SPORTING.

To Cwvespouclents.

him to victory lit thn Waua*nnl Cup. Ci.-RIOUR.-Tho Kkmin«ton roursc incasures U miles 10 chnino onil 0 links; HamlwlcK, i.| mileaj Caulftcld, 1.1 miles. O. HAUOHEY.-The totiilisntor dividend on Tho Poat in the last Anc'ilnnrt Cnn was a ■« •'.. tickets). f 'tf.- V piohul.l hiiiv-o is blank and white, and nonie'ononlly is a ilarkor colour UianiiEkow baia, which is gencrully brown and wlu'e. Ignoramus.—A wco cannot bo decided unions tha judKe or his nu'horisod df puty, or B-ich atitmo. or a steward oeoupy the 1 iulrc a Jinx at tho time when the horscH pwra Hio winnmff poet. P.H. (Ponsonbyl.-Conunoti^n liai twice eainctt a plann in X\\c Molbournn Cup. In >*'••' '« cunipd lOstllb and wnn third, un'l laf.l y>>->[ ho finished second v.irhOtt ]ilb. JUn impuat this year is flat 101b.

NOTES BY liIITONA. Taking advantage of the lovely weather of Saturday afternoon last, I took a run out to Major George's, nt Epsom, for the purpose of having a look over the horses owned by him. On my arrival, I. learned that the proprietor was on n visit to the South, but on making my business known to Harry Harrison, ho at onco cour teously conducted me to the stablss, Tho first box wo camo to was that occupied by Nelson, who has now furnished into a .nicelooking horse. He looks the very picture of health, while his legs are beauti fully clean, and show no effects whatever of the racing ho hns done. Wapiti was tho next to come under inspection, and although he has not grown upwards, he has lengthened and furnished out considerably. When the son of King Cole amMiealieation returned to his old quarters about a couple of months back, he was very sore from the amount of work he had dono during tho season, but all this has now complotely worn oil', and he looks healthy aiid well an hi* coat. A rising two-year-old col* named Caribou, by Antcros—Tonambra, oc cupied tho next box, and anything more resembling his siro perhaps it would bo difficult to find. He stands just upon 15 hands, and has a splendid sot of legs under him, while ho bsw all t hat strength and bono for which Iho stock of Anteros are sn rumaikable, Tho youngster has been backed and mounted, and Hanison has htid him in regular woik during tho la?t two or thrin week a. In -'^ adjoining box, Csribou has for a eomp:i>i;on the li^in.tr two-year-old filly Antelope, by Apramont-Alias Kats (imp.), by Adven turer, whom Major George purchased in Christchurch last .April for 00 guinea*. In appearance she U a Bmart-looking fitly, standing fully 15 hands, and promises to grow into a great raking mare, but her chief fault is that she is too straight in iront. Antelope has also been backed and mounted, and' is doing regular work, aid I understand both sho and Caribou will he seen out in tho Welcome Stakes at tho Auckland Spring Meeting. Disporting hlmralf in an adjacent paddock io tho stables was a coming one-year-old -colt ivy Hippocampus—Florence, who has had the name of Koodoo bestowed on him. He is a big over-grown youngster, and h very plain-looking, but despito this iio showed us by tha way he ran about that he knows tho way to galiep. Two brood mares in the shape of Florence, by Papapa out of SrlareiiioQOs.s (the dam of Longicnds), and Tenambra, by The Marquis—Lady Manners Satton, were grazing in another paddock close by, but it is vary evident that the latter has not got over the ilightiness she displayed when at the racing game, for she rushed about in a very excited stato as we got near her. Both Tonambra and Florence were put to Cap-a-piej last season, ar.d they are both in foal to him. This concluded my inspection, and after a pleasant "chat" svitji Harrison, I returned to town after spending a thoroughly pleasant afternoon. The Sfejy Zealand Stud Company intend -sanding one of their mares over to Sydney sthis season on z, ;.-isit to Chester, tho Hon. J. White having- generously offered the ser iyieee of this rising giro when on his last visit here without charge. Ii has not yet been definitely decided which maia will be token across, but tho choice will lio between Woodnymph and hor younger full sister Elphin. Tho latter, it will bo remombeied, hurt her stifle when a yearling, and lias .never been tried at the racing game.

•There are few, I think, who looked at ■She yp.nphin after ho dislocated his fetlock ijoint at the Takapuna Autumn Meeting, ihat thought he would again have tho use <& tho leg. Than!s,i, however, to the skill and unremitting cars of Mr Thomas Hal stead, the horse was able to be takenf out of :the slings on Tuesday last, and ao far aa at present can be judged, tho bo;io would ; appear to have joined. Of course the high bred son of Traducor and Maria Therosa has not yet been taken out of his box, but the very fact of such a step towards the cure t of what appeared to bo a hopele;a C 036, •i^paks volumes for Mr Halstoad's ability in jhia profession. ■I am informed that after the conclusion at the Wellington Steeplechase Meeting, Mr W. Proffifct intends coming here to re side permnnnntly, and will bring Macaroni and Scrutineer with faint. A few weeks ago it was Mr Proffitt's intention to take .Macaroni to Australia to try concl^BJong with the cross-country cracks ther.9, but •having just taken a partner unto himself lor life, he has determined to forego the .contemplated trip. Scrutineer, I under stand, has been troubled a great deal with =his feet of late, and is turned out at Mr ,Percy Martin's racing establishment at .papier. ■gYesh tenders for the erection of the new £»ran£ stand for the Auckland Racing Clnb >close ob Thursday next. It is estimated ■sthat tho cosi al the stand with tho amended pian« iviH anjouct to £7,500. ' Iheannual hurdle and cross-country tryst ithe of Victoria Racing CJub takes place at 'Flemington this afternoon. Clarence is among those.in the Grand National Steeple chase, and has the lenient impost of JOst ij lib allotted him. During tho week a couplo of separate wagera of 1,000 to 30 were written by ■two of &a local books against Vanguard and Oudeis for tho Melbourne Cup, while .among the doubles laid was I,OOD to 5 against Thunderbolt and Oudeis pulling oil' ike F.R.C. Derby and Cup. I learn that the colt by Anteros—Sylvia, ■who was bo much .knocked about on tho voyago ucross to Sydney, is all right agninj .and has been placed in the hands of tho (rising trainer, YV. Dnggan, who will pre pare him for future engagements. Tho «reeontly named Jaointh,by Muskot—Onysc, . •4ias been turned out for a few months.owing ' rio his backward condition. His owner.Mr '.Hamilton Osborne.hr.s adopted Uiis plan so ■that tho. colt njuy grow better, it being .stated that at preset ho is very pma:l, and ihas not improved since fee was oil'ored and '■disposed of as a yearling. I'.Chaafe haa takon up iladatnes again, and fchas him doing gontlo work. It will be ro ranembered that the son of Leolinus and :L'Orient severely injuied ono of ,hia hoofs •while being prepared for the Auckland Meeting, and has,been on tho :«sto*Jf ever since. ■Th*« s.s. Ilotomahana, which arrived &ere. on '£;+3t day, en route to Sydney, had •on board Merlin, by Blue Boy—Malice, <who has been disposed of by Mr Allan J/fcLean to a Sydney ijrm of breeders.

■4b would appear m it ..Lka services of Anteros are to bo in some request among tbreeders during tho forthcoming poason. 'fhe N.Z. Stud Company have .received p application from Poverty Bay to lease him t&o travel in that district, while I understand several Wanganuites are also putting forth jsfforts to secure the son of Xoiterer for the -season.

The weights for tho Melbourne Cup came SB for tho usual amount of criticism in both vthe Victorian* and Now South capi tals when they made their appearance, but there had been little speculatian up to ilatest advices. Commotion) Sardius, and ■Lovd Wilton, it is reported, wore the first iftowes backed, and the first named is in igreat favour with the public. I append' 4he selections and remarks of the various •^scribes so for as they have come to hand : -

"Außur" {^iustj^cilasia^ti) hap commenced a tengthy aualjsis, ana down to S.t ho i<w a •strong belief that the beat half a-doxen arc Com •CTotion, .Eeginald. Vanguard, Blink Bouny, liloonohee. and Mozavt. •'.Vigilant" (Melbourne Sportsman) say?:— iln my opinion the most favourably handicapped horses In the Gup ar<! Warwick, Signor.'i^ord tWiltonj Commotion, Sar<!ius,.Tom Brown, Firjpt 'Demon, Coronet, B»d Prometheus, anil my nwn •fancies are Warwick. Si^nor, and.('onirnouon. •■ ABmoieoiiß" (Ualbouriic. Leader) picks •<*it as tlio best treated Commotion, Vci'KS", ■Corenet, Warwick, l'laueiblo, ilciono. Nor .ijninby, Arcborite, Wlileroo. Archie, .Pronie tfsheus, gtornaway. Viiocipede, .Brown and (iiloae, .and.states that it will remain for the (initiatory events of tho Spring to reveal tlia 'most worthy of auppoit iiuiorjg the three-year olds. ■" Warwick" (Federal Australian) says fiora a haetv glauco those tfcat ploaee him boat are Commotion. T asm™. Vanguard, Off Colour, Merlin, FryiDgpan, Moonsbee, First Demon, Trenton. Coronet, Kinjr of the Gipsieß, Warwick, Jformanby, Monte Christo, Dunlop Despot, ,-nA Stornaway ; while of those below 7st The Pencil, Quality, Britisher. Bnrrilda, Arsenal, Too Too, Lorlei, and J^esbia impress htm; with the belief that they have been favourably ponntenanced.

•• Cwlav" {Toicn and ■ Country Journal) th.ia "wss*B himself :-To look down the lot's lit lo tho Melbourne Oupitßppears almost iv, f,npoiiWlitjr to -nick the winner canwrt n down the 1 Ibwe "°c"Tom Browu at Bat, and s' I awrenco at 7a 111. Prometheus also takes my fancy and Veloeipeae ehould run wel X'K'Pmimpator" (Adelaide Otemv) com- Honny, First Damon. Anchorite, and Commo tion.

J Wattie request* mo to contradict the statement published in the "Canterbury Times " to tho effect that he intends remov ing again to Christchurch. lie states that lio°hr.E ao intention of doing anything ot the kind, but ia quite prepared to entertain an offer of a good* mount in tho N.Z. Cup. 1 learn from a Melbourne i;i>p;;r that boxes have been leased at Flemington for thoilon. W. Robinson's team, but it is expected they will not be occupied till after the A.J.C. Spying Meeting has been decided. Tho "Town mid Country Journal" has the following nnont tho Hew inlanders :— Since their arrival at, .Ham!wick, Vnn — ii^., Oudeis, Thunderbolt, Liverpool, and \\ m cheater have done well, and now prowent a very different appearance. Wo dit-n-jreo witii those who iivuk that Thunderbolt 13 a small horso. If measure*, ho would boat some which look much larger. Clarenco started for tho Grand iMatlonal Steeplechase and Hop Bitters Trophy at the Elsternwiek Park (Melbourne) races the other week, but could get no nearer than third to Mr B. M. Bond'a fo::r year-old gelding Leo >, Mr Montaguo Smith's Fro gross, °riddon by Mclvor, occupying second place. Tho orstwhilo Now Zealand cross country crack hud tho assistance of Corrigan in tho Bnddlo, and started favourite with the odds of S to 1 against him. Therearorumours afloatin Molbournoihat tho much-fancied V.E.C. Dcrbycolt Dunlop, is amiss. Ho has been knocked out of tho bettino:, and 100's to 0 can now bo obtained about him.

Welcome Jack lina changed his quarters in Melbourne, and ia now b/>»ng trained by the aatuto T. CoQ'oy. It is vn moored in Wellington thai unions Minerva's new owner can malre satisfactory ar.-n.igomerits with porno trustworthy aud onorienccd trainer to prepare her for the V\v Zealand Cup, u!ie will visit Musket,

and only to racefl in the autumn Sctat'cliinw (;;:• fho Melbourne Cup lias already coinme.nccd, f.lr W. Gannon having put the pen thiough thonamopf Strenchyn, a threcyoarold son of(ioldsborou{rl; and Ino. Tho horse has never yet appeared in public, yet, filr Bai'mmi gave him 7-t Ulb, while Mr Scirr put him at Cst ? lib in tho Oroat Metropolitan Stftkctl. Coronet, who ha-i been backed to win nearly £25,000 for tho Melbourne Cup, (says tho "Sportsman "), is doing famously, and is likely to ko a short price before tho fall of the Hag. From Napier I loam that hr.nv J>oy has again changed hands, Mr Kuddick havi.'jg sold him at a satisfactory price to Mr Allan McLean, and that Komco, who ran second for the recent [lavrko'a Bay Steeplechase, has passed into tho hands of Mr P. H. Dickson. '■ Mr J. Gallagher notifies in our adver tising aoiumns that ho has book.-i open on all forthcoming sventa to bo decided on the Australian and New Z- aland turf.

A now aspirant for V.lt p. I)«by honours hns come to light in Adelaide in tho shape of a colt called Isonpmy, by Wintcrlake, out of Buoy (tho .dam of Sardius). lie won several races in Adelaide lately, and several of iho knowing ones were fo impressed with the game manner in which ha struggled horno 3 that ho was supported to win several hundreds at -0 to 1. I-onomy is being trained by tho Brothers Mill, who profess to regard him .as tho equal of Kcwstead.

Commenting on £Uo A.J.C. Derby, " Augur " remarks as follows on the chance of Nordenfeldt:—"Not only has tho jf-Jon

James White the best public performer in his establishment, but it is tho opinion of everybody in Randwick that ho is also for tunate enough to possess the nio?t promising among the dark division. Novdenfoldt, the good-looking son of Musket and Onyx, for whom Mr Whitegavea bigprioe.hasforsomo timo baeri one of tho most fancied candi dates for the blue riband of Victoria, and, as a consequence, ho has recoived plenty of support outright and in doubles. Of late, however, there have been rumours of a curb, though trainers nowadays don'tJ'ear this par ticular weakness of tho hock as they used to a few years ago. Fleshy-looking forelegs, it is said, have given Mr Fenncliy plenty of trouble,, and those who havo backed him pretty freely for our Derby und Cup do not ropose upon a bed of roses. Under any circumstances I don't expect to see Nordon fold* carry tho blue and white banner in the contest for thfs A J.C. Derby." And remarking on the Oaks candidates tho same writer says :—" Percys-jon, by Muskot from aiistor Agnea, is a iine filly, and was bred in New Zealand Sho has not yet appeared in public, but I know that her owner cntortaina a very high opinion of her, and if Uralla bo amiss, hor Maori com panion may bo found capable of upholding the honour of the stublo."

With roferonco to tho remarks concerning Nordenfeldt's unsoundness, a Sydney paper of lest week in chronicling tho doings on the Randwfc^ training track, has the follow ing :—The whole of Fennelly'a string look the picture of good health, nnd whatever peoplo iiiay say about tho looka of NorJen feldc'a logs, <ir tho appearaiico oi Monto Christo, thore i? no truth up to the present time in any silly rumours. Matchlock and Monto Christo worked together, while Despot officiated as master for Nordonfeldt. Tho others worked in lots on Mio tan, where tho Now Zealand quintette also exorcised in heavy clothing. Cairo and Cardigan aro both looking and going strong and well. Abner doos not please tho touts, and. judging from present looks he haa grown rather leggy and light. Monaghan has all his string looking healthy and well, so has Kelso. .Tho handsome lago goes more kindly each morning ; while First Chester, Wanda, Emijius, are healthy and well.

Mr W.J, Smart'sVcloeipedeby Fonman — Vesper, has been quietly backed for a heap rf money for tlio. Cnulficld Cup, Ho is weighted at 7et 71b. Roforring to the appointment of Mr F. F. Dakiti as handicappor, " Mazoppa". says :—Mr Sydney Janice has received a letter from Mr Percival, Socretary of tho Auckland Pacing Club, suggesting tho consideration of tho desirability of mutual action with the view of appointing Mr F. F. Dakin as handicappor for tho Jeading Clubs of New Zealand. "I understand that Mr James also received a communication from Mr Dakin direct on the Baiuo subject. Tho whole matter will probably come up for con sideration at tho Dunodin Jockey Club annual mooting, shortly to bo hold. Somo leading sports hero, whilo admitting Mr Dakin's competence for the poat, question whothor any ono man could give satisfac tion to ail owners, and predict that the rook on which ho would be wrocked would be jealousy between the two Islands. Othors, on the contrary, thiuk Mr Bakin the right man in the right place, and beliove his appointment would givo universal satisfac tion. One and Ul agree that the offer of Mr Dakin's servieos ia well woi-thy of con sideration.

Notwithstanding that rumour lias been buny with Nowstoad's name, ho still holds hi.3 position as first favourite for the yiajorian ".Blue liibbon," and aftor.him Monto Christo in in most request. '' Vigilant " thus refers to the unbeaten son of K.ockersgat.:—A week or two back, when penning a paragraph on the condition of the Derby favourito, Wev/siead, I remarked that, in my opinion, thet'o were tovo colts 'in tho race whom I considered good enough to boat him. That assertion has resulted in a good deal of controvorsy as.to which colts X referred to, and, while fit and well at tho post, -New-stead would, on his Maribyrnong Plato form, undoubtedly beat the majority of the Derby candidates, I am in receipt of information relative to his preparation which renders his appearance pfc tho post in tip-top fettle extremely problematical. Nowsteacl is now in training at Lockloyp, which etable is onnhrouded in as much mystery as St. Albanß was a faw years back; and, being secluded, it is, of course, next to impossible to obtain reliable infor mation as to what is going on there. If, hov.ovor, my sources of gossip are only half baend' on fact, Newstcad must possess a phenomenal faculty for " coming on " if they got himripefoy the 3ist Octobor,and if I woro going to take a double to-morrow it would not commence with Newste^d.

<Ie Melbourne, Lucky Hit, Velocipede, St. John, end Archie have bee,n backtd for the Cauliieid Cup ip doubles with Commo tion, Kit Nubbles, aud I.evvstead for tho Melbourno Cup. "Vigilant," of tho "Melbourno Sports man," plumps for Wolcome Jack for the ITawkesbury Handicap, and thinks First Demon and Merlin Iho next host. For tho Caulfield Cup he takes Calma, Blink Bonny, Mirlin, St. Lawrence, Lord Wilton, and Capri as being the best of the batch.

THE GARDEN.

[Bs Homes,]

CalouJar of Operations, July i<*.

[ItoitTUS is williiiK to answer any n.uerlen. Cor roapondiiuto must, givfl thnir full nameß and addresses, thoußh not for pubUoatlon.l

TO CORRKSPONDKNTS, The Bokkii ix Fruit Trees (Fruit).—Somo time iiiro a frioiicl told me that tho best way to ret rut of tlie above yinat wns aa follows :— Wrenover it made ilMlf visible by (he hole it. borea in tho trees h.s has always adopted tho plan of droppiiiK a fow drops of chloroform into c«ch holo, then plunrsinK up the hole with clny. He eaya that it has never failed him on pnv ocensjon Jr. alwajo lutla the insect at pri'.-1 without do}n;r any damage to the trees. I luive oft! 11 :ulo|M.vd tin: plim cf trjing to kill il with -i 1 iron (if wire, insert ing It In the hole, but I think tho chlorol'ouu ia the maßl simple, and wou'd a.iviso j ou to try it Guano i-cit fcruAMniomiit'..-) (Amateur).—vo?, oTianoiJ v very gooOinannro for atrawberrles, inn 1 wouldiiotninilyitnow. Walt till thofrutt ia beginuing to aliow, thou duat v littlo round each plant. Tho action of guiino is almost im mediately after it ia (Unsolved, anil net lasting. It 13 always bettor, tlioi'cfore, to uso It just when tho ellVict is wanted. If used now it would Mi vJSfolvcil and 11 great portion of the Btrnnßtii w'ouU J-'C washed awsy with tho heavy ppriiiKraina. '■ , . Diocixa aTti't' Poils (A.C.)-It isuerferto So ■is iittle us piidSiliio on all Mill'tnils dnrlnu t|io wintororv.Jiile they are wot. To labour them when in thinatato only ereutca a puddle, and naurstho laud to mich an extent that it may Ink(!t\v'.ii.!t.":iiniiui>r, or perhaps two or three, to brintr tlioiu .V.'.h n ;;nort i<taie of cultivation again. Only plant y,)>it trcea you want, Leave the roat of tiio hibour I'M UlO spring. Kronif you do not Ret ymir Rmeßuown 1,1:9 aciaon, it will bo all tho bettor for you to keep the soil worked all next summer. It will be sweotor and clenner, and be in splendid order for uOwinp; next autumn. Lkmon 'ntfiKS (:.mataur).— Nearly every parson that haaurov/n ler.ious--.aa hadUiesamo ex perience. I have aeon a tstnd number of things tried to mitigate tho evil, but with no success. Half of thotroenatStrGicorue Groy h place, Kawau, nro in tho samo1 condition ; Hill he J:m round no remedy. Kxpericnco in tlu< future jnay, ho^vver, provide one.

Kitchen Garden.

Work will still bo very quiet in this depart ment for a few weeks yet, but a little can always be done, especially in iight, diy, warm soils. Continue keeping weeds under as they make their appearance. Thin out all advancing crops before they begin to draw each other ; prick outafowmorolottnco, tie up 1; ic.\: for blanching, sow a small patch' for early spring planting. On light dry soils continue planting a feW more parly potatoes, emlh up those {.hat aro growing. Also sow one or two vowfl of peas-dwarfs nro the bos!;. See that tho braafc. of ground planted with (strawberries is kopt freo from weeds, and till up any blanks that may havo occurred by the plants dying oil. Still con tiiuie. 011 favourable occasions, to plant out a fov/cubb.sge and caulitlowor. Thin out winter spinach, using tho thinnings, aud leaving tho othor plants for the later crop. l'uepboriiea and gooseberries mijy now bo pruned \ the latter will be all the better for , being root-pruned ; njinpiy insert the spado perpendicularly (it v moderate distance around each plant, so as to cut ;i number pf the roots. Continue digging and manuring all pieces of ground as" they may becomo vacant. fc'lower Garden. In this department work will almost be at a st nndstill also, but on overy favourable oc casion remove all evergreens and herbaceous plants, if not already done. AUo coinpleto all planting and transplanting as soon as possible, a? tho sooner it is over tho better they will succeed next year : and while doing so take c.iro only to plant while tho coil is in whiifc 13 termed good condition, never while it is in a vrot cc/jdition. Koaes may now be planted. While planting put plenty of good manure in tho bottom o,' cv.oh bole. Dp not prune while planting—defer that till tho spring, or till tho buds begin to swell; then 'cut back, leaving about two or thrco buds on last season's wood. Continually keep stirring the soil about spring dowering bulbs. Look out for elugs. Lawns : Keep tho grass as shoit aa possible and frequently roll, as tho soil is snro to swell with the heavy rains, aud the roller will compress it again. ffrpcflbouso. Camellias in bloom, and a;:<i!eas coming int.i bloom, will bo all tho better for a little manure wator occasionally while watering. Pelargoniums for early (lowering should bo kept near tho glass. Shift cinerarias and calceolarias into their (lowering pots, and after they got established water occasionally with liquid manure; cyclamens in dower should receive a liko attention. Early potted hyacinth and tulips should now bo coming into bloom. Encourage the growth an much as possible of all early spring (lowering planii'.. f/unt a fow amaryllis and different varieties of liliums far early spying flowering, fiivo plenty of air on fino, bright days. Syringe occasionally. I'icjc oft all dead leaves. Look after incepts : sco that they aro not allowed to incrciiso : try to oradicato.

QUAINT GLEAMINGS.

He Talked Through It.

Sam I'f.tehbv, a merchant from tho interior of Texas, whilo attending the Mardi Gras festivities at Galvcston, united business with pleasure by purehaeinga bill of goods from a prominent tirm. Flo was vory politely re ceived, and ono of the proprietors showed him over tho immense store. On reaching the.fourth floor the customor perceived a speakingtubo on tho wall, tho first thing of the kind ho had over eeon. " What U that?" ho aekod. ." Oli, t'iat is a speaking-tube. It ia a great con'v.onianja. "'<Vo can converse with clerks on the first Jiobi' jvjUiout tho trouble of going downstairs." " Can they hear what you say through that ?" a.=ked tho visitor. "Certainly; they can reply at tho same time." "You don'fc say so !" exclaimed tho visi tor. " May I talk through it ?" "Certainly," was tho reply. Tho visitor put hjs mouth to tho tubo, and asked: " Aro Sam Poterby'n goods packed up yet ?" Tlie peoplo in tho ofiico must havo sup posod it was somobody else speaking, for a momont later Ilio distinct reply camo back : "No; we havo not packed thorn yot. Wo aro waiting for a tolegram from his town. Wo boliovo ho is a slippery cuss."

WHY HE LEFT HER.

In the steamer, oh, my darling, Whon the foghorns scro&ni and blow, Aud tha footatepa of tho pteward Softly como and softly go, Whon the passenger; are groaning With a deop and ain^oro woo, Will you think of mo and lovo mo Ao you did not long ago 1 In the cabin, oh, my dnrling, Think1 not bittorly of me, Though I rushed away and left you In tlio middle of o.ur tea—' I was seized with n snddi'.n longing

To gaze upon tho doep blue Bea. It was best to leave you then, dear- Best for you and best for me.

An Affecting Scene.

"Ha, ha! Thou midnight prowler!" ox claimed tho new boarder, poizing the befploss thing in his grasp. "Ha, ha! Thou first lord of tho bedchamber! Thou midnight prowler ! thou doHtroyor of sloop ! thou varapire-! tnou—l?ut hold ! how can I raise my hand against thy young Hfo ? Hast thou not shared"my cot thoeo throe nights go'iie? Have I not poured out my lifo-blood to succour and preservothe? Have not our aasc ciations been tho most intimate ? Whilo .1 have slept, hast thou not watched over and crawled over me? Hast thou not shown a lovo for me, strong and unswerving 1 Nay, I cannot raise my hand against tliee., ft were cruel; It wore ungrateful." And tho new boarder deposited tho little creature upon tho marble-top tablo, and gently, but firmly, pressed upon him " Webster's Unabridged." It was a most affecting scene.

A Promptly Acting Dose.

As a panacea for all tho ills that, flesh is hoi" to my father keeps a mixture of whisky, cayonne popper, and greund mustard, of ab.ou'o two hundred Fahrenheit power, nn old label, announcing " Bourbon Whisky ", remaining on tho bottle. Some time ago mother called in the man of-all-syork to assist: in tho rom'oval of some things, Wbilo doing so his eye alighted on tho bottle, and being fond of a drop, watched his chance and took a long pull. Tho bottle had hardly loft his lips when it fell to tho floor. Mike, poor fellow, stood for a moment with his mouth wide open, blowing liko the exhaust-pipe of a steam engine, and Liieu started with long and rapid strides for the hydrant. His copious draughts of water, however, did not relievo his burning throat and stomach, and it required "the aid of a stomach-pump to cool the raging firjs within.

How to Get Sick.—Exposa yourself day a&3 night, sit too much without exercise, woric too hard without rest, doctor all the time, take all the vile nostrums advertised, and then you will want to know

THE "STAR'S" CIRCULATION.

Accountants' Certificate,

Auckland, Ist July, 1885.

JFe hereby certify that we hare examined the, Bdoh and Vouchers of the Evening Star Newspaper, with the following results: —■ Number of Copies issued from January Ist, 1885, to June, 80th, 188. r), uas 1,537,056 (one million five hun- DRKD AND EUiIITY-^ICVKN THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDUKD AND FIFTY - SIX ), averaging per diem, 10,878. The number of Copies issued far the month of JUNE alone was 270,800 (Two hundred and seventy thousand eight hundred), AVERAGING PER DIEM, iO,4isj which sham an increase in June of 549 coma daily on the circulation in November, 1884, when our last examination was made.

Jno. Milne, ) Public J. AVaymouth, J Accountants.

NEWS OF THE MONTH.

SUMMARY FOR HOME READERS,

AUCKLAND, N.Z., Satdrdav, Jni.v }8. PoMTfPAW, the month has been an event ful oi)0. Gur last Summary V as published a day after the delivery of pio j?jnq.pcial Statomont by tho Colonial Treasurer (Sir Juliua Vogol). The main featured of tbo Budget, it may be remembered, wore nn increase of the Customs duties upon a largo number c.( artjelea, and the raising of th° Property fax to the fd ii which ifc 9t. 00(1 tho Droyipiw ye-'*''- Tho ltvttop proposition evoked rlfl pppflsiflpn in any pvfs of the colony. The (tolouistsj epognispd that more rovonno must bo raised to meet tho nai jonfd obligations, and thoy acknowledge tha* property which has beon so largely benotitod by imblic works Bhould bear a fair share of tho' burden. Beside?, there is a feeling abroad that a touch oid:;w.t taxation is the best tonic wo can have to correct national extravagance. Put tlio proposed Customs dm ios word nepn to bp of a distinctly Pro tective diameter t t!is p.olfloy is already very heavily taxed through tho Custom House, and' the Free Trado party, which is strongly represented in tho Houpo, were forfijied by tho discontent among tho people at tiip t|ireajacpd heavy increases on tea, olotiiiu};, and booU, Mpderntp Pro toctionista consider that thp tariff is iiUeady heavy enough, and woolUm nianufaotorieß, boot, factories, and other industries that have grown up iindor it took alarm at the possible consoquonoea ofa system of forcing. Tho result was that the Mini 'ry found that, with no section of the c. mini:' :ry were their tariff amendments received with favour. Many of their o-vn supportors in tho Houso met nnd adopted resolutions bogging of the Cabinet to withdraw those obnoxious pro posals, and MiuietoM eansonted to modify them. Soon after the debate on the Finan cial Statement had opened, SirGoorgo Grey, without consultation with any of the Opposi tion, tabled a motion of no-confidence. This etep wne deprecated by tho great body of the ftnti Ministeraliste, who considered tho timo inappropriate, and thoy declined to vote for it ; but the dobato which it pro voked brought out the reniarkablo fact that only two members heartily supported tho Ministerial meas> ■ s It was difficult to say from what Mr. of the Honeo'thoy ro ceived 4i;o most i., uleasant advice. Minis teraliate openly .-Cjlared iUet their groat aim was to got ri ' of tho Ministerial policy without unseating tho Cabinet. In tho end tho vote of consuro wa» jiprinitted to be quietly shelved by allowing the motion for going into Committee of Supply to pass without n division. Tho victory thus achieved appear* to liavo misled Ministers into tho belief that thoy could carry most of thoirtariff, and after dropping tho coal-tax, reducing and simpli fying the duties on soft-goods, and making loth.or modifications, they attempted to cwry mopt ( of tho proposed duties through Comsiitte.o' of Supply. This ill-advised mai.yuvro gnded in disaster. After the increase of sixponco a gallon on spirits and wine had been allowed to pass, tho Houso pro ceeded by largo majorities to slaughter in discriminatoly every alteration submitted to them. The Government caw it was useless to go on, and accoptod an adjourn ment to consider their position. On tho following day a moeting of Ministerial cup portoM was hpld, when it was resolyod to place before tho Cabinet the alternative of withdrawing tho wnoio of fchejr tariff, ro ducing the guaranteed term of the proposed subsidies to local bodio?, and withdrawing the proposed local borrowing powers, or of resigning. These propositions were submit ted to the Cabinet by deputation, und after wards at a meeting with Ministers, at which 49 members of the Houso wore prosont or ropresonted, and tho Ministers gave way. The position was a humiliating one, and it is said tho Premier and Dofonco Minister would liavo prcforrcd resign ing, but a majority wero in favour of yielding, and their wish provailed. The - Colonial Treasurer subsequently announced to tho llouso that tho deficit of £70,000 caused by the rejection of tho increased duties would be recouped by issuing Treasury Bills against tho £. r>o,ooo of the deficit cf tho year bofore last, which it was proposed to pay off and charge to loan' Although tho Minister}' bavo thus es caped from a poril which monacod their ox' istence, they have been greatly shaken, and it is holievod their troublos aro not yot over. Their Local Government Bill, already rendored impotent by the uncertainty of tho proposed rovenues, has been declared a Ministerial measure. It is safe to encounter strong opposition, and a movement ia on foot to limit tho expenditure on public works for tho yoar to a million, instead of the £1,700,000 proposed, and to refuse the asked-for power to borrow another million say next year. The course of tho Minis terial ship is thus far from being clear, and although it may steer safely through sessional shoals, it will only succocd in es caping shipwreck by throwing ovor tho groat bulk of the cargo with which it set out on its Bcssional voyage. Tho old claim by Sir Julius Vbgel for £6,250, commission on the inscription of tho five-million loan floatod by the Grey Ministry during his Agent-Generalship, has again como up. The Hall, Whitakor, and Atkinson Governments, wliich succeeded Sir George Grey, all repudiated this'bill on tho ground that Sir Julius Vogel's services in connection with the loan were not more than he was required to give by virtue of liis > office as Agont General. Thehon. gentleman however, takoß a different View, and has appealed to the House by petition to satisfy hia claiia.' "K/ha,t reception it will meet remains to bo seen. The military furore has abated with tho alarming cable news which gave jit pirtb, and there has been a lapso' in tho energies, devoted to defensive works'. Tho'Govern ment, however, have riot ceased to interest themselves in tho subject." While dismiss ing a large body of men who have been cm- Eloyed in day labour, thoy intend to dietri-1 uto tho permanent Armed Constabulary force so that these men without further as sistance' may complete' the' chief harbour: dofences.' Tho estimated expenditure on; defence work's, charged to this year, is estimated at £170,000. Four of tho guns; for defence purposes have'now been taken; to the top of Mount Victoria, and been, mounted. The • construction 'of the Armed Constabulary Barracks at North; Head' is progressing favourably. ' The Defence Department has ordered a, number of Breman torpedoes from Home, together with electrical appliances for sub marine mines. A steel screw steamer, for which tenders havo been called by the De- : fence Minister, is to be used in Welling ton in connection with harbour defences.! The demand for war material has stimu , lated local industry. A trial' of the Snider, cartridge cases, made by Messrs Hazard, and Whitney, of Auckland, to the ordor of: tho Colonial Government, has resulted most satisfactorily, the cases being pronounced superior to those supplied by the Imperial Government. The cases are made of Mutitz motal, the proper brass not being at present procurable in Auckland. Mr Karl Teuten berg is constructing the machinery required in the manufacture,

Tho Dofence Department have also author ie?d the payment of £20 as an award for tho very satisfactory manner in which Mr Jas. Hurst, Secretary to the Mutual Intercolonial Mercantile- Association of Auckland, con ducted tho rocont gun cotton experiments. Hotchkies's rapid firing machino gun, which has been lent to this colony by the inventor, has arrived, and was mounted at Kaiwara battery (Wellington). This gun is supposed to be able to fire twenty rounds a minute. The projectile weighs six pounds, and the gun's range is 5,000 yards. The trials wero considered very satisfactory.

It was decided at a meeting in Welling ton on Juno 30 to establish a branch affiliated to the English St. John's Ambulance Society. Lady Jorvois as patroness, and Lady Vogol and Mrs Stout aro on the Com mittee. On June 24, Major-General Sir V, Scratch ley, K.C.M.G., accompanied by Colonel Lyon, Majors Cautley and Shepherd, with Mr Bell, C.E., made a tour of inspection of tho defences of Auck land, as viewed from the water. Em barking on board tho torpedo boat, a rapid run up tho harbour, and thence to tho Raugitoto Channel, was made. Whilst off the Cheltenham Beach, an impromptu submarine mine, which had been prepared under tho super vision of Lieutenant Archer and A. Ladder, R.N., was exploded by electricity, throwing a volume of water 120 feet up wards, in a denso column, and extending in a radius of 00 feet. Tho inspecting party then returned to the Queen-street Wharf. Wo understand that the General has ex pressed himself very pleased with the state of perfection of the naval and land defences of Auckland. Other trials with the torpedo service and submarine mines were made on July 10, and were most satisfactory.

Major-Gcnoral Scratchley's visit to New Zealand was not, however, connected with tho defence works, those being already pro vided i--r pn clans prepared 'by Major Cautley. Sir1 Peter Snratphlpy came over entirely on New Guinea busi ness, to consult A-iih the Executive of thia colony, New Zealand boing one of the contributing colonies to tho guarantee fund having a voice in the government of the'noiy dependency. Tho exact nature of the interview which took place betwoon Sir Ke'ter and the feecntlye at Wellington has pot transpirpd.

Major .TervoU, who has beon holding the position of Deputy and Adjutant-General to tho local military forces of South Australia, shortly arrive? in Now Zealand, having beon appointed to tho stall'of his Excellency the Governor. He will also bo attached to tho tlefencio department here, but tho latter portion will la pnrely an honorary one. Iti-3'nnilorstowV tjiat Ljoutenaijt-Colonol Re'ador, who left hero for Sycliioy by last week's steamer, has received loavo ol aitsisiiea for' six months on full pay, owing to ill-hoattli. it is considered probable that ho will retiro from tho scrvleo at tho ter mination of his leave. Captain Gudgeon, A.C., is acting in his placo as Undor-hecre tary for Defence Auckland sonds a number of excellent e^'iUMits of local industry to tho Colonial Exhibition at Wollinrcton, which opens on tho first of August. A movement has also been set on foot to secure flio representa tion of (his part of tho colony at the Indian- Coloniai^Exliiuiiiaii jii London, May of noxt year. A meoting of gentlei.ibn jntprosted was held at tho Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Juno 29th. His Worship tho Mayop presided, -md said the Chnmbor of Commprco had' bepn addrpsao;! on this sub ject, and had expressed their willingness to co oporafo, and )o placo their rooms at tho disposal oi tiifi Commit-too for meeting?. The Under Secretary far Minp-! wrote, ask ing for information relative to tho mining industvyln Auckland. It was agreed, on tho motion of Mr Alckin, "That tho General Commit too of tbo Now Zealand Exhibition undertuko tho duties In eonuec tion with tho Indian-Colonial Exhibition. In reply to-Mr Carder, tho Chairman said tho exhibits required wero ordinary speci mens or Now Koaland manufacture Them was no doubt that tho same oourgo relative to tho freight and storngo would bn adopted as in thacasoof thoNow Zealand Exhibition. Dr. Yon Haunt, tho Commissioner ap pointed by tho Government, baa slnco cotno fo Auckland to consult with the local committee on tho subject. It appears that Aucklnnd is now to have a fair share of tho advantages derived from tho direct steam servico between London and this colony. Tho Rimutuka is to bo Mlowed by the Koikoura, expected to arrivo hoi-o about Aup'npt }Sth j apd after that a visit from tho Doric may bo oxpoctpd. All thoso stoarnors ronko Auckland their fjrst port of call, mid then proceed South en route for London. A eablo received by Messrs L. D. Nathan and Co from the Shaw, Haviil, and Albion Company an nounoo? that tho Poiin will leavo London for Auckland direct, in timo to pormit of her arrival luro during tho first wrek in Rpptembor. At this port she will load botween -1,000 and fi.OOO of frozon mutton, wliich will bo tho noxt shipment mado by tim Auckland Freezing Company. 'i'ho'jjjai) taken from Christcliurch by tho Ao'rangi' was tho'l^rgosi ,/ot F?;:t by a direct ateamer, .'«> d inpludod li|,ooo'l'ottcrfl. Tho Bueeceo attending thp s!)ipme»t of frozen mutton on tho steamer Aorangi has so far considerably oxceednd tho most sanguino expectations. At 12.30 on tho°morning of Monday, July 1, a start g-as made, Tho full cargo of 7,000 car oatica was f!;on ready in tho Auckland Frozen Moat Company'^ pioro, n,]l packed in tho usual manner. Thp Company had ranged to pjaco tho carcases on trucks whil3i the Railway Department convoyed them to tho ship's ojds, li'ljerp the Now Zea land Shipping Co.'a reprcßentJitiyD.o re ceived them and saw them safely stowed in tha'free/ing chambers. Mr G. McLean superintended operations at tho freozing workF, and ho had under him twelve men, tho Railway Department employed twolvo men, |and tho Aorangt twenty-live mon in oonnection with tho shipment. Work proceeded briskly until 8 a.m., when tho Aorangi had -1,000 carcases on board. After n. brifif intermission tho shipment was resumed j and at }.30 p.m.. thoro woro fi.ODO earoai;os on tiio vo.'sol, po that tlio averago was over ten per minute. Mr McLean oxponted to havo tho rest of tho shipment, making a total of 7,000 carcases, on board by C o'clock, the Aorangi's departure being fixed for 8 p.m. The rapidity with which this transfer of the meat from tho works to tho ship has beon efl'oeted has never boforo beon cquallod in the colony, and groat credit is duo to Mr G. McLean, to Mr Nivon, chiof cnginoorat the Freezing Com pany's Works, and to all others concorned. The shipment includes 2,000 carcasos mutton from the Matamata estate, which is tho best of tho lot; 1,000 carcases from the Waikato Land Association ; about 500 from MrLarkworthy, of Waitaro, and tl>pbalance from tho Fro/.en Moat Company. Mr, Larkworthy's lot includes about 250 lambs. Besides this, tho Company send per Aorangi povoral loins and rumps of boof, all vory prime, from their Waitara works. Tho full shipmont at present' value is worth about £0,250. It should reaiiso more than double that amount on arrival in London.

"The Glorious Fourth "-othorwise the 109 th anniversary of tho declaration of American independence—was ushered in with weather fully worthy the _ occasion — bright, sunshiny and buhilarating As the day wore on the Stars and Stripes climbed the flagstafl's of a gooi many mercantilo houses, and floated gaily from the roof of tho Unitod States Consulate In tho courser.of the forenoon Mr Gamble (the Consul) received congratu latory letters from tho Mayor and Town Clerk, whilo numbers of citizens dropped in to tender " the compliments of tho season " in propria persona. Tho day has passed for ever whon Britons can feol ought but pleasure at the marvellous progress of their Anglo-Saxon cousins, or will regard with anything locs than admiration the manly stoutheartedness and iridppendencp which dictated "tho cutting of the painter " in 1776. The tobacco crop which has been, gathered and cured in various country dis tricts has proved beyond question that the climate of North Neiv Zealand will produco1 leaf of the finest quality. Tho samples comprise all varieties, including Havana, Virginia, and Connecticut. Wero an ad ditional fact wanted to prove that our leaf is good, it could bo found in tho niquiries that Australian manufacturers are making, for samples. Many crops this yonr would have brought double the money had thoy been more carefully saved, and another drawback has boon therplanting of wrong varioties of seed. Tho oxperionce gained will, however, prove useful, and a-largo' area of land i? likely to be put down in to baepp during the coming Reason.1 Tho Auckland Liperjsipg Benches, which are electod by a vote of t{je ratepayers, and who at present represent tlio temperance party, have lately exercised1 certain powers which they possess under tho Act to close hotels which they consider not required in the neighbourhood. One of these decisions, has been challenged in the Suprome Court by the landlord of the Coßmopolitan Hotel, who applied to Mr Justice Gillies for a writ of mapdamus to issue to the Committee, ordering them either to

renew the license or to hear and determine Mr ftiohmond's application, his contention being that the Committee have not done so. The Court fully sustained the power of the Committee. The temperance party are jubilant over this decision. A bill lias been introduced into Parliament amending the Act so as to make the committees elec tive for three years instead of one, and on the vote of all the residents of a district, male and female, instead of by ratepayers only ; also providing that houses shall only be closed up on the ground that they are not required in the district after a poll has resulted in a two-third vote in favour of shutting them up. Petitions for ar.d against this bill are now in course of signature.

At the Supremo Court, Wellington, on July 7, before His Honor the Chief Justice, Waring Taylor, who was found guilty at tho January sittings ot tho Supremo Court tor misappropriating trust funds, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. His Honor in sentencing Taylor said his first opinion in regard to the case was that tho highest penalty of the law should be imposed, the offence being aggravated by the position occupied by tho prisoner when he betrayed the trust reposed in him, but on reviewing his opinion he modified it on account of the age of Taylor, and he thought a sentence of five yoars would meet the case.

News from Samoa by tho Zealandia shows that everything has been vory quiet there for somo timo. Tho master of Messrs Me Arthur and Co.'s schooner Olivo writes correcting tho report that his vessel was on a reef at Fasilootai, where she merely touched a sandbank, and was floated off without injury. Since then, however, he records having had two very narrow escapes from wreckage.

With genuine regret we announce the decease, at tho advanced age of 78 years, of Mrs Margarot L. Wilson, relict of the late W. C. Wilson (founder of the " New Zea land Herald "), and mother of two members of that paper's present proprjotp.ry, vis.. Mossrs W.' S. and J. L. Wilson. The deceased lady was a fair embodiment of thoso domestic virtues for which tho daughters of Scotia have over been noted. In her home she found her most congenial sphpra of »,c-tiofl, and by h 9 r warm ■ hearted, kindly dispo sition' she pndoared to herself all who who wore brought within the scope of the family circle, besides preserving, unjmp^irefl, all those tender attachments of which the mother of a family is always the true contro. Coming to Auckland in 1841, the day of '■aupo wliarcs, hard times, and general dis comfort, she bravely proved hor capacity as a colonist's wife, and by her cheerfulness and onorgy courageously suftainctl kor husband in ti,o ayduous stniggio of life. Ti'io larger' opportunities and assured oaso of blighter days only served to call into inoro active exorcise the unostentatious benevolence and homely sympathy fp,i which Mrs Wijson h,af) long before earned, an honoured namei and this reputation dung to her to the last. She was a tiuo mother in Israel, and old Battlers and former em ployes of tho Wilsons will cherish her memory. Mrs Wilson was only ailing for two days prior to her death, and sho passed away on July 8 vory peacefully, at tho rjpp ago of 73 . yoars. Singularly enough, die expired on the ga mo day, about the gamo hour; and in the same month in Which her husband died mnp years ago. Sho leaves to mourn hor loss two sons and n large nurobor of grand children and friends. Tho mortal remains Of deceased wore followed on July 10 to their last resting-place in the Wpslpyan Cemetery by a large cortrfee,' of which tpany old colonists formed part. The chiof mpurnera wore the two sodb, Messrs W. S. and J. It. Wilson, tho son in-low, Mr M. Somorvillo, tho nephow, and thp grandsons. A_ short preliminary service was conducted in tho house by tho Kovs, H. Bull and • James Wallio, and the obsequies at the grave were conducted by tho Hey. Alexander Reid, while the Kov. K. Hivin offered prayer. Led by tho Kov. T U. Carr, tho mournors thon sang tho well-known hymn " Hock of Agos." the eoilin was overlaid by flowers in wreaths and otherwise.

Mr Alexander Floming, a well-known citizen, and for several yoars n member of the City Council, died on July 0 at his residence, Franklin Road. Mr Fleming ronched the Bay of Islands J5 years ago, so that ho was ono of our oldest settlors. Ho came to resido in Auckland in 1842. Ho loaves a widow and two married daughters. In oarly year?, Mr Fleming was connected with several trading vessels, and subeo quonlly owned a saw-mill in Freeman's Bay. Ife was a Mason, und nlao"an'active member of 'thp Loyal Fountain of Friend ehjp Ladj»p of Oddfellow's, during thirty ye;i):s. Mr Djon Bpucicault, eno of tho roost prolific and successful writers for tho British stage within the h'.st lia(f cen tury, arrived by the liiali steamer on Sun day, Juno 2d, on his first visit to the Aua tralaeinn colonios. Iloisunderengngemont to Messrs Williamson, Garner, md Mupgrove lor a dramatic soiisom of twolve weeks, in the coui'3o of which ho will appear at tho lead ing centres in a round of hia loading characterisations. Ho will also produce his latest work—a comody entitled " The Jilt," wh'ijju 'wad Jicgod ir; £>an Franoiaco just before 1)0 lejt, ijiid {javo u^bo^nd^d aatie faction. Mr Bouuioiiuit is accompanied by the nucleus of a strong acting company in the persons of Miss Thorndyke, a young and talented actrofs frdn tho Drury Lane Theatre, London ; his son and daughter, Mr and Miss Boucicault (about IS and 20 years of ago fesppctively); and Messrs Suttpn ifttA Bytpi two actors of first class repute. In tlie poursp' of ■ tjie afternoon Mr Boucicault was driien through tho city and to IJount JJden. He was ohar.ned >vfth tj)o extensive panorama obtained from tije summit of this hill, and gavo expression to hie surprise and de: light in ohq,rnotofistio teri)]B. Ho said that iis had behold many gorgooua and wonder ful econGa- upon the stage in London and olsewhore, but never ono tooqual in beauty and sweetness that obtainable from the crest of Mount Eden. If it could only be reproduced upon the stage, its magnificence would extort praise anywhere. From Moupt pden the party drovo round tho principal suburbs back to (.ho H^oamor, and ilr j}oucic3.ult was full of prais3 and com plimentp for t^p msiiifold beauties of tho landscape, and the nu«-.erouß evidences of goneral comfort and rapid progress, which wei'o discernible on every hand. Mr fioucicault has arranged with the London "Timos," the New York "Herald," and the gau Fvanciseo "Call" to write for thorn' his impressions of Australia and its people Tho proprietor of tho Star has also made arrangements for tho exclusive right in Now Zealand of publishing these interesting letters simultaneously with the London "Times," so that they may bo coincidently read in Auckland and London. Tho illustrious playwright stated his in tontion of doing what he could to improve the moans of communication botwocn Eng land ar d tho pplopies"wfa Amorica,

A marriage whjch hud ongagod consider able intoroat in the fashionable circles of Auckland was solomnised by tho Rev, C. M. Nelson at the temporary church of St. Paul on Juno 22 The bride was Miss Minnitt, daughter of Major Minnitt, and granddaughter of Sir Frederick \Vhitakor, and the .bridegroom Mr R. Dyor, solicitor, of Cambridge, sou of Mr R. C. Dyor, and grandson of thelateDr, Dyer, so that the lady and gentleman now united in the bonds of holy matrimony ore the grandchildren of very old colonists. Among those present during tho ooromony wore Sir Fredorick Whifcaker, Messrs F. A. Whitaker, B. H. Whitakor, and H. E. Whitaker, Lady and Miss O'Rorke, Major aiid Mrs Minnitt, Mr and Mrs R. C. Dyer, Mi 8«; Stratford, Mr and Mrs C. A. Bakor, Mrs Kel son, Mi 33 Shepherd, and Miss Rochfort. Tho brido was dressed in crorim satin trimmed with laco and orange blossoms, with cream veil aud wreath. The brides maids—Miss Emily Wood, of Hamilton, and t|ie bride's sister, Miss Minnitt, wore dresses of wine-coloured cashrhpro, trimmed with velvet, nod hat 3tp tnatcb,. The best man was Mr J, P. Campbell, of Russell and Campbell. Tho breakfast was bßld at Olon side, Symorids-street—Sir I", fthitaker'e town house —and tho bridal party afterwards proceeded to Sir'F. Whitaker's house at the Lake On entering the church the organist (Mr VV. H. Hardwick) played in' a masterly manner Wagner's '"Bridal'March,l' and on leaving, the "Wedding March," by Men dolsfionn. "■ ■ ■ ■' ■

The Registrar-General.estimates the popu lation of New Zealand at the beginning of the currentyear as 608,401 persons - 331,035 males and 277,306fema1e5. .

■ Upwards of 1,500 new shares in tho Wei lington-Manawattt railway have been sub scribed In tho colony. This has been done in pursuanco of tho resblution of the Lon don directors to retain tho railway rather than dispose of it to the Government on tiip terms which have beon offered. •Sip George Grpy has'elaborated a scheme which heintonds bringing before tlio House and country in the form of a bill, which hp believes will go iar to remove the depres sion under which, if wo are to believe all we hear and rend, the colony is at present groaning. Sir George, starting on the premise that the cause of this depression is the unsaleable copditien of land held in

proposes to empw take , S! ? nia»d owned by pfivate inli vdua/payinfT the owners the value viQjuia, y 3 p assessment, ascar theveof armed V ided ' in the SSS wots STSJ "-d,bei"gth token with or without toj» nf the owner. Un a diocu oi ?and being ?o acquired, debentures re r,tino the value nre issued, and may Crtaken'n Pay^nt for the land by the owner This portion of the scheme has not ? nnmnletelv elaborated, but it is Sable SSentureH will be of as low a va°ue as £50, and bearing interest that will InanreTtheir being readily taken up. Logia- Snwn bo introduced to givo^these de tontureß the functions of currency for certain Durposes.Buch as land purchase, etc. Sir G. rvvimrortsa "little of Henry George" So yhi7 P roject by providing that the sub divirioLß shall bo only taken up on per petual lease, the rent being fixed at so low a rate that it will only be sufficient to pay the first cost of tho land and interest on debentures. Sir George Grey believes the carrvinf out of this scheme will be the sal vation of the colony, as it will be the means «f introducing a large wealth-producing population. Of couko it is proposed to take onMthe^bostlmra at first » order'to, eivc tho^anVh fairjtnal. At first sight the echeme soems fTbe a common-sense one, and likely to be hailed, especially in tha Southern portiop of the colony, as a panacea that will cause "-hard times to come again no more." Sir George Grey has submitted his roughly - formulated schemo to several of tho bes.t business men in both braTichos of the. Legislature, and by them it is favourably received.

THE WEALTH OF NEW ZEA LAND.

Is his reply on th,p Local Powers and Finance Bill, Sir Julius Yogel gave the following interesting statistics regarding New Zealand's financial position : - He bad takenout a. balance-sheet showing th,e actual portion of the colony, w^ich, was said to bo overburdraed with debt. The assets on the .Tint of March, 1883, wore : Real property, exclimvo of Maori lands, £101,000,000; personal property, £6,4,000,0,00 ! P»blic works', including railways telegraphs, harbourc, &c. (an und,er sstirnate), £10 000 000. That roacio the tp.tal amount of aswta 1151,00,0,000. The debt of t.ie colony in ISS3 was £27,78r>,000,; local bodies, £4,19.7,000); mortgages amounting to £15 000 000 ; and debts outslda i\\e colony amounting to £7,0j) 1,000, making in all' £54,Q0i} l 0&G, af4 leaving a B^rplua balancp to. thp of the colony of £127,00,0,000. Tho ayernge wealth was £i? 27 per |iead, leaking this colony almost the wealthiest country in tho world. Great Britain's woalth per inhabitant was £249 ; France, £218; Germany, £140; Russia, £52 ; Austria, £95. The Australian colo nies aro put down at J£19,7. New South Wales'heads the amount with £24}, a.nd New £ea,land i? down, at.£JJQS, but the statcjiient lio hat( made was absolutely corrpct. '

MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC.

Wjieh the Junp majl' loft, MacMahon and LejtcH «ore running " Tho Silver King" at tho Opera Houao to oxcellont business, and thoystillliold posueselan of theboards. "Tlio Silvor K>nS" ron 'or °l°ven nights, and was quito recently revived for a couple of nights, making thirteen in all. Meanwhile " The Librarian," " Tho Shaughraun, " " Tho Madman," and " Sithorg to Grind" were produced with cood effect, and on Thursday week Simp's "Lights 0' London" wae staged with great elabora tion of sconic effect. Although introduced and rondored familiar to tho public more than a year ago, tho play drew a crowded house at the initial performance, and since then has proved exceedingly popular. After to-night it is to bo with drawn, and anothor " spectacular drama " ie announcod for Monday. The only other pro fessional people who havo been here during the month area company of variety artistes styling themselves " Tho Garden Party," who havo given a couplo of entertainments in the Lorne-streot Hall. Musically, we are famine-stricken. Although the city has earneda reputation for its ready appreciation and cordial patronagp of goodtfltoejc, e^versil years hive e};|p?gd bhicjs \{re hayii) had any opera cp|iiuiue or grtjtid ppora, while it is just a your since tub list oppra bouflfe left our shorp3. Tho pnly amateuv efforts of any notp during tho month have been t)ie repe tition of McndolsgQhn'a '' Bt. Paul," by the F'onsonby Ohorjti Society, aided by the parent society, and a couple of concerts by tho Auckland Olfce Society, a new combination Undor How Hchmitfc, tho host looal talent has beon for somo timo past engaged in rohcarsiiig " The Sorcerer," and itwill bo producedou tho sthof August next, on a pretty complete scale. Till then our wants will doubtless remain unsatisfied.

FiUTERPE,

MINING SUMMARY.

Thames, Tuesday. Bilyek misinc! is nfc present quite the rage in tlio Tliamoß district;, and many lodes which were condemned years ngo, so far as their gold-producing qualities were con ncrnod, ai 0 now boing sought for th.9 sake of tho lji}.liorto dQspjsed argentiferous wea'th which tlipy oro believed to contoin. Tho contemplated introduction of the La Montp furnace lias given an impulse to this now hrancli of industry, and the applica bility of tho smelting processes to the treat ment of silver admits of n,q doubt, though it still remains to bo proved whetfior the now idea will have a beneficial effect upon our gold saving processes. Tho Sui beam Creek, Tararu, is the loealo of several recently-rushed silver lodes, and in fact tho the metal is known to abound throughout that part of-the dis trict. Recent, assays proved that a reef in tho Silver Crown claim (Greenvilleand party) cpntaiiipd SSozg 12f}»'ts gq}d,' Qiic} jGojss silver to t)ie tpn, b,es{des Is per cent pf lead and other metals in sniallqr prqportinna. Tho actual work carried on in the new claims ia of limited extont, so that there are yet no results to chronicle. The material for the La Monte furnace to bp erected at the Thames has arrived in Auckland, and will shortly be eont hare for ereotion. The shareholders of the Wood stock claim at Karangahake have made every preparation tor the transmit of their plant from Paeroa to its intended Bite, immediately upon its arrival. The Cambria Company has declared its sixth dividend, of two shillings por 31,500 th share during tho,month, the return of gold since lnst mail wtt.3 despatched being 4,7i905p5.. The prospects of ttye mjnp hayo rafher. improved than qthprwiso, fqr .in the ha,ngjngrwall of the lqdp, at the prosont doopoat level the manager has found the heavily-mineralised vein which curries, the. main run ■of gold, i There is thus oveyy probability that rich blocks of ground will be developed when next level is opened up, while the section overhead, 40 feet high, is certain to produco largo quantities ol specimons. The Company is also in a better position than heretofore' for the profitab'e beat out of quartz, having purchased the Queen of Beauty twenty-stamper battery fpr £625. The plant is situated at thq foafc of tjio Waiotahi Creek, within a quarter of a mile of the minn, and ia now fully employed upon tho Company!? quartz, bosidos which.fifteen head at tho Golden' Crown battdry are' also supplied. Tho Waiotahi iniiio has produced another of its rogular profitable returns of 2580zs gold, and tho Now Prince Imperial, Saxon, Caledonian, Manuk v, and Rocky Point mines are yielding quartz of evidently payable quality, while most others in the district are either j respecting*or opening works. • ■ •• <

AnSTUAPT Of Goj.D BJSTURIJS From Juno JV <o July U i inclusive, .1 CBB Cjwts, AdciaWoancHnhut";i .. , -Ift-i Hripi.t Smilo "Slouls 88 0 Cambrl t, frf7 loads 5 c-.vt epojimens 1,719 8 Dart iriliuVß.. .. ~ 26 7 nnrwi-i. 9! lca'Ja ' '7a 8 Dlxon's claim. . 21 10 Deep Ijcvol Cross, 20 loaila .. .. 13 8 dp. . i tribute ~ '. |2 13 Kuranui Hill tributes 89 15 Little David (Hiipe Creek) .. .. 24 0 Moanataiarl (tvlbutesl >.. .. '.. W3G New Piinco iTOporlp.l, ljlljuds ' .'. 181(5 Saxon, HI loi^g ~ .., :. ;', G. 10 SnMli mtnrno ,'. ,; .. .. 3? 0 Sut'fl>'io> .. , 503 D Wmotatii, 200 tons.. 358 0 Total..' .. 3,206 14 WAIORONGOMAI DISTRICT. ' ' New Find, 270 loads ■ .'. .'. .'. " 238 17 Colonist , 72 12 May Queen .. jo 13 Wellinßton (3ykea's tribute) .. .. ,7 5 Tptn'i , sal' f " QHINKMURI DISTRICT. . ! ; Woodstoclt(llarangfeliake); 1.. ,i. 232 n JRadioal (Owharoa, Baiild telbute) .. 38 0 Vt'altekauri (Moore's tribute) .. :. ai 10 Small retjirno.. .. .. ~ .. Jii 4 Total " 3;o H Total lor GoWfleWs ~ .. 3,966 15

MERCANTILE.

License fees for the Bale of li quo ~ I Zealand amounted to £57 276 • £09,539 in 1882-3, and £C 5,668 J^ Colonial Bank profits for «U v were £17,713. ffividend of 7 Jf% £1,000 placed at reserve, and £2 &W forward. 8(!iffl MrJ. Blaikie, the local slater !,,» * ted a now form of slates to redulS W* ber of elates required. It i 8 4* in Australia. ° Wtnty Union Company paid CaTitni n u> ' £81,000 for Black tfiamondft 2VUIS and interest in the Koranui Ulnl -a"*** £40,000 is in the Union Comp "nL°S Tho directors of the Welling >? Fac ory have accepted the tender of M**l Cable and Co., of Wellington (£0 JS the conrtructton of engines, bo 'i '■ !»> shafting for tho factory. "cri Advices have been received by iw 9 Morton ofkhe departure from * o fl ftß, thos.a. Tamsuiwith the first (hto ho(r «l the new season's teas. The followln ?" cram has also been received t!^» and Co., agents for China Navi ga » pany aro advised by cable thatsT^' left Foochow for Wellington dhS >i' inst with 300 tons of tea for W o lf° ** 240 tone for Lyttelton, 450 ton"fo t T oll> din, 20 tons for Napier, 875faSitoi^ land, 100 tons for Nelson, and lot^ InvercargiU. ">tlß \ Tho annual report of the Union t suranco Company at ChristchufcW 1'1' a credit balance of £20,285. It •°n posed to pay the usual annual HfrtJ* 0! of 10 per cent., absorbing £10 (£n carry £10,285 forward to next veT $ directors state that if the bill no* J°! Parliament proposing to allow iL "^ companies to register with limitedTft becomes law, they will consult S 7> shareholders as to registering B1 £? amended Act. They alsn say they ? tt| advocate those clauses in the bill LS f deposits from foreign companies, - I

Depression in Kauri Gum.

One ot our moat important exports i '■ gum —which famishes empfo Vm e»t. thousands of people is at present in X dssruand that a partial collanso f occurred in the market, and the of anything but bright. The Londoa » New lork markets are overstocked Vi there is an unusually large quantity of o afloat, sq thai, although prices have affi* f^llaa su London about 25 per cent diT' the last six months, there are indicatiS! a still further reduction on 411 extend scale. Concerning the looal market it 11! present time, wo may explain thedmW* briefly by saying that no one is 2 to »,uy, everybody "is anxioua to rfl and there are really no recoenS prices. Wo are indebted to mH? P. Barber, whe, recently retunS from a visit to New York for my; valuable information under this head :T liaa pointed out that the gum is g»S here into what is termed No. 1,N02.1S No. 3 classes, bosides chips. HefoundiX in the London and New York markctttw No. 1 gum was wanted, other classes bS unsaleable owing to their having to eolw i,nto competition, with Manilla gum. * may also explain that Manilla gam haju advantage over the poorer- grades of hit in that the manufacturers of varniilm mix large quantities of rosin with it tM. thoy cannot do bo with kauri gum, %: 1 gum forms only about one-third of'tb total receipts, so that the dims] of the balanoe is a moßt impottnt consideration. Cablegrams received Kb London during the present ; have beon most unsatisfactory, and aniinj tothefaot that gum at the present time b almost unsaleable. In consequence bftti information, one Auckland firm instnictai their managers of gum agencies io tin Northern Wairon that "if they couHnit buy gum at £20 a ton the stores iami bo closed." The stores having mk'fm shut up and business suspended, furtle comment is needless This Btate of affaia has undoubtedly been caused bjriji onormoua increase in deliveries titiut than by any decrease in the deminj, and possibly by a decline in the quality 0! tho gum oxported. Mr EL P. Batber t« spared himself no trouble in ascertalaiw the exact condition of affairs, and tty;fil lowing list of the cargoes now afloatjiitt; may be considered strictly reliable: ---: '-''fa*. Stock in London April 30th ~ „ " t M: tq abbivk. ''■ .."; Hermioyn sailed j'afi. &/th \. •• ' i» Laira, uSiled February 14th' ;. ' "J Doric, sailed February 2<ith .. ~ '« Beatrice Havcrna, Bailed , t j •March 22nd .. '.. ~ , 11 Coptic, sailed April 2-3n(i ~ - "';S G!enloM,aiilj9aAwii2Sth ".j Ferdinand, sailed June sth ~ .; ■' 'g Aoranal, sailed Juno 29th ~ . . t1 Waimato, sailod July Bth ~ . ill Total , ;}5 U tho doliveries for the ensuing sinnoiiili I be estimated at 1,350 tons, which is cowida ably over tho average, tho result wiMem 2,302 tons in the London market onNo?» ba? Ist of the present year, less say itt 200 tons for transhipment, which/but 2,102 tons. The average deliveries of ganiji London during the past five years l«i been 2,173 tons per year,

New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency.

The annual meeting of local shatelialh in the New Zealand Loan and Mercmffli Agency was held at noon on July lj It, Campbell presiding. Thor« wore Mw«Si dozen gentioinen present. The Chairman, in opening the meetly said: Qestlemen,—You ore aware thatlM meeting is more of a pro forma that tev than anything else, as it'-.,"* valves upon the head office in Londa to issue > the annual report and bite sheet. .This has already beea eircuW amongst colonial shareholders, and llii papers now lie on the table. I msjh permitted, however, to congratulate fmt holders that the very satisfactory addition of no legs a sum than £17,500 has ft made to the Reserve Fund—now Btaiiißaf at £250,000- without trenching upon* accustomeddividendandbonusoflSperMtti which has been doclarod, ,»nd further, *W of ui^diYided profits the sum of £7,858t| been earned forward 'to the oreditof tv year's account

You uro aware that 20,000 new &a wore issiied last year, of which 10,000 TO allotted to old shareholders, and HM were reserved for sale in the Aiietnlp colonies, realising a premium of £2 Si • the £Q 10s paid share. The judicious?* tributton of these shares, wbielrWl eagerly sought for, has extends w influence of the Company, and resnlteda a considerable accession of busuiMS. 1 may confidently state that at no prewM epoch of the Company's affaire,«H its business prospects beon of- a BW encouraging and . satisfactory Mw With regard to the Company's inVestawß 38 these are almost all locally dealt *»(»»{ tho Auckland directorate, I take" It;* myself to say that the figures ■?« balance-sheet are represented brw doubtedly safe securities,, which are ttj« of being realised at the. asset fignra'gj«« I have also to record the. extehsiOT ?f«» Company's .business to Tasmsßia'*" Queensland, in whwh colonies- *f>«M found a profitable field. The "onsignflW bupin'ess now passing through wijW pany's branch is of a very exton<lea»« profitable character In wool no leW'B" 127,000 bales have been dealt with, tMP» yejiv showing'an increase of 37.877. »■!. Notable durinjj-'lasb yoarhas bfeen. t°riS veloptnent of. the frozen meat trade,,™?, having boen imported into London J»o». thpn 414,074 carcases, of whlch, tlllßS pany lms ' hnd• the dealing of a^'"? proportion. It has been > a ") iaW.j surprise to 'us here that tho.ffi tion of the Company's t-harf« ■««?. Eon.ian market lins lately been at po ,m» inally low a figure, which-can only: »» tributed to the war scaro, for' w'^'L no'poriodof the Compiny's exiatei«»^ tho soiindness of its. affairs »'f r«f?i3 cjuotatjpn; of shares bejng at *'jpfj premium liiaii at present.l ' J^S O™ OK R3.-The'Hon. Jas. WUIteaJJ Mr-G. fi. Owen were To-elected M^J directors of tho Company, on the m m?S/ Mr A. K. Taylor. 'Mr'«?.lrtb^B| elected'auditor. • V-' ■ -^0 Thanks-i-On tho motion of >»T.W»fc man; a vote of tlWrnks waii PBB^.^*! Chairman, directors, .md oftoenwWVZ; pany; ■ He said the best e™enf.™L#) vota or thniiVs:wn? <iworv«d wastn6»"°jy prosperous condition of the Compaq ' £ Chairman, and: Accountant 'rapll*?.^ tho ■ minutes. havrner beon ponbrmeo. . nuoting terminated. ' ■-. " '" i

A decree nisi has Been 'erranted 1 petition of. H,,U: Seuffort for divflrcaffj, ground of the adultery of bie »-' f,tf«« Auckland, with Alexander 'Grant* w^y Plymouth. '*' •'■ - ' "'|.'|mß iAt the St. Matthew's pres«nw& ; prizea on Jtfly 12; Basil N. TeblW «^' eighth in'tho first-grade, »*VKdM with Farrar's " Life of Christ, tfffi M Davis (18th place) with thei&^ Commentary ou the Historical BJ»"^ Old Testament) whilst to Esther ( was handed a certificate of went. , j

m]^!uCKLANinm!mN(!^TyR^!WTT^

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