SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

BIUH WATEII-{K )0 A r^ no Morn3in 2 g 4.3 <3UN SET.—This Kveninp:. 529 81TN KISK. To-morrow Morning, b.dl MOON'S AGN.-New Moon, 28th, &39 p.m.

ARRIVALS.

TO-DAY. Argyle, s.s., from Russell and Wangarei

DEPARTURES.

TO-DAY. Eliza Mary, brigantine, Lyders, for the Manukau Fairy, schooner, Aubrey, for Russell, Fannie, cutter. Ricketts, for Whangapoua Kremhilda. schooner, Bathurst. for Whangaroa Iris, cutter, Symons, for Mangawai Go ahead, s.s., Decker, forWaitara

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

For London-Scbiehalhon. barque, earjy; spir« For^otiaTnrsrFrSoo-Cit, of New For^net-ZealSSliM. s.s., Wednesday Fo^Sydney and Melbourne-Hero, s.s., 12th ForTea Pur^g ea rknd the South-Taupo, s.s., Thurg day next t^setsa

EXPORTS.

Per Dnnelm, for Levuka: 99 case 3 wine, a bales, 1 case merchandise, 2 cases drapery 80 boxes soap, 130 tins biscuits, 453 sheep, 180. tons manganese, 1 boat. 1 horse, 2 cases. 40 Wes soap, 30 tins, biscuits.-Owen and Graham.

Sf Outwards Coastwise.—South Carolina, cutter, for the Barrier in ballast. The schooner Atlantic will probably clear at the Customs for Lyttelton on Monday with a nrigSKne Eliza Mary sailed this morning for the Manukau where she is to load witn timber for the South. " . . Cargo for the barque Spirit of the. Dawn is now dominie forward rapidly, and it is ejected she will be a full ship by the end of nest week The schooner Belle Brandon is advertised to leave for Levuka on Wednesday .nest, She entered out at the Customs to-day for Rotumah, TiThe el.s kHannah Mokau leaves the Manukau are now fully due. and should put m an appear day for Levuka with a general cargo, a large number of sheep, and the following passengers : Mr and Mrs R. Ryder, Captain McKay, Major Gordon, Messrs McPherson, and W. Rowland. Bi The rßchoonlr°JuUa Price and a ketch were lying windbound at Russell when the Argyle l6 The F.B. Argyle a?rrived from Russell,, Wba ngarei, and Mangapai to-day, with 3o sacks oysters, 22 sacks gum, i tons produce, and the following passengers :-From Russell—Mr and Mrs Andrews! Mrsjlowe, Messrs Tomhnson Hotham, Abbott. Waller. From Whangarei Heads—Miss McKenzie, Messrs Freer, o.M. Rees, and Geo. Cadle. From Whangarei- Messr3 Wm. Hutchinson, and Hongh. The brigantine Helena, according .to a telegram received here, was to sailfrom Oamaru to-day with a full cargo of produce CoWe Sare fiStotoS S*Mr FrankAmodeo, for a long time chief officer of the s.s. lona. has been promoted to the position of captain or the s.sf Pretty Jane, Captain Helander having been appointed to the command of the s.s. Southern Cross. During the time he has been onboard the lona Mr *kmodeo has made many fiends by his uniform courtesy and obliging disposition, and they will, while regretting his departure from the lona. be pleased to bear of his pro motion. He has always fulfilled his duties to the utmost satisfaction of his employers and he leaves them now with the utmost goodwill. We sincerely trust that Mr Amodeo will be successful in his new sphere, for which he is so admirably fitted, . ~ ■ . A largelnumber of persons, including several ladies assembled at the dock this afternoon, to witness the fona being floated out and. the Roderick Dim taken in. The dock was filled in the usual manner, and the lona taken out. She grazed the Roderick Dhu while passing out, but without inflicting any serious damage. The Roderick Dhu was taken m on tbe same tide. During the four days she has been m the dock, the lona has undergone a thorough overhaul. Her engines and machinery were repaired by Messrs Fraser and Tinne, while Messrs Niccol and Son overhauled her, &c. The cabin accom moaation increaßed. and the upholstery work performed by Messrs Hollowayand Garlick. Mr Ward has the contract for repainting the T£The'Go-ahead started from the Manukau for Waitara again to-day.

COMMERCIAL.

The markets yesterday were not quite so brisk as on the previous Friday, owing in a great measure to the unfavourable state of the WMr b R*. Arthur reports as follows :-Fowls, is 5d to 23 6a ; turkeys (small), 3s 6d; geese 33 6a to 4s ; ducks. 2s 3d; small pigs, 7s 6d to 10s6d canaries, 93 6d to 12s; goats, Is 6d to lls potatoes, 3s6d to 5s 6d; carrots, 3s 9d to 4s; turnips (Swedes), 3s to 3s 6d; onions, ljd to 3d; maize, 5a 6d: -oats. 4a 4d; flour, £12 to £14; bacon (Canterbury, 7*d to9d; Anckandh^to, 7d ; cheese, 6d to 8a; butter, 4d tc. lOd; beef, ljd to 2 "d-pork, 4d; pumpkins. 3s 6d to 4s; biscuits, 6d- cream of tartar, 2s 3d; washing powder, Bs;'brooms, 17s: rice, 26s to 28s; tinned peaches, 15s to 16s ; yellow sugar, 4M; niustard,, 7Jd; raisins, 3id; candles, lOd ; peel, 15d; paper 4d; tea (half-chests), 2s to 2s 4d per lb; tea (box), 22s -blue, 8d ; starch, sd; blacking, Is 9d to 3s 6d per box ; table salt, 7s ; soap, 17s ; cocoa. lOd to is 7d ; knife-powder, 8s; B.M. soap, lOd ; safety matches, small. 4s; vinegar, 10s; corn flour, 8d; oatmeal, 23s to 265; crushed loaf sugar, SJ-a. The furniture brought good prices. Mr G-.'Sibbin, of Queen-street, di'l a fair busi ness yesterday. Oats (damaged), 3s 2d: cheese, in great demand, 7d; inferior sold at 6}d to 7d; potatoes, £5 15s to £B.perton; Canterbury, £6 ss; flour, £1210s and £16 2s 6d per ton; beef, 21d per lb; honey, 3Jd to 31d; bran. 8s 6d; maize? 4s 6d to ss; sugar, 4i to 3d; tea i"^ 3/ is' 7id to 2s 7jd per lb; coffee. Is 4d; butter, 7d t9 lOd per lb; onions, 2d to 2sdperlb.

CHIEF POST-OFFICE AUCKLAND.

MAILS WILL CT.OSE AS UNDER!- For Thames, on Monday next, at 10 a.m., and For Waiheke and Coromandel per Argyle, on ForLeyuka, pe'rDunelm, on Monday next, at 6 For^Russell and Kawakawa, per Tavrpo, on Monday next, at 3 p.m. ■ :.' __ " For Russell. Kawakawa, Wangaroa. and Mon eonui, per lona, on Monday, at 4 p.m. For Napier, per Southern Cross, on Monday Fc^Wnitianga, Tauranga," and OpotiM, per Rowena, on Monday next,, at 4 p.m. For Waiwera, Kawau, Omaha, and Matakana. per Anne Milbank, on Tuesday next, at 10 For' Australian Colonies, Batavia, Singapore, China, and Japan, via Torres, Straits,_per Zealandia, immediately after her arrnval from For Taranaki and Southern Provinces, per Wanaka, immediately after arrival of the Zealandia. ■ __J , , For Levnka, per Belle Boandon, on Wednesday Foe Tauranga, *Gishorne, Napier, and Southern Provinces, per Taupo, on Thursday next, at3p.m. .■-■■-- r* •. .•' ■, For Wangarei Peads, Waipu, Wangarei, and Mangapai, per Argyle, on Tuesday;next, at 4 P'm' S. B. BISS.' Chief' Postmaster'

DEATH.

BURGESS.—On the 23rd August. Margaret, ihe beloved wife of Frederick Burgess; of Cross street, Newton, aged 43 years. The funeral will le&.ve the above address to morrow (Sunday) afternoon, at half-past three o'clock. Friends will please accept this invi tation. , ■ ' ' 'j

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

SATURDAY, AUGUST 24, 1878.

For the cause that lacks auhtanee, For the wrong that needs resistance. I For the future to the distance, ; And the good tlut we can do.

-ATthe close of the Crimean war, Afghanis tan became;the centre of intrigue. Persia, which in 1.836 had attacked Herat, supported by Russian influence and direct assistance,1 re newecljts attempt to impose the suzerainty of the Shah over the Afghans, and, thereby seize the key to the Indian gateways. In 1836, a young British lieutenant/ Pottingef,' made his name .famous by organising the Herat garrison and sustaining a vigorous siege for ten months, when the despatch of a British expedition to the Persian-Gulf caused the Shah ; to abandon his enterprise. Following upon this episode,' the unfortu nate Afghanistan expedition was under taken to place upon the throne a ruler amenable to British influence. In 1839, 28.000 troops from India, who were.to have been joined by 20,000 Sikhs, marched on Cabul. The Indian allies failed to assemble at Peshawur, a9 agreed upon, but the ex pedition accomplished its object, and hav ing captured Cabul and placed Shah Shoo jah on the throne, retired, leaving 8,000 men to' support the newly-established monarchy. The subsequent revolt of the •Afghans and the disastrous retreat of this handful of men from Cabul, forms one bf-the most painful chapters arL'thie 'history of:lndia.. In April 1842, General Pollok, witfr an army of relief, forced the Khyber 3ass',; where Colonel Wild had failed the February before, arid pining General Nott, utterly routed the Afghans. Cabul was' once more captured by the British, and its fpijtincatious, together with those of adjacent towns, were laid in ruins. The next era in Afghanistan relations to our- Indian Empire (if we except, the assistance D.ost Mahommed rendered to the Sikhs in their Avar against

the /,■ British), occurred, as we have said, in the year of 1856, at the close of the Crimean war. Persia, -which throughout the Anglo-French -war against Russia pre served an equivocal attitude, had, first by1 intrigue and then by force of arms, obtained a footing in Afghanistan. A Persian army of 30,000 had laid successful siege to the border town of Herat, and pushed 180 miles south to Furrah, from whence it threatened Candahar, a town 60 miles further south, and on the high road to the northern fron tier of Pun jaub. The Ameer of Cabul (the most important of the three independent States into which Afghanistan is divided) . became alarmed, and sought British aid to drive back the Persians. War was declared by" England, and an expedi tion again despatched up the Persian Gulf. On the 10th of December, 1856, after bombardment by the fleet, under Admiral Leeke, the seaport of Bushire, on the Gulf, surrendered, and Persia sued for an armistice, which led to a treaty of peace based on the with drawal of Persian troops from Afghanis tan and the restored independence of Herat. Cable despatches again direct atten tion to this place, and we are told—first, that a British plenipotentiary has left for Cabul, owing to Russian intrigues there and the despatch of a Russian expedition ; and second, that England is resolved to seize Candahar and Herat, for strategic purposes, if so extreme a course is necessary to prevent a Russo-Afghan alliance. Since .8© much importance is attached to the possession of these places, it is interesting to ascertain more definitely the relation they bear to our Indian Empire. Premising, by observing that Cabal, Candahar, and Herat are the names of the three indepen dent States info which Afghanistan is divided, as well as:the designation of the capitals of each State, we cannot do better than reprint the reply given by a writer in " Blackwood" to thequestion, " Where is Herat?"— '..„•'. .1 "Let us say, then, that Agfhanistan, with its fiye millions of a warlike race, in tervenes like a huge quadrangular moun tain-citadel between India and Persia— and that Herat is the only gate >by which entrance can be obtained to this citadel from the west. The lofty Suleiitian range of mountains, running parallel ■ with the Indus, bounds Afghanistan on the east; the still more lofty range of the Hindoo Koosh (a continuation of, the Himalayas) bounds it on the north; to the south, the sandy plains of Beloochistan stretch be tween it and the sea ; and on thej west it is separated from Persia by the deserts of Khorassan. Across those; deserts the only passage for an army is to be found, at their north side, where two or three routes exist more or less practicable for troops. Those routes all converge and unite as they ap proach the northwest angle of Afghanistan, -where stands Herat. This,city, then, is the door which must be opened before entrance can be obtained to the quadrangu lar mass of mountains, valleys, and 'water less planteaus which constitute Afghanistan. Its situation is one of great military and commercial importance. The peaceful files of the caravan, and the dread battalions of war, alike pass through it on their march from-India to "Persia, or from Persia to India. The long camel-traina from.'Delhi, Mooltan^, and Lahore pass through it, bearing the merchandise of India and the manufactures of England to the distant townsmand oasis of Persia and Turki- stan; and bo completely is Herat a gate way of commerce that it is called "Bunder" or Port—although, the only sea upon, which it borders are seas of Band. The rraic of conquest has passed through it from timeim memorial-- The cavalry-host of Tiraour and the disciplined army of JNadir Shah, in their invasions of India, went andcame by this route; and though Alexander the Great, Gengis Khan, and Baber marched by Balkh, and^crossed the Hindoo Koobli immediately to the north of Cabul, the route by Herat is the only one practicable for an« army with the usual complement of artillery. The country around Herat affords an admir able halting-place for armies. It is a spa cious plain, 30 miles long and half as broad, once studded with villages, and still exhi biting a fair expanse of gardens, vineyards, and corn-fields ; while the Herat river and the "bright waters of small running streams (canals ?) lighten the pleasant land scape" and fertilise the plain. In the ham-: lets and gardens around, the celebrated "attar," or otto of roses is manufactured ; and such is the profusion of this regal flower, that Herat has been styled the City of Roses. In the midst of the plain stands the city, now much fallen from its olden prosperity, but still containing a population of about 50,000, and destined ever4o retain much wealth and importance from lying in the track of the caravans." The Suez Canal hasrobbed Herat of much of its commercial value, but its military importance remains intact. Sir Richmond Shakespeare is reported to have said on one occasion : "We have a garden which is India; the walls are the fortified towns of Tartary and Afghanistan. Let the Russians once seize them, and our garden is theirs." Without discussing in detail the difficulties which an army would have to encounter in advancing on India from the shores of the Caspian, t a distance of a thousand miles through long stretches of sterile country, the wisdom' of watching with great jealousy any attempt to establish' foreign influence in the affairs of' Afghan istan will be readily admitted. If Candahar and-Herat were seized, England would really dominate the country, and its after history would only be a repetition of the occupation of Sciride. Ceaseless extension of boundaries'isa cardinal and unavoidable feature of the Indian policy; 'and the rapidly approaching meeting of .England and Russia," in Asia, U as likely to arise from the lapping in of territory by the British as from the steady march of the Muscovites southwards. In both cases, tho wild tribes of Central Asia are gaining the advantages of regular Girernment, which they never enjoyed before, and some share of western civilization. But there is the marked distinction that,, whereas the march of England northwards has been mainly, through a rich country, inhabited by a" tractable population, the advance of Russia lias carried ■ her frontier into the deserts of Turkestan. Her conquests have heavily taxed the resources of the (Empire. There still lie between the Russian outposts atrßhiva:and the Afghan frontier, the desert of Khorassan and the inhospitable regions of , Bokhara. Possession of Kandahar and ■ Herat 3 would . cover the approaches from either direction. A nmall force well posted, might destroy an army as it emerged in straggling bands from the northern wastes ; and with open communications through the mountainous, regiobs of Afghanistan, would render abso lutely impregnable the frontier of our great Eastern Empire, which-* already pos sesses a defensive line; of extraordinary strength. Indian policy has poinied un waveringly to "the domination of Afghan istan as essential to the security of India, and what Indian rulers, covet they generally manage sooner or later to annex^ The diplomatic negotiations at Cabul lodk very like the shadows cast from the "coming events" for Afghanistan. This afternoon's cable messages report that the Russian expedition lias fallen back.

An accident which, nearly resulted in fatal consequences, occurred at the Dock this morning. Two small boyi were larking about where they ought not to have been, when one of them fell down: the iiarrow opening between ! the .wall and the dock gate, a distance-'of .ten feet, into the; water; The accident: was observed, but, for a niinute:prtvvo nothings conld be done'owing to the narrowness of the aperture. At last, however, a very thin-man was discovered, and managed to squeeze through the hole, audsave the boy, who -was not muchthe worse fdr'his ducking.., Parents -will do well to pieyeritntheir children^goin'g near the dock; as it is a dangerous and. unsuit able place" for them to play." The dock should be fenced in as softh.as possible.

At the Board of Education yesterday a letter was received from Mr Balderson, and another from Paparoa, complaining that teachers absented themselves school duties to attend County Councils and Highway Boards. On the motion of Colonel Hanltain, it was resolved :— " That on no account shall teachers get leave of absence from their school dutzes to attend meetings of County Councils or Highway Boards." Mr Coleman, one of the retiring Coun; cillors of the Parnell Borough Council, has decided to stand for

At the Conference of Bishops m London, the Bishops of Adelaide proclaimed himself the happy representative of an unendowed Church. His people had been educated to give and the offertory had taken the place of pew rents. His lordship was greeted heaity cheers upon stating that he nad managed to keep order anioug his clergy with Uie assistance of the Synod, without invokiag the aid of the State Court.

A lot of land, embracing 14£ acres, with house and buildings thereon, was sold at Gisboine yesterday for £2,500. Mrs Cowan, who cut her throat on Monday last, died in th Dunedin Hospital yesterday. , , akGeorge Page, a drayman, lost his cart and three valuable horses, which were drowned, whilst trying to cross Grey River on Thursday.

A man named Thomas Burke was found dead under a hedge at Timaru yesterday. The Marionette Troupe, who appear to have had good houses at the Thames, return to Auckland to-night. Mr Creswick is playing to crowded houses in Adelaide. Speaking of his Othello a local paper says:—"His Othello is the most meditative we have seen on any stage. His person, costume, rich baritone voice, and bearing were in consonance with the 'lofty-minded Moor.1" The KeY Charles Clark has also announced to appear in Adelaide shortly.

There is no truth in the report of a con templated alliance between the Duke of Cumberland and Princess Beatrice. — "Truth." !

The Pakuranga-Hunt CJub Annual Races are to be held on Wednesday, 2nd October, at Ellerslie, and will consist of a Handicap Hurdle Race and Steeplechase, for members only; also, an open Maiden Hurdle Race and Steeplechase, and a Hurry Scurry on the flat.

Mr Geo. McLcod, whose name has been struck off the Coromandel electoral roll has determined to test the legality of the deci sion, and accompanied by his solicitor—Mr S. Hesketh— left for Coromandel yesterday. The case -will be heard by the' Resident Magistrate—Major Keddel.

There is great anger expressed at Con stantinople against Great Britain, whose representatives are declared to have joined with Russia in the dismemberment of Tur key. Baker Pasha has been dismissed from his command, and. the offered services of other English officers have been declined. A deplorable accident occurred at George Town, Demerara, last Queen's Birthday. The day was devoted throughout the colony to, festivities of all kinds, including a levee and ball held by the Governor and Mrs Kortright. In the afternoon a party of thirty-seven persons embaiked on the Berbice River, on hoard a little yacht of only five tons burden, filling -her from stem to stern, but, as they all thought, without risk of danger, for they were not going out of sight of their homes. All went well until the yacht reached the channel between Crab Island and the West Bank, when a puff of wind caught the sails, which was all the top-heavy and unballasted craft required to seal her de scructiori, and in a moment the ill-fated passengers and crew were struggling with the waters. The catastrophe was seen from the shore, but before any aid could be given 28 of the party were drowned, only nine being rescued. Sixteen of the bodies were subsequently recovered.

With thai love of a bit of quiet fun which ia inherent in every true Scotchman, Mr Wallace, of Papatoitoi, resolved to play a joke on the railway, and in a humourous manner to prove the absurdities of the tariff of charges. In order to explain the nature of the joke, -we should state that the passen ger fares from Otalmhu to Auckland have been lowered, but no reduction has taken place from Papatoitoi to Auckland. Mr Wallace, however, asked at Papatoitoi for aiticket at reduced rates, and on being refused, he bought a return to Otahuhu for 9d, got out at Otahuhu and bought a return for Is 6d to Auckland, thus saving 6d on the through ticket from Papatoitoi, which is 2s 9d. Mr Wallace and his; fellow passengers left Otahuhu station in gfeat 'enjoyment of the telling practical test they were applying to the foolish passenger 'tariff., The guard, how ever, with true official dignity expressed his disapproval of ,the step taken, which went to defraudthe railroad revenue, and declared he would rcport'to the general manager this instance of avoiding payment according to law. Mr Wallace said he would be only tod happy, to know that it was reported. : '

The attendance at the Newton past dis trict school has increased-to-s^chia degree that additions to the buildings; have been found necessary, and these ■avenp\v.being effected. They include new^clo'ajc rooms, lavatories, &c.,'and when iiuished will give increased accommodation. The scholars are progressing satisfactorily, under the care o| Mr Johnson and his able staff of assistants. The evening school and trainiug-'fclassjp recently commenced by Mr Johnson,- ftrjj' also making satisfactory progress aiidis well-attended. The latter affords an excel lent opportunity for young persons of "botH sexes to improve themselves during \ttfk winter months, as they are under the personal supervision of Mr Johnson, who is a certificated teacher, and well qualified for the instruction of pupils in all branches of education.

We notice that the Free Templars have fired upon Wednesday for the holding of their fourth anniversary concert and after dance. 'The .entertainment of the' present year is likely to equal if not eclipse those of former years. The Orpheus String Band, under the direction of Mr Hanukin, have promised their assistance, and will'perform several new pieces. Several ballads will be given by ladies and gentlemen.. Addresses will be delivered by Messrs Warburton. and Cox, the r former on the condition aiid pros pects of the Order, and the latter on poetry and finance. An originhl compaction will be offered on politics and beer, found by an expressmanjoutside the Theatre Royal "on the evening of the meeting of the brewers and publicans. A full programme will shortly appear in the STAR. v '

An advertisement informs the public that an amusing and instructive entertainment will be' given in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Newmarket, on Tuesday evening next, consisting of an original dialogue be tween a lady and gentleman on the'promi nent questions of the day, with local hits, and strictures on passing events, hints' to housewives, and girls about to be married. Also, musical pieces, intervening speeches, and minstrelsy by Messrs Hay terandiLamp ton. A pleasant evening is anticipated. The proceeds areforthe benefit of the school fund. : .■■-..--. :

On Monday Mr E. Arthur will sell by auction, at Onelmnga, a fine lot of property including that splendid hotel known as the1 .Commercial, occupied by Mr Briely. The hotel is large^ahd "spacious, and is i'njone of the best parts of Onehunga. There i,s jgood, stabling and out buildings, and all erected on freehold ; also, the stock-in-trade,' s;sets. 'bus harness; splendid omnibuses, in capital order, and ihe horses which are well-known and staunch. The whole furniture k)f the hotelwill also,, be sold. -This is a fine chance for some speculator to go in and buy cheap for cash wHat has cost hundreds upon hundreds of pounds to the owner, who is compelled to sell.

The election for three Councillors >for the Borough of; Parnell, will take pinion the,l2th proximo. j\ */* < To the Ediifcor : Sir,,—Will i^qu favour me by publishing the foHowing^^Mr K. D. Sykes.— Dear Sir^lfc affords me much pleasure in bearing "Itefffcimdny to the efficacy of your treatment in the Turkish Bath?, of a severe^ attack of lumbago in one week. The^tlirrd bath acted upon me like magic, aud I haye not felt the slightest symptoms since/" Yopt are at-liberty to make use bt-this^testi monial for the benefit of others;wKo' may suffer from the same complaint.^Yours very truly, Richard Gamble."-j-[Advtr.] A grand effort is about to be'made by the Pitt-street Wesleyan Church choir to clear off the balance of debt owing; oh the new organ. It is in the shape of c& musical and literary entertainment;. The::"rirst perform ance takes place on Friday next at 7,30 in the Pitt-street school-room. Leading vocal ists and public readers will take part in the programme. There 13 a big suni owing to the trustees on account of the instrument. It is to be hoped that the proceeds of the first entertainment, on Friday,, will do a good deal in diminishing this debt. ' ' *"

Mr P. Le Quesne, of Hamilton East, invites tenders for the supply of 50,000 well burnt, good bricks, delivered at his build ings within a month from date of contracts He also notifies that he has to let a brick field of two acres, with shed, kiln, and pug mill. . I

Dr. Schwarzbach, the. eminent occulist, acting under instructions from the Board of' Education, has reported upon the condition of Auckland schools, in respect'of short-' sightedness. He says :—" During the last month, I examined 1033 children between the ages of 8 and 18 ; being pupils' of the following schools :—Nelson-street ■ -(113),- Wellington-street (184)fe.CJtty East (423),; Girls' High School (129f, Parnell .Grammar! School (53), Auckland, College and' Grammar School (131). Out of -.the-total jnumrJer I: found 73 cases of sliiert-sight,:; M ' slightly over 7 per cent ; there being among 436 girls • 33 cases, and among 597 nays 40 caeej?, _TJbjL largest per-centage is at the -GiHs'__High School, the lowest at the Wellingjton-sTreet School. The per-centage, however, varies very little in the different Public! Schools.-- The total result is more gratifying, than anJ' ticipated. At the College in IN elsob I found, last year a far higher per-centage of .shorts sight (12 per cent); bat having _ tfrei;e examined only 64 boys, I was not warranted in arriving at" an average. In Sydney* where I made similar investigations at the, request of the Council of Education, I found an average of 10 per;cent, of near-sight amongst public schooi chiidren. In Eng land it is fully 18 per cent; while in Ger many—the nursery of this affliction —in the upper classes at the colleges it increases to over 30 per cent. The enormous spread of short-sight during" the last thirty years having -been .-proved by investiga tions, it is of the greatest impor tance to prevent its further growth." the doctor concludes with aJreference to the importance of paying attention to the light in schools, and thanks the officers of the Board and Mr Justice Gilles for assitances afforded him in prosecuting his researches. Dr Schwarzbach has treated a number of eye diseases very successfully during his residence in Auckland. : He leaves for Europe in a few weeks.

The "Stamboul" has published statistics of the English medical attendents and nurses who have fallen victims to zeal for the cause of humanity. The Stafford-house Committee employed 35 doctors, 11 of whom were dangerously ill, and two died. The Red Crescent employed 45, 14 of whom were dangerously ill, and seven died. The Red Cross employed 14, three of -whom were severely ill and one died. The Turkish Compassionate Fund enployed 11, three of whom were dangerously ill. The Charity Sisters employed 40, of whom 27 were ill, and 13 died. Total employed 145, severely ill 58; 23 died. Mr Master, who has lately died, was lamented as the greatest hero in this noble band of martyrs to charity.

The Sunday services are duly announced as usual, the evening service for the people at the Theatre "Royal. Rev Wm. Calder will preach the anniversary sermon at S. Sepulchre's to-morrow evening. The services at the several Anglican Churches to-morrow will be more or less thanks giving services for'peace.

Mr S. Hughes, jun., has heen appointed collector and valuer to the Ponsonby High way Board. ; The Auckland Jockey Club met yester day, and resolved that the Summer meeting shall take place on Boxing Day, and the first and second of January. The pro gramme will be issued shortly. ■

At. the several Wesleyan churches to morrow, collections in. aid of Foreign Missions willbe made.

"Dion-Snip" writes in reply to "A Liberal," and says :—" Who ever contended that to Lord ijeacahsfield alone is due the glory of having achieved one of the greatest diplomatic triumphs* "recorcled in history ? He it was, there /b.e.Vno doubt, who stood firm and inflexible.at ascertain point, and emphatically told ißuSfeia- the limits beyond which aggression wtouid be!forcibly resisted by the whole strength iof the British Empire ; but the honour of English success must be largely- shared' by Lords Derby and Salisbury; the former foirtlie" brilliant manner in which he carried-on the pourparlers with the Russian Chancellor, and the latter for that now celebrated ultimatum, which made Russia rpale, viz; r I the Circular defining British interests. The assertion that Mr Gladstone contributed to the triumph of England at the Congress is too preposterous to be seriously entertained. Why, his very last public utterance was a ,yiolent condemnation of the results _of. its labours ; arid it is well known that his ■tactics to embarrass the Government in "moments of grave anxiety,' and while delicate were pending, were "ktxsSnimf disowned by the vast majority of thft-JUoeral Party. No one questions the great r profound learning, and un taintad patriotism of Mr Gladstone jbut bis policy all through the recent crisis was one, .which, if carried out, would tend to- England's abject humiliation." After showing what is notoriously true, ..thaitlie_issiie oLthe British policy was duel to the moderating influence of Earl Beacons field's colleagues, our correspondent con cludes, with.a somewhat conspicuous dis regard . t>f: strict logic and " accomplished .facts," in thefollowing glowing peroration : "Then- I itrpstthat an address worthy of the people, of this great colony will be adopted by -the House of Representatives, and forwarded to him, whose foresight, wisdom; and unbending courage, has driven back the Muscovite hypocrite to kis icy mountains, preserved the tionqnr aiid interests of the Kingdom through unexampled dangers, and contribu ted •to /England's, history, one of the brightest, proudest, and most glorious pages "that"- chronicler ever traced." A congratulatory address to the Queen on the result of the Berlin Conference,: as we before observed, is astep' in which, every class could join most heartily. But! politi cal support giveii'by colouists to the English Conservative; party against the Liberals, is as great a wrong to^hc masses ot the'people * of England as an address, frpmi. the (Home country congratulating "v-Major "Atkinson upon the triumph of abolition in "defiance of Sir George Grey would;haye been! to .the colonists of New Zealand.: ":" ''"-■' v

MEETING OF IMPOVEMENT COMMIS SIONERS.

•A; meeting pf tliisTßo'avd was beTE at noon to-Bay, in the~offices of Mr Prime, Insurance ■Buildings, Mr JFenton in the chair.; Pre senter-Messrs iHeale, Chambers, and Cos grave. :-iH-" i ;': ■■■■-■■■ v ■:■ ■ ciiv' ;■ Old Wesleyan Chapel.— A con^muni-. cation was readi stating that Government declined to-insure the old Wesleyan Chapel now used for the Courts. . The chairman said that the place having been purchased

by the Go.ernmenTi^lT^"s^ _uu the mM - o£ M "JM 1 p. onffl by Mr Chamber., it wMET',' eM"S ■ Messrs.Chambers and Cos"ravp w« StM ' rised to see to its being tut inff' 8?11^ Plans of Albert -Park r^ air of the, new Albsrp"?tvk vj c discussed atid the' plain signed' «i» nW w,as accepted by the Board r» n Urifi" the corresponding letters ■ thp B °V^i plan was found to be the wftf? 00?8^ r Wm. fio]die, deputy-ranger to il°! sum of £10 will be awarded TjT°m %Uk ing .part of the meeting was'ofa !/emai^ tional nature, touching the game of ■ and the necessity of recreation eron«scket the people. .! .-,, ; fc OUI1<«for . . ' ' I ■ .:

PARLIAMENTARY.

• ~ " ■'■"•■■/;■. ;, I.,*''. FROM 0 UE SPECIAL REFOBTffI. -: STAR SPECIAL WISE).

' WELLINGTON, this day. f< LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.-FridAY.! , Z':^:' RABBITS.'" T . llto ' Colonel Whitmobe introduced a biu» the destruction of rabbits,which was reau» first time. T -^ rvrux? BILLS READ A SECOND TTMK. The Fraudulent Debtors Bill and w Friendly Societies were read a second^, and ordered to be committed next luesaiy I ■ BERLIN CONFERENCE. ~ The "Conncil adopted the address to » Queen which I wired to you. The U»uu , then adjourned till 7.30 p.m. The House met at 2.30 p.m. _ THE SEPARATION CANAEU. ' Mr Fox asked Mr Macandrew \YWi» atapublic banquet in Dunedin, xa w* last, He made: the following stotemenj^, , i-eported by shorthand reporters fprtne ,i Press who where present on that P^ , ■—< There is now public opinion oeiD&eiiß dered throughout New Zealand, wine* nw yet compel Parliament to restores w people those privileges of which they a "been-aeprived and to restore, no^ Provincial -Institutions of : wHidi,they^ deprivefl,:tiuKinstitutions greatly i«Bp and more, adapted to the ?}^f\Zu stances1 of the colony'; and it «,«£s* vj aC . he did use those expressions b]y andrew admitted that he might pw» have made us 6of those words P^g^-to like them, <b^'M.^pld not be &&s£& . remember every thisfe he had said dnrijg long cargeK Tliw^m«ly. fa"-*".;^ a sentence-alanetnvithout considem.. lfl w.ent before ari*-«aftie after it. tenor of the speech -should be revie^ea.

CABLEGRAMS.

Greece Threatens War A<? n^ t Turkey. s SB-1^: (FROM OUR SPECIAL LONl)^ CORRESPONDENT.) °S (SPECIAL irOjriIISSTAR). . . LONDON, Au e «' ;i Greece intimates that if Turkey r h! to.concede the' territory granfed'bv tX 8 lin. Congress she will wrest'themb iar . — -*i£:»i2!-:': • ■'■ ■';' 11 [SPECIAL TO PRESS AGENCY,] 'The '"Advance '6a ' Atftanistft* 180,000 .AtLstrUn'aZ'ia"" B o3Bia Demonstrations ■Agaiast Seivia.

One hundred ; and-eighty thousand Austrians are now in Rosnia. t /'Austrian. demonstr'atioSrariJbeing mafe against Servia and Montengjgip-3 ; "'■p "is ' officially annbuti^cd that seven ' millidns'died fxomihe-fani^ne in China. 'The.Russian advance in "the directiono! Afghanistan. ~has! been stopped, owing to British protests' and serious: disorder in the left column of the expeditionary force. r^m ' TT" — -&"• —~f ' . ■:•:■. -; 'nit

BANQUET AT LIVERPOOL.

;x? r ■■,•. LONDON, August 22, The Mayor of Litfei^gdljentertaiiiedMr Cross, Lord Stanley -ofy A&erley, VisconnJ Sandon, and a company^ of 250, include several Liberal' rriemb ersl ',;..,.-- THE "FUTUES.IT; Mr Cross, at. Liverpool/"sa"?df after tie > hopeful forecast of the soliitjonjjj the East 7 crn difficulties, it was the; .dflty of the Iff Government to reduce ..expenditure to a great extent. " J--\&J&* AUSTRALIANS V. HEADON. I • Headon won the match by 24 runs; the | wickets were dead, Headon had a good team. ■:"..' The Australians are now playing against Scarborough. They have- four, out ior 192 j£j: t runs. , '.- '•',. ,' . NEWjZEALAND LOAN AND MER. , CANTILE AGENCY CO.'S PRODUCE TELEGRAM.

LONDON, Augusta. Wool.—The sales opened at the level ol last sales on the 2Otif inst. ''The sales : ~-'X i comprised about 350,000 bales. 15,000 bales have been sent to the manufacturing districts direct. Combing washed, market firmer. Competition by both home and foreign buyers is active. Trade in,the manufacturing districts is slightly better. TALLOW.—Market flat. Beef, 38a Si per cwt. ; mutton, 36s 6d. Wheat—Market quiet! The quality of the crop here is good. : Leather..—Market quiet; best sides, . ; 9|dperlb. i

AUSTRALIAN CABLEGRAMS.

ACCIDENT TO THE CIECE. • [SPECIAL TO PRESS AGEMCY,] MELBOURNE, Friday. The Underwriters' Association repbrt tit ! brigantine Circe, bound from Oamarn to Batavia, grounded on Crompton Island, She jettisioned some Hour, floated off, and arrived at Batavia on the 21st hist The " natives stole fifty tons flour. • . ANTI-CHINESE AGITATION. MELBOURNE, Aug. 23. ' The presentation to- Mr Pearce took place in the Town Hallj by the Mayor of Melbourne, to-day. The Victoria contri butions -were nearly £600. He leaves by the Loch Lomond on Monday. : The woman who stole ~Mr, Pitt's baby pleaded guilty, and was remanded for Ben-,: tehee. .'...;.._• : lL ""*' •' SYHISEMng. 24 In reply, to a deputation JU th,ef Colonial Secretary;said the .Goveriimfeflt were indis posed to take action to .restrain? Chinefa immigration to the colony, as being1 bound;.. by the policy of Great Britain. -When jje influx assumed .perilous- proportions, tnc Government would be preparetHo act. ;

EVENING SiAdt, SATUROAY. AUGUST 24.



UNION INSURANCE COMFANY. ~. , '..'..NBfW ZEALAND. ■ ) ' ' C iPITAL ..-.-_- -~.~->~-~ ~ ~ ..«2,000,000 A U C X LANDER A N C H: Q U X E N ■ STR B R. T, Next he Colonial Bank.y j ?IRE t)EPARTMBNT. . Ihsaranc granted on Dwelling:-lforaefT Stcreß, Shops, Buildings in which trade is oarried on, Merchandise, and Goodetof every description.- MARINE DEPARTMENT... ' ' Hulls of Ships or Steamers. Merchandlao of all felndfl, Specie and Wool to United Kingdom, at LOWKST CDKKKNT BATKS^ . Manager.



the 18th and 27fch of June 10,547 foreigners arrived in Paris. England supplied 3,200, and Belgium 1,503,.whi1e Germany stands t third Jwith 1,177. Never since the Avar has Paris had so many Gei - man visitors, and they, everywhere meet with the utmost courtesy. Indeed, one of the papers compliments them as being the most painstaking inspectors s _ of, the .Exhi bition. -■■'• ■ •■•■ • ■' ' "' ' After the fire has drawn tip, Goke may be added in. small -lumps (not in large masses), either alone. ; or.. mixed; with Coal A fire made in this.;way is better:fornot bein" stirred, so long as .there ■is space between the fragments of "fner.for > free, current of air,'' The:value' of.Coke as a fuel and as a means of eooriomff of. Coal : 'appreciated sufficiently.--'A-ifiixcd fuel of B>al and Cokeis invaluable;.forthe ordinary, SS;V^ '-hotter, than it can be madeby a»y other means.—[Advt.J ~ v . .



Monday Evening,



AM A G N'l FI CE N T STO C X of NEW AUTUMN ANI) WmTER DRESS MATERALS Just Opened. BL Atkins INVITES ATTENTION TO HI& .STOOK .0* New Dress Materials, Ladies Jackets, Ulsters, Black and Coloured Silks, Velvets, Velve teens, &c, suitable for the cominft Season. Now on View. Splen did Colours in New Silk Reps, Wool Reps, Wool Poplinettes, Satin Cloths, Wool Serges.T willed Carmelites, Estamane Serges, French Merinoa, Winaeys, and Fancy Dresa Goods. All splendid value. All the new shades pro curable in Stock. The selection this season ia the largest and best ever shewn in the city. Good quality Black Silk at 3s lid; per yard. All the now shades in Coloured Silks. Also Good Cheap Blankets, Quilts, Sheetings, Table Linen, Flannels, Calicos, !and Manchester Goods.



IN THE CLOTHING DEPART MjE]N T New Tweed Suits. Coats, Trow sers and Veßts suitable for all classes. A large Stock of Bora and Youth's Tweed Suits, in our own make and imported. An 1 Immense stock of New Tweeds in Bannockburn, Mosfflel, Scotch, West of England, &c. Tailors can select from the largest stock In Auckland at Wholesale Prices. Cheap Tweeds suitable for Bora wear. , , . Good Quality Guaranteed, and Pkicbs Lowest in Auckland foe All Descriptions of Dkapery and| clothing.] <$STH. ATKI.NS.i-W CHEMICAL TMT ANUEE.



The undersigned are now prepared to supply their CHEMICAL MANURE for Root and Green Crops, in any quantity. The following extracts,, selected from numer ous testimonials, prove its value as a fertilizer. I believe it an excellent Manure for Potatoes. JOSEPH, MAY, Mcrant'St. John. It Is tae best Manure I ever used. ; W. G. HARPE, Late Manager for W. A; Murray, Esq., Piako. I am so pleased with its good effect as a Potato Fertilizer, that I shall require a farther supply, and would strongly recommend its use. J. LEDDRA WALLIS,



Anaiysiß of this season's supply will be ready in a few flays. W. J. HURST & CO., lOl.LQueen-street, Auckland. THIN CO UR AGE NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES! To the People of Auckland ! Messrs. Hallensth nJßrothers Desira to inform you that a RETAIL BRANCH OF THK ! NEW; ZEALAND CLOTHING FACTORY Is Now Opbn in Queen-street, opposite Theatre Royal.



To effectually Introduce their Goods and drive out the imported article, they have decided to SELL a Single Article at the Wholesale Price. All Goods are marked In Plalß Figures, for Nett Cash only. Any Article purchased and not ap proved of, will be exchanged with the same courteny with which It was Bold, or if'desired, the money will bo returned. .... V- j : J The. success which has attended the New Zealand^ Clothing Factory's Retail Branches in other towns leads the Proprietors to believe that there exists a praiseworthy desire on the part of the Public to encourage New Zealand Industries, especially wher superior advantages are offered;' and your support Is solicited on this urider : standing only. J. B. ROBINSON, j ' • MANAGEKIAUCBCLANDJIBRANOH. SOLE AGENT FOR W E.R T H El M. S CELEBRATED SEWING MACHINES, THE ; BEST MACHINE, IN THE-WORLD.



• : .- EXTRA. r ; Important Intelligence. A.« li N A BURY &IC O; i H vb Determined to '• ' ~ LEAR OUT THEIR SURPI US STOC : of , • ■ GENERAL DRAPERY, DRESS GOODS CURTAINS, - FANCY GOODS, AND MILLINERY, ' ' AT f j ,:■;,'■< V., GREATLY REDUCED PRICES! ~; .. FOP A ..... ■ Short Time Only, previous to Stock- I TAKING. | DRESS and MANTLE - MAKING :on the Premises, at Reduced Prices. SALE NOW ON. \ ——-——■ ■"' A. LINA BU R V & CO.' S, 204 & 208, qukhjn-strket,; :, '~ ' Auckland." ! T^ISSOLUTIOIS OF PARTNERSHIP We have Opened several Cases of i BLACK AND COLOURED SILKS, Purchased at Very Low Prices . . „ :..,.' , ; in the Home Markets, j ... . THE G O O U RE D SILKS . . ■ ' .:Comprise 1 the Newest Shades.^". ,\':r j : : " THE BLACK SILKS i ■ :■ Will be Sold at 2s. lip. pkr-Yard,' int ; ; {-{■ ■_ ■. r -^Order to Clear. • ■ - '■'- ;:- ■■;■ J '/'• IMMENSE QUANTITIES "OF j tt^"\ «?«, W .-DRESS GOODS ■ 'jl. '-~ I V\ ill be Brought Forward at Job Prices.;, GREAT BARGAINS 1 . - ■£<;« WILL BE GIVEN DURING, THE WEEK I J. COSGRAVE & CO., } !/ ; MERCHANTS AND MPORT'ESS '■''■ , Queen-street. Auckland. .



First



T\T ANTED r ,.K N OWN. Jußt Opened, One Thousand Men's India Rubber Coats, at 7s 6d.—Samuel CoomßeS, City. Clothing Mart, 92, Queen-Btreet. TIIURNITURE—For the Drawingroom. _£? Dining-room, Library, Bedroom, or Kitchen, on Sale at T. & H. COOKE'S. •"" ."••'.-, (PIARPETS— Including -Brussels, Tapes \j try, Kidderminster, Stair, Felt, and Dutch, on Sale at T. & H. COOKE'S. *.; T IN OLEUM and Floorcloths, all widths, I J Bath Mats, in Linoleum and "^ Floorcloth, on Sale at T. & H. COOKE'S. TTEARTH RUGS, Door MatSj plain, and IB wool bordered, Matting, Wool Mats, Bed-side Rugs.jon Sale at T. & H. COOKE'S. ! XRON BEDSTEADS. — French, Half JL Tester, Stump and Folding; Iron Cots, all sizes. Wood Bedsteads and Wood Cota, on Sale at T, & v COOKE'S 1 BEDDING.— Hair, Wool, Spring, Cocoa Fibre, and Flax Mattresses, Feather Beds, Bolsters and Pil lows, on Sale at T. & H. COOKE'S. (TN LASSES.—Ghimney Glasses, in Gilt, Ijr Walnut, and Maple Frames. Toi let Glasses, Toiletware, Cane seated Chairs, in great variety, on Sale at T. X H. COOKE'S. PRICES.— As we import direct from the - - English Manufacturers, we are able to sell all imported goods as .-.-'" '■ ■ ■•■ low as any house in town: and, employing steam power in our ' ' Factory, are enabled to offer articles of local manufacture at a :l .:*. 5 very-moderate rate. ! T* & E. Cooke's FURNITURE and CARPET WAREHOUSE ' 67, QUEEN-STREKT. j DV N A M I' T E. To Arrive, per Queen of the Wkst, now due from London— [ TEN TONS DYNAMITE DETONATORS, BATTERY, INSULATED COPPER WIRE, FUSE, ETC., KtO. DYNAMITE te the Safest and Mo&t Powerful Explosive in use. { The Safety of Dynamite During Tr'aitspobt and Storage. Extracts from the Official evidence given before the House of Commons Select Committee on Explosive Substances—Parliamentary Ses sion of 1874 London. Boxes filled with dynamite have been thrown from a great height, and found to sustain any amount of shook without exploding. They have also been placed upon an open fire, when the dynamite ourned slowly away without ex ploding.—Parliamentary report—Blue Book, page 179. ■ ..'•.'. Dynamite has been in a railway collision, and, though the van and boxes containing it were broken, no explosion took place.—Bine Book, page 182, par. 2979. . . <■ Maior Mftjendte, R.A., H.Ms. Ipspector of Gunpowder and Dynamite Factories, states, in his evidence (page 18, par. 100), that the law re lating to dynamite is as much too stringent as the gunpowder law is tooulax; and (page 20, par 115) that the time has come for relieving safe nitro-glycerino preparations from such un necessary restrictions as the nitro-glycerine Aot mposes upon them. >■■■■ .;■■■■- Professor Abel, the Chomistto Her Majesty's War Department, gives his experience that Nobel's dynamite is one of the safest, most powerful, and most convenient explosive agents applicable to industrial purposes,—Blue Book, pages 56, 57, and 59, Agents : < ■ E. SORTER & CO., . ~- QUESN-STRBET, AUCKLAND. R,USHBKOOK, AND BrIDGMAN Respectfully invite attention to their Largo Carefully-selected and Entirely New Stock of DRAPERY AND CLOTHING FOR THE WINTER TRADE, Comprising— Blankets, all sizes, and first-class value Flannels, white and gcarlet, all makes , ■ Crimean Shirtings, All-wool and Union, In great variety of pattern and quality Winceys, plauiu and fancy. A heavy stook. "Good anoCheap," a good lino at 5d per yard -, Fancy Dresa Goods, new shades, in great variety French Merino, Serge, Satin Cloth,' an&pome 'Joecial Line* of Fancy Materials, botight a ob, and belnsr sold at very low rates Alloa and Fingering Yarns, all colours Winter Hosiery, Umbrellas, Ribbons, Flowers Waterproof Tweed and Waterproofs A Job r© of Children's and Ladies' Waterproof Cloak?, to be cleared out at muoh below regular price. Calicoes, Sheeting, Counterpanes Furnishing and Manchester Gooda of every description Soys' and Men's Clothing of every description, Good and Cheap Hosiery Shlrte, Hats, &o. Strong Material for BoyB1 Wear—Tweeds Mole kin, t- duroy, Serge &0., &c. &o.



In order ; sustain the well-known character Of the JUNCTION DRAPERY WORKHOUSE for Cheapness and Quality combined, R. and B procure their Supplies from the BEST MAR KETS ONLY, and spare no pains to euppl their Customers' wants at the lowest prioe com mensurate with legitimate trading, i % (1/ In the &) Discount allowed upon all Cash Purchases of 20/ and upwards.



RUSHBROOR AND BRIDGMAN,_ 'DRAPHRS. CLOTHirenS, &0.. JUNCTION DRAPERY WAREHOUSE (Opposite the Army and N»vy Hotel), UPF $ R QUEEN-STREET, AUCKI.AN».



The great reward offered and in hand for the first discoverer of "Perpetual Motion" is grow ing so rusty that it ia likely to bo applied in a more hopeful channel. The latest valuable dis covery in the art of medicine, as proved by irresistible and overwhelming testimony .Ms the marvellous '"Qhollah's Great Indian .Cures," which can be had throughout Now Zealand of all Chemists. See testimonials. Look out for shams in the shape of poisonous imitations of the People's. favourite health beverage, Udot.pho Wolfe's Schiedam Aro matic Schnapps. ' These detestable; swindles often bear counterfeit labels or namjss olosely approximating to that of the true article. - A close scrutiny should be brought ,to bear upon preparations purporting to be the real Schnapps. , Kxb, Ear, Throat' Specialist.—Dr. Sohwartzbach, Devonshire House, Hobson-st. Horira: 10 a.m. to I p.m. ' ,



Appearance



Of Mr (St. D. Chaplin



In the Poetioal



Play of



iS Enooli Arden."