SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

Hf(4H watitr i This Evenincr, 1.15 HUH WATJIRJ Tomorrow Morning, 1.51 SUN SKT.-Thls Evening, 6.7 B7N RISK.—To-Morrow Morning, G. 9 MOON' 3 AGK.-Full Moon, 2Cth 2.1 p.m.

ARRIVALS.

LAST KVESIXO. Kriemhilda, schoouer, Batbiu'dt, from Whan-

TO-DAY. Etac;, barque, Thow, from Adelaide lor a s.p,. Slephonson, from liuoscll Policemnn, schooner, Steer, from Kussoll, Kina, as. MclCenzio from Waipu. Ovalau, sch., Scott, from Snmon Albatross, scb., ISell, from l.yttelton Saxon, sell., McKcnzic, from Itus3ell

DEPARTURES.

LAST EVENING. Arsylo, s.s., Crawford, for Whangarii Qlpnelff, s.s., Farrmhar. for Taura-jga Minnie Hare, schooner, Skinner, for East Coast

PROJECTED DEPARTURES.

Melbourne, via South,—Te Anau, Thursday London -Fernglen, loading Tauranga—Glonelg, Wednesday For Now Plymouth and Southern Ports — Wellington, Wednesday For Russell—lona, Monday; Te Anau, Monday. For Tauranga and Southern Ports—Petiguin, Monday Whangarei—Argylo, Tuesdays and Fridays; Anne Milbank, Mondays and Thursdays, Tahiti.—Schooner Transit. Lyttelton.—British Kropire.

VESSELS KXPECTKD. T.> Anau, s.s., from the South, Monday. Caledouia, schooner, from Tonga. Mxzeppa, schooner, from Rarotonga. Sov-preign of the Sea?, cutter, from New Cale-

donla. Rona, schooner, from Tirnara. Bismarck, H.1.G.M.5., from Samoa Eiri Granville, ship, from London ; sai'ed No

vembcr Z) Agate, barqu«, from Now York; sailed Septem

' bsr23rd Elinor Vornon, barque, from New York; sailed 10th November Straathro, ship, from London ; sailed Nov. 27 Trcvelyaa, ship (V.N.H.S.), from London ;load-

ins. City of Quebec, barquo, from London. Elmirant'a. barque, from Now York Camille, biis, from New York J-Urcia barque, from London ; sailed Dec. 39 Agne3 Donald, schooner, from Lovuka JiffUo Brandon, schooner from Lins Is!and3 Island Lily, brigantino, from Chatham Islands -Apt:ve, bri^antinc, from Sydney PiratO. schooner, from Tahiti 1 och De >, bavque, from London ; loading." Wary Mildred, barque, from Newcastle. Clara Margreavcs, barque, from Newcastle. Lo3k Oil's brigantin?, from Sydney. Coronet, ecbooner, from Marshall Group. TCste'lo, schooner, from r unedin. T'lbal Cain, schooner, from Levnka. Waiwera, schooner, fron Austral Group. Marion, schooner, from Norfolk Island. jVTidfre. scsoocer, from Ijevakn. Metr. Merrilies, brigantine. from Levuka. Albatross, schooner, from Lyttelton. Phrist'nn, schooner, from Lyttelton. Flirt, brigantine, from Timaru. Reliance, ketcb, from Lyttelton.

IMPORTS.

Per Ovalan from Samoa—lß tons copra. 10 tons cotton seed, 21 bales cotton, 1 baza fungus, 330 allons lire ej nice, and a quantity of fruit.

Per Albatross from Lyttelton—lo9o sacks oats, 2 tODS cheese, 2t>na chicory.

Per Stag, from Adelaide: 1000 bags wheat, 7 cases and 1 qr.-caaic wine, Fiom Portland - 3031 bigs chopped bark.

Tho topsail schooner Julius Vosel left Wel lington for liokianga last night.

The schooner Rora arrived at Timaru from Lyttelton yesterday.

Tho brigantino Flirt arrived at Timaru from this port yesterday.

The Union Company's new steamer Te Anau will arrive from the South on Monday fore norm. Sh>! leaves for Rus ell late the same day, mil will return on Thur day morning. She is advertised to leave for the South on Thursday.

The s\s. lona arrived this morning from Rus- Fcl and Northern Port?, with passengers and th^ following cargo :—lB2 sacks kauri gurr, 16 cases fruit. 100 sheep, 2 sacks and 2 bales wool, 8 sacks hides.

Tt(o pchooncr Transit cleared at the Cuntoms to day for Tahiti with a full general cargo.

Tho V>arquo Stag arrived at an early honr this morning from Adelaide, via Portland, with a cargo of wheat and bark. She left the Utter place on tho 20th ult., and experienced North west winds all tho way to the North Cape. Light Bouth-eaaterly winds down tho coast till arrival.

Tho schooner Albatro39 arrived at noon to day from Lyttleton with a cargo of oats. Phe experienced very heavy weather on the passage up, and poveral of tho sail 3 were blown away. We are indebted to Captain 801 l for the follow ingireport :—Left Lyttleton on Thursday, tho 12th in%t, at 1 p.m., and had light northerly winds till b-alTirciay nißht, -ivhon off theJStrairs. The breeze then freshened toa vale, and on Sunday, tho 15th intt., at I a.m., tho inner jib was b own out of the ropes. It continued to blow hard from tho [noHb, and at 8 a,m. the foreaailj was blown to piece?. Hau'cd down the gaff and bent another foresail. A heavy sea was running. At-i p.m.ltho wcathor moderated, and fell to a cam that night; picked up a fresh eouth-e?st breeza next dsy, and carried it till rounding the East Capo at G pm. on Wednesday; thence till arrival light northerly wind.

Ihe judicial enquiry, b3foro Messra liarstow and Fratcr, into the striking of the barrjuentino Soph'a on Bull Rock, concluded yesterday. Captain Burkes evidence was to tho effect that at tho timo of the accidont ho believed the vc3sol to bo six miles from the rook. He knew of no current.and tho tide eets nearly north and south. At 8 p.m., he was on dock, and then c-tirratoi his dis*ai.ce from the light at e'ght or nine miles. He then aitorcd his courss to X. j-B. Me went below, leaving the vessel ia charge of tho boatswain, whom he believed to b9 compe tent. Some time afterwards, ho heard a crash, and on proinj? on dock he found the vessel had struck Bull Rock. He attributed the cas-iality to an orror ot judgment in estimating his distance from the light. He had no certificated mato on boar 1. Mr Cookann daposed that he shipped as A.8., hut had bsen doing duty as boatswain. He wa3 never on the Ea^t Const before. At the timo ho took tho watch, he was ordered to keep a N.N.H". course until Portland light bore west by north, when ho was to call the capt tin. He did not take the bearings by comDasa. and thought he was standing w ell out to sea. The vessel was going from six to rev. n knot?. Ho remained on tho poop until she struck, a' 10.15 p.m. Ju3t heforc ha noticed what he thought was a piece of timber, and the red light was then in view. He ordered the helm to be put hard down. The objoct, when lie first saw it, was a quarter of a mile ahead on tho lee how. Tho helm was put hard down, and eho answered fairly, but 01117 had jiut steerago way. They hai all sail set, except the mizen gutr-top sail. From tlio timo he was on deck, just prior fca striking, h.o caw tho bright light, and all along thought they were tho same di3ttmci from lind. He saw the rod light about two minatss before the 'ibject. Cap'ain Burke gave no orders to call him when the red light was seen. When ho saw it ho thought they wro in danger. Konnal had just relieved Taylor at the wheel. The vessel struck lhree times, and tho captain came on deck. She was rolling, takint: tho wind ont of ncr sails every time she rolled. Ho then went to tho pumps. Frank Rennol and Alfred Taylor, also gave evidence. The Bench cans'dered that proper precantions had not been taken, such as us'ng the lead and pricking oft tho course for distance. Not having a certiftca'ed n>ato cusht to have induced oxtra watchfulness, which wai not exercised, and undor these circumstances the Bench had to suspend Captain Burkes certifi cate for a month, and ordored him to pay tho cost of inquiry, £11 53.

ARRIVAL OF The OVALAU.

Tho schooner Ovalau arrived at noon fo-day from a trading cruise io Samoa. We are in debted to Captain Scott for tho following report of tho round trip :—Left Auckland Deeomher 23rd, with a north-wcßt breeze; experienced fine weather and north-east winds to Savage Irland, which was made on January sth; stayed thsre trading till tho 17th inst.; then made sail for Tutuila, calling a* Manua on the 12th, after having been bocslinod for two days, during which heavy rain foil; made Anau on tho 15th, the vessel having done little more than drift b* t vcen the two places ; lay off there boralnvjd nil day, so called in wlih boat at Pango Pango harbour; found th? placa qnito de'erted ond town burnt, the inhabitants being prisoners to tho rival party; mado Leono liay on Fri day, 16ih ult., a.nd stopped there trad ing a'l (Jay: then mad > sal with a fair wind to Apia, and dropped anchor there on tho evening of tho 17th having pawd tho Nautilus and Bismarck, Gorman mon-of-war, lying below Apia. Fo.md trnic rather dull, in CDnsequencQ of the lute native war, whinli had b?on lately stopped with a h'gh hand by t.he German frigates. Slared in .Apia till the £9 h ult.; then left to? Fa riito:)tai. und stayed ihoro, louling, tiil February Jtli. Then mado sail for Savu, dropningarichol' tlicro oa the rooming of tlio otb, having experienced wet. v/o:itlier, with hoivy S(|uulls, sinoi the22nd ult.. > tayed there Ull February 711), heavy rain falling every day. Tlien made sail for Auckland, caldngof ( Tonga Group), to laudapps c-gcr, on Feb vary 10th, Met with fair wind 1 ill tho 10th; from then lijdit battling winds and calms. Sighted the Great Barrier at noon on tho iOth, and had light fair winds up to Auckland. She brought si cargo of produce, mid tho f)llowiug pas soneers—Mr and Mrs Wilmad.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

Nelson, yesterday. The h.s. Wellington loft for New Plymouth a' 3.15 p.m. to-day.

Wellington, yesterday

Sailed : Haw.n, for tho South; Rangatira, for "VVanganui and tho Manukau; To Anau, for Auckland, via the '.'oast. Passengers: Messrs Spillor, Yunnan, Spier, Jiroivn. Flyfrer, Lyndon, Harvey, Lytt'.e, llumbram, and Brott.

Pout OETAI.MKRS, this day. Arrived: Free Trader,barquo,from Hobarton,

COMMERCIAL.

"Kvbning Star Oflico" Saturday,

Mr. R. Arthur's reports of his weekly sale, of poultry, provisions, produce, fruits ami furni ture as follows :—Fowls Jh 4(\ to 2s Cd ; turkeys, 3s Id to 33 Id: ducks. liCd lo 2a 2d: geese, 3s; liu'cons, Is Id ; piKB, 17*: lamba, 3a 6d ; potatoes, 2d (id to 3s (id : onions.; d told ; clico-ie, 3d to 51(1: Canterbury, filfd ; Sydney bicop, B]d; butt r, 61 to (Hd Tariinnki butter, lOd; ODples, Id to Sd; pciif.-). Id 10 L']d ; plums. 3d to od ; damsons. 2:(d to Id • peaches, M to2Jd iicrlb.: grapesGd toGld; oats "s 3d to 2s~9d ; ma z™, 3s Od to Is ; oatmeal, 1.'.i1: flour £12 to £1J; su«ar. 3Cfi to Us ; soap, Ins to IC3; salmon. 7s Od; hair oil. 7s Gd ; turps, 33 Cd ; ■wbite lend, J}i; box lea, 22s to 26s : tinned lirarhcs, 1;"js ; coflec, Is 3d ; mustard, 9fl; pain":, fid.1.-cornflour, C'-l;sta-ch,-ild; | chest tea, Is M'purlb. ;beef, Id to 2d. The busincES doicin tlicfur.-aturodcpartiicnt was not largo, but satisfactory.

By the schooner Ovalau we have iilcs of the "Samoan Times" to January 24. They contain HUIr news of interest. A shock of earthquake was felt at Apia on the 23rd. The United Slates Government has informed the United Stales consul at Apia that a conitnorciol agency lias been estab lished at Pafiopago, including only ilie island of Tutuila. Air Matthew Tlunkin has been appointed vice-commercial agent for that place, with consular hinclionsrinly, and all judicious matters arising within the agency must be brought to the attention and consideration of the United States consul at Apia,

CHIEF POST-OFFICE, AUCKLAND.

Mails will Close as Under :— This Day. For Quarantine Station, por Ferry Steamer, at 1.39 p.m. Monday, 23rd instant. For Walheke and Coromandel, per Coromandol, at 2.30 p.m. For Thames, per Kotomahana, at 9.30 a.m. For Tairua, per Oeiu, at 11 a.m. For Tauranga, Gisborno, Napier, and Southern Provinces, per Penguin, at 3 p.m. For Russell, Kawakawa, Wai.guroa, and Mon- Bonui. per lona, at I p.m. For WanjMM Heads, and Wangaroi, por Annio Milbank. at i p.m. For Kussell and Kawakawa, per To Anau, at 3 p.m. For Thames, per Enterprise, at 5.30 p.m. TOKBDAY, 21th instant. For Waiwera, Kawau, Omaha, and Matakana, per Rose Casey, at 10 a.m. Wednesday, 25th instant. For Taranaki and Southern Provinces, per Wellington, at 5 a.m. For Whitiungi, Tairua, Tauranga, aud Opotiki, per Glenclg, at i p.m. Tuesday. 2nd March. Por s.s. Australia as follows :— For Sandwich Islands, United States of America. Canada, British Columbia, Central and South America, and British and Forolßn West Indies, Japan, and China. inoludinK Hongkong, at 1 p.m. For United Kingdom and Continent of Knrope, at 1 p.m. For money orders, and registered letters, at 11.30 a.m. Lato letters bearing an extra feo of sixpence. In addition to tho postage, will bo received by the Mail Agent on board tho steamer up to tho timo of sailing. S. ". mss. Chief Postmaster.

BIRTH.

HEARNE.—On February 20, at Verner-street, Freeman's B »y, the wife ot Mr Henry Heurno of a son (stillborn).

DEATH.

SNKLL.—On February 21,1880, at the resi lenca of hit father-in-law—Mr Harris—Grey-street. OnehunKa, Anthony Snell, Waitakeri; aged 38 years.

t he funeral will l'mvo to-morrow (Sunday), at 3 o'clock p.m. Friends aro respectfully in vited tj attend.

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

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21 1880.

For the cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong.that needs resistance, For the future in the distance,

And ths goad thit;we can do,

" Nihilism " is a word ot mysterious and fearful import to the mind of the ayerage Englishman. Born under an enlightened constitution, and accus tomed from childhood to freedom of epeeoh, liberty of the press, and self directing obedience to the laws, the vast majority of Englishmen can form no idea of the nature of social agita tions in other countries, much less sympathise with them. Free himself, the Englishman is apt to forget that many hundred millions of people groan under a life of serfdom or absolute slavery. Having no experience of that life,he is a stranger to the feelings that animate the wretched in their struggles against tyranny, and to the aspirations of the oppressed in tlieir longing to be free. The Englishman inherited liberty as a birthright. It was won for him by remote aucestors who shed their blood in the sscred cause, but the successive stages by which the army of freedom advanced, the fluctuations of the long campaign of right against might,

are only known to the student of history. We need occasionally to be reminded of the past in order to value the present, to read of the time when

a " lordless man"—a mall not living under the protection of a Saxon lord— was liable to be slain by anyone who met him; when the "were-gild" or compensation for the killing a " ceorl," or tenant, was legally fixed at 200 shillings; or of those later times when

the Norman barons claimed air, water, and earth " where the arrow could fly.

the clog could draw, or the net could fall;" or of the days of King John when nearly half of the inhabitants of England were in a state of slavery, when " villeins regardant" wero sold with the land, and " villeins in gross" were battered like inanimate chattels. The Saxon "Chronicle" gives the following dreadful picture of the reign of Stephen in the twelfth century :—" The nobles and bishops built castles and filled them with devilish and wicked men, and oppressed the people, cruelly torturing men for their money. They imposed taxes upon towns, and when they had ex hausted them of everything, set them on fire. You might travel a day and not find one man living in a town, nor any land in cultivation. Never did the country suffer greater evils. If two or three men were seen riding up to a town, all its inhabitants left it, taking them for plunderers. And this lasted, growing worse and worse, through Stephen's reigu. Men said openly

that Christ and his Saints were asleep." Even in the fifteenth century servants were branded with hot irons, and no child could be apprenticed to any use ful craft unless the parents were owners of land yielding a fixed annual income. As late as 1524 men were hanged for

forgery ; in 1827 a man was drawn on a sledge to the scaffold for coining; hanging for sheepstealing was only abolished in 1824, and according to the latest edition of Chamber's Encyclopaedia it is still a capital offence in Scotland, though the penalty is not inflicted. Hanging in chains was abolished in 1534. The property qualification for election to the House of Commons was abolished only in 1858. Tho liberty of the Press was won with in the memory of men now living. Need we refer to France for examples ? The saying of Louis the Grand is an eloquent volume of history in itself: — "L' Etat, e'est moi." Is it credible in this age that an ancient French law authorised a Seigneur, as he returned

from hunting, to kill not more than two serfs in order to refresh his feet in their warm blood aud l.owels ! Russia was in a condition of barbar ism in the seventeenth century; she is in semi-barbarism in the nineteenth. Peter the Great disciplined his soldiers for war by actual conflict with each other, in which thousands were slain; he buried women alive for political offences ; beheaded men with his own hand, and slew 2,000 by tho gallows and the torture. A biographer says of him : " Reforming others lie failed to reform himself, but remained to the last an ignorant, coarse, brutal

savage, indulging in the lowest vices, and gloating over scenes of cruel suffering. Ho would sometimes put his victims to the torture, play judge and executioner too, and drunk with wine, strike off twenty heads in suc cession, proud of his dexterity." Jolm Evelyn, whose house at Deptford he occupied while studying ship-building, tersely described him as " a nasty brute." Serfdom existed up to 1861, when 23,000,000 were emanoipa ted, the concession being extorted more by fear than dictated by a sense of j nstice, and trial by jmy was inaugurated in 18GG. In tho same year the Czar rejected an address by the nobles in favour of establishing a constitution ; and in ISOG he refused another petition for the establishment of two representative Houses. Then began the struggle between the people and their rulers. In 1870 a conspiracy was discovered among the students at St. Petersburg; iv the following year many Socialists of all ranks were con demned to various forms of punishment, and from that timo Nihilism, has spread rapidly, wielding tho terrible engine of assassination, and, in despair of erecting a temple of freedom on the rotten found ations of despotism, has aimed at the destruction of the whole social fabric. Assassination of tlieir rulers is not a modern phase of Russian rebellion. Feodore I and II were murdered, Peter 111 dethroned and murdered, Ivan VI put to death, Paul assassinated, nnd Alexander II has frequently escaped violent death by a more hairsbroadth. Tho most lamentable feature of these political agitations is that repression and resistance act and re-act upon esicli other, and mutually intensify the evil. " Kings will bo tyrants from policy, when subjects ai*e rebels from prin ciple."

Occasionally we catch a glimpse of what is transpiring in Bussia, but the worst never sees the light of day. With a gagged press, a galling polico surveillance, distress every whore preva lent, grinding taxation, mutual sus picion, and insecurity of life and proportj-, the condition of the popula tion, and especially in tho cities, ia well nigh unendurable. As Professor Lieber says in his work on Civil Liberty and Self-Government, "It is necessary to have seen nations who have been forced for centuries to submit to constant and unremittont police in terference, in order to have any concep tion of tho degree to which manly action, self-dependence, resoluteness, and inventiveness of proper means can be eradicated from n whole community." The St. Petersburg correspondent of tho Sydney "Morning Herald" lifts a corner of the vi il, and gives us a glimpse of what tho liberty of the sub ject is in Holy Russia. Writing on Doce.nber Ist, he says :— "One of the students read some days ago the paper " Novoye Vremia," iv the library of the University, making his commentaries upon the article, to which wcro also listen ing some ten other students. During the perusal of that paper, a sub-inspector entered the library, and bade the students to leave oil' reading, telliug them that the place is not fit for indulging iv all sorts of nonsense, such as tlieir commentaries on newspaper articles. The students insisted upon going on with their reading, the repeated orders of ths sub-inspector were heeded by no one ; he lost all patieuce, went todonouueetheoflender*, the policcwero called m and three of the students arrested. Some three or four days later the friends of the arrested a»ked another sub-inspector why were the latter detained so long and prevented from assisting at the lectures in

the University. Tho sub-inspector had the inadvertance to reply, that at present no body can be sure of anything—that he may be himself arrested on the spot, and pre vented for an indefinite time from resuming his duties. The very next evening, after the sub-inspector had spoken thus in the University, he was carried away from his lodgings in a closed carriage, brought before the Third Section, examined as to his con victions, and was subsequently ordered to resign his jw.it at tho University, and leave the capital altogether. The students arc

now bent upon organizing a subscription in favour of the poor sub-inspector, who had nothing left to him when dismissed in such a manner from his service; but it is very much to be doubted whether the students are to be allowed to carry their intentions

in that respect, as any subscription for the relief of the dismissed gentlemen may be

judged to be nothing more than a public demonstration of the students in order to annoy the local authorities "

The " Golos," the official organ in St. Petersburg, which is put every morning on the Czar's breakfast table, inserted a " feuilleton" on the ex-

tremely bad condition of Russia, and for this the paper was suspended for five months.' The following extracts are given from the article: —

"The price of everything is-increasing, human life alone losing iv value. There is only to be heard from all sides that such a one has shot himself, another has drowned himself, a third has cut his throat; or

another variation to the same tune—such a man has been shot, such another drowned,

tho third has been made away with in some other ingenious way. Tho living is getting dearer, aud the lives of people arc beginuing to go for nothing 1"

"Bad reports are reaching us from the South of liussia. The high prices of bread and of other most necessary products for consumption are increasing to such a late that nobody is able to recollect such prices for the last twenty years. These prices are generally ascribed to the fact that the beetles have been destroying of late a large part of the crops in that part of the country; but are these insects .also to blame for the dearncss of salt, of meat, and fuel ? The rye is already at nine roubles (19 shillings) for a tshetverfc, and such an unheard of price is greatly affecting for the worso the prices on other indisponsible articles of living. Oue fathom of wood two yards long, costs now 42 roubles (£4 7s). People now begin to heat their stoves with straw, paying

1 rouble 20 kopeks (3s sd) for 3b" English pounds of it; the peasants arc eating even now moat only twelve days in the year, their chief support is black bread, and that is said soon to become even dearer than it ia now. ''Such arc the accounts from the South," continues the " Golos." " But what have we to boast of in the North ? In less than two years the bread has been raised 75 per cent., and the salt 50 per cent. As to the white broad,

the former loaf of 5 kopeka ia sold vow for

10 kopeks, and so on. The same Uto be observed of the meat. And how are we to account for it? The epizooty is not ; stronger now than it was in former times ; the cattle are brought to the capital at a cheaper rate by the railways, which have been extended all over tii3 country during the last ten or fifteen years, and the meat is, nevertheless, getting dearer and dearer everyday."

" More than a year has passed since the project of rule 3 for the primary rural schools has been published. Some of the schools are closed, others are allowed to exist as private schoob, and the teachers are not to trespass in any way the narrow boundaries of the programme drawn upfor tbeseschools. We know an instance where a teacher in a rural school of the district of St. Petersburg was dismissed silely because lie dared to entertain his pupils about the usefulness of the domestic animals—a topic which was not mentioned in the ollicial programme for instruction. The nature of trades was fixed for the villages by the commissions, as they thought best, and now there are villages whose chief occupation is confined to forging, and the fabrication of warm woollen boots worn by the peasants ; whilst the boys of such villages, according to the new regulations, are forcibly put to ap prenticeship to the business of joiners, notwithstanding the fact, that there is sometimes not one tree to be found iv the neighbourhood of their villages. What does it mutter upon ihe whole? The system must be applied; and the boys may lisa eaith as material, if they live, instead of wood."

To intensify these miseries, clip Iberia is raging with fearful severity in fifteen Governments of the empire, carrying off thousands of children. The corres pondent gives a graphic description of the trial of a party of Nihilists, in which tho tragic surroundings are strik ingly contrasted with the hollowness of the judical inquiry. Among the accused were two noblemen, one a more boy, an officer of artillery, a solicitor, a medical student, a collegiate registrar, and a woman, with an infant only a few clays old, in her arms. They were accused of belonging to a secret society. Wo read how the groat officers of state, tho nobles, the generals, and even the priests, were admitted by ticket to wit ness the grand spectacle of those poor wretches vainly defending themselves against sixty witnesses for the prosecu tion ; how the woman, a beautiful girl of nineteen, fainted in the hall in sight of all those grandees, with the baby at her breast, while her husband, at the sound of her voice " had a sort of fit;" and how they recovered and braced themselves up to face tlieir accusers. Tho narrative goes on to describe iv a inatter-of-fnct way, how the man exj changed glances with his wife, and was rebuked for no doing by the President, and how Myrsky, the husband " once let nn impatient imprecation escape him " when a witness was under ex amination. Furthor on the correspon dent describes how another woman, (he wifo of a prisoner named Golovina, was compelled to give evidence against her husband, and how she uttered, "in a voice of intenso despair," " Oh, Myrsky, wherefore have you ruined me," and then fell down in a swoon and was carried out of court. Tho sixty witnesses triumphed, Myrsky was sentenced to death, some banished to Siberia for life, and others condemned to labour in the fortresses. Myrsky, when he ap peared before tho Judges next day " attired in a dress coat and irreproach able white cravat," passively heard the sentence of death by hanging, and calmly thanked the Court for tho leniency shewn to his companions. Such is a picture of lifo as it is in Russia. It is enough to make us all foi'vuutly thiink God that we live under a fieo constitution, and cherish the memory of the men who moulded it.

Our usual weekly story appears on the fourth page of this issue. The title is " Told in the Firelight." The sample of maizo tram Mount Albert, exhibited a few weeks ago at Mr It. Brewin's, has been put in the shade moat completely by an importation, now on view at tho shop of Mr Layers, which is M feet 7 inches in height, with .stems like those of young tree?. This latter maize corn was grown on the farm of Mr C. Tothill, at Mauuu, near Whangarei, and is the finest we have yet seen from any part of the province.

The members of the Naval Brigades mus tered almost to a man la»t evening iv the Drill-shed for inspection, under Major Withers. The men, dressed in white frocks and straw hats made quite an interesting appearance. Captain?Loltoy, who is most regular and attentive in his ollicial duties, takes a kind of paternal interest iv his men. We learn, also, that there is much harmony and good fellowship in the Brigade. Sub- Lieutenants Parker and Smith took their part ellicioutly in the proceedings. Tho men were put through their drill and mili tary movements with much satisfaction. The attention of tiic men was called to the District order for all volunteers to be in at tendance on Monday evening tor Colonel Leckie's inspection, and Major Withers ex prcsicd a wish that the brigade would muster in full numbers. At the close of the inspection, the band marched through Queen-street to the wharf, playing several lively and attractive airs.

It having been reported that the land at tho junction of Edwin and Pitt-streets, Newton, bad been purchased for the pur pose of erecting an Hotel, a preliminary meeting of residents, was held last evening at the residence of Mr Goad, for the purposo of taking steps to oppose the granting a license for any house iv the neighbourhood, there being no necessity for the same. Mr F. Cherry was elected chairman and treasurer, and Mr S. Worms, secretary. A sub-committee was appointed to take im mediate .action. It was resolved that every effort should be made to prevent the grant ing of any such license as it would be cal culated to disturb tho peace of tho in habitants. It was resolved that a petition be at once drawn up, and signatures obtained thereto, praying that the license be refused. A further meeting will shortly take place, which will be duly advertised.

To the Editor : Sir, —Not long since a re port from tho Waste Lands Board appeared to the effect that Mr Davics, of Npar.ua> wahia, had informed that body of his having discovered gold on the Waipa. I presume the Board have instituted the necessary steps to satisfy themselves of the value of the discovery. It would be unfair towards Mr Davies (who, I presume, is an old digger) and the public genoially to let tho matter drop. Should it, however, turn out that Mr Diivio3' information was not founded on fact, the public have a right to the knowledge. For my part, I attach little importance to it. The district has been too well prospected of old to admit of anything richer than mundic or blue rubble being found iv that neglected neighbourhood. — I am, Anti-Humbug, Thames.

The Kussell Regatta, which is announced to take place on Wednesday next, promises to be very successful. The Union Com pany's steamer To Anau leaves this port for Kussell on Monday evening, and will arrive tin re on the following morning. Visitors proceeding by her will have ample time to visit the coal mines on the Tuesday, aud the Regatta On Wednesday. She "leaves Russell again on the evening of tho Kcgatta, arriving back at Auckland early on Thurs day morning. The charge for return tickets is 20s each. The lona will also make an excursion, leavi'iv* on Monday evening, and returning on Friday morning. Return tickets will be issued at single fares. We have received a copy of the regatta pro gramme, which is a very good one indeed. Provision has been made for a race between the loaded colliers, and there is also a race for colliers in ballast. There will be two whale.boatcontests.oue rowingandtho other sailing. One of the principle items on the programme is the Maori war canoe race, with a crew of not less than twenty men in each boat. In the good old days, the war canoe race was one of the most interesting events at the Auckland Regatta, but it is now some years since one took place here. In addition to the above, there arc races for skiffs not"exceeding 20ft. keel, pulling two oars, with coxswain; decked boats under seven tons ; diugies not exceeding twelve feet, pulling sculls ; open sailing boats not exceeding 17ft, Civ. keel; open boats not exceeding 20ft. keel; and ordinary passen ger boats, not exceeding 20ft. keel, pulling two oars. The programme, on the whole, is an attractive oue, and doubtless many will take advantage of this opportunity thus afforded of witnessing it, inspecting the coal mines, and of exchancing for two days, the dull routine of daily business, lor a plcasaut trip up North.

We are requested to remind persons who require water laid on that applications are attended in the order received. Those who apply earliest get their work attended to accordingly.

The New Zealand Boot and Shoe Manufactory will commence business on Monday next in the premises in Elliott street, lately in the occupation of Messrs Kattens and Sheppard. Every aiticle is made of the best material, and ladies and gentlemen should make a point of paying the shop a visit.

Mr X, Maginn, of Albert-street, desires us to state that he is not the Mnginn that was locked up in the police-station ; aud that he does not run after barmaids, as such a re port is likely to injure him iv his business.

The Treasurer of the Parnell Orphan Home acknowledges with thanks the re ceipt of £14 3s 3d from the Secretary ot the Unit:d Friendly Societies Demonstrations

The matter of inviting plans and speci fications for a school at Waitakerei has been postponed by the Board of Education.

The man David Cleary,who was picked up in the New North Road on Thursday night has nearly recovered. He had been drink ing heavily for some weeks, and the wound iv his head, he considers resulted from a fall against a stone by the side of the path. Mr Ewington, fortunately for the man, dis covered his position, aud obtained immedi ate assistance, or he might have perished or been run over, as Cleary was stupidly un conscious and helpless. On reaching the hospital, Dr Cooper dressed the wound, which was not so deep as at first imagined by the lavish How of blood. He was dis charged yesterday, and to-day, he appears as well as ever, with the exception of a plastered head.

Sub-Inspector Pardy and Detective Jeflery, returned last night from Albert land. The case in they have been engaged in investigating was one of cattle stealing. Their investigation led to the arrest of George Eyre, a settler at Tauhoa. The prisoner was charged on Wednesday last, before Mr Whitehorn, R.M., with driving the steer, the property of Mr Buchanan, to his own farm in the month of August last, and it was shewn in evidence that he sent the animal with others in October, to Mr Alfred Buckland's sale yard, at Kcmuera, when it was sold. Eight wit nesses wore heard, and finally Eyre was committed for trial, but was admitted to bail, himself iv £200, and two others in bonds of £100 each.

We refer the members of the Ride Bat talion and Volunteers generally to notice in our advertising columns relative to Colonel Leckie's inspection parade being the annual inspection. Iv addition to the' absentees being liable to a fine of live pounds, the clauses of the Meeting Act relating to Volunteers apply to this parade, so we would advise our defenders not to be found absent when the roll is called.

The French puoplo, who arrived by the Grillin from New Caledonia, are iv great tribulation of soul over the refusal of the owner of the vessel to deliver up their luggage unless they pay a charge, which it is alleged, he now mentions for the first time. The difficulty is likely also to lead to an action for assault. It seems that M. l'eltzcr, who has befriended his unfortu nate compatriots iv many ways since their

arrival, ou hearing of Mr Bishop's demand, went down to the vessel and interviewed the captain. He expressed h'n opinion in rigorous terms, and ho avers that the owner

assaulted him by pushing him oil' the vessel, besides making use of threatening language towards him. The facts of the ca»e will come out in due time.

The tomato is masquerading about the markets just now under mure aliases than anyone can shako a stick at. Thero are ''tomatoes," "tomaters," "tonimaytoos," " tommatusec," "tomaltoes," "tormatoes," and tlie other day a woman was heard inquiring, " How d'ye sell yer tornadoes ?"

Miss Stephenson, music teacher, intends giving a concert on the 4th March, in which she will be nssisted by her pupils and some members of the Whangarou Glee Club. In tending competitors in our forthcoming re gatta are mukingthe necessary preparations, aud if St. Patrick favours his birthday with line weather, the s x events will be well contested, and tho day's amusements finished by a soiree, concert, aud dance, if arrangements can be made for a place to dance iv. —[Correspondent. ]

Mr O. S. Ellis writes commenting upon Dr Wallis' explanation of lits signature to the requisition for a Sunday lecture. He concludes :—" The Dr charges Mr Edger with wishing to convert Sunday into a day of ' Singing and dancing.' Doubtless Mr Edger is anxious to prrovide for the people ou Sunday or any other day both vocal and instrumental music of the highest class possible ; but when lie charges Mr Edger with wishing to promote dancing ou Sunday, he deliberately tells an untruth. The fact is that mcv of the Edger type are surely up rooting the priest-cruft that is to be found in every ,s»ct of professions, aud leading the people to require something better than the irrational rot that is weekly issued from the pulpits of the churches and street corner?. Now, for another Reverend, when will Mr A. Webb reply to your correspondent, ' A Header of Dickens,' in your issuo of the 13th. I expect he believes in the maxim, ' That ho that lights and runs away will live to light another day.'"

Henceforth the Grammar .School evening classes will incut iv the new building in Symonds-strect. Last night the English and Mathematical classes assembled there for tho first time, and the students appeared to be highly pleased with the change. Iv this connection we may remind the young men of the city that it is now in their power to determine whether the efficient nnd economic means of instruction rccentlv placed at their dispo.-nl shall bo continued", or whether they shall bo removed at the cud of this quarter. The fees have been reduced to the very modcrato figure of 10a per quarter, for attendance at any one class, and 5s per quarter c*ch for attendance at any of the other classes, and this has been done, too, as an experimental measure. If the result does not prove to bo a large accession to the ranks of the pupils there is but too much reason to fear that the classes will be discon tinued altogether at the end of the present quarter, and if advantage ia not taken of the opportunity thus presented, it cannot afterwards bo said that the feoa debarred any class ot young people from doing so. We earnestly hope that the youths and maidens of Auckland will exhibit their ap preciation of theso high educational facilities by availing themselves of them without de lay.

Did you ever notice the broad, comfort able, shady-looking Leghorn hats in the milliners' wiudows ? Just buy a woman one, and the first thing she will do will be to double up her dainty list and punch a three-cornered dent on the right side ; then she will pinch the front rim down and the back rim up, and then stave in three or four more big dents at odd corners ; and when it resembles in shape an old tin pan that has been a target for a stone-throwing match, she will remark upon tho "elegance and grace" of the afl'air. But just let a man jam in one side of his hat, and he will be proclaimed a winc-bibbiug vagabond.

A curious story is told by a writer in the Manawatu "Times." Higgiusand Sprig gins were two partners, ami lately filed. Not withstanding that both gentlemen were sup posed to bo in the bauds of the Philistines, Miggius offered Spriggius a £50 note to clear out, and leave the burnt of the ruin and desolation to bo borne by him alone. The oiler was eagerly accepted, a number of creditors gave their consent, and the lucky Spriggius has now received his half a century and a clean sheet. As I happened to be one of the creditors who was uot consulted (adds tlie writer), if Higgins does not disgorge twenty shillings in tho £, I will bo very much inclined to question this high-souled gonorosity at my expense, I have witnessed a few eccen tricities ou the part of the " Shovel Brigade/ but giving a bonus for another's liabilities is a phase I have come across for tho first time.

A rather amusing incident occurred in Wellington a few days ago, anil oue which is likely to cause " trouble " to somebody. There arc iv that city two parsons of the same name. One of them occupies ;i high official position, is a leading member of his church, and a strict teetotaller. The other is neither so high, so religious, nor perhaps so abstemious as his namesake. The first is rather proud of the fact that he owes no no man anything, but thesecondisnot so for tunate. In fact he owes a good many men something, and as a natural result lie has had occasion to appear at the Resident Magistrate's Court on one or two occasions. Having been ordered by Mr Mausford to Eay one of his debts within a given time, and aviug failed to do so, a distress warrant was taken out ami given to a bailiff to execute. The bailiff knew where Mr lived, of course, and gaily marched off to do his duty. 13ut it so happened that it was the wrong Mr whose residence he knew. However, when lie reached the house he walked in by the open door, and with a bland smile produced his warrant and proceeded to make himself comfortable. It was not for some time that he could be made to understand that he had got into the wrong house, but when he discovered that fact he took his departure with con siderable promptitude. We leave our readers to imagine the horror of Mr at having his goods aud chattels seized for the non-payment of a beer bill!

Amongst the notices of motion upon the order paper of the City Council, is one to the effect that, in future, the ordinary meeting?, as well as the Committee meet ings, shall take place at C p.m., instead of 2,30 p.m., as heretofore.

Mr R. IT. [Bartlett, the well-known photographer, is now finishing portraits by the enamel process, which was discovered by a celebrated American photographer. The enamel imparts a beautiful finish, and preserves the photograph from fading or spotting through exposure to the atmosphere. Portraits executed in this style are said to b3 piactically " Beautiful for ever."

Councillor Fleming has given notice of his intention to move at the next meeting of the City Council, that a gratuity of £10 be granted to the Fire Brigade.

At the meetirgof the Board of Education yesterday afternoon a letter was received from Mr Neil Heath with respect to the necessity of enlarging the Girls' High School. It was referred to the Executive Committee.

Considerable curiosity has been excited by a cleverly-worded bill, or, in theatrical parlance, " dodger," describing a " Man from America," who was supposed to have come, down to the colonies to play havoc. Speculation has at length been set at rest by the issue of day bills connecting the mysterious individual with a play to be produced for the lirst time at the Theatre Royal tonight, when many persons will no doubt take the opportunity ot becoming acquainted with the American man and his confreres.

The Battery and Band of the jNcw Zea land Regiment of Artillery will parade at the Drill-shed on Monday next for annual inspection, under Colonel Leckie.

The Sunday services at the several chnrches of the city and suburbs arc an nounced in the usual column. The anni versary sermon at the Grafton-road Wes leyan church will be prrached by Revs. W. Morley, A. Webb, and G. Bond, Anni versary services in aid of the funds of the Newmarket Primitive Methodist connection will also be held to-morrow. Preachers : Rev. G. Bond, Rev. T. W, Dunn, and Rev. J. Long. 'Ihe evening service at the rl heatrc Royal at the usual hour.

CABLE NEWS.

EUROPEAN.

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

The Cape Command. LONDON.

February in

Coley (Lieut. General Hon. St. G. Gerald Foley ?) succeeds Sir Garnet Wolsloy.

Artificial Diamonds.

Hannah, of Glasgow,, has succeeded in manufacturing diamonds from carbon, which is likely to have a serious effect on the Yidue of diamonds.

Commercial Conference LONDON.

February 20,

The Canadian Board of Trade sug gested that the English Associated Chambers of Commerce should convene si Conference in London on the basis of the British Colonial Zollverein, the Chambers arranging for a preliminary Conference ; the colonial residents in Britain to decide whether the meeting will be of colonial home delegates next year. Some exalted personages are impli cated in the outrage at the Winter Palace.

Postal Bates LONDON.

February 20.

Sydney and Wellington colonists delay the settlement of the postal question.

The Nihilists LONDON.

February 19

By the explosion in St. Petersburg, 49 Imperial Guards were wounded and 7 killed.

[REUTERS SPECIAL CABLEGRAMS.]

Bank of England Keserve

LONDON,

February 19. Tlie total reserve in notes and bullion in the Bank of England is £16,625,000.

The Wool Sales

At the wool auctions during the past week 102,000 bales have been catalogued. The eeneral tone of the sales is iirm and wool is in active demand.

g The Nihilist Plot, ST. PETERSBURG.

February 19.

It has been ascertained that the mine under the Winter Palace was tired by a battery at :i time when the family, attended by servants, were actually cutoriug the saloon. A number of the latter were seriously injured. The affair has caused a great sensation aud a large number of arrests have taken place in consequence.

The "Wool Sales. LONDON.

February IS. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's report is as follows :—

Wool.—The sales opened with spirit, on the 17th, at an average advance of id to Hd. Up to dato 199,000 bales have arrived. 250,000 bales arevadmissable. 122,000 bales have been sent to the manufacturing dis tricts direct. The opening catalogue con tained 7,000 bales. The competition by both homo aud foreign buyers is active. Superior greasy has advanced Id to lAd per Ib. Combing, washed and scoured,"have advanced 2d. Clothing, washed, has ad vanced Id ;| crossbred combing, washed have advanced 2d since the close of last sales. In lambs wool, the market la unchanged.

Leather. —Basils: The market is easier,

AUSTRALIAN.

[KEUTEK'S SPECIAL CABLEGRAMS. |

Election. SYDNEY.

Saturday

W. Hezlett has been elected member for Paddingtou, in the Legislative Assembly, in place of Sutherland, resigucd. Hezlctt, favours the Government education scheme. The Exhibition. Instructions have been issued that tho Exhibition is to be closed on the 20th of April. Attacked by an Alligator. BRISBANE. Saturday. A man while bathiug in the Kautree River yesterday, was attacked by an alliga tor, which seized him iv the thigh, and crushed, and chewed him severely. alligator iimilly slipped his hold, and es caped. The Comet. The steamer Mecumicr, from Singapore, reports that the comet was seen iv Torres Strait. The ncuclcus was very red~and quite visible1 ™ The Elections. MELBOURNE. February 20. Seventy-ono horses paid up for the Aus traliim Cup. Suwarrow is chief favourite, hundred to fifteen. Sccundus, Sweetmeat, and Darriwell are fairly supported. The Cavaliere Goyzulta, a resident in Melbourne, was appoiuted Italian Consul for Australia. Commercial. SYDNEY. February 20. Brandy—llennossy's case, 35s to 37s ; quarts, 11s 6d to 12 ; kerosene (diamond), Is 2d ; Devoo'a, Is 4d to Is 9id; Patna rice, £20 to £21 ; New Zealand wheat, 4s ; Now Zealand oats, 2a 6'd; New South Wales maize, 2s 3d to 2s Cd; tobacco, Raven's twist, Is 5d ; sugars, Company's No 1, £50 • caudles, U.K.C.,7d to Sid. ADELAIDE. February 20. Wheat is linn at 4s Sd per bushel: flour £10 15s to £11.

PORT ALBERT AGRICULTURAL SHOW.

The above will take place on Febuary 26th and promises to be a very,, ' great success. As a frail growing district, the North is superior to any in the colony, this department of the exhibition is always superior to that of any other show held in New Zealand. Intending visitors may leave Auckland in the City of Cork, either on Monday evening at 3 p.m., or Tue3day morning at 7 o'clock.

TELEGRAPHIC.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

HAMILTON, thi3 day. PLEURO-PNEUMONIA.

The "Waikato Times" calls on every member of the Cambridge Farmers' Club to attend the Meeting on Monday, and co-op erate with the Auckland Agricultural Society in urging the Government to take instant measures to stamp out pleuro-pneu monia. Referring to shipments coming from Sydney it demands that they should not be suffered to land. A mob of cattle has arrived from Taurauga cousigued to Mr A. Buckland.

ALEXANDRA, Friday,

At the Resideut Magistrate's Court, held to-day, in Crown v. Kelly, a serious assault case, the defendant pleaded guilty, and was fined £5 and costs, £4 4s.

(PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

DUNEDIN, this <3ay.

KAITANGATA RELIEF FUND. The Kaitangata fund trustees have dis tributed during the year £14G4. There have been four additional claimants^ on the fund, and four widows have re-married. DEATH FROM SUNSTROKE. Thomas Breen, engaged on the Govern ment survey staff, Tuapeka district, died of sunstroke received at Waipori, aged 21. He was unmarried. The Dunedin Artillery are practising vigorously for the dismounting competition at the Easter Review on Thursday. The work is done in three minutes. Roslyu is endeavouring to have an English church built there. STEAM COMMUNICATION WITH WEST COAST. The Chamber of Commerce has received the following telegram from Mr Oliver, re steam communication with the West Coast ports:-"The Premier tells me upon dis cussing pottal estimates iv Committee of Supply, thelexpenditure for the service was strongly objected to, and it was pointed out that this was only to keep the ports south of Hokitika in communication with the rest of the world, and that tor this purpose communication v;itu Hokitika, or Grey mouth would suffice. I promised to endea vour to reduce this expenditure by inviting tenders for the service from one of the.larger West Coast Ports, and is only acting up to that promise, to prevent Dunedin steam boat owners tendering for the service, but the colony generally would not be content to subsidise ?. steamer to run from Dunedin, at much greater expense than is war anted.

NAPIER, Friday

A preaentation was made at the City Council meeting of the ltoyal Humane Society's medal to Mr Hugh Connor, who has at different times saved nine lives, six of them at Auckland. The meeting was crowded by the public. The Taupo correspondent of the "Herald" telegraphs that the famous White Terrace, at Hotomahana, has become discoloured, presumably owing to the action of oxide of iron in the water.' It is becoming pink in colour. The dispute about Mr Harding's IViount Vernon property has been peaceably arranged by Major Scully. And the natives seek legal advice, Mr Harding undertaking not to proceed with the fencing in the meantime.

WELLINGTON, Friday

A man named George Longhurst, ivas arrested this morning on a charge of rape on his cousin, Elizabeth Adam?, eight years old. Ihe particulars of the case are of a disgusting nature.

NELSON, Friday.

The girl Annie Scanlan, charged on re mand with attempting suicide, was dismissed with a caution.

CHRISTCHUECH, Friday,

The K.M., has decided that the Act of Charles 11., prohibiting Sunday trading, is not in force here, and the charges against Marks for selling fruit were accordingly dis missed.

Another fire has just been reported. On Thursday night the slaughterhouse of Mr II 15. Blanc, butcher, on Lincoln Road, was burued down with all its contcuts. The damages are estimated at £400 ; insurance, £200, in the New Zealand.- No cause is at present giveii.

"i csterday morning a fire broke out in the back kitchen of Hatbaway'a store, East Ox ford Buildings, which were soon burned down, and the East Oxford. Town Hall caught before assistance could arrive, and was also destroyed.

Complaints are madeof Gresinthe Kakaia district, caused by the locomotives, which are very dangerous, and threaten to bum valuable crops if not seen to in time.

A reaper and binder at work in a field in the Kakaia district caught lire by some means, and was burned. The horses were saved, and so were the crops, niter some trouble. The origin is supposed to have been a lighted match, carelessly thrown in the machine.

The insurance on the East Oxford fire are :—Hall, £30J, South British ; Uatha way's store and contents, £100 National, £525 New Zealand. Very little was saved from cither place, except the furniturefiom the hall. The fire took place atl o'clock this afternoon. The origin is unknown. The loss, as far as is known, is £1000 on the store, and £6.0 on tho hull.

The following are successful candidates for the University Scholarships in the order named ;—Jos. Grossman, Christ's College, Cluistclmrch; Louis Cohen, private tutor, Christchurch ; James Grossman, Girls' H'gh School, Christchurch; Hy. Brock Harvey, Wellington College ; Peter Alexander Lind say, HighSohool,""Dunedin; Henry Watson, Christ's College, Christchurch ; Hy. Thos. Purchas, Christ's Colleae, Christchurch; Robt. Francis Irvin, West Christchurch School; Hy. Cioss, private tutor; Wm. Hughes Field, Wellington College. The last two were equal. It will ba seen that six out of ten hail from Christchurch.

This day.

AN ANTI-CHINIQUIIE,

Mr Mosely gives another anti-Chiuiquy lecture in the Oddfellows Hall to-night, promising startling revelations. WORKING MEN'S SPECIAL SETTLE MENT. A Deputation to-day waited on Mr Roliestou asking him to grant a special set tlement to working-men here, who have formed themselves into a Society. Mr Rolleston held that the better plan would be for them to take up laud on the deferred payments system, as the special settlement, involved great difficulty. He gave no defi nite answer, as sufficient information was not laid before him ; bat ottered facilities 1.0 applicants to inspect and choose a block when they could communicate with him agaiu. SICKNESS ON AN ENGLISH SHIP. The s.s. Wanaka spoke the ship Wcstland f.om Plymouth tor this port, S6 day out, oil' Le Bous Bay, this morning. Sue ro portcd two deaths from scarlatina, ami that there were several cases of measles and scarlatina under medical treatment.

OAMARU, this day. DROWNED AT SEA.

A man, supposed to be Mr Gilchrist, was drowned on the trip of the Beautiful fc tar from Dunediu to Oamarur He was scon rolling on the forecastle, aud afterwards rolled to the side, and then overboard. The steamer remained near tne place for about three hours, and the boats were lowered, but the search was unavailing.

ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION CLAIMS.

Thk following compensation claims, ad ditional to the list we have already pub lished, have been received at the City Council Offices duriug the past week : —

Irish Famine Belief Fund.

The Mayor acknowledges the receipt of the following subscriptions : — Collected by Mr Hodgson in the Pirongia district: Isaac Hodgson, £1 ss; Edward G. McMinn, £1 ; Win. Jordan, £1 ; A. Thompson, 5s ; James McGuirk, £1; David Kolls, 10s ; J. Fortune, 10s ; H. Zolful, £1 • H. Southey, ss; Win. Beet, ss; John Byrne, £1 ; F. McMiun, 10s ; Jas. Bowand, ss; M. Gill, ss. Total, £10 Is. Collected by Dr. Kidd : 10s. Collected by Rev. Bly Ashwell: £5.

Musical Notes.

Nothing of interest has occurrd '> \ land during the past week I 1; ' *' hope the public of Auckland will elm*?* ward, and sustain their reputation music loving public, by endeavjiuinr, ? S f tain the presence of the I.yster One™ i< pany before they take their departure?" the Australian colonies. Their sue • sufficient inducement to Aucklandif '" a they may be sure that they will obtain t?' 4 moneys worth, if they can prevail,, beit Company to perform/ If affi j& f?' c be opened, I have no doubt plenty KM willing to give. It will baa stain J* fair scutcheon of Auckland, if w °ntli° allow the opportunity to go by withom. °P', e ing themselves of it. Jvu<w>utavail. A correspondent wrote under the „„„' . plume of " Pro bono publico," sayL t^f? was wrong in saying that the "Carnival,) Vemse" was written by Schonlboff t sorry for the mistake. The "n • m de Venise " has been arranged by niim"^ composers, among whom I may m!!' 1' Layland, Oesten, Schoulhoff Vo« c* °n etc Stone's and Layland's are mofe dilhcult pieces for piano s>| o n«f , y Schoulhoil-s, and Voss' are dirlicul & these Store and Layland have arranged fh piece as a duet, and so has Bache Sn t from pai taking more of therevery itstr. i me that it was a very common place arran ment, but perhaps the "reveiy" w a made sufficiently noticeable. Ithdiffi^n to say who was the original compose, 0 this pretty and taking air, but it serves f young composers to work upon. N ei ,i every composer commences to try hi s .if's in giving an airangement of the Cdrnivi I am gldd to see that the remarks and advice have been received, and I oulv trn » that they may acted upon. m

THEATRE ROYAL.

The "Shaughraun" has been produce* successfully every evening until Thursday when "Uory O More" was performed 0 Friday an enterlainment was given in n ;j of the Irish Famine Kelief Fun.], TV evening the " Man from America "will if presented. ' De

AMERICAN NOTES.

New Yokk.

Ilaverley's Theatre opened with "Th» Tourist?.'' The pieca although stupid in th extreme, and although severely criticised by competent critics, continues to draw sood houses. b w

At the Grand Opera House, "The Dan ites" was revived. This drama is 6 ti|i exceedingly attractive, a fact made clear by the large houses which nightly greet it with enthusiasm. Mr and Mrs Eankin in tho two parts which they have made familiar were not less pleasant than on former occasions. Mr Sheridan sustained the character of Louis Aldrich. The remainder of the company creditably sustained their parts. At Niblo's, "The Galley Slave" ffas produced, having been transferred from Haverly's theatre. The play achieved an undoubted success at the down town theatre.

At Tony Pastor's theatre, Lina Titten. born is the chief attraction. She takes the character of Tina the Milkvender. The play is simply attrocioiis, but Miss Tittenborn makes an exceedingly pleasant impression At the Theatre Comique the Mulligan Guard Christmas has been vastly popular the house being crammed each evening. ' The San Francisco Minstrels have never enjoyed a more profitable season than the present one. The bill contains many good selections, and it is one of the jollieat entertainments to be found in New York.

Rosenkranz and Gueldenstern, a farce held the boards for an entire weekatthe Germania Theatre.

"THE PIBATES."

This new piece is from the pen of Arthur Sullivan, the libretto being written by Mr W. S. Gilbert. Apparently there is noth-

ing in the work, as the "New York Drama-

tic News" critic speaks of it in the follow by no means measured terms:—"Thereii

just enough in The Pirates of Penzanceto I save it from failure. That is to say, its general effect is one of brightness and - pleasantness. Mr Sullivan has never done anything so poorly as the music of this

work, and Mr Gilbert was evidently tired when he conceived (he plot of thel silly work. Yet it is well put upon the stage and well rehearsed, and this has a great deal to do with the temporary success it hat obtained at the Fifth Avenue. Buttocom. pare it with that bright gem called " Pina fore" is no compliment to either Mr Sullivan ; or Mr Gilbert, and a decided insult to the intelligence of the public/ Speaking of the singing the same critic says :—" The two successes in the cast arc the General Stanley, by Mr Ryley, who is a very clever actor, and the Sergeant of Police, of Mr Clifton, which is done with a seriousness that is doubly amusing. The Pirate Chic of John Broccolini is simply vile, both in voiceand action." "The Pirates" will pro-' bably be a success of curiosity for a short :) ■, time, but it will never obtain the reputation and success of " Pinafore." At the Standard Theatre, " Evangeline" has been produced. The house was very well filled, and the piece was well mounted. Mile. Jarbeau sustained the leading A concert was given at the Grand Opera 1 House on Sundiy night, the principal features being Mdme. Chatterton-Bohrer, Howard Keynolds," and Bernard Mollen haucr. Mdme. Bohrer was received with favour, and her selections were skilfully performed. Mr Reynolds played the cornet •' with his usual success, and showed himself completely master of this instrument. "Fatiuitza" still continues to draw- \ crowded houses at the Tlialia Theatre. Mdlle. Cotlrelly takes the role of Vladimir, Miss Meta as Princess Lydia, Herr Schnelle as the Reporter, Herr Ado'phi kaufcehn koff, and Herr Lube as Izzet Pasli?, were

That Pinafore no longer draws crowded houses is, of course, mainly due to tbe fart r that Pioafoie is utterly worn out. But'tin : cause to which the failures of other merito- I rious operas are assignable, must Tie found \ : elsewhere. Fashions are ephemeral, and without regard to their individual popular ity, they must sooner or later wear ont. > Last season light opera was the fashion, and the country afforded sufficient resources to giro the seekers all they could consumeot their favourite article.

In New York there are 600,000 person! who attend the theatres twice a month. Oat - of this numbev ISO.OOO never pay. being the recipients of free passe?, under the pemio- ..-; ous deadhead system.

Pleuro-Pneumonia Amongst Cattle.

A meeting of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association was held yesterday afternoon at the rooms, Haymarket, Mr A. | Bucklaud being in the chair. There were about thirty other members present Tn6 ~ Chairman aunounced that the meeting bad been called in consequence of the published statements of Messrs Ireland and Kinloca that pleuro-pncumonia had broken out , amongst the cattle os the district, and that I several animals had died from it. It seemed B that Mr Kiulock had taken the trouble to , make a post mortem examination of one of the beasts, and had pronounced the disease from which it had suffered, pleuro* pneumonia of a viiulent type. . A discussion ensued, in the court* « which Mr Kinloch reported the result of an examination which he had made of a cow belonging to Messrs Ireland Brothers, which had died. He had no doubt that pleuro pneumonia was the cause of dean. The following resolution was eventually proposed, seconded, and agreed to:—. "Resolved, that in consequence of pleaw pneumonia having appeared in an aggra- | vated form in cattle imported late'y irom New South Wales, this society, atameetjng held this day, respectfully request that w» Government take immediate steps to pro hibit cattle being imported from toe Aus-

tralian Colonies." ,_! It was subsequently agreed thatarerer" mary surgeon should be appointed to iMpecj before they were lunded, those cattle wfliw are now on their way to the port, and w" chairman and Mr May having been depujeo to wait upoii the Hesideut Minister, tfl«

meeting dissolved,

THE DEPUTATION.

In fulfilment of the task assigned them, Messrs May and Bucklaod sought »nu , obtained au interview with the Hon. Attorney-General duriug the afternoon. ,j Mr Buckland shortly explained w nature of their mission, and then P«* nS? the resolution which had been passed atio . meeting of the Association. , l^. The Hon. Mr Whitaker pointed out J vagueness of the term "Allstr? ll, ayv e ff nies," inasmuch as it not only IQC>VyV,fSS South Wales, the colony from whicii k ' sought to prohibit the importation oica* . but that it also covered places so ww : apart as Fiji and Tasmania He ™ , however, he said, look into the act •' to see whether a proclamation cam made affecting this district, and nm . whole colony. , d y n ot I Mr Buckland observed that they am import cattle in the South, and tuai_ , I people only imported for studP"TO, r e- Mr Whitaker promised to io™*ta£i,ht 1 solution to the Government, saying w had no doubt it would be acted on.

THE AUCKLAND EVENING* START'S A T UItDAY, FEBII V\T\Y 21, 1880.



Claimant. Amount. Stroet. Jamoi Burke ..£100.. .. Victoria-street Trustee of Ilios. Outhwa-to .. 200.. Wutorloo Quadrant William Orr .. 100 .. .. urahamVreat Alax. llominp; .. 10 .. .. Union-street William Coopur .. 200 .. .. Victoria-street wr 1"^^1^ - 75 Victoria-atreet Khzabcth Dover .. 75.. .. Graham street Peter MoDormott.. 350 „ Nelson & Victoria St. C. F. Rayner .. 400 .. welson & Victoria st.



Special Advertisements. HARLICK & f(KANWELL Have Just Added tj their Stock JO CASKS OF . -OEDSTKADS! Ex 'Loch Urb.' NOW ON VIEW THE LARGKST AND BEST ASSORTMENT OF Brass and Iron Bedsteads IS AUCKLAND. Our Last Importations (JU3T OPENED) are Direct from the Manufacturers, and Despatched to us before the Rise in the Price of Iron. We shall SELL this Shipment at OLD RATES. Handsome Half-tester Bedstead sfr. -wide (extra large) Hand3ome Half-te3ter Bedstead -lift. ~ 3ift. „ ~ French ~ alltizss, up to JJft. wide COTS, with Open and Perforated Sides, CHILDREN'S BEDSTEADS, &C UPWARDS OF QflA BEDSTEADS TO SELECT FROM, AND VERY CHEAP. T^URNISH "yOUR TTOUSE FROM THE CITY HALL FURNISHING ARCADE. FURNITURE .. 5 per ct. Discount for Cast UAHPETS .. „ 5 „ Discount „ LINOLEUM ..5 „ Discount „ OILCLOTHS ..5 „ Discount BEDDING .. ..5 „ Discount „ BEDSTEAD 3 ..5 „ Discount „ TOILETWARE .. 5 „ Discount „ TOILET & PIER GLASSES— ..5 „ Discount „ FBNDEKS&IRONS 5 ~ Discount Book Catalogues Sbnt Free. DESIGNS AND ESTIMATES GIVEN. /^ARLICK & riKAKWELL CITY HALL ARCADE, Auckland. \ FEW GOOD REASONS FOR MAKING YOURIPURCHASES AT THE ■jyKW yEALAND QLOTHING FACTORY. Tlio Materials are mannfactnred In Now Zealand. The Garments are made in New Zealand. The Monpy is exponded in Now Zealand. Tho Stock to telert from is the largeßt in Now Zealand. The Cut and Trimmings are equal to bespoke. The Prices, considering the qnalityjmd finish, aro lower than those of any other house in Now Zealand. And notwithstanding tho extra tariff just imposed in New Zealand, there is K& NO ADVANCE IN PRICES! You can still purchase A SINGLE GARMENT AT THE WHOLESALES PRICE FBOM THE New Zealand Clothing Factory. Auckland Retail Brancii : Q U B Iffi !1N - S T R |E S T, Opposite Theatre Roy Tl/J ILNIS & /1 11 OY C I Havei now ron view'a Complete Assortment o (the most beautiful SPRING GOODS of every description, from tho best Home maiKets. MILLINBRY, in Paris and English STRAW GOODS, FLOWERS, FEATHERS VISITJCS and MANTLE 3, in Silk and Cash moro JACKETS, in Coloured Summer Cloth OLIVIAS, in Cashmere, Silk, &,o. CHILDREN'S HOS ■', in Cotton, Lisle.and Sill LADIK3' HO JE, in Cotton, Lisle, and Silk PARACHUTKS. UMBRELLAS, RIBBONS KID GLOVK3, Black, White, and Coloured 1, 2,1, and 6 button UNDRESSED KID GLOVES, 2 and i button An Immense Stock of DRKSS GOODS, in all th< newest and most lashionablo styles anc texiares, all marked exceedingly moderate BABY LIMKN, CHILDREN'S AND LADIES UNDERCLOTHING, in great variety. BOYS' [KNICKERBOCKERS, HOSIERY, HATi COLLARS, ETC. A Completo Assortment of Calicos, Flannels Linens, &c. dressJand mantle-making on the pbemisits F ye per Cent, Discount allowed for Cash. MILNE & CHOYCE CHEAPSIDE HOUBH. GREAT "OAKGAINS REAT JDaRGAINS GREAT BARGAINS I GREAT BARGAINS! GREAT BARGAINS JUST OPENED, A SPLENDID LINE OF J||EN'S rpwEED gl/ITS, AT 27 s 6 D- W OKTK iO3. ONE CASK j^fEN'S JTLAX gHIRTS, With Collars, AT 4 s 6 D- Worth G3 6d. ONE BALE gUPER. gLANKETS, 13 s 6 D- Worth 20j. Inspection epecially invited to OUR OWN MAKE OF BOYS' PLAITED TUNIC SUITS, From T OS. V Note -mE Address— J. B. ROBINSON A UCKLAND /CLOTHING T^ACTORY. NEXT MESSRS TONKS & CO.'S AUCTION MART. /"\UR HKEAI QAL£ OK MEN'S AND BOYb' CLOTHING, HATS, CAPS, AND SHIRTS, COMMENCES THIS' EVENING. A! 1 the New Bliipmenls recently received Trill be BDlrl at SALE T>RICKS. ALE A HIDES, ,T. COSORAVE & CC.



Special Advertisments. [ESTABLISHED A.D. 1853.1 ILLIAM TO ATTKAY, DRAPER, CI OTHIER, SILK MERCER, AND MERCHANT TAILOR, 66, Queen-street, Auckland, Has Just Received a LARGE ASSORTMENT OP CALICOS, LINENS, TABLE DAMASKS, DAMASK TABLE CLOTHS AND NAPKINS, HUCKABACK & TURKISH TOWELS, COUNTERPANES, AND OTHER TfiURNISHING "DEQUISITES, Which were bought during the recent depression in English Trade, and will be offered at proportionately LOW PRICES. Note the Address— 66, QUEEN-STREET, AUCKLAND (Opposite the Bank of New Zealand). r\ N SALE, Kearsloy's Combined Reapers and Mower Mangold and Turnip Drills Turnip Sl'.cors Oilcake Breakers Winnowing Machines Lawn Mowers. Also, TO ARRIVE, PER 'INGLEWOOD,' Coulter's Corn, Mangold, Turnip, and Manuro Drills, combined And Ploughs, double and[slsglo Harrows HoUera &c. &c. «c Tho'above goods are imported directed rom the manufacturers, and will be Bold cheap to make room for further shipments. t7. J. HURST & CO., 161. Queen-atroet.



Each of tho four seasons brings in ita train some hurt to the human systom. Spring is prone to stir up the biliary secretions. Hummer to enervato the frame and auperinduco lassitude. Tho dews of Autumn aro known to bn dolctorous, and tho inclemency ani Buddon sevoro changes of winter, try the best constitutions. It Is there fore both politic and prudent, to keep on hand, Id variably, a good supply of Udolpho Wolfo'a Schiedam Aromatic Schnapps.



TOWN EDITION. PUBLISHED AT 1.30.



Members of No. 3 Company are directed by district orders to parade in full dress uniform for inspection by Colonel Leckie ou Monday evening next at 7 o'clock sharp, all leave of absence being cancelled.