AUCKLAND MONTHLY SHARE LIST.

FEBRUARY ?, ISSJ. v n nf r>*\,\ nn Atnd'ant PsM-ftp lLast Div'd TAtPst aSini, Int. 'Companies. mZ'°Z re'?;„? per per % per v M»*S:At I at Shares. Capital, gj^ Sl ; al . e _ Annum, flotations. C'nt. Rate. |_ ! .. ! Banks- I"" £ & fi P. :d. & £s.d. j & New Zealand ..'IOO 000 ' 1,000,000 30 ! s*i 0 0 15 22 10 0 i 0 7-!<? National .. .. ■ 800 000 3,10,000 If. 311 0 8 38 0 A) Colonial .. .. 100,000 JOO.OOO J 20 0 1 7 28 1. B£ I.YSrHAN'CE— .New ZeaU>n<\ .. 100,000 ! SjO.OOO 10 2 0 0 1* S I'/ 6 j National .. .. 200^00 100,000 10 0100 JS« j3C '■ & South British .. ifO.OOO 112,500 20 2 0 0 10 2lg '0 ■ V 1-10 Standard .. .. 100,000 75,000 10 81;3 p. -A 01? 3 1 S5 Union.. .. 100,000 100,000 20 1 0 6 Id I I 1 li 8 3-10 Colonial .. .. 100,000 50,000 !« 010 0 V' 08 (i ! 11l , Accident .. .. 100,000 2.000 110 So -J 070 I 7 "JN.z]ri.&Morcanlllc 120.000 3J4.5J5 2S I*lo 0 13 512 G I !■> National Blortgage. 100,000 70,000 X 100 10 188! f 2-10 q \^ L Auckland Gaa - IS.OOO j ,6S.OJ? S 5 0 0 | 1J I 813 0 | * Thames Gas.. .. 10,000 ! JR.Suj 21 IISOj6 .IS 6 ] •':. IJnionS.nndD. .. lO.m i 130,000' 5 100/&60/! i£ : '' Pij ! S .\i:r.kiand Timber.! S!,'ot)O 80,000: 5 ! « 0 1 »? j 02 G ! 12 S:«\v Zealand ..' 115.000 55,000: ,5 |,6 T Irt 550 \l3 Mora'ry By Timber, 100.0U0 | Si.'.m , 1- 1 t*s fl ; 10 0 12 G 10 7-10 Helensvilin Timber1 l; 0.p0 ! T. 529 I ■* ■; 5 0 0 j 10 par — S":fi!on susim Ship.. sn.ono ■*»s#; SO 10 00 i n 13 n 0 ? X /...Shippim; 25 000 l-SSftXl !10 S 0 I) 10 I 7 li !« *J-iO l)ci-oiport Kerry 10.WO 10,000 ! 1 10 0 10 OIH » . 111-10 CoromindclStean t"» Mlli 1 10 0 J3 I 0.1 0 SO Northern Stw.iH ..150,000; 50,000; 1 0100 .j !•) : 08 0 I 11} C°fe lßtoft9Coa!: iI^SS: wrm\ " '8«8| 5j lin I iTw« 310 W rZoMand Dri-K. 100,000 ■ -77,059^ 2 10/ X 20/ jlO '}»» ! S Arch HIU Brick and, I . . ■ „, _ ■ ._ ALckhmd Fibre :": 25,'W i lSl»; 1 I 0 « -|1 o'o Northern Boot an.l , ,_, ,j G j 10 | „,„ 0 gj •X V. l'aml Mortglg.'.1 20a000 IQo!oQoj^^ Il■ 10 0 1 : 015 0 _.

COMMERCIAL.

ATJCKIAN& J?SiODDCE MAKfc iT.

Pakm aito Dairy Pkoduck. — Wholesale: Butter, ftCSVI, Is; Butter, salt. Sd to lOcl; Cljcose, good hkaU M toad; Canterbury, do,, a& ; Kf«3, rer tloz., Is Gd ; Lard, per bladder, 7d loi'A; Moon and Hams, Provincial, 6dtoM;Eam|, 8d to Ud: Canterbury Ifain &*.<} Kteon 9d, In cloth; Hams only, Ud; Jams, Yiei"o«se, adoz., £1 17s lid to £1 18S ad; Honey m Milk, Id per lb. Ketail: Butter, fresh Is Sd ; Salt do., lOd to la; Chcc3c, colonial, 8d to IM.■; Ek«s, per doz., 13Ud; Lard, per lb, 8(1 to 9ri 5 Bacon, per lb, lOd to Is; Hams, do.. Is to 1* Id.

Flour Market. — Wholesale — Briperflne flour Bilk•'.rcsscd,per ton, 81-lOs; do.do, house hold, £1110s; hundreds. s*: lit ties, 10 per ton cxl w, oacksand bags free: .Southerndo,£lluslo fill los; bran, por ton, sacks included, local, «;5 10s; d<N £5; sharps, £5; Cabin bread, do, £18; oatmeal, do, £13; iiini»c, lis (id to 3s 9d; oiita 2s fid to 23 9d; poi .'•.lues, £3 10s por ton; pciu-1 barley, do., £23 to £'21; bread, por2lb lo:if, Sid.

Kauri GuW, Flax, &c—Tho markot con ticues iitHi»* NVe quote:—Ordinary, £10; fairto good orjiftary, fl2 to £11 ; East Coast, *•«: produro for March, to date, JDO tons; flß.x per ■ton, £18 to £21; tow, do., £7 to £!)•; ftf.nguS per Ib, S'Jd to 3d; cocoanut fibre, per xnvt, 5a to 178 ; beeswax, 9d to lOd Ib.

Coal and FirewoodM.'r.'iiET.—Coal: Ncw .castlo (ship's sido), 283 to 30s per ton; yard, 32s to 3os; l?iy of Islands, at yftri**, 26s 6d; screened, 30a 6d ; ditto at the ni'ru, 13s fid; ship's sid<>, 2lis; Waikato, Ri W 12s: in Auckland, 15s to 225; Kamp, 12s per ton at loading ground; Taupii'j c.t mine,Bs6d to 12s; at yard, 18s Gd to 225: Whangarei, at mine, 9s 6d; yo.Td (steam), 1-Jff; household, 21s; delivered, 235. ITirewoodc Uncut at wharf (cargo), 9s to 10s per ton< delivered. Us; cut, 17a to 18s.

BotloiKG Materials.—Timber: Boards and scantling, 100 ft, best, Us; second-class, gs; fecal, planed, tongucd, and groovod, flrstclaS3, IG3; raedium, 12s; second ditto, 10s fld. Mills: Cargo,best,lls; second-class.ss M; baulk, 83 Cd. New Zealand palings, oft (ffap), 10s; sft fh«^l"O. I3s; 6ft. Us; ti-trcerails, £3 10s per 100; puriri Eosta. £6 10s to £7 10s; shingles. 155 per 1,000; [obart palings, slt, 20s ; 6ft, 2fcp; Hobart rails, 90s, selling quotations. Iln'cks (o,t Avondalel, 10s por 1,000; town yards,3os to 555; delivered.iios to GO3. Drain pipes (?.t worko), per 100 (G inches boro), 10s; 1 inch<"a, Us; :! inches,9s; 2 inches, £3 103 per 1,000; socket glazed pipes, 1!) inches; Zs6d por foot; 15 inches, 2s pw loot; 'I' 2 jiichos. Is ft! per foot ; 9 inches, is per foot; 6 indicts 6d per foot: I inches, Id per foot.

Manures.—Bonedust, Sydney, £710- to £8 10s,! Recording to quality; lionellonr, £3 10s; Auckland ■ £7 to £8 10s: Peruvian guano, £18; MSleWh. Island, £8; Huon guano, small lots>> £* 10 £(i, bags included; llurst'B chcßiioal Wiuuro, £U 103.

SHIPPING.

SHIPPING SUMMARY.

Tiik following refers only to British and foreign arrivals and departures at this port for the moutJi ending March 28:—

ARRIVALS.

March 3—Abiol Abbot*, schooner, from Now York via Duncdiii. March ID-Oily of Sydney, P.M.n.s ■, Doatborn, from San Francisco. March 11-Gleaner, schoon«S v rquhart, from Fiji- March 11—1'iinsom. brigantiue, Harris, from South Sea Island*. Murch 18—St'Vcrcign, schooner, Uusholl, from Marshall Group. March 13-Norlhumbevland, ship, Todd, fronv London. March 19—Oamaru, brigantinc.Uichards.from Suva. March 21—Kcnilworth, schooner, Cnrtchcon, from Rarotonga. March 21 — Tsuknba, Japanese corvotte, Cnptain Ariji, from Japan. :\larch '2S — Pencrxiin, S.S.. Crornarty, from riii March 28-Lady Mabel, brigantine, Corbelt, from New York. March 2C — Explorer, s.s,, Ciawlcy, from Sydney Island.

DEPARTURES.

March 1-Zca\andia, P.M.s.s., Webbor, for ' March n<iI|3viagellan Cloud, brigantine, for ' March 11—Fairy Queen, schooner, Sloane, for Maroh'lO—Lark, H.M., schooner, Lieutenant °March fflilsp'eigle, H.M.s., Captain Bridges, March 23-Charlcs L. Pearson, schooner. Chase, for New York. ■ . . March 23.—Aurora, xhoonor, He.under, for March 25—Oamaru, brigantine, Richards, for March as-Bronhilda, ship, Johnson, for Lon don, via Lyttclton.

LOADING.

loch Brcdan, barque, for London.

ARRIVAL OF THE ZEALANDIA.

The 11.M.5. Zealandia arrived from Sydney at 11.30 p.m. on March 3, and berthed outside of the Kuapehn. Captain Webber reports :—Dis charged Sydney pilot at 4.10 on Thursday, the 3.Bth February, sighted Capo Maria Van Biemen's light at 3.50 on Monday, March J, received' Auckland pilot at 10.2» p.m., and aSdat 11.30 p.m. During the Passage ex perienced light easterly and north-castor y winds and fine weather. Passengers for Auek lVmrl--Saloon • Mr D. Manson, Mr and Mrs McMUuS Zrse. and child. Mr W. 0. Goddari, MrC A itoley, Mr and MrsKverard and child, Mr and Mrs J. J- Lees. Mr Mumbard, Mr C. M. Ken worthy, Mr and Miss Evcrard, and 2 in the steemge. The Z«alandiahad also saloon and 4 ateerago passongers for Honolulu, and ou Batomfand s fstee™|c for San Francisco booked thrnnirh from Sydney. She left AUCKiana at 4 nm on March 1 for San Francisco and HonomlS The foUowing passengers were booked from Auckland Mrandta M A Nicholas, Messrs Suttor, H. J. iluxtiiDie, Thomas S Breosh, W. Madcfsen and wif o, :C C ami Armifage. Thomas F. Southern, S. Fore man'and wife, il. Thompson and wife, John London J.Kobson. Captain Brotherton, Capt. Kennedy de Protenski, Miss Eliza Judd, Mrs Nicholas and maid, and 22 steerage.

ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF SYDNEY.

The 5.3. City of Sydney arrived at midnight of March 9. Sho discharged San Francisco pilot February 18th, 3.J0 a.m.; received _ Honolulu pilot February 25th, U. 15 a.m.; discharged eeiverAuSnd^pilTMS'iO^ f.| kg Four cabin, 10 steerage passengers, and 60 tons freight for Auckland; 28 cabin, 88 steerage pas sengers, and 678 tons of freight for Sydney. On March 6th, at i p.m., exchanged signals with , zealandia, bound north. Had light head winds and pleasant weather the entire passage. Passengers; (for Auckland) :-Cabin: Mr and Mrs LUtfo A Duncan. G. 11. Pentland Steerage: Tas Wilson, It. W. Douglas, John Elliot, Jno. FHh wife and child. J. Burrows, wife and two rfldren The City of Sydney resumed her cliiwicn. i"i- j 2 on jytarojj jo. J2 J™. M Vand Bta Mirks, Captain Shuld-

THE -NORTHUMBERLAND.

runnel Channel pilot was landed next moX? off Brixham, and a departure taken mouimj, i>;i t (he game day- -ihe ivOl\ »rIT winds carried us well across the Bay Uf°B sfay and wore succeeded by light variable winrta until Jan. 4. when the tf.E..trades were Winds unui ja . N Thego winas proved fidK and ailed us in Lat 3° N. After■three "Slit. »™™}£ we sot theS K. tradesm-Lat. 1° us on Jan. 21 in U thAtlantic and Indian passage acrosstho bourn Uelß Oceans was maaeue weather. The Fnmi?or wi passed on Jan. 12. in Long. 28" W.: Equator ™J™f~j cll 6th ; meridian of !i ICrl, dL?u4f S 2Bth; meridian ot South rtwo Taanmnia March!. After pass tag Tas ill! mmmmm

MraDbbib, Jiw. Cross, Robert C.tlftrnttbld, S. J. Cox. Mlw 0, X James, Gtt. Mitchell, Mal colm jrilnl • i julyrc. Jessie Mc liitjTo. ltUlh MelSjK, Oaptain Howard Korr, Ml» M. KS», Stfiiba Ivcrr. JiiliaJCerr, Catherine A. Koj*, Annie Kerr, John Kerr, Mrs A. S. ft'err., Miss A. Eichuniaeker, Frank Turquunts, Miss Hodgson, Mrs Duncan, W. R. Thompson, I Richard Thompson, M. S. Can-, F. N. Holyroyd, N. L. Radford, Ralph Locke, Fred. Richer, Gilbort Daunt, Gco. P. Powell, Thos. Hull. Chaa. MaiKlol, Jas. Lever, Mrs Lever and children, Kd.ward Barry. Isaac Robinson, R. J. Ashley, Stanley Kussell, l>r Walter Berry. Second Cabin :-Wni, Mitchell, Mrs Mitchell, Margaret Mitchell, Mrs Mary Mitchell, Agnes Mitchell, r"?.',iny K. Lake, Charles tien shnw. tiOrbort Ucnshaw, Ellen Renshaw, i\ i if. Booth Rcnshaw, Kmma Kenshaw, F. Ken iiviw, Florrie Ronshaw, Charles Kenshaw, William Kemptley, Eliza Kemptlev, Arthur Kcmptlcy. Amy Koinptlcy, AHco Kemptley, John Mco, S. H. Coins, S. H. Fuller, John Conn- land, Sarah Coupland, Annie Couvtlantl, Richard Coupland, Sarah Couplaud, James Coupland, Eliza Ooupland, Ann Moni?ston, Maud Mong ston, Eliaa Fletcher, Fanny Fletcher, J. CHar nu\n, Kate J. Paley, Thomas Townsend, William Heap, Charles Barsholew, C. H. Gaacoigno, Thomas A. Deane, Jane Dcano, Stanley Fosset, W. Holt, David Garrick, Mra (Jrtfcn, M. Baubroy, W. It. Ne!ld v Louisa Neild, Jessie Robortaon, MiohDCl k'osenuerg, Fred Rosenberg, Donv T>. Cumberland. Adela G. Cumberland. Slecrago: Turnwell Turner, Miriam* Turner, Mary Turner, Alice Turner, LaVuVu Turner, Richard Driver, Jane Driver, Florence Driver, Edith Driver, Henry Drivw, Richard Cocks Earle, Charlos R. Cooks Earle, Jolm Insoll, Solomon Dover, Julian Dorer, Horaco Dorer, John Dorer, Robert Frpn'cn, Mrs French, Charles Wv fiyW,. M-its Eyi-o. F. W. Kelßey, Rfegah . K'elsUy, Eliza Kelsey. Fanny Kclaey, John Farttswovth, Mary Farnsworth, John 6. SVirtt, W. E. Gadcs, Joseph Bramble,BftST>>. Bramble, Floraßramblc, John Briunblo, -.Tbsxjph Bramble, Win. Bramble, Edward Br&rttblb and infant, Mrs Wost, Jolin Kcls'ojvWm. Jarvis, Sarah A. Skinner, John C. GrttMi, Louisa Grubb, Emily Grubb. W. Grubb, Susannah Grubb, John C. Grubb. Matilda Grubb, Fred. Grubb, Fred. T. Grubb, Thos. T. Grubb, W.W.Jones, Alfred Crowe, Robt. Kussiill, Ann Russell, Robt. F. Russell, Mary Russell, John Russell, John Russell. Ernest Russcll.Thos. Rus sell. Sylvester Russell, Anne llussoll, Marfearct Russell, Klim Goodlantl, Aunt's .Angus. ;a\,a Angus, B. Porter, Mia Porter. jVin. I';'".1,;-, Susan Bardur, Minnie Bai-der. \V, '5. Harder, Florence Harder, Jolm French', WAV, or C. Kisby. R. B. Olbeck, Jnf. ArMiSrtr. V. alter J. Naylor, JoVinJJitfe.- ■ v The '_Mmpdmar\md brin^ for this port ti>? Government immigrants, Tho l?Jfc ot named as kindly furnWitjd "3 l)y Mr 0. Ways, local Immigration Officer, 13 asfollowa :—FamiMKS—Joseph and Blanche Ambury, Blanche and Pamella Ambury : AVallis and Charity Ambury : Matthew anil Anna Arbucklc ; Sam, Anita, AndlW, And Margaret Arbuoklo; Ralph andSiiVe.h Anh Armstrong, Mary S. ArlnStVr>hg; John im'cl Kuth Aapinalij WUlto. Mary E., fcid Alphonso AeJy.hnll; ..Joseph .H. anil Elizabeth Asp'inall; Edith, cmd William Anplnall; Thomas bs& Lilly Crowthcr ; Frederick and EllnAboth Farley ; Anthony and. JJjw^iiii Fisher, Amy Fisher ; FrrfcVick and Martha Coltley i John and Ann Hull; John Hall ; James and Elizabeth llarloy, Louisa, Alfred, Bessy, Walter, Mary, ' Albert, and Thorium 11. Harloy ; Arthur and Eleanor Jtollowny | Alfred and Wary Hoxford j Lilian and Albert Ilexford ; Kobert <!. nnd Amelia Johnson; Alexander 'Ahd fella John son ; William and Mary E. Keymer ; Eliza, William J., and Loui«e Kcymer; Martha and Ann Moon ; Emma, Martha It., Charles, Emily, and Charlotte Moon; William and Margaret Perry: Oeorgo, Ellen, Frances, Emily A., and Rebecca Perry ! John and Susannah Postlcr ; Harry Pojtlcr ; Edmund and Helen Price ; Daisy I'rico ; James and Sarah Trice ; William It. and Sophia Robinson ; Charles E. and Ada I. Sandford ; Lottie and Charles Sandford ; Henry and Annie Sheffield; Harry C. Sheffield ; Edward and Emily Siggiers; Maud, Annie, Harriet, and Bertha Siggiers; Kobert and Rose Smith; William and Mary Smith; Mary, Amy, and John Smith; Isaac and Eliza Thomas; Fredoriek and Mary Truss; Mary and Fanny Truss; Thomas and Grace Truscott; Thomas and Mary Wallbank; Mary, Dinah, Edwin, and Walter Wallbank; David and Mary Wilson ; Margaret; Maria, and George Wilson ; Charles A. and Eliza Woodhouse; Percy and Florenco Wood house. Single Mjsk—Ernest Aspinall, George T. Crowther, George Moar, Patrick Power, William Truscott. Single Wombs— Ada and Agnes Angus, Agnes and Jossio Arbucklo, Annie and Lillie Aspinall, Agnes M. and Evelyn T. Bain, Agnes Carroll, Dora R. and Adela G. Cumberland, Emma Evans, Alice Farms worth, Emily and Susannah Grubb, Eliza Hawkins, Matilda Hearny, Ellen Hcuseldcn, Sarah E. Holloway, Harriet, Elizabeth, and Fanny Kelsey, Edith T. Moon, Mary Smith, Sophia West, Mary Wilson, Elizabeth Woodland. Summary—Married, 33 malo, 33 female; single, 5 male, 26 female; children, 17 male, 34 female ; in fants, 11. Total, 155 souls, 122.J statute adulte. During tho passage of tho ship Northum berland from London to this port, six deaths occurred, viz., Mr C. H. Gascoigno and Mr John Coupland, second-class pas sengers, of consumption; Honry Wylio, able seaman, of chronic bronchitis and emphysema of tho lungs ; Pamela Ambury, aged 3 years, of disease of the thigh bono and exhaustion; John Dorer, aged C months, of diarrhoea; and Eliza Kelsey, aged 4 months, of inflammation of the lungs. Two births have also to be recorded; ' viz" Mrs Keymer and Mrs Pryce, both of daughters. ■:

THE TSUKUBA.

Tho Javanese corvette which arrived late on March 21st. proved' to be the Tsukuba, which visittd this port, before about eighteen months ago.- She conies direct, from Japun, which was loft on February 3, and vcrvuno weather prevailed durinir th<: pnsmgo. Shortly after rounding the North Head the Tsukuba saluted the port with 21 gu. s, the British ensign being hoisted during the firing. H .M.S. Eapiegle.which was at the time outward bound, dispatched a boat to tho Tsukuba to convoy tho compliments of Capiain Bridges to Captain Arm and upon its return continuod hervoyago. The Tsuknba ia a ship-rigged corvette o£ over 1 800 tons measurement, and was built on the Malay Peninsula in 1857 by British workmen. The hull is teak, and of great strength, and has embrasures (or 10 guns. It is ?5I feet in length, with a boam of 38 foot, and has a full appearance aft The engines and all the mechanical ap pliances on board are of English manufacture, but the former aro of only moderate power, and do not drive tho vessel at more than eight or nine knots. The armament of tho Tsukuba consists of ten guns, four o£ which are 61-poundor converted Krupp. Tho remaining six are brass 3'-pounders. and are of native manufacture. Besides these, there are smaller Armstrong trans for hoat service. In addition to this hoavy ordinance, thore are arms of precision and side arms, and all the small arms which form part of the equipment of a British man -of - war. Tho Snider rifles appoar to be the favourite weapons in this respect. Tho Tsukuba has a complement of 270 soamen and the following officers :-Captain S. Arm; commander, A. Arai; gunnery-lieutenant, S. Arima; first lieutenant, N. Uyeinura; ficnten ants-N. lida. Y. Matsumura, H. Takasugi, S. Nagai, S. Mukoyama. T. Nakayama; chief paymaster, C. Kawakami; assistant paymaster, N. Kataokn; doctor, C. Aoki: assistant docor. Kokisawa; engineer, T. Yoshida ■ assistnnt engineer, R Bakenchi:,BUb lieiuenants-T. Uwnsaki, M. Ota, S. Tjichi, H. Sakamoto Y. Takahanhi; 0 midshipmen. 25 naval cadets, 5 warrant officers. The Tsukuba Ps expected to remain hero for about a month, ■iftcr which she will leave for Chili, and thence sho will proceed to Honolulu. \ %

Banquet by the Directors on Board the S.S. Ruapehu.

The directors of the New Zealand Shaping Company entertained a large andmHun tial company of gentlemen i^ntfied with the commerce and shipping of the city at dinner on board the s.s. Ruapehu on Tues day mFght, March 4. The main saloon was lit yup with tho electric light, the tables were Sumptuously laid, and tho banquet was served in superb stylo. A choice and ample menu Panted; embracing such delicacies as English game and"dainty titbits of colonial frozen meat, while tho wine carle .^prised brands of select vintages, with plenty of ice manufactured by the apparatus on board. Impey's Engineer Band was stationed at the entrance to the saloon.and discoursed acapital selection of instrumental music throughout the evening. The dlftner was prepared on boardr .

: 1' iS^.'yt'vfey-Aynsley Kjphair'man of Cq.'a yii'octors) occupied the chairs While Dr. r Campbell acted &a croupier. Captain CroiJJhKy, of the Ruapehu, premefca at the next table, with Mr o'. Anderson, of Chriatchurcli. (ouo oC tlie directors) officiatins w croupier-. The ptktjt side tables wit presided ovet.resbe'otiV'eiiy by Mqems John StuAhohtti a^.d A. Lrdcroft WilsonAdirecM-sK. ihd Gibba (Secretary), of the Company. There jvere also prbs'-nt: —Sir F. WMtftka,.. Captfti-i Oldham 'IIt.M.S. Lark), Wr, Woi-ship the Mayor \Nv E, W»d'dei), Mr L. D..Nathan (Chair <l>aii of the Chamber of Commerce), Mr ('. B. Stone (Chairman ■: of tiio .Harbour Board), Mr Griffin (U.S.. Ooneill), Mr T. Hill (Collector oE Customs'), j{on. >i. 'Chamborlairij H<v>, I.V. PoHon; U't.b.C;, Meseffl To.le, Hurst, J)ai^ilvUl)», .^r.dcbck, M's.ii.R., Mp^sl'l.. P.; r;El:iokaluu»k (local i^S?nt f«r Siikvr, Savill and Co.), P. A. /■Tulri'"? \lown Clerk), T. Ilejidorson, jun. v iocal agent for Union Steamship Co.). J. Batger (local Secretary to N.Z. Shipping Co.), G. P. Pierce, B. Iroland, J. Coatea, W. J. Burton, C. R Grlorson, J. Edson, 0. Trarjuair, S\ Larkti'gs ]?*. lieland, D. 11. JMcHenz!'3, > T. Si Thomson (Superintendent Of rciiee), T. Chjng, J. Chambers, H. B. Morton, A. Heather, N. Harder, J. Cs Francis, .1. M. Clark, J. t A.ie\\'Htt; it- N^,u carrow, •"- M. 81-if ham (S^rttirv of Har boui; iiualtil, iv ; n^H-y, 'j. Morrin, C. C. McMi'.iitl*. VV. McMillan (of Sydney), SaUluel Browning, J. Murray, J. Rober ton, 11. Brett. Besides Captain Crutcliley, the following oflicers of. tho niiiii WCl'O present:—MrCrosH, lstolllcoVS Mrßa^te'1) 2nd ofticcr i Dr, Moore, r.'j.rjmjh | Mi- \Vil lianit!, put-ecl1 j n.«d Mr Henderson, chief eruriireoh ii'n At Home was held on board the direct steamer Ruapehu on Wednesday afternoon, March 5, and proved a very pleasant gathering. About nine hundred were present, and notwithstanding the largo number there was ample accommodation for all, so extensive are the arrangements of the steamer so far as room and comfort is concerned, The guests commenced to arrive about three o'clsck, and were cour teously received at the gangway by the captain and his officers.

THE BARQUE LUTTERWORTH.

Tho bnrque Luttcrworlh cleared at the Cus toms on March 27 for London, for which porlst'e takes the following pasncmgel's!—Messrs Arthur Nilling, Whitfold, Oihbardt, J. Cleghorn, Mr niul Mrs "Vivicrc, Mrs Ashley. Tho Luttcr worth's cargo is valued as follows ■— Gum, JlO tons, valued at .. .. £21,938 Tallow. 1(13 casks I,T<" Cobra, 17!) tonß .. .. .. ;•. ftVM Wool, 113 bales, 98 Deckels .. .. 1,053 Cotton, ISilbftloß !-. 2,011 PloK, iSuMea Slfi Hones, 28 bags 20 Basils, I bales 105 Apparel ivi Sundries .» )iW Total valiio ~ .> .. .-. £3),R<fl . The bhSnuf AWia Ml Lyttelton for Hong K*nft tjh Iferch 25. The barque Famenoth arrived at Port Chalmers froni London on March 20. Tho passage occupied — days. Tho ship Waipti arrived at Port Chalmers from London on March 3. Sho left London on November 30. Tho barque Lot:h Ken arrived at Wellington from London on March 7, and on the saiilo day the barnlla Ocoanio arrived ftt Lyttalton from Mauril iuifc . The barqiio BU.liS,>vr'eV>fc"o, Which put in horo m distrVs^i o\\ Founrary 2i, has beon docked and tymV,ora My repaired. Sho will leave for Syd n'ry. Via Kaipani, early. 11.M.5. Espiegle, Captain Brldgos, raturnod here from :i ciuiso wwi .Vow iivauxndm will iXareh, arid itft ugdl» for Sydney nud Lovuka seven days Inter. Tlio Ntnv Zealand Sliipping Co.'s steamer RnrtpGhu left for London via Southern i>orln oil March 12. Owing to a breakdown in hei1 I'D frigorating muchincry, which occurred tMs week, she has boon detained at IjyUelWn fir repairs. 'five Albion, Shaw, Sayill steamer Florida, arrived at lJhucdjin on March 10, after 11 passage of 53 i]Ays lSftours. The actual steaming time \vas 51 fdaVs 10 hours. Sho brought SIS single women. SO single men, 18 married couples, and ,'! families. No sickness, except two slight Uuses of measles and whooping cough, occurrod on the voyage.

The barque Amazon, Captain Nordhach, cleared at tho Cuntoms for Lomiou on Wearies tiny lasl with tho following cargo:—Leather, valued at £79; flax, .€103; wool, £2,103; tallow, £1.7.'57; grass bco'l, f!3oi cobra, fil.080! KUiii) £7SS; preserved input, KI3O. THtul duuiartiu value uf f-ai'KO, iCS.JJIf.

At\ luflUiVy Into tho 'cuiiso of the roficn't wroek of the schooner Kak-tfn at. I'liteS was heard at tho VVungalini Court -ih March 11th, bofot-e Mr H W:ird, lt.M., And I .iplain Priest. Afterlciigthy evidence, th^ir Worships decided that Captain Leslie, eif the Falcon, doscrvod censure for not olioyins the direction nf the pilot, but that no Illume attached to him when the boat had t;one ashoie, an thcro was no means of fastening it to tin- breakwater. Captain Leslie was ordered to pay the cost of Ihe inquiry. S3 U,v. His ccrtill e;ito was loat in tho Fnlcon. but tho Honch decided that a copy might be given to him.

The lonic arrived at Wellington on March It, at 7 o'clock a.m. She left, liondon on January 21t,1i; Plymouth on .January 28th ; and Santa Cru*. Tcnoiiflto. on February .-frd-miikinc tho voyage in 13 days S hours, oxclnMvc of stoppanc Tlio longest day's run was :)3S milec. Sho brought 20 lirst, 39 second, 71 third cabin, and 238 Btccrane 'passengers, besides 2.117 tons of carso. No deaths took plnoo on thel voyage, but one birth took place. Hho experienced a fierce galo. with lieavy fquallsof rain and wind, and a hifih head sea, in the English Channol. Passed Ca^e of Good Hope early on the morn ing of 20th i'obruary. Experienced moderate weather, wit j occasional squalls of wind and rain, from the Cape to Wellington, with fresh breezes and overcast weather.

The Ruapehu is in Lyttelton dock. Queen's Wharf, Wellington, is to be widened.

Dunedin Harbour Board Engineer is pre\ paring plans and estimates of a new dock 500 or 600 feet in length.

The ship Mataura is loading frozen meat at Invercargill. A luncheon was given on board on March 24.

The Premier has promised to placo a sum on the Estimates for the erection of a new Custom House at Wellington.

Port Chalmers bar has shoaled up till there is only a depth of 17ft. 6in. of water at low tide.

Captain Andorson, of the barque Clifton, has beon fined £10 and costs at Dunedin for over-loading his vessel.

Timaru Harbour Board have spent £130,000 on the breakwater and wharf up to the present date. A further sum of f56,49-l is also authorised to be spent on these works out of the late £100,000 loan.

Gisborno Harbour Board, in conjunction with the County Council, mean to apply for borrowing and rating powers with a new to spending £200,000 on harbour works.

, Lieutenant C. F. Oldhani commander of 11. M. schopnor Lark, and his first lioutenant loft for Tiritiri on tho Ist March, in tho ferry steamer Tainui, for tho purpose of taking soundings where the steamship Triumph recently went ashore.

Oil March 13 it was reported to Dunedin Harbour Board that to carry out the erec tion of the necessary wharfage, dredging, etc., at Dunedin, to accommoduto the Union Company's steamers if brought up as pro posed, would cost L 49.478. It was re solved to upend only L 12.800 in the mean time

A serious accident happened nt Port Chalmers on Friday evening, March 21, to tho refrigerating machinery of tho Ruapehu, tho engino breaking down. Mr Coxon, resident agent for Haslam and Co., on in spection, found that the bed-plate of the engino was broken and to ropair the damage in tho colony would detain the ship too long. It has therefore been resolved to postpone it till she gets home.

By arrival of the schooner Kenilwoith from Rarotonga, we learn that the schooner Atlantic, which recently went ashore there under most distressing circumstances, lias been patched up and sent to one of the ad jacent islands. We understand that she has been again purchased by Messrs Donald and Edinborough, and that if she can be made sufficiently sound to stand a sea voyago, she will be brought to this port for thorough ropair..

It is estimated that about 6,000 persons visited the steamship Ruapehu on Sunday, March 2. So great was the crowd on board at times that orders wero given (and carried out) that no more were to be allowed admission until some of those already on the vessel. Every opportunity was afforded visitors to inspect the magnificent steamer, and much admiration was expressed at the splendid arrangements throughout tho immense steamer. Subscriptions amounting to £9 10s 3d were taken up on behalf of a fund for widows and orphans pf seamen employed by the New Zealand Shipping Company.

The N.Z.S. Co.'s steamer lonic at Wellington at 7 a.m. on March 13. She left London on January 24th, Plymouth on January 28th, and Santa Cruz Teneriffe on February 3rd, making the voyage in 43 days 5 hours, exclusive of stoppage. The longest day's run was 338 miles. She has 20 first, 80 second, 74 third cabiu, and 238 steerage passengers, besides 2,147 tons of cargo. No deaths took place on the voyage, but one birth took place. Sho ex perienced a fierce gale with heavy squalls of rain and wind, and a high head sea in the English Channel. Passed Cape of Good Hope early on the morning of 20th February. Experienced moderate weather with occa sional squalls of wind and rain from the Cape to Wellington, with fresh breezea spa "overcast weather. _

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS.

BIRTHS.

BIIIGirAM.—On. IStl' March, al her l'CsideliCei Jlt":t!J.l>BO-i!treet ) ]\ffr, J. Mi Brißlmra o£ R OiAVTOIC.--Oii ili'rch it, ftt iicr motter's rfesidence, Po\ilh-i;rOet, Newton, the wife o£ H.!:.'. Clayton, Esq., Postmaster WaVkW«rtlt, Of a 8011. , :.'..,■ i■-i !■ C 4 MPBF.T'.L.-On i4'.h,ai ncr residence, Ntil'ie'-K'i'ect, tiie mte o£ ltoijert Campbell ot ii daughter. Wellington and. Jlelbournepapers please copy. CHKI6TMAS.—On Jlarcli 21, at her residence, Oxford-street, (.Jrcut North Koad, the wife of F. Cliriblmaa, juur., of a sou. BNTRICAN.-Uu ?.laich 2?, at hni' residence, Wsllesley-Dtroo', 'he Wift) 'j£ A. i). Enlrican of FOssETT.-rtn March Vi\K ftt ■ Miiry-stvcet, Mo'.'.nt Kdßiv. th'o V.ife bl :'. IT. F'-'isi-tt ola Sunday, March 10, 1881, at iJcuuchamp Lodge, Tc Awnmutu, the wife o£ 'I'lioimis Grveshain, Solicitor, of a daughter. HITCUKXS-At lior residence, Brighton House, on tho Uth March, Jlra Kitchens of a dan "*htcr. HAIIT.—On March 7. at Wellington-strott, the wil'jof Mr .!o!'-p!i Hart nf a so". HWJMPIIUKVH.—On Maroh tilth, at her l'CSl d>'nve, JiHtidh Hotel. Queen-street, tlie Wife of Owen HumphvnyF of a (UiUfrlltei1. JOllANHlCN.—On'lliii tilh inst., at Wood-street, Ponsonby, the wife of Lieutenant V, Jolwnaen, K.D.N.iOf a son: JO!-KS.-Cn tl'O. Ull- MofrU, .-A Ldnudrt-stfcet, P-i!-ov.b»-. 'jhe •■if 11 ot 1 ly. Jones of a daiightbr. LP OLliUlt,—On Wednesday, March sth, at lJevonnort, North Shore, Auckland, is.'A., Emily, the wife o£ A. A. Le Sueur, of a (laughter. LYONS.—On the 21th Mn.roh, othor rßsMonce, Day-street, this wife of \V. LyotisOf a tliltiiflHcr, MOOltK—On MitrCh ;i, stt Hai'irri'-vo-slreot, CoUejrc Road. lh« wife df Mt' Unt'd ?t"dro bf il da'.'ghWi-. ... KWSOfr-.—Olt loth histiinf, at St. Paul's Par :'dn;iKe the wife ot Uov. U. M. Nelson of asou. PHILIP.—At her residence, Hamilton Kast, Waikato, on March 3rd, the wife of Mr A. V. Philip of a son. PAIIKKK.—On March 11, at Edinburgh-street, tho wife o£ William Parker of a bou (still- RAN DfiKSON.—On March Bth, at her residence. Mount Albert, tho wife of J. It. ltanderaon or a son. lUSW.—On Monday, 25th February, at her resi dence, College Koart, Mro Kobort KcW of a son. ROKF.—On 18th March, the wife ot George Kon", seaman, Cook-strccl. of a daughter, ROUKRS.—On March 26, Mrs Rosers, drcsß maker, wife of John H. Hogera, Wollesley-st., of a. daughter, iiotli doing well. SMITH.—On the ll.h March, at her residence, Lincoln-street, Ponsonby, the wife of S. J. Smith of a son. SMITH. —Oh '.'lst, March, nt her residence, Um:er Graflon Howl, tho Wife of Tbonius H, Sinkh.of/is'in, TODD.-Oii tho '-'flth rebr'uaiT, at koitiokorau, til. thn residence of her father, the wife of David Todd of a daughter Ipreinaturely). THOHPK—On March 17, at Ncwton-strcut, oft' Newton Koad, the wife of S. Thortto Of A eon. WALl'OlilC—On Mitrvh V>-. r.t Ct-. MitrJ-'M pal' r-on"Ki>, tli'", w!fu o£ HoV. 0. H. S. Walpolo of a .Bl'li. WltillAltT.—On March 21, at her rosidenco, Lorne-strect, tho wife of Ueo. Wishart, junr., of a son.

MARRIAGES.

A'lIluiv JONVMc^K.vr(.«;.--0n tfebrvlarv 28th; at Sl-, I'iu'lV, ( li'W-i ii, bj the Rev. C ill. Nelson, OoP'oH Atkinson to"Sarah McKaig; both of

Auckland. BKOWNIXU— HUCIvIiAND.—On Miuch 10, at St. Mark's Church, Romuora. by tho Vener able Archdeacon Pritt, Robert Browning, of Auckland, solicitor, second son of Samuel Browning. Esq., to Kate, lifth daughter of Alfred Buckland, ICsn., of Auckland. lIOOICKK- DAVIKS. —On March 11, 1881. at St. Sepulchre's Church, Auckland, by tho Yon. Arehucacon Dudley, William Ilookor to Mavnaii<t K. DitVies, only diUightUl' Of Mr KdwofilDavioß.bu.lldcri JAUVIS-HUNT.-On March iRt, by Roy. F. Mitcnii-01, James 'I'lioiilii? JfivVin flat* oJ Name!) to Mafgiiri:! :|t"t« Hunt, oi Aitckliinu. ~- *'iu!'i.'l' iti'.p'ji's plcas'o copy. kfttGH'l'—OWEN.-On March 13th, at the residenco of the brido'.s falliei-,.by the Roy. TliuniKS Spurgeon, oaawlod by the Row Charles Cartel-, Alfred Oabornc Knight. MllC? Knglaml, L.S.'\., Ijondon, to Annab.'ll Owen, eldest daughter of U. W. Owin, E*ii., nieri'li.'iiit, of Auckland. NORTH—FORD.--On February L'B, at the Regis try OIIU'C, Whangiirci, George ltlclmrdson, i,1.';...1 /■ )i »f .liiim'B North. Wuiarlk) Park, to Annie I'urd. mo y0u,.,; ■■■) .I'limhtev uf .lohn Fi>r<l, anigliilun, l'!irshl!-e, Hligl.in..' , PtlT'l'Kll WHsHINSi O'\ |.l«l lUh Marcli,■«: llnrgiivillc. U>- '!'•! Ilcv. J. Hitchcock, John P.n'o'i'iin l:otler to Lily Livinia Wiggins, mm\ .daughter or ilnU Wißgins, forniorly huiJOLiPH-MoMANUS.—On March 22nd, at iiin ltcglstvy OlHce, William Rudolph to Katharine McMauuu. Both of this city. STKWAHT- M <V NDLEY.-()n March 12, at Parnell I)'.. '- 'Ignor Vynes, John Fleming Stewart, of «. '-inri. to Ellen Bridget, third daughter of M. i . landley. of Onehunga. TKMI'LKR—CONNISLL.—Ou March 17, at St. Souulchros Clmreli. by tbe Yon. Archdeacon Dudley, Frank It. Toinplcr to Cherlo.youngest daughter of tlio litle William Connell. TYLKIt-.HALL.~-On March 11, by thu Rev. A, Reid at bride's mother's residolico, Louisa Kniil.v Hall to Ambrose RuMlo Tyler, both of London.

DEATHS.

ALLEN'.—On March 11th, ISSI, rtt her lato resi donco, Mrs A. Alien, laic of Christchurch.— Christcliurcli i>;ipors please cony. Al/I-KN.—On March 13th, Robert Lawrenco Allen (lato of tho Armed Constabulary); aged

HRUTIUVAITK.—On March lOtli.atGisborno, A. S. Hraitliwttito, Ksq.. UKO(l 83 years, leaving' ii large number of relations and friends, being a colonist or moro than 30 years. BAKKR.—AI Oncliuiiga, on March 11, Alfred, infu.nl son of Josiun and Bridget Maker; used 8 months. HAIUD.-.U tlic residence of Mr A. Scolt, Roscbunk farm, Ranuirania.on the latMaroh, George liaird; aged 2(3. Into o£ llaiuilton, BKITH.—On March 21. at his mot tier's residence, Frunklin lloacl. William Botlh. ironmaiildiT. eldest son of tho late Jamus Dykes "«;')>■ engineer; aged 2ti years.—Dunedin and Glas- Sow paper* plfcaso'copy. HUKKN.— Drownod in tho Auckland harbour on the 'JStli March, LSSI, William Uroen, fourth son of Micliuul and Mary Jano iircuu. —Liverpool papers please copy. CATO.—On March 21, ut liisjmrents' residence, Ponsonby Hoad. Francis Robert, infant son of Cliarlcs and' Annie M. C. Cato; aged 3 months nnd 17 days, COOK.—On March 18, at Ma. late residence, Franklin Koad, James Cook, bootmaker; a»dd «1 years. CIIITUAM.—On March 17, at his roßidenco, Nelson Avenue (off Nelaon-strcct), Charles Lewis Chilham; aged 35 years. COUPLAND.—On March 11,18S1, on board tho Northumberland, John Coupland, brother of J. and T. Coupland, of Auckland. — Homo minor* please copy. EDWARDS.-On March 27, 1881, at the Old People's llcfugc, Auckland, Mary Ann Kd wards, tho mother of William K. Edwards, of Molhourno, formerly of Auckland.—Mel bourne impors pleaso copy. FIELD.—On March Silthjat her late resldoncc, Richmond Road, Agnea, tho beloved wife or Henry Field : aged 31 years. FOX.—On March 26, at tho rosidonco of her brother-in-law, C. Maxwell, 5, Pitt Torraoo, Pitt-street, MrsC. Fox.—Oxford papers pleaso HUGHES.—On tho 21th March, 1881, William Hughes; agodGlyears. lIANNAFORD.—On March 10, at 208, Qucon -Btreot, James Thomas Browne, son of T. B. and Annie Hannaford; aged 5 months and 26 h'aNSEN.—On • March Oth,-1881, A. Chatrina Hanson, aged GO years. HARRIS.—On March 20, 1881, George Harry Harris, aged 13 years, second son of Thomas and Elizabeth Harris. HEIGHWAY.-On March 23rd, at her late rcsl denco, Kden Terrace, Mary Ann, tho beloved wife of F. H. Heigh way, formerly of Madeley, Shropshire, England; aged 62 years.—Shrop shire papers pleaso copy. JOHNSTON.—On March 4th, at Otahuhn, Eliza Juno, daughter of Joseph and Jane Johnston; aged 8 months. JONDRON.—On tho 6th March, 1881, it tho Provincial Hospital, Auckland, Benjamin Jondron, native of France; aged 30 years. LOWNDKS.I—On1 —On March6th, 18SJ, at his parents' 'residence Kybor Pass, Newmarket, Norman Sydney Georgo, infant son of Joseph and Eliza Lownucs; aged 7i months. For of such is tho Kingdom of HeavenJ MILLIGAN.—On March 2nd, at his residenco, Melrose, Dovonport. Allan Milligan; agod 27. 3VIAIION.—On March 7th, at his residence, Conquest Place, Jiunos Mahon; aged 35 years, lato of. the oSth Ko(?imcnt. M KTCAIA'JS. —On March 7, at Abercrombio- Ktreot, Percy Williiun Huuton, the only and beloved child of Win. and Maude MctcuUo: aged five months and two weeks. " For of mich is tho kingdom nf Heaven." ' MULUOLLAND.-On March 31, nt Upper Pitt struct, James Mulhollund, o£ the Stamp Office (■uuldenly), in his Slid year. MITCHKLb.—At Mount Albert, on Wednesday afternoon, March 'JOth, William Herbert, younger twin eon of William L. and Mary Ann Mitchell; aged 3 years. PICTON At her mother's residence, Albert- Btreet, Mary Ann, infant daughter of John Picton ; aged 3 months. PEACE.—On March 16, at her .father's rosi-. donee. Mount Eden Itoad, Mary, infant ■ dauirhtcr of Mr A. G. Peace RHODES.—On March Stli, 18S1, at Newmarket, John H. M. Rhodes; aged 31) years, lato of 1 laden, Yorkshire. SHKEHAN.—On March 8, at Lower Hepburn, street, Ernest, youngest son of Mary and T. Sheehan; aged li! months. SKELTON.—On 10th March, at her parents' residence, Rcnnall-Mtrect. Ponsonby, Ada Margaret, the youngest and beloved daughter of Edward and Margaret Skclton; aged 8 WHITELAW. — On 17th March, at Customs street West. Maude.twin daughter of William and Mary Whitclaw: aged live weeks. WHITCOMUK.—On March 10, at, his parents' residence., Niprol Aubrey, youngest son of Francis and Adelaide U'liilcoinbo; aged 9 months. WHITELOW.—On March J2. at her parents' residonce, diatoms-street West. Mary Ann Whilolow, twin diuightor of William and alary Whitelow. .

Typhoid fever continues its fatal ravages among Northern natives. The " Northern Advocate," of March Bth, says: — Mary Ann Taurau, daughter of the chiof of that name, succumbed to typhoid fever at Maunu on Monday last, making the third victim that has died at that settlement lately of the same disease. There are others down with it, but they: are said to be convalescent. Uniike the: Hokianga natives, those at Maunu hay had medical attendance, Dr. Edgelow having had the case in hand for some time past, yet the Maoris die. That isevidonce, if any were wanting, that the epidemic pre valent amongst the natives is of a sovore type, and it appears to us rather strange that the County Council, which body is by law the Board of Health, has taken no steps to ascertainthecauseswhichbroughtaboutthis epidemic, or whether those causes havo been abated, or whether there is danger of the disease spreading to the European popula tion. Some steps ought to be taken so that Government could adopt measures to pre vent the periodical recurrence of this disease amongst the natives, it being generally admitted that the.oases are pre ventible. .-,

MISCELLANEOUS.

Par;*ei.-l ia to have a Fire Brigade. Wellington Celefltiftla contribute £39 17e to tils Hospital. An earthquake shock at Wanganui on March il;

ill births and 35 deaths in Auckland during February.

There are 209 telephone subscribers in Auckland.

New Government printing office to bo built at Welitttßtosii

. Coloured Royalty is looking lip • the K.infi; Of Sdmoi bfts ordered two buggies;,

Two earthquake shocks were felt at Wel lington on Wednesday last. March 19. A coal deposit has been discovered at Awaroa.

The tramways are to bo extended to One hunga.

Bishop Neville has abandoned the idea of founding a Cathedral ftt Dunedin! The Empire Hotel, Tiyttelton, changed hands on Mafßh So far £10;000. Aiicklaild Islttritig tire to b8 ggardhßd fo.i' survivors of the lost bartJUß Loch Fyiie. 37 cases of Auckland cheese were shipped for England on March 27. A branch of the New Zealand Seamen's Union is to be fofttted irt Wellington; itutiedin publican's drd feßrgitnisihg, arid intend to petition tfarliatiient for the repeal Of the tire.?ent licensing la,w. . . . The Hon. Mi- OhdiHlJerialn BA Mr Chambers have secured a license to prospect 60 acres of land at Raglan for coal.

A sacred concert by the Opera Company, at Dunedin, in aid of the fund of the Bene volent Institution, realised £100,

The presiding magistrate at Otahuhu Police Court has to sit on a box, whilo tho olerk stands.

There woro ll?4 dogs registered In Auck land last year t up to data only 7&5 are registered for ISB4i A female salmon weighing 10|lbs is said to llavo been ctttiftht in the Alidurn River, Westland, the othor day. Vital statistics of Auckland district for last month show 168 births, 7S deaths, and 49 marriages. A New Zealand Highlander's translation of Ossian's pool'is is likely to bo published soon in London* This year tho valuation of Hamilton, WftikdtO, is £10,513, as against £10,153 last j'tiai\ Atl vancty WalhflW. In consequence' Of ill-health, Mr W. H. Levin, M.H.R., has resigned his seat for Tliorndon, Wellington. Dunedin City Council havo resolved to undertake tho control ol the Botanical Gtttitenfc '(■•■ • : Walter Gibson, lessoe of shoop runs in Canterbury, has been fined 4d a head on 40,000 sheep infected with scab. A woman named lloyso has boon fined £2 at Dunedin for taking flowers from a comotery. Nearly a fourth of tho manufacturing labour of tho colony is employed in saw mills and wood factories.

Taking tho last five years, our imports from Great Britain havo only exceeded tho exports by about 6 pet Cflttt. Thoro arc 17 Foresters' Courts with 2,306 tiieilibcrs iii Otiigb district, and tho total value of their funds is £16,681 14s Ud.

The spread of civilisation is remarkable. A Maori has got two monthB1 imprisonment at Wellington for wife-beating. An impostor culling himself " Dr. Tuko, of London," lias just got three months' hard labour at Christehurch for swindling.

For tho New Thorn contract on tho Otago Central Knihvny, the tender of K. Melkler, Dtincditi, iM-.Ho.f, has been accepted. Timaru Acclimatisation Society havo faihHJ in introducing English partridges, and now wttltt, :o *-„•' the French variety.

Three fresh copper pro« t ,..<stmg- lionnses havo been granted by Canterbury Land Board. Tlio Wairarapa is being fitted with refri gerating machinery for her projected excur sion trip to Fiji, etc. Largo recreation gardens for the public of Hamilton aro proposed to be laid out on a piece of land sloping from Victoria-street to"tho AVaikuto River. Sea trout ova per s.s. lonic to Wellington havo arrived in excellent condition, but nearly the whole consignment of salmon ova has gono bad. Invcrcargill Colleo Palace, which has just been completed, is to bo sold* on account of a split among tho temperance supporters of

it. Thames Borough Council (ire discussing financial reform. It is alleged they can savo £2,000 a-year. Thoro aro 92 telegraph stations in Auck land district as against 38 three years ago, nod there nro now 1,007 miles of wire in the district.

It is expected that the Salvation Army Barracks will bo opened on 13th April next, tho anniversary of the Army's advent in Auckland.

South Dunedin Borough loan of £10,000 has been taken up by the Government In surance Department at £97 at six per cent.

Mrs Fleet, wife of a blacksmith, is in custody at Invercargill on a charge of man. slaughter, arising out of allegodmalpracticc as a midwife.

Tho Napier Harbour Board, on March 10, approved of a draft of a Bill to provide for a loan of £200,00d0n the security of tho rates to build tho breakwater.

The birth of a daughter to Major Barker, the Salvation Army leader at Melbourne, is announced as that of " a bonnio Hallelujah lass—a model Salvation Army baby !" It is understood that Mr Isaac Wilson, M.H.R. for Kaiapoi, will resign his seat this month, and it is roported that Sir W. Fox will bo askod to bocomo a candiduto. As tho result of a concert on board tho lonic during her last voyage, £26 havo been liandod to the Merchant Seamen's Hospital, London.

Female immigrants by the steamer lonic to Wellington complain of bad treatment at tho Plymouth dop&t. Hon. Mr Rolles ton is making inquiry. ■ Georgo Symington, after setting fire to tho Victoria Hotel, Feathorstone, on March 27, cut Mb throat. He is dead, but the hotol ia saved.

Lyttelton Licensing Committee intend to refuse tht-oe public-houso licensos, including that of the Empire Hotel, which was sold the other day for £10,000, The latest political rumour ia that Hon. Walter Johnston may possibly not go Home till after next session of Purlibment, as Government cannot afford to run the risk of his seat being lost to them, Edward Gleeson, a man who lately arrived in a state of lunacy from Australia, has died in Dunedin Lunatic Asylum. Ho had a return ticket, and is quito in this colony. Mr E. Ford states ho has discovered a copper lode 16ft. thick near tho Whito Cliff Railway Station, Malvorn district, Canter bury. The copper was exposed by a lund slip. During eleven months of last year the old country received from Australasia wool, corn, tallow, copper, and hides valuod at £21,098,869.: In return wo roceived goods vulucd at £13,733,522.

The Hot Springs of Now Zealand aro highly praised by Er Simms, the physiog nomist. The bathing in them (he says) is most boneficial, especially in cases of norvous debility. Infant mortality in New Zealand townsis very high. Last month, of 174 deaths, 7-t were children under one year, while deaths undor five years wore over 53 per cent, of the whole.

Cook County Council, Poverty Bay, re solve to invite capitalists to make a railway of 11 miles long to stono. quarries near Gis borne, in tho hope of its ultimately being taken over by Government.

" Who killed Cock Robin ?" Wollington Acclimatisation Society shipped twenty four of these birds from London por lonic, but thoy fouoht among themselves until only ton were left alive.

The difference in cost of sending frozen moat from Napier and from Wellington is about Id per lb, against tho Hawke's Bay port, which entails a loss of £50,000 a year on Napier trade. The heat has been very great in Waikato district for the past fow days. A man named Shipley, working in the fields near Hamilton, was rendered insensible by sun stroke, but is now out of dangor. Napier, without a harbour, is described by Mr Shcohan, M.H.R., as "a sort of half way public-houso between Wellington and Auckland." With a harbour, it will lick creation, we suppose, A fire broke out in the Triangle, at Dime din, on March 27, and damaged the pre mises and stock of Strata (jeweller), Wricht (picture-framemaker, and Spencer (working jeweller). . A shock of earthquake was felt along the West Coast, from Palmerston to New Ply mouth, about 10 o'clock on the morning of the 28th March. It was also felt at various places in the Waikato. Whangarei County Council have ex pressed a desire to have Maltese immigrants located on Tahoke block, and Hon. Mr Kollestpn says ho Mill promote their wishes if any Maltese immigrants come to the colony. Prospectora in Wilberforce district, Can terbury, have found the country very rough, and on one occasion several narrowly escaped being drowned by a stream which rose during the . night and washed away

Chratchurcll publicans, like thoso in other par'ls cf tho colony, havo taken alarm tit the"" wa'yt-. of tmnpdraiioa feeling,'' and are reorganising their foi'CKI. ( Oiti- YVhaiigurc'i corrpsponpent writes that oh l-hs 2'''tl' » house belonging to Mr Bayley, but occupied hj Mr Mart at rit/i.ik", \tos burnt down. L'tiririg ih* {A^prsvs of tho t-re at the Aurora Hotel on tho iiutii Mar* a falling paneof glass struck Superintendent HugiieJj of tho Fire Brigade, and inflicted a painful flesh wound on the arm, It was dressed by Dr. Tcnnenfc.

A Y-orking w.an vho was elected to onoof the Dunedin Licensing Committees lias boon prevented from taking his scat b'ectmss he is employed .'.ii ;i (Jovornmeut workshop. Tho Trades flriri I-alxmr Cc'Wcil art taking up the matter. Alt Pcrham, marine surveyor, and party, surveying the mouth of the Mokau River, Taranaiti, had their boat capsized by the swell on the bar on March 27, and wore nearly drowned, getting ashore in a most exhausted state,

Near Oreytown, Otaffo, on March 26, a child of three years old, named Fisher, camo near being killed by tho express train;. The child was pitched off tho lino, where it was playing, by tllo eon^efltcher of the. train, and got an ugly scalp wound. Mcßeth, the friend of tho Maoris, is described by the Wellington "Times" as "a consequential; fussy, and by no means tfell-in'oriJied yoting jtei'son, the bosom friend, of the gniaft Vnh shady young Maori (Taiwhanga)." . . Meswo H.orboi-t EcUvard Dymock, lyah< ganui; John Ingram, O.iford; A. .Mont gomery, Wangauui; Clsor^c Sinclair Robertson, Woagaiiui; and William Trail!, Stewart Island, are gazetted Justices of the Peace. Tho City Council havo received from the Government a sum of £525 for rates on Government property within the city. It is moi'o than the Government lvnntod to pay,, but oiily italf df wiiaf tho Council originally d'crnatfd'id: A public meeting (if VrcctMnksi-s. fit DmlodJ.ii, oil March' 11, jru-sed. renQhitloHf, protesting jirfairi*' bl;!si>heri.Hvpirig declared a crimo, as is daub i» Uto ,ric\v .criminal code, and expressing sympatny '.'.-it?' Br.id lmigh. Captain Andowon, of tho P.s. Itotorun, visited tho broakwntor at New Plymouth on Saturday, March IS, and intimated that he would bb ready to bring the Union Com pany's boat alongside at any time. Tho breakwater now extends out over IOUOit, The Wellington-Manawatu Railway Com pany havo accepted tho tender ot Mr Seymour, of Auckland, for tho construction of eight miles of lino at tho Otaki end, and tho Bridge pro? the Ohau river, the price being £0,0u3. . •. At Dunedin on Mar. 25, MrCarew, H.M., decided that the Now Zealand_ Mortgage and Agency Company were not liable to be assessed upon £60,000, representing tho estimated value of the goodwill of the business.

Tho reason why Nelson is such a healthy place to live in is at last disclosed. There is, it would appear, something in the air which is inimical to medical men, for no fewor than seven doctors have died there within eight years. By arrival of tho brigantino -Oamaru from Fiji, we lcatn that. things era quiet thore. Tho Gorman schooner Christine, which arrived thcro from a harbour cruiso recently, roporled that one of her boat's crows had been attacked by natives, and the bout-stcerer killed.

Between 10 and 12 o'clock on Wednesday morning, MarehjlO, fifteen shocks of earth quake wero oxporicnod at Taupo. At 4.50 p.m. on March 20, forty or fifty slight shocks were felt at slight intervals. At 7 o'clock next morning there was another severe shock.

Only seventeen nominations for assisted immigrants will be forwarded from Auck fi.icl by the outgoing mail. This falling-oil' is in coueoqnenee °f l'1(S determination of tho Government *n reduce or almost sus pend nominated immigruoiun during tho winter months.

By arrival of the schooner Golden I*le from Tonga, we learn that from February 7 to February 10 a severe hurricane provaile 1 there, and did considerable damngti to dwelling-houses and plantations: Several buildings were destroyed, and trees woro blown out of tho ground, but fortunately iio lives ,woro lost. ..

Tho Manchester Unity of Oddfellows are in a thriving condition in Otago. The annual mooting has just boon hold, at which reports were read showing tho receipts for the past year to have been £7,48S 12s 3d,and theoxpendituro £4,041 5a sd. The total valuo of lodge funds at present is i"3G,471i 10s Bd. On March 15 tho " Lyttelton Tunes" was published for the first time from new build ings just erected at a cost of ;CS,OUO. To commemorate tiio event a fac simile of tho first copy of tho "Lyttelton Times," pub lished .January 11th, 1851, and an illustra tion of the new building, woro published >vith that morning's paper. Frederick Cox, Ciisborne, a master tailor, who had been suffering from fever, and was slightly delirious,, during tho absonco of his attendant at six o'clock on March 27, got out unobserved from his house, and went find drowned, himself In the rivor. Ho leaves a wife and threo children. The Now Zealand' Frozen Meat and Storago Company have, wo believe, sold their property: in Queen-street, presontly occupied by Messrs Fisher and Co.^ and Mi ll. C. Greenwood, auctioneer. Tho pur chasers are tho New Zoalaud Loan and Mercantile Agency Company, and the prico" paidis £31,500. By proclamation in tho "Gazette,"the Go vernor has appointed the following gentlo men to bo tho Committee of Management of tho Auckland Hospital for the current year, viz:—His Worship the Mayor of Auckland, Mr J. M. Clark, Mr T. Peacock, M.H.R., Col. Haultain, Captain Daldy, Mr B. A. Mackochnio, and Mr Sydney Dando. A smart shock of earthquake was felt at To Aroha, Upper Thames, at 6 o'clock on Sunday, ovoning, March 2 ; another at 1.47, and two distinct shocks at about 2.3 a.m. on Monday, March 3, accompanied with a loud rumbling noise and considerable oscillation. Tho shock at 1.17" was very smart, making houses rock as in a galo. The direction was apparently N.N.W. ■' Tho City Council .have decided to fence the new Ceinotery at Waikomiti at a cost of £375. Its area is 53 acres, IS of which havo boon allotted to the Church of England denomination, Ii to tho Wesloyan, 9 to the Roman Catholic, 5 each to the Pres- ; byterian Non-Conformist communions, 2 acres to tho Jews, andS acres tothogenoral public. • A J.P. in Tatca District advertises■ as follows;—"Caution.—To all animals: those of tho Lowest Order (man) included.—l am on tho lookout, and havo a favourite old muzzle loader, tho companion of thirty-five seasons. If I catch any animal leaving the gato open between tho- lands of Messrs Rhodes and lloncylield, I shall not wait for tho Ist of May to knock him ovor liko a cock." A very peaceful justice truly!

It is ebatod that a conference) of tho Dunodin Licensing Committees has boon hold, and a decision como to closi at ton o'clock -at night all holds in tho city but tho four principal onus—The Grand,' W.-iin's, tho City, and Criterion, Tho Licensed Victuallers' Association at a meet ing on March K>, resolved that tho lime has now arrived when moro unanimous action should be taken iii reference to their interests. A committee was appointed to consider matters affecting the trade, and to call a further meeting 'Shortly.

Mr Cicovgo Stuines lias at last been com maudod to disgorge thu money which ho lias boon holding in trust during tho past 15 years for the aged and indigent legatees under tho will of tho late .lolin Hay wan!, otherwise known aa Cheap John. On 25th March, in Chamber*, Mr Justice) Clillies made an order v i.ion tho quondam People's Champion for the payment within three months of tho sums stated in the Regis trar's report, viz., £420 14sOd(trust money), and £511 !)s yd (intorest at tho rato of S per cent, from March, ISG9, till March, 1654). For the last ton years tho resident* of North Shoro have been endeavouring to obtain possession of the triangular piece of land opposite the Naval Reserve, and near he' present wharf as a public pleasure ground. It was vested in the Naval authorities, who have now communicated their willingness to vest it in the Dcvonport Road Board. Aplanforplantingand laying off tho reserve as n miniature park has been submitted by Mr Edward Bartlcy, Chan man of the district board \\ oi'kts Committee, and approved of, and it has been decided to proceed with the planting and laying-out of the estate during the forthcoming winter. This is certainly a step in the right diroc- The sale of cheese from the Pukekohe Factory on March 28 proves that a very renranorative market exists in the city for such produce. Mr Arthur's mart was crowded by intending purchasers, and the whole of tho cheeses brought down wore disposed of at 7d per lb. It is believed that treble tho quantity could have boon sold at the samo price had it been on hand. This result must be hichly satisfactory to the shareholders of tho Company, as it is gratifying to the directors and to Mr Wai pole, the energetic manager. It is the in tention of the directors to send dtwn a •fur ther supply of the new cheeses on hand, so that next week another large consignment will be offeted for sale. J „„ —__

An incident occurred during the iitp of Ihd through train from To Atfamatu to Auckland on tllo 10th Moi'ch which caused no slight alarm to some Ot the iMsssngws. Abnut 15 miles on the othor side Ol Jlorcci', when BliiitlSfi We "f U>9 pmull Jlflg stations on the line, a dense nlas's of smoko was seen n!"*a''. which completely ofeClircd the Surioiiiiding Rountry, and, a few seconds after hirgc tongue-: cf Kama tfera seen on both sides of the train as far m thc^ cyo could :r-".fi!i.- It was soon discovevea fcuftt a large extent of ti-tfo9 nnd fern was on h'ro. All windows and doors were spocdily shut, !ind the train dashed through tii-5 _denßO black ma.!!'}, and in a couple of minlttee emerged apain in the clear atmosphere. The effect of the fire when scon after tho train pftssed was very striking aud pic turesque. Th'o.sMtlprs of .Mangawtl bad a pleasant exciucion to: Vtkin'garei I.fc'acis cii March 11. This was l'>o■ annpal tvCsi provicjs'l by tho Northern Steaiilshiji Conipany, (Hid the p.s. Macgrcgor, in chargo of Captain John-on, conveyed the party to and fro; Althougli the weathor was rather unfavour able, about 130 persons embarked early in tho morning. They landed at Air Aubrey's at the Head", and there were enabled _to pass a very pleasant day, sports of a varied Pharaeter being provided. Tho party re turned homo nbout (> p.m., well satisfied with tho trip. I:! nrcogmticm of tho kind ness and attention displayed hy Captain Johnson in his efforts to please all, tlic c~■ rnlreionista presented him with three hand sorric clmirsj irh>)Q a subscription of £1 11s fid wrtS raised and hmidud over to the crew of In tiip cou'rss oi a.H interesting loctiiro delivered in tiiq Museum ,'Ai':U(ing On I'laroh, Mr Federli gave vaiurfWS in formation rs«i«r!ting sericulture, R6 also1 explained why several efTqrte made through out the colony had faile'u, the, principal causes being that the wrong kinfl "'. m\d-' berry had been planted, and that tho woiiVM imported were also of tho wrong kind. Tifis at'vm from a lack of practical know ledge and too'arcflt dependence on books. and ho pointnerout tllflt -ths only method by rrl.i'ch ericct'ps could be expßcttd ivaa by the importatiy-' of" eypferU, rtho would bo able to prevent error in {'rio'se respects. Ho Had no'.dou,b,t that sericulture ccti!« ba hi«d« to pay in ii::'! cotovy, and, the only qiiestioii was how it should rii' ,'^i- about. He .sug gested several methods of procc'cWe, yhioli; were discussed at great length. A >lf report of the proceedings is published in another column. I

Ono of the most distressing casca of drowning that have occurred here for come time past happened at an early hour on ths morning of March 23. Very soon after midnight oriss fdr help were lieard by . several persons proceeding from the direction of the North .Shore Ferry tec 6n tlie Qtieert-stfeet Wharf. They all hurried id tho direction frqin which tho sounds proceeded, and found a' youth struggling in the water on the town! side of the ferry tee. Constable Howies had brought the water-police life-buoy down the wharf with him, and this was thrown close to the lad's hand, while another buoy thrown by Mr Knight also fell close to him. It was, however, quite apparent that he could not swim, and he sank before he could reach either means of safety. Barl'on (waterman) and Drake dragged for thq body) which • was found about two o'clock this moi'fling. It wafl identified as that of a youth of 17.named William Brccn, who is in the employ of a Mr Angeio; il.sli mongor, and whose palrents reside in Lorne street. It is conjectured, that having gone down the wharf, he was leaning' dgdinsc one of tlie piles, or pier-heads, ahel that boiug sleepy ho loct consciousness and fell overboard. ...... : ... A valedictory source was rendered at the Graf ton lload. Wesloyan Church on March 2(3, to the llev. "W.'-'G. Oliver, who is re moving to Wellington, and to the Rev. W. G. Parsorison,. who has been transferred to Devonport. Aftei- tea-in the scholroom, an adjournment to. the. church took place, when Mr .'Joseph Lister Wilson took tho chair. He made-an excellent speech, ox messing the regroi the congregation felt at piu.:..,,7 w ith the two rev. gentlemen. Ad dre££cs"Ytou'iJfo delivered by" Mr Hogg, circuit steward, rcfi^cntlng "Newmarket, Mr Burton, us re|we3eiu«4J^jirlJl3«iJpcol preachers, Sir ltotuweilj un W*t~ Threo Kings Institute, to which i>lr •«-•»» .^ was lecturer on thcolojry, and tho Rev. \fi S. Wutkin, --principal of tho institute; aleO1 spoke, testifying to tlio esteem in wlilcU the departing ministers were held. The Rev; Mr Oliver replied referring to the regret he felt at leaving the district. He said his successor (Mr Bavin) is a right good man, and had a fund of native goodness in his heart. Tho Ruv. Mri'.irsonsousaid his position at tho meeting .was rather .that of a spectator, than a participator in this, as he was not going far away. He was glad to be with them to say farewell to Mr Oliver. During the course of the ovening selections of sacred music were given by tho cboir. Tho proceedings terminated with, the pronoun.ciation of the benediction. . . .",

An accident of a very serious character ing of March the 2Sth to a married woman named Grannity, who had been living at .Mrs Longbottom's boarding house iv .Albert-street. Her Pros for help between two and three o'clock this morning attracted .the attention .of ■ Messrs. Main (" Herald " Office) and Baxter (telegraph, operator). Proceeding down Albert-street, they found the woman lying in front of Mrs Longbottom's In- a pool of blood. The police.having been communicated with, n cab Was procured and.. the injured, woman taken to' tlie Hospital, where it was .found that she had broken several bones and Sustained serious injury. A. shawl was discovered hanging from'the top story of the wooicn division of tho lodging-house, and as it transpired that the woman had unsuccessfully pleaded for drink in tho afternoon, and had then boon locked in tho room by Mrs Longbottom, it is concluded that her craving for liquor in duced: her to make the attempt to escape. Probably sho attempted to lower herself by tho shawl, and finding it was not sufficiently long, she could not regain the window again, and foil, thus causing the In juries referred to. Her injury is not likely to prove fatal. Her left thigh bone is broken, sho has a contused wound on tho temple, and she. has been badly shaken internally. . . ■ An enterprising individual who has ac quired some notoriety, in the country districts of this province- as "Doctor.R<9aa gors," and who also rejoices in the alias of Cecil. Johnston, iarjts arrosted on March 13, by. Defective Hughes, on the charge of stealing a caso of .surgical instruments, tlio property of the . Auckland Timber Company, from '. Mercury Bay. Tho prisoner has been wanted ,',' for some tiino" on various charges of larceny, and " from information received," Detect ive Hughes traced him to the ' New Zealand Timber Mill, wheid ho is employed in tho moulding department. It appears that ■while at Mercury ■ Bay recently lil- borrowed the instruments -which ho was charged with stealing, and disappeared subsequently very suddenly, forgetting at.' tho same time to return the articlds. The prisoner has been recognised as an individual who obtained some notoriety in Wsiikato a short tinib ago by representing himself as a member of tlio Church and a friend of Bishop Cowio's, and on the strength of these i-ecomnlondations impos ing on the various settlers to the extent of°gratuitouß board and lodging for some time. He is also alleged to have absconded from Mahurangi with tho proceeds of a benefit concert. He had in his pos session a quantity of visiting cards, on which the title, "Dr. G. W. Kud^ers "is inscribed. It is alleged that he practiced at Mercury Bay and received fobs; besides getting the ■ ueo of the company's medicines and having a meeting of working men called to provide a guarantee fund for him to stay. Instated that while at Mercury Bay ho delivered a woman. He is possessed of a letter which ho asserts was written and signed by Dr. Carpenter, of London, showing that he had attended the conrse of lectures prescribed for medical students. He assured all those with whom he became acquainted that he was a member of tho Royal College of Surgeons. Prisoner was convicted on the elm rge preforred against him, and sentonced to 3mon ths' imprisonment. ,'.'""'

THE LICENSING ELECTION PETITIONS.

In the R.M. Court on March 28, there was a fair attendance to hear the judgment upon the petition against the validity of the recent licensing electioh for City North. Messrs Edwin and Samuel' Heskctli appeared for the petitioners, Mr Theo. Cooper for the persona petitioned against, and Mr Thos.' Cotter for the Returning Officer (Mr Pvidings). His Worship, Mr H. G. Seth Smith, dismissed the petition on the ground that the objections did not affect the fair ness of the election. He allowed £5 5s costs against tho petitioners. I" regard to Ponsonby, Karangahape, City East, and City South petitions, a- similar judgment was given, ; the costs, in these cases peing only £3 3s. '

SPORTING.

PRINCIPAL RACING FIXTURES.

New Zealand,

Takatmnfl J.C. Eastor Meeting -.AwS 5 Auckland R.C. Autumn April 11 nml If Canterbury J.C. Autumn April 11 and Ju Papakura Kaces April ii Cambridge J.C. Autumn.... April 30 and May 1 Danedin J.C. Winter May 23 and 24 (Jrand National Steeplechase Meeting..May 24 Takaptfna J.C. Winter Meeting May 21

Australia. HawkesbTiry ft.C. Atftumn, April 3 and 5 A.J.C. Autumn.... April 11, lli, 18, and 19 S.A.J.C. Autumn .......May 10. IS. and 17 Adolaido R.C. Meeting ......Mey 21, 26and31

Dates of Nominations, Entries and Accep tances.

General entries and forfeits A.R.C. Kaster Handicap and Stfeplcchaae... .April i Nominations Papakura Cup And Hurdles ....,..ApnnO Nominations for Cambridge Meeting — Avm li

To Correspondents.

Hamilton*.-—Soth fecppHnd Pearl are engaged in the' Mares' Produce Sfa&e*, >r«u at the forth coiiilng AiiWmn- Meeting.- W.F.H.—NcriHasiy ftiri&a 7st 71b m tfic last Eastor Handicap, .'fcfl "?h6 Pobt, who was Itn placed, Sat. Tho two' mllei Was run in 3mins. JOJbocs.

J.S. —Musket, when a flvo-yenr-old'. We/ii at Ascot tho Alexandra Plato of 1.125 soys., 3 miles. Ho carried 9st 61b. and beat Albert Victor by two lengths. Agility.Favonius.Uon Carlos, and Bariord (all Btoycrs) wore among tlio starters.

NOTES BY HIPPONA.

Tim topic of conversation among turfites this week has been " Who will yiiri the Easter Handicap and Steeplechaße 2" ran tit our Autumn Meeting on the 14th and 15th of April. With regard to the weights, it is generally admitted that they have been pretty fairly allotted, httt tti \hi same time ii!csi people are of opinion that I-sonora might havC received 2lb or 31b more, «*id then her chance ft'itricf not have been inter fered with. Considering ife* company that the daughter of Leolinus will nicSf, there is no doubt that she reads uncommonly ttoll tfith Bst 101b, ani dressed in her best on the* dt:f, 1 think that she must be hard to beat. On loo&iWg over her performances, I flnrl that out of twe^rt' attempts last season she aaiX^iad on five occasions in getting home first, and tfrree' tfmes ran eesond, while this season she lido started in four events, winning two out of f?«f num ber, and in the Napier Spring Handi cap she only suffered a head defeat. With Bs* 41b, Tho Poet must hove been in it a long way,- but owing to his owner not being able td obtain any mSney about him He will be an absentee; Fitzihercules (7st 12ib) will never stand a prepara tion', or lie would make d big bid for first honours';:. $fa'ori (jet 81b) is a1 hoMothat may at any time turn rip and catoe a sur prise ; but Libeller, I think, can be passed over, for by the time he arrives here ho will be stale. Fißhwoman (7st 71b) is not en* titled to give 31b to Kelson if we take their public running as a gaide, and the latter is by no means to be desptaed if ho is landed at the post in anything like Condition. Administrator and Norraanby, who are allotted 7st 21b each, are both en gaged at the Tdfanakl Meeting, and if they do not iitctit penalties, may require some Beatiiig, Slid of the others engaged the only ones ttidt I think Ms a shW is the llghtly welpte'd Eadames, who is a teal Well-bred one, being got by Leolinus from L'Orient.- There rtiay yet be Hicitlf changes before the deciding day, but if I .tfftS ask-ed at tho present time to pick it in twice/ I should select Leonora and Nelson. Itt tfte Steeplechase, Hercules is top weight with 12st 71b, and if his owners decide upon bringing him up, I feel confident that he will take some beating, as from what I Baw of him in Dunedin ' he is a much better horse than is generally imagined here. Chandler cannotbe despised with list 121b, but the best handicapped horse in the race is New Year. Whether he is sound or not I

■jinoi)" say, but it would bo as well for I Gianni wait until tho Taranaki Steeple (JhaSSES tortJik^When a line will bo ob f.tlned feg*rw/^B7Bu^ll^^«ga^doß-«sYe^al of the other candidates IWSSXw^aged. , The Taranaki JocKey ClSß^Vjyjjvorsary Meeting comes tip for decislow onjr»»^* a y arid Wednesday next, and the results oi th n , various events will be looked forward to with no small dtHoimt of interest here oli account of several of the Horses being engaged at our Autumn Meeting For the big event, which is run on the first dsi^j the following have paid up :—

stlb stlb Libeller .. ..7 7 Landseer .... 7 3 Administtatar ~ 6 Codbul .. .. Laurel .. .. Ift Refrlgorator .. ( 0 Normanby .. 7 9 Bayard ~ ..6 9 Out of the eight engaged, 1 have tho greatest fancy for Nobmanblt, and if the1 hard work he has been doing lately hag not told on him, he should manage to ptm through, while Libeller should finish close up, ' . . . •The handicappera of the Canterbury Jockey Club have every reason to feel pr6ua of the acceptances for the Great Autumn Handicap, for out of the thirty-five nominated no less than twenty-six have cried content. The names of those left in and their imposts are as follows :—

stlb. st.lb. Tasman .. ..9 5 ThePoett.. .. 7 8 Lady Emma ..9 1 Rublna .. ..7 2 Mischief .. ..9 1 Nelson ..,..70 OUdois .. ..8 8 Matakau .. .70 Nonsense. ..8 8 Spinaker .. .. 610 Vanguard ..8 3 Comet .. .. fi 10 BalVago .. ..8 2 Captain Webster 6 9 Sou'wester} ..8 1 Helona .. .. 6 8 Turquoise.. ..8 0 Hippodamla ~ Iko .. ..8 0 Hazard .. ..6 3 Thcuge .. .. 712 The Jilt .. ..6 0 Taiaroa 710 Ixspdogram ;.. 6 0 TimWhifller ..7 8 PrlndqssKoyal.. 6 0 tlncluding penalties.

It will be Been that the Robinson stable have threo opposite their name, but it Is surprising that they should have paid up with Oudeis, for it is generally admitted that he has his full share of weight. Non sense I consider is well in with Bst 31b, and aB the season of the year will suit her, I see ho reason why she Bhould not run a great mare. Her stable companion Vanguard on his running in the Forbury Handicap at the D. J.C.Meeting aleo has nothing to complain about, and although he ib an uncertain gentleman, the pace he shows over a mile anda-half must put him in it a long way. A candidate that I hold a high opinion of is. Ike, and if he is well on tho day, it is pretty certain that the Australian colt will cause a lot of trouble. With; Sat 21b Salvage's chance cannot be despised, and Tasman is such a brilliant horse that even his impost may not stop him from winning. The race bears a most open aspect, but out of the lot engaged, I prefer the chances of Vanguard, Nonsense, Ike, and Salvage. Tho Hawkesbury Racing Club Autumn Meeting takes place on Thursday and Sat urday next, but it is understood that none of the leading Victorian bookmakers will attend the meeting this year, in consequence of the license feo that has been imposed on them. Thereare forty acceptors for the big Handicap, Respite, Despot, and Sardonyx being tho favourites at 100 to 8 each. George Williams, the well-known horse man, writes mo from Taranaki that he and ,1 Rao will arrive here in time lor the Takapuna Autumn Meeting, and are open for engagement to ride in tho different ° Tho following are the acceptances for the Sydney Gold Cup : - st.lb. Bt.lb. Commotion ..9 8 Jessie ... .. Morpeth .. ..9 3 Wheatmcat ..7 0 Sweet William .. 812 Maroney .. .. Slartini-Henry ... 810 Empress .. •■ £ 0 Sardonyx.. ..8 10 S ot"h .. ..7 0 Poll Moll .. ..8 7 Morceau . .. 612 Lc Grand . ..85 Here s Luck .. Gl2 OIF Colour ..8 2 Lord of the Lake 6 12 Stockdale 712 Coolabah .. .. 610 Soldier Boy .. 710 Normanby .. 610 Aide-de-Camp ..79 Strathmore .. 610 Comet .. ..7 9 Boscawen.. ..6 8 Despot .. ..7 8 Snaveller.. ..6 6 Kingedale.. ..7 7 Favo .. ..6 4 First Demon ..77 Prima Donna ..62 KinßoftheVale 7 6 Young Australian 6 2 Old Gold 7 5 Phyllis .. ..6 0 Lord Clifden .. 7 ■'■ Jacko£ Clubs ..6 0 Littlo Sister ..7 3 Stella .. ..6 0 Poleatar .. ..7 3 Mirabeau.. ..B0 I, Vergy .. ...-1 2 ' , Commotion is favourite for the event, his owner having backed him last week for all the money In the market at 100 to 8. He was ready to go on at; the price, but the best offer waa 100 to 15. Commotion was also freely taken with La Grand and Martini-Henry for the double of Gold Cup and St. Leger. Le Grand and Sardonyx have received some support for the Gold Cup at 100 to 8 and 10. For the St. Leger, Le Grand and Martini- Henry are about equal favourites at 6 to 4 offered. ~ The issuing of the Dunedin Jockey Club Winter Meeting programme (says "Mazeppa") places us in possession of the total amounts given in stakes by the three principal clubs for the whole season. By the following table it will be seen that the Dunedin Club gave £1,360 less than the Canterbury Club, aud £205 more than the Auckland Club :— 1 Canterbury. Dunedin. Auoklanl. * A c £ Firat meeting 3,650 1,025 515 Second meeting „ .920 2.935 2,750 ! I Third meeting .. 1.570 820 1,31i>

A Napier paper says the "fast time I mado in some of tho races at the late' meet ing may be'easily accounted for by the starting. In one rare fifty yards or more would not have covered the distance be- i twecn the horses. One horse got away in front so much—the distance was only six furlongs—that, had he won, and he led to tiro distance, three seconds would have had to be added to give correct time. Worse starting was never seen. Tho Dunedin Jockey Club have decided upon having two day 3' racing at their Winter Meeting this year. They give away £S2O in stakes, divided amongst iour teen events. . Mr P. Butler has parted with Emir Hey, ho having been purchased by a Napier sportsman. Tho price paid WOB 150 guineas* The statement telegraphed here that tho bookmakersoiforedtopurchaseLochLomoncJ at the recent Napier Meeting, it seems, to not altogether correct. Mr Douglas states i» . on<) of the local papers that no offer was mado direct to him, but that he hoard in directly tiiat jmeh an offer was talked about, and he then declared that lie would not sell i the horse at any price. Tho programmo for tho New Zealand Grand National Steoplechase Meeting which is to be held at Christchureh this year, com priFCß thcHandicapof 200 sovsadded money, Maiden Plate 100 sovb, Tally-ho Handicap , 100 80V8, Hunt Club Cup 25 sov.s, and Con solation Stakes; 50 soys. As an instance of the immeneo advantage which a fielder has over a backer, if tho former bets judiciously to figures (says "Vigilant"), I give a table which I havo compiled in connection witb tho odds offered against Commotion for the Cham pion.and those laid on Martini-Henry for the same' event. From this tablo it will be seen that n bookmaker who started betting with a determination to lose £100 if Martini-Henry wonyo? £89 if Commotion was victorious, would, by risking his £100 stand to win £1.067 it either one of tho fivo other starters had won tho raco ; in other words, backers (paradoxical as it may read) were Inying 9 to 1 on Martini-Henry and . Commotion against the Held. This I can . easily prove by the following figures;— The Fielder takes on And Jays against Martini-Henry, Commotion. ... 20o7o"lOCt 300 tb 100 " '• "00 to 100 108 to 60 . '. 132 to fifi 132 to 11 ■. ■ 88 to 11 87 to 29 5S to 29 ' 57 to 13 SStO 19 36 to 12 21 to 12 21 to 8 Ifi to 8 15 to fi 10 to 5 9to 3 Cto 3 3to 1 . Ito 2 — — '•'■> I 2to 1 867 289 378 to 359 Thus, if Martini-Henry wins, he has £2S£T Commotion money to pay with, and, as he has £389 to pay away, ho only loses £100. It per contra, Commotion wing, he only loses £89, as he has £778 laid on Martini- Henry in his book, and has £867 to pay out on Commotion, whereas, if neither wine, ho , i hat. a "skinner," with the £1,067 in his book. Now, I propose to look at the other side of the picture, and will suppose that a backer :; ' leaves home with the idea of investing £100 on either MavtinirHenry or Commotion. If . the first-named had won,, he would havo , received £60 for 'jis £100 ; ; and if Commo tion had come in first, Bis win would bo ; £300, so that the fielder who laid the two , favotirftes, and saved the field, would havo , far and away the best of the deal So much for betting to figures, a science known to - but few of the members of the Victorian "lJuring the running for the Bourke Handicap at the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting, just as the horses were rounding the turn into the straight, the following amusing- , colloquy is said to have ensued between the. jockeys on Soldier Boy, Fryingpan, ana ' Duenna, At the turn Fryingpan appeared , to have a bit the best of it, and Colley, who was on Soldier Boy, with an eye to the main chance, sitne out to Power: " Save a fiver, Ted V Ted,Tiowever, thinking he had : , ths race in hand, mado no reply. A few s moi^strtdes and Fryingpan dropped back, - and Soldier" Boy and Duenna got up level with him again. O'Brien, who rodo Mr Wallace's mare, eSslaimed : " I'll save a fiver, Brickey^* "And so will I," chimed in Power. Colley felt Soldier Boy, found ho was going strong, and then replied.: "No; I'm going 'Nap' now—good morn- . ing," and shaking his horse up, he scooped tho pool. - , i i- '■ '' Trumpeter," in referring to the hooting >tfjj,1 e8 and Martini-Henry after the Cham^. Eion iibov »'«»j «~»n run, says:—No mo**3l^*' ow honest and sti^ght-forward, *3«>wty may be, he must look r. - this •"" oi thln£ at Flemington if he happens to get up on a , f favourito and the horee does nit happen to ; run up to the expectations of the rabble. . I " suppose 3t is the same wherever races bring ; together a large orowd. Intheexcitement of ' the moment they gee their favourite horse , beaten, and without stopping to ask why, got to and howl at the rider, who in nine teen cases out of twenty porhap3 is in no , way responsible for the defeat of his liorso. The stewards of the Hawko's Bay Jockey ■. Club have removed the disqualification from Alfred Drake, bookmaker. Mr F, Reynolds, of Tocal, according to r tho conditions of the race, receives £100 for'" havingbredThe Broker, who won the V.R.& . Produce Stakes. .. . :,•••„'';■! During the two days of the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club Meeting, £9,216 went through ( thetotalisator. . ,;;,-, Mr A. F. Smart was exceedingly unlucky during the V.R.C. Autumn Meeting. .The brown-and-rose horsesstarted in nine differ- , ent races, and were unsuccessful in earning n solidary winning bracket. , . , . From the Ist of August up to the )*Bb a dayof the recent V.R.C. Autumn Meeting,,. Tom Hales had won 25 ranes out of 88 mounts,' Donald Nicholson coming next with 19 out, of 120, and then comes Batty 13 out of 43, : Kelso 12fr0m69, Gough 12fr0m73, Williamj son 10 from 51, and Colley 10 from GO. A prominent owner of racehorses in Mel-, bourno, who occasionally backs his horecs „ vory heavily, is said to religiously keep a | set of books in which his winning and losing r wagers are entered up to debit or credit, as: the case may be. In spite of the fact that" recently he has lost some thousands, at present the gentleman alluded to is £19,000 , ahead of the ring. , .

FIELD SPORTS AND AQUATICS.

(BY ACTION.)

The Waitemata Boating Club has pre sented a watch to /Master A. Bailey, who acted as coxswain for their crew, which ivpn. * tho Maidon Amateurs race at the Associa- r turn Regatta.; . : ~' / '',„„;. {-sii.i ''-.. The approaching football season is likoly. to commence earlier than usual.- '!'. til ' A. W. Farqubar's Dream is in the market, the price asked being £60. . ' 1 Tho recent sculling match between, Bubear and Elliott was won very easily, by SpsS tho former, who did little more than paddle 3, home, winning by four lengths and a-half. - mm- | Ponsonby football team is likely to be woakor Jnext season than it has been for' 4**3 suine years past. Whiteside is said to be suffering from blood poisoning, and will not be able to go to Sydney with the New Zealand football team. Bailey's new cedar twenty-feet open1 sailmg boat has been launched. She is one . jj of the prettiest and most powerful boats of her class yot turned out. Logan is building at North Shore three pleasure boats, one for Mr Jackson,the dock contractor, another for Captain Slattery . and the third for Professor Brown. ■ The North Shore Rowing Club lias ordored a new four-oared outrigger from Fuller, of Melbourne. She will bo built on the moulds of the present boat. Ponsonby Rowing Club members are so dissatisfied with the result of recent races' in which they were defeated that it is generally understood a new four-oar will be ordered as coon as possible. The proposed West End Rowing Club promises to receive a large amount of sup port. Already between twenty and thirty names of those intending to join have boon given to the promoters. Yates's tall score last Saturday brim's his average for the present season woll info tho forties. He has been tho most consis tent scorer amongst local cricketers during the present season. At a meeting of Sydney footballers about a fortnight ago, it was stated that a sum of £2,000 had been subscribed or promised tor wards a fund for sending a team to Eng. land, the Hon. Dr. Beaney havine con' tributed £500. ? " . Percy Dufaur proved last Saturday that he still possesses the ability to knock; •-' p< together a good score. His style was " generally admired, but some people ap-, ; peared to think that Yates's bat exercised' Borne influence in the run-gotting. Was this bo ">. - Waymouth's new twenty-feet sailinp boat was to have been out this week. She mm called the Mascotte. Drawing scarcely four, inches of water forward, and sitting very lightly o^ tha water, she is expected to be! 4 very (mt, and, jo S.wt. to leat anything at M

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, MkftOtl 29, 1884!

5