SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

PTTr-TT wjTfn I This Afternoon,3.s HIGH W AIER-- j To . mOITOW Morning, 2.32 SUN SET.—This Evening. 5.3 SUN RISE.—To-morrow Morning, 6.52 MOON'S AGE.—New Moon, 13h, 5.8. p.m.

ARRIVALS.

Elizabeth, schooner, Goodman, from Lyttelton Rotorua. s.s., Macfarlane, from Napier and the South

DEPARTURES.

■ tella, Government yacht, for Wellington Ron-eva, s.s.. Sellars, for Tauranga Rotorua, s.s., Macfarlane, for Sydney

IMPORTS.

vcr Elizabeth, schooner, from Lyttelton ;—750 (251b) bags oatmeal, 20 tons flour, 150 sacks eats, 35 sacks malt, 23 sacks sharps, 20 sacks grass seed.—Niccol and Ilendi-y, agents. Per BolJa Mary ; 227 pieces stone, 2 cases leather. 9.! bags onions, 600 bags bark, 4000 rails. 22.000 palings, i.SOOft. timber, 13 sacks, 2 ba;;;s seeds, 1182 cases jam, 1189 pkges fruit.— Stone Bros, agents.

ARRIVAL OF THE BELLA MARY.

The Bella Mary left Hobart Town on the morning of the 13th ult, and experienced fine weather during the iirst ten days, then a series of heavy gales from the E. and N.E. Made the Three Kings on the 29th. Had very dirty weather, with incessant rain, on Wednesday last. Made the Poor Knights last nighi about 5 o'clock, and experienced squally and dirty weather until arrival. Arrived in harbour at 11 o'clock this morning. Cargo, usual Tasma nia!! produce. Passengers : Mr and Mrs O'Brien and family (3), Mr and Mrs Watt. Ccptain Fisher, who now commands the Bella Mary, was formerly in Auckland in command oi: the biigantine Harp, of Hobart Town, but he has not since visitad the port for 17 years.

DEPARTURE OF THE ROTORUA.

fhe s.s. Rotorua left for Sydney tnis afternoon at;-! o'clock. She took a considerable quantity of cargo, and the following passengers .—Chun Soy, Earn, Ah Keen, Tung Sung, A. Kew, F. Crosby. Wee Tung, {[John Sang, See Pen, Miss Welby, Manley, A.fTrovers, T. Cain, Itxxbin, Smith, Owen, Kilmartin, Bnrrington, Mr and Mrs Graves, A Drayton, P. Taylor, G. lirown, Mrs Wilson. W. Staunton, Miss Hunter, Proisiey, Bloomiield, Billes, W. B. Inigley, Wood, Parker, Mr and Mrs Humphries, H. Hill, P. Smith, H. Hard wick, Mrs Carlyon, Miss Carlyon.

The s.s. Rotorua arrived from the South via Napier at half-past nine yesterday evening. She left the last-named port at half-past eleven on Sunday morning, and has made a fast run of 33 hours. Passengers: Saloon, for Auckland— Misses Morris, Hewitt, Mesdames Laurie, Spencer, Dobson, Wilson. Messrs. Low, Allom, Black, Dobson, McLean, and Wilson; steerage, 14. For Sydney—Mesdames Roworth,Loveday, Miss Mitchell, Messrs. Roworth, Hewliiigs and son, Mellwrath, Wigram, Anderson, Loveday, Zeugh, Baker, Chunson. For San Francisco— Misses Duncan (2), Alexander, Waterhouse, Buckley, Danville, Chambers, Mason, Cotton, Burnett and 7 children, Foster and 1 children, Messrs. Downes (mail agent), Begg, Worms, Alexander, Waterhouse, Anderson, Mason, Tod, Graham, Cotton, Burnett, Foster, Brochie, Howcroft, and 23 steerage. The cutter Phantom has cleared for Noumea, whither she sails to-day under charge of Cap tain Sloane. The schooner Elizabeth, Captain Goodman, arrived last night from Lyttelton, with a full cargo of produce. She left port 2nd May, at •1 a.m., with a steady breeze from the south ward. Had southerly winds up the coast. Rounded the East Cape at 2 a.m. on the sth, and sighted Mayor Island at dusk on the 6th, the weather being very dirty and blowing hard from the S,E. Hove-to till daylight, when we ran in between the Curver Island and the Great Barrier. Arrived in port at!) p.m. on the 7th, making a rapid passage of s'r days. The barque Bella Mary arrived this morning from Hobart Town, after a lengthy passage of 26 days. Captain Fisher is in command.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

Napier, this day. Albatross arrived on Sunday. Will probably leave to-morrow.

AUCKLAND STOCK AND MINING REPORT.

Colonial Bank—Buyers, 10s. Thames Gas—Sellers, 335. South British Insurance—Buyers, 80s. National Insurance—Buyers, 30s. Loan and Mercantile (new)—sss. Union Sash and Door Co. (new)—£l 10s; buyers, g4 7s 6d. Caledonian (dble)—6os; sellers, 655. Moanatairi—£lo 15s to £11; buyers, £10 15s ; sellers, £11. Cure—7s; sellers. 7s. Alburnia--Bayers, 51s ; sellers, 555, exdiv. Queen of May—Sellers, 20s. Union Beach—2Bs to 29s ; sellers, 30s. Tokatea—Buyers, 6s 6d ; sellers, 756 d. Waitahi —275. Queen of Beauty—Ssellers, 275. Kuranui Hill—Sellers, 28s. JOSEPH NEWMAN. Chairman.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE. AUCKLAND.

JVlatls wilt. Close as Under :— For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m.; and to morrow, at 10 a.m. and 5.30 p.m. For Covomandel, per Argyle, on Friday next, at 2 30 p.m. Tor Wangarei Heads, Waipu, Wangarei, and Mangap'ai, per Argyle, this day at 4 p.m. Per s.s. City of Sydney, to-morrow, Wednesday, as follows: — For Sandwich Islands, United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and foreign West, Indies, at 1 p.m. For United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, at 1 p.m. For inonev orders, registered letters, ana newspapers, at 11.30 a.m. . Late letters, bearing an extra fee of bd in addition to the postage, will be received by the Mail Agent on board the steamer up to time of sailing. For Taranaki and Southern Provinces, per Taupo, on Friday next, at 1 p.m. For money orders, registered letters, and newspapers, at noon. S. B. KTSS. Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

BERRY.—At Pitt-street, on the sth instant, Mrs. W. Berry of a son.

MARRIAGE.

WILSON—HOLDER.—On the sth May, at St. John's Church, Napier, by the Incumbent, the Rev. J. Townsend, Samuel Mason, eldest, son of Mr. Hugh Wilson, of St. George's Bay, Auckland, to Elizabeth Esther Holder, eldest daughter of Mr. Henry Holder, late of Has tings. England.

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

TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1877.

For tlis cause that lacks assistance, lr«r the wrong that needs lesistance, For the future in the distance,

And the good that we dan do.

THE accounts presented to ;i special meeting of the Council tins afternoon shew a marked improvement in the revenues of the city. The ordinary receipts for the first three months of the year amounted to £5,540, licenses presenting the most conspicuous increase, yielding £4-79 ; rates, £2,(j29 ; en dowment^ £1143. The expenditure «m office charges was £717 ; on streets aud footways, £1,248 (an additional sum of £■2,439 from loan was applied to the same object) ; silt basins, £156; and fire brigade, £112. A balance of £2,366 remained in the J bank on ordinary account, and £7,200 on account of the loan for city improve ments. The total city indebtedness, including waterworks loan, is estimated at £109,504, and the assets £243,479. The accounts shew energy on the part of the city officers in getting in arrears and taking the utmost advantage of every source of revenue. The largely increased funds at the disposal of the city warrant a reduction of the rating, which will be effected by fixing the general rate for the ensuing year at nine pence instead of a shilling. The whole as sessment for city purposes and water supply will then stand at two shillings.

The Rise in the Price of Bread.

In order to get all the information that could be gathered from all sources on this subject, and give everyone fair play, a reporter has interviewed two or three of the trade, to learn what their views are. They all agreed ill asserting that the advance in price was not warranted by the state of the grain and Hour market, either in Australia or the .South, but threw the whole blame on the mills. They said that the recent rise in Hour was arbitrary and excessive, and that they were helpless in the matter. They considered that consumers were justified in protesting against the high price of bread, but asserted that the wrong horse had been saddled with the blame ; that the bakers could not have done otherwise, and even if they attempted to import, prices would be so manipulated as to put them in for a heavy loss. On reference to our latest Southern files, we find an extraordinary difference in the price of flour there, and tltflt which has been established m Auck land The difference is £1 or £2 greater than'waP shewn by the telegrams already puWisSitd. The "Otago Daily Times" last Monday week, quotes flour at £13 per ton ; the Canterbury Press lof Saturday week quotes best guaranteed brands of flour at £14; second qualities from £8 upwards. Our telegrams on Saturday indicated £1 risq on those prices without any B^anoo on brea.d, Oft the Utk Of &pj

flour was selling in Hobart Town at £13 and £14 per ton ; and in Melbourne on the 23rd ult. at £14 15s to £15 per ton. Cable messages from Australia since, have advised higher rates, but there is nothing to shew that * these prices were not a mere speculative flash, and they appear to have been so treated by Southern holders. They could not, at least, have had any legitimate effect on prices here. We have now stated the whole facts bearing on the subject fairly, as far as we have been able to ascertain them. It is clearly a monstrous tiling that bread here should be nvepence a two-pound loaf, while it is supplied in the South at 3kl, and the wide-spread dissatisfaction throughout the city amongst all classes shews that the matter is recognised as one of the most serious that can arise in a community. The city and suburban population is 24,000, and if we estimate the average consumption of bread per head at only ten loaves a month, arise of one penny a, loaf represents a direct tax on the most important article_ of food, amounting to £1,000 a month raised in Auckland alone. The brunt of paying this impost falls, likewise, with the greatest hardship on the poor, and those least able to sustain the burden. As the interest in a political question is demonstrated by public meetings and the number of petitions laid on the table of the House of Representa tives, so a, journalist tests public feeling by his correspondence. The multitude of letters we have received on the subject, many from men who have felt very keenly the increased demand on their limited income -someto whose children it perhaps means a loaf less, and the cravings of hunger unsatisfied —shew how strong an interest lias been created. We publish in another column two or three letters from the number, and must apologise to other correspondents for the limited sj>acc which lias excluded their favours.

Wo are glad to notice that the bakers are not altogether impervious to public opinion, a meeting of all the members of the trade "who signed the protocol" on the 2nd having been convened for 8 o'clock this evening at the British Hotel. It is to be hoped that the meeting will be open to representatives of the Press, so that the subject may be fairly, ventilated, and that the public may understand on what grounds any decision is arrived at.

Correspondence on the chess cup and other subjects, together with other matter, aj/pears on our fourth page to-day.

Colonel Haultain, Sheriff, has not yet received any instructions from the Govern ment respecting the carrying out of the sentence of the law on the convicted murderer Tc Patui. Meantime the latter takes his meals with unfailing regularity, and appeare to contemplate his approach ing end with the stolid indifference of a savage. It came out in a speech delivered by the hon, W. M. Waterhouse, M.L.C., about three years ago, that during Governor Bowen's term of office Ministers kept locked up in a desk a num ber of instruments beariug the Governor's signature authorising the execution of condemned criminals, the names being left blank, after the manner of the famous " lettrc de cachet." This was one extreme, and wo have now fallen into another. The Governor is away touring in t lie South, while Te Patui remains in uncertainty. It. is to be hoped that the delay is not dictated by mere philo-Maori sympathies.

We direct attention to the excellent pro gramme of the vocal and instrumental concert to be given in the Choral Hall, on Thursday next, in aid of the funds of the Engineer and City Hand. Tt may be men tioned that the affair will be under the skilful direct ion of Heir Schott. It is only necessary to glance at the array of talent mentioned in the programme to perceive that t lie concert has every prospect of being a success. ■ -

A meeting of shareholders in the Union Sash and Door Company is called for the Kith inst. to consider the propriety of in creasing the capital by the issue of 30,000 new shares, of £5 each, nominal.

The present heavy westerly weather should make the City of Sydney's passage from Sydney a very short one. We may, therefore, expect to see her at daylight in the morning. She is now four days out.

An oration on " Spiritualism Defined and Defended," will be given to-morrow evening (Wednesday), in the Lome-street Hall, by Thomas Walker. Ecv. Samuel Edgcr, B. A., will occupy the chair.

On "our roads" a correspondent writes : Sir, —It is really too bad to have all our roads cut- up, and to have no means of get ting to town but by wading through mud. A few loads of scoria put across the roads here and there would enable pedestrians to pass from one side of a street to the other. Besides, even the footpaths are removed from our houses, thus leaving us no means of ingress or egress. Even the light of your STAR can hardly shine on us during these .iark nights in Sale-street.—Yours, &c, A Reader.

The Yen. Archdeacon Maunsell will re peat his lecture on the " True Gentleman," at All Saints' School-room, on Thursday evening, in aid of the funds of the All Saints' Sunday-school. The choir, under the control of Mr. Swallow, will sing several solos and selections of music at intervals.

The Girls' Training and High School, in Upper Queen-street, which was opened at the commencement of the present year, under the control of the Board ef Educa tion, is progressing favourably. The school commenced under the supervision of Miss Stothard, with 36 pupils, and since that period the scholars have increased .to 85.

The monthly inspection of the Hobson corps will take place this eveningl in the Drill-shed under command of Captain Dignau; also of the Victoria Company, under Color-Sergeant Self.

Rev. Father Cloffey, of Wellington, lately fell over a 12 feet bank in tlie dark ness, and fractured his wrist.

During the month ending April, 1877, there Avere 12 deaths registered within the city of Auckland. The munber during the corresponding month of lS7f> were 22 deaths. There were 4 deaths in the Hospital during the month of April, 1877. —GEO. GOLDIB, Sanitary Inspector.

A lengthened debate by tlie rising orators of St. James' Mutual Inprovement Society was held last evening on the question " Has Ireland been more sinned against than sinning ?" Mr J. M. Geddes opened the question with considerable power, having read up for the position from all the avail ing histories of Ireland, gathering freely from Cassell's, about the best summary extant, and from the later work of John Mitchell. Mr Geddes contended that Ire land had been badly treated in the past, and pointed out fluently the evils and grievances under which she had groaned, and which caused her poet at the com mencement of the present century to sigli " Dear Harp of my Country, in Darkness I found thee." Mr Burton took the negative side, and considered that Ireland had failed in governing herself, hence it became absolutely necessary for her safety that England should protect and govern her with maternal fondness, and bring her into close contact with civilisation. He held the opinion ever since he was old enough to read of her alleged wrongs :—" Beneath the dewy hills of Somerset." The opinions of the speakers who followed were pretty equal : Affirmative : Messrs J. C. Mackay,T, H. Hanna, S. D. Hansen, A. C. Steele ; Ne gative : Messrs E. Cooper, W. Gome, J. Spry, and G. McNab. At the close of the discussion, it was decided to hold a discus sion with the Pitt-street class on the even ing of the 21st, when the Rev. Allan Webb, of Wclleeley.street, will be solicitod to take the (?lwr.

Mr H. P. Barber, who has acted as American Consular Agent in Auckland for a number of years, has, we learn, resigned the office. His successor is Mr Hose, formerly an officer in the Bank of New- Zealand.

At yesterday's meeting of the Acclima tisation Society a very unpleasant mis understanding was satisfactorily cleared up. It appears that reports have appeared in the Christchurch papers charging the Auck land Society with acting unfairly to Canter bury in the matter of the division of the salmon ova received some time back from California. The broad statement was made that Auckland had kept much more than her share, and that Canterbury had received proportionately short allowance. As might be expected, the gentlemen connected with the management of our Society were con siderably annoyed and disgusted by such insinuations, which, of course, were totally devoid of foundation. A correspondence ensued, and yesterday the Secretary read a letter from the Secretary of the Canterbury Society, expressing regret that the papers should have promulgated the charge, and completely exonerating our Society from any unfairnoss in the distribution.

We are requested to draw attention to the sale of harmoniums and pianofortes at B. Tonks and Co.'s to-morrow at 11. The harmoniums are of the well-known firm of Alexandre and Son, and the pianos, (the two large ones), are Bord's first.class oblique tricord, with extra patent action, the mostexpensive make and of most elegant finish, with surprising volume of tone. Such pianos are rarely to be met with.

The grim dignity of the Wellington bench is .sometimes relieved by forensic wit. A man named Heffernan was on trial for attempt ing to murder Alice Parker. Mr Allen, who appeared for the prosecution, pointed out that the girl's dress had been cut through, Mr Barton, for the defence, said there was nothing in the Statute to render killing and murdering a dress a felony, whereupon counsel for the prosecution retorted : " Well, if.it is a case of stabbing a dress, there is nothing to prevent our getting re-dress."

Who introduced the snail into Auckland? Judge Fenton says the Acclimatisation Society did, but the Society disclaim the honor (?), and Mr Hughes, one of the Com mittee, said at yesterdays meeting he remembered snails being found in the Grafton Road many years before the Society existed. It may not be generally known that snails are only found in the immediate neighbourhood of Auckland. Up the country these garden pests are unknown. The Chairman of the Society, suggests that they were introduced in the pressed hay sent from England for the troops. This is quite foasible, though it may not seem so to persons unac quainted with the snail's tenacious vitality. A story, for the truth of which the records of the British Museum can vouch, will illustrate this better than anything else we can think of. Many years ago, some specimens of Egyptian snails were sent to the British Museum by a traveller, and were received with thanks, and duly classified and arranged on cards, each shell being stuck to the paper with a drop of gum. Four years afterwards, the attendant, who was dusting the cases, noticed close to one of the shells a stain closely resembling the trail of a live snail. On examining it closely, lie became con vinced that it was what it resembled, and he resolved to test such an extraordinary circumstance, so as to leave it beyond all doubt. He found the shell only partially adhering to the paper, but sufficiently fast to prevent it being moved by its inhabitant. He detached it, and placed it for a few minutes in warm water, when he had the satisfaction of seeing the snail revive, and crawl out. The creature was taken care of, and lived for a considerable time.

Mr Alfred Boardman has bean appointed local manager of the Wellington branch of the South British Insurance Company.

Our telegrams mentioned that the Bishop of Wellington and Mr Fox are to discuss the merits of the liquor question. We learn from the " Wanganui Herald " that the Bishop was the challenger. Tickets arc to be equally divided and distributed by each party in the discussion, so as to prevent a packed meeting.

Mr Carr, surveyor, and others, will pro ceed at once to the Waikato, in order to survey the line for the Thames and Wai kato Railway.

At the close of the week ending May 5, the number of prisoners in Her Majesty's Gaol at Mount Eden was 173, being 137 males, and :>G females.

We notice by the return of the sick in the Provincial Hospital for the week end ing May ">, that there are S4 still under medical treatment. The authorities state that old linen is much needed for the patients.

In a speech at the luncheon given to his Excellency the Governor at Invercargill, Commodore Hoskins, replying to the toast of " The Army and Navy," thus referred to the possibility of the colony's being exposed to an attack by a foreign power :—" As re gards the danger to this colony from a Sostilc attack, he considered it small. The work at the outbreak of a war between two great nations was so concentrated, that no large detachments could be spared to attack the colonies. The danger was rather from a sma.ll expeditionary force, or from pri vateers. In case of war being declared, our commerce could be carried almost entirely in fast steamers. As for lighting on land, the danger was tx remote one, though he agreed that the young men of the colony should be prepared for that. A little military training was an admirable thing for them, as it taught them something of discipline, and also how to carry themselves well."

Last evening was pleasantly spent by the members of the Pitt-street Literary class, in listening to three essays on the same subject by Messrs Birch, McEwan, and Hoskin. Mr Beaumont was called to the ehai'\ The essays were thoughtful, sugges tive, and creditable to the authors.

The " Wellington Argus" contradicts the report that Brogden and Sons are sueing the Government for £188,000 extras on railways, and says their large claims are still the subject of negotiation.

At the Good Samaritan Lodge last even ing, in the lodge room of the Young Men's Christian Association, the following mem bers were elected to ollice, by Bros. T. H. Biags and L. Cassicly, Bro. McKeuzic, G.W.S., and Bro. Mudford, G.W.M. :— W.C.T., Bro. M. Allen; W.V.T., Sister Bettany ; W.S., Bro.- Hamilton ; W.A.S. Bro. John Drake; W.F.S., Bro. Blair; W.T., Sister Mackey; W.M., Bro. Mc- Donald; W.D.M., Sister Kceler; W.C., Bio. Tait; W.1.G., Bro. Broburg ; W.0.G., Bro. Mitchell ; W.K.H.S.. Bro. Mudford; W.L.H.S., Sister Bernand.

In our report of the inauguration of the Rodney Lodge at Warkworth in our issue of Saturday last, we omitted to mention that in con sequence of a downpour of rain that commenced shortly after 2 o'clock, and continued throughout the whole of the evening, the procession in regalia to church and divine service had to bo abandoned, to the great disappointment, not only of the brethren, but of a large number of the uninitiated males and females who had assembled to hear the discourse of the Rev. C. M. Nelson. It was for some time feared for the same reason the ball also would he an impossi bility, but it eventually proved a decided success, as it was attended by about a hundred ladies and gentlemen, most of whom had arrived from the outlying settlements in the early part of the day. Among the distinguished members of the craft who sent apologies for not being able to attend the ceremony, were the hon. F. Whit aker, D.G.M., designate S.C.; A. Heather, W.M., Lodge Ara; W. Lodder, W.M., Lodge Remuera; Neil McLeod, W.M. Lodge Alexandra; E, T. Wildman, W.M:., Corinthian Lodge; L, J. Bag nail, P.M., Lodge of Light; C. Warren, W.M n Lodge Waitemata; 0. N. McMurdo, Star* of th.c North.; E. Wilcoclw, 1338; &d fa

A meeting was held yesterday at th office of Mr R. Home, Shortland-street, of shareholders of the Auckland Goldmining Claijm, situate at Ohincmuri, when it was dec ded to form a company, with a capital ot £15,000 in £1 shares, all the capital un paid. The following provisional directors were appointed: Messrs T. Henderson, sen., Clarke, Bell, Brett, and Raynes. The Company intend to. push on operations vigorously.

Some Nelson girls, who lost money on their unsatisfactory betting arrangements, have announced their intention of publicly horsewhipping two young men. The latter have changed their abodes.

Arthur Petersen, who shot himself recently in Wellington, was the son of a Norwegian nobleman. The deceased was a master of arts, and was distantly related to a late Danish King.

Some of the beautiful results of the system of selecting immigrants for this colony in foreign countries have been already referred to. Here is another : — An aged and infirm Danish woman named Marianne Lund, who came out as a Govern ment immigrant to Wellington, has been going round collecting subscriptions in order to defray her passage back again. She has raised £24 15s, and a passage will be provided her at the expense of the colony. There are many other immigrants of the same class, and this is a striking proof of the admirable and economical manner in which immigration has been conducted under the Vogel regime.

The Picton hangman has been having a lively time of it. He went to work a /the Forty Mile Bush in Wellington, but was recognised, and had to leave. He com plains that he can get lots to drink, but nothing to eat.

At Chrisl church 2000 persons attended the funeral of Drury, the engineer, acci dentally killed on the railway. A very line cut whip has been made by Mr F. 11. Lewisson, jeweller of <,>uecn street, and presented by him to the Pakur anga Hunt Club, and is to be given to the member who is most frecpuently in at the death during the year. The whip is sub stantially made, and is beautifully mounted with gold tastefully chased, a rich quartz specimen from the Thames being let into the but.

At a special conference of Canterbury school teachers to be held on Saturday next, and to which members of the General Assembly are invited, resolutions will be submitted in favour of free, compulsory education, both religious and unsectarian.

A man named A. H. Digby, was appre hended in Hamilton on Sunday by the police there, on a charge of stealing a watch from Mr Rodgers, of Auckland, some months ago. Sergeant Green forwarded Digby to Auckland on Monday in charge of a con stable.

The Pakuranga hounds will meet at 12 o'clock on Saturday, at Mr McLaughlen's house.

It is said that Mr James Gordon Bennett, and the proprietors of the ''London Tele graph " are anxious for t«ie safety of Mr Stanley, who has not been heard of for some time. It is proposed to send an expedition in search of him.

Mr llookham, the champion chess-player of Canterbury, has sent a challenge to Mr Benbow, of the Wellington Chess Club, to play three games. The challenge has been accepted, and the game will be played shortly by letter.

A woman named Emily Diver appeared at the police station this morning, implor ing the officials to allow her to see her dear friend, Martha Barstow, who had been locked up for drunkenness. She wished, out of her womanly heart, to give her friend a cup of warm tea and a slice of toast, nicely browned. Her wisli was at length granted, and she was permitted to visit her friend in solitude, but was not allowed to come out again, for reasons which will be explained before the Court to-morrow morning. When the turning of the cell key grated upon Emily's ear, she began kicking and screaming to an alarm ing extent, but all to no purpose. Her place of abode will be changed, but it is not likely that she will obtain her personal freedom until the end of August.

THE RISE IN THE PRICE OF BREAD.

(To the Editor of the Stak.)

Sir. —I beg, for one, to thank you for the prompt and manly way in which you came for ward to defend the people's rights on what you term " The rise in the price of bread," through the monopoly of the Auckland bread ring. I am sorry I cannot advise the people of Auckland to bake their own bread, which would at? once stop the row, for this reason, they have no convenience. A working man is paying his 6's, Bs, and 10s a week for a place which is but an apology fora dwelling-house, with no oven, and has to make use of a kerosine tin, or oil drum, or goodness knows what, to bake and cook his victuals. Well, I would advise the people at once to form a Co-operative Corn Factory, and grind their own corn—Low and Motion's mill would be a good spec now—and have Co-operative Bakery and Provision Stores. This would regulate the markets, and give the people a genuine article. Millions of money hare been saved by the working classes in Great Britain by co-operation, as it is wide spread throughout the length and breadth of the land. Co-operative cotton mills, woollen mills, machine factories, and, perhaps, the most prosperous of them all are the corn mills of Rochdale, Lancashire. They pro duce the best rlour a tthe cheapest rate, and unadulterated, and this is the secret of their great prosperity. There is nothing to fear as to success if honest men and true Avill bind together, and make the most of their hard earnings. I have little doubt but that it will be a successful commercial speculation, and that capitalists might safely invest.—l am, etc., LITTLE JOHN.

Dear Sir, —The bakers do not charge otl for a 21b. loaf, for one out of a dozen loaves does not exceed 2Sozs., for I have weighed them. In the old country the bakers are bound by law to weigh household bread on. delivery, from ilb. and upwards. In the land of the Crescent the baker that gives short weight has his hands nailed one at each side of his door posts, to keep people from entering his shop. I think if a few of the bakers in the land of the Cross were served the same we, might, iii time, as re gards justice, catch tip to the infidel.— Yours, etc., A Lover of Justice.

Sir,—-Your remarks on the rise in bread reflect a sentiment which has been current everywhere since the late advance was established. The remedy for such a state of things that now exists in Auckland is simple. A Co-operative Baking and Flour Importation Company would pftectually secure the subscribers bread at the lowest market values. Such a company, arrang ing for regular shipments of the best Southern brands of flour, would avoid duty, and could always guarantee its customers bread never more than a half-penny a pound higher than the rates ruling in Dunedin and Christchurch That price would leave a clear margin of £3 a ton on Hour between there and lierc. The company could operate in Australian markets whenever advantageous prices afforded oppor tunity. The security of such a co-operative undertaking would be its complete emancipation from influence by any bulling or bearing of the local Hour market. Its circle of customers would be satisfied with the yeafV steady average and no possible competition, undertaken even at a loss, could touch it. The present anomalous con dition of the Auckland breadstuff's markets will force some such measure on the people. My baker on Saturday held out a prospect of sid and 6d per two-pound loaf, although as you" have shewn, and I knowfrom personal experience 3id is now, and has for years been steadily main tained in the South. It is only noo-ssarv for some one to take the initiative by calling a nre limiimry meeting in the evening, to soeure an enthusiastic! response and immediate snbaW

THE BAKERS' REPLY.

To the Editor : Sir,-As one o f «, combination, I cannot permit " queries " in last evening's issue to unchallenged, and I hereby proceedt submit my views in the simplest form which I consider will be to go through your "queries" seriatim. Now then £\ No 1. In Saturday s issue you qnote from Chamber's Encyclopaedia 1440 two-pound loaves from a ton of flour. Yesterday two of the principal bakers informed you that 1512 two-pound loaves m a y be obtained from the same quantity Wide discrepancy. Noav, Mr Editor, lam in a position to negative No. 1, as I con sider I am at present working the best flour obtainable in the market, and it does not come near your lowest quotation. As for the 1512, I think it is your duty to place the authors of that quotation under the surveillance of the Inspector of weights Having negatived No. 1, it is scarcely necessary to deal with No. 2, save to state that one half-penny p er loaf does not approach £3 per ton No. 3. The rise in price of flour, used in our establishment averages £3 per ton since we sold bread at 4d., and unless we introduce a farthing currency, it is impossible to sell bread at 4^d. and pay our way (don't mis understand me here), I mean the quality demanded by our customers. No! 4. The larthing referred to in the previous answer is, I consider, a sufficient justification, as in the event of flour advancing £1 more we would not be justified in following No. 5. I don't understand how the Christ church and Dunedin bakers do sell bread at 31d with flour at £1(5, but I feel certain they do not make wages at that rate. With regard to the combination, it is not a coercive one, as only about one half of the bakers in and around the city were concerned in it. To my mind it is to maintain a uniform price. It is a well known fact that baking two qualities of bread (as you suggest) will not work in Auckland, Q.E.D. —Yours respectfully, JOHN Birnie.

[Our correspondent's whole reply hinges on query No. 3. Mr Birnie accepts our average of £3 as representing the rise in. flour since bread was sold at fourpence, but disputes the number of loaves obtainable from a ton of flour. Now, assuming for a moment that the manufacture of bread adds nothing to the weight of the original flour, a ton (22101b5) would give 1120 loaves, and a rise of a penny a loaf on that represents £1 13s Id instead of £3. But it is sheer nonsense to say that a ton of flour will only yield a ton of bread. Chambers's estimate of 1110 loaves is admitted by the bakers we have spoken with to be a very low one, and that shews id rise on bread to equal every £3 advance on flour, upon inquiry, Mr Waddell gave us 130 21b loaves to every 2001b bag of Srown brand flour, and Mr. Woodward estimated it at 140 loaves; the 1,512 average per ton was made by striking a balance between the two. Both estimates exceed Chambera's. We wish our correspon dent had been more explicit and furnished us with his estimate.—Ed. E.S.]

[A letter from Mr. David Grubb was re ceived too late this afternoon for insertion It will appear to-morrow.]

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before It. C. Barstow, Esq., R.M.) SPIRITS OK NIGHT. Adolph Carlson, a foreigner. Jam^s Black, a seaman, Margaret Barstow, and Mary Ann Mooney, were severally charged with drunken ness, and fined 5s each. " Take a watch for example." —Paley's theoloxy. Henry A. Digby, an old offender, was brought up on a charge of stealing a watch, va'us £3, on the 16th March, the property of Kdward Rogers. Prisoner, a young man, pleaded guilty. His Worship asked if anything was knows of prisoner. Sub-Inspector Pardy said the prisoner had taken to a bad course of life ever since he hai been in the colony, and there was mi necessity for such conduct. The prisoner had been twice convicted of felony, and experienced nine months in gaol. Sentenced to six months' imprisOLr.tent with hard labour.

DESERTING MAGGIE. "My own love, Maggie, clear, Sitting by my side." Thomas Doyle was charged with deserting his wife. Margaret Doyle, and and four children, in November last. The defendant did not appear. The summons was sent to him at Wellington, and in the interval defendant had returned to Auckland. The wife and husband had since mad" up matters and Doyle promised to support his wife and family in the future. His Worship said h« could make no order for costs, as the summons had not been served. The charge was withdrawn. THE WIDOW'S COW. Mrs Elizabeth liyan was summoned for com mitting, unwittingly, a breach of by-law No. 1, by permitting her cow to wander. Sub-Inspector Pardy said Mrs Ryan was sick in bed, and unable to answer to the summons. He had been to see her, and found that she was really ill. She had since sold her last covv, and, therefore, she should trouble the Court no more. The case was withdrawn. CARELESS SOXS. William and George Hodge, were called upon to show cause why they should not contribute towards the support of their father, who was destitute of means, and ill in the Provincial Hospital. Sub-Inspector Pardy said the sons were doing well, and earning good wages, William was at Coromandel, employed in the Union Beach Mine, and the other son was at Wellington, in recept of £5 per week. The Court made an order for 5s a week on William Hodge, and the son George to be sued. Mr Atkin. printer, also complained that the sons of Samuel Tiller had not paid up their arrears towards the old man's support, and it was with the greatest difficulty that money could be got out of Tiller's sons. An order was made for immediate payment. EDUCATION KATE. William Henry Johns, and George Sewell, were summoned for non-payment of the educa tion rate, but failed to appear. Judgment for plaintifts. This was all the business.

THE KATE BRAIN.

It is now over a month since this vessel left Timaru for this port, and no dciinite tidings have been heard of her. No fresh light has been thrown \ipon the identity of the wrecK in Palliser Bay. How the Government can reconcile it with their conscience to have two steamers at their disposal, doing little or no work, and yet decline to commission one of them to solve tliis question of life or death, is incomprehensible, except on the supposition that the Government have no conscience. A telegram received from Port Chalmers last night, reports the arrival of the three-masted schooner Argosy from Hokianga. " The master," it says, " reports passing a brigantine off the Kaikouras on the 2nd instant, heading in for the land. From his description there is no doubt she is the Kate Brain." Either the master of the Argosy or the sender of this telegram, or both, have been led, in our opinion, to raise hopes which are only destined to be rudely dashed to the ground, and we cannot see any sufficient cause for our contemporary assuming positively that "so late as the 2nd instant, the Kate Brain was afloat. A reference to the log of the schooner Elizabeth, which arrived last night from Lyttelton, will show the great improba bility of the vessel sighted by the captain of the Argosy being the missing vessel. The Elizabeth left Wangaroa on the 7th April, and made the East Cape oil the 9th. Fiom that time till the 23rd she was beating against strong southerly winds, trying to make Lyttelton. The v Rate Brain, it will be remembered, left Tiniaru on the moruiug of the 7th April, and thus it is evident that for a whole fortnight she had winds which would have brought her n Hying had nothing happened to her. Then, again, the Elizabeth left Lyttelton on the 2nd inst. (the day the Argosy is supposed to have passed the Kate Brain). Captain Goodman reports having "southerly winds up the coast." To use the captain s own language, " Had that vessel been tue Kate Brain, she could have been in , Wellington 18 hours after the Argosy «iw her, and if she had been coming on Here she would have been here before now. But is it not in the highest degree y probable that if the Kate Brain had been | knocking about all this time she would w disabled in some way by loss of sails ox spars, but no mention of this is made »y the master of the Argosy. Again, it » only reasonable to stippqae &«* tlic J '* Brain, would be short oJc proving, ati 4 JS* -

THE EVENING STAR, TUESDAY, MAY 8, 1877.



X>~~A X U R A N G A 1 HUNT CLUB. |W. RATTRAY Begs to inform Members of the Club that he has received the GUEEN CLOTH for Making their HUNTING COATS, and is prepared to execute orders with promptitude. W. RATTRAY, CLOTHIER & MERCHANT TAILOR, 66, QUEEN-STREET, ■Attfj .a>*p ■XroTTrcfK O~F REMOVAL. J3l jTJ BKGS TO ANNOUNCE THAT HE ijg-HAS REMOVED!!t» TO TH Premises Next Door Below his Old Shop. H. A~T~K INS Be°-s to heartily thank his numerous Cus tomers for their very liberal patronage from his first commencing business up to the present time, and to assure them that although his trade has increased to ■ that extent, that his REMOVAL to more Commodious Premises was a neces sity, the same principles of business will still be adhered to: viz., keeping a good article, buying in the cheapest market, aud selling at the smallest profit possible. His New Shop shall always be known aa The Cheapest in Auckland. H.A. will be happy to see all his old Customers, ana as many new ones as may honour him with their patronage. A SPLENDID STOCK OF DRAPERY AND CLOTHING Will always be found, and the PRICES THE LOWEST IN AUCKLAND! H. A~T KINS. CANTERBURY CHEESE. 25 cases NEW AND OLD CHEESE, On Sale by



CONTINUATION OF CLEARING" \J OUT SALE. JOHN wT PEARSE (Leaving for England). The Stock must be sold at Frightfully Reduced Prices, to realise quickly, consisting of a very Large Stock of Men's and Boys' Clothing, Ulster Coats, Waterproof Coats, Inverness Capes, Overcoats, French Felt Hats, Cloth Caps. A large quantity of Ladies' Very Fashionable Costumes, Jackets, Shawls, and Felt Skirts, just received from London. Blankets. Flannels, Tweeds, Hosiery. Gloves, uilies. Feathers, Flowers, and Straw Goods. Every Department is Marked Down, so as to clear out. The Lease of the Premises for Sale. "VT O T I C E. 131 MACINTOSH COATS, WATERPROOF CLOTHING. RUSHBEOOK AND BFJDGMAN Have Just Opened, and are now Showing, a '. Large Parcel of the above Goods, from the .v same House, and of similar style, to their >jj/ast Season's Goods, concerning the Wear and Quality of which they have received many satisfactory testimonials. The Parcel includes various Styles, and all sizes. £, /'Light Textures, in Black and Drab, for O town wear. O Strong Heavy Sheeting. Ph m Strong Twilled, Velvet Collars. 9j &1 J Cashmere, Fancy Check, and Diagonal £j g 1 Tweed Patterns. S q Extra Hea "j Diagonal Warm Lined, 5 and extra long. t* Sealskin Lined, specially adapted for !■*■ V Cabmen, 'Buss Drivers, &c. waterproof aprons. leggings, &c. Also, A FURTHER SUPPLY OF BLANKETS, REVERSIBLE BUSH RUGS, AND FAN C V AUSTRIAN RUGS, To Hand this Week. Is. in the & allowed on all Cash Purchases of 20s. and upwards. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN, Junction Drapery Warehouse, Upper Queen-street, auclkand.



ri AX G O & TIT cX A I G, CLOTHIERS, OUTFITTERS, HOSIERS, MERCERS, &C. QUEEN-STREET, Auckland, Next door to Mr. E. Waters, Confectioner. CARGO & McKAIG beg to intimate their in tention of OPENING as above on THURSDAY next, the 10th instant, with a Large and Well assorted Stock, consisting of the Newest and Most Fashionable Styles in MEN'S. YOUTHS' AND BOYS' CLOTHING, HATS and CAPS, SHIRTS, COLLARS, TIES, AND SCARFS, HANDKERCHIEFS, BELTS AND BRACES, HOSIERY, UNDERSHIRTS & PANTS, UMBRELLAS, PORTMANTEAUS, &c, &C.J&C.



This Stock will bo the most complete and best assorted in Auckland, having been selected with the greatest care, and with strict attention to the requirements of this market. Oar arrangements are such that we can con fidently assure our Customers of their receiving the utmost satisfaction, and also that they will obtain the best possible value for their money. CARGO & McKAIG, Clothiers, Outfitters, Hosiers, Merceks, &c, QUEEN-STREET, AUCKLAND NextVWaters, Confectioner. Tm X 'BELLA MARY,' FROM HOBART TOWN. FOR SALE: POSTS, RAILS, AND PALINGS, Very Cheap. JOSEPH CRAIG, FORT-STREET. KAIPARA RAILWAY EXTENSION. Intending Contractors can obtain Totara in any quantity from



s Iff hi 1 Jills = / I! I II *II ° "WILL ALL FIND GOODS TO SUIT THEM AT THE fJITY WALL A ECADE. HOLLO WAY & GARLICK'S DRESS DEPARTMENT is replete with the Newcsb Seasonable Goods. Damasse Cloths, ) As worn in Paris. Matelasse do. > " "~~ ———— Satin Trails, ) .New Designs and Colours. Plain and Fancy Satin Cloths, Broche Lustrines, and Fancy Diagonals, French Merinoes, and Homespun Tweeds. WINCEYS, immense variety, for town and country wear. OUR SHOW ROOMS (166 feet long) contain the greatest variety of DRAPERY, CLOTHING, & FURNISHING GOODS IN AUCKLAND. Blankets, from 10s. to 15s. per pair Flannels, white, coloured and fancy Ladies' Winter Skirts in great variety Shirtings, all Wool, Crimean, and Union. MEN'S & BOYS' CLOTHING. Our Stock is constantly being Renewed with Clothes especially made for Country as well as Town Wear. Our Moleskin and Working Men's Trousers are AERY LOW PRICED. Ladies, Purchase your Millinery at the Arcade. Large Stock Ready Trimmed Hats & Bonnets Milliners on the Promises, to execute orders with dispatch. THE ONJ]Y~ICSTABLISI.IMENT onductcd on the English system of combining Drapery, Clothing, Millinery, Underclothing, Carpets, and House Furnishing. QUEEN-STREET & LORNE-STREET. HOLLOWAY & OAKLICK, JO-MORRO W we shall bring for ward the GREATER PORTION of Messrs. Stewart and Anderson's Stock, consisting of Winceys, French Merinos, Fancy Dress Goods, Shawls, and Mantles; also an immense quantity of Men's and Boys' Clothing. The above Goods will be cleared out ■ regardless of cost, to make room for our Winter Shipments, now landing, per JjJlectra and Emily Chapliu. J. COSGIiA YE Je CO.



O P E 0 I A L NOTICE. AUTUMN■& WINTER GOODS, B4.NNOCKBURN AND MOSGIEL TWEEDS H. L. POSSENNISKIE Opening Out these New Seasonable Goods, would call particular attention to their quality, which is second lonono imported, while from his large an<i varied Stock Gentlemen can rely on a choice of Cloth unattainable else where in the colony. H. L. POSSENNISKIE, MERCHANT TAILOR & HABITMAKER, Opposite the City Mart, Shortlan d-street. Don't bo hoodwinked by imitators of Udolpho Wolfe's Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps, who inclose vile spirits in bottles which contained the Simon Pure Schnapps and put bogus labels thereon. Repudiate these nostrums. Scruti nize the labels, and if they are deficient in exe cution or the ear-marks of authenticity, don't buy. Relief from Couoh in Ten Minutes.— Sharland's Cherry Pectoral, a specific for Colds, Coughs, Asthma, Consumption, Bronchitis, Lung Diseases, &c. It acts like magic. Price, 2s. 6d. and Is. 6d. a bottle. Sharland's Instant Cure for Toothache; Is. a bottle. Suahland's, opposite Post-oOice. Auckland.