SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

HIGH WACERffi O^ US'o Irnlng1 rnlng. 2 .27 BUNSHIT.—TMs Evening, 5.49

ARRIVALS.

SATURDAY EVENI.IB. Zsalandia; P.M.9.5.. Webber, from San Fran-1 WfllUWrton, s.s„ Farquhar. from Tauranga SSSSttOHHn, MUsion soooner. Tilly, from Norfolk Island YESTERDAY. malat Bohooaer Peterson, from Newca-t'e KStomahi"". B.s. Fa-qunar, from Mercury Douglas, s.s,, Norrls. from Mangawal

TO-DAY. Manapouri, s.s„ Logan, from the South FWuiyKeUy, ketob, Will ams, frrm Mongonui Mariner, sohooner, Quoen, from H ua ell

DEPARTURES. YESTERDAY.

Zsalandia, P.M.S •>., We bber, for Mjd„ey Taiaroa, s.s. Hansby, for the 5--outh Letterewe, barque, Marioy. for Wellington

IMPORTS.

Per Zsalandia. from San FrancUM-lM cases mint. 18 oases varnish, bruahos. eto. 02t OHB6B aalmon, 78 Backs ol! cake 30 case, canned goods. 60 cases dried traits. 20 owes KOKtnmup 13 kegs Oißings, 5 books Baedß, and a quantity oi sundries. ;

Per Three Cheers, from Snvo - 30 oases oranges.

INWARDS COASTWIBB. r Star». from' Whangs reL with 22 388 feet t niber; Opotiki, irom WhaSwei. with 60 tons ooal; Reault, bom Port Chareswllh 2i6CO feet Umber; Myrtle, tram H hangiro. with 40.000 feet to.aro, 40i ton* bark t tukapuki, irom Mahnrjngl. with 10 tons !sm! 31 pllis; Fanny Keliy, from Whangaroa. 32,450 feet timber; Por.iv»tonco, from Motu inpn, with 250 bushels Bhlngl.;. Outwards CoASTWiSB.-Start, for \Vhan garei; Bessio. for Kennody Bay; Opotiki, for Slahurangi; Result, for Port Charlosk Puka puka, for Mahurangi; Kauri, for Port Charles; Persovoranoe, for Motutapu.

The three-masted sohooner Banda Isle was feeding at .* ew York for 1 yttelton dlreot when the moll left, OLd was announced to call on March 31.

Suitable vessels lor long voyages are still BOarco at New York.

The barque Mendoss* left Now York for Anokland aud Lyttelton en tfebcuuy 28.

The tonnage loading on tbe berth nt • ou<"on. On Feb 15. tor Australia and New Z:aland, was .4,633 tons

Freiihti from London to Au.tr >lla and NfW Zealand are repor.od (fib 23) woiker.

The Looh Ken, £09 tons, left Loudon for Auck land on Feb. 8. i he Kast Lothian and Glenloia were then loading.

The s.s. Douglas, from Mangawai on Saturday evening, brought 39 saoks and 11 casos gum, _s> eft ses fruit, and four passongers. The following passengers orrlvod from Tau ranga by the s.s. Wellington at 9.3 i) o.m. yester day :—Dr Genders, Messrs Whelton, Uhadwiok, Mills, Morley. Clarkson, Jonos. Rignold, Hay look, Pine, Abrams. McGill. Wright, Mooney, Mahoney, Clayton, Bradford, Hogg, Kircaldio, Robertson, and Sanderson, Dr Armitago, Mes dames Romson, Whltton, Gill, and Graham,

Messrs staley, Kndforl and Co. quote rates from London to Anokland :—Kongo measure ment, 30b; fli.e 40s; liquid*, 604; weigt.t, 30e; oem'.nr, 6s per cask; beer. lOd per doz; salt, 80s. •

By the P. and O. Co.'s stoamer which left London on February 15, Mr ond Mrs Wilson and Mr G. F. Walker wero passongers for Auokland.

Mr and Mrs Pickering and two children wero passengers for Auokland by tho P. and O. steamer Ballarat to leave London on March 29, The ship Oxford, from London for Wellington, with emigrants, was towed back to Cardiff on February 3, totally disabled. Particulars appear in another column.

The shipping returns mado up by H.M. Cus tomß for tno quarter ending March 31 shew that during that time the entries inwards amonntod io 53 vessels, a total of 33,610 tons, and crews numbering 615 men. Outwards there were 53 vessels, of 31,915 tons, and crows numbering 1,561 men. for tho same period, the inward passenger traffic was: Adults, 615 male and 232 female; children, 122 male and S3 female. Outwards Iho totals aro: Adult!', 456 mala and 191 female; children,il male and ia female.

THE MAIL STEAMER.

The P.M.9.5. Company's Zealanui» arrived from San Fraccis-.o on Saturday evening, about B3d p.m. iihe discharged »an Francisco pilot March 11. at 350 p.m. Discharged Honolulu pilot Maroh IP, at 5.25 cm. Passbd West Cape. Tamils, distance one mile, on March 25, at 8.15 v.m.; received Anokland oilot, March 31, at 5.15 p.m. Weather moderate thtouahont tbe voyoßo. On the up trip the Ztalandla cxperl enoeda g^odceaiol rongb weatber and very he&vyraina throjghuut. The City of Sydney, when'three cai s out from Aaoklnnd, met with a terrific gale, during whioh one of the Beamen was wasaec overboard, also BDme ot the live one child in the steoruse. For S/dney: IB -Mjqfljij^yJ^JjiteiriKO passensrota

at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday.

ARRIVAL OF THE MISSION SCHOONER'

The Mission schooner Southern Cros3 arrived from Norfolk Island late on Saturday evoning. Captain Tilly reports:—Left Auckland on March 7, and RusseU on the 13th, arriving at Norfolk Island on the 17th. Owini< to unfavourable winds remained there until tho 21th, when wo sailed for Auckland, with wind rf.E. to the 80th. From then till arrival, westerly winds prevailed. Passengers: Biahop Selwyn, Revs. Gulliver and Rnddock, Messrs. Charles Bell, R. Hobbs, Robinson, Bailey, Masters Tilley, Somer riile, and Inness, Missea Roasiter, B. Nobbs, A. Nobbs, and Gleeson. Mrs Breton and Mrs Heb blethwaite.

SCHOONER PUT IN LEAKY.

Toe three-m«Btcd sohooner Malay, from New castle, bonnd (or t.onolmu, put ln hero yester day, having sprang a leak, and having lost the second mate and a seaman overboaid. Captain Petereon reports :-Left Niss.oißtle,N.3.W„ for Honolulu on the 21st day of Maroh, withaoargo OfOoaL H*dmoderateand N.E. winds to 175 west long., and 33 toutn lat Un tbo 13th and l!Hh of Maroh, experienced a heavy gale from E. to 8.N.E., whioh Increased to roaular hnrrloane The ship was nnder lower topsail, reefed main sail, a- d topi art-stay Ball At 3 a.m. onjthe 19 h Bhlpped a heavy Bea on tha Btartour I bow, whioh waste1 overboard boats and lorward houso nnd part of bulwarks; the second officer was also washed overboard, one m«n on . deok wai killed, while the arms and fingers of another were smashed. Shifted o>rgo to port. Ship labouring heavily, and making much wa.er, The remainder of iho •row were omfnaaUy at tbe pnmps until the gale moderated. T»e crew requested the cap tain to return to the ne»rost port, which ho did. On the 22nd day of March ste-red for <• uokland fur repairs, and arrived at thiß port April 1. The Malay belongs to nan iranoi-00, and ls a vessel of 7*l tooß, owned by N. Blohard. a-. San Jfranei-co. She wa< towed "p the harbour tbis moining, and will bo docked as son a pgsslb'e.

PORT OF ONEHUNGA.

AR&IVAL. Penguin, s.s., Anderson, from the South

DEPARTURE. Penguin, s.s., Anderson, for tho South,

The as. Macgregor was to leave this afternoon tor Waitara; i

The Union Co.'s steamer Penguin «rived from Bouthern ports at 1 p.m., and returned thither at 2.30 p.m. yesterday with tho southern portion Of the English Mail. She brought the following passengers from South:—Mesdames Symonds, Alexander, Allcnhorough, and Williams, Miss Symonds, Rawley. Darrant, and Alexander,. Messrs Taylor, Paulgrain, John Moeiler (2), Scott, Potter, Carson,-IrwiH (2), Collis. Paid, Thompson, Alexander, Young, Allenborough, Williams, Willoughby, Master Reskett, and nine steerage.

Mail Notice.

MAIM Witt CtOSE AS UNDER t-

TIIIB DAY.

For Tauranga, Ohinemutu, and Opotiki, por

Wellington, at i p.m. For Kußßell. Kawakawa, Whangaroa, and Mon gonnl, per Glenelg at 4.30 p.m. For Thames, por Enterprise, at 6,80 p.m.

Tuesday. 3rd April.

For Waterford, Tauranga, eto., per Rotoma hana. at 7.50 a.m. For 'lhames, per Rotomahana, at 8 a.m. For Waiwera, Kawsu, Omaha, and Matakana, per Roae CaFoy. at 10 a.m. For Wanganui per Rowena/at 11 a.m. For Rus'ell, Kawakawa, Australian Colonies. United Kingdom, via Brlndlsl. for letters, etc fpeclelly to prepaid and addressed, I ana Hong Kong (direot from Sydney by B.S. Bowen), per Manapouri, at i p.m. I For Whangarol Heads. Walpn, Whangarei, I Kamo, and Mangapat, per Argyle. at i p.m.

Wednesday, 4th April. For Rusßoll. Kawakawa. Levnks. Suva, ana Samoa, porlßnva, ot 4 p.m.

TnoRSDAV, 6th Inßtant.

For Gißborne, Napier, Southern Ports, and Australian Colonies, per (VUrarapa at 11 a.m.

Tho s.s. Stella will leave tho Bluff for, West Coast Sounds on tho 10th]AprII next. 8i h. Bias. Chief Postmaster. Chief Post-oflloo. Anokland.

Meetings, Entertainments, Etc.

April 1. 1883.

Abbott's Opera House—Dramatlo Corn-any, 8 p.m.

Theatre Royal-National Variety Combina tion, 8 p.m.

Driill-sfccd.-No. 3 Company. 7.30 p.m. St. Sepulchre's Mutual Improvement Soolety. —Solectfons from Shakespeare" 8 p.m. '

Jonsonby Haptlst Band ot Hope—Monthly Mo ttlng. 7 30. St. James's Association.—Short Spceohoa on Chosen Subjects, 8 p.m.

Births.

MORGAN.—On March 22na, 1883, at Aratapu, Kaipara, Mr F. Morgan of a son.

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

MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1883.

Sot the cause that lucks assistance, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that wa can do.

Mail news compels the condensation of all local reports. On our fourth page is given an account of the cold-blooded revelations made by tho informers in the charge against tbe Phoenix Park assassins. Several other interesting items of mail news appear on the same page.

Dr. Kenderdine presided at the religious service in tbe Theatre last night, and an ad dress was deliveted by Mr Bamford tho evangelist. The " Church Gazette" for April is issued to-day, and contains the usual interesting church news, mission notes, &c. The annual public meeting of the Auck land Sunday-school Union will be held to morrow evening in St. James's Hal). The match on Saturday botween Avon dale and South Knd was drawn, tho former making 91 and the latter 50 for the loss of three wickets. J. Wallace, not out, 44, and Leahy, not out, 30, wore the top scorers. The performance of the Combination n-M»nu fcnmDosqd principally of members en Satuiday evemng was rainy uiwnueu*. iv- r ».£ormoi-a saomed quite as much at home on the boards ra on the sawdust, and contrived to provide a very presentable evening's entertainment.

1 here was a good attendance at the Opera House on Saturday evening to witness the production of ''Jennie Deans," Pres sure on our space prevents us from giving any extended notice, but the performance was one of the best of the season. Mrs Simonds, of Newton, desires us to express her grateful thanks to the two children who found her truant baby (one year and eight months old) on Saturday, and brought it safely back to her. It was fortunate tbat the little wanderer did not meet with any mischance.

'1 he annual public meeting of the Sunday- School Union will be held in St. James's

Hall to morrow (Tuesday) evening, com mencing at 7.30 p.m. when tea wiil bo In troduced. The "after" meeting will be presided over by J. C. Firth Hsq., Presi dent, and addresses wiU be delivered by the Revs. Guy, Bill, Macfarlane and Spnrgeon, Selections of music will be rendered dnring the evening by tho Beresford-street Chnrch choir, and the distribution of prizes to suc cessful candidates at the recent scripture ex amination will also take place,

At the dinner to the Taranaki Cricketing Team on Saturday evening, occasion was taken by Mr W. Robinson, on behalf of the Auckland Representative Team, to present a bat to Yr Barton, as the highest scorer during tbe recent southern tour, illusion was made to the recipient's splendid batting performances in the South, which have won tor him the reputation of the premier bats man of New Zealand. The bat boro a silver plate, with the inscription engraved, " W. E, Barton, highest aggregate scorer, trip of Auckland Representatives South.; 1882." 'I

Mr T. T. Gamble, German Consul, paid an official visit to H.I.G.M.S. Caroln on Saturday afternoon, and was courteously received by Captain Karcher. Upon leaving the vessel he was honoured with a salute of seven guns. On Saturday afternoon several officers oi tho Gorman corvette Hytene attended Mrs Clarke's tennis party at the Towers, Remuera.

i The religious service at the Hospital was well attended yenterday afternoon, con sidering the unfavorable state of tbe weather. The Reresford-street church choir attended in fvdl strength, under the direc tion of Mr Hooton, the harmoniumist, and hymns from Moody and Sankey were sung very effectively, Mr Vines delivered a stirring address on " The Word," being and exposition of the fiist chapter of the Gospel according to St. John. Many of the inmates clustered at the partly open windows and under the arches, and listened with devotional attention. The collection was not large, being less than 30s.

Mr Creighton, aeent for the New Zea land Government in San Francisco, bas been exerting himself on behalf of the mail service. His instructions from the Government came too late for him reach Washington before Congress expired on March 4tb, but he went to Sacramento, the state capital of California, and induced the legislature to adopt concurrent resolutions memorialising Congress in favour of the mail service. These were telegraphed to Washington. Mr Creighton also obtained from the San Francisco Board of Trade a memorial to the State Legislature. This memorial piayed that the service be con tinned through San Francisco, as an effort is being made by the managers of Atchi son, Topeka, and Sania ¥6 Railroad, to di vert the service from San Francisco to Guaymas, Mexico, where they pioposed to have wharves and warehouses constructed for the reception of freight from China, Japan, and Australia. Mr Creighton's ex ertions on behalf of colonial mutters in, America have been most meritorious and successful,

At the several Anglican churches yester day, the sermons and collections were in aid of tho Home Mission.—St. Matthew's • Xhe 7 B? V' W" Tebbs ' the Incumbent, preached in the morning from tho Acts of the Apostles, c. 10, v. 34 and 35; and Eev, A. G. Hitchcock in the evening, from St Luke, c. 24, v. 5, There was a full choir, assisted by Mr Gordon Goocb. Collec tions, £19.-S. Sepulchre's: The Bey. B T. Dudley preached at tbis church in the momim?, and Bishop Selwyn in the even ing. The collections (including children's offering) amounted to £40 17s 3d.—St. Paul's : The Key. C. M. Nelson preached an excellent discourse on "Thomas the Twin," taking his text from the uospel of the day, Collections were made for the Home Mission, but it was not so I large as anticipated,-—St. Thomas: Tho Key, Colin C. Cochayne-Frlth, B.A. Oxon, conducted the services in this church, preaching in the morning from Ist Corin thians, c. 15, v. 57 and 58, and in the even ing from St. John, c. 6, v. 12, The collections in aid of the Mission reached £4. St. Marj's, Parnell: Tho morning service l was conducted by the Yen. Archdeacon Pntt, who preached a practical discourse from St, John, c. I, v, 41. In the evening the incumbent, the Key. Mr WalpoleT preached from St. Joan, c. 20, v. 21 and 22 collections £18 10s.- All Saints : The ser vices were conducted by the Key. J. Alloway 8.A., one of the masters of the Auckland Grammar School. Collections: &y is Zi.

Prizes won at the Ponsonby Regatta were paid over on Saturday evening. The scul lers race, amateur aad maiden rowing races were postponed becauso of unfavourable weather.

Wo have to acknowledge receipt of this montU's Penny Time Table, and notice several additions to the conch time tables and other luformation. It is on sale at all stationers.

The old armoury in tho Albert Park is to bo put up for sale by auction shortly, the purchaser to remove it. The new aimoury will be erected in O'Rorke-street, alongside the police barracks. A quantity of ship's stores, wines, spirits, nnd groceries are to be sold to-morrrow by Messrs E. and A. Isaacs.

Captain Ashby, writing from London under date February 22nd says :—" I havo been more than busy with passengers all this year; I never remember having so many inquiries at this season of the year. I have advised and booked large numberß Auckland, and many of them have large sums of money to start a fresh life with. I see by one of your newspapers, ycu men tioned I recommend Dunedin, This must have been a misprint or a mistake on your part, as I always advise those that I think will make good colonists to go to Auck land. lam pleased to inform you Mr S. Morrin is "so much hotter, and talks of leaving San Francisco by the mail of Moy sth, I cannot say tbo same of Judge Manning, whom I constantly call on. I fear he is not long for this world."

FIRE IN WYNDHAM-STREET.

Narrow Escape of Nine People.

A FIRK broke out shortly before four o'clock this morning in one of n block of wooden shops in that portion of Wyndham-street between Albert aud Chapol-streots. Tho building in question is occupied by Mrs Maty Ann Scott, who carries on a millinery or fancy goods shop, and who also keeps board ors. Frederick Thorp, who rosides at tho house, was the first to givo the alarm. He was awakened by a crackling noise, and jump ing out of bed, and proceeding downstairs, he discovered that a fire had broken out in tho shop behind tho counter. An alarm was raised, and Mrs Scott, and child, and five other nialo boarders, baroly aucceoded in making their eacapo. The staircase was on fire, nnd egress was eft'octod through a front window on to tho verandah, and thence to the street. The Mre Brigade soon arrived, and with the assistance of a plentiful supply of water, the shop was soon gutted, ihe adjoining build iug being slightly charred. Tho atoclc and furniture was insured by Mrs Scott about tour weeks ago for £150 in tho South British office. Messrs Glenlield and Moson own the block of buildings', which are insured in tho Union office for £1000. Regarding tho cause of the outbreak, Mrs Scott s»ya thete was no fire or light of any doactiption in the shop when she went to bed about 9 \,.m. She left a small lamp lighted on thekitchon tablo as somo of the boarders were out walk ing. FicderickLambertandanother boarder named Bartlett were the last to return homo, and tho latter saye ho extinguished tho lamp before going to bed. A man Thomas Mackin was slightly injured hii jumping from the verandah on to the road way, while Sergeant McMabon roscued a man named Hare who waa asleep in tbo adjoining shop, and apparently stupefied by the effects of the Bmoke.

SPORTING.

Liverpool Grand National

Steeplechase.

[SPECIAL TO PRESS ASSOCIATION

LONDON, March 30. Grand National Siebplkchhse (hondl-

oapj'of 1000 guinea*. Zoodone, 0 yrs., list Black Prince, axed, 10at 41bs Mohican, 6 yrs., 12,t lib

Australian Jockey Club's Autumn

Meeting. —'""•'•■l/lAM.XSR/IM.

Australian Jockey Club Plate of 350

soys. Mr J, Bedfera's br o The Plunge-, by Argus Scandal-Queen Ellen, 3yrs. ... 1 Mr W Branch's b c Mistaken, by Dante -Q.E.D., 3yra ... ... 2 Mr AY. Kelso's b g Willeroo, by Zetland —vosebud, 4yrs 3

A YOUNG MAN MISSING.

Considekable anxiety Ib felt regarding the fate of a young man named Joseph Sheriff, who is missing from Lake Takapuna, where he resided with his father. On Wednesday last, the missing man, who was in the em ploy of Mr Seaman, suddenly loft his horse and plough, and putting on his coat walked off. Being subject to fits, and having twice previously taken erratic wandering expedi tions, little was thought of his absence on tbis occasion ; but as he did not return on Friday, his father started to enquire for him. On Saturday and yesterday ho was assisted in the search by a number of the Lake settlera; but up till last night no trace whatever coold be got, of the young man. Very curiously, ho bas disappeared now for three times at the same time of tho year—last year and this being on the 28th March; but on the first two occasions ho returned after an absence of 48 hours, but could Rive no account of his movements. Mr Soaman fonnd him quiet and obliging, and a faithful gervnnt. Though only seventeen years of age, he is six feet in height, strongly built, with dark hair and eyes ; dressed in mole skin trousew, black coat, and straw bat. Any information will be immediately con veyed to his parents if left at tho STAR office, or with Mr Seaman, Insurance Buildings.

SCINTILLATIONS.

Bishop Sklwyn arrived in Auckland on Saturday night,

Mr Dnreaville will shortly give nn address in City West. Milner Btephen started "healing" in Dunedin on Saturday last. if kissing cures freckles, thero are some Auckland girls who havo not beon kissed since they wero weaned.

Lucy Boldger, tho Wellington barmaid charged with perjury, has been discharged. Bishop Moran was yesterday presented w'uh an address from tho Catholics of Wellington, encouraging him to continue his efforts in the canse ot education. The Tasmanian Government are contem plating the erection of a graving dock at

A severe gale visited Pamaiu on Satnr day night, and the schooner Friendship, having her wheel smashed, was driven on shore. All bands were saved. '

Yesterday the Salvation Army com menced operations in the Temperance Hall, Dunedin, which they have taken for three years at £300 a year. The infidel city showed but n languid Interest in the pro ceedings.

RULE ASSOCIATION.

Citizens' Match.

The firing in this match was continued at

the Mount Eden range on Saturday after noon, the ranges being 200 and 300 yards (8-inch bull's-eye), and 400 and 500 yards (Wimbledon targets and scoring); five shsts at each distanco. Wo append the scores of tho prize-winners, many of whom had previously fired: - White (No 3), 82; Weir (T.N. A.), 82 ; Taylor (Victoria), 80; Moore (N.A.), 79' Cooper (Victoria), 78 ; Wooloy (Artillery), 75, Bachanan (00. 3), 75; Hay (v O . 3) 74 ; Lee (Victoria), 74; Bell (Artillery), 74- Parslow (Artillery), 73; Henderson (Artil lery),^; Floyd (r.N.A),73; Soall (No. 3), 72; Hosking (H.M.), 72; GUI (T.N.A. 72; Allen (N.A.), 71; Mettam (Hobson

The other competitors made the follow iog totals :—McCarthy (Hobson), 7i • Fairs (No. 3), 70: Payno (Artillery), 79' J.W.Leigh (No. 3). 69; Handley (Vic toria), 68; Savage (N. A,), 68; Lumsden Artillery), 68; Cameron (T.N.A.), 67- Pitkothly, (Victoria), 66; McLeod (Vic-' toria), 66; Robinson (No. 3), 65 ; Osborne (H.M.) 65; Pirie (H.M.) 64; F. Smith (N. *.), 63; Webster (Artillery), 61; Max well (No. 3), 61; W. G. Smith (N.A,), 59; Sterling (Artillery), 58; Hamilton (Vic toria), 56; S. Taylor (H.M., 51; Pearce (Victoria), 45,

Ties were decided by shooting-off. The matches tor Company's teams will be taken at seven o'clock to-morrow morning:

ARRIVAL OF THE R.M.S. ZEALANDIA WITH THE English and American Mails VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

ANGLO-COLONIAL NOTES.

(FROM OUK LONDON CORRESPONDENT.)

Illness of Sir Dillon Bell,

London, February 22. The Agent-Genernl, Sir F. Dillon fell, continues seriously unwell, and fears aro entertained that he will have to resign

office. Ho has not beon able to attend at

Westminster Chambers for some little time and tho clerks, who naturally find them selves more overworked than over, do not seem hopeful of his immediato re-appear ance there. Very great regret would be felt, not only in tho city, but in Anglo- Colonial Society generally, if Sir Francis Bell should bo compelled to retiro even 'temporarily. His pleasant manner makes him a favourite anywhere. Sir Arthur Gordon. Tho appointment of Sir Arthur Gordon to the inach-covctod vice-royalty of Ceylon, after hia cavalier refusal of Jamaica, hus creatod the utmost astonishment at tho Colonial Office,- and is proof positive that the inllucnce of tho Aberdeen family with Mr Gladstone has been under rather than ovcr-i ated. Iv tho House of Commons it is said Mr Herbert Gladstone —who is a great friend ot £>ir Arthur's-uccd influence with Lord Derby ou his behalf, but liko moat rumours of the kind is probably moonshine. Sir Arthur gavo two lectures betoro tho Edinburgh Philosophical Society, on Fiji, on tho oveniugs of February 14ih nud lGtli. They wero principally descriptive and his torical, but iv the former your ex-governor explained his viows as to tho proper method to rule tho uigger races. " There were," he Buid, " various wns of governing natives, but they always resolved them selves into two or three. The superior race might determine to govern with a sole regard to its own interests, and with no re gard for those ovor whom it had obtained tho rule, or it might rogatd them with justice, perhaps a grudging justicu, and yot aesiro io take every opportunity of enforcing its own habits ot thought and its own medts of action where tbat could bo done without manifest and flagrant injustice; or it might, and he held this was tho tiuo and right way, take into account the feelings, ayo, and the ptejudices, and habits of the peoplo with whom thoy wore brought into contact, and endeavour to govern them through them solvos, and by thomselve*, and for them selves, and according to ways and means to which thoy wero already accustomed, re cognizing the existence ot what there was, and making that a stepping-stouo to tome thing better." In his second lecture Sir Arthur lamented thodcath of KingT'hakom bau (news of which was just to haud), and discoursed at somo length about the mani fold virtues of that potentate. The de ceased, he observed, waa a most sensible man, and had always lent a willing ear to his (I. ir Arthur's) niggcstioi.s. Sir John uorrie, late Chief Justice of Fiji, will follow up tlie interest excited by Sir a. Gordon's remarks on this colony by giving a lectin o on tho eatno subject shortly. Illness of Judge Manning.

Judge Manning is sinking slowly, and suffers terrible agony, which can only bo relieved by perpetual injections of morphia. Tho jaw is now completely exposed, and the end cannot bo fnr off. It may be somo consolation to the old gentleman's friends to know that even if they happened to be anytiriflg<\t.thoy could not nurse him or do trained lUtcmlimtscnu. t'iy>:lM',,t}p»e. Only a moment in such cases, and ono (a very nice kind lady) devotes her whole timo to tho Judge. New Zealanders may be interested to hear that tho Superintendent at Fitzroy Square is Mrs Bluett, a lady who has mado two or three voyages to New Zealand and lived for some timo in Christchurch. Personal Gossijt.

Mr Saro. Morrin, of Messrs T. & S. Morrin, Auckland, has mado a really wonderful recovery, and leaves for homo, via Canada, very shortly. Me has not quite decided npon the length of his stay in America, but hopes to catch tho P.M. s.s. Australia leav ing San Francisco on May sth, and due at Auckland on Moy 28th.

The Orient, s.s., leaving on the Bth of next month, will carry several families of notable emigrants for New Zealand. First must bo mentioned Mrs Hunt, of Borettton Hall, Raschurch, Shropshire, This lady (who I have before mentioned as a probable acquisition to Auckland society) possesses an income of at least £6COO a year, and leaves Kngland solely at the instigation of j her family (three daughters and two sons) i who want to travel and see something of tbo world. The eldest son is 21, and tho daughters a fow years youngor. It is duo \to Captain Ashby to state tbat but for his persuasion theso highly eligible immigrants would bava gone to Queensland. '1 hey are now booked to Auckland, and as Boreatton Hall is for sale will probably settle there. Mr and Mrs Vallance, and a grown-up family of 10 children, are also passengers for Auckland por Orioot steamship, and intend settling in the province. 'J he Mossrs Hoadings, two young farmers possessed of ample capital, also leave for New Zealand very shortly. They will look around before d> ciding anything, but seem at present to favour Christchurch. The Glengoil steamship, sailing on tho 26th instant, takes out for New Zealand, Mr

Campboll-Steel, son of the general manager !of the National Bank of aew Zealand. Mr i Steel goes to Auckland first. Mr John Jordison, an enterprising gentleman with about £2,000 capital, also emigrates per Glengoil to either Dunedin or Auckland. The Bishop of Nelson has returnod to the colony. Ho has Riven Mr Taylor, of Berners • street, instructions to prepare painted glass windows for two of the churches in bis aiocesc, viz, Greymouth and Picton,

Direct Steam to New Zealand.

The New Zealand Shipping Company aro not,going to have tbe direct steam experi ment all to themselves. As I told you in in my last the Shaw, Saville, and Albion Amalgamation have ordered three steamers of 5000 tons each for this special trade, and meanwhilo tbo s.s. Westmeath bas been chartered to make a voyage to Dunedin end Auckland,

Vory diverse opinions aro held by Anglo- Colonists, merchants, and brokers in Lon don as to tho pecuniary soundness of these

experimental trips. "The British King's round voyage will, a good judge conjectures entail a loss of many thousand pounds, The company themselves admit her ex penses tot up to about £4 per hour, and tho fact of her accomodation being so indifferent has put tho possibility of any ro-imbnrsomcnt by means of abU return pasßonger list quite out of the question, Tbe individuals responsible for the chartering of these ves sels (the British King and British Queen) have much to answer for. Their want of nous will, in all probability, givo people quite a wrong impression of the possibilities of tbe trado. I should have thought any ignoramus could have scon tho folly of charging almost the same rates as the Orient or P. and 0. for accommodation of a most inferior charact'r. As ono broker very reasonably said to mo, "I should have been glad to give the N. Z. Shipping Company a helping hand with their steamer, and we could oursolves have guaranteed 80 first class passongers by the British King had her saloon and state rooms been up to tho mark. It was, however, impossible to recommend people like tho Kiches of Dunedin; Hays, of Auckland; and Turners, of Christchurch, to suffer the inconvenience of travelling in such a boat, and yet pay noarly as much for it as for the palatial comfort of the Parramatta or the Shannon. The majority of travellers bound for Now Zealand would prefer to proceed direct to their destination if thoy could do so feasibly, and two courses are open to shipping firms who wish to in vestigate the business—either tho vessels put on the line must be fully equal in tho matter of saloon accommodation, cjmfoit, &c, to the P. and O. and the Orient liners, or else the rates must bo lowered co mate rially as to induce travellers to overlook these matter*.

Messrs W. Denny and Co., of Dumbar ton, to whom I wrote for particulars as to the build, passenger accommodation, carry, ing capacities, and refrigerators of the five largo steamers they have undertaken to construct for the Shaw, Saville, and Albion

Amalgamation Company, inform me that | no details have as yet been decided. They will let me know directly Uiobc matters | bavo beon consulted over. j Steamer for Auckland. Ihe Bteamor Westmeath, a vessel of! 3190 tons and 1800 h.p. effective, leaves I for Auckland (via Port Chalmers) on the 13th March. She is taking cargo at sailing I ship rates, and filling up fast, but will not have many passengers. This comes of th 9 preposterous fares asked. Only a foul will pay "from 60 to 70 guineas" for any second-rate saloon accommodation In the Westmeath, when he can book through to Auckland by either the palatial boats of the P. and O. or Orient Companies (with the Union trip thrown in) for £66, and for a steerage passage but 22 guinea is asked, whereas the through faro by either of the last-named company's is but £20. Boththe Poninsulnr and Oriental and the orient, managers aro determined to do their utmost! to crush these direct liners, and every pos siblo inducement is being offered to through passengers to pattonise their routu. The P. aod O. now lose 30s on every saloon pas senger booked through to Auckland. They pay the Union Company £7 10s for the trip across from Sydney, whereas they only ask £G.

The conclusions to bo derived fiom the above facts are too obvious to need point ing out in a brief despatch, though I hope the Press will not ignore them. The West meath socms more of a cargo than a passen ger ship Captain J. Stonehouae is com mander.

Messrs W. Ashby nnd Co. are super intending tho building of a email steamer for the intercolonial trado. Its destination is not yet fixed upon. 'iho unfortuuato emigrants wrecked in tho Wild Deer were re-embarked in tbe Caroline at Glasgow on tho 19th Fobruary, nnd tho vessel sailod yesterday (tho 21st), It is to be hoped tho Otago folks will not forget to givo thorn a hearty Scotch welcome. Tho N.Z.S, Co.'s Waipa left for Canter bury with 250 emigrants about tho same time as the Oxford, and it was greatly feared she too might have, been disabled in the storm of the 7th inst. Happily tho ship was subsequently tpokon in Int. 44 N. lon. 10 XV. all well, to thoto is no cause for nnxioty.

Frozen Meat in the English

Market

Tho consignment of frozen meat by tho Sorrento (particulars of which i hope duly reached you via Brindisi), will, it is under stood, prove a financial as well as a general success. Thi« has not been the caso hither to with N.Z. shipments, and tho Sorrento's may be said to mark a turning point in the history of the trade. The mutton has throughout brought the Australian Com pany 7}tl per lb, wholesale, and they seem to consider the price satisfactory. Thoir eneigotic manager, Mr J. Stevens, wrote to the "Standard " the other day, notifying the public that tbe Sorrento's mutton is in prime condition, and under its own name might now bo purchased retail at the Messrs Fitters in Leadenhall Provlston Market, I dropped in thoro yesterday (February 21st) and found quite a little crowd of buyers and sightseer?, who were unanimous in com paring it most favourably with the meat for eale on adjacent stalls, The following are the Messrs Fitter*' retail prices:—Legs of mutton, perlb9d| j neck, 7d ; breast, 5Jd ; shoulder, 8d ; loin, 9d and 9J; saddlo, 9d to OJtl. Some of tho Sorrento's moat was sent to Birmingham market last week, where it completely ',' squelched" the American frozen mutton, selling 000 half penny per pound bighor. Tho Midland folks say it strongly re-omblos tho Shrop shire breed in taste. Mrs ldngard in London. Alico Dunning Lingard, tho BCtress who is to well known throughout New Zealand, made her first appearance io London at a scratch morning performance given nt the Gaiety 1 hoatro yesterday (Fobtuary 21). She describes herself as " Miss Lingard, a young lady who has for some years boon gaining cxperienco on tho American aud Colonial stage." There is no hint of husbaud Horace, nor would it be wiso thero should bo, remembering that the gay low comedian has already ono wife in England, aud she might resent Miss Dunning styling honelf "Mr»" Lingard. Tho house was fairly woll filled for a matin«su, tho majority of onlookers being, however, " professionals " como to gusgo Miss Lingard's talents. Everyone scorned struck with ber beauty and gracojwhich she had chosen a lets ambitions rOlo to appear io, hor success might have excited moro than momentary intorest. The result of cbullouKiiii. enmp»»lo«n wlU>- auoh con summate artistes as earah Bernhardt, Modj-sku, and Adelins Patti was, however, almost f.it:il, and the critics, whilst ad mitting her cxperienco and capacity for light comedy, condemn hei pathos as arti ficial, aod Isckiog In real power. Miss Lingard is, nevertheless, sure to secure an engagement now. Her beauty makes that, at any rate, safe.

Postscript.

LONDON, February 220 d (5.30 p.m.).

Sir Saul Samuel, tbe near relative of the Messrs Isaacs, of Auckland, was presented to tho Prioco of Wales at the levdo on the 19th.

Mr Charles Whitcombo, of Christchurch. N.Z,, has just been admitted a licentiate of tho Faculty of Physicians aod Surgeons, of Glasgow. Sir Franois D. 8011, though still very unwell, was able to attend the dinner of tlio Australian and New Zealand Under writers, and joined Sir A. Blyth in re sponding to the toast "Prosperity to tho Colonies."

Emigrants for Wellington in Danger.

Narvotu Escape of the Ship

Oxford.

Accident to Captain Braddick.

SPECIAL DESPATCH FROM OUB LONDON

CORRESPONDENT]

With memories of the Wild Deer catas trophe, fresh in people's minds, it was natu ral that considerable anxiety should prevail in Anglo-Colonial and city circles, when it became known on the morning ot tho 15th inst., that a large emigrant vessel in a totally disabled and semi-wrecked condi tion, was being slowly and jwiih difficulty, towed up the British Channel towards Cardiff. This feeling, tho authorities at onco recognised, by signalling to her, and later on, those interested were informed that tho vessel was the Oxford, bound for Wellington, and that though in tho very heavy weather experienced, several sailors had beon injured and great damage dono to tho ship and cargo, no passengers were missing, Tho Oxford, a full-rigged iron ship of 1,282 tons burden, belongs to Teraperly, Carter and Company, but < it is under charter to Messrs Shaw Savillo, for whom ehe last .year made a successful trip to Auckland; New Zealand, .flow, as then, the vessrl is under command of Captain Braddick, and the numerous colonial frionds of this gentleman, will, lam euro, regret to learn his sight has been seriously —though it is Io be hoped only tempora rily—injured, by loog exposure to driving t-IoH and hail during tbo recent ttornis. ■ The Capam also suffers in other ways from the tame causes, and several of the I crow have had to be sent to the hospital. But lot mo begin mys'ory properly, The uxford sailed from Plymouth Sound on January 28tb, for Wellington, Now Zea land, having embarked 320 Govern ment emigrants^ on the - 28th Inßt. The weather almost from the first was enough to scare the cmimander of a vessel with more than 400 souls aboard, but when the Oxford reached the Bay of Biscay the position becamesimply appalling. A passenger, who managed to once or twice obtain v glimpse of the deck, says that ho shall never forget tbe scene till the day of his death. During the day tho seas ran literally mountains high, crashing on tho decks like thunder, and sweeping every thing boloro them. Had this been all something might have boen done to make tho vessel snug, but tho icy wind roared like a oy clone, the men had to cling to ropos for doar life, not a shred of canvas could be kept on, and tho sufferings of all were in tensified by tbo bitter cold and wild squaTs of bail nnd sleet which burst on them again and again. On the 7th and Bth tho storm (the same that proved fatal to the Konmure Castle) leached its height, and Captain Braddick having determined to s^ek the nearest port, allowed the ship to drive N. W. before the wind. By this timo the Oxford was a semi-wreck, with her onsign union down and distress siguals flying. The emi grants seem to have behaved fairly well, Tho womon and children were naturally ha f dead with fright before it was all over, but the men (many of them) gave valuable assistance, clearing away wreckage, and no panic seems to have taken place. On the afternoon of the 12ththe Oxford sighted the steamer Irontheck, and after considerable danger (graphically described by the cap

tain of tho latter in tbo following report, specially furnished to me) was taken in tow. j Captain Adie Bays that at a quarter-past 1 o'clock on Monday afternoon, the Long- j ships bearing S.S.E., tix miles, wind S.W., very heavy sea->, observed a ship '*ith her ensign union down and signalling N.C., " In distress, want as sistance "; turned steamer round and went, after the ship, which was running with what canvas she could set, crogick, main staysail, and reefed foresail. Signalled in reply, K.K.G., " Shall I take you in tow J' He answered, C, " Yes." At half-past three o'clock we got as near _as possible, and told him to get a tow-line ready, but he eald he had not one, I then bent two life-buoys to two lines, but they were carried away. As it was getting dark J I told him I would stand by until daylight. I buned bine lights lights and flare-up lifbts, tbe ship doing tho some throughout the night to show the relative position of of each vessel. It rained heavily through out the night, the sea ran mountains high, and the ship seemed at times to be en gulfed m the trough of the sea. Next morning, at half-past seven o'clock, launched the port life-boat to carry a line on board the ship. The mate and four men succeeded at tho peril of their lives in bending it on to the ship's line, and hauled on board" the steamer; but as soon as everything was completed, nnd the steamer began towing, the rope broke. Nothing daunted, the brave men went again, and succeeded in getting another new hawaer fast. The steamer again attempted to tow tbe ship, but the terrible str-nn was too much, as the ship was labouring heavily, and the rope parted a second time, Signals were then made to go as far as Lundy Island. At half-puat eleven o'clock pro ceeded, tho ship requesting the steamer to go ahead and pilot the way, and he would follow. At two o'clock in tho afternoon got under Lundy and took a Bristol Channel pilot on board the steamer, At half.past three o'clocklaunchedthelife-boat ugain, and got tho third tow-rope on board the ship, and towed her to a safo anchorage under tno Flat Holms, anchoring her tbere at half-paat 5 o'clock on Wednesday morn ing, communication having been canied out by signals and lights trom a quarter past one o'clock on Monday afternoon up to half-past five o'clock on Wednosday morning," On Thursday afternoon (February 13) the Oxford was towed up to Cardiff' and snfjly docked in the Roath Basin. Thousands of sympalhetic Welshmen and women assembled on the Quay to greet the emigrants and hear their tales of the teruble time in the Bay of Biscay, and hospitality and kindness seems to have been abundantly shown thcin. 'Iho Cardiff pilots, in anticipation of tho ship docking that afternoon, clubbed together what money they could afford, and purchased two boxes containing 800 oranges. Theso they presented to tho doctor of tbo Oxford for tho children on board, and great was the glee of the youngsteis when, a little later in the day, the distribution took place. After a brief rest at Cardiff, tho emigrants wero sent by special train to Plymouth, where they remain in charge of tho doctor till their vessel is ready to make another start for Wellington. The ropairs to tho ship are boing executed at the former port,and will probably occupy about throa weeks, a fact which shows how desperately she must have been disabled. i be escape of those 400 souls seems, in deed, almost moro wonderful than that of the Wild Deer unfortunates, and great praise is due to Captain Adie, of the Irontheck, but for v. horn the Oxford would probably never have fetched a safe havon. Captain Rraddick still suffers from effects of injurioa received during the fearful weather.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

London, Feb. 10 to March 11, A large party gathered in London to witness the trial of the electrical train car, it ran a distance of four milos satisfactorily and fulfilled the requirements of tho Board of 1 rade. uoorgo W, Foote, editor, William J. Ramsey, proprietor, and Kemp, printer of the "Free-Thinker," bave been found guilty of seditious libel. Kooto was sen tenced to twelve months' imprisonment, Eiuu-cy to nine monihs, and Kemp to three months. Foote'a sentenco provoked a storm -'.-..ii, London specials havo the following : — Herbert Spencer, replying to the "jKdin burgh Beviow,' utterly donios having any sympathy rrttk 0_.~.„ m „i«... -~J j u ,„i ,„i. bery. Ho replies that the reviewer attemp's to connect him with Henry George, whose book entitled "Progress and Poverty" the philosopher contemp tuously dismisses as filled with visionary ideas. Gladstone, in tho Commons, said the recent surmise ot Hartiugton that the evacuation of Egypt might be completed In six months was merely ihe expression of a hope founded on circumstances. There iii great disappointment among British merchants aud manufacturers over the new tariff laws of ihe United States. Wrofcbam Park, the county seat of tho Eirl of Stafford, is burned, The valuablo collection of paintings and phto and furni ture wai saved, The British stosmor Gloucester City, which left Bristol February Bth, for New York, foundered February 23rd in latitude 41 north, longitude 52 west. The crew

wero rescued and landed at Havre,

1 here will be a strong pressure at this session for the opening of all pioturo-eal lcries and museums on Sundays. It is vigorously contended that every place which is supported by the public funds ehould be freu of access to tlie public on Sundays. Earl tiunraven, who has uphold this movement resolutely for some years past, will make a motion in the House of Lords. Business in all its departments is much injured by tho extraordinarily Arctic weather. 'I ho intense tovcrlty of the cold has put a stop to farming operations, and checks any tondtucy to activity in tbo manufacturing dl-trlcts. It has also greatly allected operations in the stock market. Floods havo occurred throughout Eng land, causing great damage. 'ihe trial of tho action brought by Miss Hyland against Bigßar, M. P., for damages for breach of promise, began to-day. Couusol said tho parties wore introduced in Paris by Patrick BRan. The jury rendered a verdict against defendant Damages wero fixed at £4000. Miss Hyland said that Egan was mainly responsible for the bring ing of the suit against Biggar. Tbe Biggar breach of promise case fills all the papers and Is the absorbing topic of conversation. Mias Hyland is thought to havo deserved her £400. Biggar stated on cross-examination that Le was a pork butcher; that he was worth £20,000 and that among the obstacles that prevented him from marrying Miss Hyland was the fact that be had already two ohildren to take caro of and tbo mother of one of tbem to support. He waa unmercifully but good humoredly chaffed in the House of Commons on Thursday nixht, but did not seem to mind it. He said ho would appeal aeainst tbe verdict. Lady Florence Dixie, in a letter to the "Times," charges Biggar and Parnell, as trustees of tho Land League fund, with not having accounted for £152,000, She claims tbat whilo thia money is unaccounted for Parnell and his followeis have no right to mock at tho sufferings of tbe distressed in Ireland by their sham championship of tho starving peasantry. When Parliament was opened Brad laugh was present in bis usunl seat in the House of Commons, Whin Bradlaugh entered Westminister Hall he was much cheered by bis supporters aud outside by tho crowd.—lhe Marquis of |Hartiogtot>, Secretary of War, said the Uovornmont would introduce at once a bill authorizing tho member!* to make affirmation,—Ashton Cross stated he would oppose tho bill as strongly as possible. — Leave wos giantcd to introduce the Affirma tion Bill by 184 to 23.—Justin McCarthy gave notice that ho would introduce a bill to abolish tho Irish Vico-ttoyalty.—ln the Lords, Lord Wolseley took tbo oath and his seat amid cheers

During a debate on Irish affairs in tbe Houso of Commons, Gibson (Conservative) a«kod : •• Will nobody for very shame Bhow tbe 1 aud Leaguo balance-sheet ?"

The British imports increased in Febru ary, compared with Febmtry ef last year, by £3,887,000. The exports for the same period decreased £645,000. Lichtoller, cotton manufacturer, of Bolton, Eng., liob failed for £80,000. The Windsor cotton mills at Manchester, Eng,, are burned. Loss £10,000. Wtlla & Co. of the Commercial Iron Wotks, Shoreditch, Eng., have failed. Liabilities, £250,000, A despatch from Calcutta reports the pre valence of heavy rains in Madaiami district, in the Presidency of Bombay. Two hundred and forty houses were desiroyed and hun dreds of persons are homeless.

At Moscow preparations for the corona tion of the Czar aro proceeding upon a fabulous scale of magnificence. Eleven miles of tables are being constructed for a bauquet on the plain, aod eighty-five cir cular counters for distribution to the

Mujiks of 900,000 pies. Kubenstoin is to write to Munich for an orchestra of 1000 musicians and 8000 choristers. Enormous yats, to hold free beer, are being built in public places, and an English company is covering the Kremlin with electtic lights. Meanwhile, anxiety about the Nihilists grows apace, and the latest report is that the German police have possession of some of Hartmonn's communications to the Nihilists, giving instructions on the subject of the coionniion. About 7,000 persons gathered in Trafalgar Square, on February 18, in con nection with the Biadlaugh demonstra tion, about one-third being somewhat dis orderly. One hundred policemen were posted at the bass of the Nelson monu ment. The wholo Square is densely ' packed, a majority of the crowd wearing Bradrnugh's colours. Bradlaugh's arrival was unexpected, and was not greeted with much enthusiasm A platform was erected, and resolutions unanimously adopted pro- I testing ngainct .the exclusion of Bradlaugh. Order was well maintained.

IRISH AFFAIRS.

LONDON, Februaty 19th. -In tho House this afternoon Sir Herbert Maxwell, Con servative, asked whether the P. S. Sheridan alluded to by Carey in his testimony on Saturday was the man who was connocted with the "Kilmainhnm tieaty" negotia tions. Trevelyan, Chief Secretary for Ireland, answered " Yes."

Trevelyan said the Poor Law Guardians were able to cope with the distress in County Clare. Nobody bad died of starva tion there.

ParneU announced that he would offer au amendment to the address and also would severely criticise the administration, the Crimes Act, jury packing, iniquitous sentences, etc., when the discussion regard ing English affairs waa finished. LONDON, February 20 th,— In the House of Commons this afternoon Trevelyn, Chief Secretary for Ireland, was again questioned about Sheridan, but declined to give any furiher information regardicg him than that given yesterday. Ho referred the questioner to Parnell. LONDOW, March' s.—ParneU asked the Suestion touching the starving condition ol ie people of Ireland. Trevelyan, Chief Secretary for Ireland, in reply denied the existencee of such dis tress as was mentioned in FarneU's ques tion.

A number of revolvers havo boen dis covered at Bradford. It iB believed they were concealed there when the Fenian, Tobln, was arrestol. Flynn, the bailiff of Lord Ardilaun, who was beaten near Clonbur, Mayo, last week, has died.

Six men have been arrested while holding a secret meeting at Castle Reagb. A letter signed "Mr P." was found with one of them. Tbe police regard these arrests as important. Dublin, March Bth. Patrick Egan eluded the vigilance of the police by shamm ing sickness. Dr. Kenny maintained the de ception by visiting Kgan, who is believed to have left the city of Dublin disguised as a priest. Pabis, March 9tb. The French Govern ment in the case of Frank Byrne, who was released from custody last night, held that the new charge brought by the British Government against Ryrne, namely : com plicity in the attempted murder of Juror Field and Judgo Lawson, amounted merely to introducing arms into Ireland. They claimed even if tho arms were intended for tho purpose of murder the offence was a political one. New York, March 11.—A cable special to tho " World" from London of tho lOth saya:—"The business of the' House of Commons is in a greater muddle than ever, The general impatience of the members as well as tho public would bo shown much more decidedly than it is but for the fact, which is privately known, that tho Govern ment is really on the track of all the chief conspirators in Ireland. Gladstone, who did not throw away his time while ap parently amusing himself at Cannes, is most sanguine that the entire organization acting against the Government ln Irelmd and connected with the Pheenix Pork murders, will bo brouoht to justice. The flight of Egan shows thst tbo game is now up, but, in Bpito of all reports to the con trary, no roal duo has yet been found to tho mystorious " No. I." With that ex centioo, every person who hos ever taken any prominent part in the plots fur com mitting assassination in Ireland is now known to the police, and will be brought to justice, xuo kuowieage or an tneaeracts is keep ing the Irish party in tho House ef Commons just now very quiet and subdued. The immortal Biggar, especially, is com pletely done for. Bis little private obstructions in the shape of two natural children have made on end of aim. He in tends appealing, 1 am told, sgainßt tbe verdict compelling him to pay £400} to the mother of the-cbildren, and it h possible he may succeed, as there are legal and technical points in his favour, Rut in truth the whole Irish party just now seems demoralized and the flight of much more important persons than Egan is daily ex-, pected. The " Tribune's ". London cable says: Tbe Dublin authorities are not a littlo chagrined by the flight of Egan, the; evi dence of whoso direct complicity in nume rals crimes is rapidly accnmnlating. The " Times " plainly points to Parnell and to other members of Parliament as probably included in tbo presumption of guilt afforded by Egan's flight—a presumption involving tho whole organization of the Land League andeveryone of its authorities. Nevertheless tbe Parnellite attacks npon the Government continue in tho House of Commons and elsewhere. O'Rrien on Thursday, declared that Mr Trevelyan, the Chief Secretary, was deserving of oxecration in Ire land. Mr Trevelyan replird that Mr O'Brien's newspaper bad successively attacked, with singular ferocity, Mr For ster, Mr Rurke, Justice Lawson, and Juror Field, and asked the House to remem ber that the connecting link between these four was the same paper which now at tacked himself as the man most hated in Ireland, and as moro inhuman and dcs tituto of feeling than Mr Forster. This was a remark which Mr Parnell, after vainly endeavouring to arrest Mr Trevel yan'e exposure and endeavour to break up its force, boldly cheered, Mr O'Brien's sub sequent attempts at explanation leave the matter exactly where it was. Mr Sexton emphasized tbe meaning of Parneli's cheer by tho declaration that ho never would withhold one word because criticism led to violence, Byrne's release in Paris was due to a Ministerial and not to a judicial appli cation. The Govomment, finding that the press and public opinion were eager to in flict a rebuff upon England, readily seized the pretext tbat the accusation against Byrne was political. A correspondent of the ' Times" at Dublin states that tho enrolment of recruits in the ranks of the Invincibles still pro reods, notwithstanding tho readiness of men , now io prison to betray one another. " j

New YORk. Msroh 10.—A " Star " cable J special from Dublin says • Some curious in j cidents aro now co.uiog to light re • garding tho demeanour of the prisoners since the murders and prior to 1 their arrest. It is stated that Kavanagh [ made no secret of the fact that » he drovo the car. He used to ask people 1 how thoy would like to sit on hie car nnd sco two men murdered, and then drive the ' murderers away. Ho was always, how -1 over, regarded as half-crazed, and his 1 friends thought he had been brooding over the details of the crime then known to the ' public. Daniel Curley was not long before his arrest, walking np Sackvllle-street with somo fellow-workmen, when he remarked that he would soon be the owner of at least half that street. He, like Carey, was a mason, but after the murders, he became a master builder, but met with little buccoss. Mrs Carey, wife of James Carey, when ques tioned as to her husband's position, states that tho informer Smith will give evidence relative to some plots in which Carey was involved, tho disclosure of which will cer tainly create a sensation and probably im« plicate some persons of high standing now unsuspected. Frightful Balloon Accident. New York, March 8,-Information has just beon received in this city, via Havana, of the fiiiihtful death of two over-daring aeronauts in Madrid, Captain May it and bis assistant ascended in a balloon at that city before an immeose concourse of people on January 28th. When the balloon was 1080 feet up Captain Mayit got out on a trapeze swfQjded from the basKft and began his performance. Suddenly cries ot horror were heard, the trapeze rope was seen to pait, aud the intrepid Captain fell from the fearful height, turning over and over until he struck the stone pavement A moment later another shout went up from the people. 'Ihe balloon containing the other occupant was seen descending with meteoric rapidity. It crashed agaiost the projecting cave of a 'i house, hurling the occupant to the ground. I He died in a few moments. Both persons i were under engagement to Barnum, Bailey , and Hutchinson, and were tD have ap- i pcared in New York. i

DEATH IN A COAL-PIT.

Seventy-four Lives Lost.

Heart-Rending Scenes and Inci-

dents.

CillCAao, February 16.—A special dis patch from Joliet says that a mine at Braid wood, a mining town twenty miles south of that point, caved in and imprisoned seventy-five men, A subsequent dispatch says that forty-five of these miners are dead.

Two thonsand men are ready to work at a rescuing party, but only a few can get at | the place at once. The cave-in ia nearly \ 190 feet square. Braidwood is one of the , largest coal-mining places in the State. Biuidwood (111.), February 17.- It Is now thought that seventy-four miners were buried in the mine yesterday. All hope of the possible ret-cue ot any of these unhappy beings by the opening of the drive-way from the Olden shaft into the workings was abandoned at dusk, when the water poured into the last-named shaft, and the work men were compelled to abandon their last j desperate attempt at tbe salvation of their fellows. The escape of the majority was almost by a miracle, 'ihe country ronnd the mines is an almost dead-level prairie, nnd the recent rains have covered the whole country with water. Hundreds of acres of land are covered by the mine workings, many of which have been worked ont and abandoned. It was through a break of the abandoned workings that the flood poured in to-day, A survivor's story. The following is the story of John H über, a witness of the whole affair, and a man who was in the mine at the time of the accident, He says :— ' I was was working in one of the west sections of the main corridor and had just got my car ready fer transfer when I heard a voice, which sounded weak at first, sajing. ' Look out, the water is coming I" For a few moments I did not comprehend the awful meaning of the language used, and bo went back to block up tbe coal, when I beard the same warning again and again, and a small stream of water began to run down the centre track, The tmth at onco flushed upon me that I was in danger, and that the water was coming from an unknown locality. I rushed as fast as the nature of the passage would allow to where I thought my two sons were at work, but found that they had gone. I then yelled at the top of my voice to the men near and made as fast as I could for the air slu.ft, where I knew there was a ladder and that I could get out. By this time the water was up to my arm pits, and I had a hard time to get up the shaft, so exhausted was I with the rapid run I had made in a s'ooping position. " When I gut home, great God what did I see ? There, upon her bed, lay niy wife, teaiing her hair and wailing in almost a crazy condition. ' Oh, John,' she said, where are the boys ?" The truth then flashed upon me that perhaps they were dead. I went back as fast as I could, and found that my horrible anticipations were only too true, and that my boys had not been seen since entering the shaf t in the , morning. At the bottom of the main shaft a young man named Thomss Daly was em ployed a^ pump man or eager. Hie duties weie to see that the pumps worked right, and signal the engineer at the top of the shaft by means of a bell when it was de sired to use cages for the transmission of men or material. He noticed that water was increasing in the boutom of the shaft, and supposing tbe engines were not doing lull work, ascended to the top of the shaft to notify the engineer to pu: on more steam. On his arrival he found that there was plenty of steam, ani that the engines were working at a capacity requisite to keep down any ordinary inflow. Immediately on descending he found tbe water rapidly rising, and in a few moments it was up to his breast. All hope of escape for the miners was then quickly cut off, even before an alarm could begiven.andDalywas tbivtn toieturnto the top ot the shaft." A SCENE OF DESOLATION. This was the most terrible tragedy that ever visited the Wilmington coalfields. It was in the No. 2 shaft of the Wilmington Coal Mining and Manufacturing Company, known as the Diamond Company. It was situated three and a-half miles noith-weot j of tbis city. The little village of Diamonl is a scene of desolation calculated to wring the heart of even the most hardened.

-V<oi«r4fty-ttftorijoon—«.- rumour spread among the popula'ion of the mining village that the ground had caved in over the main roadway m Diamond shaft No. 2, and that tbo water that had Btood in a large pond on tho surface of the prairie was rushing into the passages of the mine, cutting off tho miners and drowning them in the passage. Upon the spreading of tho rumour, large crowds of miners' wives, with children iv arms, rushed towards the scene of the catastrophe, trying to hear of their husbands and brothers and eons, who were employed in the mine. Tbey found everything in a state of the utmost confusion. Around the shaft were crowds of anxious men and women eagerly rendering any assistance to help the half-drowned miners, who appeared at the bottom of tbe shaft. To the north could be Been a crowd collected around an air-shaft, 'who were likewise fishing out the almost perishing miners, who had climbed to the top, and would have sunk back exhausted upon the ground had it not been for the aid received, c

Women wrung their hands, as one by one they anxiously viewed each new face tbat appeared above ground, but found not their fatner or son, who was missing, and for whom some fell down upon tbeir knees, and prayed, friends, anxious tor the safely of some lost one, hurriedly paced back and forth, trying to devise some means of salva tion for the poor creatures who were penned up, never to be rescued alive, THE PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT. A. L. Sweet, President of the four mines comprising the Diamond mine, states that 300 men were in the various shafts when the ground sagged in under the weight of water that had loosened it. Sixty-two w ere in the shaft which caught the balk of the falling debris and which was instantly flooded. Every ono of them was either drowned or smothered inside of five minutes. Their bodies are now buried beneath many tons of earth. A hundred acres have been excavated. The miners in one unfortunate shaft all escaped. Pump ing is going on vigorously, but it will be many hours before the first bodies can be reached. Tho mine was of tbe ordinary kind, mpplicd with regular shafts and sup posed to be well protected from accident, I he wires to Joliet are in a bad state, and no full roport has yet been received from the scene

HEARTRENDIKG SCENES

Most heartrending scenes occurred at the

mouth of the pit. A wife bent over the shaft as her husband was climbing up a ladder in the air shaft, with his young son dead in his arm?, and extended her arms to receive them, but the man, worn out with

the desperate straggle which he had under gone to save the body of his eon, fell back m the pit a lifeless corpso and has not since been seen,

Ihe greater portion of the families who suffer aro of foreign birth and havo been residents of this country but a short time. The prairies about the shafts are a wide waste of water, across which a cold piercing, ga'e of wind is sweeping, adding much to tbe horror of the catastrophe. As matters are settling down and attention turns to the cause of the disaster, some are blaming the corporation because a more experienced man was not kept at the boitoiu of the shaft, whose duty was to keep the pumps and sound an alarm. Daily, a new hand who stood at the post, when the water was gaining on him, instead of sounding the alarm rushed to the top of tho shaf.s to see if tho pumps were at work. Ou his return he found the water up to his waist. He then diroe'ed the drivers to run back and escapo by a shaft and yell to tbe men as they ran and he did what he could hirasslf, tio saved ono of his boys, all that he could reach. He then ascended and souuded the steam-whistle, which called out tho villagp. When the company heard o( the accident they drove over and organised a movement to render aid to those who were either dead or confined in some air chamber. A division of miners and teams were set to work to build a dam around tbo hob that was admitting the water. The officers of the company ex ' amined the vent and found that tbe earth '■ had caved in nearly the same spot tbat it had on previous occasions yielded to tbe weight of water that rested upon it. The sceno of devas'ation aud destitution the town of Diamond proents can readily be oonceived whoa it is known that forty si? widows are left to tell the tale of one of the most horrible disasters that ba* ever been recorded in this State,

A telegram was received from the Governor saying tbat a bill bad been in troduced this afternoon in tbe Legislature to appropriate 810,000 for tbe benefit of widows and orphans. A official repirt was read, giving the number' of widows at forty and orphans at ninety. Sums

aggregating 31000 were receive « benefit of the s U ff 0 r CIS . om „d fot «>« mate that it may be tea dlu B «*■ first body is recovered. The fe ll» Belief Committee have issue/l tald*°od asKing prompt assistance for manvV^. At the meeting to-day a deton^Tl"- --widows and orphans wasrea" ft &»« port stated that as many 'as ,^ le' widows would soon become rLv"*Bll posthumous children. °e ¥e J?**«• <& ■ widows are said to be almost 7™. I" 1* . loss of tbeir husband; Thf^y the ', Ad a ms reports tbat he fears til' *» '" become raving maniaci. ° Will The Panama Canal WASHIKGTON, March 10th 'a.'"' Foote, Minister to Corea, fr**** - returned from his mission tn £*«>% "' Before leaving the IsCu Z SJS&'A work on the canal. A crLt &«.*• ' wo,k, he says, is in progreL Th? BJ < oftheground'has been removS[ ov^ line of the canal from ocean to W^ Company has a large number of rLiJ1" French, and American drS £*ss*>' work, and are cutting Iwfv ?£ nw« rapidly The Amer£a°f m 3«» most satisfaction. Four dredging m » : ?£ c work at Aspinwall.^Sdgft'!: ;' the basin where the mouth of CS^ be Ibe material taken out is thrm*,v" ll' either side for the pu^ T^S**: higher and dryer banks" iCn Lt^ ' the embankments already made th»T? l shops of the Company and toJZg&-A A the negroes are erected. TheZrw" 1 are mostly Jamaica negroes. O been a good deal of disease and 2 Lfe among them. There is a feell ng » A, faction among the residents of thi. 1 r" " |in their belief that the canal T^' cessfully completed and operated. ■

CABLEGRAMS.

RKUTBH'S TELEGRAM,

The lenian Conspiracy, Parliament House Guarded bu Troops, v * ■'...-■

LONDON, March 30 The Speaker of the Bouse of Cmui.' has voted a motion providing Z ?f at nnt:^^preofPaM; Ihreatened Destruction of Ah. London Post-office. The Fenians have threatened to bio* nr> the. General Post-office, London wift dynamite unless the prisoners nonT' custody on charges in connection with"ftt. ■ Phoenix Park murders are immediately » The Imprisoned Liverpool ■ * Fenians. Two men named Casey and Flanlsan who were recently arrested at Live.2 have been arraigned at the; local pK Court on charges of illegally landiae «. plosives, and remanded. B A FEMALE COMMONISr ARRESTED PARtS, March 31.' Louise Micbel, the notorious femals Communist, has been arrested fo tfe police. 'y ARREST OF EIGHT NIHILISTS ST. PUTEkSBORG, March 3i. It has transpired that the police im ceeded to-day in surprising a Nihilitt rendezvous where a large numher of the, members of a secret society Were assembled ! A severe struggle took place, but ultimate'? H eight persons were arrested, one of whom however, committed suicide while in tha hands of the police. A quantity of djn«. mite was also seized on the premises, THE NEW MASTEK OF THE ROLLS, LO«DON, March 31, It is announced that Chief Justice Brett wilUucceed the late Sir George Je&seU sb Master of the Rolls. RELEASE OF CUBAN REFUGEES. LONDON, March 31, It has been agreed between the English and Spanish Governments that Rodrlgnea, and Castello, two of the Cuban refuges who were surrendered to the Spanish Go vernment by the police authorities at U% raltar, shall now be released, bat thai Macco, the leader of the Cuban rebellion, shall be detained in custody aa a pritonet of war. REPORTED ALLIANCE AGAINSr:' FtfANCE. LONDON, March 30. It is currently reported ia Continental political circles that Austria, Germany, and Italy bave agreed to endeavour to avoid a conflict with France, bat at the Bane timi to Join in repelling any attack that may be I made by that Power (si«) SHUCKING MASSACRE BY AMERICAN INDIANB. ' WASHINGTON, March 31 . ■ntelligence has been received here (hit the Apache Indiana have taken np arms aad raided the white settlements in KewMerilo and Arizona territories, and have massacred fifty Europeans! The Apache threaten to annihilate the settlers, and the Government have despatched a strong body.of trotipito tbe latter's assistance. (Received April 2,11 a,m,) COMMERCIAL REPORT. LONDON, March 30, Consols, 103 J. The bank rate of diKOMt remains at 3, and the market rate at ?| per. cent. The total reserve in notes and bnlltn in the bank of England is £13,000,000, t reduction of £600,000 during the week, The proportion of reserve to liabilities is 'SB per cent. New Zealand securities are at the i following prices :—5 per cent 10-40 lour, I 1074; 5 per cent. 1889 loan, 106. <}per I cent. 1879-1904 loan, 102J; 4 per cent, ! inscribed stock, 102|. . ■"■'.'■ LONDON MARKETS. ; Colonial breadstuff's continue quiet at last quotations, viz. : - delaide wheat, 605,« warehouse ; New Zealand wheat, eiwre house, 46s to 50s;. A delaide floirr, ex ware house, 34s 6d, 7he total quantify oi wheat afloat for Great Britain is 2,400,000 quarto!, an increase of 80,000 quarters during the week. Australian tallow is at 42s for but beef, and 44s Cd for best mutton. j

DEATH OF THE MAORIS' FRIEND.

, —.' "♦ -.'.'. ] Among the news received by iheinwl* no item baa a deeper or more melaneioly if terestforthe colonists and natives of thii part of New Zealand than thai wbish announces tbe demise of Mf Win. ft Snow, of Boston, U.S. Mr Snow arrittd hero from America in 1880, mil I*>. constitution much shattered tbrimgh a, severe attack of fever, and took up Lis redl dence in tbe Rotorua district,;, hoping to derive benefit from the hot baths.: He MI accompanied by Mrs Snow, bat bad no family. A few months ago Mr ana m;» Snow left Auckland to visit England, fl» Melbourne, intending to proceed'an», - wards to America; but now W learn that, during tbe Bed Sea p , sage on board the steamer Jonii_Blotr, Mr Snow has succumbed to an attack ol fever. Mr Snow was only 27yearsof i|e;:. but his enfeebled frame and grave «pr» sion of countenance made him appear nfflw | older. He was of a meat attract™ an? benevolent duposition, and a?.iiflWtn«iJi j a gentleman of independent means,J" deceased was in a position to carry out tno full bent of his philanthropic ww»V During his stay at Hotorua he was oW impressed with the necessity for flow something to improve the social and mow status of the natives of the district} ana what he achieved in that direction i»» noble monument of what an earnejt Bin. can accomplish in tho shape of n«ml wow. and fully entitles him to the n^W "Ihe Friend of the Maoris." Seeing tno evil effects upon the natives of nadni in dulgence in intoxicants, he started WF:, since work among them and succeeded w inducing the majority of the naj|veai l^; take the total abstinence pledge. Be &*-■>. induced them to abandon the wdecencie of tbe hak* This led to a vast ImjKW.... ■ ment morally and socially In the eondlßon l of the Maoris thero, ond in order to iw up and extecd this good influence, »' Snow started a small newspawr m,"™; Maori tongue entitled "Te ■ KortaiWy. .. which has met with much ki«:»»|.'; calculated to improve tbe natives ■*£ morally and intellectually. --"I"/"/ not done without considerable ***"»«,■. the part of Mr ?now; and not «"»«d» _■■ with what he had thus achieved tn»v v gentleman at once started a.movemfßt w supply a Christian Missionary '» 1 labour among the Kotorua »«"*'!«,&.■ result was that he guaranteed M« m« salary of the missionary for three JW^ and in conjunction with ihe Bey. Tb«P» Spu.geon he eotMr Fai F brothera P pomW to und. rt.ke native mianon woik. « •Useotfoni of the community whoW? favoured to know the deceased B^l«^ .< the news of his death will be received.»» sincere sorrow, while profound sympain/ ' '■; ■

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAtf, MONDAY. APRIL %



TO" O T ICE. BEES WaX 7~Uh HS WAX I Purchased ln soy quantity for Cash, Buyers of Fungus and Muntz Metal. Bavins purchased In China a Fins Assort ment of Teas himself, JAMKS AH KEW oan confidently reoommend them, and trusts that all his old Customers, and the Pnbllo generally, will avail themselves of this splendid opportunity and oall early to buy his Superior Congou, "Best < Flavoured Kooloo, Bhouohong, and various Mixed Teas, salted to every tontei He has also on hand Japanese Ware, Preserved Ginger. Craokeryware. Bilks, Handkerchiefs, and other commodities too n amorous to mention. Note the Address I JAMKd AH KEW fe CO., 231. Qaeen-street. THB ORIGINAL AND ONLY GENUINE HOME SPECIALITIES. KSTABCISHED 1837. BrPIVB i CUSTABD WITHOUT EOQB I>• ,aU° < A QRBAT DEUOAOr. >■ CUSTABD -pOWDXB, JL For Making the Blohcot Custard without Ekkp, at one-halt the oost and trouble. Fries, 7_d and Ib 3i per box. see Reolpes in " Pastry and . weete." 'A MlfrfdHlrd,F.cg.,was Cimvrt "Rakivb ! the original Maaorof Dnnrnu-R i having discovered the fOYfUim, | proOBBB i n lgls _ AU V others are counterfeit, For making Broad, Pastry, Cakes, Plum Pad dings, Boones, Bars, &c„ beantlfally light. Sola In 7Jd and ls 3d tins, and in Id packets. See numerous Red pcs In "Pastry and Sweets." YMBD'B •< OHOIOE—DBtIOIOUS. J- Bi. ANC-MANGH JToWDHR. For making the most delicious Blano-Msnge in a tew minutes, with little tronb'e end at trifl ing oost, nude ln the following flavoursi— Vanilla. Almond, Btrawberry. Raspberry, Chocolate, Coffee, and Lemon. Prioe, 7}d and lv 3d per box Bee Beolpes ln " Pastry nnd Sweets." 1 i^^Al ** S^OMSOMK-WOH. ;. ** (JoHciniTßA'rED J£qq Powder. A Complete Substitute for Eggs ln PnoiUnos Panookes.&o. Sold in 7}d ala is 3d Sns aSa Id packets. Beeßeolpeein Wastryandßweetß. lADIES ABE BTBONOLY ADVISED TO CONHT7TT "PABXRY AND SWEKTS," A Little Work containing Praotlcal Hlnta and Original Recipes for Tasty Dishes for the Dinner and Snpper Table, may bo obtained from the Agent, Sole Inventors and Haken of these Beautiful . Preparations—ALFßED BIRD & BONB. Birmingham. - Agent for *no land —ROBERT HEW;' Gbookr. &0.. VIOTOHIA-STBKET, J;



Singer's Sewing Machines, cash, or 2s 6d per weok—D, S. Chambers, 70, Queon-street.— Advt.