SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

ARRIVALS.

Atalanta, schooner, from Tairua. lona, 8.5., Farqunor, from Russell.

DEPARTURES.

KricmhiMa, schoonc, for Wangaroa, lldwena, s.s., Sella^s, for Taurauga.

IMPORTS.

•101 cases fruit, It. Arthur.

EXPORTS.

Per Favorite for Tonga and Samoa: 110 cases kerosene oil, 2G bags coal, 30 tins biscuits. 10 tins flour, 3500 feet timber, 83 packages and cases, with 2.5.0.0 feet timber, and 20,000 shingles to bo shipped at Wangaroa.—M. Niccol, Agent.

The whaling .ship James Arnold, was standing into Russell when the lona left yesterday. She ]v.s had a six months cruise. Ths schooner Favorite oloarod out to-day for tho Friendly inlands and Samoa via Wangaroa. Sho carries one passenger, Mrs Morrison, and a general cargo. She will ship somo timber at Wangaroa. She was to sail this afternoon. We notice that Messrs. Holmes Bros, and Co. have issued a new. time table, by which it. appears they intend to run a boat in future every night to the Thames. This will be a great convenience to business men who do not care to lose the time occcupicd by travelling in the day time. Tho boat will never leave before 5 o'clock, but the exact hour of departure, which will depend upon the state of the tide, will be duly advertised. The gunboat Reynard returned to port yester day evening. H.I.M. ship Hertlia is under orders to leave for Sydney on Monday next. She will meet the Gorman man-of-war Augusta there, and after wards proceed to the Baltic. TheP.M.S. Zealandia isdue on Saturday next from 'Frisco with the Fnglish and American mails. She is advertised to leave for Sydney the game day. The s.S. Wellington left for the South at 10 o'clock this morning1. Passengers: The schooner Wave of Life is to leave to-night for Russell, where she is to load for Oamaru. The schooner Belie Brandon cleared after hours yesterday at the Customs, and took her departure for Suwarrow this morning. It will bo interesting to learn which arrives at the island first, the Canterbury or the Belle. Suwar row is about three weeks sail from Auckland. .She sailed at one o'clock to-day, taking with her the following passengers:—H. W. Henderson, T. Robinson,, W. Robinson, A. H. South, Kore, L. Dacre. Tho Union Co.'s steamer Wanaka leaves Tauranga at seven o'clock to-morrow morning, and may be expected about nine o'clock the sline evening. The brigantine Louise was to-day clean swept after discharging her cargo of stone and general stuff. At the invitation of Captain Symons our shipping reporter went over her. She is a staunch little ship, built at Prince Edwards Island last year. Sho was purchased by Cap tain Symons while on the stocks, and was by him taken to Liverpool to be strengthened for running round Cape Horn in the South Ameri can intrate trade. In Liverpool she was sup plied with sister kelsons and rider kelsons, so scarfed and bolted as to make it nearly impossi bility for her back to be iniured short of abso lute wreck. She was also fitted with bilge kelsons to secure the floor heads and shelf pieces above. All the iron fastenings were taken out and copper substituted. Three heavy beams of pitch pine were carried across her hold to strengthen her frame, though it is not necessary for even the highest class vessels of the same depth to have them. Altogether the Louise is one of the most compactly and faithfully-built vessels ever seen in the port. She i 3 built ot haematic or larch and pitch pine. From here it is nearly determined that she will proceed to Sydney 'to load coals for China.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mauls will Close as undk.k. For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and on Monday nest, at 5.30 p.m. For Coromandel, per Argylc, on Mondu, next,

For ToKga, per Favourite, this day, at 1 p.m. For Tairua, per Atalanta, on Monday, at 11 a.m. For Gisbornc and Napier, per Star of the South, on Monday next, at 3 p.m. **■„.,-_ For Tryphona. per Throe Brothers, on Monday

Foi°llussellf '"wangaroa, and Mongonui, per fS Wa^rei N&K>angarei. and Mangapai, per Argyle, on Tuesday next, For Australian Colonies, per Hero, on Wcdnes dforCSbne^oarders,|rcgi6torea letters, and newspapers, gtMium^ Chief Postmaster .

MARRIAGE.

IS VACS—HARRIS.—On the 7th instant, at the York-street Synagogue, Sydney, by the Rev. A. B. Davis, assisted by the Rev. A. A. Levi, Alfred Edward, eldest son of Edward Isaacs, of this city, to Dma, fifth daughter of the late S H. Harris, of Sydney, New South Wales.

DEATH.

FOY.- On the loth instant, at the residence of her parents, Onchunsa, Mary, the balovetl wife of Joseph M. Foy, of the Thames, aged 21 years.

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

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 1877.

fror the rovsc that lacks assistance. For Ihe wonjj that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the Jrood that we can do.

The loan of ahrilliori ntcrliug just effected by the Government privately through tiie kind offices of the Bank of New Zealand will realise the expectations expressed by the Colonial Treasurer in his supplementary financial statement on the 9th of October. Major Atkinson then stated : " Our pro posals are, to ask authority to raise £1,000,000 for the following- purposes : £330,000 additional Ways and Means required for public works to July next; £250,000 to provide for probable contracts and other liabilities of the provinces, and £400,000 for such expendi ture as the House may direct between the close of the present year and the date at which funds for tho continuance of our public works can be provided. * * We have reason to believe that all the funds we shall require can be obtained without having recourse to the open market. If our expectations on this point are realized, we shall not attempt to place the loan before next session, unless it should be found advisable for other reasons to adopt that course." The Treasurer estimated that—including the £800,000 Imperial Guaranteed Debentures and all the unraiscd balances of unguaranteed loans, together with certain expected provincial recoveries—there would be £1,688,146 at the beginning of the financial year, IS7G'-7, unexpended; but the greater proportion c^f the sum had been trenched upon or was required for works already under contract, and the Govern ment anticipated an expenditure of two millions sterling during the present year. Let not the gentle unsophisticated reader imagine that these large figures represent suel.' inexhaustible resources that the Colonial Treasurer's cheque for a, million would at any moment have been honored at the bank. The Government have occasionally in the matter of cash, been driven to financial straits that would have puzzled Mr Micawber. With all this undoubted paper, stamped with the parlia mentary imprint, in their pockets, times have been-, as shewn by the frequent hypothe cation, issue of Treasury bills, and bank advances, when the Treasurer had, figuratively, not a genuine coin of the realm to jingle on a tombstone. Happily, the plethora of New South Wales Government wealth has been made to minister to our necessities, and the surplus of our sister colony will build New Zealand lailways. The last financial year of our partner in the Pacific Mail contract closed with a net surplus of revenue unexpended, amounting to the enormous sum of £750,000, swelling the credit of the New .South Wales Govern ment to three millions sterling, J/iicky Treasurer! how sweet to approach a parliament with such a balance sheet. The accumulated 'sayings u£ tho government have driven the Sydney banking itutitu* tiona to extremities to find r'eimmarative short - period investments, capable of being called in when required. New always IWly tq WWW \\kWQ .

ever money could bo raised, became a eager candidate for as much of the spare funds as the bank would permit, and the colony lias thus been relieved of the necessity' for entering the London market, where any attempt to obtain tho two minions required for tho present year's loan expenditure might have proved disastrous. We have as yet no definite intelligence regarding the course pursued in London with the unguaranteed balances and the mortgage on the guaranteed loan, but the temporary expedients resorted to by the Government to pay their way and yet preserve from utter ruin a damaged credit, are unpleasant indications of tho rotten state of colonial finance.

Tins Native Minister has liad aa> interview with llawl, the femmH Maori general and chief of the Ngattmaulapoto tribe, upon whose lamb tho King's tribe aro .strangers ami sojouniers. The chief had a grievance concerning land. He said that certain Maoris, taking advantage of the seclusion of the Kingites, had passed some of his land secretly through the Native Lands Court, and sold it. A proceeding of this kind, our readers may remember, caused the murder of Sullivan. We sec no reason to doubt that vagabond kirpapas, finding a ready market for all the land they can got a Crown Grant for, may have obtained titles for o and to which they had no tribal claim or in which they hold a very small interest with others. The answer to Rowi and other kingites is, that they choose to ignore the Courts appointed to administer justice between all Her Majesty's subject-*, and the consequences fall <>n their own heads. Dr. Pollen advised Rewi to appeal to the Supreme Court, and promised assist ance in obtaining his legal remedy. This is the right spirit to inculcate in native dealings. We do not anticipate that ' Rewi will do more than " think " about it, or that the latest korero will end more practically than the thousand and one that have gone before it. In dealing with the natives beyond Ihe border, the Government have given too much prominence to Tawhiao, and too little to Rewi, wiio, as owner of the soil, possesses a vested interest in the preservation of peace which has on more than one occasion operated favourably in restraining the restless Ngatihaus who lost their land by confiscation. By ignoring the King, and ministering to the vanity and influence of Rewi, the existing breach between the leading sections of kingites might probably be "widened into an impas sible gulf, fatal to the ambition and maiia of the sable monarch.

" Steelpick" writes inquiring by whal authority a beautiful spring, useful to man and horse, has been destroyed " by raising a dam on the public road." We are not acquainted with the circumstances alluded to by our correspondent, but the matter ap pears to be one for tlio Highway Board to deal with.

Tiic; mail advices from .Sydney reported severe droughts in several parts of Australia, but a cablegram of yesterday states that there have boon heavy rnin-lloodn in South Australia, which Jiave done much (lnningo to the bridges, and caused loss of stock.

We commend the following extraordinary facts to the attention of th<; Railway Com mission now sitting : —" Sir, —A few week.'; ago, a young person lived with a respectable family in the Waikato in. the capacity of cook, and as a necessary companion, sh<; possessed a cookery hook, not an expensive but a servicablc one. The young woman met with an accident, broke her log, and was in consequence sent to the Provin cial Hospital. .She wanted her cookery book, which she had left behind her. It was .sent to the Auckland station, and yesterday the book was sent for, in the fol lowing terms : ' Please let me know if there is n book left at the station addressed to Miss F . If so, can she have the same by sending an order for it.—E. HENRY." The answer was, " Yes, by sending the sum of eleven shillings and six; ponce, which you can pay under protest.'—J.M.H.' This is a remarkablo charge for tho damage of a half-n-orown coofcory book from Mercer, and which tho unfortunate! cock i.s quite unable to pay. Surely matters are not what they ought to be on our railway. The cook's only hope- of getting her bosom friend is a possible chance of re-purchasing it one of these days at Messrs Cochraue's auction rooms for eighteen pence.—l am, etc., E.H."

The Engineer and City Baud will play in front of Government House on Monday evening, commencing at n rrnartcr to seven. Programme : —Grand March, " Royal Palace," Vollmav ; Overture, " fcoAux dc Hoses'," Marie, Quadrille, "The Young Aristocrat " Marriott ; Selections, " llcccol lections of the Opera," Wallace; Valse, "Kunster Lcbcn " Strauss; Bijou from Adam's Opera; Galop; "La JKille do Madame Angot," Coote. (rod Save the Queen.

A singular discovery was made the other day at Blenheim. A man named Mcssiter. was arrested on a charge of stealing Post letters, and sent to Christchurch. When discharged from his situation ns postmaster and telegraphist, being indebted to the local hotel-keeper for board, his boxes were detained and wore opened,when it was found that they contained upwards of two hundred registered letters addressed from and to England. The presumption of course is that they contained money which has been abstracted. However that a man should be able to steal registered letters and escape detection for a twelvemonth, -then only being found out by accident, is a matter which deserves tlio serious attention of the postal authorities.

Referring to a partnership notice in another column concerning a change in the firm of Rosentha] and Co., wholesale jewellers, of Melbourri., we extract the following from a Melbourne contemporary : —" On Saturday a very pleasant day was spent at Mordialloc by the employes of Messrs D. Roscnthal and Co., at a picnic given by Mr S. P. Aronson, the resident partner, prior to his departure for Europe by the outgoing mail. About 150 ladies and gentlemen were assembled. After dinner the usual loyal toastwas drunk. Mr Lindsay then proposed the health of the firm, and on behalf of the employes pre sented Mr Arouson with a souvenir, in the shape of a handsome travelling _ bag, mounted with silver, accompanied with an illuminated address. Mr Aronson made a suitable reply."

Members of No. 3 Company A.R. Volun teers are refered to our advertising columns for Inspection Parade Orders. £

The Sunday evening service under tl» auspices of the Young Men's Christ./ Association Avill be resumed to-morr evening in the Theatre Royal, from 8. o'clock. Tlie cofferdam of the hcav dock i f AUAu_. quite finished. It is composed of s JNES Avail of concrete, and puddled clay, sh( w _th Opal by strong planking, and made thor watertight, Additional strength , parted to the Avails by struts, Ay Evei heavy beams set from the bottom 5T tin dock" against the sides of the dam. These -. effectually remove all danger of the Avails falling inwards from the pressure of the water outside. On Monday the pumping engine which is uoav in the shed will be moved round to its position on the Avest side of the dock, and on Tuesday morning at loav Avatcr tho Avork of pumping out the dam will be commenced. The Chairman of the Karangahape High way Board lias received a reo4u.iiij.ion from the ratepayers of Karangahape requesting hjn7 to convene a meeting with the object of becoming an integral portion of the Ed. . County pi* |fo_sj. g & imuiicipaiit^,

We arc requested to state that the Parnell Highway Board will give no further notice respecting the unpaid rates.

We have been requested to state that Mr Stemdalo was not concealed in Mr Hursts' store when arrested by the ShcriiPa officer, as might be inferred from the description of the affair given in our last nights' issue. Mr Stcrndale had business in Mr Hurst's store, and the bailiff happened to trace him there.

A Press Agency telegram states that after a careful examination of the hold of the Himalaya, with the view of discovering the cause of lire, the balance of opinion is in favour of spontaneous combustion amongst a quantity of straw in which a portion of the cargo was packed.

Notices of tho sittings of the Assessment Court, before R. C. Barstow, Esq., and F. M. P. Brookfiold, Esq., Judges of the Assessment Court, appear in our advertising columns.

At the meeting of the Board of Educa tion yesterday, M r 11. H. Luskin the chair, a considerable amount of business was done. The Board agreed to the; purchase of a 99' years lease of an allotment m Wei lesley-stre:?t for the site of a new school for City East, and with the proposed amal gamation of Nos. 1 and 2 of City West, The sum of £10 per annum for rent of school-house in Albertland (North) was granted for the present and past years, and £10 for enlargement of the schoolroom at Kaitaia. It was also resolved that the boundaries of Oraru should bo extended so as to include tho Victoria Valley. An application for £25, extra, rent of Ponsonby Hall, was refused. £37, extra grant for school-building in Tnranga. and Papakurti Valley, was authorised. Applications for the erection of a school-house at. Aratapu and for .£201) for school enlargement and furniture at Driving Creek, were referred to the Building Committee, also, a request for a teacher's house at Parawai, at a cost of £250. Mr. O'Sullivan, the Inspector of schools, was ordered to hold an enquiry into the charges against the teacher of Wood side school, and Mr. Brettan was appointed teacher to the new school in the township of Dargaville.

Our cuists will not forgot that Mr Perkins now billiard-room is opened to-night. Mr (*allop having gone South, the. opening match will be played between Mr Perkins and MriS. JNisscn, Of Hamilton. The room, now that it is finished, is quite in the style of the beat rooms in London or New York, fihore is plenty oh space, '4liougn we should have placed the two tables at least a foot further apart, and the ventilation and li^ni could not be surpassed. A splendid Brussels carpet, rather an unusual thing in a public room, covers the floor, protected by matting round the table. The seats are comfortable, and at a nico elevation. In fact the tout ensemble shows that a practiced player has assisted Ino workmen in their job of fitting up the room. The prize wedding cake won at Mr Burton's Art Onion, has been purchased by Mr Perkins, and will be on exhibition to-night. The proprietor an nounces t hat lie will give the cake to the highest scorers during the next six days. The twenty live guinea cup given by the New Zealand insurance Company in the largergutter nice at the into Regatta, and was won by air Niccol'B Thistle, was on view to-day in Messrs If. K. Henderson and Cob window. It Is a handsome work of art, richly embossed and having two handles, ii stands ahont l> inches high.' The inscription is as follows K'-'ntta, 1-177. won by cutter Thistle, 11. rsioeoi, builder and owner. Presented by the iscw Zealand Insurance Co.

Mr Sutlon'a election to tho General Assembly for Napier is now an ascertained fact, find tho announcement of the result of the election was received with some rejoicings by hid supporters. Dear Sir Tarn again forcibly reminded that such a thing an (he Waterworks exists having received a notice headed "second nait-yeavij collection" for the moderate sum 01 XV.I <s M, making a total of £2G 15s already paid by mo for •i comnodity much wanted, but which 1 do not see anything of. and latterly have heard less spoken ot than I think the case deserves, ian yon Mr lCdilor. or any of Waterworks ( omniit iee, inform me when we are likely 10 have the Hupplyin town,-Yours, &c.. G. jJtNXKY.—Un three weeks, we are informed. hd. h>.\

During the recent storm which was keenly fell, at Waitckauri, a man was struck by l'Khten inn in the Waitoltauri mine, which atloctcd him considerably for some time, tie was working on tbe top of No. t winze, and had to steady himself before he could proceed with the wind lass. The thunder literally shook the ground, and the lightening was felt MO feet below the surface of the earth. Several other persons m the district felt the shock rather severely. I lie storm was experienced in this neighbourhood with more force than in any other part of tho province.

Tho commit tee of the Temperance Hall Satur day night entertainment will embstitute a dramatic entertainment for the usual musical and vocal evening. To-ni^ht will bo presented scones from the late Lord Lytton's "Lady of Lyons " in which several talented amateurs will appear. Professor IJatschkow will conduct the orchestra.

Hero is a hint for jurors! At the Lord Mayors Court lately an honest juryman arose just before tho commencement ola trial, and dcuiiuud to be sworn on the ground that such a proceeding would not be binding on liiri conscience. A copy of the Act of Parlia ment on which 1o declare him whs sought for, hut Ihe Guildhall Library in not extensive, and tho Act was not to be obtained. After consider able delay counsel intimated that both parties to the suit were willing to be tried by eleven. I he solemn wink will) which that juryman left the box was touching, and his proceeding to I imin a lo have oysters, proudly conscious or having scored heavily, was as. sail and wormwood to his deserted eleven brethren.

Home important medical evidence was given recently at an inquest in Bristol on the body of Herbert George Knight, a^ed thirteen, who was found dead in a swimming hath. Ihe hoy's father said lie novel" had a fit m his life, and was very healthy. The manager of: tho bath said when the boy was discovered in the water the crown of his head was just above the surface, and lie was standing in a stooping position with his face under water. At the point where he was the water was only three feet four inches deep, while Ins height was four feet nino inches.—Thomas Richards, hath attendant, said tho temperature of the water was 75 dog.—Mr George Gardner said he used the usual restoratives for a quarter ot an hour, but without effect. He waa ot opinion that death was not caused by drown ing; it was a case of epilepsy. The deceased must have eaten heartily just before lie had entered the water, or at least had not given his food suiuVient time to digest. He had thrown up a largo quantity of food, and when got out of the water his mouth ana throat were fall. It was a very serious Hung: ior persons to enter the water after meals, as it was attended with the greatest daugcr lo the safety of the bather, and that f<iet could not bo too widely known. It was simply owing to that that the deceased had lost nis lite, it was exceedingly dangerous for any person to enter the water within two hours ola meal.— The verdict was in accordance with the medi cal evidence. The facts above related should act as a warning to bathers. Mr Alfred Bnckland will hold, an extensive sheep sale on Monday1 at the Kemnera yards. The sheep to bo ottered include 1000 long-woolled ewes, 200 ewe, and 200 wether lambs, also 125 Lincoln and Leicester two-tooth rams. Kov. J. J. Lewis's lecture, in aid oE the Pitt- Street organ fund, will be " My trip to the old ■ country." The annual general meeting of the Auckland Institute will be held on Monday evening in the museum at half-past seven o'clock. The subjects of Sunday services are duly announced in the present issue. An even ing service will be held in the Theatre Koyal.

AGENTS FOR THE "GROVER AND BAKER" SEWING MACHINES. GREAT REDUCTION IN PRICES: THE £9 MACHINE REDUCED TO £7 15s. ALL MACHINES GUARANTEED.

ry Tilt; above quotation is & slight mouuica tion of Shakespeare's version. With all due deference tp the immortal bard, I take leave to think that the alteration is an im provement on the original text. Had William lived in these days of sewing machines and cheap " reach-iu,e-downs " lie would be forced to admit that the apparel affords no guide whatever to the man inside it. (Vide "Sartor Sartoris.") Take the new Custom-House uniform, for instance. A liberal and enlightened Go yei'jmjent has provided the gilt buttons for that uniform, leaving the officials to furnish thq cloth and pay the tailor, which reminds

one very much of the man who brought the salt as his share of the picnic. The new uniform is eminently adapted for a cold climate, but, with the thermometer at 90 m the shade, it is only calculated to give a man a foretaste of that future state ot existence from which not even Custom- ; House officials are all exempt. The choice of such a uniform for this climate could only have emanated from the brains of a man like the Hon. G. M. McLean, " frae the far North," who has lived half a life time in the frigid region of Waikouaiti. If the officials of the Customs at Auckland are to be compelled to swelter in these thick clothes through the summer, it would be retributive justice to make the Otago officers dress in thin calico during t-lio winter. The uniform frequently leads to ludicrous mistakes, of which the following is an instance :—One of our local "detec tives in disguise," as the Customs' officers are now satirically dubbed, was refreshing himself the other day at the AVaitemata, when a gentlemanly by-stander accosted him thus : " Well, sir, pardon a stranger, but I really must compliment you upon the ex cellent manner in which you speak English. Your accent is perfect." "Well," replied the official, "considering that I was born in England, and have been amongst Englishmen all my life, the fact is not very extraordinary." The stranger looked flabbergasted, bowed apologetically, and stammered out, " I-I-beg a thousand pirdons. The fact is, sir, I took you for a German oificer from the Hertha." There was a hearty laugh, and the stranger ex piated his offence by a "shout."

LII3EIIA J, ITY EXTRAO R DINAKY,

After all the talk about "extortionate usury" in Auckland, it is a real pleasure to find that there are still a few generous and unselfish souls amongst us. There is a man in Auckland whose liberality in business matters is simply overpowering. Ho actually advertises that he is prepared to sell a house for next to nothing at all, and lend the money to buy it with—of course without interest. He doesn't bear the ghost of a shadow of resemblance to the maii who said :—I don't believe in princer ple, but oli, 1 dv in interest." Not he. P.ut having gone so far as to offer a house for nothing, he might have gone a step farther. He might have added that, the buyer of said house would be furnished with free grub, fuel, and washing, and supplied with a decent quantity of choice cigars, and * * * brandy. I'm not much given to acts of pure benevolence myself. but if the Auckland philanlrophist will just throw in the few odd etceteras, above mentioned, I believe I can find him a desirable tenant for that house. Apropos of this, 1 believe there is a certain Art Union, the subscribers to which "have the chance of receiving a first-class painting, and in any case have sent to them a volume of illustrations worth more than the sub scription." What pure, good-natured souls must l>e the promoters of that Art Union ! Not one thought of self; no love of liltliy lucre, but all "pure love and affection" for the line arts. What I would suggest is thai the picture of the [} Auckland philanthropist, with a view of the house in the background,should bo offered by the Society as the next first prize painting, it would be so appropriate, yon know.

S.M ITIJSOXTAN STATISTICS.

I came across a curious story the other day. There wa-N a Avag who went into :i theatre and bawled out: " Smith, your house is on Cms !" whereupon three-fourths of tho people in blie pit, besides a goodly number in (lie stalls ami drena-circlo, rose with looks of alarm, ami rushed for tho door. The number of Smiths in the world is truly wonderful, bill largo, jih it is, It is nothing to what it will be. I am prepared to prove io mathematical demonstration that in about thirteen generation*, at the rate of three to a century, viz., about the year 2310, the whole population of the entire habitable globe will bear the name of Smith. It is a simple matter of arithmetic. Say that there are 100,000 families of the name of Smith in tho world which i.s a very moderate estimate, and that on an average there are two young Smiths in each family, —which is also a reasonable allowance. — (I know some Smith* that have ft dozen) — and allowing them to increase ;>ml multiply at the samo rate, you have 200,000 Smiths in tho first generation,4oo,ooo in tho second, and so on, until the thirteenth, when the Smiths will reach the enormous number of 819,200,000. There may be some trilling inaccuracy about the above calculation,

but not sufficient to disturb the general result. However, to satisfy objections, I knock oil" the odd ]<>,200,000 and cry emits. I think I. hear some ignorant sceptic remark that the population of the Avorld will be doubled four hundred years hence. No fear ; the destructive character of modern warfare Avill prevent any con siderable increase above the margin I have thrown in ; and, as the Smiths are a peace loving people, and only in a Icav rare cases risk their precious lives for a shilling a day they Avill continue to increase, while the folks with all the other patronymics Avill die off rapidly from the steel complaint, and lead on the brain. I find this Smith subject so full of interest that I have been at pains to compile- a number of important statistics respecting this extraordinary family. I hud that since the first great founder of the race, Avho Avas no other than the illustrious Tubal Cain, and avlio Avas a cunning worker in brass—a characteristic that distinguishes his numerous posterity even unto this day—the records of the Smiths, as carefully stored in the Smithso nian Institute, exhibit the following re sults:— Number of Smiths avlio haA*e hanged themselves 100,101 Do. who have hanged other fellows 200,133 Do. who haA*e been hanged by other fellows 300,276 Do. lagged for sheep-stealing .. 400,111 Do. got whitewashed .. .. 500,99!) Do. paid 2s 6d in the £ .. .. 677,985 Do. been appointed J.P.s .. .. 1,000,101 Do. gon-s to heaven .. .. LOS Do. to the other place .. .. 50,000,607 Do. had twins 22,00) Do. run in for being beery .. 105,600,409 Do. started bogus specs .. .. 32,699 Do. got Government billets .. 511,320 Do. drowned themselves in water-buts 800 Do. elected Mayors 5,206 Do. ruined by excessive phil antrophy 1 Do. ordained to the preaching business .. 10,999 Do. invented Mormonism .. 1 Do. married more than once .. 5,000,000 Do. married as many as they could .. .. • 100 &c. &c. &c. T. B. HANNAFORD'S LETTER. Hon ! T.B.H. is wrath, and lias written c a letter full of the bitterness of gall. He lys, in about half a dozen lines, that I am stupid," a " ninny-hammer," and a •elf-dubbed Doctor." Tho Avord ninny is .ived from the Spanish nino an infant, I -'hammer" explains itself. Therefore iii a person avlio hammers infants, is is a shocking charge to make agains But if I am accused of spanking uts, (Avhich is a base calumny), can ~H. lay his hand on his white Stcoat, and solemnly aver that own first born, Avhich he carried in riiph at a recent Mayoral election, has ir felt the Aveight of liis hand . But let that pass. The most serious charge is undoubtedly the last—A*iz., that I am a " self-dubbed Doctor." It's really scan dalous to have such base accusations flung at one's professional character, and. I can not but think that when T.B.H.'s wrath cools down a little, he Avill withdraw the statement. By the way, I notice that a female vaccinator has been appointed by the Government at Waiuku. Is there no opening for T.B.H. ? A ROMANTIC INCIDENT. Miss , of the North Shore, had a tsipgujav adventure a icy, ctop ago, $ho '

was bathing near the wharf, but venturing out of her depth, suddenly threw up her lilly white arms and disappeared beneath the briny. She was promptly rescued and restored to consciousness. She solemnly declared she would marry the man who had risked his life to save hers « Impossible" replied Miss -. What, is hei already married?" "No." 'Wasn't it that handsome young fellow that was bathing on the other side of the wharf, ami watching us through the piles? No dear it was Mr Davidson's Newfoundland do<-' " That " young pusson" has not been seen on the sands since, and it is said she intends retiring into a convent. CORRESPONDENCE WITH A CORPSE. A young man who wa.s cleanod out by " extortionate usury" and had to bolt from his creditors, hit upon a device for getting a romitttance from his guv'ner. He accord ingly telegraphed from Waikato to the old man as follows :—" Regret to inform you your son Thomas was found drowned this morning. What shall we do with remains ? Then he signed the name of John Smith, made the telegram " collect " and awaited the result. After a short time a telegram money order for £10 was received by the young scapegrace, with the laconic reply, " bury them." He went and buried his sorrows and griefs in the flowing bole. In a few days he was cleaned out again.—Then he wrote to tho old man. — " Dear father, I have just learned that an infamous scoundrel named John Smith sent you a fictitious account of my death, and swindled you out of £10. He also burrowed £5 of me, and left the Waikato. I am still alive, and long to ace the old parental roof. lam in reduced circum stances.—Please Rend me £20. Love to all. your aifectionate son— Agustus." A few days later he received the following reply : " My dear son, I have buried you once, and there's an end of you. I decline to have anything to do with a corpse. Yours, in the flesh. A Bilkingcove." I think that old man was nowise green.

THE MAN IN THE MOON.

(To the Editor of the EVENING STAB.) Sir,—Allow me to address through your popular print, a few concluding words of exhortation to the trustees of the nineteen Road Boards of Eden County. The abuse, which at the last meeting of the Council was poured on me, and on the meek Coun cillor with whom 1 was so strangely con founded, renders me not disheartened, but more desirous than ever of keeping the abusive Councillors true to their plighted promises. Five, if not six or seven, of the nine Councillors publicly pledged them selves to hang up the Act, and yet there is painful reason to believe that, if public opinion is not made to bear unmistakeably upon them, a majority may be found in favour of adopting the whole Act. In reference to this mat tor you, Road trustees, are the recognised exponents of public opinion in your districts ; and the interests at stake are those committed to your keep ing. On you, therefore, I urge the duty of rescuing the comity from the coining extravagance, and your Boards from corporate clßicenicnt. 1. It is impossible to place complete con fidence in any statements ventured relative to the County revenues, and the subsidies promised by the Central Government. But if there be no bad faith on the part of the Government —our recollection of the Capita tion subsidy naturally makes us suspicious— the County revenue will be precisely the same whether the Act be carried out or hung up. As thing.-; stand at present the ciiloulated excess of income over expen diture is about £3000. And the simple question is, bow are these thousands to be expended? This depends on whether the Act be carried out or hung up. If the former, the money will be devoted mainly to the payment of oliicials, salaries &c., and additional taxation will be found necessary next year ; if the latter, the money must be distributed among the Road Boards, and the present taxation might be diminished. 2. The continued existence of the Boards depends on tiic Act being hung up. The law at present contemplates the co-existence of two taxing bodies—the Council and the Boards. Though the Council docs not at once, or necessarily supercedo the Boards, yet in the course of things the supersession i's inevitable, and the Boards Avill go to the wall. Though far from immaculate in certain respects, the Boards on the whole, have worked well and cheaply, and in this department of affairs, given us real local self-government, and the people would regret to see them swept away. Swept 1 away, however, they must speedily be, if the Act be carried out in its entirety. The road trustees, therefore, are the parties most interested in this matter, and if they do wot bestir themselves in time, they will have only themselves to blame for their annihi lation. Indiiierence or silence on their part i's simply! suicidal. By being reticent and letting matters drift, they are signing their own death warrant. But they cannot be such fools. We hope better things of them —and that they will protest and remonstrate against the carrying out of the Act. Doing that, they will not only be able to preserve their u own existence, but they will at the same time confer a great benefit on the community by arresting at the outset, the ruinous extravagance already looming at no great distance. 3. That extravagance, which will necessi tate increased taxation, is in contemplation, may be gathered from the following facts : At the last Council meeting two matters of the greatest importance to the community were considered ; and these two matters are j passed over by the Press, while undue space is given to an idiotic personal attack on one of the Councillors. Nothing is reported concerning the extravagance with which the Counties Act was proposed to be worked, or concerning the kind of secret Committee, which was to make some money treaty with some bank. Were the Act hung up, the whole expense of the Council ought not to exceed £100 a year ; but, on the supposition that it will be carried out, the expense was set down at about £1200 in a report read by Councillor Ireland. In reference to this extravagant item there was not a little talk, Councillor Masetield mentioning particularly the need of a County Engineer, and Councillor Wal lis asking if chaplaincies were likely to be instituted. Now, in the " Herald's" report this sum of £1200 is ingeniously omitted. The very information which the ratepayers are most interested in knowing—the proba ble otlicial cost of working the Act—is the information specially kept back by the Press. This strange omission looks very suspicious; but whothei it was intentional, or only an oversight, one cannot say. Again, the Council had in consideration, a kind of secret or half-secret Committee, from which the light of publicity is also with-held by the Press. There was pro posed a Committee of a financial character, to enter into communication with the banks. This was all right. But it was also suggested that this Committee should consist bi few members, in order that some degree of secrecy might be secured. .Seve ral Councillors objected strongly to this • and m consequence a Committee of the whole Council was appointed—the under standing being that as the Council was to sit m Committee there could be no news paper reporter present. "What can all this mean. ? Are there to bo secret or under hand arangements with bankers, the knowledge of which has to be kept from the public till all arrangements are com pleted and public opinion can ba safely defied ! Or is it in contemplation that the Jwien Council should follow the areedv ' example of some other Councils, and K et for present use a haul of bank-mon»v on ' the seeu^ty. o{ pvQiuised. subsidies" mul •

future taxes? Whilo reporting fully a u the insults and taunts shot at Councillor Wallis, the "Herald" strangely suppresses all this portion of the Council's doings I am, etc., The Man In The Moon. '

Scene at the Theatre Royal.

A little performance, " not in the bill" was gone through on the stage last mHt at the Theatre Royal, during the represent tation of the fust act of Phil the Foundling Missßena (Mrs G. F. Maeder) appeared at the dress-circle door, accompanied by three lady friends. Mr De Lias, the lessee has an unalterable rule, that no pei son whatever shall enter the auditorium of the Theatre without a purchased ticket, or an order from himself, or the reigning star, or his or her agent. The Medes and Persians and Mr Brutus, Senior,were weak vacillating fools compared to him in this respect, ant he inexoribly deducts the price of the tickets of anybody admitted otherwise, from the checktaker's salary; dismissal likewise following a breach of the rcgnla tion. Tho custodian of the portal was in a quandary, but he allowed the lady and her friends to pass, and ran down to his em ployer for instructions, as the case was a peculiar one. The old man was, as usual pacing Napoleonically upjand down outside the other entrance, and in answer to ln S bewildered employee's query as to whether it was "right, replied briefly and majes. tically, "You have your instructions." Back went Cerberus to the place where the ]ady sat, 'and an unpleasant altercation took place, which ended in Miss Rena leaving the theatre hurriedly, exclaiming " I have been grossly insulted, my husband shall not play." This extraordinary threat was actually carried into execution. Mr Maeder, who is evidently amenable to discipline, upon being informed by his excited spouse of her grievance (?) so far forgot himself, and his duty to the public and his professional brother, Mr Emmet, as to refuse to continue his part, which was of course essential to the action of the piece, which Mr Emmet had to bring to an abrupt termination as best he could. The ungovernable fury into which Miss Rena lashed lierself can only account for, and not excuse this breach of all professional etiquette, for her husband seems to have been a passive agent in the matter. It was no doubt irritating to be subjected to annoy-, ance, but that could easily have been avoided, by asking for tlie usual compli mentary order of admission. As for the great principle involved, those acquainted with theatrical matters will approve of Mr De Lias's determination to exercise a direct control over his checktakers, and force them to account for anybody entering the Theatre. Miss Rena, had she asked, would have been perfectly welcome to introduce her friends, and in fact Mr Thatcher was hurrying round to make tilings plea-ant, when be met the lady hastening towards the stage on her mission. To-night, iv consequence of the embroglio, Jan is to be .substituted for Phil tbe Foundling. Mr Emmet leaves for the Thames on Monday.

POLICE COURT.—This Day

(Before Joseph Newman, and Joseph Willcox, Esquires, Justices of the Peace).

AN OLD HAND. Arthur was tipsy, and out in the dark, And did not observe bis friend. Constable Clarke,

Arthur E. Cowan, an old man, who had offended nearly .seventy times .seven, pleaded guilty to being drank, and disorderly. Sergeant Clarke described the circum stances. The old man was very drunk in Pitt-street, and talking loudly to himself on the inequality of law, when his attention was attracted by the shadow of a lady upon a window blind ; the old man at once pulled oil" his coat, and putting himself in a pugi listic attitude, swore he would, annihilate the musical spectre, but just as lie was about to make a dash at the window, he felt himself within the protecting grasp of Sergeant Clarke, who assisted him. to the station.

Sentenced to seven days imprifiO unent with hard labour. Joe, a Kanaka, was fined ss, for being drunk.

THE ALLEGED PERJURY CASE Annie Coxhead, again appeared on a charge of having committed wilful and corrupt perjury, in relation to tin disposal of four bullocks, at Omaha, in January last. Mr Tyler and Mr Diifaur for the prosecu tion, nut I Mr Thome for the defence. Charles Witley (master mariner), gave evidence ; lie knew the parties. Mrs Cox head told him that the bullocks were only under the care of Ferguson ; they were hers for all that. Knew that Mr Younghad the bul locks, and it was while they were in Young's possession that defendant owned them. In August, he paid' to Mrs Coxhead £2 for Mr Young for the hire of the bullocks, but could not remember any remarks that she might have made. Cross-examined by Mr Thome : He could not say of his own. knowledge what became of the bullocks, but heard that the natives had got them. He had another conversation. Mr Tyler objected to any conversation being introduced which was not in evidence. The Bench expressed a desire to hear it for tiie sake of justice to both parties. Witness proceeded : IShe told him in Auckland about the end of August, that she had sold the bullocks to Ferguson. John McLean, contractor, of Union-street, Auckland, was at Omaha in July last. Ho was present at a conversation between Hugh Ferguson and Annie Coxhead. Some hot words passed which attracted his atten* tion. The row was about a punt which Mrs Coxhead had sold. Ferguson said sho had better take the bullocks in her own hands as she had with the punt, and he would pay the money back to the Maori that he had oil account of the cattle. His memory was not clear about her answer. Ferguson told her that if she would hold her tongue, he would see that she got the.money for the bullocks, she replied " all right." To Mr Thome : He was Ferguson's father-in-law. William Theodore Young, bushman of Omaha, had known defendant, and her mother for eighteen years ; two of Mrs. Coxhead's children were with her mother. The bullocks were employed by him in May ;shc wanted to sell them; he offered her £35, . £16, down ; she said if Mb Ferguson would give consent, it would be a bonandc sale. Agnes Young, wife of the preceding, gave evidence, but could not recollect anything of importance to the enquiry. The most interesting part of her statement was a dcs« cription of a ball in the bush which was well attended. Mr Dufaur was re-called in respect of oufl or two points in his evidence. , The Bench retired to consider the cvi« deuce, and having carefully considered the facts, were of opinion that the evidence was not sufficient to justify them in a com mittal, and dismissed the case. John Graham, Relieving Officer, Auck land, deposed that he had previously seefl Mrs Coxhead, who had applied for relief several times, the first time in November. He questioned her when she said she was a widow from Omaha, that the Maoris had obliged her to leave the place, that she Matt four children, and that Rev Mr Maciucol had advised her to call upon him for relief. She further said that her late husbanded left her some bullocks, but the MaorisiijM either taken them, or driven them awaVj and left her and her children destitute. H<j recommended her to some employment, an(J gave her relief from that to the present time. Me considered it a, very piteous case, but had giaea found out thafc two of then* WW provided, % b£ tkejir smft&W^

THE EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY IT, 1877.



i<nOLCONDA GOLD MINING COM SJT PANY (LIMITED). Notice is hereby given that an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders will ho held in the Company's Office. Shortland-st.roct. nexl. Post-office, Auckland, on WEDNESDAY, the \ 2Sth instant, at 12 o'clock noon, for the purpose of. considering the financial condition of the Company, and for passing (if approved) tho following special resolutions : — 1. To increase the capital of the Company, or 2. That that the Golconda Gold Mining Company (Limited) be wound up volun tarily. 2. That a Liquidator Secretary. Auckland, 17th February, 1877. PONSONBY AND Oil DEDWOOD, DISTRICT. NOTIFICATION OF VALUATION LIST. TAKE NOTICE. The Valuation List for the Ponsonby and or Dcdwood Highway District, for the year 1877 is now open for inspection at the Ponsonby Hall. All objections thereto must be left at the Assessment Court, Ponsonby Hall, afore said, on or before the 25th day of February, 1877, addressed to the Assessment Court, and a copy of every such obiection must be left at the said Ponsonby Hall not less than seven days before tho next sitting of the said Court. JOSEPH A. TOLE, Chairman Ponsonby and or Ded\YQod Pis trict Board. H E A T R E ROYAL, Manager R. J. DeLias. Scenic Artist .. .. H.N.Thornton. TO-NIGHT! TO-NIGHT! (SATURDAY). LAST NIGHT OF MR. J. K. EMMET ! LAST NIGHT OF MR. J. X EMMET ! LAST NIGHT OF MR. J. K. EMMET ! LAST NIGHT OF MIL J. K. EMMET ! J. rH. Byron's Irish Drama, * JAN ! JAN ! JAN ! JAN ! JAN ! JAN ! JAN ! JAN ! JAN ! LAST NIGHT ! LAST NIGHT ! LAST NIGHT ! LAST NIGHT ! LAST NIGHT ! LAST NIGHT ! BEST SONGS FROM FRITZ AND JAN ! Box Plan at Upton & Co-s, Queen-street. RICHMOND THATCHER, Agent. m~E~MT~E~It AN C E ~H AL L. SATURDAY NIGHTS ENTERTAINMENTS, TO-NIGHT ! TO-NIGHT ! Extra Attraction ! For a Special Benefit! Selection in character from LADY OF LYONS ! Paulino .. .. • ■ Miss Minnie Clarke Gaspar 7 Mr. Baron J-JccUisennt ) Claude Melnott.. .. Mr. Arthur Henna n Price of Admission—3d. , Carlßutschkow^gc^ireitor.^ ~VT E W OCCIDENTAL BILLIARD ROOM. GRAND OPENING NIGHT TO-NIGHT ! TO-NIGHT ! on which occasion a Match of 500 points up will be played between Mr. Nissex, of Hamilton, and the Proprietor, pEBKINg> FURNITURE ! /CARPETS! \j TTVRAPERY I URNISII your House economically from the City Hall Arcade. FURNISH your Drawing-room from Holloway and Garlick's Choice Stock. TrURNISH your Dining-room, Kitchen, and X Bedroom with substantial and Cheap Furniture. tVedDING !—All made on the Premises. "OEDDlNG!—Guaranteed Genuine. BEDDING!— To fit all sizes Bedsteads and _ Cots. 8~~ EDSTEADsI—HaIf-tester, French, and Folding. BEDSTEADS !—Iron, Wood, all sizes and prices. "OEDSTEAD Hangings made !to order. T IN OLEUM I—The best covering for Floors I J of Halls, Dining, and Billiard Rooms. Unsurpassed for durability. DTOLEUM !—Especially prepared for Stairs, just opened ex Loch Urr. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN wanting Good and Cheap Furniture, Drapery, and Clothing, are invited to inspect Our Stock. Most Extensive Sho vwhooms in Auckland. HOLLOWAY & GARLICK, CITY HALL FURNISHING ARCAD.^* QyEE^-fTJIEBT £JM> LORNE-gTKEET,



TO TOURISTS AND VISITORS TO WAIKATO AND -THE LAKES. BUGGIES (DOUBLE AND SINGLE), AND SADDLE lICRSES, ALWAYS READY FOR HIRE AT REASONABLE CHARGES. Parties intendingto go through to the Lakes provided with first-class animals by B. EDWARDS (Late of Cobb & Co.), LIVERY STABLBKEIOPER, Hamilton Hotel, Hamilton, AY a i re a iso. __________ "T C~O SGli AY E & C~O^ Beg to announce thoy will bring forward A Fresh Lot of BARGAIN 8!!! Consisting of HEIR LATE SHIPMENT BY THE ORARI, Purchased at Home at Job Prices, together with the whole SUMMER DRAPERY & CLOTHING, REDUCED IN PRICE TO SUIT THE TIMES Several Bales of CALICO, damaged by sea water, will be Sold nnflor Tnvninn Prio». jpURNHUBE! FURNITTT BE Ladies and Gentlemen about to Furnish arc raped fully requested to inspect the Large Stock of Dlt A WIN O- -EGO M, DINING- - HOOM BED BOOM, AND GENERAL ROUSE HOLD FURNITURE, In our New and Spaclons Showrooms. t. & kTcooke* 07, QUKSNSTREET Adioininq Bankof Nf.w Zealand.



SCAMPS are selling counterfeits ot that mofet wholesale of medicinal, stimulants, Udolvho Wolfe's Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps, famous alike for its health-giving properties and agreeable flavour. The knaves who are carry ing on this wicked traffic put their fiery decoct ioSs into empty bottles of the real article and in most instances imitate the genuine labels. Insist upon having the real Schnapps. Tun Medical Pnoirassiox have declared STKAXF/S SUI'KKLATrVF. AKOMATIC TpNICAY INK to bo a necessity to all in search of health, and especially to those suffering either from Incipient or Chronic Indigestion, Dyspopma, and tho dis orders arising therefrom. This 'lonic is also particularly recommended to all who arc m a measure compelled from the nature of their occupation to take stimulants, and at the same time are desirous of studying health by taking that which will act most beneficially on the system. Mr. Win. Johnson, Government Analy tical Chemist, report: —*"I have examined Stcanc's Superlative Aromatic Tome Wine, and find it to be remarkably pleasant in flavour, con taining about 16 per cent, of a very pure alcohol, and holding in solution a clear wholesome. Vegetable Bitter, combined with ft fruity spicy aroma. I consider this Bitter a very superior article."—Sold by all Storekeepers and Hotel keepers.