AUCKLAND MONTHLY SHARE LIST.

COMMERCIAL.

AUCKLAND PRODUCE; MARKET. FARM AND DAIKYPnODUCB.—\VhoIO3aIo : Itat tor. primo fresh. 13: ; nlieeso. good factory Alto aid per 10 ; Canterbury, none : lteitn. is: lard. In Madders, UJd: iiacon and Hams, in cloth, provincial, 4<l to 51 ; Hares. 6.1 to GUI; Canterbury Bacon. 7d ; Bacon and Hams*in equnlnumbers, "id ; Hums only. Sid. ITloOkMaricbt. -Wholesale: SnpcrKor flour Bilk dreigcd. cer ion. £13 10i: do. honsohol 1 all 103 ; Southern do., fill 10s; Lamb's Premier. £'3 luj; Stwvlar.i. £13 las; limn ton <wcks included), fij IPs; Southern ditu> £510 ato Wi; local sharp". ,C(5; Southern ditto £(>: •cabin bread. £1G: oatmeal, dv. £11 H's l.i rvi 6; • oats. 2n '.'d to 23 Id: maize. Ss 3d ; imw uotntoca K%\ pearl bnrl< y, rto. £11 to £1A • beans. 3a 3d : onions. £11; fowl wheat, U 81 to In UJ. All grain, chafr, oatxeal. &<-.. eo:il sacks tnciudcd- KaukiUus:, Fr-AX.&c- Th- in irkotcnr.Unucß firm. Wo quote: Kair to prootl o.(Ti;iar> .-Pit to £10; eup-nor ordlr.iiry, £17 and upwards; Kast Coast, from £ji to £:S. hm><>Ue3 for January. ISO tons. iflax. por ton. £!u t.) £18; low, dliti). £5103 to £7 10i>; fungus, per lb Id • ooocanut t'.Dro. ISs t-fi 17a r.r.r ewt. UOAI ANTI (fHBSIVOOn AIAKIUET.— Vot'\ : N«V CRStlo (ship's sido). 24n to SS'i por tor.; yard Kta te 3ts: Buy of Is:«=d3. ar. yards 86a 6d: Horeef.ed. 28aOd ; diuo at tho mmcM, Xl- ; Ehip'a side. 2Gs; Walkato, Sa to 12a; rt Anriclond. ISs to S2a; Kanio, 10s ror t--is "h loading ktouikl ; Timciri ivt raiae. ss 6d to :i at yard, 19s 6d to Ssa ; Whonunrol at mino !'3 fid; yard (steam), 17a; houyohold.SU; delivorcd 23a. Firewood: Uncut at wharf (cargo), 83 to 8a fid nor ton: delivered. 13*): out. Us to lCs. Btm.DiNO MATKKur.?,—Timber: Hoards and scantlinir. lOOtt, bcHt, 12 3 ; seennd class 7a bast, planed, toagucd. Ri:d Rroortd. flrat-claE! Us : medium. l!a ; nocond ditto I 3 rusticated weather boards (flrst-cl^ss/. lla' modium. 103; sccoud-oliwfl, <Js. Now Zna land palinKS. 6ft (s-an). 10s; sft (heart), I3a: lift, li: tl-troo rails. £? 10s per 100; puriri ppotG, iij ir^io £7 10s.; HiuDfel.Tj ,Ss \k't 1000- Hobr.rt ra'.lnps, srt. 1& ; O't, '2ls';"?!o<mi t v;ii:.\ MOs, rell-.iiK quotations. Brlck:< int. Avo-:.;ii:rO. 30s dct 1,000: town j-arts, 50s to SJa; do- Hvorcd. 10a, Drain iniir.g (at woiks). pur 100 (G Inches bore), iOs ; 1 Incfios, Ms ; 15 lacnon, fls; 2 inchcj, £a 10 per i,COO ; snckot slazctt J«PO3, IS inches, 4s per Toot; 15 inchO3, 1 j (id per oot; 12 inches, 3s per toot; 0 inches, i's por foot; oinches, 1b per fool.; 4 iuehos, 3d per toot; 3 Inches. 7d por loot. MlNllims. _ M/>n-Snul C;,-.1^«« »« «o

Manures. — Boneflost Sydney, £* to fi!\ according to quality; bcmcfiour, £0 to £10 ; Auck land, £S; Peruviac gnano. £1 to £!?; Loiis? lalanrt do,, ?A 103, bago ineludod^ Hurafa chemi cal miiaiiyu, £i 3.

SHIPPING SUMMARY.

ARRIVAL OF THE SHIP RAKAIA.

Tho BiKnol indicating a chip outside Tiritiri ■nriis hoisted at th'ji Mount Victoria Signal Siatiou lit 11 a.m. on Sth io3t., nnd bohic specula lion wiiij iodulsjcd in as to whether sho wou)d prove t-j b« tbo Unknia. which left l^ondon on the lllth September, or iho Ilormoine, -which nailed frou. L.onrion on October 1. Opinion was in favour ut iho Raknia, eiia bring fully 111 days out, amlihorlly aftor 1 o'clock all doubts wore set at rest hy the appearnoco of that vessel round the North Head. Tho Unlcala had made good progress botore a lieah N Jt. brceKf, and p.oon afU-r '.ho dropped anchor oft' the end of Qaaiin-etrotl nhui-r. Tho Kakaia brings n full nnd vJuoblo oiruo, na por Hat of imrorts, nnd also a mull Dumber of paeaengira. Capta n Foraillel; reports: Ltf t London on Sopteiuber 16. and Shoorn»B3 on tho following day- Had Hghc fair winds to tlitS N.K trades, which were vary lighf, ni;d lasted till tho Vth October, in laJeg-i. N. Thonco had light ; BOUthcily winds, veerinc rain and c ilms to the j Kquilo •, which was crO3sed on 2ith October. I The SB. UMdes us to Sudega. South, and then wo had N. nnd N.K.wiod* to 37; souih wcatorly breer.o; then Eot in. l'asaod tfre meridian of tlio i Ospo oa Norembjr L"J. aid had light wcaterly i and Btrouß nor herly winds acrosi the Indian ' O.oan. On Uccpiutior 21 ha.l n vory heavy 8«1<J from N.N.B. in CO K. ar.d JI- S. Passed | Ta<;niau'.ii on Ueccmbtr 2c, and had another ; S.W. j;alu ou Sojitoaibar 22, in 15 X.. and fr.rai hevu nolhins but oasttr.y wii.d.-i aU :he wny. with light frosh Rales, i Posted 'Ilireu liinir3 on January Ist. and hencu lud fresh naloa aud strung F.SK, , ■wiode. I'aisonfrera : Mrs HoU. Mr Brei kie. Uarlnß tho voyage, on Bup!ea;bnr 10. in 15 S.. 3-D' X., a pas9on#tr namofl Cole John3ton died from consumption, and whs buried at sea. Mr llrccklo rtiod a few dais nttor arrival of tho ! eamo dltfenso. The chief officer of tho Kak-ia is Mi Holford ; second, Mr Wheeler ; third, Mr Sloßae. i

NEW FERRY STEAMER EAGLE.

The Auckland and North Shore Ferry C^m

paoj's now ateamer E glo hid a trial trip on Saturday. 16ih iuct,. amongst tfcoso on board being Mr Jobson. Gov«rnmcnt Inspector of MaoHlnary. The E^s'c was in charge ct Cap lain Broth Tfl. and Hhe proceeded from tha v om pau«'a whuif at Uov: noon round tho North Head ard down Itanai-otu rh^nnel for a fuw miles pi.se i'unpltoio Keef. The reiuru trip was then made, and iha euginsa vorked smoothly throuk'hoac. Eievcu Joints were rr.ado avuindt the ebD lids and in lumpy viator, and it is ex pected that a crest improvement on thin will bo effected when the machinery U la full work ing or'ir. Tho internal arrangements on the ftcumer were the admiration of all oa board, the cabins bc-ini? sp'ennidly Sited up. the paint ing having hceu executed by Mr J. Hondonon. Tho j ineiy hos been done by Messrs Forrcßt and Urfenwood. Altogolhor. Iho Megle ia a vtry haedtoras vessel, fl. ted out almost roeard- Icbs of exp»Dße, and she should prove a fay ourite with thoßO who may havo occasion to travel between Anckland and North Shore. With seen hoah as the Ksgla ond hef sister Btoamer, in addition to tho flno steamers Britannia, Vie torla, and others belonging t") the Devonport Compmy, tne Norm Shore peop o will surely be served to parfecti-n. The A. and N.S. Company expect to have the Eagle running en Rogat a, Day, and their second steamer about a month hence. The New Zealand Shipping Co.'s ufceamera will call at Hobart /or the future. We may safely aeEumetai tbebuquo Alla habad, from Glasiow f r imncdi.-i, has been lost. It is now 193 days.alnce tho left GlaEgow, and tho only intoilisenco wa have received of herwa< that she was Bpoken by iho ship facutn AUEtr,iliaa, from Locdui to Melbourne, on September 4 in lat. 28.3J S., long. 27 10 W. ---" Oiago Daily Tinieß."

OBITUARY.

Everyone will deeply eympalbiso with Professor F. I). Brown, Professor of , Chemistry ia the Auckland University College, whose wife, we griove to observe, ex pired on 16'h met. atherhoueoatDevonport. | The deceased lady ia from London, and had . recently been confined. It would appear i Mrs Brown was beginning to got about again ! whensliecaußut a plight but dangerous cold, which rapidly devoloiied into tnflamation of the lung?. Various vessels in port nnd mercantile houses carried their flaca half-mast high on 2Ut inst. iv token of respect for tho memory of Mrß Brighatn, who died at her reel- j deuce, Lincoln-street, fousonby, on the 21st inst, need 71 yeare. Mrs Brigham was «o widow of Mr John Brigham, and one of , those who arrived in Auckland in too car y days (1S41) of the colony, and reared a family now grown up to manhood. The eldest eon in | Mr J. Brighara, at Mr J. C. Firth's ; the second is Mr Jas. M. Brigham, eeorotory to tho Auckland Harbour Board ; the third, j Mr D Brioham, of To Aroha; nnj tho : youngest, Mr AY. Brigl.am, who occupies a , position in tho establishment of T. and S. ; Slorrin ond Co. There are also two ■ dauEhtsrs unmarried. Tho deceased lady ! was well-known and b: ( ;h!y rejected by a largo circle of relations and friends, who deeply mown iheir loss. I Mr Uharlea Sliclibury, nn old Auckland colonist who wss formerly in business in , Queen-street, died on Sunday, 10th inst., , ai tho ace oi S6 years. For many years the , deceased gontiemao had lived in retirement, | MrStichbury, it may interest our readers , to know, arrived for the first time- in the , colony on let January, 1840, in the good ship Cuba, Captain Wincoinb, and under Captain Smith helped to survey tha town- . chip of Wellington. He married at J el lington, the Hey. Mr Macfarlane officiating, the happy coupls being tho first_ united iv the district Mr Stichbury arrived in A«ek!a c d oarly in 1841, and then lived on | the Island of Waiheko for twelve monb. , Ha was then employed in business till lbol, j wbt.i ho had joined ia partnership with ; the late Mr 1). Natbin and Mr H. », ; JervU, In 1862 he rovieitod En^lanri, re- | turning to the colony iv 1861, when bo com- , menceU business as an auctioneer aua im- j porter, ultimately retiring from business in j 1869, and living privately at his residence, Clovornook, Newmarket, until his decease. He leuved a widow, five sons, and a daughter to mourn their loss; also twenty-seven grandchildren.

MERCANTILE.

,It hus been resolved to increase the •capitol of Wellington Gas Company to ij £100,000, by tho i=3uo of new shares. ' ;| Mr A!ox. Russoll, Into of tho Standard ji Tnaurr.nco Uompuny, has boen appointed I! Auckland manager of the South British Tn J suranco Company. j At tho annual mcotinsj cf Wellington ;; Moat Proforving and Freezing Company (ho r balnnco shcot showed a. prolil on tho year's j operations o£ £12,545. A dividend of i 1-6 per cent, was declared. Tne rjf.'auco-shcot of tho Wellington Tnii't Loan Company shows a credit cf £5,530 in addition to £4,000 paid aa an interim dividend in July. A further divi dend of 5 per cent, is recoinmondcd. I New Zealand lusuranco Company.— Annual Mooting. Tho annual mooting of shareholders of tho Now Zealand Insurance Company was hold at tho oflico of tho Company at \1 p m. on Wednosdaj, January 12, the Hon. James ; Williamson, M.L C, Chairman of Directors, presiding. There were twelve shareholders i prosont, j Tho Manftger, Mr (J. P. l'iorco, read tho ■ annual roport and brilance-Bhoat. j Kwokt.—The directors have pleasure in I placing before tho shareholders tho atato 'inent of accounts and balance-eheot for tho j year ending 30th November, ISS6. After ! settlement of all claims and making provi j sion for all ascertained lossea, carrying j £10,000 to investment fluctuation account, 1 ani £10,000 to resorvo fund, and paying an ! interim dividend of 3s por fhsro in July ; last, thoro remains a balanco of £18,931 5a lOd, from which your directors declare a furthor dividend of Ss par thsro, leaving j £3,931 5a lOd to be canied forward to : next yoar. Tho dividend will be payable |at the head-offico to morrow, and at

j branches and agencies on receipt of advice ' Two directors, Aletsra J. McCogh Clark and i Sonmel Brownir.g, rotiro by rotation, in accordance) with ciauEO 6S of tbo Arciclea of | Association^ and, being eligible, offer them selves for rc-olection accordingly. The re j tiring auditors, Messrs Fraeer and Laurie, | olFer themselves for ro-oloction. — For the [ Board of Direetore, James Williamson, i Chairman. I S'IATISMKNT OF ACCOUNTS KOIt THE YttAlt ENDING 30TH NOVEMUEIt, 18SB. PIiOFIT and Loss.—Dr.: To dividend for tin: half-year ended 30th November, 1883, £15,000; ; inn-rim dividend for the half-year ended 31st ' Slay. ISSIi, £15,000-£30.000: commissions, salar i its, and other expenses, £57,033 fe Od: Govern : ment taxes and payments to Fire and Jlarine i Associations. £3,780 12s sd; depreciation in currency on Indian depositsand balances, £1,888 : I Is 3d; lire and marine losses, and appropriation i for unpaid losses, £133,303 Is lid; reserve fund, ' £10 000; investment fluctuation account, £10,000; : balance, £18,1131 5s lOd : total, £267,027 Is 2d. ' Cr.: Hy balance at 3 .th November, ISS.">, .WJ.Sia 15s 5d ; fire and marine premiums, less returns and rc-insuranccs, £217,3]-.' 17s 4d: interest and rents, £2G,518 8s 5d : total, £267,027 Is 2d. 1 Balance-sheet.— Dr.: To capital, £200.000; reserve fund, £133,000; re-insurance fund, £100,000-£235,000; investment fluctuation uc count, £17,170 73 od; appropriation for unpaid losses. £23,509; deposits and other liabilities, £33.210 10s: balance. £15,9.!1 6s lOd: total, :■,:■• <ii, id. (r.: liy investments -mortgages and shares, £201,633 8s 3d ; Company's freehold office premises and other real estate, £227.552 19s ; United States bonds, £lO,.'>OJ ; debentures, £21,236 16s Id; loans at call, short periods, and fixed bank deposits, £23,491 16s ild—£lßl,llß 0s (id: accrued interest and rents, £1,561 10a lOd ; hills receivable, £9"JS Is 5d ; sundry debtors, £3,888 9s 3d ; branch and agency balances. £26,59! 2? Cd; cash in bank and in hand, £12,309 0s lOd : total, £529,860 Ss id. The motion was then put and carried.— Mr Peacock moved " That Meeers Cla k and Browning, the retiring directors be re elected."—Mr Upton Eocondcd.—Carried. Mr H. G. Green moved, " That Messrs Frafer and Laurie be re-appointed auditors." Mr Rom 6econded.-Csrried.-The usual votes of (harks closed the meeting.

Colonial Bank of New Zealand.

At tho half-yearly general meeting of the ! shareholders in the Colonial Bank of Now ■ Zealand on Jan. 26, tho Hon. G. McLean ■ (chairman) presided Tha following report . ivas read :—"Trie directors beg to eubmit to i tho proprietors the accompanying balance tbeet and statement of accounts for the I half-year ended 31st December List. The | net profits for tho half-year, after deduct- I ing interest paid and accrued on fixed : deposits, rebating bills under dis , count, and charging nil expenses of ! management, rent, etc , and duly providing j for bad and doubtful debts, amount to £17,165 Ha lid ; to this has to be added 1 balance from last half-year, £5,419 12e 3d ; 1 and there must be deducted tax on note I circulation ,md property tax, £1,943 ; leav ' ing available £20,642 7s 2d, which the directors recommend to be applied na fol lows:—To reserve fund (which will then stand at £47,000), £1,000; payment of dividend at tho rate of 7 per cent, per | annum on the paid-up capital, £14,01)0 ; i balance to be carried forward, £5,642 !7s 2d, The report and balance-sheet were ' adopted. I On tho motion of the-Chairman, secondsd by Mr H. Mitchell, tho Hon. K. Ollivsr I wa3 elected a director, in place of Mr J. S?. Wright. Messrs X- X Kainsay and E

Smith were elected auditor?. ' The motion, "That it is advisable tbat the datcß of the bank's balances ba changed from tlio 30th day of Juno and the Slat day of Uocoruber in each and every year, as now lixed by the deed of settlement, to the laet day of February and tbo first day of August in each and evary yoor," was carried. Alep a v>to of tlianks to the directors and officers for their caroful and zaaloua management of tho Iciiik'tj alfairs.

Statistics of Crime

tui rpturn o( nersons who have been accused j just been completed by the (police oftloia, Is, and discloses the remarkable fact that while there lias been a large decrease in the number or per sons apprehended or summoned tor trivial , offences ns compared with 1880, there has Wn a considerable increase of crimes of a nore serious character. The total .number of apprehensions and summonses during 186b were 219S as against 2(i24 dunug 1880. : Workers in the cause of temperance may take the flattering unction to their souls that then I exertions during the year just ended have not I proved unavailing,.there having been. a most : substantial decrease in the apprehensions for 1 the offence of drunkenness. 818 persons were ai restcd In 1886, and 1022 during the previous j ea . Of the drunks arrested last year 595 wore-maloa and 23 females, while the sexual distribution 1 in ISSS was 770 males and 212f emales-a corollary on the truth o£ the assertion that has been often 1 made that it isnn.ch more easy to reclaim a. man i addicted to drink than a woman. Ihciehas also been a diminution in th« apprehensions fm drunkenness and disorderly conduct, the , respective numbers for the two years under not.cc being 72 and 257. Assaults and breaches, , of the peace which are largely duo to drunken ness were also less numerous m lbSfl than^m 18*5 the respective numbers being 170 and 229. uSier thenow obsolete Contagious. Diseases Act there were 76 cases last year against 41 in !M& BwadUK. ofjth^ L^ Seethe Siimb Ser° Wof cases "being '37 against 22. A remarkable decrease is shown in the returns of breaches of the Shipping and Seamen's Act there being only 17 cases in ISbO against 83 in the prerious year. Of larceny pur et simple there was a decrease, the numbers being 223 and 203 for 1886 and 1885 respectively. Breaches of by laws also show a diminution, the numbeis being 119 nml Ifiß- nrrestsof vagrants decreasediroru 179 to 118 'burning to breaches of the law. that com tounder £he?atlgory of serious crimes there i has unfortunately been a great iiicreaae. Ap i Prehensions for murder increased from 2 to a : ■ for -rson from 2to 0; for larceny trom the !we find a decrease, viz., embezdeinent, for been most carefully prepared and a word of and making them intelhgible.

BIRTHS, MARRIAGES, DEATHS.

BIRTHS.

i/At.it—un January 7. at nor residence, liei-esiord-stroot, the wife of IT. J. Carr of a | CO3TKR.—On December 21, ISSS, at Hepburn- Btrect, Ponsonby, the wlfo o£ F. Coster ot a son. GORDON.—On January 2, at Drury, Mrs S. Gordon of a son. GRIFFITHS.-On December 30. at Lawrence street, Ponsonby, tho wife of Chas. Fredoriok Griffiths, solicitor ot a daughter. GUY.—On January 22. at Green Lane, tho wife of A. J. Guy, 'bus proprietor, or a son. HARRIS.—On January 12, at her residence. Bayfield, Ponsonby, tho wife of Jas. Harris ot HATCHER.-Oa Jaouary 23, at George street West. Mount UcaliiU. tho Wlfo of George H-itelier. bui'der, of a datightor (promature). HKVV'irT.—On January 18, at Onehunga, the Wlfo of Joseph Hewitt of a eon.-Thames papers pU ago copy. LKVINSOHN.—On January 3at Princes-street, A'beit Park, the wlfo of If. D, Levinsoho of a dauehter. MoSRBGOR.—On January 10, at her residence, Victoria-street, the wifo o( U. mid McGregor of a daughter. MKRCKH,.—On January 12, at Ingledono, St. Stephen's Avonuo, Parnoll. the wifo of K. Beauchamp S. Mcrcor of a son. MONRO.—On January 14, at Remuora, the wifo of tho Roy. Q. B. Monro of a daughter. MoKKAN,-On January 23, at hor rcsidenco. drummer Road. Surrey Hills, the wifo of H. A. McKean of a eon. SKALY.—On January 21. at MountUoskllU Mrs A. L. Sea'.y ot a son. SMITH.-On January 17, at Franklin Road, tha wife or William Smiih of a son. BPINKS.—On January 15, at Avooa Cottage, Upper Union-Btreet, the wifo of Captain C. Splnksotason. TAYLOIt.-On January 17. at Alberton, Mrs Allan Korr Taylor ot a daughter. TRK ACY On December 2, at North Shoro, the wifo of O. Trcaoy of a eon (still-born). WAHISO.-On January 25, at Norfolk-ftroot, Ponsonby, tlio wifo of Thomas Waring of a WILSON.—On JuMlary lit, al Prlnooa-Btfoet, Onohltoga, iho wilu of W. Flulay Wilson ot a son.

MARRIAGES.

ABRAHAMS—Bt.OOM.-0n December 29.1830, by iho Roy. laldoio Myers, at Molbourno, John Abrahams, second eon of Michael Abrahams, ot London, to Kather, cecor.d daughter ot David Hloom, of Auokland, N.Z. BANKS—DOWN.—On December 21 1881, attl-.o bride's residence. 1-iobson-Btroet, by Mr Go". A'llrliigp, Jonathan Thomas Ranks, of llolton, Lancashire, t) Johanna, eldest daughter of tho late John Down, Hobjon stroot. Auckland. ORUDGiC—WHY TOOK.— On December 25, nt Mount Jfidm Baptist Church, bytaoltov. T. Dray. Robert Henry, second son of tho late William Crudgo, DovoneMro. to Jcssio, youngoit daughter of tho Into Aloxandor Whj took, of Po th. Scotland. DUTIIIB—CLAYTON.—On January 0, at St. Mary's Church. Darnell, by tho Rev. G If. S. tWnolo. assiu'ed by tho Roy. Chan. Hioo, Divid Whamond. third son of tho late Aloxandor Duthio, o! Tckomalriro. Ottgo, to Florence, third daughter of Captain M. 'J. Clayton, ot Auckland. „ , , HORN It -HLAKK.-On January 1, at St Johns Church, Unify, by Roy. Oswald It. Hewlett. Arthur, eldest son of tho into Robert Homo, of London, to Helen, second daughtor of tho late William Hi-ike, of Drury. JKFF-GRKY.—On January r>, at tho Registry Onieo Mr Edwaid Joir, of Dairy Flat, to Cathorine Jane Grey, eldest daughter ot John Grey, ot Freeman's Hay. w KOTtIKR ]).\I,K.-0n January J, at thn Regis try Oillco. William, yonngoat son of Andrew Kotb'or. Captain in the German Navy, to Jano, third daughtor of Honry Dalo, of Brighton, Su=sox. England. , „ LKl'tNlC DANKo.-On Dccombor 27, at All Saints' Chu-oh. Ponsonby, by tne Rev. win. Caldor. William Willett Looine to Kllonor Wo.-'gewood, fifih daughter ot F. W. Donks. Nelson-slroot. , „„ . _. O'CONNOR-HEATH-On Decembor 28 at St. Benedict's Chinch, Nowton, by Rev. Father Downey. 0.5.8.. Timothy O'Connor to Catherine! Augustino Heath, third daughtor of Mr Tnonias Heath, Aic'i Hill, Anokl-.nl — Taranakl and Wellinaton papers plaasa oopy. NORMAN—BUTWaLL.—On Djosmbor 2!), at Auckland. Alexandor Norman, of Mercury Bay, to Klrar.or Emma, rolict of F. S. Butwell, nud second daughter of Mr S. Hatton, iron-salo maker, Birmingham. Knglond. SCHA.PP-MONTGOMERy.-On January 19, at St. Matthew's Chur.ih, by thei Rev. V. Tebbs. Loniß Albort Schap-j (of tho firm of Schaop and Ansonno) to Mary Adelaide, tho eldest daughter ot William Birtloy Mont gomery, Keg. surveyor. H ith of Auckland. TAUNT—SPJSIIW.-On January It at tho re;i doncoof tho brido's puronts, by tho Rev. P. Colder. James C. Taunt to Chri'tina, Bocond daughtorof Mr John Spelrs, Nelson, WHISKER—BUSHELL.—Oa January 19. at St. MatkV, Remuora, by tho Roy. lHaao Richards. Neol Hamilton Whisker, fltih con of Alexandor Whisker, to ZiDgira Rebocca. second daughter ot Henry Bunnell. Bo;h of Auckland.—Duncdia papers ploaao copy.

DEATHS.

BARTLKY. — On Jannnry 23, at Ponsonbj-, Eleanor Ivy, only daughter of Walter aud Allen Biirtloy ; aged 4 year?. . BIIVV.-j.—Urownod while bathing "t OUhnlin ou lfith January, lUlph Itiohardaon, fuurih son of the Into D in Hows, GU*ic«w. SoHlnud. AU frlc rids will kindly receive f.is Intimation. lloir.o puperß please copy. BRIUIIAM.-OnJai.aary 21. at her ro.i'k'uco. Lincoln Btroot, Ponfnnby, Anne, wliow of John Bngba'u : aged 71 years. BRIBRLY.-On January 7. Iron iujurlos re ceived by kick from horse. WalUr Ho.nrj-, eMosteonof Ji-bn and Martha Brierly, Now market: aged 1> years. CAKTEU.- On Januttiy C, at his paronts roai donco. Colliugwood-Btrcut. John Arthur, infant aon ot David N. and Chin-lotto Oartor ; nerd fi month?. CHAMBERS.—At GilllnKham, Km t, Kng.aad, on Fcbrubry 17,1886. Henry i hambci-J ; ogod Co years.—On November 25, IJBO, Mary, wifoot the Kbivo; age 107 years. Parents of D. S. Chambers, ot tbis city.—" One in ltfo and for Cu2ili.ia.-On January 11. IES7. at Mnnukau Road Parncll, Alison, tho beloved wife of Edmond Combes ; aged 40 years. CLARK.-la loving inmicry of my Jiolovcd husband bnmuel Halwo th ()l«rk who ilicd at Sydney. N.S.W , January 13, laS3; a<ed :«. CUUU-Un January 17, at Lower Srrnor..!a ---stre-t, Andrew Albert, third son oT tno late Mr .Tosoiih Oraitr; aged 19 reirs. COOPKR.-On January 25, nt tho reaiden.io of her son, Owon'a KoiA. Mount Eden, Churlotto Coiner ; ai;nd 63 years. DALDY.-O'.i January 12. at Picton street. Pnn sonby.lvy Co!i»tanoi\ dearly beloved lUugtater of William and Kate Ua'dy ; aged 12 mouih/". D?St7e? t D zssrssß. &&M!8s» husband of Margaret Doo'an : ««pd 07 years. DUNOAM.-Oa December 11. 188(5, at Ms rrsi denc->, M.vy Btroet, Mount Edou. Haniual. tttß beloved hn?band o[ Marfwrot Duncan, lit overseer of Umicdln Gaol. Da-p'y reßretred by a Urge circle of friends.—Lyttelton and Dnncdin papers pleaso ropy. QOOP.-On I)i-c-iiubor 31. ht tho residency of w. Ilavtll, Pdget-9tree'. Ponsonby, Adehi riaronoft, infjnt rtaujhter ot Frederick a-.d Jc vie Guod : aged S months. IlA'i'CUKR.—On January 23, at Gsorpc-strpet Wist iioui.t Roskill, Ivy, the loved dauKhtor of G. find H. IlHtch-:r. KKL!. — Aftc a lone and painful lllneps. Ann, tho beloved wife ot David Koll; aged 61 years. K?NS% r uoJa°nu«y 16, Cyril Djuglas Klnfir, ann of Jeesle and Henrietta King; aged 7 months LA.MBKRT\-On Sunday, January 16. 18S7. at To Awamutu, « illiam Lambort, of Shelly Beach Road, Ponsonby, formerly of Goul ia&SM;w^^. lMa-»sl Ma-» s ton of congestion of tho brain. laMbolla Paul I.nuHe second daughter of tho late James Laurie, and frrand-rfanghtor of Mrs A. Crom •wall. Arch Hill, Auckland ; aa;cd 21 years. LKANTNG- On January o, at her reeidencp. back of Tabernacle, Mary Leaning ; bro.l 75 Xifp'sCOMßE.— On Jan. 19, Kdna Cnthbertsnn, tho beloved infant daughter of F. W. and b. LOUKIT-On-January 10, KUen Noil Lowflcn. the beloved daughter of Joseph and Clara Lockio ; aged OJ months. MARSTON.-On January 3. at tho Anckland "osnital George Mpraton ; n(?od 2o yoars. McF4 RLSiNI). On January 2, at 10.30 p.m., at her parents' roa'dence. View Road, Mount X !en. of thrush, Violet, dparly belovod Infant daughter of Charles William and Anna MoKarland ; of^d 7 weeks and 4 days. O'KErcFFK.—On January 22, nt h(>r latn reßl donceTouhuhu. Ellen O'Keoflb, tho beloved wife of the lato Ucnnls OKoelle ; aged 01 O'^K.\ltA.-0n January 22. at Opotikl. John Jimea. holovcd husband of Catherinn O'Moara, and o'dest and beloved fon of Mr* ('''Meara, Uvorpool-s'roet, Auckland ; aged 23 yiars. Deeply roßrcttod.— Sydney and Molbourao papers pleaso copy. PULLAN.-On January 11, at Karangalvipo [load, Cecil Pullan. infant Bon ot William aud Marlanno I'ullan ; aged I months RUNCIMAN.-On January 10. at Suonyßide, Po^souby. of typhoid fever, in his l'Jih year, 3 Javld, eldest non of the Uov. D. W. Rancman, KO3E.'-On .Tanunry 25. at his roßirtcocp, Arlh- Initon Villa. Eybor Puss Itoad, Joseph Rose, Kfq ; aged 7t soars. ._._.. ~, - , SANbtß3.—On .Innnary 8, HaOhvo, the Infant daughtfr of William and Klzi Sunders; SANDKRSO^.—On January 21, at Solwyn Ter rnca Parnell Francis Bradley Sanderaon, lato rf Totara North, Whingaroi. STANLEY.-On January 23, at Birkenhnad, Jane Stanley, wife of Robert Stanley, late o( Stooknort. Kneland ; aged 76 years. 1 STICHBURY.-On January n, at Olovnrnook, Newmarket, Chades S lohburr ; aged 68 years. TA Yl OU On .Tar.uirv 12, at Normanby Road. Mount Hden. Frederick Wi Him,lnfant son of William ard Kni'ua Taylor : aged Si oionlln. TTTPNICB -On J-nuarv 28, Mnry KHon, "anghtVr r.f Alfrfd and Mary Klizibeth Turner, of Princes Ft-ect, Dnohunga ; aged 4 TnOMPSW.—On January 20, Bllen. beloved wifo of W. C Thomoson ; aged '-'2 ycarr. Bh^illnes?,' Isanc nwWe'; in his 71st yoar. WHITE.—On Januaic 21, at Mount Albert, John WBiaHT. 8-0n January 20, at his late residence, Uppor Bymonds-»tr£et, of heart disease. Geort'O Henry Wright, confectioner ; aged 17 years.

PATENTS.

Thbue were 503 patents applied for in New Zealand last year.

Mr E. W. HoIHp, of Thames, applies for letters patent for an "improved vermin trap."

'J Keilly, of Auckland, is the patentee nf rt new method o! washing clothes, and J. Bute?, of Cambridge East, for aT inveution i:i couDsctioa vrilh harness.

W Stevenson and John Stevenson, Helensvillo, seek lottora patent lor a machine for pioughiog and pulverising the land, and eradicating all noxious weeds, •to.. £Rom the soil, and rendaring the same it for agricultural purposes.

THE BARRIER TRAGEDY.

VERDICT OF GUILTY.

Both Prisoners Sentenced to iSoatli;

THE JUDGE'S SUMMING-UP.

His Honor Judge Ward delivered the fol lowing charge to the jury in the charge against John Caffroy and Henry Albort Perm of having wilfully murdered Robert Taylor on Great Barrier Island : —

"Gentlemen of the jury,—Both the evi dence and the addresses from the counsel engaged on oither aide having now been closed, it remains for you to declare by your verdict whether the prisoners are guilty of the murder with which thoy stand charged. I need scarcely siy that in dis charging the highly important trust which devolves upon you, you will be guided by Hie strict rules of evidence in returning a verdict upon the facts of the case without regard to any consequences whatever, and I need scarcely repeat to you the romindor of the loarried couiisol for the Crown, and alao of the counsel for tho defence, that Ab far as pogsiblo you must dismiss from your iriinda everything you had heard respecting this case before coming into Court. Now, in this case, it in not necessary for mo to com inenoo, as is frequently dono, by defining the crime of murder and the shades of dilfuranco botween it and manslaughter, for I must iay this— that no foulor and more cowardly murder than this over stained tho annals of tho colony, and your duty, therefore, is simply to decide whothor tho prisoners in the dock are guilty of it or not. Soino stress has been laid by tho counsel for tho prisouors on tho fact that tho Crown, in the first place, has dono nothing to show motive on the part of tho prisoners, and that, though thoro were certain motives assigned the offjrt to provo thorn had fniled. There is no doubt, as far as that goo?, that the proof of a premeditated plan dopondod entirely upon tho exceedingly unroliablo ovidonco of tho girl Graco Graham, nnil after all wo havo hoard respecting hoi- char actor, and tho contradictions that have boon givon to some of her statomonts hero, 1 ro K«rd her ovidonco as being such that no ro lianco whatever can be plficod upon it. It is clear that nho bn3 not told the whole truth, but it would bo stranger sLill if sho (Hd not toll any truth at all. That she liuh tried to exculpate Fonn,thore ia uo doubt; but at any rate I should consider her ovidence such as you cannot rely upon. Uowovor, thut ia a matter fuv you to con sider. As to the allcgod failure to udduco ovidonce of motive and plan, I havo nlotoly to say that it ia wholly unnecessary for thd Crown that any evidence, either of plan or plot, should bo brought forward ; for if a man kills another without provoca tion, that U thurdor,, and if it is a°eoi'ted that such killing by him was not inurdor it ih for him to show, if ho is able, that his contention is correct, as, for in=tnncj, that he merely actod in self - defence. I neoi scarcely tell you that in this case thero is 10 vosfigo of any euc!i miti gating circumatancos. Each prisoner has tried his very host to throw tho guilt on tho other, and I propose to briefly go through tho story stated for or.o, and then tho other, by their respective counsol. I must first, however, tell you that in order to convict oithor prisouor of murder it is not necessary to prove that ho gave tho fatal blow. If you find aa a nocossaiy inference from the ovidenco placed beforo you that tho fatal Eliot was lired by ono or tho other, then it will bo your duty uftor knowing that they woro acting together to find both prisonersgullty. Now lot hs take and oxnmino Iho two statements Fenn, through his counsel speak Ing for him, said that ho was on intimato terms with C/ifi'roy, to whom, as tho older and more oxporionced seaman, ho looked up nnd by whom ho was influenced ; that ho him-olf know nothing of tho great ocean mid tho exciting advontures possible upon it ; and that C.ifT.-oy Induced him by firing hi? imagination to go with him; that Caffroy porsuaded him that Mrs Soytnour was perfectly ready to clopo with him (CafTroy) if a convenient opportunity wero afforded hor of doing so i and that her rocont confinement prosontoJ a splendid chance of carrying out tho elope ment, as sho wca staying at her father'^ where thore wero only two malo persons to interfere with tho execution of tho design —an old man and a younc boy. Perm accordingly agrees to go ashore to help CalVroy. Now, if they wont ashoro armed with revolvers, a criminal intention is at onco imrortoi i--.to tho case; for what need v thore of pu-tols if, 03 Perm says, thoy only wanted Mrs Seymour, and aho was willing to go with thorn? Bosidos, his explanation do^s not agree with tho fact that aftir the murder his first question, upon coming up with Mrs Taylor on tho beach is, "Whore are tho girls ?" and then he sayj, " You havo hid them under the bod," thus c'.o.irly showing thut Mrs Soymoar was not tho solo ono sought for. I'eno, on getting a.-horo, and while proceeding alone tho boach towards the house, ccci Jane Taylor, and on reaching tho house ho asks for somo butter, which he aays ia intended for a yacht called the Tairui, while al?o stating that ho himsoll belongs to the Tovict Both these stutomonts aro dotiborato untruths, nnd PonnU counsel attempts to explain them bysi»>i".£ thoy woro nece?3ary fal.-o hoods to tho oxecution of tho design. Bit Lf it could he nece?sury to tell Hot for the fwtheraoca of such an under faking, how much more necessary would it be considered by tho prisoner now, when his life is in peril? Penn'e nouneol further argue? thit as ho did i.ot shoot Taylor when ho met him outsido tho house, he had no criminal intent; but Ponn was scarcely likely to do thi«, or anything of tho sort, beforo Caffroy arrivod. As for Ponn's pos session of a revolver, his counsol urges that be had his hands in his pockets when ho reached tho house, consequently it must not boass'imed that he hid a revolver. But Caffrey brings two revolvers with him—ono in each hind — and he is afterwards seen with only one, while one is subsequently found on the floor of the kitchon, and Mrs Taylor dis tinctly saw Perm with a revolver in his hand whon he was standing ia bedroom No. 1 with his loft arm round her husband* nook. Afterwards tho third revolver finds its way to tho cabin of tho cutter. Tho inference is therefore cloar that Perm had it in his pocket when he entered tho house in tho first instance The next thing in Perm's statement is that Carrey dashed into the house and began firing. Assuming fora moment that thocontantion of the learned counsel for tho prisoners can possibly bo proved, and that they wero there for a lawful, though immoral act, the moment the ' firing begau ihe legality of tho act onded. The ques tion whether it is punishablo by. law to elope with a married woman ia of no concorn, for from the moment tho firing begins there can bo no possible doubt us to tho illegality of the prisoners' proceedings. According to Perm, after threo shots had baon fired by Caffrey, Taylor rushed into bedroom No. 1, and it is contended that if ho had been wounded previously be could not have dono that. Call'rey followed him, dashing open the door which Taylor had slammod bohind him, and thon Perm says ho arose and fol ]owed»too ; that 88 ho ontored tho room Caffroy fired again, and Caffrov nsked him to take the old man oil" him; that seeing Taylor stagger and about to fall, he (Ponn) stepped forward and caueht him in his arms, and that it was at thh point Mrs Taylor entered the room and saw him. But tin* explanation is difposed of by tho fact that Mrs Taylor heard the fourth shot lired after seeing her husband with Perm's arm around his neck Tbera can bo no question that Taylor at the timo ho was stand ing at bedroom No. 2 with Perm's arm around his nock was alive. Had he bean shot before that timo he could not havo beon standing up, for the doctor's testimony shows that the effect of the fatal bullet would have been to produce instantaneous unconsciousness. Moreovor, had he bcon shot before, Perm must have been covered with blood, and yet Mrs Tay lor does not soy that she saw any blood on him. Had it been otherwise, she could scarcely fail to have seen it. Now, a^ I have said, this narrative is disposed of by the fact that Mr* Taylor hoard the fourth Eh it filed after Bho had seen her hus band and Perm in the \. osif.on I have men tioned. I now take Caffrey's story. It is this : That ho had b en engaged to Mrs Seymour; that the ongn^oraent had been broken off through the influence of her parent*, who intimid ate! her into an unwilling marriage, that he had reason to believe that she would leave her husband and go away with him ; and that under this impression ho wont ashore, believing that the opportunity was favourable, and that Perm could be used, to keep the parents out of the way. He then says that he rushed into the house

Had fired blank cartridge, with thu object of intimidating Mr Taylor, whom he found thoro, and that Taylor rushoii into No, 1 bedroom, shutting the door behind him ; that Oaffroy, 07.poct.inR to find tho «irls there, rusliad in lifter him, Btruck down Taylor with a blow On tho nose, dashed into No. 2 bedroom, found Mrs Soyraour gone, jumped out of the window to look tor her, and wont bunting about in the awarnp close to tho house. Caffroy further states that he left Perm with a revolver in his hand and holding Taylor to provont him from interfering. If) under thess cirdim stances, Perm was left in that position, and a deadly struggle onsuod, ending in Taylor biaing shot, then tho ca*o is ono of murder, in which both Oaffrey and Perm are oqually concerned. Caffrey would bo just as guilty as Ponu. Now, wo coma to test Caffrey'a statement. In order to show pro inaJitation of somo design, wo havo tho fact that a fortnight baforo tho murder ho asks for and buys a chart of tho South American coast, mentioning particularly Valparaiso as a port where ho would ba ablo to find hh way in tho dark; and thon Dotectivo Tuohy tells you that ho was informed by tho prisoner that for three weoka aftor he loft New Zealand ho waa cruising about in tho effort to reach South America, and that lie was driven by contrary Winds on to tho coast of Australia. Bo.'ides, on tho»l7ih of Juno, tho very day on which ho loaves Auckland, ho invites tho girl Agnea Austin to accompany him on hit) trip to tho Barrier that night, and after she rofusos his invitation ho tolls her that ho is going to AinoiicM, and that she would hoar and road about him. He also asked tho girl Jane MoManus to go with him, and yet in spito of these facts hi? counsel wants you to buliwvo that lie wae actuated by tho deepest Ml'oction for Urj Soyicour. Tho improbability of this fctory io apparent. A fortnight had olapiod tinco Mrs Soyinour's conlino monfc, and no communication is proved botwoon hor and Gaffroy einco hor mar riage la it likely that she would abandon hor child and her husband for tho sake of him ; or, on the other hand, bo roady to tako tho infant to sea with hor ? It is absurd to imagine anything of tho kind. Tho story of Graco Graham is infinitely moro probable As I havo already told you, tliroo fhofs ivero tired boforo Mrs Taylor saw Perm in bedroom No. 12 with hia arm round hor husband's neck. Although tho family woro taken by surprise, and wore lillod with the greatest alarm, thoir statements an to wliat took pl.icc ayroo voi-y closoly, and it is only natural that eoraa plight discrepancies should bo found, [iar ticularly as to tho element of time ; in fact, it would bo strange indeed if there woro no »ooh discrepancies!, Tho wjndor in this case is tliat tho account given by all the witnee.-o? of tho transaction is so clear and distinct. Oaffrey says that boforo tho fourth shot was tired ho jumpod out of tho windd* ih order to continue his

soarch for Mrs Seymour. Now, Mrs Sey mour and hor sister swoar that at the timo they heard Iho fourth shot tired they woro climbing tho fonco, which was ouly twelve or fourteen yards away from tho window, so that if CaflYoy's etatemonts woro truo it would havo boen simply impossible for thorn to have concealed themselves. Ho must havo soon them. Tho next ovi donco as to his movements is this : While hiding up tho hill somo time nf'or Mia Sey mour sow him cross a little ytrcara running close to tho house, aud go towards tho stock yard, noar which Ponn and hor mother woro standing. Sho could not coo tho door of the liouso from whoro sho was hiding, but sho saw him coining from the direction of tho house. Next, Lireiln Taylor, who had run off to a point on tha beach, al-*o say,B that ho saw Caffroy coming from the diroetion of tho house, though he could not swoar that ho caw him leave it, and thoro is absolutely no vostico of ovidonco boforo you to show thut Caffroy was ovor in that swamp. Tho ovidonco negatives such a supposition. Mrs Taylor cay.-! that when ho camo to her on the beach who askod, "Oh, Johnny, what havo you done?' and tint ho roplicd, "Oh, I havo done it, I havo dono it" Sho thon says, " Oh, Johnny, you have murdorod an inno cant old mau," and ho answers, "1 have not dono yet; I will finish tho lot." You havo thoro uot an absolute state ment by UafTrcy that ho hud committo:! tho murtlor. T« other comtrucllon c:m bo put upon hia words, As fur as I'onn is conconiod, you havo it proved that ho waa scan standing in tin b:droom where tho murdored man was subsequently found, with his arm round Taylor's neck and a pistol in his hand, and that upon Mis Taylor's entrance ho pointed tho pistol throutoningly at her. Yen can lntdly hnvo clearer ovidonco of abetting, and if you bj lievo that evidenoo, it ia your duty to find a a verdict accordingly. If you believe Cat' rev's s'.ory that he loft Ponn to guard Taylor with a deadly weapon in his hand, and that during that guardian ship tho fatal shot waa fired, then both prisonors are equally guilty. If, on tho other hand, you disbelieve it, and a num ber ot iinprobablo circumstances have boeii pointod out ta you-if you aro iather in fluenced to attach ovidonco to Ponn's stalo ment, you must bear in mind tho fact that it i= confronted r.nd centra dieted by Mrs Taylor 3 ovidonco. If two mon arrucd wi'h rovolvoia go into another man* house, and pursuo him through it, filing at and aeoaultiug him, and ho is fatally nhot in con-eqiioncc, it maked not (ho slightest uifferotico which of tho two prisoner* lircd the fatal shot. If you believe (hut oither shot him, you have no choice but to HilJ both guilty. Even if their intention in going to tho house originally cauld possibly bo phoivn to bo lawful, yet the tiifet shot lira! destroyed tha legality of their action, and it no longer matters what their original intout may have boon. Now, gontlemuti, you have been till J, and properly co, that you must give tho prisoners the benefit of any doubt that you in;iy havO i\> spooling theirgnilt, and f agree with t!;at; but the doubt in question muse bo n roaaouaule doubt—such a doubt as you would act upan in tho ordinary affairs of life, and that you could roco'neilo with tho eoloninity of tho position in which you are placed, and the confidence reposod in you. Both of thtt learned counsel for tho" prisoners, bave told you, and .tbo counsol for the Crown also tells you, that thia is n most solemn occa-ion, ns tho lives of two men hang upon your verdict, But, gentlemen, I tell you further, that both hero and hereafter, both in the day of death, and at the day of judgment you will find, in respect of this tiia1, your chief support and full justification in a faithful and ffi!irle.«s discharpo of your duty this day. llor this your country men look at your hands, and I am woll assured they will not look in vain- It ia your follow ■ countrymen who have placed you thoro, and I am fully assured that you will not bslio tho trust which they havo placed in you. It is now for you to say, gentleman, whether or not the prisoners aro guilty, or on tho other hand, if you havo any doubt as to their guilt, lot them havo the full benefit of it. But above ull, you wilt dischargo your duly, regardless of crm*cq nonces, by giving a vordict in accordance with tho evidence. Gontlomon, you will now rotire to decide unon that veidict.

Mr O'Menghrr rjointcdouti that His Honor had forgotten to montion that Mrs Taylor, upon entoring No. 2 bedroom and seeing Perm with his arm round hor husband's neck, had not seen Caffroy at all.

His Honor, in reply, said that although Mra Taylor did not eeo Caffroy then, she was not nblo to see the whole of tho room in which Perm and hor husband stood.

Tho jury having expressed a wish to retire to considor the verdict, filed off to tho jury room, and His Honor left tho Bench.

While tho jury wore absent in'en?o but subduod excitement reigned in tho Court room and its approaches, and tho proba bilities cf what tho finding of tho jury would probably ba were canvassed eagerly in whispers. I'ha prisoners wero permitted to seat themselves in the dock, and during the first few terrible minutes of tho absence of tho jury they appeared much leas con corned than many of thr> spectators. When, howover, it became appaiont that tho fury would not immediately como to a decision, tbo unfortunato men were re moved to tho cells beneath the Court. Half-anhour elapsed, and tho miauto hand crawled out until an hour had elapsod since the departure of tho jury, and the frionda of the prisoner"" began to hope again6t hope that the lengthy discussion going on in the jury-room portended well for ono or other. Perm's fathor, who seemed bowed down with grief, continually protested his belief in hia son's innoconco ; Mrs Taylor, hor daugh ters and her son, a cad group in their habili ments of woe, and tho wretched paramour of Venn, whoseßwatrgeriDgbraggadocioshowed that tho loarned Judges censure on hor cal lousness was rot undeserved, were each tho objects of attention and coiumi-eratiou as Hie humour took the spectators at this

juncture. Suddenly, after the lapse of twenty more anxious minutes, tho buzz of conversation ceased, and tha regular tramp of the wardars on the floor of the stono corridor balow announced that.the prisoners were about to be replaced-" in" the dock.

l?hey appoaved through tho trap door and reutned thoir position facing tho Bench Than, with solemn tread, as though fully conscious of tho toirible ro3ult of the duty devolving on them, the twolvo jurymen re appSared and quietly took their places. : Silence still as death reigned amidst the mighty crowd, which could nat have num bered leas than 2,000 persons, as Mr Brewer, the Registrar, a°ked tho foreman : "Bave ' you unanimously agreed upon your ver dict?" I The eilonco becamo painful, and to the card of the listeners the pause that followed ' tho official's stereotyped question seemed

! The eilonco becamo painful, and to the I card of the listeners tho pause that followed i tho official's stereotyped question seemed I hours. ,' "Wa have" camefirmlyfromthelipsof Mr Richard McGeo, the foreman. "How do you find tho prisoner John Caffroy—guilty or not guilty ?" asked tho j Registrar. I Another tenible pause, that mado tho j hoart almost stop, through the intensity of fooling, and thon the foromansaid "Guilty." Tho formulaproceoded," How do you find the prisoner Honry Albert Pent;—guilty or not guilty J" "Guilty." Tho foreman intimated that ho had boon instructed to announce that tho juryreccm mended the prisoners to mercy. Hundreds of oyes wero directed towards Iho dock to eco tho effect of tho finding on I ho prisoners, but their faces woro compara tively immobile. Caffroy raised hia head a little, and his pale blue oyos, with their habitual woe-begono expression, looked awful in the ray of sunlight that shot down un him. Perm seoraud unmoved. The Kegiatrar then flaked Caffrey iu.tho uoual form if ho had anything to cay why sentence scould not bo pissed on him. Caffroy bowed and eaid, ''I h;ivo to say, :ia Mr O'Meagher has eaid, that I am inno OOnt of the crime I am charged with. . I never causod Mr Taylor's death, and nevor went with that intention. I could face a lion, but to do such a mnorablo murdor or commit an act of violenca liko that I could not." Ponn was next askod by Mr Brewer what he had to tmy. Thia priaouor, white his follow prisoner was speaking,had folded his arms a little jauntily, and had apparently made up hia mind to put a bold front on it. When ho spoke Ilia voice bore no h'aco of omo'ion. I'cnn then said, in a firm and unfaltering voice: "Your Honor.and gontlemen of the jury,—l wish to say a fow word« to you on the unhappy position lam placcii in horo. I have been led away by John Oair.-oy, with tho iutontion cf getting Mra Seymour to tako a trip across to America. With that intention I wont away with him, thinking that Mm Boymour was willing to go with him Gentlemen, I had no intention of doing any harm to anyono, and I did no harm to Mr Tavlor or liia family. There fore, I don't think tho verdict of guilty should havo been returned against mo " When Ponn made the remark about

Caffroy loading him astray, the latter turnod his face towards Ponn, and smiled a littlo, sneering, bitter smilo. THE SENTENCE. His Honor then assumed tho fateful bli?k cap, and in most solemn and impros s vo tones pronounced eentonco :— " Pri soners at tho bar, aftor a lengthened trial, and a most ■■ bio defence, you have been found guilty, on ovidonco which carried con viction to tho minds of all win hoard it, cf tho fearful crime wherewith you stand charged. Tho jury havo recommended you to morcy, and that recommendation shall bo duly forwarded to tho Gover nor ; but I can hold out no hope to you that it will bo acted upon. For since the day when tho word was spoken ' Whoso shoddoth man's blood, by man shall his blond bo shed,' no more cowardly or more deliberate murdor has ovor been planned or porpetrated. ' From tbo earth whoro it was spilt, the voice of that old man's blood cries aloud unto lioavon. You deemed your escapo secure, for tho kcol of your vessel loft no tmck that human eye could follow ; but you forgot that ' tho way of God is in tho Hooa, and his path in tho great watera.' At Ilia word tho etormy .wind nrono, which drove you westward to tho flioros of Australia ; from whence you have bom brought hither tofacoyoilrdoom. Yot to you tho law will bo moro lnorciful than you were to your victim. You sent him to his lastaccountwithoutonomoment'e respite for repentance j to yoj time will be given to propiro to meet your God. With man's tribunila you havo now woll-nigh done, but heroafcer wo must all stand beforo the judg ment feat of Christ: and if you would thoro find pardon I entreat you to spend in ponitonco and prayer the few days yet left to you on earth. It now only remains for mo to pas 3 upon you tho last awful 3on tonc^ of the law : That you and each of you b3 sovorally hung by tho neck until yon aro dead ; and may tho Lord, in His infinite mercy, havo compassion on your souls " During tho pronunciation of tho sentence, Caffrey moved unoasily, and frequently turnod his eyes upward?. Perm did not movo until the judge had completed his last awful sentence, when ho drew back and bowed profoundly. While being escorted from tho dock, both prisoners srcilod cheerfully to tho crowd. The immoiifo concourse of people dis ported, and tho curtain had been rung down on the last act but ono of a terrible drama. Tho condomned murderers, who are being assiduously attended by the Rev. J. S. Hill, havo now apparently realised that they havo no hopo of escape from the scaffold ; indeed, they both mado an intimation to that effect to Mr Hill when ho visited them tho other day. It «rould appear that Iho prisoners havo been at enmity ever sinco thoir incarceration in Mount Eden, but Mr Hill arranged for a m^c-tinß between them, and they were to all appear ances perfectly reconciled, A petition has been signed for tho reprieve of Caffroy on tho ground thut tho cvidoiico showed that bo did not fire tHo fatal thofc. This position is under stood to bo supported by a confession said to have been made by Perm. The Execu tive Council meets shortly to eoi^Mer the case.

AGRICULTURAL.

Since April Ist, 18S6, to dato there have beon shipped from Nelson to Australia 1,085 bales of hops.

Owing to tho lon' price of butter in Turanakiat present,the farmers are potting down largo quantities in anticipation of a foreign market b^cotnjug available.

Graziors in Uawera district have con cluded arrangements for tho export to London, via Auckland, through tho agency of the New Zealand Froznn Meat Storage and Export Company, of 40,000 carcases of mutton p;r yoar, tho twelfth portion of tho wholo urnnbor to bo shipped homo monthly.

The Now Tobacco Company (limited) was rcgi«tored on January 7. Mr Vollbraclvt, tho manager, informs us that this Company has pent out seed to over 200 fainiers and growers to tho extent of übout 400 ocjes, and reports to dato promise hoavy crops thin reason ; that tho Company will open thoir factory very soon and havo a good stock of colonial leaf to keep them bu~y for tho next 12 months. The Company will turn out plug tobacco as their etaplo ; they will also produce other tobacco and cigars, and secured tbo firm of Messrs Edgar, A. Clough and Co., to bo their goneral agents for Europo and Australia, that firm being at tho samo time large shareholders.'

MINING.

An important discovery of quartz reefs bae boen mado on the north-eastern slope of Mount Rangitoto, a few miles from Cednr Creek reefs, in tho Hokitika District.

Some time r-iuce a parcel of quartz was cent by a fyoilicate in Fiji to ba nesayeci in this oity. Tho assay having proved the gokl-boarinf! qualities of tho i-tono, a well known gontleman horo, whose name wo tupoross for tho present, was entrusted with the arranging for a trustworthy prospector t) leave for Fiji with ihe object of following up the reof and making a thorough search for tho precious metal. Sir Tom Hollis hai been selected, and left foi tho field of operations, which is in the centre of tho island. Mr Hollis went alone, but was joined by a party at Levuka,.

In connection with the training of Artil lery officers, a Press Association message from Wellington says:—"lt is the inten tion nf tho Defonco Department to placo certain officers throughout the colony in charge of tho various Naval Artillery bat- U,ries, tbe guns of which they will be ra puctcd t'j riia'i c-hnuld ua emergency ari=o. Should tha officers commanding tho dif ferent batteries desire it, the Government will probably arrange for a certain number of rcen to ioarn torpodo drill. At tbe present time the question of reorganising the Volunteer force in tha colony is nnder consideration of the Government,"

ACCIDENTS AND INQUESTS.

A boy of 11 yeare, named Carson, was drowned on Sunday, 16th mat, while bath ing at Oamaru, Mr John Robortson, of tho Phoenix Foun dry, Wellington, has died from getting his arm Crushed by the machinery.

A child named Lamplough, aged five, waa crushed to death at Addison's, near Westp'ort, by tho wheel of a dray passing over her.

On 4th instant, Ethel Mary Doge, 13 months old, tho daughter of a farmer at Shand's Track, Canterbury, died from scalds received through accidentally falling intoa bucket of hot water on Monday.

Two boya have been drowned in the Wan ganui River. Wm. Turney, aged 12 year?, was drowned while bathing near the Rapids on Saturday, January 1, and two days afterwards tho body of another boy was found opposite the town, A dead body was found under the- cliff noar St. Mary*, Ponsonby, on January 4, and word having boen sent to the water police, they had it conveyed to the morgue. There the body was identified as that of Richard Rich, cook of the schooner Torea, who was drowned on New Year's Eve. A serious accident ocenrreJ at tho Maori Race Meetjug hold at Paeroa on 15th inst. Immediately after the starting of the pony raca, a boy rode acros3 the course in front of the csmpotitors. A colli sion ensued, and three ponies Came to grief. One was killed en tho spot, and its rider, a youth named Moore, was thrown to tho ground with such vio lence that ho only recovered consciousness after about 20 years. On Wednesday, sth inst , eomo lads were playing cricket iv a paddock at Kewmarl et when a horse canie near to tho wickets. One of the boys, named Briorley, ran to wards the hcrso to drive it away, when it lot out and Vickod him on the head. ITis companions went for assistance, and Broirly was as quickly as possible removed to the District Hospital. Ho was found to havo sustained an extensive fracture of the skull, from which he died a few days after wards. & girl named Je"-sio Banner, living near Stratford, Hawora, died under very pecu liar circumstances on Sunday, January 2& Sho was about nine years of age, and was living with her undo, who sent her on an on and to a neighbour's. Thinking she wih n. long timo away, ho went to £03 where slio toj, and discovered her qaite dead, with hor neck under tho window ea-'h. Tho people to whoso houso she was Eont were away ut church, and tho sup position is that she was getting in or out of tho window when the sash ccmo down A sad accident: happened on Sunday, 16th inst , to a young man named Ralph Bewe, who was in the employ of Mr Melville, farmer, at Mangore. The drceased and a Mr Wills, with another went down to tbo watera of the Manukau to on joy a bath aftor the warm labours of tbe day. Bew3, who could not swim, got out of hia depth, and despite tho efforts of hia two companions, pank, and disappeared. After a search ot some hour and a half tho body of the unfortunate youth was found, life of couree being ex tinct. A fatal accident took place just boforo 11 a.m. on Monday, January 24 at Hayraun's bulk store, Lambton quay, Wellington. Tho lift was cent up with a light load, and upon reach ing the second floor the chain broke. In the lift wore a boy and a man named William Kitchen. The former escaped with a fow bruises, but tho latter wa3 horribly mangled, and diod instantly. Both hia thighs were broker, hia stomach torn open, and bo had a ghastly wound on the head.

A very sudden doath took placo on 21st inst. at Arch Hill. A labourer named Patrick Doolan, who has been stone-break ing at Mount Albert for eomo time past, returnod from his woik yesterday at five o'clock. Ho took hi 3 tea all right, and af torwards went outside and tat in tha door way, faying that ho wished to cool himself. Ho had not thon mado any complaint about feeling Unwell. While sitting en the step ho was attacked with a violent fit of coughing, followed by a rush of blood, which showed that ho rau3t havo burst a blood vessel in tho lungs. Immediately Doolan foil forward and bled profuselyj He was quickly taken inside and laid on his bed, and a messenger was immediately de spatched for Dr. Purchaß, who was quickly in attendance, bub the unfortunate man expired before ho arrived.

A most distressing accident is reported from Puni, or West Mauku. It appears that a settler named Jones was engaged clearing bush on his farm, and about a quarter of a mile away from hia houso he was digging out a rata tree. This system ia sometimes adoptod in proforonce to cutting down tbe tree, as the top holps to layer out tho root. Jones had boen home for his dinner, and returned to work, leaving his wife and family in the hou»o. Appar ently, his littlo son Albert, who was fivo yoara old, must have-followed his fathor to his work, for during the afternoon the tree fell, and upon the father walking along the holo of tho tree, ho discovered some blood. A closer examination disclosed to tho unfortunato man that his son had been crushed to death by tho falling troe. Death must have been instantaneous, as Mr Jones heard no cry.

The three masted schooner Yolande ar rived from Newcastle shortly before five p m on 7th met ,and proceeded to tho Sugar Company '& wharf at Birkenhead to dis chargo hor cargo of coal. The Yolando has made an unusually long pi?eago, and has ex perienced some very hoivy weather. Oae pale unfortunately, resulted in tho loss of throe of her seamen. Captain Watt, master of the Yolanclo, reports of the voyage as follows :-Sailed from Newcastle on the 10th ult, with light southerly winds, which lasted about 12 hours, and then hauled into tho SB and E. until Lord Howe's leland was parsed, on the 14th ; ■the wind then came from the eastward, with cloudy, gloomy, and overcast sky This lasted until the 16th, when the wind backed into the E.S.E., and increaeed to a fresh breeze. On the 17th the wind was still increasing, with a heavy, confused eea, and i ho weather was euch that it was found necessary to take in canvas and make the veFsel snug, in readiness for heavier weather. At 8 p m. the order was given to stow tbe jib, which had just before burst, and three •eatnon. Mat.thow Sweeney, John Hanna ford,«.T»i''lia-le» i'/n^alke,proceededtonarry out the order. At this time it was dark, the vessel being under roefed canvas, with upper topsail stowed. Suddenly a faint cry was heard off the starboard quarter. Ropes wero thrown in the direction iudicated, and tho helm was ordered hard down, but the ship refused to stay. Owing to thedarknoss nothing could be seen over a ship's length away ; aod although every attention was paid, nothing more than tho ono faint cry Was heard. It is supposed that tho vessel passed ovor the un fortunato men, and that they woredrownod almost immediately. The galo increased during the night named, and lasted with groat violence for threo daye, with a very heavy sea ; thonca sho had light winds and moderate weatbor up to making the North Capo! thenco ireeh B. to E S.B. winda aiong tho coast Up1 to arrival.

Shortly aftor 9 pm. on 9th inst., an ex plosion of gas took place in the Bank of New South Wales. Tho circumstances of the case are as follows: —Mr S. N. Yon Stunner, the ledger-keeper of the Bank, resides on the premises. Yesterday even ing ho had been out for a walk and returned about 9 o'clock, in company with hia cousin, Mr W. Yon Stunner. Thoy entered the bank by the private door at the side. Immediately upon entering the building they noticed a Etrong smoll of gas, which evidently came from the direction of the strongroom, which opejis oh the corridor leading to the banking chamber. Mr S. W. Yon Stunner procured the key and uc locked the door of tho strong room. He then obtained r. light to ascertain the whfieabouta of tho leak. As ufual In cue? where gas iv concerned, the naked ligbt proved a raobt effectual means of detection, but the results were vory danger* owi to tho parties concerned. On ontoring tho strong room, a3 might bs expected, tho candle fired the gas, and an explosion occurred. Both gentlemen were severely singed nbout the neck and hands, and also slightly on the face. Fortunately, nono of the injuries wore of a serious nature. Aa an evidence of the force of the explosior it may be stated that the shock extended through a number of passages on the ground floor, and then found vent by rising to the third story, and shattered the skylight over the main staircase. Hera its power wa^ evidently expended, as the roof-light just above the skylight was not damaged. Tbe only other injury -a the bauk to? fclio partial ignition oi a quantity of papers in the strong-room Tlie noise of the explosion was heard by passers by in the street, and also in the adjoining premises. Evidently the gas jot must have been loft turned on, and had been wasting a sufficient length of time to fill the chambers. Messrs Yon. Stunner have since been in the Hospital, but are makirjg fair rejovery from their injuries.

FIRES.

A floor mill at Faparoa, Greytown, owned by natives, has beon burnt down. The loss

is about 250. A houso on the Denbigh Road, between WaiDuku and Medhurst, I«ew Plymouth, waa burnt down on Saturday after noon, 22nd instant. The owners were in New Plymouth at the time, and a child of theirs left in the house was burnt to death.

The dry weather has groatly increased the danger from bueh tires. At Tikorangi, in Taranaki diotrict, a settler named Bald win has had bis house and contents de stroyed through a fire from a neighbour's clearing spreading to the bush at his home- Btead, and another settler has lost all his crop of grass eeed from a similar cause.

A tolegram ftora Kohukohu etatoa that Mr Jackson's storo ot Mar.gamuka was des troyed by fire on Monday 17th inst., the causo being the accidental ignition of a box of matches. The insurance on the buildings was £100, and on the stock £000. The estimated loss in excess of the in surances is ■ Buildings, £80 ; stock, £200. News cornea from Pukekaroro that a destructive fire has been raging in the Te Pouni bush for nearly a week past. It took ita rise on the Mangawai side of the forest, and is said to bo still travelling in » westerly direction, Bweeping ererythiag before it. Buß'nuion'a wharon and imple ments have been consumed, and aleo a largo quantity of valuable standing timber, while some of the contractors have suffered serious loss through tho burning of-equared logs. It is likewise reported that many working bullocka have been roasted to death m the burning bueh. ... ~ „ A fire broke out on sth met., at 9 a.m., in a cabinot-maker's Bhop in Edinburgh street-, but being speedily attacked by the Kewton Fire Brigade, under their foreman, it succumbed without very much damage being doao. Mr W. Bayne, who owned tho pro perty destroyed, say a that he left some glue heating on a etove in which ho used t0 £ »™ thoProad to Messrs Wiley's, and bad only boon away some ton minutes when he heard hie placo was em..fire. He v insured in the Koyal Fire Insurance Office for £100, but ia nothing like covered by this amount, as he loecs £60 worth ot tools alone, besides a quantity of valuable veneers, fur- D 1 Tfire broke out on Thursday, 6thJust, in a five-roomed cottage la Monnt Roskill Road, occupied by Mr W. Edwards, plasteror. &t the time of the outbreak, Mrs Edwards was m the garden washing, having left a fire burning in the middle room, the hearth being protected by a fonder. Her attention was farst aroused by seeing smoke pouring out of the front door, but it was so denee that she was unable to effect an ent anco. Before assistance could be obtained tho building was wrapped in flamo», and it, as well aa the whole of the furniture which it contained,. was totally destroyed. The fire spread to an adjoin ing two-roomed cottage belonging to Mr S. Surman, and it, too, was burnt down, A fire broko out in a small house near the Catholic School, in Shakespeare Road; at Napier at lira; on Sth inst. The house was occupied by a family namod Teehofl ts a boardiDg house for labourers. The back oi the dwelling was discovered to be on are by a paeser-by, who, failing to rouso the in- # mates, ran to the nearest firebell and gave tho alarm. Both the Town and Spit Bri gades were quickly at tho scono, but by that time the house was gutted and wrapped in flames. The fire, however, was confined to one dwelling. As Boon as pos sible an entrance was effected, when the worst fears were realised, as the bodies of two men fearfully mutilated were discovered huddled together. One body was recog nised as that of the proprietor, and the other as that of a labourer named Kelly.

At 1.30 p.m. on Sunday, 24th fast., a four roomed cottage situate in Ru3sell-Btreet, Arch HiU, waa totally destroyed by tire Tho house was occupied by Mr Win. Henry Chappell, and was owned by Mr Monaghan, n blacksmith who resides at fcllerelie. The origin of the fire ia most mysterious, as it occurred in the middle of tho day, when Mrs Chappell was closa at hand. Still there Is no clue as to its cause. Mra Cbappeil states that at 1.30 o'clock she was feeding fowta in her yard, when ehe ob served smoke issuing from the roof of her house, near the chimney. She at offC6_gave the alarm to her neighbours, who quickly came to her assistance, but, on account of the scarcity of water, tbey^ were pre cluded ftom extinguishing the fire Shortly before midnight on sth inst a fare broke out in Mr F. 6. Douse'a general store, Northcote. The neighbours gathered round and rendered what assistance they could, but from the first there waa no chnnce of saving the store, as the fire had obtained a good hold before it was discovered. A few pounds worth of crockery and Bomo harness was all that was saved from tho stock. The fire burnt bo fiercely that at one timo it waß feared that the NorLhcote Hotel (which ia kept by Air Schultz) would have been destroyed, as it is directly opposite the site of the atore. Fortunately, tho wind was blowing from the North, and consequently the flames were carried towards the harbour. Adjoining the shop was a stable, and when it was found to be impossible to save the building tho horses were turned out on the road, and eomo of tho harness was removed to a place of safety. Another destructive fire took place on 24th inst. at Aroh Hill. It commenced in the block of shops near the junction of Ood rin»ton-atieet with the Great North Road. These are owned by Mr Young Warren, and tho particular one in which the fire ori ginated waa occupied as a grocery store by Mr William D. Warren, nephew of the owner. Constr-ble Clark, who has for some years been stationed at Newton, was the first to discoYC-r the fire. Strange to say, he was just returning at 5.30 o'clock from Ruspell atreetj where he had been making in quiries about tho fire that had taken place a few hours previous. As he was pasjing Warren's shop he noticed the evident signs of fire, and at once gave the alarm. Accompanied by Mr Eateliffe, who is a builder, residing at Arch Hill, Gonstabls Clark ran round to the back of the building, and finding the door unlocked, they made their way-to the shop, that being manifestly the centre of the fire. They, however, found tho intermediate door locked, and consequently short but valuable time was lost in effecting an entry by forcing the door. Mean while, some young men named Edwin Lightfoofc, Wiiliam Rowe, and Cecil Morgan came to their assistance. ..There was a heavy Emoke, but by the aid of a lighted candle the men could see a small fire burning under tho shelving on the right hand side, and evidently spreading up tho wall. Tho party made a vigor ous attempt to suppress the tiro, but were hampered for want of water. While struggling with tho fire, Ligbtfoot got his band toverely burned by falling forward on tho burning matter. Upon recoveringhisequllibriuni he was compelled, with tho others, to rotire, as tbo heat and smoke had becomo suffocating. Even at this stage a few buckets of water would have put the fire under, but unfoitunately they were not at hand, and the fire Was allowed to rage unchecked until the Salvage Corps arrived from town, which, owing to tho delay In giving the alarm, was not until four of the shops had been destroyed. The fire waa not fairly got under until it had reached the gap be tweon Nettlingham's the bootmaker, the residence of Mr Davies, and the store of Mr R. Noa!, causiog the destruction of five shops. The following is a Hat of the build ings which waie destroyed, also the amounts of insurance :-The first three fhops were two-storied, under one roof. They were owned by Mr Young Warren, who had them insured in the Union for £800, of which £700 is reinsured. The other two shops were owned by Mr Hellaby, and were insured in the New Zealand- for £375 The westward shop of the block was occupied by Mr W- D. Warren as a gr cory. He hid his stock insured for £150 in the South Biilhb, furniture for £10. Mr Thomas Worden," bootmaker, occupied the second shop. He saved few effects, and was insured in the New Zealand Company for £200. Next came Mr John McKellar's confectionery establishment, which was un fortunately uninsured. He lost about £50 worth of goods, which ho had ampletime to save had he not generously lent his ener gies towardß saving Mr Warren's place. Mr Samuel Lambert, butcher, who oc cupied the fourth shop, had his . effects insured for £50 in the Imperial. He succeeded in saving a portion of his gooda. Mr Nettlingham, bootmaker, was the occu pier of the fifth shop He saved the greater pait of his stock, as he had ample time. He was iosurcd in the Nor«ii.;h Union .for £60. Mr Davie-'a dwolHng-bouso and Mr Robert deal's grocery storo were only slightly damaged, aud ura both insured. As might be expected en Sunday evening, there was a large crowd in attendance, and a number of the police Bnd detective forces were present, giving what help they could. The total damages are estimated at orer £2,000, as tho buildings have only been erected a few years, "

MISCELLANEOUS.

£8,197 worth of timber exported from Thames last year. New Zealand revenue for 188G is stated at £1 311,808, about £110,000 less than in 1885. , i There are now 210 members on the roll of Danedin Caledonian Society, against 131 last year. "_ . . Timaru Woollen Factory Company is to be wound up and a new company formed in its stead. The Fire Brigade demonstration ao Dunedin next month promises to be very successful. , , Timaru Harbour Board has approved of a proposal to finish tho harbour works at a cost of £34,000. , . ... In a short time the regulations whicn hinder the importation of dogs to the colony will be relaxed. The foundation-stone of the new Govern ment Insurance Buildings in Auckland will be laid next us nth. In future, it is contemplated that the King of Hawaii shall be represented by »n envoy at Apia, Snmna. Two boxes of ,i hno fish ova for New Zea land, containing one and a-half million, are on their way from San Francisco. Mr J. Saunders, contractor, Wellington, has given £100 towards the building fund of tho Magdalen Asylum, Cbristchurch. A man named Jamee McDowall dropped dead in a paddock at Taratahi, Wellington on 4th inst., while trying to catch a horse. At Christchurch the unemployed have prepared a memorial to lay before Messrs Hazel and Kirk, the emigration delegates from London. It is satisfactory to learn ti-.at there was a slight decrease in the amount paid for charitable relief in Auckland last month. The expenditure for the month was £500. Auckland is by far the healthiest of the largo Australasian cities. In 1885 ita death rate was 1495 per 1,000. In Melbourne it waa 19 32 ; Sydney, 19 12 ; Brisbane, 18 83 ; Hobart, 2318. Three distinct shocks of earthquake were felt at Paeroa at 1 p.m. on Sunday, 9th inst. They appeared to travel from Doath "to north, and wero so severe as to upset crockeryware in several houses. R Carmichacl and Son, Chriatchurcb, are the successful tenderers for the erection oJ tho new Government Printing Office, in brick, at Wellington. The price is £12,852. The only Auckland tender was that of H. Taylor.and Co., £14,441. Marble quarrying prospects are looking up The Otago Land Board have agreed to grant Mr P. McLean, of Wellington^ a Tiro visional license over 200 acres, for marble quarrying at Gaswell Scand, at £1 per acre for three years, and afterwords a lease for twenty-one years. The strength of the New Zealand Volun teer force on December 81, 1886, was as follows .'—Cavalry, 584 ; mounted Infantry, 140 j naval artillery, 1,351; artillery, 872j engineers, 175 ; rifles, 1,520 ; cadets, 1,704. Total, 10,366. The provincial .districts most strongly represented are Dunedin, 1,944; Canterbury, 1,741 j Auckland,

1,441. . . . Plans for the new Customhousein Auck land havo been approved by the Govern ment, and Mesera Mahoney and Sons, archi tecta, have been instructed to call for. tenders for erection of the building. The now Customhouse, of which we recently gave a brief deacription.is to be built at tho corner of Albert street and Custom-street West, and the work will now be pushed forward with all possible speed. '■•'■'•■ A table of the inquests held in .New Zea-. land during 1885 shows that there were 330 deaths during the year. Six persona were victims of homicide} there were 51 suicides, ■ in the cases of three of which verdicts of /do de se were found ', 21 were found dead ; andfin eeven oases the jury ascribed death to the visitation of God. In only five cases - \ was death attributable directly to intemper ance. , , , . Owing; to tlte cheap fares announced by the railway authorities, and the excellent system of excursions arranged, the traffic! . toaodfrom Auckland during the holiday season just closed has been greater than in . any previous year, despite the prevailing •'depression." From 23rd December last to 3rd January iaßt, no fewer than 38,787 persons travelled over the local railways, aod that theee were all convoyed with safety and punctuality speaks volumes for the energy and capacity of Mr Hudson, Traffic Manager, and his subordinates. . News reached Rotoruu on Wednesday*, the I2th instant, of the outbreak of a powerful geyser in the vicinity of the Paeroo Range, on the Ratoreka Plains, % within a mile or so from the Waioakahihi Settlement. Volumes of boiling mud were thrown up, and the plain for several acres around, the , Reyeer was covered with the ejected matter. A loud explosion and an earthquake ascompanied the breaking out of thegeyssr- " Some thirty years ago HochsteUer pre dictod a volcanic outbreak at this point, which would cause the Subsidence of the Ratoreka plains. . ;, The tender of Messrs W. Philcox and Son, £2,994, has been accepted by Mr H. G. wade, architect, for the erection of the new offices of the Government Life Insur ance Department in this city. Thoaitc, as our readers are no doubt aware, is that lately purchased by the Government from Messrs Shera Bros. ' The design of the facade will be similar to the National Insurance Company's building. The ground floor will be occupied by the. public office, manager's room, medical; officer's room, waiting-room, and stationery room. On the first floor there will be seven : offices, the majority of which have already been let, and the top story will also be available for r-ffices. A new comet was noticed in the heavens on 20th mat. Captain Farquhar was among1 the earliest to detect tho visitor. Mr . White, of Victoria-street, also saw it from, his residence at North Shore. It was like-: wise observed by Mr Alfred Sharpe, who \ states that a.% soon as the twilight faded out of the west, his attention was .. attracted by a long p3le ray of light which appeared to commence in the horizon in the south-west, in a threadlike form, and gradually got widar and more diffuse as it extended across the sky towards the east. The visible length stretched from the. hori. zon to abo.nfc one third of the distance be tween the horizon and the zenith. It pre- . sented all the appearance of a comet whose nucleus waß hidden below the horizon. . It, gradually grew fainter till about 10 p.m., when it became obscured by clouds. The comet has since been frequently ob served. ■ ■ '"' ■ The many friends of Captain Williams, Senior Landing Waiter for H.M. Customs at this port, will regret to leap that he is about to retire from the Beryice, in which he has been engaged for the last twenty five yeara. With several fellow, officers over sixty years of age, he now retires: upon an allowance, and is about to proceed on a visit to England, in order to have an operation performed on his eyes, which of late have been losing their, power of sight. Captain Williams is one of Auckland's oldest colonists. Be arrived at the Bay of Islands by the ship Chelydra in 1840, when Govornor Hobson was there, sn<3 New Zealand was. proclaimed a ■ British colony. He 'eft tho colony, ogam in 1841, proceeded to India and joined the' Indian Navy, in which he served as. master for a long period during tbo Sikh and Afghan War. After .that he pro ceeded Home, and after being engaged ia the Indian trade for Borne time, re-

turned to Auckland in 1857 with the inter;, tion of settling here.

How He Won His Case.

Sib John Baknabd Byi.es was a'man of

singular shrewdness, penetration and origin ality. A Unitarian in religion, and a sin cere one, he was a Tory in jolitiw, and. wrote what he conceived to be an exposure of what he called "Tho Sophisms of Free Trade." But although he mar, like Mr Tulliver, in " The Mill on the Floss," have arrived by untrammelled speculation nteorae questionable conclusions, Byles was alvrays : v lever and always ingerioua. Moreover, he had the valuable quality of not being; afraid to run risk*, aa the follow-, ing excellent anecdote clearly sho a's: ■ "He was retained for the defendant with Mr (afterwards Mr Justice) Wells, whom he led at the bar, but who was afterwards his senior in the Court of Common Pleas, in a case of some complication tried before Chief Justice Jervois. At the end of the day (Saturday) Mr Byles submitted that there was"no case, and the Judge rose, to give his decision next week. In the inter val Wells asked Byles why he did not take a • particular point which both had agreed in consultation to be fatal to the plaintiffs case. 'I left that to the Chief-Just'oe,' faid Byles. ' I lod up to it, and walked round it, so that be cannot miss it,1 but if I had taken it be would have decided againtt us at once.1 '• Ar.dso it proved, for Monday morning the Chief-Jda!ice gave an elaborate judg ment overruling all the points taken an both sides, but nonsuiting the,plau|tiff on a ground which, he said, he was astonished to find had not been taken by either of the very learned counsel for the defendant, b*t ~ which, in hia opinion, was conclusive " $*$

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1887.

5



JANUARY 39. 1S37.

Compan'03-

No. of | Shares.

Paid-up Capital.

Amoun I per Shave.

1'aid-up per Sharo.

Ija8t Div'd Zper Annum.

Latest Markot Quotations.

iAnn'1. Int. I r.t IC'nt. Rato

•^Zealand .. National Colonial INSURANCE- Nc%y Zealand SouTflritieli' W Standard .. Union Colonial Accident '^iUJ.&Mc.reantilc N'z.Land Mortgage National Mortgage. G&landC.is .. Thames Gas.. •I'IMBKR— Union S. and T). .. Auckland Timber.. New Zealand .rtcro'ry H'y 1 imber Helonsvillo Timoor| SiurPiNO— Union Steam Ship.. N.Z. Shipping Dovonportlorry .. Coronmndcl Steam. Northern Steam .. Hay of Islands Coal Taupiri JIlSCKH.ANEOUS— New Zr aland Drug. Arch.IJill .Brick and Auckland Fibro '.'. Northern Hoot and Shoo N.Z. Rmcn Meat ..i N.Z. Tobacco .. ,.

100,000 200,000 100,000

100,000 200.000 100,000 100.000 100.000 100,000 100,000

120.000 200,000 100,000

50,000 10,800

40,000 21,000 1C000 100,000 1,000

& 1,OOC,000 350,000 100,000

200,000 100.000 128,000 75,000 100,000 60,000 2,000

311,215 100,000 100,000

77,000 1S.SG5

150,000 9ti,000 55,000 37,500 7.799

s. 10 10 5

10 10 ::o 10 20 10 1

<r."i i" 10

r. 2i

5 s 1 5

£ s. d. 10 0 0 3 10 0 2 0 0

2 0 0 o io o 10/&32C 0 15 0 10 0 0 10 0 0 2 0

2 10 0 0 20 0 10 0

100/ S: ,10/ 1 18 0

5 0 0 10 0 5 0 0 0 15 0 5 0 0

7

10 I 1 25

16 10

17 8

f 10

£ 8. d. 17 0 0 1 11 0 2 1 0

3 2 0 0 li 0 1 10 0 0 11 0 1 1 0 0 4 3 0 3 3

II 0 0 1 1 0 18 0

210/ & 107/6 1 11 0

15 0 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 10 0

7 7 G7-10

P

10 710

11310

i; 7-10 a

8 «

HI 11.1 n

50,000 100.000 1O.000 4,500 150,000

300.000 250,000 10,000 3,010 50,000

10 10 1 1 1

10 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 10 0

9

12 0 0 1 12 0 IS G 0 10 0 6/ nom

7.8 0 7 10

■I.0011 12,000

.".0,000 7,800

10 1

10 0 0 0 13 0

334

18 6

18 010

100,000

77,658}

2

JO/ & 20/

7

0 li

0,000 25,000

5,",J0 18,015

1 1

1 0 0 I 0 0

10 121

l.«,000 10,000 1,000

S.5OT so.ooo 1,750

1

0 13 6

10

12 6 11

1 10