INTELLIGENCE.

rrrr.Tr -nraTTTR s" This Afternoon, 10.13. HIGH WATER- -, To-morrow Morniug, 1 SUN' SET.-This Evening. Lai ci-v RISE. —To-morrow Mornmg. (>■■>■' ■: MOON'S "AGE.—First Quarter, 20 lh, 0.35 p.m.

ARRIVALS.

Hi-.vea. s.s.. Wheeler, from the South;?. ■ Nymphe, schooner. Doughty, from the; Coast

DEPARTURES.

PROJECTED DEPARTURES. For Sydney—Hero. s.s,. about 20th May: byren. brig, early , " . For Kaipara—Minnie Casey, s.s., I hursday , Por Wangarei—Arsryle. every ruesrtaj For Tonsa—Active, schooner, early . For the Soutli-Hawea, s.s., 19th inst. .-Taranaki, 5.5..24t'-i , ,„.. Tor Sydney (from Wellington^—Phcebe, s.s.. ISth inst For Fiii—Darhne. schooner, early For Hobart Town—Bella Wary. Saturday For London—Electra. ship, early; Anno Gam bles, barque, early.

The mail steamer City of New York, may be c-vpcted at any mnracnt. a= according to oable- STiims to hand, slip left. San Francisco a day before her proper date. It is unceri am whether the now orders as to the boars not touching at Kandavu would have reached San Francisco "The 3 s.s" Minnie Casey left for her trading ground, the Kaipara. yesterdar, under charge ot Captain Fen>«ndezi Her passenger necom modation has b°en increased" during her stay in nort by the addition of a large cabin on dec^c. T^c" schooner ilinnehaha arrived in the Ktu nara from Noumea a few days ago. after arougn pa??atre of 15 days, more than half of vdueh was ?pent or. the noast. in a fierce W. S.W. sale. She is now loading timber for the South, on account of I>. H. 3leKenzie. . . The brigantine Hannah Brooniiield. which 13 now at Tft"Kopuru. hud a fearfully rough passaETfi from Wellington, which port sbc lett on the «h instant.

AUCKLAND CATTLE MARKET.

~,Tn A.IFRI-;:; BUCICLAXD'S WEEKLY REPORT. ._: r j^e Haymarket horse stock realised as follows: Heavy dransht at £?,S to £10: medium draught. £13 to £25 10s: light harness, £7 to £11 each : hides, skins, and wool were in lead than u=ual oiiantity. ana at previous values. At 3>:-ry. 230lieadof eartle were sold Atßcmuem or Thursday, fat cattle in full number : 11~ head sold, and generally of good quality. _ Interior cattle were at late values, but groocl animals ad vanoed lathe 1001b?. Sheep ir full numbers, but of t-.-t irregular quality, with a fair inquiry at slightly advanced value?. Pigs, both fat and store. plentiful with a dull sale and downward prices _T>rlcep obtained during the week were good. D iirv "cows. £10 to £14 10s ; medium. £7 to £8 lO.s : yeaned calves, 35s' to 44s : IS-montns old, oos to 80s • dry cow 3£3 10s: to £5 two-year-old steers, £- is to"-S3: fat cattle. 2.js to27sthe 100'bs : long v/ooied w&thers. 10s 6d to 17s : ewes. 6s 6d to 16 : merino wethers. 6s 3d tolls; half-bred wethers, 12s to Us each. A.IESSR3 HUXTI-H iXD NOLAXS WEEKLY Report—Horses : Hacks, from £3 to £11; light. jglTto £19 103. Cattle: There has been a mode rate supply, and a steady demand: top sorts v/e^e well competed for, at 27s 6rl per lOOlbs. For fat sheep bidding: was slow, and last week s rates were barely sustained.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Lxdsr :— Fo" Thames, this dar, at 4 p.m. and 0.30 p.m.: to-morrow, at 4.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. Fo" Ooromandel, per Argyle, on Monday next,

at 11.30 p.m. For Levuka, per Jessie Henderson, to-morrow,

For Waiwera, Malrarangi, Itlatakana, wai. Waipu. Wangarei, and per \nnie Milbank. to-morrow, at 10 a.m. For Australian Colonies, per City of New \ork, immediately aftpr her arrival from Honolulu. Fo" Taranaki and Southern Provinces, par Hawea. immediately on arrival oi City ot New York from Honolulu. For Russell. Wangaroa, and ?.longonm, per Tonn. on Monday next, at 4 p.m. For Wangarei Heads, Waipu, U angarei. and Manpapai, per Argyle, on Tuesday next, at 1 p.m.

X B.—A post-oflflce has been opened at Kama Wangarei district. Mails are closed at this office erery Tuesday, at i p.m. ; return mails arrive every Friday/at 10 a.m. 3. B. BISS. Chief Postmaster.

NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS.

La Vkrttij.— Your letter came too late for insertion to-day, and you have neglected to send your name, in compliance with journal istic rule.

BIRTH.

POOK.—On the 17th instant, at her residence. Vincent-street, the wife of IVIr. James Pook of a son.

BARBER.—On the 17th May, at her residence Shelly Beach. Auckland, the wife of W. F Barber of a daughter.

DEATH.

McCULLOUGH.—On the 13th May, at her late residence. Official Bay, Rachel Jane, beloved daughter of John and Leonora McOullough. Tlie funeral will take place to-morrow, at 3 p.m. Friends are respectfully invited to attend.

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

FRIDAY, MAY 18, 1877.

For the cause that lacks resistance, For the wrong that nee-els lesistauce, For the future in the distance, ■

And the good that we can do

If, as we ventured the other day tohope, the Chamber of Commerce is about to enter on a new career. of activity, the event could not have been more appropriately marked than by the able and comprehensive address which the retiring President delivered at the annual meeting yesterday. The ground covered by the speaker disclosed an accurate apprehension^ of the field in which Chambers of Commerce should exercise an important influence. In sug gesting an annual 'change of Presi: clencyi Dr. Campbell touclied one of those' little points upon -which very much of the success or failure of such institutions hinge. It is not alone, that a stereotyped monopoly of the honours, or an unfair ' allotment of . the • duties of tke Society, tends to produce a. lack of interest' among the body of members, and a per functionary fuifilmerit of ; the active responsibilities, but,' as Dr. Campbell pointed out. it might almost- be considered a f>ersoiial slight to elect a successor to one who had held an office for a long series of years. The Presidency of a Chamber representing the leading commercial interests of our city is a position that may be esteemed by any gentleman," and should be kept open as an encouragement to those who bestow time and .attention to the work of promoting the general mercantile interests of our port. We think it scarcely necessary, with . our limited space, to reproduce S full report of Di- Campbell's speech, "which has already gained publicity in our .morning contemporary. But there are various points in it'that will be specially valued as the expression of a dispassionate practical opinion on matters of vital im portance to the future of Auckland. Upon the question of dqck accommodation Dr Campbell stated,'"we believe, the view which has been everywhere held in mer cantile circles outside the small majority of the Harbour Board. He said :— •,. •.,, ■

"I have always held and maintained from the outset that the construction of ;i deep-water graving dock on the Auckland shore of the harbour, and in immediate vicinity of the city, would be grave mistake. How much greater the mistake the dock being built within the city itself ! The " battle of the site*,' 1 ea.st or west of Qucen street Wharf, was fpuglit before.J took my seat at the Board. Tin's question being eliminated from the argument, the. remain ing point <>f discussion Aras,- wliethevtlie (i^tik ,->i.<Jwi'» l/o aa oociiii slciiiuur ul/'oK, or the one now being constructed, Being

our inauniiieent harbour will surely call into j existence, must bo on the North Shore, where any required depth on the sill can lie secured, I could only arrive at the conclusion that thu le-s money now spentj/he bette%| Tn reviewing the whole cour.se-pfpi^ednr^ having reference to the dock :<jsei i|^3ecni*j to have been a foregone coiicliisin:; that tint dock was to be built aksoluteljlouiote^horeS proper at the city—in almost jj^ cominereirtl'; centre —under some crude felicf fKat in creased value would thereby 7!toaii Bt»vthe harbour reclamations. It certainly "will be a nev.- feature if the usuaL-eurrouudin^s of a graving dock, with atte-hflant noiso and peculiar population, raises the value of city property dostinod to be a position the.most valuable for wholesale commercial pur poses."

Thu spirit in which the dock uuestion was approached could scarcely have bean better fielineiited, but if may be questioned whether, now that the site has been selected ( and a heavy debt raised for the construction of the dock, we are warranted in treating it as a hopeless mesa, to the neylect of any nieaus at hand to make the best of a b.id job. Dr. Campbell was very severe on the Harbour Board. That incongruously con stituted body can hardly be claimed as a success by its best friends, and the subject is one on which the Chamber may oit'er many suggestions of value in the framing of the amended legislation which must sooner or Liter be" undertaken by Parlia ment. The speaker took a very hopeful view of the commercial prospects and resources of New Zealand. Few colonists. we imagine, will incline to doubt that, however much misgovern mont may retard the progress of the colony, its natural resources and wealth must secure for it a great and prosperous future. It is very satisfactory to know that wo are in debted to the infusion of American enterprise for the maintenance of the price of a product which has been of special value to this part of the colony in times of depression. To the Californian service, bringing us in direct and rapid commercial intercourse with the United States, may, we think, be attributed no small part in the establishment of American tinns here for the purchase of kauri gum and the exchange of other manu factures purchasable to greater advantage in America than in any other market. The allusions of the President to the reduc tion of insurance rates, and the fostering of timber trade along the Kaipara railway, suggested matters in which the in fluence of the Chamber may be bene ficially employed. We may, indeed, take 'the .speech—and we would place this view especially before the members of the Chamber—as much in the light of sug gestions for work iv the future as a review of the past. The questions dealt with are such as the Chamber should have under consideration from time to time throughout the year, when its voice might be practically useful. With one or two exceptions, this has not been done hitherto, and the ex-President's speecli thus becomes more an epitome of opportunities lost than a testimony to the active efficiency and usefulness of the Chamber. We trust, however, that the close of the ensuing year will shew different results.

Mr Stcadmau and Mr James will be can didates for the office of committee-men at the approaching meeting of the Building Society, on the sth of June. Mr Steadinan v.-a.s nominated by Messrs Edsjon, Cousins, Atkin, and Belcher. All the retiring mem bers of committee will offer themselves for re-election.

The chess tournament was resumed last evening in Mr Waters' premises, when the victors were : Mr Morton, who beat 31 r Gorrie,Mr Heather,who conquered Mr Lusk. and Mr Jakins, who triumphed over Mr .Schmidt. Several other games were com menced, and will be continued (his even nig.

Thomas Walker will lecture this evening in Lome-street Hall on " ourjiomes and employment in the spirit world."' The'well-known Masonic Hotel, Princes street, has recently passed into the hands of Mr Thomas Hood, formerly "mine host" of the Wellington Hotel. Mr Hood has been at considerable expense in renovating and restoring the various departments or this commodious hotel, and the visitor, on entering, immediately feels a sense of security, comfort, and home-like cosine.-^, which would have pleased the great John son himself, or the fastidious Shenstone. who acknowledged m verse that he V found his warmest welcome at an inn, for "hotel' never entered his vocabulary. Mr Hood has an excellent billiard-table, for the amusement of those who are fond of the

game. The action for damages to a bonnet and shawl, brought by Ellen Tyler against Alfred Newson, ofVictoria-streev, heard in the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, terminated in a verdict for plaintiff for five guineas, costs £4 2s. In the ease of Greaves v. Blewden, being a claim for £1675-6 d. in connection witJi the erection of a building in Custom House-street, judgment for £14 13s was given for plaintiff, in the case or Smith and Scott, of Tairua, in which the plaintiff claimed £16 5s tor damage done to a valuable horse which, it was alleged, de fendant took without plaintiff's consent^ Defendant gave a very different version of the transaction, and obtained judgment m his favour, costs £1 6s.

Co-operation has not received much notice in this country, but in the Northern Counties of England the movement has been developed with considerable success. The Co-operative Society at Kawakawa, however, continues its even course,-and'has done so for more than three years. At die last meeting some days ago, forty shareholders were present, and the secretary's report in formed shareholders that purchases during the quarter ending March 31.. 1577,' had been £2,241 7s 7id, and sales £2,G53 Gs .7Jd, leaving a profit of £309 17s 3d available for division. After paying the usual dividend .of 10 per, cent, on capital, a bonus ■of 2s 4d in the pound sterling on purchases was recommended. This state ment was encouraging and the report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted, and a vote of thanks terminated the proceedings. • .- >. The annual meeting.of the .New Zealand Agricultural Society, at the Criterion Hotel. Otahulra.was thinly attended1. Mr Joseph May, and the secretary, and one or two others, owing to. the settled . indifference manifested by settlers in the interest of the society, decided to Svind- it up ; and call a special meeting for that purpose, tu r morrow" (Saturday) evening. .

The Grafton and Ponsoriby Toot ball Clubs will play a match to-morrow after noon in the Domain. Play will commence at 3 p.m. sharp. The following are the teams :— Porisonby : "W. Jones (Captain), Macky (2), Haultain, O'Sullivan. Dunneit. McLean, F. Jones, Wright, Warbnck Hanna, Brayewater, Pveece, Davy. • and Herrieß. Grafton: Biggs, Clark, Dixon, Earl, Ewen, Green, Gatland, Kalieiichir, Mears, Mason, Moss, Orchard, SKeid, Withers, Whewell.

Jier Majesty's Birthday is likely to be kept this "year in a loyal manner by the volunteers, according to the orders issueu from the volunteer oilicc, a grand re view will take place on the 24th infant at Epsom, in a paddock belonging to Mr J. May. The whole of the volunteer forces of the Auckland district are virider orders to assemble at the place indicated, and if the weather is fair, the sight will^ be worth seeing. ' t ? A Football match will be played on the Domain Hill to-morrow, between the Auck land and Parnell Clubs. Game to commence at -2.30. • The players are :--Auckland— Messrs. J. Henderson, MoArtray, Gud geon, Bonncr, Sibbin", Henderson. G. h. \V. Philson, E. Burgess.. C, Burgess L. Pollen. A. Rattray, Shakesnoar, Robert son, W K. J. Nolan, and (.;. Purchas. Pnrnell—Messrs. Pilling, Cotton, v'^lecK.. Blackett, Mercer. J. Phil^n. (t. Blaydes, An.lcrson, D. Tonks. W. Touks. J. Hauifcaiu, Coleman, Harrop, VyaiKer, and C. E. Bradley.

--Trfi'x\ui^?siiir'n:^ ITBi"iTt"mTr'omeo ivrn samples of the bread which he purposes to sell at 4-y& and 5d per two-pound loaf, respectively. Both are of first-class, quality, and.may be seen at rnu^ publishing otiic.c,. ■ The'-4^.d bread i^-'macte' up Jc^>|Llie shrt^e ki§Hv-n~asshe " I|ngli^ set^tlfe; shipo ; PfOTg besfeailaptegSfor^juthern' Ug^i-. <TOr :jii^^r;ipli|;ycster^iy ||ft| a mislejlfing ini piie&ion. yy. Isoth r i'. quaiiiies of ~J^iid are /.-; de'liyci"ed': at the^prices, mcntioWd. The ■ only dift'erence between the two loaves is that the one is made of first quality of Auckland flour, paying £1 duty, and the .other of the best quality of Southern flour. iMr Rollerson guarantees that he will b-i 1 able to sell the Southern bread Ail a loaf cheaper than the other throughout the year. ;

The prcmis ;s of Mr Swanberg, baker, at

Wangarei, narrowly escaped destruction by a tire which was lit beneath them, it is supposed, by an incendiary. There is a combination amongst Christ- ' church milkmen, to raise the price of milk from 4d to 5d per quart. Five hundred people attended the opening of the railway from Wanganui to Tarakina. j

A Dnnedin lawyer, annoyed by the nonpayment of his costs by a bankrupt,is said to have written to the creditor* offering on certain conditions to show that a bill sale made by the debtor was designed to defra...v them. The Law Society is expected to deal with the case.

The " Waikato Times " has an encour aging loading article ou the prospects of wheat-growing in Waikato.

The return of sheep in. the four, counties of Waikato, Waipa, Piako, and Itaglan, gives a total of 90,272.

Messrs Nathan and Co. are in receipt of a telegram stating that the brig Vision has boen placed on the patent slip at Sydney, and that when the necessary repairs are completed, she will load genera] cargo for Auckland.

At tlie meeting of the Chamber of Com merce yesterday, after the Star went to Press, the following officers were elected : — Mr A. Heather, President, MrJ. C. Firth.. Vice-President. Committee: Messrs. G. Yon der Heyde, T. Morrin, J. Phillips, T. Macllarlane, J. Robcrton, J. M. Sliora, and J. L. Campbell. Auditors : —Messrs D. 13. Cruickshauk, and G. W. Owen.

Members of the Waitemata and Prince of "Wales Masonic Lodges are desired to attend a lodge of instruction this evening at the usual hour at the Masonic Hotel, Princes street.

On the application of Mr Tyler, the charge against Mr Howard, of Stokes' Point, for public bathing, was postponed until to-morrow (Saturday). The principal witness in the case is Ml Smart, who laid the information. The case is likely to ex cite considerable interest, as there are a number of witnesses on both sides.

Mr Ciirruthers, Engineer-in-Chief, and Mr .Stewart, District Engineer, 'vere yester day shewn over the Auckland Waterworks, anil expressed their entire approval of the arrangements. The monthly inspection of the Artillery, and No. M Companies of volunteers, was held last evening in the Drill-shed, and pro nounced by Major Lusk to be satisfactory. The Artillery' Company subsequently marched through the town, headed by their efficient and mirth-inspiring band.

Our attention has been called to a some what novel swindle perpetrated upon un suspecting Auckland importers by some rather too clever person in Hobart Town. The plan is to pack a number of apples in a case, winch by the peculiar fastening of the boards can lie conveniently opened at one end only. At this end two or three rows of line apples are temptingly arranged on top, while beneath are nothing but very diminutive specimens. Mr llanna fordwas'the victim in this:e;ise,havingbought the apples at auction, but fully exonerates t lie auctioneer, who was equally deceived. The price paid was 3Ad a pound. It would be well for our Hobart Town friends to bear in mind that by this course they will injure their own trade.

The Wreck of the Ocean Mail.

[BY TELEGRAPH.]

(FROM OUR OU'X CORRKSI'OXDEXT)

WELLINGTON, this day. HER DEPARTURE. THE ship Ocean Mail, which was wrecked at 'Chatham islands on the 19th March, was a vessel of 1030 tons, commanded by Captain John Watson. .She was chartered by the New Zealand Shipping Company, and loaded here for London. She and the Avalanche left on the morning of the 16th March last, and an exciting race homo between the two was looked forward to. PASSENGERS AND CARGO. She had the following passengers :— Misses Harrison and Jenkins, Messrs Cotter, Nathan, and Conway. Her cargo consisted of 4,892 bales wool, 586 qr.-bales and pockets wool, 140 cases preserved meats, 15 bales skins, 4 bales leather, 251 casks tallow, and 15 tons sundries, valued at £78,000. The following insurances wore made on her cargo here, as far as I have been able to ascertain :— South British, £7,072, of which £2,072 has been re-insured ; National, losses, £-A,000.; Victoria. £1,075 ; New Zealand, upwards of £20,1)00, all of which, excepting £10."000' is re-insured; Batavia, under £500. The Standard lose nothing by her. Shippers of avool generally seem to think it a good thing for them, the ship's loss, as they get the full value of their wool by insurance. The ship had a large crew, and extra hands were shipped to compete with the Avalanche in the race.

PARNELL REVISION COURT.- This Day.

(Before H. C Lawlor, Esq., Revising

Officer.)

The Parncll Revision Court, for the consideration of new claims to be placed on the Electoral Roll, hearing objections, &c, was held in the Supreme Court Buildings this morning. •_■■• .... • APPWCATIOX, • Mr Geran, a ratepayer of Parnell, applied to have his name placed on the roll. Pie had,not .sent in a, written application, expecting that 'Mr Strange would send in a list of ratepayers for that district. Mr Lawlor stated that Mr Strange had not sent in the list of ratepayers as required by the Act, and he could not therefore receive the application^ • NEW CLAIMS. Thirty-one new. claims were considered, and filenames placed on 'the roll.

OBJECTIONS,

. The names of forty persons at present on the'roll,- were objected to by Mr S. Y. Collins, Registration officer, as not being qualified to remain on,the roll. The n^mes were accordingly struck off. ¥ . This coiicluded the business.

NEWTON REVISION COURT.

THIS DAY.

(Before 'H. C; Lawlor, Esq., KeyMng Officer.) The Court for the Revision of the electoral roll of Newton, was held at the Supreme Court Buildings to-day. ALTERATION. John Jackson applied to have the words " Duke-street" substituted for "Albert street," stated on the roll to be his place of residence. Application granted. NEW CLAIMS. Thirty-live new claims were received and sustained. OBJECTIONS. ■ Mr S. Y. Collins, Registration Officer, objected to the names of 15 persons being retained on the roll-, as they had not suffi cient qualilication. i Tiio names were dtruck oil. I This concluded the business.

UNKNOWN

T-liß polling fo^tp tion. of lline coun" ,ssfiors for v\t)uv^oiff^i of Onehvuiga, is Ming,placFJifr«fSieli|i:nga to-day, and cans- ! $n* no small n&mmt of Excitement amongst •ifct? ratepayer*.' 'Y'J hgtfollowing are the gen j&bmemnomiliateH;M^he olliees :—Messrs '-&:■ HanUngton, J^Wclntyre, D. Hills, -I. W. Wallet 'Ti^^Blakey, J. G. Austin, M. H." Roe, G. Codlin, J. Bates, J. By croft, umr G Broadfoot, D. Neilson, P. Clark, E Earle, J. Hn»tic) and M. Hartuett. As !he poll does not close until 6 p.m., we shall be unable to publish the result until to morrow evening.

THE KAIPARA RAILWAY.

Tender of Messrs Larking and O'Brien, for the contract for making the first ten miles of the Kaipara Extension Railway, beginning from the' Newmarket junction, has been accepted. The bond was signed by the sureties yesteroay. The amount is £16 800, which gives a smaller average per mile than the Helcnsville and Riverhead portion cost.

THE WAVE AT TRYPHENA.

A CORKESPOXDE^T writes :—" A most singular phenomena occurred here, in the shape of a series of tidal waves. They were first noticed about 9 a.m. on Friday the 11 tli, and during the whole day the hue (lowed and ebbed rapidly. At 10 p.m. it was still doing so. The time occupied to tio-\\- was about 15 minutes, and the same time to ebb, a full How and ebb in 30 nrius. There was no surf on the beach, the water coming in rapidly to the height of an ordinary neap tid"e, then ebbing to low water m-.ir'i. Immediately on reaching low water it rushed in again. On Saturday and up till Saturday night they continued on the move, only in a lesser degree. On Friday the -wind was blowing hard from 5.W.," calming down at night, and coming infromN.E. on Saturday."

THE TIDAL WAVE.

THE "Wangarci " Comet" gives some par ticulars of the tidal wave at Tutukaka harbour, where it broke on the beach at daybreak with a tremendous roar, rolled up the river at a very rapid rate, receding swiftly, and sweeping timber on the beach high enough to be' beyond the reach of springtides. A vessel lying at anchor was driven with great force on a bank, and left high and dry. Half of Tutukaka harbour, was left dry, and large quantities of fish cast up on the beach. Each succeeding wave decreased in size and force, and at sunset the waves ceased. The rains have done much damage, the Hoods sweeping away fencing and timber on the liver bank.

Our Goldfields.

(PER PIGEON EXPRESS)

"YVAITEKAURI, 9 a.m. this day

Stoping down has fairly commenced, and richer stuff than ever is being taken out. No. 2 winze is turning out grand stone, and has every indication of permanency. The show altogether at battery and mine excels anything in the past.

OHINEMURI, Wednesday

Young Now Zealand. —The drive is still going through nice country, in which a quantity of .small stringers have made their appearance, from which good prospects can be obtained. From appearances in the face of the drive it is confidently expected another large reef will shortly be cut, and as the country at present is excellent it .should he ,3, valuable find. Welcome. —ln driving on the No. 4 lode the reef still maintains its size with very good gold visible. The drive on No. 2to connect with the winze is still carrying a line promising looking body of stone, which should make a good show when the stampers once get to work on it. Shannon and Fergus.—The contractors are making fair progress in pretty stiff ground, but signs are apparent of a change for the better in the face. The stone in one reef is improving the last few feet, and gold is now occasionally seen, and as the drive extends the show appears to improve.

United Kingdom.—They have again put on men to work, and as they have plenty of recf.s in the ground, some of them of good quality, it is to be hoped they will meet with sufficient inducement to fully develop their ground.

THE SEA SERPENT.

WHILST the civilized world has been groping in the dark for some feasible ex planation of the purpose fulfilled hi nature by the recent tidal wave, we have solved tho mystery. The tidal wave was sent to solve a vexed question in natural history viz., tho existence or non-existence of the " thundering great sea-serpent," as_ the marine monster has been termed in a famous old sea-song of 199 verses. There can-now be no-mistake at all_-about the leviathan's existence, and the minds of Pro fessor Owen and-other distinguished savants need no longer be exercised over the ques tion. A specimen of the once mythological monster has been cast upon the beach at Mercury Island by the tidal wave. The reptile is rather a juvenile specimen of the species, and, no donlrt, owes his- capture to. his inexperience. He has been most graphically described 'to us" by Messrs Madison and . Grayling, the; happy pos sessors, and it may' interest scientists .to learn that he (the serpent) has Several very bright spots or., his tail. He is to be exhibited. ■- •••■ •"//

DAVENPORT BROTHERS.

To-morrow (Saturday) evening, the world-re nowned Davenport, Brothers \v}l\ commence their rioyel'and extraordinary series 6t .enter ments in the Theatre Tloyal,' including the dark seances and light wonders. The illustration of the seance wlii6r/ may be .seen ra ttiany windows of th» city Is an exact 'picture of the Davenport seance. No sooner are the brothers duly bound, than, at the bidding of Professor Fay, the lights are 'extinguished, and the spirits are immediately in activeplay, causing the hitherto passive instruments to bound from the magic table, fly into the air/prOducing mystic sounds, while " hands" unseen " come " tapping.-gently tapping " ,at the head of some nervous listener. We notice that Mr f Eji D. Davis, the celobrated vpntriloquist (whose' feats in Auckland are not yet forgotten), will in troduce other'novelties, and possibly, the aged, garrulous couple who amused US' long ago.

TE PATUI.

Within the last few days the murderer, Tie' Patui, has compl6tety changed in his demeanour. At first, he . was jcareless,.and nlmo 3 pert in his conduct, and talked of his approaching end with callousness, mixed with a tone of irritation that it was delayed so-long. This week, however, he has 'become quite sullen and morose in his manner, and .often refuses to" answer Avhen spoken to about' " ordrfiary"siibj'eots. ,'He. takes plenty of exercise in the yard, and is in the habit of amusing .himself in the eell1 with a slate and pencil/ with ..which he draws rude Maori figures/and hieroglyphics. He can neither read nor write. The Rev DrMaunsell, and the Rev Mr Wallis, are constant in their attendance on him, but he

'pays very-little attention to their, exhorta tions.- The scaflbld-'was erected'yesterday,, ; and is now complete. It. shows above the I prison walls like a large upright deal box ! but as it is enclosed on three sides .nothing

I will be able to be seen of the fatal arralige • ment from the outside.' This mprnifig an ; absurd rumour was circulated in" town 'that To Pntui had murdered one •. oi I his gaolers at Mount Eden. ThtTj-re-. ---! port turns out, as we anticipated,"quite unfounded.and, no doubt, originated in the ; fact that one Of "the three civilians appointed Ito attend the prisoner died yesterday at his house at Newton, after a short illness.

THE DAVENPORTS.

THEY ARE INTERVIEWED BY -STAR-' REPORTERS

THE STORY OF THEIR TRAVELS.

ON Wednesday, a representative of the Evening Stai: called upon Professor Fay)

and solicited an inle'rview with the Davem

port Bros. The" request was readily acceded to, and a meeting arranged for Thursday evening. At the'-ajSpointed hour tlie representative of the Stai: waited upon the Company at their hotel, and was ushered into the august presence of Pro fessor W. Fay, Ira E. Davenport, W. H.

Davenport, and two ladies of the Company, viz. Mrs Fay, and Mrs Davenport: After a few courteous and prefatory remarks, the object of the jneeting was introduced, and business was commenced in a practical manner. In reply to questions, we were informed that the BIRTHPLACE of the'three -vnr ionien was Buffalo City,

State of New York, their dates, of birth

being respectively : —lra. E. Davenport. September 17th, LS39 ;W. H. Davenport, on February Ist, 1341 ; while Professor Fay

first saw tlie light on September 16th, 1839, just one day befoie the elder Davenport. The father of the Davenports was Chief of Police

in Buffalo, at the time when the famous "Rochester knockings" commenced, about GO miles from his home. The mysterious

knocking, supposed to be the manifestations

of departed spirits, created much excitement throughout the United States, and the " Fox girls" as, they were called, were the great wonder of the day. They visited I.ntValo city, took apartments at the Clarendon "Hotel, and gave seances. Mr Davenport senior became interested in these; seances and alter a few

sittings became' a convert to Spiritism. At one of these affairs he received a com

munication through the Fox girls purpotr injr to come from his brother-in-law, John Hicks, who had died suddenly some years befoie, after bathing iv Lake Eric, arid was .supposed to have been poisoned by .some chemical administered in his tea. The body was disinterred, and traces of poison discovered in the corpse. One of the alleged communications received by Mr Davenport was to the effect that

HE HAD MEDIUMS IN HIS FAMILY."

" He was a very liberal-minded man." says Professor Fay," a uniVersalist —one of those people who do not believe in the existence of the hot place. Mrs Davenport was a Wesleyan Methodist, and objected to the .seances ; she thought his Satanic Majesty was the prime agent in them. We were children then, but we formed a circle consisting of the Davenports, myfeelf (Professor Fay), and Mr Honeysett, the uncle of the two Davenport' Brothers. After sitting round the table about 20 minutes, it began to tip. I was only 13 years old, and I was nearly frightened out of mv wits. Williai* Davenport was 12, and his .sister about 9. Mrs Davenport used to place the Bible on the table to drive th devil away. The house was opened to the public, and the seances were continued for a year. Mr Davenport resigned his

position in the police, and opened a room, for the purpose of giving public seances, in Maine-street, charging Is a head to defray expenses. That was in the Fall of 1854. Wo lined tn place our hands on the table, and then would hear raps, and the table would tip. At last we found that by plac ing a musical instrument under the table, and making the room dark, the instrument would be played upon. We enlarged the circle. We used to sit at the table, and the instruments would be played up in the air. and in order_ to shew the audience that we were not playing them we would call out in succession " I am here." One evening a gentleman sug gested that we should be tied with cords. Re said it was all very well to call out " I'm here," but lie wanted to make sure that we did not play the instruments. That was the beginning of the rope-tying busi ness. Finally it' was suggested that the manifestations should be held so that the audience could sit in the light. THE GREAT PROP OF SPIRIT UALISM. Reporter : Then you claim to be the origiuators of this cabinet business "? Professor Fay : Yes. There never was any successful imitation. Reporter : Have not your seances tended to support a belief in Spiritualism ? Professor : Perhaps we have done more to stir up the excitement of Spiritualism than all the spirit mediums put together. We used to be tied in the cabinet, and the instruments would, be placed inside, and they would be played. We then changed' to the dark seantio, so that the instruments could be played in a space of 20 feet. We then went to New York city.

Reporter : Were you not all this time acting under the direction of others'? Ira Davenport : UiidcT the direction of my father, t .

Professor : He used to lecture, and we had different agents to do the business. We travelled throughout the United States up to the year 1864. We could have filled the largest theatre in New York,, the excitement was so great. Dr. Ferguson was .an .eminent preacher in the city of Nashville, Tennessee .State. Andrew Johnson was a member of his church. His preaching got to be too liberal for his con-' gregatiori, and he had to resign his charge. At this time Harry Palmer, the manager of Niblo's, had just 'brought out the famous Black Crook Company. He proposed to take, its to Europe, and we drew up" a' con tract with him to go. Ferguson suited our purpose as a1 lecturer, and we engaged him. ' • SPIRITUALIT I MITATORS. Reporter: 1 believe fit "this.time there were many Spiritual mediums who pretended to imitate your {performances • by. super natural agencies ? - r ■ Professor : Yes, but they never did them successfully. r Ira Davenport : They wanted to ride into notoriety on our backs: - Eeporter:" There were many_ so-called mediums then who tried to imitate your feats '( Professor : ■ Yes, -there were blood writing mediums, speaking, writing, table rapping, and trance mediums. Reporter : How did the Mediums spring up. ■ . ■ i ' . Professor : On this spiritualistic excite ment that arose about that time, after, the Rochester rappings. -'- - . Reporter : When did the Eddy brothers start 'i Professor : Oh long after we had started. The Eddy family did'nt amount to much. They attempted to do the cabinet "busi ness" but failed. Well,' we went to Europe and played before the crowned heads. In ISG4 we gave a performance in Dion Bbucicault's house, before about 20 literary and scientific gentlemen. We then opened in the" Concert . Rooms, Handver Squarey and played for eight months. We charged a guinea a ticket, and met with tremendous success.1 Palmer, who took us to Europe -as a speculation, became greedy. We.vrere making money very fast, .300 guineas a night, and we gave three private seances a '-week to the nobility at 30 guineas'each. Letters were pouring in from managers ill the provinces, offering large sums to give performances. Palmer said it was foolish to remain- in London-, when we could "make £500 or £GOO a night at Manchester or Liverpool! J .Reporter,: Those were the golden days. . Mrs-Fay : Yes, they were the palmy days of the business. Professor : We were young then. ■ H we had known as much as we do now, we could haye made any amount- of money. THE ROW IN LIVERPOOL.

We opened at Liverpool in 'St. George's Hall; We were in the haixtls.of ;i specu lator named H-ynes ;" when we opened, the theatres were empty. We gave four seance* without trouble. We hearfi that a plan "was being .formed to break us up. They got two" men, named Hully and

Camming^ one of them a ship-rf^^T the other a gymnast, both c*ren% v.', and the gns-^S^ J«i -©Id tH&rf we went to the hall tW ere EA smash up. We Ter^fSOTP gp, bcTcause we were undo, n 1 g + edto J*ng JpFore S o'clock t}v,, hnvJ^T^l' We Aekrd people calling ott « v?\ c. d' doo#e," •' John Brown," "Fj »,,>, .k, Ce « -Spirits." Bnrnnin hJ? iSfSt" and taken them in with the Imi AL h(*:> It was made of the head of a nionk-^ ul the tail of.a fish. He gave leSrePn ™} \ -and the scientific mon were taken in \vr' came in for all the odium. Fer-nmon <i believer in Spiritism, and he "vant Jf make the people believe that evcrv W, Avas produced by the spirits. . \vi n? to tell him not to s ; u- anShST^H Spiritualism, but he always w^4 f get m a certain amount of it. HeVLi edge it in somehow Hamade^JH mad because they thought we were trvb? to humbug them. * «>

When tlie performance began, Hull? aU( i Cummmi£ came lift and said'to the Diven ports • Full off your coats," and tlio,, "pull off yonr boots." They then went 2 business. (The Professor here described how the two men tied the hands of the Davenports behind, with the backs ht 'their hands together, so tightly as to stop the circulation of the blood. They titled and. strained at tlie ropes, and threatened to dislocate their wrists.) Dr Ferguson took out his knife and cut the ropes. The brothers .skedaddled, and the * audience rushed on the stage and smashed up the cabinet. 32 policemen who were - present being unable to maintain order!- Pieces of the cabinet were afterwards sold as trophies The London " Times " published several columns next morning headed ;: The' Dave nport Bubble Exploded." The Professor also described their subsequent tour in England,and their seances before the Queen y.-lio was greatly interested. They went to Paris, and gave performances 'extending over S months. ° SEANCE BEFORE NAPOLEON 111.

The Professor continued : The Emperor Napoleon sent for us, and we gave a per formance in the palace at St. Cloud on (Jet. Bth, 1865. Napoleon had become interested through Home. The Empress Eugenic wanted to know the nature of the business She said they had frequently formed circles with Home, and the spirit of Napoleon Bonaparte had shewed his hand.

Ira Davonport ; Louis Napoleon heard kicks under the table which Home said were made by Napoleon, and Louis Napoleon said "I am sure that's the old man. I know my uncle's kick."

Professor : We went to Germany, and gave performances before King William at Potsdam. We travelled through Germany, visited Hamburg, returned to England, and travelled through England, Ireland, Scot land, and never had a row.

Reporter: Did you go back to Liver pool ? Professor : No, but we had letters from 30 gentlemen, who said they were ashamed of what had occurred formerly, but we did not care to go. We appeared before the Kings of Belgium and Holland, the King of Bavaria, and the King of Saxony in Dresden. BEFORE THE CZAR.

In 1567 we went' to Russia. We gave three seances, and the Czar sent for us. Home had been there. Talleyrand, a nephew of Napoleon, was there. The per formance was before the Czar, the Czara witch, Princess Dagmar, Grand Duke Constantino. Ira, you remember the Crown Prince was inside the cabinet and a tambourine was placed on his head. The Emperor said "you are alreidy crowned." At the public perfoimances> charged 15 roubles for a front seat, .and for a back seat, and the hall held? 00 people. It was paper mousy, and 20 per cent discount had to be taken off. We brought from Russia in. 6' months £15,000 clear.

Reporter : Ah, those were the good old times. -

Mrs Fay : They were the palmiest days. Professor Fay then described the perfor mances at Cronstadt, Moscow, in Denmark. Sweden, Italy. Switzerland, Mexico.- Peru, Chili, Brazil, their shipwreck in the Bay of Biscay—Greece, Egypt, Sieillian Islands, the Red Sea. They gave &? PERFORMANCE BEFORE THE KHEDIVE OF EGYPT. Who was much astonished, and between tlij whiffs of his hookah found:-'time to exclaim :— ;:;•'- "Allah is great ! By the beard of the prophet it is very wonderful." When his Highness received a gentle tap on his royal nose from a flying banjo, lie threw himself back on his cushions, raised his hands,and said r '' " Bismillah ! but these giaours must lie, in league with the Evil One." Professor Fay also described their travels in India, where they were presented with magniiieent cashmere shawls by the .rajahs. Two of these shawls were shewn to us, and were the most gorgeous piece of millinery we have ever set eyes on. It is proposed to place them on view in one of the leading drapery establishments, where they .will be an object of .attraction to city belles.'. The Professor also described how •they'iound English Spiritualistic books amongst the Parsees. At Gwalior.in putting phosphorus on the musical instruments they set fire to a carpet, From India, they came to Australia and thence to New Zealand. SUPERNATURAL AGENCY DIS CLAIMED.

Reporter : Now, frankly, do you. claim that these feats of yours are done by any supernatural aid. •• •"** '" Professor Fay: We do not say so. 1 always tell the audience that "we have nothing to do with Spiritualism. 'We say: "You "see what we do, and we leave you to discover how it is done." I suppose that amounts to a formal denial. '.-,, "■'. . Reporter : But the phenomena-you produce is the same as those which tiie Spiritists represent to be supernatural, f Professor : Oh, yes. '■'■■■:- i '■' Reporter : Well, frankly/are these things done by mere conjuring, and not by any supernatural agency whatever ? Professor Fay : Do you think if you were a spirit ■= you would: come •at the call ot anyone to" play musical instruments for the amusement of •■; a crowd ? I knew - you wouldn't. . . ,:.r-.. ." " . " Reporter:. But there are spiritists wlio still persist in saying that these -things are done by supernatural agdngy, and it jou were all to take a solemn oath that tnej are not, these same Spiritists would stm say that you were afraid to tell the-truth. Professor :. That "is what they do say. W. H. Davenport : . : We.a-e.condenHied DJ .the 'Spii-itualists' because/ -,ve:-.iefas.e «o work" with them, ,and- a>ippt*~ i*«»--pi0-

gramme. . , Reporter : Did' you cv er try taWe-Wting- Professor (with, a mixture of pity an" contempt.) : Oil, we have gone, through au that years ago—the .writing, and all J« other "kinds of media. ' .-,' '7 loKIp Reporter:, What do you thmk ot tawe turning V • . ■ ' ~ Professor : Does it follow because yw can make a table jump by sitting roimilj that, therefore, it must, be moveil ») spirits? We know -that tliere is a certau force Avhich emanates from ourselves, w» all we claim to do is to movo" pondei o« ---substance*, and we challenge you to nm out how. ' •■*.■, fTT.,,,^' Reporter : What do you think: of Koue. Professor: He's a snob: He + only private seances, and lie fancies tft«*», one who can do these things but him&en. Anyone can do what he does. • i lieporter i You mean tli ejso-called m-U festatioiis ? ~ •' „• i, ~i! Professor : We have gone through That was a singular expose 'of.Katie-King? , t it |i n W. Davenport: Yes; Tread aU»«g*?i^ a Baltimore paper. '*l»a^°^3ffilfitli clever. She kept up those decept^ ?^_ uwouJeriul utuouiilj 01 skiU, u-»-^



CONTINUATION OF CLEARING \j OUT SALE. JOHN w! PEARSE (Leaving for England). The Stock must be sold at Frightfully Reduced ■Pr^ce- to realise ciuicklv. consisting of a very Large Stock of Men's and Boys' Clothing, Lister Coats Waterproof Coats. Inverness Capes, Overcoats. Freach Felt Hats, Cloth Caps. •V large quantity of Ladies' Very Fashionable Costumes. Jackets, Shawls, and Felt Skirts, just received from London. Blankets. Flannels. Tweeds. Hosiery Gloves, v -"a i 3. Feat:i-3i-3, Flowers, and Straw toods. ■pv-eT-v Department is Marked Down, so as to clear out. The Lkask of the Premises for Sale. Q P E C I A L NOTICE? AUTUMN & WINTER GOODS, B IXXOCKBUIIX AND MO3GIEL TWEEDS H. L. POSSENNISKIE ".' TOpenin? Out these >7ew Seasonable Goods, sfcwould call particular attention to their """"Quality, which is second to none inroorted, ' while from his large and varied Stock Gentlemen can rely on a choice of Cloth unattainable else where in the colony. - ■•:•.- H L. POSSENNISKIE, TAILOR & HABITMAKER, Opposite the City Mart, Shortland-street. UTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALASIA. INCORPORATED BY ACT OF PARLIAMENT. NEW ZEALAND BRANCH: Head Office, Auckland- Local Director: Georgk Bttrg^xe OmEN", E^Q. (Messrs. Owen and ftrahani.) Principal Medical Officer: Chvrt,es Field Goldsbro'. Esq., M.D. General Ae;ent for New Zealand : WtmAam T. J. Bell. With Sub-Agencies in all the Principal Towns. E~erv information on the subject of LIFE ASSURANCE ANNUITIES, and ENDOW MENTS FOR CHILDREN, afforded by J. A. LOWE, Travelling " General Agent. *> S^L Special Features.— Age admitted on Policies, which are xjnchallangable from date of issufi. Lowest Rates of Premiums, and xo hamper ing conditions as to residence or occupation. TW' O T I C E. M \CIXTOSH COATS. WATERPROOF CLOTHING. HUSHBROOK AND BRIDGMAN Have Just Opened, and are now Showing, a Lar°-e Parcel of the above Goods, from the same House, and of similar style, to their Last Season's Goods, concerning the Wear and Quality of which they'have received many satisfactory testimonials. The Parcel includes various Styles, and all sizes. r flight Textures, in Black and Drab, for 3 town wear. O Strons: Heavy Sheeting. Ken Strong Twilled, Velvet Collars. * ! Cashmere. Fancy Check, and Diagonal 23 "S "i Tweed Patterns. .-- ■ • g R Extra Heavy Diagonal "V\ arm Lined, 2 I and extra long. ! Sealskin Lined, specially adapted for !> V Cabmen, 'Buss Drivers, &c. waterproof aprons. leggings, ;&c. Also, A FURTHKR SUPPLY OF . BLA.NKETS, REVERSIBLE BUSH RUGS, A>~D FANCY AUSTRIAN RUGS, To Hand this Week. Is. in the £ allowed on all Cash Purchases of 20s. and upwards. rushbrook & bpjpgman, Junction Drapery Warehouse, Upper' Queex-street, at;cue and. IMUtund Oentenm a't'viA (q f-trnUh art r?ipe fvXbl reqwifUd to imped the Large Stock cf DUA WINQ ROO VI, UCNINH- - ROO If BEDROOM, AND GENERAL HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE, In ow New awl Spoidons Shooyrooms. K2\ & U. COQKE, 7. QUEEN-SIMEI AJtijil&M SiVc of JSftnfi Zealand.



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