&£^~ Z.-.-g —Forth-west to Iffloatinif rf of n iritesbyfcbe'Frisco §omw *L ivessd » * Hr tnree brothers c - The : 4UalsoP{ c seD .L y by her father. , S*** S for Messrs B. Clay I °Tbe *T%S«* and Verbal cheiu w Co., York, has ar £,-of-ta» n '2S with him a number >* J ri ? also has American •5 new "and-silver which will sur velticsinf ld nf a g; Zea 'a,icl. He names "Sso the pubto ° f a f e e ßegone-last on the fe elff rolling scroll, fc . liko feature, i 5 he will confer an on the Auckland pubhe. he will show **" Snfv J? Victoria-street to-morrow ' &img ' l n the body of Louisa Osborne, iott oi her iTusband's residence in ,*H tC ?Parn 11, on the 12th inst took frs-street;^ al f u l ac Hotel yesterday ; ;^» n ' b /ge ffar fc was chosen foreman. f homMr.J.W£™ Eraon . Jolm E fidenC Vr n rn? (husband of deceased), ivl#.ffiS? Se husband could, give wd M l for uWife'a rash act, except that twiken much tolieart the family's , Mrs Hunter, 1 the de i in ier conduct, a good deal about 1 . ; mrk . As far as i Z Pwnell passed oil'very success- the bad weather Siewasaccprde'l.them. A capita I StlScwere well rendered, a*d SdVefcbyC. Spefebtand R. Croker was ~-II received. The comic sketches, City Club Waiters," Jtotli well given, and afforded great iment to the audience. Professor S-'em's Lecture on Ass-tronomy by . FtSer, was .capitally dolivere.l. The : .Mujjitod Foot Brigade" was excellently I" by Mftssraß. Croker, F. Fowler and ■ I -Speifbt, while the screaming farce I "Barw/s Mistake " gave a good finishing m tuci to a capital entertainment. meeting of the Helensvilie Si EiocV.of Hope, washeldin the Foresters' MMoifednesday evening last, when the I snire of f!ong " For. Harry's Sake " was Bniik by the choir, under the direction The children sang; Hi'leSlß ind did S? cat crec3it to their I febinc Sevti-al solos and duets were ■Wit) flay good stylo. Miss Rimroer is HBping'of the hearty thanks of the neigli- the disinterested way in Bp'&biWhas given time and attention to ° There was a good atten- seem to appre- MJjjfee monthly gatherings. The eon- Hl'&Dßirativa of the service of song was ai;:jfagaa a largß audience at the Frank- B* SiW Church last ttvemng to hear the B frtHWorboys lecture on "Love. Court- B jllpf'Hamage." The Rev. C. E. B Sail presided. The lecture, which v/as B kwiiiß, iinm=inrr and practical, was in- S ' -i. -. .1 with singing from the Primitive B wist Choir. It was announced that B teSlifcy morning a-special service will be baring reference to the religious in- B Won oithe young. The ladies of the Bi fflngragation are preparing for a Christinas 8.4 of useful, ornamental, and mis- Bctiiieoiis goods: Friends who will kindly !.B|:|S ! ||#iJue3ted to. communicate with B WmMVapl, Wilson, Cullen, Walker, ■ ii tkiraters,; or. any of the ladies of the , B %v*m\ meeting of the Crown Lands Ifi hd was held yesterday when there were eWfnt: Mr D. A. Tole (Crown Lands Com ■ »'«M6t), snd Messrs J. Baberand Pearce. l ftli^ 0 " 4 lln ™l M:)rt;anfc business was . K'taaactd. It was decided to offer for sale J M scta2, block 12, 30 acres, timber re ' 9 **;Jots 120arfd 131, section!, town of c E u f° li wjiofc|G,.Beciion 5, Kohekohe (after c » i:tviyi; lr,ts 69 to 74, parish of Maim :ei|wi'(on defcrfed ' payment): 104 B;-:* K ji , '.wt'43; pariiih of. Okura (on dc f»B|praP"-ats)^iiorthern,porfcion ; of lot f ' !^are (under squaring' dß|Si. *nd loi 57, pariah of Maunga ii Asl tliese lots were submitted on -Kf* o{ var ' loue eetfclers. The iollow im'-" >i"~i v< ere also accepted for per fßHfS• ]eaie3: -Ml,.block 7, Maketu, -'■if- , ] 1M l je, ' acr6; lob 4, flr ■■lγ.^ per:acre; action'l3, block ftß» -i/T , E ' %H»gl>er, 5s 9cl per hB& -i ollov, ' in g selections' were de he mT 1, ? 1 o^'in = to non-payment of of i'tePJ ■ n " Otteli ' section 8 > Wock 9 eBS ,^ 9, block li > i arish - of o[na  inm Wit declin «l to sell the Tauta- in the parish D ißSi3i re ? uir «l for native purposes), ■Set: ' ; w ; Crown grunts .« mhsTi-x thefol! °winghomestead selec- Imi : ?ff l h C V, Green 3|15i V ' g; OUfidd, and C. and E. teßKte»Ki selection of M B&onf wa S grauted to Mr e6ti ?" Oi fte-.Warehousc i« E »iw Sotin f- Cla^ ion will - : ' beVLeld this k,^ V Rooms, 1« B^ «i kk« place fOr thC COming t0 niCefc a weU " »;l> t' J i? depend upon it Sβ ! *^ 1 tTs ■ the tailor ' afc itSafo cantata - "Bel- Ilalißv ■ i'l L Jauit "s's Hall, bcif I • *'hAbyt ( - : ° nduct0 '-. 1] r J . tbl fl lj ' i A S "f Bros. ym T ■ Zealand Clothing Fac -5 S^TV kebt ' are ™ »B»ai &B-"' ''' ' ' 'Wγ diß^ a y in ? th e new |I'>'..i au 'S season. Every de ' # Bfe'^Sfii 16 " 61 ?' ffi*B:l' f.youib f f ble and "setul styles |S*B &■"%»' XJJ? 10 clofchin S and *B S= , ? ,, #& hw Bu i te arfJ B P e «ally

SPORTING NEWS.

To-morrow's Races at Onehunga.

The Onehnnga Racing Club hold their Spring Meeting va the Recreation Reserve, to-morrow. The programme is a lengthy one, comprising eight events, all of which give promise of producing fair fields. The Spring Handicap should produce agood race between Friendship and British Lion,i and for choice I incline to the chance of the first named, while Peter Osbeck may annex the Hurdle Race. The Flying Stakes, on paper, appears a good thing for Tamora. Trains leave the Auckland station for Te Papa at 12 o'clock noon, 12.30 p.m., and 1.10 p.m.

HIPPONA.

MELBOURNE TRAINING NOTES.

[special message.]

Melbourne, this day,

' No important work was done at Fleming ton aiid Caulfield this morning. Trident Avent a strong gallop over two miles. Pasha and Spade Guinea had a spurt of a mile. Rocket, Mirella, Vinaigrette, Thunderbolt, and Silver Prince were out for moderate exercise. Silvermine had a gallop of a mile, finishing up well. "TIP" FOR THE CAULFIELD CUP.

The Levite, Pasha, or Lara should fur nish the winner of the C.nnlfield Cup to- the former for choice.

Messrs Tonks and Co. sold to-day at their auction mart the privileges of the Pakuranga Hunt Club Races, to be held on Saturday, October 22nd. The following were the prices :—Publican's booths outside paddock, L. Adams, £21; grand stand bir and luncheon-room, £9, Howard; Good Templar booths and fruit stalls, £2 ss, Mrs Mooney; cards,£22s, W. Adams; stabling, 30s, Gorman.

The cable announces the death of the ceie brated English jockey, George Fordham.

MELANCHOLY FATALITY.

News has been received from Whangarei of a sad accident which resulted in the death of a girl of seven years of age, daughter v>f the Rev. J. Ha.wkes. The little one was playing among a pile of firewood when she slipped, and a log that fell with her crushed her chest, causing almost instant death. ■..

A NEW GOLD SAVING PROCESS.

A LETTER has been received by the Frisco mail from Mr Vines, a gentleman largely interested in the jjolSfield of thia provincial district, and who is at present in England, stating that he is on the track of a new gold saving process which has giving astonishing results. It is probable that a parcel of stuff from the Crown mine, Karangahake, 20 tons perhaps will be sent to England immedi ately to be treated by the process alluded to.

AUCKLAND COAL MINES.

Tlie Late Minister's Report.

(by telegeafh—own kefortek.)

Wellington", this day. The annual report of the Mines Depart ment, prepared by the Hon. Mr Larnaeh, was submitted to the House of Represent- a tives yesterday. The following reference to Auckland coal mines is of great interest: The decreased output from Kawakawa mine is wholly due to the inferior character of the seams, which are evidently wedging out so thin that ianless coal can be found in other portions of the Company's land there is no prospect of ever getting anything like an output again from the mine unless recourse be had to working back on the pillars for the time they may last. Having in the early part of the year visited the principal coal mines North of Auckland, and examined the character both of the seam and the coal, I found the former to be greatly distorted with numerous rolls, and with faults frequently occurring which add to the risk and cost of working, and from the rest I saw I could not help coming to the conclusion that there was very little chance of a good seam of coal being found in that portion of the colony; that as regards quality and cost of mining, the product would never compare with the valuable condition of,the coal m:ne3 of the West toast of the Middle Island. '

POLICE COURT-THIS DAY.

(Before Messrs Gordon and Gilmore, J.P.s)

DRtmKENXESS.— Elizabeth Cuthbert was lined 20s and costs, or 48 hours' imprison ment, for this offence.

No Visible Means.—John Fraser was charged with having no lawful visible means of support.— jVfri Gordon stated that he knew the prisoner as a gardener, and did not see how he could convict,him of having no means of support.—Sergeant Pratt aaid he was glad the Bench Knew something about the man. The police had only done their duty in the matter, the prisoner having acted in a manner calculated to en danger his own life by wandering about at Parnell.— Prisoner was discharged, i Inpeoknt Assault. —John Sheehy was charged with having unlawfully assaulted one Margaret Lynch, aged 3 years. — Prisoner pleaded not guilty. —Mr >%. Dignan appeared oh behalf of the accused, and applied for a remand of one week. — Serjeant Pratt asked that the bail should be substantial. The offence was a serious one. The evidence to be given left no doubt of an offence having been commit ted, and it was probable that the charge ao-ainst the prisoner would be altereu to one of rape. —Mr Dignan said that he believed he would be able to prove that the prisoner was quite innocent of the charge.—Sergeant Pratt said he had three witnesses who would state that the girl had been tampered-with.—The Bench suggested bail in one surety of £50 and two sureties 6f £25 each, but Sergeant Pratt waa of opinion that the amounts were too-small.— Prisoner was ordered to find sureties, him self in £50 and two others of £50 each. False Djsclaratiox. — The Helensville Timber Company's case was further . ad journed till to-morrow. _ Refusal to Deliver Receipts.-Chas. Newman was charged with that on the 20th of August,. 1887, at Helensville, being an officer of the Royal Delta Lodge, he dul upon demand in writing refuse to deliver to G. J. Moncrief, a person appointed by the said Society for that purpose, certain properties of the said Lodge, to wit, the receipts °iven to you, the said Charles JSiew man, in your capacity as Secretary of the said Lodge, by one Joseph JPlood, Trea surer, between 20th July, 1885, and Ist August, -1887'\-Mr S. Hesketh said # this case came under the Friendly Societies Act. 1882, and would require to be dealt with by the R.M. Hβ asked for an ad journment till tomorrow, which was graofred; l : •

THE FIRE IN WELLINGTON STREET.

PUBLIC INQUEST.

Ox the coroner's inquest into the recent tire in Wellington-street resuming after the adjournment yesterday afternoon, Mr Theo. Cooper began a searching cross examination of the witness with respect to his losses by the fire, and the proof of loss given by him to Mr S. Pratt (agent for Royal Insurance Company). Between De" cember, 1886, and April, 1887, he was in capacitated for work by the loss of a hand through an accident, and during all this time his only income was the 13s 4d per week allowed him by the Oddfellows' Lodge. When he entered into business, he had £200 in cash, which included the proceeds of the sale of 70 acres of Waikato land. He subse quently borrowed £40 at 10 per cent, in May, mortgaging a property for it. At that time he had £100 cash in his house. He borrowed the £40 in order that along with the £100 he might invest it in Thames shares. He gave a man named Harrison £113 to invest for him, and Harrison cleared out with it. The receipt for the £113 had been burnt in the recent fire. He did not think he owed £50 now altogether. The total amount of stock he had purchased from Mr Heather (according to this gentleman's account) was £148. Mr Buchanan's account showed that the total amount bought from him was of the value of £60. He also bought goods from Mr Sehischk'a, but none of them existed at the time of the fire. From a man named Walter, whose surname he did not know, he bought bacon, cheese, and candles. From the hawker he mentioned in answer to Detec tive Walker, he bought six half-chests of tea. These were all his purchases. His sales amounted to about £5 per week, of which about £4 were the proceeds of Schischka's butter and eggs. The witness immediately corrected himself by saying that his total takings were about £4 per week, and this included the goods obtained from Schischka. It was not the case that he. started with £100 worth of goods, and that he never had more than this amount in the shop. His proof of loss, repre senting £192 7s sd, mainly represented the total quantity of goods he had ever purchased from Heather and Buchanan during the whole time he was in business, viz., From 12th April to 28th September. The business was not a very paying con cern. Hi* reufc cost 13s per week, he paid a boy 6s per week, and his sales were about £4 per week, of which £3 was for butter, and eggs obtained from Schischka. He had £32 in hand at the time of the' fire. It was money from takings. He had book debts, but he did not know what they were. They did not amount to £10. The shop measured about 17 feet by 13 feet. He got a cata logue of the stock from Daly (Buchanan's traveller) after the fire. By Mr Hesketh : The boy Patrick Flynn showed him the stones he picked up in the shop. Witness hailed a piece of board over the broken fanlight assisted by the boy Flynn.' It was done in broad daylight. One green blind was put on the shop win dow to ba drawn up or down at pleasure. He wanted long shutters because panes of glass had been previously cracked by stones or gravel. By a juror: He bought the ten boxes of soap from a hawker. Re-examined by Mr Cooper: The Christian name ofjHarrison,to whom he gave the £113, was Edwin. Ho had known him for 12 years. Mr Cooper pointed out that according to the witness's statement ho had purchased £120 worth of good 3 from Heather, £43 Avorth from Buchanan, about £52 worth from Schischka, on a computation of only £2 per week, £20 worth from hawkers, besides paying £48* 18s in rent, which, with the £113 given to the mythical Harrison, made a total of £362185. Against this he had stated he had only £240 cash. Hβ wished to know how the disparity was to be ac counted for. The witness replied that there were £140 proceeds of land sold, and £90 from his sister-intlaw. Mr Cooper pointed out that these were the sums which made up the £240 cash. The witness said that his memory was not good, as the doctors could testify. The Coroner remarked that the witness's memory had been good enough to enable him to give a verbatim account of Maggie Flynn'e written statement. Mr Cooper: Is it not true that you never had more than £100 worth of goods in your shop at anytime? Witness : No, ibis noi true. Patrick Flynn, shopboy lately in last witness's service, deposed that on the night of the fire he left Mr McNamara's shop at 7.30 o'clock. Mrs McNamara and witness's sister (Margaret Flynn) were then: in the house. Hβ was in the shop the greater park of the 27th. Mrs McNamara did not take any' goods out of the shop that day. She went out with the baby in the peram bulator, but did not take away any goods concealed in it. There were six half-chests of tea in the shop. Of the six bins behind the counter No. 1 contained about half a cwt. of sugar.Nos. 2and3 were empty; No. 4 was half-full of tapioca. There were about 6 or 7 bags of sugar under the counter. He was quite sure that Mr McNamara had not been talking to him about the contents of the shop. Mr Hesketh complained that the boy was being treated as a hostile witness, and that he had not manifested any sign of hostility. Detective Walker rejoined that the boy was hostile,as his statements to-day were at variance with those he had previously made to the detectives. __■' '^v The Coroner did not think Mr Heaketh need feel alarmed on the boy's account. He <mve his evidence with great coolness. In fact he never before had seen a boy give evidence with greater sangfroid. . Examination continued : He did not see Mrs McDonnell, Mrs Robinson or his mother receive any goods on the 27th. There was as much stock on the 27th ult. as a month previously. He was with Detective Tuohy vi his house after the fire and £aye him a list of the goods in the shop. He did not tell him there were only two half chests of tea in the shop, but he did tell him that there were two half chests outside the counter. . Cross-examined by Mr Cooper : There were 23 bags of f10ur,25 and 501b bass. There were two boxes of soap and some bars 6n the shelves; 1 partially filled box of cocoa, and more than six boxes of candles. He went to the shop in the beginning of July. There -was about the same stock at the time of the fire as when he went to the shop in • By Mr' Hesketh: The board placed across the fanlight was. put there to keep out the draught caused by the glass beene broken. One morning when he went to the shop he found the fanlight and a window pane broken and two stones lying in the shop. He helped to put up the board and also the window-blinds. £ Annie McNamara, wife of John Mc- Namara, deposed that on the night of the 27th ult., when she was in tj»»*hop, Mrs O'Donnell was there till late, and on leaving the latter took. some..groeeruw with her She paid for these srrocenee. . Mrs McNamara then detailed, the circum. stances attendant upon the outbreak of fire in", the shop, and further deposed to the furniture which was .in the house on the .'right of the .fire, and that which had been saved. She admitted that she went out with the baby in the perambu lator on the day previous to the fire, one

she went to St. Patrick's Cathedral. She sent a telegram to her sister at the Thames, on the 28th ultimo, the boy Flynn writing it. The telegram asked her sister, Miss Bella O'Donnell, to send Johnny (witness's husband) home, as they.had been burned out and had escaped with their lives.

By Mr Cooper: Before her husband en tered business, Mrs O'Donnell, Bent £90 to McNamara, which was put in the bank. Before commencing business, he withdrew ■the £90 from the bank. McNamara borrowed £70 from Hill and Mahony, and £40 a few days afterward. She heard that he had spent some of the money in im proving land. Witness did not know a Mi- Harrison, a friend of her husband ; nor did she hear that her husband had lost £113 through him. Mr McNamara had sold land, "though not within two years ago. Any money in the house was keut in a box belonging to witness, and there was as much as £200 in it at one time, but it was put in the bank. The money borrowed from Hill and Mahony did not form any part of this sum. There was much more stock at the time of the fire than when the business was entered . upon. The weekly takings of the shop were about £4. On the night before the hre she gave groceries to Mrs Robinson upon an order, but some of the articles supplied were given to her with any charge, as Mrs Robinson had been kind to her.

By Mr Hesketh : On the night of the fire witness and the girl Margaret Flynn retired to rest about eleven o'clock. The girl stayed with her that night because her hus band was away. Witness had been in ihe front room till late, with Margaret Flynn, Mr* O Donnell, and Mrs McNamara's little girl. A fire was burning in the room that nighfc, and upon retiring, the lamp was turned down low. When the alarm of fire was given next morning, witness, on running out of the burning building, first met Mr Hughes, and he directed her to his house. Witness wished to go back to the shop to get money which was in the house, but she was prevented from doing so by Mrs Hughes. She knew nothing of the cause of the fire.

The inquiry was at this stage adjourned till half-past ten o'clock this morning.

On resuming this morning, Mr Glendon (in the absence of Mr Theo. Cooper) ap peared for the Koyal Insurance Co. Mr E. Hesketh again appeared for John McNa mara, and Detective Walker conducted the exaroinatipn of witnesses. The Coroner said he understood on very good authority that someone hnd been speaking to the jury about the circum stances that happened the night of the lire. It was a most improper thing, and the jury should not have been approached on such a matter. When there were counsel engaged on both sides the communications should have been made to them.

Mr Heskoth expressed surprise at the charge, but concurred in the Coroner's re marks.

One of the jurors disclaimed any knpw leilge of the matter. Margaret Flynn, a girl of 15 years, was the first witness called. She stated that she resided with her mother in Porapallier Terrace, Ponsonby. On the night of the 27th September she slept at Mrs Mc- Namara'p, that lady having asked her to stay till her husband came back. That was the first nightshestayed at Mrs McNamara's. She slept along with Mrs McNamara in a bed in the bedroom next to the kitchen wall. Witness slept next to the wall, and Mrs McNamara lay between her and the baby. Tbey vtere undressed. It must have been near 11 when they went to bed, as they had been looking at a fire in the distance. Mrs O'Donnell was there too, but she left about 10 o'clock. They were aH in the sitting-aoom and the two children of Mrs McNamara were both in bed and uMreesed. Mrs O'Donnell and Mrs McNanwru went into the shop before the former left, as she wanted some groceries- - .,, Sho did not know whether Mrs MeNama: a took off her petticoats on going to bed. Witness put her boota on the side of a box.

Detective: Did you not tell mo at Pon sonby, in presence of your mother, that you put them on top of your clothes, and that you always did so ? Witness : No ; I did not. I might have told you I put. them on top of my clothes when I ran out with them into the street after the alarm.

Examination contined': On going to Mrs Hughes's, after the fire, she did not tell Mrs Hughes .that Mrs McNamara desired her on going to bed to put her boots on top of her clothes in case of fire. She swore she did not. After the fire she first went round to Mrs Robin son's. Witness was the first to give the alarm of "the fire. She heard a crackling noise, and after calling MrsJi McNamara she lit the candle, went to the front room door, partly opened it and saw smoke of the colour of smothered flames. She could not see actual fire or anything in the room. It was full of red smoke. She could, not. see into the shop. It was not true that she and Mrs McNamara remained for some time waiting in the house after the fire had been discovered. She saved all her clothes, and she was in a hurry to get out. While she ran to rap up Mr Robinson she left her little girl in the street. Mrs McNamara went to alarm the people on the other side of the house and Mrs Robinson, having been told of the out break by witness, ran on to her own Veran dah and called out " Fire." . In rapping up the Hallet's (her neighbours on the other side) Mrs McNamara called out "Fire," and so also did Witness.

Detective: Did not both you and Mrs McNamara after coming out of the house knock for fully 5 niinutes at Mallet's house before calling out " fire " at all. Witness*: No; I did. not knock at Mallet's at all. Mrs McNamara told me to run quick to Mrs Robinson's. Detective: Waen did Mrs McNamara first call but "Fire?! ,

Witness: From the moment we got put side the house until' we went to 'Mrs Hughes'e wo were both calling , out "Fire." On the night of the 27th Mrs O'Donnell's girl wae there and when Mrs McNaraara and witness went to Mrs Hughes's they fouud Mrs O'Donnell and Mary O'Donnell there dressed. She did not. hear until after the fire that Mr Malletb was an invalid and not able to move about.

By Mr Hesketk: When they went to bed there was a little fire in the front room. Mary O'Dohnell was at Mrs MoNainara's when witness went there. She had been foing to stay if witness did not come, 'hen witness heard the .crackling noise and called Mrs McNauaara. The latter, as far as she knew, was asleep. [At this stage Mr Cooper arrived, and took Mr Clendon's place.] After Mrs Mclfau 1 ara had.been about five minutes ab Mrs Hughos's, she suddenly called oub " Oh, the money," and tried to get back to the burning house. As the flames were then coming through the roof Mrs Hughes and witness prevented her. Mrs Hughes then ran out to tell her son about the money so that it might be saved if possible..-, . . —

By Jurors :—When Mrs MoNaraara and she were going to bed there were two small pieces of board on the open fireplace of the sitting-room and .Mrs McNamara pushed bhe tire back on the fireplace. They both retired together. Thei-e was no fender in front of the fire. The carpet covered the hearth half-way to the fireplace, which was one brick high. By Detective Walker; Mr McXamara bad seen her since the fire, via., oh. the Friday night after the Wednesday of the fire. He saw her at Ponsonby, and asked her'what she knew about the fireJ Her brother Michael (17 years of age) caiiie with him. She told, what she kheft M\V\Q. fire, and what she said her brother wrote down, and after it was read over she signed it.

Left sitting.

WAITOA PROSPECTING ASSOCIATION.

MR POND'S REPORT AND ADVICE.

A meeting of the members of the Waitoa Prospe.ctinar Association was held at Mr ft'itheford's office yesterday afternoon. There were present : R. Cameron (in the chair), Messrs J. Brown, J. H. Witheford, H. N. Abbott, J. A, Pond, E. H. Whitake^ E. Hornsby and others. Mr Pond on behalf of himself and Messrs Witheford and Brown, his co-delegates, made the following statement of their visit to Waitoa on behalf of the Association : In accordance with the desire of the Association the delegates had proceeded to Waitoa, and had examined the alleged auriferous deposits. Numerous trials of dish-washing were made on Smith s pro perty and in various parts of the district, with the result which satisfied them that such method of testing for payable gold was not the correci one, or, if it was, that the gold seen was not indicative of a pay able field. He might say that before start ing on the journey he and Mr E. H. Whit aker felt it necessary to have the permission of the Christchurch Company to enter on Mr Smith's land for the purpose of obtaining samples. The necessary authority was ob tained by Sir F. Whitaker, one of the mem bers of the Waitoa Prospecting Association. Mr Witheford had obtained offers of large areas of the alleged auriferous ground afc Waitoa on which it was intended, to carry on operations at once if payable gold was ascertained to exist, On the afternoon of the first day of arrival at Waitoa the delegates made a trial on Go vernment land, the right to prospect which had been obtained from the Waste Lands Board. There were no satis factory results obtained, though a parcel previously taken from the ground by Mr j Witheford had yielded bullion at the rate of 12s 8d per ton. The assay of the bullion was 38s 10d per ounce. Next morning the party drove in one ot Bradley's buggies to Mr Smi h's property,which consists of 2000 acres of the supposedauriferous dirt. It is situated some six miles from Te Aroha township. Mr Smith's residence is situ ated on a high ridge which strikes through Messrs Smith aud Larkworthy's properties, extending south east and north west, with a gentle slope towards the north east, terminating in Hat land which extends to. Te Aroha. The company were met by Mr Smith, who readily conducted them over the property. In his presence, material was bagged from the mouths of the various shafts, four of which had been sunk by himself and one by the Canterbury ex perts. A comprehensive plan of the ground provided by Mr Whitaker would enable the members of the Association to under stand the various workings,which were then most carefully inspected and tested. No. 1 shaft was 20 chains north-west of the house, No. 2 further north. No. 3 shaft was 20 chains from Mr Larkworthy's boundary. No. 4 was described by Mr Smith as the copper shaft, and was 500 yards east of No. 3 shaft. No. 5 shaft was on the other side of the property at the back of the house. After carefully selecting samples of the stuff lying at" the mouth of each shaft, these were bagged and labelled, and it was alongside No. 5 shaft that the first bore hole was put down by the delegates to a depth of 18 feet, being one foot deeper than the ahaft itself. The assay value of the core taken gave lldwts. lOgrs. of gold and ldwt. of silver per ten. After this was finished, a bore hole was sunk close to No. 2 shaft, a depth of 13ft. 6in. being ob tained, when the rods broke, prevent ing the depth of the bottom of the abaft being reached. While -this bore was being put down three of the party were panning ofl and Mr Witheford obtained a few faiat colours—all that could be 'gpt in dish-washing. The assay from the core showed merely a trace of gold arid ldwt 15grs. of silver per ton. A core from the bottom of No 3 shaft gave a similar result, viz., a trace of gold, and ldwt 15grs. silver per ton. Another bore sunk adjacent to No 3 shaft 15 feet; deep gave assay result faint trace of gold, silver6dwt 15grs., per ton. .From No 4or copper shaft a sample of stutf only was taken from the heap lying on the surface. The result of the assay gave 2ozs 12dwts 6grs standard gold—no trace of silver whatever—equal in value to £10 per ton. A bore hole was not sunk alongside this shaft. It would be seen that assays made of stuff taken from Nos. 1 and 2 shafts gave, in each case, 19dwts 14grs per ton of standard gold ; no silver. From material obtained on the edge of No. 3 shaft the assay result was 16dw.ts Bgrs gold and 3dwts 6grs silver per ton. Mr Pond then explained that having got such results by assay from material taken fromtho heaps lying at the- mouth of the shafts, he very carefully panned off these samples to obtain specimens of the gold for microscopical examination. He succeeded in getting a few specks, which presently he would be pleased to show them at his laboratory. He further stated that he had not before had under examination alluvial gold of this class, and he was of opinion that the gold was not in its natural form, and after the members of the association had examined it for themselves he would leave them to their own deduction and deciding whether they would spend any more time and money in investigating the Waitoa auriferfeus dirt. For nis ovnrparb he was quite satis. fied that there was not the slightest en couragement for them to spend any more moneyt The object of the investigation was not to make a charge against anyone : it was simply to determine if gold existed in sufficient quantities to justify them carrying on goldmining operations. He was satisfied that it did not,

In reply to a question by one of the mem bers of the association if the bores had been made by Mr. Smith or themselves, it was explained that Mr Smith had assisted at only one of the boxes—the first one put down adjoining No. 5 shaft. : Mr Pond then read the result of the assays as follows :—

Assays made of, material obtained at Wai toa on the sth and'6th iiist. from Mr J. B. Smith's ground:— . ■ .

Vrerasre of material lying in heap at edge of shaft: ■

Gold. Silver, oz. dwt.gr. dwt. gr. No. 1 Assay, No. 1 shaft.. 0 19 14 ..nil. 2 ~ „ 2 „ ..0 19 14 ..lul, 3 ! 3 „ ..0 16 8 ..3 i> 4 „ "4 „ .. 2 12., I ... nil. „ 5 „ it 5 „■■'.. trace .; 3 6 Sunk by Prospecting Association alongside heap lyinff on surface: No. 6 „ ~ -.. 0 11 10 ..1 18 ~7 „ „ 2 ~ .. faint trace ..3 6 8 „ ~ 3 „ •■ faint trace ..1 15 Check sample of average on surface: 9 „ „ .3shaft., trace ..1 15 ■10 „ „ 2 „ .. trace' .. 1 1§ Core from bottom of shaft: „11 „ „ 3 „ .. trace ..I 15 (Signed) J. A. Pond, Colonial Analyst. E. H. Whitaker. . ,

The members of the Association then pro ceeded to Mr Pond's laboratory, where two powerful microscopes where in position,ancl on the table was a collection of tiny iron borings and shavings, placed there.for the purpose of enabling the party, to compare microscopically with the grains of gold ob tained by waahihga of stun from Mr Smith's groupcl. The similiarity in form of the gold and these iron filings was very striking', and Mr Pond stated that a sovereign turned on a lathe would produce similar particles to those shown. , The' entire sence of silver, he said, to the mjis<}« of the analyst was also a most stance. In reply a. question Itix Pond stated there wfcs /no silver in ah Eng lisji sQvefeisn, ' " . Jtefere the members of the Association dispersed they authorised the Secretary if he thought proper to arrange for \)\§ feest of a large parcel, say 5 itonMww the Go< toad from %&«& tj&e a

parcel had been treated giving the result of 12s 8d per ton. At the same time they all concurred with Mr Pond's opinions on the results of the ca,reful assays, aad agreed that it had got to be proved that gold in natural deposits exists in payable quantities at Waitoa. A vote of thanks was accorded to the delegates for their exertions in the matter.

Confidence in Christchurch Unshaken.

Notwithstanding the certainty that exists in the minds of many people here that the Waitoa discovery is a bogus one, and the fact that the results of Messrs Pond and Whitaker's assay was sent to Christchurch by telegraph last night (and is no doubt published fully in the papers there this morning,) shows that confidence in Christ church as to the payable nature of the find seems to be unabated. One private tele gram received here to-day reads as follows,: —" Confidence in Waitoa still unshaken," while another states :—" Can sell good par cel of Waitoa shares at yesterday's quota tions."

The Idea of 'Salting" Repudiated.

Mr R. B. B. Willis an old and respected settler at Waitoa who dug out the stuff for 'Messrs Barnes Maude and Hill utterly re pudiate the.idea of salting. He says that a more honourable man than Mr Smith never, stepped and from the circum stances under which the tests were obtained the stuff could not possibly Have been salted. Mr Willis further states that on Monday last Mr Smith had some stuff taken out for transmission to Australia where, it will be heated by the Newberry-Vautin,process. Two gentlemen from the South superintended the raising of this stuff and Mr Smith had nothing to do with it.

ASSAULT AND ROBBERY.

THE LAMBING-DOWN PROCESS.

At the Police Court this morning, Patrick Bedford and Margaret Carroll, alias Bedford, were charged with unlaw. fully assaulting Robert Wilson, and also with stealing from the same a silver watch, valued at £6, a gold guard valued at £4, and a purse valued at 6d, on the 26th September last. Witnesses were ordered out of Court at the request of the male prisoner.

Robert Wilson, surveyor, deposed that he resided in Grey-street. He was about the city on the day of the general election, and had been drinking. He passed the junction of Cook and Vincents treets on his way home that ■ night. The male prisoner spoke to him, and said he knew a place where they could get a drink. They went into a house at the corner of Vin cent and Cook streets. When he entered the house he had six single notes in a velvet bag, a sovereign andsome silver, a silver watch and gold chain. He went into a sort of sitting-room, where he saw the female prisoner. Another female was brought in and cards were introduded, but he did not play. ' They di'arik some liquor, and the male prisoner went oiit for more. Bedford brought back beer and spirits. Witness took some beer. He recollected nothing of what happened after that until next morning, when he found himself locked upat the Police-Station. He then missed his property, and reported the matter to the police. He recognised the bag (produced) as the one in which he , had the six notes* but a brass chain (produced) was not his. He felt very bad, and had several black marks on his body. Elizabeth Disriiore, wife of Wil liam Dismore, living in Wellesley-street, deposed that she went to visit the prisoners for company. She was there on the night of the 26th, and satf Bedford; his wife, and Robert Wilson. The latter put the purse and some money on the' table." Saw Bed ford take a sovereign from under the purse, ai.d subsequently move the purse so that ahalf-sovereign fell on the floor. Wilsop. told him to leave the purse alone, ajvi"he replied that it was only a " peeny " that had fallen. Wilson gave Bedford 7s 6d to go for liquor, and Mrs Bedford, followed the I male prisoner to the verandah. She came i back in ten minutes, and they went into the kitchen. Bedford returned with 1 brandy and beer, Bedford and his wife | had none; witness had a small glass of I brandy and Wilson a glass of beer. AI tumbler of brandy Mas offered to Wilson I by Bedford. Wilson refused it at first, but Bedford forced him to take it by hold ing the glass to his mouth. Immediately afterwards Wilson lay back on the sofa really drunk. Wilson asked to be allowed to stop in the house for the night. Bed ford said he. could not do that because the police would come.: Wilson went off to sleep, and Bedford said to his wife " Now is the time."' Mrs Bedford took the watch out of Wilson's pocket and held it while the male prisoner took the chain off by break-in* a link. Bedford put the chaiq in his pocket and Mrs Bedford putithd watch back into Wilson's pocket. Wilaon then lay on the sofa for ten minutes, and Bedford put a brass chain (produced) on Wilson's watch, She believed the chain belonged to Patsy Carroll, "now undergoing sentence fay watch stealing. Witness assisted Mrs Bedford to carry .Wilson as far as the back gate. Bedford then shoved Wilson and knocked him down on his face, Wilson fell down two steps and tumbled in the lane, Bedford said the man had a w&fcoh, and he would have.it. His wife took the watch and gave it to Bedford, 'who cursed and swore because it was not taken quickly enough. , " .Wilson then called out " Police," and Bedford closed the gate arid witness and Mye Bedford re-entered the house by the front door. There was, then a row between the prisoners, either about, the watch and chain or the money, and Mrs• Bedford wehtinto the • bedropro. Bedford said if he got hold of her'he would murder her, and rushed at the door and burst it in. He heard Mrs. Bedford say, "Tor God's sake, Paddy, dob*t hit me and I'll give it to you." Qn the following morning, Mrs-; Bedford said that Bedford bad taken £2 15s from the man, and asked witness to say nothing about it. Qo the Thursday after the robbery 1&& prisoner's Ufctle girl found the velvet purse and gave it to one, of her lohoolmates. Theprisoner seemed annoyed, and ordered the child to get the bag back, which was done.

To the Bench : Whilst the row was going on I was sitting down and looking on.' William Dismore, husband oL the pre ceding witness* gave . corroborative evi dence.

(Left sitting.)

SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

THE BURNING OF SATIPAITIA,

By the arrival of the Alaineda we have further information regarding the de struction pf the, village of . Satinaitia. The Admiral of the German fleet ordered that four important chiefs who had been supporters |of h Malietoa should come on Jboard of the flagship on a cer tain date., The message, we are informed, read in the first instance: "If you dp not come on board .your village will be burned down," but "in the translation that little word " not" was omitted. The ; consequence was that the chiefs did, not appear aa expected, and the Germans landed a party which setfire to aud destrpyed the village, containing some 200 or 300 native dwellings. It is said that nobody was more amazed than the Admiral himself when he learned of' the , blunder that had, bee. a committed.

LATE CABLES.

WAR INEVITABLE.

GERMANY AND KUSSIAj

TO FIGHT;

(special to press association.)

London, October 13. Ik a letter written to the "Neve Freio Presse " of Vienna, Prince Vorougoff de clares that war between Russia and Germany is inevitable.

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.

MR CHAMBERLAIN COMING

ROUND.

(special to peess association).

London, October 13. Mr Chambeklain has declared his readi ness to concede a great extension of local government to Ireland, but he maintains that the distinct recognition of a separate national existence would amount to abso lute independence. The ties -which unite England and her colonies "are, In hi ß opinion, merely temporary, and will only be made permanent by the adoption of a scheme of Imperial Federation. If an at tempt were made to grant Ireland the sain© legislative independence as is enjoyed tafjr Canada, the probable result would, he fears, be the creation of a separate king dom.

THE SAMOAN CRISIS.

American Warship Despatched.

(HEUTEB.)

Sax Francisco, October 13. ; The United States corvette Adams hyS been ordered to proceed to Samoa.

(SPKCIAL.)

London, October ia&

THE GERMAN CROWN PRINCE,

A serious relapse has occurred in the case of the Crown Prince of Germany, who is suffering from a dangerous form of throab disease. • : ,

LORD HARTINGTON'S HOPE.

The Marquis of Hartington has published a letter in which he expresses the hope that all Unionists, without reference to political parties, will reunite with a deter mination to maintain law and order in Ire land, r

JAY GOULD AND CHINA.

The Chinese Government have withdrawn the concession granted to an American syn dicate to establish a bank and contrpl th e railways and telegraphs of /the Chinese Empire. - . • : !

GOLD MINING COMPANIES.

The Cromwell (Otago) Gold Mining Coral pany has been registered with a capita ;0Jk5125,000. ; , .■-'■'''■ ' : '■-■■''■■

, The Scottish Australian Mining Com pany has declare! a dividend of: 1?§ per cent.. ■ ■'■ '• ' '' : '■'■;■ ■'■■ -', ;■' ■ ■ ■~'- •

LARGE JUBILEE FUND.

The Congregationalist Jubilee Fund amounts to £430,000.

LADY BRASSEY'S DEATH.

The London papers join in deploring the death of Lady Brassey. The malarial fever from which she died w&s contracted between Port Darwin and Mauritius. : CANADA AND THE FISHERIES • QUESTION. , In the course of a speech at Montreal M Michael Davitt warned England that the Canadian feeling on the Fisheries question resembled the Australian resentment to Lord Derby's lukewarmness with regard to New Guinea. .' SOUTH AUSTRALIA. The report of the directors of the Bank of South Australia has been adopted. Mr Cuthbertson has been elected a director. The action of the Chairman in appointing Mr Anderson was approved. .

ELECTRIC RAILWAY FOR SYDNEY.

The North Shore (Sydney) -Electric EaiK way plant has been shipped by the s:s. Massilia. . .: . - V-'''.\ ' ■ '<■■ Hi

Berlin, October 13.

The Emperor "William, has' sent a con tribution oi 10,000 marks to the fund for the relief of sufferers by cholera in Sicily.

OUR GOLDFIELDS.

Thames, this day.

Saxon.-r 25 lbs. of picked atone were ob tained to-day from the leading stope, sea ward ofthe rise atjNo. 4-level. ■ y- ■

COKOBIANDEL, this day.

Royai. Oak. —Since my last, there have been two breakings down of the reef which did not come tip' , to expectations. Only a few picked stones were obtained oii the cross-head. It does not seem to extend on each side, the same as lower down. At pre* sent, the reef is favourable looking, arid still showing gold going, up. There is no thing new to report from tribute. — Peter Reid. October 12th; 1887. , ■

FIRE AT WARKWORTH.

Inspector Shebmast has received • informa" tion from Constable Haddock, of Wark worth, that Mrs Bowen's store at that place was bulged down at 11 o'clock last ; night._ The fire originated within the building and no person slept on. the premises. There Avas no fireplace. -The stoi-eman locked xip at 7.30 and handed over i the key. as usual. The building was owned by Mrs Such and was uninsured. It 'Viras valued at £80. Mrs Bowen's stock was in sured in the Imperial for £600. The whole contents of the store were destroyed, but Mrs Bowen's loss has hot been estimated.."' The cause of the fire is unknown.

COMING EVENTS.

-. ; ■. K eetliags, •: &a. ■,; To-night., -' ':■■ \ : t Abbott's Opera House—" Rory o'More,' ,! B. • Drill-shed — Auckland, Poosonby, and Waite* mata Naval Artillery, 7.30. ■

Rota of Justices at Police Court.

October 15.—Messrs W.Hajnmond, and <1A» Harris. Tγ.

5

<;■■■ THE AtfGKLAND EVENING STAR, ERIDAY, OCTOBEft 14, 1887.