SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE

_.„_ w u*tor> ( This Afternoon, 7.10 HiGH WATER— •} To-morrow Morning, 7.31 SUN SET,—This Evening. 7.2 SUN RlfeE.—To-morrow Mormns:, 4.3b MOON'S AGE.—New Moon, sth December 9.1S a.m.

ARRIVALS.

DEPARTURES. Rsiorua, 8.3., Macfar'ane, for Napier and the South.

IMPORTS.

Pers.f«. Rotorua, from Sydney:—l2o tumics ■Company's No. l sugar, 20 casks currants, 40 bags rice.—H. B. Morton.

EXPORTS.

Per Rowena: 10 cases claret.—S. &H. Isaacs.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Under : For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to morrow, at 2.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. For Coromandel, per Argyle, on Friday next, at

For Raratonga and Tahiti, per La Gironde, this

day, at 4 p.m. For Whitiangi, Tairua, Tauranga, and Opotilcj, per Rowena, this day, at 4 p.m. For Kawau, per Heather Bell, this day, at 4p.m For Levuka, per Gael, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Waiwera. Warkvvorth, and Te Arai, per Anne Milbank, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Chatham Islands, per Omaha, to-morrow,

at 3 p,m. _ ~ For Tryphena, per Wave, on Friday next, at

4 30 p.m. For Taranald, Southern provinces, and Aus tralian Colonies, per Wanaka, on Saturday next, at 8 a.m. .... , , Per s.s. Wellingtor, on Tuesday, 11th instant as follows: — For India, China, Mediterranean Ports, ana Continent of Europe, at 9.30 a.m. For Taranaki, Southern Provinces, Aus tralian Colonies, and United Kingdom, via Suez and Southampton (for letters specially so addressed), at 10 a.m. ,__.-,. ~ For United Kingdom, via Brmdisi. and late letters for Southern Provinces and Melbourne at 10.15 a.m. For money orders, registered letters, o,na newspapers, at 9.30 a.m. Per S.S. City of Sydney, on Wednesday, 19th instant, as follows:— For Sandwich Islands, United States of America, Canada. British Columbia, Central and South America, and. British and Foreign West Indies, at 11 a.m. For United Kingdom, and Continent Of Europe, at 11 a.m. For money orders, ret'istered letters, and newspapers, at 9.30 a.m. Late letters, bearing an extra fee of 6d, in addition to the postage, will be received by the mail agent on board the steamer up to the time of sailing. s. B. BISS. Chief Postmaster.

BIRTHS.

[The price for inserting birth notices in this column is reduced to one shilling; other notices as before.]

CORNES.—On the 29th November, at Bay- View, Coroinandel, the wife of A. R. Comes of a son.

DEATH.

WALLIS.—On the 4th December, at Carleton Road, Auckland, Kathleen Mary, heloved. daughter of R. M. and E. S. Wallis, aged 7 months. ,_, The funeral will leave to-morrow (Thurs day), at 4 p.m.

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

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1877.

ffkvthe cause that lacks, assistance. For the wrong: that needs icsistanc*. Por the future in the distance, Aad the eood tiiit we <n «to.

We believe there is ! prevalent' in some quarters a feeling of dissatisfaction with some of the provisions of the Land Sales Bill, which, as will be seen by our Parlia mentary telegrams, passed through all its remainingstageslastnight. Briefly, the Bill, which comes into force on the Ist January next, provides that the waste lands in each provincial district shall be classified and sold in the manner provided by the law in force within the district, but the minimum price of land sold under the free selection system is fixed at £2 per acre. Land not disposed of under this system may, after the lapse of a period which is not defined in the Bill, be offered at auction at an upset price of £1 per acre, . and if-still unsold, may be proclaimed by the Governor open for sale on the principle .of free selection at £1 per acre. The Bill does not affect land disposed of on the system of deferred or periodical payments;, and it makes the Auckland homesteatl .system applicable to the whole colony. In ;the provincial district of Auckland the land has been classified in three qualities^ and offered for sale at the minimum : prices of 15s, I.os, and ss, a plan which has been found to work satisfactorily, though the large amount of volunteer land scrip remaining unexercised —valued, we believe at £12,000—has reduced the amount actually received in cash to a comparatively small figure. Holders of volunteer scrip will be glad io learn that the period within which it may be exercised has been extended for^ a fur ther period of 12 months. The homestead system, Aye learn, has nat been so_ largely taken advantage of as was anticipated, probably ovriug to the difficulty experienced in fulfilling Ahe improvement conditions. The dissatisfaction expressed with the Bill appears :to be founded on the increased minimum price which is put upon Auckland lands, giving rise to apprehensions that very large areas of inferior lands in this pro vincial district will remain unsold, and consequently looked up from settlement, whilejcapital and population will beidiverted to the South. We believe, however, that this fear has very little foundation, the measure being admittedly only .a temporary one, and imtil some better one replaces it we think the power given to the Governor to proclaim iand open to free selection at £1 per acre will go a long way to equalise znatters. We shall probably be correct in surmising that "the Ministry were obliged to fix a uniform price in order to secure the support of '• {Southern members in the colouializ ation of the Land Fund. Otago and Cauterbury representatives de manded this concession in order to set themselves right with their consti tuents, who no doubt would consider them selves placed at a disadvantage were their own high prices maintained Avhile lands in Auckland were sold at a nominal figure. The measure, after all, is only a temporary one, in view of a proper classification of

th'i Waste Lands of the colony next Session. Under the circumstances the Ministry had no option but to concede this compromise, the more especially as his Excellency the Governor has throughout displayed the antipathy of a political partizan to Sir George Grey, and, it is said, has declined to grant an appeal to the country, whereby the Premier would be enabled to secure such a majority as would enable him to carry his measures without the necessity of having recourse to any compromise of the kind. Thus the unconsitutional action of the Governor has forced the Ministry into the humiliating position of making conces sions to a .party i:i Parliament, and of modifyingja policy which has the support of v vast majority of the people. The Ministry are thwarted in the exercise of their legitimate functions by a Governor avlio refuses to afford the constituencies an opportunity of pro nouncing on Sir George Grey's policy, and of electing such a majority as would obviate the necessity of conciliating any set of men in the House. The situation is humiliating to the Ministry, humiliating to the people, and subversive of that attach ment to the mother country, and that loyalty to the Crown for which the colonists of .New Zealand have been pre-eminently distinguished.

Theke appears to be a disposition on the part of the Governoi s of the Australian Col onies and New Zealand to form themselves into a kind of grand Vice-regal Trade Pro tection Society. "Whenever any new constitutional question crops up bearing upon the relations between a Governor Jon the one hand, and the Parliament; and colonists on the other these questions are referred from one Go vernor to another. In the neighbouring colonies, questions have arisen as to the con ditions under which dissolutions should be granted, and various precedents have been arbitrarily set up by Governors, without the authority of the Parliaments. Thus these Governors are endeavouring to establish a code of laws unknown to the Constitutions under which they are sworn to govern, and are practically aiming at constituting themselves an autocracy in dependent of the will of the people. If this pernicious tendency be_ not nipped in the bud by a proper assertion of the constitutional rights of the colonists, precedents will be established dangerous to the liberties of the people, and disastrous to their future welfare. The tendency to which we refer resembles the ring which has been formed by the Civil Service of New Zealand, which, by bringing its influ ence to bear on successive Ministries, has in sidiously fenced itself about with legal enact ments. Take, for instance, the officers of the Treasury who cannot be dismissed except on the verdict of a jury of their peers; appointed, of course, from amongst them selves. The mischief is the direct result of that practice so frequently adopted of late years of taking gentlemen into the Ministry from the ranks of the Civil Service, and these, having a direct personal interest in pensions and retiring allowances, from time to time introduced, and succeeded in passing Acts increasing the public burdens of the country to an enormous extent. A movement somewhat similar to that is now on foot amongst the Colonial Governors to constitute themselves into a kind of vice-regal ring. Sir George Grey, in a speech during the privilege debate, referred to this matter in the following terms :— " Undoubtedly there is some correspondence going on between the Governor here and the Governors of the other colonies on this ques tion ; and I say it behoves all of us to take care that no other advisers but ourselves are called on to give counsel or advice upon the issues that are before us. Sir Hercules Robin son has nothing to do with us. We do not interfere with him. No external authority shall interfere here. The people of New Zea land are perfectly capable of settling these questions themselves. Our statesmen, I con tend, arc no whit behind those of any other country. All sorts o<" questions of the most embarrassing nature, which may shatter the Empire, may arise, if this kind of interference i 3 permitted."

One of the sources of embarassment is the right unconstitutionally assumed by the Governors of Australia and New Zealand of regarding themselves as alone responsible to the Secretary of State for their official actions, and of setting up the same Imperial functionary as an arbiter between the colonists and themselves, a thing utterly unknown to the constitution and fraught with danger to the liberties of the people. We hope the colonists will put a speedy check upon this mischievous and autocratic tendency. We are no longer in leading strings, and though we loyally desire to retain the formal connecting link between ourselves and the Crown, we cannot be expected to do that at the sacrifice of our dignity and constitu tional rights. Over three years ago, namely in May 1874, the Parlia ment of New South Wales was impressed with the necessity of imposing a check upon gubernatorial ambition, and ac cordingly passed a resolution that : " Any attempt on the part of any Governor of this Colony, or of any Secretary of State in Great Britain, whether by dispatches or instruc tions, or otherwise, to interfere with the appointment of Members of the Legislative Council of this Colony, or on the part of any Minister of the Crown in this Colony to sanction such interference, so as in any way to limit or restrain the power of the Government of this Colony in such appointment, or to permanentlylimitthe number of Members of such Council, or to oonfine such number to a fixed standard, is contrary to law, and ; subversive of the rights and privileges of the Government and Legislature of this Colony." And at an earlier date, in 1872, the Cabinet of New South Wales ia a minute to Sir Hercules Robinson protested against an attempt on his part to limit the number of the Legislative Council, and against his " invoking the interference of the Secretary of State in a manner not expressely sanctioned by law." The minute under notice concluded by refusing to consent, even by implication, ' ' to relinquish the smallest vestige of the liberties of this Colony, or concur in any rule or instruction at variance with the. absolute right of its people to govern them selves in all matters within their own shores as secured to them by the Constitu tion." Lord Kimberly, in reply to this minute, expressly stated that, while Her Majesty's Government take a deep interest in the working of Constitutional Govern ment in the Colony, "they seek in noway to interfere with its internal administra tion." The extracts are sufficient to shew thait those vice-regal attempts at self-aggran disement are neither countenanced by the Home Government, nor sanctioned by the Constitution ; and the sooner, therefore., that these high and mighty personages are taught :to confine themselves within the legitimate sphere of their duties and powers, the better for all parties concerned.

It will be seen from our Parliamentary telegrams, that Mr Cox, the member for Waipa, paired against the colonialisation of the Laud-Fund. His is, therefore, the only Auckland vote recorded on that side. Mr Cox is essentially a Canterbury man, and his sympathies arc all on the side of the great runholders 'and landsharUs. Practically, by electing him for Waipa the electors have given one more vote to Can terbury. The saoner they, as a body, realise the fact that Mr Cox is simply a political wolf in sheep's clothing the better for their own interests. Mr Cox, however, is one of that class of pachydermatous hided politicians that requi sitions demanding his resignation glide off him like paper pellets. He will probably <rrin in that peculiar self-satisfied style of his, stick to his seat, and use his vote consistently to the injury of those who elected him, and the utter disregard of his election pledges. This is one of the special blessings of representai Lye institutions.

The clause in the Fie :.i ncial Arrangements Bill colonising the L-nd Fund, has been carried by a majority of 40 to 14, and the Bill has pags3d through all its stages.

Our London correspondent, writing on the Penge murder, says : —Our sensation is the Penge murder, or as the papers have agreed to call it, the Penge case. A novel feature in our criminal law has evolved itself ham. this trial and conviction, rather happily termed " Trial by newspaper." Ever since the conviction of Louis and Patrick Staun ton, with the latter's wife, and Alice Rhodes, the mistress of Louis, for starving to death his half-witied wife, the papers have been crowded with letters discussing the guilt or innocence of the prisoners, from every imaginable standpoint. On the whole, I should say that a great pre ponderance of public opinion is against the decision of the jury, and the result of it all has beeu the respite of all four persons. I am only one of the vast bulk ol people who think that there was no evidence produced upon the trial upon which a jury could convict for murder, and that an acquittal of Alice Rhodes and a conviction for manslaughter through negligence would have sufficed for the rest. The feeling airaiust capital punishment unless on the very plainest evidence is almost universa 1, and the notion ot taking away life on un certain grounds is utterly repulsive. We have been requested to call tie attention of the police to disturbances which are of nightly occurrence in Hobson stieit. A respectable resident informs us that on going to remonstrate with a crowd of brawlers last night, he was'disgustingly abused. Another resident complains that when he spoke to them he was saluted with a large stone, which just missed his head. The principal offenders aie young en, but several women were seen with them The following, in reference to the Austra lian Cricket Team, appears in the " Sydney Morning Herald," of the 28th ult. : ~" This team left for Newcastle last evening, and after playing in that city will meet the local players' of Maitland. From the Hun ter River district they will proceed to Adelaide, and after finishing their engage ments there, will visit Victoria, and take steamer thence to New Zealand, returning to Sydney in February, in time to play p combined fifteen of New South Wales and Victoria immediately after the intercolonial match." We would remind our cricketers that about six -weeks only have to elapse before the Australians are expected to appear in Auckland, and that it may Avell be asked whether that amount of practice and coaching is going on which should be gone through before our iocal players venture to array themselves against supe rior talent ?

The members of the Star of Freedom Lodge of Free Templars held their quarterly meeting last evening in the Cook-street Halt. The several reposts were read and adopted, shewing that progress was continually being made. The following officers were then installed by Brother Cox, R R. W. G. T., assisted by Sister Cox, G.S., and Brother McConnell, G.M. :J. Herbert Burns, W.C.T. ; J. Connor, W.V.T. ; J. H. Halyday, W. Secretary; W. Beehan, W.t. ; W. Mouslin, " W.C. ; W. T. Donald, W.M. ; James Halyday jun., W.I.G. ; S. Clark, W.O.G. ; Sister Ellen Donald, W.A.S. ; Sister Powley, W.R.H. S. ; Sister McEvoy, W.L.H.S. ; Sister Danks, W.D.M. ; Brother James Lee, P.W.C.T. A hearty vote of thanks was unanimously passed to the retiring officers.

The Christmas number of " St. Paul's Parish Magazine " is of a very interesting character. A large amount of information on Church matters is recorded for the cur rent month, touching the Scholars' Exhibi tion, which opens to-morrow in the Lorne strect Hall ; also, meetings of teachers, carols for Christmas the Service of Sons, "The Child Jesus," to be held in St. Paul's Cathedral Church on Innocents' Day ; and other matters. The inner portion of the "Magazine" contains an English lyric on Christinas-time, and a pleasant story,

"The Law Clerk's Christmas," perhaps suggested by Dickens' story of old Scrooge and Bob Cratchet; an appropriate discourse on the religion of cheerfulness, by a Kentish rector, well worth reading ; a continuous story ; and other papers of interest. Rev. Mr Nelson offers a brief exposition of the season of Advent, and a few remarks on the future of the " Magazine," from which we learn that the year's trial has net resulted successfully in a financial point of view, and the hope is expressed that the new volume may win the practical support of the congregation. The Harbour Board, after passing aboxtt a dozen resolutions that the lessees of the intake should fill in their allotments, have at length succeeded, after about five years' lukewarm efforts, in getting their orders obeyed, and the wayfarer in Custom House street will now perceive a healthy difference in the odour of that important thoroughfare. At the further end of the street all the allotments are filled in with sandstone from Foit Britomart above the level of high water mark. At the corner of Gore street, and between Edmund's Gum Store and Messrs Nathans' store, there are a few allotments still unfilled, left to pollute the summer breeze when the tide is out, and the warm mud distils its fragrant stinks. On inquiry to whom these allotments belong, to our great surprise we were informed that one of them is the pro perty of the Harbour Board itaelf, so that while the Board has been so particulaily anxious to compel its tenants to keep their property sweet, it has reserved to itself the right to maintain a nuisance of its own. The difficulty the Board has experienced in getting the lessees to attend to its resolu tions is now no longer a subject of mystery. We may mention that another of the of fending allotments belongs to a leading citizen, whom it is popularly reported the Board is afraid to interfere with. The summer is coming on, and we may well say with regard to the smell that the quantum suff. stage has long been passed.

The contract for rebuilding the Coro mandel wharf has been accepted by Mi Glover at £247.

~A correspondent complains of a certain milkman in the neighbourhood of Newton, who is in the habit of driving round the cor ners of streets at an unreasonable rate, and who nearly drove over a child in East-street on Monday last. The writer hopes that the purveyor of ."new and skim" to whom he tenderly refers, will be warned in time, or an informatiom will be laid against him at the Police Court, ancl then 5s and 5s 6d ; half the profit of a morn ing's round, or " walk," as reckless milkmen say.

On Tuesday last, the Rev. W. Taylor united in the bonds of matrimony Mr J. T. Jerram and Miss Speedy, fourth daughter of the late Major Speedy, of Waiuku. At the conclusiou of the ceremony, Mr Green, Superintendent of the Sunday School, read a congratulatory address to the happy young couple, in which he referred to the valuable assistance rendered in the Sunday-school by both Mr and Mrs Jerram, The pathway from the church to the gate where the carriages were in waiting, was strewed with flowers by a number of little girls belonging lo the Sunday School. Mrs ancl Mrs Jerram left in the afternoon by the Tarn o' Shanter for Pahi, where they intend to reside. One of the leading local industries near Hamilton is the Pottery Works, situate pbout a mile from the township. Messrs Wright and Vincent, the proprietors, have erected a large building, about 100 feet long by 50 in width, in which is erected the necessary machinery, all of the newest description, capable of turning out first* class stock in large quantities, such as chimney tops, drain tiles, flower pots, and other articles. The firm have most excel lent material, and as they understand their business there is every prospect of success, The leading settlers in the Waikato are patronising these works for supplies of drain pipes, for which there is a great demand. Local industry is, always deserv ing of the hearty support of the community, inasmuch as a certain proportion of cash is by that means retained in circulation Avhich otherwise would go out of the district.

WeunderstandthatduringtheExhibitioH, works to the value of over £250 have been disposed of.

At a meeting at Waiuku on Saturday last, it was agreed that the Waiuku annual races should be held at Mareurohia on Friday, December *28th. A good pro gramme was arranged, consisting ot Maiden Plate, of 10 soys. ; Pony Race, ot 7 soys. ; Open Handicap, of 14 soys. ; Hurdle Race, of 9 soys. ; Pony Hurdle Race, of 5 soys., with a sweepstake of 5s ; Farmers' Purse, of 8 soys.; Publicans- Purs®, of 7 soys. ; and Consolation, a sweepstake of 10s with 4 soys. added. A.t a meeting of the Onehunga Borough Council, held last evening, tenders were accepted for works to the amount of £154. The Mayor gave notice to move at the next meeting : " That the Town Clerk oe instructed not to collect the rate assessed on five school buildings in the town."

lii ccmseq ueuce of n. district parade having been called on the same evening as that advertised for a parade of the No. 3 Com pany for musketry instruction, the latter has'been postponed until to-moirow even ing, at 7.30 p. m

The monthly gold returns at Coromandel amounted to 649 ounces.

Constable Collins arrested the three boys who escaped on Sunday from the In dustrial Sciiool, Howe-street, ot Newmarket yesterday, ! and conveyed them to the Police Station. Theyjjwere sent back to the institution this morning.

Mr J. Wright, of Hopctown, Ponsonby, writes to us as follows, with, reference to the sermon on " The vow of the Nazarite " : —" That part that particularly refers to that monster evil, drunkenness, with so many heads, pointing to every point of the com pass, is dealt with in a masterly way. The monetary loss to England, its millions of money wasted year after year, the trunk of the tree of her greatness, is being sapped ; the great mass of her people becoming demoralised — ruin, misery, degradation, disease, and death—socially, morally, and individually. The life's blood of the nation is polluted." Nay, even the masses in the world itself are running in the vast whirl pool of drunkenness. The thanks of this community are due to you for publishing the above sermon. When you give us an extra sheet betimes, better—far, infinitely better, (is it to get such a treat, than as some journals who fill up their columns with rubbish."

A correspondent, who signs himself " Ex hrevet (not full) Corporal," writes that the answer to " Full Private " in our issue of the 26th inst. was quite correct, and that it is an error to suppose that a full Colonel must necessarily he a General Officer. He points out that there are three grades of Colonel: Brovet Lieut.-Colonel, Lieut. - Colonel, and Colonel; and . four grades of generals, viz Brigadier-General, Major- General, Lieufc-General. and General ; and that officers holding any of the three latter grades are (as vacancies occur) nominated to a regiment, of which they are styled head-colonels though one may be twenty years head-Colonel without seeing his regiment. He says, moreover, that the head-Colonel, so-called, of a regiment is only a name given to a position held by General Officers, not in any way affecting or altering their proper rauk or grade in the army. Mr "D. Wright says on the same subject that "Full Private" evidently does no know the difference between the Colonel of a regiment, and the Colonel in a regi ment.

Mr George Cutts, so long and well-known as principal trainer of Mr Watts' racing stud, was a mssenger by the Kotorua for the South last*night. We understand that " George " has! severed his connection with the Kohimarama stable, and contemplates taking an engagement in the Canterbury district. Amongst the passengers by the Kotorua labt night were Bishop Cowie, the Rev. A. C. Stuart (Bishop-elect of Waiapu), and the two Misses Stuart. The consecration of Mr Stuart takes place next Sunday at Napier. Bishop Cowie will be one of the three officiating Bishops.

Drought still continues in the South, and the people of many districts suffer severely from want of w rater.

The libel case by Mr Ward against Mr Bull, the proprietor of tbe South Canterbury " Times" was commenced yesterday at Timam,gbut on the applicatiou of the plain tiff, was adjourned until Monday. The members of the Auckland Domain Board met to-day, viz : Messrs. Fenton, Clayton, Mackechnie, and Colonel Nation ; but as no Chaiiman had legally been appointed, no business -was done. A new Order of Council had been received from the Colonial Secretary, which elicited much discussion. It appears that a Chairman cannot be appointed without revoking the delegation and re-appointing the whole Board under the Public Domain's Act. It was finally resolved to draft a few sugges tions as to the future of the Board, and send them to Wellington without delay, Mr Clayton agreeing to secure the assis tance of Mr Tole, M.H.R., in placing the Board in a right position. The Wellington " Argus," which is very lukewarm towards Sir George Grey, say : —"After all, Sir George Grey, as Premier, has not such a pleasant time of it as one would at first imagine. He. is interviewed occasionally by -important members, and it frequently happens that these little conferences ■ become somewhac warm in their character ; in fact, they often end in a "breeze." The other day a highly excited member representing an im portant constituency, entered the Prelnier's room to lay before him a grievance. The member, who, by-the-bye, had been with a friend who had sampled three brands of whisky in twenty minutes, was particu larly anxious that justice should be done to his constituency. He pointed out to Sir George that it would be an " heverlasting " disgrace to the Government if they did not appropriate funds for deepening the river "hopposite" his scouring shed. Sir George assured the member that everything that was fair and just would be recom mended by himself and colleagues. The representative " oped " the Cabinet would not" perforate "an "hact "of " hinjustice" to the " constisnency " he had the honour to represent, and then withdrew. When the door was closed the Premier Leaved a deep sigh of relief, wrote hastily on a slip of paper "Out for the day, see Mr Skeehan;" and then, pinning the notice on the door, retired to his hotel."

The department of all others which has had the most work cast upon it during the present session is the Government Printing Office at Wellington. The misdirected energies of the late Government produced what Mr Lusk appropriately denominated "an avalanche of Bills." Piles of Parlia mentary papers and Bills were daily shot into the pigeon-holes of members and the Press, and printed matter accumulated so rapidly that it was impossible for the most industrious reader to get through a tithe of it. Even the youngest and most ardent politicians who endeavoured to devour every scrap of information laid before the House, and regularly burned the midnight oil,were compelled to abandon the task in despair. The Government Printing Office has been at work night and day, but under the excellent management of Mr Didsbury it has fairly keep pace with the demands, though at the cost of much wear and tear. Mr Didsbury deserves great credit for his admirable manage ment.

To the Editor : Sir,—Please aid me with your editorial pen in reducing a grievance. The tobacconists, according to the STAR, have resolved to raise the price of Manilla cigars, the only luxury in which I have been wont to indulge, excepting honey tofly, a sixpenny finger ring, a humming top and a walking stick. As I see no valid reason for raising the price of cigars, and thinking they must end in smoke, I beg to enclose a rhymed protest against the rise.—Yours, Wm. Lolly.

The Hon. J. A. Bouar, Mayor of Hokitika, has been.;presented at a.public meeting in the Town Hall with a silver epergne, valued at 200 guineas, by the inhabitants of Westland, in recognition of his public services. The New Zealand Father Mathew, the Key. Father Hennebury, has induced three thousand persons in Canterbury to sign the pledge. On Sunday, two thousand of the converts to temperance principles decorated with sashes or and carrying flags, marched in procession through Christ church. A meeting of the Auckland Tradesmen's Athletic Club was held at the Oharlemont Hotel last evening, the chair being occupied by Mr. Shepherd. . This Club has met with a considerable amount of success during the short period which it has been in existence, and now numbers more than 50 members. The report of the Committee appointed pieviously to arrange for the selection of a suitable ground on which the spoils might be held was read by the Secretary. The following new members were then elected :—Messrs. Mcßay, J. Cutler, A. Good, T. Joughin, John Hendry, Joseph Hendry, R. Ellis, E. McGinley, J. Poulter, J. Regan, R. Brenuan, M. Gallagher, J. Gallagher, J. Leary, G. Forbes, R. Ewen, J. Meldrum, John Ren wick, I). Horn,B. Donnelly.and A. Adams. It was finally decided that the sports should be held at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, and that the offer of the Jockey Club be accepted, provided the sports were held on the ground. To-day we understand it has been decided to hold these sports at Ellerslie Gardens. Mr J. Regan moved a resolution to the effect that the University costume should be adopted by the Club,but it was negatived. The following amend ments were made in the programme of sports for January Ist: —l mile (handicap) ; 150 yards (handicap) ; 100 yards (level) ; maiden race, 120 yards ; hurdle race, 200 yards; walking race, 3 miles; steeple chase, two miles (handicap); flat race, J-mile (handicap). The Secretary, Mi- Brown, announced that he would be com pelled to resign his position, and the meet ing terminated.

PARLIAMENTARY.

(From our own Correspondent.)

WELLINGTON, this day. AUCKLAND GRAMMAR SCHOOL. In reply to Mr O'Rorke the Premier said the Government would endeavour to set apart a suitable site . for the Auckland Grammar School. MRS MKURANT'S CASE. In reply to Mr Swanson, the Native Minister said Mrs Meurant's case was to have been settled by the* late Attorney- General, but had not been settled. The papers would be laid before a Solicitor- General.

Ministers asked the House to give the Government business procedence of private business which Avas agreed to. The following were the pairs in the division on the second reading of the Land Bill :—

Government : Messrs Bastings, Seaton, R. Wood, Lusk, Wallis, Hodgkinson, Reynolds, Wakefield, Pyke, Bunny. OPPOSITION : Messrs Kenny, Stafford, Cox, Button, Harper, Murray-Aynesly, Henry, Morris, Fitzroy, Moorhouse. Fitzroy broke his pair and voted. WAIKATO.

Mr Hamlin asked the Premier whether the Government intended to make any survey of Port Waikato. Sir George Grey replied that the Stella would as soon as possible be sent to Port Waikato, to survey the entrance and lay down buoys. WASTE LANDS BILL.

In Committee on the Waste Lands Bill the term "Waste lands" was changed to "Crown lands."

Mr Lumsden moved an amendment to excise the portion of the clause fixing the price of land by free selection at £2 per acre, and at £1 when sold by auction. The only Auckland member who supported this amendment wai Sir Robert Douglas. Mr Rees strenu ously opposed it. Mr Rowe, and Captain Morris con demned the proposal to raise the price of land.

Mr Lurnsden's amendment was lost on a division by 34 votes to 26. FREE SELECTION AT £1 PER ACRE.

Mr Stout tlien carried an amendment providing that where land offered at auction at £1 per acre has not been sold, the Gov ernor may proclaim it open for sale by free selection at £1 per acre. Clause 6 was struck out, and the remain ing clauses were passed without amend ment.

AUCKLAND HOMESTEAD SYSTEM

MAINTAINED,

Mr Montgomery, who has now become an ultrd-Canterburyite, moved an amend ment to :abolish the Auckland Homestead system; but this was lost on a division by 30 to 6. The system was therefore main tained. IMPORTANT 'AMENDMENT IN RATING ACT. The Standing Orders were suspended last night to take business after half-past twelve. Very debatable matter was post poned till to-day. The Counties and Rating Amendment Bills is .to remedy technical defects in the working of the Ac t las^year. The important provision in the Rating Bill is to make a valuation of the district made only every three years, to be a county valuation, the cost to be borne by the County. Road Board valuation is necessary within Counties.

THE ALLOCATION OF THE LAND

EUND,

The Financial Arrangements Bill suffered considerable modification in committee with reference to the expenditure of the twenty per cent of Land Fuud according to the Bill, it was to be spent within Provincial districts. This Avas struck out, and county inserted instead, so that twenty per cent of the Land Fund, in any county returns to it. Capt. Morris'moved anew clause to exceed Volunteer scrip for twelve months further, because, on account of the increase in the price of land in Auckland, scrip would not have its proper value. There was a -strong feeling against the scrip altogether, but nevertheless the clause was carried. Thus the time has been extended twice this ses sion, in all eighteen months.

Mr Macandrew moved that the clause preserving twenty per cent of the Land Fund should not be repealed except by an Act of the Imperial Parliament. The House did not seem to view this seriously. It wa3 laughed at, and in division lost by 33 to 9.

Messrs McLean, Reid, and other Opposi"] tionists were so exasperated, or pretended to be, that they spoke in favour of making the 20 per cent along with the other 80. They had not the courage to move it, but they Avould have liked some of the Gov ernment supporters from Otago to do so.

(PRESS AGENCY.)

Last Night.

Auckland Homestead System made Applicable to Solony.

The Waste Lands Sales Bill passed through committee, and was read a third time and passed.

A new clause to render the Auckland Homestead system applicable to the whole colony was opposed by Mr Reid, but was carried by 25 to 24, and was added to the Bill on a second division of 30 to 27.

Volunteer Scrip Ssetfeisaole Another Tear.

The time for exercising Volunteer scrip was, on the motion of Capt. Morris, extended another year on a division, by 32 to 25, but provision added by Mr Stout on a division of 28 to 26 that this extension should only apply to scrip actually held by volunteers.

Financial Arrangements Bill Passsed.

The Financial Arrangements Bill pas** through committee, and read a third time In Committee, a provision waa inserter! having a *hird of the deferred payments <m* apart by the Land Bill for local works W becoming colonial revenue, and siniilarlv having Taranaki lland fund to be armrn priated to harbour purpose. ' v Golcnialisation of the Land- Fund Carned- " "

The clause making the land fund colonial revenue was carried by 40 to 14.

The clause setting aside 20 p 6r cent for local bodies was earned by 28 to 27; altered so that a per centage is to be paid to the County within which the revenue accrues, instead of being divided amongst all the Counties in the Provincial District. ' '*

A proviso, by Mr Macandrew, That the allocation of this per centage should only be repealable by the Imperial Parliament was lost, by 33 to 9. m >

DISTRIBUTION ON RATES EXCISED Clause 7, providing for distribution of the per centage according to rates, was struck, out as unnecessary.

A clau-e moved by Mr Murray, that all subsidies should cease after the present year, was negatived. The Hutt County Offices Site Bill Timaru. and Gladstone Board o f Works Property Vesting Bill, an^ Nelson Gas Works Waterworks Sale- Bill, were read a third time. The Counties Act Amendment Bill, and Middle' Island Half-caste Crown Grants Bill, were read a second time.

The House rose at 1.35 a.m.

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Albert Beetham Esq., (chairman) and P. ConiiskeyEsq., Justices of the Peace.) INEBRIATES.

ggHonora or Nora Fowler was charged -with: drunkenness and disorderly conduct last evening'in Mill Lane. Constable Law deposed that prisoner was very drunk and making a great noise in Mill Lane, to the annoyance of other people. When he appeared, she rushed at Em and flung her arms around him, saying, "Law, I will embrace you." With much difficulty and some assistance, he took her to the station.

1 he Bench wished to know if she had in jured anyone, and were informed that she had not, but after she was in the lock-up, she sang boisterously one of her native

songs

A jolly old girl is Honora, As e'er in Kilkenny was seen, • Who loves a nice drop of the cratur, And evermore sticks to the green. The Bench ordered prisoner to pay 5s and costs.

Emily, a girl of Chancery Lane, "was or dered to Mount Eden for seven days, with hard labour, for the same offence ; it being the third within a short time. THE EFFECTS OE AU OYSTEE SUPPER. Patrick Laflerty, a tall, powerful man, was charged with threatening to stab a sea man, with whom he had been carousing over an oyster supper in Queen-street. Prisoner was ignorant of all that hap pened ; he only remembered the oysters; he was quite drunk. Constable Kelly deposed that the prisoner rushed out of an oyster shop about three o'clock this morning, and tried to run after a sailor, vowing that he would do for "Jack." He arrested him, and the supposed pistol that was presented he found to be a meerschaum pipe. He found no dangerous weapon upon him. Prisoner expressed his regret; it was not often that he indulged to such an extent. Fined 5s and costs. RUNAWAY BOYS. Stephen Home, James Joheston, and Joseph Higgins, were charged with abscond ing from the Howe-street Home, but as they promised to accompany Mr Stickley back, the charge was withdrawn.

This was all the business.

FIRE IN WAKEFIELD-STREET.

ABOUT tea o'clock last night the fire-bells rang out the tidings that a fire had broken out in the city. It was shortly discovered to be on the premises of Henry R Hayden, ginger-beer manufacturer, of Wakefield street. The facts, as far as cas be ascer tained by Sergeant Clarke, are these: A woman named Margaret Shanaghan was passing Mr Hayden's premises abbat twenty minutes to ten o'clock, whenher attention was attracted by a bright light resembling the breaking out of a fire, in the office which fronts Wakefield-street. She immediately informed Mr Hunt, boot maker, of what she had seen, also J. Cordon, whom she met by the way. Mr Hunt im mediately gave the alarm, and Mr Ewin<r. ton ran and rang the fire-bell. Mr H. J. Syms meanwhile had been made aware of the danger, and immediately with his son went with two buckets of water, brpkeopen the wicket, and saw the flame rising'from an old barrel, stuffed nearly full, of old bills and waste paper. The side : wall was also on fire. The flame? were shortly extinguished by -the prompt efforts of Mr Syms and his son, and news of the fire conveyed to Mr Hayden, who stated that he had only left the premises a few miputes previously. On quitting the premises, he had left a candle burning in a candle-stick on the old barrel, but, strange to say, after the closest amination, neither candle nor candle-sncK could be found. He had been insured tor £300, but his policy had expired seven days ago ; he held a lease of the premises, three years of which had to run. Constable Gleeson was;on the spot within a tew minutes of the alarm, but found tnas the fire was extinguished. Several nles oi bills hanging against the wall had cangD| fire, and the partition was considerably charred. The Fire Brigade shewed com mendable alacrity in answering to the alarm. Over a dozen of the Brigade were _on W. spot within a few minutes of the nrst now of the bell, and'the engine and ■hose.wio* than a quarter of an hour.

MONGONUI.

PROGRESS OF THE DISTBICT.

(From a Correspondent.) It has unfortunately been the case that aJm** all of the correspondence from Mongomu iawg has been of a scurrilous nature-silly aw*£ upon neighbours, poorly conceived, &"fJyV carried out. Lest the public should believe w have nothing worth writing about, J.-".^ thrown together a few notes that^™f? »v strangers an idea of how we are Pro^ninas« the first place, our telegraph has now been w for nearly two months, and it is astm™^ amount of work which has. unexpectedly up. It was believed by myself .asweU as o^ e that it would be of very little use, m» nC(t number of messages, and the great con l*%^* it affords the general community, "ffwwTSr We are fortunate in our telegraphist, yu m evidently an obliging and inteUigen* > jgi j man. The road from Mongonui to VlC^ now almost completed. Me have tnre^ bridges in the Oruru Valley, which ww^ every facility for carriages or carts, » journey from here to Peria, which a snu g eC ti<iß since was a task, is now a pleas me. ■ => No. sof the victoriajand i-oxtew. v« ™ B ,j». contracted for by Mr Geo. Wrattatt* m finished in a few. days. This wu"l open w lower portion of the Victoria Valley. 0% i e ad the Kaitaia and Awanm Roads, ami w d to the Tukuhoui Block, now being mg yf, into sections by Mr Weetman and ms &s which contains some. of the best jam district, A section of the wMjjg-*;. Mongonui and Whangaroa, W™&% pie« Whangaroa, which was the only baa j^ between those places, is now compieteu. will afford convenience for horses, cau sheep, which was much wantea^ _. - -.. PROJECTED NEW SAW-Mg^ •We have a large number of &*%£ a rtt» gregating here to receive P«^ e?"^. |^ contiguous to Messrs Yat/s and J^e run has been purchased from the »^ d private gentleman, anditis \}°»? t FS -j(ftg» Thursday, the 22nd. I one a**^' Yates and Jones' run, .a yalu^ ]°ket. Jt •1 North Cape, is also in too .™^| 00. ; *f. expected that Messrs Hojdship_ &na vef y shortly erect a saw-miU here, *£ of Whangaroa, having been over nero arrangement for tht»t purpose.

\HBI\ JLMNG STAR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1877.



The following passengers arrived by thes.s. Rowena, from Tauranca and Mercury Bay, veaterday afternoon :-Messrs Q'Rielly, Mann, "Crsighton. Howe. Hammersmith, Campbell, Pucker, Pollock, Henshaw, Hanson, Mahoney, Pegsott, Booth. Guilding, Brown. Robertson, Keefe, Dickson, Kensley. andNoonan. Thes.s. Rotorua left the Queen-street wnail shortly after twelve o'clock last nieht. Passen £T.->r3-Sftloon •—Rev. E. Stuart, Bishop elect of Waiapu, Misses Stuart (2) and servant, Bishop Cowie, Mr and Mrs Ormiston and servant, Miss Fleming Miss Buretson. Mrs Gannaway-, Messrs Studhoime. Hewlings, Hill, Cutts, Harris, Hes keth. Mabin, Harulin. Coombe, Young, nve steeracre, and 22 original from Sydney. A schooner is coming ia as we go to press. UNION INSURANCE COMPANY OF NEW ZEALAND. CAPITAL £2,000,000. AUCKLAND BRANCH: QUEEN-STREET, Next the Colonial Bank. FIXE "DEPARTMENT. Insurances granted on Dwelling-houses, Stores, Shops, Buildings in which trade is carried on, Merchandise, and Goods or every description. MATUNE DEPARTMENT. Hulls of Ship 3or Steamers. Merchandise of all kinds, Specie and "Wool to United Kingdom, at Lowest Current Rates. R. H. STEVENSON Manager. ■vrow Tk "the press. To BE Published in a Few Days, A NEW MAP OF THE NORTH ISLAND, Showing boundaries of Counties compiled from the latest Government Surveys, containing over 1800 names of places, rivers, &c. Engraved and Lithographed by Schmidt and Co., Vulcan Lane and High-street. CARTISTS, MTJARTHRUGS, ■LINOLEUM, FLOORCLOTH. T. & WCOOKE Beg 'to inform their friends and the public that they have imported a large assortment of' the above, xohicli will render their FURNISHING ESTABLISHMENT one of the most compUte and extensive in Auckland, Jiaving purchased these Goods of the Manufacturers direct, for cash, they are ■enabled to offer them at VERY LOW PRICES. ' New Patterns in Carpets mid Linoleum. £§T SHOW ROOMS: 67, Queen-street, team Cabinet Factory Victoria-street ip|TEESSES ! DRESSES ! DRESSES *~ W. RATTRAY Has a Large and Well-assorted Stock of DRESSES, In all the Newest Materials and Shades, including ALPACA LUSTRES, in •Navy Blue, Dark Browx, and Prune. W. RATTRAY, •DRA.PER AND SILK MERCER, -^pEW 7BALAND XT OUSE, 66, Queen-street, Auckland. ENGINES. FOR SALE, Cheap, in first-class condition, with certificate for 65ft>s pressure: 1 Portable, double cylinders, 9J; 1 Do., Do.. 7£; 1 Do., single cylinder. 10; 1 Do., 0 nnHE undersigned are now brin ing I forward a Large Parcel of GENE AL DRAPEKY, HABERDASHERY. &C bought at considerably less than usual prices, to which they invite the attention of all requiring s>6ood Value For Monks'. Corsets in great variety of quality and-style, white.-E.tid coloured, from 2/6 per iqsAv Tjinen and Lace Goods, Cufts, Collars, and Sets, in variety ' . . Ladies' Underclothing Umbrellas ■ and Parachutes, Silk, Zanella, it^Alpacea; &c. , . ~ . . Lot of Flowers at very low price, quite fresh Straw Hats, Ribbons, Gloves, &c. 'A Splendid Stock of Muslin, Lace, andLenoe Curtains, Counterpanes. Quilts, Damask Table Cloths, Sheeting, Felt Squares - Carpets, Floorcloth, China Matting, Ticks, &c. Large-size Huckaback Towels at /6 each New Fancy' Dress Materials, Japanese-Silks, Coloured Lustres, Black Lustres, Embossed, Striped, and Check Muslins, Prints, &c. Brown Holland, from /6£ per yard ' Union, Fancy^Je&n, and Oxford Shirtings, very A Line of Superior Quality Silk Mixed 'Fancy Shirting, at' 2/3, usual price 3/6 per yard White and Grey Calico. Good Grey frem /3 per yard Also, A very large assortment of Gents' Shirts, Waite Loßgeloth, Union and All-wool Crimean, Fancy Silk Mixed Scotch Twill, Fancy So&a, ' Oxford," &c. Strong Tweed for Boys wear A Job Lraeofi Stout Mosgiel at below Factor Braces, Belt?, Ties. Scarfs, Collars, Cotton and i Merino Hosiery, Undershirts, &c. Leghorn, T-escan, Straw, and Drill Hats, for £~Boys and Men, &c.,;&c, &c. s. In ho £ allowed on all Cash Purchases at {20a. and .upwards. rushbrook & bridgman, Junction Drapery Warehouse, Upper Queen-street, aucki-and. IVTATIONAL FIRE AND MARINE J3I INSURANCE- COMPANY OF NEW JZE ALAND. Capital £1,000,000. Reserve £50,000. RS-INSURANCE FUND.... £20,000. Insurances effected against Eire and Marine Xicss of Every Description of Property, at Lowest Current Rates. Pbsmpt and Liberal Settlement of Claims. HENRY E. WILLIAMS, Manager, Auckland Branch. " At this season of the year, wnen Nature is so profuse in her adornment, clothing herself ia such lovely garments, it naturally inspires the good Housewife with the desire to make her dominion alike attractive. To aid her in this praiseworthy object, the .en terprising Furnishing Firm have imported a fresh lot of Carpets, patterns to please every taste, suitable for Drawing, Dining, and Bedroom. Tapestry from 2a lid, Brussels from 4a £d. ' The City Hall Arcade is also the Cheapest House in Auck land for really g<?od Furniture, besides having" the Greatest Variety to choose from. The largest staff of Workmen in the ; province aifi kept constantly employed by Hollo way, Garlick, and Cran , well, manufacturing Furniture and Bedding to suit the mosfc economical. Floor Cloths and Linoleum they have always been famous for, and now offer Twenty different patterns to choose from. The Patent Roller Blind only obtainable fron» Hol loway, Garlick, and Craawejl, Queen^treet.



TO AGRICULTURISTS & OTHERS. W J HURST it CO. have on Bale the under mentioned Fertilizers, all of which have been proved to produce satisfactory results m this district Experience teaches that large and profitable returns can be relied on by a judicious and liberal: use of them. The flattering Testi monials from leading Farmers justify W. J. ifurst & Co. in strongly commending them to every A griciilturist :— MALDEN ISLAND GUANO PERUVIAN GUANO MEXICAN do- BELLt, riONRFLOUR Jand*-inch BONEDUST BTLLYARD'S No. 1 do. NITRATE OF SODA SULPHATE OF AMMONIA MURIA.TTC OF POTASH SUPKR-PHOSPHATE OF LIME. SALT, SULPHATE OF LIME. In addition to the above, W. J. H. &; Co. are prepared to supply special Chemical Manures for stimulating weak Corn Crops, and renovat ing Clover-sick Pastures, as well as the Potato ancl Mangold mixture that last season attracted so much favourable notice. Analysis, prices, and other particulars Will bo supplied on application at the Stores. Yv. J. HURST & CO., r CLOVER 18EKD, FOR* SPRING SOWING Just Landed, ex Columbus— 30 casks new Clovers, cousisting of Red Clover White Clover Cow Gras Also on hand. Alsyhe, Timothy, Lucerne, Rape Rats-tail, Rye grass, Cocksfoot, &c, at lowest market rates. W. J. HURST & CO. 101, QUEEN-STREET. 500 sacks Sydney Maize (superior sample) 3000 „ Oats First-class Tartars for Seed, also 800 sacks of 1875 crop hard feed, surpassing any of last season's growth 1200 sacks Canterbury Potatoes, and some early varieties for seed purposes Flour, Bran, Sharps, Chaff, Oilcake, Coal, &c, &c. Particular attention is called to 500 sacks Prime Barley at 43 per bushel o 50tb. 5 tons Anderson's Fresh O atmeal, a £21 per ton. W. J. HURST & CO.. ■101, QUEEN-STREET, AUCKLAND.



There is no comparison in point of flavour and remedial properties between that incomparable medicinal beverage, Udolpho Wolfe's Schie dam Aromatic Schnapps, and the imitations of it put up in empty bottles of the real article. The true Schnapps is positively delicious, and an unfailing remedy for the diseases to -which it is adapted. The counterfeits have a detestable flavour, and are deleterious in the last degree.



Oft weariedand sick with the tasks of the. school, I bolt right away from the slate and the stool, And tip up'a penny, which buys me a Stab, And two pence to bay a Manilla cigar. Bat now I'm deprived of the pleasure of smoke, Which the Auckland tobacconists think a good joke. So please, Mr Editor, give me a par. To protest against rising a scholar's cigar.