SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

ARRIVALS.

Southern Cross, s.s., Holmes, from Napier, via

the Thames Hauraki. p.s., Oakcs, from Waitara (in the Manukau).

DEPARTURES.

Taranaki, s.s., for the South. Norval, schooner, McKenzie, for Tonga. Augusta, brigantine, Pnlnian, for Levuka.

IMPORTS.

Per s.s. Taranaki:— lS kegs butter, 30 sacks onions.—R. Arthur.

A WONDERFUL VOYAGE.

The ship Otaki, which left Port Chalmers for London, on the 11th March, arrived in the Docks on the 19th May. after and extraordinar.ly quick passage of Ci* days from port to port, or only (33 days from land to hind. She «vus commanded by Captain Millman, late of the ship Waipa.

THE SCHOONER JESSIE.

Air George Osborne, who is the owner of the schooner Jessie (and not Messrs Osborne Bros., as stated by the ■' Herald"), called at our office to-day, and wishes us to explain away the apprehension raised by a paragraph in this morning's issue of our contemporary, relative to the non-appearance of his vessel. The Jessie left Russell for Gisborne, not Auckland, i-ue arrived therein due course; discharged her cargo, and leftja few days ago for this port. She is due here in a day or two.

The Taranaki sailed at 11 a.m. to-day for tne South. Passengers : Sirs Adamson, Misses White. Mclntosh, Capt. Norris, Messrs Giilpan, Glendinning, Westen. Marsha'.!, Jack, Dean. Phillips. Sharland. Selman, Holt, Elba, and t steerage. , . ~ The s.s. Go-ahead was towed over from the North Shore this morning to the Mechanic's Bay intake, for the purpose of being repaired. We leaen ■ that Messrs Gouk and Cardon declined to* sign the bond pledging themselves to fulfil the contract tinder penalties. Messrs Eraser and Tinne, who were the next lowest tenderers, were thereupon offered the contract, which they accepted. The steamer wiil be hauled up on to the allotment, and work will be commenced upon her at once. The s.s. Jane Douglas is to leave for Gisborne to-morrow at 1 p.m. The new steamer City of Cork, having been slightly altered since her Friday's trip, made another run in harbour this morning, when she exhibited her powers to great advantage. Cap tain Casey assures us that a speed of fully 10 knots was attained. The little boat, certainly moves very fast through the water, and her machinery works admirably. The ship Yoscmite began to break bulk on Saturday.

The barque Mary Ann Annison is loading at Lyttelton for this port. 'The contract for repairing the Fairlie has been gained by Mr D. Gouk. Messrs Niccol and Sims and Brown were the unsuccessful competitors. '' The s.s. Southern Cross arrived from the Thames and Napier this morning early. She left Napier a. 8 o'clock Friday morning, reached the Thames at 8.30 a.m. on Sunday. Lsft there last night, and arrived at l«30 a.m. to-day. 60 head of cattle and 300 sheep were landed at the Thames.

The s.s. lona arrived in harbour late on Saturday afternoon, having been detained fully ten hours after her time by strong head winds on the passage. The schooner Belle Brandon, Avhile lying alongside • tls© Gore-street jetty yesterday evening, fell on her side, the jerk snapping her foremast.

The steamer Bulli, lately wrecked at Murray's Pass, Kent's Group, was insured for £15,000 in the Australian Marine Company's Office, of which £13,000 was re-insured in the following offices :—Pacific. £1000 ; Victoria, £1000 ; United, £1000 ; Sydney, £1000: New South Wales, £1003 ; Australian General, £1000; South British, £000 ; Adelaide. £500: Cornwall, £750; Netherlands, India, £500: Metcalfe's Marine, £100; Globe, £500; New Zealand, £1000; DerwentandTamar, £1000 ; Standard, s£looo ; Southern. £750. The Bulli was bound to Port Lempriere, with a cargo of coals, and was commanded by Captain Kendall, from Bulli. The baraue Victoria, from this port, arrived at Newcastle on the 13th inst.

The. brigantine Augusta sailed for Levttka on Saturday. The schooner Norval sailed for Tonga this morning. The p.s. Hauraki crossed the Manukau Bar at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and arrived at Onehunga soon after four. The brigartine Helena from the Manukau, and the three-masted schooner Ellerton, from Kai para, arrived nt Lyttelton on the 20th. The brigantine Flora, the barqucntine Prince Alfred, and the schooner Marion, all from K&ipara, arrived at Lyttelton on the 21st. The schooner Nellie, from the Thames, arrived at the same port also on the 22nd. The schooner xlcadia, from Napier, arrived the same day, and the Elizabeth from Mercury Bay, and the Elizabeth Curie, from Kaipara, on fie next day. The Nellie was 3Jf5 days on the voyage, and the cap tain reported, being under close reefed canvas the whole time. She lost an anchor and 30 fathoms of chain in Kawakawa Roads, but picked it up again. The following incident is recorded in the report■ :—On 11th. at 5 p.m. (just getting Hark), Young Nick's Head bore west twenty miles. Saw a boat ■with three people in her pulling towards vessel; tried to pick them up (being three or four mile inshore of schooner), but it fell calm. Hung a light in rigging till breeze sprung up. At 8. giving them plenty time to come alongside if so minded, saw nothing more of them. Kept the vessel on her course, thinking they had altered their minds and gone back, as it was very dark.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

s?Mat"ls will Close as Under :—

Far Thames, this day, at 4 p.m. and 5.30 p.m.;

and to-morrow at 4 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. For Coromandel, per Argyle, on Friday next,

at 2.30 p.m. For Russell, vVangaroa, and Mongonui, per lona. this day, at i p.m. For Hobart Town, per Bella Mary, to-morrow

at 8 a.m. For "Vv'aiwora, J-I&wau, Omaha, and Matakana, per Annie Miibank, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Gisborne and Napier, per Jane Douglas, to-morrow at 3 p.m. For Wangarei Heads, Waipu, Wangarci, and Mangapai, per Argyle, to-morrow, at 1 p.m. For Napier, per Southern Cross, to-morrow,

For Australian Colonies, per Rotorua, on Wed nesday next, at 10 a.m. Fo^ Rarotonga, per Wave of Life, on Wednes day next, at 11 a.m. For Whitianga, Taurnnga, and Opotiki, per Rowcna, on Wednesday next, at 1 p,m. For Taranaki and Southern Provinces, per

Taupo. on Saturday next, at 5 p.m. Per s.s. Zealandia, on Wednesday, Ist August, asunder: — For Sandwich Islands, United States of America. Canada. British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign Wfst Indies, at noon. For United Kingdom, and Continent of Europe, at noon. For money orders, registered letters, and newspapers, at 10.30 a.m. Late letters, bearing an-extra fes of 6d, in addition to the postage, will be received by the mail agent on board the steamer up to the time of sailing. R. B. BISS. Chief Postmaster.

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

MONDAY, JULY 30, 1877.

l^or the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs lcsistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do.

The announcement in our telegraphic columns that Mr Stafford will supersede Sir Julius Vogel in the Agent-Generalship is a .surprise. Rumours of various kinds have professed to predict the future movements of the Agent-General, at the expiration of his engagement, which ends in December next. Those who claim to speak rin authority' have asserted that the ex - Premier _ will Jbe in New Zealand before the session of 1878, andhis name has been mentioned as the com ing editor of 1 lie "Otago Daily Times" under its new proprietorship. The English financial firm—friends of his own —with whom he was supposedto havejformed a business alliance, when lie bid the colonists farewell, will not, if these reports speak truly, keep him away from the scene of his many triumphs and'honours. It was generally believed, however, that his removal from the Agent-Generalship would depend al together upon the abolition of that De partment, which, (A late years, lias come to be regarded as a costly and useless luxury. We fail to see that the colony would be any great gainer by the payment of £1,500 a year, and allowances, to Mr Stafford instead of Sir Julius Vogel. No one has really doubted the capacity of the present Agent-General for his work, although there were very strong objections to the manner in which the appointment was made. His quarrel with the Crown Agents may, perhaps, be deemed a reason why the colony should be otherwise repre sented in London ; bat it was a still stronger one against his selection in the first instance for the post. Before Mr Staf ford enters into the much-coveted ollice, Parliament may consider whether there is now any reason for a special representative at all, or any duties which the Crown Agents could not as efficiently perform without the maintenance of a co>tly depart ment.

ANOTHER extraordinary political rumour relates to £60,000, which cannot be accounted for by the Treasury. The Government accounts are so fearfully and wonderfully made up, and so eisily capable of bringing out any desired result, that we arc rather astonished that an odd sixty thousand pounds or so should be a source of trouble. A month or two ago the Treasurer over-paid the Wai taki County Council more than £4000, which shews that in mistakes, as in other things, the Treasury is de termined to keep up its reputation for doing things on a grand scale. After

an exciting search, we have no doubt the missing item will be found to have its origin in the bad arithmetic or forgetfulness of some under-strappcr, and all will be once more joy and peace in the bosom of every one but the delinquent.

Mr Baker, the proprietor of the Hiberni con, has become the landlord of a well known hotel in Wauganui.

The Greymouth " Star" has been reckon ing up the total amount of money expected to be invested in West Coast art unions during the next three months, and gives it as £14,700.

The remains of Mrs Morton Jones were laid in their silent resting place in the Church of England Cemetery on Saturday afternoon. A very large number of friends and relatives followed in the funeral pro cession to pay their last token of esteem to one who was valued by them in her life. The scene was deeply impressive, and afforded another intimation of the brevity and uncertainty of human life.

Another of those pleasing and varied entertainments was given at the Whan Asylum, on Friday evening last. Mr Eraser, a genuine Scot, played on the bag pipes, and Messrs Earcweathcr and Tilly gave songs and dances. The inmates were

much gratified Avith the amusements of the evening.

Mr Severn delivered the first of a series of six lectures on physical science in the Choral Hall, on Saturday evening. The hall was nearly filled with young scholars from the public schools in the city, to whom tickets had been issued at a reasonable price, and much interest was manifested on the occasion. The lecturer treated "Gal vanism" and in a manner sufficiently sim ple to bring the facts within the understand ing of ordinary children, Mr Severn pos sesses the gift of interesting£the young by an easy familiar way of talking about the earth and its wonders, and ,of expounding them in a clear and intelligible manner. The lecturer had an apparatus before him, and by experiments, produced results in evidence of the truth of his statement. He explained the batteries, and informed them of the manner in "which the electric tele graph is worked, and how easily and quickly a communication could be made by a person in Auckland to a friend in Dunedin. Mr Severn proceeded to shew the passing of electric currents of various intensities across the hall in which they were assembled, water was decomposed, and Kumkorfl's coil explaned. The electric light was produced, and chemicals burnt in voeaum tubes, from which issued flumes of varied colors and brilliancy, which performance was loudly cheered by the children. The lecture throughout was intensely interesting, and at the close Mr Severn informed his audience that on Monday (this evening) lie should have much to say about the earth and the moon, iv which the more advanced as well as the young would be interested. He also read a brief communication from the Board of Education, stating that the Board had voted .€lO for prizes to those children who should render the best abstract of his series of lectures, the first prize to children from 13 to Hi, and the .second prixe to children not exceeding 13.

At t>hc Chapel-street end cf Messrs Hill and Hudson's premises is an unostentatious little building, where a growing local in dustry in the shape of baking powder is carried on. The powder will make whole some bread and pastry, and is gradually superseding every other article of its class that lias for years past been im ported into the colony, with the excep tion of the raw materials, everything connected with it is made in Auckland. Testimonials in support of its superiority over all imported articles are continually being received, and having tried it ourselves we can confidently recommend it. Sold in tins at Is (id each, and can be obtained of all grocers, or at Hill and Hudson's, chemists and druggists, 57, Victoria-street, Auckland.

The Saturday evening entertainment in the Temperance Hall was again crowded. Mr Geo. Warburton occupied the chair, and delivered the opening address. The programme was satisfactory, and included a pianoforte solo, by Mr Butschkow; * Waiting, my darling, for thee," Mr McGuirc ; " Her father keeps a brewery," (comic) W. Metkim; song, "The girl of Brighton Vale," Mr Jamieson ; song and dance, " Little butterfly," J. Mctfani ; "Pity the heart," Mrs Smith; "Ye mariners of England," (Campbell), well rendered by Mr Scents. Recitations by Mr A. .Smith; trio, "Just like a Turk,'" by Messrs Mettain Brothers and McGuirc, concluding with a farce and the National Anthem.

lii responding to the toast of the House of Representatives at the banquet given at the opening of the new Town Hall at Tiniaru, the I lon. E. W. Stafford is repented to have said :— So far as the House of Representatives whs concerned, he thought that it represented very fairly the whims of the people for the time being. That it did not represent a continuity of thought was due to the fact that the people of New Zealand were not yet settled down into a settled groove of thought.

The annual meeting of ratepayers of the Otalmhu Highway District, was held in the Public Hall, Otahuhu, on Wednesday, July ISth, Mr Luke in the chair. The receipts for the past year, from all sources, amounted to £161 11s, and the expenditure to £161 5s (id. Seven gentlemen were pro posed as candidates for theoflice of trustees, a poll being taken, the chairman declared that Messrs Luke, Hall, Bowdcn, Stringer, and Goodwill, were duly elected. Messrs Gordon and De Rose were elected auditors, and Messrs Vnglar and Mitson fence viewers. A vote of thanks to the outgoing trustees concluded the meeting. •. At the first meeting of the newly elected Board, Mr Samuel Luke was elected chairman, Mr John Hall treasurer, and Mr C. A. Bowden secretary.

"Merchant" writes: Sir, —"In con sideration of the numerous failings in Auck land at the present time, I beg to suggest that all sales (credit sales) be suspended for a week by wholesale people, in order to establish some better system of action between merchant and customer. For this purpose a public meeting should be held to devise .some means by which the former may be protected, or the latter to have some guarantee that he, she, or they, will not be molested unduly."

The complimentary entertainment this evening to Mr Butschkow is likely to be a success. The programme promises a series of interesting things —songs, dances, lead ings, and recitations, concluding with a select quadrille party. Mr Sccats will sing the charming song of "Think of me sometimes, Maggie," which for touching pathos has seldom been excelled. Miss Gribble will sing " Bonnie Eloisc ;" Mr Hoyle, "Little Footsteps," a very sweet ditty ; Mrs Cottinghain will sing the " Captive Greek Girl," by special re<juest ; Mr McGuire, a (xmiic singer of no mean repute, will come forth with " The Butterfly," and Mr Nairn will give "Parted from Thee." . The entertainment will be interspersed with several choice com icalities from the portfolio of Mettam Brothers, Mr Elder will dance a hornpipe ; and Mr A. Smith will give a couple of his best recitations from the poets. A new reading from the diary of a Howick Farmer will also be given by his amanuensis ; the ■••.■fio]f concluding with a revised farce entitled " Rival Artists."

Between twenty and thirty labourers were on the Anglesea-street work this morning in response t» the advertisement for labourers at five shillings a clay. They stated that they were quite prepared to go on and give live shillings worth of work, but learned that there were no carts, and not likely to be any avail able at the money offered. The contractor therefore declined to put the men on. The letter of " A Labourer" in another column states their case very fairly. Five shillings a day, subject to loss of time from wet weather and other causes, is an " audacious" price to offer a working man. The City Council are blamable for the recent loss of lino weather in carrying out various contracts. It suits contractors, es pecially those who have more than one job on hand, to drag out their works, and it would suit them still better to get labour at two-thirds a fair value. Of several heavy jobs under contract, we believe that Sale-street is the only oue being proceeded with to-day, the City Council notices not withstanding. A rigid exaction of time penalties is the only ivay to put an end to this sort of thing, and a positive refusal of time extensions, unless under very excep tional circumstances.

Mails for the Australian colonie, and United Kingdom, pc/ Arawata, close at 11 a.m., to-morrow, 31st July, at the Bluff.

The half-yearly meeting of the share holders and Directors of the lied Queen G. M. Company was called this afternoon, but lapsed for want of a quorum. The financial statement at the present time shewed balance in hand, £115 5s 6d, and outstanding liabilities, £104 14s 7(1.

The Pakuranga Hunt Club met at the Ellerslie Hotel on Saturday afternoon, and a numerous held had one of the most enjoyable runs of the season. Before the hounds were laid on the scene was very animated, a large number of vehicles being intermingled with the horses, many of them containing fair friends of the hunts men. A hare was started almost at the first move, but as the run was intended to be a drag-hunt puss was allowed to escape. The course selected was past the Harp of Erin Hotel, crossing the Great North Road, joining the race course at the gate end ; thence tak ing the Steeplechase course, and finishing at the back of the Ellerslie Hotel. Only two checks occurred, and the distance was run at a Tery fair pace. Among the horses in the field were such well-known performers as Butcher Boy, ridden by Mr J. S. Buck land ; liarey, ridden by Mr J. M. Clark ; Shaimeeu, ridden by Mr 11. E. Whitaker; Islesman, Cocky, I3on Juan (Mr Morrin's new purchase), and several others. Messrs Clark and Whitaker were thrown at the last jump ; both, fortunately, escaped in jury, but we regret to state that Shanneen was severely cut about the legs, and it is a question whether he will be able to stand training again. Mr Dr.nnett, who rode Pointsman, was almost realising the fate of Absolom, only that instead of being in a tree, he was dragged off his horse by a clothes-line. He was not much hurt, though justly very indignant at such an ignoble accident.

CABLEGRAMS.

THE WA R.

[PRESS AGENCY.]

Suleman. Pacha's Advance Guard Defeated- Russians Bapidly Advancing on Adrianople. General Panic at Constantinople- Massacre of Christians Feared- LONDON, 27th. The Russian force have crossed the Balkans at the Iron Grand Pass, and reached Jambodi. Sulinian remains at Adrianople. The Turkish troops evacuating Philip popolis. The gravest fears are entertained that the Christians will be massacred in Stam boul. Consuls arc applying io the Ambassadors of the Powers to intervene. The "Sydney Morning Herald's " special telegram says : " It. is believed a crisis is imminent, owing to the rapid advance, of the Russian*) into Adrianople, in eortsc quence of the defeat of the advanced guard of Suleiman Pasha's army.

INVESTMENT OK SILISTRIA AFTER FIGHTING.

VICTORY BY THE NEW TURKISH COMMANDER IN BULGARIA. EXPECTED REPRISALS FOR RUS SIAN ATROCITIES. TURKS THREATENING THE RUS- S [AN COMMUNICATIONS.

BOMBAY, July 2(i. The Russians have been repulsed at Silistria.

A dispatch from Lord Loftus, Am bassador at St. Petersburg, to Earl Derby, says that fears are entertained of a terrible vengeance on the part of Mussulman for Russian atrocities.

BOMBAY, July 2S, 12.55 p.m. The Russians have invested Silistria. Suliman Pasha encountered and defeated Karabunar.

SINGAPORE, July 28,

A Turkish army corps, concentrated at Plevna, threatens the communications of the Russians with Roumania.

The Turkish Landwehr is called out.

' SERIOUS AMERICAN RIOTS.

SINGAPORE, July 29, 10.37 p.m. Thcroijiavc been serious riots in Chicago. The military were called out and fired on them, killing and wonnding 130.

An agitation has commenced in San Francisco" against the Chinese Vigilance Committee.

BOMBAY, 28th July. The mail steamer Tan j ore has arrived at Gallc. The Erie strike has ended. The San Francisco Mails. The Australia, with the London Mails of the 2Sth June, sailed from San Francisco for Auckland on the 18th July, contract date. The City of New York, with the New Zea land mails, leaving Auckland on the 4th inst., arrived at San Erancisco on the 2fith. fJuly 28tb. The Zealandia, from London to Rio Janiero, was badly damaged by collision. Sailed : Wakatipu, Saturday.

ACCIDENT IN PARNELL.

Mr axd Mrs William Thompson met with a serious accident in Parnell on Saturday night. They wore returning from Newmarket in a spring cart, and -when entering Parnell at the junction of the main road with St. Stephen's Road, the horse took fright, and started at a gallop down the street, Mr Thompson was un able to resume command of the arilinal, and ■>vhiin opposite the Alexandra Hotel the ruu-

rsi.r h"o:i!Ti" fi pviill in er|n'"?nii"r>co 'if ojio ot'

iim wheels being jerked otf the axle. Of course Ijulu Mr and Mrs Thompson were thrown out.

Sergeant Jackson, who was coming up the street, caught, the horse just after the accident. Mrs Thompson escaped with slight injuries, but her husband received two very nasty wounds on his head, and lay stunned for a minute or two. Dr Goldsbro' was immediately sent for, and on his arrival he had Thompson removed to his own sursrery, where his wounds were dressed. After a little while the patient was enabled to walk to his house in Bath-street. The horse was not injured, but the vehicle was consider ably damaged.

POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

(Before It. C. Barstow, Esq., R.M.) DRUXREXNKSS. Win. Lestrange was find 10s. and costs for this offence.

VAGRANCY,

Henry Barstow, whose children are in the Industrial Home, was charged under the Vagrancy Act with using offensive language last night in Nelson-street, and lighting with intant to commit a breach of the peace.

Sergeant Major Mason said this was a very bad case. James F. Haultaiu deposed that he was passing along Nelson-street last evening, when he saw prisoner and another man fighting, and using very bad language. People were going to church at the time. Prisoner said he was not the man who was stripped to light; it was a man named Carroll, who was fighting for the company of Eliza Rice.

The Court remanded the case until to morrow for the presence of Carroll.

CHARGE OF LARCENY

Samuel Fareweather was brought up on two charges of larceny of sundry articles, value £4 14s, the property of John Jeffery, in the months of May and July.

Mr Tyler appeared for prisoner, and pleaded not guilty, and said that the pris oner was fully prepared to account for the articles alleged to have been stolen. Sergeant-Major Mason asked for a re mand until to-morrow, in order to allow the police time to investigate the matter further.

The case was accordingly remanded BILLY CALLAGHAX.

This well-known character was brought up on charges of drunkenness and vagrancy. The Clerk -. You are charged with drunk enness.

Prisoner : Well. I was drunk, I s'pose, I had a glass of whisky.

His Worship : What do you say to being disorderly ?

Prisoner : Well, I s'pose I was disorderly. I know my head was wrong on Saturday night. His Worship : There's a very long list against you. Prisoner : I date say there is, your wor ship. I take a drap <>' whisky now and them, but I'm not a bad sort. His Worship : You are charged with being a rogue and vagabond. What do you say to that '! Prisoner : I never was a rogue, but always a hard-working fellow. I never stole so much as an umbrella in my life.

His Worship: But as you have been drunk five times lately you come under the

charge. Constable Roderick Dodd stave evidence. He saw the prisoner drunk, and singing in Queen-street. Prisoner : Oh Lord, your Worship, I was only singing one <>f the old songs of old Ireland ; rti* a poor heart that is not merry sometimes in this strange world.

His Worship : This course that you are pursuing cannot last; you must go to

prison. Prisoner : Have pity upon me ; I'm an honest fellow ; I am, indeed !

Sergeant-Major Mason said that prisoner was an iuoll'enwive character, whose chief enemy was the whisky.

Prisoner : Oh, your Worship, make the sentence as light as- possible. His Worship : 1 will ; t'.-.rec months' imprisonment.

THE MOANATAIRI.

THERE was a little excitement in the Stock Exchange this morning in consequence of the following telegram being received from the mine manager of the Moanatairi mine. " Slide in N<>. 1 winze 80 feet level going down steeper, l'ilb specimens broken.—lt. Comer." ' The shares rose during liv morning to ,IS 10s. but they receded slightly during the afternoon. The following is viiy mine manager's weekly report :— " I have the honour to report as follows : lHOft level. —.South cross-cut is noiv ex tended 135 ft froiw shaft, ami i estimate 30ft mure driving will intersect No 9 reef. 1 am pleased to say thai the. country is now much lighter than it has been, and is all blasting gr.'unil ; 1 refer to this as the rich run of gold about No '.i reef was all in light ground, and the same formation is now coming into the .south cross-cut of the 150 ft level.'

North Cross Cut.—The ground her is now easier and better progress is being made. The rises in and winze in SOft level will be broken through in ;;, few days and I shall then push "ii the above cross cut more vigorously.

SOft level, Xo 9 reef : —Good progress ha-s been made in sinking No 1 ■winze the reef is now 3ft thick in bottom and shows good colour of gold, a dropper from the South or hanging wall side has jnnctioued ■with the reef which will ho worked When stophig out the block there is 50ft. horizontal in this reef from bottom of No. 1 winze to No. 2 winze, which gives sufficient space for the run of gold going down.

Driving the SOffc. level east, will l»e resinned in a day or two, as the rise through the slide has broken into stopes above. The rise from back of intermediate s tope has also forokeu through to XunnelleveJ, and this run of good payable stuff will, l think, extend above the Tunnel level in west side of crosscut. In the cross cut, a leader (> inches thick has been intersected, con sisting of gold bearing quartz audmundic, but I do not think it is the main part of reef. The winze sinking in No. 9 reef west from junction of Wallace's leader will be broken through to 80 feet level in a few days. The stopes throughout the mine are turning out the usual quantity and grade of stuff, and crushing is showing up very well. The tir pipes for rock drill will be fixed home to face in a few days, and the rest of this work is succeeding satis factorily.

Before recommencing the use of sea water for table purposes it has been found necessary to clean out tho mud from the Reservoir. This work has been let by con tract for £35, to be completed within one week. The machinery is all in good order, and working well.

R. Comer.

THE BOYS AGAIN.

To the Editor of the Kven-ixg Star.

Sip —What about the boj-s I What is up that there is this terrible "down"? Day after day wo have in the Star newspaper, tremendous reports of depredations ana deviltries perpe trated by these ignorant hobblede-hoys at Ded wood, at Freeman's Bay, a'e Wakefielcl-stre«t, etc., and iust now yen* have reported a case concerning certain characters hailing from aristocratic Parnell. Lately, for money-get ting purposes only, sorec have knocked up' back slums in Parnell, and have actually let on hire the slum huts, for money getting only, to ba«k slum sort of folks. This is a fact, and some of the free gratis-ior-nothing Vogelites, as we call them, are among the crew. There has been blackguardism lately. Mobs of the uncivilised have promenaded the main street of evenings, issuing like rats from slums and holes, mobbing respectable people, bawling names, with ugly noises through tho throat, and shouting insultingly after young women, whose high shoe heels may happen to be attractive. pelting missiles, and so on. A war of extermina tion is deolarod. A plain, sensible, honourable working man told me last night that he was' mobbed by a gang of these same hobble-de-hoys, headed by some big cowards, bawling his name with a hideous throat growl, and, on his seriously remonstrating, three or four of the gang—the cowards goi» gangs—shewed fls'ht, He knocked down two, and the others fled frightened. lam informed they are to be waylaid and to have their skulls fractured. This'is agreed on and fixed ;so you may look out for public reports of shocking occurrences of broken heads. Mean while Mr Barstow has clone public service this / j w-f»ok byiiulinv some of ire gang. Only the I lHis'.':t"iiit« ' •Ji'uilci. by rnhersai cons'MiT, •'■.:■■■■ 1<; k -i .•_"..-i-.d :!:■■>*. ami i:,oti, a o \iin. =j-j.;u..U.- 1

PARLIAMENTARY.

[ —_ —«^ — {FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.) ■ | \ [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.]

I WELLINGTON, this day. IKr Stafford Accepts the Agent- Generalship. Mr Stafford being about to visit England, the Agent-Generalship his been offered to ■ him, and accepted. Sir Julius Vogel's I services will be dispensed with. 1 The Otago members will strongly oppose the Government attempt to dispense with Sir Julius Vogel's services and appoint Mr Stafford. ! Sixty Thousand Founds i Missing- ! ; There is a nice little row in the Treasury , which is likely to delay thefinancial state- • indefinitely.| Some one has discovered that there is a deficiency of sixty thousand \ pounds on southern railway account, and all the fat is in the fire. Correspondence and the wires are at work to discorer that . trifling deficiency of sixty thousand. ! Despair sits on the face of the Treasury i clerks. Major Atkinson's noble count enance | wears an interesting air of mournful . j melancholy. If that sixty bo not found the j statement must be put off until it can. \ i FRIENDLY SOCIETYS BILL. i :"•' I hear that the Government have with- j drawn the Friendly Societies Bill from the I Upper House in order to make amendments ! before second reading. i AMENDMENT OF FRANCHISE. I It is understood that the Government ■ during session will make important amend- ; ments in the general franchise. j The Government got Mr Woolcock to ask whether they intended to amend the fran- j : cnise in order to give an opportunity for j ■ discussion. ■ ELECTIVE UPPER HOUSE. j It is understood that in the debate on ; the proposed bill to amend the franchise \ ■ the question of making the Upper House ; elective will be raised, and that the j principle is likely to receive a large measure of support. I MINISTERIAL BANQUETS. j Ministerial banquets are again coming ; into fashion. On Saturday night one was I largely attended, and the ancient order of ■ Vogclian splendour was revived. | THE OPPOSITION. No Opposition party lias yet been j definitely formed, something is to be done i about Wednesday. Messrs Sheehan and Brown, the Opposition Whips, have not I arrived. The Opposition will meet after the financial statement. Ministers are most industrious. A large I number of Consolidated Bills haves been j brought down. It is doubtful whether all I the Government measures can be got ; througii Committee this session. | CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS BILL, j i Mr Swanson will move an important i amendment on the Charitable Institutions ■ Bill, to prevent clashing with the Destitute ; Persons Relief Act. i The Middle Island land claims will again be brought under consideiation O | parliament by MrTairoa. FINANCIAL STATEMENT. I 3f 26 p.m. | I have Major Atkinson's personal assur- : , mice that the Financial Statement will be , delivered at half-past seven. I

MR. THOMAS WALKER ON HIS RECEPTION AT WELLINGTON.

(To the Editor of the EVENING STAR.) Sir, —The conduct of the EVEXDfO STAR, since my first arrival in Auckland, has egotistically claimed, "fair play" for its standard when giving reports of my lectures.

I liaA'e quietly borne what I consider on the other hand to have been its deliberate lies and glaring misrepresentations in re ference to my claiiws and career, till I think it high time the public should at ! least !;ee a little of the opposite side of the question. The province of any journal with a character for honesty should not go out side bare facts and sincere truth, in report ing even the most unpopular subject, and should be decidedly careful of making any false statements calculated to injure any one. By the STAR 1 have been called every hard name that Billingsgate could furnish, and why ? Simply because of my preten- , sions. 1 say 1 am a trance-medium, : and this condemns me. So far as the matter is concerned, it concerns myself more titan anybody else. Tarn not dog , malic in the matter at all—persons can believe or disbelieve on this point, just as j they choose, so long as they listen to my , lectures. All I say is, that if any one loses ■at all by my pretensions, it is myself. 1 lose the praise of the world, the good j opinion of the STAR, and I am decidedly i unsuccessful in a financial sense. But \ there is something more than mere trance- I medinmship that exists, apart from all i mediumship, which I am labouring to give Ito the Avorld, and which the Star is too I knowing and cunning to attack, and that j is, a consistent religion. Let the Star ' attack a single utterance of mine delivered !in the so-called trance state, and shew its I error or unreasonableness. This would be j a far more laudable occupation than simply | stopping at the method employed to give I these lectures. My being in a trance state | makes a lecture no better, in oiic sense. Tlie words are the same in either case, j whether I am in a trance or out, and it is ! the lecture I give to the world for con sideration, trusting they Avill judge of its merits, and not of the method employed to | give it. The trance is my way of giving a lecture, and I give it in that way because I can give it iv no other. But to'the point : You have inserted in your paper some telegraphic reports of my Wellington meetings, calculated, if uncontradictcd, to convey a very wrong impression to the public mind. There are not only direct | falsehoods told, but one side of the affair is entirely withheld. But, of course, this is '■ only done by the Auckland Star to put j down " a monstrous fraud." Yes, indeed, ' fraud on a popular side is always tolerated, and the cleverness of a newspaper lie, when told in the interest of popular ignorance j and error, is only lauded and laughed at. j To my mind the charge of fraud and ; deception is far more applicable to my • accusers than to me. There are such ' glaring mistakes in the rcpoits alluded to, j that I am positive your "special corres- j pondent" was not present at the affair at J all, but afterwards "culled" the most un- } favourable statements made from the local i papers, which, with the Evening Star for ' a precedent, felt it their duty to falsify pro ! bono publico. Let me just point out a few of the" deliberate, or otherwise shamefully i negligent, errors. I am reported to have j said that I had no-ver seen a personal Saviour, in answer to a question on. the subject. Not only did 1 give no such ansAver, but I was never asked such a question. Then comes this assertion : ''Another questioner shewed Walker's knowledge of geology to be all wrong." My statements whilst in the trance state were not questioned at all, the only question bearing on geology that I was asked being ■• Why have you omitted to mention tho ' Theory of denudation in your last evening's i lecture?"' What IhadnotdonewasbroH«ht I into question, not what I had done. It is ! stated that I said I had no feeling in the trance state. My answer to this was that I did not know. Again, lam reported to i : have said, when a certain man stepped on the stage, "You ugly, half-starved animal ; : you want a yard of soap." I said no such ' thing- but whir I did say was, "Some of i you are so starv -.1 for spiritual food that it 1 is impossible .or me to satisfy you."1 < ■(--:''' ir''' ■•":--:i;':.r.';;iHv th.Mi coil viiiCOS !)li; ! ; i"°-- -o^. 'js: y,\us iio! prescul a tho stats- ■

merit that a certain tar sang a comic f-oii" ---iu a thundering voice. He stepped to the stage, but was not allowed to sing. From the very first I stayed on the platform answering what questions I could in my noi - mal state. What few there were interested in seeing fair play wanted me not to answer the insulting and irrelevant queries but I stayed vi.til I thought it was of no use talking to men and roughs devoid of reason. I made no bolt oft" the stage as stated, but according to the Wellington "Argus" "afterwards mingled with the throng in the coolest manner possible." And now for the other side : Why did your reporter omit to tell you that en account of being a stranger, and making the pretentious I did, I could not procure a chairman ? Why did he keep back the fact that many of the noisy questioners were under the influence of drink v It ia curious that what 1 said to a reporter there present j should have been withheld. Strange that the i lecture, lasting for near an hour, should have been entirely ignored in the report. More ; marvellous still that not a word (should have been said about the class of persons who wereso noisy—navvies, seamen, and roughs, for the greater part, whom reason and sense could not satisfy, but who came with a determination to create a j disturbance. And what about Tuesday night's meeting ? What about the Welling. ton roughs before alluded to, who actually forged my name to a letter I had never : written, in which it was stated that. j I wanted to bet concerning something or \ other ! This of course is all right on j the other side. Humbug is encouraged there i and there is nothing can be done to me that !is in the eyes of a blinded newspaper critic | "too bad." If your reporter had been active in reporting lie would have had good opportunity to have described a little scene, ; occurring among the reporters themselves. i T3ie reporters of the dailies, leading on those I who were supposed to know less than they j did, would give a sneering laugh when I | made use of a scientiiic term during the I lecture, as if it wore in their ! parlance "rot." A friend of mine sitting

near challenged one of them to give the meaning of one of those Avoids, which he could not. The friend also offered the reporter a certain sum of money if lie could point out a single word that I had used devoid of meaning, or which I could not explain whilst 1 was in the trance state. But the old adage serves well here "Where ignorance is bliss 'twere folly to be wise." I hare simply written this letter to give my version of the affair, and not with a desire to enter into a controversy.—l ask to remain, yours truly, Thomas Walker. [The best answer to our correspondent's charge of unfairness on the part of our Wellington correspondent is simply to publish the account of the meeting— imcondensed —from the Wellington "Post," leaving readers to judge whether the telegram published in the STAR mis represented the proceedings. It should be mentioned that the report in the Wellington "Argiis" agrees with that in the "Post" in thejmain, although differing in the form of one or two questions and replies1 * Among these: "Do you believe in the personality of a Saviour V" is rendered in the " Argus " in the personality of " Satan." The " Argus' report also gives the conclusion of the meeting differently, and as Mr Walker has referred to that part of the report, wo quote it in extenso from the " Argus " : —" .After a few more questions and answers, which partook of the nature of conundrums, had been disposed of, Mr Walker, amidst the jeers and laughter of those present, came and mingled in the crowd in a most affable and unabashed manner, addressed a few words on ordinary topics to individuals near him, and quietly took his departure, utterly regardless of a man-o'-war's man, who mounted the stage and entertained the sold ones with a song." The '' Evening Post's " report we give unabridged, headings and all, from the issue of that journal of the 24th July, as follows :—

in& IMP0ST01! WALKER EXPOSED.

; " HIGH JINKS" AT ST. GEORGE'S HALL. , About three hundred i)ersons had suffi cient curiosity to pay the admission charge in order to see and hear the Impostor Wal ker last night. They Avere afterwards extremely dissatisfied with their specula tion. Of opinions or facts they received : none from Walker, and a hard word or two ; such as " anthropomorphitic" was . decidedly dear at the price, even though a few new words, of which " animality" may be given as a specimen, were thrown into the bargain. Such meaningless verbosity avc never heard before, and avc i hope never to hear again. At iirst the | audience were quiet., and Avaited patiently for some little shred of information relative to "spirit-land/ but when mere "words, Avoids, words," connected inta sentences, it is true, but utterly devoid of meaning, came from the medium's lips, there were manifest signs of impatience evinced. These interruptions gradually grew more and more frequent as Walker Avent on with his flow of senseless verbiage, until a rine young retriever took tip the stiain, and kept up a euphonious yelping which varied the already existing clatter of sticks and feet. So passed half an hour, everyone growing more and more sick and impatient, and than Walker suddenly clapped his hands to his forehead, and, with a convulsive start, openedhis eyes. Stopping only to take a drink of water (avc hope it was not in that that the spirits found a temporary abiding place until Walker Avauted them), he then coolly announced his intention of "lecturing"" again this evening, his subject to be ""The'Origiii of Man." On Wednesday night lie intended to speak again, and he "might" then, Avhen in a state of trance, answer any questions which might be put to him. This did not suit the taste of the audience at all, for about a hundred lungs in concert suggested that " to-night" would be a desirable amendment upon "Wednesday night," When Walker again obtained V hearing he said that if any clergyman, or other represenf ative man, would ; meet him on the platform, and discuss what lie (Walker) vaguely desig nated as "the wlide question," lie would put aside Thursday night for a : public debate, the proceeds to go to any | charitable institution in the town. This i produced the first sign of applause that had been vouchsafed, but Avhen Walker immediately vacated the stage, there was ian ominous silence for a minute or two. ; About fifty of the less pugnacious spirits left ; the hall, and then, almost in a second, arose j an indescribable scene—knocking, stamping, | and shouting, yells of indignation, and j cheers of derision making up a turmoil which Walker in his retirement could not fail to ■ hear. For fullyfive minutes this went on, the uproar increasing as the audience became more and excited, until at last Walker wa obliged again to put in an appearance. Hi> entrance was the signal for comparativ quiet, three-fourths of those presents as if moved by one impulse, jump-, ing on the forms. Some, one opened the ball by the question o " Whose spirit animates you?" but before: this could .be anwwered at least a dozen other questions Avere put, cheers and laughter greeting each "twister."' Who asked the questions it Avas impossible to find out. Noav and then the reporters would catch sight of a man with a counte nance indicative of most intense earnestness, as he wildly gesticulated, and they would "go" for that man, and make kindly i» quiries as to his family patronymic. Several times they were within good earshot of the devoted individual, but just as they were about to lovingly insert a dexter linger in the buttonhole of his coat he would catch sight of their note-books, and, witha horrified •'good heavens, there's a reporter,' incon tinently disappear in the general crowd. Thus it comes about that avc are unable to give our readers the names < f the '•'seekers after truth/ and as a dozen questions were often asked ar the same nm inOl.t. O!!!1 M-lWtfi-s' s'lu, ■!:;;;:<: |;O\YCr.« «'CIC v-Hc i::i'/;::;>! to Ihv uuus".h] strain. ITovr-

THE ETENIIS TG STAR, MONDAY, JULY 30, 1877.



T^OR GOOD VALUE FOR MONEY • "Winter draperY OF Every Description, FLANNELS, WINCEYS, FRENCH MERINOS, WOOL PLAIDS, " SHIRTINGS, WATERPROOF TWEEDS, CHILDREN'S & LADIES' WATERPROOF CLOAKS, &C, &C, &C, GO TO THE JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE. BLANKETS AND RUGS OF ALL KINDS. An Unequalled Stock of Blankets, and. Rare Value, having been exceptionally well bought, we can afford to sell at consi derably less than usual price. FURNISHING GOODS. General Drapery of all kinds, and a Large and Well-assorted Stock of Boys' and Men's Clothing, Macintosh Goats, Overcaats, Shirts, Gentlemen's Mercery, &c., Always on Hand. Is. in the £ allowed on all Cash Purchases of 20s. and upwards. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN, Junction Drapery Warehouse, Upper Queex-street, auckland. CJ.TOCK-TAKING "OARGAINS ! ! W. RATTRAY Is Preparing tor STOCK-TAKING, so he offers a lot of CHOICE DRESS MATERIALS At Cost Price. Remnants of Dress Materials at and under Cost Price. The Balance of the STOCK of LADIES' COSTUMES, JACKETS, and FURS, At Cost Price. W. RATTRAY. D R APES A N*D CLOT H I ER, New Zealand House, 06, Queen-street, Auckland. J



JMPORTANT NOTICE. [Saving introduced STEAM PO WEE into the Manufacture of FURNITURE, we are now dialled to Supply our Cus tomers at GREATLY REDUCED PRICES. T. & 11. COOKS, Cabinetmakers, Upholsterers, <be, d:c, SHOWROOMS: G7, Queen-street. STEAM CABINET FACTORY: Victoria-street. J. COSG'UAVjE & CO., Bee/ to inform the inhabitants of Auck land they are now holding a SALE of the remaining portion of their WINTER DRAPERS and CLOTHING. Ladies' Costumes, Mantles, Shawls, JPurs, French Merinoes, Fancy Dress Stitffs and Sillcs. The Goods tvill be offered to the trnblio at Very Low Prices, in order to clear. TO AGRICULTURISTS & OTHERS. W. J. HURST c& CO. have on sale the under mentioned Fertilizers, all of which have been proved to produce satisfactory results in 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. S. Hurst & Co. in strongly commending them to every Agriculturist :— MALDEN ISLAND GUANO PERUVIAN GUANO MEXICAN do. BEuL'S BONEFLOUR i and Wnch BONEDUST BILL YARD'S No. 1 do. NITRATE OF SODA SULPHATE OF AMMONIA MURIATE OF POTASH SUPER-PHOSPHATE OF LIME. SALT, SULPHATK 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 Clever-sick Pastures, as well as the Potato and Mangold mixture that last season attracted so much favourable notice. Analysis, prices, and other particulars Will bo supplied on application at the Stores. W. J. HURST & CO. 101, QUEEN-S T.'R EE T. li> order to induce an enlarged consumption of Maiden Island Guano (equal, if not superior to Bonedust), we are prepared to accept deferred payments from responsible parties at extremely low rates. W. J. HURST & CO., 101, QUKKN-SI'REE T. W. J. HURST & CO have for Sale, at the lowest market rates : Clover Seeds, Red, White and Cow Rye-grass, Cocksfoot. Rats-tail, Garden Seeds in great variety and best quality. 500 sacks Sydney Maize (superior sample) 3000 ~ Oats First-class Tartars for Seed, also SOO sacks of 1375 crop hard feed, surpassing any of last season's growth 1200 sacks Canterbury Potatoes, and some early varieties for seed purposes Flour. Bran. Sharps, ChatF, Oilcake, Coal, &c. &c. Particular attention is called to 500 sacks Prime Barlej at Is per bushel of 50tt>. 5 tons Anderson's Fresh oatmeal, at £21 per ton. Prices and other particulars on application. W. J. HUKST & CO. 101, QUBEN-S TRE ET, AUCKLAND. mHORNTON. SMITH. AND FIRTH'S J_ PRICES CURRENT (WHOLESALE). Subject to alteration without notice. Sacks. 100's. 50's. Crown Brand Flour, £ s. d. & s. d. £ s. d. per ton 22 0 0 22 10 0 23 0 0 T.S.&F. Canterbury Brand W 0 0 19 10 0 20 0 0 Meal for Pig-feed ..900 Sharps 8 0 0 Bran GOO Fowl Wheat .. .. 0 -1 oto Is. 6d. The above prices include sacks and bags; sacks and bags not returnable. Terms: Cash. Auckland. 20th July. 1877. AMUSEMENTS, MEETINGS. Etc. Choral Hall, Mr Severn's second lectuic, " The Earth and its Satellite," 0. 30 p.m. Epsom Rate-payers' meeting. Junction Hotel, tome-street Hall, Concert and Variety Enter tainment, S p.m. NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. Held Ovee. —Several letters to the editor are held over. CiiAßi/ATAXS are continually attempting to practice upon the health of the unsuspecting by the sale of adulterated, fiery potions in bottles of Udolpiio Wolfe's Schiedam Axiomatic SCHNAPPS which have been emptied of their legitimate contents. The name of this celebra ted elixir m also counterfeited to aid the swindle. Buyers should inspect the labels closely.