SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

__ i This A.ftcrnoon. 3.30 j HIGH A ft-Pv—-j 'P 0 ...",- lO ;. r o-.v Morning, 9.52 ; SUN SrlT.— This Eve.iip.ff. 5.57 j irboX^'iSE.—Last Quarter. 30:h, 6.0 p.m. ;

ARRIVALS.

schooner. (Jailoway. from Levußa. V^;^,-: ! ; : :. ~ f^ker. fro:.i Opotiki ana rauransra, ] *"'"*v^ the'fiir.niV« ' ... p:,..,,: c- o *=s. Jlason. from ••> aitara

DEPARTURES.

p-onv Jane, s.h., Helarrler, ror Awanui ana Tsi'-n^'L'Vr! schooner. Cooper, for Chatham I "island's ! p r ,;,-,...i s5 Sjl-ars. tor Ta;irari^a >

IMPORTS.

Y>.-... Mazeppa from Ltvuka : • 5 tons sugar.—Xicco! Her.dry 5c Co. j gsW^nS^^S'Stch. .1 case iron- | mO nsrirr. 2 parcels. 11 cases biscuits, 179 ba^s coroaaut"' "I.V>OO loose cocoanuts. 710 bags Diaize. —NiceolHeadry cud Co.. agants. j

EXPORTS.

r . '>-_~';,i':.".l Hio.'£r::is;.—K. Porter and Co ; j ptv Hero, to^ grdiicy :-otationery :' cases.. o- ' iJs ),i r \?~ 'i cases cheese. if)2balespL -inium, a;pl1-'U- ■- --■■ ■ 2 c-.- r-- personal effects. 1J casks | cocoLfm oli.-OVen rvnd Graiui.n _ , For Melbourne : o3 ea3K5 cocoai.ui 1... j °S*r P^rvSn^Jtor Eist Coast :-12 T)ac^a3;es. " pl^.usbs."i cas:-s, 20 mats suyar.—Owen ana '"0 case's biscuits, 10 do. salmon.—Stone Bros. 5-' ales hoop-iron.—E. Parter and Co. , ARRIVAL OF THE JIAZEPPA. . i The ?'« schooner Mazeppa, tantazrt i ,-.-,■•„.,.,,: V- -ived fro^-i Lcvuka this afternoon. | T*e'cwrain reports tha: he left Levuka on the . j .:e capidiQ aou - _■ three days ; ills § tii ISIIS SJdSslgo bSt w p«yemed making port , i iiS5- coatrarv wir.ds. The :.lazeppa brings gg :S& -oi lendiT. and Co. Pa> I 1^ SMiS M^ferS-s^!lr^ | Thn Q v; o Tosera'.t?. v.-hieh lor: here for vo^iile on the 25:h ulr.. had not arrived up i {o^lSfd^t^e^vefbyrhe Australia. She j ">'•'??, th"nv°4 l V."^. rV;an- Lily Cev>. D. Cooper, j Sl#sSlss& ss! .TarTe" sailed las: evenin- for j native assessor, -Ucosra '- ■ I &IThe R^vena: after a few houre stay in port ! sailed for Tauranga. via iNiercurj iiaj iaai i e^jn^f ai^'S^Bler?- arrived last | ~i{r; 3 f'nrn" oAotiki o-rld Taui-ansja via the , night uo- : •.;■;•■,. lefl a careo of cattle, j IKlveralafn for OpofiM via Tuuran S a this aS^Herp leu for Sydnerjo-aar Pa.sen eers: Fo" Sydney—Mr and -jlra J. a. T 1 :; -_'•• | ??5 aVdAIrV H. Lav.-rer.ce. Miss Short and , II lifts ?;SffiSa J-iff ■BiKfe | Mr and Mrs Noonin. Miss Kate VoS Michael Noonin, James Xoomn. Mrs i,'- 0,??.:?,', m,-,; Tnvner For Melbourne—Mrs ! g^f^wo^i i w. Mclver, J. Stauton. George -\\ngnt-, v>. j

KAIPARA SHIPPING.

Port of Kaipara. 25th Sep.. 1?77. j . „:,-.-^ o-).,r<—^T.-=-v. cutter, from One- , htwS^ »3raT-iEsonia. b'risantine. from Wei- j

CALLS AND DIVIDENDS.

CREDITORS' MEETINGS.

In the estate of T. J. Bainbridee .. .Sept. 27 W. J. W. Add-iy ■• Sept. 23 P.obert Ghalmei-3 .. Oct. 3

MARRIAGE.

HODSON—HORN.—On the 26th Pcptember, at Otahuhu, by the Rev. M. D. Cm.-i.ra. Thomas Hodson to Mary Jane Munro Horn, both of Otahuhu.

DEATH.

WILSON.—On the 26th September, at Brighton, Parnell, Hilda Rose, infant daughter of Henry and Anna Wilson, a.^-ed 3 weeks. The funeral will leave Brighton to-morrow (Friday), 23th instant, at i p.m. Friends will please accept this invitation. GRAHAM.—On the 17th September, at Wood vilie, Hawke's Bay. by the fall of a tree, Robert Graham, youngest son of Mr. J. Gra ham. Provincial Relieving Officer. Auckland, aged 21 years. Deeply regretted by numerous acquaintances.

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

THURSDAY. SEPTEMBER 27. 1877.

T^o? th» csuse lh3t l^cfcs assistance. For th* wrong that nc-ds i :3iita=cC />_vi Cis icood ti.-.*. vo era 'l-a

THE long-talked-of want of confidence motion was unexpectedly tabled yesterday by Mr Larnach. It is based on the now celebrated "Waka Maori" libel ca.ie. In selecting the point of attack, the Opposition have chosen one where the Government are unmistakably weak. Weighed in the balance of the law courts of the colony, the Government, in reference to the control of their vituperative little Maori organ, have been found sadly wanting. Their culpable maladministration in this direction Tv'iil cost the colony £5,000 known, and goodness knows how" many thousands more unknown, through the intricate channels which hide the working of the Native Department. The case, therefore, oilors a sound peg upon which to hang the accumulating charges against the Ministry. The Opposition have, no doubt, been en couraged to throw down the gauntlet by the evident weakness of the Government in recent divisions ; still, it is doubtful whether the latter will not have a majority when a direct issue is raised alFeeting their reten tion of oilice. Reduced to a mere question of ins and outs,without any broad principle at issue, it must be very much a matter of indifference who sits on the Treasury Benches. We have yet to learn what the programme and who the men of the new Middle Party, before we should be prepared to say whether their accession to office would" be acceptable to the country, and more especially to this part of New Zea land. We can well conceive of a Ministry i that would be still more objectionable to j Auckland than the present holders of oilice, I unpopular as they, by their own j sins and the sins of their predecessors, i have become. There has been manifest a growing inclination to throw over policy, j leaders, and everything else in a general J scramble for office, and the more this spirit j is developed the less Likely are the people to feel any deep interest in the issue.

A cable message, published in another column, announces that the London de tective inspectors, accused of complicity in ' ! the great turf swindle, have been committed ' : for trial. It is worthy of remark that ! simultaneously we hear of ;m ex-polic: j officer in Now Zealand being arrested on a j , charge of murder. These facts are ; not without their moral to magia- i trates who treat police evidence as [ infallible. Many respectable, honest men have had their liberty and character abso- ! lately sworn away by the exceedingly j "good" evidence which "old hands" in j the police force occasionally give to support \ their cases. The turf scandal is by no j means the first occurrence which has shaken ! confidence in the integrity of the London ; police force, but the offenders have rarely i been in such highly responsible positions. ! That policemen X is susceptible of "tip, "is ! among the low-kitchen annals and causes no j more serious notice than is excited by a comic j paper cartoon. That Detective Inspectors, jOruscoviteh, Palmer, and Meiklejohn, three of the oldest and most trusted officers at Scotland Yard, were in league with one of the lowest gangs of turf swindlers, is a different thing, and one that gives a rude j shock to our faith in guardians of the ; law, The circumstances of the case, as they were detailed by Mr Poland, Solicit®!1

to the Treasury, form a remarkable ! story : and although their absolute , accuracy cannot be considered proven until ! a jury of twelve countrymen lias pro iiounced upon the guilt or innocence of j the accused, the sacred minions of the ltnv j have already suffered considerably iv public estimation. The facts are briefly these: — [ " Early in 1876. five men. named Benson, j Karr, Bale,and two brothers Kerr,elaborated '■ very successfully a nrnst gigantic turf J fraud. A newspaper called "'Le Sport7' . I v,-;t< [jrinted for circulation in France, j The leading articles of this journal (written ! by Benson) were devoted to recoininending i I a certain i; Mr Montgomery," by the ' i aid or who.se infallible sayacity ] I hvr^e fortunes :;iiuhi bj made. Space for- i i bids us to enter into particulars, suffice it J I to say the guileless Frenchmen "bit" freely, ; . and very large sun.s were realised by the ! I L'auir. From a certain Madame deGoucourt ; ; they £ot £10,120. Had they been content with 'this, all misflit have youe well, but : ; Hushed with success they asked for £30,000 ! more. She applied to her banker to raise i the money, who at once saw she was being I swindled," told her so, and advised her to j I consult an English solicitor. She conse- j . quentlycame over to England, and put her ' case iiito the hands of a Mr Abrahams, who at once applied to Scotland. Yard, and i obtained warrants for the swindlers' arrest. ; j Now we come to the second part of the : story which affect*! the Inspectors. The office ; iof the swindlers was situated in North i umberland-sireet, Strand, close to Scotland ; Yard, and according to Mr. Poland, the locality was chosen for the express purpose : of receiving information from "the shop," jas they pleasantly designate Colonel ; Henderson's head quarters. U;i the 25th of September Mr Abrahams -went to Scotland j Yard about the warrants, and on the same ! evening Benson and Co. knew what was going on. On tho following day warrants were issued, but, strange to say, tlic i "sworn bookmakers'" had disappeared | from Isorthuinberlaud-jstreet. From that ; time forth they were hunted r.]> and down ! till they were arrested, and the substance , oi Mr Poland's ease is that, for th_- whole of ' this time Inspectors Di-upcoviti-h, Muiklo : John, and Palmer, were in cwmnur.i.'ation j with them, and giving them information i expressly intended to fiicilit:; to their escape j Meiklejohn had known K< rr several years, I and/had been upon intimate terms with j him. Uruscovitch was in diiliculties in : July IS7O, and unfortunately for him had : borrowed £0) from Kerr. lie was conse ! ijuently in this raswil's jiovrer, a fact much Ito be regretted when hi.- previous good i character is taken into account, and more ' especially :»s the £>'>•) was use'! to pay a I debt contracted not by himself, but by his ' brother. Down to the evening of the 25th ! S pt. he was in ignorance that Denson ' and his friends were the Goncourt swin ■ dlers. At least such i-; Mr Poland's ' belief. All that Druscovitch knew was i that the persons to whom Meiklejohn had i introduced him witc betting men, and he j believed that their sole object in having de" i tuctive rrl?uds was to 'liable tham to obtain i timely information in case a raid should be ; made on them. When, however, the rase of j Madame de ( Jonoonrt was put in l*is hands, , he mentioned the matter to Kerr, who at ! once said that he and his companions were I the people "wanted." Druscovitch's duty ■was, of course, to arrest Kerr instantly. : Instead, however, they shook hands, and df]>arted in different directions. Benson j had a large sum in drafts, notes, etc., which it was necessary he should change into Scotch I £1 notes, tlie numbers of which are not taken. I lie consulted Meiklejohn, wh i took him ;to the Bridge ot Allan, where his (Meikle j John's) father resides, and introduced him ;to Mr Monteith, manager of the Alloa j Bank, as Mr Young, of Australia. Kerr ; was aUo presented as Captain Giffiird, nnd i both opened an account. In the interim it i was discovered that Benson was at the j Bridge of Allan, and Druscovitch was sent !to arrest him. This made things warm. I but a warniiig telegram reached Alloa, and 1 when the Inspector arrived there, iMr Young and Captain Gilr'ard had j fled. It would take us too long To follow I in detail the intricate plot unfolded at Bow ! street on the lWh July. Suffice it to say I that the detectives were suspected by Mr ! Abrahams (the Countess's solicitor), '• very early. fie confided his ideas ' privately to Mr Poland and Superintendent | Williamson, the h.-ad of the detective I department. The latter recommended I silence for the present, a.nd until the ' swindlers had been caught and brought to j justice the inspectors were not even aware they were suspected.

It will be seen by our telegrams says the | " Dunedin Guardian," that in a football , match at the Thames, Auokland, several I sorious accidents occurred on Saturday. It j is a pity that X<rvr Zealanders cannot look i at this rough-and-tumble nonisen.se in the ! same light ;.s the American journalist, who ! fiay.j that football will never become a ; favourite game in America until the I American shinbone is shifted a little further : I back. | An action commenced against the Cor ! poration of Dunedin by Mr .Sperry vi con i sequence of the injuries ■which he sustained , a few months a;.:", through falling over ti : cutting, for the protection of which the | Corporation was responsible, has b°.en | settled. The City Council decided to offer ! Mr Sperrey the Bum of £570 in full of all de- [ rnands which he may have on the Corpora tion, and the offer has been accepted.,, The Rev Charles Clark will give his next lecture on Monday, October lat, and not \ Sunday, September 31st, as erroneously ; stated in last night's issue. j " Such are the machinations of the Evil i j One, that the best laid schemes for the pro- | ' reri'if'i ." vickeduedS oft gang amiss." So ; | moralises th« Napier "Mercury" orcr the i fact that £t Yankee grab" having been put j down by the police, a fresh "swindle" has I been started in public-houses, to which it desires to call the attention of pious i legislators. Say, lire thiisty souls meet in i the house of a licensed victualler, and that they desire their drinks jto cest them not more than one j shilling each. They remove the table cloth, and then, standing round the table, each | player places one shilling in front of him. A sodawatcr bottle, previously obtained from the bar, is placed on its side, and spun I round (wheel-of-fortune fashion), and to i whomsoever the neck points when its gyrations have ceased, the same is declared < the winner, and he picks up all the coins j and "shouts" from the proceeds of the win ; nings thereof. The Dunedin " Guardian " says : Of the 242 unemployed laborers to whom orders for railway passes to the Balclutha section several weeks ago were issued, 133 put in an appearance, and were supplied with work ; 104 were on the works when the pay-sheet was made up at the end of last month. Their earnings amounted on the average to at least Cs per day, several having worked over-time. After pay-day Balclutha and its hotels were made some what lively, and since then only 54 have resumed work. At Blackburn Town £j Hall, James Gallagher and his wife were charged with the wilful starvation of tlieir children. It was proved that the prisoners were factory operatives, and that they had expended all their money at the tavern instead of provid ing food or clothing. Two of the children were witnesses. The prisoners were each sent to gaol for six months, with hard labour. At their recent meeting in Edinglrargh, the General Assembly of the Free Church of Scotland, after suspending Professor Smith from the duties of his church for 12 mouths, remitted his case to the Aberdeen Eree Presbytery. That body met on Tuesday, June 19th, when it was agreed to ask Professor Smith to atate his belief concerning the real existence of fallen angels, and also concerning the agency of Satan. The Professor has been allowed a week to consider these questions, and the proceedings again ?t him by libel will depend on the nature of his answers.

The skating season of the Auckland Skating Club, which, we understand, has been a very successful one. terminated last evening. The hall was well filled with skaters and visitors, and skating was carried on under the inspiriting strains of Mr Impey's band with much animation. The music lias throughout the season proved a great 'attraction, Jand the committee acted . judiciously iv engaging the band for their ', practice nights. We notice in our advertis ing columns that tlv 1 ball to wind up the season in an appropriate manner will take place in about a fortnight's time, and will, doubtless, be as great a suoeess as the i previous ball given by the members at the | close of their first season. I It appears that the Government did what | they were not justified in doing, in handing i over the management of the toll-gates nnd '. chain bars in the districts where the Coun | ties Act is not in force to the Local District , Boards. They have now resumed control 1 over these instruments of taxation, and nrc | advertising them for sale at auction by Mesgrs Tonksand Co! The gates referred •to are the Great South Road, Arch Hill, ; and the Bars Mount Eden and Reimera. It does not follow from the tolls of these gates being vested in the Governor, that they represent no much revenue lost to the districts. Government has to keep the ! roads in repair, and will possibly have to spend mure than they receive. ; San Francisco has a lover of the true old fashioned sort. Being heavily fined by the Police Court for kissing his betrothed against her will, instead.!of breaking oil' the engagement, he wrote : "Dearest, you will have toj wait now until I can borrow money enough to pay the minister." A notable instance of religious toleration is chronicled in Galway. Dr. M'Evily, the Bishop, arrived from Rome recently, and reached his house before he was discovered. But the news got abroad, and a popular demonstration waa at once improvised, the happiest feature of which was a long peal of welcome from the joy-bells of the Protestant Church of St. Nicholas. Mr Herapath has been instructed by Dr. Skae, to make an estimate of the cost of rebuilding the burned portion of the Whau asylum, and also of the expense of adding certain extra buildings for the better accommodation of the p;itient.s. We understand (sajs the " (^roy River Argus") that a case will shortly be heard in the Divorce Court that will surprise many persons here, and in which extraordinary dis closures will be made. The parties inter ested were residing here for some time, and were well known, but the petitioner is now in Christchurch. The respondent (who, by the by, is the mother of ;i family of daughters) is somewhere on the North Island, and the correspondent is at present on the Fast Coast of the Middle Island. Accounts from all parts of Ireland repre sent an almost unequalled prosperity of everything connected with farming pros pects. In the central and western dis tricts of the country, once the most back ward, the cultivation shows a marvellous improvement, and it is most remarkable that from many districts the sqnalid thatched mud-cabin of the laborer has disappeared, and good slated houses are very common. The condition of Ireland is quickly assimi lating in the agricultural districts* to that of England. Seldom in the month of June have cereals looked more healthy and promising. Potatoes are of a splendid crop, and have already been sold in many • provincial market.I *. An appeal to the benevolent is being made by the Sisters of Mercy, of St. Mary's, Ponsonby, on hehalf of St Mary's Orphan age. A circular has been sent round, which enlarges upon the facts that the Sisters of Mercy have been teaching schools in Auck land for "27 years withont calling upon the public at large for support; and that a sound moral training bus been a feature of their teaching,without the instilment ofjreligious principles into any but those of their own faith. They now show that the schools are too small for the attendance, and there are no funds for the building of extra schools, dormitory, and refectory.^The Very Rev. Father l'yue*, Vicar General, has given his countenance to the subscription, which i* likely to be productive of n large sura. Last Sunday the collections at the Roman Catholic Churches were in aid of the above fund. At St. Patrick's £110 was collected ; at St. Frances of Sales,£lß ; and at. St. Mary's, Ponsonby, £lo". Mr Robert Graham, son of Mr John Graham, Relieving; < lilicer of this city, died on Sunday last- from the effects of an ■ accident. The you tig man bad been en gaged in felling timber at Woodrille, near Napier, when a tree fell upon him and caused such injuries as necessitated the attendance of Dr. Akers, of Palmerston, but his services failed to preserve life. hi money matters, -ays the " Financial Opinion," the Czar is a perfect chill. Although in many respects a highly cul tivated and fairly intelligent man, he has never been able clearly to understand the I difference between * rouble and a kopeck. |He will at times squander thousands, and ;ut other moments haggle about sixpence ; not 'because hr> is extravagant or avancious, ■ but simply becauso he has no idea of the real value of money. The following anec dote, illustrative of this singular intellec tual deficiency, has otiused much amuse [ ment in St. Petersburg :—Count Alderberrj, ; the Czar's most intimate friend, is often in ' debt, and the Emperor, since his accession |to the throne, has ungrudgingly paid ! millions to release him from his embarrass ! merits. One day, last winter, the Count | appeared at Court, coughing violently and looking very ill. "What is the matter Iwith you, Alder'»urg?" asked the Czar. i " Severe bronchitis, sire," replied the I Count. "My doctor says that I ought to 'go to Nice fir a couple of months." "'Then why dsn't you go? I will give you leave." " I uannot afford the journey, '■ sire." '• Never mind the expense ; I j will defray that." The Count brightened i up. " I will defray the expense," in the Emperor,-! mouth, could not mean less than ten or twenty thousand roubles. The next morning hi.s Majesty sent for the Count, and graciously handed him a five hundred rouble note ! Less than £70, at the present rate of exchange, for a two months' trip from St. Petersburg to Nice and back again ! Count Aldorborg got rid of his bronchitis aa beat he could in Russia. Upon larrikinism a correspondent writes : —"Sir, —l do not like to be an informer, but the conduct of some lads nightly, who are old enough to know better, in the neighbourhood of the Jewish Cemetery is disgraceful, and dangerous to passers by. On Tuesday evening last, a lady well up in year, was passing on the footpath home ward from the city, when a crowd of those larrikins ran dead against the lady, knock ing her down and seriously injuring her. Luckily she was not killed on tiie spot. I trust tkis hint will act as a warning to them, or I shall find out their names and publish them. —Yoars, &c, A Resident ok Symonds-street." It is generally conceded by the education alists and social reformers of Great Britian that the cau.se of popular education is more rapidly advancing in Scotland than in any other part of the Kingdom. There are pro portionately fewer absentees from schools ; and there are similarly higher averages at tained in the respective departments by the scholars. In this respect, therefore. Scotland presents a fair illustration of the salutary etFect of the compulsory law ; and on the same principle it is readily shown that the money expended by the Govern ment on education there is not only not mis applied, but is promotive in a large measure of its intended purpose. While the diver was below working at the wreck of the Express, off the Coast of Southland, he encountered a shark of about eight feet long. He saw the voracious member of the finny tribe before it got close to him, and had time to draw his knife and give it a cut under the belly. It turned sharply round under him with one of its fins, and then beat a retreat, no doubt to the infinite relief of the sul3marine pros jjector.

The next lecture of the winter series ot lectures in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association will be given to-morrow (Friday) evening, Vy the Rev. Thomas Buddie. The subject, " New Zea land —Pust, Present and Future/" From the l rccently-published Doomsday Book, it appears that the anuual.valne of an acre of land in Edinburgh, owned by the Edinburgh and District Water Trust-amounts to £SlO3, while an acre in Queen-street,-be longing to Aitcliison and Sons, is set down at the annual value of £3,109. One of the jurymen who condemned the Tichbome claimant to imprisonment has publicly recanted, lie has informed the Queen that he has changed his mind about the case, and now thinks that the prisoner should be released. The Tichborne leagues are jubilant. A story is told in the Melbourne "Leader" which does not- show tiie literary attain ments of the Victorian elite in a brilliant light:—A lady "moving in the best society"' in Melbourne was advised by h'-r frien.ls and encouraged by the dressmakers to pre pare a haudsome dress for the approaching fancy ball. Her husband was going as Charles 11., and it was considered that her peculiar style of beauty would lie shown to the best advantage in the character of Nell Gwynne. But between the ordering of the costume and its coming home the lady took tv the .^tudy of history, and discovered for the first lime who the person wa-< that she had undertaken to personate. Horrorandin dignationfilledhersoulat the thought of the indignity she way >:o nearly suffering; and the husband, who should have known better, has been condemned by his offended wife not only to pay for a now dresa for her, but to change his own character. As she very properly said, "Them as dresses like Charles 11. might act like him." Australian telegrams inform us that the disa.st-rons drought from New South Wales lias suffered po long has at last broken up. As showing the ruinous effects of the lengthened absence of rain, the Sydney correspondent of the "Age" stated in a recent letter that lour millions sheep less would be shorn in New South Wales this year than last year. A bank circular estimates the decrease at six millions. The losses on souk- of the stations are simply incredible. One station nhow f!0,000 out of 400,000, and another 50.000 out of 200,000. The reports from the west and north are terrifying, and unless rain comet soon, the calamity will be irreparable. At the last meeting of the Otahuhu Mutual Improvement Society, held on the evening of the 24thinst., the Rev R. Gould read a paper entitled, "A Trip to the Hot Lakes," whirl) was of a descriptive and pleasing character; but, ;.s the tour of Sir Gould and his St. John's College com panion was made nearly thirty years ago, it was rather a sketch of the past than a picture of the present, in regard to the journey to the Lakes. A number of specimens of ferns from the district, tuid recent photographs, were exhibited aad explained in relation to what the lecturer happily termed "Ihe wonderland of the world," the fame of which lias passed to the utmost bounds of I civilisation. The paper was listened to with marked attention, and •: vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Gould. On the Taieri Plain the late fall of snow diil not work so much destruction amongst the lambs as was at first supposed. On the ridges they must have suffered severely, but ' on the plain the mortality was confined to lambe that had just been dropped. During the discussion on the Medical Practitioners Act Amendment Bill, i)r Wallis was (notes the " Argus "), a» usual. full of anecdote. On rising ho. commenced very seriously and condemned a number of clauses in the bill, and then, as he warmed i to the subjec*, he became funny, and i related some pleasing little anecdotes. He ' said that on one occasion he was announced to preach in a little country Tillage on a Sunday afternoon, but on entering the pulpit he found very few persons present. Whether it was the popularity of the weather or that of the parson he did not know, but. l'ke occasions when the Local Option Hill was under discussion, there was a very poor house. The hon. member stated that some years ago lie was on his rounds, and called upon a young married couple. The lady not being very well, asked him, as a medical man, to stay ; but the doctor suid that he could no:* as he bad to preach at a neighboring village that evening. " Well,"said the doct >r. " 1 was 10 years younger then than lam now, and do you know 1 actually preferred to stay with the lady than to go preaching." In the evening the lady was a mother, and the doctor suggested" to the happy father that in consideration vi the son and heir he should give £10 to the church at which the doctor had promised to preach that evening. The father agreed to do so, and thus the church pained more by the doctor than by the parson. To the Editor : Sir,—Can you tell me, or how can 1 find out, in what year the Josephine Willis was wreckedI' —-Yours &(\, A SI'IiSfKIDEK.— [February, .":d. IS".',.] The yes-els in harbour were gay with bunting to-day, in honor of the marriage of the eldest daughter of Captain Ellis, Har bour Master of the port of Auckland. Dame Fortune has smiled upon an individual who has for years past been well-known in Dunedin in his capacity as barman at several hotels. It is reported that some wealthy relatives, who have just died on the island of St. Helena, have re membered him in their wills, and that in a few months lie will be the happy possessor of £13,000. The Excelsior Lodge of Good Templars held an entertainment last evening, in the Franklin Road school-room, optu to all comers without an entrance fee. Mr Mac kenzie occupied the chair, and introduced the proceedings with some pleasant and apposite remarks on the question of Tem perance, and considered that respectable hotels were equally—if not more—dangerous than the lower class of public-houses, as the former were the more likely to entrap the youth of respectable families. The ten dency of the drinking custom was down ward, and in direct opposition to progress. The following programme was gone through:—Opening Ode, "Friends and Brethren," by the choir, who also gave at intervals during the evening, "Hold the Fort," '"'Gate's Ajar," "Daniel," "Armour Bearer," " Ring the Bells," "The Bright For-evermore," and "I Need Thee Every Hour." Songs: Mr Marson, "I Cannot Sing To-night ; Miss Moore, " King the Bell Softly;" Mr Lovell, "Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder;'" Mr Green, "A Lament." Recitations : Miss Emma Carter, "The Orphan Child ;" Mrs Anderson, "The Loss of the Schiller ;" Miss E. Ander son, "Where There's Drink There's Danger ;" Mr .Tamieson, " A Sussex Man's Yarn;" Mr Job Gibbs, "The Honest Baker." Readings : Mr Mashitter, "Uncle Dick's Advice," in two chapters ; Mr Bell, " A Lay of Lancashire Life ;" Misses Anderson, "The Temperance Wreath;"' Mr Blackman, "Dr Brierroot's Spring Meditations." The room was crowded with interested listeners. We. notice that the choir has improved by the addition of new members under the superintendence of Mr Salt, who materially assisted in the voca renderings. Mr Baker was the harmonis of the evening. The time for receiving tenders for the new boiler for the steamer Enterprise is ex tended till Wednesday, October 3rd.

THE SHAREMARKET.

BUSINESS on 'Change started this morning on Tokatea, a demand for this stock having set in from Coromandel. At an early hour orders were wired up for various parcels at 7s fid ; shortly afterwards 8s 6d were freely offered from the same quarter.' Very few shares were quitted at these prices. Larger business was done at 9s 3d to 10s. Later in the day telegrams received from Coroman del stated that a large lot of specimens werj reported from the mine with more to follow. Caledonians were in brisk demand, and considerable business done from £3 to £3 10s. Cures were also in moderate request.

PARLIAMENTARY.

FEO3I Orix SPECIAL REPORTED.) [P.Y ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] WELLINGTON, this day. Ysts ofWaat of CfcafLde&oe- Humours of vrar have been rife for several days, and have just culminated yesterday. Ministerial supporter-?; for some time past have been in tha habit of ridiculing the rumour that preparations were being made in the Opposition camp by the leaders for a direct assault upon the Government position, which has been so sapped and weakened by continual bombardment as to be an easy prey to any vigorous attack. It was generally understood that a want of confidence motion would bo delayed until Friday, and iio one but the leadens knew that the gauntlet would be thrown down yesterday, h- was only known to a select tow that the}' had met iv the morning and determined z>> bring matters to an issue yesterday afternoon. The precise o.ui-e which led to this was that it had got wind that the Government, having learnt through their whips the exact, point of rhe Opposition attack, determined to evade it I by a side-viud.asusual.andwould endeavour Iby hook or by crook to cling to another year's place and pay. The strategy w!;:c:i the Government* had d cided upon was this : In order to burke discussion on the :; Y\ aka Maori " ease, a new trial was to be moved for to-morrow, and then Ministers would have put one of their own friends up co point out that Mr R-ees' motion, which has been a long time on the order paper and never seemed to yet within debatoable ground, could not be discussed, inasmuch as the '' Waka Maori " case was still sub judice. This would have antici pated the < ipposition move. They, however had wiring a'.s) at work, who apprised their leaders of the intended move, aud preparations were made to foil it. Several days ago Mr Larnach had been chosen by an Executive Committee of the middle party to move the motion, and was accepted by Sir George Grey. Mr Larnach's well-known influence and pratical business, steadiness, and reputa tion, indicated him as the littest man to I carry weight. Only a few members of the I Opposition ha;! received circulars warning them of the c >niiug event. The House was pretty well filled, but several absent mem bers have not baen brought; over from their lod-ings. Tho Canterbury Rivers' Act Amendment Act So. 2, introduced without notice by Mr Whitaker, aud read n second time, was like a calm before, a storm. At twenty minutes past three exactly, Mr Larnach rezc. just before the first notice of motion was called on, and gave notice " That this House disapproves of the action of the Government in continuing to publish the '• Waka Maori "uewspap srat the public expen-e, in d°f:anc3 of the vote of the House, i.v.'i in allowing its column;? to be used for the publication of libellous i matter." The motion fell upon the House like a bomb shell. Ministers were seen at once putting their heads together, and whisper ing with grieved expressions of countenance. Then Mr Whitaker got up aad said, in a tone of half remonstrance, " why, this is equal to n. no confidence motion." At Trliich. there was general laughter from the Opposi tion; Mr Liees' voice, as usual, being most conspicuons. Mr Rees' hatred of the lim pet Ministry has not abated with time. Ministers again stretched their necks and put their beads together, much like the sheaves in a wheat cock ; and after more portentous whispering, Mr Whitaker again rose aud stated " we accept it a>= a motion of no confidence, and 1 move the adjourn ment of the Honse, as is usual in such cases, until 2.30." The Opposition cheered loudly. Immediately afterwards an amusing epi sode occurred. Mr Laxnach was about to move that the Government be requested to make early arrangements for the establishment of an Imprest Stamp Office in the City of Dunedin tot the purpose of facilitating the conduct of business generally, and for the convenience of the mercantile and trading community of that portion of the colony, when Mr Sheehan said perhaps the Hon. member would allow the House to adjourn, and not discuss the question now ; as in a few'day.s Mr Larnach would be his own Commissioner of Stamps, and be able to make what arrangements he pleas-ed. A STAMPEDE. The Hou«e adjourned arid an immediate stampede was made to the lobbies, where little knots were found everywhere, and there was great buttonholing by reporters. The ccTieral tip appears to be that the Opjxxsition will win by tour votes —this requires confirmation. DISQUALIFICATION. It is believed in well-informsd circles that the Disqualification Committee will report that Kennedy has forfeited his seat. Mr Ree.s intended and intends to ask why Mr Whitaker sits in the House while the question of his disqualification is pending. COLONEL WHITMORE AND THE OPPOSITION. Your correspondent lias Colonel Whit more's authority for llasly contradicting the rumour industriously circulated a few days ago by Government roadies that Colonel VVhitmore had attempted to create dissension in the Middle party. SIR GEORGE GREY AND LAND TRANSACTIONS. The Hon. Mr Russell is ill as Napier, and intends to publish the letters referred to by Mr Ormond in the House. Some of the earliest letters will shew that Sir George Grey wrote absolutely refusing to have any thing to do witlv the land transaction. Those letters will be read in the House. A motion will then be tabled affecting Mr Ormond's position as a member of Parlia ment. ILLNESS OF THE PREMIER. The Premier has been very ill, but was out yesterday. Ho walks lame. He is supposed to be suffering from a twinge of Vogel's complaint. People wonder at these singular historical parallels of Premiers falling ill at certain junctures. Mr Brvce is down with a dangerous fever. MR FITZGERALD'S PETITION. The Petitions' Committee report that Mr J. E. Fitzgerald's loss by the iuteruption of survey at Taupo amounted to £370. The committee recommend that the balance of loss should be repaid. ROMAN CATHOLIC PETITION. On the petition of the Roman Catholics of Waikato and Coromandel the committee do not offer any recommendation. The committee decline to recommend the claim of Mr Billing on behalf of Brogden and Sons for refund of lines and expenses re the grounding of the Paterson at Waitara, on the ground that they had sold the hull before the alleged obstruction. MAORIS CLAIM THE~KAIPARA RAILWAY. On the petition of Paora, Tuhaera, and others., who claim free possession of the Helensviile and Kiverhead Railway for three years, on the ground of a promise of such being made when they granted the land for railway purposes ; and also on a petition that a licuse oi accommodation for Maoris at Helensviile, the committee do not nnd that the former promise was made, but recommend the second request on the ground that itwaspromised by Mr Shoehan. KENNEDY LOOSES HIS SEAT. The report of the Disqualification Com mittee is that Mr Kennedy has lost, his seat, being a Government contractor. This takes another vote from the Government. The Government organ, this morning, is trimming its light "to go the other side, aud blames the Ministry for being too precipitate in accepting Mr 'Larnach's mo tion as no confidence motion, and hopes Mr Larnach will yet be convinced that lie is in error. The article is flabby, and a confes sion of coming defeat. The literary brag's 1 tail is down.

How Ministers Received the Announcement.

ilifll tllGV ™,,i',i ,!/ ?"°": -y Ksid said ii "iej 'voukl not, he would leave the Go tirmotion bV'^^t oSi f^ confidence He was about to «o t ~ when Mr ttlutakcr pulled him do-.v- " the coat vail < ami said, '• If anybody had & clo that sort of thin.;he flattered himself fe£ls v was the man £ Gahray. Judging by ministerial county ance? to-day, they are jir>.,ut to be relecratV bencfe, M£ S: z ;. he °^fe tenches. Politic rip r.re discussing affair* on the -rave- v.v.lk in front of the buildS? and in little groups a:">m the lobbies' « O P tf f !; US v"!.;? U3 oli RS- s a te eve"rvwbere but tn- Opposition organisation is secret and unavailable. et Every means are being tried to get vote for the Government. An attempt will be made to ger Mr Kennedy to vote TrithtS Government before the rc-s-.rt of the Disqualification Committee is broughtnn A writ is out n'.pAiKT him and a^bailiff vaiting in the passage. Mr Rowe h-T ---paired forthe Opposition, Mr Stevens X gone over to rhe Opposition : Mr Fo\- i~ trying to persuade Mr E-llance. This Aftssaooa, When the Home met at half-past two tae xloiiso va« rnther thin. Mr Cuyt-s who was said to have gone over to the Opowii.^ v-a« seen stanW at prayers next .-.!;■ McLean. After prayer he went to hi.s usijal ?e:it Mr Sheehaa was active. Statfor.l and Pail not in the House. Mr v- .'sen carae in looking Ulr Mr Larnach vru.s not. in his usual place near Mr Staiiord. lint on the cross benches near the Otago meiv.bors, occupying Mr Stoat's usual place. Messrs Wh'itaker, Atkin>on and Urniond were not m the House at the opening, but entered shortly afterward?. Mr Larnach has the appearance of an old Scotch chieftain ready for war. Mr Rpe< 1' oks expectant. - , S, ir Geor.-e _ G. re.Y-" Messrs Di^nan. Tole, 0 Rorke. Wallii?, and Swansou are allin their place?, as usual. _ Mr Ballanco looks dubious, and Sphinx- Mr Wason i.- studying some country newspaper. After sr>:~::o unimportant business was disposed nf, the Speaker said the House would proceed to the consideration of order No 6, second reading of the Canterbury Rivers Act Amendment Act No. 2. whish was before the House. The second reading was carried on the voices. The Hous: went into committee on the Bill. Mr Larnach rose to speak. The Speaker expressed a. wish that the debate would be confined strictly to the question under dis cussion. Major Atkinson said the Government did not take that- view of the matter. They re garded the motion as one of no confidence, and. therefore, that the House would go generally into the policy of the Government. The Speaker said he regarded the motion just the same as if"there were added to it. '-And this House has no confidence in the present Government (hear, hear;. "What he had said was merely an expression of opinion. MrJSheehan, in moving the adjournment pro forma, seid the Government had got an erroneous- view of the question. The Opposition wa? not afraid to discuss the whole question; but the tactics whicn the Ministry now adopted would not prevent discussion on the "Waka Maori '" question, or draw a red herring across the scent. _Oji the motion for going into Comraitttee of Supply. Mr Larnach rose, and after pointing to the Royal Arms at the top of the '•'Waka Maori," read the correspond ence from Mr Stafford to Mr "YVaternouse, protesting against the i: Waka Maori" being used as a party organ, and a promise from Mr" Waterhouse that the paper would not be so used. He read quotations from the '•' 'Waka Ivlaori."' accusing Mr Stafford of obtaining office in IST- by misleading Ministers, and generally lick-spittling the late Mr McLean. The speaker is now traciuc the history of the "Waka Maori." Mr Larnach went on to say that the "■' Waka Maori"' had been used to slander private individuals. Mr Russell's case cost the country £6000. He eombatted the argu ment that the prevent Govanrmeit were not responsible for the libel. Recently a more c^ross libel had been perpetrated, during the present regime. Mr Larnach, alter a temperate speech, closed amidst cheers. Mr Whitaker said the Government had long heard -rumours of a no confidence motion," especially in some newspapers. He was t:ow glad matters were brought to an issue. He read extracts on Parliamentary practice with regard to the responsibility of persons moving no confidence motions. The present was a vote of censure. If the majority was against the Ministry they would feel it necessary to resign, and would recommend the Governor to send for the mover. He deniel that this was a continuous Ministry. (Cries of': Oh ! oh!") He had been laughed at for claiming precedence over other Ministers. The reason was not that he desired to walk first in the Governor's retinue, but that he wished to dissever him self from any former Ministry. He denied responsibility for acts of former Minis ters. Mr Whitaker is speaking well. His impression was that the cost of the '•' Waka Maori" case would not exceed £3.500. He quoted the vote of the 17* October, 1576, with reference to the "Waka Maori," and argued that the vote was reduced only by £400, with anew of making it self-supporting, on division by 29 to 21. He denied that the vote had *>een entirely struck oiF.

CABLEGRAMS.

[reutee's special telegrams.] MEHEMET ALI UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTACKS THE RUSSIANS AT CHERKOVNA. CONVOY ENTERED PLEVNA. TURF SWINDLERS COMMITTED FOR TRIAL. [The following cable dispatches were issued as a Star second edition at 6.30 last night.] 30MBAY, Sept 25. A Russian oirlcia! dispatch says that Mehemet ?Ji unsuccessfully attacked the Russians at Ckerkovna, on the Ja'ntra, on tho 21st. They reached the entrenchments, but were compelled to fall back, their supports failing. A Turkish official dispatch says tW> a convey numbering 5,000 men has entered Plevna. , Seven hundred and fifty thousand models in the American Patent Oinee were burnt by a recent fire in Wasn ington. , The Detectives of Scotland lara who were connected with the gi*3 turf swindle of £10,000 on the Coun tess, vrere committed for trial.

THE EVENING STAR THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1877.



me io.lov.-i:ii: are me cares an 1 amounts or :al's in connection with ihe undermentioned ,-o:cl Kiniu^ companies :

& ?. d. Date. New Golden Pah .. .. 0 ft 3 — T>nc-. N.Z. Loan Company.. 0 In 0 — Get. 1 Palmerston 0 0 6 — Oct. 1 Citr or: London .. .. 0 1 3 — Oct. 1 Red, White, and Blue 0 1 0 — Oct. 5 -Albion 0 0 3 — Oct. S Homeward Bound .. 0 0 G — Oct. ID Shannon acd Fergus.. 0 0 .1 — Oct. 10 United Kingdom .. .. 0 0 8 - Oct. 10 Sultan 0 0 3 — Oct. 10

Dividends— West Coast 0 10 — Sept. 27 Uank of Australasia .. 2 10 0 — Oct. D



TTNIOS INSURANCE COMPANY * ' OK NEW ZEALAND. CAPITAL Z7Z £2.000.000. Temporary Offices: QUE" EX-STREET, Next to Mr. G. W. Einney-s Store. FIRE DEPARTMENT. ln ~i-i-n Ce * -ranted on Dwelling - houses, Cr *£= Shop*.* Buildings in which trade is carrieVl on. Merchandise, and Goods of every description. MARINE DEPARTMENT. Willis of shiDS or Steamers. Merchandise of all kindi Specie and V.'oo! to United Kingdom, at LOWEST CCKI^T RATE. Manager. \r • T HUR3T CO. hare on sale the under- S[° t Tf£ Experience teaches that largre and every Agriculturist :— "malt>en island guano peruvian guano MEXICAN do BEL.L ■\^^ CC i^c j l BONEDUST BILLYA.RD\S No. 1 do. NITRATE OF SODA ut-t P4VTE OF AMMONIA -" TTJPIA.TK 'O v POTASH PIVf.R-PKOSPHATE OF LT.ME. SALT, SULPHATK OF LIME. In addition to the above, W. J. H. Ec Lo. are nrenaredtc supply special Chemical Manures Pf?iSlatin" iveak'Corn Crops, and renovat i°c/ri"o-erU "f- Pastures, as well as the Potato KKold mi^u-fp last season attracted SO^^^S?ind^ho. particulars will be supplied on application at the stores. vr. j. hurst & co., 101 QUEKN-ST REE T, « TOVE o SEED FOP. SPRING SOWING. JU3T Landed, ex Columbus— SO casks new Clovers, cousisting or Red Corel" White Clover Cow Gras \l-o o:i hand, Al=vhe, Timothy. Lucerne. Rape, R^ts-tail Rye grass, Cooksfoot, &c, at.lowest market rate,. \V. J. HURST & CO. 5101, QUEEN- STRE ET. 500 sacks Sydney Maize (superior sample) oiyu") Oat 3 First-cla33 Tartars for Seed, also SOO^a^ks of. 1875 crop hard feed, surpassing any oE last season's growsh i9iyi sacks Canterbury Potatoes, and some early varieties for seed purposes- , Flonr," Bran. Sharps, Chaff, OilcaKe, Coal, &c, &c. Particular attention is called to 500 sacks Prime Barley at 4s per bushel of 608bT5 tons Andersons Fresh oatmeal, at £21 per ton. W. J. HURST & CO., ir,l, nTKEN'-STP^ET, AUCKLAND. T) It APERY AND CIOTIIIXG for tiik SPRING AND SUMMER TRADE. The under3i^ed are now openins: up supplies cf NEW GOODS for the incoming Season, comprising :— New Prints, in -reat variety of pattern and style, from 4Jd per yard _ Very Choice Brocaded Prints, quite new WbiteS^in Striped Brocaded Muslins Taiwanese Silks, very choice A Sfce assortm-nt of Jilack Silk?, unusually -ood value, from 3s Gd per yard \ Varied and Cnmf ally-selected Stock of New F?.ncv Dress Materials . Blar-kan'd Coloured Lustres in variety, and General Drapery Goods of every desenp- A Job Line of Heavy Brown Holland at G}d ttnlanr/of Last Season s Dress Goods and Job B UnL at very greatly Reduced. Rates, to ""Job^fo^of large-sized Honeycomb Towels at 01 each. 1} yards long Fverv Requisite in Furnishing Drapery. Carpets in variety. Curtains. Blind Muslins Window Holland, Damask, Sheetings all makes Toilet Covers, Coloured and \v hite Quilts and Counterpanes , v . m i.,; 3 a \] sizes, unusually cheap, &c, &c. A Large' Stock of Calicoes, of best makes, always on hand. j G-ev Calico from 3d per yard While Calico from IVdner.yard • Every Description of Clothing for Boys and j TweS Corduroy, Moleskin, strong material, j for Boys'wear. h in he £ allowed on all Cash Purchases of i 20s. and upward 3. ; RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN, Junction Dhapetiy Warehouse, : Uppkb Oukbx-strebt, auckland.



JMFORTAyr XOTICE i Ravinj introduced-STEA3I POWER into the Manufacture of F&ESITITRE, j v:e are nov: enabled to Supply our Cus- ■ tomers at GREATLY REDUCED'] PRICES. ! T. & H. CO ORE, Cabinet.;wJci2i's, L pholsfi'-'H' s, u'c, cCc ■, 5f3F SHOW ROOM S. \ 07, Queen-street, STEAJL CABIXET FACTORY Victoria-street.



CHIEF PQST-OPFICE. AI"CKLAXU. Mails y.ill Clos;c as Uxdeh: For Thames, this day, ::t 5.30 p.m.: arid to morrow, at 11.30 p..m.. i p.m , and 5.30 p.m. For CorotfiancLel, per Aivyie, to-morrow, at 2.30 p.m. For "U hi-iansa. per Ocean, this dr.y, at i p.m. For Toiiira and Samoa, per Fearlj to-morrow, at 3 p.m, For Waivvera, Mahurangi, Mahurangi, Waipu, Mata:-:aiia, Manga V\ augarei,~and Man gapai, per Annie Milbank. on Saturday nest, at 10 r..:n. " For Hobart Town, per Bella Mary, on Saturday next. .■■. noon. For Taranaki and Southern Provinces, and Australian Colonies.^per Taranaki, on Monday next, at 11 a.m. jjor Russell. Wangaroa. and Mongonui, per lona. on Monday next, at l p.m. For Russell, cer Hawca.cn Monday next, at 1 p.m. S. B. RTFS. Chief Postmaster.



ENTERTAINMENTS & MEETINGS, Septemdeh 27. Carlton Crickc-t Club r^eetinu", district school, 7.30 p.m. West End Cricket Club meeting, V.M.C.A., 7.30 p.m. Rowing Club meeting, Ponscnby Hall, 7.30 p.m. Charles Bright lecture meeting1, Lome-street Hall. S p.m. Pameil Rink Dance, S p.m. Poineer Lod^e. Temperance Hall, musical entertaiument. S p.m. Select Quadrille Party, Oddfellows' Hall. Cook-sti'eet. Bp.m. Alexandra t'chool-ro&ai, lecture on '' Court ship and Marriage," Dr. Kcnderuine, chairaaan, 7.30 p.m. Theatre Royal, " Shaushraun,' S p.m.



Shun as you would prussic acid the detestable shams which their vendors proclaim as identical with, similar to, orass^oodas Udolpho AVolfe's Schiedam Aromatic Scitxapps. They are all worse than worthless. Very frequently they are sold in bottles which previously contained', the genuine article, which is a? a.'.jreeab!e and remedial as they are nauseous and hurtful.