AUCKLAND.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3323, 16 August 1879, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

; Last night. Sailed: Barquontine Malay for Sydney, and brigantine Look-out for Kaipara and Sydney. A meeting is convened of trade societies to form ; a Working Men's Political Association. The Free Lance is now announced as a bi-weekly.

The Her. J. S. Hill, of the Church Missionary Society, was presented with a valedictory address at the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association. He leaves by the Wanaka for a visit to Gisborne, he being permanently stationed at the Wairoa, Hawkes Bay, under Bishop Stuart. A carious case came before the Magis. trate to-day, that of Mary Williams charged with deserting her children. Prisoner stated that she and her supposed husband lived very comfortably until she found out he had another wife in England. It is alleged her husband William Williams admitted he had another wife in England at the time he married the prisoner, but she had died since the children were born. His Worship, under the circumstances, discharged the prisoner; and'committed the children to the Industrial Home for five years.

The caae against the Captain and mate of the Minister of Marine for alleged cruelty to Alfred Cale was resumed today. Mr Tyler applied to have the charges preferred separately, so as to get in the evidence of the mate or Captain for the defence, but the Magistrate refused to do so. The police had to suppress manifestation of applause during the cross* examination of Cale. . '

A deputation headed by Seymour George waited on Mr Eeader Wood to solicit him to stand for Waitemata. Mr Wood enquired if Government were sup. porting the candidature of Hurst, to which Mr George replied in the negative, and he then consented.

F. Whitaker will,probably bo a candidate for Eden. Barton Ireland to-day declined to stand for City West. Blakey, Mayor of Onehunga, has declined to contest the seat with O'Rorke. A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce has been held to discuss a memorial of the Sydney Chamber on the subject of duties levied under the American tariff. The meeting adjourned till Wednesday. Mr Dargaville tendered the following motion —" That the interests of the colony, and particularly of this provincial district, will not be served by throwing opdn our markets free to the products of other Countries, while New Zealand products of the same class are excluded from theirs."

Merchants are still complaining of the wet weather, which is retarding the operations of buyers for the Spring and Summer trades. Several trade sales by auction have been held this week, but the paucity of buyers and the offers made, were such as to leave no option, but the withdrawal of goods. In breadstuffs the stocks have been little added to, consequently late values lire thel order of the day; oatmeal is well supplied, and. stock* are beyond require-

ments, a line to arrive having been quitted at about £15 10s. In butter and ®ggs, prices are stationary. Oa's still

remain at old quotations, and sales haro been made as low as 2s 6d, while much superior feed has changed hands 2s 9d and 2s lOd. Maize still continues to pour in from, the Islands, 800 sacks having been received this week ex Meg Merrilies from Fiji, but the low rates ruling have compelled consignees to store it, prime qualities being parcelled out in trade lots at 3s 2d and upwards; a line of Sydney was quitted at 3s 6d. Potatoes are, if anything, rather firmer, and a line of Canterbury were sold on the wharf at £6, Hobartons are now out of first hands, and holders are asking from £8 to £8 10s. Pearl barley £24 4s; malt, Southern, 8s 9d to 9s; barley sold at from 6s 6d to 6t 9d.