SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

„,„„ ,„ . „,„,„ j This Evening, 2.23 HIGH WATER■[ To .nion-ow Morning, 3.3 SUNSKT.-Thls Evening, 7.18. BUNIUBE.—To-morrow Morniiig.l.oa MOON'S AGE.-New Moon, 9th, 0.3S p.m.

ARRIVALS.

TO-DAY. ' Wairarapa. p.p.. Chalileld, ftmBMIO« Welllngtoa, S.s,, Farqahirj from lanranga

DEPARTURES.

LAST EVENING. Glenelg, s.s., Stephenson, for Ru sell Ocean, schooner, Rust, for Whangarei . Opetiki. schooner, Collings, for Whangarei . Fanny Kelly, ketch, Williams.for Mougonui 10ne,;.»,, Johneon, for whaugarel

to-day. Wairarapa, s s„ Chatliold, for the South

EXPORTS.

Per Na'fid. for Molbonrno (to bo loaded at Meroury Bay) —220.010 t tlmtior.

I-WARD3 COA'TWl3s;.—tnke Super or, from Paklrl, with 20,000 reetbanltc t'mber; Lake>Bt. t l»lr, from Waiwora, with 17,000 feot ti obsr; VVa'rarapc, from Russell, with SGO tons ooa>. Cctwai'DS COASTWISE.-Wnipu, for Rua aia ; Lake St. Clair, lor Grown. •

The s.s. Wairaiapa left for Melbourno and outhern ports at noon to-day with a large quantity of sundry merchandise,i}nd ilic fonow iog passengers :—Jlisses Louric, McDonald, ana Shannugban, Mr, Sirs, and Mies Dean (Sydney). Lieut. Archer.Mcsdamcs BatUcy and Gal oway, Mr and Mra Porter, Miss Battfey.Messrs Lynch Whittle, Jenkins, Douse, Lander, Spurwny, and W. Webber.

Thea.p, Wellington arrlred from Taurangaat 6.31 am today. Passengers:—Mesyra Suite, McGratb. Rider, Murdooa (2), McLennan, Ketu'oy. R:th. Mwdamea Bnohanau and Mur doch, Messrs Clarfceon (J), ani Murdcob. CariO: 25 saoks gum, i tons snnd ies,

The s.s. Botorua, wh'oh may bs osreotod from Southern ports en Saturday evcnlne, is announced to Ibavo for Luvuka and Suva (Fiji) at 5 p in. on tbe llth inalant.

Tbe brig Naiad oUared at the Customs to day tor Melbourne, via Mercury Bay.

' The barque Andrea Rus entered outwards at the Customs this morning for Nowcsstle.

The brlgantine Ada O.Owen Is expected to aiU this evening far Mongonul wbore tho will load for Melbourne.

Mail Notice.

S2aim win Ctoas as UrniEn.--

rms DAS. For Tauranga, Ohlnomntu, and Ojjotikl, por Wclinaton.otlp.ro. Friday, sth Instant. For Waitara, etc, per MacgroKor, at 8 n.m. For Thames, por Rotomahana, at 9 a.m. , For Walheke and Coromandei, per Cora i mandol, at 2 30 p.m. 1 For Whangarel Heads, Parua.Waipu. Whanga rel, Kamo, Tanglbua, and Maugapai, por Argyle, at 1 p.m. For Thames, por Enterprise, at 5.30 cm. Saturday, 6th instant. For Waterford. sni Tauranga, por Rjtoma ffibana, at 9 a.m. , oc i homes, per Rotomahana, at M 0 a.m. For Waiwora, Mahurangl, Matakana, Manga wa', otc, por Roso Casey, at 10 B,m. Wkdnksday, 10th Instant. For Lcvukft and Savft, per Rotors p.. at 1 p»m. For Australian Colonies, por City of Sydney, Immediately attor hor arrival from Honolulu. For Taranaki and Southern Ports, per Talcwa immediately at lor arrival ot City ot Sydney. Si B. BIS 3, Chief Postmaster, Chief I'cai-oflloo. Auokland.

Meetings, Entertainments, Etc.

Ja:',l-akv 1, ISS3-

Abbott's Opera House—J'livcnilo Company, Harlequin Jack live Giant Killer, 3 p.m.

Theatre Koynl— Hey wood's Novelty Company, Sp.ci.

Amorloan Novelty Hall, Qioon-ntroot Exhi bition of Palntinßß of Kgypviau War aud Pro sontatlou ot ul{ m, 7 p.m. to IU p.m. Y.ll.C.A.—Devotional, 7.30 p.m.

Marriage.

WALKER—O'NEAL.—On tho 80th of Decem ber, ISB2, at St. Patrlok's Cathedral, Auckland, George Braithwaitc Walker, only son of tho lato W. J. Walker, of Kauaoranga Valley, Thames, to Julia O'Neal, daughter of Patrick O'Neal, of County Kerry, Ireland,

Deaths.

SYMONDS.-On January 3rd, nt his lato resi dence, Onehunga, John Jeriuyii Symonds, late Judgo N. L. Court; aged G7 years. The funeral will lenvo at 3 o'clock on Friday, olh Inst. Friends aro invited to attend.

ICEAN—On January Ith, at her parents resi dence, Albert-street, Annie Mabel, youni-ost daughter of William and Emily Kcaii; aged 13 months. Tho funeral will loave her parent's rcsidenco on Saturday, 6tb January, at 3 o'clock,

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

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 1883.

Tor tha cause that lacks assistant:*. For the wrong that needs resisttnea For tha future In the distance, And tho eood that we can do.

The tightness in the money matkot now experienced in Now Zealand is not a local stringoucy, but prevails throughout A'istralasia. Iho resources of all the banks a re stiainid, and in Victoria the rate of in terest on deposits has been raised to 4, 5, and 6 per cent, on sums lodged for three s'x, and twelve months respectively, This icuiarkablo change ia the tono of the money market has, of course, beeu the subject of considerable comment aad inquiry, and the la-.t issue of the "Banking Record " takes a rather gloomy view of the financial I outlook, It says that the position cf tho banks doing business iv Australasia ou the 30th of September last, was as follows :— Advances £83.031,003 Coin and bullion hold. .. 10.757,1132 Landed property held .. 2,021,51)0 Notes and bills o£ other banks a - ... .. 305,103 £90,779,203 Doposits ..£00,171,972 Noto circulation .. .. 5,110,163 Bills in circulation .. .. 302,129 £71.881,201 Difference, hems: amount provided from tbe banks own resources ..£21,895X29 Ibis dillerence, says the " Kccortl,' she>\vs that this is not only thecutire capital and re ' sources of the banks but ban neeesi-i taUd tht-ir borrowing £5,500,312 from outside sourcts. i The right of the "Keoord" to place the ! £10,757,632 coin and bullion iv the account | against tho banks is, however, fairly ques tioned, and it has been contended that ihe money is really jiart oi the resources available for the public, aud formed that uuuscd capitul of which M-s-rs Wm, Wcstgarth and Co., in their circular of tho £sth August, remark:—" The large bal ances of'spare money hold horc by the Anglo-Australian hanks for the iatt two i years are now being all returned for lull I employment at the other side at advancing ratts oi discount." Thus treatou, tho 1 banks are stilt within their resources. Eut even so, the statement is not one that affords much encouragement to the belief that the tightness will only be temporary. The view taken by the " ltecoril" is, indeed, a rather too despondent one, though perhaps not unwarranted by the state of iflairs revealed in the bauk returns.

A remedy for the stringency mmt, of course, be preceded by a careful inquiry into its cause j and a series of tables carefully compiled by the Mclbiurne "Ago" prove, we think, pretty conclu sively that excessive importation has had much to do with the unfavourable balance. The President of tbe Bank of A ew Zealand gave a timely warning on this subject at the . last meeting of shareholders, and his remarks upon the monetary drain lequiied lo defiay tho cost of the heavy importsaie fully borno out by the official leturna. The imports to the various colonies from tho United King dom alone for ISS2 exceeded those of 1831 in New Zealand by 33 per cent.; in Vic toria, by 25 per cent.; in New South Wales, 33 per cent.; and Queensland, nearly 100 percent. The Australian colo nies as a whole, therefore, hnd to find £1,620,000 additional to pay ihe United Kingdom for increased shipments from her ports. The imports from other countries bave been increased in proportion. Now, as the President of the Bank obsorved, it ia not necessary to go into any theories of political economy to know that if orders are sent away for goods their cost must be met somehow; and it is chielly met, in tbe first iastanco, at anyrate, by reliance on the banks. The Bank returns for the year ending tbe 30th of September last prore that the public have—no doubi, with some encouragement from bank managers—leaned upon tho resources of the banks to an unprecedented degree 'Ihe following table shews the advances made by the banks in tbe last two years with tho increase in 1882 :—

With an increase of £16,217,779 in their advances', the banks were aidid only to tho extent of £5,016,173 by increased deposits, leaving them £11,171,606 to provide from other sources: hence the absorption of the gold accumulations in London. Banks have no royal road to the acquisition of securities, and they may be as much the victims of over trading as a merchant or a tradesman, and, In this enormous increase in advances, we can hardly fail to recognise some evidence of undue encouragement to speculation. Allowing for the excessive impoits, which \ve may admit are to a large extent beyond the control of the banks, there are still increased advances to the extent of some thing like ten millions sterling as compared with tbe previous year; and upon tbo minds of those who are acquainted with the actual working of bauk transactions there cannot bo much doubt that the banks have in many instances held out inducements to undertakings which they now find them selves unable •to support. The strain caused by these investments b lets easily rectified than an excess ot imports, aud can only be checked ia many instances at a ruinous saciifice. The ex-, atuiuation into the causes of the monetary stringency, therefore, proves that region-, sibility for it lies largely at the doors of the banks themselves, and if it is incuml|pt upon importers and other customers ol ] banks to draw in tho rein, ie is j also incumbent on the banks to j deal very gently wilh enterprises which i have been called into existence by promises j of liberal treatment which the exigencies of the money market now'render it almost impossibly to fulfil.

Constable Bern arrested a man named John Delaney to-day on a charge of steal ing a quantity of harness, value £30, the property of James Kelly, at TauraDga, on September 7th, Prisoner will be brought up at the Police Court to-morrow. The p;rformanco of Hayward's Novelly Company at tbe Theatre Royal last even ing was but moderately attended. The entertainment was, however, successful in every respect. Por this evening an entire change of programme is announced. *

Madame Mummcrhayes, a pianisto of English and Colonial repute, purposes leaving Nelson for Auckland on January sth, and will give a concert or recitation during her stay in this city.

Tn our ropmt list c.veiling relative to the death cf Mr James Henry Smith, by poisoo, wc were in error in stating that the de ceased was for many years general secretary to the «'ddfollows. Mr Henry James Smith, who holds that office, is an Auck land resident of twenty years standing, and is still in the employ of Messrs Archibald Clark aud Son», where he has been for Ihe last fifteen years, The fact of both gentle men having at ono time boon iv the same employ, and the great similarity ot the names, caused the li:vor referred to,

To the Fditor: Sir,—Our locnl hands j discourse excollent music j they have gone far beyond tho early stages of "blast nnd' blare ;" and when they waft their sweetness ] from the baud stand iv the Albert Park they will be encircled by "a dense crowd ot delighted listeners, it ciiclo so wide, that my poor friend Wells will look in vain tbe following morning for a single floweret. And what a glorious perch tor the larrikins at those times will be the b.itin of the fountain,—Yours faithfully, T, B. HaKNA FOKB.

The following cisrs were called at the Police Couit yesterday: — John Goodwin, lined la and costs for pei mil ting a horsa to bo at large in tho Market Square ; Mrs Holmes, of Mount Eden, charged with using threatening language to her mother in-law. At tho request of Mr Browning this case was adjourned until Friday, in view of a settlement ot family diflcicnccs, Charles Mock paid an instalment towards the support of his children, and agreed to pay regularly in future.

"Harlequin J»ck, tho Giant Killer," was performed last evening at Abbott's Opera House, with immense success. 'I ho junto mine is livc'y aud interesting throughout, and elicited roars of laughter. Ihe Fairy Globe, with its glittering associations, was greatly admired, aud every novelty passed oil' with eclat. The musical accompani ments were excellent, Tho proprietors have determined upon giving a mid-day performance oh Saturday for the con venience of country visitors.

To the Editor : Sir,—As accidents are oc curringalmost daily, through the using of our thoroughfares for bicyclo exercise, 1 think it time something was done to check, if not stop, people from tenritg along at the rate they do. The'accident to Potter's 'bus on tho Whau road is an instance, and a man bowling along aud coniiug up with out sound or warning is enough to flighten any horse. I have seen four accidents happen within ton days through bicycles, if something is not done for the protection of drivers and horseman, there will be a serious Uii-hip, aud then, when too late, something will bo done. Ne man _is always prepared for his horse jumping rom one side to tuoj other of tho road.— \ours, &c , P. MOKI4.IUT, Eden Terrace,

An old time jiroverbial pbilo ophor truly wrote, "Wco to theo, O hind wbon thy king is a child," and had he lived in this advanced nineteenth century of ours he might have adeled "Woe to thee, O racing stable, whose owner is a woman," (July the other day wo read in ihe .English papers of tho troublo caused by that well kuown sportswoman, tho Duchess of Mon trose ; and quito recently Auckland has supp'ied a parallel, A lady who owns a number of race hoists, had set licr heart on winoiug the Auckland Cup, and indeed so confident had she beeu ot success, that the defeat of her horse had a tcrriblo eli'tui on her nerves ami bur tc-mper. Swooping down on her unfortunate trainer, shu accused him iv no measured terms of sell ing tho race, and then severely castigated him with her gingham. It is not improbable that the full facts will be elucidated through tbo modium of the Police Court.

Tho following story is told by the writer of " Kchocs from the C'fe" in the " Wni kato Thins"—"The other day I beard a tiue story about a lady (of course she U a litdy) belonging to our local would-be itriE iourncy. '1 bough owning a number oi houses, she lives ia a hired ho'.ise>, which has been for some time in the hands of one of our local agents for tale, A gentleman who wished to buy the bouse went to look at it, accompanied by bis wife and a clerk from the laud agent's oilicc. Ho knocked at tho door and naked whether Mrs Blank was at home, and was laid by (ho girl who answered Ihe door that sho was not. He informed tiic girl of his errand and said that it would probably be better to return v.iirn the lady of tho bouse was there. Tin giil told him tbat the dii not think that U'cct sary, but that he might po through the house then. He allowed bis wife to go into such of the rooms as the j^irl took her into, and he contented himsell with looking at the outsido of tho bouse and at tho.,grounds and oiliccs. 'Lite result was to satisfactory that be bought (he property, Tne next day he received a most abnsivo letter from the ' laity ' who was occupying tho house, telling him that he had been guilty of the grossest rude ness, that she strongly objected to ''tramps and other loose characters " prowling about her house, and tint slm h»d jilaoed herself and her property under the pretention of the police, t'f conric he diet not acknow ledge the receipt of htr letter or reply to it in any way, bufmercly wrote her a polite note, informing her that he had bought tho house, and giving her itrmal notice to quit. Ol such is tbo would-be aristocracy of Auckland."

Our London correspandout writes:—Her Majesty in her Privy Council bus before now had many important colonial appeals to decide, but none appears to have involved larger issues than tho great Hew Zca'and vrill case of l'hotles v. Bhodes, recently decided. It will bo remembered that thongh the Lords of the Council ruled in favour of tbo appellaut Miss Mary Aane Khodcs (thereby upsetting the decision of tho Supremo Court at Wellington), thsy directed that tho costs oi all parties should be paid out of the estate. Three sets rf solicitors were engaged and tbe arguments lasted sis days. The importance of the appeal aud the anxiety of the Government p to give the petitions of colouM subjects due attention is shown by the fact that besides the four ordinary judges, Lord Blackburn and Lord Watson attended the bearing. The costs incurred iv Unhand have now been taxed, and amount to the good round sum of £2810. Mr Benjamin, QC, the appel lant's leading counsel, bad 250 guineas on his brief, besides refreshers and consulta tion fees everyday. The Attornojr-Gcner.il acting lor the next of kin, had a like sum. Thero were also two junior counsel on each side, and the trustees paid 100 guineas to counsel to watch the esse on their behalf. These costs are in addition tv those in curred in New Zealand, so that the lawyers seem to have hud fully their fair share ol the late lumcntod Knowlcs's four millions, It may be interesting to mention that the for I unate litigant, M iss M ary Au ne Knowlcs, heard the case, and, before, she returned home, had the honour of hunting with the Empress of Auitria.

Many cf our readers will remember the visit pain to Auckland some years ago by Mr G. Wright, who was canvassing on behalf of an extensive gazetteer, which be intended to publish on his return to Aew York. He has since travelled through Australasia, America, and India, and as the result of his labonrs, has now issued the "Commercial Directory and Gazetteer." The volume is a very large one, containing fully 2000 pages, and is replete with infor mation concerning the seven colonies with which it professes to deal. It is a complete handbook of trades, professions, commerce and manu factures in the Australian Colonies, and possesses special value from the fact that it is the only work that embraces all tho colonies, and is one of tho largest Direc tories published in the world. Tho Mel bourne "Age,'' referring to the Direct ry, says it forms a "handbook of trades, pro fessions, commerce, and manufactures in the Australian Colonies, and includes a supplement ou the trades of ludia and the Uuited States. The Australian portion of the work, wbich is its principal part, combines general description with lucal details accompanied by directories of trades and professions. • The Directory isj alphabetically arranged by towns, Use name of each manufacturer, trader, or jiro fessional man appearing under his town and calling. To facilitate reference, the various sections of tbe book devoted to different colonies or countries are printed oa papers of different thus, aud the name is alto printed ou the edges of tiie leaves, an arrangement which will be appreciated by all who have to consult the volume ! with frequency. The "Gazetter" is furnished with handsome colouied maps mado expressly for this work under the direction of Mr Gaylord Watson, of New York. County maps arc given of the Aus tralian Colonies, showing all railroads, coach roads, towns, cities, stations, &c, The printing and binding of tbe book are maiked by that excellence which is com- j mon with the American pres-." Mr Wright is now staying at the Koyal Malt ; Hot-Ji, where applications for copies by those not already subscribers may be for- I warded, j

Mr F. Porkr and family left inilios.B' | Wairaiapa lis Fnglami to-day, via tbe ■ South and Australia. Mr J. Sheehan was I a passenger to Napier. I

The residents ol Upper Sytnonds-sjr-'ct complain of tae danger to vehicles arising from the heaps of weeds and other rubb'sh left on the roadside by the city workmen.

By a typographic il error in tho last two issues the price of stalls at tha Thcatio Koyal has beeu made to appear 2a instotd ti 2* Gd, the proper amount. This exp'ani tion will no rtuubt satisfy those persons who felt themselves a?giicveclat the ticket cilice last evening,

It is understood thai; the new Pedigree Stock Company are negotiating with the Auckland Stud Company tn amalgamate. The combination would bn a powerful one, and is the only thing necessary to make the new Pedigree Stock Company the most impoitant brooding es ablishmmt in Aus tralasia.

There will be no meeting cf tho City Council to-n glit and the business therefore stands postponed till Thursuay evening next.

An extraordinary mcotieg of Barrett's Gold Mining Company was to have boon held in Mr Stodait's olUee this afternoon, but it lapsed for want of a quorum.

A cricket match will be played on Satur day in ihe Domain between the linns of T. and S Mor.in and E. Porter and Co Morrin's ■ Cole (captain) T. L. Drumnn nd, It. A. Druniniond, Swanson Keep, Clay ton, Leonard, t'oiiieilitld, Farquhar, Shep herd and George; emergencies: Cole bourne, and Wallace. Portci's: Mogioie (captain), Summer, Ctsiuch, Nelson, Stoke*, Lambert, Sainton, Meg-or, Smart, Clayton, and Alfred Porter.

Owing to the illness of Mr Cecil Girdner, the "Penny Time TaMe" for Janua-y is later than usual iv making its appearance. U will, however, ba published to-morrow morning, and con lie obtained from the runners and from all beo'cscllera aud stationers. This Now Year's numbor contains much new and valuable informa tion.

Charles Ererett, ono of the youths con victed nt the luvercargill sessions of bur glary, addrctscd the jury on bis behalf, and concluded with this appeal: —" Wo now await tho angelic sound, not guilty, aid may God direct you so." The stern logio of tho facts pteson'od by I lies Crown had more weight with the jury than what the "News" terms tho prisoner's "rough eloquence."

A promenade concert and ball by Dean's Minstrels will tike place at the Ction,l Hall on tbo29th hist, in aid of the iundsot tic Naval Brigade Band. An entirely new jjrjgrnnimc is announced.

The bead of one of the clothing fact'lies in Melbourne informed tho rcprcscntntii c ct the "Ago" that they employed about •100 hands and turned cut about 12,000 garments per week, exporting niott of them to Sjdnoy and New Zealand. Last year there were 70 clothing factories in V.ctoiia, employing 5391 hand*, the great majority of whom were females. The value of this class of goods expoi ted from Melbourne last year was £226,203.

An entertainment of a musical and lite rary caaiaeter will bo f;iveu to-morrow (Friday) evening in tno Epsom Hall, in aid of ttie buildin;; fund. Tbe programme is seasonable, and specially attractive, with promises of soucs, music, and original sketches. At the close of this portion of tiic bill of fare the disciples of Terpsichore will havo an opportunity of footing it on tho boards to the sounds of Paganiuian instrument*, under the inilueuco of Vesta and the girls of. the district.

A lad namcel James Jones, n son of a farmer at Sheopwash, iv the Sandhurst dis tiict, Victoria, has been dangerously in jured through being gored by a bull belonging to 1113 father. The animal was well-known to bo vicious. Jones, who was running, fell, and was tosscil several times iv the air, and wan picked up insensible ; several ribs wore brskon, and his luoga were injured,' also there wore severe cuts and bruises on his head and bctly.

Articles have been Bigned and Ihe first d'pof-itof £100 a-ide made, for a seullisg race between lay cock and Ru«h on the Clarence River on March 10th next. Tho stakes are to ho £500 aside, and the dis tance 'Ah nd'es. Mr F. Punch has been appointed stakeholder and rtfoico. Ttc second deposit of £50 in the match between M'DoaaM and Clifford, which is to. t.-.ke pl.VfiC on 10'h February over the champion enur.se, Parrnmatta Hirer, has been mado good. The stakes are £100 aside.

To Urn Ivii'or : Sir,—Kindly allow me lo

ask lluoiigU your columns, tlioie who are in n'posil.io'u to answer, whether the lour, talked of niatcb between the Victerii -i .'■} Ko. " o(i!i)',a>!i's i-i likely to b»mm.ite. An eviden'ly well founded rfcrsattr is now gaining currency, to tho ell'ect that, sur prised and dismayed at the unexpected acceptation of tho Victoria challenge by .No. I!, the former company is using every possible subterfuge to secure 1 thesubrcr.-i'U of tho match. It is duo in. all fairness to the "shots" of bjtb companies, that the leadcs should meet at once aud arrange preliminaries, place tho stakes, or p»rt, in trustworthy bauds, and thus put an end to the cxctsst.ro diUtoriuess which is so characteristic of some volunteer companies. —I am, eSic., CASDOUK.

A notico is gazetted that tbe sum f £0,000, voted br parliament for distribu tion lo public libraries*will bo distributed on the Slit January, 188U, and no claim will bo considered that shall not have been sent in due form, and reeiivcd by tbo Sec retary for education, Wollincton, btf >re tho 22nd January, 1883. Evory public library maintained by rates will be entitled t,o share in Ihe distribution accor ding to its income fiom rates; and every library maintained by subscriptions aud voluntary contributions will bo en titled to share according to its income from subscript'ons and voluu'ary contributions : Provided in either case that admission to tho library, if withia a borouuh, is open to tbe public freo of charge. Tho distribu tion will not be in proportion to the several inclines of the libraries; but a nominal addition of £25 will bo mado to the .-.mount of each income, and tbo vote of jCh',ooo will he divided in proportion to tbe amounts as thus augmented, Applications to share in the distribution must be made iv tho form of a statutory declaration, a copy of wbich appears in the "N. Z. Gezetto" of Ucecmbcr 2Sth.

We havj received a copy of the wall almanao for 18S3, issued by tbe Govern ment Insurance L'ep rtmont, hut we canuot congratulate tho authorities on what they have tutno 1 out, It is quite timo that t.o Government set the example of eneturagius; local industry, trnd not going outside tbe c lony for work which can be execute! equaly'well w thin it. The ulmauac be fore ua was pcibted by a B'rraiophnm firm ; but whether ths design is also English does not appear At »ny rata it is po w enough. A badly-drawn Bn aunia, s aodiog in an impas'lble position oa the cuive of a i.loba, holds iv one ban I the orthodox shield, and ia the other an i gly flat;, displaying the ad vant; gas of iv ur ng with tin Government. In tho lour comers of the desisru are stuck four willow-pattern plates. Why plates— dinner plr.tes—should bi there, why the plates should be of tbe willow-pittcrn, which )s charac eristic ot Chin* if of any laDtl on the earth we are unable to under stand. Possibly the designer, who modestly veils his. identity under tlie epithet " Phizo;," intended si me mystic cabalistic signification by "those symbols, incompre h.'nsib'c to the uninitiated. We fail to untestand why the design could not have been of a co'ouial character, something in tbe sains direction wbich the New Zealand Insurance Company have so successfully followed wi'hthiir little calendar for the present year.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Onehunga Borough Council was held on Tuesday night last. Present—the Mayor ((J. T. Cod Jin), Hartnetl, Earle, Tapp, Hastie, Jackson, aud Lundon. Cr Lunetou moved that the minutes of the 18th Dec. be not now read as they aro not the minutes of the preceding meeting and arc irregular. A lively scene took place over this motion which completely quashed all tbo business of the meeting. The Mayor ruled that no business would be proceeded with until the minutes of the ISth De e-ember be mail and confirmed. Cr lundon said, the ruling of tho Mayor would bring discredit on tbe Council. He would not withdraw his motion, Let the farce go on. He rend a clause ,froiu the Municipal Corporation Act to support his argument. Cr Jackson moved that tho initiates of the 18th December hi tow read. ( airieel - 4 to 3. Cr Jackson said that Cr Hustle was riding in Cr. Lun don's saddle. Some uncomplimentary re marks ensued. Cr Jacksm declared he would not b* insulted by Cr Hastie. Cr Hastie would cot be insulted by Cr Jack son, He was an independent inti". At this sage of the proceedings tho burgesses present enjoyed the fun immensely, and en gaged iv a discussion amongst themselves, It appeared tbat the Council was not in clined to proceed with business, and Cr Jackson moved that the Council now ad journ until next Monday nighf. The Mayor put the motion and it wa3 carried.— (Own Correspondent).

ff. A, Vivian, J. M, Morrison, aDd W. Moldrum of Auckland have passed tl(j Civil. Service examinations.

The rules and regulations under the Law Practitioners Act, given under the hanel of the iiva Judges ot tie ' upeme Courf, with tho subjects of examination for admission to tho bar, appear iv the liozetto of tho 2Sth December.

During the New Year holidays two mem bers of the Auckland Bicycle Club—Messrs Alfred Barllett (soo of Mr Bartle^, jeweller) and W. Johnson, of Kempthorne, Prosser, aud Go's. — *'machined" from Auckland to Mo cor and back in one day. The distance is S8 miles, nnd wc arc given to understand that tbe ride is ihe longest yet performed in the povincial district, lur Bicycle Club is rapidly ginning iv strength, and many ot its members have become efficient 'cyclists. Perhaps a bicycle laco or two might be ar anged for at the next athletic carnival held here. A cinder track round the Domain cricket ground would be a boon to the 'cyclists, and would prove an additional attraction to this charming resort.

To the Editor : Sir,-To the long list of qua ilictlioiis enutnera'od by your corres pondent "Another Builder" (presumablya draughtsman) which appears iv your issue of Ihe 2oth) should he added tho not unreason able and, to my view, indispensibe qualiiicn of keeping a civil tongue iv their heads, doing whut they are lequestod when. requested, and doing it correctly, not laying claim to the work of others, aod, above al', In know their place and keep it. It is no; uausnal for a draughtsmm to sit ova ato* 1 for days doing nothing but smoking or read ing papers, which iind very convenient hiding .places under their drawing boards'! Njr is it at all an unlikely thing that aottc draughtsman or other, probably possessed of a highly-cultivated ariistical insight, may make an architect's specification tbeg ound for airing all sorts of fancied reformations of suppo cd errors in tho long-established vooibulary of technical building terms, and, in short, branding Gvtilt, Ncwkrads, and Nicholson (npt to mention a host of other*) as ignoramuses. Add to these minor accomplishment", being able to keep a pipe going all through business hours, aid the capacity and ability of being able to give any aniouut of insolence whenever and wherever they please, and you have a specimen ot draughtsmen not wholly un known to the city of Auckland.—lam, &c, Nemo.

To-morrow's "Observer" will contain: Kissing «s one ot tin lflno Arts; Hurst to tho Corn; Hlorh-toncd Burglars; tne RolllcUntt Kami as Waiwora: Mr oaunders'ltomarksblo Hat; iho Kovivai Movenioutln Tauranga; tbo "Observer" In demand; Mr Spurueon as v. Wood-snfjr&vor; Pulpit slhetohos, Key. A. Held ; Successful Men ot Uuslnesa. Motors Munio and Million, biojropby and Oaitoon: Jack and .liini', a raor c uirso idyl; Hull list of dresses m iho racoa, latest iaehtous, tpartinir. See: £5 iOi cU'oredln prizae.

SINGULAR DEATH OF MR J.H. SMITH.

Verdict: Death from Natural

Causes,

Tan coroner's inquest held before Dr Pbilson and jury, at Devonport, oa the body of Mr J. li. Smith, who died under singular circumstances on Tuesday night, concluded at a late hour yesterday, when a verdict of "Death fiom natural causes" wa3 returned. Tnis caused con siderable surprise, as judging from the presence of chloral bottles, the peculiar syuiptolis after death, and the state ment by Mrs Smith that her husband hid poisoned bimselt, it was believed he had attempted suicide as already stated. Medical testimony, however, shewed that heart disease alono would have oaused death, and that even were chloral present iv the stomach it could not be detected owing to the strong smelt of alcohol, Mrs Smith, widow of deceased, gave evi dence in a very excited manner, aud at times became very argumentative and anxious ia regard to comparatively unim portant mattcts. After giving evidence, corruborntivo of what we published lust evening, sho stateel:—After fiuding de ceased in bed with his face discoloured, 1 wts alarmed, loosened hw thirt collar aud spoke to him, but received no answer. Applied lavender water to bis face, and thou ran out and ciUee! two if heir neigh bours. Mrs Graydcnaml MrsLiitlecaine iv. Aak«d R young mini to go fur Dc Parkin sou, who arrived soon nflerwards. Deceased was dead. He was sixty-otto years of age, and not under medical advice to my know ledge, Deceased hotl been fou'tccn years in the colony. Irccognise tho two empty phials (produced), which I first saw on Tscsduy on tho dressing-table, after having applied the lavender-water to deceased's face. The bottlos arc half-ounce, and arc Libelled "Hunter's Solution of Chloral," a sedative draught, and sleep-producer, and prescribe half a teaspoouful, to be taken iv wstor. Do not know where they were obtained. On Thursday last I observed tho wrapper of the bottles lying about, and remarked to deceased that no ono had a right to supply such things to bim, Uccestscd was not in the habit of ta»ing sleeping draughts at nuht to my knowledge. He had been in Mess's Shnra's employment about six months, and was not in pecuniary diil'teul tes as far as I know. lie gave me £11 on Monday last for houxihold expenses. Ho was not of a melan choly disposition. Deceased hnd no reaaon to lay ha ids on himielf. Deceased insured his life while at Uhristchurch for £500, and had left a will. Up to the last I considered him perfectly s«uc. Sonie t;mcs his manner was such as led mo to say, "you are not what you ought to be." Deceased was a native of London. Ho lived in Christehurch for seven or eight years. He got on very well for some time. The Coroner : " Well, and what about the rest of the time."

Witness: "Well, you sec, I cannot answer such a question, ,but (grow in" eloquent) those persons who placed me ia a lunatic asylum were bribed, and when Englishmen accept of a bribe Her Majesty the Queen must know." Tho Coroner (satisfied): "Oh, I under stand.

Henry de Bohun Dcvereux deposed to seeing deceased very intoxicated on Tues day evening, and a?sistirg him part of the way home and Annie Graydon, who was with Dr. ParKiusou, described the efforts made by tho medical gentlemen to restore life.

Austiu WftHor Gardner stated that Hun tor's Solution of Chloral was a well known proprietary article, and to his knowledge, several deaths had followed its use when takeu in over doses. If a person was in a bad state ef health, he believed two bottle fuls would be poisonous.

X, C. Parkinson deposed : I oiled upon tho deceased on Tuesday, at 10 p.m. and found bim dead on his bed, partially dressed. His features were calm and placid and the eyelids closrd,pupils dilated. Thero was no froth at the mouth, but a decided smell of alcohol. Thero was no vomited matter about, or any marks of violence. Tbe wife of the deceased only was in the room. She said deceased bad taken poison, Ob terved two empty bottles labelled "Hunter's Solution of Chloral, "also a wive glass on the dressing table, which also snielled of chleral. Tha body was warm, and death had apparently taken place an hour previously, Applied tbe stomach pump and drew oft' a liquid smelling of alcohol, but did not detect the smell of chloral. Dr. McLeod arrived'about aa hour afterwards. Dr. McLeod aud myself pot formed a post mortem examination of the i body, fifteen hours after death, 'ihe body was well nourished, and showed no sign of violence externally. 'Ihe chest was first examined, an old pleuritic adhesion on both sides discovered, and partial engorgement of tbe right luog, the left being healthy. The heart was greatly hypcrtrophted and fatty; both ven trie'es empty, and only a email clot found iv tho right; tbo aortic valves were g.oatly rii'oased, being puckered aud ossified. The liver was enlarged, aud nutmegay in ap pearance The stomach contained partly undigested foad (soup), the mucous mem brane was quite denuded, and there was every mark of extensive, inflammation. The intestines were diseased.in patches. The state of the heart was sufficient to have caused death, and may have arisen fiont hard drinking. Chloral would he unsafe to administer to a drunken man. Could not say deceased had been poisoned by chloral.

John Melcod deposed : —I visited de ceased about half-past ten on 'luesday oiplit, said found Dr Pavkissou there. On exami .a'ion, had doubts as to death having ■ caken place, the body being warm, and what I considered signs of pulsation in the external iliac artery. There were no sigr.s cf stertor or breathing. Circumstances arose in the room which prevented me from carrying out his examination completely. He could not say that the state of the heait and liver was sufficient to account for doath. A portion of the contents of tbe stomach should be kept for analysis. Dr. Philson stated that thcro were no tests for detecting the presence of chloral at that stage, and tho jury after a brief consultation returned a verdict of "Death from Natural Causes."

SCINTILLATIONS.

A race horse, like the law, must always take its cmrso.

A good motto for an expressman- "Haul things to all men " I The Key. Shirley Baker's salary as] piornier of Tonga is £600 per annum. t Some men, otherwise steady-headed, can never keep their balance in a bank. Edwin Kobertson has taken over tho mail contract from Young aud Pope for the con veyance o! the mail three times weekly be twesu Tauranga and Ohincmu n. The owners' winnings at Christehurch races were :-Mason «nd Vallance, £Sl7 15s; Cutts, £193 ss; W. U'Br'eti, £163 15s ; W- C. Webb, £95 ; several small amounts making tin total £13i>2 lis The gross receipts.at the Wansanui 1< aicy Fair wero £700. Tho affair yields £200 to the Fire Brigade Building Ftiad. The total amount applied for under the Reals and Bridges Construction Bill is £080,000, iv some parts of Franco betrothed ladici wear a scarlet bow on the left shoultlor, In 3omc parts of New Zealand they weir a green b a tion the left and right shoulder alternately. It doesn't do to engage in a dispute w.th a chemist, for he always has a retort icalv. "What is this mm cha-g;d with ? asked the judge. " With whisky,, yor honour,'' replied the sententious polioeimn. A gazette proclamation alters the boun daries of the Matamata Highway District.

A reason why a p:aao was not saved at a fire wjs bectu-e none of the liremeu could play on it. There wove 9000 people at theCaledon'an Society's gathering, Dunsdin, yesterday.. Mr X, Sckoiield, the present toll-collector and pilot at the 'lliames, has been chosen to undertake the duties of Harbour Master, pending a permanent appointment beiug made,

" 1 love tbe summer," said the boarding' school girl when sho eloped with her arith metic teacher.

Mr Andrew Kay has beeu appointed Property Tax Assessor for Kihiltihi dis trict.

A jury of matrons empanelled in Ade laide to'try the allegations of_ Mis Gne, who was sentenced to death with her bu- band, that she was cncicnla, bore out the woman's statement, and the Governor has been requested to respite her. The back slums of Melbourne aro to be inspected by a strong committee, There tho Mayor is backed up by the Bishop ana members of Ihe Cabinet.

Alice Liugard, who is at present playing " Divorgons "in the States,ia advertised by her manager ai "the most beautiful woman on the American stage," Fire.) have broken out again on tbe Hamilton-Mori'iosville section of the Waikato-'l'hiimes railway, about two miles on tie Hamilton side of Mr Jenkin*' property, What is the difleicnce between a blonde and a locomotive ? One has a light head, and the other has a head-light Mr Sisaendorf always trembles when bis 'wife sings in church, with prayerful carncstnoss, "Oh, for a thousand tongues." Iv reply to a young wiiter who w'shed to know which magazine would give him he highest position quickest, a contompoiary advised, "a powder magazine, if you con tribute a iiery article." Reggie Anderson, agsd five years, son of Mr Andersen, of the Grammar School, acci dentally fell into the water, at Devosport yesterday, when fishing. Edwin Preslidge, employod by Mr Pearce, Masonic Hotel, rushed to the rescue, and throwing himself into the water, caught the boy. Mr Laehlan McGowau, tho favourite comedian, arrived by the E.M.S. City of New York. He intends to leave the stage and settle in * uckland.

THE MUSICAL FESTIVAL IN MELBOURNE.

(FItOJI THE "SYDSE* MOBNItfG HERALD.")

MELBOURNE, Tuesday. The porformanos at the nnuical festival hut night, when Handel's imperishable work, "The Messiah" was jjiveo, will be memorable in the musical annals uf this city, It w»s witnessed by the most im posing gathering of Victorian, citizens ever drtwii together to listeu to a well studied intcrprctdtioii of a rntnical masterpiece, There were at least SOOO persons present, •nd towards 9 o'clock all tbe vacant points of vantage from wbich a sight or sound of the muilcal fotces could bo obtained were iillod. The scone presented waa rematk ably grand. Tho eh dr >ittiugs were densely crowded with the chorus, cstisiatcd at con siderably over 1000 voice*. On tlie level pUtfurm in fro«t of ihesi",there was n magni ficent band of 125 performers with 25 first violins, and so on in like proportion, tho ceiductoi"(Mr Julius Siede) being in front of ail, with Mr Cordon Goocli, Miss ilice tfees, Signora Talma aad Mr Armes Beaumont on His left hand, Miss Rosin* Cnrandiei, Miss Cluistiao, nnd Signor Verdi ou his right. The galleries ou cither side were cowded to tkeir full holding Capac'iy, while the floor of the great hall, «nd Idling it from wall to wall, aud as far hack ai tho eastern nrcli under the dome, was a dunce mass. At the time when the sub lime hallelujah chorus was being performed, and the whole astemblssc of »icgcrs, as yicll as tbe audience, had upri«e», tho spectacle presented wa3 ono of tho most im posing aud magnificent ever seen in this part of Ihe world. The festival chorus must bo spoken of in kigh terms. The rendy response shown to the conductor's baton, tbo unanimity of action, the self-reliance and freedom and volnme of tone displayed by this lino body of eihoristers wero really admirable, (Mr Gordon Gooch's perform ance is vory favourably noticed by the Melbourne papers)

NEW MASTERS FOR THE GRAMMAR SCHOOL.

At the meeting of the Board of Governors of the College and Grammar School yester day afternoon, the Rsv. Thomas 'Ihistle, M.A., Oxon., was appointed to the pest ot Cla'sical English Master, ,»ud Mr Alfred H. Hlghton, M. A,, Osntub., to that of Master cf Natural Science and Mathe matics, /s both gentleman are entire strangers' to Auckland, a short statement of their respective careers and qualifications may prove interesting, The Rev, Th's. Thistle'is a Yorkshire man by Birth, a clergyman of the Church of England,.and.ho is at prosoat residing at Wellington, in tbo college of whish place, his brother holds the position of classical master, He is twenty-nine years of a»e, and but recently married. Be inar iicuhted at Oxford in 1873, was an open exhibitioner of Corpus Christi College, took the first class in Classical Moderations iv 1575, and the recond class in Litene Humaniores in 1877. In the same year he gained his B.A. degree, aud after the usual interval of three years he also took that of M.A. He is an enthusiastic lover of out door sports, aud during his collegiate course he played cricket in the College Eleven, aud rowed in tho College Aight, Ho comes recommended by the Key. J. C, Andrew of Nelson College, and the Yen. Archdeacon Thorpe of Wellington, and he also bears with him flattering testimonials from Henry Hoblen, D.D., Canon of Durham Cathedral, and late Headmaster of Durham School; S. Dill, M.A., Head roaster of Manchester Grammar School; William little, M.A., Fellow and Senior Tutor of Corpus Christi College, Oxford; Henry Nottleship, M.A , Corpus Professor of Latin in tbe University of Oxford ; Rev. T. Fotrler, M.A., L.L.i*., President of Corpus Christi,—Wajnfletr P.ofessor of Logic; Thomas Ca;c, M.A, Tutor rf Corpus Chrhti College, and formerly Fellow of Braseuosc College, Oxford. Alfred H. Highton, M.A., Cambridge, is \ Lecturer in Natural S itnee nt the Chief Collegiate School at Adelaide, to which position he was appointed in IS7S, aud bis principal reason for leaving it is bis wife'a delicacy ef health. He was educated :-t Marlboipugh Public School, tmel subsequently went to Cambridge where he graduated in dti3 course his degree being second place in the first class of Applied .Science. He also iv attached to/J^i ipcr.'F, and it#'a good criekctc. MJUptiuionial-^ arc from tbo St. Peter's College, Adelaide; Horace lamb, M.A,, Profe-sor of Matheinai-'cs in

tbe University of Adelaide, and formerly fellow of Trinity College. Oaiiil'ddpo : C. Kussell, 8.D., Dean of A-ihlutde ; Charles Morryatt, Aichdeacou of Adelaide; the Basbip of Ad el ait" c; W. li. Mullius, M.a,, Assistant-Master at Marl borough College; S. Parkinson, D.D, Tutor; William Garuett, M. i., Fellow of f>t. John's College', and Demonstrator of Experimental Physics iv the University of Cambridge ; Francis Williams, M.A., Ox n, Second Master and Barsar ot St. Peter's School, Adelaide,

Both gentlemen are spokm of a' possessed of agreeable manners and 'ne » pr^aobable character, and as having shewn' i much aptitue'e for the position of master iv a public school, while their credentials arc very satisfactory, •

CABLEGRAMS.

(SI>ECUL TO PBESS association.)

(deceived on January 4 -11.30 a.m.) LOJNDOV, December 3-6 7 a m. C .MMODOREiSISKINB. Commodore Ersltine, commanding tho Australian station, has been appointed a naval aid-dc-cauip to Her Majesty. HONOURS T-) GAMUEi'TA. Gambetta's rcmiins wore renwved to the Palaise Bourbon, where they lay in state. Trey will be inter cd at Pore La Chaise on Friday. The grief throughout tho pro vicces is profound. The Royalist press is. however, jubilant at his death. The Earl of Stamford is dead.

THE TABLES TURNED ON AN ASSISSItf.

Th' cc bailiffs who w?ro attacked in Tip. perary succeeded in killing one ot their as sailants. A rbing is feared in America.

REBUTERS TELEGRAM.

TWO MOR.fi PRO^PSSOSS FOR AUCKLAND. LuNDON, January 2. Mr Dougl.is Brown has been appointed Professor of Chemistry, and Mr George Wnlker (second Wrangler of Cambridge) Professor of Mathematics at the Auckland University College.

THE JUEATH OF M. GAMBETTA

PaBIS, January 2,

Tho French Press, referring to M. Gam betta's death, a-serts that the stability of the Republic will not in any way be endan gered by the loss if has suffered, but de c'ares tnat cmcod in the State is ah im perative necessity at the present time.

PARIS, January 2, The funeral of NT. Gambetta will tako place on the sth iost.

THE VICTORIAN LOA??.

LaISDON, January 2,

The Victorian loan is announced as being in either debentures or inscribed stock, the London and Westminster Bank having undertaken thoinsc iptioa. Theminimum is par., and the tenders are to be opened on the 7th of January.

AUSTRALIAN.

RESIGNiTIOK <F SIR H. PARSES,

SYDNEY, January 3,

The new Patliauioat opcßed to-day. Mr If. Barton, ono of tbe members for East J-ydncy, was elected Speaker, the re-elec tion of Sir G. W. Wallr.u being ncga'ived by tbe opposition by 51 votes to 47. Sir Henry Parkcs announced that the M'nistry had to idered their resignation to His Excel lency the Governor. It is expected that Mr Alexander Mewart will be summoned by Lord Loftus, and charged with the for mation of a new Ministry.

MEIrBuUBNK, January 3,

Sailed, this evening : The Union Com pany's steamship Arawata, for the Blufl'.

POLICE COURT.-This Day.

(lief re P. A. Philips, Keg., J.P.)

Trusk,—John Wil on and. Helo'se Har kins were flood 5s and 10s, 'with costs.

Neglected Child.—John Kelly, a fniall boy, wa> brought up in charge of Sergeant McMahon.—Kemandid until to morrow.

A Merry Musichn.— Thomas Mende' s-ohn was charged with being druuk and disorderly at midnight. As the disorderly cmduct consisted of a clarionette solo, S?c g,>ant White consented to withdraw it.— Fined 10s and cost*l.

DOWN >c.un,- IVzt Leslrange .was charged under the Vagrant Act wilh being an habitual drunkard, etc.- S.rgeani White produced a long catalogue of convic tions atainst Eliza —She pleaded guilty ; she had been keeping Cbris'mas, and wanted "a rest. "—His Worship coir elded a-el ordered the oii'e»der to Mount Eden for nine vnontbs.

This was aU the busin'ss.

WRECK OF THE STEAMER NEW ENGLAND.

Appalling Loss of, Life,

(From the "Sydney Morning aerald,"J

GRAFTON, December 27. GS'E of tbo moat appalling disasters that, has ever occurred iv connection with tbe Clarence "Hiverjtrade tookplaco tbis'evcnlng. The steamer Mow England, unelsr the com macd of C>ptain W. li Mann, after taking in cargo and a large number of passenger", left the Grafton Wharf this afternoon for Sydney. She proceeded down the Clarence River, and in passing outwards struck tho bar with tremendous force, »ud subeecjuently drifted to the north spit, where the vessel encountered heavy seas which washed completely over her, and in a few hours reduced the new England to a complete wreck, Tbe passengers were panic-stricken.. Both they aud crew stught every available means of escaj.e. The seas, however, wereso te'rific that comparatively few persons have been swed. Some took refuge in the rigejing, and oth-.rs in different-puts ot tee steamer—but many were washed orerboard by the wnves rh»t from time to timo almost sub merged tho vessel. The particulars as, to the cause of the disaster have not jet been ascertained, as the captain and one or two of his officers remain-d by the yes-el until the very las\ The first telegram which reached Grafton was despatched early iv the evening from Rocky Mouth, and was to tbe i fleet that the steamer had struck on tbe bar in going out, and bael become a total wreck, News was shortly afterwards received to the effect that the sea was rising, aad that one of the steamer's masts and the funnel had gene overboard. Two boat'oids rf people lauded safely, but it w.13 feared that a;I were not ashore. These fears sub cquontly proved to bo too well-grounded, as it was not long before it became known that a large number of tnese' ou board bad been washed overboard. Tbe vessel is » complete wreck on the Noith Sp"t, having parted amidships. The people who reached the shore in ihe boats wero landed on the North Reach, but a number wero left clinging to tbe fore shrouds. Three rockets were let off in the direction of the wreck, with the object of throwing a line to the vessol, hut they failed to reach her. Later on the two masts went over boatd, the ves-cl being on ber beam ends.' Tho schooner C. Walker made two t:in3 to the wreck, and saved several of the passengers The pilot boat went cut, but did not venture near the wicek ou accoun of the tremendous sea that was ruuuirig; but it was thought that if the steam launch Little Nell had been got out all might have been saved, but she unfortunately struck the bar, ami heavy seas were breaking over. There weie 53 people all told on beard the .New England, out of which number only 16 are known to be saved. Numbers were seen to be washed overboard. The captain, second officer, aud a boy were hanging on to the wreck, but with littls hope of their being saved. The disaster cauted the greatest consternation in Grafton, and the telegraph office was besieged with persons anxious to hear the latest intelligence. The latest telegrams to band states that so far as can be ascertained about 37 persons have been drowned, Amongst those saved are : —MrMcrritt, chief officer; leniaire. Ist en gineer ; Hansen, 2nd engineer, Houssant, fcrecabinsteward; Mrs Pilgrim, stewardess Messrs M'Arthy, Crear, Carr, Stave Jacsen, able seamen; By era, Kcrnen, Crceren, firemen; Graney, Erimer, chief cook; two lady passengers, Rev. Mr Watkins, Messrs Stuait, Wallback, four other passengers Whose names arc unknown, and a Ch-na man. The following are supposed to have beeu lost:—M'Farlaue, Davis, able sea men ; Jobubtan, passenger ; two stewards, Sam Weston of the Public school, aid Cowpcr. Thc-sj left on the wreck atdi<k were the captain, second officer, five pas sengers, including a boy, Mm s io ii t. Approximately 2S were saved, 0 wire drowned, 7 remain on the wreck, ami it is. aippcseel that 12 ethers are accunipd tor. The ca'go wa^a light one, consisting of a few bales of wool, and about 20 tou; tin. A public rncotin" was held," and a committee was fonntel at Yamba at -which it was determined to invite the co-operation of tbe French and Italian Consu's to aid in collecting sub criptions to recognise the bravery ot three seamen— two Italians and one Frenchman—be'oa> iug to the schooner C. Walker, who went voluntarily in a ship's small boar, and saved 10 lives when the pilot and another boat failed in tbe attemut ta sender asist ancs to tbepa=sengers . f the New Kngand Thirty pounds was collected,

The chairs of Mathematxs and Chemis try io the A uckland University have (ar. curdioK to our cablegrams to-day, been filled by hrst-cIaKS m?n,

TELEGRAMS.

(FKOM OUit OV/N CORRESPONDENT),

HAMILTON, this day THE FREEING OF HAMILTON* BRIDGE. a

The programme to-day at the f rf p ■ ing of Hamilton Bridge from t 11 will j,' follows: The Borough autho.ities l\a meet the Premier at the railway station aud drive him tj the bridge, where ater tators will bs assembled, _]_ 9 children ,f both schools will be asked to attend __M sing some appropriate pieces, and thn Hamilton band will also be invited to' tak nait in the ceremony, .after he has op clarcd the bridge free, the Premier w m t ' entertained at luncheon by the Mayor t which ihe members of the two Cou'ntv Council* and Chairmen of Highway Di triots in the vicinity of Hamilton, aud the members for the district, Mes-rs J t> Wbyte and F. A. Whitaker, win j,e t vited, In the evening there will bo a W , ball in the Volunteer Hall for sue! of th. burge:ses as choose to be there, and at • which refreshments will be proviaed At 2.30 p.m. the Premier arrives, and nru ceeds on to the bridge, wlure the author! ties of all the local bodies of Waikatu and : Waipa are invited to take part ia ttie cere mony, The Premier will then read a re«o" lntioii as follows :-" lint, as the GovtHs ment have provided for the repayment of the outstanding bridge loan viz., £0 700 the tolls hitherto charged by tie Council be abolished from Thursday, the 4th of January, ISB3, by the Hamilton Boroush Council." Ihe Premier, in his nddres dee'ares the bridge free from Thur*dav' 'J he party then proceed to Jthe Commer ciul Hotel, where a dinuer will be provided by J. C. Mdoe, A ball takes place at 8 I p.m., in the public hall, to which all ■ burgesses are invited by inviUtion, About: one hundred couples will take part. :

OHAEA WAI, this day, Mr Moss was hete this morning &H Kustel, and left for Kaikohe, whtre tha natives have asked him to meet them to consult about their land.

THAMES, this day,- : The big pump will be stopped for a day or two for overhaul of machinery and boilers. The contractors have driven 85 I feet, __~' Prince Imperial.-i start has been . made to sink a winze on the reef at No, i level, at appoint about 35 feet west of the shaft. Driving has also been commenced eastward on the leader recently cut h thel cross-cut. About 5 feet of it is stripped but no quartz has yet been broken, Tbe' country m the shaft is tighter but cooSl progress is bjing made The stopea west"' are looking well, and good cold was visible in. the roof and face of it o. 8 stope yesier day. Small parcels of picked stoee _mtl ■ to hand every breaking.

(PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.) !"' GISBORNE, this day I Nominations for the handicap* of thr Poverty Bay Turf Club Meeting, 1883 ''fel' close on Saturday next at 9 p.m., afiffif 1 Masonic Hotel, Gisbome. ;{•■ iieavy rains bave set in, with iadicnliani of floods in low-tying districts. WaNGaNUI, this day, The crops sre fullering considerably hon continued dry weather, and the eraos is : 1 burnt up in many places. W»LLINGTOtV, this day, The Customs returns for the colony hi * month wore £113,395; beer duty, £7073 I For the corresponding roostb, 1881, m 1 were: Customs, £I'JB,BSI ; beer duty 1 £6,598. For the nine months, April ioD<e! I inclusive, tbe customs duties amounted to I £1,119,282; beer duty, '£45,495. , I CHRISTCHDRCH, this day. '[ THE DEATH ON THIS RAILWAY, 1 At the inquest on the body .oE-Jusel' | 1 bomson, who was ki led on the railway^; j Monday last, the evidence showed thit | di ceasid had been dri«kt'ng /or some tjme \ past, and was alone at tbe time of the1 \ accident, which wssnot observed by atyof I the other passengers by the train. ' t Af CLPESJT TO AN ARIILLERY4IAN, f During the firing of tbe salute ou'tlt-tj arrival of ±iia Excellency Sir Jsaes * Prcndcrgast at the dock jesterdav, t gunner who was to carry cartridges iron ' the limber to the gin wss standing with |i charge in his hand too near lo the rnnalijl while tbe gun v.'ai being sponged Cit, 1 The strong wind that was blowiug at tie-I lime carried a spark from the gun oald 1 the cvtrielfe which * asher was holdißg,.; | and exploded i', inflicting some ccviii J| burns on his arms, brea«i, and neck. The | wh»Jc of the front of his tunic wasilii"§ burnt away. jij A MIRACULOUS ESC*PE, j On Tuesday, as the last train frets l! Southbridßc was near Pebbletoß, lit I engine-driver observed a little child aboil I 18 months old, on the line. Be wMiIW:-| repeatedly, but tse child bad cot sr« Th enough to run away. Brak«s were put ti, l;i but the engine was rot stopped in limit § aud tbe cowcatcher pushed the child off to p line, bruising one side of the iaco Mi f4 head rather badly, she was immediite!; i taken to a doctor and attended to| and jet *| terdsy was doing yery well. DUNEDISf, I his day. I The Equitable Co. had no risk oa til M "•! tuartslreet buildings. The Victoria toi''! arL-k of £700, butlt is alleged to hivett j| tied at noon the same day. Law proceed- $jj ings arc likely to eventuate. S

THE CHARGE AGAINST W. W. GUDGEON.

[BY TELEGSUPH —OWN CORRESPOSDESt.) fjjj THAMfS, this day, -, The cha-ge of assault with* intent bratj|| by Mr Ehrenfried against W. W- Gudg» , was remsr.dcd till Saturday, owing to fc • absence of Mr Hesketh, the defendant* counsel.

SHCOTING A WIFE AT SOUTHLAND.

'■» * (BY TELUGRAPH-OWN COBIt SPOKDBI i| INVERGARGILL.thisdny, || At the Police Court, to-day a rabbits'. .: named James Mnlliolland, was'brought ij ' ; and remanded ou the charge of hiving,« '. New Year's Day, discharged a loadteix at bis wife, with intent to do hergriena m bodily ham. lhe parties lite at Jeltisj H Kiver, iv Oreti, a riding of* ,SoM«#'|| County, and the accused fired -tboiljß tbe door, on the other tide of which Hi** m was pressing in eider to keep bim but, .11* B ball struck tier stays and grazed the}*p* M The wound inflicted is Dot.«eriom£*»Jß there is a danger of erysipelas, Itisbiiw ■■-;■ stood that Mulholland was jeialotfs of bß£ wife, who is considerably vsuneer'ttw *." v.

Attempted Incendiarism at Cambridge.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN COBRESPOSD' iS; CAMBRIDGE, this day. * A malicious attempt to burn down*! premises of George Dickiosm, bookseller,. Duke-sfrect, was made early this nioraisjj I It appeals that some person had g«tW*| , a quantity of straw and other inflanuMS^l I matter against lbs fide of the prearseMli having put a match to i', went-i-wj I leaving it burning Fortunatelyi S fire appears to have died out •"Jjj charring the boards. MrDickinsonba™ discovered the circumstance comniusio'^s | with Constable Brennan. A vagrant n«J»™| James Murphy was subsequently ar^?-,.| lon suspicion. As the wind had beeu bBJ | ing during the morning, there is doubt tPe ' if thn lire had caught hold tcver.d tv^;. pounds worth of damage would bui ■ - - 'lone, n't the place is in' the very centra,'J} ihe town.

Mr Walter Boynolde, the vrelU»K| actor, with M.'rs Reynolds, went to,,*,,jJ Francisco in the Cilv" of New York »>v| on the look-out for novelties for,tec R,| olr Emv-AiiD Wu.m'ot. tha phJfi'U:;:^s whena youth..solar none in consunii:.*JJ Vj- Dr. Uadciiffi), whom h.-hadconsnltvi&aggta Mends no hope o£ l.is recovery. V, £ iv, B»l the as*' of ninety three I upon which J-' _,M nerdon note 3: " This has been the.case mat soma others who had many ermptomSj"JSß| sumption Iv youth.' Modern research. w > , cine has now provided many: lnvainaDu. t dies for coneiimpti«irfcr9S9Wid and chesig , plaints. The combination o£HypoPlio-P "^ ~ Limo and Quinine with I lie healingsKuw p^, (orhlucgunU^ias been thoJricansjtf 'Wm and permoiieiitiy curing suets peases, j ■ i&i ,, in K thuifa peculiarly rcj.'^M'? "v t« ection,Afackin*a Syrup ot .^ffiTteiWEß Hypon>phitc of Lime and Wl™%stffl_l miUtlKiffll preparation special! j invent"- "^gM rjlM© Sufferers from chest aftccaons,. *& y, ¥»ew Zealand Drue Company.

TBI AUCKLAND E^ERINO STAK THURSDAY. JANUARY 4-



Victor!» .. ., N. s. Wales _ New Zealand S. Australia.. Queensland .. Tasmania W. Australia..

30th Sept,, 1881. £ 2l,3ifi.778 19 713,162 12.487.818 6.154,417 4 882 986 1,753 638 476,897 66,816 821

30th Sept., 1832. & 25.5U0.iai 24,410 529 15,057,108 8 536 585 6,791 715 2,013 874 551,768 78,455,737

(noreaee. i 4,253,118 4,097 007 2,669 260 2,102.168 1,908.750 298.236 06 871 16,217,779

Totals ..



Special Advertisements B R ETT'S AUCKLAND ALMANAC, THIS DAY PUBLISHED. NOW ON SALE AT ALL THE BOOKSELLERS AND STATIONERS. PRICE-ONE SHILLING, With Map of Waitemata Harboub. •\rORWICH UNION KIKE INSUR i.I ANCB SOCIETY. Established 179 7. Amount Insured ezo _____-£150,000,000 . Lossespald___ ..__.....63,764,000 THIS SOCIETY, Well known for a liberality in Its dealings, and for promptitude In the settlement of claims, la prepared to accept bisks on BVEBY INSURABLE DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY. AT GREATLY KEDUCED KATES. LOSSES PAID by Ohcane on Society s Bank ers in Auckland, without reference elsewhere, Immediately after production of PROOF OF LOBS. WILLIAM T. J. BELL, Provincial Districts of Auokland and 1 ranoki N.B.—All Monies received In New Zealand are Invested In the Companr. -nrr O X I O E WAICKU AHD ONEHUNGA STEAM NAVIGA TION COMPANY (LIMITBD), MB GEORGE VAU3K hag this day boen ap pointed Agent for the abovo Company at One hunga. Tne Directors have Inßtrnoted him to demand Pat ment, ot Freight on all Qcods before their delivery. J. BARR BROWN. Managing Director. Walnku, December 19. ISSi, mHE NEW ZEALAND LOAN AND JL MERCANTILE. AG Err,* COMPANY I .iMITiSD). MAKES LIBERAL ADVANCES ON WOOL, TALLOW, KAUBI CUM, FLAX, And other Brodnoo consigned to it for sale In London. SEVERAL FARMS AMD STATI&NS FOR SALE In every district in the colony. Full particulars will bo supplied on application at the Company's Offloos, 119, Queon-street. mEACHEKJi PUBE OLD HIGH- | LAND WHISKY. ARCff. ARROL & SON'S /LLOA ALES ABD PORTER, &C. H. D A V iTo H & CO., QUEEN-STREET (next Waitomata Hotel), Auckland. T. &' H. Cooke, 44 and 4s, vlotobia-stbek Factory: Elliott-stbeetJ1 Having! completed the arrangement of their New and Extensive Premises, whloh are fitted with every appliance tor the despatch of Busi ness, Invite tbe attention of Ladles and Gentle men FURNISHING to their Large Btook ot 1 Drawing and Dining Room Suites Brussels, Tapestry, and Kidder Carpets Iron Bedsteads, Wardrobes, Drowera Tables, CheSonlers, Side-Boards Mattraßsos. Palliasses, Pillows Bolsters Toilet Wore in great variety - Linoleum, Floorcloth, Matting Hearthrugs, wool Mats, Cocoa Mats Chimney and Toilet Glasses Gils Cornices and Cornioe Poles Verandah. Venetian, and Boiler Blind! Cane. Folding, and Childrens' Ohaira Hall Tables, Hat Stands, HaU Chairs Kltoben Tables and Kitchen Chairs Every ArHole Guaranteed, and Prioes Roduoed to the Lowest Amount, consistent with Best Quality In Materials and Workmanship, T. & H. COOKE, - Victpbu and Elliott Streets, pOMPULSOBY SALE OF CUTLERY. . THOMAS S \MUEL IS NOW BKLUNG OFIT THE WHOLE OF HIS BTOOK OF CUTLERY, Consisting of— BBBT IVORY TABLE! AND DESSERT KNIVBS LOOKWOOD AND JOHNSON'S BEST POCKET KNIVES ELECTRO - PLATED FORKS. SPOONS, CRUETS, &C. c large Lot of the above Goods just Landed, and must bs Sold at any price. THOMAS SAMUEL, ' '.iB, QUEEN-ST. (opposite Town Clook). "Wm. Mo Arthur & (Jq,_ AUCKLAND. TO DEALERS IN FANCY GOODS, KAJRTHBNWARE. CHINA AND GLA ANDGENBRAL STOREKEEPERS Plain and Fancy Stationery Perfumery and Toilet Soapi Brushware and Combs Table and Pocket Cutlery K.P. and B.M. Goods Iron Bedsteads Mlrrore and Fancy Furniture Clocks, Watohes, and Jewellery Tobaooo, Cigars, and Pipes Musical Instruments Earthenware, Chlno, t_a Gloss Vases, Flower-stands, &c Parian Ware, Pictures Purses. Hand Bags, and Baskota i Cricketing Appointments I^vwn Tennis and Badminton Arohery and Croquet Indoor Gain* Teys, &o. KOVELTEES FORSCBRIBTMAS, INSTATE FOR SALE J NEAR AUCKLAND. Captain Steel, of Hamilton, Waikato (in wilh Messrs John Mowjbkay and Vt wrkd Bdckland, of Auckland), is instructed t&atSr for Private Sale the VALUABLE FREEHOLD PROPERTY known as " WOOD t, ANDS" situated at Wairoa, 3i hours' drive or - 2hoursbysteamar from Auckland Tho nronerty comprises 1,685 acres, of whioi t non «eres are first-class land, mostly rich alln vftS? havUig a frontageof 11 miles to a navigable ■ ■river (the Wairoa). Thn imDrovements consist of about WW aores broken up and laid down in grasses, nnd sub divided by five fences and drains, a considerable nortion of tho remainder being surface-sown, §nd producing good rough feed. There is a Nins-roomed Family Residence, I ■with bath-room, &c. Stable, Ont-bidldings, and Cottages; well-planted Pleasure! G?oS, and several acres of Orchard, con-1 taiajDgl.iWJEniit; toes.



Special Advertiaemeata. Ok Sale, BROADCAST CLOVER AND SEED BARROW DRILLB, specially adapted for sowing broadcast Turnip, Clover, Ryo Grass, and other small seeds. AMERICAN HOBSK BAKES, whloh, with ono Man and Horse, will oolloot ready for carting three to four tons of Hay per hour. BELF-RELIEVING CHAIN HARROWS, BO weil known tbat description Is un necessary. I COLONIAL TINE HARROWS, whloh for J strongtb, ofllolenoy, and simplicity have no rival. CHAFF CUTTERS, for band, horse/ or Btoam power, Also, PLOUGHS (Singlo and Double), SUB TOILERS, HOR3K HOES, CULTIVA -ORS, So,, &a, &o„ manufactured by Tnos. ConBETr, Shrewsbury, England, at prices vthloh defy competition. i Also, COULTAS'3 SEED AND MANURE DRILLB. KEARSLEY'S COMBINED REAPER i AND MOWER. BOBBY & CO.'S STEAM ENGINES AND THBABHI MACHINES. We J« Hurst a Co., 101. QUEEN-3TKSH7. Auokland. THE Largest, Best, and Cheapest Fort of GOLO and BILVBR JKWKLLERY— Watcbbß. Chajnß, Eleotro-plat), Marblo Claokr, aud Sterling Sliver Plate—io be obtained at F. H. Lewlescn's. Queen-street, opposite Union Bank. THORNTON, SMITH AND FIRTH HAVE FOR SALE : " Crown' Flour, in saoks, 100'e and "Champion' •• , „ 3 /Cantab" „ ~ ~ Sharps Bran Fowl Wheat Jim,. Auckland. a a M N i i i i V V s s 1 T. V V _s_ This Invaluable Antisoptlo Preparation ls TASTELESS, ODOURLESS, and PERFEOTIiY HARMLESS. It Is Guaranteed to Keep Meat, Soup, Milk, Boos. Butter, Fish, Gjmk, Fruit, Frkserviw, Beer, Wins, and Food ot every description, sweet, sound, and whole some, till required for use. Sco report by Db. Hector, C.M.G.; F.R.S., Colonial Laboratory, Wellington. Sole Agents for Auckland— TAINE BROS., 3. QUEEN-BTREET. Cheistmas & Year, -. WILLIAM RATTKAY Begs to Inform tbosa requiring Christmas and New Yoar Presents, that he has a SPLENDID STOCK OF DR4EBRY SILKS MERCERY DRESSES OLOrHING SAIINS MANTLKB COSTUME 3 MILLINERY RIBBONS HOSIERY LACKS GLOVHS BOARffS MITTS , MBN'S AND BOYS.' CLOTHING, SHIRTS AND HATSi Tbe Goods re of the Best Quality, bave boen Bought Cheap, and will be Sold Cheap, at \yiLHAM J^ AT TRAY'S CENTRAL DRAPERY WAREHOUSE, 178, 180, & 182, QUEEN-BTREET, AUCKLAND, -CIXS.S. 'GARONNE. . 1 CASE NOVELTIES IN EMBROIDERY, Iv White and Cream Guipure. Also, White, Cream, and Dark Colours, worked in colours. ONE OASffi NEW TERRY CLOTH, OR TURKISH TOWELLING tor Dresses, In White, Cream, Fink, Sky, and Drab, ONE OASE NUN'S V. Jt- ING, In Street and Evening Shades. MILNE ASD CETOYOE, QUEEN-STREET.



THE Wonderfully increased demand for our Celebrated Goods, made of. NEW ZEALAND TWEBDS, has necessitated tbo Firm Erecting an Extensive and Costly New Wabbboose, to give accommodation to the EXTRA CLOTHING Staff, and to mako room for the Nkw Maohikehy, which has boon personally selected by Mr. HtiUonatein during hla recent visit to England and America, THE FACTORY will now ba the Largest Estab lishment of tho liiad In tbo Southern Hemisphere, and as deaoribad in the " Oiago Dolly Times," promises to be a Model Warehouse. The AUCK LAND BRANCH Address is -158 AND 160, QUEEN-STREET. Theoholoo variety of NEW GOODS now showing has nothing to com pere with it In the whole of Queen-streeT, auckland. j, FITZSIMONS, Branch Manager,