PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL MARITIME EXHIBITION.

pepotatlon Jo_the Mayor.

• ilLrrW from the Chamber of Com- A DEP™L of Mr J. Lamb '(Chair ■*&££!/*. Nathan and John Reid •^'w-l and Mr J. Young (Secretary), (Td upon the Mayor (Mr Devore) % yesterday afternoon to request him at ii n nublic meeting for the purpose of t0 m rintr and furthering the proposal to c 0^ ld Snational Maritime Exhibition hold &■ *", . 18 ()o to celebrate the open in AU nhe mata trunk line of railway, ""fc Mayor opened the proceedings by a-a a letter which he had received from iei n\.°mher of Commerce, containing their Sir Julius f ogel's sals, and announcing the appointment »SbS n'th a t Sir Julius VogeLin jj«.« to the Chamber of Commerce, blS j ■•en a lucid descriPtion of how the •!fhehad suggested might be carried Pto) 2-he (Mr Lamb) believed that it out 'i fv-t-a benefit, not only to Auckland, 90 i New Zealand. Mr Twopeny's "" jt wa« beset with some difficulties If they adopted Sir »"?.'■; votrel's scheme, they would the" government with them, C&^hat they wanted was to have a large !oldtt«eappo£ted -to get up the guaran iml In this connection he did not f vTwouldbeoufc of place for the City Sto gi« a g«a«»tee for £5,000. It o t an unusual course, for it had boon j* in Glasgow and Edinburgh and other rts rf Scotland under similar circum i«S c citizenß generally, he be r-^l were favourable to the scheme, but the'jpouucil must be left the determina to. rt. f O rm it should assume, and the Ghana. ---i rof Commerce would aid the Council as Nathan said the Council of the Hiamber of Commerce were decidedly of Son that theinitiation of theaffiiir should Sky tkcitizens, and as His Worship stood unrepresentative o f the citizens, they had rameto&^° aicl them. There was no nnestion os'0 the utility of the proposed MiiWtiw- Still the first step was to Ln m M Worship to take a vote of the Sens as to whether they would or would not take it-up. If they declined then some other city would take it up, and time was i o y O f oTeat consequence, as there were only two"years in which to make arrange ments. They therefore asked that a meet ■ußinMit be called as early as possible, and that they should have a tee and influential committee appointed. Ihe Mayor remarked that the City Coun cilassuch had no power to expend their fands for such a purpose. They were pro hibited from doing so by the Municipal Corporations Act, but no doubt the Council lors would individually assist. Before call ing a meeting, he desired the deputation to tell him what the total cost of tlie Exhibi tion was likely to be, and 'what the Govern ment would guarantee. Mr Lamb said the cost was estimated at £25,000. In answer to a further question by the Mayor, Mr Lamb said the Chamber had not considered the point of what it would be able or likely to contribute. Mr Xafhan added that they had left all preliminaries to be determined by the public. & members of the Chamber were afraid thatiftheytook the matter up it would be looked upon as a hole-and-corner affair, and they decided to leave it to the public. Be ads, it was properly a matter for the . itizens at large. The Mayor assumed that if the public meeting were called by him the Chamber would M prepared to come forward with resolotilßsanatDgive full details respecting fee Bckme to the meeting. Full informa t»n irould. .be expected from them as to tfe'/oti cost of tlie scheme, and the means tjr "w&li the money was to be raised. ' said that as tlie main trunk Ijne to expected to be ready for opening by'fcSe end of 1889 the Exhibition should be opened in the early summer of that year, 'itrdiilitw Voxel's idea as to financing mv that £50,000 could be obtained from »me financial institution on the Go\?ern- Bfflft guarantee for £25,000, backed up by icombined guarantee from private in fefluals for the other £25,000. It was not Intended that any citizen should make an sdvaiice of cash at once.

The Mayor: Yon will be prepared then «ith gentlemen to'move resolutions, and to five Ml information to the public meet ing: -.. Mr' Lamb': Yes, so far as we know. The Mayor: You will also be prepared to nominate gentlemen to serve upon the tamittee? This would involvft-a prelimi wy canvass, for it would not be right to Mninate influential men without first ob taining their consent. Of course..it will be for the meeting to appoint whom it pleases ■from amonf'st those nominated. Mr Lamb answered affirmatively the Mayor's question. His Worship then remarked that the neetiflg would have to be told that £15,000 fas wanted from the people of Auckland wd-therest of the Provincial District. The atyand suburbs contained half the pro rindal population, viz., 60,000, but they wuld most likely have to furnish two wMs of the money, viz., £10,000. : Alter some conversation as to the most suitable time and place for the meeting, it jasagreed that it should be convened for Wednesday, the 4th of May, at half-past Wren p.m., to be held in the Young Men's tWstian Association's lecture hall. Mr Lamb said he would telegraph to Sir JallUS Vogel asking if he had any infor mation to place before the meeting. ■fte deputation then thanked His Wor ship and withdrew

i,v aptßin Ed-frin reports as follows :— tVery indication for ati unusually cold light." ;

Jp-day being the last day of the feast of if-f^sover, the business premises of the TW congregation of this city were all closed.

.^following programme will be per- Tmed V the Artillery Band to-morrow «tenoqn in-the Western Park :— Grand ™rcn. "Hector" (M. Seaman); value, »S Py ,V"* herinS" (Bathye); grand !f«Hon, " Honaria" (Smith) ; polka, tid i.^" 1 (H. Rond) ; fan a?7 .„ Evening Revels" <O. Richards) ; SSt^Iw-'J* >SorPei»t" (Blegal>) ! valse' vocal, '(Night and Morn" (Bucealossi) ; .Pv'One Turn More " (T. JJawson) ; •^wdSave the Queen "—A. R. Hunter, ■waomaster. w! members of the Newton Mutual wpravcmentClass'commenced their session i^v oc, m! gathering- in the school known l^nburgn-street last evening. After a g V r rem^rks by the Chairman, the bv\i£ iT wlSl son Xs> solos, &c, were given aon e! and Mra Ellye*t and Stephon- SBM« *Oghoufc the evening, charades, tota*'i^"' were indulged in, durin«- an a l 2? Which refreshments, &c, were time wJ° Und,' and thus a very enjoyable allS, P?nt> and brought to a close by Jolnin in sin<ino . « Auld . Lang

fettedh 86 v.eleraentary science lectures c ,^^-ners wfllb e gj ven <j u ri n cr the present 3 University College. The l25?l 5? " Bofcafty *»d Agriculture-" •bttoul 01 ™6 fi«t lecture vill be found ""•wer column. 11*8?*? SICK—Expose yourself day &^WwUhim much without exercise, work ?>«esSi ttßt» doctor *» the time, take "■^ftenftm »Jn Insand imitntions advertised, H ow r?. U'anttoknow' Lttteo9^ W n E^-Which is answered K^» woro,-!-^ American Go.'s Hop

JEWELLERY ROBBERY.

It will be remembered that some months ago a robbery of jewellery was made from the Aurora Hotel. No trace of the perpetrator could be discovered at the time, but several of the articles were subse quently recovered from two local pawn shops, and information given to the police Iddnt°1 ddn t° arrest of a young man named Arthur Tilby alias Bartlett on suspicion. Accused was brought up at the Police Court to-day, before Mr Guinness, R.M., of Ashburton, and Mr J. P. King, J.P., and charged with stealing one watch, two gold lockets, one brooch, three pairs of earrings, two gold rings, two silver rings, one silver necklet, and 5s Cd in money, the property of -Honora Glazier. There was a second charge against accused of stealing a watch ■Ti C« le ProPel'ty of Sarah Norris.— ilie first charge was heard separately Honora Glazier deposed that she was a waitress at the Aurora Hotel, and on the 29th of January she left the jewellery and money in a workbox on the dress ing - table in her bedroom. The door was not looked, and when she returned subsequently the things were gone. She got the watch back from Rae's pawnshop several monthsafterwards, and subsequently saw the brooch in Bunyan's window in Grey-street, Detective Herbert also shewed her the earrings. A little girl named O'Donell, who resided in the vicinity of the Aurora Hotel, in company with her parents on Regatta Day, deposed that she know tlio accused by the name of Arthur. He was staying at Thomas's boaid ng-hotise in Chapel-street. Witness was standing afc the gate on the day in question the accused said he had just come from Leydon'e sale. He was not very sober. He showed him a quantity of jewellery, which he took out of his pocket, and said lie paid 12s for all of it. Remarking that he must give witness a Christmas box, handed her two lockets and a pair of earrings which were produced. She gave the articles to her mother. She recognised the broach and ring as having been amongst the things which ac cused showed her. Witness asked for the broach and the ring, and he said lie wanted them for his girl. He gave a pair of earrings to Mrs Gobey.—Mrs O'Donnell was called and said her daughter brought the accused into her house on the 29th of January. He had a quantity: of jewellery, which he said he bought for 12s at Leydon's sale. He did not give her any, but Mrs Gobery put a pair of earrings in her ears with tlie remark ' x ' Serve us all alike," and kept them. Hannah Turner, who had been living with prisoner as his wife, said he gave her a brooch and ring, which she put in pawn in Victoria-street. James Rae, pawnbroker, deposed that the watch was pawned at his place in the name of George Williams, but he did not know by whom. Mr King com mented severely on the fact that Mr Rae could not identify persons who pledged goods, when it was his duty to take notice. Detective Herbert deposed to the recovery of the tickets and several articles of jewellery. When he arrested accused at Papakura gumlield, he said he was in Auck land on the 29th, but did not remember being at the Aurora Hotel. Accused told him this morning tha he would plead guilty, saying " Could you not get me dealt with at this Court. I want to get it over as quick as I can for the girl's sake." The same prisoner was then charged with stealing^ a watch, value £3, the property of-Sarah Norris, servant at the Aurora Hotel.—Margaret Turner, barmaid, Goldwater and Detective Herbert gave evi dence, and accused was committed for trial on both charges.

AUCKLAND PRODUCE MARKET.

Farm and Dairy ProjjCce.—Wholesale: Butter, prime fresh, lOd ; cheese, good fac tory, 4d to 4Jd per 1b ; Canterbury, none ; Eggs, Is 6d; Lard, in bladders, 5Ad ; Bacon and Hams, in cloth, -provincial, b^d to 7d ; Hams, S|d to 9d ; Canterbury Bacon. 7d; Bacon and Hams in equal numbers, 7^d.

Flour Market.—Wholesale : Superfine flour, silk dressed, per ton, £12 ; do., house hold, £11; Southern do., £10 15s to £11 li>s; Lamb's Premier, £12 os; Standard, £11 us ; bran, ton (sacks included), £4 ; Southern do., £4; local sharps, £5 10a and £6; Southern do., £4 os to £4 10s; cabin bread, £16 ; oatmeal do., £10 loe to £11 5s ; oats, 2s 2d to 2s 4d; maize, 3s 9d ; Southern potatoes, £4 ; pearl barley, do., £11 to £15; beans, 3s 3d ; onions, £14. All grain, chaff, oatmeal, &c., sold including sacks.

Kauri Gdm, Flax, &c. —The market, is weak, owing to very free supplies, more es pecially in poor qualities. We quote: Papa kura guru, £35 to £37 ; good ordinary, £44 to £45 ; superior, ,£4O and upwards ; East Coast, £56 to £~>B. Supplies for April, 207 ton?. Flax, per ton, £14 to £17 ; tow, ditto, £5 to £7 ; fungus, per lb, 2|d to 3 ; } d ; cocoa nut fibre, 15s to 17s per cvvt. Coal and Firewood Market.—Coal: Newcastle (ship's side), 24s to 28s per ton ; yard, 28s to 34s ; Bay of Islands, at yards, 26s 6d ; screened, 28s 6d; ditto at the mines 133 ; ship's side, 26s ; Waikato, Ss to 12s ; at Auckland, 18s to 22s ; Kamo, 10a per ton on loading ground : Taupiri, at mine, Ss Cd to 12s, at yard, 19s 6d to 25s ; Whangarei, at mine, 9s 6d ; yard (steam), 17s ; house hold, 21s ; delivered, 235. Firewood : Un cut at wharf (cargo), 7s to 8s 6d per ton ; delivered, 12s to 13s ; cut, 14s to l(is. Building Matekiai s. —Timber : Boards and scantling, 100 ft best, 12a; second class, 6s 6d ; best, planed, tongued and grooved, first-class, 14s ; medium, 11s ; second class, 9s; rusticated weather boards, first-class, 14s; medium. 11s; second-class, 9s. New Zealand pailing?, sft (sap), 10s ; sft (heart), 13s; 6ft, 14s ; ti-tree rails, £3 10s. per 100 ; puh'ri posts, £6 IQs to .£7 10s ; shingles, 13s per 1000 ; Hobart palings, oft, 193 ; 6ft, 21s : Hobart rails,loos,sollingquotations. Bricks, at Avondale, 30a per 1000 ; town yards, 30s to 355, delivered 40s. Drain pipes, at works, per 100 (6 inches bora), 40s ; 4 inches, 14s ; 15 inches, 9a; 2 inches, £2 10s per 1000; socket glazed pipes, 18 inches, 4s per foot; 15 inches, 4s 6d per foot; 12 inches, 3s per foot; 9 inches, 2s per foot; 6 inches. Is per foot; 4 inches, 9d per foot; 3 inches, >d per foot. _ n ; Manures.—Bonedust : Sydney, £8 to £9, according to quality ; bonellour, £9 to £10 ; Auckland, £8 ; Peruvian guano, £14 to 11 <; Long Island do., £4 10s, bags included ; Hurst's chemical manure, £13.

NORTHERN MAORI ELECTION

{BY THfLEOKAPH— ■¥KSSS ASSOCIATION?.)

WJ3LUXOTOK, this day. The writ for tho Northern Maori election was issued yesterday. Nominations are to be mado at Russell on 25th April and the poll if necessary is to take place on 9th May. Mr J. S. Clendon, R.M., is appointed Ketnm ing Officer. There are '29 polling places, and these, along with the regulations unrtei the Maori Kepresentatioa Act, are ga/.ecteti today.

The seventh exhibition of the Auckland Society of Arts, which was the scene oi so much pleasure last evening when Mr kechnie opened the same, was thrown open to the public for the usual charge oi i» at 12 o'clock to-day, when a number o* persons visited it, and appeared VJ pleased with the same. Mr Atkinson s V Erectea," Mr Steele's " Did She bay po. Mr Watkin's "Home of the Cormorant, and Mr Blomfield's "Tarawera werefF parentlythe favourite pictures. lne „ gets uncomfortably warm when anj nu ber of persons aro in it for a time, ana *- apparently badly ventilated.

MASONIC MEETING.

At the meeting of tlie Remuera Lodge-, 1,710, E.C., held on Wednesday, Bro. D. Kempt was duly installed W.M. for the en suing year, the whole of the ceremony being performed by the retiring master, Bro. B. J. Esam, in a most able manner, Bros. P.M.'s W. Lodder and Rees George being the presenting officers, P.M. C. La Roche D.C., and P.M. Cooper giving the working tools. The working of Installing-Master Bro. Esam was greatly admired, and worthily closed his most successful year of office. The large assembly of Masons (about 120), of these 34 being P.M.s, fully showed the high esteem in which both he and the W. M., Bro. Kempt, are held by their Masonic brethren. Amongst them were Bro. G. P. Pierce, P.G , M I C. Lodder, D.D.G.M.E.C, Bro. H. 'g! Wade, and the officers of Grand Lod°-e ; W.M. Bro. Knox, and officers of LoSge Albion; W.M. Bro. Kidd and officers of Lodge Am ; W.M. Bro. Auger and officers of Lodge Waitemata ; W.M. Bro. Allen and officers of Lodge United Service; R.W.M. Bro. F. Macrae and officers of Lodge St. Andrew ; R.W.M. Bro McCulloughand officers of LodgeManukau. W.M.s. and others of Lodge Wairoa,; Star of the Far South, Rodney, Duke of Albany, Eden Lodge, Alexandra,"Dargaville, Blenheim; P.M. Clark, Princo of Wales Lodge ; Bro. ('. C. McMillan, Captain Olive King, etc. The W.M., Bro. D. Kempt, invested in a most creditable manner the following brethren for his officers :— --1.P.M., Bro. B. J. Esam; S.W., Bro. J. Coom; 1.W., Bro. W. C. Walker; Trea surer, Bro. (P.M.) H. Rees George; Secre tary, Bro. (P.M.) W. H. Cooper; S.D., Bro. W. R. Walker; 1.D., Bro. \V. Somer ville; 1.G., Bro. J. A. Stitehbury; D.C., P.M. F. M. Kewson; Stewards, Bros. P.M.'s Laßoche, Grainger, Young and James; Organist, P.M. C. Hesketh ; Tyler, Bro. Meickleson. To show the suc cess that Remuera Lodge has attained, the .statement of accounts prepared by the out going Treasurer (Bro. P. M. Cooper) showed a balance of above £900 of assets to the credit of the Lodge. After the closing of the Lodge the brethren adjourned to the ban quctting room, where the usual Masonic toasts were given and responded to, those of the retiring- and newly-installed Master being enthusiastically received by the brethren. While Bro. G. P. Pierce was responding as Provincial Grand Master, 1.C., he made the suggestion that the brethren of tho three Constitutions in Auckland should unite in having a gathering to celebrate Her Majesty the Queen's Jubilee year in a truly Masonic manner, and, from the unanimous approval with which this was received, we hope early action will be taken to carry this into effect. Midnight broke up one of trie most success ful meetings ever held in Remuera Masonic Hall.

On 'Change to-day, Saxon shares were quoted at 2s (id, and Cambrias at ss, with very little business doing.

One oil-colour painting by Mr Kenneth Watkins, which we mentioned in our yesterday's notice of the Art exhibits, represents a tragic incident that we give the story in the artist's words :— The subject of "A Christian Martyr" is from a sketch by the Rev. P. Walsh, and has been in the possession of the artist for some years. It is an endeavour to describe the manner in which Bishop Patteson's body was found by the returning boat s crew from the mission schooner, the South ern Cross, both of which are shown in the offing. The canoe in the foreground has just been pushed out from shore, and is seen gliding slowly over the calm water inside the reef. The body of the bishop is enveloped in the native mat, and across the breast is attached the palm leaf with the five knots, significant of the live lives he was said to have been in exchange for, according to the savage cus tom of that group of islands. '

It has been stated that the City Council were unable to acquire the block of land lying between the new Free Public Library/ and Lome-street, because of the high price' asked for it by the owner. If there ever wfo' any truth in the statement, such is the case no longer, as we are assured that Dr. Phil son is perfectly willing to sell the block in question on most reasonable terms, either to the City Council or the Mc- Kelvie trustees for the purposes of an Art Gallery building. .Mr T. B. Hanna ford has been taking- considerable interest in this matter, and his idea, if carried out, would reside in a great public benefit and a vast improvement in that part of the city.

To the Editor : Sir, —In reference to a paragraph in your issue of yesterday con cerning my benefit, I must ask your per mission to correct one passage, which is Sightly at variance with the truth. "One of the Crowd " (if he is actually one) ought to know that neither the pianist nor the organist attended every rehearsal. The facts remain thus—the pianist attended three re rehearsals, the organist two —a preliminary and a final. I may state that the rehearsals for the above cantata commenced in Decem ber last, and I trained both chorus and principals without the aid of an instrument, as is always the case with' my teaching, until within two weeks of'the perform ance. I must admit the assistance I re ceived from Messrs Kowe and .Baxter greatly added to the success of the perform ances. —J. H. Edmoxdes. Carlton Gore Road, April 15th.

Attention is called to the pale of furniture and effects to be held on Monday next by B. Tonkri and Co., at the residence of Mr T. Levy, opposite Hellier House, Grey-street. The furniture is really good, and'has been selected with great care. The house is open for inspection to-morrow (Saturday), and all those desirous of looking over the furniture are invited to inspect.

At the next meeting of Auckland City Council, Cr. Davie.s wil move " That the absolute necessity of attending to fires as quickly as prssible renders it desirable that this Council should have small sets of hose, say 150 feet each, with hydrant anr nozzle, placed in a box, or cupboapd with lock and four keys, one for the In spector, ■end three for adjacent neighbours, ami that two sets, as a trial at about the cost of £20, be ordered and fixed."_ His {Vorship will also move at the next sitting " That this Council, in pursuance of the provision? of the Corporations Act, .1886, and Rating Act, 1870, and amendments thereto, will, on the sth day of May next, make out and levy a general rate of one shilling in the pound on all ac c-e.«sablc properties within the City of 'Auckland, payable in one sum at the offices of tho said Council, on Wednesday, June 1, IS*"-

Mr Matthew Burnetb received an enthu siastic reception by the Temperance organ Rations an his return to Melbourne from his tour of New Zealand. In the course ot an address Mr Burnett said that during the past 6 years he could bear testimony fo the fact young Australia was notadnilk •L community, and since his arrival m the cofonies he had induced 150,000 of his fellow colonists to take the pledge.

POVBRTT AND SUFFERING. —" I Was f r Soctorlhe which did them no good. I was were an "l/i''l l T vant t0 g ay to all poor men, C^S can 6ieep your a famUie 3 leU a yea* with you k a" "Tv.'v'-hod Bitters for less than one Zi 1 I know U.-A Wobk "nsMan." Read.

R.M. COURT.

Yesterday.

• (Before H. G. Seth Smith, Esq., R.M.) Smith v. Finlayson.— In this case His \\ orship held that the defendant had been guilty of negligence, and gave judgment tor plaintiff for £5 5s and costs £2 10s. Nai'iek v. Williams.—Claim £1 Is, legal costa. — Judgment for plaintiff for amount claimed.

W. Kelly v. J. S. Buckland.—Claim, £51 15s 6d, for a buggy and harness and horses.—Mx Gover for plaintiff; Mr Theo. Cooper for defendant. — The plaintiff, a storekeeper at Rotorua, deposed to sending four horses, several sets of harness and a dog-cart to Mr Buckland for sale at Cam bridge. He had given Mr Buckland's man ager a reserve price, which was taken note ot by the latter. The reserve on the buggy was £50, on the sets of harness £6 10s each, on a brown mare £15, one bay mare £11, two bay cobs £9 each.—Further hearing was adjourned until to-day.

THIS DAY.

Kelly v. Bdcklakd.—This case waa con tinued to-day.—The defence was that there had been no reserve specified by the plain tiff.—Mr Kelly had asked Mr Buck land for ; an advance of £100 on the buggy, etc., left with him for sale. Mi' Buckland refused to give the advance, wnereupon Mr Kelly said that two horses he had in Cambridge could go along with the rest as security. Kelly then left, and'subsequently drew on Buck lajid for £100, whereupon Buckland advised him by telegraph that he would not ad vance more than £80. Buckland would not havo granted the £80 advance .if he had not been empowered to sell without reserve. After deducting commis sion, grazing, etc., there was a balance due by the plaintiff to defendant of £10 19 9d. Defendant admitted to having offered Kelly, with a view of a friendly settlement, to allow him the £10 Is 9d, and also to get back the bay cob for him if he could do it. Mitchell, defendant's clerk, in his evidence stated he believed that there was a reserve of £45 on the buggy, but nothing on the other articles.—Mr Cooper said the question at issue was, whether there had been a re serve on the horses, bugg^y and harness ? He was willing to accept it as a fact that there had been a reserve on the buggy.—Mr Gover submitted that the evidence and the probability showed that there had been a re serve.—His Worship held that none of the articles had been reserved except the buggy, and the shortage in connection with that was balanced by the defendant's set off. He therefore gave judgment for the defendant. —Mr Gover applied that no costs be granted on either side.—His Worship said that as the verdict was a substantial success for de fendant, he would have to grant costs. j T. Waxkkb v. Mrs McLkod.—Claim £2 10s 10s. Mr Burton for plaintiff stated £1 had been paid since the summons waa issued. Judgment for £1 HJs lOd, and costs, 2Js 6d. JUDCMEXT SUMMONS CASES. P. Oliphant v. T. C. Somkrs.—Claim £24 19s.—P. Oliphant deposed that the de fendant was employed at the Telegraph Office and was in receipt of £120 per annum. Witness had seen the officer in charge, Ma1 Furby, this morning, and he thought that he could pay £5 per month out of his salary. Witness had waited six months for the money.—Ordered to pay amount before June 17th, or in default '21 days' imprison ment.

Macf.vklaxev. S. Mackie. —Claim, £4 9s. —Mr Blythe for judgment creditor.—W. Paterson gave evidence as to the debtor being in the employ of Mr Matthews, of Ponsonby. The ordinary wages was £2 2s per week and found.—Ordered to pay £1 per week. Jowitt v, S. Mackie.—Claim, £41 4s.—Mr E. W. Burton for judgment credi tor.—The same evidence was taken in this case as in the preceding one.—Ordered to pay £ ,lper week, commencing on May 27th. Hoduson" v. H. Whitesidk.— Claim, £1 ;15sf\6d.— Mr E. W. Burton for judgment creditor.—Ordered to pay amount by June 2^tli, or five days in default. W/H. Brett v/Quade.—Claim, £31 9s lid. «~Mr S. Hesketh for judgment credi tor. — The judgment debtor was ex amined. He was a newspaper runner, and deposed that ho had endeavoured to collect the money due to him, but " it was scattered all over the country." All he had collected was 2?. He thought the balance was irrecoverable. He had only earned 53s during the past month. He was not selling any other daily paper ; ho had worn himself to a skeleton establishing the Stab, and ho was not going to do so to estab lish another new paper. If this case had not been brought against him ho had almost made up his mind to go up the Waikato to work for Mr Fallon, (Laughter.) Debtor, addressing crowd in Court: " Well, gentle men, you may laugh, but it is so." Mr S. Hesketh said that on the evi dence given he would not ask for an order, but would apply for an adjournment. Adjourned accordingly. Wjiitehead v. Oldfield.—Claim £2 16s. —Order made to pay amount in three months.

Jowett v. Monckton.—Claim £6 5s 6d. Mr Blyth for the judgment creditor.— The judgment debtor deposed that he was employed as groom by Dr. Erson and re ceived 30s per week. But he had got notice.—Adjourn to May 20th to give debtor an opportunity of making some arrange^ ment to pay. Harper v. Wilson.—Claim £12.—The judgment debtor, it appeared, had pre* mised to pay 30s per month, but had failed to do it. He was examined and stated that he could have kept his promise had not a case gone against him in the Supreme Court. He thought he might arrange to pay it in three months.—The judgment creditor assented to an adjournment. ' Laybttkxv. PoHLAif. — Claim, £9 7s 9d. Mr (iampbell for judgment creditor. Judg ment debtor deposed that he was a cab driver. Two days after the judgment, was obtained against him, he gave a bill of sale for £25 10s over his cab, horses, and furni ture to a Mr Cohen, receiving £5 in cash. Ho had previously owed Cohen about £17 10s, the balance was interest. The cab had cost £65. One of the horses worth about £25, and the other was worth akout £7, —Mr Campbell said that the judgment debtor's action appeared to have been intended to defeat the judgment. He had shown that he possessed £100 worth of property and two clays after the obtain.-' ing of the judgment he had mortgaged his property.—Ordered to pay 15s per week. Lillkwam. v. Howe.—Claim, £6 16s lOd. —Mr Burton for judgment creditor. —J. Howe, a foreman on Mr Lanigan's dock contract, deposed that his wages were 9s 6d per day. He hjftl a large family to keep.. He could not pay more than 2s 6d per ( wee k.—Ordered to pay 10s per week.

. Mr Justice Ward will sit in Bankruptcy on Monday from 10 to 11 a.m., and any business remaining undisposed of at that sitting will be taken after Chambers on Tuesday. The compensation case of R. Lynas against the Mayor and Corporation of Auckland will be commenced before Mr Justice Ward.'Mr H. G. Wade (assessor for the City Council), and Mr K. Cameron, con tractor (assessor for the claimant), at 11 a.m. on Monday. The claim is for £500 damages for alleged loss and injury through the drainage of Norfolk-street being directed' onto claimant's land by the street being raised above its fixed levels, therefore also increasing the difficulty of access to claim ant's houses.

By advertistment in another column the members of St. Benedicts Christian Doctrine Society are requestedto attend a meeting to make fjnal arrangements tor pignic. ....'-'

SPORTING.

Hovforroyif'B Races at thte North 1 ■ . ■.•'■■■ Shore. ' ;•... ■• •

The Takapuna Jockey Club hold their Autumn Meeting to-morrow, when, no doubt, they will be well patronised at the hands •of race-goera. An excellent pro gramme of seven events will be run off, and in each case good fields promise to go to the post. The first race is Set down for 1 o'clock, and the Ferry Com : pany, as usual, will run their fleet of steamers at shofb intervals throughout the day. My ideas of the probable results are as follows :—Autumn Handicap : Teddy Yuille. Steeplechase : Silvio or Quilp. Selling Hurdles : Torpedo. Maiden Plate : Rosie. Hurdlo Race : Coral. The Devon port Handicap, the concluding race of the day, is dependent on the results of the other events.

Settling Over the A.R.C Autumn Meeting.

The following are the amounts paid away in stakes at the settling over the Auckland Racing Club Autumn Meeting : — Mr A. Drake, £729 12s ;Mr W. Bobbett, £388 11s ; Mr J. Chaafe, £317 6s ; Mr J. Munn, £185 5s ; Mr G. Wright, £123 10a ;. Mr D. Twohill, £117 16s ; Mr M. Halcrdw, £104 10s ; Mr W. K. Carter, £76 19s ; Mr D. Maloney, £38 ; Mr P. Martin, £47 10s ; Mr Thos. Hedge, £19 ; Mr E. Mitchelson, £28 10s ; Messrs Lyons and Blaikie, £9 10s ; Mr F. F. Fitzgerald, £19 ; Mr W. Robert son, £5 14s; Mr Thoa.t Clarke, £1 18s:. total paid away, £2,212 11s. " HIPPONA.

ALARMING OUTBREAK OF FIRE.

(by telegraph—own correspondent.)

Hamilton, this day.

Hamilton had a narrow escape from a big fire thia morning-. A shed at the rear of Mr Garriglo's, in Victoria-street, waa burned down, and but for willing assistance the whole block, including Mr Garrigle's store, Hyde's (tinsmith), New Zealand Tweed Co.'s Branch, Pair's (late Co operative), and another shop, would have been destroyed. Little water was avail able, but fortunately there was no wind. Great excitement prevailed during the out break.

NO VISIBLE MEANS.

At the Police Court to-day, a man named John Mattison was charged with having no lawful visible means of support, but being a young and able-bodied man. Accused indignantly repudiated the charge. Detective Tuohy was called upon, and told off the prisoner in a descriptive narrative of sweeping condemnation. He had never known , him to do any work, and was sure that he had not done any for the last four months. He was constantly hanging about public houses in the company of thieves and low characters, and had been recently consorting with one of the most danger ous criminals in Auckland. He was accmstomed to follow in the wake of drunken men, with the object of robbing them, and although he had escaped conviction hitherto he was one of the most dangerous larrikins in the place. Detective Herbert supplemented the evidence by a still worse account. He had known Mattison for two years as the constant associate' of thieves and the very worst characters. When a very "bad-tin" was1 coming out of gaol, he was there to meet him. On the racecourses, ho acted as watch on the detectives for the card sharpers and speelers. Ho was never out of the company of thieves, with whom he followed drunken men about for the purpose of robbing them. Ho recognized tw6 other persons in the court who were comrades of the accuseds and as bad as himself- Constable Keaney also " gave John away* pretty considerably. He remembered taking from him a drunken man in Victoria - street. John said ho was taking him home, but the man lived in Parnell, and the festive Jolin was loading him in the direction of Free man,^ Bay. John protested his inno cence, and called another prisoner named Arthur Tilly, who said he had seen him selling gum at Papakura re cently. Prisoner ■ askled for a remand in order that he might produce his former employers, and Sergt. Pratt offering no ob jectiona remand for seiven days was granted, bail being allowed iv two sureties of £25 and himstlf in £50. : _~-...

PORT ALBERT.

Our Port Albert correspondent writes : A meeting of the Agricultural Society was he*d at Mr J. Becroffc's, junr., on Thursday. T/jo secretary reported that there was a balance to the credit of the Society of £10, 'as a result of the late show. Several members expressed, their opinion that the show had been a complete suc cess. The next meeting of the Society will be held ab Mr D. Becrofts, May sth. It cannoty be otherwise than gratifying to Mr LH. Exley to witness the very cordial reception he has received on again visiting this settlement. On Friday i air Exley preached', in the Wesleyan chapel, and the Wesleyaras showed a liberal and kindly spirit in this matter. On Monday Mr Exley lectured in the Temperance Hall on "Milton and Cromwell." The lecture was frequently applauded, and on the motipn of the Chairman, Mr J. Coupland, a. vo.tej Of thanks was passed by acclamation.

MINING NEWS.

!*(BY TELEGRAPH—OWK CORRESPONDENT.)

,> Thames, this day.

Cambria.—lOlbs of picked stone were, obtained from. the winze on the. Cross leader.

The Fate of Lord Deerhurst.

A Memsourhd correspondent writes :—•* "Although young ladies generally asso ciate a- tondon journal style of naughtiness' with lardlings, it is earnestly to be hoped that in making his next selection of. an aide-de-eaanp His Excellency the Governlor will receive the services of a gentleman whose view of life is that an associate of the Governor should bear at least an outwandly respectable character. It is, understood that Lord Deerhurst "is aboat to take his departure from the colony in liord Dudley's yacht, and that the gazet ting of his resignation is merely held over wntil there is a strip of sea between him and %he colony. By the time he reaches home ns the yacht is on a cruise, this little scan dal will have blown over, and though he is now in one sense sent to Coventry, that being his ancestral seat will not hurt him much, and as English society, like a Mel bourne police magistrate, judges a lord by a different rule to that which would be applied to, a reputable citizen, he will be welcomed and we shall soon hear that the little colonial tarnish has been rrtbbed off, and that my lord has taken his seat amongst the Peera (to legislator other people.

STARVED TO DEATH.

Horrors of tie Famine in Indla.J

A HXXtUOH PEOPLE PERISH.

How tho pestUute Natives Were Pro vided for by the Government. '

More disastrous to India than any similar period in thia -century was the latter hall of 1878 and th 6 early months of 1879, for it waa in this period that there raged so fear ful a famine ■ that many huge districts were entirely depopulated, while others were so crippled, by death and dis ease that .their recovery will be a matter of .years. Not. only was South India as sailed with this disease, but even the fer tile valleys of the Juma, the uplands _ of the northwest provinces, and the hillsides of the Himalayas. The periods of famine are not rare occurrences in India. Bengal and Lower Bengal have been repeatedly scourged, but the distress in these pro vinces has never been of so severe a nature as..that of the great"'famine. In Bengal transportation is esasy.: It has railroad fa cilities, its noble rivers,penetrating into the very heart of the jungle, flow through gigantic cities, whose, marts can be sup plied with ricefrom Burmah and China. But it is otherwise in the benighted presi dency, where in 1878-79 there were very feeble transportation arrangements. Ite only large river, the Godavery, has its course through a country where the distress was but slight, consequently the food sup plies had to be imported either by sea and unladen in the most dangerous roadstead in tho world, whose surf is the terror of the traveller and the delight of the artist; or by a railroad whose chief duty lay in getting blocked when under any extra pressure, and by the clumsy bandi, a two wheeled contrivance, drawn by slow but patient ox teams. So while the Govern ment was straining its every department by inquiry to meet the evil, while the rail road stations were blockaded with grain laden car*, and steam coasters were dropping bags of .rice into the Madras roadstead, instead of depositing it on shore, millions of men, women and children were dying that most horrible of deaths—slow starvation. An Inefficient Government. Although Sir Lepel Griffin, erstwhile Lieu tenant-Governor of the Punjab, has declared in English periodicals that he would as lief live in Russia as in the United States, it must be admitted that, perhaps with the exception of Russia, there existed no moris despotic or feeble Government than did that which was in India under the Viceroyalty of Lord Lytton. Like the Russian Czar, Lord Lytton refused to be lieve when it was to his interest to disbe lieve. In vain the papers referred to Simla as the Capua of India. While towns, vil lages, and hamlets were being polluted by the unburied dead, Lord Lytton and his senile court were luxuriating in the health ful air of Simla, giving performances of " Pinafore," into which representation every man with a graceful figure _ and a note of song was impressed, while the ladies of India, under the immoral influence of the gifted Viceroy, established a brief reign of contempt against social ordinances, which drew upon them the scathing rebuke of Dr. Austin, the correspondent of the London "Times," who referred to Simla society as a " leprous sore" and the ladies as "soiled doves." There were, however, good men and true in the Viceregal^ Council who detested this fooling and fiddling, and importuned Lord Lytton to succour the famishing people of Madras. Finally, the Government of Madras informed the Vice roy that it was at the end of its tether, and if prompt assistance was not rendered South India would nob have a soul left to tell the tale. Belief Measures. Then began another tale of haste, hurry, and incapacity; Relief pleasures were pro posed and rejected, rejected and proposed. The bombastic Sir Richard Temple, Go vernor of Bombay, became a sort of con fidential adviser to tho Government, which so exasperated the Governor of Madras, the Duke of Buckingham, that matters were brought to a standstill, while the gentle men were quarrelling -about infringements and presumption. It was, however, resolved that famine camps should be located in the distressed centres/ that those unable to work should be fed, and for thoso able to labour work was to be provided by the authorities. Then came the harvest of the baniab, the middleman of North India, who brings up the grain. In the most reckless manner were these purchases made. Exorbitant prices were asked and paid, till, the local governments found themselves bankrupt, and were ad ministered a severe snubbing by the Viceroy, and a grain rate was fixod ; money was borrowed from native money-lenders at a ruinous rate of interest, and the game of famine relief was pursued with vigour. Thousands of centals were poured into Madras, and rotted or wore stolen. Then the intelligent Madras Government sug gested that European officers be sent to the presidency to organise the distribution of the grain and money. Again Lord Lyttoa showed his inability. The Department of the Northwest was ordered to send every available man south. Their expenses were to be paid, also that of a horse, servant, and entire camp equipment. The officers were to receive 25 per cent.increaso of their pay, and 25 cents a mile for every mile they travelled wheD- on duty. , Exorbitant Charges. The average Indian official, especially when young.is utterly devoid of conscience, and many a young fellow declared his in ability to move under 500 to 1,000 rupees, which was paid, without a murmur. .He was also furnished with an order 'either on the Bombay or Madras presidencies far money "if required." Many a gay hearted fellow started south with many a brandy-bottle, and between the brandy and the famine fever there was no final settling. The writer was in Naini Tal, in the Hima layas, on sick' leave, when he was furnished with command to re port at Jooty, in Bombay Presidency, made famous by Lord Macaulay's wonder ful description of its fortress and rock, for orders. At Bareilly, at the foot of the hills, he fell in with several others bound on Similar duty and all liberally supplied with money. In fact, an F.O. (famine officer) was a prize to the liquor dealers and hotels. . Here there seemed to be much distress, and as we looked at the scrawny bodies of the wretched natives who were picking up the grain which had fallen from the cara on to the track the remark was made : " By Jove !we ought to be fam ining it here." All'through the north-west •was distress ; through the central provinces the people seemed even more unhappy ; through Bombay the condition was even worse ; but when we reached Madras there broke in upon us tho ' horrors of hunger. From the windows of dur carriage we could see villages without a human being, and thereupon the ground lay stretched the dying and the dead, and we had to close the windows to shut out the polluted air. Men t Women, and chil dren, horses, dogs, cows, jackals, lay dead together. Above was a pitiless blue sky Without speck or blemish. On earth was a parched ground, wells without water, river beds dry, the huge lakes without moisture. Of vegetation there was not a green thing, and for nigh three years had ft so beon, until all the surplus grain was gone and there vvaa nothing to do but lie down and die. ... ■. A Camp of Paupers. After being delayed a week at Jooty, where at the Government expense I lived sumptuously, I was ordered to Madras, where I did not fare so well, but was finally «*dered to Tinnererly, the most southern,.

State in all India. From thence I was senb to Ootipadaram, where the Collecter had; established a huge camp, and where 10,000; to 12,000 paupers were being fed. The' village of Ootipadaram sits on a huge tree-' less plain, which plain in better yeaty raised vast amounts of grain, and the village: was the most thriting of that districts But now its rich Brahmins were dead.: Used to a life of ease and plenty, they had1 been the first to succumb to want and: privation, and thqre in their houses with; their hands clasped across their kness, or' writhing on the floor in agony, they had! gasped out their breath calling on God for I succour. Women who were once beautiful' lay dead with their children in their arms, and on the putrid bodies—on the grim skeletons — lay golden anklets, bracelets, earrings, and the fine golden platter which adorns the wealthy Brahmin woman's head.'. Jewels fit for crowned heads lay scattered about-^jewels which had been offered for a! handful of millet, and had been refused, and through all this gloom and misery: stalked the professional beggar, poking and; prying to find something with which to stay the gnaVving-at his vitals.

A Carnival of Death. There were thousands of human beings busy making the camp, and very little food. But the grain was coming, coming as fast as oxen could dr-ag it, and the many hungry people, elated with hope, strug-; gled bravely against death. In all that vast and starving crowd there was no mur-. mur. Once or twice an importunate woman would catch my leg and ask: whether it were true that the grain was • coming. No shudder of horror electrified ! their frames when thrice each day the carts | laden with dead would pass from out of! camp and dump the ■ bodies in the • long trenches. At last the grain train: came. Every pauper outside the camp; was driven in and securely locked up within the fence. The grain was unloaded —but the food they so anxiously wanted to eat was denied many a one. The stain: in many instances was too great. The joy was too violent, and in sight of plenty they died. After the arrival of the^ train the camp was organised, and two aily doles were made—one in the morning. and one in the evening.. One dole con- ; sisted of rice and chile water, and afterj the first day's food the mortality in j the camp was frightful. It rose to over j 1,000 a-day. The, paupers were ranged in long lines, each was furnished with a plat ter into which was thrown the rice, and then sprinkled with chile water. Ere the. hand could convey the food to the mouth, the expectant eater would be dead ; othei'3 whilst gulping down their food would be i seized with convulsions; some who had' finished their rice would linger an hour or , so, their stomachs swollen to an incredible ; size, and die raving maniacs; and some would dash their heads against the ground j delirious from joy. In every horrid shape i stood death—death in every revolting and j hideous form. Public Works. The public works started for the relief of famine paupers were simply useful to con- < tractors as money-making ventures. Of their utility to the Government every one in the Tinnevelly district doubted. A huge reservoir was made under the superinten dency of the Public Works Department, but it was playing at work. Frauds were . being perpetrated on every side; the; Tehsilders, or native collectors, began to purloin rice, the worthless native doctors put in huge supply lists where port wine, brandy, sago, and arrowroot conspicuously figured ; but neither the solicitude of the Hospital Department, the potency of the brandy, or the strengthening influence of arrowroot and sago could keep alive a peo ple who were practically dead. At one time it seemed that no human endeavour could keep the district from entire depopu lation. The food supply was gradually diminishing, and orders were being fre quently received to keep the dole down. The distress was spreading to other taluks, and it appeared that the Government j would soon be called-upoQ to feed the en-; tire native population of India, and there-; fore it was necessary to curtail the supply. This measure again increased the mor tality, and the death rate stood higher than , ever. Virulent diseases broke out, small- j pox raged furiously, the hospital attend- i ants opened the hospital pens and fled ; • the sore-covered patients invaded the ' camp, wot out of the inclosure, and spread ! the disease to a frightful extent. For near a month there was a total lack of order. :

The Fatalist's Belief. In vain the European officials attempted to restore courage and discipline. " It is the fate of' God that these people should perish," would the Tehsildar re mark. " Save yourself, Swami. You can- , not fight God, The only thing that will restore courage is rain. If God would send : us but one shower, then shall we be saved." : It was useless to insist that providence ' lay in effort. " Swami, our hands are tied." God alone can assist us. Will rain be , present at our last appeal?" _ i The Tehsildar made this request in ai strangely agitated manner. He was a j Vishnuite Brahmin, a very learned man, j an efficient officer, and imbued with heresy. I I asked him what the appeal was to be. j He took a chair, and said, "Two years ago , I told the collector that we should have a J famine. Once in every ten years there is j famine. In 1889-90 there will be another ; one worse than this. ' It is the law of i the land. The Brahmin priests told the j people to save their grain. Some have! done so. Their words came true; no rain: fell. But yet they hoped. Rain, said they,,' will fall next year. Again the season, passed, and not a drop of rain did Godj send us. Then came this year, and daily; we have watched, daily we have prayed for rain. Our rivers, one by one, ran dry, our j tanks became waterless, our wells have all disappeared. Thirst is not the only tor ture we suffer. But in the temple there is ; a spring whose waters' are fast drying. To-' night at sundown we shall take the water, that is left and make a libation to the; offended God. Will you come ?• It will • strengthen and help the people."

Coming of the Rain As the sun sank that night, the priests bearing a jar'of the precious water, escorted j by a hungry, sore-afflicted throng to beat \ of a drum and tinkle of cymbal, made the ! libation. " Well," TMisild->r said, "and what if yet no rain—and your last water gone ?" "The rain will come, Swami," was his calm reply. "We felt it yestered morn-, ing." The TehsiWar spoke but too truly : for a few days afterwards the heavens broke in deluge, and the country was flooded. From the Tinnevelly district I was sent to the Shevary Hills, in Central Madras, to or-; ganise relief measures ; from thence to the; Northwest, where the distress was very; acute. Thus for two years and a-half I was placed in the most distressed portions \ of India. That the Indian Government, was in some measure- to blame for its; apathy in not early recognising the distress! there can be no doubt, but praise must be accorded to the individual officers for their endeavours to do their duty. Some esti mate can be formed of the prevalence of the distress when it is stated that the province of Mysore lost over 1,000,000 of people.: Perhaps no other country would have done better under similar circumstances.

EIGHT THINGS TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

A father to work for me, A mother to take care of me, . A house to live in. - - . A bed to sleep in. A fire to warm me. Clothes to wear. - i Food to eat. vii> Br«ath every momen^

THE AUCKLAND EVENING "STAB;FRIPAY,"'AgBIC^TTBStr^:

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