SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIOT WATES— f 7a B 4fT;:enoon. 8.22 ITo Tun.tPow Mop-wiko, 8 S8 Rirv SF.rs-7.iv. F. T.irg 6 Si). SUN RISES SVj fflo-r .w Worcir? 0 17 M 0 :;'s AG 3- Last qu trier 11th, 4 pm

ARRIVALS.

iaranKKi, 3s, ABnrfiw, from the Honm Ro^ni ss: from Tauranga Golden Ijie, schooner, from Russell

DEPARTURES.

u.anpo. ss, worip, for the Br fl , Ech, schooner, Brown, fr- £v£ OM , a *lan.,. cutter, for M<- ,'' ft ? Vtn«U!i cutter, fn* 5* wd !7V....T,ri nin. ••landw for Olshome and Napier *' m * ° -y, rhln. Knight, for *'ewca tie

IMPORTS. Per Lo-h Fergus 'rom London:—3 casks screws, 1 ease scfcwincr machines. 1 bundle wine cloth, 14 cases Bbrrvby's ploughs and fittiiigs, 3 cases corn dressing tnanhines, 23 c»s°g and casks general Ironmongery, 3'll bars snd 393 bnndles iron, 60 plates iron, 66 kegs floor brads, 13 bundles spades, 3 casks erubby hoes, 1 ■case brushware, 1 case fancy woodware, 6 casks enamelware, 8 cases wagoons, 14 cases and 7 pkgs Hornsbv's reaping machines. 7 cases and 5 pkgs Howard's harrows and ploughs. 4 bundles Tinman's wire, 26 plough wi"gs 10 cases stand posts, 1 case &le measures—T and S. Morrin.

Per X.ooh Fergus : 25 cases mustard, 25 do starch, CO b^xps candles, 1 case tobacco pipe's, \ (So Ingredi ents for alkaline drinks 10 barrels brushed sugar, 2 pianos. 7 harmoniums, 60 barrets wire nails, 20 boxes ■window glass, 3 casks white and goid'ehina, 4 do oil man's stores, 3 bales horse-hair, 1 case jewellery, 1 do gold leaf, 1 case boxing gloves, 1 do perambulators, 2 cases portmonnws, 2 cases slates, 3'iron safes, 1 case belts and sheaths, 1 do fishing lines, 4 cases forks, 10 do fancy vestas, 3do tarta^c acid. 1 j nfe) 20 boxes tin pistes, 40 ketrs ewbe„ fl Vs, 1 case sailor's mitten, 1 do steel penholders, i bale collar check.—E. and H. Isaacs

Per ss Taranp>i f, om the South-6 pkgs-E. Portor and Co.

25 sacks- _; a .s. Meyers. _ £ <>* s?< faranaki from South -—93 packages, 5 boxes, 1 bale, 520 sacks, 19 cas^s. 5 boxes silver coin (£1000), Bank of Now South Wales.

THE LOCH FERGUS.

Lottie little excitement was cra?ed on the wharf yesterday evening about five o'clock by the L"eh -FVrffns, then thrpe parts up the harbour, hoisting the Health Officer's flag Several boats which had put off to the vessel were compelled to return without being allowed to go alongside. It was stated that three -cases of fdcknpss existed among the crew, but the captain was unable to determine the nature 0' it. A bout six o'clock Dr Philson visited ihe ship, and soon pronourced tbe illness triflh>g, and the flag was at once hauled down. At present we have heard such absurd rflasons for the flag not being hoisted sooner that in the inte'-pst of all concerned we decline to publish them The I.Och Fergus has made an un eventful nassage, and with the exception nf having sighted a few 'cebp-fgs, a consequence of going as far down as 52 S., and be'ng visited with some very heavy *now s'corms. nothing occurred worthy of note It anpearp that the passage was shorter than we yes terday «aye Captain Cann credit for. The report, which it is unnecessary to re-produce at lpngth. gives thR follow;^ dctes—Left Gravesend, June 4 Crossed the line JJuly 6 Passnd meridian of Csne, *Ugtiat 7. Obtained a fast average of 245 miles Dor day acoss tbe Sonthern Ocean, passing Tasmania on the 28th Aupnst, and sighting f__« Throe Kines on the 4th inst., from whence w.W. and W.S W. "inds Into port. The Loch Fe-pus brines no nassengers. We are happy to State that both the valuable horses shipped by her have arrived alive snd in fcir condition. The Clydes dale has endured the voyage bravely, but the delicate racer h'.s felt it severely,

The ss Taranaki, Captain Andrew, arrived at One inriffa at 1130 this morning. She left Port Chalmers at 330pm on the Ist: Lyttelton at 720pm on the 2nd ; Wellington at 215 pm on the 4th ; Picton at 10 pm same day ; Nelroa 745 pm same evening ; Taranaki at Cpm on the 6th ; arriving at Onehunga as above. Exoerienced strong westerly and B'^r vinds. and beam sea throughout the passage. Passengers—Mr and Mrs Hovle and two children, Mrs •Tones ard two children, Messrs Hesford, Power, Kettle, Pringle, Atkinson. Smith, Morton, and 7fonr steerage. We are indebted to Mr Dougherty, purser, for files and report. The consignees of the barque Loch Fergus are requested to rass entries and obtain delivery orders for their goods as soon us possible. The sight entry is to be passed on Saturday. The barque Crownthorpe has been hauled up on ihe hard tor the purpose of having her bottom cleaned. It is quite a new idea for vessels of the size of the Bebington and Crownthorpe to be treated in Ihis manner. If it is found tha* no injury results to imn ve'sels from being overhauled in this manner, it will militate against the returns of the dry dock •when finished.

The b'igantine Nightingale has arrived at Kaipara after an exceedingly quick passage of sev^n days from Melbourne. She will load back at Te Kopuruwith timber.

It will be seen by a cablegram published elsewhere, that the steamer Wakatip is advertised to leave Sydney for New Zealand on the lflth inst. This is the large screw steamer expected ffrom England by the Union Steamship Company, and destined for the inter-colonial trade She will be by far tbe largest boat belong to the Company, being about 1.400 tons Tegister It is s»id that she will carry 1000 tons of coals, 700 tons of cargo, and 70 passengers. A. private cablegram was received in town yesterday announcing that the ss Hero had not arrived in Sydney at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Phe was then seven days out, but the succession of strong westerly gales that have prevailed since her departure fully accounts for the unusually long passage. t■■ Anew fore and aft schooner was launched yesterday from the building-yards of Messrs McCalluum and McQnarrie, Mechanic's Bay. She was namrd she Glenalpinn. and is-a smart little craft of about 40 tons register. Her dimensions are : length rf keel, 57ft., beam, 17ft„ depth of hold, 6ft. She has been built of very choice materials, and is strongly put together. Captain H. F. Anderson, who, with the builders, is part owner, has supplied the pear and sails, while Mr Thos. Tnglis ras done the smith's work in very credit able style. The vessel is intended for the w a ngarel trade. She will be commanded by Captain Sloane. The schooner Edith ha 3 well nigh finished her load ing for the Islands. She will start on another trip immediately. The s s Rowena arrived soon after noon to-day from Tauranga with several passengers. The s s Pretty Jane which leaves for Gisborne and Wapier takes fresh spars and gear for the dismasted schooner Acadia. She leaves this afternoon. Captain Casey has taken the old engines ont of the Eclipse, and is going to replace them by a single high pressure engine, with seven inch cylinder and 9 inch stroke. This is now being made for her by Messrs Hawkeswood and Co. The dredge was bnsy at work to-day, on the Aorth side of the Ferry Co's tee. The want of steam power for removing the silt punts when full, is a great hindrance to the work, especially as the cspacity of the punts is so small. The s.s Go-ahead has been bar-bouud at "Waitarafor nearly a fortnight A telegram received by the manager of the A.S.P. Co., states she would leave at noon to-day. She may therefore be expected to-mor row, and will probably sail again on Saturday. The schooner Golden Isle arrived this afternoon from Russell with coals Thes.s Llewellyn has been coaling at the A.S.P. Cos. hulk to-day. She will leave for Sydney on Saturday afternoon. Her first-class passenger accom modation ought to secure her a good share of patron age. The fares are—Saloon, £9 ; Second-class, £5. ft. The Taupo sailed for the South to-day with the following passengers :—Mr and Mrs Nation, Mr and Mrs Chisholm, Mrs Parry and child. Mes«rs Sneddon, Garlick, Thomson. Bnrrett, Mendelsohn, Penning'con, Marsh, Eccles, O'Keefe, and 4 steerage. The barque B&bingten will be hauled away fiom the wharf to-morrow and. weather and othercircumstances permitting, will take her departure for Calcutta. The barque Star Queen is lying in the stream ready to sail. She is going to Wangwoa where she will f oad for the other side.

Tee barque Fanny Fisher is in the stream. She has cleared out for Guam, but her destination was not decided on at noon to-day. It was probable she would be chartered to load timber at the Thames.

COMMERCIAL.

There was an excellent attendance at Messrs B. Tonks and Co's sale to-day. About 60 trunks of boots, and a quantity of furniture, were quitted at good prices.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND

Mails wiU close as under: — For Thames to-morrow at 330 pm, and 530 pm For Coromandel. to-morrow, at 2 30 pm For Wbitiangi, Tairua, Tauranga, and Opotiki, per Bo wen a, to-morrow, at 4 pm For Waiwera, Mahurangi, Matakana, Mangawal, Waipu, etc., per Anne Milbank, on Saturday next, at 11 am For Australian colonies, per Llowellyn, on Saturday at 11 am For Gisborne, Napier, and Southern provinces, per City of Sydney, four hours after her arrival from Kandavu. Mails for* India, China, Mediterranian Ports, Conti nent of Europe, and United Kingdom, via Sues and Southampton (for letters specially so addressed), and via Brindisi, will be made up per Hawea, on Monday, 18th instant. Signed) 8. B. BISS, Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

HARPER—On September 6, at her residence, Hob son-street, Mrs. W, T. Harper of a son.

DEATH.

SCOTTEE—On the 7th instant, at the Provincial Hospital, Auckland, E H. Scottor, aged 63 years. The funeral will leave his son's residence, New market, at 4 p.m. to-morrow (Friday), Bth Instant. Friends will piease accept this invitation.—Thames papers please copy.

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

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1876

far tbe cf_uie that lacks assistance For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the eood that ire eta do.

It is futile, perhaps, to expect much practical legislation from the General As sembly during its present session, but as provision must be made for education, attention should be forcibly directed to the growing class of gutter children, who are practically ignored under our present system. In neglecting that section of tho population, towards which State aid and Government interposition should be specially directed, we are deliberately nurturing the germs of a crop of larrikins, who will not fail to retaliate upon Society for their juvenile wrongs. Melbourne and San Francisco are reaping the bitter fruits of ignorance and vice, fostered in a community brought rapidly together under conditions essen tially proof against the restraining influences of a more settled state of society. But, so far as the State is concerned, the offspring of disease, drink, and crime, in New Zealand are progressing steadily towards the same position in the community as that occupied by the uncontrollable Melbourne larrikin and San Francisco hoodlum. Private benevolence [in Auckland has done a good idealiqr the amelioration; of the A evil in its

worst forms, yet there remain numbers of children who are never, either in our Orphan Homes or our common schools, brought under civilizing influences. That: education is not an infaUible preventative of crime will receive continual demonstration so long as the law of hereditary and inherent vagabond ism operates upon human nature ; but statistical researches place beyond the region of uncertainty the extraordinary influenc p which education exercises in diminishing crime. Probably this nower might be traced more directly to the -"lis sbil.Hes under whic 11 the ignorant labour iv the si-rngcle for Ufa in large towns, thaw to any special associa tion of vice with ignorance in situa tions where life flows along its primitive channels. Under modern con ditions of success, by leaving a child without education, we not only keep him most effec tually from advancing in the higher social scale, but unequally handicap him in the pursuit of laborious occupations, and force him into poverty with its atten dant vices, drink and crime. The labours of Legislative Committees in the United States haveresulted in very conclusive evidence on this subject, for which we are indebted to late American journals. "In the State of New York about seven per cent, of the entire adult population are unable to read and write ; and this class furnishes thirty one per cent, of the criminals of the State, and thirty-seven per cent, of the criminals of the city of New York. In Massachusetts, in 1871, it appeared that among the ignorant, one in twenty committed crime ; while among those more or less educated, there was but one criminal to 12G persons. In the New England States, only seven per cent, of the inhabitants above ten years of age can neither read nor write ; yet no less than eighty per cent of all the crime in those States is committed by that small minority The report of the Commissioner of Education for 1572 shews that, in the Middle States, the proportion of illiterate criminals is eighty-fold the proportion ©f illiterate people ; in the central West it is thirteen fold ; and in the extreme West and Pacific States it is ten-fold. In France, from 1567 to ISfiO, one half the inhabitants"could neither read nor write ; and this half fur nished ninety-five per cent of the persons arrestedfor crime and eighty-seven per cento* those convicted." But a more remarkable result revealed in these statistics isthefactthat the prevalence of crime is not only dependent upon the diffusion of elementary education, but bears a relative proportion to the rstan. dard and extent of knowledge. Thus, "of the 452 criminals admitted to the peniten tiaries of Pennsylvania in 1874, SS were wholly illiterate, 75 could read only, 253 could barely read and write, while only G had a good common-school education ; and of IS9S convicts sentenced to the county jails of that State, the same yea^ only one and one-tenth per cent, had an education above reading and writing.'' Scarcely, however, is it necessary to adduce evidence in proof of what ordinary intelli. gence displays as the inevitable result of a clearly defined set of causes. The facts are indisputable ; only the means of coping with them is in question. Slowly but surely, older nations have groped their way to a solution of this paramount problem, and the decision finds expression in the compulsory school law adopted by England in IS7O. Two con ditions are imperative in every successful national system ; education must be com pulsory, and, to those who cannot pay for it, free as the air they breathe.

We regret to hear that Mrs Lathrop, who fell into the water from tbe gangway of the Sam Mendel yeterday, was more severely hurt that was supposed. It seems that at first she thought her side was bruised, but yesterday afternoon the pain increased and Dr Young was called in. He discovered that two of her ribs were fractured. The husband has sent in a claim for compensation to the captain of the vessel. The injury was caused by the gangway falling on her.

Messrs Grant and Morton will continue the sale of Mr W. Wilson's drapery stock to morrow, and if possible will get through the balance by that time. Yesterday and to-day tho attendance was good, and bidding very lively, and good bargains appeared to be very freely distributed. .

Mr Alalcolm Niccol announces his retire ment from the City Council contest, feeling that he would not be able to devote sufficient time to the duties if elected.

The usual weekly meeting of the Star of Newton Lodge, 1.0. G.T., will be held in tho Lodge-room, Newton, this evening, at 7.30 o'clock. Members for initiation will attend at 7.45 sharp.

Colonel Haultain has, we learn, been ap pointed to the office of Sheriff, rendered vacant by the death of the late Colonel Bal neavis. His connection with New Zealand, extending over many years, in high official positions, specially qualifies him for the office.

A silver watch and chain was picked up by a gentleman at 3 o'clock this morning. It is now in the hands of the police, and the owner can have it on satisfactorily proving his claim.

The thanks of the manager of the Old Men's Refuge is tendered to Mr Dornwell for his present of 201bs of sausages, for the inmates. The p.s. Lalla Rookh leaves the Thames to-morrow at 9 a.m., not 9 p.m., [as pre viously advertised. An entertainment will he given this even ing in St David's school-room, in aid of the funds of St Sepulchre's reading room._ The proceedings will be of a musical and literary character.

The third monthly conversazione, in con nection with St Matthew's Church, will be held this evening, when a number of Mr Crook's views of English and Continental castles and cathedrals will be illustrated and explained. The football match between the members of the Ponsonby and Grafton Clubs will come off, if the weather is at all favourable, on Saturday afternoon, in the Choral Hall pad dock. As both clubs are well manned, a lively contest is expected. An English journal says rolled iron sheets •0015 of an inch thick have lately been made at Warrington so flexible that they bend almost as easily as paper, and yet so tough as to be torn with difficulty.

It has been said that Melbourne is as much infested with beggars as Constantinople, and in point of filth there is nothing to choose between the Victorian mendicants and those of Stamboul. In fact, dirt is a necessary cer tificate of character to the former, for a clean, decently dressed beggar is liable to be regarded as something worse than a beggar. A distinguished visitor to Melbourne not long ago is said to have declared that " Every fifth man you meet is a beggar."

" How like its father it is," said the nurse, on the occasion of the christening of a baby whose father was mere than 70 years of age, and who had married a young wife. "Very like," said a satirical lady, "bald, and not a tooth in its head."

A number of the unemployed of Dunedin are receiving employment by the Corporation at stone-breaking at 2s per yard, the Council providing hammers. Seventy-three men at once applied for work on these terms.

The future of Sir Julius Vogel, if correctly forecast by the Coromandel Mail, will not be a very brilliant one. "He will go home," aays that journal, "as Agent-General. He will commit some unauthorised act of extra vagance. He will be dismissed or re-called. He will not; return ; but after a time he will be found at Baden—Baden or some of the fashionable watering places where be will be n^ar a croupier who is saying from early afternn.-m until well through the night. 'Plaeo your ..taken gentlemen aud make your same.' If luck should turu against the ex- Premier, ex-Poatmaster, ex-Telegranh Com missioner, ex-Colonial Treasurer, ex-Premier, why—what then ? He will always get a decent subsistence by following commerce in the same humble scale as he has done afore time. A beautifully executed obelisk has just been raised upon the grave of the late Archibald Clark Esq., an old and highly respected citizen of Auckland. The memorial is creditable to the designer, Mr R. Keals, and the builders, Messrs Buchannan. The obelisk is an ornament to the Presbyterian burial ground. The structure is composed of bluestone and Hobart Town freestone, and is 21 feet in height. On tbe chaste marble tablet facing Symonds-street are tbe following words:—"ln loving memory of Archibald" CUr-k, who died. October 17, 1575 ; aged 70 years.—' Fear thou not. for I am with thee : be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee, yea I will hnlo thee ; yea. I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness." The crime of incendiarism is so common in Virginia City, Nevada, that several of the more prominent citizens now offer 3000 dollars in gold for the arrest and con viction of any one for aison. It is reported that 10,000 copies of Lieu tenant Cameron's bonk on his exploration of Central Africa have been ordered in England, and that his share of the profit is already £.5000. The New York city polico are, olfactorily considered, the best drilled body of detectives in the world. Sundays, when the excise law is enforced, is their grand field-day. Then, by the sense of smell, they can ascer tain through a block distant whether a man drinks weiss beer or la«er. Lagor is contra band of war, and subjects the proprietor to arrest. While the question of lead po"i3on in water tanks is under discussion, some facts which have recently attracted attention in Fngland will be read with special interest. The troops at Tilbury Fort were supplied with water collected on the roofs of the building, and stored underground in tanks at or below tbe level of the subsoil and high-water mark of the river Thames. The officials and ser vants at the railway station, a few hundred yards distant, obtaining their supply from another source, viz.. spring water, pumped from an ordinary well about a mile and a half inland from the Thames. Besides the rail road hands a small body of coast-guardsmen, occupying a ship lying in tbe river mud and just outside of the Tilbury fortifications, are supplied with this same water. Augue has for some long time past been common among the troops at Tilbury Fort, and almost un known at the railway station and on the ship. During some cleansing and repairing of the tanks at the fort, the spring water was used for some time by the soldiers, and ague disappeared, but made its appearance again when the tank water was used. Samples of water from these different sources having been subjected to analysis, in trie tank water was found an excess of fungoid matter, evidently derived from the soakago of the marsh water which sur rounded the tanks.

The Scottish Volunteers entertained their officers last evening at the Army and Navy Hotel. An excellent dinner was providod for the occasion by Mr Codling, in genuine Yorkshire style, and a generous, soldier-like feeling prevailed through the evening. As Major Gordon was unable to attend, Captain Mowbray filled the chair, and Lieutenant McLennan the vice-chair. The members of the corps appeared in the hose and kilt, in memory of the land of the " Thistle " and " Bonnie Prince Charlie," and the " Bruce of Bannockburn." Captain Mowbray in his opening speech regretted the absence of Major Gordon who was unable to be present, owing to unforseen circumstances Major Gordon was a true friend of the Scottish Volunteers, and he was sure that they had that gentleman's sympathies on that occasion. The several loyal constitutional, patriotic, and social toasts wore successively drank, and responded to, and at nine o'clock the gallant men retired to tbe adjoining hall for the festive dance, which was kept up with much spirit until five o'clock this morning. The hotel accommodation of San Francisco is equal on an emergency to the accommoda tion of 15,000 strangers, and the boarding houses to as many more.

SECOND EDITION.

Football Match,

Canterbury v- "Wellington,

[BY TELEGRAPH.]

WELLINGTON.

[Per Press Telegram Agency.] This day. The ground is in very fair order but very uneven and covered with Scotch thistles. There is very good attendance. The Go vernor was not on the ground at 3 p.m. The Christchurch men won the toss, and playe 1 with the wind. The ball was kicked off at 2.45 by Smith. Hutt, 3-20 p.m. Canterbury got the ball well down, and after ten minutes got a force-down. "' Barker then made a splendid run and waa well backed up by Chapman. This, roused the Wellingtonians, who in five minutes secured a " force-down." Park next made a good run. Canterbury had all the best of the scrim mages. After the ball was ont Anderson ran the ball down, but was stopped by Pollen. In another 4 minutes, Canterbury secured another force-down, through a magnificent kick of McCardell. Directly afterwards, another touch-down was secured by Canterbury, • and still another, and * then Barker by good play scored another force-down. Score for the first half-hour: Christchurch, , 2i; Wellington, J. \ Hutt, 4.10 p.m. Christchurch secured a force-down from a tremendous kf ck of Moore's. Park, on bring- Ing it out, made a good run. Potts, as usual, w as always on the ball. Another force-down was secured by Can terbury. A tremendous scrimmage took place now. Park took the ball out, but it went behind, and another force-down took place. After another scrimmage a touchdown was secured by Olliver. Cotterill made the try, but was unsuccess ful. McCardell next made a splendid kick and secured a forcedown. Evans made a good rnn. McAudle again made a good kick, securing another force down. The Governor arrived at 3*50. Another force down took place, making 9& for Canterbury ; Wellington, i.

The Rev Dr Stephen H. Tyng Jr., an American Episcopalian clergyman, recently baptized several persons by immersion because they preferred dipping to sprinkling, and they are now members of his own church. A meeting of the* committees of the late Interprovincial Football match will be held at the office of Messrs A. Clark and Sons Short land-street, at five o'clock to day. On Tuesday night last an Onehunga larrikin, who has seen upwards of twenty summers, was rather suddenly surprised in the act of smashing at a dwelling house, at eleven o'clock at night* for his own peculiar amusement, and was transferred to the lock up for the remainder of the dark hours. It appears that a respectable married lady whose husband is an officer in one of the steamers trading to the Manukau, went with her sister to reside in a house on the Auckland road, a locality infested with larrikins who prowl about until after mid-night disturbing the neighbours, and the house occupied by her had been attacked on five different nights by these young men, there being as many as two and four at a time, who kept knocking at the doors, endeavouring to raise the windows, and making use of threats. Owing, no doubt, to repeated complaints, a member of the police force took up his temporary quarters in the house that was the object of attack ; and the larrikin, not being aware of this fact, was arrested when in the act of knocking at the house. On Wednesday, he was brought up in the Onehunga court, being charged with having been unlawfully on the premises after night, and when the evidence of the witnesses had been taken, be was let off with a wholesome warning. The public or open meeting of the Hope of Manukau Lodge, 1.0. G.T., was held in the Choral Hall, Onehunga, last night and was well attended. After singing the Templars opening ode, Bro. Dunwoodie, the W.G.1., began the work of the evening by a short introductory address. Speeches were given by the Rev Mr Lockwood on "Total Abstinence," Mr Hemus, jun., on the word "No," and the Rev Mr Tinsley, whose remarks had special reference to Good Tem lars, on Never strike a man when he is Down. Dining the evening the Onehunga Glee Club, with Mr Stevenson as conductor and Mr Pai.ter.son as pianist, and the assistance of several gentlemen (amongst the latter Mr Saxton of Newmarket received honourable mention) gave several pieces of music. The .audience vouched for tbe pleasure the club had given them by hearty acclamations to the vote of thankß proposed by Bro. Neal, the Lodge Deputy Pro. Hendry's vote of thanks to the speakers waa carried in the same manner. The closing ode of the Tem plars closed a pleasant evening.

A Regular Soaker.

Jons Heaven, one of the crew cfthe Bebington, was out on the. spree last night, and came home so drunk this morning, that he mistook the green water for the colour of the ship, and walked into the harbour in stead of on board. Fortunately for our friend, ihe tide was low, and ho managed to scramble out again. Had it been otherwise, there is little doubt there would have been a summary settlement of the question Heaven or no Heaven, and we are inclined to think the answer would have in been the negative when the watch was called at eight bells. Heaven was so very drunk, that the outside soakitg when superadded to the inside wettiog. only had the effect of giving him the impression that he was very hardly used. So meeting Mr Henderson the chief officer directly after wards, he proceeded to declaim his wrongs in a very excited manner, varied occasionally by a stagger and a hiccup, in which he was ably assisted by a compan ion in distress who was with him. His eloquence was so f oicible, and his threats of what he would do to the —well, ungentlemanly person-who shoved him into the water, became so loud and inelegant that Captain Holditch c»me upon ihe scene, and was com pelled to give the man into custody. He lies in the cells at tho present moment snoring musically.

AUSTRALIAN CABLEGRAMS.

[press agency]. SYDNEY, Wednesday. A CHILD BURNT TO DEATH. A child was burnt to death last night during a fire in a wooden house. MELBOURNE, Wednesday. A murder was committed yesterday, at Emerald Hill. A woman named, Ellen Francis, stabbed a man named Robert"Davies with a shoemaker's knife. He died in a, few minutes after.

INTERPROVINCIAL FOOTBALL MATCH AT WELLINGTON.

The interprovincial football mateh —Wel- lington v. Canterbury—takes place this after noon, probably on the Hutt ground, some rnilos out of the city. Our correspondent has been instructed to telegraph particulars, but no message had come to hand up to the hour of going to press.

THE EX-PREMIER.

(To the Editor of tho Evening Stab ) Sir,—l should imagine that every unpre judiced mind must see with half an eye that the ex-Premier's little game is played out; and that his retirement from parliamentary life is a great blow and heavy discouragement to those who worshipped the golden image that Sir Julius Vogel had set up. At the most critical period of New Zealand's political history, to escape tho contumely of an indig nant people, he, like Sheridan's dog, quietly walks down stairs when he sees preparations made for kicking him out of the window. But don't let the over-burdened ratepayers lay the flattering unction to their souls that they have seen the last of this old man of the mountain. Not a bit of it; for when the clouds that lower on the future of our colony are dispelled by more enlightened statesman ship he will return to be again worshipped by those political renegades, who will receive with open arms the unblushing adventurer.— " Who staked his penury against our plenty,

Who tooft our ready cash; And paid us naught but wishes, hopes, and promises The currency of idiots."

Yours, R.T.H

A TESTIMONY.

(To the Editor of the Evening. Stab). Sir, —Will you be so kind as to spare me a space in your valuable columns, as I wish to publish a few lines in Mr P. F. Martinson's behalf, that the public may see the good he has done my little boy. He is nine years of age, but in 1874 he got hurt: his hip was dislocated and knee-cap broken and dis jointed,|and from thatftime up to the present I could not get anything done for him. 1 went to Dr. Philson, but he told mo he could not do anything, as he thought the boy was too weak to undergo an operation. I then went to Dr. Kenderdine, but he told me to go back to Dr. Philson, but as I had been to him I did not trouble to go a second time. Some time after I heard about Mr Martinson, and I thought I would try him, so I went to him on the 2nd of March, 1876, and by the 4th of July he had him able to walk and undress himself. He is now in good health and is almost quite recovered, where heretofore he was nothing but a perfect cripple.—Yours, &c, William Cain", York Terrace, Newton, Auckland.

LEAD TANKS.

(To the Editor of the Star.) Sir, —I beg to thank Mr Charles Bloomfield for correcting in my hastily written letter of Tuesday last the expression " Silicated oxide of iron paint." It should have read " Silicate or, oxide of iron paint," The fault was mine, not the printer's. I consider Mr Bloomfield's a very excellent and noteworthy letter on the subject, and am glad I wrote, even if my letter has no other result than that of calling forth his reply. I do not, however, "think" there is some property in rain water that corrodes the lead, I know there is. I purpose writing again, but I do not wish to monopolize the discussion of a most useful subject. I therefore wished to hear the opinion of others quite as capable of forming an opinion on so important matter as—Yours, etc, Ex- QTJIRBR.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Dr. Home, and W. J. Hurst, Esq., Justices.) J' DBXTNi. . I Edward Boncher pleaded *?*<*°f drunk and disorderly, and was fined 10s and C°J S'McVaye for using obscene language in Hobson-street was sentenced to W •*"» of 5s and costs, or go to prison for 24 hours. DESERTION. Alexander Campbell, a deserter from the Nymphe, was brought up and further re manded for 8 days. r „ km fcAROWST.-A VERY PAINEOT.CASE. Martha Noyes was charged with stealing a £1 note from a little girl named Rose Bevage, on the 6th inst. , Prisoner, who was a decently dressed young woman about 23 years old, pleaded not guilty, and was defended by Mr Laishley Rose Bevage said she was sent by her mother on the morning in question to pay a bill she owed to Mr McKeown, the baker. Her mother gave her a £1 note for the purpose. While she was going along Vincent-street at about half-past eight o'clock, she dropped the note out of her hand on to the path. The prisoner, who was walking close to her stooped and picked up the note and put it in her bosom. She asked her for it when the prisoner gave her no answer. She re peated the demand, but the prisoner walked on and took no notice. She then went back to her mother, and told her that Mrs Noyes had taken the note. She knew Mrs Noyes by name, as she had worked at her sister s house. She was quite positive that she was not mistaken as to the identity of the woman. Mrs Bevage deposed to having given the child the note. She saw her go up the street, and also saw the prisoner follow her. About five minutes afterwards, her daughter came back crying, saying that Mrs Noyes had picked up the note and would Dot give it to her. She gave information to the Constable Gillies gave evidence as to arrest ing the prisoner at a house of illfame, m Vincent-street. She denied the charge, and he searched the house, but could not find a note.

This was the case for the prosecution. Mr Laishlev in his address for tbe defence dwelt forcibly on the danger of accepting children's evidence when entirely unsup ported by other testimony. He quoted instances to shew this. The accused was a most respectable married woman, as he should be able to shew, and fortunately he was able to put her in the witness box. Mr Sub-Inspector Pardy : No. An argument took place on this point, and it was decided by the Bench against the learned counsel. Mr Laishley next dwelt upon the absence of all proof of identity of the property stolen, and upon the trivial nature of the offence even if proved. George Brad burn, a locker in H.M. Customs, said he had known the accused well for 14 years as a respectable hard working woman. Had never known any thing against her all that time. He could not say what took her to the house in Vincent-street. It might have been that she went there to get washing or to do scrub bing. Mr Laishley said he had other witnesses who were to have been present, and he should ask for a short adjournment in order to produce them. The Bench said they were of opinion that the case was a very painful one, and although they were strongly impressed with the straightforward manner the child gave her evidence, they were willing to afford the prisoner every chance of clearing her character. An adjournment till 2 o'clock was granted. Margaret Wright deposed that prisoner was employed by'her as a charwomon. She came to her house on that morning to do the washing, but for no other purpose. The Bench, in consideration of the prisoner's previous good character, dismissed the case.

This was all the business,

RESIDENT MAGISTRATE'S COURT.- This Day.

(Before R. C. Barstow, Esq., R M.) Notwithstanding the general complaint of tradesmen about the dullness of the trade, the business of this Court for the recovery of small debts continues as brisk as ever, and appears rather to be on the increase than otherwise. JUDGMENTS FOR PLAINTIFFS. David Bloom v. Wm. McLeod, claim £5 14s sd, goods, costs £2 4s (Mr Tyler for plaintiff); Holland and Butler v. Bryant and another, claim £17 2s, goods (Mr J. B. Rus sell for plaintiff), costs £3 ; Wm. Palmer v. Thomas Lupton, claim £2 13s 3d, butcher's meat, costs 14s ; Donald McKenzie v. James Kelly, claim £32 2s lid, pig iron (Mr Hes keth for plaintiff), costs £3 7s ; E. T. Saxton v. Higgins and Hatley, claim £12 14s Sd, goods, costs £3 (Mr Hesketh for plaintiff); Rollerson and Carlaw v. James I vera, claim £1 12a 7d, bread, costs £1 4s Gd ; same v. Robert Irvine, claim £2 Is, bread, costs I9s 6d. The summons was amended from Richard to Robert, defendant admitting that he owed the amount. Same v. Frederic Bannister, claim £1 98 6d, bread, costs £1 2s (Mr J. B. Kussell appeared in all three cases for plaintiffs). Defendant said he had been out of work for two months, and he could not pay. Mr Russell said that bread was an essential necessary of life. Defendant was a fish-hawker, and his wife was a nurse, but defendant evidently was not disposed to pay. Defendant said he could not get work. , Mr Russell said that whenever he wanted a labourer at 63 or 7s a day, it was almost im possible to get a man. The Court made an order for 4s a week. Wm. Henry Piper v. Edmund O'Connell, claim £3 3s 2d, goods, costs £1 4s 6d (Mr Beal for plaintiff) ; Gib bons Bros. v. James Johnstone, claim £3 14s, tea, sugar, bacon, etc., as per account, costs 19s; Alfred Buckland v. Robert Earrell, claim £4 15s, goods (Mr Hesketh for plain tiff), Mr Steadman proved the debt, costs £1 9s. 6d TOO LATE. A number of cases were struck out this morning owing to plaintiffs being too late, which caused his Worship to remark that he hoped in future, plaintiffs and defendants would make it a practice of being in Court, not later than half-past ten o'clock. MUSIC AND FLOWERS. ROBERT BREWIN V. JOHN T. HILL. Claim £6. Mr J B Russell, for plaintiff, and Mr Beal for defendant. Robert Brewin, seedsman, deposed that he received orders from Mr Hill, the husband of , Madame De Murska, for a number of plants and flowers for decorating the Choral Hall on the occasion of the De Murska concerts. He made a choice selection of specimen plants from the gardens of Messrs Mason of Ponson by ; the plants were valuable, and the price charged was fair and reasonable. The plants were destroyed by the gas ; but had they been cared for, he might not have suffered loss. To Mr Beal .'The plants were the property of Messrs Mason, but he was responsible ; he watered the plants as often as necessary ; the plants were ordered by Mr Hill's agent. He valued the plants at various prices according to their value. ;To Mr Russell: The demise of the plants was made known to him by Mr Mason, to whom he was responsible. James Mason, of the firm of Mason brothers, deposed that on the order of Mr Brewin he delivered the plants at the Choral Hall. There were two loads. To Mr Beal: A large Bilver fern died, and other plants as named by Mr Brewin. They did not die in the hall, but were in a languid condition through neglect, and being put

aid not dk> lQm: Worship: They were on the point c* death. .. Mr Mason : Yes, your worship. ~ Mr Beal asked that plaintiff ngt » nonsuited as he failed in shewing that defend ant had killed the plants. Mr Russell said he should not accept a nonsuit. ~, . ~. Mr James Impey, Hall-keeper in the Choral Hall, was then called.! He remem bered the plants, and watered them twice. He could not say that they were sickly, nor could he say they were -healthy, he did. not perceive any indications of speedy death m their appearance. . . To Mr Russell: He was a musician, and not a botanist. He could lead a choir, better, perhaps, than he could manage a garden. Loved a beautiful bouquet. Thomas Beeston saw the plants, they were green and the blossoms were pretty ; he was working in the Hall, often admired the plants and never saw them ill-used. Mr Beal then addressed the Lourt, to the effect that plaintiff had failed in establishing the case : the plants died through plaintiffs neglect in not watering them, at least every o<Mr Russell addressed the Court, and said i it was a question of common sense, and he objected to Mr Beal quoting from law books ; the defendants had made no effort to square matters but bad cleared out. His Worship said this was a case out ot the common order, and it was not to be expected that the plants could be returned in the same condition as when they were sent. He could not give judgment for plamtifl for more than £2, and cost £2 lis.

The Kingdom of Dahomey.

THE SEAT OF ENGLAND'S THREAT ENED WAR.

THE AMAZONS. The kingdom of Dahomey is in some respects one of the most curious and interesting ot all the African principalities. The military strength is not to be estimated by deducting women and children from the whole popu lation. The amazons of this corner ot the world play a very important part in its mili tary affairs, and if unfortunately we should be compelled to go and fetch the powder and shot which this audacious potentate has pledged himself to provide for us, King Gelele's female regiments will form a very interesting subject of .study for the strong-minded representatives of the sex in England and elsewhere. The pre cise period when ladies first took to soldiering in Dahomey appears to be involved in some obscurity. The present monarch is the ninth since the founding of the kingdom in 1625. It appears to have been A^ajah, the fourth king, who raised from the women of his palace the first female army of which we have any knowlege. Skertchley says that in 1728 this monarch re ceived a defeat at the hands of the Eyeos, the implacable enemies of his race, and he organised an army of Amazons, and, by their assistance, completely turned the tables on his foes ; though whether the ladies were I such vixens, or the gentlemen too gailant to j offer serious resistance, does not appear.

ATROCITIES COMMITTED IN WAB. Whether Agajah really originated this peculiar service we cannot say ; but the merit of bringing it to its highest degree of perfec tion undoubtedly belongs to Gezu, father of the monarch who now seems inclined to defy British power. Burton says that the Amaz ons " were a favourite army with Gezu, who often boasted that he had first organized it. It raised him high among surrounding kings? and chiefs, who declared an alliance with each other, and a determination to make a distaff of Gezu's head—a declaration equiva lent to a casus belli." The united chieftains so far succeeded as to gain a decided victory at Ado, a frontier town, where an Amazon crops was defeated and lost its officers and umbrella. Gezu swore a terrible revenge, and falling on Okeadon by stratagem, slew all the sick and aged, and seized and sold as slaves all the remainder, some 20,000 people. In f 1871, however, Gezu received a blow from which he never recovered. He attacked Abeokuta with 10,000 or 15,000 troops, male and female, and was beaten back with a loss of some 1200 of his best warriors.

THE PRESENT KING OF DAHOMEY. The "King died in 1858, and v. as succeeded: by Gelele, his son, who still maintains the force which won for bis father such brilliant victories for many years. In his hands,, however, the force has iost most of its power and prestige. Soon after his accession Gelele led an army to Abeokuta to avenge the deteat of his father. On this occassion, however, smallpox broke out and he was compelled to return. In 1864 he made another attempt, and "a comparison between Gezu's ans Gelele's attacks," says Burton, " gives the measure of Dahomian decadence. In 1851 the' King assaulted on both sides of the Ogun, and the distance between the two points of attack was at least a mile. He fought from morning till night, and was driven back but one mile to Ado. He fought again at Ishagga, preventing furthur pursuit, and lost a total of 1,200 soldiers. In 1864 Gelele attacks only on one side of the river, and he takes to Might in two hours, after losing 150 men, and he hardly kills one of the enemy." In the end the Dahomians were utterly routed, and the finest portion of the Amazon ian army perished. For all that the royal braggart returned to his capital in triumph, bringing with him a number of slaves whom he had purchased for the purpose of gracing his entry into the capital.} HOW THE AMAZONIAN ARMY IS CHOSEN. The number of the Amazons is somewhat dubious. Duncan speaks of a review at Aboine, in which 8000 of these female war riors passed in procession before him. Skertchley, writing later, says their number may possibly be 4000. " They are divided into three brigades," says this same traveller, •' known as the King's company, the Bight and Left wings. Each of these has a peculiar head-dress, by which it may be known. The King's brigade wear the hair shaved a la tur ban, and bound with narrow fillets, with alligators of colored cloth sewn on them. The Bight wing have their heads shaven, leaving only a solitary tuft; or two, while the Left wear the hair an naturelle. Whether these fair warriors have any choice of regi ment we are unable to say. In some parts of the world there would perhaps be some heart-burning among ladies who were divided into corps, one of which was permitted to wear its hair au naturelle, while another was required to shave the head. Amazons however, whose conquests are supposed to tbe entirely of the military order, are perhaps above the trivialities of personal adornment. Celibacy is enjoined upon all but a few who are found to be essential to the happiness of the king, or are given in marriage to a few of the most deserving soldiers. Whether Gelele keeps up the same mode of enlistment as his paternal predecessor we are unable to say. Gezu used to require every one of his subjects who had daughters above a certain age to present them at court upon a certain day. and he personally selected the most promising of the aristocracy for Amazon officers—or ofliceresses, as some travelers prefer it—the girls of the lower orders being drafted into the rank and file. The dress of these female warriors appears to be somewhat after the " Mary Walker" type, with a few trifling modifications. "They wear," says Dunean, "a blue and white striped cotton surtout of stout native manufacture without sleeves, leaving freedom for the arms. The skirt or tunic reaches as low as the kilt of tho Highlanders. A pair of soft trousers is worn underneath, reaching two inches below the knee." ACTIVITY OF THE DAMSELS. By way of illustrating the accomplishments ef these active damsels, Lieutenant Duncan may again be quoted. " I was conducted,'' te Bays, "to a space of broken ground, where fourteen days had been occu pied in erecting three immense prickly piles of green bush. These three clumps, or piles, of a sort of strong

MtdßSitm MX% mmm&% September | MHE



J COSGRAVE & CO ANNOUNCE FOB POSITIVE SALE Their Magnificent Siook of Winter DRAPERY and CLOTSIJTG. I*rge Portion of he Stock Ib REDUCED to COST. PBIOE snd UNDER. Quantities of Useful and.ValuableJGoods in all) the Depart ments wUI be subjected to Un j paralleled Reductions.



"DTTSHBROOK akd BRIDGMAN \ -M~A) invite thp sttentl. nof Purchasers to a number of SPECIAL LINES, just to hand, BOUGHT at AUCTION, and to be Sold at a considerable Reduction upon Us;aa), Price. Vaterproof Tweed at 3/6 per yard—a Bargain Imitation Nelson Tweed, first-class for Boys' Cloth ing, and very cheap. BLANKKTS! ~~ BLANKETS! White Blankets, all sizes Blue Blankets Grey Blankets. Our Blankets are well bought, and tbe large demand for them is a convincing proof that they are FIRST-CLASS VALUE. -» >>' > 0 5 * E 6 X I s wC ' 0 & tsc </_ « ° 05 0 53 M D o 5 eg Ph . M X 8 Winoeys, Costume Cloth, French Merino, and Fancy Dress Goods. flannels, siiirtino, calicoils, etc. General Dbapeby and Clothing, of Every Description. 5% (Is) Discount allowed on nil Purchases of 20s an upwards. Patterns and Prices forwarded on application. Country Orders executed with oare and despatch. ttUSHBR'OOK & BRID;GMAN, \7ppkr Queen-strebt, Auckland. CjPECIAL riHEAP T INE& AT 130 AND 132, QUEEN-STREET. HEAVY BLANKETS, 12s 6d per pair GOOD WHITE SHEETING from Is 3d per yard A Special Line in LONGCLOTH, syd per yard STOUT DRESSES from 9d per yard SUPERIOR BLACK VELVETEEN, 2s 9d per yard STOUT WINCEYS, syd per yard. S. & J. IT YAILE, 130 AND 132, QUEEN-STREET. A LINABUBY AND CO. OFFICfAL NOTICF. £6£oo WORTH OF DRAPERY AND CLOTHING TO BE SOLD. Tlie PARTNERSHIP of A. LTNABURY & CO expiring by limitation, our EXTENSIVE STOCK MUST BE CLEARED, and our Accounts called in, to settle existing Partnership business, we now ofter our ENTIRE STOCK of DRAPERY _£• CLOTHING, etc., etc., at COST. We Mean Business 11! CASH with us is, the LOWEST PRICES the eopla of Auckland have ever seen. oTh sis no Humbug ! We do not make Low Prices* n one Line of Goods only, but on the ENTIRE TO CX. ASH toill BUY these GOODS CHEAP 1 *_T SALE NOW ON 11 i3T LOOK IN AND SEE ! ! ! A. LINABUBY Sf CO., 224 and 226, Queen-street. TO" 0 T I C E. T. & H. COOKE, Cabinetmakers, Upholsterers, Ac, Beg to inform their friends and the public that they have *_T REMOVED _g* To the new and spacious Show-rooms in Qneen-street, next to the Bank of New Zealand. In addition to the usual varied assortment of Furnishiog Goods, T. and H. C. have just Opened Large Shipments of Iron Bedsteads and Toilet Glasse x Bebtngton and England's Glory.



When Four Thousand Disinterested Physicians certify to the excellence of an invigorative stimulant, sceptics as to efficacy—if there be any— might as well retire to a " back seat." Such an in dorsement carries conviction to the mind of all rational persons. Tbe above number of medical men have, over their own sienatures, most emphaticallj conflrmod tbe popular verdict long since rendered in favour of Udolpho Wolfb's Schibdam Aromatio Schnapps. The New Season Cod Liver Oil, 1876. Guaranteed perfectly pure and free from smell or unpleasant flavonr. Tbe quality is especially fine. ---2s 6d and 5s a bottle.—J. C. Shabland, Apotiihcaries' Hall, opposite the Post-office. Manning's Worm Powders—A safe and ffectual Vermifuge. Prepared only by J. C. SHAR LAND. Is a packet.—ApotheOaeies'Ha__.__i opposite the Post-office.



Hemus & Trigg, opposite McArthur, Shera and Co.'s, will sell the Balance of their "Winter Drapery and Millinery for Two "Weeks, at Cost, in order to make room for Spring and Summer Goods to arrive soon.



Mark Twain on Bad Musicians.—The musical public and general readers are cautioned not to purchase Weston's Wizard Oil and Magic Pills, without carefully examining the outside wrapper— and be sure tnat the words "None Genuine without the Signature of tbe Proprietor, Fbanic Weston, Sydney, N.5.W.," are engraven thereon. Any other so called preparations of mine, are unauthorized by me, and calculated to mislead the public—Signed, FbankWbbton. Sole Agents: Kempthorne. Prosser and Co. Price, Half-a-orown.