SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER-TWs afternoon, 6 46; to-morrow morning, 7 - SUN SET-Thls evening, 540 SUH SISB-To ffiSflrrow morning, 6 25 JffiOON'S AGE-Ful! moon, 9th instant, 7.18 am

ARRIVALS.

Amine Lewis, barque, Morse, from New York, via Dunedin and Wellington <ao-ahead, ss, Austin, from Wanganui lona ss, Parquhur, from the J. orth Argyle gg, Stephenson, fro<_ Wangaroa Christina, schooner, from uusseU •Clyde, schooner,, from WaDgarei

DEPARTURES.

JKQWena, as, Sellars, for Tauranga Taranaki, ss, Llojd, for the South

IMPORTS

a nniell ewi I sfr,<? m B? e" Stok: 6 cases carriages, i?i„! £dge-3 whMls» 6 P»\.s shafts, 6 cases ploughs fhnnZ^fTTi* canned goods. 7 do shovels i__? rJ 0 fcß- i. ° 20 packages axes, 20 do _£Zlane°,S^ 2 d° and A^lE n}? X> Steamship Company's Hawea has been o-_wT_. WeHtogton waiting for the Napier mails. She leaver f or the North to-day. She will arrive at onenu.^a on T ues d ay next, and will sail again on Wednesday. T_e ss Go-ahead arrived in the Manukau this O-brning, bringing a cargo of cattle and sheep. The American barque Annie Lewis arrived from New York, via Dunedin and Wellington, this morn ing with a part cargo of Yankee notions. She left WeUingtcn on the 31st ultimo. Captain Ralph Morse comes in command. The barque Glimpse, which sails for Newcastle at ttnce, takes tho following passengers: Messrs P Cool, W Mackerel, C Stokes, .T Thomas, J S PaJmfer, E Culmer. The Commodore's ship Pearl has come up to the usual man-o'-war anchorage. According to all ac counts the short period spent at the quarantine ground has been very pleasantly employed The ateam launch Transit has commenced a new service between this post and the Wairoa. Captain Kennedy has purchased the steam launch Rosma. We are likely to have quite an assemblage of men of war in our haruour shortly. It is said that the Happho, the Barracouta, and the Nymph, are all under orders to join the Pearl here. The schooner Torea will leave Onehunga on Mon day for Kaipara, whero she will load timber for Wan gaKul. The ss Taranaki left Onehunga wharf this morning for Southern ports shortly after nine o'clock with a large cargo and the following passengers:—Mr and Mrs Stephenson and f .mily, Mrs McCormick, Messrs tr._M. Reed, George Thome, jun, Basley, A. Cass, E. Wilson, T. Heale, Thompson, and 10 ia the steerage. The new graving dock at Govan, near Glasgow, was formally opened on December Vth by the Clyde Trus tees, and the steamer Ethiopia taken into it. The dock, says tbe Register, is 600 feet long, with a depth on the sill of 20 feet, and 70 feet wide at entrance The water is discharged from the dock by four pumps, worked by engines of 200 horse-power, and the whole water—2s,ooo tons—can bo dischargod in two hours. Tha schooner Waiwera cleared out to-day for Tairua in ballast. The schooner Christina bring 100 tons coal for the Auckland Bteam Packet Company. The work of discharging the large ships at the wharf was suspended to-day in order to get the wharf clear for to-morrow. The two steam winches of the Brodick Castle, and the powerful winch of the Merwiinjee Framjea. had enabled the stevedores to put out the goods faster than they could be taken away. The Merwanjeo Framjee took advantage of the lull to take in some ballast. The steamers, lona and Argyle, both arrived from the North this morning with passengers and cargo,

CUSTOMS RETURNS.

The following are the total receipts for to-day :— Duties ~ .. £292 6 6 Lights .. '~ 0 11 2 Other Receipts .. .. If) 16 £312 13 8 The following are the Customs returns for the woek ending March 25,1876 :— Duties £3362 4 6 Light Hoase Due* 9 7 5 Merchant Shipping Fees 12 2 6 Arms Fees 10 14 0 Other J-eceipts 22 16 0 Total £3917 4 5

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND

Mails will Close as follows :— Por Thames, on Monday, at 11 a m, and 5 30 pm Por Coromandel, on Tuesday at 10 30 a m For Russell, Wangaroa, and Mongonui, per Tona, on Monday next at 4 pm For Gisborne and Napier, per Southern Cross, on Tuesday next at 4 p m For Chatham Islands, per Agnes, on Wednesday, at noon Per ss Zealandia on Tuesday next as follows— For Kandavu, Sandwich Islands, United States of Americi, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign West Indies at 3 p m For United Kingdom and Continent of Europe at 3 pm For Money Orders, Registered letter*, and News papers at 2 pm Ijate Letters beariDg an extra fee of Gd, in addition to the postage, will be received by the Mail Agent on board up the time of sailing (Signed) ' 8. B. BISS. Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

MoCOMISH—On the 7th instant, at her residence, the wife of Bandmaster McComish of a son. KUMMER—On the 3rd iustant, the wife of Mr. P. G. Kummer of a daughter. PRITCHARD—On the Sth instant, at her residence, Moore-street, the wife of Mr Wm. Pritchard of a son.

DEATH.

BAILEY—On the 7th instant, at the Freeman's Bay, Reclamation Works, Josiah, fourth son of William Bailey, of Titchmarsh, Northamptonshire, England, aged 36 years.—Peterborough papers please copy. The funeral will leave his late residence, Union terrace, Union-street, at 4 o'clock p.m. on Sunday. ' Friends please accept this invitation. POTTS—This morning at the residence of his parents, England-street, Thomas Arthur, son of Chas. Potts, aged 2 years and 11 months. The funeral will leave his late residence to morrow (Sunday), at 3 30 pm, GILL—On the Sth instant, at the residence of his parents, Hepburo-strcat, Stephen, youngest son of William and Margaret Gill, aged 1 year and 9, months. t The funeral will take place on Sunday next, 10th instant, at 330 p.m. Friends are respectfully invited to attend. WATF.rVH.OUSE-On the sth April, 1876, at the re sidence of his grandfather, Mr. B. Kearie, Hobson street, Thomas Barnatt Waterhouse, aged 6J years.—Heme and American papers please copy. The funeral will leave Sunday, 9th instant, at 3 o'clock p.m. Friends are invited to attend.

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

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the -wrong that needs resistance, i*or the future in the distance, And the _ood that we can do.

Saturday, april s, iB7O

The C. Os- has again scratched out of the gutter a handful of dirt to fling broadcast at a section of the Auckland people. It states that yesterday a rumour was current to the effect that a fund was got up in Auckland for the purpose of prosecuting Major Pitt in the recent Bribery Case, and that one or two or more of the Grand Jury was, or were con tributing to this fund. It then dilates upon

the enormity of such an offence. If such an offence against public and private morality had been perpetrated by any persons in in fluence, or favorable to the Government, full well we know that the cowardly pen which, in the columns of the Cross, almost daily libels and desparages our people, would never have dared to mention it, or if it had been forced to do so, would have basely defended such action as conducive to the public good _ We are in a position to deny that any such fund was raised, or promised, or spoken about in Auckland, and that the costs were actually paid out of drafts on Tauranga. But further, we state that no such rumour was in circulation yesterday, or at any other time any where outside the Editor's room of the Cross or the immediate circle of the Editor's friends- Will the Cross give any names of the Grand Jurors thus linked by " rumour" with so discreditable a transaction ? Will they give any reason for such a step ? Will the witty and logical editor of that once famous paper come out for once from the shadows of inuendo and darkness, in which he finds so congenial a shelter, and in the broad sun light of the day tell us whom he accuses, and what are their purposes ? It makes men's blood and nerves tingle thus to see the poisoned arrows of suspicion shot out by a concealed hand in the gloom against our most worthy citizens. Who are the two or three or more, among the twenty-two leading citizenß of Auckland, of which that Grand Jury was composed, at whose back our contemporary aims his treacherous blow ? Is it the foreman, Dr. Campbell ? Is it the late member for Franklin, Mr May ? Is it Mr Dargaville, or Mr Boylan, or quiet Mr Nathan ? Have the Insurance Companies anything to do with it ? or have the bankers been " putting on the screw," so as to rouse the bitter wrath of the Ministerial organ ? Every man upon that Grand Jury is accused of a foul offence. Each one has a right to demand—nay, owes it as a duty to himsef and the public, to demand whether his name is included in this rumour invented by the Cross for its own purposes, and circulated even as far as England through the pages of its summary. A nice character.it gives the Grand Jury of this province. The charge is either a lie or it is true. If it be a lie, let the Cross say so. If it be true, let us know it, that the guilty parties may be covered with, confusion. But let the Cross be careful, for men will not stand patiently for ever re ceiving insult and injnry unpunished.

The Education rate, and its collection through the unpleasant and costly process of law, are daily obtruded npon our notice. There can be but little doubt that in a great number of instances the recovering of this tax is a serious grievance. Some persons are not able to pay, and yet cannot obtain exemption. Others pay under compulsion, and under compulsion only. And in. these and other instances there remains a rankling of unfairness and injustice which is any thing but useful or wholesome to the body politic. All laws should be made, not only so as really to press equally upon the

shoulders of the people according to their ability to bear them, but also to leave upon the public mind that sense of fair play, in which Englishmen delight. In taxation, as in races where men are unequal'" ___{; C hecl the art and skill of han a\ C apper should be displ^ efli £ he Educat ; on rate fulfills neither of these conditions. And it goes even further in the money direction. It compels by direct taxation all parties to con tribute to a system which many believe to be improper. A system not improper merely in theory, but improper in the highest degree in practice. And yet things have gradually become confused, the proper Constitutional Government of the country has been so far warped during .Be last five years that it be came a question of this or nothing. Bad as it is, it is a very great advance hpoh nothing at'all. Its evils arc the consequence of the gradual absorption by the Central Govern ment of the provincial funds. If the capita tion of this province was as it ought to be, thirty shillings per head of the population, we should have ample funds Without this obnoxious tax. At tbe last sitting of the Provincial Council it was pro posed that an income tax on all in comes over a certain amount should be levied to provide for education, This question was debated, and when put to the vote was lost by a majority of one, To show to the people who and what were the parties who noted for and against this, they need only refer to the division list. They will find that all the supporters of the General Government voted against, and nearly all the supporters of Sir George Grey's policy voted for it. The supporters of the General Government' voted for the placing a heavy tax upon the poor gum-diggers, but when it came to the putting their hands in their own pockets for the same cause, it became a very different thing. Little by little, insidiously and in the dark, we have suffered the General Government to depart from the great princi ples of Constitutional Government, and now we find ourselves, poor, and well nigh help less. Nor are we able to look back and point to any 'violent step which has been taken, which would have roused us to a sense of our danger. Step by step has the Central Government encroached upon our rights, always giving us smooth promises of benefits, which promises never have been, we may almost say never were intended to be, ful filled. Until at last the very means of our political existence are "gone from our grasp, and we are compelled to witness things done which sorely wound us. In every depart ment of the General Government, we see our money squandered, our rights invaded, our complaints pooh-poohed, until we seem more like a parcel of children, or a community of slaves, than a free and intelligent people, ruled by a Representative and Constitutional Government. There never was a truer sentence penned than that contained in Sir George Grey's fast letter to Dr Pollen, "From apparently small sacrifice of princi ples constantly repeated, a system may be established which would render it easy to plunder and deeply injure the interests of the people." Our own case is unfortunately an exact point, and we must now see to it that henceforth we take another course, and guard more jealously the privileges we enjoy. There should be no departure, however slight, from the direct path. For although the deviation may be at first trivial, it will gradually widen and at last lead us on a dif ferent course. How many ships have suf fered wreck by a little deviation of the com pass ? How many men have fallen through a slight abandonment of the straight road ? How many States have gone down in the world's great battle by reason of a little care lessnes and insignificant departure from those principles which alone can make a nation great and its people happy 1

A Maori woman, named Ruta, was brought to the station this afternoon from Hokianga, in a sad condition of lunacy. She was ex amined by Drs. Keuderdine and Harding, and upon their testimony committed to the Whau Asylum.

The new time-table of the Auckland and Onehunga and Auckland and Mercer lines of railway is published to-day in our columns ; it comes into force on Monday next. It will be seen that the Mercer train has a longer stay in Auckland, and an extra train is put on between Auckland and Onehunga. The experiment of lowering the fares, we feel con fident, will be found to produce greater traffic returns.

To the Editor : Sir, —I admire your paper for the fearless manner in which it puts forth its power at all times to fight against acts of oppression. On reading the Star this even ing the case against R. Gilham shews plainly that there is combination against; the man. Mr Philips calls him an old offender. Does Mr Philips mean that he is a bad character, or was the expression used to try to bias the mind of the Court against him, for to the knowledge of all old residents in Auckland for the last 20 years, Mr Gilham has borne an irreproachable character. Or is it that because Mr Goldie has summoned him pre viously twice before, and has not been able to prove his charges, that he is to be set down by the Clerk to the Star Chamber as an in corrigible vagabond 1 Surely it is time that the people of Auckland looked more closely into the doings of that portion of the City Council from whence so many arbitary by laws emanate. —Yours obediently, Anti- Humbug.

Rev. B. Backhouse will preach to-morrow in the Presbyterian church, Onehunga, in aid of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

About nine o'clock last evening while the moon shone upon the waters, the noise of the big guns of the Naval Brigade, under com mand of Lieutenant Chapman, were heard by citizens resounding from shore to shore. As the night was beautiful and the heavens cloudless, citizens apprehended not the ap proach of an invading navy, nor the thunders of a foreign foe. Luna in her undisputed realm shed a flood of silver lignt upon the scenes and disclosed the active forms of the members of the native brigade, and laughed upon their pretty dangers as she danced along her heavenly path of serenity and peace. The firing occupied an hour, and the precision and quickness of the men in their charges commanded the admiration of com manders and spectators alike.

Mr James Dickinson writes complaining of the system in vogue at the railway station of keeping the doors of the closets locked. With reference to this we are informed that one of the doors only is kept locked. The necessity that exists for increased con venience, and especially for a ladies' waiting room, has already been represented by the traffic manager to the authorities at Welling ton, and it is understood that some alterations will soon be made. We cannot however be so unreasonable as to expect that the Govern ment officials will hurry themselves over the matter.

The Star Supplement this evening will be brilliant as pver with gems of poetry and entrancing story. The muses will be found prolific in r;g n cle_, plaintive, impassioned u.te.imc_s--■" Satillo" mourning his life away, (his Love being dead) and declaring " All black is the land—all gloom is the sea." Poor fellow! While another verse-writer will tell the readers that time is not on the wing—"Alas, time stays—we go." Then arum-i poem by. or called, " Dschelallidin Kumi"—a wonderful string of rhymes—all about everything. In the story columns will be found "Dr Jo," and how ho cured the fair lady's injured hand, and his bill of costs therefore. The ladies will find a hint about rag-bags, and their sometimes curious contents. " George Vanderburgh " tell how and why he set his heel upon the ancient pride of his ancestry, and what share in the operation "Miss Smith" had. There is a story too about two fiddles, well worth perusing. The local lady-contribubor, "Dor Isa," furnishes this week a really interesting contribution entitled '• A broken heart" that will be read with interest. And •' Only a dream ;" " Winning Ways j" the ,(Pin, in the Judge's Chain,'' fttM* a.fc bftppehfed wh.n he sat On it • together with all about the " Devil," and another "An American Sheik," are clippings that will provoke smiles, upon the stolid face, laughter with the merry-hearted) and pleasure to fell.

Some time _inde tenders were asked for building a new _nd commodious boat of cer tain dimensions foi- the ttae bf the Water Police; as th. old one was considered unsafe, i?our tentlers were received in accordance with the specifications of the Chief Harbour Master, and to-day, Mr John Waymoutb, junr., boat-builder, of Custom-House-atreet, has received notice from Mr Rice that his tender has been accepted for £28.

A Provincial Gazette appeared yesterday evening, in which tbe following notifications are made:—-The offices of the Provincial Government will be closed from Friday, 14th instant, to Tuesday, 18th, both days inclu sive. A proclamation is issued that phea sants shall be open to be hunted, shot, taken or killed within the province of Auckland during tho months of May, June, and July. Licenses to kill and sell game may be had at the Superintendent's Office, Auckland, as folllows :—To kill game, £210s ;to sell game, £5. It is notified that Mr Peter Shaughnessy is reported as having been duly elected a member of the Tauranga North Township District Board. Measrs David H. M. Bill, and William Charles Stewart have been elected auditors for the Te Puna District Board, for the current year. John Mitchell has been appointed collector of rates for the Te Puna District. A number of notifications under the Native Lands Act are contained in the Gazette.

We notice that the Model Training School have determined to enjoy tho short vacation a few days in advance of Easter week, in order to prevent the interruption of a holi day immediately after the commencement of the scholastic quarter. The school will re open on Tuesday, 18th inst.

We notice that the balance of £4,442 13s "A, which appeared as "brought down" in the January monthly accounts been the Gene ral and Provincial Governments, has been transfered to railway interest account in the February accounts published in the Provin cial Gazelle of the 7th instant. It would seem that the General Government have recovered their attack of indecision notice able last month, and mean to go on ruth lessly in their robbery of our Provincial finances.

A man of respectable appearance named Egan, a native of Belgium, and by profes sion an engineer, was brought up on warrant this morning, charged with indecent exposure in retired parts of the Church of England cemetery and the Domain. The accused appears to be a man of education, possessing a fair share of intelligence, still, as will be shewn in further evidence, he took a strange insane kind of interest in his leisure hours in seeking the more solitary spots of the places mentioned for the base purposes which con stitute the charges against him, the details of which will be made known at tho next enquiry. The man is tall in stature, and having but a light body and a long pair of legs, and being beside a fast runner, he has hitherto eclipsed all his pursuers.

The annual firing of the Auckland Rifle Association wil bejheld on the 21st and 22nd, instant. All intending members are re quested to pay their subscription to the Hon. Treasurer or to either of the Hon. Secretaries, on or before the 25th inst., after which date no admittance will be allowed. The ranges in the first match will .be 200, 400, and 500 yards, 5 shots at each range. Competitois must appear^n uniform'in this match. Second match 400, 500, and 600 yards, 7 shots at each range. Position at 400 yards, standing, any position at other ranges. Any colored foresights allowed.

Mr Grainger read an essay on Thursday evening before the Ponsonby Literary Society on the character of a " Good Woman," which was well received.

The New Zealand Agricultural Society will hold their annual meeting at the Cri terion Hotel, Otahuhu, on Wednesday, when the annual report and financial statement will be presented.

To the Editor : Sir, — When walking through the Barrack ground to-day near the powder magazine, I observed a flock of sparrows perched on the numerous stumps or stalks of the dock-weed, which is going to seed in profuse quantities, I had not time to see what the sparrows were about, but they seemed to me as if eating the seeds. If so, they must confer a favor on us to devour the seeds of such a noxious weed. It may turn out that some insect was on the weed, and hence their attention, but I would sug gest that you send your reporter to observe their movements which can be ascertained in a few minutes.—Fair Play por the Spar roavs.

We refer our readers to our dvertisement columns for subjects of Sunday services at the various churches of Auckland to morrow.

"*" It is notified in the Provincial Government Gazette, that Bartholomew Lloyd O'Brien has received the appointment of Governor of Auckland prison, in the place of Captain Eyre, deceased.

The anniversary services of the Wellesley street Baptist Sunday-school to-morrow (Sunday), will be conducted by Rev J. T. Binton, and the tea-meeting, interspersed with music and sacred meiody, will be held on Tuesday next.

Despite the dulness of the times Mr Lewis son, the well reputed jeweller and watch maker, of Queen-street, has made necessary alterations ; adorned and lengthened his jewel, watch, and modern curiosity shop. A magnificently polished and finished case of native wood for the display of silver and electro-plate goods has been erected at the lower end, and the ceiling reflects as in a mirror the faces of ladies and gentlemen who visit Mr Lewisson's emporium of beauty. The alteration was absolutely necessary for the display of Mr Lewisson's newly imported stock of jewellery and watches from London, France, and Switzerland. About thirty beautiful gold lockets of various forms and sizes on view in Mr Lewisson's window will be sure to command instant attention.

We get valuable information sometimes when we least expect it. In looking over some Hokitika files to-day we came across the following included in some Wellington telegrams :—"Mr W. Swanson, the member for Newton, Auckland, formerly Attorney General (?), is gazetted a member of the Executive Council.

We would remind our readers that the third qnarter of the Newton Grammar School will commence on Wednesday next.

A rumor has been in circulation yesterday and to-day that Sir Julius Vogel has tele graphed to Mr Thomas Russell to return at once and stand for City West. Those who ought to know best, state that the report is without foundation. We are inclined out* selves to think that it is untrue : and more over, we are assured that Mr Russell has business to attend to in England, which will keep him there for some months to come.

Major Pitt, who has just been committed for trial on two charges of bribery in the election of Captain Read for the East Coast District, is a son of Coloner George Dean Pitt, C.8., formerly one of Sir Duncan Cam eron's staff, and now Quarter Master General at the cape. Major Pitt is, or was until recently, an Inspector of Armed Constabulary, and in command of the Militia at Poverty Bay; and we do not understand how he came to take any part in the election. He is a splen did hand with natives, however, and is-very popular with the settlers of either race ; and his assistance on such an occasion would necessarily be invaluable. This young man's grandfather, General Pitt, at one time com manded jfter Majesty's t_oops in New Zea land, aftd acted as Governor of the Colony for a little while. Ibis rather humiliating, there forej for one with such traditions to get into an Ugly scrape for the sake of a Turanganui storekeeper of no very savoury reputation,— Timaru Herald,

Dr Jessup, an upholsterer of decaged teeth, is located in an elegant office on Montgomery -'rest, opposit. tho Occidental. His charges ac made pre bably with the idea of building a U3W theatre or hotel soon. The following ira specimen bill charged a geutleman from the rural districts last week; PJate, 25 dols. filling five cavities, 25 dels.; cleaning gums, 30 dols.—total, SOjdols. It took him less than an hour and a half to perform this work, and the material et_t about 3 dole.. It is time that charges like the above were properly regulated by legislative enactment.

To the Editor : Sir,— May 1 beg you to correct a statement made in last evening's Star, relative to the tubes of the diving apparatus leaking and requiring mending. An impression having gone abroad that the poor man Singleton mot his death in consequence of this alleged defect in the diving appar atus. I had it carefully examined this morning, and there is no defect whatever either in the pumps, tubes, or dress. Singleton examined them all before taking them to the Brodick Castle, and if any thing had been the matter it would have been apparent the moment he went below water,!bnt it appears he bad been underwater for some very 'considerable time prior to his fatal attack, proving nothing was wrong with the apparatus.—l am, etc., Geo. P. Pibrce.

Terrific Crash

About one o'clock to day an accident occurred which drew together a large concourse of people, but fortunately no person was injured. A four wheeled truck, bearing a heavy case of machinery, 12 by 16, with a heavy dray attached, were being drawn by three horses to the factory of Messrs Cousins and. Atkin, when all on a sudden, when opposite Messrs Holland and Co's grocery store, the coupling chains broke, the horses rushed forward, and the truck with its weighty burden ran back wards in a slanting direction and tilted oyer on to the pavement, completely smashing the verandahs of Messrs Holland and Co, and Mr Francis, the china warehouseman. The carter's name is Ellyett, to whom, however, no carelessness is attributable. The amount of damage is very considerable,

The Taranaki Iron Sand.

A LETTER FROM VOGEL,

WELLINGTON

[Per Press Telegram Agency.] This day

A letter from Vogel appears in the Times this morning, in which he says, re Taranaki iron sand : —" I deem it my duty to mention an opinion expressed to me by Dr Percy that iron could not be made from this sand with commercial success, and that it was throwing money away to attempt to work it. Such deposits had been tried elsewhere, as you are probably aware. Dr Percy is the most eminent living metalurgist, and his opinions are calculated to carry great weight."

TELEGRAPHIC.

COROMANDEL.

(From our own Correspondent.) This day. Union Beach Crushing.—Splendid Return. The Union Beach 7770z5. retorted gold from specimens, and 202£ozs from general dirt, making a total 979£ozs for a fortnight,

GRAHAMSTOWN.

From our own Correspondent.) This day,

The Moanatairi for the fortnight have 441 oz3 gold. The three specimens aggregate weight 191bs, exhibited a few days ago, pro duced 40ozs gold. The Little Besßie have lodged 281bs 20ozs and Bdwts. They have come on gold in the bottom lead. The Tributers from 91bs got 6ozs ldwts. Point Russell tribute 12 tons gave 57ozs 14dwts. Solo 5 tons when crushed gave 4ozs ldwt 12grs. Middle Star tribute from 10 tons obtained 9ozs 15dwts 13grs. The California tribute have been crushing for three weeks with five head. The result is 35ozs 13dwts. |This is considered pay able. The Tower of London from five tons got 6ozs. The Ajax crushing at Tairua is pronounced payable beyond douofc.

NAPIER.

(From our own correspondent.) This day. Sale of Sir D. McLean's Sheep Station,

Sir D. McLean's sheep station, at Akiheo, has been purchased by an Adelaide gentle man for £35,000.

A man named John Franklin was fined £3 and costs for larrikinism during the perform ance of the Opera Troupe last evening. Mr Sheehan in defending a case in Court yesterday drew public attention to the fact that a man was undergoing sentence in Napier gaol, who was illegally convicted by a County Bench of Magistrates upon a matter which should have gone to the Supreme Court.

A lad, 15 years of age, a son of Mr Sim, draper, went bathing this afternoon with two companions on the sea beach. The drawback of a wave took him out to sea. He was seen to struggle for about five minutes and then sank. The body is not yet recovered.

WELLINGTON.

[Per Press Telegram Agency.] This day. The Hawea sailed north at 2 p.m. Passen gers for Manukau : Mr and Mrs Jackson, Misses Thompson and McLean, Messrs. Thompson, Paacoe, A. Thomson, Bramwell, Mr and Mrs Cart, and a number for Frisco. [Per Press Telegram Agency.! Chribtchuroh. yesterday. At a meeting of the Canterbury Meat Preserving Company this afternoon, it was resolved to wind up the affairs of the company, which has been a losing' speculation for some time. After paying debts, very little wiU be left to divide among the shaieholders. Dunedin, yesterday. The charge preferred against J. G. a. Grant was dismissed, the Bench holding that the law under

which proceedings were taken did not apply to the sale of books like the Stoic' If they punished the defendant, they would have to fine all newsvendors. It is rumoured that the Evening News will^ be carried on by a new proprietary, possibly including a number of compositors now at case in the Guardian ° Mr Vine, nt Pvke obtained tbe prize given by the Saturday Advertiser for the best essay on nocai cjovernment." ___________

ONEHUNGA LAND, BUILDING, AND INVEST MENT SOCIETY.

Turn annual e?ner_l meeting of the OnehuDga Per- KeSli?d?_H-g -ndWtaunt so^™ held in tho Choral Hall on Wednesday evening last R. C. Barstow, Esq., R.M ,in the chair A moderate number of memoer. were present. After some formal business was gone through, the report andMjn» sheet were approved of and adopted. In presenting to the shareholders .he 80-ond annflal atatement of the transactions of the Society, your report the steady increase of a safe and pntftatto. business.* The accounts show that, after providing for all liabilities, and •ho.^'^Ki™ rate of 8 percent., amoimtingto;629.o teaU mya stors there still remains a further profit of f"9 3s ia, ou of which the Committee propose to place a.bonusof 8 per cent to the credit of all investing shares that date back from the 6th March, 1875 This w 11ab sorb £148 17s Bd. The balance, -330 5s Gd. it is pro posed to place to the credit of a revive fund, out of which losses, which may occur in the future, could be met without trenching on the ordinary «>vidond.. Securities : The several mortgages held by the trustees are all flrst-c'ass, yorir Committee haying steadily refused ahy other description. The "Jf/* ongl"^ lent on the different proi»ertfds is^f,^ *"_**_ weekly repayments now amount tor£l7 17s 10.— equw to £068 12. 8d per annum. The Society is Ho■* JO well established, and the to j both ekes of shareholders SO well assured, that your Comm»we have the utmost confidence VJf _,™._-^bn." in its benefit-, and look for a JM***™*^St cess darling the comng year.-R. C. J3«*ow, ««»«n* The statement of accounts showed tha following receipts J-SubHcriptions on Investing s^es, £1217 l_s«d ; repayments on borrowed shares, -WMi l-J w» , deposit* (debenl-res issued). £301* andl otter^ m-kIn X up a total 6f £5319.148. The disbursementg Include-Loans in approved mortgages anel investing shares, £1.426 7s 2d ; deposits, £228 1.1 A bank over draft of £721 3s 4d from last year is P«d,-and a smaller one of £268 14s 9d been obtained. snep*oat and loss account shows a balance on the right BWeot £170 3s 2d. The society assets are stated as follows. By present value of loans secured as m ortgage £8807 19s 6d; by ditto secured on hyppttwted Bh««,£l«3. office furniture, etc., £47 10s. Total, £40889* 6d.- The election of office-bearer., for the PJ«?nt year resulted •_ follows : Mr Barstow re-elected Pres dent AlrC C. Fleming ptomoted from the treaHUrorship to the Vice-Presidency, and Mr iHutchinson, Treasurer. Messrs Blakey, Rohb, Hill, Hills, HuWita_on. Wi-K. and Burden were chosen as a committee Messrs J. R Hendry and S. J. Williams were elected audit°« for the third time unopposed. Thanks were voted to last year's office bearers, and the meeting closed.

THE HEW YORK FRAUDS.

ASTOUNDING STATEMENTS. In the latest number of the North American Review there is an article entitled "An Episode in Municipal Government," the chief points of which are reprinted by the Mel bourne Araus. The article minutely describes the doings of the Tammany Ring in New York, between the months of April, 1870, and July, 1871. The story is exceedingly instructive. Four persons—Messrs.^ Tweed, Sweeney, Hall, and Connolly, conceived and carried out a systematic scheme of rascality and plunder, almostunparalleled for its extent and audacity. Being possessed of consider able funds, they purchased the votes of a majority in both branches of the State Legis lature at Albany, and thus secured the passing of a charter for the City of New York, which vested the entire control and adminis tration of municipal affairs in an Executive Board consisting of themselves. The Argus thus describes the action which was thereupon taken, and its pecuniary results to the plunderers :—" They appointed one of their number mayor, and he apportioned the ad ministrative offices among its confederates. Tweed took the department of public works, Connolly the comptrollership of finance, and Sweeney the commissionership of public parks. "The passage of the charter," we are told, "had been one of the most expensive jobs on record;" for the members of the Legislature knew what a magnificent prize Tweed and Co. were playing for, and therefore insisted upon very high terms. Therefore, when the stealing commenced, it was on the grandest conceivable scale. Contracts were issued for work which was never performed, or extravagantly over paid, and certificates for the amounts were signed by Tweed, Conolly, and Hall. In one transaction 5,710,913 dollars were paid to a New York firm, and when the warrants were drawn, this firm deposited 932,858 dol lars to the credit of Tweed in the Broadway Bank, this being his share of the plunder. A lump sum of 354,000 dollars was paid to the New York Printing Company, and upon the same day Tweed paid in the company's cheque for 104,000 dollars to his account. At an in formal conference with a cantraotor named Garvey, he was asked how much was required to complete certain works he had on hand. He replied 264,000 dollars. Thereupon 1,500,000 dollars were granted to him ; twenty four per cent, going to Tweed, ten per cent, going to Sweeney, and thirty per cent, being divisible among their minor accom plices." The record of the plunder obtained is simply astounding, ln the case of the New York Central Park, a pretended expenditure of 6,000,000 dollars was shown in eighteen months, with liabilities to tbe extent of 2,000,000 dollars more, while the real expenditure was not more than 600,000 dollars, the Municipal plunderers thus embezzling the difference of something over seven millions of dollars. As partly the result of this nefarious work, the annual assessment of taxes in New York rose between 1860 and 1870 from 10 to upwards of 23 millions of dollars, while the debt of the city during the same period had augmented frrm 16,000,000 to 73,000,000 dollars. Nevertheless, during the currency of 1870 alone, the sum of 25,000,000 dollars, or five millions sterling, had been added to it; so that the financial position of the city was this:—" During the five years between 1867 and 1871 in clusive, the average taxation of New York city had amounted to 25 dollars annually to each inhabitant, while the city debt had at the same time annually increased at the rate of 12 dollars to each inhabitant." It is scarcely possible for us to understand in this colony how such a state of things could have been permitted to grow up. The explana tion, however, is- simple. The power, wealth, and influence of "the Ring" were felt everywhere. With millions of money at its disposal, a large portion of the Press was bribed, the Bench succnmbed to the influence of corruption, and the lower class of the population was at the command of the Ring. The Reviewer tells the story of how at length this monstrous system of corrup tion and robbery was exposed, and brought home to the perpetrators. The New York Times, edited by an Englishman, unceas ingly assailed it, while Harper's Weekly, an illustrated publication, aided in the good work, by means of the pencil of the caricaturist. Week after week, and month after month, were Tweed and his statellites gibbeted and held up to execration and ridicule, by means of letter-press and cartoon. Threats, intimidation, legal proceeding and bribery, failed to silence the assailants. A direct bribe of a million of dollars offered to the Times to purchase its silence, was indignantly rejected by the proprietors. At length the victory was won, and the allega tions of fraud proved against the plunderers by overwhelming documentary evidence. The world has since then heard of the imprisonment and escape of the chief con spirator, Tweed, the latter event having been in all likelihood permitted through the connivance of his gaolers. The lesson to be gathered from such a story of gigantic frauds, is that corruption will in time surely enter into the administration of public affairs, wherever those best fitted by position, character, and education to take part in them, hold back from an obvious duty, and with almost criminel apathy, let events take their course. With an intelligent public opinion freely exercised, a proper interest shown in public affairs by the educated classes, and a fearless, honest and indepen. dent press, such a monstrons system of robbery as that described would have been impossible of perpetration.

CABLEGRAMS.

[press agekoy.]

Arrival of the Suez Mail.

SYDNEY.-THIS DAY,

The quarters revenue has increa« ---£209,000. mm The Suez Mail has arrived at Adelaide.

SAILING OF THE ZEALANDIA.

Sidney, April 7. The Zealandia sails at 6 o'clock, for Auok* land. Sailed', the Easbv, for Wellington. The Albion has arrived at Melbourne. Eighty passenger berths have been reserved ill the Zealandia for New Zealand.

POLICE COURT.-This Day.

(Before R. C. Barstow, Esq., E.M.) INEBRIATION. The rum got uppermost, and we went down, And staggered to the station from the town. James Fee, William Thorn.on, and John Cash, were fined 5s each for being drunk (first offence), Daniel Vestey, for being drunk and disorderly, was fined 20s and coßts. EHSSIE OF THE CLYDE. Bessie Kennedy, alias the "daughter of Caledonia," was charged for the third tim 9 with being drunk and disorderly. Bessie, a woman in years, pleaded guilty, and was ordered to pay a fine of 20b and costs or 4S hours, and seven days imprison ment. A BEAUTIFUL DREAM, He dreamed that h.e was fortune's favourite star, AndfouiidH-ii-self -.Hhin a railway car. ■ George Cook, was charged with a breach of the Railway Regulations, by being found, on the nightgof the 7th inst, asleep iv a rail way carriage at Auckland. The prisoner, a young man in a wild and apparently des.itate condition, said he w RB certainly, in the carriage, but not for any felonious purpose. Mr Sub-Inspector Pardy said, the police had made enquiries, and found that prisoner had a wife and family in Otahuhu, and was employed as a labourer on the works at Britomart; as there was nothing known against the prisoner, he would ask for a dig missal. . _• ■_ _ ... Cook was accordingly discharged with a caution.

caught at x.>st.

Robert Egan was brought up on warrant charged with wilfully exposing himself to little girls in the cemetery, on the 21st Feb ruary, and again in the Domain, on the Ist March. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Thomas Willis, a young man, of Newton, deposed that he knew the prisoner, and that on the 21st February last be saw him in the gully of the Church of England cemetery; witness was in company with a man named .Robinson ; they heard the screams of some children ; went in that direction and lay in secret for five minutes; the children again screamed. On looking they saw the prisoner running after several little girls and wilfully exposing himself. He and Robinson shouted after prisoner, when he immediately decamped and was lost. among the trees and shrubs. He again saw prisoner on the 6th April, near the residence of the late Mr Beckham, he was then creep ing up a gully after some girls. On the first occasion he offered a pound to the children. . Henry Robinson was caUed, out did not __HBW6I* Detective Grace arrested the prisoner last evening and told him of the nature of the, charge, and wanted him to go with him to r Mr Walker at the Cemetery, when he said it was no use, and wanted to know how many charges of the kind he had against him; he said the grave-digger knew nothing of the charges. ~ His Worship said, in so grave a charge, it was necessary to have the evidence of Robinson who was only subpoenaed yester day. This, and the subsequent case were; remanded until Monday in order to the pro- \ duction of other evidence. The prisoner wa|, { then locked up. UsaM

This was all the business.

WHAT TIME DOES THE 4.15 TRAIN LEAVE?

TO THE EDITOR.

Sir,— In the postal guide published by authority of the Postmaster-General, there; , is a railway time-table for April, in which I find a train is put down to leave Auckland at ■ 3 4.15, and having occasion to send to Mercer last Thursday, I sent down at four o'clock, , when the young man was told that the train,; had left at 3.30. I also, upon referring to ■' Bradshaw's Guide, find 4.15 as the time stated. Surely if the public are to pay the Government for such information it should ' be correct. If an unfortunate cab ot 'bus. man is irregular in starting at the time ad- 7 vertised, he is at once looked up and fined.; ' Surely, therefore, the advertised time of a, train should be liable to no mistake. I have been put by this error or carelessness to„ considerable inconvenience and loss. Cari you inform me if I have any remedy , 4 oris this only another of the insults which ,; ; Auckland is called upon to suffer at the'; hands of the General Government without " Df any redress.—l am, etc., Samuel Coombes, Clothier, 92 Queen-street. ~-,-'. ~ , ■< ,-a

SHALL AUCKLAND BE ALWAYS ' GROUND DOWN.

(To the Editor of the Star.)

Sir,—l have heard it said that history re peats itself, and while musing after reading ' " Sapper and Miner," and your article in;. last evening's Star, I think there is Borne truth in the saying. In remote history we', read of one Julian, who was notorious for "^ , nothing good. And now the cycle appears to ;,; be complete, and there turns up not a Julian. !>' but a Julius. Let us look at the name properly—Ju-lie-us, which according to an ,": out of print dictionary, is derived from the; 7. root to deceive; that is Ju-lie, to deceive, : and " us " means the persons deceived ; and according to the same diotionary the latter •part of the name " us " means us Auckland ers. I vouch for this being the true render?. ... ing of the word. Well, so far as lam concerned, he has not deceived me, for 1..: never had any faith in him or his great schemes (knowing some little of his antece dents) j and yet he has deceived me, for I - k never expected him to turn up again in New, f , Zealand ; but he has more cheek than I gave him credit for. Now how to deal with a ~, character of this sort is a question? My advice is,— Cut him and all his gang. Let his insult to Sir George be the culminating point. After reading the instructions given to Com missioners Seed & Co., my musings took a turn of this sort. I fancied the Provinces ( put on the rack, Julie-us and Pollen being.i Wv,j the operators, holding the levers, and the three Commissioners watching the operation to see what strain each Province would bear without bursting. And. I also fancied; .that the visiting the other provinces first was only , a blind, but that their whole design was1" !J upon Auckland, upon which the whole force , ){ . and strain is to be put by them who hold the ~;,,;- --levers. Auckland " the poor," " the mendi- ~;,.:( cant; after being robbed and spoiled, with a revenue of £350,000. Fancy this snm put into our Provincial chest for a few years, with Sir George Grey in charge, why we « should hardly know who's who, at least we should,, not,, need to beg. I am. glad our Honourable Super scorns to beg what he can demand as >a right. I thank him for the gA honourable position he has assumed. I bwe ;;,;;, we shall one, and all, help him to sustain ♦"!.,,,_ position. And,—well, if it comes to th, / v am ready for the " bitter end."' My .b_W-" ,|j-> up, so no more at present. I am, etc., . ; i itv ■ John Smith.' • ■>' ;



QUE MOTTO—«MAKE THEM COME AGAIN." m" LOOK AT OTJE WINDOW! ' 216, QUESN-STREET, (Late J. W, JjrAssE). HEMUS AND TRIGG, 1 Milliners, Dkaters, and Haberdasheks. I^HOENTON, SMITH & EIRTH'S . PRICES CURRENT (Wholesale) :— Sacks. 100rbs. 501bs. "Crown Brand" Flour, £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. per ton 14 0 0 14 10 0 15 0 0 T. S. P. Canterbury Flou_, do 12 10 0 13 0 0 13 10 0 Sharps.do 6 17 6 .. ... Bran, do G 5 0 ' .. Fowl Wheat, per bushel, 4b 3d to 4s 6d. The above prices include sackn arid bags. Sacks and bags not returnable—Tei'toa Cash. Auckland. April _, 1370. Ate Attempt to Rob the Sick of a means of cure is nothing loss than a crime. Many such attempts have been made by clothing inflamma to'y nostrums with imitations of labels, style of bottle, &c, of the most genial tonic and active remedy for derangements of tho stomach, liver, bowels, and breathing organs ever prescribed by the faculty, and used by the public But neither trickery nor com petition has been able to affeot the reputation of the medicine referred to,- Udolpiio Wolfe's ScniBDAM Aromatic Schnapps.



THE JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE FOR Q.OOD -yALUE POR T^ONE'?. Drapery, Clothing, Haberdashery, Hosiery, Hats and Caps, Furnishing Goods, etc., ETC, IST Special Lines in Clothing, &o.; Purchased at Auction below Value, and to be Bold v_bx Cheap. A_L_RGE AND COMPLETE STOCK N EVERY DEPARTMENT. INSPECTION INVITED. W 5 % Discount allowed to CA3H Purchasers on all Goods amounting to twenty shillings and upwards. \ Orders promptly executed, viell selected, and securely packed. r;ushbrook & bridgman [LATE R. HOBBS], VNO.TION DRAPERY WAREHOUS Opposite the Army andiJNavy Hotel, Upper Queen-street, Auckland. What can you buy from Holloway & Garlick ? Handsome Drawing-room Suites in Silk Rep Horsehair and Damask Suites Great variety of Chairs, Looking Glasses, Tables Drawers, Washstands, Toilet Sets Mattresses. Palliasseß, Pillows, all kinds Iron and Wood Bedsteads and Cots. JUST OPEKED— Beautiful lot 'of Winoeys from /Of per yard, worth/9 Crimean Shirtings, extra good value Blankets. Sheeting, and Quilts from 3/11 , Hearth Rugs and Carpet. Another Shipment of Door Mats at 2/11 , Fancy Hosiery, Stays at 2/11, worth 4/6 Table Covers, Damasks, &o. Shawls, Hats, and Millinery. Country Settlers will find it convenient to deal with MB, as we can Bnpply Drapery, Clothing1, Millinery, and Furnishing Goods, which will be well packed, and forwarded with Despatch. *W" Buy your Winter Dresses and Clothes from— HOLLOWAY & GARLICK, Bbaperb, Clothiebs, Milliners, Cabinetmakers, Upholsterbbs, and Undebtakers, CITY HALL, Queen-street, Auckland. JT COSGBA YE & CO. will ; hold a Sale of the whole of their Summer Drapery and Clothing, previous to opening vsp their Winter Stoch. The '. floods are considerably reduced \ behv) cost, m order to clear. Tits SALE commences on * WMDWESBA V, Bth March. 1



' " ~io-msh.il I Rioted?!!!. ' M_. t ßates. I Queen ' Elizabeth, ' Mrs. ' '. 7 Bates. .„,,„