SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER-^ivmoCT^Morniug, 5.2 SUN SET.—This Evening. 5.30 mTN T RISE —To-morrow Morning, fi.32 MOON'S AGE.-Xew Moon, Sept. Bth, 0.39 a.m

ARRIVALS.

Ton" s " Varquhav. from the A nrtn Hawca, s.s., from the South (in the Manukau)

DEPARTURES.

Pretty Jane, s.s., for Gisborno

IMPORTS.

Ppv s s Hero: IS casks and cases glassware and sewing machines fromJUelbourne, 2S!) cases fruit from Sydney.—R- Arthur. ; c"'=i Per Hero from Sydney and Melbourne: •'O,l case-, O (Woe's kerosene. 4000 countess slates 160 gunnies sugar. 1 had treacle, 46 bales. 10 easel bulk castor oil. 100 bags rice 10 cases loaf sugar 15 cases D.S.ST. mustard, 500 packages tea,-H. B. Morton.

EXPORTS.

Per Hawea from the South: a quantity of iron.-Henderson & MacLarlane, aSPor Elizabeth for Tonga: floi^l cases'flour, 53 packages.-Owen and Gratia*.

The schooner KriemhMa has cleared for Wan«aToa with a cargo of stores. The schoonnr Minnehaha lias cleared in bal last for the Thames, and the schooner Golden g^Soui?ElKSelea.ed outlay for Ton -a wlth a car-o of general merchandise, and the FoVowiriu'pasßenKerg ; Mr and Mrs Burke, M Therre™ D cutter Ringleader ended her Government career to-day. She was sold at auction by S. Oochvane and Son and was pur phased by Mr Thomas Niocol for hWJ. We hear that Mr T. E. Hamerton has success Hauraki for the New Plymouth Company. ---"S; a"tts ks]Sa arrived at Onchun K a atjlO o'clock this morning. Passenger listr-Miss riirkson Miss Courtney. Miss Parker, Mes dames Webster, Courtney, Fowler. Bottinelli, S T Reynolds. Davis. Willis, Levisohn, Hurst Vivian McLour-chlin, Wood, Fowler, SSS^'SSS SS?SSt this afternoon for ■GNborne. with a Rood cargo, and several nissen^ers. iimon? them Captain Schultze. The s s Ton a arrived from the North this morning, with passengers and cargo.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

\T4tt,s xrax, Close as UndkrI .— For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m. ; and on Fo f CorSndef pe^Argyle. on Monday next,

Foi' and Southern Provinces, per Hawea, on Monday next, at 8 a.m. For newspaper?, at 7 a.m.. For money orders and registered letters, Fo^Rusaellf Wangaroa. and Mongonui, per A£j^cZlo£X% VBM, on Tuesday Fore Wang|vei raHeacls. Waipu. Wanprarei. and Mansapai, per Argylo, on Tuesday next, at FoAustralian Colonies, per Rotorua, on Tues- Pel^-fat?of Sydney, on Wednesday, 29th AF^Sandwfch r: i3la P dg, United States of America Canada. British Columbia, Central and South_ America, and British and Foreign Wv£ Un&Ktagdom, and Continent of registered letters, and newspapers, at 10.30 a.m. Late letters, bearing an extra fes of 6d, in addition to the postage will be received by the mail a ? ent on hoard the steamer up tothegieot sailing

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

W. R., HAMILTON.—Your letter is libel lous.

BIRTH.

EDWARDS.—On the 23rd instant, at 3 p.m., the wife of Mr. John Edwards, of Chancery street, of a daughter.

MARRIAGE.

CHILD—BLACK.—On the 10th August. IST", by the Rev. John Gow, at the residence of Mr. J. YV. Marshall, Walker Avenue, Dunedin, Harry Child to Kate Black, both of Auckland.

DEATH.

CHAMBERS.—On the 21th August, 1877, at Wharehiue, Albcrtland, Kaipara, William Chambers, aged 72 years.

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

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1877.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs iesistanc«i For the future in the "distance. And the good that we can do.

Tin-: account preseuted.by Mr Beale, rof the .linn of Lusk'and Beale, solicitor to the : Education Board, is a fitting climax to that ; miserable expedient of a bankrupt Ireasury known as the education rate. Since Mr ] Beale, the partner of the' Chairman of the j Board, undertook the work of collecting ! arrears" fourteen hundred householders i have been worried by summonses and law ! processes, with the net result of £1.036, the i whole-of which, was appropriated by the ' lawyer for costs of recovery, leaving the Board ! still £441 ill debt. Comment on such a i fact only spoils the effect; it is much j better to leave it in its simple nakedness. j Previous experience in the collection of the rate by law process, we are aware, lias not been of a very profitable character, but there has never before been such anexhibi j tion of high art as that disclosed in the j foregoing figures. When the late solicitor, ! Mr Alexander, closed his account, there re mained, we believe, a balance of £100 to the . credit of ijkc Board on rate account from a much smaller number of cases. Only three conclusions can be drawn from such a state of things. Either the legal charges are excessive, the means taken to enforce payment insufficient, or a large number of summonses have been issued against persons whose circumstances rendered it impossible to recover. The charge of ten shillings a case is pos sibly not unreasonable, and we may suppose that all means have been tried to collect the rate when summonses wcz'etissued. The net result left, then, is that hundreds of summonses Mere issued with no better product than to pay the lawyer's fee. From 1400 cases, the return in rate and costs was only £1030. In every case pressed the Court has unhesitatingly given judgment with full costs. We are not wide of the mark, therefore, in estimating that in something like half the actions entered there was no hope of recovery Who is responsible for this ? If we are justified in believing that the costs have gone against the Board because people summoned were absolutely unable to pay, the rate lias ope rated as a tremendous engine of oppression. We should like to know who was charged with the selection of the names sum moned, whether any inquiry was made respecting the chances of recovery, or on what principle the selections were made. AYe have no hesitation in saying that public opinion will thoroughly endorse the neces sity for altering the consitution of the Board so that the people who supply the revenues may have some voice in their management. Several matters m connection with tho control of educational affairs m this province have shewn that the ej£ctive system of Mr Bowen's Bill Was not uncalled for.

The latest war cablegrams to hand place it beyond doubt that tne Turkish successes in Europe have bees greatly exaggerated. Sulioman Pasha is s. ill opposed by a for inidabl3 Russian force in Shipka Pass, and lias been repulsed with great loss in an at tempt to force his way through. The vigour of the Turkish defence, doubtless resulted iv effectually checking tJ:e Russian advance. But, so far as can be gathered from the despatches, the invading army hold a strostg line from the Danube to the Balkans, a«d upon arrival of reinforce ments wil probably again attempt the for ward movement, unless tho Turks mean while gain some decisive victory.

The division on Mr Header Wood's hind fund resolutions last night confirms our yesterday's remarks on the dieorsranisatton of the Opposition. It weuld, of course, be a mistake to accept the list as affording any accurate test of the state of parties, but it sufficiently indicates that the Govern

meat command a, good working majority) and unless some unforscen circumstance turns up, they are likely to weather the session. It will, we trust, be comforting to those electors by whose votes Messrs Rowe, Cox, and Sir Robert Douglas have found their way into Parliament, to learn tint ihe two former gentleman voted against making the land fund colonial revenue, while the other absented himself from ihe House.

A brief history of a dispute between Mrs Harding, the principal teacher, and the committee of the Mount Hohson local school was read yesterday at the Board of Education meeting. The committee had expressed their displeasure, and recom mended her dismissal from the school, be cause she had, in obedience to instructions, excluded boys from a certain part of the school. Having briefly discussed the little episode in the history of Mount Hobson, the Board considered that it would be better to allow the matter to stand over, hoping that the parties would settle down into a friendly calm, without the inter ference of the Board.

Two errors occurred in our report of the indecent assault case yesterday. In reply to the question about bringing in drink, the reply of the little girl was that she did not bring drink for the prisoner, and therefore could not have taken it upstairs. The date of her birth was also misprinted. She ■will be twelve years old next October.

gs^Great dl tress prevails amongst the Clyde ship builders, owing t<» tlia lock-out. Many familes are said to be reduced to starvation point. The Trades Union Council of Glas gow advised the men to return to work on the old wages ; but they indignantly re fused. There were 118 unfinished vessels on the stocks.

The contradictory character of the cable news is thus reforrodjto by the "Sydney Morning Herald," of the lfith August :— " Much of the war newa of the last few days has been more puzzling than enlighten ing to those who wish to follow the order of events, twid to realise the facts of the Euro pean situation. It is exceedingly difficult to gather from the daily scraps of informa tion which are sent from the scenes of action what the combatants are really doing, and whether the fortunes of Avar are, upon the whole, in favour of the Russians or the Turks. Much of the contradictoriness of war telegrams arises from the fact that the information they contain proceeds from two opposite sources, and that much of their in indefiuitciu'ss is due to the curiosity that wants decisive information faster than the armies of Turkey and Russia can supply it."

Mr Beale's account for law charges and expenses was presouted to the Board of Education yesterday a,s follows : —recovery ofthe education rates for part of 1874, 187"), IS7(> ; £79:5 hoinfi solicitors' charges, and £714 10s 2d costs and fees paid by him, total, £1477 Ifis 2d. By advance from Board. £350; rates and costs received by solicitor, £1036 12s lOd ; total £13SG 12s lOd. Balance due to solicitor by Board, £91 Ms 4d. Mr May said that it appeared from the statement just read that £1477 had been spent to recover £1036". The Secretary said that on each summons Mr Benle was allowed)^ a charge of 10s for his services. Thus the 1400 summonses that had been issued had involved an expenditure of £763, the £(>!? being for advice given by Mr Bcale in matters outside his contract. The remain ing £714 had been paid away in Court fees, witnesses' expenses, fee.

A footva.ee between the two well-known pedestrians, Mettam and Dickenson, comes oil" this afternoon at Ellerslie Gardens.

The "well-known Australian race-horse, Javelin, was bi ought over by the Hero this trip. He has been purchased by Mr A. McLean, of Napier, who will use him as a stud horse. Javelin, though reputed a wonderfully good horse, never did much after winning the A.J.C. Derby, about six months ago. He is at present located at Somerville's stables, but will be sent by the first steamer.

"Autolycus" in the Nelson "Times,7' moralising upon the reference in the Finan cial Statement to Resident .Magistrates as '•luxuries/ says": —-'''Drain me with a dictionary, and let me die upon the altar of my country,' said Binks when he read the paragraph, 'but do not try to palm a Resident Magistrate upon me ns a luxury. The last time T interviewed a gentleman holding the position mentioned 1 thought, after paying the fine, Resident Magistrates were necessary evils." Luxuries forsooth, Major Atkinson, but what about Minis terial residences, private steam yachts, and travelling expenses. Are Honorable Min isters prepared to relinquish these "luxuries?" because if so it will not be a very diilicult task to bring the public expenditure within the public income."

Particulars of Sunday services at the several Auckland churches will appear in our column of ecclesiastical announcements. A- considerable programme has been pre- I paired by the committee of the Temperance Variety Troupe for to-night's entertain ment in the Albert-street Temperance Hull. IMr Cox; will preside, and the usual vocal ists and. reciters will appear, as per adver tisement. Anniversary sermons will be held to morrow- (Sunday) in connection with the Pitt-street Wcsleyan .Sunday School. Ser mons in aid ofjjthe schools will be preached, morning by Her. Allen W. Webb ; evening byliev. J. Robertson. The afternoon ser vice will be conducted by Mr Larkins. We gather from the home journals the following, which confirms our statement that an archbishop, the Jirst in New Zealand, had been appointed to the Catholic Cnujrch in tins colony : At a consistory held in Home on the 25th iust. (July) Dr Clareyrc was appointed Archbishop of Auckland. The valuable property at the corner of Shortland and Queen-streets, a portion of St. John's College Trust, will be leased by auction by Messrs Samuel Coehrane and Sons on Monday at noon.

An entertainment in aid of the Onehunga Band of Hope came oil" last- night in the Choral Hall there. The charge for admis sion was very low, and a large number of children were present. Mr A. Dunwocxlie presided, and very briefly introduced the first part of the programme, viz., music by the Glee Club and recitations by some ef the Band of Hope. A very hearty vote of thanks was given by acclamation to the Glee Club, with their conductor, Mr Steven son, and harmonist, Miss E. Blakey. Views with a magic lantern formed the second portion of the bill of fare. An cntortainmeut was held last evening at the Whau Asylum, chiefly for the grati fication of the inmates. The principal prut of the amusement was a rustic drama, " Mar.v- ±k» w«M «£ Uio mill," written by the surgeon superintendent, Dr. Aicken. We regret that we have not space for a full description of the drama, the songs, recita tions, etc., which gave so much pleasure to the listeners.

The last report of Constable Dews, who lias been stationed at Woodside, is very favourable. The only event of lively interest in thAk locality of late, was Ids chase after the two absconding apprentices, Hart and Henry, from the Spirit of the Dawn. The crops look well, and the settlers generally keep their catt'e within bounds.

The new Provincial Hospital is now in perfect order, the beds and bedding: ar ranged in the several wards, -and on Monday next the invalids and in-patients of the old rural dwelling will be removed to their now and more elegant temporary home overloading the Domain.

Mr Moss, store-keeper at Tonga and ex secretary to King Georgs of Tonga, di ?d shortly before th<s departure of the schooner Energy, from the efTSetfs of an overdose of chlcrodyne. Mr Moss was formerly a resident in Auckland and Sydney.

We* h:rve received the S6llo\ving subscrip tion in Hid or Mrs Hume: — W.H.P., 2a ou ; A.J.S., 2s Sd,

A curiosity in the shop window of Mr Robert Brewin has attracted the gaze of hundreds of persons to-day. This curiosity is a breeding cage, in the form of a three storied house, all compact, representing the birthplace of Gcorgo Washington. It was manufactured after business hours by Mr Jeffrey, of the house of Messrs Sargood and Co., and what is more remarkable, the in genious maker is a descendent of one of the Pilgrim Fathers, whose graudsire fell at Bunker's Hill.

Mr Editor : Sir,—ln last nigl.t's STAE you stated that I had received the sum of forty six pounds of the forty-eight lost by my wife; the actual amount that I have received is forty-one pounds eleven shillings. By in serting the above yoiiAvill oblige, J. Smith. Our London correspondent of June 27th, pays the Melbourne "Argus," writes: —■ " The Rev. Charles Clark is preaching 'aisd lecturing iv the provinces, but he will shortly return to Australia, via America, in some of the large cities of which country he will lecture en route. Meanwhile, Mr R. S Smythe, who is a passenger by the Lusi tama, will prepare for the popular lec turer's reappearance in Australia and New Zealand. During his absence from the colonies, Mr Clark has written two new lecti res—-f>ne entitled " Westminster Abbey," another' " The Merrie Monarch," and a lecture on Thomas Carlyle is in preparation. The lecture on Carlyle is undertaken at the instance of "the most travelled manager," whoso literary friends in London have supplied him with some in tei-esting particulars of the present life of the sage of Chelsea in his retirement." Our readers will remember the lecture* on Dickens, Goldsmith, the Tower of London, and Christinas in the olden time, by Rev. Charles Clark, one of the most popular lecturer-; of the age, and will be gratified to learn that Mr Clark will commence his new lecturing tour with Auckland in the course of a few weeks.

CABLEGRAMS.

THE VERY LATEST WAR NEWS.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL LONDON

CORRESPONDENT.)

40,0 0 0 TUR X S

ATTACK THE Russians at Shipka Pass.

[Tlie following cablegram from our London correspondent was received at nineteen minutes past six last night, only 14 hours from London, tt came to band just too late for publication yesterday evening] :

LONDON

Thursday afternoon.

Under cover of niffht forty thousand Turks, commanded by Sulicman Pasha, attacked the Russian position in Shipka Pass. The fighting continued from dark till daylight. The Turkish troops, with indomitable courage, repeatedly ussailod the enemies lines, but wen; repulsed with great slaughter. It was a fearful engagement, the Turks from their exposure losing very heavily.

[Shipka Pass is the mountain road troin Tiniova to Kasanlik. It will be found marked on the Star map. It, is oncof the most practicable of the Balkan Passes, a road having been made through ill 18.%. Naturally the Pass is not dilllcult or sleep, and it was considered one which the Russians in their marsh southward might force most easily. Colonel Baker crossed the Ralkans by the Shipka Pass, and describes it as accessible from the north by several routes loading up the spurs, so that an army occupying one spur could easily be turned by an enemy passing up another. "Arrived at the watershed (about 4,000 ft. above the sea) the descent begins to the south, and continues down a. moderately utccp incline on pasture and ruck for about two mil us along a southern spur. !t then conies to brushwood, and commences a. Steep descent down a zigzag path for another two miles, until it arrives at Tckke, at the foot of the mountains, and on the verge of the plain, from the top ridge there are several paths, which make their way down other spurs to other parts of the plain. The nature of the soil is that of loose stones mixed with earthy gravel, and it could with ease be formed into a road passable for artillery."]

The Wallsend Coal Mine.

Several Houses Carried Away.

LONDON

August 2 4th

Further falls have occurred in the Wallsend coal mine, near Newcastle-

upon-Tyne. Several houses have fallen in

HEAVY FIGHTING AT SHIPKA PASS.

RUSSIANS CLAIM VICTORY.

PRESS AGHNOY

ATTACK ON SELVI

THE RUSSIAN HEAD QUARTERS.

BOMBAY, August 23, 10.53 p.m. Tlie Russian head-quarters have been transferred toßulgareni (between Nicopolis and Plevna). Fighting at tho Shipfca Pans was still Preceding at noon yesterday. A Russian oilicial dispatch says rejjaated attacks by the Turkish forces have been re pulsed with heavy loss. Osniiin Pasha, commanding the Turkish army at Plevna, reports having repulsed a Russian rec'onuaisauce near that place. August 24, 12.15 p.m. A Russian oilicial dispatch says that Suleunliu Pasha, with forty battalions, made a renewed arfd?ack ou the Shipka Paas on the 21st, bat waa repulsed. Fighting was proceeding after dark. The Turks, under liofteha, simulta neously advanced on Selvi. The result is unknown. The Russians are pueparing for a winter campaign. [Selvi is g, small Uixva about midway be- , tween* Ti'mov* and Lovata. It is 47 miles S.ft.E. of Nioopolis, and the population numbers 2,500.]

Departure of City of Sydney.

SYDNEY, this day. Commercial. —There is no material alteration .since last quotations. The City of Sydney sailed yesterday for Auckland. The Wakatipu. leaves tlus afternoon,

The Suez Mail.

By the Suez mail, per s.s. Hero, we have London papers to July 6th, eight days later than those received via San Francisco.

THE BOMBARDMENT OF RUSTCHUK.

Deplorable accounts have reached us of the havoc wrought by the Russian bom bardment of Rustchuk. Whether inten tionally or not', the Russian guns were levelled at hospitals and consulates as well as at fortresses, and the British flag did not purchase immunity from destruction for the building over which it waved. Mr Reade, the English Consul at Rustchuk, finding that this was the case, and willing to suppose that the emblem of British nationality might be unnoticed by the Russian artillerymen, caused a bigger flag to be hoisted. That, too, was fired at, and in such a manner as to leave no dou^i that the aim was deliberate.

The "Times" special correspondent sends the following:—"On Sunday, July 1, about 3 in the afternoon, some English men were sitting in the garden of the Hotel Hislah Have, drinking coffee ; the esplanade fronting the river was lined with the usual holiday loungers, men, women, and children, in Sunday finery, for the late rumours of peace had induced numbers to return to Rnstcnuk. A sullen boom and pull' of white smoke across the Danube, and the screaming of a shell, which seemed to pass immediately over the hotel, excited interest, but no great alarm. That shell fell in the Armenian (Hiavtor. After the iiest scare there was laughter among the riverside crowd and conversation iv the garden. Fifteen minutes later a puff along the opposite bank announced that the bombardment of Rustchuk had begun in earnest. Holy Russia had selected that peaceful Sunday afternoon for sending her iron messengers of deliverance to Bulgarians, Greeks, and

Turks with cynical impartiality ; the noise was deafening, especially when, as they did soon afterwards, the Turkish batteries replied. As the shells began to fall around, somebody cried out, ' Why, they are not firing on the forts, but at the town. It was true. A shell exploded iv the garden. It was time to go. A second, still nearer, accelerated tlte strategic movement; but where was the place of safety. In the streets crash after crash, blinding smoke, and the noise of falling building material, gave rise to very confused notions upon that subject. Hour after hour the pitiless storm fell upon us. The scene near the principal hospital was at once grand and painful. It was well known at Guirgevo that the principal building with two red crescents on a white ground was a hospital. On that building the chief lire was directed from the first. V\ hen I saw ltustchuk yes terday it was razed to the ground. The sick were brought- out and laid upon mattresses on the ground. The Turkish women exhibitied remarkable sangfroid, as if tired of their uneventful lives. They were to be seen quietly shuttling across the open square under a storm of shells, while women of other and men of all races ran like rabbit* into any hole which seemed to oiler shelter. So the work went on till sunset. It was found that the British ('onsulafe had suffered great damage, as also bad several houses in the same street, which is near no fwt nor battery/

THE SACKINCJ OF SISTOVA. The special correspondent of rlio " Daily News" writes on July "2 from Sistova :— ff all the houses sacked in thi,-: town be longed to the Turks, 1 can only say that the Mahometans vastly outnumbered the Christians. More than that, they occupied all the best houses. In fact, the whole town lia.- been plundered and wrecked, except the foreign colony of the Danube. The Russians Kay that the -Bulgarian* did it. The Hungarians accuse the Turkish gaßrison. L cannot venture to decide be tween them at present, but it is significant that the native population as -well as the Turkish has di.sappeifred. During several hours' wandering amongst the deserted houses I only saw half-a-dozen people at mo>t. Tbo foreign colony remains. It is more than strange t hat, whilst in Rouiuai.ua only the barest necessaries of life are to be procured at any price, in oppressed and plundered Bulgaria luxuries may be bought at a reasonable rate. There is better wine here than in lioumauia. Meat is to be obtained. Several bakeries are in constant work, and iv the dwellings, sacked and ruined as they arc, one sees evidence of greater comfort than in Roumanian houses of a like class. No stick of furniture is left. Whoever began the loot the Bul garians certainly finished it, and broke. what they could not carry away. The\ gardens still look neat ami pretty, though they are strewn with rags, fragments of furniture, potsherds, letters, and books. Inside the building*, if they are of any size, one steps knee deep in rags, wool, paper, and nameless rubbish that lias once served to stud' mattresses and pillows.

Not for the first time do I see a looted town, lmt the Might is always painful. In street after street all is empty and .silent; with broken doors hanging ajar, clothes and papers and emptied boxes lying about. In house after house, no pane of gla.s»s remains. Evcm the very baby.-: cradle has been smashed out of pare devilry. The little treasures of each family have been dragged to light only to be destroyed and trampled upon. In the gardens, the fruit trees have been stripped, and the wells have been defiled. Spliiders of timber arc lying across the roads—such as remain. In Sistova, many houses bad line woodwork, especially in the ceilings and balconies, which looked upon the gardens. The wealthier inhabi tants evidently took alarm before the catas trophe arrived, but 1 found several money boxes—to be recognised by stamps—which had been smashed. The floor of every house was a chaos of lanterns, sacred books, carved wood, broken desks, and miscella neous furniture. I have not heard any tale of outrage ; but if the Bulgarians worked this destruction that I see, I should pity any Moslem who fell into their hands, especially if it was a woman or a helpless person. Shuuila, July 3. —During the Russian attack upon the town of Sistova the Bul garians fired on the flying Turks, violated the women, and broke into the houses, from the windows of which they threw the young children into the streets. This in formation has been received from an eye witness, and is causing an intense feeling among the Turks.

Shumla, July 5.—1 have received confir mation of tile; stories of atrocities by the Bulgarians both on the Turks and the Jews at Sistova. Several of the latter were mur dered. In a Bulgarian house at Rustchuk m, telegraph instrument maker \v;i« <lia covp.red, cownoofetl wltli wire in such, a manner that intelligence was transmitted to the Russians. In consequence of this the Bulgarians in all the towns on the Danube have been ordered to move into the interior. The second in authority under the Kaimakam of Sistova was murdered by the Bulgarians.

STRENGTH OF THE RUSSIAN ARMY. [ The war correspondent of the Melbourne "Argus" writes: Under one chief, under one general staff, the Russian host now in I'tottniania consists of niue army corps, each corps nominally 3fi,000 men strong. It is not easy to realise the idea, of an army of 320,000 men strong. Standing in rank,'and allowing two men to the yard, -which -would fb« a very tight fit, especially with 'Russian soldiers, an army of this strength would i extend in an unbroken line for about 'JO ; miles. Marching in the usual iranner by geotioni! of fours, suck an army would oc cupy orer 4S hoHi-.s in defiling past a given point, exclusive altogether of its Wain. Men will tell you ti:a£~tl*o Russian army ia a sham, that it is far below its nominal strength, that its equipment ks defective, a<*d that its intendance system is already a failure in Ronmania. Such averments are not to be believed. lam a iu.au wholly wi'houtprcjudictlonthia Eastern question —I had almost said a mail without opinions. I Of its politics, I know nothing and care.

about them as little; but as a soldier myself, and as a man who for years has been studying soldiers, armies, and military organisation, T claim to have^crae right to speak on these subjects, I never saw an army better equipped. I will go further, and say I never saw one so well equipped. The British soldier tramps the arid sand of Aldershot in the self-same thick, stiff, confined brick-dust-coloured tunic in which lie does sentry, and goes in the depths of the bitterest midwinter's night with unprotected head, congested throat, and confined waist. It is little Avouder that when he is knocked about in the mid summer sunshine he had occasionally a sun stroke. July, August, and Suptember, IS7O, were as warm injjFrance as the present summer is in Roumania, but the Prussian soldiers marched their 80 miles a day for three successive days to light Sedan in their thick blue tunics and as thick blue trousers. Suppose we look over the hedge of the garden hi which I am now writing into the ro id along which, through clouds of dust, a brigade of Russian infantry are tramping down to the Danube, singing lustily as they march. Except as regards the facings and the sun-burnt faces there is not a spot of colour about the whole brigade ; from cap to boots the men are clad in white canvas. Over the kepi is a white curtain or puggaree protecting the neck behind, and on either side the light cloth tunic has given place to a loose canvas blouse, which leaves the throat bare. Stocks are an unknown instiiution in a Russian army in the field. The loose canvas trousers are tucked in high boots which come well lip, nearly to the knee.

REPORT TO THE ADMIRALTY ON A •SEA SERPENT. This monster will always have an interest for the curious. Commauder Hugo L. Pearson, of the Osbornc, Royal yacht, which arrived at Portsmouth from the Medi terranean on June ]2, has forwarded to the Admiralty, through Admiral Sir George Elliot, the commander-iu-chief, a report re specting a sea monster the yacht encoun tered during her homeward voyage. Tlie report states that on June 2, while the yacht was proceeding round the north coast of Sicily, towards Cape Vito, rhe officer an watch observed a long ridge of fins, each about (ift long, moving .slowly along, the sea. being very calm at the time. He called for' a telescope, and was at once joined by other officers. The Osborne was steaming west-ward at a speed of about ton and a half knots an hour, and the fins were progressing in an eastwardly direction. As the yacht met the fins those on board noticed the foremost part of a gigantic sea monster. Its skin was appa rently devoid of scales, and was almost as sleek as that of a seal. The head was bullet shaped, with an elongated termination, be ing somewhat like that of a seal, and. about (J feet in diameter. Its features were only seen by one officer, who described them as like those of an alligator. The neck appeared to be narrow, and the body was somewhat like that of a turtle, a fin about If) feet long extending from either side. The appearance <>f the monster is accounted for by a submarine volcano -which occurred north of Galita, in tii>! Gulf of Sunice, about the middle of May. The spot in question is about 100 miles distant from where the monster is reported to have been seen. The " Graphic" contains a picture of the serpent from the observations of an eye-witness.

INSULT TO COLONEL WELLES LEY. Military circles have been much agitated by the treatment which Colonel Wellesley lias received at the hands of the Com mander-in-chief of the Russian armies, the Grand Duke Nicholas. The event was certainly very irritating, for our attach' was the victim of an intentional insult. I do not believe that the real cause has been mentioned in any of the newspapers. It was this :—Some weeks ago Colonel Wel lesley sent lieme a military report which was not particnlrrly flattering towards the Russian head-quarters' staff". The Grand Duke heard of it through one of the American war correspondents, and when Colonel Wellesley presented himself at Bucharest, the Grand Duke bluntly told him that he did not want to see him, that he was not welcome, and that *o long as he remained with the army he would be under police surveillance. Colonel Wellesley said he considered this an insult to hi* uniform. " Nothing of the

sort," said the Grand Drake, ''the uniform is not unwelcome, it is the wearer." The "British Mail" immediately telegraphed home,- a Cabinet Council was called, and after negotiations with the Russian Ambas sador here the matter was smoothed over, and Colonel Wellesley was invited to transfer himself from the stair'of the Grand Duke to that of the Czar. The matter was referred to in the House of Lords, when the Government stated that the amende honorable had been made in a note from Prince Gortschakoff.

SINGULAR BREACH OF PROMISE CASE. A singular breach of promise ease has just terminated in the Dublin Common Pleas Court in a verdict for £200. The plaintiff, ;i small butcher named Knowles, sued a lady named Verschoyle, widow of a captain in the army, and mother of a family, who is possessed of £GOO .1 year, and a handsome residence near Dublin, named Roebuck Hall. Mrs Verschoyle jilted the butcher, whom she first met in a Liverpool steamer as he returned from a cattle market there. She had since married a person n lined Mulligan, described during the hear ing of the case as a. cashier in tlii? Dublin Post OHiee and a dealer in periodicals. Knowles, the plaintiff, got into a cab with Mrs Verschoyle on first landing in Dublin, and on the same day visited her at Roebuck Hall. The marriage was subsequently arranged, and would have taken place, but for the interference of the lady's friends. They did not, however, prevent her from marrying Mr Mulligan. The trial was a humorous one. Knowles had been married twice before he met Mrs Versclioylc. There was applause in court when the verdict for £200 was returned, Mr and Mrs Mulligan botli being present.

RITUALISTIC INDECENCY. " The Priest in Absolution," a book to which attention was recently called in Par liament, has caused a great stir in the land. It has disclosed that some 700 members of the English clergy are banding together for the purpose of promoting systematic con fession. This work is a text book for priests, instructing them how a confession shall be conducted; and it abounds witn sug gestions and proposals as filthy and uis gusting as anything that has ever come out of Holywell-street. The book has been I dismiseart iiiXWU.uitcut ana in Convocation; j and the Society of the Holy Cross, to whom : it belongs, have found public opiniox in re i gaxd to it to be so strong that they have i suppressed it. In one respect, the work lias ' done good ; it has put the moderate High churchmen on their guard against the Ritualists. Tliey were showing sonic sym -1 pathy towards the latter, but the improved feeling is now destroyed, and the Ritualists will become more than ever a law unto themselves. Their movement to obtain a. disestablishment of the Church of England »!ioavs the rapid condition of what they are pleased to call their mind, and it proves also how the toils of the law. as enacted in tin Public Worship liegulation'Bill, are closing ifttitmd them. The law Courts are deciding against them upon what they re gard as the most vital points; and if the Bishop will only show a reasonable amount of lirmness and activity, the Protestantism of the Church of England will once more assert itself. The Bishops have certainly a success over ■• tha Priest in Absolution,'" and they may be encouraged to respond to the wishes of the laity more freely than (bey have yet done.

THE FAMINE IN INDIA. .The rainfall in the Bombay famine districts during the week ending oa the 12th July was very scanty, and the crops in tlia eastern talookas' are suffering m ! cou^equeuco. The number of. people employed, oa relief ■works Is 273 ; -i£3j a

decrease of 25,000 as compared with thr number m the preceding week. Cholera is less prevalent The latest official report concludes as follows :—" | v all the district except those in the extreme east, the voum crops are doing well, and sowing arti agricultural work is in progress " RUSSIAN OPERATIONS IN" pf\t TRAL ASIA. N"

Pine ruler of Kashghar was addressed W the Ameer some time ago, with the view of his joining him in the great jehad • he has lately replied to the effect that he dare not accept bis invitation for fear of invasion by the Russians, and annihilation of the spies of his kingdom. He stated that he is already harassed by the Chinese troops, who have seized and sliced off a piece of his state on the north ; for the rest they are striving hard. Under these circumstances, he begged to be excused About eighteen months ago a Russian trader murdered an Afghan mercharitto whom he owed some money. The relatives of the deceased preferred complaints to the Shah of Bokhara and to the Tashkeiwl authorities, but without effect. \n embassy of four Russian emissaries lately came to Bokhara, and as the Russian trader alluded to above was with them the heirs of the deceased merchant again petitioned the Shah for redress ; buAhe chief told them that he was powerless to redress them against the Russians. The men have now preferred their complaints to the Ameer of Cabul, through the Naib Nazim of Turkistan.

A BIG SWINDLE. William Swindlehurst, late manager vi the Artisans', Labourers', and General Dwellings' Company, and Edward Sattery and Tare, agents, are under remand at Bow-street, for defrauding the shareholders by appropriating £30,000 in the way of difference between sums paid by the Com pany for the purchase of certain estates and the sums actually paid to the vendors. The Company is one in which Lord Shaftes bury is interested, and owns the Shaftes bury Park Estate, at Claphani Juction, and other properties for the residences of work ins men. REMARKABLE MURDER CASE. The trial of Henri de Tourville, for the murder of his wife, in June, 1876', in the Tyrol, was concluded at Bautzen, on the 2nd instant, and he was found guilty by eleven to one of the jury. He was sentenced to be hanged, but the sentence Avill probably tie commuted to imprisonment for life. The trial lasted sixteen days. From the evi dence, which Was direct and hearsay, it ap peared that he is suspected of having shot the mother of his first wife, who was killed by the discharge of a revolver and whose death was decided at a coroner's inquest to have been accidental • also to have poisoned his first wife, sub sequently to having set lire to hi.s own resi deuce with the object of killing his infant son, and thereby getting sole control of about £60,000, in which he had only a life interest whilst the son lived. By the nnir der of the second wife he obtained about £40,000 as residuary legatee. De Tourville had been resident several years in England, was twice married here, and was admitted as a barrister of the Inner Temple, though he never practised. The defence has cost about £20,000. His counsel have given notice of appeal.

A NICE PARSON. The Rev. Richard Marsh Watson, a clergyman of the Church of England, has been sentenced to twelve years' penal servi tune for sending a threatening letter to his sister-in-law, whom he had .seduced, and who had borne a child by him. He had kept up a system of terrorism over her for years, and on her securing some little property he made an application for £200, with a threat of exposure. During the trial it was found that for years he had been seducing young girls under prouisc of mar riage. Mr raid Mrs Morris, holding a good fortune at Iver, whose committal for trial at the Aylesbury assizes for gross cruelty to a female servant created much sensation, have absconded, and warrants have been issued for their apprehension.

Australian Telegram.

[PER S.S. HERO.]

FATAL FIGHT.

SMALL-POX AT MELBOURNE,

We cull the following from the Austra lian exchanges : — A party has left Melbourne for Flinders' Island to endeavour to float the hull of the Avrecked ship City of Foochow. 901,000 acres of land were applied for in Victoria during the last seven months shewing a large average increase.—A boy eleven years old was butted to death by a goat. Defalcations of upwards of £200 have been discovered in the accounts of the secretary of the South Melbourne Permanent Bur ning Society. The Macduff. with forty-six passengers, arrived with snnll-pox, and hag been quarantined. There are still live cases. Three are getting better ; two others are of a serious nature, one of the latter is the. chief officer. The vessel had no surgeon on board. William Scully, a young man, was so severely injured during a fight that he died in the hospital. He never recovered consciousness. A "warrant lias been issued for the apxjrehension of the other young man, Corrio, who was his opponent; and two young men have been arrested for being concerned in the affair. The racer, Barb, was offered and passed in for £1000 guineas ; Canterbury and Ralph Leigh were passed in at 300 guineas. OUTRAGE BY CHINESE IN QUEENS LAND. Warden Coward reports that the camp near Maytown has been stuck-up and robbed by Chinese. £200 was taken out of the safe, which was smashed to atoms. The orderly in charge was nearly killed. The Chinese car.ie prepared with ropes and tools. The orderly's head was lashed to a post, his feet were' also lashed. His hands were tied behind his back. A rope was put rouuel his neck, and his head was put in a bag. Coward traced and arrested two of the Chinese.

AUCKLAND RACING CLUB.

The fcl'ow'ng has been decided on as the pro gramme fcr the next summer meeting:— , First day :—Railway Plate, 50 soys.; Auckland Cup, auO soys.; Handicap Hua-dle Eace, 50sovs. Maiden Plate. 80 soys. ; Hurry Scurry, 10 soys. 2nd Day .-—Derby, 100 soys.; Selling Eace,. w soys.; Publican's Purse, 60 soys.; RaciDg t'J" Handicap, 200 soys.: Grand Stand Handicap. 100 soys,; and Hack Huvdio Race, 10 soys. , 3rd rtay: Mare's Produce Stakes, 100 soys.. Handicap Steeplechase, 150 says.; AucKianu Plate, 100 soys.; Steward's Handicap, 100 soys.. Consolation, 40 soys. nh , h The Committee have increased Racing ti«" Handicaps and oteepleehase each 50 soys.,a>> v substituted Mare's Produce Stakes, 100 soys.. for Selling Race of 50 soys.

POLICE COURT.— This Day.

(Before R. C. Barstow, Esq., B-M.)

DOZTXG ON* THE WHARF. ! Tom., a Kanaka, was ckarged with benij, drunk and asleep on the wharf. 5s an costs. Mil PARKER, TAILOR. . , George James Parker agaiu appeared to answer for ill-treating his wife, Eliza Ja" 1- Parker, on the 22nd instant. , Prisoner pleaded guilty, but was nou penitent. _ ~ Mrs Parker, a respectably-dressed, cr eate young woman, said she was desirons withdrawing the charge against her w^ band, if the Court would permit—h°P lB" this would be a warning to him in future- Sub-Inspector Partly said that he unwilling to oppose Mrs Parker's request His Worship told prisoner that his con duct had been very bad towards his wii • He might now be discharged, but it « appeared again on a similar chargei ■ wife's appeal for his liberation would «v avail in shielding him from -ptmishmeii t Mr Parker bowed, and departed w"1" wife. This was all the business,

THE EVENTING STAR, SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1877.



iyr A NCH E S_T_E X GOODS. W. RATTRAY B-"s to notifrthathe has JUST OPENED an assortment of the following Goods, viz.: Horrocks' and other makes fof Calicoes and 10 b(°W Sfl OtM and 100 inch Finlay'S Plain and 6/1, tl^t' S9/rSd S 10/1 White Linen Table 6/4, Hambro and Unbleached d0..d0. rKmask Table Cloths, Napkins and Tray Uothb, Tough an& Dressed Hollands, Diapers, Lin^n anfetonßed Tick. Huckaback Towel-. H^, Tea and Glass Cloths, Christy's Turkish Counterpanes, Quilt?, Toilet Covers, and Anti macassars. The above have bees Marked at the Lowest Remunerative Frigid. "VT E W rjK ALAN D TT OUS E, jM ii -LJ- ~JMPORTANT NOTICE Having introduced STEAM PQ WER into tie Manufacture of FURNITURE, we are now .enahlecl'to Supply our Cus tomers ' at GREATLY REDUCE D FRIGES. T. & H. CO ORE, Cabinetmakers, Upholsterers, d)C, tic. SHOW ROOM S 67, Queen-street. STEAM CABINET FACTORY Victoria-street. P E C I A L NOTICE. 1O COUNTRY SETTLERS AND OTHERS KEQUIRIXG STRONG CLOTHING MATERIAL. The undersigned have Just Received a Fresh Supply of NEW PRINTED MOLESKINS, Light and Dark Patterns. CORDUKOY, Various Qualities, and WHITE MOLESKIN. Also. WHIT?: and GREY CALICOES, of. all the Best Makes, and First-class Value. Grey Calico from 3d per yard Good White Calico from i^d per yard A nice lot of New Shirtings, fast colour and new patterns Heavy Brown Holland, a very cheap lot at Js!c««SJ6id per yard "A'Job Lot of Huckaback Towels, at 6d each, os 9d per doz. Alhambra Quilts, at 3s lid each Kidderminster Carpets, a nice assortment of patterns and good quality, at 3s lid; Felt Carpets; Mattings of various makes; 4x 4 Floor Cloths: Axminster Mats : and every description of FL RNISHING DRAPERY, at Very Reasonable Prices. Extra Good Value in BLANKETS, all sizes, white and coloured In order to Clear, WINTER DRESS GOODS, REMNANTS, &c., are now offered at Consider ably Reduced Prices. Special t6 Dressmakers, &c. — A very Choice Lot of Silk and Fancy Buttons just to hand, all new designs, and very carefully selected for the incoming season's trade. The CLOTHING DEPARTMENT is well stocked with every requisite for Boys and Men, being constantly replenished from the best sources of: supply. Inspection Invited. a. in the £ allowed on all Cash Purchases of 20s. and upwards. rushbrook & brtdgman, Junction Drapery Warehouse, Upper Queen-street, attcklakd. Linoleum • Linoleum! Linoleum! A r\ ROLLS JUST OPENED, Ex • Spirit of the Dawn.' GREATEST VARIETY IN AUCKLAND. Best Covering FOR Halls, Office?, and Dining Rooms. 1*" DIFFERENT PATTERNS TO SELECT FROM AT THR CITY HALL FURNITURE ARCADE. CARPETS: Tapestry, from 2s. lid.: Brussels, from is. 3d. DKAWINGROOM SUITES on View. DSS!eOOM M} FURNITURE of all Kinds. CHEAPEST FURNISHING HOUSE. H.OLLOWAV AND (jtAKLICK, QUEEN-STREET, AUCKLAND.



mo AGRICULTURISTS & O'rHEKS. W. .T. HURST ec CO. have on sale,,the under- | mentioned Fertilizers, all of whic d have been ! proved to produce satisfactory j esults in this district.. Experience teaches ',;hat large and , profitable returns can bo relied < jn by ft judicious j and liberal use of them. The fluttering Testi- j monials from leading Farm dXi justify W. J. Hurst & Co. in strongly cot jmiendiug them to . every Agriculturist:— MALDENT ISLANP, trUAXO PERUVIAN 1 GLT.\KO MKXTCAN d o BEuL'S BONKP^QUR Jandf^ncli BOXEDUST. BILLYARD'S, No. i do. NITRATE O,F SODA SULPHATE OF AMMONIA MURIATF/ OF POTASH SUPKR-P/iiOSRHATE OF LIME. SALT. SyC L.PHATJC OF LIME. In addition, *c the above, W. J. H. & Co. are prepared to Supply special Chemical Manures for stimulating \j-eak Corn Crops, and renovat ing Clover-sick Pastures, as well as the Potato ■ and Ma .ngcld mixture that last season attracted so mu'jh favourable notice. SgAnrxlysis, prices, and other particulars will be supplied on application at the Stores. W. J. HURST & CO. 101. QUEEN- SJTJRSE E.T. la order to induce an enlarged consumption of Maiden Island Guano (equal, if not superior to Bonedust). we are prepared to accept deferred payments from responsible parties at extremely low rates. W. J. HURST & CO., 101, QU E X N-ST REE T. W. J. HURST & CO have for Sale, at the lowest market rates : Clover Seeds, Red, White and Cow Rye-grass, Cocksfoot, Rats-tail, Garden Seeds in great varie'y and best quality. 500 sacks Sydney Maize (superior sample) 3000 ~ Oats First-class Tartars for Seed, also 800 sacks of 1575 crop hard feed, surpassing any of last season's growth 1200 sacks Canterbury Potatoes, and some early varieties for seed purposes Flour. B'-an. Sharps, Chair, Oilcake, Coal, &c. &c. Particular attention is called to .500 sacks Prime Barlej at is per bushel of 50Hj. -5 tons Anderson's Fresh watmeal, at £21 per ton. Prices and other particulars on application. W. J. HURST & CO. 101, QURBN-STREE T, Auckland. CUSTOMS. The following is the week's summary of Customs duties received:—Duties. £1225 15s lid: light dues, £33 Ss 3d ; merchant shipping fees, £3 Ss 9d • arms. £."> Is; miscellaneous, £30 is 2d. Total, £4301 Is Id. There is no conrnarisonfin point of flavour and remedial properties between that incomparable medicinal beverage, Udolpiio Wolfe's SCHIE dam Aromatic Schnapps, and the imitations of it put up in empty bottles of the real article. The true Schnapps is positively delicious, and an unfailing remedy for the diseases to which it ■ is adapted/ The counterfeits have a detestable ' flavour, and are deleterious in the last degree.