"*•" v.v Carroll has been appointed teener at the Auckland Police ff atcb- b ? u t s _ c sfc ead 0 f Constable Mc'Connell been placed in charge of the t*yg District. pOB • --»1 copy of the first issue of Conrant," dated 19th {he ' _705 is in the possession of Mr F ebrnal l' of Ponsonby. Despite its ago of j_ franK, specimen of the earliest 182 eW spaper is in a good state of gcottisn " r i s a single quarto leaflet P reser fnnbothsides, in large-sized type, printed o. _ re cnie fl y reports of wars ood lt9C nf the three advertisements in£aroP ear in ifc the following is the that »PP the Famous Loozengees q uaint f,Tn- the Cold, stopping and for cm ,„ b the Breast, the Kinkhost; pains w by (} eo rge Anderson at the c * the Fish Mercab, and at George ; __w_ Shop, opposit to the Main- Ssb. the Box." After an ** of 180 years, the "Courant" re- publication. 2 have before us the official statistics of _M Islands for the half-year ending *" t » 1887 From this document we S>?i.f tiie total trade of the islands for the #_KS- was 302,016 dollars. The im rTJ__waluedatl49,lo3 dollars, of which Hi! 88 836 dollars worth was South ° offe lion- nroduce received from Samoa S _ Sere for exportation. The value __£__.merchandise was 60,267 dollars, ofg wph Auckland contributed the cf fZre viz., 27,668 dollars, Samoa Wgl"!S Wik 18,195 dollars, and *Tl third with 10,867 dollars. The ffexpS from Tonga was 152,910 5L Auckland contributed 5,176 dollars. T i_l_ of the export trade was to Lisbon, 16 took 135,395 dollars' worth. It should ftSned that all the German vessels J*J°Xnjfa clear at the Customs for Lisbon, 5 their first European port of call _f where they await advices. It •11 thus be seen thab more than JT f the export trade of the Islands is S_ with the Germans, and more than 7 thirds of the total commerce of the limns in fc» e natlds of the samenationalifc y -6 the 63,132 dollars worth of Tongan 0 Jl exported there were 54,855 dol ft&ttK copra 1,524 dollars' worth f kava- 3,500 dollars wool and ill) dollars cotton. The total shipping, towards and outwards for-the.six months presented a tonnage of 28,330. Incourseof an interestingsermon preached ig_ James's Presbyterian Church yester- L morning the Rev D. W. Runciman 1 that one of the most conspicuous faults rf the state o£ society in winch we live 1 the absence of a due measure of paren ts control. Children were allowed far too ih liberty, and he thought that parents d__ld make a determined effort to bro their children off the streets after H If this were done, dangers of a serious kind would be diminished to a per centible extent. The practice of young wmen of respectable position perambu ujn* the streets after dark could „ttobe too much discouraged, and if evil results were theoutcome of such proceedings Barents were to blame. The preacher re- Umended family worship as a preven tative of many evils, so far as the nnn" were concerned, and urged upon his bearers greater attention to their religious d.ties in this respect.

Before making your purchases inspect Smith and Caughej's immense stock of clothing ami gent's mercery. [AdvtJ.

A MYSTERIOUS LETTER.

SIP, ROBERT STOUT AND THE AGENT-GENERAL.

(ItSEI_CRAPn. — OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Wellington, this day. It trill be recollected that shortly before the elections the Press Association received atoblegram to the effect that Sir Rober fc Stout had written to the Agent-General that his Government was likely to be de feated, and that the ex-Premier denied ki_£ so advised Sir D. F. -Bell, though idmitthig that he had written a private letter referring to the prospects of the elec ta; the contents of which bad been im properly disclo-ed. The Agent-General writes by tho San tuieisco mail, denying that Sir Robert Rout ever wrote him regarding the dections. He says : " Sir Robert Wont's memory must have gone astray »hen he sent that comminque to the paper. " I never had any letter from him Hying that his Government would bo de feated if people listened to the abuse of the Opposition press. Nothing could have been more innocent that the very few re ferences he ever made to tho election in his private letter to mo and neither he nor Sir J.Vogeljßver said an ungenerous word to fie of Major Atkinson or tho Opposition." The London correspondent of the " Age" writes to the Agent-General denyinghaving tent such a message. What he did send to that Sir Frederick Bell was convinced that Sir Robert Stoub would be defeated tathemade no mention of a letter.

Sir Dillon Bell charges the "Age" *it_ concocting a spurious telegram, and c&Hs.upon that paper for an explanation.

SPORTING NEWS.

Bythe-.s. Rotomahana, whicli arrived this Horning, Mr D. O'Brien's racehorses Sex tent and Isaac were brought up from Christ clrarch'to fulfil their engagements ab the ■MuJ; Summer Meeting. Mr E. Cutts and Mr W. Weston were also passengers hythe same steamer. The last named is __ronte to Sydney where he intends sett «_down.

Dtjxedin, this day. ■Men Brothers have purchased Captain Webster.

THAMES RACES,

fa TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT,)

Thames, Saturday, weights have been declared fathe Thames races : —

-fc-Urisj Plate.—Victoria, 9st 3lb ; Lady N».'9st3lb; Pretender, .stlOlb ; Clogs. *'?°V Capella, 7st 131b; Lioness, 7st ™V'rCatesby, 7st; Britannia, 6st 51b. tricot, 6sfc 51b; Pikau, 6sb 51b; Green! 6st. . Siewabds' Handtdap.-Pretender, Bsb £ b ! Clogs, Bsb 41b ; Capella, Bsb lib ; mm 7st 121b ; Tennyson, 7sb 101b ; £">*ri Rose, 7sb 41b; Rewi, 7sb 31b; j», 7sb 21b ; Haricot, 6sb 71b ; jntannja, 6st 71b; Greenmount. 6st 41b ; *"«n, 6st. J**!' STAKES.-Antelope, 9st 41b ; Pre -9» Bst 101b; Tennyson, Bsfc 61b; ffi_v»£*J Lioness, 7st 101b; Catesby, life Rewi > 7st 31b ; Brown Rose, 7st ___ 6sb 121b; Haricot, 6st 6sb 51b. toi-. 1^ 8 - 7 Sbotover, list 121b ; Wide- Jjw;.lostslb; Falcon, 10st51b ; Fairplay, viSt ! K Pi. 9st 121b ; Tawhiao, 9st 121b; '(JSfr. 9sfc 71b; Recruit, 9st 61b ; Han B^Sb. 9sfc; Arffyle ' Bsfc fi!IS ?^ CHASE - — Shotover, list 121b ; fiEf^m 1 ; Fairplay, lOsb 101b; AM 71b;. Pipi, 9sb 71b; Recruit, "»*%lei'9sbj Black Joe, 9st.

CRICKET.

With the splendid weather on Saturday, there was a large muster in the Cricket Ground to witness the Cup Matches which had been postponed. The following are the results that have come to hand :— Senior Cup- Holland v. Auckland B.—Auckland B won the toss, and having only 7 men, sent in their opponents, who ran up the good total of 165 runs. Beard (78), Whiteside (21), Thomas (20), and Holle (15) all batted well for Holland. Beard gave two chances, but not till he had made 50. Auckland's holding was very poor, and on going in mad* a very poor exhibition against the brothers Mills making only 9 runs for seven men, Holland thus winning by 156 runs on the first innings. The following are the scores :—Holland : W. Beard, b Glendening, 78; G. Walker, b Glendening, 4; C. B. King, c Harrison, b Glendening, 0; E. Mills, c Gardner, b Glendening, 3; R. Whiteside, c Lindsay, ■b Gill, 21 ; H. Thomas, c Gardner, b Glen dening, 20 ; Holle, c Howie, b Gill, 15 ; G. Mills, b Glendening, 1; D. Berry, c Howie, b Glendening, 0; F. Brighton, c Gardner, b Glendening, 8; J. Hobson, not out, 2; extras, 13: Total, 165. Bowling analysis: Glendening, 27-4 overs, 82 runs, 8 wickets ; Gill, 21 overs. 47 runs, 2 wickets; Laird, 7 overs, 23 runs, 0 wickets. Laird bowled 1 no ball. Auckland B. : Roach, b G. Mills, 3 ; H. F. Harrison, b E. Mills, 4 ; Laird, b E. Mills, 0; Glendening, b G. Mills, 0; J. Gill, not out, 0 ; C. Gardner, b E. Mills, 0 ; F. Earle, b G. Mills, 0 ; extras, 2. Total, 9. Bowl ing analysis : E. Mills, 3 overs, 2 maidens, 4 runs, 3 wickets ;G. Mills, 2"3 overs, 1 maiden, 3 runs, 3 wickets. Junior' Cup. Holland v. National.—This was a one day's match, and was won by Holland, by 47 runs. Burfoot, 27 ; T. Mills, 21, played played well for Holland. None of the National could make any stand against Rowe and Mills. Holland: A. Burfoot, c Baker, b Nicholson, 27; S. Morgan, run out, 6 ; J. B. Mell, b Drummond, 3; J. Murphy, b Drummond, 9; E. Mell, b Nicholson, 5 ; A. Rowe, b Drummond, 1; J. Mills, lbw b, Drummond 5 ; G. Sexton, not out, 2 ; W. Rowe, b, Nicholson, 1; T. Mills, b. Nicholson, 21; G. Court, b. Drummond, 1; extras, 1 : total, 82. National : S pence, bA. Rowe, 0 ; R. Wil kinson, b A. Rowe, 3 ; A. Nicholson, b A. Rowe, 7; C. Walker, not out, 4; O. Nicholson, run out, 7 ; Wright, b A. Rowe, 0 ; XV. Drummoud, cA. Rowe, b T. Mills, 0 ; Pilchcr, b A. Rowe, 4 ; J. Walker, b T. Mills, 0 ; Baker, b A. Rowe, 5 ; McKenzie, b T. Mills, 1 ; extras, 4 ; total, 35. Bowling analysis :—Holland : A. Rowe, 6 wickets for 12 ; T. Mills, 3 wickets for 17. National: Nicholson, 26 runs for 4 wickets ; Drummond, 30 runs for 5 wickets. Second Junior Cup. Wanderers v. Holland lll.—This match resulted in a win for the Wanderers by 52 runs. Holland went in first and made 44, the only man to reach double figures being S. Holt, who made 11. P. White and E. Johnson bowled well for the Wanderers, the lormertakingeightwickets. The Wanderers then went in and succeeded in compiling 76, of which 36 were made by W. Whelan, who played a first-class innings. Standard v. Onehunga United.—This match resulted in a win for the Standard by 3 runs. Scores: Standard, 62 ; One hunga United, 59. Clark (19), Way (13), played best for Standard, whilst Cullen (29) was tho chief scorer for Onehunga United. Watson bowled well for Standard, taking 5 wickets for 10 runs. Other Matches The Grammar School beat the Home Bay C.C. by 30 runs. Mack'v, Logan, Steen and Co. v. Mc- Arthitr and Co.—M. L. S. and Co. : Hibbs. b Knight, 0 ; Vicary, b Doughty, 1; Reid, b Knight, 2 ; Chatfield, b Knight, 21 : Buckworth, b Knight, 1 ; Goudio, b Meldrum, 36 ; Snedden, runout, 2 ; Roger son, b Meldrum, 23 ; Farquhar, b Meldrum, 0 ; Armstrong, c Baker, b Meldrum, 0 ; Bunby, not out, 1 ; extras, 14 : total, 101. McArthur and Co. : Doughty, c Reid b Chatfield, 0: Meldrum, run out, 0 : Day, not out, 27; Clark, b Chatfield, 0; Bedlington, b Chatfield. 2; Knight, b Snedden, 3; Jackson, c and b Goudic, 1 ; Baker, c Rogerson, b Sneddon, 4 : Simpson, b Chat field, 6; Shannon, c Hibbs, 0; Thomas, c Rogerson, b Snedden, 11; extras, 0 ; total, 54."

FALSE WEIGHTS AND SCALES.

SERIOUS CHARGE AGAINST A

BUTCHER,

When Sergeant Gamble, Inspector of Weights and Measures, was passing along Mount Eden Road on the 25th November lasb his attention was attracted by some thing peculiar about a pair of scales in use- Upon going into the shop, he found a loz. weight tied on the end of the beam at the customers' side of the scales. On lifting oft' tho weight which was in the pan on the opposite side, the sergeant found his sus picions confirmed by the weighted side dropping: on the counter. He then seized the scales, and also a 71b weight 14 drachms short weight, 41bs weight over Hoz short, lib weight 3 drachms short, .lb weight _! draehmsshort.ancUlbweightldrachm short. Proceedings were bhen instituted against Mr Tyndall, and he appeared at the Police Court this morning, before Messrs Roche fort and Smith, Justices. He was charged with a breach of the Weight- and Measures Act, by having in his possession on the 25th November false scales, and also with having in bis posses sion certain avoirdupois weights which were light, viz., a 71bs, 4lbs, lib,Jlb, and Jib. Defendant pleaded guilty to both charges. He stated, with respect to the defective weights that they were weights used to keep open _ the shop doors. They were not bhe weights d in dealing with his customers. Concerning the scales the defendant stated thnr he nub " a little one-ounce weight on he beam to rectify an error in the balance, caused by a piece having been broken from sbated that bhe weights he seized, and now produced in Court, wore the only weights he could find n the shop, and they were greasy, iroarently from use in weighing meat. The sergeant also exhibited the scales and showed that they were weighted U ounces against the customer and in Svour of In fact, the whole affair was one of the biggest swind es he ffievor seen since he had been acting as Tnatiector of Weights and Measures TeSeant Pratt spoke of the charge as _ very serious one, and the defend f iiMded that he had no intention _?def?iudTng his customers. The defendanb lo produced several lebters which he said also P™". b his customers affirming SS the weights supplied ti The Bench considered the offence clearly orovedfand imposed a fine of £ and costs, So scales and weights to be confiscated.

OUR GOLDFIELDS

Thames, this day.

Cambria.—-151b of picked stone were ob tained to-day from the sixth stope west on No. 6 leader.

Saxon.—lolb of picked stone from the fifth sbope hillward, and 151b from the second stope seaward off the reef on No. 4 level.

Caledonian. All hands have been dis charged in consequence of the breakage of a portion of the winding engine machinery. Messrs Prica Bros, will commence re pairs this afternoon, which will cocupy at least a week.

OHINEMURI.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

Karangahare, Saturday.

The full force of the Ivanhoe battery is 'now running on quartz belonging to Heite man and party, tributers in the Woodstock mine, and the show on the plateß is equal to a return of two ounces per ton from the whole parcel, which amounts to aboub 70 tons. Moore and parby, tributers in the Kenilworth mine, have just com pleted the crushing, sampling and assay ing of a 40-ton lot of ore broken oub from their section, and the values vary from £10 to £44 per ton. Of this lot, 15 tons averaging £25 per ton, have been sold at 50 per cent, of the assay value, and the purchaser takes the stuff away from the stone breakers, and bears all further costs and charges in con nection with its transport to and dis posal air London or Frieburg. The firsb 100 ft. of the prospecting tunnel, which is being driven in the Mammoth mine on account of English capitalists, has been accomplished, and the contractors have started to advance -the level another 100 ft. for the same price, viz., 7s 6d per foot, but so far nobbing of importance has been discovered. Work in the Crown and Diamond mines is progressing steadily without any material change worthy of note. Maritoto, Saturday. Tlie winze, which is in process of sinking in the prospector's mine, has attained a depth of about 18 feet, and the ore body in the bottom averages 2 feet 6 inches in width, and it carries a fair percentage of the precious metals. The proprietors of this mine have sold 17 tons of their ore, de livered at the main road Hikutaia, for prices varying from £17 to £24 per ton. Mr H. C. Wick, of Paeroa, purchased 11 tons, and it must be of good quality when he expects that the cost of purchase, baggiug, transit, &c, will stand him in £30 per ton by the time it is landed in Frieburg, where ho intonds sending it for treatment. Good prospects of gold from the main reef where it has been intersected by tho low level in Mclsaac's claim ab a depth of 70 feet beneath tho sur face. The same lode has been cut further south in a claim owned by Burns and party at a depth .of 50 feet under the surface workings, and good prospects of free gold are obtainable from any part of it. Odiiaroa, Saturday. The late crushing passed through th c Smile of .Fortune battery for the owners of the Me and Rowe claim has not realised expectations, but more care will be exer cised in selecting the next parcel, and then better results may bo anticipated. Two parties of tributers are working in the Smile of Fortune Mine, and both aro meeting with very encouraging prospects. Waihi, Saturday. The several tribute parties working in the Martha mine aro keeping 20 head of stampers' in that company's battery fully employed, and tho crushing dirt is all shaping for remunerative returns. Waitkkatjri, Saturday.

Excepting the works now going on in the Jubilee claim, mining operations here aie confined to the Welcome, Waitckaun, and Young New Zealand claims, which are all being worked on the tribute system, and tho different parties ot tributers are all meeting with more or less success. A con siderable tonnage of stuff will be treated before the advent of the Christmas holidays and good returns are expected.

A LARRIKIN AT HOME.

At the Police Court this morning, Walter Patrick Harkins was charged with having used insulting language towards his father, Patrick Harkins, on December 9th, by calling him a "mouldy headed old t " und saying that ho would take his father's life the first chance he got. Prisoner pleaded "not guilty." Evidence was given by tho father, who deposed that the accused was 19 years of ao-e. He was a complete nuisance to wit ness and to the neighbours, and ill-used his brothers and sisters. This morning the accused struck witness on tho side of the head, and chucked him down the back steps, without having received the slightest provocation. On Friday last the accused used the insulting language complained of in the information. He also called his mother an " old cow," and threatened to do for witness. He also came into the house at all hours, and if the door was locked he broke it open. The accused, in questioning his father, practically admitted the charges. He stated that he was a painter, and had contributed towards the support of his parents. He could not get any work to do now. , The Bench found the charge of threaten ing proved, and that it was evident that the accused was in the habit of using very bad language. The accused was ordered to find one surety of £25 to keep the peace for six months.

DAMAGING TREES.

Numerous complaints have been recently received by the police that the ornamen tal trees in various parts of the city have been wilfully damaged, and four offenders were before tho Police Court this morn ing charged wibh an offence of this descrip tion.

Four boys, the eldest of whom was only 1\ years of age, were charged with having injured a poplar tree, the property of the City Council, and growing in a reserve in Wellesley-street. ,_.___,-, Sergeant Pratb stated that tho lads ap peared to be rather young to be brought before the Court, but they were not too young to do damage to trees, the property of the City Council. Their parents were to blame for allowing them to run wildly about the streets, and they (the parents) should be Bernard deposed that fre quent complaints were made to him about damage being done to these trees. He caught Fred Deason and Arthur Oliver with broken poplar branches in the re serve, and from information received he subsequently arrested Gallott Harkins, who then admitted the offence. Henry Anderson deposed that he saw the accuseddads breaking switches f romapoplar tree, and a City Council employee assessed the damage done ab Is. The Bench explained that for offences ot this kind fines of £10 could be imposed, and after giving the parents who were present some good advice as to the control of their offspring, for the present inßbance fines of 2s 6d and cosbs were imposed, and a re commendation added that the children should be chastised at home.

PUBLIC WORKS STATEMENT.

FORECAST OP ITS PROPOSALS-

BORROWING TO CEASE AFTER

THREE YEARS,

COST OF NORTH ISLAND TRUNK RAILWAY GREATLY UNDER ESTIMATED.

ANOTHER MILLION AND QUARTER NECESSARY TO COMPLETE WORK.

ALL MONEYS FOR PUBLIC WORKS FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS TIED UP.

(by telegraph.— special reporter.)

TSe Public Works Statement to be de livered by the Hon. E. Mitchelson i s looked forward to with the greatest con cern usually. The Statement is robbed of much of its interest by the budget which was delivered earlier in the session, but on this occasion more importance attaches to it from the fact that it discloses the intentions of the Government with regard to the division of the new loan and Public Works expenditure during the whole of the present Parliament. I have gone to some trouble to obtain a reliable forecast of proposals of bhe Sbabemenb for the informa tion of your readers, and the following may be taken as fairly disclosing the intentions of the Government:—

Ib was stated recently in some papers that the Cabinet intended to modiliy the loan proposals, but this is not so. A loan will be asked as originally indicated and the whole of the moneys accruing from it as well as the balance of tho last loan not yet expended will be absolutely tied up to the last farthing for works which are specified in the detailed expenditure ex tending over a period ending March, 1891. The .Statement will also indicate tho in tention of the Government that all borrow ing shall cease after three years from now. Of the million to be borrowed £500,000 will be set apart for railway construction, and the balance for roads, bridges, build ings and other purposes included in parb 1 of the Estimates. The portion of the loan allocated for railways will be added to the amount ab presenb available for that purpose, and the aggregate amount will b6 expended ab tho rate for the works specified beneath. Tho total available for expenditure on railways for tho four years is £813,081, exclusive of the North Island Trunk Line. Construction is divided as follows : This year, £274,000; next year, £279,612; third, £220,764 ; fourth, £38,705. An important disclosuro is made that the cost of tho North Island Trunk Railway is greatly under-estimated, and that the further expenditure of moro than a million and a quarter beyond the present loan is necessary to complete the work. Provision is made for the survey of the cheaper routeand road to connect Taranaki, with the line referred to. The latter work will be provided for out of the consolidated revenue, if the connection with Taranaki is not made by rail. It will appear from the Statement that there are ab tho present time 1,734 miles of railway open in the colony, 632 being in the North Island, and 1,102 in tho South Island, less 176 miles in course of construction, 87 being in the North Island and 89 in the South. The total expenditure on railway con struction with present liabilities has been £14,569,000. Your readers will bo chiefly interested in the railway proposals, and I venture to say tho following forecast of the lines to be gone on with, and rate of expenditure, will be found correct: — Auckland-Helensville Line. A contract of four miles' formation only is expected to be finished this month. This will carry the line a distance of seven miles from Helensville, and it is now proposed to complebe ib seven miles further to Kauka pakapa. The funds already available will be supplemented by an additional twenty fivo thousand. Tho rate of expenditure will be as follows:—This year £10,000, second year £27,000, third year £20,000, fourth year £17,761. The total amount available for expenditure to the end of March, 1891, is therefore £74,761. Aucltland-Penroße (Doubling tine.) An allocation was made last year for this work, but no portion of it has yet been pub in hand. The balance required for the works is £77,000, and as the money cannot' conveniently be borrowed for the purpose, it is nob proposed to do anything at present. Grahamsto wn-Te Aroha. The rails on this line are already laid from Grahamstown to Kaueranga, and the funds already provided will be sufficient to com plete the line to Ohinemuri, a distance of twenty miles from Grahamstown. It is proposed to put the remainder of the bridging and plate-laying still required in hand tliis year. I believe the amount for expenditure during the present year is £10,000, and that next year £15,000 will be spent, £10,000 in the year following that, and £6,921 in tho year following that, making a total of £41,921. Futarurn-Kotorua It is expected that She funds already available will be supplemented with an additional eighteen thousand, which is in clusive of nine thousand for rails. This allocation should complete the line from Putaruru to Okoheriki saddle, tho length being eighteen miles. This will enable communication to he opened by road with Ohinemutu, which is distant only fourteen miles. The rate of expenditure to be proposed, ex clusive of rails, will probably be—£4o,ooo this year, £25,000 next year, £25,000 in the year following that, and £7,377 in the fourth year,' being a total till the end of March, 1891, of £97,377. North Island Trunk Railway. It is understood that some very import ant disclosures will be made respecting the position of this railway. The original estimate for the construction of the railway appears to have been misleading. The first estimate was £1,360,000, whereas a more reliable estimate subsequently made states the cosb ab £2,085,000. This does nob include the charges of raising the loan and the amount allocated to the purchase of native lands.represenbing probably £200,000. This shows a total of £1,285,000 that is still required to be borrowed to complete the work. The opinion of the Government is that before any new work should be undertaken the House should have an opportunity of ex pressing its opinion on the new aspect of the matter. In any case they do not propose to pub any new contracts in hand till after nexb March. Connection With Taranaki. The present estimates for various routes are considered to be of little value until a more accurate survey is made, and a suggestion will be pub forward that a survey should be made of the Taranaki route. The information thus obtained will in any case prove of value and be utilised in making the road which will be required to connect Taranaki with the line in the event of the railway following another route. It is considered that the best point at which to diverge in order to reach Taranaki would be a

point near Maramata, which is fifby-five miles from Te Awamutu, and the cost of a railway to that place fully equipped for traffic would be £500,000, inclusive of £250,000 for expenditure and liability incurred. The only doubt in the mind of the authorities, therefore, is the cost of the line between there and Stratford, or the best point for connecbion with the existing trunk railway. The pre sent estimate of this connection is eight hundred thousand. North Island Railway Proposals. I believe ib will be found that the proposals for the four years ending 31st March, 1891, for this railway will be briefly these :—Northern end : The line will be oarried steadily on from Te Kuiti, near Maramata, in the Ongaruhe Valley, which is fifty-five miles from Te Awamutu, this being the point from which the railway could diverge to Taranaki. The rate of expenditure will be—this year £70,000; next year, £75,000; third year, 70,000 ; fourth year, £80,000 ; this being a total of 3,000,000 till March, 1891. At the south end the work will be carried on steadily for the nexb four years, by which time it is anticipated that the railway will have reached to Powhakoroa, near the south entrance to the Hautapu Valley, which is a distance of thirty-two miles from Marton. The rate of expenditure which will be suggested will probably be as follows :— This year, £26,000; second year, £30,000; third year, £40,000; fourth year, £42,000 : this is a total to the end of March, 1891, of £143,000. Ib is estimated thab bhis will leave a balance of loan still available to the extent of £54,000. Native Lands on tho Route. En passant, ib will be interesting to men tion thab of the £100,000 voted for the purchase of native lands en route, £29,700 is still unexpended. The area already pur chased is 490,000 acres, the cost of which was £54,100. The area at present under negotiation is 750,000 acres, upon which £33,000 has already been paid. The surveyed line intersects the purchased land for a distance of 45 miles, and those under negotiation for 15 miles. Napier - Palmerston Line. The additional funds necessary for this work are £120,000, which includes 22,000 for rails. The amount allocated for expenditure during the next three years may be set down ab £160,813. This will be spenb as follows :-—This year £40,000, second year £50,000, third year £70,813. 3_Cangama_ioe-V7.-/'-.v-i'!''e Line. The total amount to 1 • allocated for ex penditure until March, .1389, will probably be £61,421. Of this amount £37,000 is for expenditure this year, and £24,421 nexb year. Blenheim-Awatei.. The amount scheduled for this work wil probably be £40,675, to be expended as fol lows:—This year, £7,000; second year, £15,000 ; third year, £18,675. Greymouth-HokltiJ-a. It is understood that tho allocation fo bins line is £63,904, to be expended ab bhe following rates : — This year, £24,000 ; second, £20,000; third year, £19,940. Mount Soxners. The proposed allocation from loan is seven thousand, which is inclusive of four thousand for rails. This will finish the time to Spring burn. It is proposed to expend seven thousand this year and two bhousand and twenty seven ne*.. Livingstone Branch. Ib is not proposed to carry this line further at present, but a vote of one thousand will bo asked for additional accommodation and station buildings. Otago Central. It would appear that the balance of the loan of 1886 is insufficient to complete this railway to the first point to which it could be opened with real advantage. A proposal will therefore be made to supple ment thefunds already provided by a further sum of £105,000, which is inclusive of £20,000 for rails. This estimate would en able the railway to be completed for traffic from Chainhill to Middle-March, which is a distance of forty miles. The rate of expen diture, exclusive of rails, will be as follows : This year £70,000: second year £60,000; third year £40,974. The total amount available for construction works, including the addi tional sum now allocated, is therefore, £170,974. Catllns River. The money already provided will finish the line from Romahapa to Ahuriri Flat, and also two miles further to Owake Saddle. It is proposed to spend this year, £12,000, next year £15,000; third year £10,398, being a total of 37,359. Rlversdale-Swltzers. The amount to be spenb this year i £3,000, £5,000 in each of the two following years and £6,646 in the fourth year. The total available is therefore £19,646. Seward Bn h. Ib is proposed to spend £5,000 this year and £2,508 next year, the total avail able being £7,508. Lumsden-Maroa. This line is already completed as far as it is inbended to carry it at present. Kdendale-Fortrose. The amount available is £27,656, and o* this £9,000 will be spent- during the present year, and £18,656 next year. Custom-House and Asylum. I believe several votes of importance to Auckland will be found on the estimates, and that the allocations for new works will include £17,000 for the Custom house, of which £3,000 are to be spent during the year ending March next, and £3,000 for the Lunatic Asylum. One feature of the State ment will be proposals with regard to an amount sob apart for opening up lands for sale by roads. There are 62 vobes of this character for Auckland provincial dis trict, the total amount being- £23,000. There are also votes for lighthouses and other building and ordinary traffic roads. I believe an indication will also be made of the intention to put the reconstruction of the General Post Office, Wellington, in hand shortly. No allocation will be made from loan for the purpose, but the necessary amount will be baken from bhe consolidabed rcveuue.

POLICE COURT.-THIS DAY.

(Before Messrs T. H. Smith and S. Roche

fort, J. P.'s.) Drunkenness. —Two persons were fined 5s and costs for first offences, and William Steele, who was suffering from delirium tremens, was remanded till Saturday next. No Light.—Win. Adcock was charged wibh allowing his cart to be in Queen-streeb wibhout a light after 8 p.m. on December 3rd. Defendant stated that he had one lamp alight and did not know the other was ou t.—Constable Abrams deposed that neither lamp was lighted.—Fined 20s and costs.

The first lecture of tho series on behalf of the V.M.C.A. will bo given to-morrow evening by Major Dane at the City Hall. The lecture has given much pleasure and satisfaction to the large audiences that have listened to it all through the States of America, and should command a full house here.

We have to acknowledge the receipt from the Te Aroha Hob Springs Domain Board, of a neatly gob up little wochure, entitled "Te Aroha; Its Thermal Waters," by Dr, Alfred Wright, the resident physician to the Board. The pamphlet is a complete vade mecum to the distriot, and contains many valuable hints to invalids using the baths, „

SUPREME COURT.

This Day.

Criminal Sessions.

(BeforelMr Justice Gillies.)

Perjury. — Ellen Frances Brown alias Ellen Francis Perrot, appeared in answer to the charge of perjury.—The evidence in this case was reported pretty fully in the lower Court. Ib will be remem bered that the prisoner summonsed one George Richard Pooley to support his alleged illegitimate child. Ultimately the child was proved to have been obtained from one of the public institutions, and the prisoner was duly indicbed for perjury. Upon the indictment being read this morning, the prisoner pleaded guilty, and banded in a written state ment in defence of her action. This was carefully read through by His Honor, and in passingsentence hei .marked that the prisoner had been found guilty upon her own confession to having committed wilful and corrupt perjury. He had read her sbatemenb, bub did nob find therein anything in extenuation of her offence. On the contrary, ib showed a state of depravity in addition to the crime. Perjury was one of the most serious crimes with which the law had to deal, as ib struck at the roob of all jusbice. In this instance the crime was heightened in that the prisoner tried to fix a crime upon another. He would sentence her to five years' penal servitude. Horse-Stealing. —Harputu, alias Her bert Tonks, was charged with stealing a roan mare on the 16th of November, the property of Andrew Grainger, of Waitibi. —Mr Hudson Williamson prosecuted on be half of the Crown. Mr W. Hammond officiated as interpreter.—The prisoner said, "I pleaded guilty in the Lower Court."— His Honor said : " Ask if he means bhab as a plea of guilby in thisCourt."—After some conversation with the prisoner Mr Ham mond stated bhab bhe prisoner pleaded nob guilty.—His Honor asked Mr Hammond if the prisoner understood perfectly.—The question was again put, when the prisoner said thab he wished to plead not guilty. —A jury was accordingly empannelled and the evidence was proceeded with.— Andrew Grainger deposed to owning the mare in question. He had her running on the Maori run prior to the 16th November. Never authorised the prisoner to remove or sell the mare. In consequence of informa tion received he went down to Waititi on 20th of November. He asked for Herbert, and the accused came oub saying, "Come and I'll show you where Herbert lives." They went to a whare, and he said to w'tness,'' Herbert's not at home. He's away looking for a horse that is lost." Ultimately the prisoner offered to buy the mare. Witness accused Herbert of having sold his mare. He denied that the mare was sold, and offered to show witness the mare. After going a short distance prisoner re fused to go any further. On the 27th witness saw his mare at the Police Station.—A native witness also deposed to purchasing the mare from the prisoner. Mr William Archer drew up a document confirming the sale. Witness gave £4 10s for the mare, and* the accused signed the document. He handed over the horse to the constable.—When askedif he wished to question this, witness the prisoner replied "No! What he says is _ true." —Henry Archer deposed to drawing up the agreement for the sale of the horse from the prisoner, to the last witness.— Constable Berriman deposed to receiving the horse and arresting the prisoner. The prisoner told witness to whom he had sold the horse, and that probably he would get back the.horse. Witness did so.-The prisoner addressed the jury, stating, that Grainger staked witness to sell four horses which°he had running on the hills. He ad mitted having sold the mare. He was to get 58 commission for the sale. The jury retired to consider their verdict. As soon as sufficient time had elapsed for the next jury to be empannelled they re turned into Court with a verdict of "Guilty." — His Honor sentenced the prisoner to two years' imprisonment with hard labour. He remarked that the prisoner had already been convicted of theft. Larceny with Violence.—Patrick Bed ford and Margaret Bedford were charged with stealing £7 in cash, one silver watch, one gold albert, and. one black velvet bag, from thepersonof RobertWilson,onthe 26th September. —Prisoners pleaded not guilty. —Mr Williamson prosecuted and Mr Hum phreys appeared on behalf of the defence.— The evidence in this case has already been published at length. It tended to show that the man Wilson was enticed into Bed ford's house, where he partook of liquor and went to sleep. Upon awakening, the man Wilson missed his goods, and upon com plaining, was ejected from the house with some violence.—Evidence was given by the complainant, Robert Wilson, G. Thwaites, G. Montgomery, Mrs Dismore, and Detecive Tuohy.

[Loft sitting.]

OPERA HOUSE—"HUMAN NATURE" TO-NIGHT.

The great Drury Lane drama of " Human Nature" will be produced, for the first time in Auckland,, at Abbott's Opera House to-night by the talented company brought here under the management of Mr Geo. Leitch. Like "Harbour Lights," this is a sensational and spectacular piece. " Human Nature" is a story of love and jealousy, misunderstanding, humour, and wickedness, terminating in homicide and re conciliation. A striking character in the piece is that of a beautiful woman who has loved not wisely. At some period anterior to the commencemenb of bhe sbory she has married; the man she has unwisely loved has also married. But there is this difference be tween the two, that whereas he has married a woman whom he loves, she has married a man to whom she is indifferent. She deserts her husband, and finds her way into the home of the woman, once her schoolfellow, who has taken her place in the affections of the man who onoe loved her. And, assisted by an ardent lover of her rival, she sets to work to dispossess her of the affection of the man who, to both of them, is all in all. The husband goes off to the Soudan War, believing himself dishonoured. Here the husband meets the man he believes to have wronged him, but instead of killing him, he gives him water, and saves his life from vengeful Arabs. As the proper acknow ledgment of these services the villain, dying, confesses that the lady was never false at all, bub only cruelly wronged. The hus band goes back to England. Meanwhile the good wife has been much persecuted by a wicked attorney, who legally takes from her her child, and, having an interest in the child's death, gives it over to the custodianship of two persons who traffic in child-killing or baby farming. Theserious episodes of bhisintei .sbingdrama are tempered by the introduction of two pleasant persons, one a lawyer's clerk, Mr Horatio bpoflins, who has a talent for versifying, and the other a little serv ing woman of the kind you cannot well help falling in love withal. The local Volunteers are turning out in large numbers to take part in bhe military display on the stage, and a grand specbacle may be anticipated.

A meeting of the shareholders of th e Now Find Qoldminine Company, Te Aroha. is being held this afternoon to consider an offer of £2,000 from the Te Aroha Battery Company for tho purchase of the mine,

CORRESPONDENCE.

OUR NATIVE FOREST TREES.

(To the Editor.}

Sir, —To many of the dwellers in our city the grand native forest of this colony is largely a sealed book. Year by year the circle of destruction widens, and a visit bo bhe virgin primaeval foresb, with ibs sylvan beauby and wealbh of greenery, is becoming increasingly difficult. Even now the great majority of our city and suburban boys and girls have probably never seen the stately kauri or the crimson-blossomed rata.

I have always regretted this circum stance, because I think patriotism is greatly nourished by the habitual contemplation of the objects of natural beauty with which this country is so richly endowed. Amongst these I know of none more inspiring than the majestic monarchs of our native forests.

To beautify the surroundings of my own home, and to supply in a very humble fashion specimens of our most notable foresb trees for the pleasure of those who have nob the opportunity otherwise of seeing them, has for many years been a pleasant occupa tion to mo. With a great expenditure of labour, I cleared patches of rocky ground at my home ab Mount Eden, and planted there belts of our native foresb trees. Aparb from the difficulby of raising nabive trees in an exposed situation, with little natural shelber, my efforts for many years were greably checked by the depredations of marauding goats. Now, a goat poised on a rock sniffing the fresh morning air, is a very picturesque object; bub when he descends from his rugged perch, and, on browsing bent, leaps your fences and crops the tender shoots from your delicate young trees, he ceases to be picturesque and be comes a terror. You cannot fence him out, you can only shoot him and repair damages the best way you can, by making long bhough pleasanb journeys to the nearest forest for young trees to replace those des troyed. In this way, though I have lost several valuable foresb trees, I have suc ceeded in raising to a stage beyond the reach of my picturesque enemy, mosb of our handsomest and noblest trees.

Now that my pets by much careful tend ing, and prudent pruning, are beginning to give promise of the beauty the coming time will develop in them, they are assailed by a new enemy. During the last two or three years, at bird-nesbing bime, I have found valuable young trees cut down or ruthlessly broken by youths, in quest, I suppose, of birds' nests, for many of my trees are now large enough to afford a home for feathered songsters ; but many of the more tender and slow-growing trees, such as the kauri, rimu, lancewood, and taneka, still need constant tending and shelter. It is in these smaller and more delicate trees thab I have suffered mosb. Again and again have I made journeys to the forest to replace lancewoods, kauris, and others so destroyed, only to find them again cub down. During the past week, I have lost two fine young lancewoods, and my hand somest kauri has been shamefully cut and barked, though I hope nob permanenbly much injured. The destruction this week of a beautiful rimu, which, for ten years past, I have most carefully tended and sheltered, has naturally distressed me. This little rimu, years ago, was greatly, in jured by a goat, but with careful treatment began two years ago to give promise of growing into a handsome tree; now, 1 fear B it is beyond recovery. I bhink I have a clue to the youbh who destroyed it, but to punish him by fine or imprisonment would be a poor compensa tion. For after all, I think the youth was guilty more of shocking heedlessness, rather .than of. any intention to do me an injury. He wanted a stick, wliich he probably threw away next day. . I shall therefore not prosecute him. He may belong to the larrikin tribe, and I be lieve that even in the worst specimens of that class, there is a good element if you could only get at it, for even as there is no body so good without some bad in them, so I firmly believe there is nobody so bad bub there is some good in them. I appeal to that small gleam of goodness, dormant though it may be. 1 want the youths of our land to be more influenced by consideration for others, to have a more just respectfor themselves, tobegaided by a principle of honourable pride in right, rather than to avoid wrong-doing only from fear of the IaAV.

I should not have troubled yon with my small trials were ib not that I 'think they contain a lesson which all of us will be • the better for learning more perfectly. The lesson, I think, is this, that no man or woman, no boy or girl can do a wrong or un kind act but that all must suffer. Let me revert to my trees for an illustration of what I mean. Many years ago, when I began to plant native forest trees, a friend said to me, " Why do you plant such slow-growing trees ? they will come to no thing much in your lifetime." "True," I said, "but what will they be in a hundred years? What in five hun dred?"

"Oh," he cynically replied, "if you plant for people whom you will never see, and who may never even hear of you, I have no more to say." Now, the thoughtless youths who have destroyed some of my trees have certainly annoyed me greatly; but they have done far worse than that, for though their foolish actions can never deprive me of the pleasure I have had in planting and tending the destroyed trees during all these years, they have deprived many of those who are to dwell in this parb of the colony long after we have passed away, of the innocent pleasure of seeing what might have become objects of great beauty in the coming time, and so have done a grievous wrong to those who come after us. Never theless, if my heedless young friends will only permit my remaining trees to grow on uninjured, I will forgive them the wrong they have already done to me.—Yours, J. C. Firth. Mount Eden, December 12th, 1887.

Messrs E. and A. Isaacs will hold a sale' to-morrow at IX o'clock of 208 packages of Japanese goods. This annual sale will sup ply some 'handsome goods for presents to friends. They are direct from the Museum of Art manufacture in Japan, and are very rare, curious and interesting.

The time for receiving entries for all the handicap events at Hamilton Christmas sports, has been extended till Saturday next, 17th inst.

COMING EVENTS.

Meetings, &c., To-night.

Abbott's Opera House — Leitch Company in " Human Nature,' 8 316. Victoria Arcade — Auckland Political Financial Reform Association. 7.30 Newmarket Hal- Entertainment and ftance, 8 Oddfellows' Hall, Parnell—Auckland Working Men's Friendly Aid Society, 7 V.M.C.A. Rooms Association for the Teaching of Divine Healing, 7.15 St. Mark's Church, Remuera—Diocesan. Sunday* school Board, 7.30 Lodge-room, Pompalier Terrace—Lodge Pon sonby, No. 708, S.C., 7.30

Rota of Justices at Police Court.

Dec. 13—Messrs R. Stovonson and W. E_ Thomas

Auction Sales To-morrow.

A, Aitken—Produce, Poultry, ot_, 11, B. Tonka & Co—Tobaocoa Dried Fruits, Sugars, &a, 11 B. & A, Isaacs—Japanese Qoocfa Curt-a, cto„ IX Q. Lewis-Boota and Shoes, &c„ 11 T. M. Jaokspn, Bemuew— Furniture and Ktftota, ll S, CoohranQ & Son-3QO Tohunea Boete, fco,, ll

THE AUCKLAND EVENING STAR, MONDAY, DECEMBER 18. 1887.

5



C CblmberTcommeree to-morrow ab 11 U " We are informed that Mr A. Lem.n, of we are u»« . successful Great of thirty thou tenderer for the supply g __ __ hn tea merchants a hd P ackers.-[ADVT.]