SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

MOOIT a j>< ii-i^u Moon, 7th Juno, 1216 pro

ARRTVALS.

xransit, schooner, from Timam Clematis, l w tch, from Russell Onward, schooner, fr m Wangarei Uonita, schooner, from Wangwei

DEPARTURES.

■Acieia, barque, for Newcastle iona, J ■irquhar for Eussell waiw< ra, schooner, for Wangaroa y.flupr,, »VoiSp, for the South

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

jyor IjOndon-Carnatlc, ship, early ; Dilpussund, barque, early l! or Coromaidel - Argyle, ss, Mondays and Fridays For Wangarfti—Argyle every Tuesday For Bay of Islands—lona every Monday .Era lanranga—Rowena, s s, every Friday

VESSELS EXPECTED

rßella Mary, barque, from Hobart Town, eariy , Kobina nunlop, barque, from London ; sailed 18th March Martha, barque, from the Islands, early an«, bier. from Hobirt Town Fairlie, schooner, from Lyttelton I/Eetitia, schooner, from Rarotonga Bebington, ship (PRUV), from London; sailed 24th February England's Glory, ship from London, early Loch Lee, schooner, from Sydney, early Wanlock, barque, from Glasgow ; saile'j p e b 18 woosung, ship, from London, ear'-^ Coronnt, schooner, fjom the If' ar .'L ear i v wW Cll>£ arqUol f/° m '^eLdde/doubtM twi w'i b* lTlue;. fror a London, sailed 18th March v* ?•' EC I hooner' f -omthe I 9 lgnds, early Prin,% q"°< from Liverpool; sailed Otb. March Pnnoe Super,,, ketch froin liy ttalton

IMPORTS.

irtr xransit from Timaru :—920 sacks wheat, 200 sacjcujoats.-G. W. Binney, Agent and Consignee.

GALE ON THE "WEST COAST. Captain "Worsp had a ,very rough time of it with the Taupo on her last voyage from the Manukau She left Onehunga last Wednesday week, and crossed the bar tho same evening, facing at once a tremen dous sea and string1 gala She was knocked about fearfully all night, but behaved very well. Out of thirty passengers only one appeared at the breakfast table next morning. The gale continued all day. New Plymouth was reached at midday instead of daylight, and Nelson was made at 4 am on Friday. The captain and enginear shared in the prevailing seasickness, and the stewards and stewardesses wanted attention themselves instead of being able to give it to others.

The Hfththouse on Cape Foulwind, east coast of Middle Island, will be illuminated lor the firat time next August.

The brigantino Hannah Bloonlfleld arrived at "Wcl- Imßton from Kaipara on Kay 26. \n excitins? race (siys the Otarjo Guardian) to6k place on Saturday afternoon between the steamers Qfcajro and TVellingtsn. The former vessel left Port Chalmers at 4 35 p m, and the Utter some five mioutes later. It was evident, howevef, from the Otago's trim that she would not bs able to hold her own against the smart little Wellington, which quickly overhauled her in the run down to the Heads, and, after crossing the bar, succeeded in taking the lead, a position site maintained during the run to X/yttelton. which port &be reached Rt 0 20 am yester day. Tho Otsgo had not made her appearance" whei this morning's telegrams weve dispatched to Port Chalmers from Lytteltcn.

The clipper fore-aad-aft schooner Transit arrived irom Titnam thin iTaorainp. after a rapid passage of lour days and a half. She brings a cargo of oits, wheat, and other Southern produce The barque Adela left today for Nowcastlo in ballast.

The barque Natal Qaeou is loading at Lyttelton for this 'port. She is expected to leave within the next wn or three day 3.

Ths New Zealand Shipping Company have advice •of the snivsl of the barque Columbus in London on the 20th April. She left V ere on the 6th January so that the voyage occupied 10* days. Ten fore-and-aft schooner Kate foundered off Grey 'Dfrouth on Monday 15th in3t,. She was sighted by the "2. B. Taylor, xncl it was observed that signals of distress were flying, ■ On ranging alongside, it was foundthat the Kate had iost her rudder, that most of the sails had been blown aw*y, and the vessel was leaking, ami the pumps were choked. The crew iUnrttfhed the boat, and succeeded in getting on board ■of the T. B. Taylor. Sitorly afterwards, t»e Kate sank. Tho T B. Taylor was towecl into G-reymoush tm tho following day. The Kate was a vessel ofjtwe ~.ty eight tons, and cleared from "Wellington for flokitika, in ballast.

The schooner Fairlie ieft Lvttelton for this port on Saturday night lust. She has a general cargo of produce, principally consigned to the agents, Messrs H S Meyers and Co.

• The yacht Secret was run into a few nights ago by some craft unknown and her counter damaged to the extent ",ot about £10, Although the Secret and Daphne as they lie at anchor do not carry light 3 they are well out of the fairway and masters of trading vessels entering and leaving the harbour might easily avoid interfering with them. This is the second time the Secret has been damaged by Collision.

Tho brigantifl c Flirt has j ast undergone an extensive overhaul on Messrs Sims and Brown's useful Mips at the North Shore. She has been stripped and rafastened. recaulkecl and coppered, and is now aH staunch as when new. The Go-A head is to be placed upon this slip as soon as Mersrs JFraser and Tinne have seen to her boilers.

The TauDO left for tho South this afternoon.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND

!WArts vriui, Close as TOi/trwa:— For Thames, to-morrow at 5 p m For Corom»ndel on Friday next at 2 30 p m For Wangirei, etc, per \rgyle this day, at 4pm For Port Fitzroy, per Water Lily, to-morrow, at 9 am For I evuka, Fiji, per Llewellyn, onThuradaynext, at

3pm For Euasell, per Augusta, to-morrow, at 5 p m For Taranaki, Southern Provinces, and Australian Colonies, per ss Wellington, on Saturday next, at 10.15 am. Late letters will be received till 11 am. Per Australia, on Monday. June 5 as follows :- For Sandwich Islands," United SUtes of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South . America,,.and British and Foreign West Indies, at 11 a m For' United Kingdom and Continent o£ Europe, at 11 am For money orders, registered letters, and news papers, at 10 a m , Late letters bearing an extra fee of 6cl in addition ,to the postage, will be received by the mall agent on board up to the time of sailing. (Signed) S. B. BISS, Chief Postmaster.

DEATH.

HARI?IN(j—On tho 22nd May,.at the residence of Captain Oldridge, Wakefield-streefc, Agnes Helen, only daughter of Mrs. Charles Fetton Harding, aged 2 years and G months.

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

TUESDAY, MAY 30, 1876

for the cause that lacks asstetanca. For the -wrong that needs resistance. For the future in tlie diituice,

Ajid the yood that vrc can d©.

Thebe are not wanting signs that a severe tightness of the chest is afflicting the Colo nial jTreasurer. When the Bank of New Zealand balance-sheet revealed the fact that the Government deposit from the last four million loan had disappeared, we inferred that the jovial young spendthrift colony would be shortly brought to its bearings by the exigencies of empty coffers. Ifc ia a curious fact, but by no moans unprecedented in the experience of extravagance indulged in with borrowed capital, that no two colo nial financiers agree within some millions sterling in their estimates of tho aggregate indebtedness of the colony. But an empty pocket is a monetary problem which any harum-scarum can understand, and thi3 seems to be precisely the complaint that is now worrying the great apostle of borrowing. Heaven-born genius has not come to the rescue this time, but little expedients which have served in good stead for debtors of lesser note are available; and necessity owns no law. Two time-honoured modes of deferring. the evil day of reckoning have, according to our latest information, been re sorted to. Primarily, the postponement of all inconvenient settlements ; and secondarily the melting of as much paper as can be placed upon confiding money-lenders. The non-pay ment of grauts long overdue to many country Highway Boards may be accepted as an appli cation of the first principle, and in the issue of Treasury Bills we have the second feature in its most simple form. That the Govern ment should have paid tho city subsidies at the cost of struggling out-districts may be a very clever stroko of policy, if intended to Stifle tho howl of groat centres of population, but it augura badly for the future treatment of districts whore no popular clamour can ariao to enforce tho porformanco of neglected obligations. Tho prospect suggested by tho

combined evidences of impecuniosifcy is like, wise the reverse of encouraging to those who fondly believe that the Government really mean to construct the Kaipara railway.

An olttion will be wonderfully economical. No doubt of it; we have been told this so often, and on such high authority, that if we do not believe it what confidence can be placed in human veracity ? Besides, if aboli. tion has not economy in its favour, what has it? This one fundamental doctrine has slain its thousands of unbelievers. "Kino petty Go vernments to govern three hundred thousand people !" exclaims the abolitionist, and the nonplussed provincialist U for ever silenced. This was the cardinal point in the early day a of centralism, Provincialism was cumber- . some and expensive; one central gQYeHbtnenb cheap and effective. £ at| 80 n e how, the cheapness of h&s iidfc lately been ma' upon so much. It may be that the advocates of Wellington dominance feel that reference to General Government cheapness of administration, now-a-daya, will be met by severe contortions of their hearers' left eye. More probably, however, the abandonment of the theory is due to the remarkable reticence on this head which haa characterised the utterances of the Premier. Major Atkinson, in his financial abatement last session, thought a possible £30,000 would accrue from savings on pro vincial administration, but this little item was then considered illusive, and Sir .Julius Vogel appears to have abandoned it. The first result; of abolition, according to the Wellington Argus, a great ministerial authority, will be an increase of the Cabinet by two members ; and Inspectors of Prisons, Forests, Education, and a host of other big salary men are an expensive sub stitute for the small fry of provincialism. The final dissipation of any lingering belief in the savings from abolition, however> has been left for the three able civil servants, who have returned to the Empire city after spying out the land, tilled with astonishment that so much work was being done for so little pay, a thing quite opposed to the guiding principles of the circumlocution office. At Nelson they expressed profound surprise that poli tical oifice - holders should be doing departmental work, and their experience generally of tho possibility of saving off provincial departments may be summed up in the following paragraph from the Post : — "The last province which they visited war that of Hawke's Bay,where they experienced a cordial reception from Mr Oimond. There was liltle for them to do in Hawke's Bay, as all tho officers of that; happy province will be duly provided for by a bonevolent an.) paternal Colonial Government." The Napier Telegraph says the whole scheme is already decided upon. "In consideration of the ' native difficulty,' the Superintendent will, probably, be installed us Governm"nt agent, at an increase of £GOO a year on the salary now attached to the Superintendence, while the other officers will all be provided for."

It is fashionable to look abroad for our ex amples of publicspirifc, aod. then deprccatingly compare the puny efforts of Auckland with the mighty deeds of our neighbours. But certain it in that when a gond.thini; is p'.aced before the public in the right way, there ii no lack of response. Wo have been twitted for yeara with tho insiguilicance and inconvenience of our Mechanic's Institute, but no sooner is a proposal placed before the people which will give them something hotter, th^nfour hundred intending supporters come forward and declare their willingness to join heart and hand in making the thing a success. Bub one misunderstanding has got abroad concerning the aims and objects of the proposed Athenasam which ib is desirable to correct. The institution baa, by a very simple mistake, been muddled up with tho idea of Masonic proprietary ; and as every one does not believe in Masonry, and at best the association imparts a class character to what is intended as a great public undor taking, those who have laboured under the impression spoken of, may disabuse their minds of the error. The scheme will be carried out by a joint stock company, in which the Masons will have no part whatever as a body. Many leading Catholics have given their sup port, and Captain Burton, to whose surplus energy and leisure time we are indebted for this effort, hopes to give the institution a thoroughly unsectarian character, uniting all denominations and classes for the com mon object of wholesome amusement; and intellectual improvement.

The business men of Dunedin, who have ;been mainly instrumental in preserving the coastal service of the Californian Mail contrao^ are paying a heavy penalty for the fanciful advantage. Having now, in the Union Company, a large stake in tho success of coastal steam services, any outside subsidized competition must bo regarded as very objectionable by one section of the Otago merchants. But a much more serioua injury is being done to the reputation of the port. Until these large steamers attempted to enter, very few people wero aware how bad a harbour Port Chalmers is. Tho people of Dunedin themselves hardly seemed conscious of the fact, and, when the Colima went back to Lyttelton without entering, the press with one voice demanded that someone should explain the reason why. The explanation which followed was tho reverse of satisfactory, tho Commissioners appointed finding it conclusively provedgthat any attempt to bring the steamer into port must inevitably have resulted in disaster, her draught, as loaded, being 22 feet, while there was little more than IS feet ia rho channel on the bar, with a heavy sea. The evidence of harbour-master and pilot shewed that the extreme depth on tho bar at high water spring tidea is only 22 feet. The grounding of the Australia, in attempt ing to enter, as reported by telegraph iv another column, gives forco to the lesson tau«ht by the Colima fiasco, and will pro bably lead, in combination with other con siderations that have lately obtained great prominence, to the abandonment of the coastal service.

In the case of Wm Brittain, a bankrupt, heard in the Trustee's offices yesterday, a resolution was passed for the liquidation of the estate, and Mr T. Macfikrlane was ap pointed trustee. The liabilities were set down at £103, and the assets at £2S.

The recent rains caused considerable alarm among the mill-owners in the neighbourhood of the North Manukau Heads; the creeks were flooded, sweeping log 3 and everything else away. It was also feared that the dam of the Whatipu saw-mills would hive suc cumbed to the tremendous weight of water, but this was prevented by Mr Gibbons having taken the precaution some weeks previously of erecting a wooden safety guard with the view of strengthening the embankment. This proved successful in the present emer gency. The next morning a strange spectacle waa presented'to the eye, the land round about being strewn with logs, rubbish, and timber of every description.

Mr Wilson, one of the Strathmore. sur vivors, relates an additional incident in con nection with ,the sad disaster. Speaking of the death of Miss Henderson he says : — "Miss Henderson was standing with her brother while the men were trying to lower the boats, and a big wave suddenly came up and swept her overboard from his side. She was never seen again.'' It appears that the severities of the enforced imprisonment of the party on the island were materially in creased by the almost continuous fall of snow. When Mr Wilson's party left the island they had stored up for use in the coming winter, 2000 penguin skins for fuel, 2 or 3 cwt. of fat, and a quantity of smoked penguin.

Dunedin Corporation contemplates the erection of a Town Hall at a cost of £20,000. The Council ha 3 likewise confirmed the wis dom of the street tramway system if carried out hy private enterprise.

"The Brough Smyth inquiry in Mel bourne,5' says the " Intelligent Vagrant" in a Wellington contemporary, has, I believe, been watched with interest here. That interest, it is possible, might be intensified if it were kown that the civil servants in one Government department of this colony com plain of somewhat similar haughtiness on the part of a gentleman who controls them with out occupying even so commanding a position as that held by Mr Brough Smyth."

A good-humoured review of the Auckland chess players appears in the Oiar/o Guardian, from which we pick the following items : — Mr Hay' 3 opponent, Mr Morton, is a member of the firm of Grant and Morton, auctioneers of Queen-street. He resides at Ponsonby, a tiuburb, whore the whole atmosphere is redolent of chess, where the'people think chess, talk chess, dream chess ; and Mr Mor ton is a very lion among them. He is r\ sharp, keen-looking business man, and asearntst and methodical in local politics* as he ia in the great; pa mo. The writer of this has a vivid recollection of a whole nigh!; spent in watching Ponsonby choosing its Road Boards and if Mr Hay had seen his antagon ist guiding the manoeuvres and bringing up his men, wich eye as keen and hand as steady at 7 o'clock in the morning as when the game of political chess begran twelve hours before, he would know the sort of antagonist he bus to encounter. If Mr Hay beats Mr Morton he should be carried shoulder-high up Princes-street. * * * Mr Wilson's opponent, Mr Rico, is chief clerk in the Provincial Government Offices, holding the same relation to Sir George Grey that Mr Logan does to Mr Macandrew. His head is a whole store-house of Provincial in formation, and if the three "able civil servants " had only caught him and squeezed him, they would havo got everything about Auckland, and made Sir Julius happy for the rest of his natural life. He is a prince o, chess. Mr Matisford'a antagonist, Mr Gorries is the Co. and brother-in-law of Messrf Upton and Co., booksellers in Queen-street, and it is at Upton's that all the chesrj people lounge about"—in fact, one end of Ponsonby ia there. These are they that are to do battle for the honour of Auckland. Most of them live away up in " Ponsonby and or Dcdwood "— for such ia the peculiar name of that highland suburb where people always quarrel or play chess, where they can't even settle the name of their place, but keep a long-tangled thing like that so as to please both parties. It contains all the smartest and most pushing men of business in Queen street, who have all built beautiful cottages for themselves, but each one is so important in himself that tho rivalry is painful and endemic. But they all play chess perpetually when they arc not quarrelling, and thai; in tho reason why wo describe the placo fpecif'i cally in this connection. If Otagois defeated, " Ponsrmby and or Dcdwood " will be happy.

Tho selection of music tor' tho opening meeting of tho Winter Course of Lectures, to be held in tho Lome-street Hall on Friday evening, promises to bo of a very superior character, consisting of part singing with choruses, and choice glees. Amongst them will bo the ever-beautiful " Kyrie," by Mozart; "The Adesta Fedelis," "When Winds Breathe Soft," and " Awake/E'jlian Lyre," " Tho Men of Harlech," &c.

Tho members of the United Order of Free Templars met in their lodge room.yesterday evening. A large number of tho members were present. After the election of officers for the ensuing six months bad taken place, tho correspondence from the ii.W.Gr. Lodge, England, was discussed, and tho following resolution was agreed to: —"Thai applica tion be made to the It. W.G. Lodge, England, to grant t> charter for a grand lodge of tho order in New Zaaland." The remainder of the evening was spent as it is every lodge night—in song and recitation.

From a glance of the programme prepared for the concert on Thursday evening, in aid of the parsonage fund, Otahuhu, and the well known talents of the soloists, the selected chorus, and the splendid band, wo predict such a concert; that has not'been heard for Boms years in Auckland. Mr Joseph Brown, the conductor of the Choral Society, will wield tho baton on this occasion, and we hope to see the hall filled. Special trains will run to Onehunga and Otahuhu after ths concert. Full rehearsal to-morrow evening iv the Choral Hall, band at seven, chorua at eight o'clock sharp. A decent-looking aan appeared in the doc~s of tho Jfolica Court to-day on a charge o drunkenness, and paid the usual line and departed. The foolish man, it appears, came into town from some remote district, and fell into temptation, drank a large quantity of colonial beer, and subsequently fell down drunk. Whan picked up by the constable in a helpless state, he had about £50 in his pocket, which he might have lost after the manner of James Watt on Friday last. It seems to be a peculiarity, of bushmen to act in a kind of logical manner : first they go to the bank, then to the hotel, then to the station, aud then back to the bush to gather new supplies, if not wisdom, from the bosom of nature.

The average statement made by Mr Mabin for the ship White Rose some time ago was strongly dissented from by Mr Moffat, a Vic torian stater, who pronounced the course pursued by Mr Mabin to be obsolete, and contrary to recent legal decisions. We leavn from intelligence received by the last mail that the following resolution was passed at a meeting of the Australian and New Zea land Underwriters' Association, held in Lon don on the sth April, 1876 :—"Resolved— That it having come to the knowledge of the association that general average Battlements have been made in the colony on the cargo of the White Roue, Loudou to Lyttelton (which vessel was on fire at sea), under the statement of Mr Mabin, of Christchuroh, New Zealand, which being compiled in direct opposition to the law of tho laud, this association earnestly urges upon all head offices and agencies not to allow settlements to be made under general average statements, except they b9 in con formity with the latest aud well-known deci sions of the English Law Courts."

We are sorry to hear that Captain Heale has been compelled to relinquish the position of Inspector ot Surveys in the province, which he has held with great ability for many years. The work carried out UDdej his direction was among the few scientific surveys commended by Major Palmer, 8.. E., in his report upon the state of New Zealand surveys. An independence of character not consistent wi'ch the sub verviency required by the arroganc9 of New Zealand's present rulers is understood to be the cause of Captain Heale's removal from office.

I The extreme distress which has prevailed at, Jarrow-on-Tyne for some months past, in consequence of the almost total stoppage of iship buildiDg "operations through the dullness ;of trade,, haa been brought to an end—Mesßrs BSlmer and' Co. having receive!! a Govern-* menfc order for th 9 construction of six gun boats, to be oomplefced in eight months.

Two women, one a notorious character, were locked up this afternoon at the Police Station on charges of stealing and receiving a quantity of blankets, and other articles of domestic use from the shop of Mr Heavy, of Wyndham-street. They will be brought up in the morning in answer to the charges.

The Insurance c&mpanies doing business in Manchester have raised their rates from 40 to 50 per cent. This is owing to the heavy losses sustained by them last year, amounting to £1,100,000, while the premiums received were only £SOO,OOO. The bulk of the losses wes caused by fires in cotton mills and ware houses. London has been remarkably free from heavy foga this winter, only one of great density having occurred. It lasted for 24 hours, and its effects, as disclosed by the Registrar-General's returns were disastrous enough. The death-rato for the week was raised by ifc from 24 to 30 per 1000, while no less than 49 fatal accidents occurred. To diseases of the respiratory organs G22 deaths were referred, as compared with 4G5 in the previous week, 510 resulting from bronchitis and 118 from pneumonia. The monthly inspection parades for the month of June will be held on the following days in undress uniform with arms and accoutrements, viz :—Saturdav, 10th, 7.30 p.m.—Otahuhu Rifle Company, Ofcahuhu ; Tuesday, 13th, 7.30 p.m.—Artillery, Victoria and Hobson Cos., Drill-shedj Thursday, 15th, 7.30 p.m.—No. 3. Co. A.R.V. and Scottish Co , Drill-shed ; Wednesday, 21st, 7 30 p.m.—Engineer Co. and Engineer Cadet Co., Drill-shed; Friday, 23rd, 12.30 p.m.— Grammar-school Cadets, Drill-shed ; Friday, 23rd, 7.30 p.m. Settling on the late races will take place to morrow evening at 8 o'clock, p.m., at the Exchange Hotel. At the burial of Mr Dion Boucicault's son, who was killed in the railway disaster, many of the bystanders were weeping during the reading of the burial seivice, and their sad ness was not diminished by the excessive t-rief that Mr Boacicault displayed. With hiu arm thrown round the neck of his young son, arid his face hidden by his hat, he walked past the grave. At the close of the ceremony, after looking wistfully down for some time, he threw a black-edged envelope on the coffin, and then, sobbing bitterly, turned slowly away. Much speculation was caused aa to the contents of the envelope, and the object it was to serve, but on this subsequently being made known to Mr Boncicault ho remarked that both the object and the contents of the package must remain a secret to himself.

A Hartford girl treating a too frequent gentleman caller rather coolly, drew frctn him the remark : ' 1 fear you are not deal ing squarely with me ?' ' That's because you are 'round so often,' was the quiet reply.

A few days since a man convicted of drun kenness stood up before his Honor at the Police Court, and his Honor said, in his slow solemn way, "I'll give you lOdols. or 30 days."—" Well, I'll take the lOdols., squire,' said the fellow.

" Eet half a dollar I. shall fall down ! Bet half a dollar I shall fall!" murmured an old chap as, loaded to the mura'e with forty-rod whisky, he was feeling his way down street " Bet half a dol —" Just then the old boy's heels flew so high into the air that his head and shoulders beat them back to the ground. Rising to a sitting posture, he took up his hat, rubbed the back of his head and then said : " Won ray money ! And it; is the first bet I've won this winter !"

Serious Accident To-day.

A BTSRIOX7S accident occurred at ton o'clock this morning to Mr Careen, a farmorof Mauku, who has been staying for same days .it the Royal Mail Hotel, Victoria-street. Mr G-reen, it appears, has been in the habit of taking an early stroll after breakfast, and this morning went out as usual, and when standing by Messenger's fruit shop, near the entrance to the Theatre, he stepped upon some banana skins, which had been heedlessly dropped by somo thoughtless person, or careless child, upon the pavement, when Mr Green's foot slipped, and he fell backwards, his head striking violently against the stone. The unfortunate man was immediately assisted by the bystanders, in a seemingly unconscious condition, and conveyed across the street to the shop of Mr King, chemist. Dr Hooper was iv immediate attendance, and found upon examination that Mr Green had received a considerable wound in the back part of the head, from which blood was flowing freely. Dr Hooper at once dressed the wounds, and the sufferer was conveyed in a cab to the Royal Mail Hotel, where he now lies. As the injuries are not of so serious a character as at iirfit imagined, hopes are entertained of his ultimpte recovery.

AUCKLAND RIFLE ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL MEETING.

Ths annual meeting of the Auckland Bifle Association was held yesterday evening in the hall o£ the Young JM en's Christian Association. The President, Mr J. C. Firth, occupied the chair and delivered a most interesting address. He alluded to the short comings of the Volunteers in times past, and expressed his conviction that should necessity arise the force would be found to have im proved on account of their superior training. Just at present there was a lack of spirit observable among the men, which he believed was owing *o the inferior weapons supplied to them by the Government. Auckland and Wanganui had been served with the short Sniders, and as a consequence their shooting was not so good as that of the rest of the colony. Their ammunition was aho defective, and so they could not be expected to do well at the long ranges. He advised that repre sentation on this head should be made to Sir Donald McLean on his return. Why the Northern provinces should be treated worse than the others in the matter of offensive and defensive arms it was difficult to see, for it was much more likely that they would be required in Auckland than anywhere else. Mr] Firth devoted the concluding portion of his address to the advantages of rifle shooting as incul cating sieadiness and sobriety. A heavy drinker could never expect to be a good shot, aa his nerves were always unstrung. Mr Firth then presented the prizes to the fortu nate winners,1 accompanying the presenta tions with appropriate remarks :-~ First Match: Volunteer Dore, 46 points, £2; Corporal W. Parfcington, 44 points, £2; Volunteer May, 43 points, £1 ; Volunteer Mills, 42 points, 10s. flange prize : Volun teer Mills, 200 yds, 103 ; Volunteer E. Part ington, 400 yds, 10s ; Volunteer Cameron, 500 yds, 10s. Second Match: Lieutenant Skinner, 57 points, £2 and Cup and Medal presented by Evening Star ; Volunteer Mears, 57 points, £2 ; Volunteer Bell, 55 points, £1 ; Corporal W. Partington, 51 points, 10s.' Kange prizes : Volunteer Meara, 400 yds, 10s; Volunteer E: Cooper, 500ydB, 10s; Volunteer Dore, 600 yds, 10s. ! Highest Aqgregato : Lieutenant Skinner, 96 »points, National Eifle Association Medal. Each recipient as he retired with his trophy or prize, came in for hearty cheers. After the ceremony had been concluded, the Chair man said it was his intention to give £25 to be expended by the Association in prizes, as soon as the Auckland Volunteers had been properly equipped. Capt. Morrow moved, and Lieut. Skinner seconded a vote of thanks to the Chairman for his munificent offer. The compliment was vociferously accorded. Mr Firth subsequently withdrew, and Mr H. Brett, the Vice-president, took the Chair. Some conversation took place, after which it was unanimously agreed to postpone the election of officers till the first Monday in July. The meeting then dispersed.

Enquiry into the Wreck of the Sarah.

An enquiry into the wreck of the brig Sarah, near Cape Brett, took place before the Collector of Customs, and Captain Clayton, Nautical Assessor, yesterday afternoon. Captain Jno. Thomson, the master, was the first to be examined, and his relation of the facts of the disaster was in the main identical with the narrative we have already supplied our readers. The Captain, in the next part of his evidence, described the condition of his ship, gear, and sails, as good and service able. He had four compasses on board, and three good anchors and chains, all of which had been passed by Lloyd's surveyor in Melbourne. The lead was hove constantly for four hours before stranding, the first cast giving 12 fathoms, and the last eight. There were about 60 tons of ballast on board, her usual'quantity was 50 tons. The vessel steered very well till the foretopmast ataysail blew away. After sighting Cape Brett, stood on until 8 a.m., when ths Cape was distant about two miles S. Then tacked. "On the day before (22nd) got latitude at noon by observation 35° 31 S. longtitude; by dead reckoning 177° 30' B. Prom that time shaped a course to pass to windward of Wangaroa, about seven miles. I cannot account for sighting Cape Brett, unless it was by the set of the current. The compasses were correct, and there were no deviations. The aneroid was high (30.30) ?ind did not begin to fall until 8 a.m. on the 23rd, when it; fell one-tenth. I am a stranger on the coast, but I have been to Wangaroa once before. After staying at 8 a.m., kept all sail on vessel I could to keep her good full, as I thought to claw off land ; when at noon I sighted rocks ahead I then up helm, wore round, and the vessel drifted in to the coast near to the Elizabeth reef abreast of the Poor Knights. There was bo patent log on board, as it ■was lost on the passage down to Wellington. There was an old' fashioned log and line, but it was never used as I could judge better by the eye being used to the ship, than by it. We had a log slnte which was marked up regularly each watch." * * "My reason for standing in was to try and determine my position. At the time I stood in so close there was no apparent danger, but the weather changed so suddenly that I was caught on a lee shore, and I did not know sufficient of the coast to make a port, consequently the vessel drifted on a bold coast. I let go both anchors when about a mile from land, but there was a small i3!et about a \ mile off. I thought it would bring her head to sea, and that by putting on springs she would ride out the gale, but she would nob look at it. When the anchors were dropped could see no passage. Had 45 fathoms of chain on each anchor. It would have been no use cutting the masts away as I could not get her head to wind. I do not think she would have held on under any circumstances, and I did tiot know our position sufficiently to run for any port. The exact spot where tho casualty hap pened was about 2 miles north of Elizabethrcef and abreast of the Poor Knights. There was no liquor of any description aboard the vessel. I left the wreck in charge of Thomas Hansen, of Wangaruru. At low water, smooth, I could walk round her. I found keel and garbnt streak, and part of bilge gone. I noted protest on Saturday, 27th. just ofter arrival in town. The vessel was valued at £3000."

The evidence of William Leuven, the mate, and William Eae, the boatswain, cor roborated the master's statement.

The depositions will be forwarded to Wellington, and, as usual in such cases, it will rest with the Government to determine whether any further investigation is neces sary.

CABLEGRAMS.

THE SUEZ MAIL.

MELBOURNE

May 29. Sailed : llingarooma, for New Zealand, with, the Suez mail.

Newcastle Shipping.

[By Special Telegram via the South ]

Arrived at Newcastle on May 16th, from Auckland, Tasso and Brodick Castle. Caber feidh on 17th.

Political Notes.

(BY TELEGRAPH)

WELLINGTON,

(From our own Correspondent.) This day. Messrs. Giseorne, Seed, and KNowLESare still pursuing enquiries at the Provincial Government offices. They require to be fur nished with a complete list of Provincial Government officers ; also, their age, length of service, and rate of salary in each case. The return will take some time to prepare, as enquiries will require to be sent to various parts of the province. The ages of the offioers are wanted as data to base the amount of compensation in case of discharge. The Government have prepared a Bill to amend and consolidate the law relating to Building Societies,which will be brought forward next session. It is an adaptation of the English Act of 1874 to the circumstances of the colony. Draft copies of the Bill have been sent ,to the secretaries of several Building Societies throughout the colony with a re quest that suggestions for modification should be made. A meeting of the directors of the several Wellington Building Societies will shortly be held to take the Bill into consi deration.

(Per Press Agency:)

This day. The New Friendly Societies Act. The district officers of the Oddfellows, Foresiers, and Rechabite Societies, met last night, to consider the new Friendly Societies Act prepared by the Government to submit to the House in the coming session. A deputation representing all three Societies will wait upon Ministers to-day with respect to the provisions of the Bill. The Local Government Bill. . It is understood Mr Fitzgerald has been engaged drafting the new Local Government Bill, It is stated that the new Municipal Bill, being prepared, will contain provisions by which tho accounts of all bodies will be subject to an official audit, similar to that existing for Provincial accounts.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before R. C. Barstow, Esq., E.M.) KIGHT AND MORNING. John Costello, a working man, who was picked up with a large sum of money in his possession, was fined 10s for being drunk, and James Leary, and Jame3 Thompson, were fined 5s each for the same offence. NORTH SHORE POLKS. Thomas Nicholson was charged with com mitting, a breach of the Impounding Act by permitting two horses to wander in the public highway at Devonport. Mr Itees appeared for defendant, and stated that the horses broke out in the night, and upon missing them he went in quest of them, and found them in tha pound; he paid the ] fees at once. He did not wish to pyf^ Constable Bond to any more in^ enience than possible, but he t^ u j' this case was stretched rather,^ Wandering horses had been Son's horse sance hitherto at the North, and without was a, very different casejad not deliber had broken out three ml"' "I the owner's knowle'''

ately turned them to feed. He thought fa fendant had suffered enough already in pavint the fees ana losing his time into the bargain - After a good deal of argument on the matter, and the unsatfsfactory character of the clauses of the Impounding Act and whether or not the Deputy Superintendent had the power to make certain declarations published in the Gazette,

His Worship said he thought the case could not be carried any further. Mr Rees characterised the Act as a strange medley, and promised to do all in his power to remedy it.

His Worship said whatever the evidence might be, he could not possibly convict under the circumstances.

The case was then withdrawn, This was all the business.

TELEGRAPHIC.

GRAHAMSTOWN.

(From our own correspondent.)

This day. A nice sample of specimens from the Morning Light claim Owharoa, is on exhibi tion at the National Bank to-day and ia attracting considerable attention.

The West Coast tribute, in a small trial from a new lode had a yield of 7 ozs, 5 dwtß. It is a payable return.

At a meeting of the Central Italy share holders last Eight, they adopted the reports and passed a resolution authorising the directors to let to tributers.

The Court Pride of Parnell Foresters, presented Dr Lethbridge with an address last night on the eve of his departare for England.

COROMANDEL.

(From our own correspondent.) This day,i

Amount of Gold Lodged in Banks'"

The amount of gold lodged at the banks for the month is as follows : - Union Beach 1656; McEwan's, 170; Heenan's, 55; Tokatea, 37; Harbour View, 42; small parcels, 75. The returns are considered highly satisfactory. Uuion Beach. The Union Beach has about 1991bs fine specimens on hand. The managers report of this morning shows the mine looking well in all parts tf it. The Maori Visitors. Maoris still fill the town, and have drunk up all the rum. They are very well behaved generally. There was no fighting, but ?ery much talking in the Land Court. The John Bull claim, now the lona, has been taken up by the best men in Coroman del. It is hoped that it will turn out twiu to the Beach.

WELLINGTON.

(From our own Correspondent.) i< m This day. • The Grounding of the Australia- Referring to the grounding of the Aus tralia in Port Chalmers, the Post last night says :— " Our remarks on the mischievous absurdity of the present arrangement by which large ocean steamers are made to run up and down the coast to receive and deliver the San Francisco mails, have; received a new and cogent illustration. When the Australia . was here, the captain expressed great uneasiness with reference to' his compulsory entrance of that difficult and dangerous harbour, Port Chalmers. Captain Cargill's apprehensions were well founded, We' learn by telegraph that the Australia, as might have been expected, ran aground while endeavouring to thread that narrow, tortuous, and intricate channel, and had to 1 wait for the next tide before she could be got off. To anyone who knows the port, i this will be a matter of no surprise. Indeed : all nautical men who witnessed her, the vast,, arc described by the steamer in turning 400. feet of length, unhesitatingly, expressed the opinion that if she succeeded in entering and leaving Port Chalmers without disaster, it wouldbe little less than a miracle. She has got in with only a comparatively slight mishap, but has yet to get oab in safety. Even if she accomplished this, which is exceedingly problematical, the coastal service will not hav3 been carried out this month any more than last, for again the mail boat has been unable to. call at Napier. The ■ fatuity of risking without the slightest i practical reason a steamer which cost } £140,000 to build, in these foolish and use less attempts to visit such an exposed and] inconvenient roadstead as Napier, and,so dangerous and inaceasible a harbour as Port Chalmers, cannot be denounced in too strong language. Even if steamers had to call only ir at such a safa port as Wellington, or even;; Lyttelton, iG would be ridiculous enough to; make them enter more than one New Zea-,. land harbour. The present arrangement is,, so utterly preposterous that it is hard ;j»S understand how it could have been1 ever'; conceived by any sane person. Still harder to comprehend by what process of reasoning it could have been made to commend itself to the astute brain of the Premier."

Brutal Assaults by Natives-Misera-: ble Inefficiency of Armed Oonsta- ■«

bulary. , ..-:. Referring to the recent brutal assaults, and outrages by natives at Patea, the Post says : " It is high time the natives of Pates district were taught by a salutary lesson that they shall not be permitted to commit deeds of brutal violence -with impunity. Instances frequently occur in which natives assault a European, thrash and kick him unmercifully, and after all either escape punishment altogether or are mulcted jn a trifling fine. Knowledge that ha Will OB ! treated, with exceptional lenity, hasJbe worst possible effect upon the Maori •rough.' It encourages him to perpetrate further acts of "violence, and to hold W contempt both Magistrate's law ■and-.tM';; policeman's baton. There is a Resident Magistrate, ' Major Turner,' at Carlyle, and in fact most ample provision exists m the district for maintaining order. It is statea that a mounted messenger was sent to Major Turner to request the assistance of the Gon stabulary, but the Major replied he had no constables to send. Yet the fact remain' that the cost of the Constabulary station^ in the.district"amounts to many thousanas of pounds a year, and the men haveajmo» nothing to do. There is something radically wrong. Why should the country1 pay Mf the support of a body of men, whose duty w is to maintain the Queen's authority ana to protecb life and property from law*"1 violence, when on such occasions tnmr services are not made use of? Aboveaiv how is it that the law is not strictly enforce^ against native offenders ?, Judging by w» past, it would not in the least surprise us v the perpetrators of those bra tatassanlts were to be allowed to go altogether unpunished.

DUNEDIN.

(From our own Correspm^nt^ i J The Provincial Government Mend tc.print, all departmental reports as usuil, as also treasurer's statement. / ...ir, " Wheat is scarce at Adelaide M « «,° . ' bustiel.' c «t, ./■• The ChessJ c % h ;p match, has Mr Nixon, umpire j e p ro j^ta as follows: given his decisiorura, eyoeeded his time by Mr Ash, of I-Vir Gorrie, of Auckland, ex- r nine minut^ttie by eight minutes. TheV' ceeded. -^em Pn on both sides were: aIL; ' othe' ame- The only game actually de-" ™ued was in favor of Auckland. The otests thus boing disposed of, Auckland 'ins the match. ,

DUNEDIN.

[Per Press Telegram Agency. ] I -o ,■ ;.• '•:■ _ This day; 1 a a , The Licensing Act. 1 A deputation from the Licensed Victuallers J?

~. . ' 111 Iflllli ifMl ? ltS!j3»A.¥x MM SO S ISfi



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