SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

j; " •-rrti i tiir »rte,.o.,r 467 ; '^-moir-."

, <i-t '■- ;51!) cXiv -y- Th.l" evening, 5 6 3HV RISK ■'i.-ITOt* ■•■ ,'--j\ng. 6 47 VOd":• . -OE—lTnll Moon. Blh, 9.32 p.m.

ARRIVALS.

Popup -rlion-er, from Mercury Bay Be re Bratidon, schcoii-r (rem Waiigaroa

DEPARTURES.

Jloutber. Cr'.s, ss. Holmes for Napior V ero, cutter, for i ussell

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For T ondon- Glenl ;r_. barque, M*y «; Carnatlc, ship,

early For Levuka-T/mu, barque, tine, ear'y Fo- >'ew> nst'i—Trodirk Carole, shin, early For Co'onu' del Ar-eyle, as For Wangsrei— Argyle every W. dnesday For Bay of Islands—lona every Monday For thrr. outh Seas—Ryno, brigantine, early For the South-Freeze, ss, Saturday For Sin Francisco—Colima, s s, 9th (outward English mail) For Tauranga—Rowena, ss, every Friday

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Colima ss, from the South, Bth instant Hero, ss, from . ydney, 17th instant Glimpse, barque, from Newcastle, early Bella Mary, barque, from Hobart Town, early Llewellyn, ss, from Levuka, 7th inst Oceola, brigantine, from Lyttelton, early Flirt, hrigantine, from Lyttelton, early Prince Alfred, barquentine, from Lyttelton, early Robina THinlop, barque, from London Martha, bat que, from the Islands, early Lady Franklin,barquo, from Newcastle; sailed 29thult I.retitia, schooner, from Rarotonga Hinemoa, schooner, from Dunedin Transit; schooner, from Dunedin la Efcocesa, ship, from London ; sailed Feb 9 BebiPgton, ship (PRHV), from London; sailed 7th

February. England's Glory, ship from London, early Inverallen, barque, from London, early Loch Leo, schooner, from Sydney, early Albion, brig, from Lyttelton ; Bailed 26th ult Wanlock, barque, from Glasgow ; sailed Feb 9 Elebank Castle, schooner, from Oamaru Fiery Cross, schooner, from Sydney Coronet, schooner, from the Islands, early Clematis, ketch, from Timaru

(A specialchargeis made for consignees' names in this column.)

EXPORTS.

Per Southern Cross, tor Napier : 1 parcel, 1 package, 1 portable boiler, 2 timber jacks, 7cases ironmongery, 1 cask Ironmongery, 7 nests galvanised tubs 1 cask chain, 2 kegs spikes, 4 coils rope, 2 bundles buckets, 3 casks seed, 4 casks shot, 4 casks horse-shoes, 10 kegs nails, 2 drums oil, 2 drums oil, 1 bundle shovels, 2 bundles sheet iron, 4pla'esiron, 41 bars Iron, 6 bars spring steel, 3 bars cast steel 1 cask hinges, 1 bundle sheet iron, 12 grindstones, 2 kegs horse nails, 160 sash weights, 1 bundle brass tubes, 3 vyces, 6 pots, 1 cask hinges.—T and S Morrin.

Advices received yesterday state that the brigantine Oceola had left Lyttelton for llii_ port. The brigantine Ryno is expected to leave for the Islands to-morrow.

The .cbooner which was made out Inside Tiri yesterday afternoon was signalled as "passed out of sight" before sundown. She was probably bound to the Thames.

The brigantine Hannah Bloomfield arrived at Kai para a few days ago from Wanganui after a rough passu go. ■ The s s Colima is announced to leave for San Fran cisco with the outward English mail on Tuesday next, the 9sh inst.

The barque Witch of the Wave has entered out to day for Newcastle.

Tho ship Brodick Castle clearel to-day in ball»st for Newcastle. She wiU leave with the first fair wind.

The schooner Belle Brandon, from Wangaroa, brings 52,000 ft timber and 9,003 shingles.

CALL AND DIVIDENDS.

The following are the current calls and dlviden ds payable in the companies named below :— £ s. d. Dato. DrVIPENDS— Calls— Queen of the May, new 0 1 0 — May 10 Effort 0 0 3—,, 10 Now Exchange.. ..009— „ 10 Golden Arrow.. ..006— ~10 Bullion 0 0 3—,, 10 Dividend .. ..003— „ 10 Black Reef .. ..006— „ 10 Alburnia GMC .. 0 5 0 — June 14

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as follows:— For Thames to-morrow at 930 am

For Whiiiangi, Taiiua, Opotiki, and Napier, vi_ ' Tauranga, per Rowena to-day at 4 p m For Waiwera, Mahurangi, Matnkana, Mangawai,

Waipu, etc, per Anne Milbank, to-morrow at 10am For Tauranga, per Vincent, to-morrow at 1 pm For Savage Islands, per Ryno, tomorrow at 10 am Por London direct, per Glenlora, on Monday next at 4 pm Por Russell, Wangaroa, and Mongonui, per lona, on Monday next at 4 pm ForTaranaki and Southern provinces, and Austra lian Colonies, per Phcebe on Saturday, 6th instant, at 5 30 a m Per Colima, on Tuesday, Sth May, as follows :— For Kandavu. Sandwich Islands, United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign West In dies at 10 am For United Kingdom and Continent of Europe at 10 am For Money Orders, Registered Letters, and newspap. ers at 9 30 a m Late letters bearing an extra fee of Od in addition to the postage will be received by the mail agent on board up to the time of sailing.

For Russell per Nfcss, tc-morrow at 9 am (Signed) 8. B. BISS, Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

JOSEPH—On the 4th instant, 11 her residence, Yin cent-street, Mrs. N. L. Joseph of a son.

DEATH.

BU LCRAIG—On the 4th May, IS7O, at Onehunga, the younjrrst son of Mary Ann and William Bulcraig, aged 2 years and f, months.

The funeral will leave his father's residence to morrow (Saturday), the (!th instant, at 4 o'clock. Friends please accept this invitation.

GREEN- On May 4, at the residence of her parents', Vincent-street, Margaret Mary Ann, the beloved daughter of Fredk. and M. A. Green, aged 14 years.

The funeral will leave her late residence to-morrow afternoon, at half-past 3 o'clock. Friends please accept this invitation.

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

FRIDAY, MAY 5, 1876.

For the cause that lacks assistance, for the wronn that needs resistance, for the future in the distance,

And the cood that we c_n do.

Major Roberts, R.M. and Inspector of Armed Constabulary, haa been summarily removed from§ Tauranga, and sent to the Taupo district. As a faithful and upright administrator of the law he has won for him self the respect and esteem of the community where he was stationed. Although occupy ing a position which subjects a man to keen criticism and places him in frequent antagp. nism toj the claims and wishes of local magnates, yet the universal recognition of his worth has taken the form of a petition to the Government protesting against his removal, and this has received the signature of nearly every settler in the Tauranga district. What then was the cause of this step which appears to have been as unexpected as it was unwarranted ? A short time ago Major Roberts had the temerity to commit Major Pitt for trial on a charge of bribery. We need not now enter into the attitude assumed by the Ministry in relation to that prosecutiom nor the obstacles that were thrown in the way of its success ; but the Resident Magis trate manfully did his duty, and his decision was upheld by the Supreme Court. Major Roberts must have known, as everyone knew, that the Ministerial party strongly wished that case dismissed, yet he sent Major Pitt for trial j and, singularly enough, his : removal followed that decision. We do not state, these results in the relation of cause and effect, but simply placing the two circumstances in the order of their oc currence, we leave the public to form their own judgment. Certain it is that the change was not devised with a view to economy, for it has been found necessary to appoint Mr Brabant and Captain Scannell to fulfil the duties which Major-Roberts performed alone. Equally certain it is that no complaint from the people of neglect or incompetency had reached the ears of the Ministry. Such complaints in scores have gone up against other creatures of the Native office whose drunkenness and debauchery have become a public scandal on the East Coast, but those were treated with contempt. In a spirit of fair inquiry, then, let us ask wQa* *s *ne reason for this removal ? We understand that Major Roberts came up to Auckland this week for the purpose of making the same inquiry from the Native Minister, when he was met with the reply that an experienced officer was required at Taupo, and his appointment there was promotion. Unfortunately for this theory, Major Roberts was several years ago in charge of the',., Taupo station, and was steadilyTadvainced until {[appointed Jto the officei-rom which'he has now been suddenly

transfered, at a much lower salary, to a post on the dreary waste of pumice, which is hardly fit for human habitation. This is promotion, but promotion backwards, and it is so exceedingly like a warning and intimidation to magistrates that, even at the risk of disorganisation at the Taupo station, the promotion ought not to have tak -n place. We feel sincerely for the wrong which the late Resident Magistrate has suffered at the hands of those who ought to have upheld him in the impartial administration of the law, but what is his wrong to that which the public suffer from the bare suspicion that the fountain of justice itself is corrupted ; that cases may arise when Magistrates dare not, for fear of " promotion," give a decision against persons who have been acting under Ministerial approval. It is true that the sacrifice of a country Magistrate is a small matter in comparison with the removal of a whole Bench of Judges for political purposes, which the Ministry carried out with impunity. But in one sense the example made of Major Roberts is more seriously demoralising in its influences than the resignations, under pressure, of the Chief Justice and his associates. The high legal status of our Supreme Court must preserve to its judges, whoever they may be, an independence from all political influence if they chose to hold, themselves aloof; but with Magistrates who live at the breath of a Minister, and who feel that an ad verse decision may result in the loss of position and income, how can we expect freedom from bias, with such an example a. that of Major Roberts before their eyes '1 If it be the case that this change in tho Resident Magistracy of Tauranga is due to Major Roberts' unwillingness to make his judgments follow the known will of the Ministry of the day, we have no hesitation in characterising it as one of the greatest scandals that ever disgraced the annals of a British colony. We do not say that this was the case —wo have no private key to the inner workings of the Ministerial mind ; but assuredly the juxtaposition of circumstances is extremely unfortunate if the suspicion it has suggested to the minds rf residents both in Tauranga and Auckland is unfounded ; and whether justified or not, the suspicion is one so injurious in its influences as to warrant a Ministerial disclaimer or a parliamentary inquiry.

It is often asked by the partisans of the Vogel Government, What has Sir George Grey done for Auckland that he should be regarded as the saviour of the pro vince? Colonel Haultain's speech at the meeting of the friends of the Howe-street Industrial Homo last night, supplies an answer, which should effectually stop any jeering ques tions in future. The Colonel stated to the meeting that in 1867 when there was great distress in Auckland Sir George Grey had sent from Wellington £50 a month from his own pocket, till he was told there was no longer occasion for it. And who, we ask, has done so . much ? Can Sir Julius Vogel point back to any similar liberality ? Dr Pollen, it is true, may say he promised £5 to the Thames. And how many knew of this noble alms giving of our Superintendent. If those present last night were canvassed perhaps half-a dozen would be found who had heard of it before. That is true charity which, like the violet, flourishes unseen until some unforseen accident like the occasion of last night reveals its beauties to the light. After this the man will deserve to be scouted who asks, what has Sir George Grey done for Auckland.

By effluxion of time, Mr J. S. Macfarlane retires from the Harbour Board, and an elec tion to fill up the vacancy will t_ke place on the 10th instant. Mr Macfarlane has an nounced his intention of not again offering himself, and has signed a requisition to Mr H. S. Meyers. The withdrawal of Mr Macfar lane from the counsels of the Board, after holding a seat since its constitution, will be a great loss, his experience in shipping matters having frequently proved most valuable. The requisition to Mr Meyers is being numer ously signed, and we have no doub he would prove a very useful member.

We are very pleased to see the letter from Mr Hartley exculpating Mr Thos. Colebrook from any evil or dishonorable intention in the recent unfortunate misunderstanding between those two gentlemen on the subject of the building plans and specifications. Mr Hartley's letter at once does honor to him self, and affords the means of justifying an innocent man who believed himself perfectly right in acting as he did.

The Star Supplement of to-morrow will be specially interesting to the general reader, as it will contain a variety of information and amusement on a variety of topics. Beside four average poems on "Nature's Analogy," the "Robin," and "Kind Words," which are of a delicious quality, and calculated to improve the appetite, and assist digestion without sardines and marmalade, there will be a Whaler's story of intense interest to the sons of Neptune ; also, the story of " Mrs Campbell's Black Watch," which will far outweigh the value of the Fort-street watch, lost in the glades of Ellerslie. It is a long story, but of sufficient interest to enchant the reader from the beginning to the end. A number of other stories and sketches will also appear in support of the interest and claims of the Star supplement, which will be issued free for a penny to all readers.

The forms which the charges set out in summonses take when read out at the Police Court are sometimes very funny. An unfortu nate wight was called upon to-day to answer to the accusation:—" That he did use in sulting language in a public place, to wit, Queen-street wnarf, by calling the complain ant ' a — cur,' and saying ' I will smash your ————— face,' contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and pro vided, and the complainant states that the complaint is not made for malice or vexation only, and the complainant prays that the said defendant may be ordered to find sureties, etc." The moral to be drawn frem the case is, that irate folk who are pre paring to abuse the subjects of their indigna tion should first of all consult the statute, and should use such insulting language nd smash the defendant's face in the manner agreeable " to the form of the statute in such case made and provided," otherwise they may get themselves into trouble.

The case of Anderson and others v. Dalton Bros, came on for hearing yesterday after noon, in the Resident Magistrate's Court, Mr Hesketh for plaintiffs. The claim was for £32 145., alleged to be due for rigging tackle. The defendants declared that they knew nothing of the claim. The brothers acknow ledged to having a yacht, but they did not order the goods. The Dalton family was very extensive, and it was difficult to ascertain what member ordered the goods. Hugh F. Anderson said the father of the young men ordered the goods which were supplied to the yacht. After other evidence, His Wor ship considered that among such a number of Daltons it was impossible to find a verdict for plaintiff,-and he must take .a,, nonsuit. Plaintiff:" AH I say is the Daltons are a peculiar lot,"

Julia Barnard, a dansense and vocalist, met with a tragic death at Helena, Montana, lately. She was standing against a board while an actor was showing his dexterity in hedging her in by hu-liDg knives at the board. Six knives had beeo stuck beneath each arm, just above each shoulder, at epch side of the head. One m vv-ited to be planted just above her head. The aim of the thrower was too low. The knife pene trated the brain and the girl sauk down to die on the stage. The actor is under arrest

A terrible calamity occurred through the destruction by fire of a charitable institution in New York with large hs3 of life. One telegram describing the scene after the fire says : " Sixteen hearses were driven this morning to the Home for the Aged of the Little Sisters of the Poor in Brooklyn, where the terrible fire took place yesterday, and into these were placed coffins containing eighteen bodies gathered from the ruins. The spectacle was a sad and sickening one, While the coffins were being borne to the hearse the blood from the half-roasted bodies oozed through the seams thereof, besmearing the sidewalks. Only three of the bodies were indentified ; the others were so charred it was impossible to tell one from the other."

In Otago province, seven million two hun dred and fifteen thousand acres of land are held under pastoral lenses, which yield an annual income £75 51(5 sterling. A Contem porary thinks that when this acreage is re-let eighteen pence per acre should be demanded. If this was done, the income would -.mount to no less than £502,959 sterling. If this immense landed estate is properly managed, Otago need never he short of funds.

In the January number of the Westminster Review is an article on the origin and de velopment of man, which present., a sum mary of the latest discoveries and deliver ances of science on tho subject. An antiquity of something like .00,000 years is claimed for the human race ; and evidence is adduced to show that although man may not have been contemporary with the gigantic Saurians and other fossil types now extinct, yet that ho certainly did exist with huge mammals which have quite passed away.

The strong " homing instincts of pigeons were well known to the Arabs, who, before the general adoption of the mariner's com pass, used these birds to find their where abouts during their voyages' to Madagascar and the East. " Messer Marc Pol," through his French amanuensis, tells us, in his voyages written during his captivity at Genoa, how these oriental navigators took the birds to sea with them, and when they were far out of sight of land, and wanted to know which way it lay, how they tossed up a bird or two, and judged from the line of their flight the course they themselves ought to steer.

A correspondent, writing to the Nortli Otaqo Times, says:—"l see you have changed ' Cablegrams' into ' Galograms.' ' Calos' means ' a rope.' All Blondin's move ments should be sent by calogram. Please accept a few hints from me. If you recive any obvious political lies, call them 'Fable grams.' The death of an eminent man might be called a 'Sablegram.' Accounts of spirit rapping should bo entitled ' Tablegrams ;' Parliamentary items should be ' Bablegrams ;' race news should be ' Stablegrams ;' frati cides should be ' Ahelgrams ;' quack news should bo ' Lablegrams ;' and reports of J. G. S. Grant's lies should be ' Detest-able grams.'"

Railway travelling In Tasmania must be very exciting. A gentleman thus records his experience of it :—" With the shadow of a terrible death hanging darkly over us, we rushed madly! down the incline at the light ning speed of several miles'a day. I breathe a prayer for my wife, and twin babe, at home, and watched the brakesman's despair. His face brightens, a happy thought seems to have struck him. He jumps down, leaps lightly over the fence, ru-hes into the bush, reappears with a long stick, overtakes us in the very extremity of our danger, pushes the pole through the revovling wheels, and brings the train to moderate speed in the midst of its mad career."

Some time ago four lucky miners in the Bright district, Victoria, who up to that time had not been particularly fortunate in their pursuit after gold, discovered a reef, which they christened the London. A very short time served to prove that tho claim was one of immense richness, and up to their last crushing the four men had netted some £27,000. This had a terrible effect upon one of them named Brown, who went to Mel bourne and at once plunged into dissipation. He drank heavily, frequently consuming three and even four bottles of brandy a day. The final result was that the man died a few days ago through the effects of this de-

bauch,

The Napier Telegraph says : "The Bay of Plenty district is a portion of the Auckland province that has been cut off, apparently for the purpose of allowing the General Gov ernment to try their prentice hands at pro vincial administration. Bungling has hitherto been the distinguishing characteristic of the experiment."

In North Germany a fine of one silver grcschen is levied on every child who remains away from school without reasonable cause or permission from the teacher. This latter is readily and constantly given when the reason was one which would commend itself to any sensible person—for instance, a sick mother requiring for a time the services of an elder girl. Should the parents plead poverty as an excuse for non-payment of the fine, they must take it out in labour on the roads.

The chess players of Otago are in active training for the coming tournament for Mr W. Aitken's cup, and we learn that many new players have come forward as candidates for the honour of representing that province. Mr Nixon, formerly of Auckland, and now resident in Dunedin, has commenced a pri vate match with Mr Hay, of Dunedin, for a small trophy. Both gentlemen played on opposite sides in the game Auckland v. Dunedin. Mr Janion, one of the Dunedin representatives on that occasion, has com menced a match against Mr Benbow, of Wellington. They are playing three games simultaneously, the winner of the most games to be the victor. Board A—Philidor's de fence ; B—Two Knight's defence; C— Sicilian defence. Mr Janion stands pretty high in Dunedin as a chess player, and Mr Benbow is known throughout the Australasian Colonies as a skillful composer of problems.

Mr F. W. Stevens, formerly sharebroker in Auckland, and now a resident in Dunedin, lately astonished the natives by declaring his intentien of raising a company in London with a capital of £500,000, to connect Dunedin harbour with tho open sea, by cutting a canal through the sandhills. He now writes to the Otago Guardian asserting that the circular ironclads, the invention and improvement of which are attributed to Mr Reed, M.P., (formerly Naval Constructor to the Admiralty), and Admiral Popoff, of the Russian Navy, were first invented by him self. He says:—"l beg leave to state, in the most emphatic manner, that the inven tion is not his, nor is it the invention of the said Mr Reed, M.P., but that it is my inven tion. I know not how the said Mr Reed, -M.P., became acquainted with my invention, and description of the same, which were sent in a despatch from the Auckland Post-office on the 30th March,' 1874, and addressed to Marshall MacMahon, President of Eranoe. Drawings, &c, have been sent to the Lords of the Admiralty, England, with copies of all letters relative to this affair, which has become known in some most extraordinary way to the Russian Government. It was invented by .me to protect Prance and England against Russian encroachment, and the way in which it has got into the hands of the Russian Govern ment is now under inquiry." People down there tap their skulls and ejaculate, " Poor fellow iy '

A testimonial address and a pnrse of sovereigns will be j resented to Mr H. N. Brewer tha late Sub-Collector of Customs at Onebunga, to-morrow afternoon at 7 o'clock at Hardmgton's Manukau Hotel, when a numerous assemblage of friends of Mr Brewer is expected to be present. All subscribers to the fund are invited to witness the coremony. The manner in which subscrip tions hwe poured in is a most satisfactory proof of the esteem in which this gentleman, who now retires after lengthy term of office, in held by all. Had it not been stipulated that the amount received from any one person should not exceed one pound, a very much larger sum would have been collected.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Prince of Wales Lodge of Freemasons, was held last evening at their new quarters the Star Hotel Albert-street, where the meetings of the Lodge will in future be held. There was a good muster of the order including some members of other lodges. After the ordinary business, a banquet was given to the lodge by host Gorman, which was duly honoured, and some complimentary toasts interchanged. The evening was spent very pleasantly.

We are requested to notify that all accounts against tho committee of the late Ball, are to be presented to-morrow (Saturday) between 10 and i 2 o'clock at Mr Dargaville's office Shortland-street.

The Education Board at their yesterday meeting considered the question of raising the salary of the teacher of the Edwurdß' strset School and decided to fix the payment according to the scale from the Ist January. The Board has granted £6 to Mr Glandfield for the Newton school. The application from Devenport against the decrease of Mr Gordon's salary was received and will obtain consideration! £16" and some sundries applied for was then granted to the Onehunga district committee for the enlargement of the girl's school room and the appointment of a pupil teacher approved.' of. Authority was given to soil the grotto reserves in the same district. An application for full time schools at Shoal Bay was deferred for further con sideration.

The Mataura Paper Mill Company has brought New South Wales capital into South Otago for the purpose of establishing this business. A Government bonus of £2000 affords a certain kind of inducement, while the partly protective duty of 12J per cent, produces another ; while the fact that the Middle Island consumes some £35,000 worth of packing and wrapping paper peryear, gives an earnest of a largeandincreasingprofit. The building is erected jusb below the falls of the Mataura river, which was chosen on account of its vast water power. The driv ing wheel is fifteen feet in diameter and twelve feet wide, equal to an effective dis charge of 20,000 tons of water per hour, giving fifty horse-power, and capable of driving all the machinery requisite to produce ten tons of paper per week, and to supply power for flour and oatmeal mills of three or four pairs of stones, which are also inclnded in the contemplated works.

The season of " catapults " has commenced with the Auckland boys, and a great many windows have been broken during these last few days by young Colonials, The windows of Mr Macintosh's school, near the Pro vincial chambers, are full of air holes caused by missiles.

It is Btated by the Auckland correspondent of tho Thames Star that " the clerk of Court at Hokianga has got orders to proceed to the Empire City, in consequence of a report made against him by Mr Hugh Carle ton that he took opposite sides to the interest of the Government candidate at the recent election for the Bay of Islands." The cor respondent adds : " There can be no possible objection to such a course, provided equal treatment is given to others. The President Magistrate—Yon Stunner—at Hokianga, and the elected member's brother, Mr Williams, showed strong ministerial ten dencies, at the late election, and they, like the clerk of the court, Mr Frazer, should be ordered to other districts."

To the Editor : Sir,—As a Parnell rate payer I am glad to see your journal advocat ing the termination of the reign of dullness which has been existing so long in our benigh ted district. Such an improvement of the main thoroughfare as the asphalting contem plated by the Local Board, whose go-ahead tendencies are viewed with horror by the old school, will be likely to encourage the erec tion of substantial villas on the many vacant allotments on both sides of the road, which at present make the place look so stagnant. I myself do not live in tho main street, but although I should very well like to have my own particular lane metalled and lighted, I can afford to wait a while till more important works are carried out. Besides everyone uses the high road, and only a few use the lanes, that is ligifcimately, at night. A few more lamps would be acceptable in some of the out of the way spots, but as a generally useful work, on which to spend the bulk of the Government subsidy, I can see nothing better than that the Board have decided on. —Yours, &c, Ante-National,

The usual weekly drill of the Artillery Volunteers was held last evening in the gun shed. Sergt. -Major Hydes, who has been appointed Gunnery Instructor to the corps, was in attendance, and. was introduced to the members by Captain Burns. The Battery will lire shot and shell at the North Head to morrow afternoon. The monthly inspection of the corp will take place in the Drill-shed in undress uniform, with arms and accoutre ments on Thursday next, when the district prizes will be presented by Major Gordon.

Captain William Norman Leslie, a leading Waikato settler, died very suddenly in his chair on Wednesday afternoon. The Wai kato Times says the deseased gentleman had been in Hamilton on the previous evening in his usual health, but has been for some time past, attended by Dr Waddington for heart desease, to which cause his untimely death is supposed to be owing. He must have passed away very peaceably, for when found he was at first thought to be only sleeping. The de seased gentleman was a member of the Masonic body, and had always expressed a wish that he should be buried with Masonic honours.

We are authorised to contradict the state ment " that Messrs Holmes Brothers, of North Shore, Auckland, have made an offer to the Government to put on a steamer for ferry service at the Spit, Napier, provided they are subsidised to the extent of £200 a year." Messrs Holmeß are quite willing to place a steam ferry-boat at the Spit provided they can obtain from the Government a lease of the ferry for seven years. Without any subsidy whatever. Messrs Holmes are prepared to put their steamer in the ierry service as soon as the presant lease has expired.— Napier Telegraph,

The owners of property in Ngaruwahia have unanimously signed a petition to the House of representatives, complaining of the manner in which the General Government has locked up the country lands adjoining that township. The petition sets forth that the Government derived £10,000 from the sale of a portion of the township. That by locking up the suburban lands from sales, the Government has prevented settlement, has retarded the development of the town of Ngaruawahia, and has rendered £10,000 capital sunk in the purchase ofjallotments in that township comparatively useless. That the petitioners are confident that if the sub urban land near Ngaruawahia were offered to the public competition at a reasonable upset price, say from £2 to £5 per acre, it would soon be all sold and occupied, thereby adding greatly to the prosperity of the town of Ngaruawahia and the surrounding district,, and in consequence of the increased popula tion, to the success of the railroad now in course of construction. That repeated appli cations have been made to the colonial authorities to have this done, but hitherto' without effect, and therefore the settlers have resolved to appeal to the Legislature! for relief.

Happy Canterbury! The statement of the receipts and expenditure of that province for the year ending March 31st, is conveyed ta us by a Press Agency despatch, and shews that the Executive had £821,924 revenue at its disposal for the year, of which it managed to spend £709,861 leaving a balance to credit of £131.062, considerably more than the whole provincial revenue of Auckland. Re ceipts from the railways for the year were £178,940, and the expenditure £122,080, Tne Empire Hotel, Wellington, was sold lately for £6,3oo,|jand has since been let at £17 10s per week, the tenant to restore the portion of the building recently destroyed by fire.

To the Editor : Sir,—Keep up your warm advocacy of regeneration in Parnell. The present Board want a lot of support or they will never be able to withstand the torrent of abuse which their startling and beneficial innovations will be sure to call forth from the old rusty, dusty, musty, crusty old fogies who want to keep Parnell just as they knew it in their youth. Bythe-bye, I wish the Board would spend a few shillings over clear ing the steps down the cliff at St. Barnabas Point. The earth fiom either side of the cut ting has fallen in and completely clogged them.—l rours, &c, New Shoot. A meeting of the committees of the various Thames school districts of Waiotahi, Kauwaeranga, and Parawai, was held for the purpose of considering whether it would be advisable, in order to check the spread of scarlet fever, to keep the schools of the district closed for a further period after this week. When it was unanimously agreed that the public schools be re-opened on Mon day next.

Very satisfactory results have been obtained from the sample of sugar beet seed sent by the Colonial Government to the Superintendent of Napier for distribution and trial. The salary of the City Surveyor of Dun edin has been increased to £600, on account of the engineering department of the city water supply being placed under his charge.

Mr Mantell tho "funny man" of the House has not lost his old habits. It appears that every day Sir Julius Vogel is to be seen in the luncheon room of the club, at Welling ton, enjoying a salad, which dish forms the chief piece de risistance of the meal. Atten tion had been drawn to the Premier's penchant for salad, and Mr Mantell entering the room one day with a friend while Sir Julius was thus engaged asked the former what lines in Milton's account of the creation the Premier put him in mind of. His friend gave it up, when Mr Mantell quoted as follows s—

" Each day upon the green and tender herb The gentle dew (jew) descends."

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before R. C. BarstowEsq., R.M.)

OLD SOAKERS,

James Heaton and William Wells were brought up on charges of drunkenness, and were fined 5s each and costs.

RO BEING A MATE,

Thomas Kennedy, a sturdy man, was charged with stealing £6 from the person of William Wells, on the 4th day of_ May. In this case, the prisoner got into a cab with Wells, the prosecutor, but Wells was so helplessjy drunk that he could only state that when he got into the cab he had £6 upon him, and when he got out he had no thing. The prisoner ran away, and when caught, nothing was found upon him. His Worship said, that under tho cir cumstances he must discharge the prisoner, but he would assure him that he was not saved by his good character. WHAT ALEXANDER SAID TO ROBERT. Alexander Edgar appeared in answer to a summons charging him with using insulting language to Robert Brown, on the 29th ult., viz, that he said Robert Brown was a our, and that he would smash his face in. Mr Laishley appeared for complainant, and Mr J. B. Russell for defendant. Mr Russell said he would ask for an adjournment of the case as a good deal could be said on the other side.

Mr Laishley said he had no objection, although complainant went in bodily fear. The case was consequently adjourned until Friday next, when the several witnesses were asked to appear.

CITY RATE OASES.

A long list of defaulters were set down for hearing, but Mr Russell informed the Court that they had been settled outside.

LUNACY.

A native named Ngunga was charged with lunacy, and, upon the testimony of two medical gentlemen, was ordered to the Asylum.

THE ROWENA AND VINCENT EN QUIRY.

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

Captain Clayton, Nautical Assessor.)

Mr Brookfield appeared for the Customs' officer, Mr J. B. Russell for the master of the cutter Vincent, and Mr Hesketh for the s.s. Rowena.

The enquiry into the cause of collision between these vessels, which was opened on the 28th ult., was resumed at noon to-day. The enquiry it will be remembered was adjourned for the purpose of ascertaining whether it could be prosecuted before the High-street Court, as Mr Barstow was doubt whether or not the Court had jurisdiction, and the learned counsel, Mr Russell, having expressed a belief that the matter should be investigated at Tauranga, which was the nearest Court to the spot where the collision took place.

Mr Brookfield said in order to save time he would at once take evidence.

John Mackenzie, chief officer of the Rowena, deposed that he had held that position for three years and a half, and held a certificate as master from the Board of Trade, in England, No 7899, now in Mr Hill's possession. He had received a sum mons to appear on this enquiry. He was on boatfl. the Rowena on the 11th of last month, when she came into collision with the Vin cent. It was between six and seven o'clock in the evening. He was then in charge of the deck. Daniel Sellars was the master of the boat. He had been to tea just before the collision. He left the wharf at Tauranga at six o'clock, bound for Auckland. Captain Sellars was on deck when they passed the Narrows; the wind was westward, but not exactly due west; there was a nice sailing breeze, and the weather was clear. The moon just getting up, could discern a vessel's light for more than a mile. As soon as they passed the Narrows, he saw the Vincent's light before she got to Stoney's Point; he was on the bridge ; saw the red light first. She was then about three quarters of a mile off. He gave orders to clear the beach, and that answer was obeyed. The'Rowena does not answer her helm very well, on account of the rudder being inside the screw. In about a minute he saw both lights from the Vincent in consequence of her altering her course; according to the channel she was compelled to. do this. He was keeping as closely as possible, to the beach; he only (1 saw the two lights for a few Becohds; then .-he saw the red light again, in consequence of her keeping more; to port. We were then getting very close together. All at once we lost sight of the red light, and saw the green one, when she came across their bows, which was not ac-, cording to the.rules of seamanship. He im mediately called to the engineer through the trumpet to stop her. Mr Ryan was the engi neer ; the order was immediately obeyed; the" collision then took place. Captain Sellars came up at the moment that he ordered her to be stopped ; he gave orders full speed astern, wluch was; also obeyed. There was ample room for the Vincent to have avoided

the collision by following the rules of the sea. Tho collision was caused by the Vfo. cent's helm being put on the'starboard instead of the port ; he was sure of thiß We were going between seven and eight knots ; it was flood tide The Vincent was coming with wind and tide. The steamer was bound to keen a good steam up. The Bowena's lights were properly fixed. Steps were immediately taken by the Bowena to render assistance but it would not have been safe to lower a boat as they were going full speed astern after the Vincent. Everything was done on the part of the Bowena to avoid a collision We had to go astern to get clear of the rocks, and as soon as they were cleared the boat was lowered. The Vincent went on to the beach. He could not speak as to the damage caused to the Vincent, but the blow certainly altered her course.

Cross-examined by Mr Bussell: There was a strong tide setting in. She was going about six knots over the ground, but he could not speak as to the speed of the Vin cent. She might have been going at the rate of five knots. The average speed of the two vessels on meeting might have been twelve knots. Did not sound the whistle on seeing the Vincent; thought it unnecessary. Captain Sellers did not find fault with him for porting the helm when he came up. The Vincent was struck on the starboard side. To Mr Hesketk : He saw an attempt made to lower the boat. The blow had the effect of altering the course of the Vincent' towards the Heads. At the time of the meeting of the vessels he believed the engines were stopped, but he could not say whether Captain Sellars' order had been carried into effect. Heard the cry of a man overboard, went to look, and saw him hanging on.the bowsprit, ho was all right.

Fire at Mercer.

This morning, about seven o'clock, just oppo site the Mercer station, a house belonging to two working men on the railway, was dig covered to be on fire. Before any help could be given the whole place was in flames and everything loßt in the space of half-an-hour. The flames swept the place down in a very short space of time, the men just escaping. There was no insurance npon the property, and the fire was purely accidental.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ST. JOHN.

A well-timed tribute to the memory of this gallant officer is paid by a writer in the Timaru Herald, who seems to have been well acquainted with the subject of his brief biographical sketch. He says:—"ln the old fighting days in the North Island, ten or eleven years ago, St. John performed a series of exploits against the natives such as would do no discredit to the heroes of romance, and earned the reputation of being—without one exception—the bravest man in the colonial forces. His utter disregard of danger, or rather his absolute love of it, led to his being constantly chosen whenever any par ticularly desperate work had to be done; and he never on a single occasion shewed in any way that he knew what fear was. An officer under whose command he was, and, who for certain reasons had a strong per-' sonal antipathy towards him, was once speaking against him in unmeasured terms. " But you surely admit his courage," said one of his hearers. "Courage!" ex« claimed the officer, " If I were to tell him to climb up that wall singlehanded, and meet certain death at the top, he would go without a question, and really enjoy it." This in ordinate passion for military adventure, in deed, sometimes rendered St. John rather an embarrassment to his superiors or to the Go vernment, for there was no knowing what complications his dare-devil dash might give rise to. The gallant fellow was consequently kept very much in the back ground, ever since the Colonial troops assumed under Sir Donald McLean's philo-Maori r.gime, the character of police. Sir Donald made St.; John a soit of private secretary to himself, in the Native Office, and it was a miserable thing to see the poor Colonel, like a chained lion, dancing attendance on one who certainly was never accused of too much pluck. Colonel St. John, in addition to being a splendid soldier, was also very accomplished in the softer arts. He wrote an admirable little work on certain phases of life in New Zealand, and with great literary powers and wonderfully versatile talentSj might easily have succeeded as a writer, or indeed in almost any other line of life he had chosen to adopt. Instead of doing so, how ever, the end of his strange career has been humiliating enough. It is sad to think of one of the bravest, cleverest, and most generous men in the country, dragging out a broken existence as a Government hack, and dying at forty in very poor circumstancs. Colonel St. John was formerly in the 20 th Regiment of foot, and served throughout the Crimean war. He waa the son of the Hon. Captain St. John of the 12th Lancers, and was great-great-grandßon of the first Viscount Bolingbroke, Queen Anne's illustrious, but eccentric Minister. In many respects the character of the late Colonel St John closely resembled that ef bis celebrated ancestor. He had the same bril liant parts, the same unsteadiness of purpose, the same buoyancy of disposition ; nor would the history of his life much spoil the com parison. His vicissitudes were not less marked than those of the author of the peace of Utrecht; and those who' know what he was really capable of, do not doubt that on a larger stage, he might have acted as pro minent a part. • v;.

THE NATIVE MEETING AT THE THAMES.

MAORI RECEPTION AND WAR

DANCE,

The great Maori meeting commenced1 |ls Parawai to-day, on the flat ground neftr the upper end of the Gardens. The visiting natives left the Shortland wharf at about two o'clock, in a fleet of twenty-five' boats, which was augmented further, as they proceeded up the river accompatiied by a large numbpr of white excursionists includ ing many ladies. The arrangements made for their reception were extraordinary. Women and children, as well as men, were pressed into the service. The warriors were decorated with feathers,lndeed we had almost written clothed with feathers, for they had very little,other clothing, Most of them were naked to the .waist, around which a short shawl was tied, which scarcely reached be low the thighs. Others had shirts, hut; no other garment, and we noticed one at least who had even stillless clothing. These bold warriors were armed with fowling pieces, mostly double r barreirerl7 To the number of TOO, or thereabouts, they ,crouche4 °n *"c ground with arms ready to give a volley to the approaching friends or foes. As the |j<S|» i came round, the bend into view, the- fl»gs 1 which fluttered from the flagstaff, were • dipped in salute,,and the: women rushed forward in a' great body, shouting their invitations and welcomes at the t top of their,' i voiceß. j y Then ■ followed volleys of firearms from the crouched warriors (who by this time must have: cooled considerably, aB the weather waa by no means warm, and | they were very lightly clad). As the boats approached still closer, Hemi Puru, carrying a stick, rushed" towards the boats and flung* the stick as a challenge, rushing back again to the firing party as speedily as possible. According to Maori usage it would have been bad for Hemi to be caught by any of-the visitors, for they would have full liberty to give him a hammering, but he took care not to be caught. This waß the " wero»\? r challenge, but) it was only the; fiw. The boats' were rushed- to the bank, but before1' they reached it Hoarl "Temu repeated the|Blchal}epg9 'ma *m

THE EYJGMNG STAB, FBI-PAY, MAYS, 1876 ■ : i ' _.-.* w- i in' - ■ -



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