RODNEY COUNTY.—TAUHOA RIDING.

There was quite a busy time at Mr Chad wick's Tauhoa store on Monday morning, persons coming to record their votes for candidates for the honour of representing that riding. The weather was unfavourable for voters from a distance. At the close of the poll Mr Stevenson, Returning Officer, announced that 31 votes has been given to Mr. Day, and nine for Mr Burdett. Majority for Day 22.

KAWA KAWA:—DESTRUCTION BY FLOODS.

Sunday last (March 11th) brought with it our usual annual flood ; the rain commenced on the Saturday night, and continued with out intermission until Monday noon ; by this time the whole of the country between here and the Derrick was one sheet of water. Where the locomotive is in the habit of plying, might be seen canoes and other boats' containing friends of people at Tamarere trying to get to them to ascertain how they had feared in the disaster ; but it was not till Wednesday that it was possible to find out the extent of damage done. I hear that Messrs. Cameron and Snelling of the Kawa Kawa Flour Mills, were the losers of between nine and ten tons of flour, and others too had their gardens entirely washed away ; but the most serious loss was by the partial destruction of the recently completed Tramway, -which will entail a considerable loss to the contractor, Mr. Foughey, he having to keep the line in repair for three months after completion, and a great loss also to the community in general, for the mines are necessarily pre vented from working, there being no Aray of getting the coal to the vessels until the line is repaired. HORSE STEALING.

There seems lately to have been a raid on the horses belonging to the inhabitants here. Last Aveek Mr. Parker, the butcher, lost one, and thinking it strange the animal should disappear so suddenly, acquainted Sergeant Donovan of the fact. He, Avith his usual promptitude, set himself tOAVOrk, and succeeded in catching the criminal (a Maori) Avith the pony on Monday, some tAventy miles from here, and judging from the weather Aye had here, he must have had a treat indeed. It seems that the same in dividual had also stolen a horse belonging to a natiA'e policoman, stationed some dis tance from here, so that our worthy sergeant can be congratulated on having killed his " tAvo birds Avith one stone."

We have another hotel starting here the first of next month, a new building just completed, and I doubt not its proprietor Avill do Avell. There is a miscellaneous entertainment to take place to-morrow (Friday), for the benefit of the Drum and Fife Band (another neAV institution here), for which all the local talent arc doing their best to make it a success. The result 1 will tell you in my next.—[COKEESPON DENT.]

LADIES' BENEVOLENT SOCIETY.

A NUMBER of ladies and gentlemen attended at the Young Men's Christian Association last CA rening, on the occasion of the twentieth annual meeting of the Auckland Ladies' Benevolent Society. The Hon. Mr Justice Gillies occupied the chair, supported by seA'eral clergymen. The chairman regretted that so feAv compara tively Avere present, but felt that the paucity oi attendance did not detract from the value of the society—in the conduct of which he believed the public had full confidence. He congratu lated the society on its twentieth anniversary, and said that while other societies were of personal interest, this was truly a self-sacrificing institution. A great amount of good had been done by the ladies of this society, and £5000 had been distributed by them during its existence to tho necessitous poor. All creeds came within the scope of its operations, and, although the funds were increasing, the claims were also increasing. The Old Womens' Home had been handed over to the society's care. After some- further remarks upon the good and progress of the society, the hon. chairman called upon Mr. .). B. Russell to read the financial state ment. The report of the secretary on the opera tions of last year was also read, and shewed that 117 cases of distress had been relieved, and of these IS Avere widows, 15 deserted women, 2:> m confinements, 10 families in want, t>!) oilier cases, and 1 cases of assisted passage to other parts of the colonjr. The committee tendered their thanks to. the committee of the Young Men's Christian Association,, and to Mr Salter, the librarian, for their uniform sympathy and assistance upon all occasions. The Treasurer's report from March, 1576 to March, 1877, shewed as follows :—Balance in hand, March, 1870. as per last account-bank, £7 17s 2d; in treasurer's hands, £1 12s GUI; collection at public meeting, 1870, £5 3s 7d; ordinary donations and subscriptions, March, 1876, to March, 1877, £334 15s Cd; on behalf of inmates of Home, £18 18s ; .donation City Com pany Volunteers, £3 10s; donation " Nemo " per Captain J)aldy. £5 ; donat Committee of Nymph Ball, £2; Total, £381 16s. Expenditure: Ad vertising, &i 0s (3d; relief of poor and mainten ance of Home from March, 187(3, to March, 1577 £371 15s ]01cl; balance in treasurer s hands, March, 1877, £1 14s sd. Total, £381 16s Did.— Edith fUssAKuand Olivia Pukchas, Auditors; AGNES GrILLIES, Treasurer. Interesting ad dresses were subsequently delivered by Rev Dr Cowie, Bishop of Auckland, Mr J. M. Clark. Rev Mr Runciman, Rev Peter Mason. Rev Mr Bates and Colonel Haultain. The folloAving Avere elected office-bearers for the current year, on the motion of the ReA'. W. Kirk, seconded by Mr. Ewington :—Patron, Sir George Grey, X.C.8.; President, Mrs. Philson ; Treasurer, Mrs. Gillies; Secretary, Mrs. Aicken ; Committee, Mesdames Aickin, Bam, Bree. Beveridgc, Boylan, Clark, Gillies, Gqrrie, Has sard, Kirk, Mason, Mactfarlane, Philson, Pur chas, Russell (J. B.), Boberton, AVarner, William son."—Carried unanimously. ReA r. Mr. Bates, of the North Shore, proposed, and Rev. Mr. Hassard, of St. Matthew's, seconded, a vote of thanks to the Young Men's Christian Associa tion for the continued free use of the room, which was carried. A vote of thanks Avas also tendered to the chairman. Several selections of music were given by ladies in the intervals of the several speeches. Mrs L. Philson played a piano solo in charming styln. Mr Gradwell then sang "II Balen," from "II Trovatore," with taste and feeling. Miss MacfFarlane also gave a charming song, and Miss Philson followed with Arthur Sullivan's pretty solo, "Will He Come." Mrs Mitchell sang a cradle lullaby, Mrs J. M. Clark accompanying on the piano. An overwhelming encore elicited in response " The Nightingale's Trill." A brilliant fantasia on the pianoforte by Mrs J. M. Clark brought the musical programme to an end. The meeting appropriately closed Avith the Benedic tion, pronounced by the Bishop.

A Dunedin telegram states that the Davenports have accepted a challenge from Captain Berry, avlio bets £50 that he can tie them in such a way that they Avill not be able to extricate themselves. We should think this Avould not be a matter of very great difficulty in the hands of a skilful man. It has been successfully achieved before, and very frequently the Davenports have refused to_ be bound by persons avlio appeared determined to do the work effectually. At Ballarat they ob jected to one person on the score of bru tality, and the result Avas a scene, in which they were assailed with some strong language. The Grand Lodge 1.0. G.T., South Island, Avill probably engage the services of Dr MacCartney, Temperance lecturer, of Melbourne, to make a tour in the colony.

Daniel BoAvley, an ex-millionaire, re cently committed suicide in NeAV York. He lost his money by bad speculations. The Ohinemuri natives are still keeping up a hostile attitude and strengthening their pa.

The following paragraph appears in the Fiji letter of the " Otago Daily Times." The internal communications, hitherto kept open by the Star of the South, are to be maintained by th Australian Steam Naviga tion Company of Sydney, at a subsidy of £200 per month. The same Company is to open a line between Fiji and Sydney, at a subsidy of £400 a month. This last subsidy is payable in equal portion by the Govern ments of New South Wales and Fiji re spectively. Fiji and Sydney, and Fiji and San Francisco are thus brought into con stant and regular communication, while the London direct trade is also opened, In proof of the capabilities of this pro vince for producing the fruits of the earth, avc may mention that Mr Hordwick, fruiterer, of Shortiand-si.reet, received a fine supply of Orlean plums, black- grapes, and figs this morning, grown ia the garden of a settler at llemnem, The fruits JtfQ oi tho

THE WONDERLAND OF THE ANTIPODES.

We have received from Mr H. B. Morton a handsome little volume bearing the above title. It contains a number of sketches of travel in the North Island of New Zealand from the pen of J. Ernest Tinne, M.A., a brother of a member of the well-known linn of Fraser and Tinne, of the Phoenix Foundry, Auckl and. Mr Ernest Tinne has before won laurels in the world of letters, and this pleasant chatty story of his trip to the hot lake and geyser districts of Rotorua and Roto rnahana, together with his amusing account of first experiences of buah life at Kaihu, Northern Wairoa, will give him a capital introduction to Colonial readers. The book, moreover, supplies the very thing that has been wanted. We have paintings andphotographsof the hot lake country galore, and we have enough writton descriptions of the wonderful phenomena of Rotorua to satisfy the mostenthusiasticadmirersof that remarkable country. But we arc unaware of any previous work in which the two elements necessary to give any fair idea of the country are com bined. In Mr Tinne's book there are fifteen nia^s and photographs of a very superior character, and the whole work is got up in a style that will doubtless secure it a furvourite place as a book for the drawing-room and for presentation. The author proceeded to the Lakes by way of Waikato, and. his narrative of discomforts and difficulties bring out in strong prominence the improvement which five years have wrought in the means of communica tion with the district. Through the opening of the Taupo road from Tauranga, a party including ladies may leave Auckland by steamer one afternoon, and bo landed if they desire it, in Oninomutu the next night. But the journey can be accomplished very easily, with an afternoon to look round Tauranga, by one o'clock the following day. At Ohinamutu. com fortable hotel accommodation now affords rest and enjoyment to the tourist. Mr Tinne has avoided any attempt at laboured and minute description, but beguiles his reader by the way, as he would beguile a travelling companion, by pleasant anecdote and Maori tradition. After leaving the Lakes, the author went overland to Napier via Taupo. Since 1872, a tolerably good coach road ha» been constructed the whole dis tance. The route abounds with obiects of interest, —the hot river, terracos, and springs of Orakei korako, the Alum Cave, the hot baths around Tapuaeharuru, the Sugar Fall*, and other objects, in turn occupy the attention of the traveller. In returning to Auckland, Mr. Tinne attempted to travel overland from Tauranga to Katikati, and the catalogue of misadventures that followed him, including an unpleasant night's bivouac in the rain, illustrate some of the more unpleasant features of Now Zealand travel. The chapter deyoted to " Our Flax-mill," is a story of every day bush life, told by one who, fresh from the conventionalities of Eng land, felt all the romance of his circumstances. A description of Sir George Grey's island home, and of life there, illustrated by two photographs of Sir GeorgVs residence, and the surrounding scenery, is one of the most interest ing parts of tho book. The traveller carries us finally by the Trans-Pacific route back to the shores of Merri<j England, where we part com pany, well pleased with our brief acquaintance. The book is one which we have very great plea sure in commending to the notice of our readers. Mr E. Wayt.e has been appointed agent for the copies reserved for sale in Auckland.

BIBLE INSTRUCTION IN DAY SCHOOLS.

To the Editor of the Evening Star. Sir, —Does "Sentinel" mean to estimate that our Sunday school teachers, superintendents of Sunday Schools, and many others of like experience are altogether too illiterate to take any share in Bible instruction at the common schools I Experience has proved quite the con trary. Clergymen themselves occasionally have yielded the preference to laymen, more accus tomed both to teach and control assemblies of children. In the work of attending the common schools, it is decidedly the duty of every clergy man to lead, but this by no means implies that others equally adapted arc to be considered out of place in so'needful a work. That the schools should not be open to be visited by Brown, Smith or Jones at pleasure is perfectly right, but let every visitor be associated Avith some organised body, and then there will always be a sufficient guarantee for decency and order. Yours,—Pkoguisss.

HIGHWAY BOARDS V. COUNTY COUNCILS.

To the Editor of the Evening Stab. Sir,— I quite agree with Mr Reader Wood that our original Highway Boards Avere doing their work very well, and could have fully answered all the purposes of this complex and tangled affair called County Councils, but Avhich seem likely tv terminate in " County Confusions." Sure! r an Act which seems to make it necessary for a largo party to use their influence to prevent coming into operation cannot be a wise Act. Our Highway Boards, with slightly increased powers, and such powers from time to time still increased as our legislature should seem fit, woulrt answer all our purposes, and would work much more economically. I am not, quite sure of the truth of the adage, " lv the multitude of Councillors there is wisdom." There appears to me lo be more confusion thaa wisdom. Wo undoubtedly have, far too much tinkering legis lation, and too much playing at politics.— Old Pkactio.O... Mauku, March 3rd, 1770.

THE " GLOBE " ON SPIRITUALISM.

Dr. Wjnslow and Mr McLood arc evidently not in accord on the subject of spiritualism. The •'Globe" says:—'•Although spiritualism has made considerable progress in Europe, it is in tho Unit-3d States that its votaries are most numerous, and in that country, according to Dr Winslow. no fewer than 10,001) persons have gone insane on the subject, and are con lined in public asylums. Di- winslow frankly declares that "all who really believe, and who per suade others that they sec or hear a spirit, are the subjects of hallucination, and auricu lar delusions, should be taken care of by their friuiids." Ho adds, "It is a well-known fact that, in America, the mediums become haggard idiots, mad, or stupid;" but the main point for the community to observe is that a like fate awaits the more feeble-minded of their auditors; Tiut those avlio encourage it out of curiosity, ought to remember that they arc encouragin.g what has done incalculable evil to many thousands of adherents, and ill it does not die out, may very soon do the like harm to as many thousands more."

THE TOOTH-HATCHAM RITUALIS TIC SQABBLE.

Mk Tooth, of Hatcham, having declined to obey the inhibition of his bishop, has been con demned by Lord Penzance, sitting as the ecclesi astical itidge, under the Public Worship Act, in the Court of Arches, to imprisonment for con tempt of Court. Before, however, the Vicar of St. James's, Hatcham, has the opportunity of posing as an incarcerated martyr to .Ritualistic cause, th ere are certain formalities that must be complied with. Meanwhile, the English Church Union, an organisation of extreme .Ritualists, has held a demonstration at the Westminster Palace Hotel, at which a resolution Avas passed virtually pltxlging the members of the Union not to rest satLificd till they have emancipated the Church from every sort of State control, and every clergyman is able to do Avith impunity wh.it he likes. It is not the Public Worship Act Avhien expedites ecclesiastical procedure rather than substitutes a neAV order for this procedure for old, that the English Church Unionists chiefly denounce, but the power of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. But tlie last-named body is the ulti mate tribunal in. all ecclesiastical cases, and to attack it is to attack the whole system of the control of the Church by the State. The meet ing of the Englisk 'Church Union was addressed by Archdeacon Dciuson, who cited the authority of Koble for the doctrine that the Church of England would never have the independent authority Avliich was her birthright, until the Judicial Committee of tuia Privy Council, which is in effect the assertion of the royal supremacy, was shaken off-

THE NEW PLANET.

A telegram from the Astronomer Royal, Greenwich, Avas recently published in the Star, requesting that the sun's disc may be observed every two hours, on the 21st, 22nd, and 23rd insts. for a small planet. It appears that the small planet referred to is the intra-mercurial planet, to_ Avhich the name of Vulcan lias been given. The existence of such a planet has been doubted by the majority of European astronomers, but the great authority, M. Leverricr, is a firm believer in the possibility of its being found within the orbit of Mercury, and great Aveight has been given to his opinion by his previous accurate predictions m indicating the exact position of Neptune. A round black spot nas been seen m transit over the sun's disc by Stark and Steinheibel in 1820, by Lescarhault in 1859, and by M. Weber in IS76'. M. Leverrier, in a recent paper, states that Venus and Mercury make tAvo transits within ten years, and then not another for a century, and he believes that the newly discovered planet Vulcan makes two transits in seven years aiid a half, that it Avill make one on the 22nd inst., and then not another till 18S8. A telescope necessary to observe the transit should not be less than 3-inch in aperture, and magnify not less than 100 times. Great care should be taken to use smooth or coloured to pro tect the eye from the suns heat, and avoid the risk of Dlinducss,and one should become carefully acquainted Avitli the irregular edges of the sun spots, so as not to mistake one of these for the round regular outline of the planet. It may be mentioned that Vulcan is about onc-hundreth part the size that Venus presented in the tmnaitof 1574. It ia expected that the planet avIU only cross ft gmajl pOitlQA Qf t\\% attU/S disC»

A MODERN CRCESUS.

A MEMBER of the Iturbide Club, in the City of Mexico, relates the following inter esting story : ' Yesterday evening my neAV friend, the Secretary, came to me with a mysterious air, and leaning upon my shoulder whispered in my car, ' Are you desirous to see a curiosity?' 'Certainly,' said, I, ' Avhat is it ?' 'A man with more gold bars than any mint; rich by millions, avaricious as Shy lock, and as old as Methuselah,' replied the Secretary. ' Where is he ?' said I. ' He is just coming up stairs. I met him in the bar-room of the Iturbide House, and invited him to come.' As he Avas speaking, the door of the room was throAvn open, and a man of small stature, with hardly a hair on his head, and a face as dry as an Egyptian papyrus, entered the room. He Avore a fioAving jacket and trousers, probably to conceal his want of flesh, and on his head a Tyrolean hat, Avhose ' huge dimensions contrasted with the diminutive size of his person. On his entry he made a bow, and politely inquired for a General of great reputation. Every one rose to his feet as he spoke, and he Avas conducted to an arm chair amid the most flattering inquiries about his person and health. The old man coughed, smiled, and inquired for his cup of otfee, which Avas brought at once. ' Gentle men,' said he, sipping the flavored beverage, ' let me give you a little opinion of mine. I have been drinking coffee for the last eighty years — Mexican coffee, if you please, which is the best in the world — and I don't think yon have improved the quality. The Spanish Government, Avhich I did not like, by the Avay, had at least an advantage over the Governments which superseded it; it took care of the quality of coffee, and tried to improve the stocks. An old _ Spanish gentleman, living in Colima, has inherited its traditions and he is raising the best coffee ; but lam afraid that after him, the great methods of raising and preparing that bean Avill be forgotten.' As he spoke, his face, of a death-like pal lor, lighted up, and a smile stole over his contracted lips, to pass away sAvift as a rip ple on a pool of stagnant water. He had in his person something attractive, which made eA'ery one in the room draw near his chair and bid him good evening. He was oid and immensely rich. Besides, the life of the old man Avas full of romantic adventures, some of which he liked to relate, especially that connected Avith the making of his fortune. As he .seemed in a talkative mood, he drcAV around him a large circle of curious listeners.

The old man seeing curiaoity in our eyes, took a malignant pleasure in vexing us by his silence. He coughed, sneezed, com plained of his chest, and of his head. He Avould have disappointed us all had not a Colonel, who knew him by heart, gone to the piano and played an Indian air, Avhose eflcct was always to untie the tongue of the octogenarian. As the first notes of the instrument stole up from the keys, the old man stretched his neck in the direction of the instrument. His face lighted up again, the blood rushed to his brain, his hands grasped the arms of his chair, and half rising from his seat, he exclaimed : ' Bravo ! Colonel ! Bravo ! This is the march the Apachee were play ing the day I was going to be tomahawked. They sang it and blew it onThorns. I know none so exciting, so exhilarating. It is the finest one I ever heard, and the one I pre fer. I appear very singular, no doubt,' added the octogenarian, looking at the group around ; ' you cannot imagine how a man can like the air which h sung near his "•rave ; but when you hear the circum stances of my life you will soon understand that one may find this tune without parallel in music. Tlio.se who remember the period of our glorious independence, and the up rising of the Mexican nation against the Spanish oppressors, have not forgotten Sergeant Molino, who at the age of 18 climbed the Avails of a convent in which Spaniards wore intrenched, and planted the Mexican Hag upon the fortifications. At that time, gentlemen, Mexico, stirred by an ardent patriotism, was highly sensitive to deeds of daring; the name of the young Sergeant was echoed all over the country, and became known even to the Indian tribes on the frontier. Molino, Avhose ruin yon now behold, was then an enthusistic and reckless young man, careless of danger, with unhouudedambitionandaneagerdesire to have the eyes of the whole world fixed upon his person. To-day that Molino, avlio is now addressing you, has been taught by experience to consider recklessness a danger, ambition a snare and glory an empty sound. The Avar of our independence having successfully ended, I received from Emperor Iturbido a colonel's commission to expel the Indian Apaches from the northeastern part of Mexico, and three months afterward I Avas in the mountainous region of Sonora, driving the Indians before me and compell ing them to submission. ' This part of the country, famous for the number, variety and richness of its minerals, is full of hills and ravines, thickly set with huge forests, impenetrable to footmen, and almost impervious to the rays of the sun. Anxious to find the treasures reported hidden under this luxuriant vegetation, I Avent one day Avith one of my officers, Avell armed and equipped, into this Avildemess. Hardly had avc entered the woods when Aye found our march impeded by so many vine tangles and net-works, bogs and stumps, that avc Avere forced to cut our Avay through with the machete.

'The forest was full of strange sights, deafening yells and alarming shadows. Birds of huge dimensions, animals of un known structure, snakes of all sorts, sur rounded us. The only weapons we conld use in this maze of leaves, vines and branches were the sword and the machete. Our rifles were flung aside. Our plan was to gain the Calaptaca mountains, running eastward a distance of about thirty miles. This, however, proved beyond our streugth. We had only gone over a third of that dis tance when we decided to abandon the en terprise and fall back upon our camps, located on the western edge of the forest. ' Before retracing our steps we sat down around a stump, my six officers and myself sharing between us the remnant of our pro visions, and wondering how we should live next day. We had only to fall back upon the path just open ; and although we had employed four days in cutting it through, we hoped to return in twenty-four hours. So we swallowed our last morsal and drew from our canteens several draughts of aguadiente, which we drank to the health of Mexico and of Emperor Iturbide. ' Alas ! this was the last flash of patriot ism which stirred up the noble hearts of my comrades, for suddenly I heard a deafening yell, and hundreds of arrows whistled through the forests. We had fallen into the midst of a party of Apaches, the most merciless of all the Indian tribes. Resis tance was useless. Flight was out of the question. We resolved to die nobly, as became soldiers and patriots. We joined hands, ascended the stump on which we hay just taken our last meal, and, like the martyrs of the church who sang before mounting the fagot, we shouted Morello's hymn, the patriotic song of the Mexicans. 'We soon saw the grim faces of tho In dian? through the foliage. A shower of arrows fell among us. I dropped senseless on the nod. When I recovered I found my self under a wigwam surrounded by squaws. I learned that my companions had been slain, and that I had not shared their fate bccaiipe the Indian chief, having seen by my shoulder Ktrupa that I was an olrtoer of rank, had chosen me as a victim to be immolated upon the alter of the Great Spirit* (A few days after, the wound I had re» ceived on the forehead was cured, and then I was informed by my guardians that I Was to be tomahav.'kcd to death by the Indian chief at 12 o'clock noon on the following day. lAt the appointed time a squad of In* dja,tt§ ey,U-i'siij and, j iQvU'jiQd. \\%%\. \hs. cliie^

being suddenly taken ill, could not per form the sacrifice himself, but that his son, ■who was present, would fill the office. In his belief, my death was to restore his father to health, and from his fiery looks I judged that he was impatient to try his tomahawk upon my skull. ' I told him that I was ready to die ; but, availing myself of their credulity and superstition, I added that I had learned from a magician the art of curing all dis eases, and the surest way to restore his father to health was to take me to his bed, and try the power of my incantations. If I do not succeed, said I, you will always be at libity to lead me to the altar and shed my blood as an atonement to the wrath of the Great spirit; but if, on the contrary, I save your father, I ask in retnrn. the pro mise "that my life will be respected, and that I shall be supplied with the means to go home. ' I need not tell you gentlemen, the in fluence on the credulous Indian of any one who pretends to cure diseases. No sooner had my jailers learned that I was the dis ciple of a magician than they untied the ropes fastened around my wrists and seemed disposed to regard me as a friend. The grand-chief's son indeed grieved to release his prey, but a sachem appeased him by the promise that if I failed to cure his father my life would be at his disposal. I was led with tokens of reverence and respect to the bed of the patient, and found him lying on his back upon a couch made of buffalo robes. A glance at his face re vealed the nature of his disease, and I saw premonitory symptoms of an apoplectic fit. His wife and children surrounded his bed. In the wigwam three or four Indian doc tors, with kettle-drums and bugles tried to conjuro the evil spirit whom they sup posed had taken possession of the chief. The tune Indians play on such occasions is the one the Colonel has just given us on the piano As this air is connected with the origin of my present fortune, and, to my mind, one of the most critical circumstances of my life, you will not wonder the effect it had on me.

' I bade the music stop, and then removed the women and children from the bed, made them sit around the tent, and kept only by my side the sachem who had interceded for me. I then took one of those sharpened stones used for arrows, tore a blanket into bandages, tied the arm of the Indian chief with it and made an incision into the vein. Immediately my patient, hitherto deprived of his senses, began to breathe more freely. His eyes, motionless in their sockets, look ed around with a feeling of terror, as if he was emerying from a bad dream. He soon recognized his friend, the sachem, and a smile stole over his lips. I bled him until lie was nearly fainting, and then took off the bandage, and recommended the most profound silence. 'Two weeks after, Koalocko, the grand chief, leaning on my shoulder, was walking outside the wigwam, and sat on a rock placed at the entrance. ' My son,' said he, ' you drove the evil spirit out of my body, and proved thereby that you are more powerful than he is. What can Ido to re ward you? Will you become one of us, and be my successor? Take one of my daughters as your wife. My tribe will acknowledge you as a leader, and I will put on your head the sacred feathers of authority. You will be appointed sachem, and all our men will show you obedience and respect. Besides, you will be taught the great mystery of the gold stream ; you wiU bathe in the waters of gold and pene trate into the earth's bowels, where gold is more abundant than water in the oceau.'

' Far from home, thrown violently in the midst of an unknown and distant land, surrounded by tribes of savages, ignorant of the trail which would lead mo back to my command, not knowing the name of the State 1 was in, I could not help listen ing to the proposals of Koalocko. Fortune to a man who hardly a fortnight since had death hanging over his head, and who would have been glad to recover his freedom even with the prospect of a long^ and perilous journey, was tempting. True, I had to marry Koalocko's daughter, and this honor I did not covet. The girl was not handsome ; her nose and mouth were rather large and her skin tolerably dark. She was not, however, repulsive ; her almond shaped eye had a velvet softness ; she was tall, nimble, robust and her form was like a Greek .statue. So after a little thinking, I decided to accept the propositions of the grand chief. A month afterwards I was married ; the following week the rank of Sachem of the tribe of the Ohumas was conferred upon me, and another Aveek had not clasped before, with twelve of my companions, selected from among the chiefs of the tribe, led by Koalocko in person I went on a journey to the gold stream. The country we went through is cut into huge hills and deep ravines, most of which are thickly set with trees of different kinds. It would be impossible for any one unac quainted with the region to venture into those wilds, known only by certain tribes of Indians, who, born on the spot, are familiar with all the windings of she forest. I had all the trouble in the world to follow my companions, climbing with them to the top of steep hills, whose snow-clad heads, lost in the midst of clouds, looked as if supporting the canopy of heaven ; coming down, seated upon a raft which I managed by means of iron clamps, at the peril of my life. Sometimes we were stopped by streams which we traversed by felling trees or by throwinga rope to the other side. At last, after four days of difficult and tiresome travel, we reached a mountain as white as marble, nearly destitute of vegeta tion, and at the foot of which rushed, with a fearful noise, the torrent and flood of the gold stream. ' The waters, muddy and turbid at their outset, became pellucid as crystal fifty yards further, and on the bed appeared a thick deposit of gold dust. I plunged into it and in less than thirty mimutes had filled a calabash with the precious metal. My fatigues were forgotten. The sight of gold had excited me, and imparted a new vigor to my body. Koalocko, seeing my feverish eagerness, stopped me with a sneer. 'Molino,' said he, ' rest a while. In a moment we shall visit the mountain.' We lighted pine knots, which abound in those regionss, and an hour after we were descending a cavern which opened on its eastern side.

We had not advanced one hundred feet before we saw a group of Indians seated around a lire. The cavern was full of smoke, and breathing became difficult. At firlt I could see nothing but a dim light emerging from an atmosphrre as black as pitch, but as I advanced objects became more distinct. On approaching nearer I saw that the fire had been lighted under a rock, and that rock was melting under the action of the heat. I placed my taper close to it, and saw a pyramid of virgin gold rising above my head. ' I learned that the rock of gold had been submitted to the firing process for over two hundred years, and that no appreciable de crease in the quality or quantity had yet been discovered. These facts, gentlemen, however, prodigious and incredible they may look to some of you,' said the old man, ' are exactly accurate. The gold stream and the gold cave are still in existence, mid although no human being except myself and the Indians of those regions have yet Keen thorn, any company of well armed man who would visit the middle part of Sonoru would have no trouble in discovering' the locality that I have juat mapped out,

'As to myself I coilld not show it to you for I am sworn never to disclose it to any one. This oath I took in presence of Koo.-> locko before entering the cave. I was however, allowed to kike as much gold am I was able to carry on a single trip, but never to come back for the same purpose,

During the twenty years 1 remained amid the Ohumas tribe I made several journeys to the cave and several plunges in the gold stream. Each time I returned with a pro vision of gold, which I concealed in the re cesses of some mountains, at a distance of about fifty miles from the place. I could not carry it further without awakening the suspicions of the tribe, who never suffered me to be gone beyond a certain time. • A great expedition having been accom plished through the State of Sonora by General Sadta Ana, I was enabled to get rid of the company among whom I was. Koalocko and my wife had died. Nothing could keep me any longer in the mountains of Sonora. 1 was anxious to leave the wild life I had led for nearly a quarter of a century, and to return to the civilized world. The Colonel of the regiment, to whom I communicated my desires promised me his protection and gave me two horses. I loaded the animals up with gold dust and gold bars ; but I was afraid of the Mexican pronunciamentos and revolutions, and I shipped both the dust and bars to London. I traveled myself to Europe, but all the magnificence of that continent, with its prodigies of art and science, never equaled the sensation I experienced in the cave when, lifting my eyes and stretching my taper upwards, I saw the bright pyramid of gold emerging from the shade and reflecting my image as a minor.' At these last words the old man, whose face had been greatly animated during this relation, fell back exhausted in his armchair everybody who had listened to him clapped hands, and when he had left the apartment he was cheered again, and accompanied down stairs by all the members of the Mexican Club.

THE SHADOW ON THE PILLOW.

BY M. F. BIGNEY.

A Highland Soldier, who had been severely wounded in battle, and whose life was saved by the careful nursing and gen tle ministrations of Florence Nightingale— the heroine of the Crimea—said, on being asked how he felt towards his preserver, that his gratitude was too great for words, and the only mode he had of giving vent to his feelings was by kissing her shadow when it fell on his pillow as she passed through the ward on her nightly visit. Among the wounded, on his couch,

The Highland soldier lay, And from his wounds the tide of life Was ebbing fast away, When o'er him bent a gentle form, To hear his dying tale— 'Twas that angel of the hospital, Fair Florence Nightingale. " Ah ! me,' he cried—that soldier stern — " My wife and children dear, So far, so very far away, While I am dying here, Great God ! and must I perish thus ; And shelterless and lone Leave those whose love is more than life, My beautiful—my own ?" ' Cease, soldier,' said a gentle voice, ' For He, who rules on high, Can hear as well the widow's wail As the young raven's cry. Trust in His strength as thou art weak, And let the prayer ascend To Him the widow's surest stay— The orphan's kindest friend. ' And haply, soldier, we may yet, With God's good aid, restore Thee to thy wife and little ones As hale as heretofore ; And oh ! what swelling, thankful hearts, What joy there will be then, To brighten up the soldier's home Within his Highland glen.' Like dew upon the briused reed- Like light to dungeons dark— Or like the dove with olive bough Returning to the ark, Came those kind, gentle hopeful words Unto the soldier's ear, With prophet dreams of health restored, And home's reviving cheer. With skilful hands the angel nurse Poured oil and wine upon The soldier's agonising wound, Until their pang was gone, And still she nursed him tenderly Through months, which glided by, Before health blooived upon his cheek Or brightened in his eye. Ah, gentle one, 'tis thine to bless ! Thy mission is divine ; And rays from Heaven's mercy seat Upon thy pathway shine. There's healing in thy woman's hand, And in thy woman's heart, A fount of gentleness, whose flow No impulse gains from art. And soldier say—what thoughts arise, When she, thy nurse, appears ? The soldier turned upon his couch And, checked by manly tears, He answered, ' Words are weak to tell Her shadow seems like light, And I kiss it as slit walks the ward To cheer the sick by night!'

NEW ZEALAND'S VOLUNTEERS.

The following song was sung by Mr. C. E. Button, at Hokitika, to a numerous audience of rifle representatives : —

Old England's boast and glory are the Bri tish Grenadiers, But the pride of young New Zealand is her band of Volunteers : Three cheers for old Britannia, three loud and hearty cheers, And three for young New Zealand with her gallant Volunteers.

The blood of Anglo-Saxons is flowing in their veins, And the spirit of a hero each throbbing heart contains; Old England's far-famed valor again in them appears, And makes her brave descendants New Zealand Volunteers,

We hear uncertain rumours of long expected

wars, But when the foe is landed and stands upon our shores, The daughters of New Zealand shall banish gloomy fears, For they shall be defended by our gallant Volunteers.

Go on, go on New Zealander's, go on to win renown, May great success attend you and all your efforts crown ; Your fame be still increasing, till every nation hears, And every foe shall tremble before our Volunteers.

The New York Cookery School

DoWN stairs in an ordinary kitchen I foimd a group of ladies in street costume sitting around a common kitchen tahle. At one end stood a pleasant looking young man in a cap and jacket with wristbands of the whitest linen. The lesson for the day had already commenced, and savory odors, as well as the saucepans and bowls in which were a variety of ingredients in different stages of combination, testified that the work was really going on. The chef, while using knives and spoons with a marvelous deftness, was giving clear and explicit ex planations which the ladies Were taking down with pencils and paper. A fowl was dressed, eggs were beaton, fat was heated and fish was fried, and not a spot nor a spat ter touched the apron or the jacket, no, not oven the wristbands. There was no « muss' on the table or floor, and everything about the place and the person was itppctiSingiy neatk It would ho well if every house* keeper could be present at one such kitchen meeting to see how cooking can ba done tidily, and it would be worth a great many more dollars to use than tHe course of cook iug temm uutiU if sgwliug; our tiaalss Xhm

would inspire in *o™ f^v af the positively delightful v*y Cur i s tian kitchen might be managed. Union.' -

RYTHMICAL PHILOSOPHY,

r*~ until now it has From the ancient tun e» make a very been usual m Phylosop. iy the mathema marked distinction betwesa. f ormer were tical and moral sciences. Tue speculative called exact sciences, the latter X * st i uu -t£ul sciences. This is one of the me , ge i{ the mistakes of human society; becau ft is moral doctrine is not an exact ont '*>posi nothing but a miserable hoard of su^ OV Qd tions and hypotliisis, and our mind phv think and work by habitude and accord± \. to the opportunity, not by immutable prh. ciples. It has been for this that not only Elvetius and all materialists, but many and many of the Christian thinkers and phylo sophers were and are believing that all moral virtue arc of a conventional character, rather than of an eternal nature. From such an heinous misunderstanding of prin ciples arose the modern crisis in which we live, namely the daily prevailing scepticism which is the most hideous plague of the social body. Its consequences can only be fatal and very fearful. To avoid them, as well as it may be possible, I am go ing to demonstrate that themoralcertaintyis just the same as the mathematical evidence, and I shall prove it theoretically, physically, and historically.

THEORETICALLY. Truth is a rythm, or an harmony of the appearance with substance. It is not true gold which has the color ot gold, but which, possesses the elements of it; not a true vine which has the leaves of a vine, but which produces the grapes. Every theoretical truth must be a physical harmony, or it is only an ephymeral conception. The laws of the physical harmony are indestructible. Then the truth also is indestructible and immortal. It is by those laws that two and two make four, and the diiect line is the shortest one. None deny that all mathema tical principles are immutable everywhere. Beauty—also is a rythmical concert of truth with variety. False teeth, eyes, and hair, though finely prepared, never can be called beautiful, because they are not true, that is to say not harmonious with the rythm of the universe. By such a rythm the harmony of sounds generates the music ; from that of feelings and words eloquence and poetry rise. From the symmetry of colors the picture springs, and from that of proportions, the sculpture and architecture. The truth is immortal as the rythm of the universe is indestructible. Then the beauty also is immortal, since strictly founded on the truth.

Goodness— is only the rythmical applica tion of truth and beauty to the ends of life. Conveniently applying the medical theories to our bodies, Aye keep or recover our health. By the same application of geometrical theo ries to roads, bridges, milis, etc., we increase commerce and get rich; and from the ryth mical use of health and riches, all blessings of life are derived. But the rythm of the universe is mathematically sure and im mortal ; then the goodness is also mathema tically sure and immortal, as are immortal mathematics and esthetics, because their objects, truth and beauty, are of an im mutable character.

PHYSICALLY. It has been stated that nature never gives us lessons different from true wisdom. Nothing is more sure. The true wisdom is the moral virtue, and indeed from the rythmical order of nature we are taught every virtue. Justice.—All rise and dieinthe same way. Fraternity.—ldenty of type means frater nity. We are all of the same type. We are all brothers. Liberality.—Having planted one, we harvest ten. Nature is liberal. Prudence. —Failing one eye, an ear, a nerve, another supplies. Temperance.—lf you exceed, the suffer ing follows. Constance—The more constant your diligence on the tree, the morel valuable shall be the fruit. The virtues are the object of the Moral. Virtues are immortal, as well as the rythm of the universe. Then the Moral is immortal, namely, is immutable, and con sequently as sure and evident as any mathematical demonstration.

HISTORICALLY- All legislators, and Christ—the divine Christ, —did make a warm appeal to the human conscience, commanding that none should do unto others what is disagreeable to themselves. (Matth. vii. 12.), which com mand is virtually nonsence if in the human conscience are not indelibly sculped the principles of justice—that is the foundation of all virtues. Paul also stated that the Gentiles, though without written law, were accusing and excusing themselves.. (Rom. ii. 15). There is no valuable judgment without an immutable criterion of truth. Pythagoras, in the ancient times, Galileus, Vico, and Clark, in the modern age, (Tliene mann, t "History of Phylosophy") did teach that all rectitude is impressed in the aspect of nature, and the lover of such a rectitude shall always be a good practise!' of the virtue. Then the laws of moral perfection are so evident, and sure as the principles of Geometry and Esthetics ; and thereforejthe moi'al is in itself independent absolute, and immortal, as the Mathesis. Let then scepticism be destroyed, and triumph the rythmical school of moral virtue, which is the mother of all human happiness.

Melchoir.

TO THE UNSATISFIED.

Why thus longing, why for ever sighing, For the far-off, unattained and dim ; While the beautiful, all around thee lying Offers up its low perpetual hymn ? Would'st thou listen to its gentle teaching All thy restless yearning it would still;° Leaf, and flower, and laden bee are preach* ing, Thine own sphere, though humble, first to fill.

Poor, indeed, thou must be, if around thee Thou no ray of light and joy canst throw. If no silken cord of love hath bound thee To some little world, through weal and woej

If no dear eyes thy fond love can brighten No fond voices answer to thine own • ' If no brother's sorrow thou canst lighten By daily sympathy and gentle tout. ' Not by deeds that win the world's app] raises Not by works that give thee vorlireiiown' Not by martyrdom, or vaunted crosses ' Canst thou win and wear the immortal crown. «"««u

Daily struggling, though unloved and lonely, Every day a rich reward ""will give j Ihou wilt find, by hearty striving only And truly loving, thou canst; truly five. Dost thou revel in the rosy moruin» When all nature hails tfio lord vfivM And his smile, the moimtiuw.tons adozninff Robes yon fragrant fields in raditmco bright t

Other hands may grasp the field and forest. Proud proprietors in pomp may shine: but with fervent iovy if thmf adores*, Thou art wealthier—all the world in thine, Yet if through eWfeh'a wide doniaina thou voveat, Sighing that tliey arc not, thine alone, Not those lair fields, but thyself $1011 Jovest, And their boaiiSy and thy" wealth are gone. Nature wears the colons 1 oi the spirit; Sweetly to her worshipper she sings ; AH the glow, the grace she doth jnlierit,

THE EVENING STAR. SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 1877,

3



MONDAY, MARCH 19. 1000-AGRE FARM, PARISH of AOTEA, GREAT BARRIER. R. ARTHUR HAS been favoured with instructions to sell by auction, at his Mart (Land Depart -7v on Monday, March 19, at 12 o'clock noon, iOOO ACRES of FIRST-CLASS LAND, being Allotment 5 of the Parish of Aotea, Great Barrier, formerly known as Dv Moulin's Estate, now as Blind Bay. On very easy terms. THURSDAY, MARCH 22. TWO COMFORTABLE COTTAGES AND ALLOTMENTS, BROOKVILLE. THE subscribers have received instruct ions from Mr. A. O. King, who is leaving the colony, to sell at the Land Mart, Fort-street, on Thursday, 22nd instant, at 12 o'clock, HIS VALUABLE FREEHOLD PROPERTY AT BROOKVILLE, PONSONBY;, comprising— Lot I—Allotment 41, 33ft. frontage to English street, on' which is erected a substantial and well-built Cottage, containing five lofty looms, fitted with cupboard, two fire places, tank, &c, and commanding an ex tensive uninterrupted view of the harbour and wharf Lot 2—Allotment 40, 33ft. to English-street, with the Cottage thereon, thoroughly well built, containing five large rooms; also commanding an extensive view of the harbour, &c. Lot 3—Allotments 47 and 48, each 33ft. to George-street, fenced and planted. SAMUEL COCHRANE & SON Auctioneers. TUESDAY, MARCH 20. IMMIGRANTS' SURPLUS STORES, Ex Ship 'Oxford.' E. & H. ISAACS HAVE been favoured with orders from the New Zealand Shipping Company to Sell by auction at their Rooms, Fort-street, on TUESDAY next, the 20th instant, at 11 o'clock sharp, A CHOICE and large assortment of the above well-known quality of their PROVISIONS, &c, viz., Preserved Swiss Milk, Preserved Meats, Flour (casks and barrels), Coffee, Oatmeal, Rice, split Peas, moi3t Sugar, Tea, Preserved Onions and Carrots, Preserved Potatoes, Molasses, Suet, Lime, cases Limejnice, Cork Butter, Refined Flour, Arrowroot, Sago, Tapioca, Pearl Barley, Mustard, Pepper, Loaf Sugar, Candles, Beef Tea. Mutton and Chicken Broth, Extract of Meat, Linseed Meal, Carbolic Acid, Carbonate of Soda, etc., etc. Also. 11-cask Rum, Cases of Port, Sherry, Claret, and Champagne. E. & H. ISAACS, Auctioneers. MONDAY, MARCH 10. At 12 Noon. GRAFTON ROAD. HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, TANKS, &c, &c, &c. R. ARTHUR HAS been favoured with instructions from Mrs King, who is leaving the colony, to sell by auction, at her residence, Graf ton Road, near Symonds-strect, on Monday, at 12 o'clock noon. Her Household Furniture and effects, con sisting of Parlour, Diningroom, Bedroom, and Kitchen Furniture, etc., Mahoganj Hair-seated Chairs. Mahogany Cheffonier, Bedstead, Easy Chairs, Pembroke Table, Range, Beds, Bedding, Glass, China, and Earthenware, Portable House, 2 Iron Tanks. THE HAYMARKET. SALES of WOOL, SHEEPSKINS, and HIDES, every FRIDAY, At 2 o'clock. ALFRED BUCKLAND. THURSDAY, MARCH 22. THE REMUERA YARDS. FOR SALE, at the Rcmuera Yards, on Thursday next, at 12 o'clock. 130 Well-fatted Cattle, from Waikato and . Mangere 400 Fat Sheep and Lambs Dairy Cows, Store Cattle Fat and Store Pigs. • ALFRED BUCKLAND. TUESDAY, MARCH 20, And Following Days. CITY MART. GENERAL DRAPERY, CLOTHING, &c, &c, &c. GRANT & MORTON HAVE received instructions to sell by auction, at the City Mart, on Tuesday, the 20th March, at 11 o'clock, A LARGE PARCEL OF NEW AND seasonable drapery. For Unreserved Sale. Terms at Sale. THURSDAY, MARCH 22. ~ BY ORDER OF THE MORTGAGEES. WHARF HOTEL, GRAHAMSTOWN. CEEMORNE GARDENS, PONSONBY. STONE BUILDING, DURHAM LANE. ALLOTMENT, ALBERT-STREET. THE subscribers have been instructed to sell, by order of the Mortgagees, at the Laud Mart, Fort-street, on Thursday, 22nd inst., at 12 o'clock, THE FOLLOWING PROPERTIES, Viz, :— GRAHAMSTOWN.—The Leasehold Interest in Lots 450, 451, 452, and 453, 77ft. 9in. fron tage to Brown-street, and 110 ft. Gin. to Albert-street, held for an uncxpired term of letve of about 5? years, at an annual rent of £158 stg.; and on which are erected the Wharf Hotel. Store, &c. CREMORNE GARDENS. PONSONBY.—The Freehold of Parts of Allotments 3 and o. Section, 8, Suburbs of Auckland, having 408ft. frontage to Argyle-street, 650 ft to Prospect-street, and an extensive frontage to the Waitemata Harbour, the whole well laid out, and planted, together with Dwel ling-house and other buildings thereon erected. DURHAM LANE.—The Leasehold Interest in part of Allotment 5, section 10, City of Auckland, 50 links frontage, by 150 links deep, held under a lease for a term of 99 years, from Ist February, 1565, at an annual rental of £10 stg., with the Two-storey Stone Building thereon erected, now occu pied by Messrs Jakins and Willcox. .ALBERT-STREET.—The Freehold of part of Allotment 5, section 16, City of Auckland, 50 links frontage, by 150 links deep, and situate immediately at the back of pro perty in Durham Lane. SAMUEL COCHRANE & SON, Auctioneers. ~ THURSDAY, MARCH 22. THE REMUERA YARDS. FOR SALE, at Remuera, on Thursday next, March 22, 17 Quiet Heifers and Young Cows, at their CflilvillGT 35 Three-year old Fat Hereford Steers, of very choice quality 12 Well Fatted Calves. ALFRED BUCKLAND. , Q. ™_~~~ — LTT A, WATEItMAN be«s to inform VY • his friends and the publioo£ Auckland that he has taken over those old established DINING ROOMS, known as Porters, near y opposite the Theatre Uoyal, Queen-street, Auck land, where he hopoa by strict attention to business to obtain a fair share of patronage. Special care has been bestowed upon the Bed rooms, and settlers and country visitors to Auokteaa will find ©very com* eru Meale at ail