ill-use his beloved in the future. Constable Jackson deposed thatj he had known Abraham for some time as a labourer. He was usually a quiet little man, and he had never known anything against him before. Abraham quietly avowed that he was slightly out of temper, and Jane, being irritable, had resented it; she would not let him have it all his own way. Be would govern Ms temper in the days to come, and be Abraham the f iithful. The Court ordered him to be bound over to keep the peace for six months, himself in £20, and two others in £10 each, and to pay 63 6d costs. This was all the business.

Between three and four o'clock this after noon a sailor was employed in painting the bows of the ship Bebington, when he sud denly slipped and fell into the water. One of his mates saw the accident, leaped over board, and caught the half-drowned man as he came up the second time, and saved him from a, watery grave.

fgCook and Co 's skating rink will be open this even ing In Devonport Hall, for the physical benefit of the good people o! the North Shore.

The annual meeting of the members of the Auck land Cricfcet Club will be held this evening, at the Thames Hotel, at half-past seven o'clock, when the secretary, Mr T. C White, -will present the report for the past year.

Vlui^liMlar JSXrIJK.} J?jciliJiiX| oJuA IJKuJyl.DJl.ti) 8j ler®.



J COSGRAVE & CO ANNOUNCE FOB POSITIVE SALE Their Magnificent Stock of "Winter DRAPERY and CLOTHING. !*>%« Portion of he Stook Is REDUCED to COST PRiQB and UNDER. Quantities of Useful and ValuablelGoods in all] the Depart ment will be subjected to Un ptoallelea Reductions. N ° EX. 1 c E< T. & H. COO&E, CABUnmiAKEKS, UPHOLSTERBRS, &o , } Beg toinfonn their^^a the d^ *3- REMOVED jgg



"OFSHBROOK and BRIDGMAN -L*> invite the attention of Purchasers to a number of SPECIAL LINES, just to hand, BOUGHT at AUCTION, and to be Sold at a considerable Reduction upon Usual Price. Waterproof Tweed at 3/6 per yard—a Bargain Imitation Nelson Tweed, first-class for Boys' Cloth ing, and very cheap. BLANKETS! BLANKETS! White Blankets, all sizes Blue Blankets Grey Blankets. Our Blankets are well bought, and the large demand for them is a convincing proof that they are FIRST-CLASS VALUE. Cs> > O 030 Z, s M D O S cq W H 3 Winoeys, Costume Cloth, French Merino, and Fancy Dress Goods. FLANNEIiS, SHIRTING, CALICOES, ETC. General Dbapery and Clothing of Evert Depoription. 5% (Is) Discount allowed -"„♦., ,„„ -v all Purcbftß6B of 20s an ap wards, ..erns and Prices forwarded on application. Country Orders executed with care and despatch. RUSH BROOK & BR IDG MAN, Uppek Qtjeejt-stiihet, Auckland. CjPECIAL pHEAP T INES AT 130 AND 132, QUEEN-STREET. HEAVY <LANKRTS, 12s 6tl per pair GOOD WHITE SHEETING from Is 3d per yard A Special Line In LONGCLOTTT, s^d per yard STOUT DRESSES from M pet yard SUPERIOR BLACK VELVETEEN, 2s 9d per yard STOTJT WINCEYS, s^(l per yard. s. & j. eTvaile, 130 AND 132, QUEEN-STREET. A LINABJJHY AND CO. OFFICIAL NOTICE. £6,500 WORTH OF DRAPERY AND CLOTKING TO BE SOLD. The PARTNERSHIP of A. LTNABURY & CO erpiriny by limitation, ovr EXTENSIVE STOCK MUST BE CLEARED, and our Accounts called in, to settle existing Partnership business, vie nov ofter our ENTIRE STOCK of DRAPERY tfr CLOTHING, etc., etc., at COSI\ We Mean 'Business !! ! CASH with us is, the LOWEST PRICES the eoplc of Auckland have ever seen. oTh .9 is no Hiimbvo! We do not make. Lov> Prices* n one Line of Goods only, but on the ENTIRE TOCK. ASH will BUT these GOODS CHEAP! m~ SALE NOW ON.'! tSS- LOOK IN AND SEE ! !! A. LIN A BUEY Sf CO., 224 and 226, Queen-street. "DANK OF NEW ZEALAND. An AGENCY of this BANK has heen OPENED at WANGAREI, under the charge of Mr. M. T. PHIIiSON. Bth September, 1876.] When Four Thousand Disinterested Physicians certify to the excellence of an invigorative stimulant, sceptics as to efficacy—if there be any— might as well retire to a " back seat." Such an in dorsement carries conviction to the mind of all rational persons. The above number of medical men have, over their own signatures, most emphatically confirmed the popular verdict long since rendered in favour of Udolfho Wolfb's Schikdam Aromatic Schnapps. The New Feason Cod Liver Oil, 1876. Guaranteed perfectly pure and free from smell or unpleasant flavour. The quality is especially fiue. ---2s 6d and 5s a bottle.—J. C. Shabland, Afothkcarihs' HaijL, opposite the Post-office. Manning's Worm Powders.—A safe and ffectual Vermifuge. Prepared only by J. C. SHAR LAND. 1b a paoket.—Apothecaries'Hall opposite the Post-office. HeiniXS & Trigg, opposite McArthur, Shera and Co.'s, will sell the Balance of their Winter Drapery and Millinery for Two Weeks, at Cost, in order to make room for Spring and Summer Goods to arrive Boon. Mark Twain on Bad Musicians.—The musical public and general readers are cautioned not to purchase Wfston's Wizard Oil and Magic Pills, without carefully examining the outside wrapper— and be sure ttiat the words " None Genuine without the Signature of -the Proprietor, Fbank Weston, Sydney, N.5.W.," are engraven thereon. Any other so called preparations of mine, are unauthorized by me, and calculated to mislead the public.—Signed, Frank Weston. Sole Agents: Kempthorne, Prosser and Co. Price, Half-a-crown.