,ix weeks the Manapouri was During she was thoroughly laid «R at Overhauled. Her hull has been leanedand£«£ and re .p aint ed. The ■^ ned ',oon Sdies , cabin and social hall pain sa ,ooll ' sleeping berths, bate been w fa lavato rie3 and inside sinokit l?,i r S's painted and varnished, her ° ftheb "jSkecl, her yards and rigging decks «**"£' engines, boilers and overha Scroti attended to. fUrDa t v P tarvoftheDunedin branch of I IJeSecrtMfy. that the Ulllon . tbe Seamen su> conte mplatecl buying a U rfora at rSough some trouble hud st€ainer nPrienced in chartering, -the diffi been flf f, n from their inability to get !culty, hac ,Stable boa t 3. Numerous oilers received, and arrangements were ihad b JjjS the opening up ol the trade Sttnef Taipari, wife of a Maori ¥?ThS was examined in bank ■<* ief v-fnvp'the Official Assignee yester ruptcy be«»? ce l d thafc her debts amounted to **' ?? while she had landed property in * IO7I SSt valued at £675, fiiit the her ° A from it did nob exceed £20 α-year. inC T i filed because she was imprisoned She had. niu tfae instance o f a cre di. fora st as entitled to a sum of about tor. f\\. iv the hands of the gokl ■£sß, winch vwis cQuld nob et it field 3 tQ gign a documenfc bffL S Government stipulated should be ffhl j ZLe paving over the money - A si^ ed !-Z -of therbankrupt's creditors, lapsed for want of a q T m ßnval Horticultural Society have Th£ : B pT their prize schedule for the # *"? M tumn shows. The first-named s P nDg tllbeheWonthe 18th and 19th of iW wind the entries must be made to November, ana t k oj) the * W3e lift of that month. All e:c ---f t be ready for staging by 9 o'clock k t Iriv* on which the show opens. on themoinin Committee to take Itff tuhilS terruleis rigidly adhered rore leas heretotore confusion at the to '°- will result. The new Committee f ßl l3d several fresh rules, which f E exhibitors would do well to CFor™ of entries and declaration ! IT made by exhibitors are bound up \l schedule. The exhibits are divided t EclLesas usual. Tho Autumn f ffixed for the 23rd and 24th of Eh andSeCamellia and Winter Fruit ft fixed to be held in August. Those is of obtaining copies of the schedule ■Si be supplied with such on application fIKS secretary, Mr S E. Hughes, or iany of the Auckland seedsmen. Itesnite the very threatening aspect of I weather last evening there was a crowded attendance at the Agricultural U\ to witness the performance of the Mohawk Minstrel Company. The enter tainment opened with an overture "Water Lmhs" being an arrangement by the 13 directorf Jlv Chas. Waud. Mr Sul taexecuted in good style a ballad, "The Old Home," while the same may be said of Will Perman in his comic song, "Dancing fend flu Apple Tree,"'both being en cored Miss Hettie Howarde ("Sweet Bads'") and Misß Bella and Mr Will Pe'rman (double song and dance, "Aniline") were duly honoured with encores for their contributions. Vincent ; Wallace's ever-welcome ballad, "Sweet Spirit, Hear my Prayer," was done full jus ,&e by Miss Laura Roberts. Songs and tanorosities were contributed by others to tie evident appreciation of the audience. in amusing finale entitled "Mysterious Woffs" concluded the first portion of te programme. The second part w opened with statuary tableaux by b Bella, Willie, and Percy Perman, J tamed with clog dancing. The I 'Swope Dancers," the " Men of Educa 'i" &nd the "Deitcher Girls ,1 were ftflyappfaiiaed for their sketches. A faplitting farce, "Konfushion; or 111 ---ilDora," concluded a very enjoyable even kg, This clever combination will appear p this evening.

Ik: North Shore and St. George's Rowing Clubs were to have opened the nan on Saturday with a procession of fab, tot'owing'to , the inclemency of the rate it was postponed until next Satur day./ The Rowing Association intend open ing ieseason soon in the usual way, but as atvutoal meeting has been held yet, no tosagements have been made. Surprise k» been-expressed afc the meeting being illowed to lapse, as ifc should have been WoiOctober Ist. fiadionrned meeting of J. Faig's credi tamsaeld yesterday ,whenit was resolved : "Tliat the bankrupt pay all expenses and preferenting claims and pay a sum equiva- Kitto 2s 6d in the £ on the liabilitis on WorofP.' N'a afc three months, and tampon the estate he assigned to him ro his nominee." It was considered wof approved bills are not to hand by te-inomrwthe estate will be sold.

Richard Matthews, the champion boxer, ]*a it understood clearly that he will toiionotice.of challenges unless the as pjfant is prepared to put up money. He "Wedat the Anchor Hotel one night re- Wto meet a would-be antagonist, but Wtoleavewithout coming to any arrange «H,aj the challenger did not come up to ™» Wβ have received a letter from John 7», stating that he is willing to box 5 80-calkl champion " for a reason "f, B .™. as he cannot geb on a match Zl l sat Present, on-account of «Wer being in training for his big fight

jj» Greenwood and her clever family Eγ, a T em, l concert ab the Cifcy Hall gweuw, prior to their departure on a There was a large and 'ffi a^ience, tlae dress bein S tffirv«l j heen tertammentwas good in wST quite np to the profes-" «tadard of excellence, there being in the rendition of 4.1 ¥ inf f \^ ms attempted. The i* T S ? f Mlss Maribel and Miss ( i ( Z l F ian °-P la yin? of the whole & ali * "tot" of seven, 66 ! famil y as one of e ° t] while ifc is ea «y to p«s- and recitations of %S lld^en thafc if they adopt the *2e P u SIOD ,1 he y will Speedily ac- f .°r wllol e performance was a |>?«IISIT y t0 the P ains^king I 8 " r ? enw °od, and in her I 1,6 her all the success °f G. P. Root's beautiful Feast >" announced l^letto?" James 'sHallon Friday ISf %Z I promises to be a great I'Syffil!?"'' l Ml rehearsal on and the various solos m * a % rendered by BllH^i*^ , ' , nnniber ing nearly one |^C^ enhe ..aWVbaton of Mr l& P »& Sbc^ 1 Katherin- i7 ns I to his and I S^ahonfS T Slnm lasfc evening. I Srfdln 7 C °"P los P«fflent,and m P ro g r f"nme was pone 1 I 0 g Pl '° by l^l*w£»ft n com Pleted for a I N?Sta S s with songs, ■ It°is 1 eit a thoroughly sociable i^?^S r eproducedat the W &Htt Ws ?( 4 othcr P erf °™ance

Among the passengers for Sydney to-day by the s.s. Manapouri are the following Aucklanders:—Mr and Mrs T. Barnett, Mr andMrsNeumegen, MrandMrsT. Cotter, Mi ll. N. Abbott, and Mr A. Jackson (" Hip pona "). These and others go with a view to being in Melbourne at " the Cup " season, now near at hand.

Some interesting mining notes, including the outline of a proposal that is shortly to be brought before the Chamber of Com merce anenfc a Government bonus for the introduction of gold saving process,appears on the seventh page of this issue.

The Gospel Temperance service was held as usual lasti Sunday evening in the Forest ers' Hall, Karangahape Road, and was well attended. Interesting addresses bear ing on the movement were given by the Rev. H, Bull and Mr James French. Mr N. Wood presided.

Pastor A. G. Daniells left for Whanganui yesterday, as a few friends there have ex pressed their desire to hear on the Sabbath question and the near coming of the Lord. Ifc is probable thafc the " tenb " may be con veyed to that town as the season advances. Mr Danielle's present visit is to, see and learn respecting the district in connection with tenfc work, and he will return to Auckland, D.V., in eight or ten days.

The water police lefb for Riverhead this morning to take charge of a lunatic who has been causing some uneasiness at Harkins Point, Riverhead.

The usual meeting of the St. John's Musical and Literary Society was held on Monday evening, when a lecture was de livered by Mr Theo. Cooper, the subject being " Words," which was treated in a masterly manner, and from what afc first would appear an uninteresting subject, a lot of useful and entertaining matter was ob tained. Musical items were rendered by the following ladies :—Mrs Bell, the Misses Main, Blackburn, Smith, and Russell. A vote of thanks to the lecturer, proposed by Mr Hall and seconded by Mr Gittos, brought the meeting to a close.

In Chambers this morning, Mr Justice Gillies granted probate in re Angus Mattieson (deceased), and gave authority to register copy of will of Constan tine McDougall lloorsoin (deceased) in lieu of original which cannot be produced for the purpose. In re McVay v. Wilson, an order was made upon defendant, under the Debt Abolition Act, 1874, for 15s per week, in default three month's imprisonment. A motion to make absolute the charging order nisi in re Whangarei Coal Company v. Walter was postponed by consent till Friday.

In connection with the period of universal prayer for Sunday-schools, now so generally observed during the third week in October, the Sunday-school Union announce a conference of teachers to be held this evening in the Tabernacle school, when a couple of papers on subjects interesting to Sunday-school teachers will be read.

No. 2 Battalion, consisting of the "O" and '' A" Batteries of Artillery and tho En gineers, together with Nos. 2 and 3 of tho Garrison Band, paraded at the Drill-shed on Saturday afternoon. They then marched to the rear of the Auckland Grammar School, where judging distance practice was gone through and the Battalion re turned to the Drill-shed and dispersed.

Mr J. Leydon sold yesterday afc his Model Auction Mart, Queen-street, Lot 51, township of Oxford. There was a largo at tendance ; the bidding was not very brisk, and the lot was finally bought by Mr Thos. Cotter for £50.

At the Fish Arcade, City Market En trance, there are two performing birds on exhibition every evening from 7.30. The antics of these little birds—one is a canary and the other a mule —are really wonder ful.

THE RAILWAY TIME-TABLE.

OBJECTION THERETO BY WAIKATO

SETTLERS,

(BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Hamilton, this day. There was a large attendance at the ad journed meeting held at Te Awamutu on Saturday evening for the purpose of con sidering the altei-ations recently made in the railway time-table. The following resolutions were carried unanimously :~ "That the proposal to run the train from Auckland to arrive at Te Awamutu at differ ent times on alternate days of the week is very objectionable, as ifc will subject the outlyingsettlerstogreatinconvenienceowing to the late hour afc which ifc will arrive on three days of the week, and business men will nob be able tc get their letters in time to reply by nexfc day. This meeting would respectfully recommend thafc the train leaving Auckland at 8 in the morning be run through to arrive here each day afc 2.50 p.m." "Thafc the proposal to run one train each way per day, instead of two, as hitherto, is received, in the interests of retrenchment, with satisfaction, but that the present time-table, unless altered in the direction indicated, will be prejudicial to the interests of the district." " That a copy of the above resolutions be forwarded to tbe Minister for Public Works, Mr Hudson (traffic manager), and.the member for the district." MrJ.B. Whyte, member for Waikato, arrived in Hamilton by the lasfc train last night. '

THE TRUNK RAILWAY.

[from our special reporter.]

Probable Attitude of Ministers,

Wellington, this day.

The question of returning to the Strat ford route in constructing the North Island Main Trunk Railway, with the object of effecting an immediate saving of £200,000, and afc the same time rendering the branch line to New Plymouth unnecessary,.has not yet been before tbe Cabinet, and it is not known what attitude will be taken by the Government. Major Atkinson, personally, is favourable to the Stratford route, and two of the Ministers, Messrs Hislop and G. F Richardson, were not in the House when the question was previously considered. Mr Fisher, too, was absent at that time through ill-health.

THAMES NEWS.

(BY •TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Thames, this day. Another plaint has been lodged by Hum phreys against Mcßrinn's Prospector's claim at Hikutaia, and will be heard at the Warden's Court on Thursday, when the Warden will give his decision on the plaint heard at the recent sitting, which was also laid by Mr Humphreys. Captain Wildman, of the Naval Artillery, who has been confined to bed for some months past, is now recovering. A parcel of li quartz, brought from Te Puke by Messrs Copeland and Tor d, is now being tested at the School of Mines. It was taken from a reef which runs through the farm of the former gentleman. . It is probable that the following will re presenfc'Naval Artillery at the next meeting of New Zealand Rifle Association :-Weir, Brownleo, Thorburn, Johns, Moyle and Allen,

SUPREME COURT.

In Bankruptcy.

(Before Hia Honor Mr Justice Gillie.?.) " Ordkus of Discharge.—Earnest Geo. Robfc # Ford, V/m. Samuel Collins and John Augustus Petherick were granted orders of discharge from bankruptcy. Bankruptcies Closed.—On the motion of the Official Assignee the bankruptcies of John Thomas Lilly, and Elizabeth Kobley were declared closed. ( Petition foe Adjudication. —Mr W. Coleman appeared in support of a peti tion by the Bank of New South Wales to have John Henry Niccolls adjudi cated a bankrupt. He explained that Mi- Button (who had been retained by the debtor) wished the application deferred for a week, and that he himself would offer no objection to this course being pursued.— Adjourned accordingly till 24th inst.

Civil Sessions.

Horao-Trainers' Differences.

Thos. Clarke v. EmvAitn Kelly.—Claim, £117, cost of keeping certain racehorses.— Mr E. W. Burton appeared for the plaintiff and Mr Theo. Cooper for the defendant.— Tho statement of claim set forth thafc the

parties to the suit are trainers residing at Ellerslie; that plaintiff claimed for the keep and maintenance of racehorses named Mystery, Greenmount, and Octopus respectively ; that as there had been no ex press agreement the ordinary charge was made, viz., £2 10s for each while it was in work or fulfilling racing engagements, and £1 10s per week while the horses were not in work; and that the chai-ges in respect of Mystery and Greenmount, and part of those in respect of Octopus, had been admitted and paid. The charges in dispute were : 16 weeks' keep of Octopus from 16th October, 1836, to 10th February, 1887, afc £2 10s per week—£4o ;26 weeks' keep'of Octopus from 10th February, 1887, to the end of August, 1887, at £1 10s per week—£39: total, £79. Tho defendant, on the other hand, averred that Octopus had been so carelessly and negligently attended by plaintiff, and so insufficiently fed, that he greatly depreciated in vidue, wherefore defendant claimed £50 by way of set off.— Thos. Clarke deposed that he was a horse trainer, residing at Ellerslie. He had charge of the racehorse Octopus from Mr Kelly. From September of last year till February last the horse was in training for the Onehunga and Otahuhu races. He was also nominated by Mr Kelly for the Thames races, but did not go there. Paring these months the horse was treated as "in work," which required that he should be ridden out every day and that ho should get four " feeds " a clay instead of three feeds a day when out of work. During this time Mr Kelly frequently saw the horse at his morning gallops, and he believed ho had also seen the horso in witness's stables, which were situated only about a quarter of a mile from Kelly's residence. Witness was away in Australia from February to April, unci he left a man named Fergus- in charge. On returning himself in April, tho horse was out of work. Wit ness's duty was to give the horso his break fast and lead him out for exercise, with his rug on if it were cold, and without tho rug if ifc were not cold. This treatment con tinued till August. He got three feeds aday. By Mr Cooper : £2 10s and £1 10s were the highest rates he charged. It was necessary to groom tho horse every morning when he was out of work, and he did not do so. Ho occasionally took up the dandy and knocked the "rough" off him. He had other racehorses in charge. During tho whole six months Octopus was not in work he was not once ridden out. Ifc would cost him 10s a-week—probably 12s 6d a week — to feed the horso three times a day. He was allowed to "muck about" in hie stall for, perhaps, a day or two before getting fresh bedding. Mr Redgate (In spector for tho Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Society) inspected his stables on 19th of August. He had gone short of straw, but the horse never missed more than one meal of oats. The horso was not always hungry. Its appetite, on the con trary, was weak. Since Juno he had also carried on a butchery business. He kept the horses' feet well. He did not take off his shoes, and he did not think the hoofs had grown right over the shoes when he went away. He would swear that lie did nob receive a loan of £3 from Kelly while witness was playing hazard at Thorpe's Hotel. — By Mr Burton: Octopus was a small, "narrow-gutted horse" thafc always looked " tucked up."— By His Honor: "Mr Kelly made no com plaints about the horse until he was served with the summons for his keep.—ln answer to a remark of His Honor, Mr Cooper said his client did not dispute the charge for the keep of the horse while in work, but only of the charge from February till August, when ifc was alleged he was' neglected.— Samuel Fergus, a jockey in Mr Laxon's employment, deposed thafc he was in plaintiffs .service up till April last, and had charge of the stables while plaintiff was absent in Sydney. Octopus was in the stables then. He was accustomed to give him two feeds a day atid plenty of hay and water, and to let the horse out on fine days. He had not had much experience in the management or training ot horses. He left plaintiff's service a fortnight or three weeks before his return from Sydney. Octopus was then in good health.—By Mr Cooper : During the plaintiff's absence, witness neither trained nor groomed Octopus ; just knocked off the mud occasionally. He left plaintiff's service because he got hurt at the North Shore. He was assisted at the stables by two boys, and there were five horses to look after. The other four horses were in training, and therefore were regularly groomed and exercised. Octopus's feet were not washed. When witness got hurfc plaintiffs brother succeeded him at the stables. While wit ness was in charge defendant; was in the South. — Edward Brocklebank Kinloch, veterinary surgeon, deposed thafc ho was called in to see the'colt on August 31sfc, afc Kelly's stables. He found nothing the matter with him. He was in the stable horses are in usually when wintered. When out of work no grooming was required, and the feed should be less in proportion to the amount of grass available. A horse's health was ascertained by means of his pulse, his eye and his coab, and, judging by these conditions, there was nothing "the matter with Octopus. No thing was wrong with his fepfc so far as he could find. Whilst running in the paddock the horse ought not to be groomed ; he would be liable to catch cold if he were. By Mr Cooper :In three months from the 31sb of August, Octopus could have been got in racing condition. Kelly told him the horse's feet had been attended to. He had known Kelly since the latter was a child.—This closed the plaintiff's case. (Left sitting.)

FIRE IN UPPER QUEEN STREET.

A BOARDING-HOUSE

DESTROYED.

NARROW ESCAPE OF A BOARDER.

At 11.15 o'clock last night a fire broke out in an eight-roomed house in Upper Queen, street immediately behind Messrs Robert son and Maxwell's Produce Store. The house was fcwo-storied and occupied by Mr Thomas Ashford Hockings, and was used as a boarding-house. In addition to Mr Hockings and his wife and family of four there lodged in the house a married couple named Sharpo, who occupied two of the upper rooms; Mr Thomas Williams, an employee afc Messrs Court Brothers' drapery establishment, Karangahape Road, and Mr James H. M. Hughes, a landscape gardener. The fire was first discovered by William Sharpe, who, with his wife, occupied the two rooms upstairs. He states that he smelt fire, and on getting up saw the smoke and flames. He at once gave the alarm. Mr Hockings had already retired, and his wife was going to bed when the fire was discovered. The lire-bells quickly gave the alarm, but when discovered the flames had got such a good hold that by the time the Fire Brigade arrived all chances of saving the premises were at an end. Constable Keany, who was on beat iv Symonds-street, was one of the first outside the house to observe the fire, and, running fco the scene, entered the house by the front door, just as Mrs Hockings, who was only partially dressed, was coming out. The constable en deavoured to get up the stairs that led from the kitchen, where the fire origi nated, to the uj>pcr story, but found them a mass of flames. Constable Keany then tried an outside stair, which leads to the balcony. Here ho met Hughes, who had just come out on fco. the landing. Hughes wished to re-enter the house to try and save his effects, but was prevented by the constable, who wisely considered the risk too great. The other lodger had also a very narrow escape, as he sleeps up stairs. Upon hearing the alarm he got up and endeavoured to get out by means of the sfcaiz's, but finding that method of escape cub off by the flames he was compelled to break a window and geb on to the balcony and thence slide down the post to the ground. Mr Hockings and his wife and family, together with Mr and Mrs Sharpo were enabled to escape by the front door with very little difficulty. Shortly after tho alarm was given the Newton branch of tho Fire Brigaue arrived upon the ocene, closely followed by the Central Brigade, under Superintendent Hughes, and the Salvage Corps, under Captain Field. Leads of hoso were quickly run out, and in a few minutes a copious supply of water was pouring on to tho burning mass. Their ofForts, however, proved unequal to the task of con lining the iiro to tho building in which it started. Consequently an adjoining four roomed wooden cottage, occupied by Thomas Mulvahil], was also burned fco the ground. His furniture was insured, but fortunately was partially saved. Both buildings wore the property of Mrs Roth. The first was insured in the Colonial Office for £150, and the second £75. Tho adjoin ing residence of Henry Donnelly, which has recently been erected, was also lightly damaged, but was saved by the exertions of the Fire Brigade. Mr Hockings states that he retired to rest about 20 minutes past 10 o'clock, leaving his wife, Mrs Sharpo and Mr Hughes talking in the sitting-room. Mrs Hockings had not been using fire in the kitchen thafc evening, as she had prepared the tea with a gas-stove, which she put out at 6 o'clock. f-She did not enter the kitchen after 8 o'clock, though Mr Hockings was in for a few moments aboutan hour afterwards. Mr Hockings and fcho two lodgers retired to their respective roomsabout 20 minutes toll o'clock. They then passed through the kit chen, but observed no sign of lire. Hughes had a lighted candle. Mr Hockings had his furniture and effects insured in the Royal Office for £100. He estimates that in addition to his insurance he has suf fered to the extent of about £50. Mr Hockings was in bad health, and his medical advisers had recommended him to remove to a drier climate than Auckland, as his lungs were affected. Mr Sharpe was most unfortunate, as he had only the pre vious day entered the services of the Tram way Company as a conductor, and the satchel containing his day's takings was destroyed in the fire. All his effects were also lost. There is afc present no clue to the origin of tho fire. Hockings states that as he left the house, when first aroused, he saw a curtain hanging before a recess under the kitchen stairs burning, and he considers I that was the spot where the fire first originated. Mr Williams states thab about twenty minutes after he went to his room he heard a cry of "Fire !" He rushed out, and found the flames coming up the stairway. He then escaped by means of the balcony. His case is a hard one, as he had just taken in a large chest containing his clothes, musical instrument's, books and papers that evening. He estimates his loss at about £30, as lie was uninsured.

Mr James H. M. Hughes states that lie had only resided in the house one week. Last night he had attended Dr. Bond's lecture at the Institute, and returned home about 9.30. Before he retired Williams camo in and said that he had his box out side. Mr Hughes assisted him to bring it in. As the box was heavy it was put down near the foot of the stairs, and con sequently was destroyed by the fire. Hughes's bedroom was at the top of the stairs, and he retired to rest about five minutes to 11 o'clock. He estimates that he had only been in bed about 10 minutes when the alarm of fire was given. He jumped out of bed, and upon opening his door ho saw that the stairs wers one mass of flames. He rushed back to his room to try and get his box out, but found that it was impossible, as the fire was making great headway. He had only time, to seize a pair of trousers and run to the door opening on to the balcony, where he put on his trousers. He then climbed over the partition and got down by the stairs leading from the rooms occupied by Mr and Mrs Sharpe. Hughes only escaped in his trousers and his shirt, and was kindly provided with an old coat and a pair of boots by a neighbour. He esti mates his effects to have been worth about £25. In his room were his gardening tools, and four suits of clothes, besides boots, hats and books. He also had in his box £11. The poor fellow lost his all, and found this morning that his. sole posses sions were, trousers, shirt, and 3s ad, which happened to be in his pookets. As ho. is entirely without funds, tools, clothes or employment, his case is a very hard oiie. Mr Hughes states that he came to Auckland about ten years ago, and has no relations in the colony. He is un able tQ throw any light on the origin of the fire,, but states that the flames wwe entirely free from smoke, and he is at opinion that some very combustible matter must have ignited to have, caused the flames to spread with such, vapidity. His account does not quite coincide with some of th© others, as he states that he heard, ppmebady walking about downstairs shortly before the alarm of fire was given, Most of th.s members of the police fwc© were w attendance, Senior Sergeant JPvatt being in command. Detective Tuohy is making inquiries regarding the fire.

THE WAITOA VALLEY.

PROFESSOR BUTTON'S VIEWS.

WHEN DOCTORS DISAGREE, ETC.

(by telegraph.—own correspondent.)

■ Christchurch, this day. Professor Hutton writes the following letter to the " Christchurch Press" : —

Sir,—The report of Mr J. A. Pond, of Auckland, concerning the alleged find of gold at Waitoa, calls for some comment. The facts of the case,as reported in to-day's "Press,"appear to beasfollow: —Acompany called the Waifcoa Prospecting Association has been formed in Auckland to ascertain whether the pumice sands and clays in the valley of the Waitoa and Waitoa rivers contain gold. Several of the members went out collecting. The samples so obtained were submitted to Mr Pond for analysis. These all showed traces of gold and silver, but only one of them contained gold in pay able quantity. This sample had been brought in by a Mr Kelly, who said that he gob ib from sbuff lying on the surface "near the shaft on Smith's land," which of the numerous shafts is nob stated. The gold in this sample contained no silver, and under the microscope the specs were_ seen to be mostly " spiral in shape, having a rough graining on the inside and a smooth, clear face on the outside." Evidently they were filings, or more properly, borings of gold which did not contain any silver. From the accounts to hand ifc would seem thafc the sample received by Mr Pond direct from Mr Smith in January last also con tained the same kind of gold, but there must here be some mistake, for I find that the result of the analysis of that sample by Mr Pond gave 17oz. 19dwt. Bgr. of gold and 4oz. Bd\vfc. 4gr. of silver per ton ; that is,the bullion contained about2s per cent, of silver. I may here remark in a parenthesis that the sample was from the rock near No. 1 shaft which was pounded and then concen trated in a dish ; ifc is, therefore, not a fair trial of the stuff, but ib is quite a fair sample of fche quality of the gold. From theso facts, Mr Pond seems to infer thafc Mr J. B. Smith, or someone employed by him, had put the gold into the sample, or no doubt -jvir Smith had an interest in sell ing his land; but ho must have scattered a good deal of gold aboufc if a stranger found some of ib by accident near a shaft several weeks after the Waitoa Company had taken their samples. Mr Pond has also omitted a great; deal of evidence which rausfc be taken into ac count before forming any opinion as to how fche gold gofc infco Mr Pond's sample. Thafc which I collected for Sir James Hector consisted of solid, rock from No. 1 shaffc infco which no gold could be put clandestinely without being seen on the surface; yet this sample gave 2oz sd\vt 12gr of bullion to the ton, which bullion contained about 17 per cent, of silver. Two specimens of the same rock, collected and taken away, I was in formed, during the absence of Mr Smith, by Mr Wilson, the Inspector of Mines at Te Aroha, gave as an average of five different assays loz 6dwt 9gr of gold and Bdwt sgr of silver per ton, tho bullion here con taining 31 per cent, of silver. The sands are belioved to be from the decomposition of this rock, and consequently might be ex pected to contain gold of the same quality, as in fact they do. Except in fche case of the sample given by Mr Kelly to Mr Pond, all the assays and trials made for Mr Smith and for fche'Company showed a gold alloy, varying in value but containing on an average between 20 and 25 per cent, of silver, not a single sample being without silver. Sir James Hector says that the gold he obtained has the same average com position as that found elsewhere in the Te Aroha district, which contains from 16 to 28 per cent, of silver. The quality of the gold obtained by the company is thorefore quite different from that lately obtained by Mr Pond, which had no silver in it. Sir James Hector saya thafc in his samples the gold is leafy and occurs in twisted angular grains about I*loo in diameter,aud has the appearance of being liberated from the matrix by decomposi tion." Several of tho directors of the Waiboa Gold Mining Company, as well as myself, have examined with the microscope bhe gold from a sample obtained by Mr Smith himself from his land and given to the directors. We find thab ib does not answer at all to Mr Pond's description, for tho grains are never spiral, nor even much elongated, bufc are very smooth, not striated on one side. They arc rough on all sides, in nearly the same state in which they leffc the matrix, and in some of them the hollows show the red colour so characteristic of native gold. They are cerfcainly not filings nor borings, and they contain too much silver to be al luvial gold from the South Island ; in fact, I do not know where Mr Smith could have obtained this kind of gold to put into the sand. Mr Pond's gold certainly appears to have been cuttings or borings ; but the sample has passed through several hands," and it would not be difficult to sug gest reasons for supposing that some other person than Mr Smith had put them in, but I forbear doing so, as the whole thing may be a joke or an ingenious mode of advertising it. Ab any rate, it is evident; that Mr Pond's gold is quite different both in quality and in shape from the gold on which the directors of the Waitoa Goldmining Company have based their opinions of the ground, and Mr Pond's report should not diminish the confidence of any shareholder in the value of the pro perty. Mr Pond. Mr Pond was seen by a reporter of the Star, to-day with reference to Professor Hutton's letter. Mr Pond said, " Hutton's views are quite correct so far as his know ledge of the matter goes. When, however, my report reaches him I am sure he can come to no other conclusion than the one to which I have arrived." A. Curious Coincidence. Wβ learn on good authority that tests made of the parcels senfc dawn by Mr Durward from Mr Smith's 1,000 acre block disclose the same spiral grains as those noticed previously by Mr Pond and Mr Fraser. Mr Durward has determined to forward some samples to Pro fessor Hutton, in order thafc he may com pare them with the samples obtained from his own tests.

MR MONTGOMERY'S TESTS.

(BY TELEGRAPH—OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Unsatisfactory Itesaitts,

Thames, this day

Mr Montgomery, of the School of Mines, recently paid a visit to Waitoa, whence he brought away four samples of deposit taken from the heap outside the shafts on Mr Smith's property for the purpose of testing. In- addition to these, he has had a number of, samples sent to him from different other places in the district including two from Tβ Kuiti; and of all these he has made no less than seventeen assays. The result of all all without a single exception is that they show a mere trace of gold, and Mr Mont gomei'y pronounces them perfectly worth less.

Test Made in Sydney.

Captain McGillivray called at Mr Withe ford's office to-day, and states that he had a trial test of the Waitoa deposit made at a Sydney bank, the result being at the rate of 14dwt of gold 2oz of silver. The gold was of a scaly nature, ana. evidently the natural product.

CABLEGRAMS.

(BY ELEW&IO TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.)

FRANCE AND GERMANY.

IMMEDIATE WAR DESIRED,

[special to press association.]

London, October 17.

The " Morning Post" states that it has good authority for saying that General Boulanger is thoroughly sup ported in the French Chamber as well as by the army, and that his sup porters are aiming at provoking an immediate war with Germany.

COERCION IN IRELAND.

THE AUTHORITIES DEFIED.

POPULAE REJOICINGS.

(special to press association.)

London, Oct. 17. On the occasion of the prohibited Nationalist meeting at Woodford every house in the village was illuminated, while numerous bonfires blazed in the streets and environs. There were three thousand men at the meeting, many being armed with bludgeons. Feints were made by the body of people which had the effect of completely misleading the police, of whom but four were on the spot, and as the telegraph wires were cut the police could not obtain re-inforcements.

BURNING THE PROCLAMATION.

[reuter's telegram. [

A PROHIBITED NATIONALIST

MEETING.

London, October 17.

The Nationalist meeting, which was intended to be held at Woodford yesterday, having been proclaimed by the Government, Mr W. O'Brien, who arrived there on Saturday evening, held a meeting in a private house at midnight, and afterwards, in the pre sence of a large crowd, burned the proclamation for bidding the meet ing.

THE POPE AND THE TEMPORAL POWER.

NEGOTIATIONS WITH ITALY.

(SPECIAL TO PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

London, October 17. The Pope has appointed a Commission of four Cardinals to arratfge with the Quierinal the modus vivendi for restor ing the Temporal Power. The Gov ernments of Spain, France, Portugal, Austria, and Germany have been appealed to on the question, but they decline at present to express any opinion upon it.

[reuter's telegram.]

TURKEY AND BULGARIA.

Constantinople, October 16

Negotiations between the Russian and Turkish Governments, relative to the settlement of the Bulgarian dim. culty, appear to be collapsing, the Porte declining to take the imitiative indealing with the matter.

LIBERAL CONFERENCE.

London, October 16.

A great Liberal Conference assembles at Nottingham on Thursday next, at which Mr Gladstone will be present.

A PREMIER'S FINANCIAL TROUBLES.

Sydney, October 17.

A public meeting, convened to discuss the best means of rendering assistance to Sir Henry Parkes in hi s difficulties, took place to-night, The hall was crammed with a most en thusi astic audience, all Parliamentary parties being represented by those who ad dressed the meeting. Upwards ;£ 1,500 was subscribed or promised in the room.

ARABI PASHA.

It is rumoured that Arabi Pasha will shortly return to Egypt.

THE ENGLISH HARVEST.

Sir John Lawes estimates that the wheat crop of the United Kingdom will reach to nearly eight millions of quarters available for food, but con sumers, will require eighteen and a half millions additional.

BLUE BLOOD AND MEASLES.

The Czar's departure from Copen hagen has been delayed owing to some of his family being attacked by measles.

A ROYAL DUCHESS'S ILLNESS.

The Duchess of Cumberland has recovered.

SCULLING CHALLENGE.

Teemer has challenged Bubear to row on the Thames in January for £200 aside. ; -

THE NEW HEBRIDES.

London, October 17.

.The "Morning Post" protests against the apathy of Her Majesty's Government in accepting French ex cuses for the continuance of the occu pation of the New Hebrides

EDUCATIONAL BEQUEST.

Mr. Eiohard Berridga Bww<tf has bequeathed 4200,006 .fotf educational purposes in England.

LORD HARTINGTON AND IRELAND.

The Marquis of Hartington has ar ranged to address a meeting at Dublin in November next.

SUGAR BOUNTIES.

The parleying on the question of Sugar Bounties is almost completed. J

THE ADELAIDE STRIKE.

Adelaide, October 17.

The strike of wharf hands has been resumed, owing to the members of the Union objecting to work with the non- Unionists.

BANK OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA.

London, October 16.

The report of the Bank of South Australia states that the declining value of money has slackened the demand in the colonies. The directors are not sanguine of any immediate improve ment. The reserve fund has not been ia creased.

PARLIAMENTARY GOSSIP.

(BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL REPORTER.)

Wellington, this day. Nothing Solas.

The exodus of members has been general, and Parliamentary Buildings present the same appearance as they are ■wont to possess out of session. There is very little stirring, and Ministers are unapproachable. Abolition of Education Boards. Pressure has been brought to bear upon Ministers, but by their own supporters, to dissuade them from the reported intention of abolishing . Boards of Education. It is represented that the services of gentlemen on each Board are given gratuitously, and that the supervision of the system of ex penditure is much better at present than would be if a Central Board of Education were reverted to. Preparing a Policy. The "Post" gravely assures its readers that Ministers are said to be busily em-, ployed in collecting, perusing and collating all the election speeches of the gentlemen who now form the House of Kepresenta tives. Construction of Railway Plant. Several members are urging upon Go vernment the desirability of having railway carriages and. other plant manufactured in the district in which it is used. Mr Goldie has gone to some trouble in bringing this matter forward in the interest of Auckland mechanics, pointing out that a great injustice is being done by the manufacture of this material at Christ church. Equality of the Races. The resolutions on this subject that were brought forward the other day have excited some comment amongst members, and they are very cordially received by those mem bers who consider that the natives should have an equal share of taxation with the Europeans. Apropos of this subject I may say that in conversation with a member who is considered an authority on the Maoris, he expressed his opinion that within two years from now every acre of native land in the colony would be subj ecteft .to' taxation.; Revising the Tariff. Some of the Government supporters have been exerting themselves in the hope of having a revision of the tariff effected this session, but it is stated authoritatively no thing will be done till the recess, and. in view of a long session to discuss the whole matter next year, Parliament will be called together in May. The "Post" is not,of this opinion, as it says last night,: "It" is rumoui'ed that Government having gauged the feeling of the House, will, during j the fortnight's recess, consider the question of altering the tariff in the direction of aiding local industries. If they bring down pro posals of this kindj there is certain to be a split in both camps and parties will be, con siderably mixed."

BURGLARY AT WAIROA SOUTH.

MALICIOUS DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.

Mr W. E. Knott's general store at Wairoa; South (Clevedon) was entered by some nefarious customer during last night, and a quantity of goods abstracted, besides a number of articles being destroyed. ' The store was left secure last night, and, was found in exactly the same condition thia morning—all the doors and windows being secure. The shop floor was, howevei , , strewn with goods pitched about in con fusion, amply testifying that some malicious person had obtained entrance during the night. Hams were slashed and cut, butter wa3 emptied on the floor and mixed up with other goods, a great amount of damage being done apparently out of pure wanton ness. Some goods had also been ab stracted, such as tobacco, boots, and ham ; but the thieves secured no money, as the till was cleared at night and the cash taken to the dwelling-house of Mr Knott, which is not over 50 yards from the store. The robbery has something mysterious about it on account of there being no trace of how an entrance was effected, and the quietness with which the dastardly deed was carried out. There was an alarm arrangement attached to an inner door of the shop by which a bell would be rung at the house on: the door'teeing opened, but as no warning bell sounded, it is surmised that the thieves were well acquainted internal , ar rangements. It is supposed that the per- , petraters have been acouated by a spirit of malice, and the theory is that; they obtained admission by means of a duplicate key or by picking the lock of the door. Theaffair has been reported to Constable McKnight at Papakura, who willmake a searching en quiry. Mr Knott, by advertisement in another column, offers a reward for infbraa tion leading to the conviction of the of fenders. ..■■-•'■• ;;. y'U : ; - r -,-. .;;-,;.; ,i .-,;.;■;

COMING EVENTS.

Meetlngs, &c, To-night.

Abbott's Opera House—"The Flying Dutch man" and " The Bonnie Fishwife," 8 ', "' Agricultural Hall Mohawk Minstrels, 8 Tabernacle Pchool-rooia — Sunday-3chool Con ference, 7.50 Alexandra-street P.M. Church — Anniversary Soiree, 6.30 Mount Eden Baptist Sunday-schoolh— Anniver-

sary foiree, 6.30 Rooson's Room—Shareholders " leader" News paper Company, 7.30 Temperance Hall—Members' Total Abstinence Society* 7.30 -i ■ ■ :■ " St. David's Presbyterian Church—lnduction o£ Rev. Mr West, 8

Kota of Justices at Police Court. ,

October 19 -The It.M. sits " ••

Auction Sales To-moirow.

J. M. Jackson-Propertfes.ptc, 12 ... S. Cochrano & Son-Cutter Tavarawa,ll , 7 G. J-.ewle-^Leathery Boots, Shoes, etc., U :■•!>.: H, Xgatee * Qe-Onfons, Fruit, etc., li

* THE AUCKLAND "EVENING STAR,'"TtIESDiY, OCTOBER' 18, 188t;

5



The sale of " Hurstmcre," advertised by Messrs Arthur and Buddie for Monday, the 24th instant, has been altered to Tuesday, 25th October. ■ Butter-balls. —* 'The proof of a medicine is in the result, though it may also have admir able qualities in the taking, and we feel bound to testify to the wonderful effects ot Jensen s Cod Livor Oil. a bottle of which a friend pur chased for his ailing children. Much to his as tonishment, the children took to the cod liver oil as a cat takes to milk, and from a. puny oon sumptive appearance they arc rapidly develop ing the characteristics and consistency of butter-balls." — " The Temperance World. Each botUc of Jensen's Cod Livek Oixtearß on the wrapper the trademark an Wbole»ele AgenW i Shailaa4 fc Cβ.. Auclsls«<S.



Quilp's w»e was omitted froru the list of entries for the Ladies' at thp Pekuraoga Huut.Qlub JdO&eug.