al' 1 p- ni - to-day : S#t»; d "J 8 wuth-wert heavy >' nEOOP ' i l,st -a fo"*all match was \ Sat«« ,ay . >niddock, Tnakau, be fo/feltoew P * Albert clubs, the tfi YiC Kvo points to love. The the game, H the co^m cap J h foi . theu . op . g Thefin ewea ibv 'ill lovers of sport, and there will doubt -5 tff .'. -out at the Ellerdie — -c? IS* liMlo business transacted at SS to Say apart from the tie P° licß , Mary O'Connor, reported in 1» agall,S nmn Three persons were C £ drunkenness. One, being # shed Sender, was fined 5s and I first cflena was fined I* *J or 48 & and Ellen Prid -C-f san<, an alternative of 7 days. A i flf3 f LI Wilson was charged with W" affl ?TKs, valued at 20s, the pro- but the case was ad- father to be

P resWlt ' „«. f0 be a keen spirit of com- Thcreappearet obea ducfc F tition ltbe amounted for by. the fechcan on '? nerve is being strained times. * / mmofc h proportions, <A?n« 20 on much longer at the we shall have to enlarge our pirate, * . ?antic p ro ductaare y, office,. w» ■ Th e latest arrival is a J» ffOneX Sbyan Aylesbury duck be ****% A i. Taylor, of Alberton, and which weighs 6 ounces. )l0Q " iSn«, beat that if you can ! dU y p nd dance which were to Office n the EllerslieHallon b stsbVheld on Friday evening tJ hoped that the good pro- paragraph j* °Sa y montMn nimmer to Hokianga, ri Ice to navigate, with a rock SKce, but whether there » cause L alarm remains to be seen and iZ men to decide. Whangapa fl? ml Svharbonr, nestling among IS, and. is the nearest'port to E settlement. Captain Robertson S Oreti, makes very little ado about 2 Sere; he even goes in and out at fees at times. The present service SLirre?i.lar, and a large number of SEdepend on Wangape for their sun- STlhwethe Jubilee Company will do fi more than either of the others. ---i etc W. Ferguson, Mount Eden

Grace Adelaide Roy, a bankrupt under filiation by the Official Assignee to fa deposed that she had kept a boarding tafi partnership with Mrs Elizabeth likr in '1886. They took over the Wkss from Mrs Caskell paying £60 b'rtK&rill, , a»d £123 for f»- lture " r fetratwas 355. Mr Fletcher advanced y£l9o,' The venture was not a success, aldid not pay expenses. Boarders left ttat paying up and £57 10s was still atothem. Last July they sold off by tin;.- realizing only £65. Nothing iMttained for the goodwill. The land fVtook £35 for rent and [(went in expenses. They received eg. They next furnished a smaller ihe kindness of a friend, ifja protected by a bill-of-sale. That fijmved a failure, and was abandoned. liabilities <yere £44 los 9d, and the only &rae the £5710s book debts. lit Hazard, ■ the well-known gunsmith, le.oUainecL permission from the City Won behalf of Mr Pain, the pyro -oMartist, to have a grand exhibition faaris some time near Christmas on Metropolitan Grounds at the rear of femment House". The paddock will be faMed all round,anrl of course an en tance fee will be charged. Those who iwlierßlondin's display will look- for wiltgthis promised exhibition with great Nite. It is said that it will excel any* &? jet shown in this city. TotheEditor: Sir,—Will you kindly in- Ettteefew lines as a guide for travellers Wfrom Whangarei ''. On Tuesday, the 1,1 left Auckland for Whangarei in the Am Company's s.s. Wellington. I *wdniyticket atthe office, for which hnacharged 30s return saloon. During TOyageiown,lfoundfor the same tickets I leagera were charged 25.=-. When I ■ «wd at Whangarei, I was told by ■ "niathey.; had- only paid 20s. Of ■ raise, thinking there must be something ■ j^Vihenlarrived in Auckland on Fri ■>* Hth> I saw the manager, and Hmm anything but civil. He in formed ■ jHtatthatwagthe system he had adopted. ■ j** B " oW traveller' in the Northern ■ the Company, but ■ paying3os while others HEi J* 6 1 da ." travel b y tho J» ljileo HiffVt 8 " 8, for 15s return HSv/™ the manager I should insert ■ ™jWr'and Jie told me I might put Iff'ntWiAKas well.-I am, etc., A. m »«,::Hobßou-street, October 17th, i iSfl ■ - : ' Skt!u aord!nar y .general meeting of the ■ rjwwof the Wharekawa Coal and I at 4 o'clock Co- j ■^ ltVB Fopo.secl to wind up the! to-morrow, j ■Cffl™ property at Wynyanl iSS Ellen ' m be offered for sale H&eS happen t0 ,neefc a wel1 " I ■*B? ; °° llams ' tl,c tailor ' at| H U.rey,-jßfcreet.—[Advt.] HsS&^7 Ladies ' y° u cannot 11 lllh "wrn L chc^ 8 - an(l sparkling eyes Hh^Wffl n P«or beaJth, and nothing H**i AS li** Ho P B »« K r 3 , American ■ ■'■•■. . 4 ; ™isccrtafii proof. See.

TEACHER'S TROUBLES.

i^ OSA]^RABSEx\TEES. S^s2k fa ? l)licationsfor leave of ■^ffS-* 1,9 , Cit y Schools (Join ifcSS to"™ a " am aroußed 1ISm« °, ne y°ong lady, who MSSw Week '« l«m> of absence H^Hn"Zf , Was re l ,ortef t to have 85 a,ld frequently »|Sftee decided to re- ttat her salary ■«S »L PpllCations fw leave ■O"a 'S ei f ß that the Sadler ■ CW JOu ifrlty in breatliing.' |« a £°f''» of the Committee ■ %? lv %Dfl al feeHn X was ex ■ ■ i? illCl ' s were absent. '•» following re- BSr^calu' , . ihat «lie attention B««iK to a previous vocom ■jC^'Sj^thiibteaclioni imrCWf abscntfi '°m duty, 111 requested to ,;| lity ° f

CHARGE OF MAN SLAUGHTER.

MARY O'CONNOR BEFORE THE

COURT.

Thejie was a large attendance of on-lookers at the Police Court this morning, when Mary O'Connor appeared, on remand.charged with " That she did on the 240h September' 1887, feloniously kill and slay a certain in fant female child born of the body of the said Mary O'Connor, and of tender age, to wit, the age of one day." Mr H. C. Baddeley was the presiding magistrate, Sergeant Pratt conducted the case on behalf of the police, and Mr W. J. Napier appeared on behalf of the accused. At the request of Mr Napier the accused was allowed to occupy a chair behind him for consultation.

Sergeant Pratt stated that the boy Desen, who discovered the body of the child, was not in Court, and it was decided to go on with other evidence. Sergeant Pratt said the evidence ho would produce was that of a boy named Desen, who on the 24th ult., dis covered the body of the child on a vacant al lotmcnt behind' the Thistle Hotel. This boy informed Constable Martin, who found the body wrapped in some rags, and too!; it to the morgue. The next witness would be Dr. Honeyman, who received the body from the constable and made the pout mortem ex amination. He would give evidence to show that the child was born alive, and that there were no marks of violence on the body. He would describe the si/c of the child and state that it was fully grown. The next witness would be Mrs Coyle, landlady of the Thistle Hotel. She would state that the prisoner was a domestic servant in her employ from September 2nd last. At that time she appeared to be a very strong and hardy young woman, and Mrs Coyle had no suspicion that there was anything wrong with her. Prisoner continued in her employ, evidently in good health, up to September 24th. On that day the prisoner complained of a headache, and was given permission to lay down. About 8 o'clock in the evening prisoner was found in bed, but ' said nothing of what had occurred. Evidence would also be given by the detectives that they inter viewed the prisoner, who denied having been confined and all knowledge of the skirt in which the child was found. The connection between the gi>l and the skirt would be shown in the evidence of Butler, who saw the skirt in' the kitchen of the hotel before the girl came into Mrs Coyle's employment, but not afterwai ds. The skirt would also be connected with the case in this way, that the girl admitted having placed it around the child her self. This was the whole of the evidence the police were prepared with. Although it might go to show a more serious charge than that which was preferred against the prisoner, the police had pre ferred the lesser charge on the authority of Mr Justice Brett, who had dealt with a similar case as one for manslaughter.

l'he Evidence

Constable John Martin pave evidence as to the finding of the body, and in cross-ex amination stated : The body of the child was found about 30 feet distant from Darby-street, and about four or five feet below the level of Darby-street. A per son passing along the southern side of Darby-street could have a full view of the wholo allotment. Having been informed of the body being on the allotment, he could have discovered it without it having been pointed out by anyone. Hβ did not wash away a clot of blood from the child's head, and saw no wound fiom which the blood could have flowed.

Sergeant Pratt: Was the spot where the body was found by you where the body was. originally found ? Mr Napier objected, and the question was ruled inadmissable.

Witnesses on both sides were ordered out of the Court at Mr Napier's request.

Examination continued : A gate opens out fiom the Thi;t'eEbtel premises directly to the vacant section.

The Post Morfcni

Dr Hone) man deposed that on the 27th September he received from Constable Martin the body of a female child for a poil mortem examination. The length of the child was 19 inches, and the navel string 19Jj inches long. The weight of the child was skin pale, hair browninh, eyes blue, face a little "discoloured, hips and lips stained. The brain was healthy, lungs pinkish, and four parts floated in water. .Both sides of the heart contained a little dark blood, the stomach had a little green glary .substance about it, the large intes tine was filled with meconium, liver and kidneys contained a little blood, body showed no evidence of decomposition, and a cheesy substance found in infants was on the body. By Sergeant Pratt: From my examina tion I can say that the child breathed. The body was that of a fully-grown child. There were no marks of violence on the body. I believe the child had been born about 48 hours.

Sergeant Pratt: In saying that the child breathed do you mean that it was born alive?

Dr. Honeyman : Of course I could not .say positively, not having been there afc the birth, but i believe the child was born Examination continued: The child might have died from neglect and exposure. There were no pronounced evidences of suf focation. A child exposed on a cold night would probably die in a few minutes. There was a little hemorrhage from the cord. , I could not say that a fall received by such a child for a short distance would leave any mark-on the body. I found nothing ab normal about the head. fcjy Mr Napier: The reasons why 1 believed the child to have been born alive were the condition of the lungs, the maturity of the child, and the fact that it had no or ganic defect. If the lung 3 floated in water he was prepared to swear that the child breathed. The floating of the lungsin water at the font mortem, is accepted, with two exceptions, that there has been breath ino\ The two exceptions are mortification and decomposition. The floating of the lungs in water at the poet mortem is not ac cepted by the medical faculty as proof ot living birth. Though I did not test the contents ot the stomach, I still say that air had been taken into the body. Air might be found in the air passages and stomach ot a child, and yet that child not be born alive. I could not state that the child was com pletely born. It is almost impossible to tell whether a child has been entirely born alive. I do not entirely agree with the statement of Taylor on Medical Jurisprudence," that the signs of Jive birth are weak and of purely acci dental occurrence. Many children die from natural causes, during or"immediately after birth and some may die white performing the first act of respiration. The presence of air in the lungs of such children woud not be evidence of complete birth. I could not say that the presence of air in the Intra i.s an evidence of complete respiration. It is a fact that if n child inhales o sufficient miantity of air at the inomont of birth and expires before it has exhaled any air, the UuU of such a child would float in water, more or low, m would tlie lunge of a child that has lived. Children may die from natural causes an hour or two after birth, notwithstanding every attention that may be paid to them. . l)r Honeymnn was cross-examined at con siderable length. Hβ said he was prepared to state that the child died from neglect, exposure and partial hemorwgo of the cord.. There were no pronounced indications ot

I neglect, exceptexposure, so far as he was aware, and the: non-waihing of iho body. l)r Honeyman's cross-examination uon j eluded at 2.30 p.m., when the Court ad- I journed for an hour.

FATAL ACCIDENT.

A man* named Patrick O'Meagher was em ployed on Monday felling bush at Turanga Creek, when an axe which he was using slipped and fell on his head, causing a very dangerous wound. O'Meagher was found

lying on the ground in an unconscious con dition by one of the members of his family, and was removed to his residence. He was attended to by Dr. Bewes, but did not recover, and died yesterday morning. An inquest was held yesterday morning by Mr Kells, coroner, and the jury returned a verdict of "Accidental death." The de ceased was a married man, and leaves a wife and family to mourn their loss.

GOLD AT PATETERE.

A CURIOUS CANARD,

THE ALLEGED GOLD FROM BUILD

ING STONE A HOAX.

Our morning contemporary to-day pub lishes the following statement: —

" The stir was caused in town yesterday, by gold having been found in a piece of st( a) brought down some time ago from Patetere. The block was sent to Auckland originally to see if the stone could nob be used for building purposes, as there is a large quantity of it on the property of the Thames Valley Land Company. Yesterday a piece was broken oft" and given to Mr Burns, of the Bank of New Zealand, who produced a small button of gold as the result of the assay. This is a most astounding discovery. The stone certainly was not 'salted, , and the only risk of mistake is, whether Mr Burns might not have had some gold in his assay ing implements. If there lias been no such error, then the Patetere Company have found a splendid goldfield on their property. We shall await with interest the further developments of this, the latest gold dis-

covery." Now, Mr Burns assures us that the fore going statement, so far as he is concerned, is entirely without a tithe of truth in it. He has never received nor treated any stone from Patetere, he never produced a small button of gold from such stone, and had not even the fire lit in the assay-room of tho bank yesterday. In short, our contem porary has been egregiously hoaxed. With regard to the prospects of Waitoa, Mr Burns states that he has treated many parcels of stud" from that district, and frequently obtained gold, though not in payable quantities. Ho got as good re turns from some granite stone obtained from the estate of Mr Larkworfchy as from any sand ho has treated. Mr Burns is satisfied that tho source from which this gold has come will yet be dis covered somewhere in the district. The best way to test the sands would doubtless be to put down bores in the most likely places to ascertain whether there is a pay nble run at the bottom of the upper loose strata.

EXTRAORDINARY SCANDAL.

AN AUCKLAND CAPTAIN IN

TROUBLE

EVENTFUL CRUISE OF THE FANNY

THORNTON

At Roeburne, Western Australia, on 4th October, a case of assault was heard against Captain Cleverley, of the Fanny Thornton, which disclosed the existence of a curiou s slate of things on board that vessel. The Fanny Thornton was bound for Fremantle from Auckland, but on thewayshepicked up the crew of the Florida, wrecked off Browse Island. Captain Cleverley, it apjxjared, was living in the same house at Auckland as the boatswain of the Fanny Thornton and his wife. Improper relations, it is alleged, existed between the captain and the boat swain's wife on the voyage, despite the former remonstrating. Previous to the shipwrecked crew coming on board it was alleged Captain Cleverley gave his cabin to the boatswain's wife, and also occupied it himself. The boatswain was ordered by the captain to clean up the cabin and to perform menial offices. It was alleged in evidence that the captain threatened repeatedly to blow the boatswain's brains out. The latter was determined to have his wife, and went to the captain and de manded her. The demand was refused, and the boatswain was then shoved by Cleverley, and a scuffle ensued between them. The captain then went into his cabin, got a life preserver, and hit the man tsvice on the back of the head. Ho was raising the life preserver for another blow, which would in all probability have killed the boatswain, but he was prevented by his own mate and the captain of the Florida, who threw him on the deck. The evidence also went to prove the disgraceful conduct of Cleverley and the woman, who had her two children on board, who were very badly treated,and one of them died.at Cossack on 3rd October. The captain of the Florida was charged with assaulting Cleverley, but the case completely broke down. Cleverley was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. He is an old man, apparently over 60 years of ao-e. All the shipwrecked crew, as well as those of the Fanny Thornton, strongly disapproved of Cleverley's conduct, and all refused to sign the official log in the cap tain's favour.

ADVANCE. ONEHUNGA.

The lethargy from which Onebunga has been suffering seems now to be ill a fair way of disappearing, and a brighter and more prosperous era inaugurated by means of the local industries which have been lately revived or commenced in the quondam sleepy hollow. Yesterday the town was suffering from a shock of general excitement, occasioned by the arrival from Sydney of no less than thirty-four people who have cast in then , lot to resuscitate the iron work industry, and waggon load after wao-gon load of furniture passed through Queen-street amidst the admiringgaze of the inhabitants. -Shopkeepers were quite ela ted, and prophecies and congratulations that at last brighter days were coming were freely expressed upon all sides. The Woollen Works now employ a large number of hands, and we believe that these will be considerably augmented in a verY short period, and the deathlike stillness ' that hue enshrouded the saw mills formerly owned by Mr Roe lias given way onoe more to Bounds of activity and re newed vitality. We must congratulate the inhabitants of Onehunga on the approach ot more prosperous times, and we must dwell upon the fact that conspicuous amidst (ho varied articles of domestic furniture .brought with this large influx of people from ■ Sydney, the occasion for use ol bassinets was not overlooked, as the num ber and beauty of several specimens pro minently exhibited was the object, if not of envy, of admiration of the matrons of the sleepy hollow.

SPORTING NEWS.

VICTORIAN TRAINING NOTES.

(SPECIAL.)

Melbourne, this day. It turns out to have been Algerian and not Arsenal who was beaten in the trial by Australian Peer. It rained heavily during the night, but it is now cleared up. Nothing of importance was done this morning, either at Cau field or Flemington.

THE MAYORALTY OF AUCKLAND.

MR DEVORE A CANDIDATE FOR A

SECOND TERM.

Wβ learn that Mr Dcvore has yielded to many solicitations that he should become a candidate for a second term as Mayor of Auckland. Although not favourable, as a rule, to any monopoly of the Civic chair, we think the present Mayor has well earned the honour which was conferred upon his predecessoas in the oilice. When he was elected Mayor, the city finances were in a seriously involved condition, and it was a question with many who looked into the matter whether they could ever be brought to a balance again without further borrowing. During the past year, it has been proved that with a firm control over the votes, the city revenue.? are ample to perform in a thoroughly effective way the public .services and yet leave a balance to the good. Theoverdraft has been brought down during the year something over £8000, notwith standing that the levy on account of charitable aid made upon the city was £1,000 more than in the previous year. His Worship has shewn much tact in dis charging the duties of office, and has been attentive and liberal in his hospitalities to visitors. Although the knighthood which some folks predicted for all the Jubilee mayors has not come, we feel sure that a distinction of much higher value will be bestowed upon Mr Devoro in his unop posed re election to office by his fellow citizens.

ANOTHER FIRE IN EDEN TERRACE.

TWO COTTAGES DESTROYED IN

CHARLOTTE-ST REET,

About a quarter past three o'clock this morning , a tire occurred in Charlotte-stree* , Eden Terrace. Many of the city bolls rang out the alarm, but as the lire was beyond tho city boundary, the Auck land Fire Brigades did not turn out. The Salvage Corps, under Captain Field, pro ceeded to the firo, and did good work. The tire proved to have originated in a cottage belonging tja (irewood merchant mid carpenter named John William Sakey. Many ot the neighbours rendered what assis tance thoy could, bub their efforts were unequal to preventing the lire from totally destroying the houso in which it started, and also the adjoining 5-roomcd resi dence, occupied by Mr George Mirfin. At one time there appeared to bo some danger of the fire spreading Btill further, but the prompt action of tho Salvage Corps and the willing assistance rendered by the neighbours prevented the tiro from having more disastrous consequences. Fortunately a good well of water was dis covered at. the rear of the burning premises, and into this a hose was put, and the water, by means of the ship's pump of the Salvage Corps, was poured upon the burning mass. Tho fact tlmt the houses had corrugated iron roofs also contributed towards preventing the spread of the lire, as the Salvage Corps were en abled to confine the fire more easily. Mr John William Sakey states that he went to bed at 10.50.- p.m. on Tuesday, after having locked up the house. There was a (ire burning in the kitchen fireplace on a colonial oven. He sprinkled some water on it, and thought that he had made it safe, although ho did not put it quite out. About 3.15 a.m. he was awakened by hearing his child, aged 5, crying in tho adjoining room. lie also heard a crackling noise in the kitchen. Upon getting up he found it to be on lire. He could not get into the kitchen on account of the flames and smoke. The lire was roar ing up the kitchen chimney, aud seeing that he°could not extinguish the fire he gob his wife and children out through the frontdoor. Owing to the rapid progress of the fire, he only succeeded in saving two pictures and a few articles of wearing apparel. He owned the house, which was insured for £150 in the Royal Company, under two policies expiring in six months. One policy was lor £120 and the other for £30. Each was in favour of Mr Charles Wil liamson, land agent. His furniture was insured in the same office for £40. He estimated his additional loss at £80. The house was built about five years ago at) a cost of £170. It had an iron roof. Mi" Sakey submitted a schedule of furniture des troyed which totalled £87 9s. Mr Gleorge Mirfin, who occupied the ad joining 5-roomed house, states that he is a bricklayer by trade. A bout 3.15 this morn ing lie Mas awakened by hearing Sakey's dog barking in the yard. Just then he also heard Sakey crying out "Fire!" He got up, and on going out saw that Sakey's house was on lire. He entered the house by the front door. He went into the kitchen and had a look at the fire. He could see that it was round the kitchen fireplace. The flames were .-rushing up the chimney, and were in front of the fireplace. The tire also extended to his own house, and in a very short time it was burned down. His furniture was not insured, but he suc ceeded in saving it. He estimated his total loss at about £10, for damages to his ftxvni ture while in course of removal, Sydney Wood, who resides on the opposite side of the street, states that upon getting up he saw the back part of Sakey's houso on fire. Mr Sakey and his wife wore then outside. They were only partially clothed. Mirfin's house was the property of Mr Robert Lovatt. It was insured in the South British Company for £50. Mr Lovatt estimates his additional loss at £50. Unless the residents of Eden Terrace g-et their water supply pretty soon they will, at the present rate of proceedings, be in the unpleasant position of having no house;-in which to lay the water.

CHILD DESERTION AT THAMES.

(BY TELEGKAI'ir.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Thames, this day. Mary Ann* Adamsox alias Lizzie McComish was arrested by the police tip Kaueranga Valley last evening. She was charged a the Police Court to-day with child deser tion, and remanded until Saturday.

Arrangements are now completed for the -uvenile fancy drees ball at the Choral Hall to-morrow evening, in connection with Mesdames Revitt and Hallett's dancing class, and a brilliant and success fill gathering is anticipated.

CABLEGRAMS.

(BY ELECTRIO TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.)

BREAD RIOTS.

THE LONDON UNEMPLOYED

IN COLLISION WITH THE

POLICE,

SACKING THE CITY.

[reuter's telegram.]

Lo.vdon, October 18. A monster demonstration by the uu. employed took place yesterday in Tra falgar Square, it being estimated that over 4,000 men were present. A de putation to the Lord Mayor was ap pointed, which proceeded to the Mansion House. On arrival there the deputation were received by the Alder men in attendance, who, in response to the demand made for work for the un employed, referred them to the work house authorities.

On the deputation returning to Tra falgar Square, and announcing the re sult of their interview, a number of angry speeches were made by the leadeis of the demonstration. The mob subsequently attempted to march in the direction of the city, but the police, who had been mustered in full strength, barred their progress, and forcibly dispersed the crowd. Several constables and civilians sustained in juries in the collision. Twenty per sons were arrested for obstructing the police.

[SPECIAL TO PBKBS ASSOCIATION. ]

London, October 18

Some of the unemployed who were advised to march to Buckingham Palace, demanding work, plundered the shops and hotels en route.

REBELLION IN AFGHANISTAN.

AYOOB KHAN ACTIVE.

(special to press association.)

London, October 18.

Advices received from Merv state that Ayoob Khan is organising a gene ral rising of natives at Herat and Afghan-Turkestan.

MEASLES IN THE ROYAL FAMILY.

Copenhagen, October 17

(REUTER).

The Princess Victoria of Wales, who in company with their Highnesses the Princess of Wales, and the Princesses Louise and Maud, are on a visit to the King of Denmark, has been attacked by measles.

[reuter's telegram.]

THE FRENCH PRESIDENT,

London, October 18,

It is hoped that the incessant attacks made on M. Wilson will compel Presi dent Grevy to resign.

THE WINDSOR RAILWAY ACCIDENT.

Melbourne, chis day. In the action by the executors of the late Mr E. S. Parks against the Vic torian Government for com. pensation for his being killed in the "Windsor railway accident, a verdict was given yesterday for

SIR HENRY PARKES RESIGNS.

Sydney, this day.

(REUTER.)

Sir Henry Parkes has resigned his seat in the Assembly as member for St. Leonards, but proceeds to seek re election for that constituency, for which he will probably be returned un opposed. Sir Henry will retain his position in the Government pending the result of the election.

COMMERCIAL NEWS.

A private cablegram has been re ceived at Wellington, from Bristol, England, as follows, dated 15th inst. The galvanised iron market is very strong, with an upward tendency. The present price of 26 gauge is £14, f.0.b., at London.

(reuter's telegram.)

Losdox, October 17.

Consols remain at 102$. New Zea land 4 per cent, inscribed stock has ad vanced 10s, and is now quoted at p&i> The market rate of discount is 3f per cent., or -f per cent, below the bank rate. There is no quotable change in the values of colonial breadstuff* or tallow. Melbourne, October 18. The manager of the National Mort gage Agency Company of New Zealand reports' of *the local grain market as follows :—Shipping wheat is in steady demand, without activity, at os 4d to 3s 5d per bushel; malting barley, difficult to sell even with a slight re duction in price, 5s to 5s Gd per bushel being ruling value ; New Zea land feed oats, without marked, if any, change in price, 2s 8d to 2s 9d per ! bushel ; New Zealand oats, milling descriptions, dull of sale, at 2s 9d to 2s 10d per bushel; New Zealand oats under bond are quoted at 2s to 2s Id ger bushol.

THE POINT RESOLUTION PURCHASE.

MINISTERIAL ECONOMY.

DEFENCE OFFICE VAGARIES.

Public opinion has been so thoroughly roused by the reported discovery by Sir George Grey of data at Wellington tending to discredit the action the late Government in seizing trus property afc Point Resolution, and subsequently selling back the larger portion of it to Mr G. S. Kissling, of the Bank of New Zealand, that we have thought it best to ascertain and present the whole particulars so far as they are known to the trustees.

Accordingly, a reporter from this office this morning went, in quest of Mr J. H. Upton, one of the members of the Diocesan GencraljTrustßoard of the Anglican Church, in whom the property in question vested. Mr Upton was found at a committee meeting in the Board of Education offices, and with his accustomed affability sur rendered at discretion on learning the re porter's mission.

Reporter : My main object, Mr Upton, is to obtain a narrative of the circumstances under which the Government took this trust property at Point Resolution. 1 think, however, it would be most convenient to first of all ask you to kindly explain the nature of the trust.

Mr Upton : The land compiled some thing like live acres, and was bought from fclio natives. A portion of it was given by Bishop Selwyn, another portion by Sir William Martin, and the Rev. Mr Burrowes tells me that the Crown grant also covers a portion given by the Govern ment of the day. It was set all apart as an endowment for the benefit generally of the boys and girls of the aboriginal race, not only of New Zealand, but of the Pacific Islands* as well. Failing them, it was to be used for the benefit of poor children of the white race. In short, it was a chari table trust.

Reporter: When and how did the trustees proceed to draw a revenue from the land by leasing , it '! Mr Upton: Thirteen years ago they offered a sixty years' lease of it at public auction. The sale was duly advertised and the lease was knocked down to Captain Heale at a rental of £17 per annum. Reporter: How did in pass into Mr G. S. Kissling's hands? Mr Upton : Mr Kissling purchased four years ago from Captain Heale, and I heard yesterday that he gavo a bonus of £2,000 for the property and that he has since spent some £500 upon it. Reporter : I suppose the £2,000 covered the cost of the residence which Captain Heale had built upon the property?

Mr Upton : Yes ; it did. Reporter : Now, would you kindly detail the circumstances under which the Govern ment took possession of the endowment ? Mr Upton : 1 will tell you what was clone. In 1885, as you will recollect, there was great excitement in the colony on the subject of defence. Towards the end of that year the General Trust Board received a communication from Mr G. S. Kissling stating that the defence authorities had entered upon his land at Point Resolution, and had commenced to build a fort there. Moreover, that they were going to take the land.

Reporter : Were the trustees not pre viously cognisant,of this fact. Mr Upton : No. Reporter: What followed ? Mr Upton: Mr Kissling having pur chased the unexpired portion of the sixty years' lease, the Trust Board of course were his landlords, and he therefore asked them in what way they would like the value of the property to be ascertained. The Trust Board replied that if the Go vernment proposed to take the whole of the land, they would prefer that the compensa tion should be named by the Government. In coming to this decision the Board reasoned thus : We are the custodians of a piece of property in great part given by the Government in time past for a public pur pose. We hear that a great public emer gency has arisen which renders it desirable thattheGovernmentshould resume this land. Therefore, it would not be proper for men in our position to place any impediment in the way of an undertaking designed for the welfare and safety of the people at large. In other words, as the Government have to construct defence works upon this pro perty, it is not our duty to seek to extract from them an excessive price. The Board accox-dingly desired that the Govern ment valuator should fix the value of the property, and if it was not an absurdly low assessment they were prepared to accept it-

Reporter: Can you fix the date of this communication ?

Mr Upton: It was in December, 1885. A fortnight afterwards the Board re ceived a letter from the Government stating that they proposed to take the whole of the land occupied by Mr Kissling, that they had assessed its value at £6,000, and that they offered £632 for the Trust Board's interest in it. The question for the Board, then, to consider was : Is this a reasonable-price' to offer? Our in terest was this: We held the freehold of the land, covered by a lease with 48 years unexpired at an annual rental to us of £17 per annum. The Board's interest was therefore the value of the land which the Government fixed at £6,000 but payable only at the end of 48 years. Consequently the question for the Board to consider was whether £632 was a fair present payment for a sum of £6,000 due in 48 years' time and for £17 annual rental during the interim. They considered that it was a fair price. Reporter: How did you arrive at that conclusion ?

Mr Upton •—Well, the value of the money taken at six per cent (£366) amounts to exactly £6,000 in 48 years. Then the £17 a year rental was provided for by the balance of the sum paid down viz. £266 which is the exact amount of £17 a year for 48 years estimated at six per cent. Of course the Government might have paid the Board in a different way I think for instance it would have been preferable for them to have given the Board a deben ture for £6000 due in 48 years. That would have put an end to all disputes. Keporter: Do* you think the land was fairly worth £6000» Mr Upton : No, I do not. It was not worth more than £5000 at the outside, and I think the Government placed an exces sive value upon it. Reporter : What was the value of Mr Kissling s interest assessed in the same way. Mr Upton : Mr Kissiing's interest was the lease for 48 years of a piece of laud valued by the Government' at £6,000. If the money is worth six per cent. Mr Kissling was

living on property worth a rental of .t'36o a year .whereas he was only paying £17 a year. Keporter : 'Do you think Mr Kissling was allowed an excessive amount for his interest. Mr Upton : Not if the land was worth £6,000. But if as I think it was only worth £5,000 then he got £1,000 too much, and the Trust Board got a little too much also.

Reporter: Was it not an excellent bargain for Mr Kissling to make ? Mr Upton: I know nothing of his private arrangements but as an out side individual. I should say that in view of the fact that Mr Kissling was for bidden by tbo terras of his tease from having

more than one house upon the property his interest in it should have been settled for much less money. He could not under the lease have cut up and subdivided the lease for building purposes. Reporter : Then he has been considerably benefited by having the leasehold converted for him into a freehold.

Mr Upton : Undoubtedly. Reporter: Do you not think that the Government have committed a wrong in depriving the Trust Board of its endow ment and then selling the greater part of i<3 afterwards to the trustees' own tenant.

Mr Upton: I do. In a time of great excitement they use the machinery of the law for the purpose of obtain ing possession of the valuable endowment, of them, without consulting the trustees, they get an Act of Parliament passed to enable them to sell to the tenant the estate which he had formerly rented. Thab is where the wrong is. 1 consider thab when the Government found that they did not require all this land for defence purposes it was their duty either to have ottered it back to the Trustees at the samo price as they paid for it, or to have sold the lease of it by public aution. However, in some way or another of which I know nothing, the Special Powers and Contracts Act of 1889 was made the means of effecting a sale of the land to Mrs Frances Kissling.

Reporter : Do you mean to say that the sale was expressly authorised and concurred in by Parliament. Mr Upton :—Yes ; I mean to say that nob only was it done by act of Parliament, bub that the act I have referred to specifies by whom the land is to be sold and the price to be paid. All members should very care fully scrutinise this schedule of the Special Powers and Contracts Bills.

Reporter ; —Were the barristers aware of the negotiations that Mr G. S. Kissling was carrying out with the Government? Mr Upton : Nothing whatever. They had nothing to do with us. Reporter: What have the Board done with the £632 received from the Govern ment? -

Mr Upton : We have invested it on mort gage at 7 per cent., thus securing a revenue of over £44 per annum. Reporter : Do you think that the tran saction has inflicted a wrong upon the per sons to be benetitted by the trust ? Mr Upton : No except ultimately. I con sider, however, that endownments of land should be held sacred, no matter what the market price of land at any time. Reporter: Was not the Government morally bound to have consulted the Trustees before parting with the land to Mr Kissling. Mr Upton : Most certainiy. There should have been no deviation from the original ti-ust except for a very pressing matter, such as defence.

Reporter: Is there any special reason for Sir Geo. Grey's active interest in the matter ?

Mr Napier-—He has always taken a great interest in the matter and in fact in all in stitutions for the benefit of thepoorand it was only to be expected of him that he should endeavour to set this matter right.

Our reporter, after some further conver sation, thanked Mr Upton and withdrew.

OPERA HOUSE.

" The Flying Uutclmian" and "Bonnie Fishwife."

These two plays were succesifully repeated at the Opera House last night, both of them being very carefully staged and en. acted with a smoothness that evidenced studious preparation. " The Flying Dutch man " is admirably mounted, the ap paritions of the phantom ship being ghostly enough to satisfy the most exacting,and the play being invested with the -weird effects which are incidental to the evolution of its strange plot. The low comedy element in it is also well developed. Miss Georgia Smithson as Vanderdecken is of course the life and soul of the performance. Her make-up quite conceals her identity, and her impersonation of the part leaves nothing to be desired. Mr Laurie Dunbar makes a capital Lieut. Mowdrey, and Mr F. W. Fisher is highly amusing as Peter Bummel, a Cockney Dutchman, if such a combination can be realised. The afterpiece of "The Bonnie Fishwife" is an excellent foil to " The Flying Dutchman," but Mise Smithson's portraiture of the title role is its chief recommendation. In costume, action, and speech she plays the Newhaven fishwife to the life. The homely Doric falls so unctu ously from her lips that the Burns Club would be ravished to hear it, while her sing ing of " Caller Herrin , " fairly brought down the house last night. She also sang "Little Maid of Arcadee " with much taste. The other parts in the afterpiece are ably filled by Messrs Waldh, Dunbar, and Fisher. It is announced in another column that owing to thedeathof MrsLachlan McGowan, there will be no performance by the Dramatic Company at the Opera House until Satur day evening next.

Honour and Justice.

Sir George Grey and Mr Kissling's

Property.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Any right-minded man will quite up hold and admire the strictest investigation being made in political jobbery, but honour and justice must be maintained. One can not but condemn Sir George Grey in his premature action. In all honour, the thing should never have been approached during the absence of otic, highly respected and honoured citizen,.. Mr G. S.-lvi&s-Hng. One cannot but feel utter contempt for such an attack upon one when hassack ie turned and unable to defend himself. The, case appears totally different to the. "Stark" affair. All who have had the privilege of knowing, and doing business with Mr Kissling will, I am sure, endorse my views. Mr Kissling has the esteem and confidence of thousands in New Zealand who admire his conscientious principles, and as such he would never have lent himself to jobbery. My wish is not to make any defence for the late Government, but to raise the cry of shame against Sir George Grey for his unmanly act. —I am, etc., Jj\ W. Boynton.

{. -The Choral Hall Skating Rink opens to night for the last time, positively, this season. It has been well patronised all the season, and to-night being the last, we would advise all skaters to take advantage of it. The charges are as usual and Mr Impey's fine Band will be in attendanem. Amongst other items " lolanthe," by speciiw request, will be played.

Mr H. Exley lectures to-night in the Christians' Meeting House, New North Rood, on " The Cleansing of the Sanctuary."

COMING EVENTS.

Koetings. &c, To-might. Agricultural Hall Mohawk Minstrels, 8 I-6 testers' Hall, Newton —Social, 8 Choral Hall-Skating Kink, 7.30. Pitt-street Wcsleyan Church—Annual Sermon

to Teachers, 7.30. Art Uallery—Spring Exhibition of Auckland Society of Arts, 7.i0.

Eota of Justices at Police Court.

October 20.-Messrs E. Isaacs and H. M. JerVis.

Auction Sales To-morrow.

G. Lewis — Wines, Spirits, Paperhangings.

Paints, etc., 11. ■■ , ■ „., G. Sibbin, Wakefield-street-Groceries, Oilmen s Stores, etc., 11. '■ ._ , ~, ■, F. J. Jotes, Wellesloy-strcet—Grocers Plant,

& Co.-Pictures, Oleographs, etc., U.nW G. W. Binney-Friiit 0t0.,10. j », Arthur and Buddie—Household Furniture, etc, 11. ' i! "^f*

THE AUCKLAND ■EVEUDTG STAR, WE|ffESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 188?,

5