SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER—This afternoo'_i, 032 ; to-monow morning, 1 24 SUN SET- This evening g3O BUN RlSE—To morrow morning, 5 53 MOON'S AGE—F^ii moon 10th M &x <ib, 551 p m

ARRIVALS.

to_a, .a, _rer a the North Wellington SS) Carey, from Ihe South (Suez mall) w ii v -lare- schooner, from Russell nriil ,rßndon, schooner, from Wangaroa wl-_ Duck, ketch, from Waitara (in the Manukau)

DEPARTURES.

Fairlle, schooner, Nonis, for Kalpara

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For the South—Taupo, s s, Mond»y. 6th inst. For Wangarei and Mangapai—Argyle, ss, Tuesday, 7th For . amoa—Batavia, barque, early For San Francisco-Granara, -3th instant (English Mail) For the South—Ladybird, Saturday; Taupo, Tuesday next For Newcastle—Que.n of fhe Sea, ba-que, at once For London- Carnatic, ship, Glenljra, barque, early For SaD_oa~-Martha, b.rque, early

IMPORTS

Per Wellington, from the" outh: 41 case, and pkgs., 10 bags oats. 3 bales, 1 box candles, 2 bags .eed.—F. H. Wheeler, agent N.Z.S.S. Co. Per Wellington, from the South: 3 bales, E. Porter and Co. Per Wellington, from the South! 1 box candles, Marquis of -Normanby.

The s s Wellington arrtved alongside the Onehunga Wharf this day at 146 pm. She left Dunedin wharf at 3 p m on the 26.1_ February, and Port Chalmers at 10 30 am on tho _7th. Strong W wind and tremen dous sea runc'iEg, vith rain, till off Taranaki. Ar rived there at 4 30 pm, and left 4pm yesterday, and arrived as above. W are indebted Mr McCormick, the purser, for report passenger list, etc. Pass.Dgers : Saloon—Messrs Cox, Wallace, Dyer, Cairns. Grant, Levy, Mr. Mas; field. Misses Whiting, Cardtio, Bishop, 2 native*, and Smith's Combination Troupe (12), and 12 in the steerage. The s s Ladybird leaves this afternoon for the South. The sa Icna aa-ived from the Ni.rth 1 his morning after a favorable mn. The followii gis a list of her passengers : Mis Hcott and family, Messrs L C Soffe, J Decry, Kirg, Campbell, Hackett, Smith, White, and 4in the step rage. Cargo: 106 bags gum, 34,000 shingles, and a quantity of furniture.—A McGregor, agent.

The brig Clematis and the barque Thomas Brown are both loadin. timber at Wangaroa. The bngantine Helena is engaged transhipping her cargo of copra id to tbe Gl.nlor. tor London. The brig S^run has cleared at Onehunga for Guam With IIO.dOO feet timber.

The schooner Minnie Hare brings a cargo of coal from Russell; the Belle Brandon Mings timber from Watigaroa.

Messrs Holmes Brothes altered time-table of the steamers Manoia, Enterprise No. 2, and Druhaai appears in our shipping advertisement coumns. The bh'p Edlntmrgh C»»tle is now 107 days out from London . ho .In uld he si owing up befoie IODg. Ihe sb'p -alisbnry brohe bu>k t"-(Hy. The schooner -.dronce clewed to-day for Poverty Bay, via Mercury Bay. with a general cargo.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

Napier, March 3, The schooner Opotlki, hound from Gisborne to Napier missed stays, and went ashore this morning near Tareha's Budge. The ps Rangatiia tried to get her off, but did not, succeed. The vessel is reported to be insured for £600. Napier, this day. The Granada arrived from Auckland at half-past eight last night, Gisborne, this day. The Southern Cross arrived at half-past eight this rooming.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE. AUCKLAND

Mat_s will Close as follows t— For Thames on Monday at 930 a m and at 5 30 p m For Coromandel on Monday next at 10 30 a m Mails for A hst'allan Colonies, Tndia, China, C.ntin tlnent of Europe, I'nited Kingdom, via Suez and Pouthattroton, and via Brindisi, will be made up per Tau. o, on Monday next Per Grenada, on Monrlay, 13th inst, as follows :— For Kardavu, .andwich Hands, United States of J merica, Canada, BiHish Columbia, Cental and South America, and British and Foreign West Indies at 11 am For United Kingdom and Contiuent of Europe at 11 p m For money orders, registered letters, and news papers, at 10 am Late letters bearing an extrafee of 6d In addition to the postage, will be received on board by the Mail Agent, up to the timo of sailiog For ODOtiki, per Coralie, < n Monday at 4.30 P in For Waiwera. Mahurangi Matakana, Te Arid, etc, per AnnieMilb.nk, on Tuesday _t 10 am (Signed) ft. B. BISS, Chief Postmaster.

WESTS.-.., Wizard Oil and Magic Pill .—Fuv cured more •wonderful ea.es of RhcuwalJs\n, Gout Neuralgia, Aches. Pains, SxoeUings, Caked Breasts, Scalds, and Salt-Rheum, upon tlie human frame, than all the pretended romedte. have since tho world began. These Great Ataerican Medicines ar. com posed of vegetable oils healing gnms, roots and herbs; and act like a charm upon pain and inflam mation Price: Half-a-crown. Sole Agents: Kemp thorne, Prosser and Co.

Jaundiced Views—The bilious and dys peptic subject takes " jaundiced views" of every thing, always 1001.8 at the worst side. He is despondent, gloomy, full of forebodings, in short, a most wretched individual. Let him take heart of prace. There is a cr-r'ain remedy for bis de. re-sion, for bis gastric tortures, for til tbe ills tbat a i.is ordorrd stoinacli and liver inflict. Uno.pno Wolfk's Scihrham Aromatic Schnapps. t>»l-n thrico a day, will make a different man of him in a mouth.

BIRTH.

GAEL AND—At Onphnnga, on the 2nd March, after n E ainiiUj.nn___i.,sir,,ji/A-ffl„;' Sgrfni. ye_A_.li__.-__e nanprs please copy,

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 1876

For the cause thatlacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance,

And the „ ood that we can do,

There is every prospect at present that the policy of the Opposition in the next session of the Assembly will be Separation; or, using a more kindly and expressive phrase, Federalism. Sir Julius Vogel has de clared the policy of the present Ministry as distinctly insisting upon the localisation of the land revenue, and that being so, we hardly think anyone acquainted with the constitution of parties in the JNew Zealand legislature will be prepared to maintain that, leaving out the followers upon whom the present Government can rely, and excepting also the Otago and Canterbury members, who are bound to fight for the retention of their land-fund before all other considera tions, there would remain any party strong enough to secure the only alternative that could prove acceptable —one colony and one purse. The perpetuation of that UDJust system of finance which has sunk Auckland and raised the South is no longer tolerable, and if we cannot get an equitable distribution of all colonial revenues, we must, and shall, insist upon our right to the administration of our customs duties in the way most con ducive to the prosperity of the North, un fettered by the extravagant schemes which it may suit the South to indulge in at the expense of the colony. But our object at present is not the discussion of federalisation as affecting New Zealand, but to point out the large amount of attention which the sub ject in different forms is attracting in Great Britain. Mr Proude, the eminent historian, who was concerned in the framing of the con stitution of New Zealand, has been com pletely successful in his mission to the South African colonies. The strong opposition offered by the Molteno Ministry at the Cape caused the Secretary of State for the Colonies to announce somewhat prematurely the withdrawal of the scheme, but it was not, therefore, abandoned by those most deeply concerned, and we now learn from the Cape Standard and Mail that " With the report before him, the Secretary of State will see that Mr Proude has brought the delicate and intricate negotiations to a very satisfactory point, and, but for the antagonism of Mr MoHerio's Cabinet, would have been completely succesfnl. We could not, at this time, have advanced to a stage much farther than that we have reached." The federalisation scheme is joined in by Cape Colony, the Free States, Transvaal, Natal, and Griqualand West. Passing from this to the subject of Imperial federalisation which Mr Forster has promulgated as the policy of the Liberal party, we find the bearings of the question deal, with in a very good letter to

the London Times from Mr William Fox, ex- Premier of New Zealand. The aim of this scheme is pithily stated in a few sentences which we extract from Mr Fox's letter :— "It propose!, the creation of a Federal Parliament, to which should be reserved all matters of a character purely federal in the enlarged idea of Empire. Practically the change would be an entirely new invention ; it would amount to a complete reversal of things Parliamentary as they are, and the adoption of an entirely different system of local self-government for the domestic por tion of the Empire. To such a revolution there may be no objection ; it may be the solution of a vast accumulation of hitherto unsolvable problems, and a practical dis covery as great as Galileo's." Referring to the conditions necessary to render any system of federalisation accept able, Mr Fox says s— " Practically, the colonies could never con sent to exchange for Parliamentary repre sentation independent control of local affairs, nor would the Parliament of the parent State permit the interference of colonial members with the affairs of that portion of the Empire resident within the four seas." Thus we see that the idea of Federalism as the only true bond of union between domin ions having much in common, and much also antagonistic; and its special fitness for securing the most perfect «ystem of local self-government, combined with a complete harmony, is steadily becoming developed in the minds of all advanced thiukers, Upon its application in New Zealand bay depend, as Mr Fox expresses it, " the solution of a vast accumulation of hitherto insolvable j problems."

The scandalous .system of General Govern ment obstruction and antagonism to Auck land has reached its climax in the delay that has occurred in handing over the £4,000 advance promised for the commencement of worki. at the Thames. His Honor the Superintendent arranged when at the Thames for some of these works to be carried out by various Highway Boards, and tenders were immediately called and contracts accepted, but now it is found that there is a difficulty insetting the money. It was necessary that the Governor's warrant should be forthcoming to authorise its payment, and that warrant has not been signed, and before it can be pro cured, the nature of . the works undertake*! must be submitted for approval. Meanwhile, many families on tbe goldfield are in a state of absolute starvation. We are assured that there are men and women at tho Thames who have not tasted meat for two months, and that ere many weeks have passed dozens of deserted wives and grass widows, with their children, will be clamouring for relief, tho men who have hitherto supported them having been compelled to go away. This is no time for red tape, and wc hope that the submission of the proposed works for approval will be followed by their immediate com mencement.

We regret to learn that a case of scarlet fever in the city has been leported to the city authorities. The sufferer resides in a house in the Albert Barracks, and duecare has been taken to issolate the case with a view to prevent any contogion. We sincerely trust that no further cases will be heard of.

There was a large and enthusiastic au dience at tbe Choral Hall Onehunga last evening, when the Lynch Family of Bell ringers gave their last entcrt.inm.nt in this narfc of * ""' r7 ~>l-— '• Jne entertainment passed off exceedingly satisfactorily, and the B.llri.gers expressed themselves highly pleased with the reception they received. This afternoon the company proceed to Wellington, per steamer Ladybird, but will return to Auckland in the course of four or Aye montha, when they may expect as hearty a reception as ever, from the music people of Auckland. We refer our readers to our advertisement columns for particulars of Sundy services at the several churches of the city to be held to morrow. It is intended to lease a further portion of the forshore at Devonport, and Captain Daldy will move at the next meeting of the Harbour Board, that lots 22 and 22a of fore shore be surveyed to low water-mark and leased. The concluding services in connection with the dedication of the new Congregational church, Beresford-street, will be held to morrow. The morning service will be con ducted by the Hey R. F. Macnicol. In the evening a thanksgiving service will be held, when an address will be given by the Rev. Mr. Tinsley, the offerings in aid of the build ding fund. The conversazione will be held on Thursday March 9th.

Twenty-six thousand'six hundred and six teen Mormon women have lately united in a petition to the Congress of the United Stafes asking for a repeal of the law that denies to them tbe privilege of concubinage No more melancholy commentary upon the degrada tion of woman in a state of civilization could be made.

A correspondent of the Central America, writing from San Miguel, says that a power ful conspiracy against the Government of Ni caragua has been discovered. The conspira tors had laid their plans to overthrow the present Executive and his Cabinet, and then carry the war into Costa Rica. The plan was comprehensive, and well laid out. If successful, it would have been the one hun dreth revolution in Nicaragua since its inde pendence as a republic.

The ladies are not, we hope, losing sight of the fact that this is leap-year, nor neglecting to avail themselves of their ancient prive leges. A form of celebration has been in augurated in some parts of the States, which is calculated to become even more popular with the bachelors than the famous spelling bee. Its celebration is thus described in an American exchange :—" On Friday night of January 28, the.town of Merced was enli vened by a leap-year, calico and neck-tie party. The affair was a grand success. The novelty of the thing was the ladies inviting the gents, and paying all expenses, oysters included—the ladies escorting their partners to 'oysters and wine for two, my boys.' Another novel and interesting feature of the evening was five young and pretty misses acting as pages, furnishing the gents with lemonade, etc., without any ' stick' in it. Very few of the ladies broke the rule by coming to the party in other than calico dresses. Some of the dresses wero very i tasteful and pretty.'' 1 We are informed that the heretofore post receiving house of Upper Parnell is, from and after the first day of this month (March), constituted and appointed a full post-office, with the ordinary appropriate powers and public privileges of . a regular post-office. Legal hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nothing appertaining to the post permitted at other hours except by private special agreement. Sir,—l am glad to notice in the last issue of the Star that the police are about to look after the dogs, whioh are so numerous in and about the city just now in quest of bones etc. I am also glad to observe that Serjeant Mul ville, who never fails in his duty in relation to these tormentors, will be in command. The other night, while dozing and dreaming pleasantly on my pillow, my rest was broken' by no less than nine yelping dogs under my window, and by the light of the moon I dis covered that four of them were without collars,—A. C.

Relative to the alleged case of Good Tem plar oppression in Ponponby a coi respondent writes :—Dear Sir,—Ycur Ponsonby corres pondent who writes on Good Templar short comings is evidently not above suspicion him self. I know nothing of the supposed case of injustice, but I do know that a templar was never yet asked for monthly dues-that no such printed notice as that spoken of was ever yet sent by a templar official, and that the whole proceedings as described could not possibly have happened. This narrows the question very considerably. It places your correspondent in the not very enviable posi tion either of having seriously departed from the truth, or of being an excessively stupid person. The letter contain, evidence which will satisfy any templar that your Ponsonby friend never yet sat in a Good Templar L"d_e while in session, and tbat he has as little right to the nom-de*-p.ume of "Faith, Hope, and Charity,'' as 1 incline t6 think he has to hi. eiaim ol being a " Lover of Justice." A templar will know how to get justice, and your correspondent may spend his time to greater advantage by studying how he can mo__ profitably mind his own business.-~ Yoars, W.S.

The difficulty experienced infinding worthy recipients of the £3,500.000 awarded by the Geneva Arbitration against England for Ala bama depreciations, justifies Lord Chief Cock burn's protest against the decision of tbe Commissioners. An American exchange received by the last mail says •; "It is now apparent that all the claims before the Court appointed for the distribution of the fund will not consume half the amount. Hence the question as to what is to be done with the surplus (which will probably exceed ten mil lion dollars in currency) becomes an exceed ingly interesting one. It has recently come to the knowledge of the public that the marine insurance companies Which toolc risks on vessels that fell a prey to the_ rebel crui sers, intend to make strong exertions to ob tain the greater part, if not tho whole, of this surplus. Their cbiims to it are, however, open to serious objections. It seems to us that if their claims are recognised at oil they should be postponed until all others are liquidated. Evory marine insurance com pany that entered into the business of insur ing against capture during the rebellion made money out of the business, and the unfortu nate insurers who were compelled _to pay enormous premiums are more entitled to consideration than they."

The annual athletic meeting and fete of the H.AC.B. Society, will take place in the Domain on the I.7th March, St Patrick. Day. A programme of the sports will be found else where. It will be seen that the prizes are very valuable. The entries must be sent in to Mr Connoly, the secretary, at the Thames Hotel by the 14th inst.

The programme for the concert this even ing in tho Young Men's rooms is varied and good. Those wishing to spend an hour pleasurably and cheaply, cannot do better than mil themselves of the opportunity offered by the Saturday Night's Committee at eight o'clock.

The action of the European Powers in re lation to Turkey, is thus referred to by the Lnndoi Times :-—'•" Of course, however the engagements entered into by tho Porte with the European Powers might be vailed with polite names and expressed in soothing phra seology they would amount to an infringe ment cf the perfect independence of Turkey as recognised in the treaty of 1850. It was expready stipulated in the ninth clause of that treaty, which referred to the firman then htely issued, that the communication of the arman to the contracting Powers "can not ia any case give to the said Powers tho ri.ht to interfere, either collectively or separately, in the relations of his Majesty the Sultan, with his subjects, nor in the internal administration of the empire." It. is evident that if the Powers, whether they be three or six, now obtain the right lo demand the execution of such or such a re form, there will be a complete rescinding of thin article, and the Turkish empire will be really placed under tutelage. We ntr-to ihe case thus plainly, setting forth what the Porte will certainly plead, because wo are prepared to urge that the proviso of the treaty should bo rescinded that the Powers should intervene, if necessary, in the com mon interest, and that the Turkish state should be considered aa needing the tutelage of Europe."

A young man in the budding period of life went to the celebrated James Luekington, of tho Temple of the Muses, I. insbury Square, who was known as the first of second-hand booksellers, and desired Lackington to publish his verses on the ready-money prin ciple. Lackington consented and asked the embryo poet how many espies would be required. The vernal rhymester enquired as to the number of the population of London, urging that a copy would be wanted at every house. Lackington thought differently, and advised tbe poet to try first an edition of five hundred copies. After some persuasion Lackington's advice was acted upon, and out of that number fifteen copies only were sold. The poet was cured of this rhyming fever, and subsequently made a fortune in the tailoring trade.

Among the photographers of Auckland prominently appear the names of Hemus and Hanna, two enterprising young men, who have been at great expense in fitting up those, beautiful rooms at the corner of Wellesley and Queen street, ov.r Messrs He win's .tore. Photography has made great strides in Auck land during the last few yeais, aud the rooms and associations of Messrs Hemus and Hanna reflect great credit ou the energy and judg ment of the joint proprietors. The rooms are most conveniently adapted for the busi ness, there are waiting and dressing rooms, and other rooms in connection with the pro fession. The photo-room is admirably situated for the necessary variations of light and shade, aud the portraits of many of our leading citizens are striking and faithful. Among these we noticed life-like pictures of Dr. Goldsbro,' Mrs Mitchell the eminent sin ger, Revs E. N. Bree, and P. H. Cornford, also striking likenesses of other citizens. The gallery of portraits by Messrs Hemus and Hanna are highly creditable to this young firm of photographers, and naturally pleasing to the living originals.

Mr Robert Brewin, the enterprising seeds man, of Queen-street, has just recived a number of samples of maize corn, of varied hue and flavor, from the well-known firm of Peter Henderson and Co., Cortlandt-street, New York. The samples comprise fourteen different kinds, bearing as many names, such as the " Canadian, " " White Fruit, " "Northern Dent," •' Harkins' Imperial," and, perhaps the finestof all, the "Tuscarono," which is abundantly used in the United States in lieu of wheaten flour, to which it is but slightly inferior in quality. Some of the corn is two feet in length, weighing lg to 21b. each, and very sweet, like unto sugar, and other kinds have the flavor of gelatine. A good deal of these kinds are cultivated in Rhode Island, near to New York, and at Montreal, in Canada. It was while a small farmer in Rhode Island that the celebrated William Cobbett's attention was attracted towards this nutritious pro duction, quantities of which he carried with him to his farm in Surrey with the view of subverting the use of potatoes among the peasantry, for, as he told O'Connell, " the potatoe root is the root of all the grievances in Ireland." Hence maize was long called "Cobbett's corn." Apart from this digreseion, however, the remarkable and many-coloured varieties of maize-corn in Robert Brewin's shop are well worthy of inspection, and in the course of yesterday, drew forth many remarks from settlers. The junior partner in the firm of Henderson and Co. has arrived himself from the position of a gardener in Veitch's noted Chelsea nursery, where he laboured side by side with Robert Brewin for a number of years, to a position of credit. The one is making a for tune in the city of New York, and the other is striving in the city of Auckland.

According to the latest reports from the hospital, the fireman, James Williamson, was stil improving. He is now believed to be out of danger. A special parade of the Hobson Company will take place on Tuesday next at head quarters, Wellington-street.

" Snyder" gives some advice to little boys in opposition to a paragraph relating to the Auckland Savings Bank and the success of James Wood," banker, through his careful habits early acquired. This is what " Snyder" thinks i— (i The celebrated James Wood here referred to was a rich miser, with a heart as hard as a nether millstone. A man who accumulated vast sums of money and. who never was known to do a generous or kindly act during tbe whole course of his life. It would he very uncomfortable to be where James Wood is located now. Children of Auckland, spend your pennies in lollies or cakes or fruit or marbles or fishihg lines, but never try to be come rich and Chare-hearted like the cele brated James Wood, who is held up as an example to you. Benjamin Frankly became frOta ft poor boy President of America. There is no man Who has done mot'a to make his fellow-man callous, c-old-hearted and selfish than Benjamin Franklyn. 'Little girls and boys,' don't save your pence. . hey are given to you to spend, and you spend them. You must learn by this that yon .nioy a double benefit. Yoti not only have your own por. onsl enjo.ment • but yoti help to support by your joint pocket monies many a rtnor wife and her family of little ones. What would become of the sellers of toffey, and marble., and pastry, which only a boy's di .estinn'can ovr-rcomo if you put your pence into a money box. You see you may die long before you become a grown up young fellow to spend your savings upon some silly girl, ov for some much worse purpo.e. or to lend out at interest by which you will perhaps be enabled to sell a man out of his house and home and sow him np. Dear children, get all the pocket money you can coax Out of your pa's and ma's, 'nd then go right away off and spend it, giving part to others less provided than yourselves. Do this and your hearts will keep full and fender instead of beinc hard and shrivelled. It will be quite time for you to be selfish and mean and contemptible and grasping and cold blooded when you go out into the world to fifiht the battle of life for yourself. Ami remember what became of the money the rich James Wood left behind him. It was spant by others in indulgence, in pin and wickedness, and riotouß living with bad women and in horrible dens. Depend upon it if Wood's pennies hid gone in lollies and fruit and alleys and etoneys it would have been much better for him and everyone else.

Tom presented his bill to bis Deishbour .Joe. ' Why, Tom, it strikes me that yon have made ou* a pretty round bill here, eh ?' ' I'm sensible it is a roand one,' quoth Tom, ' and I have come for tbe purpose of getting it squared.'

' Why, Eliza Mary, I ain't seen yr-r for I don't know how long !' ' No, Mrs Jenkins, you ain't. I've been that ill I don t seem able to get well at all.' But 'aven't yer taken any remedy?' *No, indeed, Mrs. Jenkihs; but I've taken a power of physic'

Any person having claims against tbe Newmarket Hall are requested to send in the same before Monday evening to Mr Clayton, Newmarket. The public hail being complete performing companies will have an opportu nity of plying their vocation with a good chance of success. Application has been received from two Life Insurance Com panies for th* 5 use of the hall for lec turing. On Monday week there is to be an e'l'eitainment by a musical combina tion '.roupe. Steps are being taken for the forr ■■■/j, of a Parliamentary Debating Society to be conducted on strict Parliamentary rules, which would, no doubt, prove a great beneiit t j many if our budding orators. It will then be seen that their life is being in fused into tho district. Another concert on behalf of the funds of the library would, we are informed, be determined on at once, but for the fear of encroaching too much upon the time and talents of tho musical friends, whoso very great kindness on the last oc casion has been attended with such a satis factory result.

THE COLONIAL FIRING.

WANGANUI.

[Per Press Telegram Agency.]

Friday. REPRESENTATIVES V. WANGANUI RIFLES, The whole of the official programme was completed yesterday evening. This morning a match was tired between five of the highest and five of the lowest aggregate scorers iv the series of matches for the rifle championship against ten members of the Wanganui Rifles. The former were armed with the long Snider, and the latter with the short Snider, the competitors on each side changing weapons after each round. There were six shots, at 400, 500, and 600 yards. The representatives gained the match by IS points.

This day.

The Champions.

The winner of the Rille Champion Belt is Corporal Willcocks, No 1 Clutha Rifles'; the winner of the Carbine Champion Beit is Gunner Bell, of the Auckland Artillery. The winner of the Challenge Cup is Sergeant- Major McCredie, of the Wellington Artillery.

The Wanganui Interprovincial Shooting.

Now that the shooting at Wanganui is over we are able to present our readers with a table of results, showing the amount of money won by each province, and also the compa rative averages per man obtained by the re presentatives of each province. It will be seen that, though a piece of absurd legisla tion, aided by a bit of ill-luck, prevented some of our best shots taking part in the contest, we are yet, both as a province and as a city, able to show in the front rank. TOTALS. —In pantry. Otago (17 representatives), £201, with the Champion Belt, a gold medal, a gold and silver medal, and Snider rifle; Auckland (11 representatives), £110, with the National Rifle Association silver medal; Nelson (3 representatives), £50, with gold and silver medal; Wellington (5 representatives), £2S ; Marlborough (2 representatives), £4 ; West land (2 representatives), £3 ; Armed Con stabulary (3 representatives), £15 10s. Averages per Man.—Nelson, £16 16s 8d ; Otago, about £11 16s 6d ; Auckland, about £10; Wellington, £5 12s; Armed Con stabulary, £5 3s 4d; Marlborough, £2; Westland, £1 10s. Cavalry. Auckland (3 representatives), £57, with Champion Belt, Snider carbine, and gold and silver medal; Wellington (6 reps.), £51, with Challenge Cup ; Canterbury (3 reps.), £13 ; Otago (1 rep.), £4; Armed Constabulary (4 reps.), £21. Average per Man.—Auckland, £19 ; Wel lington, £8 10s ; Armed Constabulary, £5 5s Od ; Canterbury, £4 6s Sd; Otago, £4. Totals op Auckland Districts. Infantry. Thames (8 reps.), £78 10a ; Auckland city (1 rep.), £10; Waiuku (2 reps.), £22. Average per Man.—Waiuku, £11 ; Auck land city, £10 ; Thames, £9 16s 3d. Cavalry. Auckland city (1 rep.), £41, with Cham pion Belt, -Snider carbine, and gold and silver medal ; Waiuku (2 reps.), £15. Average per Man.—Auckland city, £41; Waiuku, £7 10s. GRAND TOTALS—INFANTRY AND CAVALRY. Otago (18 representatives), £205; Auck

land (14 reps.), £166 10s j Wellington (11 ! revs.), £79; Nelson 3 repa.), £50 ; Armed Constabulary (7 reps.), £36 10s ; Canterbury (3 reps.), £13; Marlborough (2 reps.), ±-4 , Westland (2 reps.), £3. Averages.—Nelson, £16 16s »d , ahck land. £11 17s ; Otago, £11 8s ; Wellington £7 3s 6d; Armed Constabulary, £5 4a , Canterbury, £4 6s 8d; Marlborough, £2 ; Westland, £1 10s. In comparing the sums won by the three Auckland districts, we arrive at the follow ?Z results, which exhibits Auckland city, It. paucitydlrjJJJ £ tives in a most favorable light, thanks to the magnificent shooting of Gunner J. ell. THAMES. Armstrong (with N.E.A. silver medal and ha.Tentranc ge fees in All Comers' Ma eh , £50; Murray, £10; Thomas £9; Bwta. £7 ■ Brown, £1 10s ; Fasg, £1 ; Gordon, V , Fenton, 0. Total, £78 10s. AUCKLAND CITY. i Bell (with Champion Cavalry Belt, medal, and Snider carbine), £41; Morrow, £10. | Total, £51

WAIUKU. Crawford, £13; Trooper Bamball, £11 ; Mellsop, £9 ; Cornet Barriball, £4. dotal, £37. Averages.—Auckland city, £25 10s ; Thames, £0 16s 3d. Waiuku, £9 ss.

Execution of Wainwright, the Whitechapel Murderer.

(FROM __SE LONDON GLOBE.) THE morning broke fair and cloudless after a boisterous night. The damp warmth which bad been in the atmosphere for the IMbfew days gave place' to a who esome freshness, and there was a frosty nip m the air just be fore daybreak. Before the quick coming dawn had obliterated the clear outline of the crescent moon London was astir, especially along its main arteries of communication wSfthe country. For Christmas is at hand, and among the millions of inhabitants per haps, there was but one man who v»a no_ make some preparations for the coming i? asu< From all points of the compass come lumber ing along great wains laden with bright berried holly and sombre evergreens, while here and there the more precious mistletoe is borne swiftly to market in light carts. With many a rough jest the drivers lounge by tbe side of their waggons, cracking their whips smartly, and speaking cheerily to their elephantine horses. Along the banks of the silently flowing river, lights glimmer at intervals, and barges drift noiselessly under the dark arches of Blackfriars Bridge. On every side there is a sense of freshened life, to everything animate the atmospheric change seems to have given increased vitality. Even the yawning shop-boys pulling down shutters exhibit signs of unwonted liveliness; while itinerant coffee vendors in the streets cheerily pass the compliments of the season to their customers. A beautiful morning, with only three days intervening between it and Christmas, and every sign of seasonable weather to make that great festival pass off well. Newgate, however, knows nothing of Christmas. Stony-faced, pitiless, the granite sphinx seems to be ceaselessly asking why civilisation has not found some better way of turning human beings away from sin and crime than by incarcerating them within stone walls. St. Sepulchre, gazing down in all the glory of its renovation on this impas sive neighbour, tolls a mournful response, ani as the dismal sound strikes upon tbe the ear, all the freshness goes out of the air, and the merry Christmas time so near at hand is utterly for gotten. Even the anxious little crowd strug gling for admission at the prison wicket grows hushed and nervous under the dread influence of the passing bell. They are some what impatient; at being kept waiting on tbe cold steps, but their anger finds little ex pression. At last the wicket opens, and one batch are admitted, then another, and so on until the courtyard where the execution will take place is half filled. Closed in on aU sides by ihe inner walls of the gaol, the yard feels peculiarly dank" and damp this morn ing. The freshness of the morning appears to have been scared away from the place by that dismal shed standing in one corner, or rather by what that shed contains A h^avy beam some nine or ten feet from the ground is supported on stout upright., and from its centre drop half a dozm iron links with, a coiled rope attached. That is all, and yet a more saddening pight cannot be found within the vast circle of London boundaries. Dis mally tolls the bell ; ten minutes more, five minutes, one minute- the clock sttikes eight Scarcely has the last sound died away when a heavy doer creaks, there i. a noise of feet, ■ a voice proclaims the glad tidings of the Resurrection, and the prison chaplain enters the shed, followed by the hangman and Wainwright walking side by side. All eyes are on tho doomed man ; all ears stretched to hear the slightest word that may fall from his lips. Not a sound comes. Pinioned tightly as he is, Wainwright advances with firm and even step and stands underneath the fatal beam facing the spectators! Not a muscle of his face quivers ; not a §ign does he show of the pent-up emotions that mu3t be raging within him. Once or twice some thing like a smile even seems to flit across his face as he stands there, calm and impas sive, resolutely crushing down every exhibi tion of feeling that might be considered to suggest either guilt or innocence. Not for long is his face seen. Marwood soon covers it with the cap of doom ; the rope is ad justed ; the chaplain and executioner step back, and within a moment Henry Wain wright swiftly drops from view below the platform of the scaffold. The rope quivers a little, and then all is still for a minute or two, when the spectators again begin whis pering to one another, and the spell of seeing a man put to death is broken. " STATEMENT BY THE PRISONER. "Sheriff Knight and Sheriff Breffit went to the prisoner's cell a few minutes before eight o'clock, and found him engaged in praj-er with the Key. Mr Jones, the Ordinary of Newgate. Just before he was pinioned he handed to Mr. Smith, the Governor of the prison, a written statement, which he said he wished to have made public. / "The statement .of the prisoner commenced by expressing a hope that through the loving kindness of the Almighty his sin. would be blottad out for tho sike of that Blessed Saviour whom he bad so long neglected. The prisoner then acknowledged the justice of his sentence, and says that ho deserves his fate, although he does not admit to the fullest extant that ho was guilty of the mhrder. The prisoner then expresses his thanks to the Governor and all the officials of the gaol, for the kindness he has received from them duiing his confinement. He also expresses his thanks to hi. m»ny friends, known and untcuown. for the kind and Christian sympathy they hid exhibited towards him and his family, and adds that he hopes and believes that their prayers for his eternal happiness and peace have been answered by the Almighty. The statement concluded by the prisoner commending his wife and family to the care of that Almighty Father who was the protector of the widow and fatherless. " The prisoner slept for several hours on Monday night, and got up and dressed himself soon after six o'clock, and lrom that time to the period of his execution he was engaged in earnest prayer with the chaplain. "After the prisoners was cut down his countenance presented the most composed and placid appearance, and there was not ihu slightest indication of his having died a violent death." ( LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL WIT NESS, ASKING FORGIVENESS. On Monday the London papers published the following letter, purporting to be from Stokes, and which had been received by the Governor of Newgate for Henry Wainwright: " 34, Bakers-row, Whitechapel, Dec 16. "Dear Sir,—While there is opportunity will you permit me to address you a few lines to tell you how extremely sorry I am when I think of the awful position in which to say that I trust that you will not consider you are now placed. I feel I must write to you that what I have said against you was either said or done from any personal malice towards you, or that I was lacking in friendship to wards you, because I could not bring myself to any endeavour to try and screen you. On the contrary, I, and all to whom I have I spoken, who were formerly in your employ

ment, have always esteemed you as a kine!. and good master, and always a most generous friend. God and yourself only know how much you were concerned in the ter rible crime laid to your charge; hut I do hope and trust you will consider that in giving my_ evidence against you I only fufilled a national duty, which I believe was the will of God, and which I know was done in the interests of humanity. When I say that it was the will of God, I must now tell you more of the details of the strange promptings I had to open the parcel than I have hitherto made public. Perhaps you think, as I know many in the world think, thai; I wag only moved by a base and a prying curiosity. But I can assure you between myself and God, that it was no. that, but that 1, in reality, _ was urged as it were by a strange mysterious agency f or which I can scarcely account. I^tobahly the world may laugh, and you, too, at \vhat I am now going to tell you ; but I declare it to be true. It has caused me more than over to be convinced that there is a God and a super, human power around us, and I hope it will cause "ou.to think so too. These unaccount able prom.?tiups began the very moment you' left me with th_t frightful bundle while you went to fetch the on.b- The very instant your back was turned I se.nied to hear a super- . natural voice say to me three times, as di.7 tinctly as though it were a human voice some, where near me ' Open that parcel! Open that parcel! Look in that parcel.' At first I thought that perhaps you were carrying away hair, or something not belonging to yoti, and I hesitated what X should do. I i seemed to hear the voice again, and then felt pressed on by an irresistible impulse to open it. I immediately rent it open. The head ' and hands cam. up together, and a.i I stood for a moment aghast at the mutilatec. head, so grim and yet apparently so pitiable, t_ih_k. ing over and puzzling what I should say to you when you came back, I seemedinstant.y po.sessed find controlled by a power and agency —■ by a cautionary prudence and energy not my own, and certainly not natural to me ; and then, as I hastily closed up the parcel again, thinking that perhaps it would be best to say nothing about it, I then, -eemed to hear the same supernatural voice ; add.__■._"-me again, and say, 'Murder ; it.Ba' murder. Will you conceal a murder. I then said, ' No J not for my own father. Oh! pray God direct me aright; but shall I give up the very best friend I have had in tty. life .' You then came tip with the cab, took the parceis, and drove away. As I stood for" a moment in utter consternation, with my : hair feeling as though it stood erect on my; head, I immediately seemed to hear the same voice again addressing me, and saying, 'P.llow that cab—follow that cab,' I at once ("id so ; I »et on to run as ' though I was propelled along. I ran till I nearly dropped of exhaustion, and certainly seemed sustained by a strength superior to* my own. Thus from the remembrance of that strange inexplicable power which co suddenly overruled me, I feel convinced that I was really destined to be the humble medium by which that mysterious and bar barous murder was to be brought to light. Had I been left to my own natural anuulse in the matter, the probability is that the: crime would not have been so fully detected. Under these circumstances then, I do troffit that you will personally forgive me. My own personal grief is very great when I re flect upon the awful position my evidence has placed you in, and tbe terrible bereavement it has entailed upon your poor wife,, your children, and your family. No doubt, in futuie years I shall often ponder over your untimely end, and regret that it was I who had to perform such a painful national duty ; but it will greatly assuage my regret when I, in future years, reflect that I did all I could to assure you that I had no personal enmity to you. Asa former friend, I now ask you to make your peace with God. There are many who, like myself, know the e'esper ate straits into which you were driven, and that, without a doubt, yours is the Btoryof a fallen and mis-spent life. Among the many classes which constitute this y.eat world of London you were atone time the very orbit of one—the vciy centre to wil-ch ctheis of that particular class looked up as their champion and their guide. Your extra- > ordinary firmness may excite their admira tion, but, there, empty approbation can avail you nothing. Let me, then, in'the end-beg of you not Vo be 'ed to mistake, as some do, a dogged obstinacy for manliness and a per sistent; silence for pluck. All look upon you as a highly intelligent and educated man, and you will, therefore, no doubt, not fail to see that they are the most truly manly who, when they have done wrong, frankly acknowledge, it, thus showing that they esteeni not the: commendations of those who, in some classes of society, would say, 'Be game to, the end.' I have been very much touched lately by attending some of the special religious services held on your behalf in the East-end. Many friends who were your former associates were praying for you, and at one place they sang a special hymn, entitled, .1 am praying for you.' I enclose you o copy, and may it be the means or touching and softening your heart; and, further, as these will be the last lines I can ever hope to address to you, and as I must now take a solemn and awful farewell of you for ever, my humble and earnest prayer is that God will be truly merciful towards you. And now, good-bye for ever, both in time and eternity, " From your grieved and obedient servant, "Alfked Philips Stokjs. " Mr Henry Wamwrieht."

Wreck of a Schooner.

A telegram appears elsewhere announcing .... § the fact that the schooner Opotiki, well- 1 known in this port, went ashore near Napier yesterday morning. Up to the present time very meagre infoimation of the disaster has come to hand. We are told that the vessel | missed stays early in the morning and went ashore. The S:S. Rangatira went to her assistance, but could not drag her off. She was then abandoned. We learn that an enquiry was held at the scene of the wreck in the afternoon, which resulted in it being determinsd to put the vessel up to auction ■ to-day. The Opotiki was a schooner of 33 tons, belonging to Messrs Boylan and Smith of Gisborne. She was built in 1870 by Mr Beddoes at the North Head, and was commanded at the time' of the acci dent by Captain W. Morris, late of the Albatross. She is insured for £500 in the New Zealand Insurance Co.,' and is valued at about £750. The place of the wreck is somewhat indefinitely described as three miles " below Napier."

Exciting Adventure-

THE DANGERS OF FORDING A 7 l SWOLLEN RIVER. wd

A narrow escape from drowning occurred to • the well-known store-keeper, Mr L. C. Goffe, of Waitangi, an Thursday last. AB he was crossing the river, which was bank high at the time, his horse lost his footing, and rolled over on top of him : he had to let §;o his hold, and having a valise strapped to his 'back, had a good deal of difficulty in keep ing himself afloat. He managed at last, when nearly exhausted, to catch hold of a sapling willow which grew on a bank in the stream. Here he held on for about 20 minutes till he recovered sufficiently to make a successful effort to get back to the same ■ shore as he started from. His horse, after being carried down.the stream for some dis distance, was washed ashore uninjured. Some Maoris brought Mr Goffe a fresh horse, and he gallantly made a second attempt to cross the stream. But his temerity was nearly costing him his life. The second horse behaved as badly as the first, and refusing to swim, tumbled bodily over as < soon as he got into deep water. Mr Goffe

mt B\ __,__!_ STAR, S-TORPAY I ARCH i, 1876 ._ / „^,««-,~ e -»»«K^«iaßa__9_*ii~ii«t^ _BtM»»_<__a___-»iWWlg_ga«g — : :



CUSTOMS RETURNS The following are the Customs returns for the week .nding March _, 1876 :— Duties £1450 10 6 Light Bouse Dues 45 7 . Merchant Shipping Fees 11 2 _ Arms Pees C 1. 0 Other Receipt. 24 1 C Total 4.37 14 . •VTEWMARKET HiLL, AU parties having claims against the ahove must Tender their Accnunts before 5 o'clock p m on 'Mon day, March 6, addrtsscd Mr P, G. Clayton, Chairman of Committee. Th c 11.11 being ready for public use, Performing Comoanies and any party's, can. hire the same on application toMrF G. Clayton. The Committee will meet on Monday Evening at 7.30. J. H, WITHEFORD, Secretary. March 4, 1876. mHE UNDERSIGNED HAVE ON SALE X AND TO A REIVE: 1_ ourock Canvas, Al Extra Baxter Bro.'s Royal Navy Canvas C hristie's Double Crown Canvas C hristie's Royal Navy Canvas Gordon's Royal Naw B£d-f__n." n _rri.n companies' Canvas Wilson and Cunningham's Canvas Also, 50 cases Muntz Metal 6 cases Copper Sheathing And a large stock of Anchors and Chains and General Ship Chandler T. D. H. McKENZIE. An.kland Nov. rubor B, IR7K. THE JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE FOX Q.OOD ■y'MdJE FOR JyJONEY. Drapery, Clothing, Haberdashery, Hosiery, Hats and Caps, EcrBNiSHiNO Goods, ETC., ETC. 9W Speoiai. Lines in Clothing, &0.,- Purchased at Auction below Valoe, and to b_j Sold Vem. Cheap. Hf_lJS_] A LARGE AND COMPLETE STOCK IN EVERY DEPARTMENT. INSPECTION INVITED. WT 5 % Discount allowed to Cash Purchasers on all Goods amounting to twenty shillings and upwards. Orders promptly executed, well selected, and securely packed.



RUSHBROGK & BRIDGMAN, [Late __. Hobbs], UNOTIO'N DRAPERY WAREHOUSE Opposite tho Army^ind Navy Hotel, Ufp.r Qt_ue.--strest, Ai_c._:_an_>. UK MOTTO—" MAK__^HEM COMR AGAIN." DRAPERY! MILLINERY ! DRAPERY ! MILLINERS' ! HEMUS AND TRIGG. Wk have bought Cheap the Stock of Messrs Cook and Clayton, Wyndham-street anft shall hold a C-ieaeino Sai.* of SUMMER DRAPERY and MILLINERY for ONE MONTH, previous to removing to Queen street, We invite the public to note that we have made a reduction of _IX SHILLINGS in the POUND on the entire STOCK, so that an article that would cost 20s can now be bought for 14s. TO DRESSMAKERS we shall offer special induce ments-viz., a Well assorted Stock of Trimmings, Lace*, Buttons, <_._., imth a Liberal Discount We have engaged the services of a FIRST-CLASS MILLINKR, and shall study to obtain the Latest Colours, Fashions, and Designs. We submit a few of our prices, and do not hesitate to say that Ihe quality is not being sold in Auckland at the price :— Prints, from 4_ 1 per yard Wide-width Lustres, B_d Muslins 8d Drees Serges, 9Jd French Muslins, Is Black and White Straw Hats from 9d French Cambric Cosmmes, 8s lid ladies Trimmed Aats from 3s 6d Fanoy Dresß Materials, B|d Calicoes, Flannels, Sheetings, at equally low rates. We would' draw the attention of customers to our stock of Satins, Terrys, Torquoise, Black and Colored Velvets, Sorenets, and Ribbon., in all the new shades; also Yak. Blond, Clump, Maltese, and Valenciennes Laces. Cuffs and Collars, Lace Collars, Silk Scarfs, &c. &c. Wedding and Mourning orders promptly executed. Sale commences on THURSDAY, March 2nd, 1876. j HEMUS AND TRIGG, Milliners, Dr j'Ers, and Haberdashers. Temporary Premises: COBNER OF ALBERT and WYNDHAM-STREETS (Late Cook and Clayton). THORNTON, SMITH <x JFIRTH'S PRICES CURRENT (Wholesale):— Sacks. IOOIbs. .Olbs. "Crown Brand" Flour, £ b. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. per ton 14 0 0 14 10 0 li 17 6 T. 8 F. Canterbury Flou.-, do 12 0 0 12 10 0 12 17 6 Sharps,do 6 17 6 Bran, do 6 5 0.. ... Fowl Wheat, per bushel, 4s 3d to 4s Bd. The above prices include sacks and bags. Sacks and bags not returnable.—Terms Cash. Auckland. February 7,1876. '



CELLING.' -AST! Our Prices insure a Bapid Sale, therefore we are NO OVERSTOCKED AS OUR NEIGHBOURS ARE! ««....•.-•..••....1!! ri'.V.V.V.! '.'.'.*'.'.,.... New Goods now Unpacking: elt Panares from 14/6 each -ta_v Floor Plotbß, 18 x 22 inches wide Brlliiant Tan Brussel Carpets at 3/11, suitable for Hotelkeppers Furniture Cretone Cloths at /11J Wide Ticks at /6-J. White Sheeting, 2 yds wide 1/1 per yard „ „ Twilled, 2vdswide.... 1/6 „ „ Plain and Twilled, 2_ yds wide.. 1/9 ~ Goo d Waterproof Sheetinp, at .' 3/9 „ 7-4 Colored Table Covers from 3/6 8-4 „ „ 4/11 Balance of our Stock of Prints we are clearing at /4J. worth /6J; /6}, worth /9. Toilet Quilts for Single Beds, 4/11 Ditto, large size, 7/11 Fringed ditto, from 9/11 to 16/0 Axminster Door Mats at 2/11 Furniture, Bedding, Carpets White and Brab Stays, 2/11, worth 4/6 Silk Umbrellas, 7/11, good value. HOLLOWAY & GARLIC X, city hall, Queen-street, Auckland.



p ABLE MESSAGES TO EUROPE ANGLO-NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAPH AGENCY. Auckland Agent: Alex Saunders. TRANS-ATLANTIC PIRE INSURANCE COMPANY. Auckland Agent: Alex. Saunders. House, Land, and Estate Agent, Stock AND ShAEEBROKER, ALEX. SAUNDERS, 2, Insurance Buildings.