SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

TTTriTT w a ttpt? ' This Afternoon, 12 IHGII M ATER—• To . morrow Morning, 0.25 SUN SET.—This Evening. 5.17 SUN RISE.—To-morrow Morning, 6.24 MOON'S AGE.—Last Quarter, sth April, 4.9 i.m.

ARRIVALS.

Wave of Life, schooner, Sopworth, from Timaru

DEPARTURES. Jane Douglas, s.s., Fraser, for the East Coast Star of the South, s.s., Carey, for Gisborne and Napier Omaha, brigantine, Burr, for Chatham Islands Onward, schooner, Roundtree, for Russell Christina, schooner, Edwards, for Russell Rowena, s.s., Sellars, for Tauranga

IMPORTS.

Per Wave of Life from Timaru: 823 sacks wheat.

EXPORTS.

Per Courser, barque, for New York: 4603 cases kauri gum.—Arnold Hines & Co.

Per Wanaka, for Tauranga and Southern Potts :—Transshipments ex City of Sydney and Elmiranrla : 11 packages, 30 qr.-tierces, 76 cases, 65 bales. S boxe-i. 225 doors, 16 pices timber, 44 bags, Owen and Graham.

i'or Jane Douglas, s.s., for Gisborne and Napier : 26 bags rice, 60 mats sugar, 3 boxes raisins, 1 box mustard, 7 packages groceries, 0 cases kerosene, 1 case pipes, 3 drums oil, 40 mats sugar, 2 cases brandy, 1 box tobacco, 1 box starch, 1 ca^c cigars, 23 cases groceries, 12 boxes pegs, 2 cases drapery. 20 cases geneva, 20 cases sweet ened gin, Owen and Graham.

The barque Acacia is on her way hither from Lvttelton, with a cargo of wheat, malt, oats, and. sundries. She cleared on the 27th ult.

The brigantine Omaha sailed yesterday for the Chatham Islands. Passengers—Messrs. T. and W. Moore, Shand, Briscoe, Hood. C. Foster, and i natives.

The smart little stcanier Rowena loft for Ta.u ranga yesterday evening, with a good freight and passenger list.

It seems that the visit of H.M.s. Wolverine to this port is only delayed for a short time- Correspondence addressed to the captain and officers, is already being received here, and will be retained tilt her arrival.

The s.s. Wanaka, for Tauranga and Southern ports, went away last evening crowded with passengers. Mr. and Mrs. Peters, Mr. and Mrs. Huntain and family (5), Mr. and Mrs. Stockdale and 2 children, Mr. and Mrs. Coll and child, Mrs jßani and 2 children ; Mesdames Caulton, Swan, Clark, McDougall, Brown ; Misses Buckland (2). Stuart, Archd. Brown, Inspector Northcroft, Captain Braddick ; Messrs. Edgecumbe(2), Max well, Mills, Bain, Dunn, Quigley, Brigham, Smith, Goodwin, Bruce, Menzies, Fletcher, Wilson, Symonds, Kukutai, Hauparama. Adair, Caulton, ]>.vinsobn, Shepton, Callis, O'Donnell, Green, Wright. Weirs, Leary.—Henderson and Macfar lar.e, agents.

TJie barque Loch Urr began bsndinar sails yesterday. Preparations for departure will now bo going on busily while the rest of the cargo is being taken in.

The Star of the South left for Gisborne and Napier yesterday evening. She had a heavy cargo, consisting principally of railway iron.

AUCKLAND STOCK AND MINING REPORT.

Bank of New Zealand—£2o ; buyers, £1917s 6d. Colonial Bank (40-i paid-up)— Buyers, 37s 6d. Thames Gas—Buyers, 25s 6d. South British Insurance—Buyers, 795. National Insurance.—Buyers, 30s. New Zealand Insurance—Buyers, 92s 6d. Red Queen —Sellers, Is. Caledonian (double) —Sellers, £3 10s. Moanatairi—£2o, £19 15s, £19 2s 6d, £19 ss; buyers, £19 2s 6d ; sellers, £19 10s. Inverness—Sellers, 7s. Waitekauri—Sellers, 19s 3d. Alburnia—2os, 21s ; sellers, 20s. Queen of May (new)—Us, double 27a Gd; Sellers, 27.s'G:l. Union Beach—lss.

Tokatea—7s 6d, Ss, Ss 3d ; Sellers, Bs. Royal Oak—Buyers, 6s 3d ; Sellers, 7s 6d Waiotahi—Buyers, 21s Queen of Beauty—Sellers, 20s. ICnranui Hill—2ss, ; sellers, 255. Welcome—Sellers, 6s 6d. Palmerston —4s 10d Thames—Sellers, £310s. JOSEPH NEWMAN, Chairman

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Under : — For Thames, this day, at 5 p.m. and 5.30 p.m.,

and to-morrow, at 5.30 p.m. For Coromandel, per Kina, this day, at 1.30 p.m. and to-morrow, per Argyle, at 2.30 p.m., and

per Kina, at 4.30 p.m. For Taranaki, and Southern Provinces, per Taupo, to-Trorrow, at 11 a.m. For money orders, registered letters, and

newspapers, at 10 a.m. Late letters will be received tiU 11.20 a.m.

For Tryphena, per Three Brothers, to-morrow,

at i p.m. For Norfolk Island, per Southern Cross, on Saturday next at 7 a.m., and on Monday via Russell at i p.m. For Australian Colonies, per Rotorua, on

Tuesday, 10th inst. at 11 a.m. Per s.s. Zealandia, on Wednesday, 11th inst., as tol lows:— For Kandavu, Sandwich Islands, United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign West Indies, at 11 a.m. For United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, at 11 a.m. For money orders and registered letters, and newspapers, at 9.30 a.m. Late letters bearing an extra fee of 6d in addition to the postage, will be received by the Mail Agent on board up to time of sailing. N.B.—Mails are now made up at this office for Helcnsville at 1 p.m. daily, instead of thrice weekly, as heretofore.

S. B. BISS. Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

DAWSON.—On the 15rh January, at Kilkenny, Ireland, the wife of Capt. Charlton Dawson, lStb. Royal Irish, and Adjutant of the Kilkenny Fusiliers, of a son.

DEATH.

HAGUE.—On the Ith April, at the residence of Mr. F. Roebuck, Newton, John Sea Hague, son of the late Wm. Hague, of Northampton, aged 3 years and 3 months. The funeral will take place to-morrow at 6 p.m. Friends please accept this invitation.

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

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 1877

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

A STATEMENT of a disgusting character is current in the city, and upon inquiry at head-quarters we find that it is substan tially true. The report is to the effect that a large ILock of sheep from Paten., which Mr Inspector Lewis had pronounced infected with scab, were publicly sold this week to a number of butchers,and,it is believed, found their* way by night to the slaughterhouse, where they became incorporated in our food supply. The Wangauui sheep have for a long time past been regarded with suspicion, owing to the prevalence of seal) at Patea, where the disease has latterly spread with alarming rapidity. And it is stated that scabby sheep have more than once been sold in the Auckland market. To duly appreciate the effect of such laxity in the inspection of sheep at the landing place, we must explain to non-farming readers what the disease is. The cause of scab has been traced to an insect, of whitish colour, with brown legs and head, which penetrates the skin of the sheep, and breeds there. The irritation excites the animal to bite the place, and inflamed boils break out, which oxudc matter and corrup tion into the blood, rendering the ilesh un fit for human food. The extraordinary spread of the disease has created a proverb, and the adage that " one scabby sheep will infect a whole Hock " delineates the danger arising to the whole farming community from any laxity in the supervision exercised over the importation of animals and their public sale with other sheep or deportation to the slaughterhouse. It is an undoubted fact that this week a cargo of sheep from Patea, after passing the Lauding Inspector and being placed in the Newmarket yards for sale, were declared by Mr. Lewis, District Inspector, to be infected with scab, many of the animals bearing, in his opinion, the marks of old scab, while in others there were present the active germs. Neither experience nor opportunity for observation places us in a position to say whether these sheep were or were not infected, but the fact that they were sold in spite of the protest of the District Inspector, who has since, we are informed, placed a piece of the skin of one of the animals under an instrument for the detection of scab, and discovered the living germs of the disease ; together with the strong presumptive evidence that many of the sheep have passed into the Auckland market, while others may infect the ilocksof the province,is Ruflicicnt to create the greatest possible alarm. We throw upon the inspectors whose duty it is to prevent the introduction of diseased animals, and protect the public from unwittingly purchasing meat unlit for food, to determine the point which has thus been raised between them. But we have no hesitation in saying that the matter is not one which should be permitted to rest where it is. Humours of diseased carcases killed for food, are by no means new, and with the other unpleasant odours of the slaughterhouse, are enough to drive the community into vegetcrianism. The tempta tion to weed out diseased Hocks and export the animals, even at a low price, to Auck land for butchering purposes, is one which we can quite believe will prove irresistible to Southern breeders if the slightest en couragement is given by a loose system of inspection here, and the whole Hocks of the province may thus be jeopardised,and public health endangered, through the negligence of officials whose duties are not of a too laborious character. It is but justice to Mi- Lewis, the District Inspector, to say that he has gained the reputation of a most pains taking and impartial officer, and we trust that he will not relax his exertions to effect ually protect the farmers and the public from the danger which is apparently im pending.

Mh BRODIK, the energetic Chairman of the Thames County Council, has been holding an interview, or " korcro," with the rascally stone-waller Turakino, and has found his match. Mr Brodie exhausted all the powers of his persuasive eloquence upon the obstinate old savage, but simply wasted his sweetness "on the desert air. Evidently, Turakino is a man of dcedsjiiot words, and distrusts fine speeches. The length of a speech, he said, made no difference to him, his grandfathers had no roads, and for the life of him he could see no good in such new fangled innovations. Turakino is a Maori of the old school, with a decided prejudice against metalled roads which cut one's feet, and he lias a horror of toll-bars and rates. Mr Mitchell, with his customary tact, came to Mr Brodie's rescue by suggesting that his horse might get bogged, and that therefore Turakino might BO far overcome his prejudices as to allow a feAv fascines to be put in to stop the holes. But the wily old stonewaller clearly perceived in this the thin end of the wedge, and cut matters short by the reply '-when you get bogged there will be time enough to talk about that. " Seeing that Mr Mitchell's well-meant maiifjeuvre had failed. Mr Brodie again had recourse to a little diplomatic sympathy in order to soften the obdurate heart of the old Cerberus. He cast a sop to him by remarking that he believed him to be "a much-wronged man " in the matter of the Komata dispute, and " greatly sympathised with him." Turakino eyed this delicate morsel askance, and replied that he was not aware of any difficulty, nor did he need any sympathy. Messrs Brodie and Mitchell had played their last card, and were fain to retire'from the contest in dis comiiture, but before leaving, they made a final and forlorn attempt to enlist the sympathies of Te Hera, who dismissed them with a benediction.

During the month ending March, 1877, there were 21 deaths registered within the city of Auckland. The number during the corresponding month of 1876', were 27 deaths. There were nine deaths in the hospital during the month of March, 1877. GEORGE Goluie, Sanitary Inspector.

The Jockey Club Handicap, of 150 soys., distance 2 miles, was run at New Plymouth yesterday. The following account of the race is given in the Press Agency telegram : Firetail, Ada, and Opawa showed in front on entering the straight the first time, Bide-a-wee" and Opawa were racing each other past the stand on the second round, and then kept together till the rise of the hill the last time, when Bide-a-wee held .slightly the lead, which he maintained till half way up the straight, when he swerved across the course through distress, but his jockey steadied him, and lie came on, and beat Opawa by a head for first place. The owners of Opava and Elsa (who was \\W<\\ Jt^vG lodged a protest for tllC WSSWft

A cricket match will be played in the Domain on Saturday next between the Auckland and Carlton Clubs.

The young men of Pitt-street Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Association met last evening, when Mr. Miller read an essay on the "Development of Modern Thought," which elicited discussion, the principal speakers being Messrs Main, Ewington, Beaumont, and White. The Rev. W. J. Williams occupied the chair.

Two individuals, seedy and rough, whose faces and forms are better known to Detec tive Jeffrey than the face of the moon, met yesterday opposite St. Paul's Church, and paused and stared at each other for some time without a word. Their dirty faces, ragged clothes, and general demeanour shadowed forth their fraternity. In the emphatic language of Jeffrey, they were "loafers" in the full sense of the term. The fellows having stared and eyed each other up and down for some time.one broke silence by saying '' Well, what do ye think on me." The other thumped his stick on the pavement, and chanted two lines from Dr. Watts :—

" Whene'er I take mv walks abroad How many poor 1 sec." At this moment Detective Grace came in sight, and the " loafers " hastened away in opposite directions.

The winner of the £1000 prize in Tonic's £2000 Greymouth sweep on the Dunedin Cup was Jno. Wallace, the Postmaster at Reefton.

An important sale of freehold property will be held by Mr G. W. Binncy, at the Exchange Sale Rooms to-morrow. The land and dwelling in the favourite suburb of Rorauera, allbrda a rare chance of .securing a residence near the city combining all the advantages of rural life. The improved farm at Kaukapakapa is also a very eligible property.

The chief Enoka and three native police men, who went up to Omokoroa to inter view the natives concerned in obstructing Mr Gellibrand's farming operations.returned unsuccessful. They were loading posts to replace those which the Pirirakau natives had forcibly removed, when a large body of Maoris came down upon them, and com pelled them to desist. There is just now a plentiful crop of native difficulties all over the North Island, and Dr Pollen must have anything but a pleasant task on his hands. It will require a display of firmness and tact to prevent these local squabbles developing into something of a more serious nature.

The following paragraph from the Glasgow " Herald" of February 9th, furnishes a striking example of the falli bility of the law: —"A curious case of mistaken identity occurred in Stranraer. A woman was tried at the Burgh Court for the theft of a cock, which was produced dead in Court. The evidence against the woman seemed clear, and she was sentenced to seven days' imprisonment. She strongly protested her innocence, and cried bitterly. Shortly after the Court was over, the cock supposed to have been stolen and killed, was found alive. The poor woman cannot be liberated from prison unless by a warrant from the Home Secretary, signed by the Queen."

Mrs Maxwell complains of the conduct of a guard, in not taking a number of poultry on to the train. <hi inquiry we learn that the guard of whos; co uluct Mrs Maxwell has complained, had received instructions not to allow any more fowls, geese, or turkeys to be deposited amongst passenger's luggage or settlers' produce,in consequence of annoyance and loss having been caused on previous occasions, and the same having been reported. On this occasion there was a quantity of cheese in the guard's van, and luggage in the collector's van. In justice to the owners, these should not be covered with .a lot of poultry which in departing, leave behind them marks of their fowl-hood. Acting on instructions, the guard declined to take them. Mrs Maxwell had previously been requested to place the poultry in boxes, in order that they might be brought without doing injury to any thing else in the van, and without fear of their escaping. The cost would not be greatly enhanced by such a measure.

Mr Bright, the Frecthought and Spiritu alistic lecturer, has entered into an engage ment to remain in Dunedin and deliver a series of lectures extending over a period of six months. It is notjlikely, therefore, that he will visit Auckland, at least for some time to come.

A correspondent at Waipu writes :—" We have to thank Captain Porter for what little benefit this district lias received. He lias been to a great deal of trouble, and has suffered annoyance since he has been the ofliccr of this district. No matter what complaints the natives have to make, they always go to Captain Porter and lay their grievances before him, but I am not sur prised atthat, considering there is so much Setty thieving and stealing going on in the istrict, and it is but very seldom that any one is sent to prison. Even when they are found guilty they are lined, and then they walk out of Court quite contented, and pay the fine when they think proper. There are a few really good Native Assessors, but I believe they have not the power to send a man con victed for theft,to prison ;as in several cases the Assessors say we have a It.M. residing in the midst of us ; which is true,and if you go there it is generally a fine, and then you must think yourself very well off if you ever get your expenses, or any recompense whatever ; but as a general rule, the best plan is to take your case before a Native Assessor, and the best we have here is Major Ropata Whawha, in the district of Waipu, and I believe lie only gets a small salary of £50 per annum, which ie not half enough for what he does. It is really a great pity he has not another good Native Assessor to assist him, something like him self, for he is just, upright, and honourable to both races."

At a meeting of the Church of England Temperance Association held in the Public Hall, Warkworth, a dozen members were enrolled, and the Rev H. D. Spalding was elected President. Monthly entertain ments are to be held.

The usual weekly sitting of the Resident Magistrate's Court, which should have been held to-day, has been postponed until Thursday next, on account of the illness of Mr R. C. Barstow.

Last evening, while the crew of the Star of the South Avere engaged in getting the vessel ready for her departure for Gisborne, one of the hands who had stepped on to the Railway Wharf, alongside which the vessel was lying, miscalculated his footing, and fell into the tide. He could not swim, and was of course in imminent danger of losing his life. The alarm was soon raised, and a rope was thrown to the struggling man from the steamer. He clutched it at last, and hung on till two men put oil"from a schooner lying close by, and rescued him. We understand that the side lamps of the wharf were not alight at the time. This no doubt explains the accident.

Mr A. Dihvorth, of Waitakerei, has been lately very much annoyed by the depreda tions of hawks, by which his poultry and Hocks have been decimated. He has tried poison and traps without any good result, and at lust was fairly at a loss how to stop the raids of the aerial thieves. Some time ago, he read or heard that there is an American bird of the eagle tribe which feeds entirely upon high-flying birds, such as hawks, and having ascertained that his information was correct, he sent to Cali fornia, two months ago, for a setting of the eagle's eggs. Half a dozen were forwarded by the City of Sydney, and having been taken charge of by Mr Morton Jones, were yesterday forwarded in good condition to Mr Dihvorth. Wo shall lie pleased to hear pf the experiment; turning out successfully^

Lord Henry Phipps, the third son of the Marquis of Norman by, has returned to the colony, after an absence of some months in England. We believe he went home with the object of making arrangements for the purchase of extensive station property in Queensland or New Zealand, Lord Henry Phipps is a fine specimen of the English gentleman, manly, frank, and endowed with a large share of enterprise and shrewd ness. During his stay in Queensland he was not above being thoroughly colonised. He became learned in the mysteries of bullock driving, acquired a knowledge of systematic farming, cattle and sheep raising, and generally " roughed it" in the bush. On one occasion he voluntarily worked for several days on a public road, which was much needed in order to open up a way for cattle.

At a meeting of the directors of the Alburnia Gold Mining Co., held this after noon, it was decided to declare a dividend, payable on Tlrursday, the 12th inst. The amount has not been officially stated, but on dit it will be 2s 6d per share.

The Star of Newton Good Templars will give an entertainment this evening in the Congregational School-room, Edinburgh etreet, for which an elaborate programme has been prepared.

The Burgess Roll and list of defaulters, or names of persons who have failed to pay rates up to March 31st, which they were liable to pay on December 31st last, now lies at the City Council offices for public inspection. A large number of persons have as yet not paid their rates, and will doubtless be very indignant when they proceed to the poll to vote to liud they have no vote. For the benefit, however, of all who have as yet not paid, we can inform them that if the rates now un paid are settled before the Burgess Roll is finished and signed, the owners will be clegible to have their names placed on the roll. No time should be lost in this matter, and it would be as well if all who are interested would look at the Burgess Roll, and see that their names and votes are accurately defined.

The Harbour Board dredge has been busily employed for some weeks, dredging immediately to the westward of the wharf. A doubly useful work has here been carried out, the ridge of mud which used to extend the whole length of the wharf on this side, has been entirely removed, and vessels can now get in to. their bertha at almost any state of the tide, which they could not before, and secondly a channel has been dredged nearly up to the mouth of the dock, which will only require cleaning out at intervals, to render available for vessels when tho dock is finished. To-day the dredge has been engaged deepening the water close to the watermen's steps. For, some time it has been impossible to get the boats up to the steps at spring tides, and the watermen have had their means of livelihood considerably interfered with in consequence. It is hoped that the work done to-day will effectually prevent any difficulty of the same kind in the future. This afternoon the machine is to be taken round to the space between the A..5.1. Co. s lee, and the main outer tee, whore it will be employed for some days. The work here will be slow for the dredger will only be able to work on three or four hours of the tide. In water not more than 12ft. deep the dredge is a complete success, but it is not much good beyond.

A social tea gathering will be held this evening in .St Thomas's Church, Union street, for the purpose of giving expression to a few parting words with Bishop Solwyn, who is about to leave Auckland for the sphere of his mission. As a great number of tickets have been sold, it is likely that the little church will be filled. The speakers of the evening will be Bishop Cowie, Bishop Selwyn,?Revfl Pi. S. Hassanl, 11. Penny, and other gentlemen. To-mor row the Bishop of Melanesia will give a pleasure trip, we understand, up and down the harbour, in the Southern Cross, to the scholars and teachers of the Anglican Churches and the choristers of St i'aul's. The vessel will start from the wharf exactly at eleven o'clock. On return ing from the trip, Bishop Selwyn will conduct a farewell service in the Bishop's Court Chapel.

The veneration which Musselmcn entertain for th« Koran has been forcibly dwelt upon by Eastern travellers. A case %vhich lately came before the Court of Petty Sessions at Glasgow illustrates this. We quote from the " Glasgow Herald "of .Feb. 9l.li:—"On Wednesday we re ported that in the action at. the instance of some Turkish sailors asainst the owners of the Silis tria, at present lying in Leith Docks, the men were aworn to tell the truth on the Koran. Suitable preparations were made, in the way of providing water, with which the witnesses miKht wash their hand before taking the oath, and the reason why water was not used only transpired yesterday morning. It seems that Mohammedans will not take the oath with a printed copy of the Koran in their hands, and it was consequently necessary to have a manuscript copy. The manuscript copy of the sacred book was borrowed from the University Library in order to overcome that difficulty, and, in reference to it, it may be interesting to state that it formerly belonged to Tippoo Sahib, from whom it was taken in the e!ar]y years of the present century, and subsequently presented by the East India Company to the University of Edinburgh. Having thus got rid of the difficulty about using a printed copy of the Koran, a fresh difficulty arose. The Koran had not only been liandled by "infidel Christians," but had been placed on a seat lower than a man's breast, and. had thus, in the eyes of the Turks been defiled; and, for this reason, they dispensed with the customary ceremony.on such occasions of washing their hands."

The Moanatairi.

The following telegrams was received by the manager, Mr F. A. White, this morn ing :—

" Graham stown,

" This day, 10.16 a.m. Half ton very fine specimens iust broken, leaving splendid show of gold in leading stop c of new run.

"Robt. Comer."

Divorce Suit.

J. E. WHITE v. A. M. J. WHITE AND

G. BENNETT.

It will be within the knowledge of many of our readers that owing to the unhappy infelicity which has existed between Mr John Ebenezcr White and Alice Mary Josephine White, his Avife, several divorce snits have been from time to time com menced in the Supreme Court, Avith the object of procuring a dissolution of the marriage. We believe that no feAver than tAvo suits have been begun at dilFerent times by Mr White, and three by Mrs White, but they have all dropped through from some cause or other, though the parties have not been reconciled to each other. Another action has, hoAAr- ever, been commenced by Mr White which is in a fair Avay of coining to trial, the cita tion having been served upon Mrs White, respondent, and George Bennett, co-respon dent. Mr White does not seek for damages, but petitions for a dissolution, both a mensa et thoro (from bed and board) and a vinculo matrimonii (from the bonds of marriage). Two or three days are allowed to the re spondent and co-respondent to plead to the allegations set out in the plaintiffs petition, and Aye hear that the former intended to set up a distinct denial, and counter charges. The case will in all probability furnish many attractive moraaux for the lovers of scandal. Mr T. Buddie has been re tained as counsel for the plaintiff, Mr Dufaur for the respondent, and Mr Tyler

CABLEGRAMS.

[PRESS AGENCY.]

RUSSIA AND TURKEY DISARMING.

TURKEY FAVOURABLE TO

REFORM.

LONDON, April 2. The Ambassadors signed the protocol at the Foreign Office. Lord Derby declared its vali dity depended upon peaco being secured to Montenegro. Russia i 3 demobilising and Turkey is dis- Count Schouvaloff declared that Russia con sented to demobilise, and was willing to enter into negotiations with Turkey with the view to mutual disarming, provided the peace of Monte negro be secured. Turkey is reported to be favourably disposed towards disarming and reform. The '"Times" and the Government organs approve the action of the Cabinet, but dwell on the uncertainty of the situation, as everything depends on Russian sincerity. The "Daily News" ridicules the whole affair. The year's revenue is seventy-eight and a-half millions.

AUSTRALIAN.

RANDWICK RACES.

SYDNEY, April 4. Autumn Ma'den Stakes.—Signor, 1; Fernhill, 2; Faith, 3. Cup.—Kingfisher, 1 ; Viva, 2; Stork, 3. Time, 3 minutes 36 2-10 th seconds. A splendid race.

This Day.

Prince of Wales to Visit

Australia.

Englishmen "Win Cricket Match.

MELBOURNE.—THIS DAY.

" Atlas," writing in the " World," says : "The Prince of Wales is about to visit Australia and New Zealand."

The combined Australian cricket team are all ont for 159. The English won by four wickets.

AN ACT OF CHARITY BY SCHOOL CHILDREN.

The juveniles attending the Catholic, boy's school Onehunga, performed a generous act of charity a few da.'s ago, which shews what noble im pulses tht youthful heart is susceptible of, when properly acted on and directed. It appears that a poor old vroman lived by herself in a house not far from the school, and in wet weather the rain poured down on everything inside, even on the bed, so that the poor creature had frequently to get up at night.and stand on one sido.or crouch in a corner to avoid the rn-in coming through. It would take enly fifteen shillings to make the roof water-tight. The master of the school spoke to the children on the subject, telling them how miserable the poor old la<iy must feel, and how it was in their power to make her happy. He then suggested to them to abstain from lollies for a few months, and otherwise to save their pocket money,nnd bring it to him,toward.3repairing the house. The boys, to their credit be it told, took up the hint", and handed in their subscriptions, with satisfaction and pleasure lighting up their youthful physioirs, and I nm sure they felt more happy than if they had eaten a pound of lollies each. That is the sort of "savings bank I should like to sec established in schools—one for the object of relieving cases of distress, and a savings bank of that description would, in place of drying the generous feelings of the young heart, develop and bring thorn out, and make good citizens. When the repairs were executed, two of the boys were deputed to take the money and pay the carpenter.—[Corrkspondknt,

SUPREME COURT.—CRIMINAL SITTINGS.

Yesterday, (Concluded.)

(Before His Honor Mr Justice Gillies.)

FORGERY.

Henry Collins, 32, was arraigned upon an indictment, charging him with forging a cheque in the nanics of Messrs Combes and Daldy, on the 2nd of February. Prisoner pleaded not guilty. Mr Brook liold explained the circumstan ces, which were simple.

Is;iac Harrison, of the Waverly Hotel, remembered prisoner coming to his house on the second of February, and borrowing a pound note, saying that he would pay him the next day ; he lent him a second note, but not on the cheque ; he held another cheque up to the light, and said that was not good, he had forged it himself. Francis Conway, labourer, knew the prisoner, met him in Queen-street, on Thursday, when he said he had a cheque for £62, on Combes and Daldy ; saw him on the following day, Avhenhe said he could not get the cheque cashed, but if he (witness) could do it, he might have £2 for himself. The cheque produced was that cheque ; he refused the offer.

George Cann, cook at Mr Canning's, found the cheque on the pavement about six o'clock in the morning. He took it to Messrs Combes and Daldy. William Crush Daldy, junr. knew the prisoner,who had been in the employ of the firm as a bushman. The cheque produced was not signed either by witness or his father.

George A. Burgess, of the Bank of New Zealand, deposed that Combes and Daldy had an account at the bank, but the signa ture on the cheque was not that of the firm.

Detective Grace arrested the prisoner. The Jury found the prisoner guilty. His Honor reserved sentence.

ASSAULT.

Te Kiti, a native, pleaded guilty to a charge of violently assaulting a native by biting out a portion of his lip, and was sentenced to four months' imprisonment with hard labour.

TRUE BILLS,

True Bills were found in the cases of John Pike, Hans Jansen, G. Grey, David Kelly, Jane Kelly, and James Nicholls, Te Pati (murder), Eliza Hughes, William Gibbons, Paiheriheri.

THIS DAY.

(His Honor took his seat at ten o'clock). FORGERY. Henry Collins was brought to receive sen tence. The prisoner expressed sincere regret at his foolish conduct, and hoped his Honor would take into consideration his previous good character.

His Honor commented upon the serious ness of the offence, and sentenced the pris oner to two years' imprisonment with hard labour.

BREAKING AND ENTERING. Joseph Ferris (39) aud Albert Carroll (31) ■were arraigned upon an indictment charging them Avith breaking and entering, on the 7th January, the dwelling house of John C. Seccombe, and stealing therefrom certain articles of wearing apparel, implements, etc., value £10.

Ferris pleaded guilty, and Carroll pleaded not guilty. The jury were then empannelled, Mr Welsman foreman.

Mr Brookfield, Crown Prosecutor, opened the case, and detailed particulars, as will appear m evidence.

John Carroll Seccombe, brewer, of the JVyber Pass Road, deposed that in addition to his own house on the premises, there is that which was occupied by his father, but which he had not used for some ten months past as a dwelling-house. There were goods left m the house—pictures, waterproof coat leggings, a meat-chopping machine, and crockery. The house was left seemingly fastened, and the key was in his posses sion. Detective Grace called upon him, and they went •to the house, when they discovered that it had been entered, and missed a number of things, a list of which he presented to the Court! Mr Seccombe recognised the articles. Mary Burke, wife of George D. Burke general dealer, of Wakefield-stroet deposed that Carroll came to her house on the 20th Jwwft mi tifow) lor B(iie Rtatoo, wiv ,h,

stand, pictures, glasses and other <» nn j which Mrs Burke described He offS' sausage machine, and a large picture V said he purchased the goods of an enm*** who was leaving for San Francisco.B^ purchased the former articles, but not n, machine and the large picture. Sheer, him 22s 6d for the things she bought 8 William Twohey remembered vnm nD . calling at Mr Mills^s shop to sell a ma £,- \ and glasses in January. He carrried til things in a bag. He did not purchase them ' Martin Grace, detective officer, arrpsta^ Ferris on the 3rd February. Carroll S already in custody on another charge H» found a pawn-ticket for the three pictures on Ferris. He made a list of the missing articles. ° ■

To prisoner : I have never seen you about Mr Seccombe's premises. Ann Reynolds, widow, of West Queen street, remembered purchasing a tobacco jar and three glasses off a man for Is. It was between the lights, and she couid not distinguish the man. He was muffled up. His Honor re-called Detective Grace, who stated that the prisoners had been frequently together, and were under the surveillance of the police.

The prisoner then addressed the Court at some length, and admitted selling the things, but had not the remotest conception that they were stolen goods. He was deceived by a professed engineer. His Honor having summed up, the jury considered the evidence, ■ and found the prisoner guilty of receiving and dispos ing of the goods, knowing them to have been stolen.

Ferris said he unfortunately got drunk and was drawn into it by Carroll, and Carroll said he was never on the premises. His Honor said he would reserve judg ment in the case of Ferris, as there was another charge against him ; with regard to Carroll he was an old offender, and was still undergoing sentence. The judgment of the Court upon him would be therefore four years penal servitudn.

STEALING FROM THE PERSON.

David Kelly (59), Jane Kelly (47), and James Nichols (58) were arraigned upon an indictment,cliarged with stealing the sum of £39, the property of John O'Connor, shoe maker, on the 28th January last, in. Chan cery Lane.

David Kelly said lie did not take the money. Jane Kelly said she was drunk and asleep at the hour of the robbery, she had therefore nothing to do with it. She had been sober ever since. Nichols pleaded not guilty.

Mr Brookfield stated the circumstances,

The particulars of this robbery will be fresh in the memory of readers as they ap peared in the Star at the time. John O'Connor, the prosecutor, deposed that he was a shoemaker, of Whangapoa, and on the 27th of January, he came to Auckland, partly on business, and partly on pleasure. He lodged in Grey-street, and on the fol lowing (Sunday) morning, he went for a stroll down Queen-street, with notes, gold, and orders, in his pocket, amounting to £50. ■. He met the female prisoner, Mrs Kelly, by the Greyhound Hotel, who said she felt poorly, having been up all night, and she requested him to shout. Her hus band, Kelly, the shoe-black, and Nichols, a trotter man, were opposite, and on seeing him, they said " There's Jack, now we are in for a drink." He knew them of old, and tried to avoid them. Mrs Kelly hnng about him, and said she was dying for a drop. She desired him to give her the . price, and she knew where to get the "cratur." They went to Commercial street, and at Riordan's they had sundry drinks ; he got very funny in "the head, and Mrs Kelly wished him to go home with her; , her little house was up a liill, but he was not inclined. He gave her money to get breakfast, she grumbled, and he gave her more. She then wheedled him into Chancery lane. The other prisoners were there, and other diink was brought, in and. drank ; he believed Nichols fetched the beer and brandy. He then gave them money to get dinner with, and remembered ' no more, until he picked himself up from the floor late in the evening, when he found that all his money had passed from ' his pockets. Mrs Kelly said to her hus« ! band, "I told you not "to touch the man's ; pockets." He gave information to the ■ police, and Sergeant Connor returned with him to the houses of the Kellys and . Nichols. They found some of the money; in both houses, in a variety of places, which he described. '

To Nichols : You asked me to come to your house to see Aunt Sally, then you wanted drink.

To Mrs Kelly : I was not drunk Avhen you met me.

Mrs Kelly here burst into tears, and said she was as innocent as a l>aby unborn.

TRUE BILLS.

The Grand Jury found true bills against James Gordon, indecent .assault ;P. McGrath, violently assaulting his wife; Thomas Boyle, arson ; Thomas W. Bonlton,., forging and uttering (5 charges); and Joseph Ferris, forgery and uttering. Sergeant O'Connor, and|Detective]Jeffrey gave evidence as to the arrest of the prisoners, and the finding of portions of the money in their houses. His Honor then sum med up the facts of the case, and remarked at the outset, that the case presented a sad picture of vice and immorality as existing in our midst. The prosecutor must have been a man of industrious habits, or he would not have had as much money about him. He met the woman Kelly, who was neither young, nor very attractive, and he was led to the hotel, as much by his own desire for drink, as by the woman's solici tations. The facts also shewed that in' spite of the law and the efforts of the police, persons, inclined to drink, seem tnt kuoAV intuitively where to get it, on a Sunday. His Honor then went over the main features of the evidence, and left them for the consideration of the jury. ;' After a short deliberation, the jury found the two male prisoners guilty, nnd the woman not guilty. His Honor, seeing that both Kelly and Nichols were old offenders, having been con victed on several previous occasions, seuten« ced the male prisoners to five years' pena servitude, and discharged the Avoman. FORGING AXD UTTERING. Thomas William Boulton, a young man, was arraigned upon an indictment charging him with forging and uttering five cheques in March last, purporting to have been signed by Messrs. Barret, Browu arid Co,, with intent to, defraud. The prisoner pleaded guilty to all the charges; also to several previous convic tions. The particulars of these cases were published in our police report of the 3rd inst. His Honor said that two years ago, he (the prisoner) stood in that dock on a crime of stealing from a dwelling, and for Avhich, in consideration of his youth and other circumstances, he received a very light sentence. But that sentence did not have the desired effect. It was his duty now to pass a much heavier sentence upon him, viz., five years penal servitude. FORGERY. Joseph Ferris was arraigned upon an indictment, charging him with uttering a forged order wfthj intent to defraud, on the 19th January of the present year, and to which he pleaded guilty, through drink. Sentenced to two years' imprisonment for this offence; and tAVO years for breaking and entering the premises of Mr Secconibe, making four years.

POLICE COURT.-This Day.

m (Before Joseph Wilcox, Esq., J.FJ | Samuel Bickson and William WilkinstW' pleaded guilty to the charge of intoxic(W«P|

THE EVENING STAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 1877.



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Electors of City West.—Gentlemen, —Refrain from pledging yourselves for the present.—[Advt.]