SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

m^_ ("This Afternoon, 7.17 HI&H WATER-■) To-inovrow Morning, 7.33 SUN-SET.—This Even-tig. 5.23 SUN RISE —To-morrow Morning, G.3i MOON'S AGE -Now Moon, Sept. Bth, 0.39 a.m.

ARRIVALS.

Hero, s.s.. Logan, from Sydney.

ARRIVAL OF THE HERO.

TiiP =» * Hera arrived alongside the vvnarr i list as we were going to p ren. She left Sydney 'llsr Saturday, and has made a six days' pas sage "On Wednesday a heavy gale was en countered from the N.E., with heavy sea. Passengers: Rev C. Ho wen, Mr and Mrs A. C Llaclachian aod family (7). Mr and Mrs Free rn'fTi Mr and Hiss Skinner, Mrs R. Phillips, Wsa Katie Bri.gp?, Mr J. Withnalt, Nugent, Diliiou, _nd i's in tVio. steerage.

The ss Tanpo leaves at i o'clock this after •nom for Tanranga and the South. VrTC&ilev's new sailing boat tiie i-ec, w""j" HkI»1 S?SffiffiSS Mail Co? vesHels must be bifcked at the age-t's Of Vhe Auckland agents of Messrs Shaw, Savill, ana Co advertise that the ship Famenoth, exSecte" CTom London, and the barque rWloVawill belaid on to load for London immediately on discharge of inward cargo. — 3

KAIPARA SHIPPING.

ECaipaba Heads, Wednesday. Arrivals Augusts: Warkworth,outter, from I-atea MarTmoa, schooner : {krZL German Exoria! ToreaT Kmerald. and Hannah Broom tic! i, schooners, for Wellington.

AUCKLAND CATTLE MARKET.

-■■At\he Haymarketon Friday, August nth Wn,.B^ stock offored in moderate numbers; only SSovcdS ruling the present month ,n, eri nji . ridin"" horses, £10 10s to »ai. nlLt:? y°,khs were pitched in larger than usual SumSS bSdingwas free, and late prices fully "luteineia. on Thursday, 23rd instant stock all kinds wers in less than average supply. 1 ,? r - c?ws were of moderate quality, and on^ bro Sht from £3 to £7 123 Gd ; calves £2 to £3 4:. qrooii tv.-o-vear-old steers. £4 2s bd, tnree vlir^old steers; £5 2s 6d to £5 5: dry cows Of if infcrior"&;£3 17s 6d to £tl^ h *at ratt'-e short of average supply, 95 nead soia to thDU-Se prices irregular, but advanced as the ;,)a ni-n^pdea They varied from 35s to 40s. H± aver fsed 37s Cd the 1001b3. No store sheep •h-rcU • d to Wd pcx lb., hut. could not be quoted vfJher than 3d per lb. Few fat pigs yarded. S Ire pigs of a good class in average supply; Fatcalves scarce, and at ext_remo_values.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

MATt.3 WILu Cr.OSK AS UXDRB.-" For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m. ; and ;to- ForK^S^P^^^o^o^ next, F^l£.l^uSSlSaS^ Anne Milbank, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For TirSaki and Southern Provinces, per ll> wop on Monday next, at 8 a.m. " |°^S^S^7^nTro 3 i 3 tered letters, Frt^^^cKftMongonui, per Tnna on Monday next, at i p.m. For GHsboVne? per Pretty Jane, to-morrow, at PeV's!": City of Sydney, on Wednesday, 29th "ndSo^h. America, and Briti 3 h and Foreign '^^^Kmidom, aud Continent of EF ro°r PUw olorder S , registered letters, and newspapers, at 30.30 a.m. Late letters, bearing In IS ill of Gd. in addition to the postage will be receded by the mad agent on boa. a ti^n <?< aqmpr un(a fie timfc of sailing, the steame. wp L BISS _ Chief postmaster.

ENTERTAINMENTS & MEETINGS, August 21.

Parnell Borouprh Council, at G. 30 p.m. Inter-colonial Cricket Meeting, Thames Hotel, at 7.30 p.m. Ponsonby Wesleyan Sunday-school Entertain ment, at 7.30 p.m. Rev. E. O. Stuart's Lecture on Mohammedan ism, Christian Young Men's Association, at 7.35 p.m. Theatre Royal, Soldene's Eng-lidh Comic Opera Company, "Chiiperic."

BIRTH.

PROHL.—On the 21th August, at her residence. Karai.g'ahape Road, the wife of William R> Prohl of a son.

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

THURSDAY. AUGUST 23, 1877.

fot<he cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs tesistance. For the future in the distance. And the g°°d that we cjlb do.

THE Opposition in the Assembly appears to have become completely disorganised.

It has suffered, as all parties suffer, from the discouragement of half-hearted members by a continued want of success. And there is very little doubt that the failure of the measures adopted to defeat the Government has been due in some degree to jealousy among the aspirants to leadership, or at least to ambitious members kicking over the traces of discipline and acting inde pendently. The Liberal party in England has always suffered from the same failing, and Mr Gladstone at Birmingham, by an apt simile, very ingeniously explained the greater compactness, orde*-, and submission to their leaders among the Conservatives.

He compared the followers of Beacoiisfield to the recumbent figures of Egyptian statuary— pcrfoe'ly at rest, and with no desire to change their position. The Liberals, on Mic other hand, like the unrivalled creations of Greek art, were full of life and motion. It might well be conceived that if the Egyptian statues described were suddenly to start into life and activity, their move ments would be controlled with much greater difficulty. Men who think and act independently are, i'h the very nature of things, much harder to guide towards a common object than those who are bound together by self-interest, or are content to follow in any given track, because certain other men have gone that way. The simile is wre fear, more complimentary than true as an explanation of the evident disunion among the large party in our own House of Representatives opposed to the Govern ment. Dissatislied with their positions, Poseidon, and Hades tire inclined to dis pute tlie supremacy of Zeus. Mr Gladstone has had little to contend with from tlie ambition and petty intriguing of followers. His headship in the world of liberalism is univecsalty recognised. But in the House of Representatives every man's own goose is a swaa. Members, without consultation with leaders ©r party, spring up in their seats and move motions or amendments of a party character. Possessing no distinct programme, they ignore the necessity for a personal leadership, or, if recognising it, each of at least a dozen members considers that he is specially fitted by liafcxre to fill the role. Examples of this are innumerable, and the consequence has been general dfe- ! satisfaction and defection. On Wednesday, at a general meeting of the Opposition, it was agreed that no division should be called for, unless by the whip', on the various amendments relating to the incidence of taxation. Mr Lusk prepared tiio way by stating that the Government had retained I their seats by swallowing the Opposition i proposals. But Mr Stout, in spite of this desire, demanded a division. A complete disruption of the Opposition, our reporter states, almost resulted. No dwubt only the weakest vessels—those who would fain run with the hare and hunt with the hounds— ! Avould feel very greatly distressed by being called ui^on to show thoir hands at any time, but even the infirmities of these have to be considered by a successful party leader, and if he is prevented through iu jinlicioas followers from exercising a wise : discretion the result? cannowbe othewisethan | disastrous to his cause. Mr Reader Wood's motion to make land fund colonial revenue, '; can only overcome tlie weakness of the present combination by creating v new one. The j motion is an extremely awkward ene for ' many members on both sides of the Housfj aud even on the Government benches. What attitude will Mr Whitaker take after the motion and declarations of last session? What Mr Stafford?; And how far can unity be maintained among the Opposition member* repre senting Auckland and Otago respectively ? With a laud tax looming in the immediate future, the big station-holders of Canter bury would, we believe, bo1 prepared to

accept the motion, if an advantageous arrangement for renewals of runs accompanied it. The resolution will com pletely disturb existing parties, and what may arise in their place is so uncertain and indefinite a quantity that speculation upon the issue is for the present almost futile. That such a resolution should bave been moved by Mr Wood, and not by Sir George Grey, shews how far party obliga tions have already been disturbed. The Opposition, as now constituted, could not find any common platform on such a motion, and Aye doubt whether, excluding the thick and thin Ministerial supporters, there will be a majority of the House in its favour. [Since the foregoing article was in type, we have received a telegraphic report of the proceedingsat the Government caucus to-day to consider the situation. The Government make an appeal ad misereoordiam to their supporters. They pray that another year of the sweets of otlice shall be allowed them, then they will be ready to do or die. The " previous question " is offered to save mem bers' consciences and shirk an expression on the principle raised, and by means of this miserable subterfuge a great colonial ques tion will probably be shelved for another year.]

Wo must give up for the present any attempt to deiine the movements of Sulei man Pasda, as described by cable. More than a fortnight ago, we were in-

formed rcpeatodlj , from three distinct .sources—the Agent-General, the Press Agency, and our Special Correspondent — that he was on tlrj north side of the Bal kans, now a Press Agency despatch states that lie has not yet crossed. Readers must make a certain allowance for the fact that these telegrams ncces-anly come either through Russian or Turkish sources, and should make, a proportionate allowance. We observe that the London "Times" complains of the contradictory character of its telegtams, while those of the " J)aily Telegraph," London " Post," and other anti-Russian papers are so strongly tinged with Turkish sympathies as to have be come wholly unreliable. Another second sham fight by the various volunteer companies takes place to-night. Members are reminded of the respective rendezvous at seven o'clock — Scottish, at the lirebell, Queen-street ; Engineers, at the corner of Welleslcy and Hobson-streets; and Victoria, near the Theatre.

The only subscriptions received to-day at this office, on behalf of Mrs Hume and family, are ;L'l from Dr. Kcudcrdinc, and 2s. 6'd. from J. 11. E., which are thankfully acknowledged. Public benevo lence is spasmodic. When the s.s. Tau ranga was lost, more than £1000 wore sub scribed within a week for the relatives of the drowned passengers and crew. The case of Mrs Hume, individually, is as melancholy and deserving as any of those which, in connection with the Tauninga disaster, evoked a universal burst of sym pathy. We are glad, to learn that the lint being circulated oh Mrs Hume's behalf is filling in. .1. 11. K. writes inquiring whether Mrs Hume will lie willing to accept a benefit by the Manukau Dramatic and Mini*trcl Club. We learn th;»t she will readily do so. It has been resolved by the City Council to supply water to persons residing beyond the «itv boundary, at a charge of 121 per cent on the valuation of the houses for which they wisli the supply provided. Licensed public halls in the city will be supplied at a charge of 2 per cent, but not for domestic purposes. It will bo seen by advertisement that some interesting foot races are to come oil' at Elleis'i'! Gardens to-morrow afternoon. The race between Mcttam and Dickenson, fur £40 is fixed for tJuee o'clock. Mr f. K. Vinlou, architect, of Hamilton, invites tenders for additions to an hotel at Hamilton. Plans can be see.ii in Auckland at Messrs Whitsoas' brewery. Os the sixth of next month (September) the planet Mars will be visible closer to the earth than the two planets have been tor the last seventy-nine years. From the beginning to about the middle of next month Mars will assume a splendor such a-s perhaps no inhabitant of the earth now living ever noted. His mean distance from the earth in about forty-eight millions of miles, but upon that occassion his distance from us will be reduced to little more than

thirty-five millions of miles. Seventy-nine years will again elapse before he will once more be as favorably .situated for observa tion, and measures are now being taken by the Royal Society to make the most of fehe present opportunity in utilising hi.s parallactic dis placement in cheeking the rosult arrived at through the several observations made of Venus's last transit. Mars is a planet bearing in many respects a .strong resem blance to the one we inhabit, and a searching examination of him under excep tionally favorable circumstances will at his ensuing opposition be made, and will no

; doubt result in further knowledge regarding 1 his physical ooudition, and general geo jjrapnical features. j The artizan's petition to tlie Hotisc of I Represai t iti\ s, praying for the manu i facutre of railway material in the colony, . was forwar.lcd by the Taupo to-day to Mr Swauson, M.HtB. It bore 1)21 signatures, ; several sheets -yy-Jiick would have brought i up the number to 1,000 could not be got in ■ early enough- The petition will bo pre ! sented at the same time as the Southern ■ one, now in the hands of Mr Burns, j The "Northern Advocate" writing on j the subject of the claims of North of Auck land says "It is clearly evident that while ; the Southerners have enjoyed their Land | Fund, wo have been taxed to pay interest ; on money borrowed by the Colony to open up and people their territory ; and on those grounds we—North Auckland—have now ! au unquestionable claim to participate in i their Land Fund. Nothing can refute ;or discsia.bli.sh that claim, because i North Auckland has for many years | contributed to the Consolidated Iteve j nue over £100,000 annually, and that i revenue has bee*i charged with expenses | which the OtagO and Canterbury Land i Funds should have borne. And as a con j sequence of this. North Auckland has been I deprived, or rather denied, many public j services which the Consolidated Revenue i was unable t» provide owing to those i " Southern charge*" being made upon it." ; An organ recital took place at St. Mat ] thcw'B church yesterday evening, in pre sence of a numerous congregation. Mr V. E. Face and Mr Joseph Brown officiated by turns at the organ. ri*ie choir mustered in full numbers, and sang several choruses | very creditably. At the conclusion of the programme, which was wcll-scl cted, the Rev. E. S. Hassard pronounced the bene diction. We are pleased to learn that out of the £4S 4s lost by Mrs Smith, £46 odd has boen recovered. There are two pounds in gold still wanting, either given away or lost by tin* youth who picked up the paroel of money. The following are the terms on which it has been decided to amalgamate <*iie Queen of Beauty and City of London mining com panies :—Tkc eonsoliafeed company to issue 20.000 scrip shares, of which the Queen of Beauty shareholders will reserve as their quota 10,000, and the City of London 5,000 ; the remainder to be held in reserve by the new company. The battery of the Queen of Beauty and the two winding plants to become the property of the new company, and each company to pay their own costs for the necessary winding up of the old companies The monthly inspection parades of the Artillery and 'Naval Brigades took place last night at the Drill-shed, Major Lusk being the inspecting officer. The men went through tlie various evolutions with credit, if we except one or two who had evidently not attended drill very often. At the finish of the inspection the two corps marched through tlie principal streets with their b mds flaying.

Her Majesty's ship Tourmaline left England for the Cape of Good Hope with her machinery out of repair. A receiving tank burst, trunks snapped, the boilers were lax, the rod-liners wore away, the piston was irregular, and every -wheel and rod went wrong j-n turn. The Chief Engi neer pottered by day and worried by night until his nerves were unhinged and his wits unscrewed, and finally he cut his throat in sheer desperation.

We learn that 25-4 essays were written by 119 competitors on the lecture recently given in the Choral Hall by Mr Severn, and that some of these juvenile productions were very creditable. The idea was an excellent one, as it had the good effect of fixing the attention of young persons upon the subjects under review, and enabling them to retain scientific facts. The prizes consisted of standard works of a scientific character, selected by the lecturer,who also examined the contributions.

The Russo-Tuvjeish question came under discussion at a great meeting of agricultural labourers' delegates in Exeter Hall on May 16th. The delegates were to a man on the Liberal *i le, and entirely supported Mr Arch in declaring that the vote of the House of Commons on Mr Gladstone's resolutions did not express the feeling of the country. They were not in all proba bility, say eyewitnesses, nor aware of all the questions involved, and were possibly as hazy about geography as their superiors ; but they had grasped two ideas clearly,— that the Turkish Government was incurably Oiid, and that war with Russia meant dear bread.

There is talk in London of a new dramatic authors' society, based upon the French principle of a division of profits with the managers, instead of as a present, a fixed price per act per night. One can hardly wonder atthis proposal in these days of long runs. " Our Boys" is said to have produced between £20,000 and £30,000 for the managers, and about £lf)00 for the author. "La Bicheau Uois," in the palmy days of the Parte St Martin, was worth between £18,000 and £20,000 to its authors. Can we wonder if discontent is rife ?

The Waikato aud Ngatimaniapoto tribes are becoming more estranged, writes Major Mair, in his annual report ; indeed, when it is remembered that the former have for the last thirteen years been occupying land belonging to the other tribe, it is not to be wondered at. The Nagtimaniapoto are afraid that the WaikatoSj if permitted to continue their occupation, will eventually bring forward claims to land, and they would gladly be relieved of their presence.

The City Council have granted a permit to Mr Dempsey, the contractor, for blasting on the west side of Hobson-street, at the reclamation works. This has been granted partly with the view of giving employment to those of the unemployed who may be willing to work. Mr Dempsey lias entered into a bond to be responsible for any dam age that may be occasioned by the blasting, and care and precaution will bo taken in the due proscutiou of the ■work.

Mr Robert 15. Denniston, the gentleman engaged by the Government to cany on the coalfields' survey in this province, says of Foot's Bridgewater mine, that in his opinion it is the most valuable rainer.il property in the Waikato district. Besides coal underlying a great, part of the area there are several hands of fireclay ironstone, and limestone. The estate, besides being connected with the Waikato river, is only eight miles from the Firth of Thames,with a good line of tramway, furnishing facili ties for supplying the tJoldficld.s, and Auckland.

Mr Peter James Mack is very much aggrieved by the poetical lerity occasionally associated with the notices of drunkards in our police report. Mr Mack considers that drunkards are but creatures of circum stances, and their fault is not really a fault, because drunkenness is the result of mental disease. To legalise the sale of intoxicating drinks on the one hand, and line men for getting drank on the other, is, according to Mr Mack's theory, one of the most glaring of human inconsiHteuaies.

Reports from the famine districts of India are of a very painful character. A telegram from llellary, dated "Jilth May, gives the following information :—"There arc no signs of the monsoon, The distress is increasing. The town is crowded with .starving people, mostly women and chil dren. .Some motlters are giving away their infants and children ; others are oll'ering to sell them. Cases have; been khowu of dancing girls securing them. Forty deaths from starvation have occurred this month in the hospital, and some deaths have also happened in the streets. Coolies are still returning from the Hnblee railway works, the weaker being unable to e;irn subsistence the:c. The Collector is absent, in the dis trict. Responsible officers with local know ledge are urgently wanted." The various Native States throughout India have sub scribed to the forthcoming loan 7S lakhs of rupees in -11. Nothing more i« expected from this source. Notes will be issued to them at the average price at which the loan is taken up, and the amount offered for pub lic subscription will be independent of this sum «f 78 lakhs.

The natives of Ohinemutu having granted about three acres of laud for a " Public Cemetery" and vested the same in the hands of four Europeans and live natives as trustees, (the trustees) wish to fence and improve, and the number of resident Europeans there being small they have determined to appeal to the general public to assist them. Mr Perkins, of the Occi dental Hotel, will receive subscriptions.

Mr William MeArthur, M.P., presiding at a demonstration in favor of Ibir Wilfred Lawson's Permissive Hill, at which the jovial fresh water knight himself was pre sent, said : "It was a melancholy fact that notwithstanding the endeavours to improve the moral, .social, and material condition of the people, the drinking habits were in creasing ; for, whereas £100,000,000 used to be spent a year in drink, now it had increased to £150,000,00®, an amount which was sufficient to pay off the National Debt in live years, and this money had been spent in a way which would materially increase pauperism and crime. He expressed him self in favour of giving compensation to the publicans where the houses were abolished." If Mr M'Arthur had been presiding on be half of the Executive of the New Zealand North Grand Lodge, he would at once have subjected himself to insult and denuncia tion as a deceiver and violator of sacred obligations.

As old things pass away, new forms arise, as the successive improvements in the streets of Auckland fully illustrate. The old houses in what might be termed "Saddlers' Place," next to the Union, Bank have been pulled down, and in their place will shortly appear a handsome house and shop of qredit able dimensions. The work has been com menced by the owner, Mr W. Mcars, of Epsom, and will shortly be completed. During the period of the erection of the new house,"Mr llobert Webster will carry on his business in a shop in the Theatre Buildings, and when ready, ha will return to the spot of his old quarters, 153 Queen-skoet. The "pop" and "cake" shop, recently in the occupation of Mr S. Worms, lemonadist, has disappeared for ever, and it was quite time that the dangerous old disfigurement was removed, as it had literally become a harbour for hungry rats, whose voracious appetites were nightly appeased with the proprietor's banberrys and buna, until he could stand k, no longer. The boards of the shop were full of rat hole*, many of them covered over with Frank Leslie's wood-cuts. Many stories of the little coffee shop might be told in connection with courtship, love, and marriage, sweet ened by conversation lollies and tempered by oranges, but as these stories still live as pleasant memories in the recollection of several young Templar courts, we forbear to intrude further upon such sacred ground.

Mr F. Tomlinson, draper, of Parnell, has com pleted his new premises, opposite Mrs Georges, and will ooen his new shop to-morrow morning with a lai-Ke assortment of spring and summer goods.

Over 22,000 signatures have been affixed in various parts of the colony to petitions in favour of the Local Option Bill, and it is said that no persons have been allowed to sign, except they had attained the age of sixteen years.

Auckland headed the list of gold exports for the half-year ending 30th June, the yield of the precious metal in this pro vincial district reaching £216,590, against £99,962 for the corresponding period of the previous year. The value of the gold exported from the different provincial districts during the half-year is as follows: —Auckland, £216,590; Qtago, £203,625; Westland, £168,247 ; Nelson, ; Marlborough, £3,107; making a grand total of 731,712, against £608,793 for the corresponding half-year of 1576. The total amount of gold exported from the colony wnce its first discovery in 1557 up to the 30th June last was 8,458,577 ounces of a value of £33,000,826.

PARLIAMENTARY.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL REPOETER)

[BY ELECTEIC TELEGRAPH.]

WELLINGTON, this day. Mr. Header Wood Moves to Make Land Fund Colonial Revenue.

The debate on the incidence of taxation was only the calm before a storm. Just as the Premier was on tip-too to seize the barren laurels of a miserable victory won after much manoeuvring, and being worsted, a hand was reached out, and snatched it away. Everyone has grown tired of the interminable Woolcock and the incidence of taxation. Those who are behind the scenes knew from the first that the Government were only staving oil'the question, in order to hold their seats another year, and had privately, in the lobbies and sweating-rooms, promised tho.s<; who voted with them that though they would pledge themselves to introduce a new system next year they would liud an excuse to evade it when the time came. Just when the Speaker was about to put the question, Mr Reader Wood rose, and moved another amend ment, of which notice was telegraphed to the STAR yesterday afternoon. Though none knew the exact terms in which Mr Header Wood intended to conch his motion, Messrs Dignan, Swanson, and a few other Auckland members, knew that Mr Wood intended to move a further amendment, and, probably, dealing with the land fund.

DISORGANISATION OF OPPOSITION.

Yesterday, it appeared that the injudi cious action of Mr Stout and a few others had resulted in disorganisation of the Oppo sition. Several leading members had openly stated in the lobbies that they would no longer act with the Opposition, pledged themselves to act under discipline, and obey the recognised whips. Mr Lusk's speech last night plainly indicated that the Opposition did not intend to divide the Mouse. He said the Government had prac tically accepted all the Opposition desired, and, therefore, nothing was left to light about. The injudicious action of a few headstrong members precipitated a division yesterday. Mr Lusk expressed his disgust in strong terms, his speech the night before having been delivered after consultation with the leaders. Just when demoraliza tion was threatened, and the Government fondly imagined that the entire game was in their own hands, Header silently but surely has " COME TO THE RESCUE, and tabled a. resolution to make the Land Fund colonial revenue. When he rose, most members of the House thought lie merely desired to make a parting speech 071 the question. His amendment fell like a bombshell. Major Atkinson's face fell ; Mr Whitaker was evidently disconcerted ; Mr Richardson, at the back, smiled grimly on his lucky escape from the Ministerial benches. Major Atkinson and Mr Whitaker put their heads together, but the next minute evidently some shadow had come between thorn. Mr Gisbornc was evidently pleased; Mr Fox's face shewed alarm for the fate of the Local Option Bill. The Auckland members cheered ; several West Coast members joined. Mr Wood's speech was the best lie lias delivered for years. The House and galleries were

TAKEN BY STOIIM. The occupants of the Government benches cowered under his withering irony and thundering declamation. Peal after peal of laughter arose from all sides of the House and galleries on Mr Wood's inimitable mimicry and withering scorn, which told upon Major Atkinson and Mr Reid. He commenced by expressing surprise at such an important question as the incidence of taxation being discussed at such leng.:h without any examination of the real basis. Any stranger in the House not knowing the real position of parties would have thought the Opposition wens endeavouring to resist the Government in the imposition of an income and property tax. The country had been kept in an oblivious state r,i happiness with regard to the li nances of the country. The House had been lilled, galleries filled, ladies' galleries filled—altogether a most attractive sight, which could not be seen at a theatre — but it was all a farce. When the House heard the Financial Statement of Sir Julius Vogel, they went away, the gas was turned down, the scenery put away ; what was left ? A memory—no reality. One hon. member said there was no finality in the Government proposals, nor settlement. Why, the Govcrnmotit had been definitely settling everything for the last .seven years, and indefinitely un settling the most things. The Premier proposed to take something from the Canterbury Land Fund. Canterbury did not like that; something from Otago Land Fund, and then they would not like that. Then at the end of this statement the Treasurer said that on some future occasion, when the trunk lines were completed—a railway from Auckland to Wellington, another from Nelson to the Bluff—it might be necessary to alter the incidence of tax ation, and property should bear its burden. What he understood by that was a threat to Canterbury and Otago—" If yeu do not take our proposals with reference to your ; Land Fund, we shall have to impose oh you an income and property tax. Mr Stafford ■ had stated in his speech that there had ; been a lull during the last seven years with ! reference to finance, but when Mr Mont- ! gomery made an excellent speech on finance half the members were absent playing lawn-. ! tenis. People said such motions were i fancy motions. Everything was going ' quietly and nicely. There had been no pos- j sibility of avowing the feeling of the House j to the financial state of the colony. How i was it when the member for Grey proposed j his incidence of taxation resolutions ? A j debate arose in which a member bad taken i more interest than in any debate for years. I The cause was, that this House is now j aroused in a way which it never had been j to face the finances of the country, which j were in a perilous condition. The Govern ment, instead of confessing this, left the House to drift about like drowning men catching at straws. Now the House was aroused t® the fact of something being absolutely necessary. But parties | were disorganised. No one w?is agreed as to what was necessary. The House had been blind for years. They now opened their eyes and awoke. In point of fact there was no stable basis for the House to rest upon. He had examined the Financial Statement, distinguishing what was iinanee and what was bookkeeping. He defined finance as a principle upon which we base the monetary affairs of this colony. That was entirely distinct from bookkeeping. When the Government finance was attacked they in effect said, " what is that to us?" The Treasurer's Financial Statement was vir- ! tually this :—" We have muddled along for

the last year by borrowing on Treasuyr Bills, and we propose to muddle along next year by borrowing on Treasury Bills, and so on from year to year. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. Upon that princi ple the Government projiose borrowing a million. This would absolutely ruin our \ credit. The Treasurer's logic of finance j was above proof. When he said " I say it j is," or " I say it is not," his majority went with him. Why did not the Government | come down with a straightforward state ment. Instead of that the Government were harrassed by their opponents, aban- I doned by their friends, patronised by the ! lion, member fo/ Timaru, and laughed at ; by all. If it had taken a straightforward j position, not a member of the House ! but would have assisted to place j the finances on a sound basis. The hon. member for Timaru said this ' was not a continual Government. The speaker contended that the present ministry were the colleagues of Sir Julius Vogel. He related a story of Marcums Scvcrus, who bought a pair of silk stockings which had been mended to such an extend that not a bit of old silk was left in them. The question arose, where they an old pairs of silk stockings or not? if not, what were they ? That was exactly the position of the Governmet since IS(>'9. The present Government had not been overset except by Mr Stafford for i one month. Sir Julius Vogel returned to otlice, and the same Ministry was in since. He criticised the Public Works' policy, and said the railways barely paid working expenses. There was no reserve fund. They did not pay interest that was paid elsewhere. The creation of a land fund in the North Island was un dertaken, but the promise had never been realised. If the land were saleable for half what it cost originally, the Government would sell it.

Major Atkinson : Bring in a Bill. They would sell it to the Attorney Gene ral.

Mr Ilees : An order in Council will do. j The Government policy re thai Land Fund was organised hypocrisy, j Abolition was a matter of bargain and sale. | Auckland, voted on condition of one com mon purse ; the South, for localisation of the Land Fund. The Government introduced ! a clause in the Bill to localise the Laud Fund of the South Island, at the same time tell ing the North they never meant CO carry it ■ out —it was only a bait f»r the South. The ' Treasurer acted honorably. He would have ! adhered to section 16 of the Abolition Bill. Ho was standing alone in this matter. (Loud j cries of "No.") He cared not if he was j alone. In 18G9 lie had moved a similar j resolution. He and Mr Swanson were the j enly members of the House who voted for ! it. He characterised the Government finance as defalcating finance. There was a . proved deficiency of £100,000 last year, j The country was deceived by their accounts. ! The system was like thimble-rigging. The debate on the motion was adjourned.. !

local Option Carried. After dinner the Local Option Bill came on • discussion to a beggarly amount of empty benches Members went home to sleep. Ministers were absent considering their position. Sometimes there was actually no member of the Government in the House. Even Sir William Fitzherbert, like Homer, sometimes nods. The eoconcl leading of the Local Optionßill was earned on the voices in a bare quorum. The following little scene occurred during the debate. Mr Travers was on his legs, his spectacles reflectively poised somewhat gingerly. Mr Stout (plucking his garment): "There is no quorum." Mr Travers: " Never mind, don't notice it." The Bill is to be committed on Wednes day. Mr Fox waived his right of reply, and said lie would reply on the motion for going into committee. He went home to work up an effective speech in a better House, not liking to waste breath on so small an audience.

THE STATE OF PARTIES. On the Land Fund question, Canterbury and Otago are divided. The West Coast and Nelson will vote with Mr Wood. Seven Canterbury members are trying to make terms for the renewal of leases. It is said Mr Wood will consider whether he can carry the resolution without them. If there is a majority without them, he will not pro pose to renew leases. Mr Wood's resolu tion is the most disturbing clement intro duced this session. All parties are in throes, and will take some time to settle down. Sanguine Oppositionists think Mr Wood's motion will be carried by a small majority.

Government Caucus- The Government called a caucus of their supporters to-day. Some say forty-five were present, others forty-two. The Premier made a statement. He desired that the previous question be moved on Mr Reader Wood's amendment. He toek that course with a view to consider tke whole question during the recess. He adduced arguments that the matter was too impor tant to be done this session. It vronld have to be considered in connection with the finance of the country. He read a list of the measures the Government would like paaeed this session, the Education Bill, District Boundaries, Friendly Societies, Lands Bill, Charitable Institution amendment on the Waiting Bill ; Counties Act amendment, and other smaller measures. They would endeavour to push these measures through as soon as possible. The Government desired to press the measure and close the session as soon as possible. Mr Stafford, and several Can terbury members, contended that the Land Fund Question was the most important one introduced this session, and would have to be fought out. They were now face to face with Mr Reader Wood's amendment, and there must be no shirking it. They must fight it out. The question iu4dst be decided this session. He would support the previous question. He sai«l of course that was the action he must take.

Mr Curtis, a general supporter of the Government, said he had pledged him self irretrievably to his constituents, and here he sighed gently, and would have to support Mr Reader Wood. He did not see any way of getting out of it. j^hsi^ | Mr Fox moved a resolution that sup porters of the Government in the present political crisis should use every possible endeavour to bring the session to a close as sooai aa possible. Messrs Morris, Macfarlane, Rowe, Cox, and Whitaker were present at the caucus, which took place at half-past twelve, and continued to a quarter past one. The Opposition Avill probably be beaten ou the previous question. Southern capitalists, land owners, and a certain bank make out a majority. This is straight up—bank managers are in the lobbies. Mortgagee* are waiting, like Mordecai, at the gate. Sir Robert Douglas did not attend the caucus. Let Auckland be united, and see that their members do their duty. Constituencies ought to be alive, not dictatorially, but ill the interests of themselves and children. I THE MAYOR'S RETURN. Mr Hurst has arranged the two Auckland Municipal Bills, and leaves to-morrow. I

A correspondent says : —ln your remarks on Dr Skac's report on Lunatic Asylums, yon infer from yotir report that insanity is more common in New Zealand than in England or Australia. I have before me the reports of 35 English County Asylums, for IS76', which shows an average of 2.40 per thousand of the population. In Scotland, the average is jtist as high. In the county of Bertshire, the average is 3.6. per thousand; while in New Zealand the average is less than 2. per thousand. The deaths in English asylums average 10.2S percent, in Austra lia 7.4S per cent.', in New Zealand 6.80 per cent. Idiocy arises, as all great authorities on insanity will tell you, and I suppose Dr. Skae included, principally from the state of health of the mother during pregnancy,

The War.

TURKISH MISGOVERNMENTl 1 Attr. OPPRESSION IN ARMENIA.

Captain Bubnaby, who made the CP i o brated ride to Khiva, published s. bo iT bearing on the Eastern question, display!* very strong Turkish and anti-Russian feT mg. According to him, the rule of th Porte is rather a model than otherwi* The " London Times " military corresson' dent writing from Erzeroum, explain how Captain Btirnaby, and ..other de'fe ders of Turkish misgovernment, obtai their information. His picture of Anrien is substantially the same as that «iven X Dr. Sandwith, the chief of the °En4sh medical staff at Kara, twenty-four v e n ago. In a letter dated i Erzerom.?' May 31st, and published in the "Tim es » of the 22nd June, the military cor respondent of that journal, writes •-. " Both here and at Erzingan, Captain Burn" aby stayed with the Pasha, and the", accounts of tilt- good feeling existing between the Christian and the Turk must have been culled in conversation with th rulers, not with the ruled. I ,have had an opportunity of talking with -many «entle' men of tlii;-; neighbourhood, as well as with some of American missionaries, who devote their whole lives to the task of preaching among the Armenians, and. they one and all testify to the manner in which the Christian is oppressed and tyrannised over Siuce I have been here I,have seen a petition addressed to the. Consul by the inhabitants of a Christian village Jabout 30 miles off, complaining that their cattle and corn have been seized by Govern ment officials, their wives and daughters ravished by soldiers, and that no notice. having been taken by the Pasha of their complaints, they implore him to protect them. Again, only this morning, two Armenian merchants returning to' their homes were set upon within sight of this town, and in the preseace of a Turkish, caravan, robbed of 13,000 piastres. Such, acts as these remain unre dressed. Christian has no chance of bringing his. complaints before a Court of Justice so how can there be contentment and happi ness ? There certainly has been no such open persecution as in Bulgaria, but tyranny and oppression is the normal condition he-re, and after, centuries of such misrule the Armenian has become as- bad as, if not worse in many points than, the Turk.

MUKHTAR PASHA'S ABMY.—SICK NESS AND DESERTION. The same writer, referring to the army commanded by Mukhtar Pasha, says :— " Mukhtar Pasha finds much difficulty in providing food for hisnaen. On Monday night two urgent messages came from the front, imploring that more food should be sent him, but there seem very scanty .supplies to draw from Erzeroum. Ismail Pasha, the commander at Erzeroum, has telegraphed to Constantinople for 1,000 horses to be sent here in order that he may organise a transport train ; but it is rather late in the day to adopt such an obviously necessary plan. Sickness and desertion are diminishing the strength of the army very rapidly. Upwards of 1,200 men have deserted from the centre and right columns of the Turkish forces during the past week, including runawrys from Kars. More than 700 have been recaptered, and these were marched out this morning, under a strong escort —300, I should say—being hand cuffed, to work o-n the defences of the Devi boyun. A very miserable-looking body of men they wore, without shoes or great coats, and many of them so sick that they could hardly drag themselves along."

LIFE AT SHUMLA. I Tlie London " Times" military cones i pondent gives an interesting picture of life I at Shumla, the Turkish head-quarters. We make tke following extract : —The station, I master's family is unable to consume the i half of what this acre produces, so the rest ! is given away to people who are too lazy to ; produce food for themselves. There is , absolutely no market. New-laid eggs are : live a penny, chickens twopence a-piece, : and a fat goose sixpence at Shumla. As one walkedamongst apricot trees loadechvith I fast ripening fruit, and saw grapes, plums, apples, almonds, and cherries in such pro fusion,|one could not help getting indignant | at the thought that almost the whole of the . boundless wealth of this magnificent coun try is wasted from sheer idleness and stupi dity. Will it bo credited that the peasants hero, who, sensibly enough, almost all keep poultry, invariably throw the feathers I away ? Administered by Englishmen, what a Paradise would Turkey be ! The Pra | vady valley, properly drained, would pro duce food for millions, while now it scarcely provides tor hundreds. The wooded heights are alive with every sort of game, from quails to eagles, from boars and deer , to hares. Every man is at liberty to take his gun and knock down what he can, but, as a rule, the rich are too lazy and the poor too timid to enjoy their privileges. A few men go into the woods for hares, and on the lakes for fish, but it may be generally said that the Turks make no use of their vast and teeming game preserves. * This army, at all events, is so badly supplied with healiHg appliances that the suffering after two or three great battles, would be dreadful. At Head-Quarters I find Colonel Lennox, Lord Mclgund, and Lieutenant Chermside. The Turkish officials are civil to these gentlemen, but evidently'wish them away. Distrust of the Giaour has not sub sided among either the authorities or the populace. The other day, in Varna, the representative of an American newspaper and your correspondent were walking under the cliffs within a quarter of a mile of the hotel, when three overgrown youths began pelting us from the top, and shouting "Giaour!" A large stone struck one of us, and we charged up the hill, upon which our opponents decamped. The next day 1 was walking with our Vice-Consul, when some rude louts laid wait for us && the top of a gateway, and as we went uader threw some dirt, which just missed my com panion."

A NEW ZEALAND MAN AT THE I SEAT OF WAR. One of the "Times" correspondents in Turkey has evidently seen, service in New Zealand. He writes as follows of the morale of the Turkish fleet:—" It is impos sible to withhold admiration from the Rus sians for the gallant way the attack was made, for it was a most perilous nW*' taking, and if it is trne. that it was an en glishmen who led it, his- countrymen may be proud of the feat. On the occasion of m) last visit to the Turkish fleet in those wateis I was much struck by the general demorali zation that the unseen terrors of torpedoes had produced. I knew, from my own ex perience of bush warfare in New Zeal, au"' that the hourly probability of attack trom an unseen enemywill demoralize tne,?. and bravest in time. It is a matter .<» *P" tory, too, that the fear of assassmatiw undermined such nerve as Cromwell s. against modern maritime engines 01 traction nothing can avail, and the crew an ironclad, when they "turn i» to x«" hammocks, at Bight, have the uiaßOHi*?"*™! -consciousness that they may awake to u> themselves whirled into the ak< with »?™"~ of huge guns and ponderera macoine^, masts, spars, and iron ribs, ishe roar■ ci caping sfceain, and the thunder of the c* plpding magazine. I may add that « above is a description of the scene ot tv destruction of the Luftigelill, oft P«"*£J on the Danube, given me by one of tlie ic< survivors."

DEPREDATIONS BY TURKISH U^** GULARS IN TEE DOBRUDSCHA^ W A correspondent writes to the J- 1 ~c from Tultcha on the Danube- «ndcr f tt; he May 14:—"Though the W°&^y~JZ,i Knssians seems to be impeded by *»?? haS volume of water in the. Danube, wMO" greatly overflowed its banks, and tnej «• not attempted to cross, anarchyP™%% at" t o f force in tho greater part of the uO/™'^• {he the Dobrudseha. despite the efiorts n local authorities. When the Russians i possession of Galatz and i»ra"a>

THE EVENING STAR, FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 1877



■M-AN C HE S T E R GOODS. W. RATTRAY Begs to notify that lie has JUST OPENED an 'assortment of. the following Goods, viz.: Horroeks' and other makes fof Calicoes and 10 (Jf^fafSj and 100 inch Finlay's Plain and e/Ij^f^fSf 10/4 White Line, Table 6/4, Prinf 8/4 Hambro and Unbleached do do. Damask Table Cloths, *■ aj>kl"Xn£ DiS? Rough and Dressed Hollands, iJiaper?, Lin^and n Co Sttonßed Tick Huckaback. Tewel lins. Tea and Glass Cloths, Ohnsty s Turkish CouSeS'es, Quilts Toilet Covers, and Anti macassars. Tub above have been Marked at the "lowest Remunerative Prices. ~\r E W rj BAL AN D TT OU3 E, 66 Ottee^-strskt, Attckxaxt). TMPORTANT NOTICE Having introduced STSAMPOWEB into the 'Manufacture ofFZTRNITUBE, we are now enabled to Supply our Cus tomers at GREATLY REDUCED PRICES. T. & H. COOKE, VoMnetmakars, Upholsterers, Ac, <£c. CST 8& O W BOOMS 67, Queen-street. STEAM CABINET FACTORY Victoria-street. QPECIAL NOTICE. 10 COUNTRY SETTLERS AND OTHBRS REQUIRING STRONG- CLOTHING MATERIAL. The undersigned have Just Received a Fresh Supply of NSW PRINTED MOLESKINS, Light and Dark Patterns. COIIDUKOY, Various Qualities, and WHITE MOLESKIN". Also. WHITE and GREY CALICOES, of all the Best Makes, and First-class Value. Grey Calico from 3d per yard Good Whits Calico from 4Vd per yard A nice lot of Now Shirtings, fast colour and new pattern;! Heavy Brown jtTolland, a very cheap lot at EPg?6?rd per yard A Job Lot of Suckaback Towels, at 6d each, 5s 9d per doz. Alhambra Quilts, at 3^ Hd each Kidderminster Carpets, a "ice assortment of j patterns and good quality, at 3s lid; Felt Carpets: Mattings of various makes ;!xl Floor Cloths : Axminster Mats : and every description of FL RNISHING DRAPERY, at Very Reasonable Prices. ! Extra Good Value in BLANKETS, all sines, j white and coloured j Tn order to Clear, WINTER DRESS GOODS, | REMNANTS, Sec., are now offered at Consider- j ably Reduced Prices. Special t<9 Dressmakers, &c. — A very \ Choice Lot of Silk add Fancy Buttons just to j hand, all new design?, and very carefully i selected for the inoommar season's trade. Tlie CLOTHING DEPARTMENT is well : stocked with every requisite for Boys and Men, j beint? constantly replenished, from the best '; sources of supply. i Inspection Invited. s. in the £ allowed on all Cash Purchases of ; 20s. and upwards. RUSKBROOK & BRTDGMAN, JuxcsrioN Drapery Warehouse, j UPPEK QUEEX-STKEBT, AUCKLAND. I There is no comimriaoiijin pointof flavour and remedial properties between that incomparable medicinal beverage, Udolpho Wolfe's Schie i>am Aromatic SciiNAPPS, and the imitations of it pat up in empty bottles of the real article. The true Schnapps is positively delicious, and ar< unfailing remedy for the diseases to which it Ik adapted. The counterfeits have a detestable flavour, and are deleterious in the last degree.



J. COXG'RAVE & CO., Beg to inform the inhabitants of Auck land they are now holding a SALE of the remaining portion of their WINTER DRAPER I cribd CLOTHING. Ladies Costumes, Mantles, Shavrts, furs, French Jllerinoes, Fancy Dress Stiffs and Silks. The Goods will be . offered to the Public at Yen/ Low Prices, in order to clear. mO AGRICULTURISTS & OTHERS. W. J. HURST ez CO. have on sale the under mentioned Fertilizers, all of which have been proved to produce satisfactory results in this district. Experience teaches that large and profitable returns can be relied on by a judicious and liberal use of them. The flattering Testi monials from leading Farmers justify W. J. Hurst & Co. in strongly commending them to every Agriculturist :— MALDKX ISLAXD GUANO ' PERUVIAN GUANO MEXICAN do BELL'S BONE FLOUR „ i and J.-inch BONEDUST BILLYARD S No. 1 do. NITRATE OF SODA SULPHATE OF AMMONIA MURIATE OK POTASH BUPER-PHO3PHATK OF LIME. SALT, SULPHATH3 OF LIME. In addition to the above, W. J. H. & Co. are prepared to supply special Chemical Manures for stimulating weak Corn Crops, and renovat ing Clover-sick Pastures, as well as the Potato and Mangold mixture that last season attracted so much favourable notice. •^Analysis, prices, and other particulars will be supplied on application at the Stores. W. J. HURST & CO. 101, QUEEN- S»T?R]E ET. In order to induce an enlarged consumption of Maiden Island Guano (equal, if not superior to Bonedust). we are prepared to accept, deferred payments from responsible parties at extreme^" low rates. W. J. HURST & CO.. 101, Q. UEEN -S T REE T. W. J. HURST & CO have for Sale, at the lowest market rates : Clover Seeds, Red, White and Cow Rye-grass, Cocksfoot, Rats-tail, Garden Seeds in great variety and best quality. 500 sacks Sydney Maize (superior sample) 3000 „ Oats First-class Tartars for Seed, also 1 800 sacks of 1873 crop hard feed, surpassing any of last season's growth 1200 sacks Canterbury Potatoes, and some early varieties for seed purposes Flour. Bran. Sharps, Chaff, Oilcake, Coal, &c. &c. Particular attention is called to [oOO.sacks Prime Barlej at Is per bushel of 501b. 5 tons Anderson's Fresh uatmeal, at £21 per to;:. Prices and other particulars on application. W. J. HURST & CO. 101, Q. UEKN-S TRE ET, Auckland.