•»» O3.xojj.ii— j t o _morrow Morning, s.zi SUN SET.—This Evening. 4.48 'SUN RISE. —To-morrow Morning, 7.18 MOON'S AGE.—Last Quarter, lth, 8.40 a.m.

ARRIVALS.

Cabarfeidh, barque, from Lyttelton RewaYd, schooner (new), from Coromandel Ceara, 3-masted schooner, from the South Taranaki, s s., Griffiths, from the South Craig Ellachie, brig, from Timaru Sarah and Mary, brigantine, Stevens, from

Lyttelton Ceara, 3-masted schooner, Renouf, from Dunedin

DEPARTURES.

Wanaka. s.s., McGillivray, for Tauranga and

the South Queen, schooner, Jones, for Hokianga Omaha, brigantine, Burr, for Chatham Islands ane Donglas, s s., Fraser, for Gisborne

IMPORTS.

Per Sarah and Mary from Lyttelton: /OU sacks flour, 950 do. oats, 250 do. potatoes. 9 cases bacon 25 sacks sharps, 25 do. oatmeal.-Master, agent. Per^s f araiiaki' from the South : 3 boxes, 31 cases 26 kegs. 8 lengths pipe. 8 bundles, 2 valve?, 3 parcels, 3 rolls, 43 sacks, 1 trunk, 10 packages plants, 1 box coin, 250 sheep.-Henderson and M pera Nonparae!lf rom Newcastle : 600 tons coal. Per Jane Douglas from East Coast: 80 sacks fiour 20 sacks bran, 10 bnga flour, 6 bags seed, 2 drums, 1 cornsheller, 20 boxe3 tin, 22 packages paint, 20 mats sugar, 6 cases currants, 1 case lollies Cbags rice, 6 boxes candles, 1 box sauce, o bundles spades, 2 cases cordials, 1 case vinegar, 3 cases cheese, 1 nest tubs, 1 case sundries, 1 parcel sundries.—Owen & Graham. Per Ceara. from Dunedin j— X"a 10 sacks pearl barley.-B. Tonks and Co. 10 sacks pearl barley. 30 do flour 80 half do do, 120 quarter do do.—Coupland and Co. 15 sacks malt-Owen and Graham. 10 sacks pearl barley, 30 do flour, 80 half do do, 19ft nnarter do do, 20 sacks oatmeal, CO do flour, 148 half do do, 160 quarter do do, 940 sacks flour, 200 half do do, 800 quarter do do, 693 sacks oats, order.—Master, agent.

A new fore and aft schooner arrived early this morning from Coromandel, where she has been built by Mr Hanson, who has turned out several small craft in that neighbourhood. She is 60ft long on the keel, 18ft beam, and 7ft gin. deep She is copper fastened and well finished throughout. Her lines are finer for ard than aft but her general shape i« much admired. Mr Hanson is evidently improving m his models. The Reward has been fitted out. by Messrs ThT barque Nonpareil which arrived last evening f rO m Newcastle, has enjoyed a fine weather passage of 10 days, having left port on the 16th inst. She brings a cargo et coals. Captain Leddra, well-known here as the master of the unfortunate barque Glengrove, is m command. His providential escape when that S was castaway on Wilson's Promontory in September last year, will be remembered by ITh?s f S O. lTa?a an dakf;227 tons, Captain Griffiths arrived at Onehunga at 915 this morning. Lett Dunedin at 1-30 p.m. on the 21st, and arrived at LHtelton at 10 a.m. on the 22nd. Left at 7 p.m., and arrived at Wellington at noon 23rd. Left at 2-30 a.m. 24th, and arrived at Picton at 8 a.m. Left at 9-30, and arrived at at 6 p.m. the same day. Left at 7 p.m. on the 2oth, and arrived at Taranaki at 9.30 am. on the 26th. Left at 4 p.m., arriving as above. Experienced fine weather all up the coast. She Saves again at 10 o'clock to-morrow morning. Pi<?sen<*ers • saloon—Misses Howard, West, Thomal George, Mr and Mrs Winter, family and nurse, Mr 'and Mrs Thompson Messrs Blackmore, George, Mimfie, Gilbert, Starte. Sharland, Mashitter, Selby: Lewis, Luke, Luiti, Ho-wood, R. Lundy, Ryan, Foster, Grant, Cosnen White, Doyle, md 15 steerage. We are indebted to Mr C. J. Edmiston, purser, for re- P°The^.s. Jane Douglas left last evening for Gis- Jborne, with several passengers. Consignees by the Dilpussund are requested to take delivery of their goods at once, ihe sight entry will be passed to-morrow. The brigantine Omaha sailed early this morn infheschoonerMazeppaisadvertisedfcrLevuka She will leave on or about Saturday next. The s '. Wanaka leaves this afternoon at four o'clock for the South via Tauranga and Gis borne.

The cutter Iris, Symonds, master, from Man^awai. arrived this morning with passen gers, and 200 bags gum. The 3-masted schooner Ceara arrived this morning from Dunedin, with a cargo of bread stuffe She left on the 18th, with a.S.W. gale which ran the vessel up to Cook's Straits in 24 hours. Had strong variables after this for two days From the 21st to the 23rd strong westerly gales to the East Cape, and thence to arrival fre3h S.W. and sotuherly winds. The bri^antine Sarah and Mary arrived this day at noon, after a tedious passage of 19 days from Lyttelton. Captain Stevens reports leav ing on the Bth inst., with light S.W. weather which continued to Sunday 10th. when the ship was off Cape Palliser. They then hauled west erly, and continued from that quarter very light till the 13th. It then freshened up, and the vessel was under short canvas till the 23rd, when the wind shifted to S.W., and enabled us to round the East Cape. After this had fresh S.W. winds till Sunday, when fetched under lee of the Great Barrier. Thence till arrival light southerly winds. The Sarah and Mary brings a argo of general produce.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Under :—• For Thames, this day, at 5.30 p.m., and to morrow, at 3.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. For Coromandel, on Friday next, at 2.30 p.m. For Whitiangi, Tauranga, and Opotiki, per

Eowena. this day. at & p.m. For Wangarei Heads, per Rover, this day

at 4 p.m. For Tairua. per Mana, this day at 4.30 p.m. For Taranaki and. Southern Provinces, per Taranaki, to-morrow at 8 a.m. Late letters will bs received till 8.20 a.m. For money orders and registered letters, this day at i p.m. . ForWaiwera, Warkworth, and Te Arai, per Anne Milbank, to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Tahiti, per Crronet, to-morrow, at 11 a.m. For Batavia, per Alastor, to-morrow at 11 a.m. For New Caledonia, per Ebenezer, to-morrow,

at 3 p.m. For Australian Colonies, per Rotorua, on

Tnesday, July 3, at 11 a.m. Per s.s. City of New Fork, on Wednesday, 4th Ju£y. as under:— For Sandwich Islands. United States of America, Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Foreign West Indies, at 11 a.m. For United Kingdom and Continent of Europe, at 11, a.m. ... j For money orders, registered letters, ana newspapers, at 11 a.m. Late letters bearing an extra fee of Cd in addition to the postage, will be received by the Mail Agent on board, up to the time of sailing. S. B. BISS. Chief Postmaster.

"The Medical Profession have declared Steane's Superlative Aromatic Tonic Wine to be a necessity to all in search of health, and especially to those suffering either from In<*' pient or Chronic Indigestion, Dyspepsia." and the dis orders aixsicg therefrom. This Tonic is also partfcularly recommended to all who are ma 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. Wm. Johnson, Government Analy tfcaf Chemist, report: - ".I have examined SteaneVs Superlative Aromatic Tonic Wine, and find it to be remarkably pleasant m flavour, con taining about 16 per cent, of a very pure alcohol, and holding involution a clear wholesome Vegetable Bitter, combined with a fruity spicy aroma I consider this Bitter a very superior article."-Sold by all Storekeepers and Hotel- e ScAMPS are selling counterfeits of that most wholesale of medicinal stimulants, Udolpho 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 ions into empty bottles of the real article, and in most instances imitate the genuine labels. Sharland's Cherry Pectoral, a specific for Colds, Cou-'hs, Asthma, Consumption, Bronchitis, Lung Diseases, &c. It acts like magic. Price, 2s. 6d. and 4s. 6d. a bottle. Sharland's Instant Cure for Toothache; Is. a °Sharland's. opposite Post-office, Auckland.

BIRTH.

GERRARD.—On the 26th June, at North Shore, the wife of J. P. Gerrard of a son.

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

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1877.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs i es.stance, For the future in the distance, And the good that we can do

The telegraphic summary of the Hon. Mr Richardson's speech contained enough of that gentleman's semi-inspired utterances to shew that his use of Ministerial infor mation was not calculated to gratify his friends and ex-colleagues on the Treasury Benches. But from the full report in the Canterbury papers it appears that other matters of doubtful propriety were ad vanced in defence of the Government policy. Referring to the insignificance of the Auckland land fund, and the heaviness of the charges against it, Mr Richard son desired to make his constituents understand that things were perhaps not quite so bad as they looked. Ihe Govern ment had large blocks of good land in the Auckland district, which, when brought into the market, would materially swell the revenues pledged for the repayment of Treasury Bills that have been issued in liquidation of subsidies, charitable aid, and interests on railways. It was generally understood that the delay in making these blocks available for settlement had its origin solely in red tapeism. Mr Richardson, however, gave a different reason, and one that will be read with some interest by those of our citizen sol diery who established their claims upon the Government to Volunteer Land Scrip. The hon. member for Christchurch stated that the Government had purposely held back the best lands in their possession, in order that volunteers should not have a chance of exercising their scrip upon it. A few months only remain during which land can be taken up under volunteer scrip, and when the orders become obsolete or aie exhausted in selections out ©f scattered blocks of indifferent or inaccessible lands, the fair stretches of territory will be placed in the markot. It would appear then, that while keeping their engage ments in the letter, the Government have endeavoured to avoid thsm in spirit. It is rather a humiliating admission that the policy of the country in relation to its lands has been influenced by a desire to get the best of a section of the colonists who have acquired a legitimate claim upon the Government. The grants made to volunteers were guaranteed by Parliament, and the good faith of the colony was pledged for their satisfaction. The legislature had, moreover, made the scrip a legal tender for any of the Waste Lands opened in the Auckland district. If the Government have, as Mr Richardson's statement implies, kept back lands with the express object of cheating the volunteers out of their rights, the pro ceeding is one of very questionable morality. To issue scrip of limited validity in fulfil ment of a national liability, and then keep in reserve the means of redeeming it, par takes more of the tactics of a sharp specu lator than of a statesman.

Most sincerely do Aye hope that the chief design of Russian diplomacy, sketched in Gortschakoff's circular to Earl Derby, will be realised. As explicitly expressed in the Agent-General's telegram, published elsewhere, Russia aims at nothing short of the complete destruction of Ottoman power in Europe. A curse, and occasion of per petual bloodshed and turmoil from the first day on which the Ottoman attempted to graft his Asiatic customs on western civili zation, the Turk Avill continue a disturber of European peace, as well as an oppressor and barbarian, until he is politically wined out. It is not from any love of Russia that English sympathy has been enlisted on the side of the aggressor in the present war, but fromaconviction, thegrowthof five centuries, that the Turk is irretrievably bad ; that no Power on earth could long sustain his infamous rule even if it were worth preserv ing ; and that, be the consequences what they may, no civilised nation, without out raging every principle by which its own Government maintains the right to rule, could array itself in defence of a dynasty which holds millions of human beings in bondage by periodical massacre, and is wast ing one of the fairest lands in the world.

rule in. tue TGevauL>vouKriJi^preieraiJi^w» that of the Ottoman. Innumerable diffi culties, we are aware, beset the adjustment of international questions that would arise upon the overthrow of the people who now hold sway over Turkey, but a nation possessing the vitality and vigour of England should not frighten itself with bogies, or do wrong hoping that good may come of it ? Many European powers are more deeply interested than Britain in checking the undue preponderance of Russian power on the continent. And for our own part we have no fear but that England will prove well able to protect her own interests when they are really assailed. The occupation of Matchin by the Rus sians reported in to day's telegrams, is doubtless the preliminary move to the more important step of crossing the main army over the Danube. Matchin is regarded as the key of the Dobrudscha, and its occupation by the Russians will enable them to clear the right bank of the Danube of obstacles, so as to secure the complete navigation of the river for supplies transported down the Pruth and Seretli. They will probably next occupy Hirsova, thirty miles higher up, and will be able to command the north branch of the Danube where it separates into two arms, between Kalarash and Hir sova, without passing Rasova on the other arm of the Danube. This will materially relieve the railway and roads via Galatz and Bucharest, and will facilitate the provisioning of the army of observation at Kalarash and Olenitza, which will have to be left to watch Silistria and Rust chuk. The occupation of the Dobrudscha will also ensure the safety of the Russian communications balow Galatz from any sudden attack from behind the Danube. The latest message to-day states that the Turkish division in the Dobrudscha has fallen back upon Trajan's wall, on the line of Kustendji and Rassova, to defend the right flank of the quadrilateral, and it is highly improbable that the Russian com mander will repeat the strategy of 1828-9, when itheir operations against Varna and Shumla by Avay of the Dobrudscha were supported by their command of the Black Sea, which enabled them to establish a base at Mangalia. It is more likely that the quadrilateral will be masked in front and flank, and that the demonstrations which have been made at Kalarash, Olenitza, and Guirgevo, are intended to divert attention from the main points of passage in the neighbourhood of Nicopolis, Islatz, and Rahooa. The Montenegrins continue to hold out against the Turks, and have inflicted a loss upon their assailants of 7000. The Montenegrins are at present too isolated to derive relief from the operations on the Danube, but should tluy be able to save their forces from complete destruction until the Russians advance over the Danube in the direction of Sophia, the Turks in Montenegro Avill probably find their position no longer tenable, as they will be exposed to attack from a reliev ing column. It is doubtless with a clear perception of this fact that the Turks are pressing the Montenegrins, so as to secure a lodgment on the Western flank of the Balkans in a position to threaten the right of any Russian columns advancing on Sophia.

"CCA." writes, urging that better order should be kept in the pit of the theatre. He says: "A number of small boys get in by pass cheques night after night, and enliven the proceedings with any amount of stamping, whistling, shout ing, and other approved methods of making themselves a nuisance. Could not this be stopped by keeping them oil' the stairs and from the door of the theatre, where they swarm after eacli act, begging for passes." Our correspondent gets off further growls at noises in the theatre generally. "We nojticc that Professor Hennikie will re-open his Temple of Magic, Arabian Box, and o:her wonders this evening, in the Alber; Hall, Darby-street. This is a capital entertaiumen;, most amusing and mysterious, and calculated to keep the audience in a perpetual state of conjecture. An open meeting of the Excelsior Lodge of Good Templars will be held this evening, in the; Franklin Road School room, at half past seven. The programme promises speeches, songs, and recitations.

A carter was charged at the Police Court with threatening a toll-keeper, and in the course of his defence said he was prepared to- take a " solid oath." Mr Hesketh asked the man for a definition of the term. Defendant immediately turned his eyes upwards, and putting his hands together said, "To kiss the book and ble3s the Lord." The definition caused amusement in Court.

This week's meeting of the Free Method ist Young Men's Association was well attended. Rev. R Taylor occupied the chair. Rev. J. A. Caygill, read a carefully prepared essay on " Gumption," and Mr J. Dixon, a paper of a very instructive character on "Steam."

The journeymen Boot and Shoe Makers, met last evening in the under room of the Young Men's Christian Association, Mr Sanders in the chair. The business consisted in the enrolment of several new members. The following sketch of the immediate objects of the society was intro duced, and approved by the meeting, "That this society has in view the unanimity of all branches of the trade that they may work peaceably together without railing, and at all times to avoid strikes so far as possible. But in case of a strike accruing, the members are, as far as possible, to assist in trying to bring about a good understanding between employers and employes, and to bring all factories on a level, in order that no .advantage shall be taken of one employer more than another, in order to regulate the hours of labour so as to suit employers and employe's." The number of members on the book was forty, and the society seems to be working with unanimity and consistency.

The musical entertainment at the Devon port Hall, North Shore, will take place on Wednesday the 11th July.

The half-yearly meeting of the H. A. C. Benefit Society, will be held this evening in St Patrick's Hall, for the purpose, chiefly, of electing officers for the coming term.

The men of the Light of the Ocean Lodge of Good Templars, of Her Majesty's ship Sappho, will hold a meeting this evening in the Parnell Wesleyan chapel, as per ad vertisement.

To the Editor, Sir, —In reading your leader, and also " M's" letter of Monday, a question arises in my mind. Are the City Council now in a position, and would they have a sufficient supply of water, at a mo ments notice, in case of a fire occurring, as it would not do for the insurers to be too in dependant until they know if they are on the right side ?—■ Yours &c, G.H.— [The supply is now available. Clause 270 of the Municipal Corporations' Act,1876, provides : " The Council shall, except in cases of unusual drought, keep the pipes in which fire plugs are fixed at all times charged with water."—Editor E.S.]

At the Waste Lands' Board meeting yesterday, Mr Firth re-introduced the subject of the Kororouinaniu block, situate at Waikato Heads. This block it had been settled should be offered for sale as second class land. Mr Firth now said that i-oa\ the Surveyor's report it appeared the land was only third, class. The report was read, and ultimately theJßoard agreed to revoke their former decision, and to offer the block in one lot as third class land, at 5s per acre. A novel apparatus worked _by steam is now being erected for ventilating the two houses of Assembly. It is founded on the model of one in use in Sydney, where it said to answer well. Its object seems to be to drive by fans and pipes a constant stream of fresh air into the House.

ADOIuTIWU UUUUICU Jjl/Jrfiuxiu UU.U ~" .. — •- --— English tea and its acceptable aeconrpom ments, and enjoyed the &m& tilings vntk a hearty relish. The cbaiomaan' of the evening was Mr Ewington, wno introduced the proceedings in a characteristic speech', Mr C. Bloomfield acted as conductor, and several excellent sacred and seenlar pieces were given, also several ballads and recitations. The programme was got up with taste and care, and the concert or entertainment ended happily.

The conceit, farce, aifd ball, given for the Onehunga Library and Institute, in the Masonic Hall, was only a moderate success.

We are requested to state that owing to unavoidable circumstances, the musical entertainment advertised to be held this evening in the Devonport Hall, North Shore, is postponed until Wednesday, July 11th. Ladies and gentlemen who volun teered their services, and those who have purchased tickets, will please note. The Wellington people (says, the Waira rapa " Standard") appear to favour a Ministry of which Mr Travers and Mr Gisborne would be members ; but though the substitution of those gentlemen for Mr Whitaker and Mr Reid would gratify Wel lington, we question whether it would prove equally as satisfactory to the two extremities ot the colony. And this is a point which it will be well for Wellington to bear in mind. The conciliation of Auck land and Otago is a matter of more import ance to Wellington than their having one or more members of its own in the Ministry. There is an admirable opportunity now afforded for accomplishing this object, but we doubt whether a new Ministry would be more likely to do this than the one at present in office. There is no knowing what combinations may be effected after Parliament meets on the 19th July.

A most ridiculous piece of " blow" on the part of the " New Zealand Times " has just been exposed, and has caused a good deal of amusement. The other morning it came out with a leading article on newspaper enter prise in general, and its own in particular, illustrating the latter by the statement that, after the fashion of certain English journals, it had had the telegraph Avires carried into its office, so as to be able to obtain the telcrams without delay, and up to the last moment. The two evening paper.?, how ever, stated the real fact, which was that the "Times"had simply had an electric bell placed in the office, so that when, during the ni«ht, a message came to the tele graph office for it, the bell might be rung in order that some one might be sent down for it iv ordinary course. A better instance of suggest™ falsi than the " Times' ' article could not be imagined.

Amongst theatrical items, avc learn that the Georgias did an excellent business in Christchurch. Lizzie Morgan has joined Johnny Hall. Johnny has been play in" to good houses at Oamaru, while Olit ford with'a panorama has been losing money at the Gaiety, Christchurch. The Common wealth of the Theatre Royal, Christchurch, is adrift, while the " nigs," are working for DeLias, drawing in good money. Ihe Lydia Howarde troupe are on the West Coast. After the Chicago* have re plenished their treasury in Dunedin, the Georgias will fill their chairs, opening on the 28th. At Invercargill, Keogh, Blmton, and Company are making salaries, and that is all at present, while their prosp :cts are not brilliant. The probable visitants of New Zealand are the Pixley Bur lesque Company, now playing in Sydney, with Madame Zavistowski at their head They come to Auckland first. Dick Thatcher, the agent-general, has secured the agency for Levy, the cornet player and in due course will trot him round. The Royal Illusionists will pay us a visit in a few weeks, also will Majoroni and Miss Ada Ward ; but they all dread the New Zealand winter, as if it were a polar one. As soon as the summer sets in, we shall have a perfect plethora of amusements. By Sydney advices at the Victoria Mrs Mary Glad'stane is playing the character of Edith Dombey, in a new drama in four acts, founded on Charles Dickens' great novel, " Dombey and Son," and written by Andrew Halliday, Esq., expressly for Mrs Gladstane, entitled " Hearts' Delight. The company supporting Mrs Gladstane is as follows : Miss Annie Pixley, Miss Lina Edwin, Messrs B. N. Jones, Bland Holt, H. S. Jordan, Fulford, Seagrave, L. Booth, J. Tolano, It. Ryan, It. Mowry. On the Haymarket Reserve Ridgi's Royal Tycoon Circus is performing. At the School of Arts the United States Minstrels were showing. At the Theatre Royal Miss Ada Ward was drawing crowded audiences, The Royal Italian Opera Troupe was to follow at the same house.

The London correspondent of the Chri3tchurch Press writer—"Mr Broomhall has recently returned from New Zealand, where,as you doubtless know, he lias satis factorily concluded the purchase of 50,000 acre 3of land for n temperance settlement. The promoters of the scheme have, I am told, every reason to be satisfied with the arrange ments made, and the undertaking promises well. Mr Broomhall is about to deliver a series of lectures descriptive of the country, and his experiences in it, which I have no doubt will be largely attended, and be peculiarly interesting to those intending to emigrate. The Bishop of Lichfield, who, as the lir3t Bishop of New Zealand, must be well known to you, is also delivering a series of lectures, in which he touches on his well-known missionary efforts in New Zealand.

A correspondent of a southern contempor ary says :—" It is a fact, although disputed and denied in the columns of the New Zea land " Times," th&t a domestic quarrel oc curred at a recent Cabinet meeting, which very nearly approached a break up. We are informed that the ground of dispute was the proposed Education Bill, with regard to which the Ministry had previously done nothing beyond giving an instruction to the Solicitor-General to draft a suitable measure."

The hon. Dr Pollen received yesterday afternoon, a deputation from the Auckland Victuallers' Association, consisting of Cap tain Johnson, of the firm of Messrs Whitson andJohnson(president'oftheassociation),and Messrs Melton, Sealey.Hood, Hoag, Keane, and H. Fuller, (secretary of the Associa tion). Captain Johnson pointed out the un fairness "of the license fees in Auckland, as compared with other places in the celony. Ho also stated that the Licensing Commis sioners had expressed themselves in favour of a reduction of the fees of the Auckland district, the deputation trusted that the Colonial Secretary would use his influence to procure a reduction of the fees to come into force from July Ist. The hon. Dr Pol len said that any alteration would have to be made by the Legislature, and the Execu tive had no power to make concessions. No doubt a new bill will be introduced next session, but whether the fees would be equalized or would| be'raised to the same general scale as that existing in Auckland, he was not in a position to say.

The Government Surveyors (Mr Bales') report of Thames Waste Lands was read and discussed at the Waste Lands Board meeting yesterday. As the chairman remarked'it was by no means satisfactory. Out of a total of 35,000 acres only 300 acres were classified, as first class land, 30 acres as second class, and 34,600 acres as third class. The blocks reported on were the following, Omaha, 6956 acres ; Whanga mataNo. 1/8083 acres ; Whangamata No. 5 5604 acrea ; Whangamata No. 3, 7634 acres; Hikutara No. 2, 2257 ; Hikutaia No. 3, 3436 acres. It was decided not to deal with these lands, but authority was given the chairman to sell the right to dig gum on any of them.

It is regarded as significant that 1100 small debt summonses have been issued from the Eesident Magistrate's Court, Wellington, since the beginning of the year.

I>. C. Wilson. It. was agreed1 that the chairman should write to Mr Wilson, expressing the gratification of #ie Board at the manner in which he had performed has ■work.

A new platform, for the convenient land- Ing of sheep and cattle, is being erected on thie saleyard side of the Remuera station. The gauntlet throAvn down by Mr C. Bailey, in offering to sail any open Boat in Auckland with his latest production—the Pet—has been taken up by Hunt, the waterman, with his famous Brothers, the craft whiefo has now won the open sailing race at the Auckland Regatta for three suc cessive years. Teu pounds a-side, to bind the match), was put down at nine o'clock this morning, at the Thames Hotel, and so the departure of the Pet for Wellington has beenSdelayetl for a fortnight. The parties met this afternoon, and agreed to sail the match next Saturday or Monday week. The settlement of the amount of stakes was left over for the present, but they will be not less tban £20 aside, nor more than £SC.

A concert under the conductorship of Mr Joseph Brown, organist of St. Matthew's Church, is announced to take place to-morrow (Thursday) evening at the Lome-street Hall. We understand that the programme is of a very high-class character, and that several of the chief amateur singers in Auckland will give their assistance. A gift auction will take place afterthe concert, at which the articles remaining over from the late bazaar will be disposed; of. The proceeds are. to be devoted to the payment of a debt of £80, which still remains upon St. Thomas' Mission Church in Freeman's Bay.

Stephen S Jones, editor of the Religious Philosophical journal of Chicago, was shot dead in his office on the afternoon of the 15th by W. C. Pike, who alleged that Jones had seduced his wife. All the parties are spiritualists.

The "Otago Guardian" says it will be utterly impossible to test Walker's preten sions so long as the present system is pursued, as the audience are sure to choose some popular subject, on which the lecturer may have oftentimes discoursed before. If an independent Committee were appointed, empowered to select a number of subjects differing widely from each other, and attend prepared with a series of questions calculated to tost the lecturer's knowledge of the subjects on which he had spoken, the truth would soon be out, for it is not likely that Mr Walker is a specialist in many branches, though he may be well posted up in some, such as that of " The Creation."

Robert Dale Owen is said to have much modified his views on Spiritualism, the cavity where the bump of cautioh on his head should be havingjrapidly filled up during the past year or two.

In a cage at Christchurch, in which the ques tion of an " extra bar " was involved, His Honor Judge Johnston referred the matter back to the magist:a'e for a statement of the case. Judge Johnston expressed himself to the effect that a bar must open direct on to the street before a license under the Act can be demanded for it.

CABLEGRAMS.

LATEST "WAR NEWS<

This Day.

Official Message from the Agent-

General.

Russians Suffer Heavy Loss

before Ears.

Montenegrins Kill 7000 Turks

Russia Threatens Destruction of

Ottoman Power

Gort3cliakofF Proposes to Make Constantinople a Free City.

The New Zealand Government has re ceived the following message from the Agent-General : —

LONDON, June 25, 4.45 p.m.

The Russians have crossed the Danube at Galatz, and hold Matchin with a slight loss.

They were well received by the Christian inhabitants of the place.

Kars still holds out against the Russian

besiegers. The Russians in the last attack, in which they were repulsed suffered great loss. Emperor Alexander is with the Russian troops at Ployesti.

The Montenegrins are still resisting, though they have been defeated after kil ling seven thousand.Turks.

Gortschakoff assures Earl Derby that the Suez Canal is to be respected by Russia as international, that Constantinople will not be occupied by Russians, and should not be occupied by any other European Power if conquered, but should be made a free city, and any future occupation by any European Power to hs sii bsequently arranged.

[PRESS AGENCY.]

Bombardment of Kars.

Turkey's Reply to England.

LONDON, June 25,

The bombardment of the northern forts of Kars continues. A sortie was repulsed.

The Kurds have invested Bayazid,

It is believed to be the intention of the Turks to abandon the Dobrudscha, but to make a firm stand at Trojan's Wall.

The Porte dissents from England's view regarding the propriety of not neutralising the Canal, while refusing a belligerent power permission to erect necessary works for protection against an enemy.

RUSSIANS OCCUPY MATCHIN.

PASSAGE OF DANUBE CONTINUES

SINGAPORE, June 26th, 1.15 p.m. The Russians have occuped Matchin. The passage of Russian troops over the Danube still continues.

OPENING OF VICTORIAN PARLIA MENT.

MELBOURNE.—THIS DAY.

The Victorian Parliament opened yester day. The speech embraces the principal topics previously mentioned by Mr Berry. Arrived —Wakatipu.

commencing on Monday nexi/ :*-* Tafraati, New Zealand, liibosrcr, 24j single, inflicting grevious bodily harm; at Taurs&ga. Andrew DeHais, New Zealand} labourer, 18, single, horse-stealing, at Tauranga. Davit* King, Australia, bufther,- 28, widower, rape. HugliMcKenzie, Scotland, carpenter,39, raarried, rape. Duncan McKenzie, Scotland, caipenter, 44 r single; rape. s-Edward Jackson, America, coak, 21; maniedj breaking and entering a dvelling honse, and stealing therefrom. SamueS Hood, cattle-stealing, at EiisselL

ORGAN RECITAL ON MR NEW LETT'S NEW ORGAN.

Last evening the school-room attached to All Saints Church was crowded to the door- with < an appreciative audience, to hear for tfee first time the above instrument. The following varied pragramme was gone through, and to such a choice of classical musio, And effective and brilliant execution, we have seldom > been treated in this city. The opening piece was the "Marshe auK Flambeaux," (Scotson Clarke) the next was a minuet and trio, exquisitely chosen to bring out the effect of the combination of stops. This was followed by a grand illustra tion of the elaborate French school of musio in Wely's Offertory No. 5. The first part concluded - witD a violin concerto by Mendelsshon, and, bregniera,from."Mb3i,"in "Egitto," by Rosshu. The second part of. the programme consisted ■■of selections from." Meyerbeer,'' Kode. iSeUini " Rinck," and. "Salamon," shewing the effect of operatic music as played on an organ. The-nup-. tial music and! Wedding March, which concluded the performance, was particularly interesting, as being composed by the Kapel Meister to the King of Denmark.. The nuptial hymn has been, uaei at the marriages of the royal family of Denmarkforcenturies, and was played' at. the wedding ef the Prince of Wales. The whole of-the pieces were- rapturously applauded, a-nd. the organist, Mr Swallow, shewed himself a perfect master of the-instrument. The organ la for sale,. and if the parishioners of All Saints are rather apatheti", weitnagine, after hearing last raghts: performance;, they will loose no time in securing inch a suitable instrument for then- church, The whole recital was a great success, ana, will realise about £15.

SUGGESTIONS FOR THE PROS PERITY OF THE PROVINCE. OF AUCKLAND.

(To the Editor of the STARt) Sir _In. the present depressed; state of the colony of New Zealand it behoves every person who has its welfare at heart to endeavour by perfectly legitimate means to extricate it from its present embarrassed state ; the writer believes,, after giving the matter his earnest attention, that could the following suggestions be- fully earned out, there is a grand future before the settlers in the colony:—lst. By the Government giving I a free grant of land, to any person applying j for the same, on consideration that he, the applicant, is in possession of two hundred pounds sterling,shall be entitled to a grant of one hundred aczes of land, to be held by him on the conditions, viz., the selector on netting his grant of land shall immediately erect a suitable- dwelling thereon ; fence a portion of his land securely as soon as possible, but the whole of the above to be completed to the satisfaction of a person duly appointed by the Government for the purpose of inspecting these operations at regular periods. At the expiration of a term of five years should the party have fully complied with the conditions of the grant to the satisfaction of the Inspector, he the selector shall then be fully entitled to the deeds appertaining to his land. To give due encouragement to the small settler ft should be expressly stipulated that no person should be entitled to hold more than five hundred acres, for which he should be in possession of one thousand pounds at the time of sending in his application. The crops to be laid down by each settler at his own discretion, as he should be the most competent judge of the capabilities of the soil. In case the holder of a grant of land at the expiration of his term has not fully carried out the conditions of his agree ment to the satisfaction of the Inspector it shall be a question for consideration whether he has not forfeited his land to the authorities, by not fully carrying out his agreement. Should the Government in such case see fit, they may sell the said property, and the original hold, in default, forfeiting all claim to the same. This would certainly give an impetus to the person holding, to strictly cany out the conditions of his agreement. I have, thus far, given you a general idea of my views. Of course, should the Government only see fit to act upon it, they would be far better enabled to manipulate the details than the writer, but as to the result of such step, I think the results accruing from such measure would be manifold. It would give permanent employment to hundreds, with satisfactory wages, comfortable home steads, the means of clothing and educating their offspring, and pause them to produce articles of consumption,f or which at the pre senttime Auckland is dependent on other colonies for supplying, at an amount that is scarcely credible. But I have it from a reliable source, that we are annually sending away £500,000 for the importation of articles that might be produced at our very thresholds, by keeping that amount in the colony, and developing its resoiirces. It would be the means of employing thou sands, and each day we should have the gratification of seeing wealth, happiness, and contentment, where previously it was discontent and squalor, and such results should be cause for rejoicing to any person who has the welfare of the colony at heart. It will be said, but you are conferring benefits on the settler only. Wait. Suppose for instance, you have live applicants of £200 each. They get their grants. What is the first step on their part ? The erection of their dwellings. From whom are drawn the materials for each, timber, ironmongery, &c. Surely the merchant and tradesman get a large proportion of the original oxitlay. Then he will require implements of all kinds for the proper developement of his land, seeds, manure, &c., as the initiatory steps, and so he mustfof necessity purchase those either from the manufacturer or importer, in fact,he will find that as lie progresses he will require articles for daily use, so that the merchant, seedesman, and storekeeper, will fully participate in the general pros perity of the settlers who have been the means of developing and sustaining the principle suggested. Ido hope that all classes who have had the welfare of the colony (and the produce of Auckland especially) at heirt will give the above suggestion and facts their serious considera tion: impress it on their representatives who will shortly be assembled in Wellington, that they may be induced to make some effort to alleviate the general destitution that prevails throughout the colony, and should their endeavours be crowned with success, then New Zealand may take her stand with pride and dub herself the "Britain of the South."—John Smith, Draper.

WATER SUPPLY.

To the Editor of the Evenixg Star. Sir,—Your contemporary in stating the amount of city taxes, places the special rate at 6d in the £. instead of 3d, and if he includes the price of water supplied, why not include gas; or, in fact, any article consumed in the house, or article of manufacture us^d by the brewer, or any other trade requiring water as a principal ingredient. Nelson has an inexpensive gravita tion supply running through the town, and even there the rate is 6 per cent to consumers, and 4 per cant to non-consumers, a rate at present not charged here (at least in that shape). Tie question arises, are the unfortunate ratepayers who are precluded from obtaining a supply (from want of mains being laid) however willing they may be, to have the special rate maintained to enable large com umers to have the advantages of a chean supply. No complaint can be found with the dDineatic rate, which is as low. if not lower than any other town in the colony. Yours, etc,—W.R.

Sir Julius Vogel has applied to the Govern ment tor permission to become a director of the proposed Broomhall Special Settlement Associ ation but it is considered doubtful i£ the request will be granted. H Mr Passmore is to be succeeded by Mr Higurin son, who also combines with those duties the oihc e at present filled by Mr Knorp. The latter takes over the du-ies now performed by Mr iligginson.

grief m&e- the intricate iS3SS^JJ borne Bar. As our tele^rima ws-- "-^IP the dajr before yesterday, sheTasffi^ that harbour with a cargo of stock ™ ieave' > day morning: She had le?t the» had alraest arrived at the bar propeUer struck one of the rocks' which sfe the channel mst here, Captain Helanfi telegram which was received by the A % \> Company's manager, Mr Lodder vest^i ' afternoon, briefly explains •-• 'wlfiilt* y of the-diwaage'ia o J-^^ " GISBORNE, To Mr Lodder.-Jane is goin- out tv morning, struck something i^sy c v s Stripped Miides- off port propeller Hav^ discharge- stock. Probably get away t« morrow.—eißA-BLES Helander "

This was-suppleittented this morninff hv anotherj- as?-fi)llows.— s "■>

"Gisborne, thisdav Port propeller shaft broke at the bracket Fan lost. Will try repair damage. N(\ other damage.—C. Helander." ° '

A telegram, relating to the accident was also'received! by Mr Alfred Buckland and! bears out: Captain Helander's account Two extra, propeller fans are always kept - on board the vessel, and there is therefore very little doubt that the accident will not t cause any: lengthened detention of the boat - Every time-anpccivrrence of the kind takes-* placej there is an agitation to get tha" Government to blowup the numerous rocka whiclii impede the Gisbome navigati&ita Alteratiens. are often promised, but th<v intention, to do anything to improve the river always fades with the remembrance, pf; the■ casualty. The report circulated by pijjs morning: contemporary that the Pretty jjfa^l isstraadietl!, is wholly without fouudatiQa,

Mr J. Russell for the debtor. His Honor said there were three creditor s present in proxy, and two other creditor in person, besides the trustee, who held as proxy. The trustee had moved for the discharge. The only assets were a piece of land sold by the mortgagee, some scrip received as a military settlor, and a plough. The trustee reported that several of the creditors were diesatisfied with the bank rupt's affairs, but after considerable inquiry nothing could be discovered against the debtor. His Honor did not think it advisable that a trustee should act for one of the creditors, though there was nothing actually illegal in his so acting. It would be better that he should act for all the creditors. , f There being no opposition, the order 01 discharge was granted. THE KAIPARA LICENSING COURT. In this ease Mr Coleman, on behalf 01 the relators, Herbert Frank Edger, ana Thomas Adams Gubb, had obtained a rule nisi, calling on the Kaipara Licensing Court to shew cause why a writ of Pro]? lD*' tion should not issue to prohibit them trom procuring to hear our application tor a license by John Hutchinson. On the rule being called on this morning, Mr Coleman stated an affidavit had been filed byW- Symonds, Chairman of the Licensing tourc, from which it appeared that when x A Court met on the 19th it had declined, ana absolutely abstained from entertaining Hutchinson's application. Mr Coleman said in the main object of the rule had been obtained, he would ask that it be ais- Of course, Mr Coleman, since you ask the Court to discharge w rule, it will do so. But I must say that Captain Symond's affidavit does not deny any of the facts stated on behalf of there lators, and fully bears out that they were justified in making the application, i . would seem that the Licensing Court wen* as near as they could to granting th »PF cation, although they knew the case w», beyond their jurisdiction; whereas they should have refrained at once from enter, taining it. ~ „„,„ n ot Mr Coleman : The proceedings were g taken so much to deprive Hutching ot n license as to shew the Licensing Court tn J must abide by the law. Will your Hon» discharge the rule ? .r^w^ed. His Honor : Let the rule be m FRASER AND OTHERS V. SHEKA. In this case, Mr Rochfort, who aWJJ for plaintiff, asked that the order nngM withdrawn, aad that the demurrer v» o be first served. His Honor said that the demurrer had served. . , f „ w itt- Mr Rochfort then /W t Sniurrer, drawal of notice, in order that theaei . mitcht come on firet. ;ff h thft His Honor'said «»*#s£,££*■ . X decree in their own hands fo «gu Mr Hesketh appeared for defendoj i ANOTJS AND ANOTHER V. STE f^p lain tiff Mr Hesketh, who fP^Son to a, in this action, said he had no objecu

POLICE COURT.—THIS DAY.

(jESefore A. Beetham Esq., JJ|sj DRUNKENNESS. Peter Patilsen, a seaman, was^ag^ brought iip on a charge of being-drunk. Pei»r acknowledged his offence-,^b"ufc o& leaving the Police Com-t yesterday-he; liosi hm spectacles, and blundered into en, hotel a&d drank too muck; Fined 10s. and costs. John Murray Mansfield was fhjed 55., and Jane Rolfe, alias Reed, was. fined in the same amount for a similar efi^yje. LUNACY. A labouring man from Northern Wairoa was charged with being of unseund mind. The case was adjourned nntil Friday, in order to hold a medical examination. DESERTION. John Deegan, a sailor, was.ehargecl with deserting the brigantine Omaha, on the 24th inst. Sub-Inspector Pardy said; that there wras a difficulty in the way of this case. A robbery had been committed, and prisoner was suspected of being concerned in it; but at present the charge cwjd not be brought home to the him. There was no prosectwor from the OmahaK and the man was discharged.

SUPREME CO"S7PiT.-This day.

IN BANCO.

(Before his Honor Mr. Justice Giß^ft), IN RE dJEMENT WITHEFORD.. Application for discharge. Mr Laishle-y applied for an orde^-ofim-. mediate discharge for the bankruj4. His Hosier said the trustees' seport was not filecj, Mr Laishley said it had been, presented at the meeting. His Honor : It seems veyy- desirable that the trustees report should be appended, more especially as the assets are nil, and an amended statement had to be filed, which increased the liabilities to a considerable extent. Mr Macfarlane, trustee, stated the cir cumstances which led to the bankruptcy. There being no opposition, the order of discharge was granted. IN RE GEORGE L. REES. Mr J. Russell appeared for the bank rupt, and applied for an order of discharge. The estate had yielded 7s 6d in the £. There was no opposition, and the order was granted. IN RE GEORGE F. SANDERS.

Mr J. Russell for the bankrupt.^ In reference to this case, his Honor directed the trustee in future to furnish information as -to the state of bankrupts affairs, whether they had kept proper books, the causes of bankruptcy, and otter information. Creditors might be ready to grant a discharge where they received 10s in the £, but it was the duty of the Court to see that there had been nothing im proper. Discharge granted.

IN RE JOHN ANDERSON Mr Brock for the bankrupt. No opposition. Order of discharge granted. IN RE LAWRENCE GERRATY.



O-P E C I A L NOTICE. H. L. POSSENNISKIE, ™ i ™ L L L o°°O RR RRRI TT AA II L O O R-R-R TT A-A H L O O R R TT A A II L OORR TTT A A lin LLLLL 00 R R AND HABIT-MAKER, SHORTLAND-STRKET, Auckland. H.L.P. begs to inform his customers and the public generally that he has Just Received a Large Consignment of WINTER TWEEDS and FANCY COATINGS; also, a Special Line of SUPERIOR SILK VESTINGS. N.B.—The Trade supplied at a small advance Tavoice Prices, for Cash. JUST RECEIVED, EX " HERO" :— A SMALL SHIPMENT' OF SUPERIOR QUALITY GEELONG TWEED MELBOURNE-MADE «2T CLOTHING. -S* To our Order, Direct from, the Manufacturers. MATERIAL OV NEW PATTERNS AND STYLES, AND FIRST-CLASS CUT. Is. in the & allowed on all Cash Purchases of 20s. and upwards. RUSHBROOK & BRIDGMAN, Junction Drapery Warehouse, Upper Queen-street, auclkand.



Incorporated by Act op Parliament. NEW ZEALAND BRANCH: Head Office, Auckland- Local Director: •30R8E BUKG'WNE Owen, Esq. (Messrs. Owen and Graham.) Principal Medical Officer: CJhakles Field Goldsbro', Esq., M.D. General Agent for New Zealand: William T. J. Bell. With Sub-Agencies in all the Principal Towns. Every information on the subject of LIFE ASSURANCE ANNUITIES, and ENDOW MENTS FOR CHILDREN, afforded by J. A. Lowe, Travelling Accent to the Association WILLIAM T. J. BELL, General Agent. ■**, Special Features.— Age admitted on policias, which are unchallangeable from date of issue. Lowest Rates of Premiums, and no hamper ing conditions as to residence or occupation, J U S_]T RECEIVED, An Assortment of BOY'S TUNIC SUITS, In a Variety of Shades.l From 12s 6d to 27s 6d. ALL KINDS OF Boy's and Youth's Clothing Inverness Capes Pea Jackets, Overcoats Hats, Shirts, Braces Ties, Scarves, Sock 3 W. RATTRAY, CLOTHIER AND OUTFITTER, New Zealand House, Attctct.ako



Auckland to the front! — Many people in Auckland are not aware that Mr Hulme has the largest sausage manufactory in the colony; the flavour is superior, and the price is 4d perlb.—[Adyt.[