SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

.rynt. -t.r . r PIT T. f This Afternoon, 2.37 l_t_i_ \\Ail__.—| To . morrow Morning, 4.11 SUN SKT.—This Evening. 7.17. SUN" RISE.—To-morrow Morning, _53. MOON'S AGE.—New Moon, 15th, 1.7 a.m.

ARRIVALS.

v\ elhngton, s.s., Lloyd, fi-om tho South. ____ RoAvcna, s.s., Sellars, from Tauranga.

DEPARTURES.

Jc«-Mp_Jienderson, schooner, Urquhart, for i.-vuka.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For London—City of Auckland, 13th; Glenlora, barque, early Fqr San Francisco—City _f Sydney, .s.s., 16th ins. (English Moil) •> , • :* For Sydney (from Onehunga,)—i.s. Rotorua, 16th January.. . ;■..'. ' ; ..'; j Far Tawra»_-_—Roweaa, s.s., Wednesday, 10th. F.r_'.:oi-B_ia_del— dLrgyle,. s.s., Monday- and Ft.-id_.Tß - ; : , ' - ' .. , < Fsr Wansarai—Arsyle, every Tuesday For the Nortk—leaa, s.b., overy Meaday Fer Ds-tedin—Southern Cross,'mission vessel, a_rl_ . ..... •-..'••) i ' For Adelaide—Cabarfeidh, barque, early. . • . -1

VESSELS EXPECTED.

H.M.S. Pearl, from Sydney,' early.,"', Rotorun, s.b., from Wellington, early. ' _ December ' \'' ' Siar of the South, 5.5.,-from Fiji, early. Thurland Castle, ship, from London, early, Locit Urr. barque, W.Q.BZ.L., frbni London ; Bailed .91 h September Bella Mary, barque, jrom Hobart Town ;' sailed ,2oi-d.Dec. Glcnlara, barque, from London, Bailed Oct.. Bth. I -ionfTv, barque, from Mauritius; sailed 12th -Tavern bar. Mirz__are. rbar que, from Melbourne Gleneoy-, barque, from Tasmania,'early. Miss Kllmaiisefl. barque, from Port Pine, early. R.baceaa Jan., brig, from Melbourne, early Transport, brig, from Sydney ; sailed OrflSh*., brigantine, from Chatham Islands, early Augusta', bri'.antine, from Levuka, early: Fsvarite, schooner, from tba Islands, early Edith, ___o'.ner, from--the Islands, early LsstUis. _fa_;o»b_£r. from the Islands, early __ri_mhllda, schooner, from Suwarrow Tslaud, early. '■•!■••■•'-•-'

IMPORTS.

' Per s.s. Wellington, from-the South : 40 cases, boxes, pr.cki'.ges, Sec., 20 tins white lead, 80 sacks malt, 2 boxes silver.—'Henderson tjud Macfar lane, agents Union S.S. Co. • .. *

The s.s. ."Wellington arrived alongside the One hunga wharf this morning at 7'o'clook. She left Otago at 2.30 p.m. on,4th; Lyttelton at fi.3o p.m. on sth: Wellington, 15 minutes past midnight on 7th ; Picton. (i.15 p.m. on 7th ; Nelson, 4 p.m.. on Sfch: and Taranaki. at 1 p.m. on 9th. Fine weather throughout the passage. Passengers— liev. Dr. Kinder, Messrs R. B. Heriot, McDonald, Duncan, Lawry, Bi-oadfoot, W. Seed, Samuels, Wickesj Russell, Ord ; Mesdames Maglnnity, BreakaU. Wickes;.. Misses Maglnnity, Craig, Wickes ; Master Maginnity, and 15 in steerage. Wo are indebted to Mr. W. C. McCormick, ppraor, for report, of passage and Southern files, and to Captain • Lloyd, for later Australian papers. ■ ••.;,,...'•-

The s.s. Hawea left Onehunga for the South atabout half-past four o'clock yesterday after nonn. She had a very large.number of passen gers on bo'_rd> and a. considerable quantity of cargo. The racehorses brought up by Mr Ray, weroshipped during the afternoon, and went down to Wellington by the Hawea. The passen gers included tho Auckland and Thames oa__mcm for the Nelson Regatta, and several of the b ookmaking fraternity. The following is the list:—Taranaki—Miss Tapp, .7. Roberts, Mason, Owen. Graham; Nelson—W. Slorme, J..Mcß3w_n, W. McEwen, S. MeDuff, J. Mar shal!, Master Lukie. Mr and Mr.s Kibbling, Mr Cook, ..irsKmg. and family (_); G-oldsworthy (2 . Newdick. Gavin, L. l.acre, Mrs Ward : Picton— Hart: "Wellington—Jn .-.(. Svmond:., .Mr Austin, Kik ; if.-4 Mrs Woodward, raid _ children, P. Brown, J. Williamson, Mrs Mowbrav, J. Rcid, L_ln„rten, W.-cl.r, Rao; -_.vttelt.oh—Rtv,„' T. _.nd__? and w_fe;-'J Put tip, TT.T_n-.irv, W. Gittbr., Mrs and Miss Way, Miss Bncklaud,; Morris, Bishop; Mui.rO; Ford. M. Niccol, Mr and Miss Wis.-mian, Hicks. T_. Ward. Bysh, J.L. Hall, and 15steerage; Port Chalmers—Mr and Mrs Thorne, .?. D. Harris. J. Collins, Mr. Chisholm. H. Jones, Quirk, Prims. R. Stuart, Prince, Williams.— Henderson and Macfarlane, agents. The s.s. Roweiia, • Avhich arrived from Tauranga yesterday afternoon, brought up an unusually large number of passengers, includ ing, the "following :—Miss Sellai-s, Rev." Mr Buirrows, Messra_olayr'l.loyd, Wilson, Sheldon, Camr-.ron. May, Warbrick, Elder, and son, Morris. Whelan, Mr and Mrs Walker, and five steerage. • • ' _ The schooner Jessie Henderson dropped down the harbour yesterday afternoon and anchored in the man-o'-war ground.'' She has completed her clearance at the Customs with a cargo of tinibor, brick?, and general stuff for Lev*_k'l> f.-n „ _,_in.-_ *!.._> afternoon. - The barque Glnncoe,.who33-projected depar ture from' Kobart Town we mentioned some. do.y3 ago, sailed, wc now hear, on the 4th inst. with a part cargo of maize. She is to call at Newcastle to fill up with coal. The yacht Secret was to leave Lyttelton yesterday for Nelson. As the regatta at the latter port comes off next Wednesday, she AviU liaA'o. no time to spare if the ' winds through Cook's Straits prove unfavourable. Captain Murdoch McKenzie, late' of ttie barque Martha, is about to leaA-fe f or* Waipu. to. bring up from thence a fine schooner-j'lst completed by Messrs McGregor for Captain H. F. Anderson. The vessel; 'which is to beirigged as.afore-rvid-after. was launched a few da. a ago and christened the' Mary Anderson by' Miss Annie McGregor. She is a very smart craft of about 91 tons, builder's measurement, her length of.keel is !v> feet, breadth of beam IS feet 2 inches, and depth of hold 8 feet. -'v '""• « A Melbourne telegram in the "Sydney Herald" states that the Mosquito, from London to NeAV 'Zealand, was sighted at sea. ;.: '■ ' The barque Cabarfeidh.-will be ready for sea by Saturday. She is to take the Lovctt peacock's cargo of Oregon pine on to Adelaide together with a quantity of kauri. The schooner Lovett Peacock has been: placed upon the gridiron for-repair. We understand that Captain J. McKenzie will take charge of, her when she has been thoroughly renovated.

The schooner Minnehaha has left Lyttelton for Ti_Q"ar«, so that- there is no chance of the pro posed race between her and the Belle Brandon unci Transit from Lyttelton to this harbour. All thc-three are likely to meet again in the Auck land Regatta. ' ■ - 7 1/,

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails avill Close as U_ dee : — For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to-mor row, at il 30 r.tn. and 1.30 p:m. For Coromandel, per Lalla Rookh, to-niorroAV, at __0 h.in., and per Argyle, on Friday next, at 2. .0 p.m. For Tairua, per Atalanta, this day, at 4 p.m. For Whitianga, Tauranga, and Opotiki, per Rowena, this day, at 4 p.m. ' «'■'*■■"'■ For "VVaiheke, par Spejvto-morrow, at 9 a.m. For Ncav Caledonia'and-Norfolk Island, per Josephine, to-morroAV, at 11 a.m. For Waiwera, •j'W'arl.AVorth, Matakana, Te Aral, Waipu. Mangapai, and Wangarei, per Annie Milbank, to'inorrOW. at 10 a.m. For Wliitianga, pm- Start, to-morroAv, at 2 p.m.' For Taranaki and Southern Prov-inces, per' Wellington, on Saturday next, at 4.20 p.m. For Australian Colonios, per Rotorua, on Tuesday next, at S a.m.- . . Per City "of Sydned, on Tuesday, ICth instant, as folioW3 :— :, For KandaA*u, Sandwich Islands,- United States of America, Canada, British Cohirnbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign West Indies,, at 4 p.m. . For United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, at 4 p.m. " For money orders, registered letters, and newspapers, at 3 p.m. ..- ' ~ .. Lite letters bearing an extra fee of Gd in addition to the postage, will be received by the, Mail Agent on board up to lime of sailing. S. B. BISS, Chief Postmaster.

MARRIAGE.

RENOUF—WOODS.—On the Ist instant, at tho residence of the bride's parents, by the Rev. P. 11. Cornford, John Rcnouf, of St. Heliers, ' Jersey, to Delahay, second daughter of Mr. James R. Woods, of this city.

DEATH.

MERRINGTON.—On the 9th instant, at her re sidence, Wakefield-stroet, Agnes, the beloved Avife of Frederick Merrington, in her 35th roar. The funeral will leave her late residence at 2.30 p.m. to-morrow. Friends will please ■ accept this invitation.

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

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1877

.or tli_ cavse tliat lacks assistance^ For the Avrong that needs resistance, .or tlie future in the distance, And the ;;ood that we can do.:

T\vo or three weeks ago we drew prominent attention to the fact that there AA'as yet i time, before tlie foundation-stone' of the graving dock had been laid, to consider the question of deepening the dock. Our morning contemporary, in its issues o* yesterday and this morning, takes up 'tlie subject with a self-complacent gush, and plumes itself upon having " struck a key hots wb.ich has met with a general response in ' the public - mind." That keynote has been struck so often and so hard, that Aye doubted its ability to stand' much more striking. It was hammered so assidu ously for a series of years that it actually produced a response in the.Harbour Board", and a large dock was decided on; but, a?J —rr.ll.—l>_ ' a___p_____,_/l, i_o 1-cnacM Avere received, it was discovered that tho money raised for the dock had been sunk in reclamations. The question of deepening the dock is just the threadbaie controversy of big versus little dock revived. The matter is, however, of sufficients im portance to warrant a final .consideration ere it is too late, even though the. time —uoav that the contract is in progress—is inauspicious and improper. Upon the determination which the Board may finally arrive at next Tuesday, Aviil depend the question whether Auckland is to rank as a first-class or inferior port. Already D unedin possesses a dock capable of taking in the largest vessels visiting Ncav Zealand, and if-Auckland aspires to an equal status Avith Other colonial ports,_it..must provide equal facilities. The question " Will it pay" urged a_ the main objeetioi.-'-by those Avho pave favoured, the smaller dock cannot be taken into consideration Directly, a large dock may not recoup more than working expenses but indirectly it AviU return the outlay to this port tenfold. Were this not so, there is no choice at all between a. dock capable of taking in Her Majesty's ships on the Australian Station, .and the nondescript dock iioav in course of construction. We. believe the Harbour Board : would be Warranted in makinga sacrifice to remedy its ill-judged determination in laying-oif tlie present dock. We arc so strongly impressed with this opinion that it is Avith the deepest regret, avc learn.on authority which should be reliable that it is impossible to carry the change out. That in fact, the entrance to. the dock site, is barred by solid rock with only fourteen, feet of wafer at high tide. We • should be glad to find this statement disproved, but, unless capable of satisfactory settlement, it Avould be Avorse. than foolish to throw away more money after the £6'0,p00 which.:v.iirbe swallowed, up by the dock, as. uoav designed. .. A glance at the clock is. sufficient to convey the impression that no maii-of-Avar will ever reach ' there- unless carried. Definite information on this subject should be prepared for the guidance of members at the meeting on Tuesday. If the position is as Aye have stated it; fuiiher discussion would be idle. With the example of the railway wharf, and the necessity .or removing the dock from the position origi nally laid off, to avoid a rocky bar, before their eyes, members of the Board may Avell approach the proposal to spend moremoiiey upon the present dock Avith extreme caution. But if it is found that a channel capable of giving a man-of-Avar or mail steanier an

approach to the dock exists, ;uul the requsite funds for deepening the present 'design can b. raised on reasonable terms, the enlarge ment, under proper stipulations and condi tions, would, Aye believe, give general satis faction. Wc have good reason for fearing hoAvever, that' the keynote Avhicli the .'Herald" claims credit- for striking has vibrated .a*.elve months too late. '

The old Provincial Council Building:, are how undergoing great alterations to fit them for the purposes of a General GoA'cmmciit Survey' Department. The old Council Chamber, where in bygone days the elo quence of our New Zealand Solons thrilled the listening ear, which was graced by the presence of Stafford, Fox, Fitz herbert, Fitzgerald, Feather-atone (the famous three F's), Swainson, Sewell, Do mett, and a host of other.", some of whose tongues have ceased to speak,., or who are: griming grey in the political arena, this place is uoav shoni of its ancient ■glories'. The bright scarlet damask lounges have been removed, the kerosene chandeliers

that cast a soft mellow light over the midnight dcliberathiiH of hon. 'members, the table with its pile of blue ifceoks, its gilded mace, and its Avater-L-ottles and glasses (seldom used) lias, had to make way before the rutliless progress of innovation. Only the reporters gallery, where the slaves of the pen toiled away by the light of flickering sperm candles, ..and en. deavQu.red to reduce. tJjfl burning el*.; i-i 7.7i\ :, i>> ■ ■ •'- -i -- ' _/ •m^.i

quence of honorable members to reasonable limits and syntax—still stands, a melan choly monument of the past. Where once _*ur legislators great and small, Colonial and "Provincial, bent their powerful inteßects to 'the task of marking out the destinies of the people of Ncav Zealand, afeAV draughts men Avili shortly be engaged in raying Oil'sections on maps, Such is th____-«ta- bility of all worldly things. The- ancient Temples of the Peruvians standL__keJa_ jmigma to the traveller, the grand^cdihees of the Assyrians arc sunk in the aa _nd blown sands of centuries, thep'gorgeoiis .marble monuments of ancient Grecian and "Roman architectjjreai'e the abiding "places of the owl and the ' bat,-" arid.: the inexorablo hand of.' _tihie' and decay Svillnot spare even-the first House.-; of Parlia ment in NeAV Zealand. Whon Macauley's New Zealander shall return from a survey of the mouldering ruins of London Bridge he Avill find an object for Bad contemplation in the old Council Chamber of his native country If not too late to preserve a relic of past glories,. Aye would suggest that tho bed-posted concern,in which tho Speaker ;was.A\*ont to sit should bo put into a glass case to: be carefully handed doAvh to posterity.

7 At the R. M. Court, Onehunga, f to-day, tAvo men named John Hughes and T. Hayes 'were sentenced each to two months impri is/inment for stealing tAvo pairs;, of boots (from thii.'CoHimer.uU ,-Hotel, They Avere brought into town, and lodged-in Mount Eden gaol. William Pilmer, for discharg ing firearms'in the street on New' Year's Day', "w__ fined in the'nominal line of one shilling ana costs, tho mitigated penalty •being imposed in consideration of the de fendant's ignorance of the law, and the .street boiug a back one. Maurice Sheehah, icharged' under the Vagrant Act Avith being found without lawful excuse in the stable (of Mr -Wullacej'■ of- Otahuhu, mi tlie night of the sth, having ..been in custody since that date, and- not having been .oh the premises for any unlawful purpose, was discharged with a caution. Tlun-e.AA-.m_ also three drunkards punished.

• It will be seen by an advertisement else where that an excur._on.to the Hot Springs will take place on-jFriday next. The-sniart little steadier Anne Milbauk has been engaged for the occasion, and is appointed to leave the Queen-street wharf at nine o'clock in the morning, returning in the evening. The trip Avill allow six hours being spent at the Springs, so that those who have not yet visited this famous spot had better take advantage of this opportunity. A band lias been engaged for the occasion. The neAV large ball room at the Waiwera Hotel Avill be available for dancing, should any of the excursionists feel disposed for this amusement. Numerous outdoor attrac tions AviU specially provided.

The only business at tlie Police Court this morning Avas the calling on of a charge against an absconding apprentice, Avhich, at the employer's request, was withdrawn without being heard. The presiding Justices were Messrs CoSgrave and Willcox.

Mr Alfred Sharpo, Avho occupies a posi tion among our leading local artists,, has conceived a poetical idea; and which he ii putting into shape and form. His idea is a series of views entitled the " Suburban Nooks of Auckland," one of which is per fected and on view in the window of Mr AVayte, bookseller j->f Queen-si reet. The picture possesses great merit, and represents the entrance to tlie main cavern.ih the laya at the Three Kings, shewing the • light streaming into the cavern from the inner opening of the roof. Mr Sliarpe has nearly completed the second p.6ture of the series, which Avill represent the Manukau grove in the Domain. < , r ,\"

A magnificent thoroughbred entire horse came up from the South by the s.s. Wel lington to-day for Mr Kelly. His name is f'lXfespaii _•*■___ i-_ _n__io tn_ „in„_i#__ih_d paternity of Traducer, his dam being Paturity. .He is thus full brother to [Defamation. In height he is fully 10' hands, with commanding .frame and blood-like bead. 4 . . "" ' ..

• The Wellington Argus gives the folloAving relatiA _ to the late Sir Donald McLean :--

" He came- out to this colony, in 18.39, as a btiinling of nineteen or tAventy. , He had little to depend upon save his stout' heart and willing hands. First he wo£licd_ on board of a coasting vessel, and aftef.a time became the skipper of .a little sGhooner which traded between Auckland, afHl.What is uoav knowh as the 'Thames district; Tho vessel carried supplies to the natives, and Mr. M'J.ean, through -his dealings, withjr them, became thoroughly., familiar "with (their language and customs.'- , ." ..

■ The Local Board of Health at Christ church, have appointed an Inspector of Nuisances at a salary of £27 0, mid' a' medical oiiicer at £250. .';

j A box of splendid apricots, plums, ripe pours, mulberries, and other delicious fruit, is acl"howlcd;.-ed from Mr. .George (_uick. Contents duly sampled and approved; The fruit was ".grown on Mr. Quick's property at the lake, and all A\*e can say is that, if that is the . way the residents luxuriate there, Takapuna is an elysium. ; To the Editor: Sii.f~l' dbserve tliat.in foply to Mr'Foote's application for a .small sum of money to open up an 'important industry, I)r Pollen said-, "The Govern ment are resolved upon a course of.reti _nel_ ment." The same paper speaks of a steamer, called the Hinemoa,' sailing, the same afternoon for Wellington', and adus that she was sent some 20 mile's to pick up Major Campbell. Did it occur that the expense of this steamer going out of her Avay'for a single Government officer could not be called retrenchment & Where then Avas tlie resolve of tho forenoon, seeing that 10s would .have, paid Major Campbell's passage to Auckland 4vy the mail steamer Aiiriic MiJlbauk?' Does re-, trenchment mean grinding,■-, tho working man, and a lavish expenditure on Ministers' and Government officers ?—Yours etc.', No Humbug; .

To the Editor .- .Sir,"4-1' being at one of ourcity tdiijrch.es. oii.'Suuday night, I avus de lig]ited:a!t]ieca;efulAvaytheor!.an]-.vasplayed by ,'._o unskilful hand. But j-smarkable to' say,'while he was playing "Oh rest in the Lord," I.Avns seized watft a very bad, aching head. It seemed to me as if the brain was vibrating. The pain lastcjd an hour. ' i M,y ear-.'was not sensible to a discord, .qr any thing-,wrong in the music, yet all my body Avas'as if beaten by a sand-bag. Is tliere any cause in nature for this ? ~ Yes • -in playing the basso prof undo tb a picceVof music, if a _li_.p> and a natural be played, then .onciiiust stop for the other. "And if you have any part going that strengthens the proper sound or note, then you will not hoar the sound that is wrong, but the body Aviit be bruised by the a .bra Hon ; hence the a thing head. Ab-o the notes'in the basso profundo are used instead of a fuU chord, which sometimes cannot be played on the finger-board,-!-Yours, i.e., C.II.

A foot race of 150 yards has been ar ranged between George Jennings and E. MeGinley, at EUerslie Gardens, on the 22nd inst., at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Tbo match is for £40. and half the money is already in the hands of the stakeholder, so tliere is no doubt about tlie genuineness' of the affair. The remainder of the money i • to be posted on the Saturday before the race. Considerable local interest is centred in the result. Both men are in actiA'e training, and the partizans of both are very confident. MeGinley a\*ou the 300 yds. Handicap and the Maiden Race at the gar dens On Ncav Year's Day, while Jen nings has .figured in several races Avith varying fortune. His latest achievement Avas Avinning the 200 yds. Friendly Society's Cup, on Boxing Day. at the "Foresters' Fete t '•'■ . , ■ ■ _

As previously1 stated, the jury were unable to agree in a verdict in the case of Louis Pierre Dugleaux, the case therefore ; will be reheard on the ISth inst before a j fresh jury, but not in its original form, but ; for uttering only, as it was clear that Dug- j leaux did not forge the orders. | According to advertisement a publio tern- j p_3?3_e©=TO&_i_gj__i_ connection AA'ith tho s_ttipigs"p_ the Grand -Jsodgerof Goml Tem-n phirs. will be held to-morrow evening. --The I speakers ;av!io __ill aebkes _±_c meela ug_ar_e | a-tmresuntatives. from the various lodges .in the colony. And w_.li'av_'mo doubt" that 'the principles of templary, Avill be clearly jenunciated and its claims powerfully en forced. V\ re would advise all those who [have not yet given templary their considera ition to be present to-morroAV evening. ; The ".Day of Plenty Times " says that a small, .fisliing" s_iac_, the Zodiac, arrived in Tauranga lharbour on Saturday afternoon, from Auckland, bavin:, called at Mercury Bay on her..Avay down.---She belongs to Mr C.-aham, of Tairua, and. has been taken-to Taurausja to see ii _shing in the harbour -will

pay sufficiently"to Avai-rant-her stopping perman ently. The men working her are anxious to establish a fishery if they can possibly do so, and commenced working on Wednesday with hooks and lines to try and find- the best grounds. Among olber fish they caught on that day Avas jau enormous Arapuka, weighing about eighty pounds. It is their intention, if they see. a fair prospect of success, to bring down their nets and gear and to set to work in-earnest without delay. Their market would bo first of all Tau ranga. and then a good trade might be done with Auckland in dried and smoked fish, and also in croy-llsh, which arc to be caught at Motiti Island, and could be'kept alive in store pots, and sent aAVay by every opportunity.

. A Maori- chief named Te Whatahoro writes to' tho "Te Wananga" to tell bis tribe that bo has received from Government. £700 l_r land; and that as they havo squandered mo_oy _paid to them, he has taken the precaution of investing tho money in " mares," and his tribe Avillget the foals.

The shareholders meeting of the Auckland Permanent Co-operatiyo Building Society was held yesterday afternoon in the Queen-street oitiees ; Colonel Haultain in ;he chair. The chief business of the meeting consisted -in passing the following resolutions: "That the Society be (forthwith incorporated under ihe Building Society's Act, 1.r0," and "That the Secretary •make the necessary application to tho liogistrar for giving eifect to the above." Those resolu tions were passed. The chairman then an nounced that a special meeting Avould have to be held, in order that the rules amended-_igh"t bo past, in accordance with the Act. Tcie. amended rulos would be printed and issued as a supplement to a ncAVspapcr, so that every per son might possess a copy. The meeting then separated. I A disastrous fire occurred at Lucas Creek on 'Saturday morning last,when the dwelling house of Mr Wm. Barker, farmer, was burnt to the ground. The building Avas a substantial strongly .erected residence of seven rooms, and cost about £500 to put up. Mr Barker was absent from home at the time of thfe- outbreak,' and only re turned in time to find some smoky rafters and mini to slioav Avhei o his house had. been. Mr Parker, with his son. It years old, left his house on Saturday morning to go to Dairy ITlat, six miles distant, to gather some seed for a hedge. In the afternoon on returning,,when at the top of Morton's bush, two miles from home, he saw [that tlie house was burned down. They ran in a; fast as possible, and found Mrs Parker silting ■crying in the garden with a few rescued things. Hie cxclainled: " Oh ! Will the house, is burned down." Mrs Parker stated that she had been ironing some clothes. The child commenced to cry, and she picked it up and Avcrit into a pad dock about 2.)) yards from the house, .where Messrs. Johnston and W. Morton were gather ing hay. while Mrs Parker was talking to them, h'jr little girl, <__ht years old, came running out crying that tho house was on (ire. They ran up instantly, but the flames had spread so rapidly : hat the "c was no hope of extinguishing it. Mr Panel, another neighbour, also ca-no across v-ith his son to render assistance, but the fire spread so rapidly that very few things -could be got out. Tho house was insured in the .Lon don Liverpool and Globe office .or £200; and for £_00 in the Transatlantic oliico. Mr Parker esti mates ids loss over and above these insurances :it £100. Tlie first policy AVtis hold as security of the mortgagee.

. A Dunedin telegram stales that Miss'Chrisrina Clark, ot iiavclock, near Lawrence, lias been committed fur trial for wilful murder by a coroner's jury. She gave birth to a child on tho 2711) nit., and tin _c days after tho infant Avas found wrapped up in flannel in her bedroom by OM3 of her neighbours. Medical evidence testified to the child having been-born alive..

At tho Primitive Methodist /Conference at Wellington yesterday, tlie following ministerial appointments,W4,*_ made :—Anokland, _."_•>«-. w ilnsiey; -awckland, second-, j>. ... -w-wscorooK; Thames, J. Nixon ; NeAV Plymouth, J. Standrin and.]. Dover; Foxton, P. W. Jones; Welling ton, J. DumbeU and AS. Jeyncs ; Christchurch, Vv'. Harris; Greendah.,. \V. S. Potter: Ash bin-ton, .). Strapp; Timaru, C. 10. Ward; Oamaru, one from England ; Diuiduiu, J. Ward and one from England ; lnvercargill, W. J, D.-anc-

')'!ie ratepayer of Woodsideheld tbeir annual meeting on Monday evening for the' purpose of electing a f-e'iool committee for the current year. Mr Clow occupicd.thc chair. The annual report was read and adopted, and Messrs Burn side, Gladding, Brown, Mook, and Maskrey ,v. ere elected.

A coniplimentary bt-ni.'fit Avill 'h'6 given to Mr. Henry Winckcombe, in the Lornp-atreat Hal1, for his useful services as a performer at concerts for charitable purposes. Tho Good Templars, and others liaA'c promised their patronage. A number or novel attractions will be offered, and among them, a challenge hornpipe. The 'affair AviU conic oil" this evening. E'-A lunatic, named George Plait has escaped from the Whau' Asylum, and is still at large.

•Mr Davis _ wili give an ciiterliunmcnt- tins evening inhis rooms, llobson-otroet, consisting of (.xctviscs.iu the noble art o.f self-defence. ••

The following is tho list of prizes' distrihu t£d at I'ne* Newton G'rahimaf"School :— Ist ClasV : Hie-hard- Mears. Alexander :Bo:iglas, Percy Porcival, It. A. Kelly, George Wilson, James A. Sneddon. 2nd Class: llobert Green, Iticliard ■West, Peter Mackie, Harold Bruce, Alexander Campbell. 3rd Class : Each pupil in this class Will receive a small volunia by wayot!encourage ment or reward. ■ ■ •-

The following tenders were received to-day for cutting the new road at Mount Hob-son, for th* Remuera District 80.-.rd, in accordance with plans at Mr Wrigloy's oflice: S. Brcmmor £500, W. BoAvdcn (G-1-i.t., T. G. Kerinan 18150, T. Tare £13,5, Scarborough and Bayloy £3(32, T. Peach A.320. .. ■■-.;- ; .

THE MAN IN THE MOON.

(Tothe Editor of. the '.Evening Stab). ' " My Dear Stak,—l beg to tell you and the numerous 'readers you enlighten, that I am the Man in the. Moon. Just now—between the old moon and the. n..Av : —I have little or nothing to do ; and not being required to exhibit myself ,on the iirniamental stage, I find the time hanging heavily on my hands. At such seasons —bctAvixt tliwvnning moon and the waxing—l often stroll down to*the Earth to'see what the terrestrials are doing, especially, those of them whose brains, like the tides, nre'enra-pportwith lunar iiiilueiices.

During these vtsitSj I act act as " Own correspondent " to our leading journal, the ■'Lunatic Thunderer ;" aiid it has occurred to me that—_n conformity Aviili your proA'crh of killing two birds .with the one .stoiie~4_. might, while _sending news to my own neA*vspaper nabove, give you the' benefit of my observations and Avh-doiu. j Yesterday, at noon, I stepped _iu.o the Provincial t'hambora (Auckland); and was present at the first meeting, of the Council of x_den County. WcAvho live hi the moon confer posts of honour and iniiuenee, not on the richest, but on the wisest amongst us ; hot on those who have most property, but on those • Avho' have most brains. This lunarian, .principle, J hud, seems to ,be neither, known, or- acted on in Ncav Zea land; Yesterday the sapient Councillors of County Sden gave j .the.- honour of their. (. .laivmaurdiip,' hot*to the man with the longest..head, but to tlie-man, with the longest purse. . -A. ■-nmj'ority of the; Couu c4iloi-s'; met," lootod round for a feAV seconds, and happening to lind one of thcmteclves with more money th.au the rest," they rushed in hot haste to elevate him.into the post of honoiir. In seven and a half minutes from the hour of meeting—such is .he worship of Mammon, which still survives among; you Terrestrials— tlie Councillors had pushed into the place of honour and influence the "mail who hud inherited the most acres. Having myself witnessed this, 1 immediately telegraphed to tho Moon " Auckland representatives barbarians, who honour acres more than brains." From hints dropped at the meeting, I learned that ilia ratepayers, whom the Councillors represent; wish and expr-et'the County chair, to bo an honorary qtliee, At Avllatever meetings the matter-was mooted tlie •candi date, who Avere questioned, thought the Chairman. sLq dd bo paid not in pounds, ut in honour-.. But candidates before iwtiQn are very' $g&_fijs from, candidates

after, election, and in office. Dr. Wallis, who is so simple minded that I Avould have taken him for a clergyman rather than a medical man, suggested that the chairman should be unsalaried, and it was obvious to me that his fellow-councillors considered him an intrusive and romantic fool. Not to salary, as the laAv allows, an oi.ice____-_ich any r 6i.^of _4kemse.A _s might fill some- day,-Avas,. plainly regarded as a _yilcl idea _tjj».t would better suit lunatics .than-colonial- te; restrials. : I pitied the Xnnp_e-minde"cl Doctor as" I. observed the "astonishment Avhich spread lover his Scotch 'face when he could liot-fmd one councillor Avith enough of. ainse. jMiiiess, and courage to countenance his 'suggestion. Tell it not in Gath. publish it not iv Askelon that Dr ■Wallis' proposal that the Chairman should not be paid pecuniai_ly7~'fc]l. toJ,h<^ground wfthbUt a seconder at the first 'meeting of ■the Comity Council of Eden ! ! ! I have 'something also to say about broken pledges ■etc. ' In the meantime, I am, dear''EVENING Star, your Lunatic Brother,-—The ,Mak

in the Moox.

SUPREME COURT.—THIS DAY.

(Before His..Honor,Mr Justice Gillies and a -..r-.'■.. Common Jnry.):' >"' - YESTERDAY. THE ARAIUMtJ MUI-DEIt. The trial of Martin Curtin was continued after wo went'nress* .. r , <■ •>_

Dr Henry Tapley, of Druryj .corroborated the statement of Dr Bayntun as to the 'nature of the wounds;,...; : ! i": c, ; Mary Sheridan, .deposed that she wafe staying at_ Mr Gsirvey's, .near Maketu, and 'suav prisoner riding in that direction. He spoke to her and asked"if she 'savv any blood on liis fade as ho had been struck by •a bough of- a tree. . Daniel Brisbane, store-keeper, deposbd to" the fact.that Cm.in called Upon him and borrowed a pound note on the day of the murder, and. that .prisoner said lie and W'haimghnh had a great fight,; and that he had tied Shanaghan up. • ":J '■ Mary Elizabeth McLcllan gave evidence as to prisoner wanting a constable to arrest a man who, had threatened to burn, his Gt'ouso. William Shanaghan, clerk of.the, Court deposed that prisoner and deceased were frequently quarrelling" about their cattle, and that on the 16.1. Curtin applied for -9, waVrant against Shanaghan, which AVas not granted. Alexander Ross, Hugh Twohey, 'and (lames Sherin testified in a similar strain to tho evidence of preccdings witnesses. The court rose" at six o'clock p.na.

This Day.

; (His Honor took his seat at''ten o'clock.) Constable McLcnnan—deposed that the prisoner came to him for a warrant to arrest Shanaghan for threatening to burn doArn his house, stating that he had tied him as before (dated. He subsequently went to the spot, and saw the .body ,of deceased. (Witness here described the position of the body, the nature of the Avounds, the marks of the cords, and other particulars sSvorn to by other Avitnes^es). He further stated that ho had made a strict search for such stick", as those which prisoner said they hud fought Avith, but no such sticks could be 'f(«Ht'd answering prisoner's description of them. He Aveht to Cm-tin's house, and found n loaded gun full cocked, tAvo axes, a hammer, a bag containing acrimcan phirt, with fresh blood on it. The bag avus in the fireplace. He also found a pair of moleskin trousers, 'with marks of blood on them, and a pair of leggings. On Sliana ghan's trousers he found eleven spots of candle grease (sperm), and Avhenhe arrested prisoner he found a piece of sperm candle in his .pocket.' He took the things to the Magistrate.. Court, and prisoner said "why (iid you Tiring "rm.ni i_ci 0 , .-hoy OT ihc clothes I Avore yesterday. (witness, then described in the first person Avhat Curtin said on the occasion of finding the body.)

To Mr Robs ! Curtin did not offer to point put where the sticks AA*erc. The trousers,at the knees had appaienflybcen scraped "with a.knife. On the morning of the inquest pri soner said that Shanaghan said, " For mercy.sake don .tieme." He kneAvthebloo'd on the clothes wa3 quite fresh ; discovered no blood upon either of the axes. Sheridan first told him thid the man was dead. Ho meant, by saving that prisoner exulted, that he avus continually, talking about it. He Avouldii.bt'pretend to define the term. -

His Honor: The witness is not A*ery choice iv terms. It is not necessary to take it down ;it is not evidence.. . .

; The ..cross-examination ■of this Avitness was of considerable length*. .

To'.he'Foi.mah : He carefully examined the sjiot where the struggle took place, and all. about, but was guie there were no sticks ; he ''understood that "Shanaghau's hat AA'as destroyed or buiied.

George Jeffrey, detective ouicer, deponed Hi at on the night of Sunday,.-the 17th, he went to Papakura, and saAV prisoner in the lock up ; there Avas no one iv charge of the prisoner, and he stayed theyo until six o'clock iv the morning. When the con stable camo at that hour, he brought] -the prisoner out; he made use of the words stated by Last Avitness on seeing his clothes, and said further " that axe-handle has nothing to do with it." He questioned prisoner, who said that he' AA'as 'working m his place on the day of the murder, Avhen Shanaghan came along, and said "Come here, and see me burn your place and banish you." He went to him, and they each armed theiu selvcg. with tAA'o sticks. ."He bested Shan,i_?]Lm,.iu ;the fight, and tlien Avcnt and fetched the rope Avith Avhich he tied Sha naghan; to the rata stump. The sticks were left, on the spot." Deceased begged him (prisoner) to release him, but prisoner replied, "No, I've fixed you." He then got on his horse and went for. tho warrant, and the first person lie told of the circumstance was ,Mr Brisbane. He returned between one and two- on the Sunday' morning "stud found"Shiiua-ghaii dead ;-'cut-The cords, but being A-eiyhiiiigry, he went 'home and had some refreshment. (Prisoner here' became much excited, and walked to and fro in the dock.) Defective- Jetf'rey _thoU gave a minute description of the immediate locality of the murder, hut there were no sticks to bo foup<ji, wy] ,° } roos fmiiicicntly strong to be found ; the Wood Was mostly rotten. Tho prisoner's home avus a rude bush whare, 15 x 12, with a small dairy attached used for butter and milk. In the'dairy he fqmid the gun (loaded), also a, sword;bayonet He know the road betAveen prisoner's "house and Maketu. It Avas a wide, open road, and prisoner was not likely to strike his head against a bovtglu ■ 4i

To Mr Rees : "When in the lock-up prisoner wanted Jeffrey to go with him to get his cattle together.

(Prisoner here beckoned his counsel and having whispered sonic Avords to him, Mr Rgcs said hei would not cross-examine Jeffrey further.) This being the case, Mr Rees proceeded to address the jury, and said he.had several Avitnesses to call in favour of prisoner, and AA'as about to comment upon some points in tho case.

His Honor said that Mr Rees shotild'not oiier any oomments until the.Avitnesses for the defence had been heard.

After some remarks from Mr Brookfield his Honor considered that it would not be right to bring witnesses to contradict any Avitness Avho had not been quite clear in re lation to time a_d place/and the questions were not relevant to the case. Mr Rees said he simply Avished to call witnesses to shew that prisoner's general conduct towards Shuuughan was of such a character that ho was not likely to be the aggressor ;_h_t not to'sdieAv that.tliere had been, no sti-tigj. .c -l&t _omthe_ri. which eoul4

not he denied. He Avould call these wit nesses. _ Annie Macdonald deposed that she knew both prisoner and deceased. She ktiew the terms in Avhich they lived. Hud heard Shanaghan threaten to kill Curtin, and had seen deceased driving prisoner's cattle. Had heard them quarrel at a distance. Saw Curtin go to Shanaghan's house about eight months ago. Shanaghan chased Curtin. The ill-feeling between them arose about some pigs of jjhaiiaghan's __fttting into- Cv: tin's garden, & nd Curtin "Bulled mm. for tlie trespass.-/ Remorabeied the pig-hunt? about seven week .-back.. Her brother Avas' in it. (Witness here doseribed Curtin!^ dress.) Never, hear.-! -Curtin make any threats toward- deceased. Cross '- examined by Mr Brookfield.'- _j< _

James Parr, settler, deposed that he was a neighbour of the parties for some time. Ho had often conversed with both of them Avith regard to the other. He had so fre quently, heard threats on both sides, that he did not fake much notice of them.. Shana ghan had made-threats against the prisoner. On one occassion there Avas a difference between them about a mare, but that Avas over three years ago. In answer to Mr. Bees, his Honor said that no threat could justify, a Moav, nor Avould the.fear of _ a threat being'carried into execution justify a bloAA*. To Mr Bees : He could not say from his knowledge of the men, which would be tlie most likely to commence a quarrel. Cur tin A\ ras often going to IaAV with Shanaghan, but did not get much redress. To Mr Brookfield: The men were on very bad terms; he had heard Curtin say that if he- caught Shanaghan doing anything on his ground he Avould'. tie him up; he also said that Shanaghan often annoyed him in the night. , Mr Bees then addressed the. jury in defence of the prisoner, and said that as soonfcas. any great crime was committed, the State of "society Avas such, that before the real fact.._.couid he elicited, the press and. the public at once settle the matter by comment and talk, to the disadvantege of ■the accused. He \vould therefore, ask gentlemen of the jury to dismiss from their 'minds every thing which may prejudice the case against the prisoner, amir "only give their verdict when perfectly satisfied,with the guilt or innocence of the prisoner at the bar. They must not take probabilities where the life of the prisoner was at stake, but be satisfied that the death of Shanaghan AA ras caused by the prisoner. Mr Bees .argued that it avus better that ten guilty !men should escape, than one innocent man should suli'er, for iv the latter case it Avould be impossible to reinstate him in society. Mr Bees then gave a narration of the circumstances which led to the death of Shjaiiagl.au, and Avith which that'poi .ion of tlie public are aware; who haA _ read the evidence of the witnesses.

LATER AUSTRALIAN.

p3v the Wellington, which arrived in the Manukau to-day, avo are in receipt of special files of Australian papers,, for Avhicli avo are indebted to the kindness of Captain Lloyd. We condense the fojlowing items from the Ales to hand : • Four young men Avho, arrived overland from Cook.own, having travelled overland 'from PortEssington, the journey occupying a period of two and a half months, found a fresh Avater river north of CooktOAvn, with ii/agnificent land on its banks. ; ' 4.44 j At- ingleAvood, a terrible explosion oc curred at 4 o'clock on the 24th nit., by which £10' 000 v.-orWi of property' were destroyed. The explosion shook the ground for miles round, and a great cloud of white and black smoke ascended from the heart of the toAvn. It AA'as found that the (premises of li. Donovan were a mass of flame.., and that an explosion of gunpowder 'hud blown out the simp front, and set fire .... tho otook. Tim fi__ originated iv the [back premises. The ofi'ects of the explosion Were most renntrkablc. Persons standing on the - Inglewood embankment, twu miles (away, felt the cartliAvork sway to and fro. Shop AviudoAvs Were blown out, red-hot •pick handles, and hoops and staves" of •jioAvder. casks were blown a distance of GO yards. Crockery avus smashed. There Avere pQlb__ of powder on tlie premises. ■ j A man named Edgar a gate-keeper on she .railway at Tarrawmgee went along the line With a Tamp, and next day his body ,Avas.found on the permanent way cut in' : tW,>. . .' . ~y ; :/., I A terrible storm of wind at Hay unroofed houses, arid destroyed much property. ; A third case of small-pox avus discovered •amongst the ' ivuarautined passengers per pßrisbanc at Sydney.

A tire broke out in a railw.-.y carraigo on the Sydney side of the Paramatta junction, iby the explosion of a tin'of kerosene plape'tl juuder. a s-i.t. The train Avas stopped, and .the lire .extinguished amidst the screaming hi .woman, and children. .One man who p" limped out Ava,-. taken, up insensible. r A man named John Hallian waa found in a comatose state'outside a Chinese opium shop at Tumut, N.S.W., and died a few hours af tei wards ..'from prostration of the nervous ' system. it was proved at the inquest that-many European's Hvere iv the habit of visitiiig-tiie shoo".for opium smok in'.. , . ,";.'*.--

' A hairdresser. at":l.teroy, named George RVebben, Avho had taken to drinkrsutt'ered business losses,,and Avaa cruel to his young wmveut his_ throat, iji a fit of deli-ium. •tremens and died on the way to the hospital.

NEW ZEALAND INSURANCE COM PANY.

THHITY 'SECOND HALF-YEABLY

MEETING.

The half-yearly meeting of the shareholders in the New Zealand insurauee Company, was held at 2 o'_loek to-day in the Board ;room,_ Jas. Williamson ..Esq.," 'Chairman of jDiftki-ts,, iv the chair. • . ~ ''".'■

! Minutes of last general meeting read _nd confirmed, ..' ' '■;" '■ '

Gjl]. Pierce Esq., read the following : —

Hie ii .lowing report and balance sheet were presented: " The directors have the pleasure"of submitting to the shareholders the report, tind balance sheet of the company, for the half-year ending November' 30th, l'_7_". " The net amount ot premiums received Is £73,38915s 3d; interest, rent, and transfer ices, £9,501 3s sd, and, Avitli ,the amount rceen _d from last half-yeUr, makes a. total of £89,193 IG_. The lo s _esp„ulaiu_ pro vided for amount, to £33,510 ISs Gd. After carry ing a further sum of £15,000 to the Re-Insurance Initio, vvoich now stands at £70,000, there re- Km&Uv^ CfU° . .J. c*edlt of profit and loss ot _iJ,'.mo. l^s lOd. l'hi.s sum■'your directors recommend, should bo ijimr^priated as followsl lo the payment of a dividend at .the. rate of 15% n^.r annuni £.> 000,; to be carried forward'to next iia!f,year, £i,ft>o iSs. iOd.-Total, £19,(5.0 12s 10d. ft_f„rXf._v. wV\ bc P^able at the .Company's Otoe., Aueidand. to-morrov,-, and at the several Agencies on receipt of advice. The accounts of die oid Company have been finally closed, and o,'. a,".? unt ,r(? T Pv irt'l >P Capital now stands at __-_,i,_o. 'ilie Directors have filled up the vacancy caused by tho death of W, G. Vv_ls6h: _sq., bytne appointment qf Uin son, J. L. Wil son . li.su.' In acuoi-dunea Avith the deed of ?_;"'. 1V5>' 51 *'' Ali4 -^ Itusscll and Macfarlane will _S__t-.^"i? oitlco-, arrtl, being eli S ible, will be piopo-ed lor rc-eleetion. Messrs Laurie and paser offer themselves for rc-eloctirn an Audi-' I^4 _° T r. 1° oard oi' director., James Wil- LIAMSON, Chairman. STAT__I_N- 0.1)' ACCOUNTS FOR,THE HALF-YEAR enoi^o November 30,187_. ■ PROFIT and loss. _ lir. _ „ j To Dividend, half-year ending 31st • May, IS7C 18 777 10 0 Re-insurance fund .. .. [\ 3o!ooO 0 0 Loss on investment ..' 70 V o Commission, salaries, and other expensea .. .;. -; ig«» n s Fire and marino losses ~ " 'O'w. ia « Appropriation for uv.pidd loa?-.. KH.7 0 0 «a_an_e,, ~_ ~ ~ ~ i&l__s. 12 m

By Balance from last half-year .. 40,077 7 a Appropriation last halt-year .. 17,919 On 4 Firo and marine premiums .. 73,389 15 3 Interest, rents, and transfer fees 9,501 3 5 £110,9-0 ~6~Q BALANCE-SHEET. Dr. £ s. _. To Capital •• 200,000 0 0 Re-insurance fund 70,000 0 0 ..Appropriation for unpaid losses 13,117 0 0 Dividends unpaid _ 211 Suspense account 1,511 6 7 .•"-Balance 19,660 12 10 Gr..; £3C_,623~2~_ By Investments • • 269,198 12 0 Fire and marine premiums due 3,501 3 6 Interest and rents due .. .. 4,712 6 9 Bills receivable 1,525 18 11 Furniture, fire engines, &c. .. 525 9 5 T Branches OAvinjr 20,817 9 8 Cash and bank balance .. .. 3.582 2 1 £30',6232__Q

The Chairman in moving the adoption of tlie report said there might be art opinion on the part or pome of the share holders, that a larger dividend should ie paid for the past half-year, but they would, no doubt, acknowledge the necessity that existed ill times of prosperity for providing against any uiiprosperous period-which might occur. The object of the directors Avas to have such a fund in hand as Avould enable the shareholders to count Avith some degteei of certainly on a .divided as nearly equal as possible to what had been paid hitherto. Shareholders would be aware that this was a- smaller year than usual of insurance business. There vverc -_d ship ments of avool and other produce giving on tho half-year just passed as iv the present one.* But 'if the half-year was compared with the corresponding half-year of 1875, it Avould be found that the progress of the company was* satisfactory. This half-year tho premiums amounted to £73,359, Avliile in the corres qonding period...of. .18.75 the amount Avas £6'G,703, .shewing mi increase of nearly £7,009. The appropriations for unpaid losses were £13,417, Avhich was considerably less than on several previous occasions. This was in favoua of the past half-year, and enabled the Directors to carry a very respectable sum to .the -Reserve or re insurance fund. The reinsurance fund at the starting of the new company was' £40,000. and £30,000 had been added, and to the whole paid up capital of the company 75 per cent had. been added, who was a step iii the right direction. The investmenea had reached the respectable sum of £269,198. This Avould greatly help the company ih" paying dividents. The. dividends noAvr. paid from actual prop its Avere not excessive' Insurance business was attended with largo'l risk, and shareholders AA'ere entitled to a better return from , such investments than Avhere there was no risk, Shareholders would also bo aware that it was the inten tion of the Directors as soon lis they con venieiitly could, to appoint special agents at their branches. They found where the branches Svere entrusted to peopl_4t_! business of their own, they gave greater attention to it,. WiJ-h this view a special agent bad been" appointed in Wei-, lington, though the firm." of _3i__r_ Bethune and Hunter had always given satisfaction, and Mr Hunter would giA*e his valuable! services as a local director. Very suitable pi_inj_je_i had been acquired in Vv-cUiugtcia> a special'agent had been appointed, in3ie rising district of Wangunui, ulso in Rris b_he. He thank- d shareholders for the interest they had taken in the business of the company. Other local in.ti.utions Avere, springing up in the country and ■prospering as the New Zedlatifi insurance Company had done. He had always been of opinion that capital should be retained in the colony. — . 4

Mr J. I>. Owen seconded, the motion which Avas carried nnaniniously.

Mr G. J . Owen moved the re-electing of Messrs T. Russell, and J. Macfaaiane m directors. ; Mr C. Alexander, seconded the motion. -rrl _._-_. -tt c__ xclcirciltv. ~ " -"— -- - -'- -. Mr C. J. Stone moved that Messrs Laurie, and Frazer be re-elected as auditors. Seconded by Mr FendeloAV and carried.

GRAND LODGE. 1.0. G.T.

TO-DAY'S SITTING,

THE. DEBATE lON THE" NEGRO QUESTION. •_ '

The lodge was.opened by the C.W.C.T. at n__? this morning. The minutes of yesterday's session, were read and con firmed. ' -'- IJROTJTER' FOX. A letter- from Bi __li6r the Hon JY. Fox was ; read, '• in which that gentleman ex pressed regret at his inability to be pre sent at this session of the (Grand Lodge. It avus resolved that a telegram be sent, to the lion, gentleman 'informing him that, the Grand Lodge would Ik. unable to send a. representative to the Bight Worthy GirandLJ Lodge, and informing tlie Right Worthy Grand Lodge of the proceedings taken i_ connection with the nerro question, DELE&A __£.-■•'■ . -I It was moved " That at the conclusion of the sitting to-movroAv afternoon, the session' adjourn until Friday morning at " nine' o'clock, for the purpose of allowing the delegates to attend a public meeting to rn oitoav evening." • .

PROTEST BY A.VELLIN .;TO_r LODGES. ■■ ' ' The report of the committee •on t'ne pro testof the Wellington Lodges, avus read". This appeal avus against the action of the' Grand Lodge Executive in holding the third session of the Grand. Lodge at Auckland msteau 01 Wellington,:.-as.- arranged at the. last session held in Taranaki. The committee _ upheld the action of tSe Executive,, on varip-us grounds,: and ly-ctHir niended " That aGiand Lodge commission sjouui lie appointed to confer the Grandl Lodge degree upon- all members d'tdv. qualified to receive such."

Brother Speight, G.W.C.T. (Thames) ex plained that the reasons of the change were quite sufficient to Avarrant the Executive iv making it. Tliese reasons Avore (1) Tho importance.... the questions.-to be ebhsidered, and (2) The financial interests or the Lodge. Brother Johnson (Wellington) thought the explanations would "ba found sufficiently strong. - " • ■'■■■■■■ - -. - ■ !

,mProt^'" s Dorriu'g.oii (Parnoll), Nodder (Thames); and Potts (Taranaki), spoke on -. the subject. ■• ,- : ; ■;_,„. .wi Brother Brooking, G.W. Sec, read a' number of telegrams ; and letters connected aaith the matter. The report was adopted: unanimously. T ' T,IE, I cO_ OUR, OR >:_GRQ QU_.STIO.T. in order that our readers may nroperly imclcr- ' stand the subject, it will bo news _uy to stats that at a meeting, of thediWC-.L. hell in Lotpvllle in. 1875, it was decided by a fair _J%P_. r° pi'£_lbl _tho n<;sro from admission f»vwJP r_? r- T- he -_riti^ representatives who _____£_-^i l-^ 0"^--.immediate^ loft the Knilfh _? d t-. oceeding. to another room, -R "w /? t themselves into Avhat they term tho .V11&*•«' of t! T'world': the Aiuerieaii delegates T^^-te*-?^ B** o WIM Worthy Grand' Lodge. This debate, therefore, was merely to e& e. Whic _ R-W.GX'.- the ,_lle .iauoe of the Nev/ Zealand Grand Lodge should be given.

_v*__ 3 . "*B_ ' &*>s_* French, Secretary, brought. _S____T $_? re POt of the Special Committee, appointed to consider the subject. The report ™!^,wi *_ very eiaborato • nature, and re-om- S _^_?_V+ a.'irn-' 3s'on of the nec.ro to a nosition lfS^xT 1-. Wlth msmbei-a of th o order. * 'ii-i_No. dd _(Th!iracs> moved tho ndoption or the report. Seconded by Lro. McLaughlin. mi Jnt°'. «rf^l^c^_.4UPoved as nn amentl fv^ltf v lha- tho Graud Lod K8 ot New Zealand twff 1!^"! ? ntil thQ n«rt sessions of the R.W.G.L.to be held in May." bister Jemis seconded, . _i_fln^_^ 6li'«<^_o^_i.d' moved as a further S_S_SSSr: • Til at ihis Grand Lodge affirms _h£___22W? the first-threo propositions of dMi_TSrt,..a? aK th(? stimo thnc « aot ac-entrhT rf wr Ul? %ss*#* of the order to offi _^_?» V$ .I^.^- ncnv representing tho %& ?Z £> he VV'^' Lodl?0 of fcbe World, dole- eom2in.^»! !0? ni-;n-K full power to Sfe&t&J.T.'v decision, should circumstances .«__?»*-.{..-? } m W'Q't to t^ir unanimous ap nnvai, .he Grand Lndpro uiwwtiftia m-d ______» .!.« P^l.t.to\i. juv* ahe|d? d.QB<.l H ,4*? l

THE EVENING STAR. -WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 1877.



Readers Avho need a fashionable coat, Or fancy vest and trousers, please to note. -jET L, PO.SSEN IS. X lE, in thanking his patrons .and the general . public for past favours, begs to intimate that he has.;. ; , !&_'REMOVED REMOVED _3l to more central. premises. {Fikst Shop in■ Short'land-street*), '" ,_ ,- • • AND HAS- -' '-' ' ug rr. OPENED A NEW AND CHOICE SELECTION OP TWEEDS, FANCY COATINGS AND VESTINGS, &c. &C.. ; &c. .: JC OSGR AY E &;C O. Bear to announce' they will bring forAvard A Fresh Lot of B A R GAINS!!! Consisting of THEIR LATE SHIPMENT BY THE ORARI, Purchased at Home at Job Prices, together with the Avhole. of their SUMMER DRAPERY ... CLOTHING, DEDUCED IN PRICE TO SUIT THE TIMES I I Several Bales of CALICO, damaged by sea I water, wilt be Sold under Xqyq_<» Price, J



"VT O T I C E. _J__*H "**_____!S___>-" DRAPERY GOODS. _EW AND^HIfi&PII I • gg-j u%> ' The undersigned have P_i*chase'd at AucßojU: of XE _^j5t*_APER¥-iGooj_3/ just landed ex City of Auckland, the whole of which having been bought at much under the usual Warehouse Rates, they can afford to otter ta-their Gustomais at Vim'JLo^PjiiGiiS, _____... ' The Parcel comprises ":— 'GreY Calico, various qualities, from /Sid yard Strong White Calico at /i yard, or 3/10 doz. 72-in. Grey Sheeting, 1/ yard, good quality - 72-in. & SO-in. White Twill Sheeting -72-j.i., 80-in. &■ 90-in. Croydon Sheeting, 1/6 yard Huckaback Towels, good, /6 each, 5/9 doz. White and Unbleached Damask and Da_W_S__ Tabic Cloths, from 2/6 5/4,10/4 & 11/4 Alhambra Quilts, good qualities, o/ll Rougli Brown Holland, from /6_ya_.a Half-dressed ditto, superior quality, very cheap.. ■ at/10-.andl/ U,""..^." Black Lustre, and superior quality Black Brii ; liantine Lustres . " ', ''.■,',- ' New Prints, good patterns, at /IJ, /SA, and /o, very cheap Harvard Shirting, good quality,,. i yard •Fine Irish Linen, lot of Remnants, a bargain, from 1/4 yard - . .: Gents' Br. Cotton Half-hose d.. &.t . merino feet Grey and Fancy Striped Me: .3.0 i_alf-_ose, and other goods too nilirterOU,. to mention. ' All Purchasers of Drapery and Clothing should inspect our Stock, and prove that although NOT ! sbllixs ost, wc are giving VALUE .'OK MONEY. ' „ I 32.. One Shilling in the £ returned on all pur chases of 20s. and upwards. IrUSHBROOK "&"' BRID GMA N, UrrKn Queen-street, * Auckland. • Shun as you would prussic acid the detestable shams which their vendors proclaim Jisidentieal with, similar to, or as good as Udclpko Wolves Sch'kdam Aromatic ScnNAPrs. They are oil worse thai) worthless*. Very frequeqlly they are sold in bottle., which previously contained the genuine article, which is as agreeable and remedial as they are nauseous and hurtful.