SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.

In ran watot* /This Evening, 8.51 HIGH WATER | To . raorrow Morning, 7.9 SUNSKT.-Thls Evening, 6.20 SUNRIBK-To-morrow Morning, G.O atOON'S AGK.-FHU Moon, 12th, 7.19 a.m.

ARRIVALS.

I City of Sydney, P.M. s.s., Dearborn, worn san Francisoo ,_. Macgrcgor, s.s., Johnson, from V, hansarei • Mariner, schooner, Queen, from Russell Gleamer. schooner, Urquhart, from Fm Fanny Kelly, kotch, Williams, from Mongonui Ransom, brigantino. Harnis. from Majuro Waihora, s.b., Edie, from Southern ports Rinsarooma, b.s., Tozer, from Sydney lons, 3.8., Amodeo, fromTaurasga

DEPARTURES.

I Adelaide, schooner, Dunn, for Mongonui Ulouolg, S.S., Stephenson, for Russell ■Wellington, a.s., Farquhar, for Tauranga Rowena, s.s., Norris, for Mercury Bay VTaitakl, s.s., Crawford, for Whangarei City of Sydney, P.M.s.s., Dearborn, for Sydney Norval, sshooner, Kdwards, for Russell

IMPORTS.

I Per Romsom, from Majuro—2ss ton cobra. Per City of Sydney, from New York—6Bo cases salmon, 180 cases canned fruit, IGI sacks bone meal. 32 packages casings, 11 packages merchandise, 10 cases books, 33 cases paint and varnish. Per Waihora, from Melbourne and the South—l,227 sacks oats, 30 gai stoves, 1.159 packages sugar, 810 packages tea, 809 bags rlco, 10 casos champagne, 213 packages rope, 100 sacks oats, 222 sacks seed, 33 pieces timber, 400 boxes candles, 295 cases jam, 30 sacks meal, 6 pockots hops, 56 hhds and brls ale, 11 cases hams and bacon, 10 cases cheese, 18 packages ex Jamos Wiahart, 222 packages fix Fenstan ' ton, at Dunedln.

Inwards Coastwise. — Whangarei, from Whangarol, with 50 tons coal; Fanny Kelly, from Mongonul, with 32.567 feet timber; Lizzie, from Whangaroa, with 32.000 feet timber; Violet, from Thames, with 17,000 feet timber. Outwards Coastwisk.—Deveron, for Whan garei ; Norval, for Russell ; Adah, for Thames; Violet, for Thames. Tho B.c. Rlngarooma arrived late this aftor noon. The schooner Reward was taken up on Mr Houk s slip to-day for a general overhaul. The s.s. Maogrogor arrived from Whnngarel at 8 o clock last evening. Tho barque Deva, from London for this port, anchored In the Downs on Jan. 29. The schooner Louie 4nd barque Wenonaaro loading timber at Mercury Bay. The former proceeds to Noumea and the latter to Sydney. The barque Vivid, for Melbourne, via Mer" cury Buy, and tho barque Amazon, for London1 entered out at the. Customs to-day. Considerable delay was experienced in berth ing the 8.8. Waihora rtt berth " L " to-day, owiag to the shallowness of the tide. A few days' dredging at this spot is very necessary. • Tho barque Amazon will sail for London in about 10 days. Sho takes about 200 tons copra from, tho Hansom, which arrived from the islands to day. From San Franoisco files we learn that tho old steamer Senator has boon purchased by parties from Now Zealand, and will be raised and used as a tug-boat Tho achoonor Gleaner, owned by Captain , Cross, and in charge of Captain Urquhart, Hi arrived from Fiji this afternoon. She loft H| Lovuka on iebruary 28, and had variable and squally weather during the passage. i Tho s.s. lona, after a very stormy vorago, re- Hr? m? (1,, frol? 1 Taurangra at 9.30 o.m. to-day, with H ' tho following possongorsi-Mesars McDowell, ■ V& kßJ'£*&*> Bowman, Stovens, GalbraiUi, M. Wallis (2), Macpherson, and Master W, King. ■ At Now York on Fobruary 7, freights were M much depressed. The high rates ruling during W the last six months of ISS3 attracted many H vossols to that sort, and. tho supply of tonnage M consequently exceeds tho demand. Tho tonnage leading on tho borth at London M on January 24, for Australia and New Zealand, ■ amounted to 40.237 tons. Stagnation prevailed H In Eastern freights, and there was littlo inquiry mi for tonnogo cither outwards or homewards. H The s.s. Penguin is to learo for FiU aboiitS ■ °,?)i 00? ti^ oVeni?B- p as»engtrs:~.flrsLuke H Torw d f°) "' ttnd MrS Page' Mosßr9 H ~Tho, a9 hopnor Sovoroign arrived at Majuro ■ (Marshall Islands), from this port, prior to H fobruary 7th. She was expected to leavo on tno ro' urn trip about February 21st. ■f brigantine Ransom, aftor an absence of 4 months, roturncd from tho Marshall Group this ■ . morelng. Sho left Majuro on Feb. 7, had fine M weathor untU tho last week, during which stormy weather was experienood. I v Tl>o barque Claribel, 421 tons, whioh loft New H York for Wellington and Auckland on Jan. 22, brings tliofollo»ving cargo for this port:—a,6oo H P1? 0? k"?" oaIn?; 25 cases turpontino, 100 cases H lubricating oil, U pkgs hardware, 72 cases sowing maohlnes, 16 pkgs barrows. SO cases ■ lajvn mowers, JO caaes axes and tools, 80 reels ■■ wire, 44 ckgs carriageware. 2S cases toys, 51 H cases chairs, 8 cases perambulators, 3 cases H- organs, 19 cases ohurns, 24 oars, 6 crates oare, 36 cases tobacco, 50 oases canned goods, 90 cases Arue,a, a 0 cases prepared corn, 10 cases bover- ages, 52 casos slates.

NEW ZEALAND PASSENGERS PER P. & O. STEAMERS.

I Per Mirzaporo, sailed January 17—for Auck land, Roy. Mr Tuant. Per Malwa, sailed Janu • ary 8-for Lytielton t Mr Teschemaker; for . Nelaon, Mr Chattorton and Mi»a Dale; for Port Chalmers, Mr J. S. MoLarec.

ARRIVAL OF THE MAIL STEAMER.

The s.s. City of Sydney arrl ved at midnight of yesterday. She dischai-ged San Franclseo pilot 18th, 3.J0 a.in.; received Honolulu H winds and pleasant weather the entireTpassaKe LV PasgßngorajforAucklandC-CabiniMrindMrS ■ V tU?ir--f • Dugoan. G. H. Pentland. Steerage • ■ 5.? 3,- h Wll? i ? n «• John EUiot, Jno I children 1 Burrows, wife and two ■ Tho City of Sydney left for Sydney at 2 p.m. ■ Passengers: Mr and Mrs Marks. Captain Shuld ■ ham ; wifo and maid, Mis H. Kyland, Messrs ■ Hopkins, J.T.Whoolan, and G. P. HougleyT

ARRIVAL OF THE WAIHORA.

|th^nf,fi; AT aihoi' a *a^ Iveairom Melbourne via tno South at noon to-day. Passengers :—Misses Seeley. Tow Stea, Driscoll, Stewart. Motion! Moßdames McCrea and nurse, Anderson, Jar^ man, Seeley and 3 children and servant, Dalziel Browne Hai.eWcan, Menzies, Ebbetto, &ulliver: Cheok, Lyall, Hewltson, Knight, Curtin, Levin: sohn, Waterhouso, Messrs Levinsohn, Balrd ■ Duncan, ■Waterhouse.Gulliver.RusseU.koward; Hcwitaon, Margette.Moßride, Heynolds,Dywor S?^! 8116*^/11^01180111 Samuelson, Irie, Rees Sift, Plercv, Hascldean, Hoggard, Davey, Henl ga^ran/^ttgPß°n-Federtc-Pearca'

PORT OF ONEHUNGA.

I ARRIVAL. ■■ Lalla Rookh, «.s,,Balloy, from Waitara DEPARTURE. Hawea, s.s., Hiinaby, for the South Theill. Lalla Rookh arrived from Waitara last night with 89 begs butter. The Union Co.'a s.s. Hawea left for the South at 9 o'clock this morning with the Southern por tion ot the 'Frisco mail, 10 cases drapery, 4 cases saddlery, 5 cases boots. Scales and casks crock ery, 36 paakages sundries, and the following passengers:—Messrs D, Manson, T. Place 8 Cattanach, Home, Harrison, J. Green, Miss Field, Rev. O'Gara, Mesdames Weall and C G . Quick, Bishep Luck, and 2 mail agents.

TELEGRAPHIC SHIPPING.

I WHANGiBEi, this day.—Arrived: Waltakl, from Auckland, 7 a.m. this day.-Arrived: Glenolg, from Auckland,B a.m. Bluff, yesterday. —Arrived: Rotomahana, U.S., from Melbourne. Passengers for Auck land : Messrs Potter and Green, Mrs Potterand . the Aliases Potter. .DONBDIN, yesterday. —Tie Albion, Shaw, Savlll steamer Florida, arrived to-day, after a passage of 63 days 18 hours; the actual steaming ■ iimo being SI days 10. hours. She brings 83 single women, 80 single men, 18 married couples, and 3 families. The Fldwda brings 2,000 tons of cargo for all ports, MO being for Dunedtn. Besides nominated immigrants, she has 83 pas sengers. No slcknoss, except two slight oases of measles and whooping cough, occurred on i the voyaec.

Chief Post-office, Auckland.

Maim wirx Close as undeh :— This Day. For Fiji and Samoa, por Ponguln, at 1 p.m. For Whangaroa, per Kriemhilda, lit 4 p.m. For Kuaaoll and Kawakawa, per Penguin, at i p.m. For Wangarei Heads, Parua, Waipu, Kamo, Wangarei, and Mangapai, per Macgregor, at 5 p.m. Wednesday, 12th mat. For Waitara, etc., per Argyle, at 11 a.m. For Norfolk Island and Noumea, por Fairy Queen, at 11 a.m. For Coromandel, per Coromandel. at 1.30 p.m. For Russell and Kawakawa, por Waihora, at i p.m. Per Ringarooma as follows :— For Mediterranean Ports and Continent of Europe, at noon. For Australian Colonies and United King dom, via Suez and Brindisi, or Naples, for letters, &c, specially so prepaid and addressed, at 1 p.m. Monoy orders, for Australia only, at noon. For registered lettera and newspapers, at noon. Lute letters for Sydney and Melbourne only at 1.20 p.m. For Whangarei Heads, Whangarei, Kamo, and Mangapai, per Wailaki, at 5 p.m. For Thames, por Enterprise, at 5.30 p.m. Thursday, 13th inßt. For Waiwera, Te Kapa, Craigieburn, Wark worth. etc., por Rose Casey, at 10 a.m. Per s.s. Waihora as follows :— For India, China. Japan, Mediterranean Ports, and Continent of Kuropo, at 10 a.m. For Gisborno, Napier, Southern Ports, and United Kingdom (via Suez and Brindisi, or via Naples, for letters, etc., specially so pre paid and addressed), at 11 a.m. Money Orders, for Southern Ports and Aus tralian Colonies only, at 10 a.m. For regis tered letters and newspapers at 1.0 a.m. Lato letters till 11.20 a.m. For Tauranga, Ohinemutu, and Opotikl, per Wellington, at 5 p.m. S. B. BISS, Chief Postmaster. Chief Post-oftlce, Auckland.

Meetings, Entertainments, Etc.

March 11, ISSi. Abbott's Opera House—Royal Comio Opera Company, 7.45 p.m. School-house, Northcoto—Blue Ribbon Army, 8 p.m.

Theatre Royal—Gospel Temporanco Mission, 7.30 p in. Newmarket Hall — Wesleyan Soiree. Tea, 0.30 p.m. Ark of Edon Lodge Kntertainment—Music, &c, 8 p.m. Artillery Band—Moonlight Excursion, 8 p.m.

Birth.

HITCHENS-At her rosidenco, Brighton Houso, on tho 9th Maroh, Mrs Hitchons of a daughter.

Marriage.

HOOKF.K-DAVIES.-On March 11, 1881. t St. Sepulchre's Church, Auckland. bylhoVcn. Archdeacon Dudley, William Hookej- to Margaret K. Daviea, only daughter of Mr Kdward Da vies, builder.

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

TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1884.

For tho cause that lacks assistance, For the wrong that neods resistance, For tho future in tho distance And tho good that wo can do.

Former cable messages, which gavo the im prossion that tho County Franchiso Bill in troduced in the Heuso of Commons by Mr Gladstone was a broad and comprohonsivo measuro for thooqualisation of tho franchiso, prove to havoboon misleading and disappoint ing. Itturnsouttobo acautioushalf-measuro, which, instead of doing a bare act of justice to tho country residents of tho United Kingdom by giving them equal doctoral rights with tho town population, confers a slight and grudging concession in a trilling broadoning of the qualification. At pre sent, ownorship of property of £50 annual value, or tho payment of rates on £12 annual value, qualifies a county voter; and all that tho now bill proposes to do is to abolish tho property test and reduce tho ratopaying ono by £2. This is not such a Reform Bill as we should havo expected from tho Gladstone Ministry, lcavcnod as it is with advanced Radicalism, nor is it such a measure as will satisfy tho country. Tho county electorates ask- for equal rights, and they ask in vain from the most advanced Cabinot that over held power in Britain ; thoy oak for bread, and thoy aro offered a stone. Is Mr Gladstone afraid to put powor into tho hands of tho common people? His enemies say ho is, and his attitudo on the occasion of tho

that the equaJisation of tho county and borough franchises will throw tho balanco of power to the side of tho Tories ? In either cose he does not occupy a very consistent position as tho great leader of Liberalism; for on the ono hand ho shows his old Whig proclivities, and on tho other he stands convicted of sacrificing tho i ights of the people to party expedioncy. No doubt, as with other liko bills, great alterations will be made upon tho County Franchise Bill in • Committee, and wo hope that one amendment will be tho reduction of the rating clause to an annual rental of £4. The £4 tenant in tho country is every way superior to tho man paying a similar rent in towns, since country rents are so much cheaper, and the extension of the franchise to that limit will not take in the "residuum" whose ignorant votes may be expected to go to " the stupid party." On party grounds", therefore, there seems no gpod reason, for fixing a £10 rating qualification, and we incline to the belief that Mr Gladstone is swayed by his Whig prejudices to somo I extent in drafting these proposals. Partly also he has the Irish difficulty in view, for in that part of tho Kingdom an enormous increase of power would accrue to the Home Rule party wero tho voting qualification lowered to a£4 rental. Insig nificant though the proposed extension of tho franchise is, it is meeting with opposi tion from the Tory party. Lord John banners has just given notice of an amend ment declaring that any extension would be wrong unless accompanied by a re distribution of seats. This is exactly tho move which we expected would be made, and it is ono worthy of the Conservative party as at present conducted. Had they been under the guidance of Lord Beaconsfield, they would have trumped their opponents' card by giving notice of an amendment to reduce the qualification to a £4 rental, and would have gained credit ond votes by the bold move. This may yet be done, for it does not appear that Lord John Manners is acting on behalf of the party to which ho belongs. It is pointed out also that tho new bill does not touch the objectionable "faggot votes," which give such enormous power to landowners in creating support for their candidature, or that of their nominees. In short, tho moasuro which we hailed as a Reform Bill does not appear to be at all worthy of tho name

The law vacation closed yesterday, and His Honor Mr Justice Gillies holds a sit ting in banco to-morrow.

E. D. Davics, the ventriloquist, is a pas songer to Sydney by the mail steamer.

A meeting of the Benevolent Society is proceeding at the City Council Chambers as we go to press, the business being prin cipally the apportionment of districts among tho collectors and some general matters.

"It's an ill wind that blows nobody Cd;" and the recent heavy rain and ds, though causing disaster in some ways, have proved a kind of " Mascotte " to the Union Sash and Door Company. A " fresh " in tho Tairua Creek brought down 3,500 logs on Saturday last, which with those already at the booms, make up a total of 8,000 logs on hand, which is sufficient to keep the mill going for eleven months.

Railway reform is proceeding apace, in common with the retrenching policy in other Government departments, but it is scarcely going on the lines advocated by Mr Vaile. The new tariff rates, which are gazetted to come into force on the 17th inst., increase passenger fares by about 10 per pent, beyond the radius of ten miles from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin, and Inyercargill. Freight rates are also to be considerably increased, though they will not be so high as they were in 1880. An addition to the receipts to the extent of £150,000 per annum is expected to accrue from this policy.

At the first annual meeting of Dunedin iramway Company, held yesterday, dis satisfaction was expressed because of the bad results of the year's operations. It was agreed to approach the City Council with a request for extension of the term of their concession j and Mr Stout expressed the hope that the wire cable system would yet be adopted on the Company's lines. We trust the directors of the Auckland Tram-1 way Company are noting the failures and mistakes of other places for their warning and instruction.

A coloured sailor employed on the cutter Rose has just met with a serious accident whilo assisting to load with lime at Whanga roi. Ho was jammed between a truck and the side of the vessel, and sustained internal injury, but his life is not thought to be in danger.

The quarterly meeting of the Operative Bootmakers' Society was held last evening in the business-room of the Working Men's Club. The balance-sheet for the past three months was road and adopted, and officers for the ensuing term elected. .For the purpose of enabling Aucklanders to visit Whangarei races, which take place on Saturday next, the steamer Waitaki is t» make an excursion trip North, leaving Auckland on Friday evening, and return ing from Whangarei on Sunday morning. While Captain J. H. Edwards was going on board the schooner Norval at the breast work on Saturday last, he was struck on the head with a plank and knocked into the water, and falling between the vessel and the wall was somewhat crushed. He was taken home, and l)r. Richardson, who was called in, found that several of his ribs were broken, and that he had also sustained a severe blow on the head. That protty and fascinating comic opera popularly known as "Tambour Major," was repeated last night at the Opera House to another capital house, and it was received by tho audience witli every manifestation of pleasure. The leading singers were applauded to the echo, and the whole action of the piece was followed with the greatest satisfaction. It will be performed this evening for tho last time, Planquotte's "Los Clochesdo Gorrti>'iUe,"anotherold favourite, being "billeu J for to-morrow night. Captain Harris, of tho brigantine Ransom, which arrived from Marshall Group to-day, reports that tho King of Apamania has taken possession of Nanoucho, an island of tho Gilbert Group, Many of tho inhabitants were killed, and about 200 taken prisoner.". The drunkards have numerically increased this week at the Police Court, This morn ing no less than eight persons were pun ished for this offence. Seme of these infatuated, unkempt individuals presented evidences of rough usage, but self-inflicted. Ono man rojoioing in the royal name of Gustavus showed two darkeyes,overlooking a damaged nose, facetiously termed the "gravol rash." Win, Hart, an old topor, with his hands in his pockets, philosophically objected to pay a fino of £5, owing to a hole in his pocket, and retired to Mount Eden for 14 days. Edward Walsh, a strapping labourer of 15 stone, for striking a Lamb, and indiscreetly exercising his tongue, was ordered to prison for ono month, ho not boing ablo to raiso 40s. John Clark, a

sailor boy, was fined 40s or ono month, foi

assaulting and kicking Ernest Reid, Do tcctivo Hughes, and Constable Kolso. Tho presiding Justices woro Messrs Primo and Macdonald.

By an unfortunate omission, it would seotn that Mr T. Thompson has forfeited his seat at tho City Council, and will requiroto go through tho form of ro-olection. On account of tho fractured arm ho rocoivod whilo assisting to save property at a recent fire at Mount Eden, Mr Thompson has boon absent from four consocutivo mootings of Council without lcavo, and such absoneo vacates tho seat according to tho Municipal Corporations Act. Neither Mr Thompson nor his brother Councillors thought of this proviso ; the Town Clork did not sond tho absent Councillor any intimation of tho

conaequonces of his illness and tho necessity for obtaining lcavo of absenco ; and it was not until the fatal lapso was comploto that tho forfeiting clause occurred to Mr Thompson himself. As tho legality of Council proceedings might bo questioned if Mr Thompson wore to retain his seat, it will probably bo found necessary to proceed to fill tho vacancy, but, of courso, Mr Thompson is certain of reelection —his popularity and usefulness ns a Councillor, quito apart from sympathy with him in his itlnoM, being sufficient to ensuro that result.

Tho Parnell Borough Council met last evening, tlio Mayor (Captain McKenzio) presiding. Tlio Streets Committeo roported tho completion of tho Cleveland Road con tract, and recommended that Mr John son's request ro footpath bo attended to by tho Foreman; that Captain Daweon bo requested to abate tho nuisanco arising from an offensivo drain; that if the Council undertako the works in con nection with Bridgewater Road, tha applicants bo required to do a portion of tho work. Tho recommendations of the report wero adopted, It being decided to show Capt. Dawson where ho might connect \Vith tho main drain. Au offer having been received from Mr Bte^^rtr^jcfirtoin surplus waterworks ku«22- 'am 3 .^nUT! -> >W» ■■■mfnnwi.-ffiid £14 for tho tee pioces, hydrants, otc. Mr Blewdon, who wns present, asked tho Council to take the whole stock, but this being declined, ho promised to consider the Council's offer. The Council decided not to grant Sir 0. M. O'Rorko and Captain Shepherd permission to construct a 40ft. road through lot 12, section 4 ; and that they could not entertain an application for a road less than 6Gft. wide. It was decided to form ft firo brigade of 12 men. This wag all the business of genoral interest. On Friday evening last harvest festival services wero hold 111 St. John's Church, Northcote. Though tho weather was un favourable, the church was filled. It was most tastefully decorated with a profusion of tho fruits of tho earth, arranged over the communion table, chancel, and walla. Various ripo fruits, with flowers, wrought by deft hands into emblematical devices, and festoons of evergreens, intermingled with wroaths of corn, all being tho produce of tho neighbourhood, gave a pleasing pic ture of the earth's productiveness and of harvest joy. Tho services wero conducted by tho Rev. J. Bates, tho lessona suitablo to the occasion being read by Rev. F. G. Evans, incumbent. Tho choir of Trinity Church, Devonport, lent_ their valuable holp, rendering the musical portion of tho service, and ospoci ally tho anthom, "Yo shall dwell in the land," with remarkablo effect. At tho re quest of the presiding clergyman, tho Roy. A. M. McCallum gave a short and instruc tive address on " Lessonsfrom Ancient and Modorn Harvest Fields." He referred to tho great loss which the district was about to sustain in tho removal from their midst of the Rev. Mr Evans. They all know that he had proved himself to be a faithful, de voted, and loving pastor; and he would carry with him tho esteem and love of all who know him to his new and larger sphere, where he trusted a rich harvest of reward and blessing would await his future labours. After a few feeling words from Rev. F. G. Evans, in which he said that it was only at the voice of duty he could leave this charge, which he did with much regret, the interest ing and impressive services were concluded by the Rev. J. Bates. Tho fruits and vegetableswhich had beenfreely contributed wore afterwards donated to the Hospital

Tho programme for this evening's enter tainment In the Eden Hall, by members and friends of tho Ark of Eden Good Templar Lodge, will bo unusually attractive, the musi cal selections and readings boing of superior

Contracts taken for all kinds of. concrete work, large or amall.and estimates and other information giving to those wishing to do their own work.-John Wilson and Co?. 75, Queon-

Bicycles, unequalled for finish, price and S? i" yA £.' Shakeepear & Cos. (opposite the Market), Queen-street—fAnvT.] """>"") luo

Ruapohu, from London; Waihora, from Molhourne; Amazon, from New York.-New Sewing Machines to hand.-D. S. Chambers, 70, Queen-street.—Apvt. '

THE WAR IN THE SOUDAN.

BATTLE EXPECTED TO-DAY.

IBY CABLE.-COPYRIGHT.J

[renter's telegram.]

Cairo, March 9. Telegrams to hand from Souakim state that it is expected that Massowah will shortly be proclaimed a free port. Osman Digna, the leader of the rebels in Eastern Soudan, has refused to surrender to the British force, and has expressed his de termination to fight. General Graham's troops will advance against the rebels on Tuesday next, and it is expected a battle will then take place.

Troops Required for Khartoum.

Cairo, March 9,

Telegrams have been recoived from Gordon Pasha stating that he is unable to make arrangements for releasing the garrison at Khartoum without tho aid of a military forco.

[SPECIAL TO KRESS ASSOCIATION.]

London, March 10.

Governor Gordon advocates the employ ment of a British cavalry force to re-open communication w ith Berber, while the infantry, in company with Sir E. Wood's force, operates .on \Vady Haifa. An emissary from the Mahdi is endeavouring to induce the Arab tribes'north of Khartoum to nso, and Governor Gordon admits the situation to b,e critical. ' "

ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF SYDNEY WITH THE English and American Mails, VIA SAN FRANCISCO.

GENERAL SUMMARY

(February 2 to 18.)

Parliament opens on February 5. London is already filling fast. Permanent town residences of country families have emerged from their wrappings, and temporary resi dences of the same class have been definitely accommodated. Everywhere the metropolis shows a perceptible stir and awakening. The Irish parliamentary party have issued their programme for thessssion. Th» basis of the scheme is independent hostility to Government and Opposition alike. Mr Healy has assured us that Irishmen hate. Englishmen with ineitinguishable hate, and are to be reconciled by no process known to tho science of statesmanship. A sculling race for stakes amounting to £400 took place on the Thames on January 28 between George Bubear, of Putney, and William Elliott, of Blyth; the former win ning easily. In tho case of Wolff and Bondurand, charged with conspiring to blow up the German Embassy, in which the jury at the Old Bailey were unable to agreo, a nolle proscqui has been entered by the Crown, and the prisoners will not again bo put upon their trial. Tho Marquis of Hertford died on January 25, of. the effects of tho accident in tho hunting field. He had nearly completed his 71et year. He is succeeded in his estates and honours by his eldest son, the Earl of Yarmouth. Advices from South Africa report the death of Cetewayo, the famous Zulu chieftain, from heart disease. Stollmacher, the assassin of Detective Bloch, has confessed that ho murderod Police Commissary Klubech. He declares that Elsert, the money-changer, was murdered and robbed by Socialists in order to procure funds for the Socialistic agita tion. Stellmacher was implicated in the plot against tho Emperor of Germany. Tho Austrian authorities will ask Switzerland to extradite his accomplice. At a banquet of leading members of tho scientific press, Do Lessens Btated that the scheme for creating a soa in the desert of Sahara would shortly be realised. Roduaire, tho French hydrographor, who concoived the project of cutting through the sand dunes which separata the Mediterranean from tho desert in order to transform tho arid sand* into a fertile country, is about to start for Tunis with a firman from tho Sul tan to begin operations. The Emperor of Germany is renewing his offortE to effect a reconciliation between Prince Frederick and his wifo. Ho has ap pointed Count Reanitz in behalf of tho Princess to meet Governor Blamonthal on behalf of tho Prince to arrange a basts of settlement. Tho social democrats (Berlin) are making vigorous preparations for tho coming election. Tho polico broke up two meetings of working men. Tho Govorn mont, hitherto unconcerned, is now closely watching tho present movement. London, February 13.— Michael Davitt delivered a lecture at Newcastle-on-Tyno last ovening on "Thelrish Problem and its Solution." The lecturer was received with persistent howling and hissing, and a rush was made for the platform. Thirty police men interfered, and Davittdrow a revolver, which he held in his hand for Bomo minutes. He summoned the occupants of the gallery to eject the disturbers from the hall, which they succeeded in doing, being assisted by tho polico. There was somo fighting when tho disturbers were being ejected, and several persons woro sevoroly injured. An American spiritualist named Bastion gave a seance at the Imperial Palace Vienna at tho invitation of the Crown Princo Rudolph and Archduke John. Bostian summoned the spirits from a room adjoining tho Exhibition Hall, whereupon a tall figure in mourning appeared before the stricken spectators. Suddenly the Crown Prince pulled a string closing a secret door to the entrance, when the spirit, who was Bostian himself, made frantic but vain efforts to escape, amid tho laughter of tho as sembly. Tho London" Observer," commenting on ■V-"ijlniti firmly Aratin Expedition, sny» it mutiny which scorns the regulation life on bonrd American Arctic adventures, like those of Kane and Hall, that tho men murdered their commander. Meetings condemnatory of the Govern ment's Egyptian policy were hold at Guild hall on the 15th, and Panel's Hall, Picca dilly, on the 16th. Thore was a crowded attendance and great uproar at both. Tho Cobden Club has circulated 20,000 copies of a pamphlet by Gif Ten, entitled, " Progress of the Working Classes," which Mr Gladstone pronounces the best answer to tho doctrines advanced by Henry George. Two Liverpool corn merchants, Jno. Herd, jun., and William Mullens, convicted of obtaining by falso pretences £16,000 from the North-western Bank, have been sen tenced to imprisonment—Hord to 18 months and Mullens to three months. Mr Gladstone was the subject of an un pleasant surprise on the afternoon of Febru ary. He was walking along Bond-street, unattended, on his way to tho House of Commons, when suddenly a man seized him by tho collar and brought him to a stand still. Mr Gladstone, with some difficulty, shook off his assailant, and continued on foot to his destination. It was asserted later that tho man's action was due to a stupid wager. 15,000 pooplo at Sheffield passed resolu tions denouncing the Egyptian policy of tho Governmental a sacrifice of national honour and prestige. The Mayor presided. Henry Monteillo and Co., dyors, of Glas gow, failed on February sth, for £103,000, with assets placed at £110,000. Bradlaugh's appeal against the Sorgeant at-Arms for removing him from the House of Commons, and not permitting him to enter, was disallowed by tho Court of Queen's Bench, February Bth. JamesO'Kelly, Egyptian correspondent of the "London Daily News," supposed to be killed, turned up at Assioot, January sth. Tho New North Staffordshire Coal and Iron Company suspended February Ist, owing to the depression in the coal trade. The colliory employed 1,200 men with an output of 1,000 tons daily. ' W. Thomas, Sons, and Co., stockbrokers, London, failed on January 31st for £835,000, owing inside the Stock Exchange and to customers. The Cornish Bank and Insurance Company are great sufferers. The failure created great astonishment. It is believed BlaKeway, an absconding mem ber of the firm, has fled to America. Moody began his mission at Stratford-lo- Bow on January 23, and notwithstanding that a hurricane prevailed, 6,000 people were present. Lord Norrey's stud stables, near Oxford, England, were burned on January 23, with fourteen valuable horses. Sir Bevya, the winner of the Derby in 1879, was saved. Tho "Times" of February 3rd says it is decided that Parliament shall be asked to grant £2,000,000, for additional defence of the Clyde, Humber, Mersey, and Tyno rivers, the Bristol Channel ports, Aden, Singapore, Hong Kong, Point de Galle, and Gape Town, and the islands of St. Helona and Ascension, all being of vital necessity for tho British fleet/which in case of war will have to depend upon coaling facilities for their power to defend our possessions. The same' paper states the British army is never more than adequate for the work it > has to do, and the occupation of Egypt is a ] »evere strain upon ordinary military ar rangements. The importance of improving • defencos may be judged from the fact that i the property of Liverpool alone, which d , £400 oro cooo might destroy> is eatimatcdot '

The proposed marriage between Lord Orarmoylo (Lord Cairns's eldest son) and Miss Fortescue, an actress at the Gaiety Theatre, London, has been broken off, and the suit for breach of promise following compromised for £20,000. Lord Cairns ant ins son will soon start for a long tour in the United States.

Despatches from London to February 12th say there are symptoms of trouble in Hyder abad. The new ruler is not yet eighteen and is an impassive voluptuary. The new Premier is not yet twenty, but haughty and indiscreet, while the turbulent nobles have begun to fight among themselves. General Booth, chief of the Salvation Army.intends to make a tour of the United States in March.

Manchester seems determined tQ have a ship canal. Promoters will go on with the bill during the coming session. The total estimated cost of the werks is £6,904,000, and the canal will extend from Trafford

Bridge over the rjver Irwefl to the eatunry of the Mersey, about a mile above Runcorn Bridge. It is a grand scheme, with very few engineering difficulties, by which wool and cotton ships will be able to go down to the centre of production, Naturally the

bill will meet with much opposition from the Corporation of Liverpool and the local docks, harbour, and railway companies, but it is something in favour of tho pro moters of the scheme that they seem con fident of success.

It may be presumed that Mr Parnoll and his Cabinet have decided upon the courso they intend to pursue, inasmuch as, upon the eve of the assembling of Parliament, we find Messrs Mayne, Biggar, and O'Brien can be spared to excite the minds of the electors of Newport, in Tipperary, by in flammatory speeches. These gentlemen may well boast of their success, for we doubt if 10,000 persons could be got together to listen to the most popular speaker in England. In Ireland, however, it is different, especially when the object is to declare that the Land Act and the Labourers Act are inadequate as a settlement of the land question. It may be inferred, therefore, from the agitation now going on, that amendments in these bills will be pressed for by the Parnell party, and that for the rest they will be guided by the chapter of accidentl?. Safe in the conviction that they are a party not easily to be snuffed out, it is their boast that they can afford to bide their time.

On the Continent, the Nihilistic up growth in Vienna is the most interesting topic. The Parliamentary Inquiry Com mittee holds its meetings with closed doors, under pledge of secrecy, and is attended by the chief police officials. The Hungarian Premier has got a resolution passed which means the practical abandonment of tho attempt to legalise Judaic-Christian mar riages. In Spain, Canovas del Castillo is doing his best to provoke a revolution. He has snubbed the Catalonian protectionists, has prohibited Republican dinners, which have been allowed for the last five years, and has sanctioned the imprisonment for eight years of editors of mildly critical articles. In Berlin they havo little politics and no amusement. The death of the Saxon prin cess has broken up tho social Reason at a fast and furious period before the beginning of Lent, and court officials secretly rejoice at an excuse for pleading tho Emperor's fatigue. The little politics is found in venomous discussions in Bismarckian journals of the vote of the American Con gress on Horr Lasker, which has set all Parliamentary parties by tho ears. The break-up of the Garmoyle-Fortescuo match promises ugly complications. All the people are fierce against Garmoylo for his ostentatious exhibition of his betrothed after tho manner of the fatuous "masher," and against his father, Lord Cairns, for his mixture of canting piety and attorney cunning, liiß professed acquiescenoo nnd secret hos tility. The old man's letters are Miss For tescjuo's most valuable possession, and tho anxiety to obtain them her chief advan tage. Gilbert, who acts as her friend, is told to make as hard a bargain for her as he always does for himself. She contem plates returning to tho stage. Society hero is doeply interested in tho festival for tho Albert Hall Hospital, in which our most fashionable ladies will figuro in peasant dresses of various coun tries, ana duchossos will servo wine and beer at extravagant prices to the bibulous. " Plunger " Walton is expected to return to America in April, for the purpose of meeting the debts of the English "ring." Ho will bring with him tho American jockey O'Donoghue, aa he does not trust tho English jockeys. Mr Charles Lowes, son of George Eliot, writes it is untrue that the great novelist loftmany note books behind hor.dealing with numerous subjects. When the biography upon which her husband, Mr Cross, is now engaged and the forthcoming volume of essays are published there will remain almost nothing unprinted. M. Rouher left a voluminous history of tho second empire. Mary Anderson is trying to arrango to take the Drury Lane Theatre for several months, opening in Juno. She has tried the stage to sco whether her voice is equal to the auditorium. Should Manager Harris agreo to her proposition, she will produce " Romeo and Juliet" upon a grand scale. Tho newest form of ball-room dress is known as the ballet. In spito of tho name, it is of normal length, but over the prin cipal skirt, which is perfectly straight,-fall a series of others, each eight or nine inches shorter than its immediate neighbour. Mrs Gladstone, who is a vory homely and usually a very badly-dressed woman, has taken to wearing tho richest clothes and tho finest diamonds. The case of the baccarat clubs has revealed unsuspected depths of aristocratic gambling in London. Charles Russell, who defonded the culprits, declared that in many clubs judges, bishops, and statesmen play nightly for high stakes, and Russell ought to know, for he. ia-nolqnow|kfa^f~

adrocate, in the English courts. The establishment of a school of physio logical research at Oxford has loft the fana tical .anti-vivisectionists mourning. Mr Freeman, the historian and lecturer, with characteristic exaggeration, described the laboratory as a chamber of horrors. Another crazy crowd which opposes the Contagious Diseasds Act, had a prayer meeting of eight hours' duration on the day of the opening of Parliament. Some of tho devotees are described as very excited, hymns were sung, and there were male and female speakers. Special prayers were offerod for tho .Government and tho news papers, the members of tho House, and tho sisters in the lobby, but thero was the un usual decency of silence on tho subject of the agitation. Mr Gladstone was at the deathbed and attended the funeral of Abraham Hayward, the old essayist. Though ho always wrote for the Tory " Quarterly," Hayward was a Htaunch Liberal, and loved Gladstone and liattd Beaconsfield. Tho Tory statesman took his revenge by describing him as an unmentionable animal, and whon asked tho reason, said ho lived on other men's heads. Thackeray also hated tho bitter-tongued old diner-out, and called him a sheep-faced fox with a wolf's fangs. Mr Ghdstone has boon again confronted with his family's connection with Weßt Indian slavery, and a Conservative candi date declares that Gladstone's father re coived for his slaves £2 a head abovo tho average. The courts have had boforo them tho will of a Lord Chancellor, making tho fourth disputed will of England's greatest lawyers in tho last few years. A Scotch parson has been dismissed for refusing to comfort tho paupers of tho workhouse where ho was chaplain with tho doctrine of eternal damnation. A dean of tho more tolerant Anglican Church has been preaching that gambling is sometimes legitimate. A bill for cremation has been introduced in Parliament. The last discovery of the statistical fiend is that divorces and suicides are higheet in Saxpny, and the demon ol warlike invention is experimenting in Ger many on a torpedo balloon. The Invincible?.who have been recently removed from the Dublin prison, have been distributed among the prisons at Ports mouth, Dartmoor, Perth, and Millbank. Among them are Fitzharris, better know as " Skin.the-Goot;" Lawrence Hanlon, James Mullett, and Dowling, all of whom are under life sentences to penal servitude for their connection with tho Phosnix Park murders and tho Field case. The prisoners were taken from their colls in the early morning in close vans. A strong body of mounted police guarded them as they wore driven to North Wall, Dublin, and placed on board the Government steamor Valorous. During the transfor from the vans to tho steamer the prisoners were recognised by some of the bystanders, and a cheer was raised. But thp prisoners preserved a dea silence

AMERICAN SUMMARY.

San Francisco, February 17,

James Hunter, millionaire, lumberman, has died, and bequeathed 85,000 to each of American humourists who have published a book.—Queen Pomare, of Tahiti, sailed from New York for France on February 13 to interview the French Government re the affairs of the island.—A strong effort is being made in favour of General Sherman's candidature for the Presidency. — The Government are fitting out the Thetis whaler, for the Greeley Arctic relief expo dition.—A peculiar and fatal sheep disease is devastating Montana. The sheep swell up and bleed at the nose. The post-mortem shows extravasation of the blood in the intestines. The disease is incurable. A sudden collapse in the North Pacific Kail road stock has consigned tlio projector, Villard, to poverty.—A civil suit is pendi mg against one or two prominent Now York banks for eight million dollars, damages for inducing capitalists by fraudulent represen tations to invest heavily while they unloaded their stocks.—Tho New England Free thinkers' Convention have formed an association, with by-laws, demanding that churches be not exempt from taxation, the judicial oath abolished, all laws enforcing the observance of the Sabbath and Christian morality repealed, the Bible re moved from the pubne schools, and Govern mental aid refused to sectarian education — The discovery of a valuable tin mine, the first in the United States, is reported at King's Mountain, near Charlotte, North

Carolina. The ore yields 73 per cent, pure tin.—An explosion of gas occurred in tho Crested Cutto colliery, near Denver, Colo rado. Betwoen 40 and 50 miners perished. The inquest showed that tho accident re sulted from the miners not observing safety rules.—The Senate Committee of the United States on Foreign Affairs has reported against the resolution for abrogat ing tho Hawaiian reciprocity treaty. —All the western rivers overflowed, reaching a higher level than during the almost unprecedented flood of last year. Multitudes of people are homeless and hope less, especially in Cincinnati. —L. R, Martin, known to stockmen in the colonies, is still in New York gaol. An investigation of the plans of Martin and his associates shows that they intended to flood the Aus tralian colonies wi,Jh. counterfeit bonds, which Martin declared, hia influence would float.—The Montreal dßyii^al was a greater success than ever. There were 10,000 visitors. The illuminated ice palace was a magnificent affair. —In the Canadian House of Commons, Sir Richard Cartwright moved a resolution im peachine; tho Minister of Finance for ad vancing 300,000d015. to the defunct Bank of Exchange, Montreal, knowing it to be insolvent. Tho motion was defeated by 97 to 60.—The coffee crop in Jamaica is a failure. — Forty prospectors, including several Calitornians, have boon murdered in Mexico. —A revolution in tho Argentine Republic resulted in the Governor being killed and several wounded. A Wedding Party Drowned. Vienna, February 11.—While a wedding party was crossing the River Theiss, near Domrad, the ice broke, and 35 persons were drowned. The party occupied seven car riages. Tho vehicles followed each other too closely, and the ice gave way and in gulfed tho whole party. Only a gypsy musician was saved. A number of people on each bank witnessed the accident, but wero unable to render any assistance. The screams of the victims were heard for some moments as the carriages sank. Wrecked by an Iceberg. New York, Feb. 10.—The steamship State of Nebraska arrived from Glasgow to day, bearing Captain Bennett and the crew of the steamship Nottinghill, bound from London to New York, which foundered at sea. Bennett states that he loft London on January 17, with a general cargo and crew of 92men. On February 20, at 2 p.m., the vessel foil in with a field of ice. At 11.55 p.m., when she was going dead slow, she was struck by an iceberg on the port side, near the bridge. The iceberg rebounding, struck her again near the engine room, Btaving two bic holes. The captain put canvas over the holes to stop tho leaks, and the vessel drifted and got out of tho ice on the third day. On the same day a largo steamer passed, but although signals of distress wero flying, she went by. On the fifth day she fell in with the steamship State of Nebraska, which lay by till tho men put off in their boats. There wero 18 feet of water in her hold when they abandoned tho vessel. The Panama Canal. Diplomatic communication between the Governments of Great Britain and the United States are proceeding in connection with tho Panama Canal. By the Clayton- Bulwer Convention of 1850 the two Powers agreed to establish a joint protectorate over a projected canal through Nicaragua, and further "to extend their protection by treaty stipulations to any other practicable communication, whether by canal or railway, across the isthmus." The diplomatic position of the United Status Minister is that the treaty of 1850 was to regulate the protectorate over a Nicaragua Canal, and that the general provision we have quoted in no sense applies to M. do Lesseps' enterprise, ho argues, moreover, that the general stipulation would equally apply to the case of the Panama Railway, and yet that Great Britain has mode no claim to a joint protec torate over that line, but left the protecto rate solely in tho hands of the United States. Lord Granvillo stands firmly upon tho plain meaning of the provision we have quoted, and the country will support him in his interpretation of its language. No agreement has yet resulted from the negotiations, and there is not much proßpect of their ending in one soon. Russia's Menace to England. London, February 15. — The German "Press" says: — The submission of the tribes of Merv to Russia ie worso for Eng land than the disasters in the Soudan. It comments on the remarkable suc cess of Russian policy in Central Asia, which is always directed against England. If the Russians should stand again before tho walls of Con stantinople, the English would be disabled 4?^^JM^ft4te^m t?nWe tdiayn i,1 e P: bour of India, and will be able at any moment to create disturbance in Northern Asia. Now, only Afghanistan is between Russia and India. The frontier tribes are always ready to invade tho rich Indian pro vinces if thoir rear is covered, and that they (Russia) can now guarantee.

THE FALL OF SINKAT.

A Gallant Sortie,

London, February 12.—The news of the fall of Sinkatreached Souakiin this morning, brought by a friendly Arab chief. The garrison made a sortio, and for a time suc cessfully repulsed tho rebel attacks, but at last.tho attacking forceß gained the advan tage, and completely destroyed the-garri son, except a few male prisoners. The fate of the women and children is unknown. The streets of Souakim present a heartrend ing appearance, being tlirongod with women, whose weeping and wailing give un mistakable evidence of their distress and forebodings. Official despatches confirm the capture of Sinkat. LONDON, February 13.—A correspondent at Souakim telegraphs :—" At last the heroic garrison at Sinkat has been butchered. For a fortnight they have been eating roots and tree leaves. It was a feeble band indeed which made a sortie to dia amidst the rebel hordes. Tewfik Bey hnrrangued his men, saying that by fight ing they might save themselves, but by re maining thoy must dio from hunger in a few days, as flight was impossible. The men, thus animated with Tewfik Bey's spirit, destroyed tho military stores, exploded the magazine filled their pouches to the utmost with cartridges and issued forth, GOO strong, I against the rebels. Osman Digna hordes rushed to the attack. Tewfik Bey and his men fought nobly for a long time. They repulsed every attempt to break their ranks. £ inally, superior numbers prevailed, and with a rush tho rebels burst through one of the sides of the Egyptian square. A general massacre ensued, and not a soul escaped According to the latest report*, only four sick mon, who wero unable to take part in I the sortio, were spared by tho rebels. Be fore the sortie a rebel sheik approached bmkat and summoned Tewfik B* to sur render, saying his life would be spared Tho garrison answered defiantly, reviling the rebels. During the sortio women and children followed in the rear of tho soldiers Large numbers of the rebels wore killed.' The rebels are now massing in tho vicinity ofSoiiakim. Tho Sinkat contingent have joined the main body. An attack on Soua kim is believed to be imminent. The British Minister at Cairo telegraphs that after the rebels entered Sinkat thoy put every ono to tho sword. A correspondent at Cairo says :—Tho dis aster to Baker Pasha's array causod nothing like the sorrow which prevails among Eng ushnien here over tho massacre at Sinkat There is a universal feeling of humiliation and shamo that the gallant men of Sinkat wore killed almost within sight of the British ships. '• '■■ ■■ ° Tho Relief of Tpkar. London, February 13 -Wolsoley tele graphed Stevenson, tho Genera! command ing the troops in Egypt, Tuesday evening, to collect a force to relieve Tokar, if possi ble ;if otherwise, to defend the forts. Gen eral Graham is to take supreme command; Colonel Butler is to command the infantry, and Colonel Stewart the cavalry. There will be a brigade and five solid battalions in •line within a few days. If necessary, the garrison at Alexandria will be brought to Cairo, the fleet taking charge of Alexan dria. Tho Tenth Hussars, homeward bound in the Suez Canal, are ordered to bouakim. Wolseley concludes to have tho greatest publicity given to the determina tion to relieve Tokar by British soldiers.

A TERRIFIC GALE IN GREAT BRITAIN.

GKEAT DAMAGE AND LOSS OP LIFE

A a'EßniFic gaio passed over tlio British Isles on January 26. There is yet much to bo learned in respect to it, but enough is

i Irjady known tojenable it to bo said thattho gale was one of the severest and most yiolout which has been experienced fcr many years. Leaving out of the'question for the moment the violence of the wind it certainly possessed all the essential features which constitute a storm of the first maeni. tude. The fall of the barometer was excep tionally rapid, amounting to as much as an •''' ''■ . ••- • &

inch in six hours at Mullaghmore, hi the ! I north of Ireland; whereas with a fall about one quarter as rapid a gale might be looked for with some certainty. From a meteorological point of view the fM most interesting feature of the storm is the extremely low pitch of the barometer which • was reached at places situated near the centre. No such low reading has ever been previously recorded in the British Islands M At present but little is definitely known of ' the actual force of wind experienced, but H the meagre information yet to hand tends 31 to show that seventy miles an hour was a fair maximum velocity of the wind over If England. In all probability .this will be ; greatly exceeded in parts, and especially in the north. . | At Deal, signals of distress were seen in all directions from the shipping lying wind-bound in the Downs, numbering be? tween two and three hundred. In response ' to the signals, the Deal lifeboat Mary Somerville was launched from the beach 1 through a fearful sea, and was the means of rescuing eight sailora from a watery M grave. Their vessel had struck on the Drake Sand, and was in danger of gome I to pieces when the lifeboat arrived, took the men off, and carried them to Rarasgate Several luggers nttempted to get afloat, but * were dashed back by the waves with great H damage, andseveralnarrowescapes occurred The Walmer lifeboat also rendered valuable assistance to distressed vessels. About 12 :; p.m. the schooner Alliance, bsund to Ant werp, lost her anchors at Dungenees, and became unmanageable. Tho captain re- 1 solved to beach her, and whilst running for Deal beach he saw the red light of the Walmer boatmen, which they have for a I guide. Thinking it was the red light of Deal Pier, he came on, when, in a few minutes after seeing the Walmer light, his 1 vessel dashed through the pier, smashing the great iron pillars like matchwood. Two H of tho crow sprang on the pier, and the I ■ captain, with the remaining two of his crew, I were drawn through the water from the .vessel by ropes. The vessel is now a com- 1 Mete wreck. ■~-,.',«?

An inquest has been held atHythe on the bodies of seven seamen, which had been washed ashore during the gale. The principal evidence was that of a pilot, named Loesberg, of the Flushing cuttej Ho. 9, lying in Dover Harbour, who identified the unfortunate men as being the crew of the brig Lida, of Amsterdam, from Dantzio for Bordeaux, with timber.

Terrible shipping disasters have happened E at Liverpool, and it is feared that the loss of '■"■■ life will be very great. The vicinity of the Q Liverpool bar is always a place of much m danger during tho prevalence of ; heavy weather, and it was at this' | spot where tho disasters occurred. Re- 1 ports having been received of vessels in ; distress outside the port, the New Brighton lifeboat was towed out to sea, followed later by the lifeboat from the Liverpool landing stage. On getting outside it was found": that the sea on the bar was breaking with I fearful violence, and the tug boats held on 1 to their charges. A large snip was seen torn be oflhoro on what is known as Taylor's i Bank, two miles from the Formby Light I Ship. The lifeboats could not approach S nearer .than about a mile; had they gone ;: closer, they would certainly have Deen " capsized. Finding that nothing could save >■, the poorfellows, thelifeboateleft, when many 1 of the men who were on deck rushed up the ' rigging, as if to show that they were still | alive and wished the lifeboats to remain. However, nothing could be done for them, and the boats returned to their stations, ; The statements as to the number of mea seen varied, one report representing that 25 ; were seen in the rigging, whilst another puts down the number as five on the foremast and a crowd aft. The name of the vessel could not be'definitely ascertained.

The wire manufactory of Mr William Dainlith, at Halebank, Widnes, was com pletely demolished by the gale. It was a large two-storey building, erected near Ditton Ironworks. First a window was blown in, and the roof was carried away. The main building quickly fell, and the machinery, wire-working looms, and un finished material were destroyed. Fortu nately, all tho work-people had just left the premises.

In the Isle of Man, trees have been up- • | rooted and houses unroofed all over the ■ island. At Port Erin the breakwater, M which cost £70,000, was swept completely away, and all that is left now is the rubble 1 mound in which it was erected; the blocks,. weighing on an average 20 tons, are scattered about in front of it. At high water none of the breakwater is visible. As soon as the breakwater gave way a small landing pier which had been erected inside it was also swept away ; and a lugger, which was lying alongside, was sunk, and now lies under water, covered with concrete blocks. The crew were not op board. The ... j,..,,= 50 at tort Ertn is estimated at ninety < i thousand pounds. ■"% Reports of destruction of property con- 1 tinue to come from all parts of the north of I Ireland, which is at present under a thick 1 coating of snow. Accounts from towns in Ireland state that many of the railway and 1 postal telegraph wires have been swept I away, and trains much delayed. On the j Northern Counties Railway, three miles- 1 from Londonderry, a large breach was made H in tlie embankment. For 40 or 60 yards M the entire ballast was swept away, and ths rails with the sleepers attached sank down * 1 to the level of tho river. This was 1 discovered just in time to enable ai»; I oflicial to display the danger signal, when the mail train was within 200 yards 9f the 1 gap. A post-car driver, when driving two commercial travellers to Killarney, was blown into the sea and drowned. In several places the mail care cannot travel owing'to I fallen trees, and tho bags are conveyed by 1 men on foot. At Roscommon a new school- i house was partly b'.own down. At Mallow, I houses are flooded with 4 feet of water, and so suddenly did the water pour in that M people were unable toremove theirfurniture. :^ In Borne towns tlie gas lamps have been i totally destroyed, and total darkness reigns ■ at night. Several people In the country districts are missing, and it is believed they were swept into lakes and drowned. The shipping disasters on the Irish coast have been very numerous, and, unhappily, many livos have boon lost. Several vessels have boon towed into Belfast dismasted. Numerous reports of disasters continue to , arrive from Scotland.

TERRIBLE COLLIERY CATAS TROPHE IN COLORADO.

Ftfty-sovon Men Killed.

.Denver (Col.), January 2».-A tcrriblo explo sion occurred at 8 o'clock this morning; In tho Colorado Coal and Iron Company's mine at Crested Butto. There were 63 men in the mine at the time; 11 who wore just entering were thrown back to the entrance by tho force of the explosion, and havo beon roscued. One of those is dead and all the others are badly injured. Iho other 53 men in the mine are all certain to have been killod. Tho explosion was of such force lie to entirely wreck tho engineand engine house, which stood fully 100 feet from the entrance The cause of tho explosion is not yet definitely known.but it is supposed to have been lire-lamp. The explosion was of such force as to completely barricade the main entrance. The appliances for supplying air, located near by were badly wrecked and tho roof of the tramway blown off. Tho men at work on tho Mesa anthracite mino. tho night force of the Colorado Coal and Iron Company's mine, and oitzjns generally havo been working hard all day to rescue the men. although it is thought that none can possibly escape afive. The Tewn Hall has been prepared for'thbreception of the dead. As soon as possible the fan was repaired aud put to work pumping air into the mine,' ana men set to work to remove the obstructions;'* as to reach the oh'amber and get the bodies out to-night if possible. • ■ <■■> y > <■■■' Recovering the Bodies. t I)E:S' ER!Januar y"2s.-W36: hours a force of from 20 to 30 men has beon oonstantly at worli searching for the dead bodios of the miners buried in the Crested Butte mino.' The work is I necessarily very slow.1 as the mine is- badly choked up with piles of displaced timber.heaps of coal and rock, and other obstructions. At n.pn to-day 10 bodieß had been found: These wcro all in tho main entry, and, being Butt jectod totho full forco of tho blast, wore ter ribly burned and blackenod. In severarbasoa arms and legs wore found brokon.and tho bodies otherwise mutilated. In this entry were also found the carcases of nine mules and a largo number of empty coal cars, vhioh had been battered out of all shape. On searching farther, 18 bodios were found almost in a hoapln theair passage leading to the upcast near the en trance. The men, alarmod but iiot injured by the explosion, Had ovidently attempted 4«n >. Jl c fu">acor <>om. and' wero OTer? t%s n t I after-damp when within 200 feet of it. Fifty-feet farther back sit moro bodies were found. All hod evidnntiv hfiefi tSSSn up"to hftis tTme makeß a total pf 3l *** tl^^ore'^urned-^bS %^SZ maWnT^/ 1"?" 1 , t, ho S?eßtcd BnUe mfne^ ifSnS? 7 n all, an<l but two remain. fn ?r^i' et^ ras ? nd leP broken.skullßorußhed S»??J $££"% burne?s° badly in manySes mat it drops off when the body la moved. The

THE PARNELLITE POLICY.

A Plan of Action Decided Upon at a Con ference in Dublin. '

Dublmisintroduced. Itwaa flecidedt*iinb£

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 1884



inovoyngc. B Special Advertisements. B T) IS EASES OF THE EYE. fl ARTHUR RICHARDSON, M.D., ■ SPECIALIST AND OPERATOR ON ■ diseases op the eye, ■ may bb consulted at his besi ■M DENCE, KARANGAHAPE ROAD, [V Froml to 3 in the afternoon; ■■ OB nASUMT'S ENGLISH PHARMACY ■ l&l, Qneen-gtreet. from 3 to S. ■ -piIBLIMINARY NOTICE, H WILSON, B WILLIAIiS, & MoCULLAGH, I ormanyyearßlntheemployofMr'W.Rattrar Draper, Qneen-strent, have ' H THIS DAY ■* ENTERED INTO PARTNERSHIP AS ■» GENERAL DRAPERS, B SILK JIERCERS, &o. And having WM SECURED THOSE CENTRAL PREMISES At present occupied by the V NEW ZEALAND TWEED CO. (NerttoMeasrsßoytonandTanfleld'B), H QUEEN-STREET, ■ Intend OEENING THE SAME on or about tiro H 22nd INSTANT, WITH ■an bntibely new and well. B SELECTED STOCK |H# OF H GENERAL DRAPERY, ■B-Partcntowofwhlch^ be given to a future B ypuoH. ypvuZmtt j^cqullaqh B m- QUEEN*TRBKT, ■fcfc.J)ated this 3rd March, 1884,



Special Advertisements. TEMPORARY PREMISES OPPOSITE A. CLAKK AND RONS'. H, L- POKSENISKIB, MERCHANT TAILOR AND IMPORTER, SnORTLAND-BTRKET, AUCKLAND, Wishes to Inform His Patrons ami the Public generally that ho has JUST RECEIVED HIS FIRST SHIPMENTS OF AUTUMN AND WINTER GOODS, Per s.s. Ruapehu. Tho abovo comprise all the Latest Dibigns In TWEKDS and COATINGS, and are well worthy an inspection. DR. p H I L S 0 N, ■ Late District Surgeon, Attends from 10 a.m. to 1 o'olook p.m., AND DR. J. H. HONKYMAN From 11 a.m, to 1 o'olock p.m., at Aiokin's, THE PHARMACY Quoon-street mEMDERS WANTED X For tho Whole of tho Stock of MEN'S AND BOYS1 CLOTHING AND MERCERY OP THE NEW ZEALAND TWEED COMPANY. It is quite New. pot being more than ten months old. The Men's and Boys' Clothing has been Manufactured at the Kaiapol Factory, and Tenders wilM'o9o on MONDAY, 10th inst. For You THE GOODS To Note For You Manufactured by J°S°{! JSySS THE NEW ZEALAND SSSte For You CLOTHING FACTORY To Note IS?SS From tho Celebrated For You MOSGIEL TWEEDS To Note For You Are Acknowledged £oNote For You T° be the M°at To Note For You STERLING VALUE To Note For You Andßeßt ToNote EprYou WEARING GARMENTS ToNote fSjYou EverProdueed. *»§«£ For You While the Rango To Note For You Of Prices ToNote fo-You lßßoVarled ToNote For You That the Most To Note For You ECONOMICAL. )n 0S 0! 0 ISyoS To mom ggSg For You MONEY IS AN OBJECT, ToNote For You Will be «> Note fSySS Thoroughly Satisfied. For You To Note For You To Note For You . irpK-T .wn o-p » M nti To Noto For You AUCKLAND BRANCH, ToNote fgf?S "*"* tSnSS |»?SS QUEEN-STREET. g g«g |S?SS J- FITZSIMON3. SirSto ISJyoS Branch Manager. ?SSote For You To Note For You To Note jift You N . B ._p attern3andtal To Note For You information sent Post Frco. ToNote A UCKLAMD GAS COMPANY J\. (LIMITED), KSTABLISHED 1804 PURVEYORS OF LIGHT, HEAT, AND POWTSR. The Company sell and ereot gas-fittinga. In cludliiK gas apparatus and gas-power engines. Stock includos Otto Gas Enginos.—Offlca and Show-rooms. Fort-atreet. Special. We respectfully invite Public Attention to the following BARGAINS: COO Dozen Flax Shirts, lined backs, Is 6d, wero 3s 6d 500 Trouseis and Vesta, 12s Cd, worth 18a 6d 10 Cases Printed Mole Trousers, Ss lid £0 Dozen Men's Felt Hats, 2s Cd £0 Boxes White Dress Shirts, 3s Gd 100 Dozen Felt Hats, 2s 6d 5,000 Yards Nun's Veiling at la 10,000 Yards All-wool Flannel at Is 500 Fairs Super Blankets, All Wool, 13s 6d.



The Publo must not overlook the advantage In selecting from an Entirely New Stock, and the {act that we offer none but Reliable Goods. J« CoSGRAVB & Co. 'BsKfflfuPTSTocK!^ BANKRUPT STOCK! AND A LARGE LOT OF JOB LINES, TO BE CLEARED AT REMARKABLY LOW PRICES, AT W. R__KggKg| Dr<6a(ta<6d ß in Breit variety-12jtdsfor2am- & Balance Summer Stock of Prints, 2|d. 3Jd, 4Jd, Strong Cotton Shirtings, 3Jd. 4jd, Wd White and Grey Calico at wholesale price t°»^?!? S eat?1lP 1188' hal'-PriSe. g 9 m 18 6d Ladies Underclothing much under usual nrice StrZna» Byd TWeed' fOT *** *&* Kteffl&7 frllinSßM iitatS nfc' liS eed Trou»e" and Vesta, 7b -ixUf iUo oQp 1m utt Boys' Serge Sailor Suite, 4s lid Large Stock of Men's Tweed Suits, 15s 6d, 18s Men'sTweadflats, la, Isßd Xg a iyfd tei'c! etKeHate- iß6d " Linoleum and Floorcloths considerably less than regnlar prices. . LOT OF REMNANTS AND JOB LINER EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD VALUE. WILLLIAM R, BRIDGMAN, WTHERIC SHALL 1 FUHNIBH MY HOUSE FROM f THE CHEAPEST ALL ROUND HOUSE TO FURNISH FROM IS THE CITY HAL ARCADE— GAELICK & CRANWELL ! ! IRON BEDSTEADS, bo to BEDDIN§^ CK&OBANWEti- CARPETf^, CK&CRAfiwBIi- GABLICE & CRANWELL. OARLICK & CRANWELL. GARLICK&CRAN^IT 1' 11"1"' < 6ARLICK tc CRA2IWmSU, olßUaen' X Manufacturera OF ALIi KINDS Olf FURNITURE, jHKAPTAPESTHT&BBDSaBLOAKPItTB. Jbeap Oilcloths & Linoledm. £KAP & BXAUmrai, CBBTONOTia. *hbap Blankets & Curtains. GARLJCK & CRANWELL, HOUSE FURNISHERS Cmr Hall Aroabb. QUEEN-SntlOtT, AUCKLAND FORT-STREET, AUCKLAND. g'DTCHEB AND CO., - STEVEDORES, RECEIVING AND FORWARDING AGENTS, ARE PREPARED TO TAKE fAggK OR SMALL CONTRACTS. LARGE OR SMALL CONTRACTS. ENGINES FOR HIRE, ' WOOL DUMPED JOB tarUKKT.



8. Coombes's Advertisement. OUR T) REMI SE S UR JTREMISBJ (CANADA BUILDINGS) Wlhh BE Cl os b rv LOB E U TO ENABLE US TO i [ PREPARH THE SALVAGE STOCK FOR SALE, COUUENCINO ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12. JAMUEL QOOMBEB & po., QUHEN-STREET, i