SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WATER! Tomorrow Coining, 3.61 HCWNB AGE* Full Moon, 19th, 0 33 a m.

ARRIVALS.

aumocltburn, br"au«nMlX"rt.on,irou l Niue BewardlMhower. ColMrg».from Whangatel TO-DiT.

DEPARTURES.

LAST BVENIKO. wel'lnuton, n t>.. Stephenson. for Tauranf a QleniMg, 5.8., Crawford, for Rui sail BOTihOTiOross, b.».. Aiimw.for fiouthem porta TO-DAY. City ol New ?O-k. P.M.5.8., Cobb. for Ban .Francisco

IMPORTS.

Per Ryno-83 tons cobra, 15 tonß Bhell, i-ton b,g ß fungus, 3 bales o; tton, 80 tens cobra, 675 cocoaouta.

EXPORTS.

Per City of New York-300 b*K» potatoes. 273 Oip?, B«!ii Uontd B-W w*» keroPlMj. « m»tj gugtr. 20 bags rlo«, I.OCO P>»nKß, 1,208 pieces UiSber.lM pic-ages bisoulw, 50 boxes soap, s* "lSr lS!!S^51001ft. timber. 148 tins, biscnitß SO Jtegs beef, 2 mna potatoes, and original cargo O'ooke,

• INWARDS COASTWISE.-Cbrlß'loa, &omK«J ■mil with 88 tons c^al; Vixen, from Thunea. whh tt tons firewood: Kanrl, trom ron OharleY. with 60.100 feet baulk Omber. UnTWAuns oo*BiwißT.-Rft"B»MM. tor Bai lier; Kami, for Port Charles, Thesahooner Kale McGregor arrived atunva ttvn Matocy Bay on Au«Ußt 2. The uohooe- Ma-y Hogan. from this pott via X/n», arrived atSavaon Jnly SO The schooner Agnes Don aid for Tonga and Energy lor Noumea cleared at the Oußtoms to- The tonn»ge loadlog on the berth at London on Jane M far Australia and New Zealand wnountedto63 726tonH. The barqoe Grsam-re. from London for Annklaud. was spafctn on June 3, in ii N.. "■The barqw Antares. and sMpfl Otakl and Hermlone were loading at London (or Auok l»nd on Jam SO. The b»rqne Asterlon, bound for Auckland, passed Deal on Juno 18. The brisantine Bannoekburn left Nine Island on July 2lst, and experienced stormy weather throughout tho passage to thla port, where flhe arrived last evening. On August 13th the City of New Yprk ex changed Trfgnala with the British ship East Lothian, from Aucklond for Calcutta, ten miles from North Cape, bearing N.N.W.

Oaptdn MoL".oa who took tbe barqua Devon iw-ttcom ttt. reoentlr. re-nrned by the City of New vorktaflay. ihe Uevonport ia loadlog at Newcastle for a Southern port. Ths sb. *rgyle.whiohw»Bexpected to arrive from WhanaareUhts moning, haarot yet put In apnear*nO9. She Is reported to be Btuok in the Whangarei river.

Mr and Mrs Dow Pitt are passengers booked lor Auokland by the P. & O. steamer Aliraa pore, to leave London on August IS. Mewrs Btaley, Radford & Co. quote rates from l onion to Auokland ! Rough measn'e ment. 25ij fine. 40s! liquids, 60s; weight SOs; cement. 6s per cask t beer, 1M per docs; salt, 30b

The N. Z Shipping Con>panv'a Garrjmede Is on the berth »t London for thla port.

rjie brigantine Byno after an abaence of over »h<-ee months returned to port early this morn lug.. Bwain's Island was the lastplim of orII. Variable wenner was experienced daring the voyage 'Pasiengerß i—Mr Wall.

Ths three-maired (chooser Enemy, having been thoroughly repaired, and having loaded hsr original cargo of coke, which Bhe brought fromrQreymomb, la now ready far sea, and will Bait for Noumea with the first favourable wind. Bbc goes benoe in charge of Osptaln Cooper. Oiptatn savory remains In Auoktaud on private business.

The aohooner Three Cheers, having been re leased from quarantine, came up the harbour late last evening. She left Navau on Friday, July 27th, experienced light S.E., 8., and 8.W., weather until sighting Savllle Islands on August 11, and thence to arrival yeßterday afternoon bad light N. and N.E. winds. Pasßongere: Messrs D. H. Robs, and Johnson.

ARRIVAL OF THE MAIL STEAMER.

The City of New York sailed from Sydney on August 9th, at &50 pm. Passed North Cape on the 13th, at 2 pm., an<i received Auckland pilot on board on the following morning, at 520 o'olocfc. On the passage across experienced fresh north-easterly winds and pleasant weather. Passengers for Anokland—Cabin: Captain R. Maoleod, Mr Walter Derham, Mr and Mrs A. Oppenheimer, and Mr J. Reid. Steerage: Mr win. Young, Mr 6. Crow, Mr H. Payne, and Mr Claude Carey. We are indebted to Mr E. T. Platt. purser, for press parcels, reports, &c.

DEPARTURE OF THE MAIL STEAMER.

TUo City ot New York resumed htr voj-«eo U> gen Fronolaoo and Honolulu at 3 o'clook ibis afternoon. Paßsenoera: Mr C. Akers. Mias Hoorboaaa snd tervant, J. A. Lowe, n Moon home. Hon. T. Russell, H. R. bhortland, Mrs till tton.

UNKNOWN.

A large Fnglian bx-Qne, lieoDl? laden, and evidently bound tor this port, was pasted br the maUsteameroffNorth Cape yeßteraay. Bhe will moat likely prove the Buswrmere, 90 flays oat from London, withoar^o valued at £18.800.

PORT OF ONEHUNGA.

ARRIVAtB. Rotorua, aa, Anderson, fromthe Sonth Rowena; bal Boott, from Hoklanga

DEPARTURE.

Botoiua, b.b., Andeison, for ths South

The brigantine SeaGnU left for Manukau Head! this morning. She will load with timber from Karlkau mill for Dunedln. The b.b. Kowena arrived at 10 ajn. to-day from HoManga, with Mias Allison. Mlbb Freer, MdMessre JfoFarlane and Allen as panengen. and 115 saoka and & oases gum and 2 tons TOndrles aToargo. She leaves for Wangauui via Opunakl tomorrow. Tne Kotorna was expeoied to » e I JJ rni[ oHS»» t three Dm. to-d«r. r-aaaeogers—Mesars Hofln eon. Wilson, fox, Bishop Luck, and seven .in the streeroge.

The Union Company's *team<>" Rotorua. Captain Anderson, arrived at 816 a.m. tod»y from the South, wiih the outward Ban Fnreo'sco man (180 bags). 100 cases Nelson Jwns, H balm hops, 28 psokageß butter, 10 Backs bran, SO Dsokaaea sundries, and the following pasßen Srai-MoTdMnoa Monkton. Mitpbelwm. Messrs WaIDQIO. Mahoney, elaofc* Merriok, Kldgo, Orcrton. Noiwi, ford, Mehaftey, &aloo!m, JKrheaT Keed. Mabln, Slmpßon, Watton. BheSS, and 11 uteerage. The feotorua was to return Somh this afternoon at 8 o olook.

KAIPARA SHIPPING.

(BY TBLEGBAPH.-OWN COBBISPONDSOT.)

Te Kopobu, this day. Loaded« Vision; loadiog I Annie WUabn. ABATiPU, this day. toaolngt Robin Hood, and Aratapu schooner. nEiBS, this day. satle* i LookOut, Jane Anderson. Anchored "laUel^V !^ Bri% VSffi^ BW lno tat Australia. Loaded, at Mbkkbu. w. v* Wentworth.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

KPJOR MBEOH4NT SHIPPING AWD TJSDKBWBITBBS' ABSOOIATIOH.]

London, ingastli. Arrfred: Bhlp Scottish flero. from Lytteiton, Mai 13. .

COMMERCIAL.

EVBSina Star Oftiob, Thursday. MS9BBB SIMTJBL COOHiWNE AND SON Bold thlf day. on the premises, Symonds-street, the old Caledonia Hotel building, for removal, for «48. The furniture realised fair prices.

Mail Notice.

MAItB WILL CMBa AS CNDBB t- Tnia day. For Ruscell, Kawa Kawa, etc, per Manapourl I'or Whanßarel Heads, P.iroa. W&lpu. Whan arel. Kamo, and M*nßapnl, par Argjle, at i p.m. for Noumea, per Energy at 5 p.m. Wednesday, loth lnßtant. Kor WanganuJ. per Rowena. at 8 a.m. |'or Coromandel, per Cjrom&nae), at 11.30 a.m. For Waltara, etc., per Hannah Mokau, at 8.15 p.m. For Thames, per Enterprise, at 5.30 p m. Thursday, 16h instant. iJer b.b, Manaponrl, aa follows I— For India, China, Japan, Medlteranean Ports, and Continent of Knrope, at 10 a.m. Kor Glaborae, Napier, Southern ports, Aub traUan Colonies, and United Kingdom, via Suez and Brlndlai.and via tvap'.es, for letters, etc., opeolally so prepaid Mid addressed, at n Money orders tor Southern Potts and Australian Colonies only, at 10 a.m. . ,„ For registered letters and newspapers, at iv a.m. Late letters till 11.20 a.m. 8i B. BISa, Chief PoatraM«or Ohla' Post-offlM. Auoklind. »

Meetings. Entertainments, Etc.

August U, 1883.

Abbott's Opera House-Gaiety Dramatic Com pany, " Colleen Bawn," 8 p.m.

Auokland ChoralSocietr-tfehearsnl, Haydn's " Creation." 7 SO p.m.

Museum Honse, Princes-street —Quadrille P»rty, 7.30 p.m.

Congregation of St. Thomas's Churoh, 7 30 p m. Thestro Royal—Blue Ribbon Army, 7.80 p.m FrsemaeoEs' Hall—Union Lodge of Maik Master Masons 7 30 p m.

Marriages.

HAYSON-MoILMOYLE.-On August 7th, at St. Jaraes'B Churoh, Wolllngton-atreet. by the Rev. R, F. Macnicol, Rupert Robert Hayson. eldest son of the late Robert Hayson, to Theresa, youngest daughter of David Mc- Ilmoylo, of this city.

TOOMAN—ROBE.—On August 5, at St. Bene diet's Church, Newton, by the Rev. Father Downey. Arthur, second son of Mr John Tooman.of Pukekohe Kast, to Caroline, eldoßt daughter of Mr William Robb. of Ponsonby.

Deaths.

BKKDKLL.-On August 12. at Kden Terraco, New North Konu, Henry Beedell, brower; aged fi* years The funeral will loave hlg late residence on

Wednesday, 15th Instant, at 3 o'clock p.m. Friends ploaso accept this Intimation. COWAN.—On August 14, at Manukau Road. Parnell, Amelia Klizabeth, twin daughter of Robert and Amelia Cowan: aged two weeks. MARIATT.-On August U, 1883, at Croas-street, Newton, Mary Maria, tho beloved wife of

Joseph Mnrtatt; aged 40 yearn. The funeral will ieavo Mr Moidor"s, Crosß street Newton, on Thursday, 16th, atSo'olook. Friends please accept this Invitation.

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

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11. 1883.

for tho causa that lacks assistance, For the wrong that needs rosistanca, For the future in the distance. And tha g<;od that we can do.

Leading matter is excluded to-day, to make room for mall news via Suez.

News to hand from Kydney shows that, as we surmised, the visit of H.M.S. Nelson to the J*ew Hebrides group was coincident with that of the French man-of-war sent from Now Caledonia. The ships of the rival powers met in Tannn Harbour; but, so far from concerning themselves about questions of annexation or protectorate, the officers fraternised in the moat friendly fashion—Commodore Brskine invitiDg the French officers to dinner on board the Nelson.

The Hon. Thos. Russell, C. M. G. was a passenger for ban Francisco by the City of Hew York, which left this afternoon.

Among the through passengers from Sydney by the mail steamer were the Bon. 'C. H. Bromby, of Tasmania, who is re ported to be on a lecturing tour ; Mr J. M. Knox, who U connected with tho Colonial Sugar Works Company;'and Captain B. Gilboy, who recently attempted to make the voyage trom San Francisco to Australia ia a small open boat, snd was picked up by asteamerin a very exhausted condition about 300 miles off the coa«t oi Queensland. The City of New York had 30 saloon and 40 steerage passengers from Sydney for 'Frisco gnd Honolulu.

The mail steamer ship City of New York, which called here to-day, had on board specie to the value of £10,000 for Hono lulu, and specie valued at £117,860 for San Francisco, which had been shipped at .Sydney. From Auckland the City of New YorK took specie to the value of £49,445. Of tin* to the value of £29,120 was shipped by the National Bank, and £20,325 by tho Bank of New Zealand,

The examination in general knowledge of candidates for the bar was commenced yesterday in the old Maori chapel behind the Supreme Court, the Key. D, W, Kunci man, 01.A., acting as supervisor. There are eight candidates in all, viz., six for the solicitors' and two for the barristers' exam ination.

iir. Wilkins, F. R.C.S., and ocolißt and midst to the Christohuroh Hospital, has arrived in Auckland, and may be consulted for about three or four weeks at Mr Aickm'S I'harmacy, Queen-street, for all diseases of the eye, ear, and tbroat. We need hardly remind those who may be suffering from any of the above diseases that Dr. Wilkins is highly qualified, and is a gentleman of very great experience, having already, during the few years he has been in new Zealand, performed upon the eye, ear, and tbroat upwards of 1,300 operations.

A case of sudden death 1b reported from Melcußville. Superintendent Thomson has received the following telegram regarding the occurrence : - "At 8 p.m. lost night, Mr Foster, ot Waimauku, reported that a gumdigger residing on nis property died suddenly yesterday at noon, His name is Poncon Chlvalier, and he is a Frenchman. I leave for the place at 6.30 to-day.—M. Nauohton, Constable "

The MacCormlck- North cases were again adjourned until Monday next. Tho Jus tices, Messrs Hull and Walker, who heard the charge', were in waiting nearly the whole of the day, but, owing to the time being taken up by the eviction case, were unable to proceed.

Five charges of assault against Wright, Home, liyan, and Small, were remanded until tho morning) also, six summons cases on the information of Inspector Goldle.

Mr James Ness, warder at the Lunatic Asylum, desires to thank the cab driver who so kindly assisted bis son to his home at a vondale after the accident from the runaway express In Wellesley-street on Saturday last. The boy Is improving, but his leg is greatly swollen and stiff.

A special meeting of the parishioners of St. Paul's was held last evening to consider the proposed cutting dowu of Emily Place. Rev. O. M. Nelson presided,—The Chair, man explained the steps that had already been taken, and after a lengthy discussion the following resolution was carried :— " 1 hat, provided £3,000 be paid to the church trustees, and a suitable site of equal value, to po approved by tho church autho rities, be offered, the offer be accepted, and the present site of St. Paul's be handed over to the city.'1

We understand that two Accidents oc curred in Karangahape Road on Sunday morning, in connection with the Church parade or the Naval Brigade and rlobson Company. A .'passing vehicle driven at reckless speed, knocked down a little fellow among the crowd, whereby he was cut and scratched about the face, while the throng that gathered in consequence of the accident (-.was so great that another had fainted. Tho driver of the trap that occasioned the first mishap, never stopped to ascertain .what harm he had done,

A two-mile walking match is being arranged between Ramsay, o f Auckland, and Doyle, of the South (both you tun), for £50 a side. In the event of fiamsay being defeated, he is to have his travelling ex penses paid out of the stakes.

The inquest on the body of Andrew M. Allan, at Gleeson's Hotel, before Dr. Phil eon and a jury, yesterday afternoon, re sulted in a verdict " Found drowned, with, out marks of violence on the body." The foreman was Mr George Lendrum, and the witnesses William John McDonnell, Robert Barrington, Constable ' I'odd, Kobert Mitchell, Zillah Guildim*. Charles Atkin (Cousins and Atkin), and Charles Grey. Allan had, according to the evidence, been much depressed of late, and complained of the hard treatment he received from his friends at Uunedin. fie was of temperate habits. The yonng person, Guilding, of the Queen's Head Hotel, walked oat with deceased on Sunday eveningj he was low spirited, and when they parted, he said "Good-bye," and gave her a silver ring in remembrance of Him, She saw him no mote alive,

For brazen effrontery and cool, deliberate mendacity, commend us to the " Herald's" own historiographer. Finding it Impossible longer to maintain his contention thai Schu mann, th° composer, was boni in 1815 (vide " Herald " of vWrluei'diiy, August 8). he no v adopts the stratagem of the cuttle fhh, and by obscuring the issue tries to make good his escape from an awkward predicament. In fine, he accepts tbe correction, and seeks to palm it off as his own. Trusting to the unques tioning credulity of his readers, he says I this morning:— "In the late concert critique, the " Herald's •' musical critic referred to 1810 as the date of Schumann's birth, and in its next issue the evening journal, finding a mare's nest, announced oracularly that the authorities were singu larly unmimoua in stating that tbe Bad event occurred in 1815.'' Now the real facts are simply these : -The " Herald's " "musical critic," in his notice of tbe Choral Society's concert spoke of Schumann's birth as having occurred in " 1815," not 1810 as the historiographer now disingenuously asserts, and in our cor rection of the bluuder the two dates by a typographical error were transposed, while the word " same " was misprinted sad. 'J he question then is - Was Schumann born in 1815, as asset ted by this perverter of facts, or in 1810, as we still maintain he was? The authorities that we quoted yester day should be conclusive on the point. Our contemporary's historiograpberisapparently as "well up " in regard to musical matters as he was with respect to Calais and the Virgin Queen a few days ago.

His Honor, Mr Justice Gillies, Bat in Chambers this morning, and disposed of the business, which happened to be slighter thau usual. Probate was granted in re James Stewart, Addison, Douylas, and William Gill (deceased), while two motions for administration were allowed to stand over.

Tho steamship Hero, on arriving at Sydney from Fiji on 31st July, steamed up the harbour instead of going to tho quarau tine station, As Fiji was declared au in fected place, tho Government intend to proceed against the owners of the vessel for breach of the quarantine laws,

Last night, the opening meeting of tho week's " mission " in connection with tbe Bluo Ribbon Army was held in the Theatre Royal. Uur report of the proceedings is crushed out. The meetings are to be con tinued to-night and succeeding evenings of this week.

At the Police Court yesterday, the defendant! .in the eviction case were com mitted for trial, but allowed bail, £50 each, and two sureties in £25 each.

The Gaiety Company played " The Colleen JbSawn" last night to a large audience In the Opera House, and will

repeat tbo| pieco to-night. Our notice of the play is held over.

Mr Mark Hermann who has had 14 years' experienco in tho diamond trade has ex amined a largo number of alleged Canter bury " diamonds " and pronounces that there is not a single genuine sttrao among thorn.

Tho civil sessioss of the Supremo Court opens to-morrow morning. We subjoin a list of tho cases set down for hearing :— Creditors Trustee in Bray's Kstato v. Cant and others, A. Black aud Sous v. Hector Keid, N. G. Lennox v. Alex. Gillan, Northern Steamship* Company v. J, E. Banks, Benjamlu Tanner v. E. D. Klchards. Alexander Brady, a young man who has been in tho employ of Mr Hewin, grocer, has been missing jeiuce yesterday morning. Ho complained of being unwell on leaving tho store on Saturday, and returned to his lodgings at tho house of Mr Lush, Seatield View. He left Mr Lush's house yesterday morning, and shortly after d note was dis covered addressed to Mr Lnsh, thanking that gentleman for his kindness, and stating he would not Boe him again; ho rcqaested that his personal effects should bo given to somo person who might need clothes, etc. Information was at onca given to tho police, who ore making inquiries in every possible direction. It is feared that Brady has committed suicide. A report was current that ho was seen last night in Newton, but thero seems to be no truth in tho rumour. Brady is 18 years of age, and is a native of London, where flis relatives reside.

In the cuse of Farrell v. Weatherburn at the District Court ycterday, judgment was given for tho plaintiff for the full amount claimed, with £5 14s costs, and immedi ito exection was granted. The only other case

was that of Hoag v. Bydder «n>i Smitt, t . claim for £50, in which judgment, with costs (£4 2*), went for the defendants. Tiiis (Tuesday) ovoning, entries closo for tho Iprincipal events of the Hawke'e Bay Jockey Club's o-pring meeting.

The following particulars of the destruc tion of the Tramway Hotel, Waitekaurt, have been recolved by Superintendent Thomson : —Alfred Shepherd, tho landlord, states that he wont to bed about 11,20 p.m. on the night prior to the fire, Ho looked and saw that both kitchen and sitting-room fires were extinguished. Abont two hours later ho was awakened by a sound of breaking glass, aud hearing men call, he got up and found the house in flames. Both the hotel and an adjoining blacksmith's shop were destroyed before anything could be saved.

The Inmates had a very narrow escapw, Mr Shepherd stating that had it not been for Mr Corbett breaking the windows and calling to them, tho three Inmates would donbtless have been burnt to death in their sleep. The hotel wus insured in the

New Zealand Office tor £400, and tho fur niture and stock for £100. He estimates his low at £500 more than tho insurance.

Mr J. M. Shera, Italian Consul for Auck land, has received the following letter from the Italian Consul at Melbourne, dated the Ist inst. ;—Sir, -1 have the honour to thank

you very much, on behalf of the Koyal

Government, for the eums contributed and collected by jou for tho relief of tho dis tressed victims of the floods of last year in the V enetian province, and tar thecrectlou of a monument in honour of the late General Garibaldi, You will communicate such thanks to the respective contributors. You aro surely informed of tho now dreadful occurrence that ha,s lately over taken tho inhabitants of Casamicctola, I have opened here through the "Argus" a pub'criptioo list towards the relief of tho sufferers by that terrible disaster. Yon will obligo very much by doing the same in your Consular district.—l have, etc., F. DE GiOYZNSTA.

Mrs Lindsay, known a* Colcroft, residing at Naseby, Otag \ was burned to death in her bed on Saturday night last. Her two children who wero in the house at the time were saved,

DISASTER AT NELSON THIS MORNING.

Pilot Crew Droumed.

(BY TELEGRAPH—PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

NELSON, this day. THE pilot boat went out at 3 o'clock this morning to the steamer Wanaka. When returning to shore, tho boat capsized, ami all the crew were drowned. Pilot Lowo is safe.

Fuller Particulars, — lhe Boat

Swamped in a Gale.

Four ot the pilot crew were diowned. The steamer Wanaka came down to the anchorage about 4 o'clock, when it was bo intensely dark that it was almost impossible to see one's hand at the distance of a few inches. Notwithstanding the dangers ot the gale with a high sea, the pilot and. crew res ponded to the signal from tbesteamer and pnt off to her. Tho boat was safely steered to the ship's side, and Captain Lowe, pilot, jumped on boa:d the steamer, and at once the boat turned to come back into the har bour. The ship's officer, who was on duty, states that it wa3 about 4 30 when th ■ boat left, and that directly she got away he uuv a big sea come along, and when it passed ho heard the men in the boat shout out, ," We are all right, but our oars are gone." He thon imagined they wre setting their sail, but darkness prevented him s eing more. It appears too certain that a succeeding wavo swamped tho boat; for this rooming she was found, bottom up, at daylight, just behind Fife- Bbire Rock. The names of the four men who comprised the crew are: — William Morrison, widower, but with icvcral children; William Reader, widower; Richard Thomas, single, known as "Little Dick"; and a foreigner, named (Jlaus Johansen, also single. Several boats have gone out in search of the rniasioe men.

Malarui> Fever.—Malarial fevers, oonstlpa tion, torpidity of the liver and kidneys, general debility, narvousness, and neuralgic ailments, yield readily to this great disease conqueror, Bop Bitters. It repairs the ravages of disease by converting the food into rich blood, and it gives new lifo and vigour to the aged and utlrm. See.

FATAL COLLISION BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND SAILING VESSELS.

Loss of the Waitara and Twenty-

sice Lives.

Personal Narratives and Full

Particulars.

(FROM SPECIAL DESPATCHES OF OUR OWN

CORRESPONDENT.)

London, June 29. ONE fine summer evening, nine short days ago, two splendid sailing vessels, both be longing to tlio same company, and outward bound for New Zealand, were lying off the jetty at Gravesend ready for sea, and only awaiting the mcomiug tide and tho arrival of a few tirdy saloon passengers to "up anchor and away." Both sets of dilatory voyagers came down by the last train, and,; meeting ou the pier, chartered the same boat to tako them off to their respectable vessels. The curiously-met party were in excellent spitits. Emigrants leaving the Old Country to begin life afresh in a strange colony usually feel rather and at such a time, but these particular people had no cause far melaucholy. Instead of buing modern Israelites about to prospect a problematical land ot Canaan, they were mostly old colonists returning to Wel lington or Duuediu, after which Yankees call " a real good time in Europe," and by no means depressed at the idea of spending a peaceful three months on board a com fortable ship before beginning once more work-a-day life at the antipodes. "I shouldn't wonder," remarked one of the Wellington-bound passengers, addressing a Dunedin man as they were rowing towards the vessels, "if our ships were to come across each other pretty often during the run out." He spoke heedlessly, merely in order to say something courteous, but on tho following Friday evening, when the Wuitani had gone down with all on board, and he found himself lying in the saloon of tho Huruuui with the same young man tending him, and watching anxiously for bL'.iis of returning consciousness, the sen tence flashed suddenly across his mind, "X said wo should meet, didn't 1," ho mur mured with a'strange look ; " but I little thought it would bo like this. Ah Imy God I am I awake, or is it only a horrible dream."

Your readers will have heard by cable of the fatal collision between the Hurunui and the ill-fated Waitara. It now bocomes my painful duty to fill in clearly, and with as little cxaggeiation as possible), all tbe *ad details. I must Hay, though I fear mere words convey a very Inadequate idea of these terrible catastrophes to ttiose at a dis tance. One description of a maritimo dis aster is, after all, very much lika another, but what a iuin can never forget through long years is the appearanco of a person who has Just como through some such ap pulling experience. I felt this when ques tioning the Waitara survivors last Monday. They appeared to luvo the shadow of deiuh still upon them. Even the rough sailors talked in curiously subdued voices, and a deep gloom hung otor everyone.

The news of the disaster reached London last Sunday evening (June 24), and was communicated to tho public through the papers of tho following morning, Plenty of Anglo-Colonial households will long re member the breakfast-time of that Black- Monday. For my part I could eat nothing, tho narrative of tho accident was too absorbing. Moreover, on ascertaining that tho Hurunui would reach the docks early that day, I saw tho necessity of at once Sroceeding on board, and, without further eUy, set off by traiu tor the city.

The Hurunui got safely into dock at dawn on Monday, and I found her lying in the middle of the Albert bisin, with flags flying half-mast-high, and a gba*tly bole about Bft by sft in the pirt bcw. It was at once clear that only the watertight compart ment saved this vessel from following the WaJtara to the bottom. Muny of the passengers nan uiready left, but I was lucky enough to find Mi-» Bird, Mrs Cheek, Mr Middleton, and the captains aud officers still there. Official Account. The official accourft of tho accident fur nished to the Press by the New Zealand shipping Company runs thus:—l be ship WaiUta (K. Wobster, master) left Graves end on Tuesday, tbe 19th inst., in charge of a pilot and iv tow of tho tug Victoria, bound for Wellington, New Zealand, with a full cargo of merchandise, 16 passengers, and a crew of 25 hands, all told. The tug was let go off Jieachy Head, and the ship proceeded down tho Channel under sail. At ton p.m. on Friday, tbe 22nd inst., a vessel wai reported on tho starboard bow, and before the course of tbo Waitara was altered, itruck her umidships, rebounded, and struck her again in front of tho poop, cutting hor below the water's edge, and causing her to fill and sink immediately. For a moment the head-gear of the otb.tr vessel, the Hurunui, became entangled in the raizou ligging of tho Waitara, and by this means some of tho crew and passengers savod their lives. An attempt was made by tho chief ollicor and some hands to launch a boat from the Waitara, but tbe ship sank so rapidly that they failed to do so. Tho Hurunui was brought to immediately, and boata lowored to pick up survivors.

The New Zealand Shipping Company furnish tbe following full list <>£ the paisen gers and crow on board tho Waitara : —

oaloon Passengers orowned.—Mr Mar tin Cheek, Mr A. Noblo, Miss M. A. Hay lor, Miss A. Ha v lor. Steerago Passongers Drowned.—Chafl. Hill, Piudonoe Hill, Leonard Colllnson, Louisa Oliphant, John Wilkes, leabolle Wilkes, John Wilkes, and Peter Bentloy. Names of Crew Drowned:—X. Saunders, second officer; G, F. Cotterell, apprentice j B. W. Stock, chief Bteward; O. Cooper, cook) W. J. Leateront, second cookj J. Bowyer, eailmaker; A. Christian, W, Burke, G. Ogilvio, G. Smith, J. W. flodg son, J. Hay, all A. li.'a jE. J. Bingham and A. vrmston, both O S

The following saloon passengers were saved i -Mr Henry G. Russell, Mr Lock wood Dale, Mrs Martin Cheek, and Mr W. B. Noble.

Ho steerage passengers were saved. The following members of the crew were roacucd:—R, Webster, master; H. T, Middleton, chief officer j C. Hyde, boat swain •H. .Worsley, apprentice} A. C. Cutten, second steward ; 11, Self, carpenter; W. Sutherland, A. Potterson, W. Davis, and 11. Williams, A.H.s; O B.Arnold, 0.8.; and Jirnest Morgan, a stowaway. The only saloon passengers on board the Hurunni were i—Mr John W. Toplis, Miss G. Bird.

The Disaster as seen front the

Hurunui,

Mr John W. Toplls, one of the two saloon passengers on the Hurunui, gives tlio following vivid account of his ex periences :-" We had frequontly sii>hled the ill-fated Waitara. She tad left Graves end at the same time as ourselves, and was also bo and for a New Zealand port, she for Wellington and we for Port Cbalmrra. On Friday eveuiDg we were off1 Portland. Soon after wo nad retired for the night, about 10.15, I was awakened by a suddon shock. At the same time the captain burst into tho cabin, ordering all hands on deck. A large vessel was at our bows,and its white ports stood out plainly In the darkness. It had just ceased raining, but the moon was hidden by the mist. Un ascertaining that the ship wo were in was for a few ruinates at least not in danger, I nulled below to wrap up, in case we might have to use the boats. I was not down there a minute, and when 1 returned the Waitara had disappeared, and our lifeboat was already lowered and sent off in cbarge of the second mate, as woll as another boat officered by the third mato. Rockets were sent up, blue lights and ' flare ups burnt to call the attention of other vessels. A large Bteamer was close at hand, but did not appear to heed our signals. A barque also was close at hand, and In answer' to our hail promised to lie close, bul she also left immediately, We had struck the Waitara just above the saloon on tha star board side. One of her passengers said afterwards it did not seem to crash, but to cut its way through, the Bides yielding like so much paper. We were soon bu»y in at tending to the rescued. The3e were two 'gentlemen from the saloon' and the under steward. The onptain of the Waitara (Cap tain Webster) also had been marvellously saved. Be was caught In our rigging and literally dragged away from the ship, but ho inntamly returned in onr lifeboat to Reek for survivors. After a complete search, our boat returned and brought back nix more

survivors. One poor man seemed absolutely numbed, but 1 am glad to say ia now doing well. One gallant youug fellow handed his liL-buoy to a lady, the only one saved, ' aud he ulno succeeded in reaching the boat. We thought these were the only survivors, aad wera overjoyed to find five more sea men had been saved. I believe there are sixteen rescued and about twenty-five to account for. The water-tight compartment only of our ship had been stove in. Out captain (Captain Hazelwood) was indefatig able in his exertions to save life. Captain Webster, of the ill-fated Waitira, also strove hard to rescue survivors, for af cer they had brought some poor fellows to our ship he agaiu rowed back to the spot where the dreadful catastrophe occurred, vainly en deavouring to augment the number of the rescued, 1 believe nons of the steerage passengers of the Waieara were saved. One of our lady passengers has been of immense service. She has not been ia her berth einco the accident took place, spending all her time nursing the lady we rescued. We were fortunate enough to save the first mate {Mr Middleton) • he was only just sensible when picked up. The water mast have been fearfully cold; as his ex tremities were completely numbed. He had been vainly endeavouring to launch a boa.', but the calamity was too speedy to allow it. I suppose three minutes would have amply covered the time from when we first struck the Waitara until we saw her founder."

Before proceeding to the narratives of the Waitara's survivors. 1 will give you a brief statement furnished me personally by Mr Moyse, chief officer of the Hurunui.

TJie Mate of the Hunvnui's Story.

This gent'emaasay* : "We left Graves end on Tuesday last, the 18th inst,, and were towed down Channel, tne tug leaving us off Beachy Head. All went well up to noun ou Friday, at which time we had all sail set. Towards evening the wind In creased, and the weather grew thick aud drizzly, so we furled the royals, flying jib, and maiusail. About 10 p.m. 1 was on duty, and the ship (with foie and main top-gallant sails set, mizzeu-top-gallant sails Btowcd, and main-sail hauled up in gear) was making about 34 knots per hour, when 1 saw, through the mist, a green light, three points on the: port bow. Capt. Hazelwood, who was on deck, observed the light at the same moment, and we at once b'ew tho fog-horn, a signal which was responded to by somebody on board the Waitaru waving the binnacle lamp. Seeing a collision was inevitable, we drew the attention of our men (who wire almost all on deck) to the fact that our sidelights were burning brightly, and the next instant we ran into the strange vesiidl. It has been paid that the Hurunul struck the Waitara twice, but lamof a different opinion. Our jib-boom ran into her oppodte the mainmast, and broke off short, and then our stern struck her amidships, and stack there a moment or two. Finally the ships disen gaged, and the Waiturn, falling away to port, sank in about four minute. Uurown ship seemed in great danger, and the boats were at once launched. We saved as many of the Waitara's passengers as we conld, and lay-to near the spot all night, A steamer and a barque were q nite close to us when the collision occurred, but neither of them either rendered assistance or paid any attention to our distress signals." Narratives of the Waitara's Survivors. Mr Henry G. Russell, who was a saloon passenger on board the Waitara, and one of the four saved, has made the following statement :-" I was below when the col liaon occuned, having gone to my berth early, and know very little of my own knowledge of what took place before. As far as 1 know, it was a misty night and drizzling witb rain. We were off Portland, and about 20 miles, I believe, from the Stumbles. About 10 o'clock at night the Hurunui was sighted off our starboard bow. She came along and first struck us on the bow, carrying away part of her bowsprit. She bounded off from us, and came in again with a crash astern by tho fore part of the saloon, A third time she struck ua right through the pantry, it was tho second crush that woke us all up. We jumped out of bed and rushed out of the saloon just ai we wore in our nightshirts on to the p mp. Jit tho time tbe water was rushing into the ship. Both the ships were tben locked together, and some of us clambered up th • chains that hung under the bow-prit on to the Hurunui. When we got on board tnat vesiel, wa heard a cry that »he was sinking, and the captain of tbe Hurunui orderod the boats to be lowered and victualled. Oaptniu Webster of the Wai tara was on board the Hurunui when we got there. I believe he was standing on a hen coop when the latter struck us, and got in iome way caught in the rigging of too bowsprit from which he climbed on bo&rd. lie cut away the lifeboa; of the Hurunui, and went back in her to where tbe Waitara had mink, and managed to pick up the first officer, one or two seamen, one of the miloun passangus named Noble, and Mrs Cueek, who were all brought on board and attended to. The boats were kept lying alongside for a long tinie.as it was thought that the Huruoui was going down, and men were kept sounding to see how much water we wore making. The only thing that savod us was the water tight bulkhead, as a hole titnut sight feet by five was knocked in her bows. We lay to all night in hopes of picking up some o'heiH, but did not succeed in doing so, and in tho morning sailed for tho ißleof Wight, where Captain Webster went ou shore and telegraphed for a tug. About ten hours after that the Victor tug, which took us out in the first place, arrived, and she brought us back to tho docks, whrro we arrived at five o'clock this morning. All last night tho men were kept at tho pumps, as the water was gaining on us. At the time of tho collision it was tin second mate's watch. The captain was below, pricking off the chart or something. I heard the second mate knock with his foot on the deck over tho captain's berth, and a few minutes after an apprentice ruihed down and asked Captain Weosier to go on deck. It was evident that the second mate, who is lost, saw tho Hnrunui coming down, so he showed them his binnasle light, after the collision, an attempt was made to launch our boats, but they were lashed to the chock", and were full of fotrla and things. We had no boat davits, and only a couple of life-buoys. That, 1 think, was the wont of it. Mrs Cheek was saved in ono of the life buoys which was given her by a sailor. On the Hurunui thero was no difficulty with the boats, as they were all in the davits, and there was any amount of life buoys and cork belts. I should think it was about four minutes from the time that the Wai tara was struck tbe seoond time until she went down stern first. The shrieks from the women on deok were something awful, and five out of sis of them were drowned. I think that the steerage must have filled directly the ship was first struck, and that those in bed were drowned directly. Amongst those saved was a stowaway." Captain Webster's Observations.

Captain Webster, of the Waitara, has made a statement, in the course of which he says that ho saw a steamer close at hand just at the time the collision took pUce. The signals teen on board must hiivo been thoßO of the Hurnnui, which, directly after the accident occurred, began to fire rockets and to burn flares. This steamer ;vas close enough for those on board the Hurunui and those who wore in boats trying to pick up survivors from the Waitara, to hoar the noise of her screw, Ho did not tako any particular notice of her, for he never dreamt tor a moment that she would pass on without Riving anj assist ance, or At all events offering help. At the time of tho collision there was no mist. Tho Waitara was in charge of the second officer, Mr Saunders, and Captain Webster had g'me below for an hour to look at the charts. All the passengers went below, la facf,tney would scarcely have got over their (tea-sickness. Captain Webster never saw anything of the steerage passengers at all aft<-r the accident. I hey were all below, and the lights had been put out since ten o'clock. There could not have been an interval of four minutes between the first collision and the sinking of the VVaitara,and this was too short a time for the steerage passengers to get on deck. As near as he could cay, the 'hrst collision took place at ten minutes past ten, and it was oardly felt at all on board the Waitira, lhe ship was at the time abuut 20 miles to the .south-fast of Portland Bill, according to the account given him by the chief officer, the saloon passengers were all on deck before the Waitara went town. They rushed up at once from their btrths. The night was not a cold1 one, but the water would, of coursel, be cold for those who went into it. JL-'iroctly the second officer saw the hurunui approaching, he sent Captain Webster a tnc«sage,and the latter rushed on deck, but was too late to do anything effectual, He ordered tho helm to be put down, and the ofleet of carrying out this order would have been, if there had been time, to have changed the ship's course. Both the Waitara and the Hurunui had the full complement, of boat-<, and the chief and second officers tried to launch the port lifeooat ot the Waitara as soon as the collision occurred. There.was, however,

Ino time to do this. If there had been j I another minute, he thought it probable ! they might have succeeded in getting the ■ boat off, but us it was the ship went down before they could do no. The sea was smooth, so that there was no difficulty to contend against in tlw. respect. Captain Webster was standing on the poop of tbe Waitara, alter rushing up from below, when the second collision oc curred, and he got entangled in the head gear of the Hurunui when the latter strnck. He was tben pulled on beard 1 the Hurunui, but lost no time in getting j into one of the boats and rowing all I round the spot where the Waitara bad | gone down. He was thus enabled to save I about six or seven, all of whom were cry iog for help when they were reached. Mrs Cheek had on a life-buoy, which had ' been given her by oue of the passengers, but the rest of those who were saved were ■ clinging to the rigging of the sunken vessel. , A Dunedin Lai'V'a Account. ' I had a long conversation on board the ■ Hurunui with Miss Bird, a bright and i pleasant young lady from lJunedin, who ■ was returning.to New Zealand after a three i ) | months' stay in tbe Old Country. Miss • Bird seems to have shewn the utmost pre > aence of mind on that fatal Friday night, I and to have worked hard with the young ' medical student, Toplis, in restoring ani r matiou to the three-parts-drowned survivors of the Waitara. She says Bhe had " turned i in" when the shock of the collisfou i came. It was pretty severe, and the ' captain's summons to them to " como, on deck at once" following immediately' afterwards, greatly startled her. Toplis • ran up in his pyjamins, but she waited to • slip on a pair of warm stockings aud an 1 ulster. The night was clear, though it had ; apparently been raining and she could see > a large thfp with painted ports close by. I The wind blew so cold that Miss Bird ran • down again for her jacket, The trip only I occupied a moment, but when she came up , again the Waitara had disappeared. The i captain, officers, and crew of the Huruuui - were meantime launching the ship's boats t coolly and quickiy. There did not seem to i be the least symptom of panic. The evident i presence of mind of Captain Hazehvood, i and Mr Moyse helped to maintain discipline . and everything was done smartly and 9 sensibly. The first person saved was Mrs i Cheek. Misa Bird received her, and at 9 once took her into her cabin. The poor a lady had swallowed quantities of sea- I water, aud was in great pain, vomiting a te<ribly, but Miss Bird used steam 1 inhalers, which soon gave relief. Mr W. 3 Noble w»s brought in quite unconscious, 3 and could not be revived a&ain for upwards > of an hour, Mr Middleton, the mate of the i Waitara, also proved sadly exhausted, and r had, besides, hurt his arm badly. Mi>s i Bird cannot say enough in piaise of the i admirable courage and discipline which i prevailed tnroughout on the Hurunui. ] A Miraculous Escape and Heroic , Sailor. i Mrs Cheek, the lady passenger saved i from the Waitara, had an almost miracu , lous escape. She had under,her care two l young ladles who were on their way to .New ) Zealand. One of the young ladies was r going to the country for the purpose of I marrying Mrs Cheek's sou, but they were both drowned. Mr* Cheek was ib the cabin of tbe Waitara at the time of the collision, and was called to -by one of the geamen to go upstairs on to the poop. She i went up with the two young ladies, and f asked a man where the boat was, as she t expected to get Into oue. There was no I boat. A man pointed to the water, as i much as to say, "Jump in," but Mrs i Cheek, in her terrible situation, did no' 9 comprehend his meaning. * t this moment i she saw a young man calmly standUg , near, and this brave young fellow (the i youth Arnold, mentioned above), in danger 3 of being drowned himself, immediately . handed to her a life-buoy which he bad j secured. At thie moment the Wai , tara went down suddenly, carrying i all on board with her, Mrs Cheek I was drawn down nnder the water to a i considerable distance by the suction of the I sinking vessel. At the moment of sinking 1 tho was holding the two young ladies, bnt i one was carried away immediately and the i other she endeavoured to hold firmly, She > managed to retain her presence of mind, 1 and on rising to the surface she tried to i get hold of the floating spars. Tbe young t lady whom sh* was holding tightly bad I fainted, and a great wave snatched her j from tbe arms of Mrs Cheek, wbo was in a i very exhausted condition. Mr Noble, one 1 of the saloon passengers of the Waitara, . was also carried under the water to some i distance, but on coming to the turface he i managed to get hold of a spar, which rolled ! over and over with him, causing him to be I severely bruised. When rescued.it was at first thought that he was dead, but he re gained conscioutnem about an hour after. | Additional Itvtns. i Tho young sailor, George Arnold, men i tioned above, i» now th« pet of the crews. It was he wbo, at the risk of losing bii own ■ life and in the midst of all the surrounding \ dangers, handed the life-buoy which he had secured to Mrs Cheek, who was in conse quence saved from drowning. Being a good swimmer, he managed to mako his way to tho Hurunui. The officers and saloon pas •engera have forwarded the following letter to the Royal Humane Society :— " The New Zealand Shipping Company's ship Hurnnui, Albert Dock, June 25tb, 1883.—We, tho undersigned, wish to call to your notice a brava sailor, George Arnold, who gavoalady his life-buoy in the collision between tbe Waitara and Hurunui on the 22nd inst. She was «avtd and he also, (signed) A. S. Mays, chief officer; G. Bird, saloon passenger ; f. G Wellington, chief steward ; H. O. Middleton, second officer ;H. H. Belters, third officer; H. T, Middleton, chief officer ship Waitara ; A. A. Cutten, nnder steward > R. Owen, car penter, Hnrunui; H. Self, carpenter, Wai tara. Others can also testify t> the above" Tho Waitara was an iron ship of 883 tons gross, and was built at Glasgow in 1863. She was constructed with two bulkheads. Tbe Hurunui is also an iron ship, but Is somewhat larger than the Waitara, being of 1,054 tons gross. She was built by Messrs Palmer, of Newcastle, it 1875.

'jhe English Papers on the Collision.

The "Times" does not apparently con eider the collision between the Hurunui and the Waitara worthy of a leading article, but the " Tally Telegraph" devotes over a column to discussing tuo causes which led to the catastrophe. " Disasters at sea," says the writer, whom I conclude to be Mr Clark Husßell, "and more especially disasters from collision, of which the latest example Is that bet ween tho Waitara aud the ilurunui, are occurring nowadays one after another with alarming rapidity. It is impossible to suppose the State will not before long determinedly address itrelf to this rnoßt serious question, and essay by legislation to do that for the travelling public which it is perfectly certain ship owners either will not or cannot do. for them."

Since Mr Chamberlain has been President of the Board of Trade, shocking tragedie a have occurred upon the eea in consequence of steamers or sailing ships running Into each other; but we do not know tint a single satisfactory reply—a single answer implying that the subject has been in any degree properly considered—has been mado by him to the questions which members of the House of Commons have asked him when news of such lamentable accidents h&ve come to hand. iSevortheless.thisisa subject of momentous interest to the whole nation. It is not endurable that week after week, month after month, tho coun fry should go on losing ship's and lives as if these tilings were of no more actual concern to the public than the foam that forms and breaks over the bodies of our fellow • creatures. Is collision one of those disasters which can be entirely prevented? Certainly not. No mail iv his tenses will ever sup pose that of the innumerable ships of all nations which are day and night steaming or sailing over the ocean, a certain propor tion will not strike one against another, with consequeoces-more or less calamitous. What the public, however, have a right to complain of, is that no attention seems to be given to the subject by that department of the tttate whose business it is to superintend all matters relating to merchant shipping, and to carry into execu tion the provisions of the various Acts re lating to tho mercantile marine. The exhi bitiou of certain lights at night has been rendered compulsory; warning sounds have to be made during thick weather; aud the rule ot the road has been worked into certain rhyming phrases by Mr Thomas 6: ray. Apparently the Board of Trade tbinK. that nottiing more is wanting. Every effort made by inventors to improve the security of the travelling public at sea is derided or neglected. It .~cums to be thought that human genius cannot by any possibility soar above the red, white, and greea lan terns aid Mr Thomes Gray's poetical maxtais ; nor invention transcend the horn of the sailing ship, and the whistling and screeching of the steamer. Meanwhile col

lisionn are multiplying with dreadful / rapidity, and score* of lives are being sacri- . ficed by departmental inattention to a pro- j blern tha giaviiy of wiiich deepens every year.

The story corresponds with roost other narratives of like disasters which have hap pened of late. The ship, being struck, fills and founders so rapidly that there is no time afforded for lowering a boat. Even whilst the chisf mate and crew of the Wai tara are struggling with the boat's falls, the water is above their Leads. Three minutes make in euch a scone but a short period. Indeed, it is not wonderful that iron ships should founder in a space of time tbatsetims incredibly small. Deeply laden as they are in these days, they need bat a little extra wtight iv tbe form of a few tons of water to send them like lead to the bottom. It is, however, somewhat surprising that the overhanging bows of the Hurunui should have cut the side of the Waitara open be low the water-line. This is to be accounted for, perhaps, by her being a bigger ship by ' two hundred or three hundred tons, and higher out of water than the other; so that, when the collision took place, her head might have been over the bulwarks of the smaller vessel, and her stem full into her side. " Une of tlie passengers," we read, " said afterwards it didjnot seem to crash, but to cut its way through, the side giving way like so much paper." Uu nappiiy, the facility with which the iron plates of merchant vessels may be severed is one of the evils which, we suppose, must be accepted along with the advantages, in the shape of economy, of metal in ship building. In former days, two woodei men o'-war, rolling yardanu to yardarm, and striving each one to board its antagonist in a heaty seaway, would pound against each other's sides with a result Beldom more destructive than tbe giindiag away of the old-fashioned channels. Two of our modern merchant iron sailing or steam sbipj in a like position would sink each its rival out of hand almost with the first bump. What, then, is to be dope ? ' It is iinpossibleto build these metal fabrics so strong that a light blow shall not make their iron sides yawn. It is equally impos sible to pievent collisions, though we have not the least doubt that the number of tbem might be greatly abridged by the judicious adoption of gome of the more practical appliances which have been invented. The only way of assuring the safely, com paratively speaking, of those who go to sea in the easily-eunk vessels of the age, is to render them independent of the qualities of the ships by a large provision of floatab'e furniture. There should be deck structures whose buoyancy would cause them to float off a vessel the moment they were water-borne, but so con trived as to secure against "fetching" away in a heavy sou without obliging the crew to fasten them down by lashings; be cause,.if lashings are needful, then, when the crisis arrives, no knives are forthcoming, and the life-saving appliance sinks with the ship. There should also be an abun dance of self-detachable objects in the shape of seats, buoys, and so forth. It is quite certain that the method of hanging boats to davits or stowing them on skids renders them, ninety times in the hundred, of no use when they are wanted. They ought to be supplemented, then ; and we contendtiat, in the face of repeated^colli sions and deplorable loss of life, it is the imperative duty of the department of State that superintends the mercantile marine seriously and promptly to consider this formidable kind of disaster, and to en force the application of means for protect ing life at sea. The "St James's Gazette" says: "We hear that the Waltara's boats could not be launched. This is ihe usual story. Yet there are dozens of patented appliances for initantaneously lowering boats, from a ship in all weathers. They are familiar enough, and satisfactory enough to visitors at exhi bitions on dry land, but somehow they do not teem to succeed at sea."

The "Pall Mall Gazette " fears the in quiry into the circumstances of the accident will be awaited with painful interest. There appears to have been tome slight mist, but not enough to havo justified either vessel in comisg to anchor. Mean while the probable course of each must have been well known to the other, for boh had left Gravesand together and both were bound for New Zealand ports. A pas seuger on board the Hurunui says that they had frequently sighted ihe Waitara, and eithi r there must h*ve been gros« careless ness or else there must be something very deflcient in the rules of the road to have made puch a collision possible."

PARLIAMENTARY.

(FROM OUR SPECIAL REPORTER.)

WELLINGTON, this day,

Decrease in Customs Revenue. The Customs returns for July, as com pared with the corresponding! month of la-it year, show a serious deficiency. Auckland this year shows a f«lling-ofl ot £4,000, Wel lington and Lyttelton £6,000, while toe Duuedin decrease is no less than £11,630. Petitions. Mr ('adman yesterday presented a petition from W. Odium, of Thames, asking a grant of land promised to him by Sir D. McLean for military service. MrSwanson presented another petition in favour of the present education system, Mr Dargaville'B Discretion. Acting on the advice of friends, Mr Dar ga»illo has re-cowidered his intention of accepting Major Atkinson's challenge to taka his chi.r^es into the law courts by giving utterance to them away from the protection of Parliament, Auckland Hospital Reserve. Mr Dick today asks letve to introduce the Auckland Hospital Heserves Bill. Shareholders of the Union S.B. Company. It is not generally knowa that only 5,179 shares of the Union »team Shipping Com pany aro held In the colony, whereas 32,093 are held in Britain. The •' Army" Crusade and the Colonial Revent^e. Speaking on the decrease of Customs re venues in the Souse yesternight, Mr tiurat house stated it to be his opinion that the falling off was not duo to depression, but to the ministrations of the Salvation and Blue Kibbon Armies. Chairman of Direct Steam Committee. Dr. Pollen has been elected Chairman of the Direct Steam Committee. Charges Against the Agent- General. The Agent-General is accused of partiality to the Shaw, Saville Company, as against the New Zealand Shipping Com pany. A late arrival, writing to the local pap3ra, states that oa applying to the £ gent-General's office for vi vice as to his passage, he was not only recommended to go by the Shaw-Sayille line, without being informed of the existence of any other, but was given a letter of introduction to that firm from one oi the officers of the depart-! ment. Government, it is rumoured, nave sent strong representations to Sir F. D. Bell on the subject. Gran ts for Roads and Bridges. It is stated in the lobbies that local bodies' applications under the Koads and Bridges Construction Act for the current year amount to a million and a half, to meet which there are £200,000 available. Tho Committee are striking oat roads right and left, and more fighting will take place, Ihe Direct Steam Service. At the meeting of the Joint Committee re steam service yesterday, a resolution was carriedrequesting Governmcntnot to proceed further with the negotiations with the New Zealand Shipping Company until the report is brought up. At next meeting a resolution will probably be proposed setting forth the right of the New Zealand Shipping Company io consideration, and an amendment will be moved to the effect that Government be requested to make the beßt terms thoy can with either company. Land lax Proposals. In the Mouse yesternight, the Minister of Works stated that a bill taxing laud improved by future railways will be intro duced this ses-siou. Questions To-uay. Mr Fergus asks the Minister of Lands to day if Government will restore thu 10 per cent, taken from chainmeu and others em ployed on the survey staff. He alfo asks the Colonial Secretary if Government will still giveabouus of £1,000 for the manu facture of the first 50 tons of printing paper in the colony. The Whauwhan Railivay. The Premier and Minister of the Public Works have been depatationised of Messrs Mitrho'son and Alderton on the subji ct of a line to con.ratnt Whauwhau Coal Mine with the WhaDgarei Kamo Railway Ministers held out no hope of the small line beine made, but asked the deputation t o stat* their news fully in writing.

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(Via Brindisi.)

(FKOII OUR LONDON COBRESPOHDKNT.)

LONDON, June 29. 2 he Annexation of New Hebrides. A long and interesting interview took place at the Colonial uffice yesterday between the Secretary of State (Lord Derby) and the of South auatriJia New Zealand, New South Wales, Victoria'■ and Queensland, for the purpose of urging on the Government the annexation of the New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, and other groups in. the Pacific. The interview was private, but I managed to glean a brief abstract of what occurred. Sir Francis Dillon Bell had the honour of opening the proceedings, and made a cogent speech in which be dwelt more especially on the risks of foreign occupation and the annoy, ances it would entail. Mr Murray Smith followed, and after commending Sir Francis Hell's views, pointed out the danger and disgracu which would attend the establish ment of additional, convict settlements in the Pacific, and the risk of a local alsatia eventuating as in Fiji of old. Sir haul Samuel talked principally of the commer cial advantages which would accrue through annexation, and urged the crowing charac ter of trade among the Pacific hies. Lord JJerby reviewed all the arguments at length, expressing himself perfectly stumble of the gravity of the question. He farther re quested the Agents-Gemral to embody their views in a joint statement, which he undertook to lay before the Cabinet. The interview generally seems to be regarded aa satisfactory, Mr Jtedmond. Mr W. A. Kedmond, the worthy Home Ruler who has been viiiting yon in the colonies, is the Parnellite candidate for the borough of Wexf ord. The warrant oat agniuht him for seditious language has never been withdrawn, but it la scarcely thought the Government will care to put it iv force bow. Judge Arney's Will. Sir George Arney's will was proved on the 9th inst. by Colonel Colls and Mr E. H. Speed, Tbe personalty is under £16,000. The testator leaves £4,000 and the plate given him by the Auckland Bar to his niece Mrs Colls, £4,000 to Miss Emma Speed, to his godson, George Martin, all hi* lands in the Turanga dis trict, and near Howick, Auckland, and numerous small legacies to relatives, god* children, friend*, and servants. The residue of his property, including the remainder of the real estate in flew Zealand, is left in trust for Mrs Colls and her children.

The rumour that Sir Hercules Robinson will be appointed to Victoria turns out to be wholly unfounded. Sir Hercules goes back to the Cape where, strange to say, he is not specially popular. Colonial Institute Conversazione. • The'conversazione of the Colonial Inßtl tate came off at the South Kensington Museum on the evening of the 21st instant, and proved—in the estimation of the pro moters—a great success. For my part, I, must candidly confess that I don t think I ever attended a much drearier exhibition, or, perhaps, one ought to say, reception. About 2,000 individuals, collected from India, China, Canada, Australasia, and other uttermost parts of the earth, meandered bashfully through the Museum rroaj 10 o'clock to miduigbt, examining the old cbina, and listening to the strains of the Guards and Hungarian Bands. 1T» Indians and Canadians were in greateit' force. They "kept, themselves to them selves," and surveyoro"- mats from other parts of the world I* to Beetip' *>tuons pity, Very few people efcpui trp^, *-send». Occasionally yott»T- • ™.. _ Jut* acquaintances faiii^igw own colony, and then the extravagant delight exhibited, clearly showed how prayerfully "konis one to talk to" had been longed for. Apart from Sir F. Dillon Bell,' Lady Bell, and the usual lot of bank managers and Government officials, there did not seem to be a great many flew Zea> landers present. .-fUr survcing the scene disconsolately for three-quarters of an hour, itnd reflecting whether some plea-fins practical joke (such, par exempli, a skipping piaj folly round and tweeking all the K.O.M G.s by their crostee), would h : not throw a little life into the proceedings, I was quite startled by being accosted dj '{ my name. The party speaking pr»red to be a geutleman who deposed to residing Vn Auckland and to kaving often seen me in that city. I hadn't (havn't bob) the re motest idea who he and hist good wifo were, but their pleasure in meeting a familiar face was so unaffectedly genuine that I didn't like to throw cold water on the acquaint ance by anking thfir lipmes. "Do Ton. know," said my new friend, " I don't think' lever quite realised till to-night what an insignificant bit of the British .Empire New Zealand is after all. Fancy there being n many hundreds of folks from the colonies here to-night, and yet scarcely a soul from my particular town." Ihe guests were received by the Council, the most prominent members being tbe Duke of Manchester, Sir John Coode, Sir V. Clifford, Sir B. Barkly, and the Hon. Secretary, Mr F. Yonng. Amongst thoM who accepted invitations to be present wen; many distinguished statesmen and officials connected with the colonies, including Lord and Lady Mapier of Magdala, Sir Bartle Frere, the Jtdght Hon. W. B. Forster, M.P., Lady Hercules Roblmoo and Miss Robinson, Sir Saul Samuel, Kir W. Gregory, Sir A. Muegraye, and the Chinese and Japanese Ambassadors. The most notable absentees amongst those who should have been present were the Earl and Countess of juerby and the Duchess of Manchester. The last-named lady is one of the greatest of grandea damtt, and her attendance would have converted the conversazione into ,'an Impromptu "aweller" affair.

To my mind, the pleasanteet feature ol 1 this, lugubrious "walk round " was tba j music. The band of the Grenadiqr Guafl|||| one of course hears at all swell reception, j bat I bad not seen Kalozd/a Hungariwl j before this season. They do play superbly, { It is most inspiring music, entirely t& J .stringed instruments, some of peculiar con- j struction, led by the violin, which is jj manipulated in a masterly manner by the |) leader. I was told the performers learned ■' iheir parts entirely by ear, never ndi^?(| notes at all. They certainly -look a most £ intelligent body of men, though, theft I peculiar uniforms give them a novel up- i pearance. The Hungarians' pregranUßj) 1 consisted of twelve pieces, four of wbfci i were Czardas. One' specially inteieetiDj | featnre was a solo on the cymbal, &n IS' j Ktrumeut like a stunted grand piano, on I three legs, only with the strings visible awl J no keyboard. Oa these strings, as en J a harp set horizontally, the perfonncn | play with a pair of sticks, having I perforated pads at the end, I think; !| many New Zealand visitor* thonghi | it " the thing "to come late, for towira 1 supper time far more of what Macdepnott j calls " the dear familiar faces " were about | Listening to the Hungarians, I observed' Mj | and Mrs William Gieborne, accompanied I by three very attractive yonng ladles, {>»■ | sumably their daughters. Soou af(*rir«rd* | the great Julias and Lady Vogel bore do** j tho central transept, and itßmediatelf "81 1 hind thona were Mr and Mis Hngh Oirle; | ton, who appeared to know heaps of pMinft * -Amongst other New Zealand not*Wa I pointed out to me may be mentioned off | Edward and Lady (Stafford, Mr «nd M» I C. M. Wakefield, Mr G. C; Osmond^ I i ady Whitmore. Mr and Mrs JbhnStMj I holme were also present, likewise Mr ttf. j Mrs S. B. Browning, Mr and Mrs W»|t«: I Turnbull, Mr Henry K. Bs«* | Mr John Chambere, Mrs P»J» I Nathan, Mr Henry Nathan, Jf I ■>. *. Kathboue, Mr H. S. Valentine, H» ,■,..,; and Chas. J Taylor and Mi>s Taylor. J» following New Zealand fellows of the MJ; I lute 'received cards of invitation, "" I wbether they were, all present lcattjsJ", § •w r and Mrs W. Acton Adams, MraniW I A. Deane, Mr James Alexander, Mr WJ1 I Barton, Mr C. V. Biddulph, Mr E »« ■ Undue, Mr and Mrs Geo. Buiikley, f*» Buckley, Mr W. W. Ca^ill, MeMrtW* g and J. B. Chambers, Mr and Mrs Che»»» f Strode, Mr and Mrs J Mewart Cl«*fj= | Mr J. Coutts Crawford, Mr and Ut'^J It Cunningham Mr aud Mra J^esf4?iri H Messrs ti. aud Thos. Eraser, Mr auW J w. Anderson Kow, Mr and Mrs**,*' 1 >'aim, Mis* Annie and Mr xvobert jN*^ I m is it orris, Mr and Mrs John rteM,,»» "/ « L. Sbepuerd, Miss May Taylor. 1 De'*J, |: lowing fiew Zealand gentlemen hay & appointed fellows of the on'a''JS|i 1 since the tonversazione : Me fr* , .» Douses. Thomas Elder, Francis Pic)«n»er a Geonje Slaie, and .Richard Tbonn*. Mr William Coobran, of Avertale,^ ;; blanc, Perthshire, contributed a lonff *T |j to the ' Coloniesand India" of the low«*jj jj;| polniiug but the ui:vant»#es of Birja Island ot New Zt a'and for tne cuUVB0 ™ ffl( . • ■ tea, silk, chicchunor, and other fS|jß tropical produce. He refers to tie '^Z, ' . already achieved by those who *"%. ; perimented In these matters, and esp*""* :

THE AUCKLAND EVENIJW STAK, TUESDAY AUGUST 14



Special Aavertisemecte. JSKW . WINTPR JHOSIEKY. JUST LANDED, EX GEORGE DEWLEY, A SPLENDID STOCK OF WINTER TTOSIERY, inter Hosiery. man J, & K. MOKLEY'S. 293 PACKAGES tttattfettutt BLAOKfcNAVy MAROMB & CAR DINAL GRBNAT & SEAL BROWN WHTER & SKY Blitfß OfcARBT Ss OHOCO liATK . STKKL «B CtKKKJAIi liADIKB ft CHIL DKEN-fl HOBG & B&UT HOBB. & ' "\\ 'H. ■vM RaTTRAI. X , OBAFBIi, vIi.I'ITtTKR, ft HOSIER. X 178.150.&UH. >.'. liitN-STRBKT.



Special Advertisements. Y OUFUKNISH YOUR HOUSE , f URHITPBIt WABKHOCSB. ' RON BEDSTEADS- 1 480 In Btoo^now > GARLICK | Teßter° mi'Our nClc'. or, & CRANWELL. , Stump Cotß,Chair»ecl9, Stretchew, Child's Bea- Queen-st., steads with half sides. Double Iron Bedsteads Auokland. SPBfNG 2 MATTRASBKB- SSSWBMS °A S «Wm and Lath Mattraas. BEDDING ready for de q A rlick llvary (to fit any size & CRANWELL Bedstead) — Hair. Ka pok, Flax, Flook, Fibre qarlICK Slattrassea. Feather & CRANWELL Beds, Pillows and Bols ters. Paillasses; a large qaRLICK stook always on hand. & CRANWELL BEDROOM Fnrniture- Great variety of Wash- GARLICK Btanda and Tables & CRANWELL very pretty Queen Ann Marble top WashßtanS qarLIOK and Table, with glass &CRANWKLL attached; also various low prioed patterns for qaRLIOK ordinary rooms; Chest & CRANWBLL of Drawers, Ward robes, Toilet Glasses, GARLICK Immense stock. & CRANWELL DINING, SITTING, and Drawing-room Fun"; GARLICK toe - Suites in stock & ORANWEKL very cheap, and Furni ture for any room made — gceord"ocali?n Baa hC rtha^ GARLICK AUSTRIA^Bent Wood & CRANWKLL SWSS, Urg^fv^Can Furnish Your B&SSeftfMS House Auokland: Piano StOOIB, hhhapiv Arm, Foldiog. Rooking OHEAPLV, and Children s Chairs. n-vmrniTtnunTV AMERICAN CHAIRS- KXPKDITIOUSLY, Importers direct from New York. AND KITCHKN FUENITUKK THOEODGHLY Fenders and Flrelrons, IHOHOUUHwr. Carpets, Floor Cloths, _ . Linoleum, Matting, Chimney Glasses, &c GARLICK &0# ft CRANWELL. YOU oan Furnish Queen-st., WELL from the City HaU Arcade. Auokland. (~) U R nASH gALE AT rtO'T T» R rOB «■ L/OBT fKIOKB WILL CE 18K QATURDAY, j^ UGCST -| gTH. THK RKBIDCE 0? WINTER STOCK WILL BK OLKAKKD DURING THB WKBK AT NOMINAL PRIOHB. ty? ILNE AND OhOYCE, QOEBN & WKIiMJBLBY-STRKKTi, W B« A T H A I t OF A. \V. Mace-s BANKRUPT QTOCK. ANKRUPT CjTOCK. MRS J. SMITH having bought the Bankrupt Stook of A. W. Mace, will offer the same together with her own large and well-assorted atook of Drapery, Clothing, &c. at a Great Saorifioe, In order to dear. The Stook Is new, and wel chosen. The following lines will show tho Enormous Reductions :— Blaok and Cold Velveteens, from Is 9d Cold Satins, from la lid, all shades Silks reduoed from 4s lid to 3h lid, all winter shades Satin Cloth. 53d, worth IOJd Useful Flannel, B}d, worth Ud Blankets, from 6s Ud eaoh Men's Pilot Coate. reduoed from 28a M to Men s Strong Trousers, 5b 9d Boys' Sultß, from 6s lid Youths' Good Tweed Suite, 18s Bd, worth 24b And all other goods at equally low prices. NOTE THE ADDRESS JC M I T H OMI T H DRAPEK & CLOThIER (Next United Sbbviot HotkiJ, queen-street E/NLARGMENT OF .PREMISES. J. COSGRAVE & CO., B "ING OBLIQKD TO BNLAR3H THKIR PREMISE 3, Wirj, BB COMPELLED TO CLEAK OUT THE REMAINING POR. TION OF THEIR STOCK AT UNPREOBDBN2HDLY LOW PBIOBS. J* IJoSGRAVE & Co., Uppbb Quekn-street, 168 & 160 THE fi?!?!?i£ us *■ 180 ineen-st. 58 & 180 NEW ZEALAND neen-at. W * IRO Queon-st 68 & 160 CLOTHING FACTORY Queen-st. to p. jog Queen-Bt. 68 & 100 Abb Now DwraAYiNa a fejj;B^ 48 & 160 Gjukd Stook 9 neent{' 88 & 160 S? 6811"^ S * iflfl OF Queen-st. w 1180 neen^t 68 & 160 NBW ZEALAND MADE Queen-st to ft. ipji ueon-st. 58 & 160 PIBOE GOODS FOR weenst. sa f, ion UOCn-Ht. Ifti & 160 THB SEASON. Queen-st. ISB & 160 - Queen-Bt. [^Sißn The Cheapest and Most gecS^ Str tm Durable Goods ever 'uoon-Bt. iSfelS offered to the S^nit 168 & 160 L Queen-et 158 & 160 ■ -1— , Queen-et. 168 & 160 New Zealan' Blankets Queen-st 168 & 160 Now Zealan i ilankets Queen-st. 168 k 160 New Zealand Blankets Queen st. 168 & 160 New Zealand Blankets Queen-Bt. 168 & 160 New Zealand Blankets Qncon-ut. 158 & 160 C|ueen-Bt, 168 & 180 New Zealand Flannelß Qjwwn-at. 168 & 160 New Zealand Flannels Queen-st. 168 & 160 New Zealand BTarinela Qneen-Bt. 158 fc 160 New Zealand Flannels Queen-el.' 168 & 160 New Zealand Flannels Queen-et. l&a fc l(i() Qneen-st. 168fclB0 New Zealand Shlrtlngß . Qneen-at, 168 f 160 New Zealand Shirtings Ciueen-st. 168 1160 W Zealand Bhlrttngs Qneen-at. 168 & 160 I^ew Zealand Shirtings Jiueen^ 168 & 160 New ZeaiWd Shirtings jcrj ft- Igfl — y— ■ UUGGB-BW IK & 160 New Zealand Knltttop; Queen-at. iss im yarns Queen-flt. ksliS NewZealandKnitUng^ £»* iIi NeW^ndKnft^arns&: B Lv 1M & 160 New Zealand Knitting S wen-rt. 163 & 160 yMna IQneen-Bt. rjpHORNTON, SMITH AND FIRTH \ HAVE FOR SALE I "Dfwn" Wlaax. In BMia. VXT9 »a& Wb Champion" do. do. do, "Cantab" do. do. 00. Sharpa Bran wheat ______ AUCKLAND GAB COMPANY LIMITBD, KBTABLISHBD 1883. PJ7BTBXORB ofugHT, HHAT. AND POWER. The Company sell anA ereot «ia-ntUnarß, In otnAliiH Ban appuatiu «i>d_Bas4iowßt enolaes.. Btook IdoloAm Otto Gw ffnglneeT Offloe and Bhow-rooniß, Fon-blreot.