PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

| (BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL REPORTER.)

. We . lixgtok, this day. A Quiet Sitting.

.Yesterday afternoon's sitting of the House was exceedingly dull and uninteresting. After the questions had been answered the following bills passed their second read ings :- Auckland Girls' High School Amendment (Hon. Mr Fisher), Pharmacy Act Amendment (Hon. Mr Hislop), and Public Reserves Sale (Hon. G. F. Richard son). The Auckland Islands. A number of shipwrecks having taken place at the Auckland Islands, Mr Ward ■ thinks that the New Zealand Government should, in conjunction with the other Aus tralian colonies, place a lighthouse at the Snares or on the Enderby Island. Ihe Minister for Marine points out that the matter is one which concerns the whole of the Australian colonies, and the other colonies more intimately than ourselves. Negotiations on the same subject had previously taken place, and ho ivould j open them up afresh. Everyone milab re cognise tho necessity for something of the sorb being done, as the loss of life had been great; bub ib appeared to him that as ib was of more importance to the other colonies than to New Zealand, bhey should undertake it. Ho would, however, ascer tain the probable cosb and bring the matter under notice again. First Readings. In the Council the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act Amendment Bill, Local Bodies Loans Act, Civil Service Reform Act Amendment Bill, and Wellington College and Girls' High Schools Bill, transmitted from the House of Representa tives, were read a first time. In the Legislative Council, replying to a, question, the Hon. Mr Stephens said that the Wellington College and High School Bill was a Government bill. The Hon. Mi- Reynolds thought the measure should pro perly be a local bill. Cement for Public Works. Sir Julius Vogel urged on the attention of the Government yesterday the advis ability of discontinuing the practice of allowing cement for use on public works to come into the colony free of duty, especially as first-class cement was made at Mahurangi and at Millburn. The Minister of Works promised that for the future cement and other articles for public works which could be manufactured in the colony would be subjected to the charge for duty. Existing contracts could nob bo altered, but such concessions would nob be made in future contracts Otago Central Railway Bill. This bill was received in bhe Legislative Council by message from tho House of Representatives and read a first time. In reply to the Hon. Mr Waterhouso, tho Speaker ruled that it was not a local bill. A discussion arose as to the committee to which the measure should be relegated, but the Speaker decided that, not being a local bill, it need not be referred to any com mittee until after tho second reading. The Privilege Resolution. Sir J. Vogel has gracefully retired from the position lie took up challenging tho Speaker's ruling when naming him a few weeks ago. He informed tho House yesterday afternoon thut as there appeared to be a very strong desire on tho part of the hon. members that tho session should be ended by Christmas, he had de cided nob bo press bhe matter any further ; but a more pressing point which influenced his decision was that the greatest amount of time possible should be given to the con sideration, of the estimates of public ex penditure m"7refer ence to taking up •overal hours with moving a large number •f notices of motion on going into Committee of Supply. On no consideration would he let any matter personal to him self act as an obstacle to the full considera tion of questions relating to public expendi ture. Third Readings. In bhe Council the Municipal Corpora . fcions Act Amendment Bill, Sounds County Hospital Representation Bill, Sheep Act Amendment Bill, New Plymouth Borough and Harbour Board Sbreeb and Reserve Ex change Bill, and Napier Harbour Board , Amendment and Endowment Improvement Bill were read a third time iv the Legisla tive and passed. Foreign Owned Vessels. A question put in the House last week with reference to the GermanstcauierOerda, engaged on the Gxeymouth coal trade, led to action being taken by the Govern ment yesterday morning. The Customs re fused to clear thejGerda for Lyttelton yes terday morning because neither of the three German engineers possesses an English cer tificate. Messrs Cotterell and Young, the agents of the vessel, succeeded, however, in obtaining a permit for tho Gerda to go to Lytbelton and back to Greymouth, and she lefb for the South' in the after noon. A first and second engineer came out by the Kaikoura ten days ago to relieve the men who have occupied these .positions since the vessel has been in New Zealand waters, but as they also do not hold English certificates they were not allowed to take the vessel away, and ,aro still on shore, absent from duty. Legislative Councillors. Mr Samuel has raised the right of following Councillors to retain their seats : Hon. Messrs Bharazyn. Oliver, Water liou.e, Holmes, Menzics, and Pollen. He alleges that they havo vacated their positions in consequence of having been absent for two consecutive sessions with out leave. Since the excess of absence cgmplained of, the whole of bhe hon. gentle-, men named have agah ibaken their seats. At tention having been called to the matter, it will be the duty of the Government to look into it, and see what steps it is necessary to take. Some interest has naturally been occasioned by the point raised, and Mr Downie Stewart has kindly favoured me with his opinion. He says: "In my opinion, if a Legislative Councillor is absent from the Council for two successive sessions, although he has leave of absence for one of such sessions, his seat becomes vacant. If a Councillor is absent during two such sessions, his leave of absence must extend to both sessions. He cannot, by getting leave of absence for one session, remain ab sent during the following session also. " Endowments in Danger. The proposal made by Mr Monk relative to freeholds, when the Land Bill was under consideration, would, if carried, have taken away the three endowments of Auckland, ' Parnell, and Onehunga. Each has a village eettlemenb on ibs endowmenb,' and any re venue arising would simply be collected by Government and handed over. New South. Wales Duties on New. Zealand Products. Mr Joyce is to ask Government if they have any knowledge of the formulated pro posal of New Soubh Wales Legislature, now in session, to increase their import duties on New Zealand products, and that such a proposal is held in abeyance pending the Issue of the motion on our order paper to the following effect: That an import duty of nob less than 2s 6d f>er ton be imposed oh ■all coal imported into New Zealand from other countries'; and will Government give the hon. member of Inangahua an early op portunity of either withdrawing tho motion 'or having it discussed and finally settled? Mr Baddeley, Mr E, Beeves intends to ask the Minister of Justice if Mr Baddeley, now acting as ■R.M. in Auckland, is tiie same Mr Baddeley who recently retired on a pension.

The Runny Nuisance. The Joint Rabbit Nuisance Committee report inter alia that a rabbit-proof fence be erected in the Tasman Valley for forty miles forbhwibh, that Government join wibh New Soubh Wales and obher colonies m offering a bonus to the scientific world for the discovery of means for eradicating rabbits in accordance with a resolu tion passed at the Stock Conference held at Sydney in October, 1886, provided that no payments shall be made by this colony until the discovery has been proved to be successful for the purpose and adapted for practical use throughout New Zealand, and until the subscribing colonies have agreed that, it is a success. That bhe Government bo requested to place the sum of £10,000 on the Estimates for a discovery of a means of exterminating the rabbit on similar conditions as to payment of reward as those offered by New South Wales. That the Committee desires to impress upon the Government the necessity of introducing, with as little delay as possible, a large number of stoats, weasels, and martins, both for sale to settlers and for burping out on Crowp lands. Public Bodies' Powers Act.

This measure, which was circulated last night, and is introduced by the Hon. Mr Hislop, repeals the Public Bodies' Lease holds Act, 1886, and vests in certain public bodies certain powers. . Authority ie given to publicly let or lease for twenty one years. Any land not sold may subse quently be disposed of by private contract at a rent not less than the reserved rent when ib was offered. Leases may bo sur rended and new leases given at a reduced rent. Power is given to Harbour Boards to permit occupation of the foreshore for the following purposes:—(l) Tho building or repairing vessels of any kind. (2) The election and use of any boatshed, landing place or wharf. (3) The ereotion of baths and bath-houses, and any enclosure or fence necessary for the protection and privacy of tho same. (4) Any other purpose relating to tho convenience of shipping or the public, or for any local enterprise or object on which the Governor-in-Council may approve. A Clover Move. A very clever attempt was made by Sir George Grey last night to have his Fair Rents Bill passed, On Saturday night its committal was lost by a narrow division, and after the Land Bill had got through committee last night the member for Auck land Central tried to get backed on it his proposal for a Land Court to adjust rents for deferred payment settlers. This was lost by 41 to 21. Wellington Military Training School. The cost of the Military Training School at Wellington during 1886-1887 was £793 3s 9d, and that from April to November of this year £782. Four officers in Wellington, and two from out-districts, availed themselves of tho institution, and 210 officers passed ex amination by boards Musketry instruc tion was given ab all four ciLies, and the whole force throughout the colony was supervised, and musketry returns were ex amined and checked. Education Reserves. Most of the evening sitting in Committee on tho Law. Bill was taken up with tho consideration of the clauses affecting tho method of the disposal of educational re serves. Major .Steward moved a new clause, providing that at tho request of a Land Board the Crown may, by proylama tion, cause tho reserves to be administered as Crown lands under the Land Act. It was pointed out thut if this clause were adopted, the reserves could bo leased or sold without tho consent of trustee*. The Land.. Board had merely to a. ud in v "request," and tho Governor would issue the proclamation 'is a matter of course. Mr Fish regarded the proposed clause as an insidious attempt to take away reserves from .Canterbury and Otago and make them colonial property, thereby aiding im provident districts ab the expense of tho early settlers in other districts who had been provident. As the clause was added by 37 to 26, Mr Barron then tried to render the clause nugatory by ho amending ib that the consent of the present trustees was necessary to future control of reserves, bub was defeated by 40 to 34. An amend ment by Dr. Fitchett that the Governor, before issuing his proclamation, must be satisfied thatTw«_. fid . settlement was being promoted, was added on the voices, but the whole clause, as amended, was subsequently struck out by 35 bq 31. No change will, therefore, be made in the method of dealing wibh educational reserves. Representation Rill. In tho Legislative Council the Attorney General moved the second reading of the Representation Bill to provide for the re duction of tho Lower House to 74 members on the expiration of the present Assembly. The object, ho said, was partly to effect retrenchment, and he hoped the Coun cil would not stand in the way of the proposal of bhe other Cham bei\ The Hon. Mr Waterhouso doubted whether it was exactly constitutional to give the Government an almost despotic power by enabling thorn bo force a dissolution and reduce the number of members whenever they chose. Hon. George McLean regarded tho bill as the special retrenchment measure of the session, as by beginning with themselves the Legislature showed its earnestness. The Ministry had not the power of dissolution, which vested en tirely with the Governor. The Hon. Mr Scotland said the bill was a preposterous and dangerous measure, and one which he did not for a moment believe expressed the wishes of the people. It was a sword of Damocles held over the heads of members of the House. Hon. Mr Sbevens said it was the earnest desire of the constituencies for a reduction of the number of representatives, and the bill was only a fair attempt to give effect to that wish. The Hon. Mr Reynolds fcupported the bill as ib stood, being of opinion that the matber was one in which the Government was obliged to take a stand. There was a long and interesting discussion on the bill, in which Messrs Mantel, Menzies, Peacock, Oliver, Bonar, Shrimski and Dignan took part, and the second reading of the bill was passed on the voices.

Cutting Down the Free List,

I The Reporting Debates and Printing Committee, in cutting down the free list of official publications, recommended that Parliamentary papers shall no longer be supplied gratis' to' agricultural societies, private clubs, religious assoeintibns, mechanics' institutes, and libraries (except in the principal towns), working men's clubs, inferior Government officials, ex-members of the Legislature (except ex-Ministers and Speakers), r.- isbrars of Supreme Courbs, town clerks v any special paper to be supplied free on application), and aU private persons WW) appear to have no special claim. The pre sent unlimited supply, of Parliamentary papers to members leads to great waste, owing to the Government printer having to print large numbers pf surplus copies iii anticipation of a possible demand, and frequently being obliged to sell them as waste paper. In order to obviate this difficulty, it is recommended that the number of copies to which each member .hall be entitled be limited to six. Tho Committee recommend that " Hansard " be no longer sent to Parliamentary Unions and debating societies, but that libraries, working men's clubs, mechanics' institu tion and litgrary societies shall remain on tije free lis'tl . Gazebbes, it is proposed, shall be withheld from all private persons who seem to have no claim, certain inferior officials. All private clubs and literaryinsbi tute and Go vernmen t officials are bo be limited _o one eepy. Sfeatistsies are to be discon tinued to a number erf private persons who appear to have no claim, a few foreign

officials, and newspapers .and _ statutes to a number of mechanics institutes and other institutes, and certain oßiciaJs and newspapers which the Committee consider to have no just claim to be supplied at the public cosb. By the above amend ments £450 will be saved in P«l»tgeptwy papers, £83 5s in Hansards, £223 m Gazettes, £59 10s in stabtsbies, £10 18s M in statutes, £6 ,19s in JW.M** >j£-J§R House, £8 5s in journal? of the totd, £26 12s 6d in appendices of journals ot tiie. House ; or £868 10s 2d in all. jottings. If it is found desirable, a small sum will be pub on the Estimates for the best three essays on Local Government. Government will look into the resolufcione passed at the Stock Conference, with a view to having common law on the subject. The Special Settlement Association will be allowed to increase the size of their hold ings from 100 to 320 acres. Mr Reynolds calculate, that »t a dis solution were to take place at the close ot the present session, about £12,000 would be saved in honorariums. . . Mr Mantell was intensely satirical in urging the Government to use their enor mous power under the Representation Act for the benefit of the country. The Government refuse to forward to public libraries of the colony copies of all public bills introduced into the House. There i 3 no foundation for the statement that persons imprisoned for debt in Wel lington Gaol are placed in the samo colls wifch prisoners who have been convicted of criminal offences. Invercargill residents, are petitioning against the Divorce Bill, but of course jt cannot come on again this session. The Attorney-General is urging for the suspension of Standing Orders, to facilitate the discharge of business. Colonel Brett will movo in the Council to-day for leave of absence to Dr. Pollen for the remainder of the session, on private business. The Attorney-General has introduced the Building Societies Act Amendment Bill in the Legislative Council. The Pukekohe Borough Bill has been read a first time in the Legislative Council. Sixty-six persons have availed themselves of the agricultural lease, system in Ohinemuri County. These occupy 4,359 acres, valued at 5s per acre, upon which £1,629 has been puid, and £436 is now in arrear.

Anpther sufferer from the Tarawera eruption, Patrick McCroy. of Tikitcre, Roborua, has pebibioned the House for re dress. He estimates his loss by desbr ucbion of hie accommodation house ab £200, A large number of Auckland sawmill employees havo petitioned the House pray ing for the imposition of an export duty on baulk timber by way of stimulating the export of sawn, dressed and manufactured timber.

Dr. Fitchotb failed in his attempt to make School Commissioners elective instead of nominated, a« at present. A proposal by Mr Monk to give freehold tenure to village settlers after 20 years was rejected by 34 to 26. The return of pastoral leases in the West land district, within limit* of selection by the Midland Railway Company, shows that 185,100 acres are held under the lease sys tem at a rental of £206 10.. Mr Fish says that, the Land Bill is de vised in the interetits of capitalist* and land grabber., and will not promoto the settle input of the country.

ONEHUNGA WATERWORKS.

MEETING OF BURGESSES IN THE ONEHUNGA PUBLIC HALL.

A meeting of burgesses of the Borough of Onehunga was held last night for tbe pur pose of taking into consideration and dis cussing tho proposal re the waterworks | loan, Dr. W. G, Scobb (Mayor) in the chair.

I Dr. Scott, in opening the meeting, briefly j stated that the action previously taken by i the Council was, in accordance wibh the opinion of tho borough solicitors, com pletely wrong. This meeting was now con vened for the purpose of asking them to come to the poll and validate the action formerly taken by the Council. He would now invite any gentlemen present bo pub any quesbions bhab thoy considered advis able. Captain M. Yates here came forward, and stated that the burgesses were again asked to do what thoy had done previously. He considered that by doing so they would not be iv any better position, as the security offered was not good enough. The only seourity of value was a special rate, and he did not believe that a special rate should be granted. If this proposal,' however, was carried, the contractor would be, according to legal opinion, in a position te collect on the security offered. If the poll for special rate was not carried, bhe best plan was for the Council to agree with, say, a company or a syndicate to lease the supplying of the town with water for a term or 21 years. The Act allowed this. He would now ask the Mayor to explain the clause in tho Municipal Corporations Acb referring to the matter.

The Mayor here explained that the clause referred to was simply that the Council were powerless iv any case without the vote of tho burgesses. Cr. Jackson considered that Captain Yates, a strong oppositionist, hsd spoken in terms that convinced him that Captain Yates now saw that th_ opposition had Ipßt the day. (Cries of " No, no !" " You're a turnpoat. You, voted against it yourself.") He had voted against it at one time, bub now, astheX>uncilhad,g-. into a difficulty, he considered it only right te try and rectify the error by voting for it. Captain Yates was throwing cold water on it out of a buokeb, not out of a pipe. (Captain Yates : " You are throwing it out of a spout.") Mr Jackson then continued at great length to advocate the water supply. Captain Yates, at the beginning of this movement, asked if the Government did not inform the Council that money could not be borrowed without a special rate. The Mayor stated that a special rate was struck in accordance with the Municipal Corporations Act, but on that occasion he found that such a condition could only be complied with by a vote of the burgesses. He was aware that a special rate was neces sary, but other local bodies had borrowed on an ordinary rate. Ib was on an ordi nary rate (that they now wished to borrow, and not on a special rate, , t Captain Yates here asked what would be the maximum rate tho. a poor man with a cottage and a plot of land within the radius of the water would have to pay annually.

The Mayor and Town Clerk together re plied ss. Captain Yates: Oh, then, his present rate being pnly 9d, his rates would simply be raised from 9d to 5s 9d per annum. (Cheers.) The Mayor then went on to explain the position the Council would be placed in with the contractor, and the power the latter would have through the. Supremo Court to recover damages, should the bur- 6 esses fail to confirm the action of the ouncil. Mr Sullivan said tho Council, through their bad management, ha,d got the borough into this difficulty, and, they now wanted to saddle the burgesses with ib and drive them out of the place. If the Coun cil would resign in a body, as they should do, tho works would go on. Cr. Goldsbury spoke fib considerable length, supporting the remarks naade by the. Mayor apd Cr. Jackson witji regard to Captain Yates's remarks abouT; giving the Wprks. over to a company. What about depriving the burg.__es of the profits that

present to come to the poll to a man and vote for the water. „„. _>n.-_hv Major Lundon here spoke **&*$ fg supporting the scheme, stating <****$. Cohncil fafe made a mistake it was ot fan j to put it on the burgesses, but ifc Jj duty of the burgesses U.e £m. hfi ! «? JS to assist the Councilors out of their dim culbv by going to the poll and voting ™ * » wablr sup/ Get a good financial agent and pay him a commission Wiethe will geb you bhe mm- < A «T 0 i "Would you take the billet? ) «°y would not! I have lived al my Mj ™* % out a billet, and I hope to dw without one. He concluded by mo v ing « J****g '»% ing perfectly agrees with the ©topes ipr which it was called, as read from bhe new _ paper by His Worship the Mayor. Capbain Yates seconded the **£ vt »°" pro forma, stating bhab bhe meeting" w_o nob called for the purpose of V^f£ '/ resolution. Ib was simply called in accora anoewibh the Acb previous to taking thopoii. He then went on to show the inadequacy oi the borough to grapple with the expense, the area being so large and the populatio" so small. In otlier words, the time had nob arrived for Onehunga to enter into a scheme of such magnitude. ~ The Mayor here announced that »_»" on the proposal would be taken on Wednes day, the 21st inst. The meeting, which was well attended, then terminated.

DISCOVERY OF COAL AT HUNUA.

A movement is on foob in town to form _• syndicate to work a coalfield recently dis covered at Hunua by Mr Georgo Cornish upon his father's farm. The seam is situated about live miles from the Hunua railway station, and is altogether about 26 miles from Auckland. It is a littlo over five feet in thickness, und has all theappearanceof 1 aupir coal. The farm on which the discovery hn_ been made consists of 187 acres freehold, : in addition to which 413 acres of land ad joining has been secured on lease, ab_an j annual rental of sixpence per acre. The seam is an outcrop, and was discovered about a year ago by means of a landslip which uncovered it, since which time steps i have been taken to secure tho adjoining | land, in order to get a good area of land on which to commence operations. Mr Cornish has brought to town some samples of the coal, which arenowonexhibi bion at the Chamber of Commerce. The coal has been examined by a number of ex perts, who have pronounced it quite equal to the Trupirinoal. In all probability ibbelongs to the same bed, as the side of the range on which it was discovered is a portion of the eanie range m which the Taupiri ooul is obtained. Above the seam is a light-colon rod fireclay, then conies the layer of coal, after which ia a bed of really first-das. fireclay of much darker colour, lb is very probable that be neath this there is still better coal. Ihe present sample ia of the shiny style which seems to predominate in New Zen land coals. It evidently is better suited for household use than black smiths' work. Liko most of the coals discovered in tho North Island, bits of kauri gum muy bo seen embedded in the. earn. Tho lower fireclay is vorygood.and a small brick has been burned from it at Messrs Carrier _ works, Ponsonby. This has also been placed on exhibition at tho Chamber of Commerce The list of those forming the syndicate hasalready reached the number of 12. Smoreareyet required to make up the quota. Applications to be sent in to Mr I_3er., accountant, Insurance Building... It is intended, a., soon as the syndicate lias been formed, to bore to discover the area of the deposit. Mr Corni.h has ap plied to the Government for the use of the boring apparatus, und has been promised the use of the same. A discovery like this should have the effect of improving the value of property in the neighbourhood of _!_■___.

RAILWAYS FROM LAND GRANTS.

ROW THE SOUTHERNERS ARE OVER-REACHING AUCKLAND.

WHAT MR HOBBS THINKS.

(«Y TELEGRAriI—SI'EOIAL REPORTER.)

Wellington, this day. MB Hobds is very much disappointed at the fate of tho Kamo-Kawakawa Railway Bill, which is now shelved for the session. He contends that ap*>rt from the measure itself a large question is involved, which Auckland members do uob appear to realise, namely, that Canterbury with its Midland Railway, Obago with its Central Railway, and Wellington with its Manawatu line, are securing railways as it were out of the land fund. Millions of acres worth millions of pounds—the rents from which amount to many thousands of pounds —will be diverted from the land fund, and for the benefit of these particular provincial distric tsonly; therefore that the principle, if admitted, ought to be mode use of by all parts of the colony. The time >vill come, he says, when our Southern friends have got all they want, that they will object to Auckland taking advantage of the same Srocess of getting railways made. Mr Jobbs feels sure at what he considers the short-sightedness of Auckland members, and refers to Mr Moat's opposition three years ago, when he (Hobbs) proposed to make the line from Helens v ille to Te Awanui on the land grant principle by a syndicate. Mr Hobbs says the line will never be made in any other way. He says he feels disheartened when he looks on the House and sees the South getting every thing they want, while Auckland members look on and talk.

CITY SCHOOLS COMMITTEE.

The ordinary meeting of the City Schools Committee was held last evening. There were present:—Messrs W. Gorrie (presid ing), Crowther, Batty, Blades, McMaster Ussher, and Farrell.

, A letter from the Board stated that Mr George Gundry's tender of £83 for paint' ing WeUesley-streeb School had been ac cepted. Mr Worthington wrote that the pupils and teachers of Welle.sley-street School, as sisttidbyoneortwqfriendsof thelateMr A. N. Bruce, had raised a monument to the memory of that gentleman, and had placed the same over his grave.—Applications were, made for a holiday from the pupils attending the Wollesley-street and Beresford-street Schools, on the 23rd inst., to permit of the holding o. school spprbs. from the Board were read stating (1) That the sum of £36 exponded on the Training College, for the 12 months ending December 21st, would be refunded to the Committee; (2) and re the appointment of a certificated head teacher to the Albert-street School, that Mr Burlinson should be allowed to remain in charge for tho present at the salary now paid to him. The Secretary of the Board forwarded a list 9f applications received for the position of senior assistant master for Wellesley sbreeb School, viz., W. g, Arnold, F. P. Burton, J. Christie, W. H. Draffin, E. R. Lillington, D. O'Donnohue, E. E. Purdie, A. M 7 Rust, and J. A. Smith, the latter having been received after the time for reserving applications had expired. T_e

number of applicants was reduced by ballot, and eventually ib was agreed to recommend pbs Board to appoint Mr Draffin. •ff. I . ."".', * " ' —I—•——— -; ( ____________

„,_,.,*„, _~,.., wi.D_.ES DAY. DECEMBER 14, 1881. THE AUCKLAND EVEINLNG SIAR. WtUJM. ._____,

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Public fl.ot.ccs. CTRAWBERRY GARDENS! WILLOW GROVE STRAWBERRY GARDENS, Next the Upper Wharf, Devonport. GARDENS NOW OPEN! ' STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM 1 MARK PARRISH, In r. turning thanks to his supporters for past favours, begs bo inform bhem and the public generally that he has great pleasure in aainouncintf that these well-known and popular Strawberry and Tea Gardens are now open. Mark Parrish being one of the largest sbrawberry growers in bhe colony, will always have a large aud fre«h supply on hand, and can guaranbeo patrons bhe ripest, bhe largest, and most delicious fruit in the market, and they will nob bo stinted in quantity either. FRESH CREAM TWICE DAILY ! "Tea, Coffee and other Refreshments always on hand. Three hundred visitors can he seated at tlio tables at one time. Lawn Tennis and Croquet Ground, and other amusements for the convenience of visitors. STRAWBERRIES AND CREAM WILLOWGROVE GARDENS DEVONPORT. School Treats and Picnic Parties provided for hy special arra. cement. Family orders, dinner parties, and for jam, promptly attended to. I Trams will run to the Gardens at half-price; return from Garden a, Threepence. M. PAERISK. PROPRIETOR. J. BUTCHER.] [L GROOM. -«T E HAVE FOR SALE;— Rod and Bar Iron, Wire Nails Fencing Barb Wire, Roottng Iroa Hash Woitjhts, Buckets. Tubs Springs and Patent Axles Coarse und Fine Suit .10 h.p. nominal Portable Engine, by Wallis and Steovcns, with duplicate wearing parts Hoisting Engine-, from 3 to 5 h.p., with reversing gear. GROOM, BUTC HER, & Co., FORT-STREET. Telephone 211.1 ___ < J, J, SWINNERTON, WOOD TURNER, Wyntiham-street. Established 1866. A reduction of 25 per cent, on all common work. Billiard Ball. Exchanged. Special care given to Re-turning and Staining. Pool Pins. Marbles, and Chalk Pockets always on hand. ONE SHILLING PACKET of SALSALINE will preserve TWENTY SHILLINGS' worth of food. To be obtained of all Chemists and Grocers, in ls and 2s packets. Wholesale Agent, RICHARD A. CARR. Fprt-atrcet, Auckland. THE "STAR" OHJUSTMAS AND NEW YEAR CARDS. \ NOW READY. . AN ENTIRELY ORIGINAL SERIES. | NEW ZEALAND SCENERY 1 j NEW ZEALAND FLOWERS ! ; NEW ZEALAND POETRY ! \ LOCAL RARDS AND WORLD-WIDE SENTIMENTS. The Star series of Christmas and New Year Cards is now published, and will be found to be , admirable specimens of Colonial art, while the Mottoes have been chosen with care from the ' verses sent in connection with the recent Poetical Competition. In addition there are versps by Mr W. R. Wills, Mr J. L. Kelly and others. The Cards are beautifully printed in colours, aud the devices and Mottoes are specially appropriate as offer iags from tho Sunny South to the Wintry North, or for Bonding to friends in the colonies. The public miiy obtain these at the Star Office or from booksellers and stationers throughout the colony. Orders should be given early. I . T. r. . . !' THE "STAR" SERIES I OF 1 Christmas and New Year Cards. LOCAL ART ! LOCAL TALENT 1 LOCAL INDUSTRY J To be had at the Star Office, Shortland etreeb, and all Booksellers. EDDINCTCARDS.-Latest Style ab the Star Lithographic Works, Short land-street. Auckland. npHE Biggest Literary Shilling's Worth JL inA.strala.iftT-JJrett'BAuc^landAlmf.n^



Drapery. Clothing., &c. HE BABY LINEN AND LADIES , UNDERLINEN warehouse. . SILK HOSE! SILK HOSE! P. DAVISON Has just purchased a job line of Silk Hose, and will sell them as under l :— HALF COST! HALF COST PRICES', Ladies' Black, Pale Blue, Cream, and. Pink, 2s lid, 3s 6d, 3s lid! Maroon, Navy, Cardinal, 3» 6d, 3s lid, 4s6d. Children's Pale Blue, Pink, and Cream, 1. la Ud; 2, 2s 3d; 3, 26 6d ; ~2s 9d; 5 2s lid. Black and Dark Colours, 2s 3d, 2s 6d,2.9d, 53,5534. 200 dozen Ladies' Trimmed Linen Collars at 6d each ; usualpriges, is to 2s 6d. 15,000 yards Beaded Net in Navy, Maroon, Black and Gold, Black and Silver, Drab, etc., all at 2d per yard ; usual price, 9d yard. 400 yards Beaded Gossamer, White and Silver, Drab and Gold, Brown and Gold, at 6d per yard; ÜBual price, ls per yard. A beautiful assortment of Ladies' Printed Skirts from Ib lid, 2s 3d. 2s 6d, 2s lid-very cheap- Ladies' Print Drusses frpm 6s. lid to 21s, Ladies' Stuff Dresses, from 12s 6d to 365. Ladieß'_Priut_Moroing Wrappers. 2s lid to 4s llq.. Children's Print, Sateen, and Stuff Dresses, 2s 6d to 7s 6d, at half warehouse prices. I Very~special li. e-fio dozen Ladies' and Chil dren's Printed Aprons at 6d each. i Also, large variety' of Coloured and White Aprons from 7|d to 5s 6d. Magniflccn't assortment of Fans, bought very cheap, to be sold at 2s 6d, 3s 6d, 4s 6d, 5s 6d, 6s 6d; worth 3s 6d to 14s 6d. In all the newest shades. Beautifufvariety of S,un Bonnets from ls to 9s 6d. No. 9, JUNCTION QUEEN & GREY Sts. pRICE | pRICE | BEAUTIFUL LONG OSTRICH FEATHERS In Cream, Tuscan, Grey, Tan, and Pink. ]/» Just Received, a parcel -i a a I_t> of the above, to be sold Ig r\j\ J______i v at the very low price o£«______^ W. P. OGILVIE, Victoria Street West. EVERY LADY HER OWN DRESSMAKER. To secure a Perfect Fit and Newest Style, try OUTTERICK'S riUT T>APER "OATTERNS. Metropolitan Fashions, Illustrating Patterns, monthly, Id each ; 2s per annum, post free. 4.GENT- Wm. P. OGIL VI E, DRAPER. VICTORIA-STREET WEST. in REAPER T HAN EVER DRAPERY AND CLOTHING,



C. HOPKINS. London Hot. se, Victokia and Nelson Sts., Is now showing some of the cheapest Drapery and Clothing ever offered in Auckland, as the following lines will show :— Dress Materials in Greys, Browns, and Fawns. 4s Ud for 12yds; Striped Delaines, 12yds for 3s lid : grand value in Diess Materials at6s 9d, in fashionable shades; Coloured Satin in all shades, from is per yard ; 80-inch Heavy Twill Sheeting, is o*d (White); 30-inch Heavy Twill Sheeting, ls 3d (White); a lot of Slip Mate, Is each; Men's Mosgiel Tweed Suits, 33s 6d; Men's Tweed Suits, 12s 9d; Men's Tweed Trousers and Vests, 7s lid ; Men's Coloured Mole Trousers, 4s lid (value for your money); Men's Tweed Trousers, 3s lid pair ; Youths' Tweed Trousers, 3s lid : Boys' Tweed Trousers, 3s 6d; grand line in Men's Merino Sox, 9d; Men's Brown Cottoa Sox. 2Jd per pair. * C. HOPKINS, London House, Victoria and Nelson Streets. N.B.—Open every evening.till ? o'clock, ' Insurance T*_TEW ZEALAND INSURANCE COM Jj. I .ANY (FIRE AND MARINE). Capital ~.£1,000,009. Paid-up and Reserve Fund.5......_ 135,000 Protection from FIRE ob MARINE LOSS Can be Effected in this Company. CLAIMSMET WITH PROMPTITUDE AND LIBERAUTY, JAMES BUTTLE. Manager. _N"ew York Life INSURANCE COMPANY. Cash Assets, Ist January, 1887 .. s £15,518,817 Income for 1886 .. .. _. £3,9&6,874 Local Director C. C. McMillan, Esq, (Messrs W. McArthur & Co.) Solicitors: Messrs Russell & Campbell. Bankers: Bake: of Australasia. Policies issued guaranteeing the return of all Premiums in addition to the sum insured if death occur within a twenty-year period. J. HUGO HARROP, Resident Agent. PnMic Notices. ««Q T A R" A O B Nd Y. The following are authorised to REOEIVH ADVERTISEMENTS for Stab :- PORTER & Co., Ironmongers, KARANGAHAPE ROAD. PORTER & Co., Ironmongers, SYMONDS-STREET. PORTER & Co., Ironmongers NEWMARKET. Mb ROBINSON, Chemist, PARNELIJ, Mb JONES, Ironmonger, PONSONBY, Mb T. J. HENSHAW, Nbw-stbeet, ONEHUNGA Mb LILpiWALL, Grooeb, &c., JDBVONPO_*T. MR PATRICK, Storekeeper, Tp KOPURU. "¥Z.' ILLUSTRATED TtT-BITS." -Ll • —A subscriber writes from Christ church: "Enclosed, find postal-note for6s, as six ihonths' siibscrition to * Tit-bits' We all enjoy it Immensely ahd if the mails are irregular and it does npt come to hand, we really miss it." HJIHE Best Gift for Home fy||nls|ii J. Brett's Auckland Almanac, cohtahiinK a Pictorial Representation of Queen-street.' De scription of the Provincial Di.tr.ot, New Guide to Hot Lake. Sc'&c."



Houses in . Road and _iffi|M a ;_qof __a»: X 3. acres &V_vl^ B tuZ p ' 64 "*»««_.„;_„ (OppositeA,-tlkrk .__ » a " v 5 ™*»m»»p.Li!i'l,'' p^o n ai;p^^'%n, i(: ;^^«S^ nT_i-i^_a__j M°_l____a_i^_ IVI'ON .V TO L.ND in k-^J*- A__L u r i_"gS .ot__-_»_. a term of ?y?s_______j_?|^^^gg^ MSG|_l__sr_Ti_s j___________i'r* X*A rate of Interest. - Applrte '■'■■ Tv* 8 —____2_______^_fisaS|if Fir ? t.cl^Jr.el l old8.w» WILLIAM pDU_^K__Bfe-'; N. Insurancel%fiW■-': _. ! _. i -'...' l y.-^nrg______ro>|. 42600 ft f TO K^^i __F *s *£ *_ "■ fwm ■ £50 imw_*_„__ J_. QUEENSLAND LOA_ DISCOUNT B^fllfG,Cos.Piii_s Darb.-stu._t (off'iju__j_t., : : ' • ''. /AUCKLAND.' '-' Head Ofiicp: Bhisbaxe. ; Agencies: Auckland, Sydney, and M ..oiiae, Mokey adva,?ced -frojn £5, and any .amount required,- to -suit __A'.boifoyrer, upon Personal/Freehold, ____ac_6_7 ]$|ir Tangible Secaritj. <■ ■ tm [Wiiy as may he arranged, either Weekly j Quarterly at lowest current latis. Advances made on Furniture without re moval ; also on all kinds of Mei'c___lse, including Bond W_rrafc£s,etc, ' Bills Discounted at current ratbjs. Interviews and communications will be held strictly confidential - "•: 1 ,D> ffice Hoars: From 1Q till 5 o'clock.



4RT HU R pO.H EJ. LAND ANBM_N__?Al_i Ajg_ST_;l[. .' (Three Deora past Star o_e#).'. I am prepared to v_l|ieland in ! Pr the country for Itttendltig' reasonable terms, v^l^sojdbj*?sejri Auck land I charge 2. per c pj^missifiß..., I an? prepared to jiegofeite ia sups fropi £25 to £15,000. . Advances pjajje op€__>lpni-_!; and &gli_>|ife Policies. Having Agents in,, If Barfs, of Australia and in; England,'! pah ffilfe " : Aavi_j«f ' ipon'-,; '" Wjlishj Binpß_!pm &50. 7: IN DJJ ST R. 4 J AND fffifflSfc PERMANENT BUILDING, lA. D AJTO INVESIMENT SOCIETY.OF A. GEL_SD. Repayments ' ' fp_.j. we_k. Total amount' ■ extending over',, ™, . lyear .. ' -.;-' : &>J <h _I__.o 0 2 years .: .. 1 010 ItßsA 8 3 years i. ~. .0 147 US 5 0 4 years .. ~ 611 8 , 1ff1 ; ,6 8 6 years.. .. 010 0 1» 0 0 6 years ..'• ... fl S,? BMi 7 years 0 711 IW, §~_ , iifSS " -■" ' o . l '"iffrajL i!i yllrp::, ::. n _"»S ---'.' The Boai-d has power in caaeV6f!SMneasor Want of Employment i» Suspeni Pavmente., Borrowers Share in profits ■.. Part or whole of tho advance mv. $"1? at any time, ceases en tfcfe J»$P Member liberty to sell his property at >•«£«*£££ pay off his mortgage; pr may, if *«MHl,!£_ bis' property subject td the mortgage to |» S °fJo& of QUKEtf-STREET a_d VU MAN LAKE, Au _ Office: 1«. Queen _tb_ht. S_?^»SS^_^___%^ ■ ' ' ■ '■_ . , i ■ ■. , hrotai M®^ Repayments exteap. ,p ei , : Week. iPjgp/.fr .J;./ 1 "J'' : ~t fiPl^fT" *. ji. $1* Syeaii... .. °» J ' 121. |1 .year* ~•- v' 4 ..''fl l»%f. Syeara-.-— X £ j., J_y_l___ » s^f^o^ COME one, coino & •F w. PffILIJPPS** t- K ,«.KO__'^«_«P .... „ .-.- ■:,eC^»BMn'_ ;> _l-- _- '. . ; •«*■**?____.•» ' ' :: '3k_^_ss>*** ."*r-T „__'_»__•. Plate Turps, Varnuhes, «mUU _!*• -