SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

TUaiT W A tttt? ' Ttlis Afternoon, 1.17 mUU ™AIJUI-1 To-morrow Morning, 1.16 SUN SET.—This Evening. 7.1. SUN RISE.—To-morrow Morning. 5.29 MOON'S AGE.—New Moon, 13th, 8.38 p.m.

ARRIVALS.

Taupo, s.s., from the South Fauny Kelly, ketch, from Wangaroa

i ransrjort, Dng, ior JN cwcastle Ilovcr, schooner, for Russell

DEPARTURES.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

t< or v avau— b avorite, schooner, early For Sydney—Syren, brig, early For Paget Sound—Mirzapore.'barque, early For Sydney—Hero, s.s., about the 17th instant. For ban Francisco—Australia, P.M. s.s., l*2th instant (English mail). For London—ijienlora, barque, early; Loch Urr, barque, early . For Fiji—Emu, s.s., early For Coromandel—Arzyle, s.s., Mondays and Fridays For Wangarei—Argyle, every Tuesday

VESSELS EXPECTED.

Australia, P.M. b.r., from Sydney, 12th instant. Hero, s.s., from Sydney, 14th instant. Vision, brig, from the Islands, early.

The s.s. Taupo arrived in the Manukau from the South early this morning. Passengers;— Mesdames Duquesad. Carpenter, CheaL Dtim r>?H, Smith and family, Misses Hull, Donaldson, Messrs. Willcocks, O'Sullivan, Chcal, West, Benjamin. Gollop, Patterson, Williams, Par tington, Kohn, Hull, Jacobs, Norman. Cameron, Dawson, Bell. Hill(3), Garlick, and five, steerage. He are indebted to the purser and agents for prompt delivery of our files, &c. Tho s.s. Australia, Avhich is to convey the out ward English mail, is advertised to leaA-e Sydney to-day, and cannot, therefore, be hero before Tuesday night. The barque Glencoc is on the hard having hor bottom cleaned. The brig Transport left for NcAvcastle, in bal last, this morning. The schooner Daphne sailed to-day for Loma- Loma, Fiji. The chief mate of the barque Glimpse has met with an accident at Hokianga. A log of timber fell against him, and he was jammed against tho galley. He has been sent overland to Kusscll. It is not expected that his injuries ai-e fatal, al though he is much bruised externally. The North Shore Rowing Club are on for a spree on Monday night. They announce a tub race, open to all, course, round the DeA'onport wharf, from beach to beach. Only fair genuine washers Avill be allowed; none of your keels or fins. The ship Thurland Castle having discharged her gunpowder, came up harbour this morning, and was at once brought alongside the wharf. She has taken the berth lately occupied by the Jessie Osborne. The schooner Matchless arrived at Kaipara on Wednesday, after a long passage of three weeks from this port. The schooner Canterbury Avill probably leave for the Islands on Monday next. The brig Syren is adA'ertised to leaA-o for Sydney on or about Thursday next, the 15th inst. This A ressel will, in the future, trade regularly between Sydney and Auckland. The Union Steamship Company arc about to extend the scope of their trade to the Eastern ports of the North Island. The acquirement of the two steamers, Rotorua and Wanaka, gives them the means of at once carrying out this project, which has been under contemplation for some time. It will be seen from the ap pended particulars, that the trading round of: the Rotorua has been considerably altered. She will in future go from Dunedin via West Coast ports to the Manukau, thence to Sydney; from Sydney to Auckland direct, thence A'ia East Coast Ports to Dunedin. The steamer will leave Manukau on Tuesday, the 13th, arrive at Sydney on the 17th. leave Sydney on the 21st, and is due in Auckland on the 26th. The East Coast trade will be taken up by the Wanaka, 30[) tons, 120 horse power, Avhich will leave Dunedin on Saturday, 10th instant, calling at Lyttelton, Wellington, Napier, Poverty Bay, Tauranga, and she will arrive at Auckland on the 18th instant, returning via same ports on Tuesday, 20 th instant. Captain Casey, with his characteristic enter prise, is about to open up another new steam boat route, in addition to the Bay of Islands venture. We understand that In a few days the s.s. Gemini Avill be laid on to run between the Wade and Auckland. Nothing encourages settlement in the outlying country districts, so much as establishing ready means of communi cation with the Metropolitan Market. We notice ther«Jare three boats now running to Coro mandel. Th«y are, of course, playing a game of cut throat, and it might be as avcll if one of them were to take a new departure. We arc informed there is a good opening for a small steamer inside Wangarei Heads. The passengers on Wednesday per Minnie Casey from the Wairoa, Kaipara, left at 7 a.m., and by a happy combination of circumstances, such as the tides being favourable throughout, j and the train at Helensville awaiting^ the steam er's arrival, the travellers reached Riverhead in time to come down to Auckland by the steamer, which Avas also waiting for them. The Queen street wharf was reached at 5.30 o'clock. Con sidering the distance and the route it was j a remarkably quick rate of traAr elling. .

AUCKLAND CATTLE MARKET.

Mb Alfred Btjckland's Weekly Report. —At Remuera. on Thursday, dairy cattle were in full numbers, and in request at advanced prices. Store cattle in limited number, but with a better inquiry. Fat cattle in full supply ; 100 head yarded; late values fully sustained. Store sheep at late values. Fat sheep, value fairly sustained. Lambs were at very low values, and several lots were withdrawn. Prices obtained were:—Dairy cattle, near calviTig, from £7 to £12 each ; dry cows, £3 to £1; yearlings, mixed, sexes, £3 10s; fat cattle, 21s to 28s the lOOlbs ; fat sheep, 2Jd to 3d the lb.; lambs, is Cd to 13s each ; inferior ewes from 2s 6d. Messrs Hunter and Nolan's Wkekxy Report.—Horses: On Friday last horses were in full supply and steady demand, and prices were sustained, particularly for those of a good stamp; no heavy draught with trials were dis posed of. but colts sold from £1!) to £27; light harness horses, from £16 to £21 10s; hacks, from £(ito£t3. At the large sale at Papakura, there was a marked improvement in the domand and price of fat beasts. 30s per lOOlbs. having been given for top sorts. We quote: Dairy cows, from £3 to £12 2s 6d; yearling steers, £2 15a to £3 10s ; two and three-year-old steers, £( JOs to £(> 15s ; weaned calves, from £1 Ss to £2 ss; two year-old heifers, £3 to £1 10s. Best fat sheep sold from 16s to 20s ; second quality, from 12s to 14a 6d; fat lambs, from 7s to 12s fid each. Pigs ; Very few yarded, and some of those of inferior description.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Under :— For Thames, this day at 5.30 p.m., and to-morroAv at 10.30 a.m For Coromandel, per Durham, to-morrow, at 1.30 p.m. For Waiwera, Mahurangi, Matakana, Manga. Avai, Waipn, "Wangarel, and Mangapai, per Annie Milbank, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Gisborne and Napier, per Go-ahead, to morrow, at 11 a.m. For Levuka, A ria llussel. per Emu, to-morrow, at 11 a.m. For Taranaki and Southern provinces, per Taupo, on Monday next, at 5 a.m. For money orders and registered letters, to-morrow, at 5 p.m. Per Australia, on Monday, tho 12th instant, as under :— For KandaAru, Sandwich Islands, United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign West Indies, at 11 a.m. For money orders, registered letters, [and neAvspapers, at 10 a.m. Late letters bearing an extra fee of 6d in addition to the postage, Avill be receiA'ed by the Mail Agent on board up to time of sailing. For Russell, gWangaroa, and Monuonui, per lona, on Monday next, at 4 p.m. For Whitianga. Tauranga, and Opotiki, per RoAvena, on Monday next, at 4 p.m. For Australian Colonies, per Rotorua, on Tues day next, at 5 a.m. For Wangarei Heads, Waipu, Wangarei, and Mangapai, per Argyle, on Tuesday next, at 4 p.m. S. B. BISS. Chief Postmaster.

DEATH.

MITCHELL.—On 9th February, at City Road, Charles Ernest, infant son of Mr. W. L. Mit chell, aged i months. The funeral will take place at 10 a.m. to morrow (Saturday). SHEPPARD.—On the nth inst., at her parents' residence, Elliott-street, Market Place, Emma Victoria Sheppard, aged 7 months. The funeral will take place on Sunday after noon, at 3 o'clock.

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

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1877

For the cavse that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the jjood that we can do.

DARWINIANISM, or the doctrine of evolu tion, which turned the heads of half our modern scientists and set the Duuedin parsons by the ears, has scarcely created a ruffle of interest in Auckland. We move along with a philosophical indin'erence'to our ancestry, and precious little anxiety, some times, about our descent. The tailed men. of Kalili, awakened a momentary Hutter, and called attention to the loss which mankind has suffered through the curtailment of a, useful and ornamental appendage, but those interesting savages were commonly voted as great a myth as the pithecoid ancestry. It does concern us a little, how ever, to know something of the drift of modern thought and—using the word in another sense—it concerns us a great deal to observe in that class of thinkers upon whom mankind has depended for the obser vation of the phenomena and incontro verible facts .of Nature a disposition, to drift away into crude theorising, unpro ductive of the slightest benefit to human ity. When scientific men, starting with a theory, endeavour to prove it by searching for sustaining facts, instead of developing conclusions as their unbiased study of Nature enlarges their knowledge of its established phenomena, they lay aside their shield, accept the position of partizans, and forfeit their honorable claims to belief as simple observers of fact rather than speculative propogators of strange doc trines. Evolution lias, hoAvever, been offered to the world with such excellent scientific imprint that the smaller fry of the great class of would-be savans swallow it unhesitatingly jas an intrinsic part of the scientific gospel. ~t is not surprising, therefore, to find the Huttous and other aspirants to the colonial scientific apostleship, venturing upon de clarations of perfect belief in the flattering relationship, that would, astound Darwin himself. The "New Zealand Magazine," published at Dunedin, which contains monthly about four evolutionist articles out of the ten comprised within its covers, has doginatimjcl mm YufremimtJ.y m W$

"irrefutable" character of tho evidence supporting evolution than Darwin ventured on or Lyell dreamed of. We dare say those poor creatures, too, fancy they are intellec tually half a century in advance of their age. 'We are instigated to this review Of the position by a series of lectures delivered in New York lately by Pro fessor Huxley, whose addresses to Work ing Men in ISGO, cleverly adapted to lead captive the unlearned and " silly women," together with the published resiund of hia discourses in " Man's Place in Nature," first attempted to popularise the pithecoid doctrine. Professor Huxley is still a most enthusiastic apostle of the theory with which Darwin's name lias become specially identified, and in addressing American audiences no fact supporting Iris position was omitted. And yet in a perusal of the lengthy reports of the lectures, received by recent mails, one cannot but be struck with the gigantic character of the conclusion, and the ilimsiness of the foundation on which it rests. And still more with the overwhelming weight of evidence against the theory which the Pro fessor was compelled, in vindication of his reputation, to state. In the latter class was the testimony of that giant among scientific pigmies, Olivier, who carefully ex amined human and animal remains 4000 years old, brought from Egypt, with the express object of proving evolution, and ■who was forced to tiio conclusion that there was 7io appreciable change of form, and hence that evolution was unsustained by scientific evidence. Professor Huxley also instanced as facts in the same direction, the superficial deposits in the vicinity of tlic falls of Niagara and Goat Island. These were the remains of animals and shclllisli, the forms of which sire perfectly preserved, and which are identical with those inhabit ing to-day the still waters of Lake Erie, and they were deposited at a time when the waters of the lake covered the site upon which they are now found. According to the most reliable calculations, it lias taken Niagara 30,000 years to eat its way back six miles, and avo have to conclude that in that vast period of time no essential change has taken place in the animals found when compared with those of the present day. The same, he said, was substantially true of the fauna of the cretaceous period. The globe-geriana of the English chalk were adduced in proof of this. What is said here of simple species may equally be said of genera, only that a vaster period must be allotted to these persistent forms. The bericus is represented by a very closely allied species, found to-day in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Coal contains scorpions hardly distinguishable from those of tho present day—a fact which is astounding when we consider the vastness of the period which must have elapsed since those found in coal lived. At the bottom of the Silu rian period avg find molluscn so nearly allied to present forms that they have been gene rally categorized with the latter as luigula, and these to-day may be found on the shores of Australia. The scorpions of tho carboniferous period and the lizards of tho Permian period are hardly different from those existing to-day. The evidence of this persistent reproduction of exact forms, stamped on the rocks, is so conclusive and universal that Professor Huxley was com pelled to admit that "If one series of stratified rocks represented all tho animals, etc., which have ever existed in tho earth, the theory of evolution would go by the board." What then, it may bo naked, docs he claim as entitling evolution to credence? This : " The geological record is incomplete, and it is not only possible, but highly probable, that all traces of many species which have existed in the various strata ha\re been obliterated by the action of water and heat." Upon negative evi dence of this character, is it logical or worthy of scientific acumen to ask the acceptance of a theory opposed by the most positive proof furnished by the persistent forms preserved in tho strati licit rocks. The Professor acknow ledged the full bearings of the position, and after proving by the occurrence of footprints of animals that had left no other traces or remains and also by the finding of feathers where there was no evidence of birds, that the strata was incomplete lie proceeded to slioav what scientists had succeeded in dis covering to bridge the gulf between species. He said it had been proved that there was an intermediate between a pig and a ruminant. That remains of birds with teetli had been discovered, and one or two specimens in Avhich the vertebra1 and bones of the wing are unlike .those of any other I known bird, and approximate mere to the anatomical construction of the reptile. He added that it was possible to fill up the gap between the bird and the reptile in a much more remarkable manner, but not by addu cing the pterodactylus. He preferred to look to the mesoteric rocks, where the dinosaur would be found, which was clearly in some important points an inter mediate between the bird and the crocodile. But the history of the horse he contended, revealed the clearest evolution, and might have been prophecied from the doctrine. " Through the recent horse, the hipparion, and the anchitheriuni, the modi fications of anatomy Avere traced in the teeth and general osteology. The miohip pus had three toes—the median large, the tAvo lateral ones small, and a rudimentary fourth, corresponding to the little linger of the human hand; the hind foot had three toes, and the rest was as in the anchitheri um. In the American tertiary, down to the bottom of the eocene, remains Avere found Avith three toes, a long little finger, three toes behind, radius, ulna, fibula, tibia, and short-crowned teeth. The orobippus from the eldest eocene, had four toes on the fore-limb, three on the hind foot, and complete fibula, tibia, radius, and ulna." This constitutes a fair summary _of the evidence on which avo are asked to accept the theory that every species of life has sprung from a common germ. Professor Huxley confessed that it Avas not absolutely demonstrated, because even where inter mediate forms are found, they "do not occur in the exact order in which they should be found to shew that they are really intermediates between birds and reptiles. They exist in contemporaneous deposits, buh they should be in regular line of progression if it is to be shewn that the steps are graduated from the lower ;.o the last form. There would, be the highest demonstrative evidence if in some older formation reptiles were found, birds in some newer, and intermediate beings betAveen them. The proof of evolution cannot be looked upon as complete till such evidence is forthcoming." Yet he thought the evidence was as weighty as leads men to affirm anything as true in ordinary matters. Hardly, avc should think, Avill he find a very wide circle of followers to accept these rare, scattered, and irregular types, as necessarily involving a common parentage or more intimate relationship than exists between the eagle and the canary, the mouse and the lion, and the variety of other dis tinct species, which have each re-produced their peculiar characteristics so long as avc have any clear record of their existence. We cannot, however, but admire the candour of his admissions, and the readiness with Avhich lie acknowledged his starting point that " special creation is out of the question to the investigator." Should the Professor, or those Avho may follow him, succeed, as there is not the slightest probability that they ever will—in tracing the forms of life back, step by step, to one gelatinous mass such as that which now embodies tiie germ of reproduction, what then ? Would they be one stage nearer a solution of' the problem which they ire endeavouring to lead up to -tho origin \ if life and matter ? would they bo able to ■ell us* where au.d. hQW ,Uf<3 bPK'-W* without.

admitting a creation ? - How the myriads of worlds with their wonderful variety sprang into existence, into order and beauty, from nothing, by a process of evolution ? We think not. We might retort with doubled force, upon Huxley and Tyndall, the reply of the latter to the request that he should investigate the phenomena of spiritism. He had not, he said, the time to devote to the subject, and if he had, he would still hesitate to apply it to a study, which if successful in proving its object would establish something of no value to humanity.

The case of McCaslin v. Cherry, which is set down for hearing at the next sitting of the District Court possesses some features of interest to Highway Boards. The plaintiff" claims a sum alleged to be due for scoria supplied to the late Board, and the claim is certified by the late chairman. The prosent Board allege that they find no record of the debt in the books, and no memorandum of the transaction. It should be mentioned that Mr Cherry appears as defendant, solely in his public capacity as chairman of the Board.

A statement, published in the New Zea land Gazette gives the assets and liabilities of Banks in the colony on the 30th Decem ber last, omitting shillings and pence, as follows :—Bank of New Zealand liabilities £3,760,576, assets £4,997,226 ; Union Bank of Australia, liabilities £1,148,390, assets £1,921,382 ; Bank of New South Wales, liabilities £671,250, assets £1,676,428 ; Bank of Australasia, liabilities £392,619, assets £918,916 ; National Bank of New Zealand, liabilities £656,017, assets £1,617,575 ; Colonial Bank of New Zealand, liabilities £464,381, assets £850,935. The total lia bilities of the six Banks amount to £7,093,235, and the assets to £11,983,464. Tire total amount of reserve fund was £1,736,986, and the last dividends amounted to £325,500. The notes in circulation were £841,691 ; bills in circulation £67,126 ; and balances due other banks, £15,410. The Government deposits amounted to £731,(537. The deposits bearing interest amounted to £2,559,223; and bearing interest, £2,878,141. The coined gold and silver and other coined metals amounted to £1,497,250 ; in bullion and bars, £174,042; notes and bills dis counted, £4,890,177 ; and debts due to the Bank, exclusive of debts abandoned as bad, £4,647,798. Mr Douglas McLean, son of the late Sir Donald McLean, has intimated his intention of establishing eight scholarships of the value of £25 per annum for native youths in connection with the Te Aute college, Hawkes Bay. A Woolwich cadet, 16 years of age, has passed 3000 marks, the highest number , possible. He is so small that the authorities will only grant hi in a commis sion on liis solemn promise to grow. How did it happen that the late Arctic Expedition missed the North Pole ? Because those on the Discovery, were not on the Alert, The appointment of G. A. King to bo a clerk in the Supreme Court office, at Auckland, is gazetted. Mr Hudson 'Wil liamson is appointed deputy-registrar, vice A. H. King, transferred. Amongst the list of new Post offices gazetted, are those of Waiheke, Waitc kauri, Whatipu, and Whirinaki. The Post ouice at Cape Settlement, Auckland dis trict, lias been closed. The following appointments in the Postal .Service are announced :—J. Popplcton, Henderson's Mill ;A. Forbes, Pukekohe West. ; .). E. Sandc-i, Toka Toka ; J. Collins, Tuakau; P. L Francis, Waiheke ; T. Snodgrass, Waitekauri ; T. M. Mall, Whatipu ; and Tawelie Graham, Whirinaki. A "New Zealand Gazette" notifies that letters of administration have been issued to Wenzi Scholium, Josef Scholium, and Josef Hcni, of Puhoi. Sir, —A short time ago there was quite an inundation of "nigger" entertainments, but the ilood lias gradually subsided, and there is a great calm. On enquiring into the cause of the cessation of theso shadowy amusements I have found that most of the circles have broken up, and the elemental parts have been dissolved in consequence of various outer changes and internal disorders. The " Sam Weller Humourists," the " Temperance Variety," " Fox's Trouba dours," " Ward's Magnet Troupe," the " African Minstrels," and the " Golden-shoe Boys," have all, one after another, disap peared, ami Auckland is now without a minstrel troupe. It may therefore be pleas ing to lovers of such amusements to learn that Mr I. Doran is rallying the scattered amateurs of song and melody with Johnson and Bones, and intends shortly to bring them forth in a new entertainment as the " Invincible Troupe."-—FAVORITE.

A young man, named John McNamara, unfortunately got his leg broken the other day, at Wiupipi, by the kick of a horse which lie was driving. The accident hap pened in a lonely road, no person being near at the time. The young man crawled to it spot, 150 yards away and cooed for assistance. A neighbour came and bound up his leg, and had him conveyed to W'aiuku, but as there was no medical man in the district, the poor fellow was obliged to he font to the Provincial Hospital before the broken bone could be set.

We regret to learn that Mr F. L. Prime is suffering from sickness, and in conse quence has been prevented from attending to his business and seat in the Council. It is gratifying, however, to know that our respected townsman is recovering from the fever.

The fall of rain in Auckland from Sun day to Monday last was remarkable, amounting to 2.390 inches in the Domain observatory, the heaviest fall that has been known iv this city for a very long time. The rain was much heavier in PonsOnby than at Farnell, shewing that the storm was partial. In consequence of the abun dant supply of soft water this has been a great washing week in Auckland, and a number of washing machines have been in full operation

We learn by our Wellington telegrams, that a match has been made between Selby the cricketer, and Donovan a local pedestrian, to run 100 yards for £50 aside, the race is to come olt' to-day. Unless Selby gives his opponent a good start, there will be littie doubt about the result, for Donovan's " form " is well known in Auck land, as he resided here up to within eighteen months ago, and ran in several races at Ellerslie Gardens. Ellis, who was beaten by Selby here last week, can give him at least four yards in a 100, so that the Englishman ought if the race is run squarely to have " a soft thing." [Since the above was in type, we have received a telegram from Wellington, which states that Selby has again opened the eyes of the peds. by another easy victory, beating the Welling ton runner by 20 yards, and pocketing £30 with his customary sang I froid. This beat ing is a long way worse than was sustained by our local ped.]

The Misses Teutenberg have just com pleted a very beautiful Sunday-school banner, which will shortly be on view at their new premises, adjoining the warehouse of Messrs McArthur and Co. The dimen- I sions of the banner are 6ft. by 7. It is of green silk, with the words " Newton Congregational Sunday School" in large old English letters of yellow silk velvet. In the centre is a very beautiful device in a white satin ground, with a figure in the centre bearing a green iiag, with the motto "Excelsior." The folds of the flag are very skilfully represented, andthe^ device is indicative of much taste in design and neatness of execution. The border is com. posed of green and yellow cord, with a deep gold fringe ut the lower border, The banner is very creditable to tf\q {trfci^-iii skill >)i the. Misses TsutpnJierg,

The Gazette notifies that His Honor M 1 Justice Gillies has appointed Mr James Morton to be a certificated accountant in Bankruptcy, within the Northern Judicial District.

Inquiries are made in the "New Zea land Gazette" for a woman named Katherine Mahon, avlio came to New Zealand in the Carnatic, in 1874. She has dark hair and eyes, round features, and a small scar on her forehead. She lived when in England at 3S, St. Clements Road, Notting Hill, London.

To the Editor : Sir; —Can you inform me if it is a fact that the murderer, Martin Curtin, assigned his property to a relative after his arrest, and previous to his con viction for the murder of Denis Shanaghan ? —Yours, etc., G. Smith—[lt is quite true. Ed. E. S.]

A Committee of the Eden County Council proceeded from Mr Tothill's office at three o'clock this afternoon to inspect the Slaughter-house at Newmarket.

The ."{Heralds's" special reporter in reporting the All England Cricket match at AVellington says : " The arrangements were good, much better than in Auckland," while in the same breath he says of the attendance, " comparatively few people were present, a great many preferring to stand on the slopes outside, and look over the fence." Surely the " Herald's " special is a Wellington man, at anyrate lie judges of things there uncommoiily like an '' Empire Cityest." Lillywhito, we should think, agrees with him that the arrange ments arc " better than in Auckland " when the whole town can see the fun by looking over the fence. Messrs 801 l Brothers, produce dealers, and importers of grain, Custom House-street, offer their business for sale by tender. These trades men have been long and favourably known, their business is well established, and their promises most excellently situated. Return of the number, tonnage, and crews of vessels arriving at and departing from the undermentioned places during the year ending the 31st December, 1876, coast wise :— Arrivals. Departures. Port Vsls. Tnge. Crw. Vsls. Tnge. Crw. Auckland .. 3185 170131 17G15 3312 16679R 17050 Onehunga .. 229 46174 3792 236 47037 3819 Kaipara .. 139 16908 811 111 12021 626 Wangaroa .. IGB 19108 1272 153 76127 1117 Customs, Auckland, Bth February, 1877. An extraordinary general meeting of the rate payers of the Whau Riding will be held this evening in the Morningside school-room, to consider tho Counties Act, and to hear the opinion of Mr A. K. Taylor on the Act. Tenders for shares in the Auckland Gas Com pany, must be sent in by the 9th inst, to E. B. Parsons, Esq., Secretary, Insurance Buildings. Should the weather permit, a cricket match will be played in the Domain to-morrow (Satur day) between the eleven of the West End and North Shore clubs. The following are selected for the contest: —North Shore—Messrs Thome, Swanson, AVhitaker, Carter. Burgess, Wynyard, Withers, King, Nolan, Wells, Welstcr, and McGichie. West End- J. Macky. T. Macky, C. Gleeson, G. McLean, It. Mason, W. Mason, W. Tonks, H. Choyco. C. Western, 11. Walker, and Coleman. A match will also be played in the Domain, commencing at two o'clock, between eleven of the Auckland United, and sixteen of the West End. The fol lowing arc the teams : West Knd-—Taylor, C. 1., Mc.Kinney, McOoskrie, Calcy, Taylor, C. A., Hosking. Clerk, Ham<>r, Hoinerville, Spry. Cook, Orchard, P. Dufaur, Forest, S. Hanna, Merries, Smith, and Stovin. United — Willis, Wright. Dignan, Bu'ckland., Barber. Yates, Jackson, Lankham, Beale, Carter, Dufaur.

Mr H. A. Severn, the popular scientific and chemical lecturer, previous to his return to London, has promised to deliver a course of lectures in this city, and in Lorne-streot Hall. The first will bo given on Monday evening, the subject of which will be, "Tho sun and modern solar discoveries," illustrated by photographic views, shewn by 1h« power of limelight on the Rcrocn, of spots, eruptions and storms, eclipses, spectrum of tho sun, etc., to conclude with a variety of views of towns, HUpp. and pyramids, all of which Mr Severn will explain in his lucid and familiar manner.

A statement showing the number, amount. Sec, of money order and Savings Bank trans actions in the several postal districts of the colony for the quarter ending December, 31, 177t;, has been published. Tt seems there were live more offices open than during the corres ponding quarter of last year, the numbers being 121 nnd 11!) respectively. In the 1*7(1 Quarter thoro were 20,233 of the Value of £77,517 10s sd; for the corresponding period of 1875 the number of orders issued for 15,782, of the value of £73,316. Tho orders paid during the two quarters were as follow : -1875, 13,609, value £51,302 ; 1870, 15,107 value, £57,030. In the Savings Bank branch there vron> 2108 accounts opened and 2231 closed, as against 2i>;S2 opened and 2019 closed during the corresponding period of 1875. The excess of deposits over withdrawals was £351.

One of the most. favouriteVaristocratic resorts is the I'arnoll Croquet Clubs'ground, the position of which is excellent, as it is situated on the high road. Coaches run past every half hour. It is also within easy walking distance of the homos of the principal patrons of the sports carried on. One of the finest buildings in the neighbourhood, is that lately erected by Mr J. Gay, Builder,! to the order of A. V. Macdonald, Esq. This fine-looking building is on the pro perty adjoining the club ground, a piece of several acres, as formerly chosen by Mr I*. Walker, but relinquished by that gentleman through, some dispute with the Trustees on the subject of leasing surrounding ground to trades men. Mr Ifcrapath was architect.. The house contains 10 rooms, the lower of which arc characterised by great loftiness, being 14 feet high, the upper 13 feet in height. Gas is laid on, and the house throughout has heed built in a most, substantial manncr.Rcrcditable alike to architect and builder. Tile windows command a magnificent view of harbour and country scen ery.

THE MAN IN THE MOON.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.)

SIE, —Your readers Avill be glad to learn that I have again descended from the moon to Auckland. While on duty above, I meditated much during the late cold wet nights upon your political affairs, and I have something of importance to say about the suspension of the Counties Act, and about the doings of the Council and Road Boards in Eden County. I am surprised that the Road Boards, blind to their own interests, have not urged the desirableness of hanging up the AGt. The Road Boards, as at present constituted, arc able to do all that has to be done in the County till the Act has been recast and amended in the coming Parliament. If the Act be hung up and the Council made merely a distr£ buting body, the Boards will obtain for road purposes a very large share of the County revenues ; but if it be not hung up, much of those revenues will be diverted from the roads and wasted on billets and billet-holders. It nrast by this time be obvious even to the most stupid that a majority of the Councillors purpose to adopt the whole Act, and that the final decision was deferred till the 12th March, in the hope that something in the meantime ■would turn up'to excuse unavoidable pledge breaking. This purpose, so injurious to the interests of the Boards and the County, may still be baffled if the members of the Boards were to meet in their respective dis tricts and pass a resolution that the Act should be hung up and the chairman un salaried. The great fault of you Colonials is that you don't attend to public things in time, or at the right time, Avhen the evil that is in them can be counteracted or eliminated. Never looking ahead, you let things drift anywhither, and then finding yourselves ( oppressed and overtaxed, you cry out i like overgrown babies, when the evil is irremediable. The wise watch against preventable evils; it is only fools who

neglect the right time for action, and then howl over the irreparable. The present (before the Act is forruly adopted), is the time for the Road Boards to bestir them selves, and to look after the interests com mitted to their keeping. If they do not, the Boards will inevitably be swallowed up and supplanted by the Council, and the County revenues this year will be diverted from road-metal into pocket-metal for chair man, clerks, engineers, surveyors, valuers, inspectors, etc. etc. They cannot deserve such a consummation —they cannot want to give themselves the happy despatch, or to see the County revenues largely tnisappro* priated to the payment of salaries, But these things cannot, fail to take place, if the Boards in the present crisis of County affairs, cpntin,ui| tiQ i?tnnd July by, vitJiKhutMttUtlu

and. folded hands, and leave thejf aithles* councillors to pursue their own plans and Say their sly game, without remonstrance. ©Boards must disappear the moment the public find themselves squeezed between twogsets of taxing machinery—the 1"1 set and the Board set. The Boards there fore^ must be infatuated if they do not .strive t0 s ave their own life ; and infatuated if they neglect to avail themselves of the chance now offered of getting a big haul of County revenues for road purposes, intact, if the" Act were hung up and the Council thus made a merely distributing body, the County revenues (said to be nearly £2,oooper annum) might be so administered this year as to render any Road Board tax unnecessary tliis year. This strange statement I make with"considerable diffidence, and I refuse to lav much stress upon it, till I have minutely compared the whole of the revenues with the whole of the responsibilities and liabili ties of the County. Apart from this, enough has been shown to satisfy the Boards that it is decidedly their interest this year to hang lip the Act and get as much as possible of the County's revenues divided amongst them. . , . , The wisdom of hanging up the Act was unmistakeably hinted to the County Depu tation -which waited on the Attorney-Gene ral last Wednesday. Learning that the Deputation had no reporter with them, 1 opened the door and asked if the meeting was public, and I was told by Mr Whitaker that it was, but that the business was nearly over. Lingering about the door, 1 thought I heard Mr Whitaker allude rather disparagingly to the borough-move ment, and rather approvingly to the optional character of the Act. It was, lie said, to his influence with the Government that we are indebted for its optional charac ter, or its permissiveness. As if he was finite aware of its imperfections, and knew that it must be re-cast next session, _ he hinted, not so much by word as by wink, that the Councillors should be in no hurry to carry out the Act. My impression was— and I hope the members of the Deputation will favour the public with their impres sions—That Mr Whitaker, following the example of Mr Ormond, indirectly and quietly counselled the Deputation to avail themselves of the liberty he had been the means of gaining for them—the liberty of not bringing the whole of the Act into operation at present. With these facts and considerations before them the members of every Road Board in the County should meet and pass a resolution (to be forwarded to the Council before the 12th March) that the Counties Act should be hung up till the end of next session of Parliament, and that the County Chairman's office should be honorary. If they are too careless and unpatriotic to do this, they need not expect to be again favoured with any more pleasant and edify ing moonshine from—THE MAN IN The Moon.

THE YACHT SECRET IN NELSON.

(To the Editor of the Auckland EVENING

Star)

Sir, —In reply to a communication which appeared in your paper last ■week in refe rence to the yacht race sailed lately in Nelson, I should like ou behalf of the Sailing Committee, to state for the informa tion of the public, the facts connected with the matter : —The first ground of complaint made by your correspondent is that there were no post entries, and that if the Secret had not arrived in Nelson when she did, she would have been debarred from taking part in the race. This is perfectly true, but supposing the Secret had been debarred from entering, the owners would have been the only persons to blame, as our rules distinctly stated that all entries would close on the 13th January, at 8 p.m. These rules together with programme, "were distributed throughout New Zealand early in November last, so i f the owners of the Secret did not think it worth their while to find out when the entries closed, it was their own fault, and not the Committee's. As regards the cruise the Secret had round the course the day before the Regatta, the Sailing Committee had nothing whatever to do with that. I believe that those who availed themselves of Mr Niccol's invita tion were his own personal friends. Also, as regards what Mr Pilot Lowe said, the Committee are not bound in any way by what may have fallen from him. As re gards the protest, lodged, I shall endeavonr to prove that the Committee did all they could to meet the wishes of Messrs Niccol and Hulme in the unfortunate position in which they had been placed. The protest was handed to .me at a quarter to eleven at night. I immediately called as many of the Sailing Committee as could be found at that late hour, together, and requested them to meet at the Custom House Hotel the next morning at 0 o'clock for the purpose of hearing the protest, and Messrs Niccol and Hulme wore made aware of this foct. All the Committee did not meet at that hour, but had they done so we could not hive proceeded in the matter as Mr Niccol did not arrive until a quarter to ten, and the first race started at half past ten, so the Committee were necessarily obliged to postpone the hearing until the evening, when owing to some other important business which had to be settled that night, it was too late to take evidence, but on the following morning at 10 o'clock the M'hole matter was gone into, and after hearing all the evidence the Committee decided as Messrs Niccol and Hulme, asked them to do, viz., to sail the race again, for in their protest they say " We hope the Committee will call evidence at once, in order that the race may be sailed again." The Committee never had the slightest idea of keeping the prize, their only wish being that they might act fairly to all parties, and after carefully considering all the evi dence that was brought before them, they conscientiously believed that the decision they arrived at was the fairest open to them. It was a matter of the deepest regret to the Committee, that there was not sufficient water for the Secret to complete her course, and they felt that they did all they could under the circumstances, to mend matters. Surely the Committee are not to blame because the Gannet would not sail again ? As regards the personal remarks macfe use of in reference to the action of the Sailin" Committee in this matter by your corre£ poudent, I will say nothing,"' not knowing who he may be. But I will say this, that those of the Committee who had the pleasure of meeting Messrs Niccol and Hulme, did all they could for their comfort while on shore, and in every way they could m reference to the Regatta.— I am &c, C E. Buxxy, Hon. Secretary late Nelson Intel-provincial Regatta Nelson, February 7th, 1877.

Serious Accident at Manukau Heads.

A serious accident occurred at Messrs Waller and Garlick's saw mills, Manukau Heads, to a young man named C. Piper who had been employed at the circular saw' on Tuesday. A large piece of timber which tell, and came in contact with the saw was shot away from it with such force that the end of it,which struck him on the left breast is believed to have penetrated to the luno-' He was brought up to Onehiniga at once' and taken to his mother's houso where he was attended by Dr Zinzan. Little hor>et are entertained of his recovery. No blame v attached to any one, the accident hem* one of those that will occur at times, how. evu« much caution may be taken. Piper had his l,f o insured in tho kisuSian M^\u4 only * f QW t m agi fa

CABLEGRAMS.

[Press Ageir>~j GERMANY A^^/||a A .|| Germany denies thP Icesison of tpi-**' by the King of Tonga J It states thesF* only authorises the use of the ports 8 coaling station. r ** &

Kaipara Heads.

(PER STAR CARRIER PIGEON) .. . , Thursday, n <^. The weather is line, and bar smooth The schooner Flora is nearly loaded Aratapu, for Lyttelton. a ® The Kate Brain arrived on the 4th aft a smart passage of six days from AuckW The schooner Matchless, from Auckw put in an appearance on the fo^o^ving _&' She experienced fearful weather throul' out, the passage occupying 24 days. E was sheltered in Wangaruru for six days There is no appearance of the school Annie Hill. The Marmion came out of Wellington Heads in company with her C weeks since. The Marmion ran up i n 'f 0 ~ days, discharged her cargo, and loaded^ timber, leaving here on the 4th. It i s f eat j some accident has happened to the Ami, Hill. c

Northern Wairoa.

MANGAWHARE,

(PER STAR CARRIER PIGEON),

The cutter Telegraph, with 200 bags pm hides, and cordials, left on the 6th inst. for HelensviUe.

The Sea Breeze (schooner), -with a fufl general cargo, left for Otamatea yesterday, Mr Croton has arrived as agent for local branch of the Bank of New Zealand, vice Mr Andrews, retired through ill-health.

The arrangements made by the proprietor l of the Star gives great satisfaction, mag. Sj much as three days' late'- news is not | forthcoming than previously. More pigeons are anxiously looked for. A pyrotechnical display has come of I to-night, much to the amusement of tit > juveniles. New approaches to the settlement an f now completed. Contracts for additional ' cottages are let. Everything bears a busy i appearance. Mr McKune, the energetic agent for \. Thompson and Niven, of Dunedin, has | paid us his second visit. His sale? of I Bibles alone amounts to over £150, and oi I other standard works over £100. Probably this return is unequalled 111 the colony for I the extent of area and amount of population. Thus much for the much vilified and neg- 1 lected district of Wairoa North.

Dargaville.

HOBSON COUNTY COUNCIL ELEC- I TION.—WAIROA RIDING. (From Our Own Correspondent).

A MOST exciting election contest has taken place for the return of three members for Wairoa. Before the election, J. M. Dargs villo, Esq., seemed disinclined to stand, but at a meeting held at Aratapu, on the evening before the nomination, it ra unanimously agreed to bring out Mi Dargaville, Mr Monk alluding in flattering terms to that gentleman1! ability and power to benefit the i district. Mr Dargaville stood, and his supporters stood by him, returning Mm at the head of the poll. A vastly improved i social feelingwas remarked at this election,! kindly, genial spirit seeming to animate all the people engaged in the contest. The poll resulted as follows :— DargaviDe ... 75 Mitchelson ' ... 44 Webb 33 Walker 32 Jones 22 Spencer ... ... 17. Mr Dargaville, in a neat speech, thanked the electors. He felt that he would only be too happy to sacrifice all personal case and pleasure to promote the happiness of the people, and to forward the interests of their magnificent district, which, lie believed, was destined to occupy a high .place in the future history of the colony, and thatin such self-abnegation he would be conferring on himself the highest gratification resulting from doing one's duty. (Cheers). He had made his home with them, and could point to a rising knoll behind the Hall which he had marked out to be the last resting place of his mortal remains, and he intended that his posterity should have every reason to dilate with feelings of pride upon the achievements of their ancestor, (Loud cheers). Mr Mitehelson followed in a speech as sincere, though the language might not have been quite as poetical. He was ranch pleased at the good temper .shewn during the day, and "personally he felt 1111* gratified with the good feeling shewn ty placing him second on the poll. , Mr Clendon, Returning Officer, came in for general eulogmm for his just and impar* tial administration. Mr Webb, the other successful candi date, overcome by a, feeling of modesty retired from the field of battle to the quiet glades of Mangawhare.

ARATAPU.

Cricket Match.—Aratapu v. WaieoA. The above match was played in Mr. Webb's paddock, and attracted a pood number 01 spectators. There were ladies present who attended on horseback, and enjoyed the scene. Mr. Dargaville, who appears to be a don hand at everything, was conspicuous as the smartest and" most active player- &? was attired in leggings and gloves, and ins well developed form showed to great, advan tage as he bounded over the velvet carpet of nature after the ball. He caught several out most cleverly. The Wairoa team won by two runs. After the game a dinner was given in first-class style by Mr. G. Savilie, of Aratapu. The evening was spent enjoy ably. Mr. Monk presided at the table, ana with his "wise saws and modern instances, entertained the company and kept tne cricketers in a happy frame of mind. Mr. Monk was supported on the right by Mr. Dargaville. Mr. Bromley occupied tne vice chair. The Wairoa Club were presentea by Mr. Monk with a new cricket ball oa behalf of the defeated team. , The usual quantity of bir+hs have taKen place, but your correspondent has not iwa time to tot up the exact number.

THEATRE ROYAL.

The varied character of " Our Gorman Cotistf. the ballads, and musical porfornwnces, \"° music being mostly the composition 01 jm* Emmet, continues to draw at tho Theatre W?" and last night, for tho fifth time, there wa, Rood house, and the usual amount of enMUS.a. manifested on the appearance and extraordint j representations of the incomparable .*V\-*'.\ It is but seldom that an actor combines in mr, self the talents of player, author, composer, »><^ musician, as in the present inEtance » tne £j of Mr Emmet. We notice that this tovonruo actor will take his benefit thiß evening, wji" "Our German Cousin" will he introduced m tho last time in Auckland, and on which o«ca sion, Mr Emmet will tender to each W}J P^«" at tho Theatre, a pianoforte copy ot a Jiff to composed by him, as a souvenir of &»>»£s Auckland To-morrow evening a wjwIWJSS3 flmniH, oharacteriatte of Gcrrnnn li^. en""*3 ''•Tan," win bo placed upon the BtHao.-f.fV has high rocominciKlßtions, and possibly m »

THE EVENING STAR, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1877.



LINOLEUM ! CARPETS! (Ex 'Tamaya') FURNITURE LINOLEUM ! —Unsurpassed for Durability Soft and warm to the feet. LINOLEUM !—Best covering ever invented for Dining Rooms, Halls, Ofli ces, and Billiam Rooms. INOLEUM !—A large variety of Patterns at the City Hall Arcade. LINOLEUAI:— Fitted to any size or shape room by Holloway & Garlick. CARPETS !—Just landed, Velvet Pile, very handsome. CARPETS !—Beautiful Brussels, latest de signs, for Drawing Rooms. C~~ aV.PETS !— Kidderminster, large variety.; Tapestry from 2/11 to 4/6. TMIRNITURE !—lnlaid Walnut Centre Tables, Jj v Modern Drawingroom Suites T7IURNITURE !-Sittingroom Suites, Bedroom JH u-^ Furniture for all classes. T* UYvour FURNITURE, DRAPER V, AND B UY 3 CLOTHL^ SLLARCAi)Et JECOU.OWAY & GARUC&, , jftg?SJSTQJS. j.



Ttt" O T T C E DRAPERY GOODs7~NEW AND CHEAP!! The undersigned have Purchased at Auction a LARGE LOT of NEW DRAPERY GOODS, i ust landed ex City of Auckland, the Avhole of which haA ring been bought at much under tho usual Warehouse Rates, they can afford to otter to their Customers at Very Low Prices. The Parcel comprises :— Grey Calico, various qualities, from /3.} d yard Strong White. Calico at /t yard, or 3/10 doz. 72-in. Grey Sheeting, 1/ yard, good quality 72-in. & 80-in. White Twill Sheeting 72-in., SO-in. & 90-in. Croydon Sheeting, 1/G yard Huckaback Towels, good, /6 each, 5/9 doz. White and Unbleached Damask and Damask Table Cloths, from 2/6 9/4,10/1 & 11/1 Alhainbra Quilts, good qualities, 3/11 Rough Brown Holland, from /0 yard Half-dressed ditto, superior quality, Aery cheap at. /10i and 1/ Black Lustre, and superior quality Black Bril liantine Lustres New Prints, good patterns, at /-I}, /SJ, and /6, very cheap Harvard Shirting, good quality, /7A- yard Fine Irish Linen, lot of Remnants, a bargain, from 1/4 yard Gents' Br. Cotton Half-hose do. aL< merino feet Grey and Fancy Striped McHno Kalf-hosc, and other goods too numerous to mention. All Purchasers of Drapery and Clothing should inspect, our Stock, and prove that although not SELLING OFF, AYe are giving FULL A rALUE IfOR MONEY. sat One Shilling in the & returned on all pur chases of 20s. and upwards.



RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN, Upper Quebn-strekt. Auckland. f^REAl 3 BEEF AND MUTTON on \J Saturday nights :—Roast Beef, Id. to 6d. per lb.; Boiling Beef. 3d. per \h. : Corned Beef, 3d. per lb.; Fore-quarter Mutton. 2d. per 11>.; Logs of Mutton, 3d. per lb.; Loins Mutton. 3d. per lh.; Sausages and Chops, 4d. por Ib.—HtTLMJE, Butcher, Queen-street. TVT OTICE OF REMOVAL.



XT A TKINS BEGS TO ANNOUNCE THAT HE «f H AS REMOVED!!^ TO TUB Premises Next Dooh Below his Old Shop. H. ATKINS Begs to heartily thank his numerous Cus tomers for their A rcry liberal patronage from his first commencing business up to the present time, and to assure them that although his trade has increased to that extent, that his REMOVAL to more Commodious Premises Avas a neces sity, the same principles of business will still be adhered to: viz., keeping a good article, buying in the cheapest market, and selling at the smallest profit possible. His New Shop shall always be known as The Cheapest in Auckland. H.A. will be happy to see all his old Customers, and as many new ones as may honour him with their patronage. A SPLENDID STOCK



DEANERY AND CLOTHING Will always be found, and tho PRICES THE LOWEST IN AUCKLAND ! H. ATKINS. -WJIURNIIUBE! FURNITURE J Ladies and Genilcmen about tn Furnish arc respect fully requested to inspect the Large Stock of DRA WIN a 800 3£, DI NINO- -ROOM BEDROOM, AND GENERAL SOUSE HOLD FURNITURE, In our New and Spacions Showrooms. T. & £"COOKS 9 67, QUSEN-STREET Adjoining Bank of New Zealand.



their Old Tricks Again.—lrresponsible speculators are again attempting to foist spur ious rubbish of a hurtful kind upon the public as identical with the celebrated (Jdoli-iio Wolfe's SHiebam Aromatic SonifAiH'S. They put their poisonous imitations in the genuine Schnapps bottles and either counterfeit the label or pretend that the false is as good as the genuine. Take none but the true health beverage.