SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

WTrt-t W ATFR !™ 3 Afternoon, 11.11 HIGH VVAIJiK— j Morning, 11.58 SUN SET.—This Evening. 5.7" SUN RISE.—To-morrow Morning. 6.50 MOON'S AGE.—Last Quarter, sth Mar, 10.58 p.m.

ARRIVALS.

Mer.i. 3-masted schooner, Pallant, from Dunedin Jessie Henderson, schooner, Urquhart, from L-jvuka

DEPARTURES.

Pretty Jane, s.s., Helander, lor Tauranga and East Coast

IMPORTS.

Per Jessie Henderson, from Fiji: 2,100 mats suirar, GOO sacks maize.—B. Tonks & Co. Per Mem: 150 sacks flour, 100 sacks pearl barley.—B. Tonks & Co.

EXPORTS. Per Star of tho South: 1 case looking glasses. -E. & H.lsaacs.

IMPORTS.

Per Jessie Henderson from Fiii: GOO sacks maiz<% 2100 mats sugar.—Niccol, Hendry and Co.

100 sacks maize.—Niccol, Hendry & Co. Per Mera from Dunedin : 1(5 tea, 40 mats rice, 1 case cocoa, G boxes soap, 3 cases handles, 3 cases groats, 25 hhds beer, 10 boxes starch, 1070 sacks flour, S6O half sacks, and 1220 •}-sacks do., 165 sacks oatmeal, 20 bags do., 12(50 sacks oats, 20 sacks pearl barley, 200 bags bran. 20 sacks barley.—Coupland & Co. 10 mats rice, 16 J-chests tea, 150 bags flour, 60 sacks oatmeal, 200 sacks oats.—Niccol, Hendry & Co. 10 sacks oatmeal, 50 half bags flour, 100 quarter bags do., 200 sacks do., 50 bags oats.—E. Elling ham. 5 sacks barley, 200 bags flour, 200 sacks bran, 7S sacks oats.—Coupland & Co. Per Mera: 150 sacks flour, GO do oatmeal, 10 do pearl barley.—T. H. Hall te Co. 1

ARRIVAL OF THE JESSIE HENDERSON.

The clipper schooner Jessie Henderson arrived from Levuka early this morning:, with a cargo of maize and sugar. Captain Urquhart reports as follows :—We left Auckland on the 25th March with nice fair wind. After getting well clear of the land, the wind veered more to the eastward,which lasted us until we arrived iv the Group, making the passage in live days. Had a heavy gale off the island of Vili Leon,the wind veering more to the northward and cast, lasting for throe days. A few hours after this, we arrived in Levuka. We left Levuka on the 12th April for Taviuni. Arrived in Taviuni and took on board 2100 mats sugar, leaving there on the 15th, and arrived in Levuka. the same day. Since leaving Levuka, we have had light airs and calms until Wednesday, when a splendid breeze from the northward set in. Sighted Poor Knights Thursday afternoon, and arrived in Auckland Friday. Passengers:— Miss Burt, Miss Baillie, Mrs DeGreaves, Messrs. Wilson, McQuesic, Strang.

The three-masted schooner Mera, Captain Pallant, arrived last evening from Dunedin after a very fast passage of 1 days 15 hours. Tho vessel is consigned to Messrs Couplaud and Co., and brings a large cargo of breadstuff's, oats, &c. She left Port Chalmers on Sunday last, and carried a good southerly breeze to the East Cape. Was becalmed there for some hours, and then got a stiff northern, which brought him into port towards midnight. The s.s. Argyle.arrived from Wangarei at 10 o'clock. Captain Stephenson reports an E.S.E. gale blowing outside. The train from Riverhead to Helensville now starts at 3 o'clock instead of i as formerly, which has necessitated a corresponding alteration in the time of the s.s. Lily's departure from Auck land. Intending passengers should bear in mind that this boat leaves now at half past twelve and half past one. The heavy weather lias again caused the post ponement of the departure of the Pretty Jane. She is now advertised to go at nine o clock to-morrow morning. A.number of horses tor Tauranga were shipped this morninsr. The process as usual attracted a considerable crowd of spectators, who were tremendously scared by one of Ih3 animals getting away just as he'was about to be slung. He lashed out in all directions, and the people made room for him without asking any questions. The p.s. Te Aroha promises to do well in the Riverhead trade, and is likely to be kept on. She is well adapted for passenger traffic, her accommodation and conveniences being very perfect.

COMMERCIAL.

Messrs Grant & Morton sold to-day, allotment and house, block No. 4, Church Mission Reserve, Tauranga. subject to mortgage and interest, £i 73 12s Gd.for the sum of £150.

AUCKLAND CATTLE MARKET.

Mb. Alfred Bucklaxd's weekly KEroRT. Horse stock: Heavy draught brought brought from £"25 to £15: light harness, £10 to £13 10s ; riding horses, £8 103 to £20 each. Hides brought from 4Jd to 4 3 f d per 1b ; skins, at late values, from Is to 2s lid each; and 22 bales Coast wool, in grease, from 73d to Sd per lb. At Remuera, on Thursday, fat cattle were in. average supply: 110 head sold. Prices ranged from 22s to 28s the lOOlbs. Sheep : Best wethers brought 2|d the lb. Lambs brought from 10s to 13s Gd each. Pigs were again offered m large numbers, and fell slightly in price- Messrs. Hunter and Nolan s W eeicly Report.— Horses: We quote, hacks, from £o to £11 7s Gd.: light harness ibises, from £13 to £21 10s • medium dcaught, £32. Cattle.—We quote: Dairy cows, from £10 to £1217s 8d; calves, from 20s to 37s 6d : yearling steers, from £2 10s to £3 5s- two-year-old heifers, from £3 7s 6d to £4; two-year-old steers, from £3 10s to £1 7s Od; three-year-old steera, from £5 to £7. Sheep were in adequate supply, and met corresponding de mand. Prices for fat sheep had an upward tendency, and for some pens 2s per 8 lbs was given; but few stores wee penned. Pigs were in good supply: some were well competed tor, but at a shade lower in value.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Under :— For Thames, this day, at 4.30 p.m. and 0.30 p.m.; and to-morrow, at 5.30 p.m. For Coromandel, per Argyle, on Monday next, at 11.30 a.m. For Tauranga and Gisborne, per Pretty Jane, to-niTrovr, at 8 a.m. . For Napier, per Star of the South, to-morrow, at 8 a.m. , _, ForWaiwera, Mahurangi, Matakana, Manga; wai, Waipu. Wangarei, and Mangapai. per Annie Milbank, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Taranaki and Snuthern Provinces, per Taranaki, on Monday next, at 1 p.m. For money orders, registered letters, and newspapers, at noon. Late lelters will be received till 1.10 p.m. For Russell, Wangaroa, and Mongonui, per "lona, on Monday next, at 4 p.m. For Australian Colonies, per Rotorua, on Tues day next, at 2 p.m. &;-■• For^ money orders, registered letters, and newspapers, at 1 p.m. Late letters till 2.20 p.m. Pers.s. City of Sydney, on Wednesday, 9th May, as f oUow's:— t •' ■\ , _ , . TT ~ , For KandaVu, Sandwich Islands, United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign West Indies, at 1 p.m. For United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, at 1 p.m. For money orders, registered letters, ana newspapers, at 11.30 p.m. [ Late letters, bearing an extra tee or l>d in addition to the postage, will be received by the Mail Agent on board the steamer up to time of sailing. Note.—Mails for Riverhead, Kaukapakapa, etc., and for Helensville and other places on the Kaipara river, will in future be closed at noon, instead of 1 p.m., as heretofore. S. B. BISS, Chief Postmaster.

MARRIAGE.

CAMPION—ANDERSON.—On Thursday, the 3rd May. at St. Matthew's Church, by the Rev. Mr. Hassard, Edward, third son of Mr. Samuel Campion, Nelson-street, to Jessie Hrown Hardio, eldest daughter of Mr. Arch. Ander son, Engineer, late of Glasgow.—Home papers please copy.

DEATH.

MAHONEV.—O" the 3rd May, at the Provincial Hospital, Auckland, John Mahoney, of One hunga, aged 58 years.—Melbourne and Sydney papers please copy. The funeral will leave his late residence, Qnohunsta, on Sunday next, at 3 p.m. Friends arc invited to attend.

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

FRIDAY, MAY 1, 1877.

Tor the cause that lacks Assistance, l 7ov the wrong that needs resistance^ For the future in the distance, And the good tint we can do

This life of & school-master iv a country district is one of the most unenviable posi tions flint a man of education and refine ment of feeling can find himself iv. It is not enough tliiit the master i* subject to the worries of drilling an army of bucolic progeny, not too regular in their attendance, nor°ttio keen in their perceptive faculties, but the .school-master becomes a kind of butter between warring local jealousies. His tastes and inclinations act upon aggressive ignorance like ;i red rag on a fractious bull, and a ploughman's first instinct is to sit on any man whose aspirations rise above the dead level of clod-hopping. The petty annoyances which such a man sutlers arc fully known only to those whom a stern necessity has condemned to the experience. The working of our own public school system has,- however, disclosed instances enough to show that, unless very clearly in the wrong, a school-master should receive a firm moral support from the Board of Education. The closing of the Woodsidc school-house recently, is a case in point, and one in which we think the Board lias permitted the sacrifice of a Avhole district to the proclivities of two or three persons. A grant of land for educa tional purposes had beeu made by a resi dent at Woodside for the benefit of the whole district, A school was put up by public subscription, and the property vested in trustees. Subsequently, applica tion was made to the Board of Education for money to erect a teacher's house, which the Board agreed to grant, upon condition that as required by law, the school and trust should be handed over. Relying upon the good faith of the trustees, the Board carried out their part of the com pact, and then claimed the cession of the title.' But a section of the trustees were personally antagonistic to the teacher on private grounds, and although he was supported by the school-committee in whom his appointment legally vested, and was approved, almost without exception by the whole of the parents of ,the district this little clique had the unblushing impudence to make use of their position as trustees to put pressure on the local school committee and the Board with the object of compelling the dismissal of the teacher, actually holding back the title on the foith of which the teacher's house had been mVrted The duty of the Board was plain : There is not a shadow of doubt that it was in a position to compel by a [suit in equity 4he specific performance of the agreement, and a writ should at ..once have been issued to test the questton. In stead of doing this, however, a majority of the Board earned resolution,* dealujg with ft Scatty* wifo ffc to tin tra« mw k mi

tacitly admitting the right of three men With no legal status under the Educa tion Act to domineer over the local school committee and the Board in matters affect ing the government of the school. Shilly shallying from week to week in this way, the Board found itself saddled with an increasing difficulty, and positively ended by shutting up the'school, dispensing with the teacher's service, and leaving the children of, the whole district without education. A more peurile decision was surely never arrived at. The course adopted must mean one of two things. Either that the Board has permitted itself to he guilty of the gross negligence of expending public monies without a proper guarantee for the fulfilment of those conditions on which educational grants alone can be made, or it has recognised the right of three men without any legal authority, to over-ride the wishes of the'school committee and the parents, in a matter which is expressly entrusted to the Local Committee by the Education Act. The excuse put forward by the men who hold possession of the property is, that certain charges which they have preferred against the teacher have not beenproperly investigated. The School Committee, on the other hand, have expressed the opinion that the charges Avero malicious and frivolous. But it is clear that the capacity or uufitness of the teacher in no way enters into consideration. If he is not iitted for his position, there ia a legal way of dealing with him, but by acting as' it lias done, the Board lias not only been guilty of an act of injustice to the school-master and the district., but has stul tiiied itself, and taken up a position bud in principle, destructive to public interests, and calculated to bring its own authority into contempt; . The members of the Board surely see the false position they have permitted themselves to get" into. The matter, as it stands, looks so remarkably like an exhibition of administrative incompetence, that we shall be glad for the sake of all parties—for tile maintenance of discipline in our school control, and the protuction of teachers —to see the Board re-assert its authority, and iinnly resist any attempt te coerce it in the exercise of its functions.

MkGisboune the " heavy father"| of the Vogcl Ministry, lia.s again been elected to the General Assembly for Ross, the scat rendered vacant by the death of Mr Tribe. There was a rumourjeurrent in Wellington lately, that Dr. Pollen was -weary of the thorny held of politics, and contemplated retiring o;i a snug pension to work out in a practical form, his views on political economy in the development of cheap labour "four bob a day," and the cul tivation of high art in connection with the brick and drain-pipe business. It is hardly likely, however, that so old and tenacious a " Tito Barnacle" as he lias shewn himself to be, would relinquish the sweets of office under any more gentle pres sure than can be excited by the toe of a vigorous Opposition majority, but if the Doctor lias really made up his mind to retire into private life Mr Gisborne will probably hold 'himself in readiness to step into his shoes as soon as ihe arrangement can beeonveniehtly effected. Mr. Gisbornc, like the Dorter is gifted with a power of indus try, anil with something like the Doctor's own unctuous aud.soaponaccous smoothness of manner. There is thus a bond of union betwoen them,''.independently of the fact that Mr. Gisborne Mas a member of the Vogel .Ministry, and thereby hangs a tale, up to the time when Mr Vogel, then a man comparatively unknown outside the bounds of Duncdin, by sticking to the skirts of Mr Fox, and by professing strong Provincial views managed by an adroit and unexpected mnuuiUVi'C to grab the portfolio of the Treasury as his share of the spoils of Ihe victory over the Stafford Mjn islrv. Mr Gisborne bad been hiding his light under fi bushel, lost, amidst the fank and fde of the noble army of martyrs from the gaze of a discrimina ting and liberal public. Suddenly, however, it was discovered by Mr Vogel, that Mr Gi&borne possessed in an eminent degree those qualities which peculiarly fitted him to become one of the foremost statesmen of the colony, and he was elevated to the post of Colonial Secretary. It was about the time when Mr Vogol startled the colony with a grand scheme of borrowing for Public Works and Immigration, which > Mr Fitzherbert lias claimed as the invention of the Stafford Ministry. After his return from England, Mr Fitzherbert informed his colleagues, that although English capitalists were exceedingly chary of lending money for purposes of war, they would invest largely in any loans raised to be expended in the con struction of reproductive public works and the introduction?1 of immigrants to settle the waste lands. The Stafford Ministry ;held various Cabinet meetings on the subject, and drew up a memorandum, which remained in a pigeon-hole in the ollicc of the Colonial Secretary until it was unearthed by Mr Gisborne, then Under secretary,—sold to Julius Vogel, and re ! produced as the emanation of the great Jinancier's own original inventiveness. Mr Gisborne, afterwards found that the billet of Commissioner of Annuities was more agreeable to his modest and retiring dis position than a, troublesome and risky seat on the Ministerial benches. It was generally understood that he had recently retired on his pension, and some strong pressure must have been brought to bear to induce him to forsake the otium can dignatate for the ex citement and labour of a Parliamentary career.

A dividend of 5s has been declared in the Albnmia G.M. Co. The Waitekauri have also declared a dividend of Is. per sliaro.

That Paris may be seen at her best by the expected multitude of visitors next year, it is decreed that all householders shall renovate their establishments before hand. Such is au example of the inex haustible resource and restless activity of the French. Meantime, the foundations of the Exhibition, facing the site chosen in IS(j7, make good progress. It is computed that the total munber of entries will reach 25,000, or 5000 in excess of 18(>7.

The usual monthly meeting of the members of the Loyal Enuiskillen Orange Lodge, No. 5, will be held tliis evening in the Protestant Hall, Newton, at half-past seven. Brethren of the Lodge are requested to be present, as business of importance will be introduced and discussed.

A correspondent at Parn.ell sqnds us the following lines, which he cut from a very old newspaper, and thinks they may possess some interest as bearing upon pass ing events in the East. We have seen the lines in print before, purporting to be taken from an old volume of predictions, written ill the loth century, and now in the possession of a gentleman residing at Chard, Somerest:— " In twice two hundred years, the Bear The Crescent will assail; But it' the Cock and Bill' unite, The Bear will not prevail. In twice ten years again, Let Islam know and fear, The Cross shall stand, the Crescent wane, Dissolve, and disappear." To the Editor : Sir,—l think it is very ungrateful of the widow, Mrs Davis, not to return thanks to the public for their kindness.—Yours &c, A SUBSCEIBEE.

The Chess Match this evening will be played at Mr Waters', confectioner, Queen street, instead of Mr Batger's.

The show of mangold -wurtzel, carrots, and other root-reed for cattle, exhibited at Mr Wren's new shop in Queen-street to day, attracted considerable attention from the passers-by. The mangolds especially were noticeable, some of them being four feet loug» m& V?W'4Wn h^lf a kundrpd weight*

Due tribute has been paid to the great composer Auber, "who lies interred close to -*ho tomb of his illustrious confrere liossim. The Academies of Music and Fine Arts were represented by many men of fame, who met by the grave side of Auber on this occasion, to inaugurate a monument supporting his bust, and inscribed with the titles of his master-pieces. Eloquent ovations were made. With one Jaccord the highest eulogiums were passed upon the great master, _ while rich memorial wreaths were deposited in profusion around his resting-place. There is an " eternal fire " on the shores of a peninsula in the Caspian Sea. The names rise to a height of 15 to IS feet, and arc fed by a sort of oil of naptha which exudes from the soil, and all about the spot the surface can be set ablaze by applying a match. A number of Parsee lire worship pers liv» near, and their mode of cooking is singular. The lire is lighted by simply applying a light to the oil on the surface, and is extinguished by throwing on a few shovelfuls of earth. " A bright light is obtained by sinking a hollow reed into the ground, and lighting the topmost end. ° The Dunedin Skating Rink Company will have a capital of £2000 in £1 shares. The building is to be available in the off season for lawn tennis. It is stated that the Dunedin Football Club purposes sending a team round the Colony .during this season. A railway accident has occurert in Canterbury, by which a driver named Drury has been 'killed. The special train with ten waggons attached was in its way from Kakaia when it came into collision with the gates of the race course, the splinters killing the driver. Owen, an Inspector, narrowly escaping. An inquiry is to be held as to why the gates were closed. A Paris correspondent, writing o«i the forthcoming Exhibition, says : —" It were idle to blink at the too obtrusive fact, that the charms of Parisian life do not prove so potent a loadstone to foreigners as during the courtly ostentation of Napoleonic times. Our President, true to republican precepts, seeks not the bubble reputation of an enthusiast in fashionable frivolities. His is a post of stern and steadfast duty. Hoav ever, there are strong indications that Paris will, ere long, resume her sway of society. Even now those favoured mortals whose chief aim is the pursuit of pleasure in its various phases, are anticipating with zest a succession of approved entertainments, until Good Friday shall usher in the Lenten extinguisher of all worldly vanities." The monthly united prayer meeting of Sunday-school teachers will be held this evening in the Wellesley-strect Young Men's rooms. An address will also be delivered by Piev J. liobertson, of Beres ford-street. Mr D. H. McKenzie announces that he is a candidate for re-election on the Harbour

Board. To the Editer : Sir, —Allow mo to inform you of a mistake concerning my land in last ■light's Star. I bought T>oi)o acres, four thousand of it is swamp, and] OHO acres dry laud. Thirty feet of fall, the creek frontage to it being 3 miles long. Seven hundred chain "f draining has been done already, and 1 have just let a tender for 700 chain more to be finished in six months. The main drain is to be 8 feet wide on the top, 5 foet (» deep, and 3 feet (i in the bottom. The cross drain will be (i feet on the. top, 4 feet (i deep, and 2 feet (> in bottom. — Yours &c., Thomas Jenkins, Hamberley, Southbridge Farm. Messrs Males and Banks, of the Auckland Hotel Cafe, surprised their visitors to-day with plates of very line young potatoes, the first of the season that have come into the city. On inquiring whence they came, we were courteously informed that they were grown by Mr Garner, in his garden at Epsom. A poor woman apparently was begging ynsterdaj in Eden Crescent in the most piteous manner, she said she and her baby were starving, and had not had a mouthful since the previous day. A gentleman, moved by her sad story, gave her a shilling. The next person she met- was our reporter. She was about to make up to him, but made a sudden pause, and turned away without a word. The poor woman had seen that reporter before from the Police Court dock.

To the Editor : Sir, -You say, in your report of the case of Worms and Atkinson in the Police Court yesterday, I admitted that complaint had been made about me to the police. I said from what the police officer told me I knew this man Atkinson had made a, complaint to that effect, which is another falsehood, as I can prove by four respectable neighbours, the police or any person are at liberty to ask of the following. Mr Hemus, Mr George Staines, Madame Le Griffon, .or Mr Sykes, Turkish baths. I intend to get a petition to the effect that 1 am every day hard at work, and over twenty store keepers will sign it. I also have bills to prove I liave in 10 days sold by the IT> 10 cases of fruit, besides other things. Hop ing you will insert this, as the statements made by this man are likely to ruin me in my business. —I am yours respectfully, J. Worms.

Death at the Hospital

AIJOUT four days ago a man named! John Mahoney,. aged 57, was brought to the Hospital for treatment. He had a severe gash at the back of his head, which he said was inflicted by a fall from a coach, between Ouelmnga and Auckland while he was in a state of intoxication. He had been under surgical treatment at Onchunga, but his removal to the Hospital was deemed necessary. Mahoney died last night at the Hospital, and the body was removed to-day to Onehunga for burial. We learn from one of the drivers on the Onehunga road that some days ago Mahoney rode with him from Onehunga, but stopped at the half-way house to have a pint of beer. The driver saw no more of him that day, but is under the impression that Mahoney got safe back to Onchunga. On the other hand it would appear that Mahoney must have fallen off the coach, somewhere between the half way house and Auckland, and sustained the injury to his head.

CABLEGRAMS.

[PRESS AGENCY.]

THE WAR.

DELAY IN DECISIVE OPERATIONS

RUNNING THE BLOCKADE.

RUSSIANS MASSING NEAR

GALATZ.

PLANS FOR ATTACKING DOBRUDS CHA.

FRANCE NEUTRAL.

LONDON, May 1

Important operations on the Danube are not expected to take place until the end of May. Hobart Pasha, Admiral-in-Chief of the Turkjsh Fleet, has run the blockade at Galatz, with Turkish gunboats. He reports that the Russians are massing their troops in the neighbourhood of Galatz. They are also arming gunboats and pre paring torpedoes for the purpose of passing the Danube and preventing the navigation of the river by the Turks. The object of the Russian preparations is apparently to attack the Dobvudscha from tins point. yrau<s j;eu.HWH neutral.

KARS.

THE PLACE AND ITS INHABITANTS.

The Turkish fortified town in Asia Minor, now besieged by the Russian forces, is a : fair type of the Turkish towns in Asia ; Minor. It is situated within forty or fifty miles from Alexandropol, a strongly fortified Russian town on the frontier. Dr. Sand with, the head of the medical staff under General Williams at the seige of 1855, has given a graphic account of the place audits people, from which avo make the following extracts: — THE TOWN AND CASTLE. The road between Erzeroom and Kara is one of the dullest I ever traversed, and on that account I do not intend to attempt a description of it, but shall hurry on to more interesting topics. After a quiet journey of rive days, I found myself in Kars, a picturesque,' mud-built, old city, situated at the foot of a clift", with a fine mediaeval castle crowning a craggy hill in the centre, and a river running through the city, and through a deep cleft in the hills behind. On the dusty plain just before the city were hundreds of tents, covering an army estimated at about 30,000, but in reality of only half that number. This army had undergone many strange vicissitudes." The castle of Kars is a most picturesque model of a feudal stronghold. Built on a craggy rock, which rises abruptly at the entrance of a deep gully, it commands the whole city, and its grey old walls seem to blend with the scarp rocks and precipices on which it is built. At the foot of its rocky foundations, the Kars Chai, a brawling mountain river, crossed by an ancient stone bridge, rushes over its stony bed. A curious circular tower or tomb stands near the castle, and fine remains of Persian architecture rise from amidst tins city of mud huts. The domestic architecture of Kars scarcely differs from that of Erzeroom, except that good houses are less frequent here. The streets are narrow and dirty, the people sordid in appearance, and the chief em ployment of the women appears to be the fabrication of tezeTc, or dried cows-dung, for fuel, cakes of which are plastered over the walls of every house. MISGOVEENMENT AND DEVAS TATION. Before artillery was employed against rebellious Pashas and Deribcys, Kars was a formidable place. Owing to its remote position from the centre of government, it long enjoyed a sort of independence, but for "the last fifteen or twenty years it has been as much under the rule of the Porte as Broussa or Adrianoplc. This entire submission has only been brought about by the Nizam, or regular soldiery ; and however hopeless of Turkish progress some may be, one step, at least, has been gained—namely the almost entire subju gation of such quasi-independent chiefs_ as ruled in Van, Kars, and Bitlis. This is a step in the right direction, and, of course, essential towards the foundation of a united empire. Bxit by whom have they been supplanted ? Are the present rulers of provinces careful of the interests of their subjects? are they patriotic, or do they think of anything beyond hastily filling t heir coffers . Is a fountain, a bridge, or a khan ever repaired by any one of them V Are roads made from town to town under their government ? Such acts are unheard of, as the ruined bridges, the dried aque ducts, and deserted villages testify throughout the empire. The country had been wrested by him from the hands of the ever-warring Native princes ; the dead calm of a .strong Government sueced, but it was the calm of a lamb in the jaws of a wolf ; it was being devoured by greedy and corrupt administrators, whose whole care was to enrich themselves, regardless of a suffering population and a ruined country. _ The Pashas of' Staniboul have many points of resemblance to the Authorities of Olive's day ; but to their avarice and cruelty they add a sensualism purely Asiatic. For upwards of twenty years Kars has been governed by bonafide Turkish Pashas, and Tarn bound to say that no real im provement has been experienced by the peasantry. Outwardly, things now wear a c inner aspect ; there is no mustering of irregular soldiers to attack the Pasha of Van, or to resist the Pasha of Erzeroom. There are no partial and useless forays upon Kurdish tribes, for the sake of their sheep and horses ; but still, villages dis appear, land is thrown out of cultivation, and while the Armenians are patiently fleeced by nomad Kurds, and never rise above abject poverty, somehow or other the province manages to enrich the Pasha and his myrmidons, who are constantly retiring fat to Constantinople, to be succeeded by new ones hungry and lean.

PICTURE OF THE TOWN AND ITS INHABITANTS. Ears is as yet free from European innova tions ; you see in it a true Asiatic town in all its picturesque squalor. The houses are for the most part built like those in the villages,— bturows in the uneven hill-sides ; but in the best quarters you find good houses, built like those of Erzeroom, and containingampleaccommodation for thesuite of a great man. In all these houses, however, the windows are extremely small, and plastered over "with greased paper during the winter, the luxury of glass not having reached Kars. The bazaar is just, what you meet with in any other town in Asia Minor ; each shop is opened by raising a large board Avhich covers the whole apart ment, in which squats the owner of a very paltry stock of goods ;of which the price accords with the quality. It is scarcely necessary to describe minutely this Asiatic style of shop ;it is the same from the Danube to the Tigris, and enough of this old-fashioned kind remain in Constantinople for the English tourist to sketch. The lover of the picturesque, however, and the student of ethnology may enjoy himself in the market-place, for Kars is richer by far than Erzeroom in variety of costumes and physiognomies. Loitering about amidst bales of Georgian goods lying before thekhan doors you have a number of Karapapaka —a race of frontier Turks, who have adopted a costume very similar to that of the Cir cassians, and who in time of war are mistrusted alike by Russians and Turks, both of which governments they live under. Groups of these men, armed with that long broad dagger the kania, and a short rifle, may always be seen in the streets of Kars. Their head, unlike others of their race, is covered by a round and shaggy fur cap ; the rest of their costume is not unlike that of the Persians. But ths finest subjects for the painter are the Kurds. I fancy I see before me at this moment a group of these fellows riding over the bridge of Kars,—the rays of the setting sun are reflected from or absorbed by every variety of colour. The iirst horseman who crosses that mediamil structure is the chief, who weai-s an enormous turban composed of handkerchiefs of yellow, black, green, and white. His jacket is crimson, and blazes with coarse gold emoroidery. His horse, an active little animal, full of blood, bone, and sinew, is hung with crimson trappings. His nearest follower carries a bamboo lance, tufted with ostrich feathers ; each cavalier has a small shield suspended from his neck, fringed with green and red trappings, and covered with steel bosses ; he is armed besides with pistol, scimitar, and dagger ; hung round about him are powder horns, Hint and steel apparatus, drinking cups, and a variety of appendages useful or ornamental. fiach horseman, with his fiery eyes and largo moustache, seems a very Kimtsm, but' I doubt if he has a bigger heart thau auv o%v ea^ge, whoso valour, decked «ut

■with warlike ornament, is apt to before real hand-to-hand fighting. * P THE FOLLOWERS OF THE PROPHET Another race of men to be seen in Kar«\ are the Daghostanlis, or followers of Schamyl, the warrior prophet. The language is the Avar, a tongue quite dk ' tinct from that of auy other people. Tlv • arms, too, are peculiar here, though fli« differ but little from what are Wrf throughout Circassia! Their pistols of singular shape, are worn in a belt J^hinH which, with the above-mentioned %u ca ' sian kama, form what may be termea.tlie undress Aveapons with which the Dances tanli strolls about the streets. Wtitn mounted on horseback, a large curve;' sabre, without a guard, and an ornamented riffe, complete his equipments. The hilt of the sabre is forked, so that the horseman dismounting, rests the rifle on the liilt' whereby he takes a deadly aim. Many of these men pass and repass the well-guarded Russian frontier by ways known only to themselves ; and, crossing the-»ragged mountain ranges of Georgia, keep §chamyl well informed of political events^ .. THE LAZISTA^k' Another clan of Mussulmans 'may be passed in review. You see groups of them escorting a convoy of horses laden with hampers full of apples, pears, or cherries— fruit grown in the warm valleys of Lazistan, for this high plateau produces no fruit whatever. These men wear a peculiar turban formed of a sort of capote wound round their heads, the peak appearing above. A round jacket with loose sleeves, and formed of a coarse brown homespun, covers the upper part of the person ; while their lower dress consists of a pair of trousers somewhat of the Circassian cut, and of the same dark-brown material. These men are bristling with arms,..for they are of a truculent disposition, and are frequently engaged in blood-feiids.. They carry excellent home-made ritlcst, kibrace of pistols, and a kama. These. Lazi are Mussulmans, but not Turks. They are one of those very numerous and entirely isolated tribes of the Caucasus whose race and origin are dtill mysteries. _In figure, the Lazi resembles most mountaineers. He is short of stature, but muscular and large jointed: more active and intelligent than the Turk, but perhaps as little civilisedjas any one of the Padishah's subjects, except ing perhaps the Bedouins. These Lazi wear long hair, and have only one wife, both peculiarities at variance with the habits of the people around thdm. They dwell in villages, or in huts scattered singly over the country by the side of mountains, cultivating small patches of land cleared from the dense forests, and often in such precipitous places that they arc obliged to suspend themselves by ropes while digging. Indian corn is.1 the only cereal cultivated. - Their country is densely wooded, the trees being chestnut, beech,'walnut, alder, poplar, willow, oak, elm, ash, maple, and box. The higher parts of the mountains are covered with fir. Were it not that the Government prevents the exportation of timber, the faculties of these energetic people might be turned into an honest channel ; but this bountiful provision of nature is shut up by the decrees of despotic and unreasoning rulers, who do not, however, prevent, but rather encourage, the demoralising traffic in slaves. The Lazi has an instinctive aptitude for kidnapping : it is bred in him, as the faculty of hunting is in a game-dog. He prowls about the country on the frontier, and carries oft' any child he.can lay his hands on, and such children have always a ready sale in Turkey. Spine few years ago, grand slave-hunts used to take place in Lazistan. ~.,

BASHI-BAZOOKS. While on the subject of Ears, I may mention one branch of the army which played no inconsiderable part in the .'game of -war on this- frontier, —I allude to the Bashi-Bazooks. Much has been said and written about these Bashi-Bazooks, who ; have generally been held up to execration as the vilest set of savages that ever dis graced modern warfare. I will now tell what I know of them. In the "beginning of the war it was not only a-useful mea sure, but a time-honoured Ottoman custom, to raise a large force of irregular cavalry Jo act as the vanguard of the regular army, to protect convoys, to harass the enemy, cutting off Ms "supplies, collecting 'informa tion, and, in short, doing various essential duties so destructive to regular cavalry. Turkey, more than any other European country excepting Russia, has vast re sources from which to collect a force of this nature. Her possessions in "Asia abound with nomad tribe-;, whose whole life is that of a soldier, from earliest infancy accustomed to long marches, rough bivou acs, no commissariat, and constant skir mishes with hostile tribes. The whole Arab country is famed for horses of almost antediluvian fame, whose blood pervades and gives value to the finest breeds of Europe. With such materials it is not wonderful that the Turkish light cavalry should have been esteemed as am r>ngst the best in the world ; and even in these dege nerate days there are -statesmen1 at Con stantinople, who, dwelling on the. past, and refusing to believe the evidences of .un pleasant facts, still maintain the fame of what has long since ceased to exist. This Turkish irregular cavalry has suffered, with every other institution, from the rapacity and self-seeking of Turkish officials. Snp pose a certain district has to furnish .1,000 ) horsfemen, to be paid and fed by Govep- I ment; at once every intrigue is set on' foot by some three or four intiueutial chiefs to be appointed the commander and "iarnier" of these men. The appointment rests generally Avith the civil Pash*fl?"who/*of course, makes the best bargain for himself, and, after pocketing the money,., gathers together the very refuse and sweepings of a wretched country—men, moreover, whose savage propensities know no check beyond the immediate application of brute force. In time of war it may be imagined what untold horrors occur aloag the road tra versed by these- desperate beings, and no report that has as yet reached the European papers of their excesses at all equals the reality ; for how are newspaper correspon dents to hear the cry of agony rising freni some lone glen where a dishonoured and maddened wife gazes in despair on the bodies of a murdered husband and an impaled babe? Of the Bashi-Bazooks who have chiefly been employed in this war, theiol lowing is only too true a picture: Arrived at the scene of conflict, they are. sent toipe outposts ; and if the enemy's frontier is ill defended, woe betide the poor villagers, who have to pay heavy contribution* in heads, to furnish thet/el bravpes -'with trophies, not to speak.-outlier grievous exactions! If the frontier villagers are Christians, albeit subjects of the Sultnto, they face little better than foes with thwe irregulars. The poor devils themselves are sometimes almost as much to be pitiod :ts their victims ; they are preyed upon V the Chief who. raised them, and who liceoes them of their pay and rations to. the utmost extent of human endurance ; they .havo often to sell their arms, their spare clothing, and lastly, their horses, to procure tiie necessaries of life. Still, as they drop from the ranks and disappear, their chief.-, is drawing pay for the original thousand, or more ; and aided by the trick of borrow**? men for the parade, and the mortality amongst the men, some of whom are grey headed, decrepit old wretches, hefiianag6B to reap a rich harvest, B «sA»- Basml: "»««* in Turkish a spoiled head, am}.fc "PP^K these irregulars, hooftttse they ate w*^ v, proper head op discipline. Io*W«"» Qopfcry they swes called Hytsfo

THE EVENING STAR, FRIDAY, MAY -4, 1877.



-vr O T I C E. MACINTOSH COATS, WATERPKOOF EUSHBROOK AND BRIDGMAN Have Just Opened, and are now Showing, a Laro-c Parcel of the above Goods, from the same House, and of similar style, to their Last Season's Goods, concerning the Wear and Quality of which they have received many satisfactory testimonials. The Parcel includes various Styles, and all sizes. Xn fLight Textures, in Black and Drab, for O town wear. O Strong Geary Sheeting. • Ph 'Xi I Strong Twilled, Velvet Collars. fc E"1 I Cashmere, Fancy Check, and Diagonal X < ~\ Tweed Patterns. § R I Extra Heavy Diagonal Warm Lined, 5 and extra long. ► Sealskin Lined, specially adapted for P i Cahmen, 'Buss Drivers, &o. - waterproof aprons, leggings, &c. Also, A KUBTHKBSUPPLY OV BLANKETS, REVERSIBLE BUSH RUGS, AND FANCY AUSTRALIAN RUGS, To Hand this Week. Is in the £ allowed on all Cash Purchases of ISI lv l 20s. and upwards. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN, junction Drapery Warehouse-,



SPECIAL NOTICE. AUTUMN & WINTER GOODS, BA.NNOCKBURN AND MOSGIEL TWEEDS H. L. POSSENNISKIE Opening' Out these New Seasonable Goods, would call particular attention to their quality, which is second to none imported, while from his large and varied Stock Gentlemen can rely on a choice of Cloth unattainable else where in the colony. H. L. POSSENNISKIE, MERCHANT TAILOR & HABITMAKER, Opposite the City Mart, Shortland-street. ff/#///$/f/i 7V//v/// WILL ALL FIND GOODS TO SLIT THEM AT THE f^i IT V TT ALL ARCADE. HOLLOWAY & GABLICK'S DRESS DEPARTMENT is replete with the Newest Seasonable Goods. Damasse Cloths, ") As worn in Paris. Matelasse do. r ~. T . . , „ , Satin Trails, j New Designs and Colours. Plain and Fancy Satin Cloths, Brochii Lustrines, and Fancy Diagonals, French Merinoes, and Homespun Tweeds. WINCEYS, immense variety, for town and country wear. OUR SHOW ROOMS (16fi feet long) contain the greatest variety of DRAPERY, CLOTHING, & FURNISHING GOODS IN AUCKLAND. Blankets, from 10s. to 15s. per pair Flannels, white, coloured and fancy Ladies' Winter Skirts in great variety Shirtings, all Wool, Crimean, and Union. ' MEN'S & BOYS' CLOTHING. Our Stock is constantly being Renewed with Clothes especially made for Country as well as Town Wear. Our Moleskin and Working Men's Trousers are VERY LOW PRICED. Ladies, Purchase your Millinery at the Arcade. Large Stock Ready Trimmed Hats & Bonnets Milliners on the Premises, to execute orders with dispatch. THE ONLY ESTABLISHMENT onducted on the English system of combining Drapery, Clothing, Millinery, Underclothing, Carpets, and House Furnishing. QUEEN-STREET & LORNE-STREET. HOLLOWAY & GARLICK, fA AR G O & TV/T GK A I G, CLOTHIERS, OUTFITTERS, HOSIERS, MERCERS, &C. QUEEN-ST R E E T, Auckland, Next door to Mr. E. Waters, Confectioner. CARGO & McKAIG beg to intimate their in tention of OPENING as above on THURSDAY next, the 10th instant, with a Large and Well assorted Stock, consisting of the Newest and Most Fashionable Styles in MEN'S, YOUTHS' AND BOYS' CLOTHING, HATS and CAPS, SHIRTS, COLLARS, TIES, AND SCARFS, HANDKERCHIEFS. BELTS AND BRACES, HOSIERY, UNDERSHIRTS & PANTS, UMBRELLAS, PORTMANTEAUS, &c, &C, &C. This Stock will be the most complete and best assorted in Auckland, having been selected with the greatest care, and with strict attention to the requirements of this market. ■ p t ' • ' ■ Our arrangements are such that we can con fidently assure our Customers of their receiving the utmost satisfaction, and also that they will obtain the best possible value for their money. CARGO & McKAIG, Clothiers, Outfitters, Hosiers, Mercers, &c, QUEEN-STREET, AUCKLAND, ■ ■ ' Next Waters, Confectioner, CONTINUATION OF CLEARING- , V> OUT SALE. JOHN W. PEA RS E (Leaving kor England). The Stock must be sold at Frightfully Reduced Prices, to realise quickly, consisting of aAery Large Stock of Men's and Boys' Clothing, Ulster Coats, Waterproof Coats, Inverness Capes, Overcoats, French. Felt Hats, Cloth Caps. A-large quantity of Ladies' "Very Fashionable Costumes, Jackets, Shawls, and Felt Skirts, just received from London. Blankets. Flannels, Tweeds, Hosiery. Gloves, ufnes, Feathers, Flowers, and Straw Goods. Every Department ia Marked Down, bo as to qlear out.



JO-MORROW we shall bring for ward the ORE A TUB PORTION of Messrs. Steioarb and Anderson's Stock, consisting of Winceys, French Merinos, Fancy Dress Goods, Shawls, and Mantles ; also an immense quantity of Men's and Boys' Clothing. The above Goods will be cleared out regardless of cost, to maize room for our Winter Shijmients, now landing, per Mectra and Emily Chaplin. J. COSGRA YE <£• CO. JTiVRmiOKEI FVRNJTTJRJS I Ladies and Gent emeu about to\Furnish are respee fulln requested to inijiect the Large Stock of Dlt A WIN a -ROOM, DLNIXQ-- ROOM BEDROOM, AND GENERAL S O USSR OLD FURS I T URE, In our New and Spacious Showrooms. T. & R. COOKS, 67, QUKEN-STRKET Adfninino FanM- cf Ne.w Ze.fi]'and. PAKUR A N G A HUNT CLUB. W. RATTRAY Begs to inform Members of the Club that he has received the GREEN CLOTH for Making their HUNTING COATS, and is prepared to execute orders with promptitude. i W. RATTRAY, CLOTHIER & MERCHANT TAILOR, 66, QUEEN-STREET. Auckland THORNTON SMITH, AND FIRTH'S PRICES CURRENT (WHOLESALE). Subject to alteration without notice. Sacks. 100's. 50's. Crown Brand Flour, £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. per ton 21 0 0 21 10 0 22 0 0 T.S.&F. Canterbury Brand 18 0 0 18 10 0 IS) 0 0 Cantab Flour .. 15 0 0 Sharps 8 10 0 Bran GOO Fowl Wheat .. .. 0 1 0 to-is. 6rl. The above prices include sacks and bags : sacks and lings not returnable. Terms: Cash. Auckland. Ist May. 1877. Manning's Wokm Powders. -This excellent Vermifuge is safe and quick in its operation. One or two doses is sufficient. Hundreds of testimonials may be seen from those who have used them. Price, Is. a packet.—Prepared only bySHAKLAXD& Co.. Apothecaries Hall, opposite Postollice, Auckland. Atkinson's Pbiikujm kuy and Specialities. A little prudence in purchasing will enable I lie buyer to defeat the aims of.the rascals who sell spurious counterfeits of Unou-no Wolfe's Schiedam AuomatioSuiinai'l's inbottlcs which formerly held the real article. See that the label bears the name and signature of the proprietor. observe its execution, and do not be imposed uponby plausiblooxplHiiationsof anydeliciency.