SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

ARRIVALS.

Torea, schooner, from Kaipara (at Onehunga) Rowona, s.s., Hollars, from Tauranga. Coronet, schooner, Rose, from the Islands.

DEPARTURES.

Taupo, s.s., for the Scmth. Jane Douglas, s.s., Fraser, for Gisborne and Napier. Isabella Pratt, schooner, for Oamaru.

IMPORTS.

Per Oxford from London : I cases drawing room furniture. Winks and Hall.

Per Oxford from London: 3 cases waterproof clothing. 25 do. starch, 40 kegs Eubank's nails, 2 cases musical] nstruin^nts, 1 case toys, 1 case optical goods, 1 do. fancy good, 2 do. Epsom salts, 1 do. gas fittings, IS bundles galvanised tubing, 17 canes American (hushing nails, 2 do. do hammers, 1 do. plumb levels, 1 do. braces and bits, 1 do. oil stones. 12 do. union scales, 18 do. clocks, 30 boys axes, 1 do. Aine notions, 6 do. pianos, 2 do. clothing, 2 do. handsaws, 2 do. cutlery, 1 do. shop twino'—E. 11. Isaacs.

Por Coronet, schooner, from Rarotonga: 21 tons pearl shell, 3000 oranges, 23id tons copra. 2L baiTols limequice, 3 cases arrowroot. —Owen and Graham, Agents. Per Oxford: 8 cases drapery and clothing.—T. McMaster.

ARRIVAL OF THE CORONET.

The schooner foronet, from Rarotonga and other Islands, arrived in port this afternoon. Captain Rose reports leaving Ra.iotonga on the loth, and for the iirst six days hadciilins with heavy thunder and rain, tho'ship making only WO miles in the time. From thai, time till arrival experienced a succession of S.E. winds. The Coronet has been for months absent from port, and judging from her cargo, appears to have had a good trip. Passengers:—Mr and Mrs Keough and four children, Messrs. De Mordrey, Magon, Nicholas, and Misses Nicholas

The s.s. Taupo sailed for the South this morn ing. Passengers :—Mesdames Young, Latham, Elliott, Enwood, Kenny, Hancock, White, Bry deii, Vaile and family, Miss Proude. General Bridge, Hon. J. Young, Colonel Norris, Messrs Burton, Laurie, Blackmore, Elliott, Steinhoif, Mitchell, Livingstone, Kenny, Weston, Jackson, Hancock, Hill, Griftiu, Neilson, Vaile, Chalmers, and 9 steerage.—Henderson and Macfarlanc, agents.

The Wellington is duo about 11 a.m. to morrow.

The Isabella Pratt sailed for Oamaru this morning. The Taranaki arrived at Port Chalmers with San Francisco mails, at 5.25 this morning, mak ing tho trip from the Manukau in 871 hours. The now fore-and-aft schooner built by Messrs H. Niccol and Son. at tho North Shore, is to bo launched to-morrow morning about nine o'clock. She ia masted and rigged, and can be made ready for sea in a very short time. She has been measured by the Customs authorities, and found to be 120 tons register. C9nsignees by the ship Oxford are requested to attend to an advertisement relating to them selves, which appears in another column. The s.s. Jane Douglas left port at seven o'clock last night, for Gisborne. She was chartered specially by Mr. J. K. Emmet, to take himself and a dramatic troupe of 20 to Gisborne and Napier. The barque Victoria, which is now discharging at Onehunga, is to load thence with timber for Newcastle.

s.s. StafFa is to leave Tauranga for Auck land on Monday next.

AUCKLAND STOCK AND MINING REPORT.

" Bank of New Zealand—Buyers, £19 15s ; sellers, £20. National Bank—Buyers. 655. Colonial Bank (408 paid up)—37s; buyers, 30s Gd. South British Insurance—Bos, 82s ; buyers, SGo. National Insurance—Buyers, 80s. Now Zealand Insurance—Buyers, 91s ; sellers, 92s Gel. New Zealand Loan and Mercantile (new issue) —3eilers, 525. Moanatairi—Buyers, 15s. Kuranui Hill—Buyers. 5s Od. Palmerston—Buyers, 2s lOd ;'sellers, 3s 6d. AlUirnia—Buyers, 12s ; sellers, Ms. p1 union Sash and Door Company—Buyers, £7 10s. J. Newman, Chairman.

COMMERCIAL.

M. Jones & Co's sale of produce, poultry, and furniture to-day, was well attended, but bidding was very dull, and very little sold. Potatoes. 3rf ; onions, ;|d ; cheese, s^d to 6d; apples, Id ; ducks, 2s; gceso, 4si6d; turkeys, 2s 3d; chickens, Is 2d to Is lid each. Xo furniture sold. Mr K. Arthur sold a considerable quantity of provincial furits at his mart to-day, but the prices were low. Quinces, Id to 2d; apples, Ud to 2}d: pears, l? t d to 2Jd; damsons, 3d; grapes, 3J>d: cheese (damaged) 2Jd to s?d : kumeras, 6s 6d per lOOlbs.; potatoes, 3a to 3s 6d; pumpkins, 2s 9d to 3s6fi. The grocery and furniture sale was pro ceeding as we went to press Messrs Cochrane and Son held their usual weekly sale to-day, and a large quantity of furni ture was sold at fair prices. Mr li. C. Greenwood reports his sale of poultr produce, &c, as follows : Fowls, small. lOd to Is fid • large, Is 6d to 2s 2d; turkeys, 2s 61 to |3s 2d; pigeons. Is Gd each ; pea fowls, 5s 6d ; ducks, Is 8d; potatoes, 3s to 3* Cd per cwt.; onion", Ad to Id; cheese, 5d to 6d: apples, 2!d to 3d; plums, 61 par lb. Furniture, crockery, and glassware, realised fair prices.

AUCKLAND CATTLE MARKET.

Mr Alfred Buckland Reports.—At Reinu era on Thursday, dairy cows and store cattle were in less than usual numbers, and at last weck'3 values. Fat cattle in average supply, 135 head p-nned. From 15 to 20 ill-conditioned steers were purchased by the graziers. With this exception the cattle were of good quality, and maintained last week's values—2Gs the 100 lbs. for well-fattened steers. Sheep were un usually numerous, and not of first quality. All were sold at fully last week's rates— 2[d to 3d per lb. • fat lambs 93 to 14s each. Averages were: 16 steers, Mr Scott, £9 ss; 24 steers, J. Ban- Brown, £9135; 9 steers, Robert Hall, £9; 17 cows, Win. Qualtrough, £7 4s; 26 steers, Wm. Qual trough, £8 9s; 500 wethers, Barker and Macdon ald 10s 3d; 212 sheep, Skinner, lls 9d; 100 sheep, Colson, 12s 9d; 66 half-bred wethers, McLaughlin, 109s; 64sheep, Flavcl, lls 3d; 36 sheep, Harris, 15s; 20 wethers, Potter, 15s; 73 sheep, Kelly, 10s Hunter and Nolan Report.—Cattle—At Newmarket, on Tuesday, there was a large muster and bidding steady. There was little alteration in dairy stock. Stores were in steady demand. Some well-fatted beasts elicited keen competition, but for medium description bidding was rather slack. We quote dairy cows £7 10s to £10 10s ; 2'r and 3 year old steers, in fresh con dition, £6 to £7 2s 6d ; yearlings, £2 12s 6d to £3 3s • weaned calves, £1 8s to £1 15s; beef, 25s to 27s Gd per 1001b. Sheep—There was a large supply at Newmarket. For stores the demand was inactive, but good wethers were well com peted for and sold from 18s to 19s 3d; second do., 13s to lGs; store ewes from 5s Od; store wethers, lls each; fat lambs, 8s 6d to 10s ; store lambs, 4s 6d to 7s, Pigs—Very few yarded, but there is an active inqufry for store pigs and good pork ers.

THE MARKETS.

Wholesale Prices. Retail Prices. s d s d s. d. s. d. Butter.fsh.lb 0 Bto 0 10 Milk.quart 0 oto 0 4 Butter, slt,(lb 0 8— 0 9 Butter,fs,lbO 10 — 1 0 Cheese, Wra 0 5— 0 6 Butter, salto 10 — 1 0 Do Cantbry 0 7— 08 Cheese, col 0 B—o 10 E"is dozen 0 0— 10 Eggs, dzen 13 —00 Lard lb .06 —00 Lard, lb .. 0 8— 0 0 Bacon, Pro. 0 6— 08 Fowls, pr. 3 0— 4 0 Hams, Pro. 0 8— 09 Ducks, pr. 2 0— 3 6 Cantry bacon 0 8— 0 9 Geese,each3 6— 5 0 Cantryhams 0 11-1 0 Turkeys 4 0-6 0 Bacon, 1b..l 0— 0 0 Hams, lb.. 13 — 00 Bread, 3Ad to Id 21b If. Flour Market.—Wholesale. £ s. d. Superfine Flour, silk dressed, per ton.. 18 0 0 Fine Flour, ditto, household .. .. 17 0 0 Seconds, per ton 1* 10 0 Sharps, per ton 8 10 0 Southern Flour .~. .. .. .. 17 0 0 Bran, per ton (sacks included) .. .. b 0 0 Hay and Corn Market. Wholesale. .Rgtail; „ Maize,Sydney4 6to 4 9 Maize .. 5 3to o G Do., Prov. ..0 0— 0 0 Oats ..3 3— 3 6 Fiii Maize.. 1 3— 4 6 JBran ..1 G—o 0 Oats (South) 3 0— 33 Wheat(fwl)s 0— 5 3 Wheat (fowl) i C—o 0 Hay, cwt 4 6— 5 (i Do. (milling) 6 9— 7 0 Lucerne 0 0— 00 Hay, ton .. 3 o—4 10 Oaten .. 5 0— 0 0 Oaten, ditto 4 o—oo Straw .. 4 0— 5 0 Lucerne .. 0 0— 0 0 Chaff .. 7 0— 7 (5 Siraw .. 210 — 3 0 Potatoes 0 0— 50 Chaff .. o 0 —(5 0 Potatoes £3 10s to £i os. Building Materials. Timber.—Boards and scantling, 100 ft, 9s to 15s; Us 6d at mill ; planed, tongucd, and grooved, 11s 6d. New Zealand Palings, oft., 12s (id; 6ft, 13s; Ti-tree Hails, £3 per 100; Puriri Posts, £6 10s to £7; Shingles, 12s to 13s per 1,000; Hobart Town Palings, sft., 16s; 9ft., 18s ; Hobart Town Rails, 80s. Kauri Gum and Flax Market. We quote the following prices on the Auck land market delivered nett cash :- Pttm —Ordinary (scraped), .. £30per ton T?r . v _i^nest quality £18 10s to £^010s per ton JuTi' vrntfe^dressed, unscutched £14 to — ton Jow „ < "• • £510 £7 Per ton

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Under :— For Thames, this day, at. 4 p.m. and 5.30 p.m., and to-morrow, at 1.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. For Coromaiidel, per Argy'e, on Monday next at 11.30 a.m. For Tairua, per Atalanta, this day, at 4 p.m. For Waiwcra. Mahurangi. Matakana, Manga. wai, Waipu, Wangarel, and Mangapai, por Annie Milbank, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Russell, Wangaroa, and Mongonui, per lon.i, on Monday n^xt, at 1 p.m. Per Wellington, on Tuesday next, as follows :— For India, China. Mediterranean Ports, and Continent of Europe, at 10 a.m. For Taranaki, Southern Provinces, Aus tralian Colonies, and United Kingdom, via Suez and Southampton (for letters specially ad dressed), at 11 a.m. For United Kingdom, via Brindisi, and late letters for Southern Provinces and Melbourne, will be received till 11.15 p.m. For money orders and registered letters, previous evening, at 4 p.m. For newspapers, at 9.30 a.m. For Wangarei Heads, Waipu, Wangarei, and Mangapai, per Argyle, on Tuesday, at 4 p.m. For Whitianga. Tauranga. and Opotiki, per Rowena, on Wednesday next, at 4 p.m. S. B. BISS, Chief Postmaster.

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

FRIDAY. MARCH 2, 1877.

For the cavse that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, /•"or the future ill the distance. And the trood that we can do.

A WEEK or two ago we referred to the possible clisf ranch isemcnt of a large propor tion of the ratepayers now on the burgess roll. The question lias since been submitted to the Attorney-General by tlie Dunedin Corporation, and his opinion fully confirms that expressed by us concerning the effect of the ninth clause of the Eating Act. Mr WMtaker says :" In my opinion, the Assessment Court has no power to put on the roll the names of any persons except those provided for by the Eating Act, lS7f>, which does not extend to persons to whom property is let for any term less than six months?' The Municipal Corporation Act expressly provides that the Burgess Roll shall be made up from the valuation roll. The object of the provision exempting short-term tenants from liability to rating beyond the amount which they can recoup from rentis an excellent one,but the manner of making up the Burgess Roll has given it an unfortunate turn. Many of the heaviest taxpayers in the city are, we doubt not, tenants holding under terms of less than six months, and although the Act will not relieve them from paying under agreement with their landlords, its effect would be to deprive them of representation in the administration of the taxes they raise. The inequitable character of such a law is obvious. By a very simple amendment of the Act the evil might have been avoided, and the good intentions of the legislature towards weekly, monthly, or quarterly tenants at the same time secured. The ninth clause of the Hating Act as it stands is a useful clause, and would greatly simplify the work of recovering rates oti property which hn.B undergone or f« liable to frequent changes of tenancy. J>nt the Municipal Corporations A rit should 1)0 amended bo ns to constitute those who had actually jmid the I'tites on a, \ property during the " preceding year.

voters at municipal elections. If a tenant, waiving his rights under the Act, pays the rates, he is entitled to the vote, and this right could readily gain the force of law by the substitution of the ratebook for the valuation roll as the basis of the burgess list. The clause will not influence the Auckland Burgess Roll for the ensuing year, which is based on the rates paid to the end of March, and as no new rate will be struck for some months, the new valua tion roll will not affect the ratepayers for the present. The City Council has, how ever, made up the valuation roll upon the old system, entering the names of persons who have hitherto paid the rates, irrespec tive of the length of their tenancy. Mr. Whitaker's opinion shews the roll so framed to be informal, and the city could not recover a large portion of the rates from the persons whom they have entered as legally liable. They could, of course, fall back upon the owners, but the costs and inconvenience of the proceedings would be serious,and the Council might even then find difficulty in proving liability for the rate in antagonism to their own valuation roll. The question is one of considerable moment and will, no doubt, occupy the attention of the legislature next session.

Till': Paradise commended by an Otago settler to Mr Macandrew, as a refuge for New Zealand politicall malcontents, is still the scene of the "liberal government" which drew forth Mr Thomas Redmayne's eulogies, and which cannot fail to commend his scheme to the Otago settlers. Telegrams from San Diego (the place for which Mr Rcdnmyne was setting out when he wrote his letter to Mr Macandrew) state, under date January 17th, that " the Mexican Provisional Government have seized all the mines in Lower California, and have decreed that one-half of the products of all the mines of the frontier shall go to the Government, to form a fund for liquidating the Government expenses, and for the pro tection, of the frontier from lilibusters. Moreno is said to have pronounced in favour of Diaz." Th« terms deinauded for protection may seem high, and the mode of exacting it rather rough and arbitrary, but in that land of chronic revolution and bri gandage the risks are great. General Diaz had staked his neck in fighting hia way to the Presidency, and he was not going to pay the expenses out of his own pocket also. When the mail left, Villagrana, the Mexi can Governor of the country around Onse nada Bay, just below Ban Diego, waa a refugee in San Francisco, having left bri gands in undisputed possession of the government. The prevailing anarchy had also tempted Californian adventurers to prepare a liillibustering ex pedition, which was, however, checked by the success of the revolutionists, followed by the deposition of the President, the shooting of his chief advisers and generals, and the vigorous measures of the Provisional Government generally. General Diaz lias not confined his levies to Lower California., but has distributed such attentions very impartially over the country. A tele gram from Matamoras says that : —■ " Revuella's ollicers continue to enforce the three per-cent tax by breaking into and plundering stores." In Sonora, the territory on the east side of the gulf separating Lower California from the mainland, the usual revolution is going on. A San Diego despatch dated February 2, the day before the Zealandia left, says : "Advices from Sonora to-day are very gloomy. Both of the Pesquieras are united in revolt against the Manscal Government. They are said to have 1500 armed men, and expect reinforcements from Shialoaand Chihuahua. A light of two days' duration was reported at Ures v week ago, and it was said that Mariscal had sent to other places for more troops. It is reported that Pasqueiru has more armed men than Maris cal, and that the people generally are dis couraged and feel that peace and order can only be secured by the interference of some foreign Power." These little troubles throw some light on the liberality of the terms offered by the Mexican Government to settlers, mentioned by Mr Redmayne, if they do not place that gentlemen's proposal in such attractive colours as he was pleased to paint them.

With to-morrow's paper will be issued gratis a supplement of interesting reading, including "The Armourer's .Story," a thrilling tale hi Charles Dickens' graphic style, "Sweet Sixteen," "One Farthing Damages," and other tales, sketches, and humourous gleanings.

An enquiry is to take place before the Immigration Commissioners this afternoon, into an alleged case of lunacy among tin? male passengers of the Oxford. We under stand that the Surgeon-Superintendent ascertained that the man was mad, about ten days after the ship left the land. Throughout the voyage he has rendered himself conspicuous by his imbecile beha viour and domeanour.

We would remind city ratepayers that to enable their names to be placed on the Burgess Roll for 1877, all rates now clue, including the half-yearly collection of the general rate No. 6", and the special waiter works rate, must be paid on or before the end of the present month.

An inquest is to be held as we go to press, before Dr. Goldsbro', and a jury, at Mount Eden gaol, on the body of Job Tyler, a prisoner undergoing a term of six years' penal servitude. The prisoner had been sinking for some time, and died last night. Tyler was convicted of setting lire to a house at the Thames on the 30th of March 1873. Tyler, who assumed the name of Love on leaving the old country, brought with him a young person named Mary Ann SaAvycr, and on reaching this country settled at the Thames as a black smith. But Tyler was not happy, and it was thought he felt some tinges of con scione, when he remembered the wife of his youth, and her children in England. Quarrels ensued between Tyler and Miss Sawyer, and he cultivated a feeling of re venge, and on the above date, in the dark of ths night, he struck the match, set fire to a quantity ot rubbish, and destroyed the house in which Miss Sawyer resided.

A case of almost unparallelled cruelty in the colonies was brought bcrore the Police Court this morning, in which a man named Hogan, .and a prostitute named Hand, were convicted. The disclosures, which will he read in our police report of to-day, were of the most revolting character. The sentence upon the prisoners was a righteous one, and well deserved.

The March number of the " Presbyterian Church News" sustains the character of a good representative journal, and shews the same power of thought and variety of subject as displayed by previous numbers. The contents are statistical and general, in connection with Presbyterianism. An excellent sermon appears on " The Gos pel," by the Rev. David Sidey, of Napier, which exhibits energy and learning, and will be read with profit; the "Theology of Money," by the late Rev. J. Ross, is brief but pithy, and immediately to the purpose; an extract on, trained ministry will be found useful, as the hints by the writer are sound and logical; the review i of special services points chiefly to the visit and labors of Mr Russell, recently from Scotland. A number of other brief articles, news of the churches, both at home and abroad, ; a biography of Peter Camp bell, Principal of the, Aberdeen University ; extracts of books ; the Westminster con« fession of faith ; general news; anecdotes; Temperance comer j and a beautiful poem, descriptive of love of country, worthy of the poet Nicol; with the Treasurer's ac counts, make up an excellent number for the current month, and form a valuable record of the progress of tlio Presbyterian 9kpiH«B in tk?sß and oth^r inlmss\

We have been requested by several of tli passengers by the Oxford to express thei appreciation of the efforts of Dr Akerman for their health and comfort during the late voyage of the ship from London to this port. We are assured the doctor "was indefatigable in his efforts to promote order, and at the same time maintain a cheerful tone among those under his charge. The passengers who had daughters in the single women's department are loud in their praises of the care bestowed upon them by Dr Akerman.

The action brought by Mr Talbot yes terday, in the Resident Magistrate's Court, against Mr Boyd, to recover for damages done to plaintiff's garden was concluded last evening. The evidence of plaintiff and defendant and three witnesses having been heard, the Court nonsuited the plaintiff with costs, £3 19s.

Mr Justice Gillies and his lady returned yesterday by the Rowena from the Lake District.

The " Church Gazette" for March is not quite equal in general information to some of its former issues, still it fairly represents the Church. On the first page, avo notice the Bishop's engagements for the month, and are satisfied that his Lordship's engage ments leave him hut little time for other than hard work. The offertories from country churches, in favour of the Home Mission, amounted only to £2 8s 7d. The parochial intelligence from outlying districts is meagre. One of the most interesting scc tionsof the "Gazette" isthesketchofthe con secration of Rev. J. R. .Selwyn, successor to the lamented Bishop Patteson, with a choice extract from Rev B. T. Dudley's sermon on the occasion, with a. half promise of its hoing printed for the edification of the Church. Mr Dudloy's tribute to the characteristic services of Bishops Selwyn aud Pattcsou are equally true and beauti ful : " It was not a mere cold sense of duty, but a spirit of love that took him (Bishop Selwyn) from his arduous post as spiritual ruler of tin's country to visit the islands of the sea. In that spirit he pleaded for his Master with the soamen who navigated his mission ship, till their hearts were melted and the tears rollod down their faces as he spoke to them in words I can never forget, of the length and strength and depth and height of the love of Christ. In that spirit it was that like Saint Gregory of old when lie saw the young Angles in the slave market at Rome, he looked at each group of dark-skinned natives as they gathered to meet him on the bright coral beach of their island, and by faith discerned among them those who thereafter (should he brethren in the faith, and the Christianiscrs of their countrymen. In that spirit he spoke, as with the words of Jesus, to the young Mr Patteson, and drew him from his father's side in that happy English home, to join him in his arduous and anxious work in Mic Antipodes. In the same spirit it was ,nn that Bishop Patteson was enabled to sacrifice so many of his natural tastes and inclinations, and to throw himself and all his varied powers and gifts heartily into this missionary enterprise. " The remaining pages of the " Church < iazctte " are devoted to articles on the Synod, and the improve ment of condidatcf for holy orders ; notices of books, and Sunday-school lessons for the month.

It will be seen by advertisement else where that the immigrants by the Oxford are open to engagement at the Barrack Depot.

The committee of one of our churches near to the heart of the city, resolved many months ago, in accordance With the wish of some members, to abandon the worldly system of handing round the plate after the sermon, an I, consequently they affixed collecting boxes by the central entrance to the church. Christians, it was alleged by some of the members, were desirous of giving on the old axiom, " Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." The plan, however, lias not worked successfully, for the Christian hands, as though to secresy bound, or fear ing that one hand might detect the other if uplifted towards the donation box, have nearly ceased to drop in even " the widow's mite." The box was content, and supported by a nail, but the contents of the box were found to be quite inadequate to the support of a church. The members, there fore, have determined to trust no longer to unsolicited Christian help, on the voluntary principle, and on Sunday next will return to ihe more remunerative system of passing round the plate.

Should the sun shine out to-morrow and gladden the earth with his genial beams there will be a buzz and a stir among the Auckland knights of the willow. Two matches arc announced, first, the Town and Country match, to be played on the emerald green of Ellerslie, and the second between the scholars of the An 'kland and Parnell Grammer Schools, in the romantic space in the Domain. As there arc good players among the scholars, an interesting and closely-contested mtach is anticipated. In the former match, the following players are named for the scene of action : Town :—

Messrs Kent, W. Philson, Dufaur, Coates, Browning, Macky, Cotton, King, Gleeson, and White. Country : —Messrs Bennett, Bowden, Hamcr, Cameron, McLean, Yates, Martin, Porch, Nolan, Wynyard, and Gray. The wickets will be pitched at Ellerslie, at 12 o'clock, and at the Do main at 2 o'clock.

The Hope of Parnell Lodge of Good Templars held a social and musical entertainment in the Presbyterian Chapel, on Wednesday evening. The meeting was fairly attended. Mr. Le Roy occupied the chair, supported by Messrs Dor rington and Gladding. A number of songs were, sung by several ladies, including Mrs. Bettany and Mrs. Cottingham. A pretty duct was also given, "Sweet Home," by the Brothers Buchanan.

The Prince of Wales Lodge of Instruction will be held this evening at the usual hour, at the Star Hotel.

The butchers of Auckland, and localities adiacent, will hold a meeting: on Monday even ing, the sth instant, at the Newmarket Hotel, to consider the necessity for a new slaughterhouse and the revision of the present charges.

The Sunday-school Exhibition, in connection with the Church of the Holy Trinity, Otahuhu, will be held in the Public Hall of the district on Thursday, the Bth instant. The particulars will appear in duo form, and as the prices of admis sion will be low, including a well arranged con cert, the venture should be successful.

Mr Danncford, of Copenhagen, the city of the poet Andersen, and for gome time the home of Swedish Nightingale, has opened a hair dressing saloon in the Theatre Royal Buildings, where he trusts, by civility and attention, to receive a fair share of public patronage. Mr Danncford is known in Auckland as an expert hair dresser.

Mr J. W. Pearse, draper of Queen-street, will commence a clearing-out sale of general drapery and ready made goods, to-morrow, for Hie pur pose of making room for new winter stock. The sale will be held on the premises, at the corner of Vulcan Lane, and heads of families will not regret looking in during the disposal of the goods.

The literary fund of the Young Men's Christian Association, will, we hope, receive substantial benefit from a concert arranged to take place in the Choral Hall, on the 22nd instant. We under stand that some of our leading: amateurs have kindly promised their assistance, on this occasion. A special novelty in the form of a duet on two pianofortes is to be given by Mrs Ellis and Miss J. Maunsell. The names of Miss Leaf, and Miss "Vaughan, and the Misses Maunsell. are amongst the lady singers, and the gentlemen being Messrs Hardimr, Blaydes, Gradwell, and Brett. The proceedings will be varied by one or two readings by Dr. Ellis.

A drag will leave the Post Office at 12 o'clock to-morrow, taking the teams of the town and country cricket match. The match is to be played at Ellerslie. and the game will commence on arrival at the ground. After the match, the combatants-and friends will dine at the Ellerslie Hotel.

The dispute with the teacher at Woodside was brought before the Board of Education yester day, and this Board expressed its regret that the teacher should have ttsod suoh intemperate huigUAgo find trusted the offence would not bo repeated, The appointment of Miss Henry as assistant teacher at Purneil, was ronfirmed, A request for two full-time schools at To Arai, was disallowed. The Board resolved to make appli« cation to the Government* for school reserves Ui

I?;'A new and commodious schoolroom for City East will shortly be erected on the Improvement Commissioners property, Wellesley-street, and the Board of Edu cation yesterday resolved to instruct Mr Wrigley to prepare the necessary plans.

The sum of £5 was grantod by the Board of Education yesterday for the repair of City West School.

We observe that by the ruling of the Judge of the first Assessment Court held under the Rating Act, 1576, to hear appeals against valuatian, it is necessary that a personal appearance should be made to support such appeal. Owing to the Act conveying insufficient information, many persons have been under the impression that the written appeal would suffice. We are requested to remind all persons appeal ing of the decision as above, which will no doubt be acted upon at all sittings of these Courts.

The man Joseph J. Foster, who came out in the Oxford under the disreputable circum stances related in the STAR last night was expelled from the Barracks depot this morn ing, the other passengers objecting to his further stay there. His unfortunate dupe if not radically bad might be reclaimed by kindness, and wo should recommend the case to the consideration of some of our philanthropists.

The Sheriff of Auckland, Colonel Haul tain, has, we learn, received a letter from an old soldier at Hokitika. in which appli cation is made for the permanent situation of hangman here. The writer treats the subject in a very business-like manner, and his letter deserves attention. He gives his qualifications and references, and asks if some small Government billet in conjunc tion with the haugmanship could be pro vided tor him, an the fees, by themselves, would scarcely be sufficient to keep him respectably. The local candidates for the billet had better keep their eyes open. We should suggest that tenders might be invited for the post, and as the County Councils and banks have set the example of keeping the terms of public tenders secret we see no reason why the sensibilities of tho candi dates might not be considered in a similar fashion.

In the action, Wright v. Auckland Harbour Board, the evidence in favor of plaintiff was concluded, and Mr J. B. Russell addressed the jury on the side of the Board. The sitting in chambers was resumed this morning at ten o'clock beforo the Sheriff, and the witnesses for the Harbour Board examined. It is expected that the whole of the evidence will be got through to-day. Up to 2 o'clock the witnesses examined to-day wore : Messrs Stephenson, B. Tonks, G. W. Binney, Cochrane, A. Bucklaud and A. Aahton.

The committee of the people's concerts advertise their entertainment for to-morrow evening in the Young Men's Rooms, Wellesley-street. The full programme will appear in to-morrow's issue.

Two ministers fov tho Wesleyan Church, in duced to leave J'or New Zealand by the ltev. J. Uuller, are oxpected in Lyltelton per ship Opawa. shortly due.

Referring to the late murder in Ngaruawahia gaol, the " Waikato rPirn»"B" says:—"We stated at the tune, our belief that the reason alleged by I'a.lui for killing .Morgan was not the true one. ll will be remembered that there were two natives sentenced for the robbery at Kihikihi. One of them, a boy nine years old, is at present in Whatawhata, having been released by the Defence Minister. We now learn that he stated that, during his stay in prison, Morgan never swore at, or abused the other prisoner. Te Patui, and that before he left, Te Patui asked him if he would belli to kill Morgan. The boy answered that lie would not, as they had enough to pay for already. This shown that the crime was a premeditated one, and that the murder was not committed for the reasons stated by Te Patui to Major Mair. Mosr, probably, as we have already said, the murder was done in revenge for. and to wipe out the indignity of im prisonment at the. hands of the law.

We learn that a rii.spensu.lion lias beon applied for from the Grand Lodge, E.G., for the forma tion of a new Lodge of Freemasons to be held at Newmarket, and called the Lodge Remucra.

11. 11. W. complains that lie paid a, subscrip tion, more than three months ago ,as a subscriber to a proposed St. Paul's Parish Magazine, simi lar to that of other days issued by St. Matthew's parish, ami as lie has hoard nothing more, of the expected brochure, he fears the idea has been abandoned, and his half-crown past recovery. Probably our correspondent's fears are prema ture.

A Melancholy Story.

Connected with the death of the un fortunate girl Poulgrain in Chancery-street last week, there is;i most melancholy story, shewing the steadiness of the downward course. The family Jived in a street off Manukau Road, Parnell, owning a little cot tage on unclaimed land. A few years ago the family seemed respectable and industrious, but habits (if dissipation have completely wrecked it. until two of the members have met dishonourable deaths and the rest are left homeless vagabonds. Three months ago, the mother, after a protracted lit of drunkenness, in which she was not sober for three weeks, died suddenly. One of the daughters had previously been in the habit of going to service for a period and then returning home for a spree with the rest. The other daughter has been a familiar habitue at the Police Court, for all the offences that are usually connected with such a life as hers. The fate of the mother offered no warning, but rather seemed to sever the only con necting link between the quiet happiness of the past—if there ever was such a season— with the wretched misery of the present. The daughter abandoned all habits of industry and plunged unrestrainedly into the vortex of the vilest and most abandoned habits. The father occupied the same house living upon the infamous earnings of his own child. The daughter, whose sad end formed the subject of a coroner's investigation, did not live with the others, but seemed -to have dipped even deeper in the moral mire. Finally, all other means being exhausted, the father sold his house to an expressman for £5, which was speedily expended in a drunken orgie. The daughter took refuge in a neighbour's house. When his money had run out the man returned to his former home, where he demanded admittance, and was allowed a night's lodging. Since then he has slept on the Mechanics' Bay reclama tion. A more painful picture in a Colony where industrious men and women might obtain ample and remunerative employment it is impossible to imagine, yet the case is but a sample of the many which daily provide work for our Police Court.

SPIRITUALISM.—ANOTHER EX POSURE.

An exposure has just taken place at Hudders field. the medium being the Rev. Francis Wark Monk, also known by the self-given title of " Dr," and who was formerly a Baptist minister. To he brief: Monk gave a "seance" at Huddersfielrl, in the house of a Mr Hcppleaton, and among those present at it was a Mr Lodge. "Various phenomena occurred, including the appearance of a " spirit hand." which touched one of the ladies present. ■At the close of the " seance " Lodge asked Monk if he would allow himself and the box he had. with him in the room to be searched. H« refused, and rushed out of the room, striking Loda:e, who tried to stop him, a blow in the face. Monk then went up to the room he was occupying, and locked the dcor, which was ultimately broken op°n by a policeman, when it was found that Monk had escaped by the window with the aid of the sheets on his bed and of the waterspout. He subsequently sought to recover possession of his bsxes, but Heppleston refused to give them up, and they were opened, and their contents pro duced in court. Among the articles were two long rods in pieces, all fitting into eaoh other, for floating a tamborine and "spirit hands ;" an instrument (oil-producing the raps,atambourine an instrument like a lyre, called the "fairy bells:" pale pink gloves, stuffed with elastic attached for the purpose of drawing the globes up to the sleeve, and also elastic 3 for moving the fingers; a large fan, worked with the tooth, for producing the sound which always accora panics the "spirits;" slates bearing tho message : " Good night, Philemon " (the name of one of tho party), and eiffned " Sam}. : " and, " Oh, . for a lodgn in some' vast wilderness1' (ft play upoti Mr Lodge's name)! gtWEP muslin and spirit fiiei^j painted on gwiao, liamea in white on a blade I plated tjn. vviutaiin^j &^Jat?4jjaJi^ '

E^mrt Monk after the above affair the latier the VSnt Act, and sentenced to the same mmishmentas Slado. A case was reserved for the Ser court, as to whether the offence did come within the scope of the Vagrant Act, and Sending the hearing of this appeal, Monk was admitted ts bail. The whole case is highly fnteresting and instructive-much more so than Slade's. ____________

An Awkward Predicament.

TREED BY A LUNATIC.

A SINGULAR and most unpleasant adventure befel an unwary plumber at the Lunatic Asylum, Wliau, yesterday. One of the men in the employ of Mr W. J. Marks was sent out to repair the spouting on the roof of the build ing. "While so engaged, mounted on a long ladder, a patient a walking round the building came along to take stock. Seized with a sudden freak of his wild fancy, he caught hold of the ladder to take it away, no doubt imagining it would be high old sport to see the luckless wight at the top come suddenly down. The victim did not see it in the same light, and shouted for him to desist. But the patient was inexorable, and began to draw the ladder away. The workman was now in very imminent peril, but instantly compre hending the situation, and seeing that to attempt the descent would mean almost certain death, he seized the spouting, trusting to hold on until assistance could arrive. The ladder was drawn clear away and the plumber continued thus suspended in mid-air for some time, calling lustily as may well be supposed for some less crack-brained fellow than the ono who stood grimacing and capering below, apprently in a state of inexpressible delight over the fun. A warder fortunately came on the scene at this juncture in time to present the occurrence if any more serious consequences and the ladder |was restore to the intonsc relief of the almost exhausted workman.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Gustav Yon der Heyde and J. Willcox Esqs., Justices). FLIGHT OF REASON. The stream flows, full of bitterness and gall. And men and women drink, and fight, and fall. John McGerrie and Daniel JBasso were charged with drunkenness, ni\d upon plead ing guilty were fined 5s each with costs. Ann Nobbs, formerly a decent maid of all work, was charged with being drunk. Prisoner said if the Bench would kindly let her off, she would go to service, and put her baby out to Mr. Stickley's. Sub-Inspector Pardy said the woman was well able to support her child, but her besetting sin was drunkenness. Five shillings and costs.

Ellen Henry, a miserable looking woman, was lined 10s. and costs, this being her second offence.

A RUFFIAN,

John Hogan was charged with violently assaulting his wife with his fist, and stand ing over her with a drawn knife on the 2Sth inst.

Prisoner pleaded not guilty.

Elizabeth Hogan, a respectable-looking person, deposed that she kept a dairy at liemucra, and worked hard tor a living. She sent her trap into Auckland with the milk, when her husband took possession of it, and drove the boy away. Upon hearing of his conduct, -she went after him, and found him in the house of a woman of the prostitute claws, named Hand, with whom her husband co habited. >Sho said : " Hogan, this is a pretty place for you to be in." She spoke with some warmth, as her husband was in the habit of taking the money from her and spending it with Mrs Hand. The woman flew at her, caught her by the arms, and held her, while her husband beat her, drew a knife, and bumped her head against the Avail. Her husband also came and kUled all her fowls.

Sub-Inspector Pardy asked to be allowed to make a few remarks upon oath on the present case, as from what he had observed for some time past, he considered this was a case of continued, heartless cruelty, which had rarely been equalled in this "country. He was then sworn, and deposed that tins was one of the most heartless cases that had ever come under his notice. The man had frequently used her in the most brutal manner, and if something was not done to protect the woman, who struggled hard to support herself and four children, there would certainly be murder. Hogan even took liis paramour to the house of his wife to abuse and beat her. He had nearly ruined his wife, had sold her cattle, and robbed her of the proceeds of her industry for the support of a prostitute. John Hogan denied the assertions of his wife. He merely called on Mrs Hand as a friend.

Elizabeth Theresa Hand deposed that her husband was in the Waikato, but she had left him to go and live with Hogan, little thinking that he -vas a married man, or she would not have done so upon any consider ation. Hogan introduced himself to her as young John Young, and she thought he was single.

To Sub-Inspector Partly : They took a house as Mr and Mrs Young, in Edwardes street, but when she found that he had a wife, she ordered him out. She lived with him as his his wife four months. On removing to Newton he visited her, but not for any bad purpose. She made out his bills and kept his private accounts. He had his shoes off, because he had a bad foot, and she was poulticing it. There was nothing wrong between them, and she pitied Mrs Hogan's weakness in suspecting John. James McEwen deposed that on the 28th February, at two o'clock, young Hogan called and asked Mm to come and profect his mother. He heard Mrs Hogan scream ing. He went in by request of Mrs Hogan, when Mrs Hand got up a fork and made towards him. He got it away, and then she took up the broom at him. Hogan was then beating his Avife, and he told him he ought to be ashamed of himself, when he pulled off his coat to fight, and tried to put him out. He told him he would not see his wife murdered, and would not leave the place.

The Bench commented severely upon the conduct of the prisoners, and sentenced them each to two months' imprisonment with hard labour, and ordered them to find .sureties at the expiration of that term— Hogan m £50, and two sureties in £<>5 each ; and Hand in two sureties of £25 each to keep the peace for six months

PUGILISTIC. Robert Lamb was charged with striking us wife, Alice Sarah Lamb, and levelling her to the earth on the evening of the 27t£ of February. Defendant pleaded not guilty Alice Sarah Lamb, wife of the prisoner deposed that her husband came home on Tuesday and would not give her any money. He struck her on the face with his fist, andon Saturday evening, he came home tisht and pulled the things off her bed, and took the afraid of him, but she wished him to be compeUed to support her. Robert Lamb, deposed that ho was a boatman, and went to Wangarei, and on returning to his house he could not get in The blind was drawn down, he saw a mm The case was thpti »j" '^Sl^ up. production qj[ t% n«-i4i —jouned for tUo '

On a Floating Wreck.

TERRIBLE SUFFEBING BY Tm> CREW OF A DISMASTED BRIG

It is not often that a narrative a" ij Ore varied suffering and incident has beta told than the following, which was carefully taken down as it fell from the lips of the captain of the brig Louisa, with new and then one of his crew chiming in to supply some slight omission in the story, jv brig Louisa, of St. Kitts, sailed from La Have on the 20th of last month, bound to Barbadoes with a cargo of lumber. g^ e had on board, the owner of the vessel Gilbert Sanderson, and a passenger, John Wilson, besides the captain and a crew of eight men. Immediately after leaving port they mot with a series of fierce -westerly gales, which compelled them to take in all the canvas spread, except what was abso lutely necessary to keep steerage-way. \ high sea was running, which shook the heavily freighted vessel in every plank sending her on pitching and rolling from one wave to another.

LEAKING,

On the second day out the brig spran<* a leak, and the water began to gain fast°in the hold. The pumps were manned, and although the breaking seas sent tons of water cascading over the decks, sometimes nearly wrenching the men from their hold. In one lurch to leeward an unusually heavy gust sent the ship over on her beam ends. Then the seas made a clean sweep over the deck, tearing away everything which was not securely fastened, and fairly burying the men who had set to work to cut the lan yards of the shrouds which supported the foremast. By watching their time, how. ever, holding on for their lives and hacking off the ropes Avith hatchets as the brig rose with the Avaves, they finally succeeded in severing the weather shrouds. Instantly the foremast went by the board snapping off short about fourteen feet from the deck and carrying with it the maintop mast. When this heavy top hamper was gone the vessel righted. The crew did not desist at the pumps, however, till there were ten feet of water in the hold and the cabin was filled to the level of the deck.

WATERLOGGED.

The cabin, which was built partly above and partly bolow deck, soon rilled with a dead weight of water, which would be hnr led with the force of a catapult against its Bides whenever the brig surged from one wave to the other. No human handiwork could long stand such terrible blows, and the stem was soon beaten out till the waters within and the waves without met and mingled. Then the deck aft began to be forced up by the waves, which would spurt through the chinks in a long hissing line, loosening the planks one after the other, and finally tearing them away with a sough. Meanwhile the Captain and the others on board had taken refuge on the top of the forecastle or forward store-room, and there had lashed themselves with lines attached to the stump of the foremast. Then, with what patience and endurance they could muster, they looked down at the ruin beneath them, the breaking deck and the raging waters. The sea would now and then break over them also, drenching them to the bone and chilling them to the marrow, as the icy water dripped from their clothes while they stood in cramped positions, uncomfortably huddled together. That night, just as the sun was going down, a British bark was sighted a long distance to leeward of them, but evidently beating up toward the brig. Before the darkness had finally closed about them, this unknown vessel had come within a quarter of a mile of the foundering ship, and every effort was made to communicate with the stranger. A flag of distress had been nailed to the mast before the brig had reached its then terrible condition, and it was thought by all on board that the bark must have seen it flying.

A TORCH OF DISTRESS.

Not content Avith this, hoAvever, an ex traordinary signal light was manufactured by wrapping a woolen rag, torn from the jacket of one of the sailors, about a long handled iron spoon, saturating it with kerosene oil, and then setting it on fire. This torch, held aloft by a sturdy arm, and waved to and fro in swaying circles, Avould burn tAvo or three minutes before it Avent out. It was repeated by being resoaked and relighted, and for two long hours the pitiful taper, the lode star, however, of so many anxious eyes, Avas AvaA'ed in vain ; for the bark gave no ansAvering signal of help or recognition, and held on her course, ap parently heedless of the mute but touching entreaty of the hapless group on the sinking brig. When day broke, however, not a trace of the unknown ship could be dis cerned, and although they kept up a miser' able pretense of hope till the middle of the day, it Avas before long changed to bitter despair.

The conditi on of these deserted men can be hardly imagined. Bound to a sinking hulk, in the midst of a boiling sea, with the wind shrieking in their ears like a-pitiless fate, they stood prepared for the death which threatened each moment to engulf them. As the deck broke up, hoAvever, a portion of the brig which remained com paratively out of the water Avas lightened apparently, and the creAv Avere able to de scend, one or tAvo at a time, into the flooded storeroom. They found plenty of salted! meat and hard bread, but, to their dismay, only about a peck of vegetables, carrots and turnips principally, and a can containing ten quarts of Avater only. They saw in stantly that it would be necessary to be very saving of this scanty alloAvancc of fresh Avater, and so doled it out very sparingly to the eleven souls on board. They dirt'not dare to touch the salted meat for foar of exciting their thirst unbearably, and po con tented themselves with a few bits of hard bread and little pieces cut from the turnips. These last they would chew till the juice was pressed out, and then spit the, dry fibers overboard.

FOUR TABLESPOOKFULS A DAY. With all their precautions, however,tire water was exhausted by the end of the third day from the time that they had lashed themselves to the mast. Fortunately, they were able to get up a little fire in tfier galley and boil some salt water, which tftef utilised in the following manner : After the water had boiled some time the cover 0? the kettle was lifted off and the condensed steam allowed to form in drops uptmitt bottom. These drops were carefrjiy col lected and the pitiful supply was furnished to each man at the rate of "iov- tablespoon fuls a day-two in the morr; ing m dtwo«* night. The galehad scarcp'.y abated, and the waves still broke over ? ae £ aII throug h the four days that the- remained apparently on the verge of d; ea th and it was with fa* expressible ro'aef that they saw a steamer h- ea7 ei" ?^«t about 6 o'clock on the evening oi tlie i> J l> W hiph proved to be the Olvmpia, or tftfe Anchor line, running between Gibral tar and New York. This vessel had been driven about twenty miles out of her course by the gale, and was just on the point of retracing her course, which would hay taken her away from the brig, when a faint' light was sighted by the look-out far to* leeward. Captain Young, of the Olympic instantly determined to put about hk and run for the light, in the tboii«> on\, xi it wught have been set by some vesseM&M of assistance. To this lari^e hearted btUf*o*. lonce. the party on bqftvd"tlie ftn'g consider under Providence, that they owe their lives. lhc steamer's boat made three trips to the ■\VrQftK to carry off the- men, and the captain, John. J. Bain, stayed by his vsesel to the' last, As the last boat load left the brig she' seemed to settle more deeply in the•■water*. and her single stick of a roast swayed: suUenlv with oaol) vicious plunge, Finally, mm this was |08| sight ri t in^ |Jl« fclWf

THE EVENING STAB, FRIDAY, MARCH 3, 1877



There axe "land rats and water rats," 2PJ2J Shakespeare, meaning tricksters on land as wen as pirates on the sea. A certain class of the former are at present occupying themselves m preparation and sale trf sophisticated hquor 'disguised in Bottles which had for their first, counts the finest medicinal beverage of the :ace via., Udolpwo Wowjs's Schiedam Aao



Utte is not dead, but JJL SLEEPETH." Z^IOOMBES WILL BE GLAD TO SEE ANY OF HIS OLD FRIENDS TO-MORROW (SATURDAY), 3ltD MAECH, CITY CLOTHING MART, 92, QUEEN-STREET, Auckland. 0 TOURISTS AND VISITORS TO WAIKATO AND THE LAKES. BUGGIES (DOUBLE AND SINGLE), AND SADDLE HORSES, ALWAYS READY FOR HIRE AT REASONABLE CHARGES. Parties intendingto go through to the Lakes provided with first-class animals by B. EDWARDS (Late of Cobb & Co.), LIVERY STABLEKEEPER, Hamilton Hotel, Hamilton, Waikaeo. iniußJsritJz &! fur, yecers, v Ladies and Gentlemen about to Furnish are respect fully requested to inspect the Large Stack of DRA WING - ROOM, DINING - ROOM BEDROOM, AND GENERAL SOUSE HOLD FURNITURE, In our New and Spacions Showrooms. t. & hTcooke, 67. QUSENSXRBBT Adjoining Bank of New Zealand. —^ j~ — £ E J. W. PEARSE INTENDS HOLDING A CHEAP CLEARING OUT SALE OF HIS LARGE AND VALUABLE STOCK OF GENERAL DRAPERY, READY-MADE CLOTHING, And FANCY GOODS, £3" At a Very Great Reduction ! Sale to Commence on SATURDAY, 3rd March. No Credit Given. Closed on Friday to Mark Down the Stock.



MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALASIA. Incorporated by Act of Parliament. NEW ZEALAND BRANCH: Plead Office, Auckland. , Local Director: George Burgoyne Owen, Esq. (Messrs. Owen and Graham.) Principal Medical Officer: Charles Field Goldsbro', Esq., M.D. General Agent for New Zealand : William T. J. Bell. With Sub-Agencies in all the Principal Towns. Every information on the subject of LIFE ASSURANCE ANNUITIES, and ENDOW MENTS FOR CHILDREN, afforded by J. A. Lowe, Travelling Aeent to the Association ; or WILLIAM T. J. BELL, General Agent. Sa, Special Features.— Age admitted on Policies, which are unchallangable from date of issu<\ Lowest Rates of Premiums, and no hamper ing conditions as to residence or occupation.