SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

fi MIT w* r ER.-Tlih _ rteraoon, 4 If; to-moMMr Dtt.wri'nj 4-15

SUN RKT-Thf, nvsttlng;, d 53. SUN RIS_S~TO -morrow morning, 6 60 MOON'S AO«?-New Moon, 2-ith, 3 4 a.m.

ARRIVALS.

lona, S3, Farquhar, from the P._y of Islands

DEPARTURES.

Rowen'A, bs, Sell .r R . f o r Tiuranga Durham, m. for tho Thames Tara_i,-..ii, ss; T.loyd, for the South

EXPORTS.

Ter Fmu for Levuka : £9 tins biscuits, 4(1 tins flour, B kegs butter, I case do, TOcnses beef, 1 cue jam, 1 bap flour, 200 sheep, 1 kauri spar —Stone Brothers. DUOi'ita,

A barqm. is signalled, bnt not mado"out at the ■Ume we ,-o to press, Persons who have examined Tier with a ela s state that it is more likely to turn out tho WanTocfc from Glasgow, than the Lady .Franklin ffom 'Newcastle

'The sb Go-ahead, it will ho seen by our Russell telegram, arrived there from Onehunga this morn ing. Sho was to have 'ourd a cargo of coals waiting for shipment to Auoklend. The caDtain. however, telceraphod nn this morning that the coals ware not ready, and Mr todder sent instructions for the vessel to come on at once to th's port. She Is to be laid np for a short time to enable her boiler to bo overhauled.

The s s Phrebc arrived at Onehunga from the South nt. nine o'clock tins mo»nine. We havo received our files, but the purser has not. favored us with the usual report of pas. age orpaisonj.er list The ss lona arrived from the North this morning with the following paesenrerg;—Messrs Donovan, Waster_ Hayson Mis* "Remnlds, Mahow. Bodle, Mr and Mrs Thornton. Mr Finch and three steerage. The anxiliarv steam hsrquortine Rirm leaves this afternoon 'orT.evnka with a carero of stores.sheep.&c Tho s» Taranaki leaves the Bluff anchorage for the South at three o'c'oek this afternoon.

Th» s.s. iona on hor return from tho North, called In at, Memcha near Wanpaiurn yesterday, when some Maoris brruffht to th» Captain"a life biinv Insert br d With the name ''Llewellyn. Auckland.'' They repre sented that it had bepn found about, a week before on tbe roc's insido Wide-berth Islands by Mr Eanae/n ft station-holder there. No importance need bo at tached to the discovery of a washed up buoy, as it i 9 aot at all an uncommon thing for such articles to carry siwav their ladings and drop overboard. Had any thing serious occurred, such as the falling of a man Overhead, Capta'n Gary would hay» been bound ti have mit in'o the Bay of Islands. Wnnjrarei and re porter! It. Tho Lb wellyn left here in flno weathor.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

Russklt,. this day. The s « 00-ishend arrived at half-past eight this morning from Onehunga.

Nkisov, this dny. The s s Tsupo arrived yesterday morning early from New Plymouth.

Onfhu_> tga, this day. Wind SW, strong breeze ; over-east ; barometer, 2930 ; thermometer, 54 ; bar, breaking.

Latest Shipping.

The "numbers of the barque signalled were hoisted aft half-past three o'clock. Sho is the Lady Franklin from Newcastle with coal forPMr JohnEeid.

_ The hrigantine Vibilia has had an injunc tion issued, against her hy the Collector of Customs forbidding her going fco sea till she has been rendered seaworthy. The barque Glimpse and the brigantine Stranger came up harbour this afternoon, for the purpose of being berthed at the wharf. The schooner Wave of Life has been taken on to the gridiron to have her bottom cleaned.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND

IWATT.B WTIX GroSF AS TrtT.r.OWS t— For Thames on Monday at 9 SO a m and 530 pm For Coromandel on Monday at 10 30 a m For Napier, Gisborne. and Southern provinces, por Australia, four hours after her arrival from Kandavu For Taranaki and Southern provinces per Hawea on Tuesday at X a m Mails for India, China, Medeterranean poTts, Con tinent of Europe, United Kingdom, via Siez and Southampton, ard via BrlndUi, will bo made up per.Taupo on Tuesday, 30th Instant (Signed. S. 'B. BlSf, Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

JOROAN—On tbe 1-lih ipotant. af Fdvardec-Rtreet Auckland, the ■wife of Mr. J Jcrdan of a daughter

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

SATURDAY, MAY 20, 1876.

Por the c_US'- th.-.t licks _. -ktlne*, For th^n.or-; tint i-_r.i:- rr.i.URCC, For the i'c'x-.c ::: :. c :...:..ncc, Ay.. tha .o :-,.h..tvr.c_-'.t_».

Unquestionably, clouds and fogs of politica uncertainty hang with a density of rare, and to observant eyes, threatening aspect over the Colony of New Zealand. And who shall now unravel the mystery, and make clear the atmosphere, so beclouded ? It has long been the habit to treat the 'policy of the Govern, ment according to the persons or parties therein interested, and, disregardful of effect and result for the colony at large. By some, the policy has been lauded, from the hour of its conception, as a fay of light from heaven; others havo denounced it as emanating from a very different locality ; •while others, more cautious, and it is difficult to avoid admitting of morefar-seeingpreseience, have pronounced the thing " of the earth, earthy," and have from the first looked with anxiety, if not with fear and apprehonsion, ahead of presdnt ex citements to the fruition of that policy, and the inevitable day of reckoning. But amidst all the laudation, condemnation, or uncer tainty, the atmosphere haa continued dark with dust-clouds, adroitly thrown, and the genius that could, with the breath of a true philosopher, blow away the mystification that has so long beclouded the political horizon_ has not been manifest. "Lo here," and "Lothere," are sounds heard often enough, truly; but still the cry of the people has been, "Who will shew us?" The people, for whose enlightenment truth has been so^ reticent, have still groped their way in in creasing uncertainty, and the genius has not spoken, or if spoken, not intelligibly and the people remain still, the hoodwinked, without a rational clue to the ultimatum of the great policy. Speculation wracks itself for a solution, and asks, Is the sequence repudiation ? Fio ! Who dare talk of repudiation ? Who ? Why some of the longest-headed financiers of the colony have whispered tho word-: Some, who remember that already an act of repudiation is, and has long been in force in the colony, under which a gross total of commercial liabilities are sard to have been yearly repudiated through the operation of our colonial Bankruptcy Courts, equal to the annual interest upon all our Colonial debt : Some, who know that accruing interest can not bo paid, but ont of more borrowed millions—borrowing even now talked about: Some, who despise tho fatality of hoping to recoup the exchequer out of the taxabl c humanity imported under one branch of the policy. There are some, it must be affirmed, who cannot be hoodwinked, and who grasp at facts floating amid tbe whirlpool of colonial politics, and say, but speak it too softly, that repudiation, without a power and a genius not yet manifest, is the ultimatum of this grand colonial policy I But repudia tion is an ugly word, and the very whisper of it is a brand of infamy to a people claim ing to be patriotic and loyal. If no*

repudiation then, what then ? Shall the mere retention of old existing political insti-

tntioiis supply the fulcrum tbat shall upheave and overthrowthe incubus pf existing colonial embrmiiller 1 or, shall contemplated changes of the political system discover the salvation for which the peoplo may cry in vain ? If the symptomatic maladies of the body-politic could not be avrested, nor their development averted, by those who had the charge under th<- old regime, what hope can there be of their skill, rinw that the malady has become chronic, perhaps incurable? Or, if the disorder has come and grown, and re mains such as it now is. ss the result of vicious inoculation, what hope of amelioration is there at thn hands of thoso to whom is due the origin of the disorder? The ariswor yet remains to be given. Amidst tho confusion of "Lo, here." and "Lo, there," and the still impatient " Who will shew us ?" of the people, the fog. and fume, and dust-clouds continue, nor does the political saviour ap pear to show the waiting, expectant people a sign. But, specifically,whatis thephenomenon spoken of, and towards which all eves are turned ? Divested of the ernst and film of subordinate envelopement, its manifestation is this : Behold a colony with large centres of population, and sparsely populated and wide-spread settlements, the former crowded with individuals and families tempted and hooked, many of them with the bait of large tracts of land, either free or easily attainable, such halt being peculiarly attractive to the inhabitants of countries whose land is yearly becoming scarce and dear; and also note the utter neglect of any provision for securing occupation of lands so disposed of. whereby sources of revenue and wealth might accrue to the colony, as well as secur ing means of comfort and competency to the occupants after due time and industry em ployed thereon : See also the fact that from laclc of such wise state-provision, our large r cities and towns are over-populated with people, too many of whom are only naif em ployed, great numbers being unfit for the ordinary services of our Labor markets, such as they are, and unquestionably nnsuitod to the larger works being prosecuted under tho policy of the Government. Then witness the reckless introduction of more thousands of similarly unsuitable immigrants, out of whom perchance the labour possibly obtain able therefrom, for tho public works policy, may he drafted, tho greater majority swel ling the crowds already here, for whom there is no legitimate labour market : Also antici pate the fact, that when the public works are completed, from the exhaustion of finance, these crowds will be still further augmented by the multitudes now employed on those works—with a country groaning under an unsupportahle debt, its people already tlio most heavily taxed under the sun—no industries of the kinds our immigrants have been ufed to in ex istence— an exchequer bankrupt—our statesmen, by whom all this wrack and rvtin has been wrought, perhaps assisted by finmf not s-atesmen, selling off their crates. "making hay while tho sun shines." and then levanting with gains questionably, if not ill-gotten, and in the midst of all tho confusion, the originators yet stretching forth their hands to grasp hills, and valleys, rivers and plains, and evory possible source of revenue to aid them simply to pernohiatc their reign of tyranny—and whntis to bo Raid of the prospec .of the colony ? Are not these the phenomena to which all eyes aro turned? And yet what intelligent response has there been given to the people's cry, " Who will show us ?"

A painful rumour comes from Northorn Wairoa in connection with tho last melan choly and fatal boat accident. Almost weekly do wo hear the story of some new victim to tho overwhelming current of this noble river, which is gathering around it sad associations of death. And with each tale there comes the whisper that things were not as they should have been, or tho story would not be to tell. The nature of tho mission which preceded the last catastrophe, forbids the thought that a drunken orgio, which has too often been the precursor of a miserable death in that district, had been blended with tho touching ceremonies attend ing the burial of the little Sunday-school pupil. We believe the hearts of thoso who so unexpectedly followed their frail burden to the unknown shore were melted with sorrow as they conveyed her coffin down the river, and chanted the praises of the God who gives comfort to the afflicted. But if usually sober men, in accordance with that accursed custom which places the bottle beside the cradle and the tomb, pour, not pure drink, but even a small quantity of liquid poison down their throats, their intellects may not be so clear as is requisite to guide a frail craft safely over that dangerous stream. Strong bushmen may stand more than would send a dozen more weakly men to the grave, yet upon upon their iron Constitutions poisonous adultera tions will inevitably tell. Such, wear 9 told is the source of intense feeling at the Wairoa, which is developing itself in an . effort to biing that district within the influence that has banished grog from Albertland.

Our surprise that the rumour of Mr Bunny's elevation to the Ministry should be accredited by a well-known Government mouthpiece— the Wellington Argus— and publicly endorsed by civil servants, is justified by the informa tion conveyed in our special correspondent's telegram to-day. The Ministry aro prepared for an accession of strength from many quar ters, but are hardly ready for Mr Bunny as a colleague. The mistake is evidently the result of an over-zealous desire to jump into tho vacant chair, which the Government are preparing to ptimulafce tho ambition of aspir ing members. That there is truth in the reported seventh portfolio we believe, but that it is meant for Mr Bunny is reducing the position to an absurdity. It will all be revealed in due time, no doubt, but the pre cipitancy of Mr Bunny's friends has come nigh making a mess of things.

The enquiry into the cause of the death of William Briggs at the Thames yesterday shewed that deceased went down a winzo in the Dauntless and Sink-to-Rise, and, when near the surface, he complained of being unwell. He fell from a platform forty feet, his head coming in contact with a rock, and causing death. The deceased was a widower in the prime of life. Briggs, singularly enough, bought his interest in Hall's mine of a man named Macfarlane, who lost his life about a year ago in a similar manner.

Many persons have a difficulty in realising tho undoubtedly true assertion that the extremes of heat and cold are very much alike. An incident which occurred a day or two ago In Parnell affords a remarkable illustration of the correctness of the apparent paradox. A certain lady has a black servant whose littlo peculiarities are a source of infinite amusement to the children. One of the boys recently brought home from school a lump of ice. Cracking off a piece the youngster called out "Tom ! here, have a lolly " and Tom eagerly running up received the cold morsel between his widely opened jaws ! He crunched it for a moment and then with a shriek spat it out and clapping his hands to his mouth cried out " too hot " " too hot " amid the;) laughter of both the young and grown up persons who witnessed his discomfiture. It was in vain the lady tried to explain the ice was cold and not hot. He could not understand and when he went, away he was still muttering to himself that ifc'was "too hot," "too hot."

The members of the Auckland Artillery intend taking part in a volunteer review to be hold at Pukekohe on Wednesday next, the Queen's Pirthday. A meeting of tho company will bo held on Monday evening in the Gun-shed, to appoint a committee to make arrangements. Captain Burns having made arrangements with the railway authorities, tbat all volunteers in uniform will travel by rail free, any company wishing to avail themselves of this parade will com municate with Captain Burns not later than Monday evening next.

Somo of tho Fernglen's immigrants appear to have had a peculiar idea of the state of society here. At Westporfc the other day, whilst the Murray was alongside the wharf, one woman called out to another, "Mary, d'yo see any white women at all about ?"

A presentation was made last evening to Sergeant Elliott, of tho Auckland police force, recently stationed at the Thames. The testimonial was raised at the Thames, and consisted of a valuable watch and chain. Tho presentation was made at the Royal Mail Hotel by Mr McGinn, who was deputed to do the business for the sergeant's many friends whom he had left behind him. T)r. Kilgour, occupied the chair and expressed tho pleasure he felt on that occasion. Both he and Mr Lawlor had frequently sat on the Bench at Grahamstown, and therefore had many opportunities of witnessing Sergeant Elliot in the discharge of his duties as a pub lic officer, and he had never known any officer fill his position with greater satisfaction. He felt pleasuro therefore in handing to him the testimonial. Serjeant Elliott acknowled ged the testimonial in suitable terms. He had been four years on the Goldfield, and he had endeavoured to do his duty in tho kind est manner possible, consistent with justice. He hid a great regard for the Thames people but his health had not been good of late, and he fplt that a- change was.nocessary. Mr McGinn, Mr Lawlor, Mr ,T T) Grant, and othor of tho guests, spoke in high terms of the courteous conduct of Serjeant Elliott after which his health was drunk with musical honors.

Tho anniversary services n connection with tho Grafton Road Wesleyan Sunday Pebool will ba held to-morrow (Sunday). Tho morning sermon will be preached by Bey. W. Kirk, and that in the evening by Boy. Warlow Davies. Boy. W. J. Williams will deliver tho afternoon address to the parents and children. The annual meeting will bo held on Wednesday next, for which a programme is in preparation.

Tho Prince of Wales Theatre will lie re opened on Monday evening by tbe Boyal Marionettes, wbo will produce for the first time " The Children in tho'Wood " with now sernorv nnd mechanical efToets. The change of loention, and tho stage appliances of the Prince of Wales Theatre will give tbe manager a better opportunity to produce the new play. Another ndv^ntafre presents it self in tlio elevation of seal's, tho Hall being a flat floor which greatly obstructed the. view. Sale of seats will commence on Monday at Upton and Co.'s.

Tho insurance companies at Christchurch have offered tho Corporation to contribute £500 towards the erection of a new firobrigade station on condition that the Provincial Government givo the same amount, and that not loss than £1000 ho spent by the Cor poration itself.

Mr. Jooph Brown, will commenco tho new quarter of his singing class, in his warehouse Queen-street, on monday next.

The anniversary services of the Mount Eden Sunday School will bo held to-morrow, in the little chapel by the Kden gate. Rev. P. H. Cornford will preach in the morning, and Mr T. H. Smith in the evening. Thorc will also bo an address to the children in the afternoon by Mr Josiah Martin. Thn tea-meeting and soiree will bo held on Tuesday evening.

A sensation has beon caused in Canada, by the elopement of the wife of tbo Hon. Mr. Mackenzie with a Lieutenant Bridges. She is a daughter of Sir Hiu h Allen, oue of Canada's foremost men.

Mr Alfred Smart, who wsa a sufferer by the late fire, has obtained a renowal of his lease on terms which will enable him to put up a substantial brick structure. The plans have been completed and the building is com menced. The Auckland Museum and Institute, in Princes-street, is a credit to all concerned. It is substantially built, fitted up with con siderable taste, and may fitly rank with our best public buildings. Workmen were busy yesterday in arranging the interior depart ments, cases, etc., and in the evening gas light experiments were made with good effect. When completed, the new Institute will bo second to no other kindred institu tion in the colony, and many years must pass over beforo Mr Severn will have an op portunity of seeing yellow moss clustering on its stately roof.

We refer our readers to our third page for subjects of Sunday services at the various places of public worship to-morrow.

Sir Donald McLean left yesterday for Waikato, accompanied by Hone to One and Hori Tupaea. The Native Minister, it i 3 said, has business to transact with the Nga tihawas, respecting their land at Cambridge. Ho will visit the Kingites, if Tawhiao invites him, but considering the present aspect of things, this is not likely to be tho case. Sir Donald is expected to be absent from Auck land for at least ton days.

As no other candidate has entered tho field of contest for the vacancy in the City Council, caused by tho absence of Mr Buchanan, Mr David Goldfe will lie declared duly elected by the Returning Officer on the Ist of June.

The riotous conduct of tho Maori denizens of Edwardes-street has, we are glad to learn, brought about a radical cure. Actiag, it is said, upon the suggestion of the Tauranga chief Hori Tupaea, who accompanied Sir Donald McLean from Wellington, the , authorities have ordered back to their settle i ments the loose native women who for years have been located in this part of tho city. A dozen at leaat have thus been got rid of, some going by the Rowena to Tauranga last even ing and others to the Waikato. A farewell tangi on the wharf just prior to the departure of the Rowena marked the separation of these companions in iniquity. The respectable residents in Edwardes-street will feel grate ful for this reform.

A New York paper thus philosophises on the subject of riches :—" It is said one of the quickest ways of making a fortune is to marry a fashionable old lady, and sell her clothes. Tbo principal objection to this proceeding is that the seller might get sold in the transaction. We think, however, that there is little question that the quickest way of spending a fortune would be to marry a fashionable young lady and buy her clothes. The experiment has been tried frequently, with the same results."

The most'glowing passage in a minister's sermon will attract scarcely half the attention that centres on a msn that blows his nose in church. '

Two or three years ago, and perambulators were to be seen in every direction in the streets of Auckland, and elderly gentlemen, with gouty or corny toes, wero in a state of daily fear lest the wheels of one of these baby-coaches went over the poor toe. The inventor of the peramhnlator was a family man named Charles Burton, a London litho graphic artist, who went to America in IS4B, ond "started perambulators in New York. Outcries, however, were soon heard in dis paragement of the baby-conveyances, and the projector returned to England, and opened a perambulator warehouse in Kensington, but for a considerable time the demand was small until the Duke of Leicester ordered one, which somehow or other, was seen by the Queen, who waH so pleased with it that she immediately ordered one for Buckingham palace for her youngest child. Perambulators were immediately popular, and every lady with a baby felt that it was queenly and noble to have a perambulator. The mania lasted for a time, and although still used by families, the perambulator is gradually dying out everywhere. A few yet linger in Auck land, hut since the practical protest _of Sergeant Mulville, they are the exception and not the rule.

His Honor the Superintendent in replying to a letter from the "Minister of Immigration pronohincr the discontinuance of the services of Mr Ellis as Immigration Officer in Auck-

land, and the transfer of the duties to Major Green, remarks : —"1 am sorry that I cannot agree, for various reasons, in the propriety of any of the arrangements you propose. There is no necePS:ty for my going into this subject. If you desire to reduce the 'ex penditure of the Immigration "Department here, [it is, in my opinion, quite an un necessary department,] the whole of its dntips can be performer! in the Superinten dent's Office, at no additional cost to the public—G. Grky."

" A valuable horse was killed'at Albany Victoria by a snake lately. The animal was quietly grazing in the paddock, when it was ; seen suddenly to kick out and become very restive. The man who went to the rescue saw what appeared first a piece of rope hangr ing from the nose of the animal, but which turned out to be a large diamond snake. It waß only after repeated blows with a stick that tho poor horse was relieved of his antagonist. An effort was then made to cut out the part bitten, but the animal would not allow the man to approach him. In tho courso of half-an-hour he laid quietly down, and died within two hours after he was bitten. In Quebec, Canada, there are two Boards of Education, ono Catholic, the other Pro testant. Taxes arc levied on real estate, which the payer can give to either board as he chooses. A meet of the Pakuranga Hnnt takes place at the Baglan Hotel, Papatoetoe, to-day. A liberal reward is offered by Mr Beale, father of tho young man recently drowned from tho schooner Atalanta, for the recovery of his son's body. An accouchment under novel circumstances is thus reported by the Wellington Ar/fus :— " A lady who wished to take part in the pleasures of the day calculated time so badly that she waß overtaken in tbe manner indi cated. She thought to make up for bad judgment by jumping into a cab aud telling the driver to whip uo his horses and make for the hospital, an phe was in a hurry to see .a friend. The c.b and the friend arrived at abont tho same time, for when the driver got down to let the lady out ho found that an interesting stranger had come to town, and without delay he placed his passengers in the care of tho hospital authorities."

IV] essrs O'oso Bros, bos to announce to tbeir old customers and tho public, that they havo now opened bu^ino. fl in their temporary premises, on the site of the late fire, with entire new stock. This seems quick work, anrl shows that these gentlemen mean tobe abreast of every circumstance, and thus by their enterprise, together with quality and cheapness to win continued support. Jurors summoned to appear on Monday at the District Court to hear the case of Mase field v. Wallace will not be required to attend.

Wo cannot but regard the various signs of the times, sayß the Grey River Argus, a* indicating tho rapid approach in New Zealand of a social and financial crisis, which, while it hßta. will bo productive of great and wide spread distress. There is little doubt how ever, of the Colony being able to pull through but one cannot help thinking there should be a limit to the sacrifices which the present generation are to make for the advantages of posterity. The Rev. Mr Featherstonhaugh, whose famous sermon on tho " Fatherhood of God,' led to his secession from the Church of Eng land, now styles himself TJnsectarian Minister of Urana, where he continues to preach. At a meeting of the Waste Lands Board, Southland, Mr Mackintosh mentioned one curious fact in conneotion with rabbits in the Aparima Hundred, namely, that the rabbits were in tho habit of climbing trees.

To the Editor : Sir,—Your correspondent, " Citizen," is somewhat hasty. Will he kindly wait until after tho performance on Wednesday next. Then I ara quite willing for him, or any other scribe in Auckland, to criticise my essay on " Tho Stage and Emin ent Actors." If an actor cannot deal with a subject of this kind who can.—Yours, etc., G. W. Collier.

A boy was wheeling, in a barrow, & box containing two grey rabbits, his point of departure was Newton, and his destination was Queen-street. On being passed by a baker's cart he asked permission of the driver to attach the wheel-barrow by a cord to the back of tho oart : permission being granted, the ingenious lad had but to hold up tho handles of the wheel-barrow, and. give the word, " ready !" to the driver of the cart, whon all went off rapidly and with ease from Newton. Pitt-street was traversed in scfety, but on turning sharply round Harry Watts' corner into Grey-street, the rabbit merchant did not answer the helm quick enough, and received a jerk which threw his rabbit box into the street, the shock throwing open the door. The two grey rabbits darted out and ran up the street in the direction of Newton followed by a small crowd of boys and dogs. The box was left were it fell, while the cart proceeded with the barrow down Grey-street. The sudden change of luck was a cause of distress to the boy, although his companions enjoyed the incident, helping him to regain his barrow and rabbits.

To the Editor : Sir,—l read in your estim able paper that a dinner bad been given to Captain Evans, of La Eacocesa, by his saloon and second cabin passengers. Allow me to correct this slight mistake, a dinner was given hy the Captain to those passengers, but out of twelve five wore not present. Moreover, oomplaints of., the Captain's con duct during the voyage, have been sent to Messrs Balfour, Williamson and Co., owners of the ship.—l am etc., D.

To the Editor: Sir,—Seeing that the sanitary state of the closets of private persona are Been to by Mr Goldie, whose duty is it to see after the closets in the Immigration barracks ?—I am, etc , Passrr-bv—[Un doubtedly the Inspector's.—Ed. __?.£.]

The successful tenderer for the Ponsonby Post Office is Mr Pillard, cmtracter, who has lately come ti rsßide in the neighbourhood. The design is by Mr Hammond of Shortland-street and comprises a two-story building with piazza and balcony, and wiil bo a pretty feature in completing the spice between the Hotel and the Hall. The building will be a taste ful addition to this rising suburb, and will give Mm T .vlor the opportunity of extending her drapery and hosiory trade, thus profiting by the kindly support she has during the last two or three years enjoyed in the neighbourhood. The successful tenderers for a small villa at Mauurewa designed also by Mr Hammond are Messrs Hewson Bros. .

Political Rumours.

Ma Bunny's Expectations Ex tinguished.

CBY TELEGBJTPff. .

WELLINGTON.

(Prom our own Correspondent) This day. Mr Bunny's chance of becoming a Cabinet "Minister has vanished into thin air. I**ran spires now that the proposal emanated from some of Mr Bunny's friends, amongst whom is the editor of the An/us, who led up to the thin* as carefully and cautiously as could well be done. There was only one obstacle, and that was a hostile element in the Cabinet, consequently the matter had to be dropped. The general impression is now that the editor of the Argus, when advocating the appointment of a member, or what mightbe called a Ministerial Under-Secretary, was trying to pave the way for a billet of that sort for his friend, whose experience of Provincialism is considered to have given him no aversion to having the public spoon in his mouth. Of course as might have been ex pected, the Post ridicules the idea of creat ing any more Ministers, and pertinently refers to the peripetetic tendencies of the preßent Cabinet, and to how tbe work of the country goes on as well without them.

CABLEGRAMS.

[press agency.]

DISCOVERY OE AN EXTBAORDI NARY BEEF.

NEWCASTLE.—THIS DAY.

The barque Tasso is to leave on Monday with a cargo of coals for Stone Brothers.

f-SYDNEY.

May 19.

r' Great excitement has been caused _at Butherglen hy an extraordinary reef heing struck, yielding IOOoZS to the ton.

Singular Native Orgie at Short land.

Onk of the spectators has given us some particulars of a very remarkable orgie that took place at one of the Karaka public houses this week. The wife of a well-known chief, who lately deserted her husband in ennse_ quence of his shaving her head in a fit of jealousy, took unto herself twelve spirits like-minded and proceeded to an hostelry, where many a bright ponnd is turned over by native custom. There they pro cured a room furnished with a round tale and chairs, and ordering in a more than liberal amount of rum and beer, which was placed in the centre, began high revel. Maori songs and ballads, which are not of a very chaste description, were chanted, while each hag mellowed her throat with deep potations. The proceedings attracted a crowd of miners and other white spec tators. Several of the women were from Tauranga. and most of them mar ried. One stout little Amazon, very well-dressed, arose, and on behalf of the Tauranga visitors vowed that the Tauranga neople could drink more in one day than the Ngatimaru could consume in a month. Such a tiunting assertion must bo contradicted, and these rival claims soon led to a squabble, which terminated the friendly "re-iinion un nleasantly, and the ladies in a high state of {lustration and liquor, staggered liome to the Maori mission station at Parawai,where they abide.

MURDER DISCOVERED BY A SPIRIT.

(From tbe Brisbane, Telegraph)

A. MAN named Alexander Rixson lies in our lock-up, committed for trial for the wilful murder of hiR wife. The particulars of the case are peculiar. Rixfon and a woman named Qm'pps came to this colony by the ship Star Queen, and have lived in Mary borough ab man ond wife until within the last three weeks. Then there was a quarrel, Qnipps was driven from the house, and next day Bixson legally married another woman. A week afterwards. Rixon's legal wife died suddenly. Dr Little held a post mortem examination ; and Dr Power, iv his capacity as a justice of the peace, held a magisterial enquiry into tbe cause of the death. Bixson was terribly cut up, and could hardly give his evidence through crying. He described how his wife had been ailing for two or three days, and ■ how the night previous to her death he bad been disturbed two or three, times to supply her with brandy and a cup of coffee. Dr Little gave it as his opinion that the woman died from apoplexy. The enquiry as an ordi nary precaution was adjourned for three days, theboby was buried,and there we supposed the matter would rest. The night after the en quiry a man named Adamson, going home across the reserve, saw a ghost. If you con sider this a laughing matter, I assure you the man does not ; he becomes fightable if you but smile when he narrates his experience This is what he saw, or, if you like, fancies he saw :—First, what appeared like a small heap of black earth. As he approached he saw it move, and concluded it wns a large black dog. But it still kept growing larger, and Adamson was certain it was a drunken nigger. Mustering s»ll his courage, he walked towards the object. As he drew near he w_s seized with a violent shaking, cold perspiration burst out all over his body, a bundle which he waa carrying on his shoulder dropped to the ground, and his hat rose from his head. In the features of the apparition he recognised'those'of Mrsßixson! Then came a voice, " I am the murdered wife of Rixson !" The apparition then placed one of its hands over its mouth, and the other on its throat, and—disappeared. Adamson doca not know how long he remained on the Reserve, or how he found his way home. Next morning he took his wife's advice, and told his extraordinary experience to the police, and they, growing suspicioug, arrested Rixson and Lyd;a' Quipps. The woman was no sooner in tho police office than she made a statement, which she has since repeated in the Police Court. She is not in custody. It appears that immediately after his marriage Rixson took a "down" on his wretched wife. He cohabited with her but one night. _ The remainder of the week of his wedded life he slept at the woman Qnipps' lodgings. He frequently swore that he would have the life of his wife. On Tuesday morn ing (March 15) he left Lydia at six o'clock, and went to his garden to dig her some sweet potatoes. In about half-an-hour he returned, and while deliver ing the potatoes said " I have been and done for my wife." The woman answered, "Good God, I will never speak to you again as long as my name is Lydia Qtiippi." Then he held her by the windpipe, saying "This is the way I did it." Afterwards'Bixson said to her, "So help my God, I havo not done it," and left her. A few minutes afterwards a little girl came running to tell her Mrs Rix son was dead. The neighbours deposed that early that morning they had heard a quarrel between Rixson and his wife, which ended abruptly, and that when they were called to the house she was dead—stiff and cold. In consequence of this additional evidence, the b6dy was exhumed, a second post mortem examination held, and Dr Little, on being re-called, gave it as^ his opinion, gathered from the re-examination and from from tbe evidence, that the woman had come to her death by strangulation. Rixson has since been tried and acquitted.

MR. JOHNSON'S EXPERIENCED

EXPEDIENCE EIRST-.ClO«.Hl«e ( ..

I left the hundertaker with a havey 'art ' but with a hemptv pocket. I turn'd round and saw him hiking at his hempty kofW and I syed tv think of hiz horful denrevitv' Tv think of him a-hungvin' and thurziin' arter flesh, and blood like a savige of tha Kannihil Highlands.. I kalis the feller a kummershel kannibel of the wurst tipe. t were riled tv think I was dun by a hun'der. taker, altho' T moned on ..account ov hiz kallous 'art. I sez tv miself, "M r Johnson yu was? never kut hout for a kurlectur-I your 'art iz tv soft." I detarmin'd t a tri gettin' an haccount ova female next as I halways hurd they was not hup to' the wikkid ways ov the wurld, I picked hout a gud big bill to start- it were due by a spinz tur lady of an otell, Miss Virtoo waz her name. I maid strate for Miss "Vertoo, I seen her aa she stud in all the booty ov her maid inghud behind the bar. I sed. "My dear young lady iz yu awaar of the hill yu owes my himployer, kanse if yu ar not, here the little haffair iz, £21 4s Id, my hinstruktiona ar tv receive the munny forthwith, but az in dooty bound to a lady, if you iz engaged I kin wait a bit. She luk'd at me as kool az a hundertaker, and sed, " Your boss kin go to Jerriko." I was thunderstruk, my honinion of female superority received a grate blow; I sed in a hagitated vice—Wot will I tell him wen I get back without the dollers. Oh sed she—Jist tell him he'll hey tv take ifc out. How take it out ? I wanted to know Any way he liked, she sed. Drink it out—or Eat it out, she waz not purtioular tv a shade. I sed my himployr waz a ah steemony indivi. doral whu only tnk one pint of.hale a day to hiz dinner. I asked her if she wnz hack quainted with harethmetik, and if she knew how long it would take to take it out. She sed she didn't know and didn't oare ! I fold her it would take five yeers. and az my himployer hed about a hundred accounts like her's to get from otell keepers, if he tukthem all hout—it would he bexactly 500 yeera before he got 'em all hin. Miss "Vertoo sed she did not kare if it woald take 5000 years, it were "all the same to her. By this time the bar waz ful of people who seemed to hie joy the konversation, but I did not hin joy it, kause I got no money ; but I wud not let any of em see my mortifikaHon, so I hasked em wot wud they ay tv drink, and az they all tuk somethin', I hed my helth and appyness drunk hy a lot, but I went off feelin neether belthy norappy. I groaned in my 'art, and az I thought of the'money I had spent, I sed, she is worse 'than the hundertaker himself ! The hidea of my

gnvnor taking it out tu—l wnnder how long Methoosaly would have lived if he'd a bin in biziness ; I gueßS not very long, fur I notis that aa mankind gits more kummer shil, it gits shorter lived ; this bacounts fur the degeneration ov man. If-Methoosaly had gone out knllectin hacountshoff hunder takers and otells. I rayther think his days wud have been 937 (?) not his years.

THE PARNELL SOAP FACTORY.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sir,- One would imagine from reading in the Gross, the nicely-penned report of Mr Or. P. Pierces visit to Mr Allender's soap factory, in Parnell that the neighbours were, unreasonable in objecting to such a perfectly, managed, sweet-smelling establishment. We learn from this report that tbe " slight smell which was arising from the boiling fat waa far less offensive than the smell experienced in many a butcher's shop." This is what I call maligning respectable tradesmen. Ii any butcher made his establishment aa great a nuisance (yes, nuisance—all legal and medical quibbles to the contrary, notwith standing) as Mr Allender's soap factory, he would be hunted out of the neighbourhood in a week. The only butchering establish ment in Auckland which at all invites a com parison with tho Parnell Soap and Candle Factory is the Newmarket Slaughterhouse, and between the two there is certainly very' little to choose, Further on in tkei report we come to the words, The smell which was arising from the boilin" masses was scarcely perceptible. This • may have ■ been perfectly true at the moment spoken of, but I may add to this that during nearly two hours iv the same morning my wife had to have all the windows in our house closed to prevent the ingress of the stench which was then issuing from these beautifully-kept works, and the same had to be done by other residents m the neighbourhood. In despair at getting any improvement affected while the law is so equivocal, and medical testimony of the kind wanted! is to be had so cheap, I have determined to leave the neighbourhood, and as I shall assign the cause to my landlord, ; he will then have the necessary ground for an action at common law, which it appears IS the only remedy for this abominable nuisance —yes, abominable nuisance.—l am, yours,, etc.,'A Neighbour. p.g. _The Cross reporter says no P«"wa' tions had been made for the visit. Will he, be kind enough to inform the publio how lie knows this? ; ;

POLICE COURT.-THIS DAY.

(Before R. C. Barstow, Esq., R.M.) ' ' AGE AND INFAMY. v Mary Robinson, an old dame about iv, was fined for being drunk.

' A SERIOUS CHARGE. Martha Gibson and Minnie Burke were brought up charged with the larceny ois silver watch s the property of Mr Moßrian.^ On the application of Sub-Inspector raray the prisoners were remanded till Monday. TWO YOUNG RASCALS. . ' George Tilsley and Robert Edwards, two boys about ten years old, were brought no on remand charged with stealing IWW w lead, the property of Mr Geo. Holdship. The boys had pleaded guilty. Mr Holdship requested that the noys might be forgiven. _ His Worship gave the two youngsters a severe talking to and let them go, telling them they ought to be very thankful to Mr Holdship for begging them off. . A GROUNDLESS CHARG*. John McMahon, a respectably drwraj young man, was charged on remand, wicn stealing a meerchaum pipe, value *l, *ne property of Robert Grimmason. . Mr Joy appeared for the prisoner ana pleaded not guilty.: , . Robert Grimmason, a labourer, said he re collected being in Auckland on the llfch,^ s ,•' and meeting the prisoner at his fathers place. He and the prisoner were drinking together on that day. They weDt oyer » Edwardes-street together and went into a house. He could not say whose house it was. He went to sleep, and on waking found nun* eelf outside the house. He went home, ana after having a wash went to have a smoKe and could not find his pipe. During the day he went into a public house at the foot oi Wakefield-street, and saw his pipe lyingon the shelf in the bar. He claimed it as MS and the landlord said it was not, it had been left there by John McMahon. He did nos give McMahon the_ pipe. They had been both smoking it during the day. Mr Joy cross-examined the witness very briefly. , Mary Anne Yoeman said it Was to nor house that the two men came on the after noon of the 11th. Grimmason waff very tipsy, and went to sleep on the sofa, on asked McMahon to take him out. They go* him out, and she thought they had gone. McMahon afterwards came back and too is. away the pipe which was lying on ™eßo_a. Evidence was also given by Mr Seeley, .«• landlord of the public house in Waken«ux* street, and by Detective Jeffrey, but tne testimony utterly failed to estabhsli any criminal intention on the part of the prisoner. Mr Joy said he thought there was no neea for him to say anything.

rr-_irw.W'_rt___««-__-i-aii__--rra^



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Once upon a Time two young men agreed to oommonoo busincs-'. Then ono of them said, " How shall we draw the people to nsth-t we may do a iavci'e and ircvoisintr trade ?" The o'lier replied " Let us take a shon at a low rent that we may pel' ror a small profit.. L< tns also bnv for cash, then the discounts alone will be a good profit " So they routed a shop, and soon numbers of ladies grithere-i round their window, admiring tho good display of Prapory *nd Millinery: Hnts, nicely triniTiipd, wero marked f-nm 3s Hel : Flowers and Feathers, Dress, fee. wero Hoketcd at vcrv low rates; and at tl o top, written on tho window, were tho names of these two young men—HEMUS ANO TRTGG'S, 21 fi, Quem-. Ircot.



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