WRECK OF THE NORTHUMBERLAND.

gTEAMER 800-JUM LOST. ; FIVE* MEN DROWNED (jYIELEORArn- - OWN COREESrONDENT.) ~- ;■ / ..'-,.' Nafier, this day. tnwc'galethathas been blowing since Sun light' has ended in the most fearful • -ter ever experienced at this port. . On kf day about 11 ' aS alread y reported, the j »;'^ or tbumbei'lancl was observed to be &» towards the Pctane Beach, and fly f iignnls of distress. The life-boat put S y after getting across the bar, she I 1 %,(ered terrific waves, and appeared to Irmore cockelshell at the mercy of the • Jand After gallant efforts for over \W 8 ' 30a ' fc WaS Reached. I" the I ,^ e a»mall coastal steamer belong r and Co., tho Sir Donald, If. ■'. ijenin and went out towards tho $°j jliich by this time : had ). „-j jn showing that one anchor was : 'i \iM nen 10 ona hl got along- L.. boat was lowered from tho ship, and if .'passengers—three gentlemen and a 'Ufi-were' pat on board the steamer, i 'iir jodd said the vessel had' not Shed the ground, and as tho weather jhled as though" it would moderate, lie ' lilotelit the pne anchor sufficient. Tho Sir jjtolald then returned to port. t Darin" the night the weather did moder. ! jta and the'sea had fallen considerably by iWnesday morning. The Northumber- Ld-ifas then-found to bo in the same 'position, about half a milo from the shore, iilli a.ni. signals were seen from the ship Ijanestin t ' assistance and another anchor iaiid'hawser, as a second anchor which had ,'jgjpit oat over night attached to a steel lliffser had parted. .The.weather thickening with heavy ' malls and'rain, things began to look as 'nisi? as on'the previous clay. Five smalj ;local steamers, the Sir Donald, 800-jum, ifeia, Fairy, and Wairoa got up steam andwent to the vessel with a view to tow |wher to a safe position, but before reach- M her the "remaining anchor parted, and theship was rapidly driven, broadside on, tofardi the beach. I Kjrat then that a fatal disaster occurred. ,§eßoo-inrhj when about 100 yards "to lee .lidof the ship, was caught by an immense me, which rolled her oyer. If Aboatwith about 20 seamen was lowered litiieship, and picked up the engineer, i -km the only man saved of the four on fitbe 800-jum. The Fairy then picked qtfjoat and took all on board. ; kefs this, crowds of people had pro- I pMjjj the Petane Beach, and when the .fetaberland was near enough, an a rocket and ropo i«M. ffihree shots were fired nnsuccess- Mf,' were exhausted. ftmrbpes were floated from the ship, and ifter many failures one reached near enough feheseized. That was fastened to a tele mph-pole, and the board-ship end was Jaked'to the topmast and a cradle rigged, lffhieh', with many narrow escapes, the nole'of the crew : were landed ; Captain T«ld being the last to leave tho vessel. llis'not easy to obtain a connected story, ..lid'all sorts ofaccounts are * given by eye witnesses, but .the above is actually what odeuired, with the omission of details. flone of the bodies have been washed up. 'Theship is- fast breaking up. Two of her rtswent last night, and the beach is ttreired with cargo. A. Waddell, ono of ttedrowned men, who volunteered to go ontießoo-jum, was manager for Thorn p «n and Co. aerated water makers. lie taraawidow and seven children. ; Captain Setter, of the 800-jum, leaves a Jwindow "and "three children. He was formerly a'resident of Melbourne, and nad .'Tjeenlongin the employ of the Union S.S. ;Company. '■' Ho was brave even to rashness, : andhas frequently rendered valuable ser-' •Mceswith his little steamer when vessels in ;the offunf. " Th« other men drowned wer3 Charles fwM! (seaman) and another seaman named Mvinfton, and a stranger known as ; These three with Mr WaddsU and Captain Setter make five lives ; Cwgofrom the is strewn fflthsbeach for oyer a mile. l.'nrt of the Moftheßoorjum has- also-been washed wore, '* Itiisaid.that a number of "roughts" WW the rofe of "wreckers," and held a ■^larpandemonium on the beach. Large broaching - the cargo, many Aye re Wl T]j e one p o H comen present called pa'party of respectable citizens to aid ; Wut they were set upon by drunken jfp, and had to let things go on as

LATER PARTICULARS.

IfiSHIP BROKEN UP

Napier, 2 p.m. IP Northumberland has not long with- Mtbe buffeting of the waves, and is "now broken up. . ? A I A,body of Captain Selter has been vP': .'..'./.'• .:...-- : •' pl| now been ascertained that the J kit by the wreck of the 800-jum '* X and not five as, stated, in- the r*a« message. The four "men drowned .Jj&li Setter, Messrs Waddell, iKel -"Poa, and Bain. Tho latter was a single had just been lately WSHtt£'sAl> the Northumberland not affect Now- One or two of the 2Sew sf#*liVe slight risks on the I® of the cargoon the %72 bo *W« : From London — cottons, WJ&pty :and : rugs, L200j,. saddlery, Hnßilm-, L 10; paper, B!)cvvt. ; $&ss&®i*9i -1400 5 galvanised, iron, *^Tife ee(l oil, 150 gallons j paint flint glass, L2O; china and >2*f c, LIOO. canvas, LBO ; lines and *fcf' bilclcs, 53V m'lo ; cement, 350 gallons j. Britwn Kffl@& I#o|J red wine, 100 gallons ; *?. oilmen**- stores,

L4O s ooooa, i owt I mustard, X3O j whik gait, 10 ton?; rook (tali, 2 tona; vow, otyatals, & tons; oandlou l(sawt.} raiflinjd, isp\vt,; oui-rnnta, iio\rt.; Liquorio juiot, 3o\jri, j ginger, 2wtj apothocaxj ware, LlOO.j sulphur, 24owte.; tai'tario aoid, 2owt.j ci'eftm tartar,' lewt. Total value of the above, L 2.800. Cargo from Lyttolton 4,000 eaoks \yheafc.

THE THAMES FLOOD.

Estimate of Damage. (by telegraph.—own correspondent.) "'" ' Thames, this day. At a. meeting of the County Council last night, Mr A. Aitken, County Engineer, presented the following approximate esti mate of damage to roads and other works in the county by the recent flood:—Thames to Hikutaia, L 75 ; Thames to. VVaikawau, L 100; Hastings to Mercury Bay, L2O; Puriri to Tairua, L4O ; {Hikutaia to Whangamata,' LI 5 ; Moanatairl, L 250 ; Waiotahi, L2OO ; Karalca to Lucky Hit, L 2 5; Karaka'Ex-' tension; L3O; Hapo Creok, LGO; Kau eran'ga Valley, L 75 ; Tararu' Creek, L 250 ; Waimo Road, L 12 5; Waiotahi to settle ments at Mercury Bay, £60; Hapo, No. 2, L3O; Otanul, L 7 5; Ohio Creek, LSO ; -water race, Ll5O ; Moanatairi tram way, L 125; To Papa Gully, L 45 ; Orphan ago Bridge, L 25 0; total; L 2.050. These arc the principal roads. 'In"the ~ borough the damage is not yet fully ascertained.

FIRE BRIGADE BANQUET.

Mr W. J. Suiter, Mayor of Newmarket, Mr Lumpkin, and several other prominent residents of that suburban municipality, entertained the mem bore : of the local Fire Brigade and brass band afc a banquet at the new Fire Brigade Station, Newmarket, last evening. Mr Suiter pre sided, and besides thb members of the ori gade and band, there were also present : Crs. Kent, Lumpkin, Whisker, Morgan, Messrs McNeil; Hainley, etc. The,usual loyal and patriotic toasts were drunk with appreciation. " The Mayor and Council of Newmarket " was .proposed by Mr McNeil, and responded to by the Mayor. In pro posing " The Newmarket Volunteer Fire Brigade." the Mayor paid a well-deserved compliment to the Brigade for its effi ciency, and on behalf of the burgesses returned thanks for the "yeoman's service" it had already rendered in the matter of I fire extinguishment. His Worship also presented to the Brigade some twenty or thirty handsomely-bound volumes by popular authors, to form the nucleus of a library for the firemen. Cap tain TTannigan returned thanks, and hearty cheers were given for His Worship. ' The Mayor then proposed : " The Newmarket Brass Band," coupled with the names of Bandmaster Walter .Hunter, and the Chairman of the Band, Cr. Whisker. Bandmaster Hunter and Cr. Whisker re sponded.. A 'number of other toasts were duly honoured and a highly pleasant convivial gathering broko up about midnight. We should mention' that apologies for absence were received from Mr Superintendent Thomson, and from Mr Superintendent Hughes, of the Auckland Fire Brigade, and Captain Field, of the Salvage Corps.:

THE LONDON CIRCUS.

Hkrhetit akd FiTzOEiiAiu's Great London Circus drew a good house last night at the Agricultural Hall, tho audience being thoroughly pleased with the marvellous feats performed, especially Mr Frank Jones's bayonet leap. From the feats of Mr W. Organ's wonderfully - trained piebald pony, to the frightfully risky per formance of Mr T. Herbert upon thetrapezo, all the items upon the programme are of a first-class character, and persons intending to visit this, the best circus that has paid Aupkland a visit for a long time, will not be disappointed. Signor Bartello forcibly reminds l one of the' "Elastic Noble man" in Burnard's comical work, ''The New History of Sandford and Mer ton," so marvellously b'ondable is he. Some of tho feats performed by this" india rubber man" we should have 'deemed it quite impossible to bo performed by any backboned, animal had we not seen them. Mr Thomas Leon's performance with the barrel, although not a novelty, is.bettor 'than any thing of the sort we have witnessed in the colonies. The last three performances' of the company are announced as they leave town on Monday next. On Saturday thore will bo two performances —one in the afternoon and another in the evening.

PAPAKURA CHURCH MATTERS.

The Papakura Presbyterian Church Com mittee, warned by the' loss of the Drury church by fire, have lately insured the church and manse, the furnituro of the latter 'having been previously insured for many years. The Papakura Valley Com mittee have also been considering the pro priety of insuring the Presbyterian Church at that place. Tho, churches at Wairoa South and Ness Valley have been for some time insured.: The Papakura Temperance Band have their,, weekly meetings in the Library Rooms, and in general they are well attended. On Wednesday last, although there was no moonlight, from 40 to 50 old and young people were present..... The Presi dent (Rev. T. Norrie), Vice-President (Mr C. Cooper), Superintendent (MrShanaghan), Mr Lockwood and others, as .members of Committee, attend with great_ regularity;, and give important assistance in the meet ings. .

The sale of work at the V.M.C. A. Rooms was well attended-last night, and a-con siderable number of sales were effected. The promenade ooncert was of an impromptu character, but proved*none the less enjoyable on that account. Ims afternoon the salo is being liberally patronised, and a -large concourse; of people is expected to-night, when* another prom enade concert will be given. - ; Complete stagnation reigns In tho market, and no transactions havo been reported during the day. • South -British, New Zea land, National and Standard Insurance, shares' are inquired for at low rates. Sellers, Bank of New Zealand,..Llo ss; buyers,; Colonial Bank 40a• Od.' No tele grams of importance have been received from any of the minos. The steamer Waihora which left the Wharf at noon bound for.Southern ports, put back ao-airi almost.immediately, a : rope having ■ fouled her propeller. The propeller- was cleared and she resumed her voyage at 2 p.m. ■■■--.-.. The steamer Ruby is to leave Auckland to-ni»ht for Mangawai to give-, those in terested' an opportunity examining the stranded schooner Julia Pryco. On return in'o-it-will bo decided whether :to_ call for tenders for tho relaunching of the vessel. Tho enquiry into the charges preferred acainst Lieutenant-Colonel Mahon was con tinued lost evening from 5 oolock till about a quarter to 8. Colonel Lyon and Lieu tenant-Colonel .Shepherd examined Lieu tenant Martelli at somo : longth,;and his ex aminatton was continued'to-day, %

STRIKE IN A BOOT FACTORY.

(BX TELEGRAPH.- PRESS iJBSOOIATIOJfc,) ' Wellington, Wednesday. ■ ' Ninety-nine employees at Hannah's boot factory went on strike this morning, owing to a reduction of 2d per pair on a certain class of boots. There are hopes of an amicable settlement being arrived at.

DISMISSAL OF PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIALS.

(BY telegraph.—press association.) Wellington, Wednesday; Large reductions in the Public Works De partment, necessitated by the falling in of contracts as the year progresses, are being made. Yesterday lifty. notices wore issued to various officers throughout tho colony that their services would be dispensed with at the end of September. The reductions include several high officials.

ILLEGAL SWEEPSTAKES.

[by telegraph- press association.] Wellington, Wednesday. H. J; Rodgers, drapor, who occupies a good position in ono of tho leading firms here, was arrested, on a warrant issued at Christchurch, on a ohaVgo of conspiring with others to defraud, by means of a sweep, to the amount of £2,000, contrary to the Gaming and Lotteries Act. A man named Bicby, alias Stapleton, is in custody at Christchurch on the same charge. The case has been remanded till to-morrow, bail being allowed in £100.

THE SEAMEN'S UNION.

Mr Er.usoN-, Secretary of tho Seamen's Union, denies having ordered anyono to leave the s.s. Chelmsford, and states that the young fellow referred to in our' report had never made a trip in tho vessel; that he had accepted an engagement on board without knowing what wages he would receive, and on learning that the wages were only £7 instead of £9, as required by tho Union, ho left the vessel of his own accord. At all events it is a fact that the young fellow referred to in the presence of a Star reporter told Cap tain .Hopkins that "he had left the steamer because ho did not want to be ex pelled from the Union." With respect to the non-Union man employed on tho Chelmsford, Mr Ellison says he only oskod Captain Hopkins to get him to join the Union, and that he expects the matter will be amicably settled on the return of the Chelmsford. Ho is not prepared to say what action will be taken if the man refuses (as he has done) to become a member.

BANRUPECY PROCEEDINGS.

A. M. Gravatt.—A meeting of creditors in the bankrupt estate of the above was held at 11 o'clock to-day, in tho Official Assignee's office. The debtor and a large number of creditors were present. The Assignee explained that apparently this was a pure case of misfortune. Un fortunately, however, there was nothing really in the-""festate. The liabilities amounted to £614, and the only assets were book-debts, £04, which were estimated to produce £20. So that there would be very little. to divide. The debtor said '■ he had boon forced into his present position. His house in Richmond Road would not at present realise the amount of the mortgage, L 350. His furniture was not worth more than L 25. Most of the creditors expressed sympathy with tho debtor, and it was unanimously, resolved, on the motion of Mr Whitehead, seconded by Mr JiekellS, " That having heard the debtor's state ment, the creditors are of opinion that he has been forced into his present position owing to the state of the times, and recommend that he bo granted his discharge, and that the Official Assignee do assist in obtaining such discharge. Also that tho debtor be allowed to retain his furniture." Debtor's Examination. '—• Waltor .E. Crawford, under examination this morning by the > Official Assignee, deposed : — In March, 1885, by the failure of Messrs Ingram and Co., engineers, of Auckland,,in whose employment I was, and through whom I became responsible for £1,000,- and for £743 12s Cd of which I had becomo in debted to the bank, partly guaranteed by a firm who agreed to help mo, I had no means to meet this liability beyond unfinished parts of the cheese factory plant, purchased on my behalf, of tho value of £104 9s 6d, to enable me to undertake tho erection of a complete dairy factory. At that time I was advised by my friends to file, but elected to go into-business. I ac cordingly established myself at Arch Hill, where I leased suitablo premises for three years, at a rental of 72s per month. From that to the present time—2o months —-I have gradually laid out £500 worth of machinery,and tools, and paid for the same out of my earnings. ' Tho firm coferred to continued to assist me financially until about the end of February of the cur rent year,; When Ctliey. asked me _to give security for their then exist ing guarantee for bank overdrafts amount ing to £300. In addition to this I owed them £234 0s Od for advances against .unfinished' contracts, against which 1 have given orders for the full amounts. To secure the. bank overdrafts I gave the firm a bill of sale over the plant, &c.; to the estimated value :of £317. This bill of sale was executed about the end of February, or beginning of March last. I estimated the value of my plants, tools, &c:, outside the'bill of salo, at £225 (in cluding £40, for an engine and boiler about which there is a dispute of ownership) and book debts £17. There Ls only one con tract on hand,' unfinished. There are none in abeyance as regards settlements. The one.on hand will not leave a surplus pqual to the orders given against it. I .can not say what amount it may.,be.. Apart from'the orders for £234 6s Od given against the unfinished work, my unsecured debts amount; to £159 17s Bd, all trade liability. My household -furniture was purchased by my wife from funds supplied by her friends. I have no assets of any kind beyond what is now disclosed. My books are kept by double entry from first to,last, and arc fully posted to date. All my tran sactions have been dealt with .through tho bank; with one exception—a pay ment made in'Otago, and disbursed there. The immediate cause - of my failing was the seissuro under the bill of salo and tho pres sure of creditors consequent on the regis tration of that document.

A match between tlio Ponsonby and Mount Eden Chess Club has been arranged for next TuCSday, and will be played at Ponsonby, The Mount Eden players are Messrs, Ashton, Hosking,' Jourdalu, Wat kins (2), Cooke, Grant, Tainage, Armstrong, and Matthews, ."

R.M. COURT.

TBU DAT. , (Before H. G. Seth Smith, Esq., B.MJ r/NDBFESDED CASES. '_ W. E. Payno v. M. Coyle, claim L 25 10» ,5d ; Hancock and Co! v. M. McLennan, claim L 8 Is Cd j J. A. Beale t. A. W. Ellis, claim L 5 17s 4d; J. H. Sfcubbs v. J. Cullon, claim L2O Is; E. T. Cartwrighfc t. A. H. Whltohouae, claim Ll2 8s 7d ; C. T. Wren v. T. Shep herd, claim L 5 18s ; Brace and Co. t. W, J. Davis, claim LB Is 5d : Woollen Co. v. G. C. Walker, claim L 7 19s 2d; H. D. Morpeth v. McKerras, claim L 2 10s ; L. A. Levy r. Bryan and Gravatt, claim £10 9d — Judgment against Bryan; Milne y. Mrs Ward, claim, L 8 9s 9d; G. Fraser v. Foster, claim, Lls ; IT, 0. Hanchard v. A. Diviani, olaim L6O; Westbrook V. G. Care, olalm L 4 13s 6d; W. Car roil v. A. R. Grcenaway, claim L 25 4s Gd ; J. Mooney v. C. Kingst'ord, olaim L 25 3s ; J. Andrews v. Elizabeth Addison, claim L 8; Stewart v. Diviani, claim L2O; Pv, Robinson r. T. Lynch, claim L 3 9s. DEFENDED CASH. Habtrap Pilciikb v. J. M. Joroenson. — This was a caso arising out of a claim <*f £8 17s 5d for 20 sacks (85 bushels) of oats supplied to the defendant who is master of the brigantino Smaragd.—Mr Dufaur appearing for the plaintiff.—Tho caso is proceeding as we go to press.

NARROW ESCAPE AT BIG OMAHA.

We have received news per J. Brown and Co.'s cutter of what nearly proved a fatal and most disastrous accident. During tliQ heavy gale ou Monday night last, Mr Torkington's new house of four rooms was lifted by the hurricane and thrown down the bank towards the sea forty yards. Strange to say, the roof and sides were lifted clear off tho floor. Mr Torkington and his three boys were at the timo sleeping in the house. One of the poor little fellows cried out, " Where is the house gone, and where are wo going to finish the night?" The chimney fell with such violence across a table that it sank one of the legs through the floor, and smashed tho table to pieces. How any. of tho occupants escaped with their livos is a mystery to all who have visited the ruins ; but all escaped unhurt with tho exception of tho youngest, who received a scratch down his face. Mr Torkington was, up to last Saturday, in tho habit of sleeping in the same room as the chimney fell through. Since then ho has slept in tho adjoining room with his sons. This change saved his life, as tho falling chimney must have killed him. Much sympathy is felt for the family, as they are on tho village settle ment block, and Mr Torkington has spent his all in making a homo, which is now in ruins. To muko matters worse he had twenty tons of good iirowood stacked on tho beach ready for sale, but owing to high tides and rough winds the whole has been washed out to sea, Credit is due to Messrs Leppcr, Noad, Lloyd and Bradbury for the kindness shown by them in re-erecting a temporary residence out of the wreck. The old settlers say thoy novor witnessed such a hurricane over Bijf Omaha bofore. No less than a hundred tons of cut lirewood wero carriod out to sea. Soveral of tho village settlors are savoro losers by this storm. Messrs J. Brown and Company's cutter, anchored in Whangntea Harbour, broko loose from her anchor, and but for the .speedy attention of tho crew she must haveocen blown out to sea.

OUR GOLDFIELDS.

Te Aroha, this day. Mr J. B. Smith, of Waitoa, returned home on Monday from a trip South. At Wellington he visited Mr Gordon, and tho Minister of Mines left samples of deposit for assay and the report by Mines Department as requested by :Mr Larnach. When here recently, he asked Mi' Larnach to furnish him with a copy of tho report which would bo made by the Mines Department on tho deposit, as a result of his recent visit with the Minister and Inspector Gordon. Mr Larnach, however, declined to supply an ad vance copy of tho report such as asked for. Proceeding to Christchurch, Mr Smith took samples to Professor Brickerton of Can terbury College for assay and report; also to Professor Hutton of the samo college desiring to have tho fullest pos sible information on this deposit, Mr Smith has arranged with Professor Hutton to come up next month and spend some days in generally investi gating as to the area value, etc., of the deposit. On arrival at Auckland on hi* return journey, Mr Smith found a telegram from Professor Bickerton await ing him giving the result of assay No. 1 parcel as follows :—Gold, loz., lOdwts., 4"rs. ; silver, 200z5., lklwts., 14grs. No. 2parcel: gokHoz, lldwts, llgrs ; silver Wo-/, 14dwt °gi\ This is very encouraging. As the result of Mr Smith's discovery pros-. pecting is more or less proceeding in the Waitoa district generally. Karangahakk, Tuosday. Raixey's Tramway.—When the subject of accopting a tender for the completion of this* line cropped up at the county meeting, Paeroa, on Saturday last, the Council very suddenly realised tho fact that there was not sulllcient money on hand to carry out tho work, and now tho whole thing is shelved for an indefinite period. It appears that the estimated cost of construction was £400, of which the mines interested contri buted £150, the county subscribing £50, and the balance of L2OO was made up by the promise of a subsidy to that extent from the Mines Department. So>.ie time since contracts wero let for tho supply of sleepers as well as for tho clearing, forming and otherwise preparing the Hue for tho per manent way. These contracts amounted to a sum of L 228, leaving a balance of LI 72 availablo for expenditure. On Saturday last the lowest tender received for'laying clown th? permanent way and providing thp requisite rolling stock was that of John Morton at' L3lO, and it will therefore bo. seen that for carrying out, this part of the work alone there is a defici ency of Ll3B, wbichmust be made up from some source or other before our impecuni ous local body would be justified in. accept ing any tenders. Then it must be borne in mind that hone of the above-mentioned items of expenditure include rails, which aro.still to be provided for by tho county, and the cost of these, when deliyored on the ground, will pot be less than LOO; so that the total cost of placing the whole i line in thorough working order will certainly not be less than L6OO. A* before stated, there was only a sum of L4OO allocated originally, and the next question which presents itsolf for con sideration is, how will the balance of tho amount required be Obtained 1 The county authorities are already saddled with a very heavy load of indebtedness, and conse quently it would bo useless looking to them for any money. Applications have, I believe, already been made to tho Minister for Mines asking for further assistance, and if that gentleman does not come to the rescue this tramway must of necessity remain in a half-finished state throughout tho whole of the w™™B winter, and about one hundred and fifty men will bo thrown out of employment m coiisoquenco. , No efforts should bo spared to avoid this contretemps, and the Auckland eeqtiop. of fche mine owners Interested would

use their influence with tho Mines Depart ment jo bring about a satisfactory solution r of tho difficulty as speedily as possible. Owharoa, Tuesday. Frtoreon and party, tributers in tho Smile of Fortune mine, cleaned up a trial crushing on Saturday for a return of 19oz lOdwts retorted bullion, value 46s per ounce. Farmer and party, tributers in tho same mlne.obtalned a return of Oozs retorted' bullion from the treatment of a parcel of " tiphoad mullock," which is scarcely payable. Waitekauri, Tuesday. Harry Skene, proprietor of the Eclipse mino prushou 2cwt. of quartz at the Waitekauri battery for a return of 12ozs retorted bullion worth about 56s per-ohnco. This stuff was selected from a largo pared of general dirt, which cannot be treated, owing to the want of road accommodation,'and there is a good show of similar stuff ready for breaking out. The Maungakara and Waitekauri batteries are both running full time in the reduction of quartz from the respective tribute sec tions, and good bullion returns may bo anticipated from this district about the end of tho present month.

ASSAULT ON A CHINAMAN.

At tho Police Court this morning, before Colonel Haultahi and Mr S. Y. Collins, Justices, Hugh Storey, a stoutly-built young fellow, was charged with unlawfully assaulting a Chinaman named Peter Kong Hoy, with intent to do him grievous bodily harm, by kipkinghim onthoslioulder, dislocating it and breaking the shoulder blade The charge being an indictable one, tho accused was not asked to plead.—' Mr O'Meagher appeared for the prosecu tion, and stated the case. Peter Kong Hoy, an intelligent-looking man, who inti mated that he was a'Christian, and desired to bo sworn on the Bible, deposed that he was cook at the ♦"•-••• Hotel. On May 2nd, in the evening, he was passing along Albert-street. AVhen near the Eagle Hotel he saw the accused and another man standing against a telegraph post in the light of tho lamp of tho' hotel. Tho accused wore dark clothes. Witness resided near the Eagle Hotel, in Albert street. Witness passed where the two men were standing, and they followed him to his house. Witness went inside, and the men tried to follow him inside. Witness would; not let them come inside and said to them, " You'd better clear." Just then accused's com panion struck him on tho jaw, and the accused rushed at him. Witness was then outside tho house. Witness was then knocked down, but got up again, when the accused and the other man stood one on each side of a passago running alongside the house. Accused struck him on the side of tho head, and his mate came and lent a hand, and witness was knocked down a second time. One of them kicked his head and tho other sat on his chest, and ho felt a hand in his pocket. .Witness had more than Ll2 in. his pocket at the timo, but ho succeeded in preventing them from stealing it from him by keeping his hand on the outside of his trousers. While this was going on witness was again kicked. Witness »crenmed, and ho heard a woman call out, " Don't kill the man, Hughie." Witness got up and found the men were gone. Witness was much in jured by the kicking, and got back to tho hotel. —By the prisoner: There was » girl in, witness's house that night. She was a prostitute. Witnesshad engaged her for the night. It was not true that nis house was frequented by prostitutes. Witness was quite sober. He could swear that the acoused was not in tho house when he got there first. Witness was perfectly clear that accused was the man he saw standing under the lamp. Tho girl he had in tho house knew that he find money in his pocket. Witness did not tako off his coat to light the accused ; he took it otrto go to bed. —By Mr O'Meiighor : The name of the girl was Flora Mathieson. ■She knew witness had money, as she saw it on the previous day. Dr. George Tons saint Oii'dler gavo evidence as to the in juries sustained, by Hoy. There was a dislocation of the shoulder and; a fracture of the shoulder -. blade, where it joins tho collarbone.! There were a num ber of bruises about the shoulder, cuts about tho facp, and two black eyes. The fracture was such as would be caused by a heavy boot. There was a good deal of echymosis. By tho accused : Tho injuries wero not likely to have been caused by tho prosecutor fallingdown.—Ellen Scanlan, a married woman, who resided next to to tho prosecutor's residence, deposed to hearing the disturbance on the night in question. Qn looking out she saw a man in a dark' suit kicking another man, and just afterwards a girl named Florrie Mathieson called out "Hughie,' Hughie, don't kick the man down ; conse away." She recognised the accused as tho man with dark clothes who had committed < the assault. There was another man" present, but she did not see him take part in the assault. ' She did not see the beginning of the scuflle; nor the end. By the accused:. She had not? been in th« ,habit,, of frequenting the 'prosecutor's housp. Slip once had a. room of a prostitute named Sarah Home.— Detective Hughes deposed to arresting the accused on May 4th on the present charge. Accused denied all knowledge of the occurrence. This concluded the case for the prosecution.—The accused asked that Flora Mathieson should bo called. ; This woman, who was attired in tawdry black bro cade, doposed that her proper name was Susan Mathieson. She remembered accompanying accused to a house in Albort-strest, on May 2nd. Accused was in tho house with • her when the Chinaman came to the door. She saw tho . Chinaman kick the accused. When the Chinaman went out of the house he had tho bottom of a broken lamp in his hand. Witness did not see accused kick the Chinaman. ■ Young Lloyd and another fellow came to the Chinaman's door while accused and witness were inside. Witness did not think that accused went to the house with' the intention of rob bing the Chinaman. She could not say if thp Chinaman was drunk ; but ho was not properly sober." She was quite sure accused did not follow the China man home. She had rented the house from the Chinaman. By Mr O'Meagher : After she left tho Chinaman's house with the accused, she walked about in company with tho accused all night (this question was • answered after much hesitation). They sat i,dpwn in several places; once in Cook-street, she spoke to accused in tho lockup after his arrest, Wt she did not say anything par-' ticular to hjm. She did not tell accused ! that she had got the other fejlow out of the way, and it would give the police some trouble to find him. She saw Lloyd strike the Chinaman> but did not see accused do so. She admitted saying in the .lockup "Is that you, Hughie V She knew that ac cused had been arrested, as she was present' at the time. -She got drunk after his arrest, and was run in'hcr'self. Sho said, "What are you in for V but did not hear him reply. Ho did not reply J "For assaulting the China man," but sho heaul him say, "I know nothing about it." She did not say, "That's right: stick to that," She did say, *' I told the other about it," but did not say, "It will give'them some trouble to get him." Sho .. had known tho n aocueed more tha,n three years. Thay had been on very intimate ter ins,—Accused was then committed for trial.' ;•

•WA woman ohdrged. 'with,drunkenness at the Poltco Court this morning had 5Jt previous convictions against hop for the 8ftl»,0 ofl'9tVQ9, '•; . ;.: ;■ '

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(EYTELEGRAPH.—fIPBOIAL RBTOR-EER.) Wellingtok', this day. The wires are still working so badly that I am compelled to put throe days' political news into 500 words. Tla« opposition Tactics. The Opposition have decided to force the Representation Bill before the Budget is delivered. Military Cemetery. Mr Whyte has drawn the attention of tho Government to the dilapidated stato of Rangirangi military cemetery, aiid Mr Ballance promised attention. Reduction of Governor's Salary. Mr Barron lias given notice of resolu tion limiting the future salary of the Governor to L 3.500, and reducing Ministers, excepting tho Premier,' to L 750. The Expected Dissolution. The action of the Government in bringing forward tho Financial Statement while the Representation difficulty is pending is re- ' garded as a very adroit move. The " Post " and " Times " both confirm my prediction that an immediate dissolution is probable. Dnchuuga Cemetery- Mr Peacock presented a petition from 244 burgesses pf Onehuuga against a '.bill • taking part of the cemetery grounds for a recreation reserve. ' The Anti-Coercion Motion. Mr Bracken's anti-coercion resolution was talked out by those hon. members who had not the courage to go tp division,; and it is not likely to be reached again this session. The debate showed that a large majority of members were in favour of it. Mr Moss, Sir R. Stout, Sir G. Grey, Messrs Joyce, Recce, and Turnbull strongly supported the motion, Messrs White, Samuel, Monk, Sutter, Hatch, and Trimble opposed it._ Mr Bracken received the congratulations of 16 residents of Wanganui on his anti coercion resolution. Cuvier Lighthouse. The ereotion of a lighthouse on Cuvier Island is to be commenced in August or September. Charitable Aid Districts. Mi" Hobbs wants the Government to make Auckland counties a separate district under Charitable Aid Act. Volunteer Fire Brigades- The Government say they cannot afford to pay capitation to Volunteer Fire Bri gades. , • Wellington College. The bill granting an endowment of L 1.500 per annum for seven years to the proposed Wellington Colloge passed safely through Committee. * cicntlfic Mining. The Minister for Mines promises a moderato vote to encourage mining by proper scientific treatment. The Burns Statue. Sir Maurice O'Rorke and Sir George Grey proceed to Dunedin to be present at the unveiling of Burns's statue on Queen's Birthday. • ' Chinese Immigrants. Mr Seddon says that naturalised China men forward their letters of naturalisation to China. Other Celestials come to tho colony with them, and thus avoid payment of the £10 tax. Goldfields , Statement- Mr Larnach will make his usual goldfiellds statement at the end of the month. local Industries Commission-' Mr Moss declined nomination as chair man of the Local Industries Commission; and Mr Dargaville has been appointed. The Sovereign of the Seas. The Petitions Committee have decided that Henderson and Spra'ggon have no claim against the colony for tho loss of the Sovereign of the Seas. Walroa Telegraph Station. Sir Julius Vogol informs Mr Buckland that the telegraph office at Wairoa South will bo completed as soon as possible. Glove Fights. Mr Hobbs is asking the Government to put a stop to tho so-called glove fights, which, he says, are disgusting and demora lising. Parnell Station. The Government refused Mr Moss's request for a passenger station at Parnell, on the ground of the expense and delay involved by the stoppages. Jottings. It is asserted that some of the debentures of the last loan were negotiated as low as 92. Eleven electors of Waitemata are petition ing tho House re alleged irregularities in. preparation of tho Waitomata electoral, roll. The anti-coercion resolution was talked out yesterday. The heavy artillery was all on Mr Bracken's side. Mr Ballance informs Mr Cadman that Captain Daveney's pensions settlement scheme is engaging the attention of the Go vernment. The Government decline to give Mr Wil liams any more assistance to test his rabbit exterminator. ...... Sir R. Stout, says the weakness, of our education system is tho want of teachers being properly trained. Major Stewart introduced a bill to abolish the cumulative, vote at the ejection of school committees. Mr Dargaville intends to vote for the reinstatement of members at 91. He says he prefers 71 members, but such provision,! ho considers, would endanger the bill. The printed copy of the report on mulctary land claims is laid on the table off the House. I forward a copy of the 'report for the perusal of tho unsuccessful appli cants. , Mr Ballance, in reply to Mr Motak, said the Government wero not prepared to deal with the question of forest fires without further consideration. 0 : v \ The next supply of post-office pass-books are to be printed on more desirable pape!v. Forty-one pupils are now in the schools for deaf mutes at Sumner. > _ The proposal to make a graduated reduc tion in the civil service salaries has caused gome sensation in Wellington.

WATER POWER FOR THE BIG PUMP.

(BY TELEGRAPII—OWN CORRESPONDENT.) , '• Thames, this day. \ At a special meeting of the County Coun ell last night, a Jotter was received from Mr McDonnell, Secretary to Thames Drainage Board, asking what. would bo tho most favourable terms the Council could supjily. water, in the event of the present) power of j the pump being Bubstitutedby that c< water, 'and now many slu Icoheadß could be sitppliod. It was decided to Inform, the Board.. that until the SOhi, mains :; are laid tho water cannot .be supplied, J?4Qr)ty of right must be given to present consumers to the extent of 10$ sluipe heads, which includo additional received by the Council, Until the Board' informs the Council what quail* tity is required for the Big Pump, the Coun cil is unable to reply definitely to their- ap | plioatiou, ' ;' * '•''■'■'''•■ ,

THE HEW TARIFF.

Boot and Slice Masmfactarisig. Messrs Parker, Green and Co. and Messrs Trenwlth and Sons give as their opinion of the now tariff that it is calcu lated to rovivo the now languishing hoot Industry to a groat extent. Messrs Parker, Green, and Co., however, say that, let • alone all tariffs, the colonial makers could keep the trade to themselves if they could only procure %£ good workmen as the makers have at Home. Thoy are willing to continue the rate wages now being paid, about, 50 per cent, higher than at home, but the work men Ivere are as a i'ulo, so in dependant arid careless; that the work turned out Is not equal to home-made articles. French kid, they consider, should not be taxed, as it is impossible to obtain this material in New Zealand. ''"• ; ' ■'.<""; >■■ A representative of the boot and shoo manufacturing industry called upon us to day to . deny Mr Hoskinss's reported statement hi last night's Stab that the proposed tariff alterations should not necossarily cause an advance in the price of boots and shoes. Our present in formant asserts that., the new 'tariff will lead .to an immediate advance to the extent of at least from 3d to Gd per pair in the prices of boots ..and shoes, the reosou being that the Id duty on imported leathers is now increased to 4d., He also declares that the all-round boy of 20 per cent, ad vokrom on imported boots and shoes'will be, so far as* girls' and children's boots and. shoes are con cerned, au unnecessary tax upon the com munity, the effect being to raise the price 6'd per pair without stimulating local productions, as girls and children's boots are not made hei c. The local manufacturers would have been satisfied if (the advance in duty had been restricted to men's- and women's boots and shoes. Taranaki, this day,

Opinion on the Budget.

The Taranaki " Herald " says :—" Tha Budget was looked forward to with some anxiety, and now it has been delivered we feel sure that much dissatisfaction will be expressed at the proposals. It is vicious in; principle, delusive, in theory, and clothed with masses'"of verbiage which, for our readers benefit, we have tried to divest ib of; and the proposals we feel sure will not .give satisfaction -to the public. Reductions are to be made is every Department but that of Educa tion, and, therefore, we are to be taxed high aiid low to Support unprofitable institutions and to carry out the fads of a Premier who is running the colony to destruction. Capitalists are to be driven out of New Zealond; the only' security we have to offer—the land -is io be mado valueless, and the working man is to be made to pay more for the articles he uses, although his wages are to be reduced Sir • Julius Vogel has tried to make the "pill "look tempting, but, notwithstand ing his word painting, he will not succeed in getting the public to swallow it. We have not space to make further comments on the Statement, but we scarcely think that the House will agree to'it, and if the Government go to tho country on the policy enunciated they will certainly be defeated."—May 11.

WANTON OUTRAGE BY HOODLUMS.

The farewell complimentary concert which ■was held last night at St. John's College in honour of Mr Andrew Boyd- (senior assistant master), who is lettviug the institution, ■was marked by cjisgrdceful misconduct on the part of a respectably dressed band of hoodlums from Reimieraand Newmarket, ; who evidently went out not with the object ''of patronising the entertainment, but indulg ing their mischievous proclivities. During itho progress of the concert they annoyed the itudiencebyrepeatedlyringing thesclioolbell an d by similar devices indicative of ill-bred manners and clownish humour. Their scries of fonnyisms culminated in an act of atrocity /.or which we sincerely trust they will be i\ttirttrly punished. Just before the close t f tht> concert, they proceeded down the i oad t>o the foot of Barry's Hill, about) lialf a mile from the College, and removing off its hinges an iron gate at t.te .entrance to Mr Stephens's paddock, d. siiberately propped it up in the centre of th» roadway and left it there. A buggy cc nt aining the j three daughters of Captain Hare'ld (a gentleman who arrived, from India about' a year ago and has settled down at Remu era) changed to be the first to pass along the road thereafter. The buggy lamps -V'Vere unlit, and therefore the barri cade was not'*perceived. As a consequence, the horse, aiij vehicle collided, against it with svich violence that both were cap sized, the < buggy boing completely over turned ah.-} its occupants thrown out on, !to'• the ros d. Mr Thomas . Morrin and others, wh,o were. driving not far be hind, at <once came and found that the ladies .had escaped almost miracu lously from a violent death. They were, however, dazed by the suddenness and force ■of .the shock. The splash-board ,of the buggy was bent'avid oneof the shafts bi'oken. By/"means'of some cordage the,pieces of the shaft where spliced together and the •ladies proceeded on their way, while very 'strong indignation was expressed on all hands at the cowaa-dly and despicable con duct of which the barricade was the monu ment. The affair ha sbeen very forcibly repre sented to Supt.'.Thomson and it is to be hoped that the perpetrators will be run to .sarth and an example made of them.

THE NORTHERN MAORI ELECTION.

The returns received from twenty-seven polling1 places give Sydney Taiwhanga ,a total pi •■ 398 votes, and Wi Katcne . There are fcwo places to come in and Sydney Taiwha'uga is Confident Ithat toe. returns from these will increase his majority. ; -" * . •

COMING EVENTS.

Abbott's Opera House— Lynch Family of Bell ringers,- >3. '• > ' ■'•' Agricultural Hah—London Circus Company, 8. jY!m.C.A. 'Eqows—Sale of Work, 2 till 10. Choral Hair—rierr Schmitt's Soireo Musieale, 8. iArolvHill vV'eslevanLhurck-Lcetureou "John JBunyaru." by Rev. ,0, H. Garland, 7.30. ■•-.'. Franklin .Road PrlmiiXye Methodist Church— Lecture, "The Jewistf Tabernacle," by Mis 3 MalcplniL 7.30.. '. . ■- , j Drill-shed -Auckland "VcUvran Rifles, 7.30. - KiNewton.Congregational School-room-Lecture ■ '• Self-made Men," by Rev. H. J. Lewis, 7.30. St. Mary's Hail, Onchunga— Concert, 8. ' Kota of Justices at Police Court. 3Vlay 13—Mossrs E. Isaacs and 11. M. Jervis. , Auction Sales To-morrow. (/Arthur and Buddie-Weekly Poultry and Pro i dvoe Stilo, 11. ; j }Hunter and Nolan, Durham Yards—Horses, ; etc., 12. ' : '; >W. J. Dovydon-Wcckly Procluco Sale, 11. j ;iS. Lcydon—Produce, Furniture, eto, 11. id, Coohrario and : Son -Household Furniture, etc., 41. ,Hesketh, Aitkon, and Co.-Poultry, Produce ; Fruit, oto., n. - ,3. Tonka and Co—Fruit and Merchandise, 11. ;Paget iinuißalßton—Produce, Furniture, etc ,-lji !i\ M. Jaukson, Queen-street - Fancy Chinaware I; ''Flower Pots, t>to ,12. "Valla and ttouglas;-.Proportics, etc , 2. ! W. Qarreti, Stanley-street -25 tons of Super- Ij| phosphate, 10.80. : - -■'•'-; -

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR. THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1887,

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