AUCKLAND MONTHLY SHARE LIST.

JANUARY M, 1385.

SHIPPING SUMMARY.

ARRIVALS.

Jan. 15.-Vandnara. ship, Corranco, from P.M.S.S., Webber, from S.S., Hill, from Glasgow. Jan! 26.-Arawata,B.s., Cromarty, from ti.iL

DEPARTURES.

Jan. R-Arawata. s.s., Cromarty, for FIJI. 3m. 15. - Zealandia, P.M.5.3., Webber, for janf^.-Hormione, ship, Roberts, for Lon *Jan. 27.-Lady Jooelyn, ship. Watt, for Lon don, via Napier.

VESSELS LOADING.

Lalm, barquo, Thow, for London.

SHIPPING RETURNS.

The following ore tho returns of vessels entered Inwards and outwards coastwise at the XUj ot Auckland, Onehunga. Kaipara, and Whwgaroa, for the year ending December 31

INWARDS COASTWISE.

ACOKLAKD.- Sailing: 2,253 vessels, 103,423 tma 7125 men. Steam, 1,313 vessels, 3.596 tons, 17J804 men. Total, 3.596 vessels, 329.882 tons, a OOTaimiaA.-Salling: 15 vessels, 2.492 tons, 91 men. Steam: 417 vessols, 54.57S tons. 1,076 men. Total 132 vessels, 57,010 tons, S.OG7 men. £u»AKA.-Sailing: 100 vessels, 18,561 tons, 6M men. Steam: 4 vossels, 140 tons, 24 men. Total, 104 vessels 18.704 tons. 6G4 men. WnANQAROA.-Sailing: 79 vessols-. 5.935 tons, ---260 men. Steam: 128 vessols, 24 608 tons. 128 men. Total, 207 vessols, 30,543 tons, 2,369 men. OUTWARDS COASTWISE. AOOKLAND.-Saillng: 2,265 vessels, 113,114 tail, 7,616 men. Steam: 1,316 vcsshls. 2a3,4b« MO, 18,317 men. Total, 3 011 .-easels, 31.690 tons, 25,1163 men. Ohbhonoa.— Sailing: 15 vessels, 2,316 tons, 87 men. Steam: 405 vessels, 51,017 tons, 4,914 mon. Total, 42!) vessels. 56,363 ions, 5,001 men. KAIPARA— Sailing: 63 vesajis, 7,971 tons, 310 mon. Steam: 6 vessels, 223 tc ne, 35 men. Total, Svesselg, 8.197 tons, 375 men. WhanoakOA.—sailing : 63 voesols, 3,796 tons. 196 men. Steam: 129 vessols, 2J,6:ts tons, 1,182 men. Total, 197 vessels, 28,131 tons, 2,314 men.

EXPORTS PER HERMIONE.

The ship Hermlono cleared at the Customs for London on Jan. 26, with a full goncral cargo valued as follows :— Gam, 3,911 cases, valued at.. .." .. .-620,181 Wool, 1,637 bales, valued at 17,851 "Tallow, 223 casks, valued at 2,222 Cotton, 61 bales, valued at 911 Copra; 114 tons, valued at I,loa 8«dll9 sacks, valued at 33a Petal shell. 80 cases, valued at .. .. 410 Leather, 13 bales, valued at 90 Bones, 6J ions, valued at 50 Bark, 61 tons, valued at 40 Horns, valued at 49 Sundries, valued at 140 Totalrelue £43,996

P.M.S.S. ZEALANDIA.

The ZealMidia, H. Wobbcr commander, left the wharf at Ban Francisco during thick, rainy weather, at L 23 p.m., on Wednesday, December Mth, having reeelved tho last of the English mails on board at 1.12 p.m., crossed the bar at G p.m. at high water, -without doing any damage, although the sea had been breaking on the bar tor several days; discharged pilot at 7.30 p.m. with some difficulty, owing to tho rough weather. For the first three days experienced strong S.W. wind, with very heavy head sea ; lirived at Honolulu at 6 30 a.m. on Thursday, tonaiylst,and left at 9.30 am.; crossed tho BfflonMonday, January 12th. in longitude 166" i SOWjwhen in 5' South latitude, experienced airing westerly winds, with deluge of rain, I whlon continued with intermissions for two doya, after which flno weathor prevailed to dato. : ftaengers:—From San Francisco: Miss E. Purkhnrat, Mr W. Rapp, Dr. Yorke, Mr D. fltamell, wife, and two children, Mr and Mrs Murkell, Meßars G. McMnrrough, C. T. Adams, IJ, B.Greenwood. J. and W. MWdleton, R. G, Wilson, From Honolulu: Miss Barringer. Mrs Bsvans, Mr Guthrie, Hon. D. Tretusis. Rev; W rßwan, Mr and Mrs Bagloy. From Tutuila: IMaaars Deans, G. Carr, R. Williams, and 31 Steerage. The Zealandia resumed her voyage forSyoneyat two this morning. Passengers :— lieut. Wiloox, 8.N., Messrs John Steel, Spur mas, B. Douglas, J. E. Chcnhall.

THE VANDUARA'S PASSAGE.

I four-masted ship Vandfiara anchored at owder ground at 3.30 a.m. on Jan. 14. had a quantity of explosives on hoard, i she discharged thero, and was horthed s Ijlueen-Btreet Wharf on January 16. V«tduara is a magnificent vessel, tons - register, built of Iron. She is ilasted, with yards on each mast. For ahe carriaj skysail yards, but these have done away with. She has the appear tof a regular eljpper, having flno easy and at the satco timo has great tag capacity, having now In 4,600 tons rgo.a large portion of which is iron, leek runs flash fore and aft, excepting a poop. The cabin acco amodation Is not !ive, but Is neat a..d comfortable. Vandnara is in command *>£. In M. Corrance. Tho firat ofllcer is looelyn; Beeond officer, Mr Thomas; officer, Mr Manshlp. There is only ono jger, viz.. Mr Belh&m. Of the pas- Captain Corrance reports { Passed Deal :t«fler,23. was off the Lizard October 25, iff Cape Flnlsterre October 2T; thoreilay mod isfi days; then got fresh northerly ). and psseed Madeira November 5: ted rate N.E. trades to lOdeg. north; thon 5 [IMS'baffling winds, and got S.E. 9 In Sdeg. Mirth; crossod equator leg; 30min. W. on November 20, 28 days had moderate B.K. trades to 21dcg. i. thon several days Kgh£ variable winds; 4Tristan da Aeunha. Dec. £, 14 days out; d meridian of Cape in 43deg. S. on Deo. -days out; had fine steady winda from to3.W down to Tasmania. Jan. 3,72 days From there to port had ono very heavy gale, and the remainder of tho time modo winds frqm North to N.N.W. Was off «d.at 11 a.m. 13th; got pilot 2 p.m. same Wowing strong from S. W. to S.S.W., 82 omfcj anchored at powder ground 4 a.m.

ARRIVAL OF THE IONIC.

1W as. lonic anrlved at Wellington from oon on January 20. {the lonic, -.viuch bo il to the Shaw, Savill.' an 4 Albion Com y>lertPlymouth on December Cth; called at araffe on 12th December, leaving ssjno day: Wd at Hohart January 15 sajlingagain a few rslater. The voyage was a ,flno weather . Two deaths occurred during tho passage— asafcewipas.enger, and the otheramem oftheetew. She brings 12 saloon passon k« secon&ojass. 108 third-class, and 217 wrams, Amonsf tho passengers are Major Wneoro and Mr akMrnoro, interpreter,

ARRIVAL OF THE GAIRLOCH.

lorlfcem Steamship Company's Gairlooh from Glasgow on the afternoon of Jan. Jjaasage having occupied H5 days, nne-looking twin screw steamer of 100 ass register, and has been built ex tor tae .cattle trade on tho West Const. Irloeh was built by Messrs Blackwood fdon, of Glasgow. She is of steel, and onslons are:—Length.pf keel and fore 7ft.; beam, 23ft.; depth of hold, 9ft. iseaare compound surface condensing, nders being high pressure, 17 inches; Bsnre,,3l inches; length of Btroke, 21 and the horse power about 600 in- The boiler, which is of steel, is o SOlbs per square inch. Tho hold is iith stalls and .other necessary con » for the conveyance* pf livestock, lie ventilating machine travels at the MO revolutions per minute, and keeps iperature sufficiently low. The vessel well provided with accom,niod,*lipn for era. The saloon is situated anaidship, Provided with overy .convenience for » passengers, whllo abatt of the engine wre is provision for 20 second-class pas •, Altogether the Bteamer appears to be bly suited to the trade for which she is 4. Of) the 115 days occupied on the pas >e Gairlooh waa 70 days under oanva", wlllaooount for flic length of UmeG on the trip. On uev trial trip, earner accomplished g, speed of 11 -the weather being unfavourable. Wtlooh Is in charge of Contain Hill, late of the barque Anazh and the Boor Is Mr James Allon, form-rly of the Arterian. Mr Baxter is in onarge of the room, and Mr Wm. McGregor, son of L MoGregor, is second engineer. The nad the personal supervision of samer while building. Captain Hill Of the voyage as follows:—Left Part wonUhe Ist ot Octobeft last, landing tbe WaterfardonthesthOotober. Reached cent at 4 p.m. m the 10th, aud. after tak hpardlSo tons of .coal, the passage waa O.rtSjuii. on tbe feth. Crossed the ron26th Ootober, anSpassed the meridian »wiohonl6th November, in latftudo 36- Crossed the meridian of the Capo of wpe on the 23rd in latitude 89' south, and CapaLewin on the 4th o£ January In ii- J* 4 «gnth of Tasmania on Janttary 16. gted^htep'Klngs early on Friday morn &.SJ. Vincent to the Cape of Good MUtN.W. winds, .veering to S.W. and I'Jrffi 018'8?68 occasionally very heavy. TO thoeastlngs between the parallels of f.#\?"*? Cape Lewin, n»d fietween 43 ---' 8. .to Tasmaaia. Down tbe coast fine M ? was met with, From October 29th' to

November let, from November 13th to 20th, and from November 2lth to January 13th, steam was dispensed with, which tended to prolong tho vo} age.

j Tho Northern Steamship Company's s.s. [ lona, which, by her prolongod absence at tho Islands, caused some unoasinoss lately, arrived in harbour on January 25. I She loft this port on November 4th, called at Russell, and sailed again on the 7th. Shortly aftor that very bad weather set in, commencing with a heavy gale on the 9th, and continuing till tho 10th. Great diffi culty was experienced in keeping a number of horses svhich were on board on their feet, while forty sheep were washed away from the decks. On the morning of the 10th it was found that of the horses on board nine had been killed by trampling upon each other with the heavy rolling of tho steamer, and thoy were thrown overboard. Norfolk Island was reached at 8.30 p.m. on the 10th, and loft again at noon on the 12th. Ar rived at Noumea on the 14th at 11 a.m., and left on the 18th for Long Island. Ar rived thore at noon on the 22nd, took in SO tons-guano, and loft on tho 24th at 10 a.m. for Noumea. Half an hour later the lona's shaft broke, and Captain Scott found it necessary to put back, and reached the anchorage under canvas. As the only means available of securing assistance, Mr Robinson, the chief officer, with three others, left for Noumea in a 22ft open boat. They made the trip in 7dys. 14hrs., having experienced very fair weather. The French man-o'-war Bruat was there, and her com mander consented to bringth.elopa's passen gers and her broken shaft from Longlsland. Theshaf t was repaired at Noumea, and taken to Long Island by the brigantine Magellan Cloud, and the lona was enabled to get underlay again on the 10th inst., having been there from November 22nd. Noumea was reached on Friday, the 16th, after a heavy weather passago, and left on tho 19th, Auckland being reached as above. From Captain Scott, of the steamer lona, which arrived from Noumea on Jan. 35, wo learn of the total wreck of the French man-o'-war La Chere, off Buria, distant about CO miles from Noumea. The La Chere, a vessel of about 1,000 tons measure ment, was going along the coast with a number of convicts on board, and went with all sail set on top of tbe main reof at Buria. It is supposed that tho misfortune is attributable to the force of tho current there. This was at 9 o'clock at night, and every effort to get the vessel oft proved fruitless, so that she speedily became a total wreck. All hands succeeded in reaching the shore safely.

SALE OF PEDIGREE STOCK.

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1 TnERE was a fairly good attendance at tho . annual sale of sheep and cattle hold In conneo ' tion with the Now Zealand Stud an<J Pedißreo Stock Company on Jan. 7. Mr A- Bjjclcland. eenr., was tho officiating auctioneer. 'I'he following lots wore solo :-G ohearlijig ! nuns, £1 los, Mr Dobbie, Gisborno; 6 ditto, .£1 10s, Jit- Dohbio, Gisbome; 6 dltt->, £1 ' 10s. Mr Dobbio. Gisbome ; 15 ditto. £i, Mr A. ' Buckland. iu'n.; C ditto. £4 ss, Dobbie ; 6 ditto, 1 Al 10s, Dobbie; 2 ditto. £1, A. Buckland, jun.; 4 ■ ditto, &2 10s, Reid Brothers; 6 ditto, £2 sb, > Studholmo; 6 ditto. £2 sg, Studholmo; 0 • ditto, £2 ss, Reid Brothors; 6 ditto, £2 2s, Stud • holme ; 1 four-tooth ram, £9 9s, Baird : 1 ditto, •£5 ss, seddon; 1 ditto, £310s, James Wallace; ' 7 ditto, £'i 3s, Studholmo; (J ditto, £2 2s, • Studholmo; J ditto, £2 53. McKlnnon; 6 - two-tooth rams, 13s, Salmon^ 6 ditto, 14s, : Salmon; Bditto, 14s. Hjilmo; 6ditto, lis, Reid Bros.; G ditto, loe. Hellaby Bros.; .6 ditto, 13s, ■ Hulmo; 0 ditto. 13s, Salmon; 0 ditto, 17s, 1 Wright; G ditto, HK Gould;3agod sheep. JOs, ; Hulme; 1 ditto, 17s. Salmon; 0 ditto, lis (Id, ' Salmon ; 6 ditto, 10s. Freezing Company; 6 - ditto, 15s, Eustaco; 4 ditto, 17s, Hulme; 18 owes, 18s, Barrell; IS sheep, his, Freozing Com pany ;18 ditto, los, J. Hall; 31 ditto, lis Gd, Hellaby; 1 ditto, J Is, Hulme. Shropshirea :— , 6 imported rams (to let for two months. February 1 and March)-3. £510s. J. C. Firth; 3, £11, Henry ' Reynolds. Thefollowingwerosold:-shoggete, ; out of imported ewes, £7, J. C. Firth; 1 ditto. 1 £IGIGs, Wiison Bros., Hnwea; 1 ditto. £18 18s, ' Wilson Bros.; 2 ditto, £11 lis, Grlgg. Canter ; bury; 1 ditto. £8 Bs. J. C. Firth; 5 ditto, £11 lis. Greonwood: 1 ditto, £8 Bs, E. McLean. I Leicester shearling3—Mr A. Buckland, jun., purchased tho following lota to order from '. Christchui-ca;—6 Leicester, £3 15b; 6 ditto, . £315s ; G ditto, £3 ISs ; 6 ditto. £3 15a; 6 ditto. ; £310s ; 6 ditto. £3 6a;G ditto. £310s; 0 ditto. £3; 6 ditto. £3 sa; 6 ditto. £3; 5 ditto, £3 ; G ditto, £3 5s ; 6 ditto. £210s; 2 ditto, £.'. < ■ Cattle.—Shorthorns —Duke of Newcastle ' (227 N): Roan, calved 20th November, 1875; bred 1 by Messrs K. and E. Maclean, Penrose, Auck ; I land.C Starncd at 50 guineas, but there being no otfiorbida. waa passed. Caliph: Roan, calved 2ith November, 1882; bred by the Auckland Agricultural Company, Auckland, 85 guineas. 'Mr J. C. Firth. sth Duke of Cam bridge: Roan, calved 21st. February, . ISS3; bred by tho New Zealand Stud . and Pedigree Stock Company, Limited, Auckland. Mr J. C. Firth, 75 guineas. Cantab: : White, calved 29th March. I'Bl. Bred by the ] '' Uew Zealand Stud and Pedluroo Stock Com-! . nany. Ltd., Auckland. Mr J. E. Gould, 20 guineas, i , Yearling Heifers <only two out of Boven were. sold): Lady Coleman 3rd, dam Lady Coleman, 'by Cambridge "Djiko 10th—12 gulnoas, Mr : Greenwood. Lidy Maria 2nd, dam Pots ' Alvi, by Cambridge Duke ipth—l2 guineas. 'Mr Greenwood.— Two-year-old Heifers: 1 Twelve were yarded, but there were ' no buyers for any of them.—Shorthorn Cows: Lady Mary, dam Lady Edith. £8 2s 6d, Salmon; . Dasper'a Witch 2nd, dam The Witoh, by 9th ' Colonel Trepjunter, £10, Greenwood; Lady ! Eleanor 4th, dam Lady Eleanor 2nd, by Crown ' Prince, £1«, Greonwood; Queen of Fashion, ' darn Pink of Fashion, by Crown Prince, £&, Greenwood: Blußhing Girl (imp.), dam Blush ing Bride, by Gallant Gay, SI 15s, Salmon; Anemono 10th (Imp.), dam Anemone 9th, by Cardinal, £8 ss, A. Buckland. Herefords— 16 yearling bulls, withdrawn at 15 guineas rp-; ' serve; 1 ditto, 19 guineas, Ehrenfrled; 1 ditto, [ 15 guineas, Studholmo; 2 ditto. 15 guineas. Stud ' holme; Ico w (just calved in pen), 16 guineas.' R. ' Hobbs: lcow, £t, withdrawn; 1 ditto, £8 15s, . Griffiths; 1 ditto, £910s. Hobbs; 2 ditto, £S 12s fid Salmon; 2 diito. £6 10s, A. Buckland,fun'; ' 2' ditto SSI 10s, Hulme; 2 ditto. £7, Hulme-; ' 2ditto. «U ss, J.Hall: 2ditto, £517s Gd, Salmon; , 2 heifers, £o 10s. Jackson ; 2 CoWs, <£5 2S Gd, Hulme. The Ayrshire bull Awa Moa Prineo, ' "bred by the Hon. Mr Holmes, and ealvedin Jan. 1881, was bought by Mr Drawer for £15. Brown Yearling Filly, by Musket, from Erieyna, 115 guineas, R. 0. Greenwood, who i sold immediately afterwards to W. Robertson . for 150 guineas. - Chestnut Yearling Colt, by Anteros, from ) Fhncy (full brother to the Poet), 250 guineas, - U. H. Lushington. ~.,_, . '. Bay Yearling Filly, by Cadogan, from Crino i line. 170 guineas. Captain Russell (Napier). I Briwn Yearling Colt, by Musket, from - Tltahla, 260 guineas, J. Marshall. Brown Yearling FiUy, by Musket, from • Moonlight, 70 guineas. B.C. Greenwood. • Bay Yearling Colt, by Musket, from Pulehra, I 200 guineas, E, Mitchelson for tho Hon. George s Brown Yearling Colt, by Musket from Pearl s Ash (half brother to Pearl), 140 guineas, R. H. Bay Yearling Filly, by Musket, fftm Madcap a (little lamp), ICO guineas. R. C. Greenwood, a Brown Yearling Filly, by Musket, from Han -1 nah (hnlf-siater to Kingcraig), 85 guineas, Mc f ?3rown°cSt.'by Cadogan or Musket from r Florence Macarthy, 160 guineas, Colonel Eraser I ,('Bay Colt, by Anteros. from Atalanta. 120 a guineas. W. Profltt for H. Goodman (Dunedin). a gms^ ooU> by Handwiok. from Per i. fume 4fi guineas, A. An»tin (Onehunga). Chestnut Yeailing Filly, by Anteros, from •• Tres Deuce (Ally's dam Own sister to Calumny), 1' a guineas. Alison Bros. (North Shore). 1 Brown Yearling Colt, by Anteros, from Lady , Miry 210 guineas. C.H. Lushington. a Chestnut Yearling Colt, by Anteros,-from a Naiad 65 guineas, R. 0. Greenwood. 0 Chestnut Yearling COlt, by Feve. from Lyra, S ®$ nfd&tcolt. by Cadogan. from Miss c i 1101 guineas, Williamson (Taranaki). % Zy Yearling Colt by Apremont irom Nelly v Mnnrp 310 culneaß. C. H. Lushington. " Chestnut Y^artog Colt by Cadogan frem c Lure, 175 guineas. James Craig, who. In turn, d Jold at a slight advance to Thomas Clark. V. Chostnut Yearling Colt, by Cadogan. from ii Petroleuse 200 guineas, G. Donne for W.Lyons, c Bay Yeaiimg MyrbV Cadogan, from Steppe, n 35 guineas, O. H. Lushington. «».,.i-U ? Yearling Colt, by ApremOnt or Musket, f fr m FaSnf, 60 guineas, R. C. Oreonwood 1 Blown Yearling Colt, by Musket.from Medea, P *|errVl:a^ 0, ÜbT> nere. from Dundee's Katie, k 21D g&^Ka« aiiVndee.from Bamblln* d Katie, 20 guineas, Biker, > , . r. A brown yearling ftlly, *y JJap4wick out ,r of Jenny Lind'(the dam of Linda), belong- 3 0 to Mr G. Donne, was then offered, and was !o bought for 45 guineas by Mr Lumsden.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS.

BIRTHS.

BREADON.—On January 3, at her residence, Fairburn-street, Otahuhu, the wife of Jamos Breadon of a son. All woll. BOU3FIELD,—On January 18, at her mother's residence. Newton, the wife of Walter Bous field of a son. CHAMBERS.—On Monday, January 19, at hor reßidonce, Ponsonby, the wife of J. G. Cham bers, of a daughter. DAVIS.—On January 26, at Rodmar, Mount Eden, the wife of the Rev. J. King Davis of a daughter. DAY.—On January Ist, at Davage's Road, Onehunga, the wife of Honry Arthur Day, chief officer of the N.S.S. Co.'a Douglas, of a daughter. Both doing woll. EVERARD.—On the sth Jan., at Mount Eden tho wife of J. B. Evorard of a son. GIBSON.—On January 10, at Adolaide-Btroot, Freeman'a Bay, the wifo of John Gibson of a Bon. GRIFFIN.-On tho 11th of January, the wifo of the Rev. T. N. Griffin, Paparoa, Kaipara, of a daughter. HKRON.-On January 14th, at Arney Road, Remuera, tho wife of G. A. Heron of a son. HUGHES.—On January 2, at To Kopuru. the wife of MrS.Hiighoa.of a daughter, Btlll-born. HOOTON.-On January 3rd, 1885. at Jcrinyn streot, Auckland, the wifo of Walter Hooton ot a son. HERA PATH.—On January 16, at hor rcsldonco, Pilton View, tho wifo of S. M. Horapath of a son. HARVEY.—On January 8, at hor residenoo. Groat North Road, tho wife of Jamos C. Harvey of a son. All well. HILL.—On January 3rd, 1885, at her roßldeuce, Wellington-street, the wifo of James Hill of a sou. HAMKR.—On the 14th January, at her resi dence. Brown-street, Ponsonby, the wifo of J. H. Humor of a daughter. HOLT.—On tho 15th Jan., at her realdonce, Nelson-street, Auckland, tho wife of Jacob Holt (late of Rochdale, Sheffield, Leeds, and Manchester, England) of a daughter, still born. JENKINS.—On the 7th Jan.. at Victoria-street, the wifo of 11. Jonkius of a daughter. KNIGHT.—At Ponsonby Road, on tho 27th De cember, the wife of Dr. A. Osborno Knight of a daughter. KELLY.—On 23rd Jan., at Symonda-streot, tho wifo of Thomas Kelly of a son. KILLIP.—On January 15th, at Brighton. Par noil, tho wife of Thomas William Killip of a son. LEVINSOHN.-On January 4th, at Prlncos stroot, Albort Park, tho wife of H. D. Levin sohn, of a son. LAURIE.—On 21st January. 18S5, at Manukau Road, Newmarket, the wifo of G. N. W. Laurie of a sou. MATTHEWS.—On January 2nd, at hor resi dence. Mount Eaen, the wife of M. J. Miittliews of a daughter. MACE.—On December 30, at her rosidonce, Porcival Parade, Ponsonby, tho -wife ot Ed ward Mace of a son. PARKER.—On January 20, 1885, at Auokland, the wife of T. Parker o£ a son. lloth doing woll. RICHARDS.—On Den. 22nd. at Kdon Terraco. the wife of Ralph Richards of a daughter, still-born. SHEfPARD.—On January 10,1885. atManukau Road, Parnell, the wite of J. Sheppard of a son. BPINLEY.-On January 12, at hor residence. Victoria Road, Devonport the wifo of J. C. Spinley of a daughter. Both doing woll. VERCOE.—On January Ist, at Grafton Road. tho wifo of R. B. Verooo of a son (still-born). WATSON,—On January 3, Victorla-htreet, the wife of A. J. Watson of a son. WALKER.-On Doeember 28. at Blue Bank, Ponsonby, the wifo of C. G. Walker of a daughter.

MARRIAGES.

ANDERSSENE—CLOW.—On January 7. at tho Presbyterian Ohureh, near Otnhuhu, by tho Roy, John Maoky, George Anderssone to Janet, third daughter of Malcolm Clow, Papa toitoi.—Foteign papers ploaso copy BAKRBTT-FUOUDK.-On Soptombor IS, 1871, at St. Coleman's Church, Coromandel, by the Rev. Father Patrick t^HloHy. John Barrett, of Coromandel. to Eleanor Eliza, fourth daughter of Harry Froude, cf 'London. Home papers please oopy. BOLLARD-I)AKIN.-On December 30th. 1881. at St. Judo's Church, Avondalo, by tho Rev. John Haselden, Richard Francis, eldest son of Mr John Bollard, Avondale, to I^ouisa, only daughter of Mr Robert Dakin, of the same C§MYkS-rO'HANLON.-rOn 17th January, at St. Paul's, by tho Roy. C. M. NoUou, M.A.. R. Wm. Comvns to Mionie O'Hnnlon. DUNCAN-BRKNNAN.-rDn January Ist. ISSS, at St. Benedict's Church, by mo K.!V. J. Cuth bert Down»y, Andrew, gen of Robert Duncan. Islandhilla. Canterbury, to Nora, daughter of John Brennas, Auckland. ECCLKS-RUSSKLL.-On January 14th. at the residenoo of the bride's brother, Surrey Hills. Auckland, by tho Rev. D. Bruee, Aloxnnder Ecoles, of Napior, to Jennie Barr, youngest daughter of the late Mr John Russell. FRY-DAWSON.-On January 10. at St Paul's Church, Auckland, by the Rev. C. M. NeUon, tho daughter of Mr Dawson to Mr Charles Fry, of Auckland. FRASKR—JKRVIS.-On 6th January, 1885, ot St. Sepulchre's Church, Auckland, by the Rev. Josoph Bates, Patrick Robert Frasor, of To Kowhal. Ngaruawahla. to Annie Eliza, fifth daughter of 11. M. Jervls, of Auokland. HILL-THOMAS.—On Deoember 25. at tho resi dence of tb/3 bridp's parents, by the Rev. R, Somniorvillo, Rowland Hill, of Waikoniitl, to Lena Ann. eldest daughter of Geo. Tljomas, Avondale.—Sydney and Qhristehnrch papers pkaso copy. KNOX-ROWE.-On Docotnber 21,1884, at the residence of the bride's pirents, by the Roy. G. B. Monro, James Knox., jun., son of James Knox, sen., late of Lankham, Scotland, to Annio, youngest daughter of Nicholas Cornish Rowo, of Epsom. LYON3-AUBREY.-On January fi. at Wha ngarei Headß, by .tho Rev. L. L. Cubitt, Edmund Humphrey, eldest son of Colonel E. W. Lyons, late Bombay Staff Corps, to Alice, fifth daughtor of H. R. Aubrey, Esq., Wha nijarci Heads. MICHAELS-WHnX-On January 2?, Ralph T. Michaels to Fannlo E. White; both of Auckland. PENNALLIGEN-SEAGAR>-On January 19, 1835. at the Registrar's Office, Auokland, James Alfred, eldest son of Mr John Ponnalli §en, of Auckland, to Mary Elizabeth, second aughterof Mr Wm. Seagar, of Aucldand. ROSS-ROWK.-On December 21, ISM. at the residence of the bride's parents, by the Roy. G. B. Monro, Robert Ross, ongloeer, Auck land, to Sarah, oldest daughter of Nicholas Cornish Ro we, of Epsom.—Morrayahire papors please copy. SIMPSON-DALTON.-On December 1,1881, at All Saints' Church. Ponsonby, by the Rev. W. Caldqr, George Simpson, of Mount Alhort, to Mary Alice, youngest daughter of W. J. Dal ton O.K. STEKLE-MACKY.-At tho Manse, near Ot ■ huhu, by the father of th? bride, tho We". 1 avid John Steele, M.A , to Elizabeth Lind say, feconddaughterof tho Rev. JohnMaoKi, M.A. BNODGRASS-CLAYTON.-On 29th Dee., 1881. at St Mary's Church. Parnell, by tho Yen. Arohdcacon Dudloy, John Snodgrasa. elde>.t ion of John Snodgrass, Esq., of Tau-anga, to Emmollno, eldest daughtor of Capt. M. T. Clayton, of Auckland. TANNKK—MUHGRA YE.—On January 14th. at St. Sopulehre's Chnrch, by the Venerable Archdeacon Dudloy, Thomas Bird, eldest son of Thomas Tanner, County Cork, Ireland, to Annio, second daughter of George Musgravo, of Limerick, Ireland. SPE AR-SEON.-On November 19, at St. Paul's (ihuroh of England, by tho Rev. C. M. Nelson, B. J. S. Spear, eldest son of John Spear, enach builder, Cornwall. England, to Laura Jano, third daughtor of Captain Thomas Scon, Harbour-maater, Hokiauga, lato of England.. —Home papers please copy. THOBBY-FARRER.-On January 10, at St Mary's Churoh, Parnell, by the Roy. G. H. S. Walpole, Honry Edward Thorby, of Master ton, N.Z., to Mary, elder daughter of the lato Richard Farrer, of Stoko Nowington, London, England. WHffE-KING.-On December 6,1881, by the Rev. A Reid, Thomas Lovell. Bocond son of the late Mr T. A. Whlto, to Alioe. youngost daughter Of Mr John King. - - WHATFORD-MOWBKAY.-On January 21, at Mauku, by tho Rev. S. Lawry, Arthur, fourih son of Major J. T. Whatford, of 79 Grand Parade, Brighton, England, to Phobo, C. E.. third daughter of the lato Mr E. S. Mowbray, of Waian, Mauku.—Sydney and Homo papers plcaie copy. WALKttlt-JAMES.-On January 5, at St Judo's Church. Avondale. by the Roy. John Hazsldcn, Horace, youngest son of tho lato Henry Hirst Walker. Launceston, Tasmania, to Mary Sophia (Lotie), youngest daughter of Captain R. D. James, Bloekloy, Avondale N. 2.

DEATHS.

AUSTING.—On the 2nd January, at Upper IJuoen-Btroet, aftpr four months' painful ill ness, James Austlng, gasfltter; aged 10. BLACKBURN.—Ou January 25, at Ononunga, Perol> al Henry, the bebved son of Richard and Ellzabesh fclaokbul-n; a*cd 10 "months. ■' BAILDOM.—On January Bth, at Hio residence of bis parent-). Great North' Road, William Frederick, fifth son of William and Isabella Baildon, aged 13 months, after a short illness of croup. CAHILL.—On January 6, at his father's resi dence. Alexandra-street, Albert, the only and beloved son ot Timothy and Julia Cahill; aged 5 months. -• !- COhLINUS.-On January 7th, 1881, at the; Mannkau Hotel. Onehunga, John G. Collings,; of Semington, Wilte,England,inhis36thyear. : CROMPTON—On the 26th Jan..' 1885; at his late ! residence. Bedford-street, Parnell, Peter Crompton, aged 32 years, late of Balton. England. ■ CAMPBELL.—On January 15, of conviiloions, at Stokes's Road. Mount Eden, Auckland,, Kenroso Archibald, the beloved son of Ken. neth and Rose B. Campbell. ■ > COYLK—On January 15.1885, at his son's resi dence. Fernloigh-Btreet, Ponsonby, Patrick Coyle (lato of H.M. 68th Regiment); aged 75 years. ' .... .... DOWN.—On January 12th, 1885, John Down, bootmaker; aged 66 yeai'B, late of Elinburgh; Scotland, D UNN.—On January 12th, 1835, at hor residence, Trafalgar-street, Onehunga, Mary Dunne (laic Turner); aged 56 years. DALE.—On January 20, at Onehunga, Amelia He'en, second daughter and youngest child of H; W, Dale, Master Mariner. — Australian papers pfeaae copy. ELLIS.—At Oxford street, Newton, Mabel ' - oarah, infant daughter of Professor Ellis; aged 8 months SJsTALL.-On Jan. 26, at the residence of her aunt, Mrs Brennan, Montague-street, Newton, Annie .Ellzibeth, only daughter of Daniel and Margaret Estall; aked 10 months. ffjRKMAN.-On January li, lsßs, John H. B. T. Foreman; aged 53 years, GIBBIBON. On January 11 at Baglan. Awl Amelia Glbbison; la her 75tn year. Deeply regretted by all who knew her.- bydney papers please copy. " G X DB.—Accidentally dtowned in the Waikato River On the 13th Jan., Albort Henry Gyde. engineer of the s.s. Ranglrlri, youngest son of Mr Joseph Gyde, Netv Plymouth, Taranaki; a'gedßs. ' ... HKFFRAN.—At 7 p.m.. on tho Bth January, Julia, wife of Mark Heffran. R.I.P. HUNTEK.-lm January 8, Walter John, infant ■ son of John James and Bridget Anne Hunter; aged 8 months. gUGHE3.-On January 3, at Te Kopuru, Maria. '' wife of Stewart Hughes, youngest daughtor Of tbe late John Rogers; aged 21 years, HOBOLTH.—On January 16. at his residence, Hobaon-street, Anton Hobolth, of heart dis ease; aged 31 years.' jnOLMES. —On " the 23rd January, 1885, '■ suffocated by fird in 'Elliott-street, Henry Hojnss. artist; aged 64 years; HAKHISON.—At hor parents' residence. Duke itrpet, Cambridge, Myia, infant daughter, of Joseph and Eli*a Harrison; aged eleven months. .....

IBBETSON.~On January 15, at her father's residence, John-street, Mount Eden. Ruebina Angela, the youngest daughter of G :o. R. H. and Emma C. C. lubetson: aged 7 months. " He Bhull carry the lambs in his bosom " JAMES.—On the 12th January, suddenly, John James, of Devonport; aged 63. JAMES.—On Sunday, 25th January, at Mercer, Louis RO3O James, after a long and painful illness; aged 17 years. JENKINS.—On January 20, at his daughter's residence, Kyber Pass Road, Richard Jen kinß, late of Falmouth, Cornwall; aged Gi). Deeply regretted. KAY.—On January 6th, at Conquest Place, Rachel, beloved wifo of Nathan Kay; aged 03 years. KEAN.-On January 14, at his parents' resi dence, Albert-street, William C. M.. infant son • of William and Emily Kean; aged 3 months. MACE.—On January 10. Jack Cyril, tho infant son ot Edward and Emma Mace. McCONNOCHIE.-On January 10, at tho rosi donce of her son-in law, Panmure, Mis John McConnochlo; aged 83 years. MASON.-On tho 20th January, 1885, at Auck land, Ann Mason, relict of tho late James Mason, lato of Coromandol; aged 55 years. R.I.P. Melbourne papors please copy. McLEAN.—On January 22nd, at her parents' residence, Franklin Road, Jessie, infant daughter of Neil McLean, builder; aged 12 weoka. MARSDEN.-On January 10th, 1885. at Harbour View House, Shortland stroot, Auokland, Now Zealand, Annie J. Marsdon, second daughter of Joseph Daniel Marsdon, of Edmonton, Middlesex, England, of consump tion. MANN.—On January 10th, 1885, at his late resi denoo, Newton Road, after a short but painful illness, Christophor Frederick, tho doarly ho lovod husband of Harriot Mann, in his 51th yoar. Deeply rogretted. Homo and Molbourno papers pleaao copy. OLDITIELD.-On January 17th,at tho Provincial HoßoitHl,SamuolAbsoluinoldliold,of\Vaiuku; aged 59. Pa I'TEliaOK.-Qn 3rd January. 1885, at Auok land, William John Pattorson; aged 42 yearn. RI ST.—On January sth, at Onohunga, John Rist. in his 80th year. RlljMiY.—At tho residence of hor daughter, Dedwood Terrace, Ponsonby. Easter Riley, formerly of Onehunga ; aged 95 years. RODGERS.-At tho Albert Hotel, on January 10, Paul Rodgers, of lung disease, aged 35 years. SUTHERLAND.-On January 20, at Wairoa South, Hector Sutherland; aged S8 years. SOLE.—On January 6th, at his father's resi dence, Hepburn-street, iho only son of Charles and Ellen Mary Solo ; aged 0 months. SEARLE.—On Sunday, January 11, at hor lato roiidonco, Liverpool-street (noarKarangahapo Road), Delia, the beloved wife of Thomas Searle, Victoria-street. STAFFORD. - On 13th January, 1885, at his father's residence, corner of Lome and Wol lesley-streo's, George David, youugest son of I)i vid nnd liridgot Stafford ; aged 8 months. VISCOVICH.—On January 11, at her residonoe, OnohunKa, Catharine Viscovich, tho beloved wife of Joseph VI aeovich: aged 80 years. YON GEIUCHTKN. -On the 22nd January, at his parents' i-eßldonco, Viotoria-streot, Freder ics Charles H. G., beloved and only child of Heinrinh and Elixaboth Yon Gorlchtcn; aged 11 weeks. Wn.RINU.-On tho 27th of January, 1885, Alico, the beloved wife ef James Waring, West street, Nowton ; aged 55 years. WHYTOCK.-On January 19, at Kast-streot, Nowton, John Whytock (lato of Perth, Scot land) ; uged '2i. Dooply rogrettod. YOUD. — On January 12. at his parents' rcsl donco, Brighton Road. Parnell, Moreton, tho only and boloved eon of Robert Moreton and Aimto Youd: aged 11 weeks.

THE DIRECT STEAM SERVICE

Discussion In tho Chamber of Commerce.

The question of the direct stoam service was discussed at the mooting of the Cham ber of Commerce on January If). Tho quarterly report of tho Committeo con tained tho following clause :—"Tho import trade of Auckland (the second largest in tho colony) is at present placed at great dis advantage, owing to serious delay and neg lect in transhipment of goods sont throm;!) direct s'teamora to Southern ports. Tho Committeo recommend importers and ex porters to take into immediate considera tion tho ndvisabilityof makingarrangemonts for direct communication with Auckland."— The Chairman, referring to Mr Coster's promise that the claims of Auckland in this matter would bo considered, said the Committeo had thought thoy were bound to allow tho matter to drop till Mr Coster had had a reasonable time to fulfil his pro mise. Thoy now thought the reasonable timo had olapsed, and could only express their disappointment that the promise had not been f ultillod. Fortunately, they found that the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company had started a steamor for Auckland, which, he hoped, was tho beginning of a regular service. It would be quite unreasonable for Auckland to ask for a sorvice any more rapid than it was able to employ, but they certainly thought tho trade of this port muft to a certain extent be sacrificed if there was no steam at all. Steam they had had a taste of. Fivo or six steamers had been sont to this port, and Auckland had been able to employ them fairly, and therefore thoy thought it reasonable that the sorvico should bo con tinued, not only on an cqunl scalo, but on a much larger ; therefore, it now devolved upon them to press their claim once more. This, of course, had no reforenco to the direct mail service. Thoy woro in favour of a direct mail bcrvico, and were inclined to these steamers both by recognising tho largo amount of capital invested in the colony and that the Southern parts of the colony would be as woll sorved by the direct steamers as they could be otherwise. They had written to Wellington asking that a fair share of tho steamers come to Auck land, but this point was not attained.— Mr L. D. Nathan said since tho direct ser vice had been mooted hia firm had done their bost to induce the Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company to run their steamers to Auckland; but sotting aside all sentiment in the matter, it cost thorn £500 more to come here. As soon as wo had a frozon meat trado it would bo different, and when tho Frozon Meat Company was ready they might hopo to havo steamers. Tho Company was sending a steamer now, and they would seohowsho would got on.— Mr Ross spoke of the necessity of bettor arrangements in tho direction of tranship ments. Auckland cargo by direct Bteamors should bo placed in a soparato part of the vessol, and so it could bo transhipped with despatch. Ho had prepared a comparative table showing tho timo taken in re ceiving goods per P. and 0., Orient, and Now Zealand Shipping Company's steamers. Ho found that they were absolutely lator in receiving their goods by direct steamer than they woro in ' receiving them by the P. and O. boats. Of courso, that had only referenco to their own goods. By the P. nnd O. the average was G2 days; the Oriont, 61J days; direct steamor to other ports than Auckland, 02 days. That was, from tho first and last date of delivery of packages. Hero they wcro placed at a great disadvan tage as regards tho Southern ports, whero tho avorago time of arrival wqs 48J days.— Mr M. A. Clark mentioned that tho London agents of the firm had received instructions to send the former class of goods via Sydney. —Mr Heather said he had stopped hie goods coming via the South, as thoy got knockod to pieces. He thought thoy might arrange that every fourth Bteamer should come hero. —After further discussion tho Chairman said the quo.-tion of transferring the whole of our business from sailing vessels to steamers was worthy of attprition.1 We had an export And import tradeOf £3,000,000.' The length of the passage by sailing vessols was two months longer than by steamers, and pre suming that this delay was actually in curred on £3,000,000, the loss of interest at current rates amounted to £45,01,0. He had drawn Mr Coater.'sattentiontotholossof timo in connection with the wool trado. At the end of twelve months the unfortunate pro ducer got his money back.—lt was decided to send copies of tho resolution of tho Com mittee to the companies.

SAILORS' REST AND HOME.

The annual meeting of the Sailors' Rest and Home commenced nt 4 p.m. on Jan. 21. The report states, inter alia :— Mr Fell, the Seamon's Missionary, has per formed his work during tho year with satisfaction to the Committee and benefit to the sailors. He has made 2.30 visits to vessels at anchor, 950 visits to vessels at the wharves, conducted services on 40 vessels in the stream, and induced 600 men, of whom 550 were sailors, to sign the total abstinence pledge. Meetings of various kinds have been held at the rooms, with gratifyin'greaults. The figures show a great increase in the average attendance at the end of the year. The seamen have proved their interest in the institution by contributing money as follows :—£26 for magio lantern and slides; £17 12s 6d for an American organ; £1 17s for a sick comrade; £1 10s for maps, &c.; and £1 2e Gd for theMelano. Bian Mission. Dtjring tip yqar it was fouji"d neoessary to engage Mfss Haynos as Assistant Missionary at a salary of £60 a year; and her services are valued by seamen frequenting the Home. The Com mittee record their thankfulness for the late Mr Costley's munificent bequest, They have received the sum of £11,972 already on aocount of it, and expect to receivo a small balance before long. This bequest is invested in good freehold seburities, and Will yield an annual revenue of £850.—The report was adopted. The following gentlo rhtri were elected as ft comhiitteo t —Messrs Battley, Ewlngtoi, Buddie, Larkins, Clay, tan, Olarko, and Dr. MurroyMoofe, The Chairman stated that Mr Ewington the Secretary, had given a grp.it 'deal of tine fo tie Soeietv; in co', tb him tho Society owiicd it.-) existence — -a vote of thanks was acoorded to Mr Ewing ton, ;■■'--.•'.-■'

ACCIDENTS AND INQUESTS.

A man named John King was drowned in Lyttelton Harbour on Jan. 20, A young man named Thomas Low was drowned on Jan, 5 at Naseby, Otago, while bathing. Laing, the cook on the Arawa, has died from the injuries he sustained at Welling ton. Leonard Stubbs, aged 12 years, ( was drowned while bathing at Gisborno on Jan. G. Harry Gavendor, a well-known settler at Tapanui, Otago, was accidentally drowned on Jan; 7 near his home. A young man named Brooks was drowned while bathing in the Hutt River at Welling ton on January 19. The three-year-old daughter of Flnlny Macky, farmer, Mataura, Otago, has been drowned in a well. Mr W. A. Young, of Paltnorston, Otago, was drowned in the Shag River whilst in an apoplectic fit. The body of Police-Sergeant Brooks's child, who was reported missing somo days ago, was found washed up on Akaroa beach on Jan. 9 J. C. Frew, civil engineer, went out duck-shooting near Hokitika on Jan. 25, and shortly after was found lying shockingly wounded in the faco. He died in tho Hospital after lingering for sovoral hours. Nows has been received of a fatal accidont at Kamo. A man named Josoph Kolly, aged 47 years, waa working on Jan. 22 at a house which is in course of erection near Mair station, when he fell off a plank, which tilted with his weight. The distance to the ground was about ten feet. Kelly sustained serious injuries to his apine, which resulted fatally. Enoch Jones, fireman on board the Harbour Board's- Iron Ago, was killed at Dunedin on January 6. As tho vessel was nearing the wharf tho engineer received ordors to give one stroke ahead. As he turned on steam ho discovered Jones beneath the beam, which descended on him, breaking his back and thigh. Deceased, who leaves a wife and six children, had only been in tho Board's employ for two days. Tho engineer, Mr Gydo, who was acci dentally drowned on January 13 in the Waikato River from the s.s. Rangiriri, was a young man of much promise, and has relatives at Mount-street, in this city. Tho fatal accidont occurred at the stono quarry somo fivo miles from Mercer. De ceased was in tho net of throwing ashes ovorbonrd when he fell over the Bide of the vessel and sank. Tho body was not seen to rise again, although tho captain waited about tho spot for an hour or so.

A nativo boy, aged 12, ran a splinter into his thigh at Gieborne on January 20, and was treated by a roan named Palmor, who has- charge of the practice among tho Maori?. Totanus supervened, and when tho doctor was called in it was too late, and the boy diod. At the inquest, it was Bhown that, If properly attended to in time, his life would have beon saved. The jury said the polico should prevent Palmer from practising.

A tatal accident occurred in Lyttelton Harbour on Jan. 19. Mark Thomas, mail carrier to Purau, left Lyttelton Wharf with the mail and threo passengers in an open boat at 11 a.m. . There was a stiff N.E. gale blowing, and shortly aftor cloaring tho breakwater a heavy sea came aboard the boat. Thomas jibed tho boat to rccovor tho hut of one of the men, which had blown overboard, when a sea broke heavily over tho stern of tho boat, which sank at onco. Josoph King, ono of the passengers, being unable to swim, was drowned. Tho other three men sup ported themsolvcs on the mast of the boat till rescued.

An aocident occurred in a gravel pit at Remuera on January 9, whereby a carter named Robert Hall, in the employ of Mr Price, farmer, lost his life. It appears that ho was loading his cart at tho pit, when some men working in the vicinity ob served tho horse bolt. Suspecting some thing- to bo wrong, they hastened over and found the unfortunate man lying prone on the ground, partially covered with a quantity of debris that had apparently just fallen from tho sido of the pit. A large Bcoria rock had struck his head, which was bleeding profusely. An inquest was hold on Saturday, Jan. 10, at tho residence of Mr R. K. Davis, Reinuora, boforo Dr. Philson, Coroner.—A verdict of "Accidental doath " was returned.

Considorablo excitement was caused In boating circles on Jan. 23 by tho intelligence of a shocking accident at Kaipara Heads, by which the lives of tho Wairoa whale boat crew were jeopardised, and the steer oarsman, a man named Alick Murphy, drownod. Our correspondent at Te Kopuru supplies tho following particulars of tlje oc currence: —"Tho Wairoa whaleboat crew woro capsized in the Fay off Beacon's Point, Kaipara Harbour, yesterday morning on their way from Pahi Regatta for Auck land. Thoy had great difficulty in saving themselves. The steorsmnn, a coloured man named Murphy,was drowned. Tho others got ashore, an 1 arrived hero last night in a native boat, much exhausted. The Fay has sunk in deep water." An accident occurred about tour p.m. on Jan. 19 on the Wollingtn.n-ijanawatu Railway Company's \Vorks at Pukerau, about 2-1 mi'es from Wellington, which resulted in tliroo mon being buried under neath a fall of earth in a tunnel. It appears that twolve mon were working in a tunnel in Mr Brown's contract, when the timber suddenly gave way, and a largo quantity of earth fell. Nino managed to escapo, and the othor three wore entombed. Their nam is aro: Peter George, Henry Lloyd, and Matthew Pnnzadctti. The voice of tho last-named could be heard, and he stated that ho could hear one of the other unfor tunate mon groaning, but was unable to tell which. News reached town on Jan 20 that the Austrian, Panzadottl, was rescued at half-past ono p.m. Ho was in a very weak condition, but sensible. Tho nature of his injuries aro unknown. The trunk of one of tho other men was got out, but tho legs were still unearthed. Nothing is yet known respecting tho fate of the third man, but it is almost certain that he is dead. Further news states that tho Aus trian, who was taken out alive, has sue cumbod.

Information respecting an extraordinary occurenco transpired at the meeting of tho Hospital Committee on January 12. The members of that body were elootrified by receiving a requisition from tho house steward for the pro vision of lightning rods for the Hospital; tho reason for tho request boing that a patient had been struck dead by lightning lastSundayfortnight. Thedeceaied, William Spargo,' was boing treated in tho Hos pital for eczema, a skin disease. Hia heart action waa also weak. On Christmas Day he appeared to be in ex cellent health and Bpltita. At night there was a heavy thunderstorm. During tho storm one of tho nurses noticed Spargo lying as though in a fit. Dr. Bond was speedily in attendance, but nothing could be done, as the pationt was past human aid. Dr. Bond wrote the following memo, on the patient's card, "Was struck by lightning and died instantly during the thunderstorm on tho night of December 25th, 1884," but the cause of death was certified to as "concussion of the brain," without any reference to tho tragic means by which the poor fellow came by his death. At the meeting of the Committee' yes-tor* day, Dr. Bond was questioned by Colonel Haultain as to whethbr the cause of death might not have been fright, but ho (Dr; Bond) had not- tho slightest hesitation in saying that the death was caused by lightning, though there was no mark on the body of deceased, iior on any porticm. oj the building. Cases of the kiwj are on record, but aye certainly vary uncommon. The lightning, Dr. Bond says, came through a window near Spargo's bed. Dr, Philson was informed by the nouse surgeon of the occurrence, but he did not consider an inquest necessary. A fatal accident occurred at Mangare on the evening o' Janu iry 28. Two young men named Ernest Serdifield, aged 18, and David Forsaith, proceeded to Mangere Run for the purpose of testing the speed of their horses, I'hey were accompanied hjr Meaara A. and Jr Hedley, qf Mftnnt ItoskUl. When thoy arrived at tho Run, though it was past eight o'clook, and tho night was somewhat dark, it was decided to proceed with the race, The horses wore Btarted, Forsaith leading the way. After Forsaith had passed the winning-post he observed Serdi field'g riderless horse following him. A search 'was made for the rider, when the young man was found lying senseless on the ground about • 200 yards from the winning - post. He was carried to the residence of Mr F, E. Andrews, a settler, and Dr. Scott of One hunga, who soon arrived, pronounced the injury to be fracture to the base of the skull.'' causing concussion of the brairf, Serdifield lingered on till1 eight a.m, oh' January 29, when he died. The deceased, \tfho was a very promising youbg man, -vi-asa step-son of Mi- Connelly, utorekeeper, of Opotiki. He was employed as a clerk in Messrs Macky, Logan, and peon's warehouse, Darby and Elliott-streets,

OBITUARY.

Dr. Diver, of Wellington, is dead. Mr Justice Aylmer, Resident Magistrate, Akaroa, Christchurch, died on Jan. 12. We have to record the death of Mr Christopher Frederick Mann, the first member that waa initiated in the Eden Lodge of Freemasons, E.C., who passed away after a short and painful illness at his residence, Newton Road. The deceased brother was a highly-respected member of his lodge. A. large number of the brethren attended the funeral.

At the inquest the jury returned a verdict to the effect that the body of deceased, John Henry Holmes, was found suffocated and scorched in a burning house in Elliott-Btreet on Saturday, the 24th Jan., but that thore was no evidence adduced to show how tho fire originated. The deceased was a gentleman by birth and education. Bis father was court painter to King George IV., and he was educated at Harrow. Ho was a quiet, inoffensive man, nnd his worst enemy was himself.

Another pioneer settler, in the person of Mrs Ellen Regan, passed from our midst at a ripe old ago on Christmas morning at her residence, Mackny-street, Thames. The decoased lady arrived in Australia in 1838, and in 1841 came to Auckland in a vessel commanded by Captain Daldy, whero she with her husband and family mado their home. She was ono who could recount tales of the old times which the recent arrivals in Auckland could hardly give credence to. Sho leaves a family of 10 children and 32 grand-children, besides numerous friends, to mourn thoir loss. Amongst tho obituary notices will be found that of Paul Rodgers, a com mercial traveller representing in these colonies tho well-known firm of Chris topher Johnson and Co., cutlers, of Shofiiold. The decoased arrived from Sydney about January 10, and put up at tho Albert Hotel. He was suffering from consumption, and every attention was paid him by Mr and Mrs Roberts. On January 13 -ho was confined to his bed, and Dr. Hooper was at once called in. Medical aid, however, was of no avail, and the patient breathed hia ast on January 10, at 9 a.m. Later in the day Drs. Hooper and MasMullen made a post mortem examination of the body, and certified to the cause of doath as being pluhisw pneumothorax One of the vory oldest settlers in the Province of Auckland, Mr Hector Suther land, died on Jan. 26 at his residence, Wairoa South, at the patriarchal age of 88 years. The deceased gentleman was born in the parish of Clyne, Sutherlandshire, Scotland, in 1797, just within three years of tho close of last century. At the age of 18 ho removed with his parents to Nova Scotia, where tho family resided for several years. They afterwards removed to Cape Breton, where were located a large popula tion from almost all parts cf the Highlands of Scotland. In 1852 tho subject of this notice and liis family emigrated, with a number of other Highland settlers of Cape Breton, to South Australia, accompanied by thoir old minister, the Roy. Norman McLeod, of Waipu. In 1855 these emi grants came to Auckland, and in the fol lowing year they settled at Waipu, Mr Sutherland and his family being of the number.

Mpr lohn James, an old and highly-respected colonist, who for some years past has acted as clerk to the Waitemata County Council and Secretary to the Board of Governors of the Auckland College, met with his death under somowhat painful circumstances on January 12. Tho facts are as follow: On January 12 tho deceased gentleman rose early, ono of his daughters being desirous of catching a steamer. While moving about tho houso ho had the mis fortuno to fall down stairs, suffering severe contusions on the face and legs. He was attended by Dr. Sanders, homceopathist, who advised him to take a hot bath, and gave lsra some arnica, which was to be used while bathing. The deceased was able to com* to town, and ahortly before two o'clock in the afternoon he proceeded to Messrs Mason Brothers' establishment, Queen-street, for the pur pose of following out the advice of his medical advisor. Tho bathman was absent at the time, but one of the assistants in the halrcutting department, a young man named Freeman, auppliod the ba% Mr Jamei entered the bathroom *nd olosed the door, but shortly afterwards desired Free man to make tho bath warmer, mentioning that ho was taking it by medical advice, having mot with an accident. Subse quently the bath was still further heated, at Mr James's request. About half-past four tho bathman, Newton, who had returned in the meantime, became alarmed at the continued silenpe in the bathroom, and drew the attention of Mr Thomas Mason to' the matter, who at once advised that tho door should be forced. This was dono, when Mr James waa discovered lying on his right sido in the bath, tho water partially covoring tho mouth and nostrils. Thore was a littlo blood at the nostrils. Ho was quite dead, and rigid, and had probably been dead for a couplo of hours. Mr Thomas Maso» at once sent for medical assistance, and Di-8. Philson and Dnwßon werp soon in attendance. After applying tho usual test 3, tliQy were both of opinion that the doceased had not died of drowning. There were numerous bruises on tho lower part of tho body, principally on the left side. The deceased was advanced in years, and leaves a grown-up family of sons nnd daughters.

MERCANTILE

Weixintox Meat Preserving and Refri gerating Company declare a dividend of 5 per cent, for the past year.

The Colonial Bank's half-yoarly report re commends the paymont of a dividond of seven per cent., to add £1,000 to the reserve fund, and carry forward £2,CG5 19s Bd. The Now Zealaad Refrigorating Com pany, Dunedin, has doolared an interim dividend at the rate of ten per cent, for the half-year. Wellington Una Company paid an in terim dividend of 6 per cent. July last, and a dividend of 74 per cent, is now re commended. £1,500 will be written off the plant account, and £1,000 added to the reserve fund.

' The exports of kerosine oil from tho United States of Amorica to Australia and Now Zealand for 1884 amounted to 525,886 cases, boing an advance of 93,950 cases as compared with the supply for 1883. The exports to New Zealand for 1884 totalled 109,320 casos, being an advance of 98,756 cases on tho supply for 1883. 'The annual general meeting of tho Waiuku and Onehunga Steam Company (Limited) was held at tho head office, Waiuku, when there was a good attendance, J. Barr Brown, Esq., managing director, presided. Tho report an 1 balance-sheet were read, and after some discussion, thoy were adopted on the motion of the Chair-' man, seconded by Captain MnkgiU. The re tiring directors wore Captain Makgillrind,Mr Brooks, both of whom were re- elected. A divi dend at the rate of 5 per cent.'bn tho paid up capital was declared, and will be pay able at the Company's office, Waiuku, on and after Monday, February 2. Apart from the 5 per cent, paid on the capital, a sum was carried to the resetve fund. A vote of thanks to the managing director and his staff and employes was unanimously ac corded, Special mention' being Tn^ae of the Secretary, Mr T, Joseph Sickey, whose, special attention tS £he affairs of th,e Com pany waa refio'ghise'd, by'the directors pre senting him with a cheque for £10,. An extraorijinary meeting o$ the share* holders' of tho Frp,3§n Meat and Storage Company Vfa3 held at the- Company's oiiloo, Quean-street, on January 11. Mr Bull, Chairman of the Board of Direotors, presided, aud there were twenty-five shareholders present. The Chairman announced that the resignation of all the directors had been placed in his hands. He intimated the first business would be the appointment of a chairman of tho meeting. Mr J. C. Firth was then voted to the chair, and moved that in place of clause 63 a new clause be inserted, "Tha.t the. number of direotors be seven." Mr Bull seconded. Carried unanimously, The meeting then pro ceeded to the election of members of tho new board. The Chairman an nounced the result of the election to be as follows!-Mr Banks, 10,828 j Mr A. Bull, 10,611 ; Mr Murdoch, 9,111 j Sir F. Whitaker, 9.013 ; Hon. J. William son, 8,475; Mr P. Comisky, 7,171 i Mr L. D. Nathad, 6,724; Mr A. Buckland, 3,159; Mr J. Howard, 2,685. The first seven were declare^ duly elected, and the meeting terminated with, a vote of thanks to the chairman hnd Bc'rutl neer.

The last of, the rails on the line of tyrant, waj> 'extending; ftom;'Qiieen-'street to the dep6t at Some Bay were linked 26 at the'fcorner of Earanigahape an,d Ponsonby Roads, and gA"sin. 2? a, ear containing Jtjr CooKei Resident Engineer tothe',±"traViiway Company, and Mr Hales, District Engineer, traversed the entire cir cuit. Cars will probably run right through to the depot by Feb, 2,

FIRES

Destruction of the New Zealand Timber Company's Mill.

£10,000 Worth of Property

Consumed.

The fiercest fire and grandest pyrotechnic display that havo occurred in Auckland

; since the days when whole streets formed a single holocaust for tho devouring flames, took placo on Saturday night, January 10. At a quarter to ten o'clock the first notes of alarm were rung out upon the factory bell in tho Auckland Timber Co.'s establish ment, Customs-street West, and were promptly token up in turn by the firebells of the city and Parnell. Tho fire in creased with such rapidity that the entire extent of the mill, both front and rear, from basement to roof, was in its fiery embrace beforo the arrival of the Firoßrigade under Superintendent Hughes, and the Salvage Corps under Captain Eield, although both bodies mustered and hastened to the scene with the greatest possible ex pedition. Meantime, the fire had also been observed from the American man-of-war Iroquois, and Captain Stirling immediately despatched Ensign Gilmour in tho whale boat to tender for shore duty the services of tho vessel's own brigade. Superinten dent Hughes of course accepted with gratitude the timely offer, and En sign Gilmour communiq|>M tho fact to those on board by sending up a rocket. The cutter was at once got out, and tho brigade, consisting of a score or so of men under Lieutenant Halsey, rowed off swiftly for the shore. When' Superintendent Hughes arrived upon the ground it noeded but a glance to assure himself that tho eventuality of greatest dangor was that of tho extension of the flames towards the extensivo premises of tho Auakland Timber Company, adjoining thoso of the New Zealand Timber Company on its western side. He therefore took up his own position on that side, assisted by Branchmen Heaps, Moore, and Findlay, who, with their mer, Bcaled the burning stacks of timber and resolutely held possession as long as they could, con testing every inch of space as they were slowly driven backward. Here likewise the employes of the Auokland Timber Co., under Messrs Geo. Holdship (manager), W. C. Daldy, junr. (secretary), Foreman Priestley, Peter Smith (engineer), and others gave very valuable assistance. On the eastern side senior Fireman Harloy and junior Fireman Clarke, with their con tingent of men, carried on the warfare against the consuming element, ably assisted by Messrs Frank Jaggar, W. Parker, Herbert and Edwin Carr, the employ^B of the N.Z. Timber Co., and some of the sailors, the chief object being to save as many stacks of timber on that side as was possible, and to assure the safety of the office as well as of. the three-masted schooner Frank Guy, which was lying alongside the wharf behind the office laden with coke for Napier. A cutter which Mr D. Gouk had upon his slip was also threatened. On the southern side the principal point of danger was the Gas Company's premises, * hich were guarded by a large number of their employes. Leads of hose of all sizes from the '

tiniest squirt to the inch and a quarter " controlling nozzle" were kept in constant service, aud buckets were also in requisition. A^ongthe whole eastern side the battle raged fiercely from 11 till 12.30, By midnight hopes were beginning to be entertained that the eastward progress of the fire would be stayed The chief point of interest about this time was the western Bide of the conflagration. Between the blazing mass that an hour or two ago had been the fine milloftheNewZealand Timber Company, and the Auckland Timber Com pany's mill, was a succession of stacks of timber belonging to the last named com pany. Several of these were forty or fifty feet high, and composed principally of timber suitable for weather-boarding, floor ing, &c. Despite the strennous efforts made, the flames extended to these stacks, the fire raging most fiercely at a stack close to the roadway, and at a stack near the water's edge. A great heap of bundled shingles on the wharf also caught fire, but tho damigdl at tho last-named point was minimised by the throwing of a number of the bundles overboard. On thg roof of the Auckland Timber Co 's mill about a score of willing helpers had congregated. These, by means of hoses and buckets, saturated tho building. Several of these workers had narrow escapes from falling through the glass aky-lighta, one or two of which were broken by the unwary treading on them. At 2.30 the workers succeeded in arresting the progress of the flames in the centre of the last line of stacks. At 3 o'clock the men of the Iroquois, having boen " refreshed', by Superintendent $ughos at Gleeson's hotel, .yore marched off te their vessel, amidst cheers from the assembled crowds. All through the night and Sunday forenoon the Fire Brrgado kept the water going on the debris. Most" of tho Fire Brigade men aro suffering from severe colds in c on sequence of the wetting and exposure. The New Zealand Timber Company's loss is calculated at between £3,000 and £9,0(!0, of which £3,000 is covered by a policy in the Norwich Union Offlco. That Company has, howovor, reinsured £2,600 of tho risk. Thero boing reason to suspect that the fire was caused by an incendiary, tho Company havo offered £200 reward for information leading to tho detection of the miscreant and the Government offer a free pardon to any accomplice who will turn Queen's evi dence. The Company have, since the fire, quite metamorphosed the appe rwe of Freeman's Bay, which is now illuminated nightly. Tho Company have a splendid frontoge of several hundred feet, and, for ornately for the shareholders, they have also a now and powerful mill, which was, of course, out of the range of fire j, so that, almost on the scene o.£ their former operations, the Company have machinery : turning out 80,000 feet of timber per week, ! and also over a million feet of seasoned timber in their yards and at the Whangapoua mill. The directors, after calm deliberation, decided that the Company's advantageous position, as men tioned above, justified the immediate re sumption of business, and Mr ffvank Jagger, tho manager.immediately oabled to Sydnoy, nnd also telegraphed to various New Zealand centres, for quotations and descriptions of the most mouern machines required for manufacturing aid other uses. The 'first satisfactory reply came from Dunedin, and negotiations ended in the purchaso of exactly the class of machinery ■wanted. To show the difference Ijetwean the activity of Auckland trade and the depression' of the South, wo should state that a complete equipment fbr'a sash and door factory, imported per Scotia to Port Chalmers, was lying unpacked, ns tho dul ness of the times did not justify the erection of the same in a new mill for which they was bought. This was at once ob tained for Auckland, at less than it could be imported direct from the manufacturers. The Sydney machines Mr Jaeff^t- wired for were the first to »iriv» I'helirst machine was deliv^ at the mill' at noon, s,nd f s tZ actually running bejjqre tea time, Captain Sterling, of the United States inan-o'-war Iroquois, has written to the director ot tlie Auckland Timber Company, acknowledging their letter of thanks and aoeompanying testimonial of ten guineas for the men of his ship. He states,hewever : "The offering of the testimonial is heartily appreciated, but the customs' of our service do not admit of its acceptance, and I am therefore constrained to decline it." Mr Holdship subsequently- had an interview with Captain Sterling, when it was agreed that the money could not be better applied than as a donation to the Auckland Sailors' Home. This institution will thus receive the benefit of the timely services rendered by the gallant tars on the night of the fire. At the general meeting of the Company, to be held on Feb. 4, the fourth annual report and, balance-sheet will be swbmitted. The report of the directors states that the not trade profits for the year ended 31stDecem ber last amount to £18,025 12s 6d, which the balance from last year augments to £21,333, Is Gd. The payment of on interim dividend to 30th June last absorbed £2,740, leaving £18,587 Is Gd available for. appro priation. On account of the late destructive fire on tbe Company's premises, the direcj tors recommend that the whole amount available be carried forward for the purpose of reinstating the machinery, plant, md, buildings, Asthe loss by the receut eon, flagratlpn" would otherwise abftprb. the Whole of the fij-q. reserve and. depreciation, account, t }je sjiggijstibn is a wise one and f^o's^ajrehoji&ji's. will doubtless adapt it with % feeling of gratification that the ample profits ot th? concern should have enabled them bo easily to surmount the misfortuno

The timber mills of Messrs Parsons and Small, near Napier, have been destroyed by fire, with a large stock of timber, and other mills are threatened.

RELIGIOUS.

St. Mary's, Parnell.—Annual Meeting.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Mary's, Parnell, was held on Jan. 27 in the schoolroom, Scarborough Terrace, the incumbent (Rev. G. H. S. Walpolo) pre siding. According to the printed report the offertory during the past year had been nearly £40 in excess of last year, and the amount from seat rents between £20 and £30 less. All the money due to this source, however, had not been received. There was a balance of £79 8s 9d in hand. The gratuitous services of Mr Dewts had saved the parish over £20. It was hoped that the necessary funds for the erection of the new church would be in hand in time, so that there might be no delay after the sites were secured. The statement of accountsshowgl the receipts of parish and special funds to Pr £979 18s 4d, and the expenditure—parish funds, £766 6s lOd; special funds, £134 2s 9d, leavingabalance,asbeforestated,of£79Ss9d. The Chairman, in proposing the adoption of the report and balance-slioet, said that not quite half the seatholders had already promised £2,000 towards the new church, 60 out of 140 seatholders having already responded. At the ond of four years £8,000 might be from the congregation. The motion was passed. £50 out of the credit balance was allucated to the Now Church Fund. Mr R, Maris Clark was ap pointed clergyman's warden, and Mr S. Percy Smith was re-elected people's church warden. The following gentlemen were elected vestrymen:—Captain Thomas, Cap tain Clayton, Messrs Rawlings, Gay, F. Ireland, Hay, Easam, T. Wood, Cheese man, and Gardner. Mtssrs Edward Clayton and Bedford were elected auditors. £10 was voted to the Sunday-school, and thanks wore passed to the choir and choirmaster (Mr Dowes), to Captain Clayton and the Sunday-school teachers, to the district visitors, and the ladies who were working for tho choir, &c.

Trinity Church, Devonport.-Annual

Tho annual mooting of Trinity Church parishioners took place on Jan. 27 in the School-room, Devonport, tho Roy. J. Bates (incumbent) being in the chair. In their report the vestry stated that the parsonage was sold in April last for £650. They recommended that a new parsonage should be built alongside the church, on the site now occupied by the Sunday-school. Gas had been laid on to tho school, a handsome pulpit had been erected in the church, and towards the authorised completion of the sacred building £500 had already boen pro mised in subscriptions. The church, when finished, would seat comfortably COO adults, and the old portion of tho pre sent church would then be taken down and re-erected on. the lower part of the ground. The offertories had increased by an average of more than £6 per Shnday. There were 252 names on the Sunday-school registers, the boys number ing 139 and the girls 113. The church re ceipts had amounted to £581 Is 2d; general and special offertories, £346 16s; seat r^nts, £147 17s; and sundry amounts, £57 lGs, with a debit balance of £29 12s 2d. Tho expenditure amounted to £582 Is 2d, and included £445 for stipends and salaries. Tho parsonage fund showed that £404 13s was invested for this purpose. The report and balance-sheet were adopted, and the following office-bearers appointed:—Clergy man's warden, Mr It. Camoron (re nominated) i parishioners' warden, Mr W. H. Fenton. Vestry i Messrs W. H. Brown, T. L. White, E. M. C. Harrison, W. Mc Cullough, J. G. Trevithick, O. Mays, J. Sheen, B. Tanner, D. McKellar, Captain S. J. Williams. Auditors: Messrs Vosper and Twiner. Votes of thanks were passed to the out-going vestry, to Mr Bell (people's warden during the year), the superinten dents and teachers of the Sunday-school, and the choir.

Holy Trinity Church, Waiuku.-Annual Meeting.

The annual meeting of the members of Holy Trinity Church was held in the church on January 23. There was a small attend ance, the ladies being in the majority. The Roy. C. C. Frith presided, and having opened the meeting, called upon Mr Watts, miniate!'s warden, to read the statement oi accounts, which showed a total income of £125 14s 10Jd, and expenditure, £124 18e 2sd, leaving a balanoo in hand of 16s Bd. Mr Harris moved the adoption of the state ment. A discussion ensued relative to thi non-appearance of a sum of £15 or £18 obtained at the church soiree in the early part of 1884. It appears, from the reply, that the amount had beon handed over to tho parsonage trustees, with a promise oi being refunded, but of which there is no appearance at presont, and from the remark of the great light of the trust, we fear the church or its people may look in vain. The report was passed, and the Rev. Mr Frith nominated Mr W. J. Harris as his warden, and took occasion to thank Mr A. Watts, who had acted . for him for two years past, for his zeal and constant attention to church work. 1 hope the new ono will do half as well. On

tho motion of Mr Bent, Mr Watts was elected lay warden and S^csotary and Treasurer; Mr Bent e»A Mr T. Smith members ot Copyftittce, The reverend Chairman, tfemkod tho outgoing wardens and vesfcry for thoir past services. One warden had loft a woek or two before' the end of the year, and he did not think it necessary to call the congregation together to fill tho vacancy for so short a timo. Mi Bont moved, and Mr Frith seconded, a heaity vote of thanks to Miss Flexman for so ably presiding at tho organ; to Miss E Bischoff for her kind assistance ; and to the members of the choir; and also a voto of thanks to tho lato Superintendent of the Sunday-school, Mr Green, and tl\c teachers. Mr Frith said that it was Wauiku's turn to

have the annual church, soiree, which will be held in Easter wee!&. A sub-committee was appointed to carry this out, consisting of Roy. t\ Frith and Messr3 King and Hamlin.

St. Andrew's Church.—Annual Meeting.

The annual meeting of the members of St. Andrew's PiesLtei-ian Church was held on Jan. 27, Rev. A. Carrbk presiding, when there was a lair attendance. Tho annual report of the manager was road by Mr J Reid, and stated intfi^.ah'a that in consider ation for the health of the pastor,, Rev. A Carrick, tho office-bearers had taken steps . to secure the temporary services of an as sistant, and were fortunate in engaging from ! May 14 the services of Mr W. Ferguson, who has proved well qualified for the position. Mr Ferguson's engagement terminates in May next, and it rests with the congrega tion to indicate what may be their wishes for the future. The debt on the church building ha,a $oi been materially reduced during the past year. It now stands at I £1,195.19s 2d,- of which sum £300 is owing to ': members of the congregation on debentures, ;nnd £898 19s 2d to the Bank of New South : Walos. The Sunday-school averaged about 100, and was utyjer the able superintend ence of Mr A. Winks and a staff of 17 teachers. The Parnell School was ialao flourishing undsr Mv Leßoy, -and had a toll of 62 scholars. The Bible class, undfer Mr Ferguson, during the past seven months, had h,<jen, most successful. Owing to remoyal by death ov otherwise, it was found desirable to increase the number ol I elders, and eight were chosen; five of the managers had been elected to the eldership, and five additional members were required for the Deacons' Court. Tne statement of accounts showed that the receipts had been £767 10s Sd,, including collections, £416 8s 8d; sestt rents, £197 9s. Tbe expenditure txais £767 10s Bd, less a credit balance iv hand of £3 lis 2d. Embraced i» the expenditure were— minister's stipend, £459 10s; Rev. W, i Ferguson, £100; and special collections paid over, £37 17s 2d.—Mr M. A. Clark moved, and Mr Campbell se conded, the adoption of the report and statement, which was agreed to. The rev. Chairman expressed his satisfac tion with the cpadial relations existing between hiiftself, tho congregation, and Mr Ferguson, and said that hte own health was much better bow than it was a year ago. The meeting passed a resolution expressing satisfaction with the work of Mr Ferguson, and it was further agreed to defer aotion on the question of the pastorate until the Managers' Court had considered and re ported upon the matter, when a special meeting would be called. The Chairman introduced tho subject of the proposal to introduce the new hymnal, "Church Praise," which was also referred to in tho report. After con siderable discussion it was agreed, on the mptipn oi. the Rev. P. Mason, seconded .by Mr Bell, "That the question be re ferred to the Deacons' Court, and slips bo handed round in order that the i vote of the congregation might determine the matter." Messrs Archibald Clark, J. Whitson, J. Bain, Tizard, and J. J. Holland were elected as additional managers to the Deacons' Court for the en«uing year, A vote oi, thanks was given to Rev. Mr Carripfc;fqr.hiß labours during the past year, \^niph was feelingly acknow - ledgedi ahd^he meeting broke up.

MISCELLANEOUS.

Gold has been discovered near Kihikihi. jf Tin «re has been found near Westport.Q Sir John Hall goes back to England by theTongnriro c The Governor is expeoted to visit West :- land to inspect the harbour works. 't During the holidays over COO people n visited Te Aroha hot baths, c It is proposed to form a Scottish Volunteer 1 corps at Christchurch. ', An Exhibition Committee of 70 members c has been appointed at Christchurch. 2 _ Taranaki Ironsand Company is showing i signs of resuscitation. * 3 A chair of Natural Philosophy is to be •' founded in Otaeo University. t Thirty-one persons in New Zealand own 3 land valued at £4,524,401. I There were 2,260 persons arrested in " Canterbury last year, against 2,510 in the i preceding year. . An average of 8,000 passengors weekly is now carried over the Auckland tramways. ' 'Bus fares are coming down. Masterton Farmers' Club havo decided :o undertake the promotion of a dairy fac tory. Apples in the Wairarapa are quoted at one penny per pound and three shillings per case. Tenders are advertised for 75,000 sleepers for the Nortli Island trunk railway exten sion The poll for a harbour at Napier re sulted in a tremendous majority in favour of the 10an—1,387 against 00. £258 Gs 8d per foot was obtained for land in Christchurch on Jan. 21—the highest yet paid in that city. The Maoris of the King Country aro dis cussing tho desirability of abandoning the Hauhau religion A priest will shortly bo appointed to Ponsonby parish —protubiy ono of several to arrive from England. . The fall in the prico ot sugar is causing; people tn look despondingly at the pros pects of Fiji. M. de Jiarven, the Belgian agent, is in Wellington, trying to further Belgian im- * migration in connection with the Chriet church and West Coast Railway. Tho Committee of the New Zealand In dustrial Exhibition propose to use calico in- j stead of glass for the windows of the build ing- '. King Tawhlao is making preparations for a visit to the Bay of Islands at an early dato, to exchange courtesies with thci Ngapuhi tribe. By 2,108 votes against 283, Christehurrft ratepayers on Jan. 23 agreed to the proposal of the Corporation to borrow £25,000 for permanent works. The' colliers' strike at Westport is con sidered to be virtually over. Koranui coal mine resumed on Jan. 19, and the other is expected to follow. At Wellington on Jan. 6 a dancing party was held on board the Shaw-Savill Com pany's new steamer Arawa. About 1,000 people were present. The ihoome of the Auckland Board of Education for the current year is estimated at £82,837 10s; expenditure, £81,467118 ■2d. The building fund expenditure is esti mated at £15,752. The convocation of the University of $'ew Zealand opened its session at Dunedin on lan. 13. There were ten members present, md Mr T. S. Foster, M.A., Christchurch, presided. The first direct shipment of wool to Ant werp was forwarded on Jan. 9 from Timaru, for transhipment to tho Arawa. It is a pur chase by M. de Harven, the Belgian com missioner. The Wellington "Times" says that in the course of a month or two Major Caut ley will return to England, and that the*© is no intention of taking up his schema o£ defence. Ti.e expenditure of Timaru Harbour Board for the year ISB4 was £51,575, antS the balance in hand (after providing for all contingencies and works in hand) is £17.500. [ Timaru Harbour Beard on Jan. 15 resel ved to build a northern wharf for steamers, I and out of a large number of tenders from i»U parts of the colony that of Charles. < I Palliser (£9,773) was accepted. . The Appeal Board for Napier, in eonnec- I tion with the Railway Department, has been appointed, and the appointees, it. is understood, are: Captain, Preece, R.M. (Chairman), and Messrs. H. S. Tiffea and Thomas Tanner. An earthquake, shock w;as felt on Jan. 15 over a wide area extending from Wanganui to Christchurch. At Wellington, Blen heim, and Nelson, two distinct shocks were | experienced, one shortly Rafter tho othor ; . but at no place was the disturbance at alt' i severe. A Maori prophet named Riri, who -,yns preaching at Parihaka that he wjvs ap pointed of God to rule the natives, and had power to kill all wicked people, both Eurc^ oeanand Maori, has boen given In charge by Te Whit!, and consigned to a lursiic: ' asylum Twenty weasels and six stoats were sold by auction at Christchurcn on behalf iof Government on January 27. Tb» former realised £3 each, and the latter £5: 5s each. The remainder ot tho consingmont brought by tho lonic are to be liberated in :ho back country of Otago and Canterbury Tho telegraphic rates between \ictorih, tnd Now South Wales have bean reduoect ,by 59 per cent, sinco Ist instant. The Vie ; :orla_n Postmaster-General intends to com nunicate with Queensland and New Zea land, urging those oolonies to unito in re ducing telographie rates on a similar basis. The elections for threo members of the Government Lifo Insurance Board resulted' ■ «n the return of Messrs B. D. Bell, George Fisher, and G. S. Graham. The following ire the numbers polled by th > successful candidates:—Boll, 1,513; Fisher, 1343- Graham, 1,334. ' " The employds of the Auckland Tobacco Company met on Jan. 19 at. the City Club Hotel for the purpose of presenting Mr R„ r. Michaels, the foreman of the Company, with a handsome marble timepiece as a mark of theh; esteem on the eve of his mar nsge. Mr Hyams presided. Mr Michael •uitably acknowledged the gift. I The Motueka correspondent oi " Th© '' &£ onS-'\ wires that F- Bißle V shot him selfatNelsononJan.ls. An in quest was held at 3 p.m. The monetary affairs of deceased are believed to be in a bad state. Tho un- ' i fortunate man was head-master of tho Government School, and also Secretary to 3 che Foresters and Oddfellows' Lodges in this district. He leaves a wife and laree family. .-" . The dry weather of the pastfew weeks has i led to the outbreak of alarming bush fires |A. vast conflagration is raging in the bush' , near Napier, and on Jan. 26 telegrams were received stating, that a terrible fire had got hold of the bush at Coronwndel. For the last 36 hours this firo has raged, causing : great destruction, ThemanagerofTokatea Ibr.M. Company has managed to save the, : battery and houses belonging to the Com pany, but the danger is not yet over It ia reported that another big fire in the direc : 3ion of Mercery Bay has cut off aJJ com-"' munication between that place and Cova mandel. \i . The subject of fcitendinj; the operations al the Good Templar Order anfong the Maoris has been raised at the Grand Lodee sessions of the 1.0. G.T., lately sitting at Ounedm. A discussion took place on Jan 15 as to the desirability of having rituals, printed for circulation among tho Maoris It was unanimously agreed to have this work proceeded with at once, A letter was, I read from Tawhiao, the Maori King, in re ply to one sent to him some time ago ex pressing his pleasure at tho step about to be taken, and stating that thero was a. splendid opening for- this work in the North, Island. At tho ©rand Lodge there are re presentatives present from Auckland Wel lington and Dunedin. ' During last week Mr Oliver Mays, Chair- < man of the Waitemata County Council paid ; a complimentary visit to Sir Julius Wei at Waiwera During the conversation tho matter of the Waiwera wharf was jntro- - duced, but the Hon. the Treasurer in dicated that there was no fund out of which the necessary money could bo taken. Tha estimated cost of a wharf near the Wai wera Hotel is £2,500, and there is not the slightest doubt that whether the wharf is made by the local body or by private enter prise a toll could be provided that 'would amply prov.de for interest on sinking fun/ If the matter is taken in hand by tba Wall temate County Council, it is not probable that it will do more than guarantee the- Interest-flay at the rate of six per-snt ; A presentation of a very pleasftg charac ter was recently made at Onekmfa to Mr Alexander Grant, M.A., late head-teacher of the D strict School, ii 9.. oooSteftSK that gentleman's departore to take up th? Head-mastership oFthe Waim^fefeto School. The presentation -took a j£K which could nofrbut be gratifyingtooSf literary calling, viz., tho Imperial Die- I tl? ml! ,?. four vol»""3s. They are in first 1 class Ending, and will; no dbubt, be a very .pleasant reminder to Mr Grant of theS &rm friends he- has gathered round us£ .during hi^eleven years' residence in' (W - |hunga. Mrs Grant's kindly interest Tin tL children was not forgotten V tWrateful parents who presented that ladywith * [bgtitifd gold brooch of very lad e^ th d ».

1,,:'-,,- ,■■ .v,^-"::, v^ •■*■■:■■" i -•,•■ ■.•,/■-'-'■ ; -"J "—:, ./H'"^' "^ : . ' TAa^<: ~~ <': THE, AUCKLAND EVENING SfAK, SATURDAY, JANUABT^it 18$£

[Continued' on page six.}

5



; [Companies.

No. of Shares.

Paid-up Capital.

Amount per Share.

Paid-up per Share.

Last Div'd X per Annum.

LatCBt Market Quotations.

inn'l. Int. at C'nt. Rate.

BNeW 9Zealand .. National Colonial New Zealand National •- South British Standard .. Union.. •• •■ Colonial Accident h0KZh.& Mercantile m"z'Land Mortgage National Mortgage. e AwklandGas .. Thames Gas.. nnion S. and D. .. Auckland Timber.. New Zealand . • Mero'ryB'y Timber Helensvlllo Timber N.Z. shipping „ •• Devonport Forry .. gSomandel Steam. Northern Steam .. CBaV"of Islands Coal Taupiri »CffldW AMhHiU Brick and Tile Auckland Flbro .. Northern Boot and Shoe • ■ •■ jj 2, Frozen Meat .. NZ. Tobacco ..

100,000 200,000 400,000

100,000 I 200,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000 100,000

120,000 200,000 100,000

60.000 10,000

40,000 21,000 10,000 100,000 4,0110

1,000,000 350,000 400,000

200,000 100.000 128,0011 75,000 100,000 60,000 2,000

314,215 100,000 100,000

77,000 18,905

150,000 90.000 55,000 37.500 7,799

£ 10 10

10 10 20 10 20 10 1

lb 10

21

5 1 5

£ s. d. 10 0 0 3 10 0 2 0 0

2 0 0 U 10 0 40/ & 32,6 0 15 0 1 0 0 0 10 0 0 2 0

2 10 0 0 10 0 1 0 0

100/ & 10/ 1 18 0

100/ & 00/ 4 0 0 5 0 0 0 15 0 5 0 0

£ 15 6

15 20 10 7i 10

25

15

10

17 8

, 10 15 10 10 10

£ s. d. 21 10 0 3 4 0 2 2 0

3 IS 6 1 1 0 2 13 0 0 12 (i 13 0 0 0 0 0 4 0

15 7 fi 0 13 0 0 13 9

200/ & 25/ 1 7 0

'5 7 G 4 17 Ii 4 15 0 0 12 0 5 0 0

I £ •• 7 til 6 G-10

7 710 8 2-10 7 4-10 8 8-10 9

11 2-10

7 2-10 7 7-10

£

9 4-10 12 fill! 10 8-10 12 10

60,000 100.000 10,000 4,500 150,000

330,000 250,000 10,000 3,01 li 50,000

10 10 I 1 1

10 0 0 5 0 0 10 0 1 0 0 0 10 0

0 10 10 15 10

11 10 0 3 2 0 1 0 0 0 15 0 0 7 0

8 10 7-10 11 20 II

4,000 12,000

30,000 7,800

10 1

10 0 0 0 13 0

30}

1 4 0

10 7-10

100,000

77,659}

2

10/ & 20/

7

1 1 fi

Oi

6,000 25,000

5,350 18,915

1 1

1 0 0 1 0 0

0 1!) 0

15.000 10.000 4,000 I

8,520 80,000 1,750 J New

1

0 13 0 2 0 0 1 10 paid up, 3C

8

10 0

Issue, 10i

Is.