. , n; n the extreme. Bank The market is « emalld) tlloU g h South sbw^Xew Zeala.nl Insurance and British a»(1 ' l. lea ble at market rates. JikK ? rejX 16th dividend to-day, The C^K Care quoted at 4s. Saxons, 2f6d; ae^^Sid be sold easily, but » *» ' rfJg in the mine are not deposed ifrJ^teTegrcms are fco handfrom any °*the provided last evening Hull by Max Rinkle totheASauXnce. The programme bad a some choice selections,

ciate- _ Q nf have C'iven authority for ftTS. p* from wveml ?tf seized ty^'pers. The aromu of tne cbi nese sfco^ e r 2 coramen d it to the British fordoes not r,W doubtless hand 1 • *rf other police changes, we learn AfflC^ TivMord Will accompany feSSnison to M* new district at Inspect 1 Th fficei . question has WelUn ( tn%en years in the force in Auck beef Heias'for along period occupied land- J^; ih ie position of chiet clerk, and tbe r SCed his duties in such a manner hasdisch. ged^ 13 he confidence O f his as to entity m w^ Goodwill of all men with whom be^ iVtobemwle to him by his comrades ff&Aucldand. t" 6 IPs was very brief. Six persons finished for drunkenness, and Arthur WiSudy breaking a door, the pro of. n Tolm Carey" in Moore-street. flee was given to'the effect that the r Sde^ded admission to Mrs Carey's £;lSnight,and on being refused I il tL door in. Prisoner was sentenced ietnSiinprisonment, and ordered Spay the cost of the damage The Waitemata Naval Artillery fired on Saturday afternoon for the rifle presented Pfrc Firth, Esq. The shooting was °IL t h e supervision of Major Pirie. The EA scores: Ist class Petty ffir 5 Martin, 60; Seaman Gruncy, T. sUman Houghton, 51; Seaman Seelly, jSfPetty'officerß. Glover, 40; Chief Petty Officer J. Enkson, 40 ; Seaman W Preston, 37; Petty Officer J. Edgar, jo'-SeinnanCantell, 34 ; Seaman McAnoay, ]5- Petty Officer Gibson, 13. Eitrht cases of infectious disease— princi naUv 1 typhoid and scarlet fever-were re ported'to the City Sanitary Inspector to day

The skating rink was opened last Satur day afternoon in the Choral Hall, many Mies takinf part among the skaters. JJrlmpey's band keeps the amusement up by playing during the time the hall is open., ■ A correspondent writes : " Why has Sir G M. O'Rorke put off addressing the electors of Manukau ? Has he, like Mr J. A, Connell, turned " tactitian," and con cluded to let well alone ? Is Sir Maurice afraid that he might fail to satisfactorily answer test' questions which might be put, and thereby attract new blood to contest the seat?"

The following will represent the butchers in their football .natch against the drapers at Potter's 'Paddock, Epsom, to-morrow (Wednesday) at 3 o'clock :—Fagan, Briggs (2), Curtis, .0. Garrett, Parsons, Kilgour, Shove (2), Woods, Davison, Lincoln, -San daU,Rout, and Stevens (captain).

Attention is directed to an advertisement h another column announcing an auction jaletMnorrow, in St. Stephen's Avenue, of superior household furniture, sterling silver gwfe,etc, on the premises of Mrs Nicholl. If you want your children to be strong and healthy, use Lamb's patent porridge ffil li- gives health, bone and sinew to youngsters, while to those troubled with in digestion it is a sure remedy.

GREAT FIRE AT OTAHUHU.

OYEP, £2000 DAMAGE.

Afhalf-past five this morning ■• a fire broke out at Messrs Johnson's and Go's, store, at the back of the bakery. The bakers were at work at the time, but did not ob serve the fire uutil the back premises were in flames. Martin lohn Andrews, a late officer in the Post Office was at once upon the scene, and he broke open the door of the Post Office and began to remove all letters and apparatus from the office. Con stable Walker helped to remove all the valuables, such as Post - office orders, etc., books and stamps, which were carried to Mr Stringer's for safety, The wind now changed and threw aie Homes across the road. Flames goon burst out in. Mr Stringer's house, but a §reat number of willing hands were ready and by their united effort this building Was saved. Messrs Johnson and Go's store, 9 which was a considerable stock was now bUzing furiously, and was the next object for the people to help to saw Numbers helped to remove stores and furniture. Rails and fences were torn wn, blankets, &c, thrown on adjacent tees, and well drenched with water, kept r e fere within bounds. At 7 o'clock 'the <™ger was over, as the wind suddenly weretl round to the north-east, and rain .continually poured down helping the efforts «tne willing workers. ■ Thß-tolol losses are : the Post Office, and Telegraph Office, Messrs Johnson and Go's, general store; Jackson, butcher, and Jbhn «>nji private residence.

T ?rea* P^e is due to Constable Walker, Z n, An t drews, H. Wills and a great J«Jer of others who did good service in wing other property. in\s" StL^ es had ayei7 narrow escape aiughs very .valuable property, J *«»■ heat and flames endangered ofb& Very,much but hy fche liberal use *WBwSi a COntinUal d6lUge °f Watei< A da^ age by the fire exceeds twvS' ■ iV vhole of fche buildings des *>fe r \ mg the P^t-ofhce, belonged "^Elhngham, Auckland.

**%$£* si:ous v v\ s insuml in ¥ laildinl i T °^ ces for L3oo' and the out *3h ?° ldifcioDal> but the latter 4Srif ThV Sun Insurance Com 5$W °n the other Poises Ac- Wmation W m Unable to obtain exacfc

COLONIAL MILITARY SCHOLARSHIPS.

V T£LEGRApH—HIES 3 ASSOCIATION.)

The va • Wellixcit °*> this day. iaS lOn/ epaVtffient have re eielosintr ttf from the AgeflfrGeneral prosPectus °f colonial f eredin each J'^ lesp-ecfclvely 'viU be J* l -^land"L ailk ftf the Universities of *°«td beiti Ota; f whcthot they candidates.

A STRANGE, TRUE STORY.

The Langworthy Marriage.

Pkologxje.

•Foun years ago last February, a wealthy Englishman, plebeian in birth, but im mensely rich, was staying at the Hotel Braganza, Lisbon His yacht, a floating palace, lay at anchor in the Tagus. He was on his honeymoon, and seemed jealously de voted to his spirituelle young wife, whom he was taking out to her new home in the New World. But in the mornings, when the time hung somewhat heavy on his hands, he used to amuse himself by torturing the cats which frequented the garden of the hotel. It was rare sport to him, after tempting the cat within reach by caresses and dainties, to drop a red-hot coal fresh from the lire upon the confiding and unsuspecting pet, and afterwards to see his cousin chase the tortured animal about the enclosed space, until in agony of fear, and mad with the pain of the seared and burning flesh, it would spring into the garden well. Then this English gentleman and his more active cousin would lean over the low parapet of the well and chuckle with gloe at the struggles of the helpless creature in the water below. They laughed as they saw ifc swim round, or heard its plaintive cry as it tried once and again, and ever in vain, to scale the steep and slimy wall of the well. What better sport was there after the heated chase than to lean over the cool well-side, leisurely to watch the ever-weakening struggle below, and occasionally to drop a stone on the rippled water? It was not a very noble sport perhaps, but it had the zest of cruelty, the flayonrof death. There were bystanders, but most did not take notice of what was done. Those who did marvelled. Some were shocked, others were amused. But no one interfered. He was rich, and he paid for his sport. Why should the English visitor not amuse himself as lie pleased ?

That English milord was Edward Martin Langworthy, and the story of his marriage, which we are now about to tell, is fore shadowed with curious fidelity in the horrible little episode of the Cats of the Hotel Braganza. It is all there, all we have to tell, the only difference being that in our narrative of facts the victim of a millionaire's sport is a refined and cul tured lady. There is the same treacherous caress, the cruel awakening, the ruthless pursuit, and the leisurely observation of tlie piteous struggles in the depths. There is also, alas! the same indifference or ignorance!* on. the part of those who stand around. ■■ And if no one interferes, the end will also be the same. In spite of the law, which he sets at defiance, notwithstanding the orders of our courts, which he treats with contempt, the million aire will triumph. He has driven hia de serted wife to destitution. But a little longer and he will force her to despair, perhaps to death. To avert that tragic ending to a heroic struggle of four years, to thwart the conspiracy of wealth and power, this strange and over-true story of to-day is published to-day. For such offences where the law is powerless, and the High Court of Justice is contemned, publicity is our last and only resource. Without more prologue we begin the narrative, which, although it may be in credible to the casual reader, is already familiar to at least half a dozen English judges. , . . . CHAPTER I. A NABOB OF THE ARGENTINE. Edward Maktix Langwoethy was about thirty-five years old when he married a second time. The story of his first mar riage to the sister of the present Earl> of Limerick may be told some day, but it does not concern us now. It is solely with his second marriage, or marriages, for it was a double one, and is now in a partial state of dissolution —the decree nisi never having been made absolute—that this narrative has to do.

At the time of his second marriage Mr Langworthy, as we said, was about rive and thirty. There was nothing in his features to call for special remark. He was a fleshy, self-complacent looking creature, with light brown hair and cut-away whiskers of a reddish tinge. In height he was about f>ffc Din, and in his yachting costume he was not altogether unpleasent to look upon. He was capable of great tenderness and appar ent affection. Jealous in disposition, rude in manner, he was liable to gusts of tem pestuous passion. < Self-indulgence was the law of his existence. _ Except his mother, he feared no being, human or divine.

The name he bore deserved a better fate than to be befouled with the shame with which be covered it. The Langwortbys of Pendleton Cotton Mills, Salford, were well known cotton spinners, when the Queen began to reign. The Brothers Lang-worthy, cotton spinners, enjoyed no small repute in Lancashire h\ their time, and to this day the widow of Edward Kiley Langworthy, the millionaire Mexican trader, keeps up con siderable state in Victoria Park, Manches ter. It was this Langworthy who, as Mayor of Manchester in 184S-50, co-operated with Mr Brotherton, M.P., in establishing the free library in that city. Edward Martin Langworthy, of this narrative, was nephew of the Mexican, from whom- lie inherited, when he.was twenty-one, the handsome fortune of £100,000, which, however, was said not to bo a tithe of the actual fortune of his uncle. Edward Martin Langworthy inherited another fortune "of £50,000 under his father's will, but these sums, handsome as they seem to others, were reputed but trifles compared with the. wealth that was said to be awaiting him on the death of his mother and aunt. He was the only son of George Langworthy, and he has one sister, Florence. No pains were spared to fit him for the position he might have been expected to take. After passing through Eton he went to Oxford, and when his University career was complete he ate his dinners at the Inner Temple, and was duly called-to the bar in 1876 or 1878, about the same time that the Russian army of libera tion was fighting1 its way southward to Staniboul. Mr Langworthy, therefore, is a barrister-at-law,'a briefless barrister no doubt, but none the less for that familiar with the laws of his country, and a member of that honourable profession, a Templar of our prosaic age. Mrs Langworthy, the mother, has her seat at Grey's; Park, Maidenhead. Her son is at present domiciled in the Argen tine Republic. At the time when lie met Miss Long he was in Europe, spending most of his time in his steam yacht Meteor, a floating palace of 265; tons, said to have cost him some £9,000. When in London his head-quarters were at the Royal Yacht Club, but he was also a member of the United University Club, in Suffolk-street. .He is now, however, permanently resident at Bella Vista, a stately pleasure house which he has built for himself iivthe midst of his princely domain in the Argentine Re public. The Langworthy estates are one of the most notable features in the sparsely peopled republic, which was the scene of the early prowess of Garibaldi. Mr Mul hall, in his handbook of the River Plate, gives a glowing account of the magnificent domain known as the Langworthy Grant. It covers thirty-two square leagues in the north of Tqzcaa. On this he has planted a colony of 250 families, each colonist being provided with a brick house. The colony also boasts a town hall, a church, a school house, a sugar factory,..a sawmill, ant i- a tramway, the outluy boing usthnuteil at not lens- • dmn * 120,000; i This,' how ever, ,is only ono of hit estatos,

The estate of C'urumalan, on which Bella V'i.^ta stands, is about 70,000 acres in extent. In addition to this, there is another esLate in Paraguay. The land is said to be fertile, consisting partly of open prairie, where in the same tropical climate strawberries and pineapples ripen side by side. Grain, sugar, rice, and tobacco aro cultivated to great advantage. The estate also abounds in fine timber. There is something almost patriarchal about the enumeration of his flocks aud herds. Mr Mulhall says he owns 1,000 horses, 2,000 cows, and IO.COO sheep. Judging from Mr Mulhall's account, Edward Martin Langworthy seems not unlikely toemulatein the Argentine Republic the success by which his uncle is said to have made L 1,200,000 by speculations, in Mexico.

To be ' Continued.

"THE HEROIC IN WOMAN HOOD."

Lecture by Major 18. C Dane

Ma.jok Dane has now attained the full height of his local popularity, and there is no building in Auckland spacious enough to contain the very large audiences which assemble to hear him. For last night's lec ture, every seat in dress-circle and orches tral stalls had been reserved beforehand, and as the accommodation in stalls and pit was speedily occupied to its fullest ox tent, crowds of people had bo return home disappointed. The lecturer began by remarking upon the strange disregard shown in ancient annals and by antique celebrities for woman. St. John Chrysostom, that silver tongued, golden-lipped orator, spoke of her as"a necessary evil, an unavoidable aillic tion, a desirable calamity, a domestic terror, a deadly fascination, and a painted ill;" while St. Jerome exclaimed, " Away with marriage. I will have none of it. Take axe in hand and hew up the roots of that sterile tree of marriage. God grants it, I admit, but Christ and Mary consecrate virginity." St. Paul also showed that lie looked upon woman as the slave' of the man. And yet she had ever been the creature of man's adora tion in his youth, and he had been obliged to draw upon the angels for the purpose of instituting comparisons with her. Socrates admitted that his knowledge of truth and divinity had been derived from a woman, and the great men of all ages had been indebted tor their best efforts to the help of woman. It was the colonial woman of America that made the colonies, rendered the Revolution possible, and by her humanising- influence gradually secured the abolition of the heartless cruel ties imposed upon men by other men for venial offences, or for choosing to differ in opinion from the majority in matters theological or otherwise. The male go vernors went one stpp too far,however,when they prescribed how a woman should dress her hair. (Laughter.) It was the schooling of the women 01 the colonies that had given a new start to the spirit of modern civilisation—that had produced generals, statesmen, and presidents. In Amer ica Mary Lyou consecrated herself to the cause of female, education, and 40 firmly established colleges in the United States now attested the value of her labours—4o colleges busily turning out wives meet for the ablest of men. Women were timid, it was true, but women were never cowards. Let the doubter study the history of the Polish struggles for indepen dence, or the sleepless activity of present day Russian Nihilism. Let him also glance at the contest for American independence. He had seen husbands desert wives and children in time of peril, but no one had ever seen a woman run away from husband or little ones where danger threatened. Then why all this cry about the inferiority of women '! One of the proudest things of which he could boast was the fact that he had a slight ac quaintance with that angel, Florence Nightingale. (Applause.) Clara Barton and Annie Letheridge(the "gentle Annie of the army), had attained similar distinc tion in America, and on the battlefields of Zululand Alice Crispe had shed the like lustre upon her sex. [This reference to Miss Crispe.of the Auckland Hospital, pro voked renewed applause.] In America the more deft and delicate operations in large factories are entrusted to females because they have steadier hands, for the simple reason that they do not drink. He knew a girl in Boston who by typesetting through long hours supported her brother while he learned his profession as a sculptor by the shores of the Mediterranean, and to day that girl in her eminent brother's villa in Rome was courted by princes and nobles, and idolised by that brother. .Another instance was given of a female saddler who amassed a large fortune and who employed over 100 robust voters and yet, though cultured herself, her country considered her too ignorant—not aviso enough—to exercise the franchise. She never married, and when asked the reason she replied that she preferred to make harness for gentler and safer animals. (Laughter.) This was Emma Bartlett. When he left America a contro versy was going on as to whether the General who executed a brilliant campaign or the woman who suggested it was entitled to the greater honour, and the contest was strongly inclining to the side of the woman. In colleges and elsewhere, requiring mental distinction, women held their places with the best of the men. To-day the chief re porter in the New York stock market was an English woman—Mary Walker—and she had held that position for 14 years. Why, the first daily newspaper ever published—a paper started in England in 1702—was edited by a woman —Elizabeth Mallet—a very good name indeed to be at the head of a paper (applause), and very effectual blows she struck, too. Take woman on the sta^e, at the easel, or in the sculptor's aletier, and she vindicated the equality of her sex in ability with the other sex. Aye, more than that—the men were being beaten by the women. In America, a great factoiy owner had told him the women were more punctual, made fewer mistakes in calcula tion, and were more honest than the men. In tl.e Mint, detectives were employed to watch the men, but the women were trusted. All the world over, women were naturally honest, and abhorred debt. Several touch ing instances were given of woman's de votion—among them the story of Camilla Urso, the violiniste, playing as a child in the streets of Pariß during the struggle of 1848, in order to earn hot potatoes for her poor old rheumatic father in their attic home. Charlotte Cushman, the great American actress, had fought her way up ward under circumstances very like, and so also did Parepa Rosa, the sweet singer. The lecturer, after narrating a pathetic in cident t^iiuajiifced with Parepa Rosa, closed with a few words upon the vast influence of woman, nul the potency of this fact for good. -Ifc was a mother's influence that had made all our heroes aud great men.

BURGLARIES IN WELLINGTON.

(BY TELEGEAMI. —OWN COKBESPONDENT.)

Wellington, this day. Burglaries are the order of the night now, and the police are unable to bring any of the offenders to book. The police protec tion Is very inadequate, only 12 constables being stationed on our city of nearly 30,000 inhabitants, Inspector Thomson has his work cut pub for him,

MR G. N. BRASSEY'S BANK RUPTCY.

Mr G. N. Bbassey, solicitor, a bankrupt, was examined on oath as to his bankruptcy before the Official Assignee to-day, and made the following statement:—"l have practised as a solicitor in the Auckland district since 1876. During the whole of this period, I have considered myself solvent. About the beginning of this year, I commenced to make advances to a Gaptain Richard Drury Lowe upon a legacy of LI,OOO, left him under the will ot hia mother, thelloii Caroline Esther Drury Lowe, of Bournemouth, England. (Copy of will put in). I went on adyanciug uncit ho required several sums which I, at the time, did not find it convenient to advance personally. He therefore opened up negotiations with Mr H. C. Hanchard, money-lender,} Auck land, to whom at that time he was indebted to the extent, I think, of about L3O. Han chard agreed to advance a further sum of L25 upon my endorsing a bill-'of-sale for L7B. I complied, and took an assignment from Gaptain Drury Lowe of the legacy of LI,OOO to cover Ll5O due to me by Gaptain Lowe, and for any further sums 1 might advance or become security for. (Subsequent fco this, about tho 30th of May last, Captain Drury Lowe wanted some more money,and I obtained for him a loan of LIOO from my father, Mr G. A. Brassey, out of Trust pro perty held by him on behalf of niy wife. Gaptain Drury Lowe after that again wanted further advances, and I recom mended him to apply to Mr Abbott for them, and that gentleman did advance him Ll6 upon a bill-of-sale endorsed by me. Ho then obtained a further advance from Mr Abbott.making in alia total of L 75 due to Mr Abbott, for which 1 believe a P.N. for L25 was given, and a bill of exchange for the whole L 75 upon my London agents. Up to that time 1 was all along given to under stand by correspondence iroin my London agents that matters were going on all right, and in one letter from the solicitor acting for the executors under his mother's will they say that not only was Captain Drury Lowe entitled to the LI.OOO, but they had arranged for the discharge of that amount from the trust funds at midsummer next (this month), so that I fully expected to receive the money in August or early in September. Before making any advances to Captain Drury Lowe I distinctly asked him if he owed any money to any body in England ; because, I said, " If you do there is a possibility of this money being seized by creditors.'' He said, "I only owe two small amounts, which do not come to L 100," and this, I was informed by my London agents, was substantially correct. By the last mail from England I received an intimation from my London agents that Captain Drury Lowe had, in the year 1878, filed a petition for liquidation in the County Court of Wiltshire, and that Mr Jos. Andrews, of 7 and 8, Ironmongers' Lane, Lon-lon, was appointed the trustee of his estate, and that Mr Andrews had laid claim to the legacy of LI,OOO. My London agents took the opinion of Air H. Reed, an eminent' bankruptcy solicitor at Home, as to whether my claim or Mr Andrews's claim prevailed (opinion put in), and they also held other consultations with him and were advised that my case was hopeless. They also wrote to Messrs Taylor and Co., of Derby, urging very strongly that the members of Captain Drury Lowe's family, who are people oHiigh position and wealthy, should bestir themselves and refund me my loss ; but without avail. I have written to his brother, Major-General Sir Drury Lowe, X.C.8., at Aldershot, asking him, under the circumstances, to obtain a refund of my loss from the family, which I do not expect to receive a reply to for possibly two or three months to come. In the meantime, Mr Hanchard applied to me for payment of his L7B ac count. I explained the position of matters to him, and he agreed to renew it for three months if I would pay him LlO cash for three months' interest, and also give him my wife's security for payment of the amount. I refused, and ho took out a summons in the R.M. Court, about the 11th inst., and on my confessing judgment lie immediately issued execution—the con sequence being that I was compelled to file my declaration of insolvency. My urn secured liabilities amount to about L77(i and the ' assets to about L 91 0; consist ing of unencumbered tand, and sun dry lost debts and library office furniture. The land has been estimated at ratable values, and is unencumbered with the ex ception of a title or so, to be completed. Before my marriage I owned a half-interest in 2 acres 1 rood 6 perches of land at Devon port, at present leased to Professor Brown. 1 purchased, about 1882, the other half interest fioiu my brother for LSOO. After this purchase, in the same year, I executed a conveyance to one of the trustees under my wife's marriage settlement. (Deed put in.) The reason this deed was not regis tered was .thai the time had lapsed for stamping it. About the 14th June, 1888, I executed another deed of the same property to the same trustee, and that deed was registered about the 13th inst. Two lots, Nos. 85 and 86, adjoining this property were bought by me prior to the 14th June, 1883, for L 250. About the 14th June, 1883, I consigned these two allotments to the same trustee for the benefit of my wife. As to Northeote property,it was bought 1 y my father; the deposit was paid by him an« has always been in his name from the first and he purchased itformy wife and children, and whatever dealings there have been with the property have b^en through him and on this account. In August 1885, he pur chased another, lot of 5£ acres at Northeote, • which he had conveyed to him in trust for my wife, it was paid for partly out of the other trust property held by him at Northeote and the other portion by himself. As regards the house hold furniture, it was included in my marriage settlement and belongs to my wife, and has, since my marriage, been insured in the name of the Trustees, but latterly in her own name. Tho Nor.th Shore property No. 85 and 86 is un encumbered, but the other portion is subject to a mortgage of Ll,ooo. The Heathcote property is mortgaged for L6OO. My present position has been forced upon me,and there is no de3ire on my part to shirk responsibility. The action taken has pre cluded any possibility of an arrangement through the damage to my prospects in business.

DARING BURGLARY AT PALMERSTON.

An Hotel Robbed.

(BY TELEGBAWI. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

Palmebston North, this day. A daring burglary was committed at Feutor's Royal Hotel, Palmerston, last night, between 12 o'clock and 6 this morn ing, when an iron safe and box were bodily removed from the bar into the middle of the road, and the contents abstracted. A small cash-box, containing about L9O in notes, was taken, but four watches and two cheques were left behind. Suspicion falls on two men who were seen about the hotel yester day, and who have disappeared.

The members of the'Baptis't Young Meh|s Mutual Improvement Society celebrate their 18th session with a social, to be be held in the Tabernacle school-room at 7.30 to-night.

The £5 prize, offered by Mr L. H. Scbari-er to the person who coined the most words out of " Can't B Beat Tobacco 8,0 x," has been awarded by the scrutineers to Mr H. G. Hardingo, Auckland, who baa sent ia 418 worda.

ELECTION NOTES.

Eden.

A largely signed requisition asking Mr A. K. Taylor to stand for Eden was presented to that gentleman, who, however, waived his candidature in favour of Mr Mitchelson.

A number of residents in the Hokianga section of the Bay of Islands constituency proposed to bring forward Mr J. Aitken Connell to stand for the northern electorate, but found that he had already committed himself too fully to the Eden electors to withdraw.

The attention of citizens is drawn to the address to be delivered at the Opera House this evening, at 8 o'clock, by Mr S. Vaile. Although this gentleman's hobby is rail ways, he is going to speak on a large number of subjects, and no doubt many city electors will attend and hear what he has to say.

Paekoa, this day.

Coromandel Electorate.

Mr A.. J. Cadman, the sitting member, arrived here yesterday, and proposes de voting some time canvassing this district, after which he will deliver addresses at all the different centres. A requisition to Mr J.Mackay,who is out for Auckland North, asking him to come forward as a candidate, is now in course of signature. Mr T. M. Humphreys, solicitor, of the Thames, is expected, to address the electors here on Saturday next. Mr A. Brodie is also spoken of as a pro bable candidate, but as yet he has given no sign of his intentions. Thames, tins day. Mr James McGowan has definitely de cided to contest the Thames seat with Mr William Fraser. It is probable that he will address the electors at an early date, It is generally expected that the contest will be very keen. Hamilton, this day. Waipa and Waikato. Major Jackson is now definitely out for Waipa, Mr Lake having retired. Mr Campbell's chances are very small. In the Waikato Contest Mr Russell had a very lively meeting at Taiwhare on Friday night, when a vote of confidence in Mr Why to was carried. Mr Whyte is holding informal meetings all over the district, and so far as meeting with a most gratifying reception, there can be no doubt of the result of tho election.

Tk Aroha, this day.

Mr J. B. Why to, late M.H.R. for Wai kato, held an informal meeting and ad dressed the electors at Waihou last even ing at 7-30, and in spite of the night being dark and wet the settlers showed up in good numbers, a re presentative audieniJe of aboixt 40 in number, being present. On tho motion of Mr John Wood seconded by Mr Reuben Parr, M r Thos. Taylor was voted to the chair. In the course of his address, Mr Whyte touched very generally upon the ex travagance and increased taxation under the present Government, the manner in which app6intnients had been made in connection with the Village Settlement Scheme for political purposes; a number of those so appointed at handsome remuneration now being out for various electorates, and then went on to prove that to try and make the people believe the great question before the country now was that of Protection v. Freetrade was simply a claptrap, and intended to divert people's attention from what was tho real question, viz.', —Shall the present Government be allowed a further lease of ofiice or not? Mr Whyte showed in a forcible manner that the chief cause for dissatisfaction as regards railway management was respecting freight more than passenger traffic. He gave his ideas as to where great savings could be effected by doing away with the native office, amalgamation of other offices, a reduction in the ' education vote, in the number of members of the House, etc. The result of the meeting was a very hearty and unanimous vote of thanks and confidence being passed to Mr Whyte, who promised to address the elec tors more fully later on.

Mr Richardson at Kaiapoi.

Katapoi, this day.

The Minister for Public Works addressed his constituents at Kaiapoi to night. He sketched the work of the Government since it took office, and defended them. It had been said that this Government had made no economic changes, but that report was false. Wherever it was possible, without wcakeningefficieney, retrenchment had been the order of the clay. The speaker went into figures to prove that the estimates had been reduced from L 2.279.862 in 18834 to L 2,140,666 in 1887-8. It had been said that there was no savijig effected in the manage ment of railways. This also was false, as shown by the following figures :—The total receipts in 1884-5 amounted to L 1,045,712, and the total expenditure to L 690.026; total tonnage carried, 1,749,856 tons, while the total receipts for the year 1886-7 amounted to L 998,768, total expenditure to L 699,072, and total tonnage carried 1,747,754 tons,' the tonnage carried and the expenditure for the two periods being practically the same, and the difference in receipts, say L 50,000, being mainly owing to reductions made in the rate.for local productions. The main portion of this went into the pockets of the farmers. Soon after joining the Ministry he found out that a considerable saving could be effected in his department without lowering a single salary, and he was happy to say this had been effected. There was still further means of economising on the working expenses. Had the railways been managed this year on the old lines of extravagance, the estimates would have been greater by quite LIOO,OOO. As to retrenchment, he would first touch on defence. It had been said that in this de partment L 50.000 could be well saved out of the L 182,000 set down for that purpose. He did not see how much reduction could be made here. The police cost LIOI,OOO, and their number could hardly be decreased without a corresponding increase of crime. Volunteers cost L 44.000 a year, and the year's vote for permanent militia was L 34.000. In the Post and Telegraph De partment, there had been a great increase of work without a corresponding amount of expense. Since ISB4, there had been 55 savings banks, 110 telegraph stations, and 160 post-offices opened, and business had increased generally. This was eminently satisfactory, and spoke well for the manner in which the department was managed. Much had been said of retrenchment in legislative expenditure, and no doubt during the next session the question would receive due consideration. With re gard to education he had heard persons say that a great saving could be made. LIOO,OOO had been spoken of, but he was certain.it could not be much reduced. The largest part of the expense was the teachers' salaries. They were paid no more than their services were worth to the country, and he should never go in for a cheeseparing economy in a scheme which, as at present managed, was a pride of the colony. Re village settlements, the hon. gentleman gave some very interest ing information, and showed that several of them were doing well and thriving. At the time when the Government first evolved the plan of these settlements, the Parlia ment was not in session .and they took L 5,000 to try and see what they could do in trying to place some of the unemployed on the land. They adopted this plan, and it had been found to work well. In the last arrangement of the tariff the Government iiaU two things in viow—ono waa to iucrea.se

revenue, and the other was to afford the necessary protection to local industries. It was amusing to iindafter all the outcry made that the revenue from this source iras steadily decreasing, and was now less by L 30,000 than it was in 1882. Much of this decrease was owing to the people getting more temperate. If people would only cease to drink strong liquors they could well af ford to pay a much increased tax. Every thing that was possible had been done by the Government to foster local industries, in getting as many as possible of their bridges and locomotives manufactured in the colony. He knew of contracts being at present let to local foundries equal in value to L 200,000 sterling. They could be got at a cheaper rate by sending home for them, but would any one be so foolish as to advocate such an idea ? Frequent applause greeted the hon. gentleman during his speech, at the termination of which a vote of thanks was accorded him. Wellington, Monday. Mr W. B. Edwards, a candidate for Wel lington South and suburbs, addressed the electors to-night, and declared himself a protectionist, and said he would not sup port any Ministry of which Sir J. Vogel was a member. He received a vote of thanks. Mr A. S. Menteath, formerly member for Inangahua, but who is now con testing Te Aro, addressed a large meeting and received the usual vote. Blenheim, Monday. Mr H. Dobson addressed a crowded meeting to-night, and received a vote of thanks and confidence as the future mem ber. Mr S. J. McAlister, ex-postmaster at Blenheim, is out for the Waiau seat. He runs on the Liberal ticket! CmusTCHURCii, Monday. A deputation waited on Mr Wynn Wil liams asking him to stand for Lyttclton, but he declined. Mr Bruce, M.H.R. for Ilangitikei, at tempted to deliver a political address in the Tuam-street Hall to-night, under the aus pices of the Political Reform League. About) 2,000 persons were present, but the meeting was unruly from the h'rst and dis solved without the speaker being heard. Hawera, this day. Major Atkinson's meeting, at Opunake, last night broke up in confusion after a great " row " caused by the residents of Opunake objecting to the presence and in terference of persons, who had come from Hawera and other places to affect the vot ing at the local meeting.

DISTRICT COURT.-YESTERDAY.

(Before District Judge Seth Smith.)

The Epiphany Church Dispute. This following evidence was taken in the case of T. Holder v. the Ilev. Dr. O'Cal 'aghan and the trustees of the Epiphany Church after we went to press yesterday afternoon :—Henry Rowson,. carpenter, de posed that he had worked at the Epiphany Church, Witness and his son had met Dr. O'Callaghan in Queen-street after the work was done, who said that he had made up his quarrel' with Mr Edmonds the contrac tor, and that the Building Committee were going to present Mr. Edmonds with LlO when they had taken over the church. This witness also gave corroborative evi dences.—Mr Gover then opened the case for the defence at'some length. He con tended that Mr Holder had not fulfilled his agreement as architect, that the charge for commission should be reduced from LB6 to L 76 15s, and that the sum of L 55s should also be struck out vie Rev. Dr. O'Callaghan was the first wit ness called for the defence. He deposed to Leing incumbent of the Epiphany Church. As such he had also been Chairman of the Building Committee. Mr Holder drew pen cil plans, and said that the building could be erected for 1,1,200 or L 1,250. Upon that basis, Mr Holder was instructed to draw out plans, which were submitted to the Building Committee. Mr Holder did not state that more money would be required to erect a building in accordance with the plans prepared by him. Subsequently the plans and specifications were amended, and Mr Holder was instructed to call for ten ders. The lowest tender was L.1,950. Ulti mately, Mr Edmonds was given the job at L 1,535, and the contract was entered into by the Building Committee. With regard to the concrete, Mr Holder had stated to the Building Committee that if every bit of thecoucrete failed he would replace it him self. He admitted that they were not using the lime specified. With regard to the conversation with Mr Rowson, the witness deposed that Mr Rowson said to him, " So, doctor, matters are right again up at. Epi phany." Witness replied, <: That's a nice bird, that boss of yours," referring to Mr Edmonds. Rowson said, ''Yes, a bird, doctor, that should be tarred and feathered." Witness then said that Edmonds was a foolish man himself, because if he had finished that contract as he ought witness had no doubt that the committee would have given him a present, poor as they were, if it were only L5. Rowson's report of the conversation was not true.—By Mr Mahony: When the tenders came in they had rebuked Mr Holder for having so grossly misled them as to the estimated cost. Witness exhibited his professional capacity as soon as they were received. Still, Mr Holder had friends on the Committee. There had been con siderable difficulty about money matters during the progress of the work. They had about L6OO in hand when they started. He had asked Mr Holder to give certificates " short," as the latter had given more than he was justified in doing. When witness was taking the font into the church, Ed monds thecontractorsworeat him, and asked him by what authority he entered the build, ing, although he had previously given wit ness the key of the church. He was not a party to staining being substituted for painting. At this stage the Court adjoui-ned until next Monday;

NEW ZEALAND SILK INDUS TRY.

(BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT!)

Wellington, this day. The samples of pierced silk sent home by Mr Schoch, of Auckland, have been proved to be worth from 3s 9d to 4s per lb, according to an official report re cejved by the Under-Secretary for Lands from Mr C. A. Rieards, the well-known expert. Mr Rieards is willing to accept any parcels delivered free at the docks up to 5001bs weight in order to test the real quality of New Zealand silk.

THE ALLEGED BOGUS RE TRENCHMENT.

Statement by the Premier.

(BY TELEGRAPH.— OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, this day. The Premier denies the report that a young man, who was dismissed on compensation allowance, was, on his application to a friendly Ministei', reinstated in office and allowed to retain hisdismissal compensation. Sir R. Stout states that an official who retired on compensation allowance has. been temporarily employed to do some special work which will occupy him for a week or two, and that no one has ever been rein stated after receiving compensation,

THE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL.

A Wellington Demand for its Abolition-

(by telegraph.—own correspoxdent.)

Wellington, this day. The " Post " calls upon electors to exact a pledge from candidates that if returned they will vote for the abolition of the San Francisco Mail Service, which, it says, ia simply maintained for the benefit of Auck land, and can very well be done away with.

SPORTING NEWS.

New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase Acceptances.

The following acceptances for the Grand National Steeplechase. to be run at Christ church on the 28th inst., were received last nighb :—

st 1b st lb. Moody ... 12 7 Linwood ... 10 9 i Borderman... 12 1 Mammoc ... 10 7! Orient ... 12 1 Medico ... 10 4= Faugh-a-bal'ghll 13 Sultan ... 10 % Mangaohane 1111 Ben H. ... 10 1 Chance ... 11 5 Romeo ... 10 1 Secretary... 11 4 Bredonhill... 912 King Arthur 11 3 Master Guy 9 5

The "Canterbury Times" of Saturday last states that Nelson pulls up lame after his work almost every morning, and advises backers not to touch him.

The horses belonging to the Hon. W. Robinson that are intended to take part in the Melbourne Cup and other events will bs shipped from Christchurch on Friday next*-

JUVENILE PRISONERS.

Boys Charged with House breaking and Arson.

(by telegraph—press association.)

Christchurch, this day. A Yestkrday John Albert Searle, John Ross» ' and Leonard Sellars, the three boys who were committed for trial last week on'!

charges of housebreaking and arson at F.; Jabite's shop, were committed for trial on four charges of housebreaking, at Harris 1 and Sons', merchants; Simpson's,tobaccon-'; ist; E. Smythe's auction-room, and Green's bacon-curing factory. They are said to ! have helped themselves to large quantities ; of tobacco and cigars, three pairs of boots, a revolver and money. Searle confessed the whole to Chief Detective Neale.

THE ARREST OF A CAPTAIN.

(BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.) !

Wellington, this day. } Whatever faults may be laid at the door of the Police Department, defective memory is not one of its failings. An example of this feet has just occurred—the police having arrested Captain Orr, of the barque Peru, for an offence alleged to have been committed more than five years ago. In ' April, 1882, when the Peru was about to ; leave this port, Detective Chryatal boarded ] her to arrest the cook, a man named j Frederick Palmer, who was charged" i with the larceny of clothing valued at j L 2 10s, the property of Thomas Peyton,, i Way was put upon the vessel after Chrystal went aboard, and he was nearly being car-, ried to England, but the captain eventually put him ashore at LyelPs Bay. At any rate, the officer was obliged to leave with out the suspected thief, whom, it was ■ alleged, the captain refused to give up. ; The authorities then registered a vow' that if ever Captain Orr put his nose inside the Wellington Heads they would i prosecute him, and the Peru having now ■ paid another visit they are going to put the . threat into execution. The gallant skipper was taken into custody yesterday morning, and was charged at the R.M. Courb (1) with having forcibly rescued a prisoner, arrested by virtue of a warrant, ' from the lawful custody of Detective' Chrystal, and (2) with having received and harboured one who had lately committed a felony, he well knowing the-same to having been committed. ' The accused has been remanded until Wednesday, bail being al-' lowed in the meantime.

RADICAL REFORM LEAGUE.

A meeting of this body was held last even ing at the Excelsior Hall. The principal, business before the meeting was the con- • sideration of the alterations in the political programme which candidates will be re- • quired to support if they are to be supported i by members of the League. The suggested ■. alterations have been already printed in the i report of the proceedings of the Trades and Labour Council. The alterations and addi- ! tions were adopted by the League. The platform, as it now stands, is as follows :— j (1) The substitution of Land and Income Taxes for the Property Tax ; land to be as-' sessed at its unimproved,value. (2) Aboli tion of plural voting. (3) Retrenchment in all items of Government expenditure, j The salaries of those receiving Ll5O and • under not to be interfered with. (4) In creased duty upon goods which can be ad-: vantageously manufactured in the colony,; and reduction upon those which cannot, \ more particularly the necessaries of life. (5) The settlement of the lands of the colony : to be vigorously pushed on, on the prin-! ciple of the Village Settlement Scheme. '

An invitation was received from the In- ■ dustrial Association for the members to ■ meet at their rooms this evening to confer ■ on election matters in order to united action : in returning members pledged to a common '• platform. It was agreed to attend. It wai agreed that the various candidates for city j and suburban constituencies shall be com- ■'. municated with in order to ascertain1 whether they will support the platform.

COMING EVENTS.

Meetings, &c., To-night.

Abbotts Opera House — Political Address by Mr S. Vaile, 8 St. Sepulchre's School-house—Address by Mr E. Withy'/) Electors of Newton, 7.30 Ponsonby Hall—Mr T. Peacock and the Elec tors of Ponsonby, 7.30 Maungatawhiri School-house—Address by Mr J. Jenkins to Electors of South Franklin, 7.30 Pollok School-house—Address by Major Harris to Electors of South Franklin, 7.30 Agricultural Hall—Royal Jubilee Burlesque and Pantomime Company, 8 Bell's Buildings, Wyndham-streot — Industrial Association's Exhibition, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 7to 10 p.m. ' City Hall—Skating Rink, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 7.30 to 10 p.m. Drill-shed—Royal Irish Rifles, 7.30

Rota of Justices at Police Court.

July 20-Dr T. B. Kenderdine and Mr J. P. King

Auction Sales To-morrow.

G. Lewis—Paperhangers' and Painters' Mate-

rials, 11 Arthur and Buddie, Franklin Road —House* hold Furniture and Effects, 11 B. Tonics and Co.—Household Furniture, etc., 11 Pnget and Ralston, Parnell—Household Furni ture and Effects, 12 ~>^«fi;, v D. F. Evans.-Proper.ty, etc.., 12, : ,

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, TUESDAY, JULY 19, 188T,

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