SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER—This afternoon, 0 40; to-motwro morning, 118 StTN BK7?-Thls evening, 6.5 BUN RIBB--TO -taorrow morning, 5 39 MOON'S AGE—K«w Mood, 25th, 6 pm.

ARRIVALS.

M»iry, scnooner. irom ittisseli iLeo, cutter, from .Russell

DEPARTURES.

i^r B (from the Thameß) Luna, Government - '; F r , irchildi f or Nelson Bella Mary, barque, for ' Hobart Town

JJ p .'Or ship Benvenue ha 3 csmpletcd the dis cuaige jf her Lond-n cargo, which has been turned s)ut5 )ut m prime tondit'on. Mr Butcher had the con ? -»Gt for unloading her, and he has carried it out to the satisfaction of all parties The Benvenue will bo .wady to haul away irom the wharf immediately. 'She stiila f r Newcastle in ballast at the beginning of ;the week.

The barque Glenlora has been hauled into the 'berth just vacated by the Hero. A tight entry to ■clear this vessel is to b* passed at ten o'clock to morrow morning, so consignees are requested to pass entries as soon as possible.

The barque Marth* has come alongside the new western T to take in cargo for S' dmoa and Tonga. The brieantine Coronet j s engaged loading for TxhiU ami Kr,rotonga. S>i e ig to leave early next week.

AUCKLAND CATTLE MARKET.

Mr Alfhed Buctcland's Weekly Repout,— At Rumucra, on Thursday, dniry cattlo were ia 'limited numbers and of late values; store cattle in numbers ; larpe cattle lower in price; calves "the young cattle in demand ; fat cattle in lest than average numbers, 11 "> head passed, prices of last week fully sustained. The ewes advertised were dull of sale, and many withdrawn Wethera were ol good quality, and all sold at late values. Pigs of small size and a. good class more than usiiitllv numerous* and wer<3 ii, good demand. Prices given Were:—Dairy cows, £10 to £l< ; weaned calves, 28s to 40s : yearl iDgs, £3 to £3 10s ; two-year olds, £4 10s to £5 ; fat Battle. 25s to 28s, and a few 30s the 100 lbs. Long "wooll* d ewes, mixed ages, Ms each ; wethers, 15s to 19} mch, or about 2!jd thelb. ; lambs, 8s to 15s each ; choice pigs, 4d the )b. live weight ', and the six work.-, inf? oxen brought £65. Mkssur Huntkr & Nolan's Wkkklt Etipobt.- We sold, dairy cows from £9 to £12 10s stores were ■a shade lower thtn last quotations. Sheep: The Market is overstocked. On Tuesday, at Newmarket, fat aheep were well competed for, but for those not sufficiently tip in condition there was little demand, *nd Btorea declined in value. We sold fat wethers Irom 16s 9d to 22s 6d; ewes, 15s. Lambs have receded In price, and sold at from 6s 6d to Us 6d. Pigs Supply short; prices maintained.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE. AUCKLAND

Mails will Close as follows ;— For Thames this day, at 430 p ra; and to-morrow, at 9 a. m. For Whitianga, Tairua, Tauranga, and Opotikl, per Bowena, this day, at 4 pm "For Wniwera, M:ihurangi Matakana, etc, per Annie Milbnnk, to-morrow, at 10 am For Taranaki and Southern provinc&J, and Aus tralian Colonies, per Wellington, to-morrow, at at 1.15 pm For Money Orders, Registered letters and News papers, at 12 15 pro. Lato letters for Southern Provinces and Mel bourne will bo received iill 1 30 p m For Opotiki, per Coralie, to-morrow, at 4.30 p m For Napier and Gisborne, per Southern Cross, on Mondivy next, at 3 p m For W'angarei, Eussell, Wangaroa, and Mongonui, per Tona, on Monday next, at 4 p m (Signed) S. B. BI3S, Chief Postmaster.

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

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1876

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the eood that we can do.

We cannot lose entire faith in the chivalry of the species when we find a defender even for Dr. Pollen. Mr. Dargaville has place^ his lance in rest, and in this morr: in g' s Cross does battle for the oft-reviled. Self-relegated as Mr Dargav& e j ju t now is to the limbo of biased and neglected politicians, it may be supposed that he can safely afford to run a muck against the common sense and the common instincts of the whole community. Still when we see a eulogist of such a man at such a time and in such a place we cannot repress the rising emotions, even as we should melt in admiration and tenderness at seeing a man weeping while pronouncing a funeral oration over a dead donkey. Mr. Dargaville smells another gunpowder plot in the present unpopularity of Dr. Pollen. The Doctor, he says, was a Papist and turned Protestant, was being made into a priest, and the material being crude and unworkable he got married. For these two offences, being a convert and a benedict, he is now being hounded to earth. The high Protestantism of Mr Dargaville—for is he not the Grand Master of the Orange Institution?—impels him to an intense vigilance against all the followers of the Pope, whom strange to say> he ever finds in the ranks of hh political op ponents. In fact so keenly sensitive is he to the perils in the seductions of the "Scarlet Whore," that whensoever anyone opposes him in politics, that person is at once set down as being in league with the Pope and the devil. Sir George Grey dashed his hopes of the Superintendency, and Sir George is ever since at the head of the Jesuits, and he and his party are very naturally regarded by him as the enemies of all good. We do not say that Mr Dargaville has Pope on the brain, because we are pretty sure that His Holiness is only used for a purpose, and that the " Glorious, pious, and immortal memory " would be equally damned and dam nable if it was thought that Fenianism could be made aa useful an instrument for the political advancement of Mr Dargaville. However we now step aside from the cham pion and come to the protege. Mr Darga ville essays to enquire into the causes of Dr. Pollen's "intense unpopularity" with a "certain section of this community." We ! presume he refers to the ..Roman Catholic " section," but we think he should extend his enquiries to various other sections, and in order to assist him in the enquiry, we shall undertake to furnish him with two or three samples of Orangemen who revere the memory of William Third as fervently as does the Grand Master, but who still hate the political huxter and insolent Minister who has done his best to insult and ruin Auckland, with a hatred second only to that wherewith they hate the devil. In his enquiry Mr Dargavilie says that thepeople are '' impressed with the notion that the Doctor has in some way or another—they cannot tell you how—been guilty of gross political mis conduct." This is exactly the notion of the people, but when Mr Dargaville assumes that the people cannot tell wherein the political sinfulness of Doctor Pollen consists, he assumes an amount of simplicity and ignor ance on the part of the people, the assumption of which before has so often proved fatal to Mr Dargaville, and which has so frequently brought him when buoyed up by hopes based on popular stupidity, to suddenly topple over and fall into the abyss of political humiliation. Left us tell Mr Dargaville once again that the people are not so green as they look, that they can peep through and through a man whatever his political disguise, whether he ( is the seasoned politician, who hardly at tempts to conceal that he would sell friends, and party, and heaven itself for place and p a y_or the gushing young aspirant to poli tical preferment, whose soul is bursting with the secret panacea for all political ills. Every one knows what Dr Pollen has done, and what he has left undone, and bow poli tical misdeeds, like birds, come home to roost at night, and to this we shall briefly revert in the sequel. But Dr. Pollen's apologist says :—"lt need not be pretended that Dr. Pollen is unpopular because he was a party to the removal of the seat of Govern ment to Wellington ; for in that matter he acted at the instigation, or at all events, the concurrence of Sir George Grey who, never theless, ia now enjoying Auckland popularity ad nauseam." We partially agree that the " interne unpopularity" of Dr. Pollen is not wholly owing to the faot that his single vote decided the removal of the seat of Govern ment from Auckland. The treason of that early date would have been long ago obliterated from the people's memory had not the lines been deepened and darkened as years rolled on by similar acts of hostility to the people and the place. The insinuation that he sold Auckland " at the instigation of Sir George Grey " is like thoße other political fibs which Mr Dargaville's high Protestant principlesfand unquestioned Christian piety have not restrained his pen from uttering, and which— vide the " grass growing in Auck land streets," and Sir George being the cause of the removal of the capital—Mr Dargaville has persisted in reiterating, knowing them per fectly well to be untrue, and after they were denied on the honor of a gentleman. In this respect Mr Dargaville's " manliness "is like his Protestantism made to suit the occasion. The apologist for the Colonial Secretary aayp, "It is not urged thatj Doctor iPollen was

ever guilty of corrupt practices, of reckless extravagance, of favouritism, nepotism, or even anyjactjof gross inconsistency in nis poli tical career." The impudence of such a state ment is astounding, even though coming from Mr Dargaville. Is complicity in the Piako Swamp business nothing ? Or does Mr Dargaville really think that the moral sense of the people has become so blunted under the demoralising influence of the reign of political corruption, that they can regard as not of the category of corrupt practices, the various transactions in relation to native lands and forests effected or attempted under Dr. Pollen's Govern ment ? As for favouritism and nepotism, the Colonial Secretary's idiosyncracy is such as to develop what in others would be favour itism and nepotism, into enmity and selfish ness. His greatest favourite is himself. Nor do we think that his sympathies ex pand so far aa to include that relation ship which is implied in the term nepo- : tism. The Doctor is simply and en tirely selfish. Self is the Alpha and the Omega of his political existence, and fa voUritism and hepotisra are we think far too expansive to be included in the sphere of V\ a social ethics. We charge ' n i m w J tn ' «D 0 gross incor^steaty } a ni ' s political career.'' rt6 haa been consistent in the strictest, fullest sense. The fundamental principle of his political career has been, "Man, mind thyself," and he has been as true to self as the needle to the pole. Superficial observers, whose opinions are worth nothing, may have thought him inconsistent; but from the one main principle of his poli tical and social life he has never swerved. And just as a ship at anchor may seem to point her bows inconsistently to north, south, east, and west according to the ebb and flow of tidal or atmospheric currents, so self has been the anchor of his soul sure and steadfast to which he has swung, and to which he will swing on for ever ; and despite the ebb and flow of popu lar passion, or the force or direction of the wind in political storms his bowsprit has been always pointed to —Dr. Pollen. With having sacrificed public or any other interests for any one or any thing—but Dr Pollen, we hardly think his worst enemies will charge him. We believe, like Artemus Ward, he would shed the last drop of his brother's blood for his country. Poor John Williamson was the best friend he ever had. Had it not been for him the Doctor would have probably been now making bricks at the Whau, pursued by the avenging furies of unpaid draymen and uncompromising duns. Mr Williamson assisted him, befriended him; taught his feet to walk the slippery ways of politics, and really made him what he is to-day, a Minister independent of his country, and empowered to snub his betters, whose shoes he is not fit to blacken. Yet to John Williamson Dr Pollen was subsequently the keenest enemy of his life, thwarting his plans for the advancement of the province and embittering the closing days of a man who lived and died in the disinterested service of his country. His apologist pleads he is "a most able administrator." It is the business of his life. It is his bread and butter. JSTo thanks to him for devoting himself to his self chosen profession. Surely to goodness there ought to be something to balance the objectionable features of his character, A man who would not be elected by popular choice to the humblest road board in the province ought Burely to have some counter-vailing excellencies to makehim tolerated in the anomalous position he oc cupies in a free representative and responsi ble Government. Dr Pollen's excellency is ability to administer. He is an official by nature, by instinct, and by profession. He slides from an official desk and stool, into a Treasury bench ; and when it gets too hot he slides back to the stool again. Small thanks to him for knowing official business. He cannot live out of it, and he has made a good thing of it within it. As for the " cour teous and obliging " features to which Mr Dargaville refers, it is admitted that he is an adept in "Oily gammon," and has made effec tive use of the lubricator in sliding on from post to post; and that he can give the civilest answer with the least in it and say the nastiest things in the pleasantest way of any man in New Zealand. We have been temp ted on thus far by Mr Dargaville's defence of one who is very justly at the present time regarded by the people as the worst, because the most insidious, enemy Auckland has ever had. Placed, as Dr. Pollen is, in a position where he is exempt from any responsibility to the people, he can afford to be in solent, and it does not require his conver sion from Romanism to Protestantism to ac count for the feeling entertained in return. If he were to become a Buddhist, or an apostle of Brigham Young's, or a disciple of Confucius, his religious f selings would have about as much to do with the " intense unpopularity" in which the whole people of Auckland hold him, as had the fact that his raw material wouldn't work up into a priest. Nobody will insult Doc tor Pollen by charging his conscience with having had anything to do with his change of faith. We are sure Dr. Pollen would be the first to chaff at the idea of any such enthusiast. But if Mr. Dargaville is really an enquirer after truth let him run his eye down the whole of Dr. Pollen's adminis tration since the really able and generous minded and public spirited Vogel went away, and ask himself is there not in the ordinary human instincts which recoil from insolence, impertinence, incapacity, and apitefulness in office, enough to account for the " intense unpopalarity" of the intending " Minister in attendance."

We have not as yet been informed of the result of the meeting of the A.S.P. Co.'s directors, held yesterday, to consider Mr Coleman Phillip's proposal for opening up steam communication with New Caledonia, but we trust that it is a favourable one. The subject is most important to the interests of Auckland's commerce. The development of the Pacific trade is what we all desire to see effected, and the decision of the directors upon this particular proposal will have a strong bearing upon the question. We have carefully watched the growth of the A.S.P. Co., and if at times we have questioned the wisdom of some of its measures, we have never forgotten the fact that in opening up communication with various trade centres the conapanyiia bestowingja great Jjoon upon

general commercial interests. Let the directors, therefore, not flinch to carry out the present proposed undertaking. If they have boats suitable for opening up the trade we see no reason why our own Government should not immediately be applied to for assistance. Party questions of politics may for a moment rest before the one of commer cial advancement. We strongly advise the ] directors not only to apply to the Govern ment; but also to wait upon Sir George Grey, ' and state exactly what assistance they actually require. Sir George, although powerless, for the present, as Chief Magis trate of the province, is extremely anxious for the development of the Pacific trade. For many years he has foreseen that this trade is a magnificent appendage of the port of Auckland, and we believe that anything Sir George can do to assist in it 3 development the directors may rely Upon. If the position the province was at all upon a par with that of the other provinces our Superinten dent would be in a position to practically foster suuh a proposal. Notwithstanding Sir Julius Vogel's glowing speech of yester day evening, the resources of our province naVe been completely crippled by the Gene ral Government, and we must now go hat in hand to Wellington to beg for that which is ours by right. If the directors do not think that their present working plant can effect the proposed extension) let them resolve upon the purchase of a new boat, and issue a certain number of shares to pay for the pur chase. We believe the public are fully alive to the importance of the measure, and that the great body of the shareholders of the company are also favourable, so that the directors can act energetically in the matter. We shall be glad to learn what determination has been arrived at.

Some new scheme for the aggrandisement of Wellington at the expense of Auckland is evidently foreshadowed by one sentence in Sir Julius Vogel's banquet speech last night. He said : "He was rather of opinion that Wellington harbour should be looked upon as a harbour belonging to the whole island. It was not surpassed by any harbour in the colony, and only equalled by the harbour of the Waitemata." What is the meaning of all this ? During last session of the Assembly the Government voted an amount necessary for the construction of the Wellington rail way wharf while at the same time compelling Auckland to carry out a railway wharf with borrowed money. Are we to believe that, having robbed Auckland of its legitimate share of public works expenditure, dissipated its lands in bonuses to Ministerial supporters, and injured the province in every possible way, that the Government now contemplate a blow at its commerce and shipping by fostering Wellington as a port to the disad vantage of the other harbours in the North Island. The Premier's words mean this or they mean nothing, and the policy they foreshadow is only in keeping with the bitter hostility to Auckland which has characterised the whole administration of the present Government. And still many of our leading men will keep their eyes firmly closed agaiost the insidious machina tions of an unscrupulous foe, which has, in a few years, reduced the province of Auckland, notwithstanding its goldfields and many resources, from the first position to a very low place among the provinces of New Zea land. We are quite prepared to hear the importance of "' looking upon Wellington harbour as a harbour belonging to the whole island," advocated by men who. live in Auckland, and through the Auckland press.

We are very glad to see that we are keeping the Cross on the right path. To-day our contemporary swallows all its previous utter ances in support of the action of the Govern ment relative to the removal of Thames miners and the insult offered Sir George Grey, and launches forth strongly against both. The contrast between the views of our contemporary as expressed within one or two days is amusing, if not instructive. We quote two or three passages side by side :— THK INSULT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT. Cross, Feb. 17. Cross, Feb. 18. " We are informed that " Unquestionably it was due official notification a great irror on the part was made to His Honor of Ministers not to give the Superintendent of due notice to hia Honor the proposed visit of his the Superintendent of Excellency the Governor, the visit of His Excellency and the day of his arrival the Governor to Auck in the province." land. A telegram an nouncing the fact would have bee a but the work of a few minutes, and ordinary official courtesy ought to hays disregarded any feeling Which may have had its source in past misunderstanding and mistaken political hard-hitting. * * * The Colonial Secretary should have risen above any small political feeling and sent the notice, the absence of which has caused no small amount of censure of Ministers in Auckland." SHIPPING THE UNEMPLOYED AWAY. Cross, Feb. 14. Cross, Feb 18. "It is somewhat singu- " Why, then, when this lar to find that in the face Is the fact, and when of such a demand for these men are departing labour at good wages in from the Colony rather Wellington, as is here than go down South, shawn, the Superlnten- should not every effort dent of (.hat Province be strained to keep the should have given the men in this Province ? applicants from the The expense of introduc- Thames no encourage- ing immigrants is about ment and no hope of £20 per head, and with work in Wellington. Evi- one hand we aro expend dently proper inquiry ing moneys for that had not been made, as purpose, while we decline the letter we have quoted to stretch out the other shows. Here, however, to prevent the emigration is a solution of the of a useful class of men, present Thames difficulty. spfici»lly qualified for That it is a satisfactory goldfield work. Suppose solution may, in a sense, some three hundre i men be admitted *.* , * It were to go to Wellington, is impossible to arguo the cost of their passage that the Government of would be something like the Colony can be fairly £3 per head. If they asked to find work to returned, which is doubt maintain men at a ocr- ful— but suppose they tain locality, where 8m- were to return when thei c ployment is scarce, while is ready the work for in another Province there which long experience is a great demand for best fits them—at least a men, and high wages are similar sum would be offering " spent to re-convey them to the Thames. Thus Cross, Feb. 16. something approaching „ * * * wjjiie one £2,000 would be spent in or two hundred men may passagas alone —that is, find it benefical to go to unremunerative outlay, Wellington for a season, the cost of transit, for * * the Government which, as far as they are should, in view of the concerned, no return necessities of the case, wou'd be possible. Far advance another £1,000 better would it be to so as to secure work for retain the men where they the men with familiesj are, and save sinking who would find it difficult such a sum in going to remove. With our con- "there and back agiin," temporary, we believe after a period of only that many of those (no three months," doubt, chiefl» siDgle men) < who would go to Wel lington would speedily return to the Thames when the mines are again jn full work.'.'

The panorama of "Up the Shine," in the Pitt-street school-room, this evening, will be conducted by Mr William Thome, solicitor, who will deliver ,the descriptive lecture thereon.

We understand that during the entsuing visit of the Superintendent to the Thames, whither he goes on Monday next, His Wor ship the Mayor, J. E. Mac Donald, Esq., intends inviting the Borough Councils and the Chairmen of the various Highway Boards in and around the Thames to meet Sir George Grey at a banqnet to be given to His Honor. We are glad to see that His Honor's services in behalf of the Thames are appreciated m that quarter. We have heard frequent enquiries as to the cause of Dr Pollen, the " Minister in attendance," not being in attendance yester day on the arrival of his Excellency. We have been at the trouble of making enquiry, and find that his remaining in Wellington was caused by illness, the illness being situated in the rearward and softer portion of his person, in the form of a large boil, which renders difficult his sitting down and generally preserving that dignity of demean our which is naturally to |be expected from a Colonial Secretary. We shall be happy to issue bulletins each day during the Honor able Doctor's illness, detailing the progress of his convalescence.

The drat heat for the Mayor's Cup was rowed yesterday afternoon between two crews of the Auckland Rowing Club, consist ing of; Henderson, Isaacs, Riding, Ratcliffe, Smallford (cox), on the Colonist ; and Jones, YateS, Tonka, Maaotf, A. Tonks (cox), on the Manukau Maid. A good start was effected by Mr J. Oxley, and both boats kept well togstbfcrtill rounding; the Cantero, where the Manukan Maid gained about two lengths. This distance was kept otll *ouncl ing the Benjamin Heape, where the Manu kau Maid again gained, and came in a winner by about four lengths. The second heat will be rowed this afternoon at five, and the nnal on Monday. The children of St. Matthew's Stinday school, numbering between 400 and 000, held their annual fete yesterday in the Domain, accompanied by Rev Mr Hassard, Mrs Hassard, and the teachers of the school. The day was beautifully fine, and the children after a bountiful repast, enjoyed themselves in a variety of ways in the shade of the trees and upon the the grass. Mr Hassard did his best to render the children's holiday memor able in the minds of those about him, and was as merry as was his wont in the beautiful grounds of Battersea in other years. A num ber of adults were present aud looked on with the kind of pleasure which Goldsmith de scribes in the early part of the "Deserted Village," where the young " loitered on the green " and led up the sports beneath the hawthorn tree, the young contending while the old surveyed, etc. As the cooler shadows of evening Battled in the glades and golden light twinkled among the leaves, the party sat down to tea and sang a hymn. Subse quently they formed themselves into a pro cession and marchnd homeward with their teachers, singing of the promised land.

Out of 27 applicants for the English mas tership of the Auckland College and Grammar school, Mr S. Leon, Classical and Mathe matical Exhibitioner and L.L.8., at present senior assistant master at Toorak, Melbourne, has been accepted.

Mr John Batger gave a very interesting lecture last night on the great pyramid, in which he demonstrated by many ab struse arguments and calculations that i the object of the pyramid was to demonstrate great scientific facts, the distance of the earth from the sun, the diameter and circumference of a circle suc cession of equinoxes, etc. The lecturer's conclusions were bo elaborately wrought out that the limited space at our command pre cludes us from doing it anything like justice. The concluding lecture of the series will be given on Thursday next.

The supplement of the Evening Star of to-morrow will be irresistable in its char acter, and will shine forth with its silver rays of sweet enlightenment before the clock strikes five. We notice that the enchanting story of " Marriage in High Life," from the electric pen of a light-hearted French novelist is conluded. "Californian Jackßon" is a story of thrilling and vivid interest which a Miss Vinegar is deeply concerned, and which shews how Jackson was pep pered by a lady until his heart was turned into mustard. The " History of the Indian Mutiny, )M'contributed to the sup plement by an old Indian officer now resident in Auckland, contains details stranger than fiction. The " Blue Satin Boots" is most exciting in its character, and will lift many a twilight reader intoecstacy of delight. The "Phenomena of Dead Faceß" is singular, and its startling metaphysical revelations might rank wilbrtbe weird stories of mad Edgar Allan Poe, and claim knightship with the Zanoni of Lord Lytton. A beautiful poem (we withhold the writer's name), entitled 1 'Burial of Moses," also appears in the present Supplement; also, a column of rejected, or not called for, valentines, which will repay perusal, and in wllich many of our young readers will recognise themselves without the aid of photography. We have to acknowledge receipt of number four of the " New Zealand Songster," pub lished by Mr Joseph Braithwaite, of Dunedin. It contains a well-selected collection of the latest comic and sentimental songs, dialogues, and recitations.

Mr Turner, hydropathisfc, invites all those who desire to hear the principles of the system discussed to meet him this evening at seven o'clock at the Turkish Baths, Upper Queen street.

At the Newmarket Hall last evening there was a good attendance of about thirty ladies and gentlemen at the practice for the pro posed concert. Some annoyance was caused the aingers by a number of people, mostly children, who were walking about the end of the hall near the entrance, and who should be excluded on such occasions. The concert will in all probability come off on Tuesday week, as Mr Brown will have his forces ready. Mr Saxtcn will have the ante-room and platform completed, and Messrs Hold ship and Co. have promised to get the forms ready for Thursday next.

The Hon. S. JD. Hastings, P.K.W.G.T., after a tour through the colonies is now in Auckland, and will deliver an address on temperance in the Lome-street Hall on Sun day night. Mr Hastings is one of the most advanced thinkers upon thiß subject, and his opinions are based on a wide experience in all parts of the world. He has had special op portunities for observing the operation of prohibitory laws for the suppression of the liquor traffic, and other means devised to suppress the gigantic evil of drunkenness. His address on Sunday evening, will we doubt not, contain much information of interest and value to all classes of people— to non-abstainers no less than teetotallers.

Twenty-four thousand seven hundred and forty-eight people, exclusive of season tickets, and 1,153 tons of goods travelled along the Auckland and Mercer railway during the four weeks ending January 15, giving gross receipts amounting to £2,081 16s 6d, and yet we are told the railway won't pay.

A shipment of humble bees was brought out to Lyttelton on the ship Ofari, and it was hoped, from the care which had been taken by Mr Frank Buckland in packing them, that a few at least would have been landed alive. Unfortunately, however, it was found, upon opening the case containing the bees, that they were all dead. This result was foretold by Mr Frederick Smith, of the Zoological department of theßritish Museum, who strongly, but ineffectually, remonstrated against Mr Buckland's mode of packing.

To the Editor: Sir,—You have credited Judge Gillies with the large vase of cut flowers exhibited at the late floral show. The flowers were mine, and among them were some very nice seedling dahlias* I should not have noticed your reporter's mistake, being of very little consequence had not Mr Lippiat endeavoured to detract the value of

a very superior yellow seedling, and affirming positively it was old Bullion. Bullion I to carded|two seasons back tomake room iofel low Soy a very superior dahlia and from the last 1 have raised the one in dwP^to."^" year expect it will takS the lead among the yellows Again Mr Lippiat wanted to claim the white [one exhibited as his 'W£ Mine came from the Queen of the Whites, imported and the very best white to be found here. Yours,-J. H. Home. At the ordinary fortnightly meeting of the Auckland branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, held in the Young Men's Christian Association rooms on Mon day evening last, the interesting ceremony ot paying over the sum of £5 tool money, to Mr Edward Bailey was gone through, being the first instance in which a member became en titled to tool benefit money since the inaugu ration of the branch in Auckland, arising out of the recent fire at Mr Skinner's shop in Vulcan Lane, in which Mr Bailey sustained theloss of his tools. Out of eight others who sustained similar losses at the fare, Mr Bailey is the only one who received any relict.

SIR GEO. GREY'S LECTURE TO-NIGHT.

From the large number of tickets sold for Sir George Grey's lecture there wil.be, a yesterday We need hardly say that no man Hvng is 7 better qualified to speak of the ••Australian Colonies and New Zealand than Sr George Grey, whose experience dates from tL g days when Melbourne was but an insignificant town»hip and New Zea land a wilderness.

The San Francisco Mail.

ANCHOVIES AND TOAST.

[From our London Correspondent.] Londok, December 16. SUEZ CANAL PURCHASE. - CURIOUS ACCOUNT OP ITS ORIGIN. The purchase of the Khedives share in the Suez Canal, whilst confirming most thor oughly the confidence of the entire nation in a conservative Cabinet, has rather tended to complicate, in one sense, our Eastern ques tions. The result of tbe confabulations of the great Northern powers on this matter are not known, if indeed the three heads have come to any decision at all about it. It is well known that the late Emperor of Russia always expressed his opinion that England ought to have Egypt, but then, of course, that was only on the supposition that the gate of the Black Sea would be in his own hands. If Russia is guile less of any sinister intentions regarding British possesions in the East, it is quite manifest that England's command of the Suez Canal can have no significance to her. On the other hand the trade of the Danube can not be allowed to fall under the thumb of Russia, as would be the case did that power hold the Dardanelles. At this time England has no intention of being anything more than a mere shareholder in the Canal, but of course if Egypt proves herself incapable of managing her own affairs it is not improbable that EDgland may be driven to take the reins of Government into her own hands and pen sion off the Khedive, a la Indian Rajah. Considering that nearly all the traffic of the Canal is English, it seems not unreasonable for that country to have a large say in the management of the navigation. M. de Leeseps is very much pleased at the trans action, and regards it as in every sense a benefit to the commercial world. One section of the French pres3 is very angry about the purchase, and M. Lemouine, editor of the Journal dcs Debats, who is a crazy sort of creature, has launched out into awful diatribes against us and our foreign policy. He insists that our foreign policy is essentially selfish ; that we have left Turkey to sink because we have been able to secure our highroad to India and don't care what be comes of the Porte ; that we are careles3 of the fate of every other country as long as we can secure plenty of £s d. Indeed, that Napoleon was more than ever right when he called us a nation of shopkeepers. There have been reports that France has offered to support Russia through thick and thin against us. The fact is since the Crimean war, Frenchmen , have got it into their I weak little heads that England cannot get on | without them. They believe that they did i everything that was done in the Crimea, and that solely for our benefit,| and through a chivalrous feeling on their part, and they re gard our not backing them up in the German war as an act of the basest treachery and in gratitude. Now what can you do with people who get such monstrously ridiculous fancies into their heads ? Charivari, the other day, had a woodcut which illustrated exactly French feeling on the subject. France is re presented as a stout, robust, well-to-do little ant addressing England, who is in the guise of a.gaunt, starved, impoverished-looking grasshopper, wearing the helmet of Britannia, with the forlorn locks and huge tusks which French good taste associates traditionally with English female loveliness. The car toon is intended as an illustration of Lafontaine's fable, "Lo Cigale et la Fourmi," and the English Cigale is sup posed to be imploring the aid of the French fourmi in this Eastern business. The Cigale has a guitar slung round her shrunk shanks labelled, " Question d'Orient, " and the French fourmi holds out a card inscribed " 1870 ;" underneath are the lines— Que faisiez vous an temps cliand ? Vcras chantiez, j'en suis fort aise lh bien! dansey maintenant! The moral being that it is a case with Eng land if France does not?come up to her aid. On the other hand there are not wanting Parisian journalists of a generous and sen sible nature who take a statesmanlike view of the canal purchase,, and see clearly the straightforward conduct of England in the affair. The Union, for instance, a Legitimist paper, says " England by this bold stroke, re-enters the sphere of active policy. She resumes her place in the world, and shows that she must not be left out of calculation. The policy of England has not changed. She obejs her old tradi tions with rare ability." The Temps said England had done a good stroke of business, whilst the Moniteur did not Bee that the pur chase could have any political effect. In Berlin there was great excitement about the purchase, but as I have already said, we know nothing worth repeating of what Rus sia, Germany, and Austria have decided. In England there are not two opinions as regards Mr Disraeli and his Cabinet. We are all proud of what he has done, and Liberals and Conservatives alike are joining in the pasan of praise. A leading Liberal journalist met me at our club the day after the announcement of the purchase. "It almost makes me wish, " said he, " that I belonged to your party. It is glorious ; there has not been such a stroke of brilliant foreign policy executed this century. No Liberal Cabinet dare even have done such a thing." There was talk of parliament being called together at an early date to ratify the purchase, but the sense of the country was so plain that such a step was seen to be quite unnecessary. Not the least important man who figures with the purchase is the Baron Rothschild, that human Golconda who seems as if he meant to buy up all Europe some day. Money begets money sure enough, but fancy a man having a spare four millions of money to lend at any moment to any one with good security. Such a sum he has lent to the British Government to pay the Khe dive, and so by simply signing his name, this terrible man pockets a cool quarter of a !

million ! Oh ! ye gods an<* little fishes » think of it. Good Heavens ! how long would you and I have to toil and slave Mr Editor to scrape together even the odd fifty thousand, and here is a man who does the Whole thing by a stroke of the pen. One of the best things that has appeared on. the subject of the Suez purchase was published in the columns of the World. Here it is :— THE GATEWAY TO THE ORIENT. , 1 They have built them a house of sand on sana,' ■Wrath-pale the nations m»y sneer and say ; ' They have taken their stand in a desert Jand — Ay, 'twixt the Bear and his Eastern prey t ' On a waste by a Bridge of Water spann d ;• Ay, but 'tis now the Queen's Highway ! Go to ! Ye thought that we slumber'd and slept, As ye sohenißdand plotted from orange to pine, Crown'd heads, that met ™id<.t the snows, or kept Tryst in the land of olive and vine, And"smiled and embraced at, soft phrases adept, Though thinking ot blood as ye sipp'd your wine. Go to ! We were out of your count. "We stood Too high in our light for your eyes to> Bean. A nation of shopkeepers? Well, 'tis good, If it must be, for good, to suffer a ban. Ye revell'd in blood ; we gave of our food To famishing myriads in Hindustan. And India we'll bold, though your swords be whets Against our Dublest and truest and best. That jewel we'll keep ; His the brightest yet On the front of England's invicible c-eat. Here, and no futther ! This gateway is set For our Orient mansion. Have care, and rest. The story of the purchase is that Mr Disraeli was one day dining with the Roths child when the latter received a telegram from Paris informing him that the Khedive's shares were in the market, but that there was some hitch about the price ; and that certain parties were in treaty for them. He read the telegram aloud, when the Premier asked what the price was. The millionaire wired to Paris for the information, and back came the reply, "£4,000,000." "All right, they are ours," said the author of the Little Duke, and the thing was done.

THE NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

We have frequently, during the past few- \, years, had occasion to notice the new and beautiful edifices of various kinds which have been reared in our midst, and which for beauty of design and ornamentation, reflect favourably upon the architects and builders ; of this city. We have not, however, bithexto - : been permitted to write iv glowing terms of our city places of worship, which are debcient v in those architectural adornments, and that , durability of character, by which the temples '>> of the people of Greece and Rome were dm- " tinguißhed. The splendid new church of the Congregationalists worshipping in Beresford- Btreet, under the ministrations of Rev. War low Davies, M.A., is perfect in design and ~,. finish, and, while it reflects credit on the per severance of the Auckland Oongregationahsta who have provided the necessary means, the architect, Mr Herapath, who has success- jfl fully and tastefully designed so many of on? city buildings, it moreover, indicates anew colonial era, if we may so express the idea, in the building sacred edifices of this city. The ■ Congregationalists in the erection of then? church have also set a noble example of open ing it comparatively free of debt, so that the ■ members have the consolation of feeling that they are free from that incubus which hangs . ■ over the majority of colonial churches, and which causes continually the passing round of the plate. The Beresford-street Church occupies one of the healthiest and most ?7 picturesque parts of the city, and its centra ; -i position will render it easy of access to ; hundreds of persons from the surrounding cottage homes, which sit in the valleys and on the hill sides, the people of whom will gladly wend their way on Sabbath days to listen to a minister of power and eloquence,, ' with the promise of years before him. The outer form of the chnrch at once impresses . ; , ; , the mind of the spectator with an idea of i, order, stability, and taste, without any attempt at extravagant and unseemly display. The style is what is termed Grecian Doric, in which admirable taste and study of simple effect is exhibited, and which characterise , the whole of the building. Architecture, although primarily including construction, aims at giving beauties, qualities, andeffectß, to which simple construction is but the means to an end. Perfection should be the , aim of every workman. The inside of the church is in perfect keeping with the exterior ; the same regard to sim plicity, and yet to neatness, health, and con venience is everywhere observed and observ- , able. One prominent, uniform regard to an j idea runs in harmony throughout; all is . 1 compact, substantial, and in unison with the evident design. The sittings also are arranged in crescent style, so that each person may seethe preacher without being over-shadowed by his neighbour. A convenient position has been made for the choir, an efficient one, at the Beresfordstreet entrance, with places for the safe custody of the music and necessary books. The pulpit, or forum, has a very chaste appearance, and upon the right and left are neatly con structed rooms for the minister and deacons. On each inner side of the church are fixed ten patent ventilators, or air shafts, as they . , are sometimes termed, toadmit the fresh air, and prevent unpleasant drafts of cold air. Each of these are ornamented with a kind of classic medallion skilfully carved in imitation . of sculpture. The windows admit an abundance of light and reach from the cornice of the ceiling down to the tops of the shafts. The ceiling is of coffered panelling, ornamented with gold edging running along the chaste mouldings, and the gas chande liers are in exquisite harmony with the other portions of the interior. The chapel is 70 feet in length and 42 in breadth, and capable ;, of seating comfortably at least .500 persons. The composite, a mixture of cement and other material, was specially chosen in order to give durability and a noble appearance to the church. The seats are of native wood, substantial, and finely polished, suggested ;j we understand by Messrs Daldy and Firth, two of the leading members of the Beresford street congregation. The architect as already ■-,;> stated, is Mr. Philip Herapath, who has given the utmost satisfaction in his work, of which he may entertain a feeling of honest ' , pride. Messrs Kose, Brothers, were the i contractors for the building, and their part of the undertaking has been studiously and ; carefully finished. The other departments 0f,,,, the work have been produced by Messrs Le Roche, Mr Parker, and Mr ' Cook, names.1,'!),; well known and recognized in connnection ,"» < ;; with the most recent of Auckland buildings, si The opening services of the new Congrega tional Church will take place on Sunday next. , The sermon in the morning will be preached : by Rev War low Davies, M.A. and in the . evening by Rev Alexander Reid, and ou the following Sundays by other ministers accord ing to announcement in the Evening Stab _ and other journals. The opening services will be associated with special hymns by the , Beresford-street choir, one of the most com pact, and united choirs in the city. The members of the Beresford-street Church may therefore, congratulate themselves with good and sufficient reason on the beautiful result v. ; of their persevering and harmonious effort. Their new church is second to none in the ■ province, and every person associated with V; the work and the worship may look upon it j , : '>c with feelings of honourable pride, and es pecially when they feel that at no remote period, their church will be free as the light. . of Heaven from all earthly and perplexing liabilities.

The cost of church, hall, site etc., was over, £5,000, and the congregation have raised an amount which leaves only £1,100 debt. In . | order to clear this off at once, Mr Firth and .'^ ''. Captain Daldy have liberally promised to"\ ; , contribute £500 if ,the congregation makes up the balance in connection with the openiDg^.^ ~> f| service. An inducement of this kindshoultt ' stimulate a friendly emulation in giving, and we look with interest to the result.

THE EVENING STAR, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18J1876



ME. and" MBS. SYMS desire to ex press th^ir gratitude to their friends, the members of 100. F., M.U.. and the Schoolmates of iheir late child, Mary Jane Eliza, for the respect •shewn by their attendance at her late funeral, and also to thank the two Miss Twaites, and Miss Conway, yonng ladj' teachers, for the manner in which they marshalled the children. nLOEIOUS NEWS! Great Sale of Groceries and Provisions at Fehton's, Market Corner, next to Helmut's, Queen-street. In consrquence of the dullness of times, F. Fenton will realise at the following prices:—New Honey, 7dlb; Splendid Tea, 2s 1b ; White Sugar, 41d 1b ; 21t> boxes Pigs (new), Is box; Eaisins, (3d 1b; new Muscatels, Is ft>; Peel, Is Gd 1b; Treacle, id lb ; Flour, 71bs for Is ; Marmalade, 8d tin ; Jam, 7d tin ; Jar Jam, Cdlb; Tapioca, (Ud lb; C. Flour, 6.1 lb ; Rice, 2id lb; Split Peas, 3d ft""; Plaid Wax Matches, CddozfTln Bones Matches, Ikl box; Candles, 5W lb ; ;;porm Candles, Hd tr> by the box; Soap, CM bar; Pickled Walnuts, 7d bottle; Bardincs, 6d box ; Sauce, 4d bottle ; Oil, 7d bottle ; Washing Powder, 6d doz; Spice, Id pit; Tobacco, 2d packet, or 3d plog; Potatoes, 20ft>s foi ls; Blue, 9d lb; lOd lb; Oheeee, 81b; *>alt Butter, lOd lb ; Pastry Butter, 8d lb ; Pure Lard, 9d ft; Epsom Salts, 12 packets for 6d; Cocoa and Chocolate, 5d packet; Mustard, lOdlb; Hops, Is ft; Arrowroot, 6d lb. A NNUAL CLEARING-OUT SALE OF SURPLUS DRESS MATERIALS, DRAPERY [AND CLOTHING. H. ATKINS HAS COMMENCED HIS ANNUAL SALE OP PLAIN AND FANCY DRESS MATERIALS, BLACK AND COLORED SILKS, CAPES, JACKETS, FISCHUS, ETC., ETC. The Prices of all the above have been Greatly Reduced. 25 to 40 PER CENT. REDUCTION has been made on some thousands of yards of Dress Materials. They are being sold without regard to Cost, to effect a clearance. Owing to the inclemency of the weather during the Spring and Summer Season, there is a large surplus of excellent, patterns in DRESB MATERIALS to select from. During this Cheap Clearing Sale of Summer Dress Materials — Manchester Goods, Sheetings, Quilts, Blankets, Lopg Curtains, Table Linen, Calicoes, Clothing, and Fancy Goods, wilTbe sold at Unusually Low Price?. H. ATKINS. | QPEOIAL TO HOUSEKEEPERS. CALL AT THE CITY HALL, r- INSPECT ~ ■ THE FOLLOWING GOODS, WHICH ARE OP EXCELLENT QUALITY, AND VERT CHEAP: — White Sheeting, 2yds wide 1/1 per yard Twilled, 2 yds wide.... 1/6 „ Plain and Twilled, 2J yds wide.. 1/9 „ ' " ~ 2£ i, ..1/11 >, 3ood Waterproof Sheeting, at 3/9 „ Colored Table Covers, 3/11; usual price, 6/6 ~ 5/9 i, 8/6 Fancy Table Oil Cloth, ljyds wide, 1/3 per yard American Leather, lj yds wide, 1/1 per yard Mahogany and Oak Table Oil Baize, 1/3 per yard. Cheap Rummer Hats for Ladies and Children Underclothing „ » ' Clothing for Men ana Boys „ Dress Goods, reduced prices 85 dozen White and Drab Stays, 2/3 and 2/11, a decided bargain. HOLLO WAY & GARLIC X, CITY HALL, Queen-Street, Auckland. EDWARD WAYTE Has Just Received HIB NEW MAGAZINES AND BOUND SERIALS FOR 1875, Comprising :— Cassell's Magazine Chatterbox Child's Oompanion Family Herald Kind Words Leisure Hour Little Folks Little Wide Awake r.ugßto Quiver Sunday at Home B|.; Tract Magazine, &0.,' &c. ; ft EDWAKU WAYTE, MjRWoiITEI!. OF BOOKS AND STATIONERY, B^ft&S&* £ 100, Queen-Btreet, Auckland. J



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