STEAM SUBSIDY TO THE NORTH.

Our opinion on tlio expediency of subsidising a steara vessel to the Nort'x is j well known. Wo were the advocates of the measure when it was out of favour, as wo are now when it is popnlai*. Wo know thafc without regular steam communication between tho Northern ports of this province and Auckland, the progress of settlement will be retarded for years. Without the nid of steam vessels, the development of the resources of this pivninco will be tardily brought about. On this subject we have already written sufficient, however, and will content ourselves by once move urging on the Provincial Council the necessity for settling this question for at lenst twelve months. Tt is a misfortune that Auckland should be dependent on a Wellington company for a steam-boat, and were it possible to obtain a steam vessel of our own, or indeed a Miitablo boat from any othpr place, we would not give the preference to Wellington. 13ut as matters stand, w e think there is hardly an alternative but to subsidise one of the New Zealand Fleam Navigation Company's boats, and thus enable that company 1o pay a dividend out of Die resources of Auckland. At the «,amo time, we do say that this result his in a great measure been brought about by the action of our Provincial Government, which acted throughout as if no steam vessels were afloat but those belonging to Wellington. No effort was made to obtain tenders for the Northern steam service, which might havo been procured subj n cl to a vote of the Council ; but negotiations were carried ou with the agent of the Wellington company in direct opposition to the mind of tho Council. Now, whatever may be our opinion of tho Provincial Council — by ho»v far soever it falls short occasionally of 'what mo believe to bo ils duty, and however much we may be inclined to think tliatat times it mistakes its functions — yet, in this matter, we are clearly of opinion that the mind of the Council ought to have guided his Honor the Superintendent and Ins Executive And we cannot too strongly censure that left-handed expedient (namely, a petition io his Honor to retain the steamei) which was hit upon as a means of strengthening the Executive in their efforts to subsidise a Wellington boat against the wish of the Council and the feeling of the groat majority of the province. At the same time, when we have said tins, we arc by no means prepared to forego the advantage of steam communication, simply because we cannot have it in the way we would like best We require a steam vessel for the North, and better a Wellinglonboat than none. Granted, that (he ' Wonga Wouga ' is nofc a suitable boat, we are met by the proposal of the company that so soon as I he subsidy has been voted the 'Sform Bird ' will be sent round ; and wo are likewise told that the ' Storm Bird ' steam 1 ? one-ami ahalf to (wo mile-> mi hour quicker than the 'Wonga Wonga.' Tins meels the objection raised against the 'Wonga Wonga,' and it simply becomes a question whether wo are to have steam communication with ihe North or not. Let us seen re this steam «en ice, we say by all means. The Northern ports have been too long isolated from the capital; and the Northern settler* have been cut off* from diiect intercourse with this city to their loss, and the los«. of tins community ns well. For the sake of all parties therefore, we must have .a steamer to ply regularly to the Bay of Islands and Wangarei; and if we had two steamers so much the better. One boat would bo fully employed on the Ease Coast, north to Mongonui . and another between Coromandel, Tauranga, and Auckland. The coalfields of the Bay and Wangarci alone would warrant the subsidising of a boat until their development became a sufficient inducement to a company to run without a subsidy ; and the gold and timber produce of Coromandel, and the importance of the traffic with. Tauranga, and perhaps Mercury Bay as an intermedia to place of call, would now warrant the province in going to tho cost of subsidising a steamer to encourage settlement and the investment of capital in those quarters. That Coromandel must be the port and emporium of the Thames district there can be no earthly doubt; and the yield of gold at present is indicative of what may be expected from the further skilful application of labour and capital ou the goldfields. We hope the Council mil look at this subject in a broad light, and deal with it accordingly. The Southern division and the interior mil have the railway and roads and liver traffic. Lot the North and South coast distncts of tho province be opened by the employment of steamers, and we venture to predict that a few years hence the wisdom of the expenditure will be more than exemplified by the success that will have attended it. We understand tho question is to be brought before the Provincial Co\mcil in a day or two, and we therefore take this early opportunity of directing the atteution of members to the subject.

The Olar/o Daily Times of the lObh instant says : — "We aie given to nuclei stand that his Excellency by last mail lecoived insti notions fiom England to at once convene the Assembly to submit f o it ceifain questions lefencd out for the decision of the colony If this piovo to bo the case an eaily meeting of the Legislature may be looked for. We believe the liifmnulion had nob been impaitecl to the Ministry who'i the laat mail fiom the North left." J3y tho ' Alice Cameiou ' wo have received files of Syilney |i.i|>eis to the 4th instant, beine; three clays later. Extiacts will be found in other columns. The ship 'Ernestina.'from London, Captain Fillan, J\ N., in command, airived in haibour at 9 o'clock last evening, having «n brmid tho fifth paity of Chinch of England oinigiantn, witli 'P. .T. Welch, Esq , the mannger, and assisted Government emigrants, n umbel ing in all three hundred and eighty souls, She bangs a cargo of Leneral meichandise. She is •\yell fitted up, and certainly one of tho finest

and bout regulated vessels which have visited Auckland. Amongst the passengers are eighty single females, who have had patt of the vessel specially fitted up for their use. . Mr. Ellery, Government Astronomer of Victoria, after giving an approximate computation of the orbit o£ the comet lately visible here, says it "is at present too near its perihelion, and the intervals between the above dates are not sufficiently large, to admit of the orbit being acouiately computed ; they have been used, however, to approximate to it, whence it appears that its distanoe from us is only 3,330,000 miles, or about ono-thhtieth that of the sun, -which is the probable leawn of its improving appearance. The longitude of the node is 202-0 ; and that of the peiihelion, 123't1 ; inclination, 5*G ; perihelion distance, 0 9473 ; and perihelion passage 22nd January, motion direct A comet with the above elements is not to be found in either of the catalogues n c possess, so that it is probable it has nob previously appeared to us. Ib further seems likoly that it will bo visible for torao time, as its motion is neaily in the same direction with that of the eaith," The ' Alice Cameron brought f),430 soveioigns from Sydney. v 3v It will be seen by our adveitising columns that Mr, Reader Wood lias resigned his scab in the General Assembly Mr. Render Wood gives as his reasons that a combination lias been formed in tho Assembly to ignoie the interests of Auckland, owing to flinch hs does not see that any good would bo obtained by his attending the next session at Wellington; ami that to do so would seiiously inconvenience him. ,>£ 8 "” Cl " * l% /'" / ' The Supeiintendent will leceive tenders until the 2Sth instant quai tying and carting metal from near Donovan's Mountain to the Great South Road. We aie glad to lieai th.it Mr. Newman has received a valuable addition to bis long- wool sheep, by the importation of two Lincoln rams and. tin eo Lincoln owes, l.y the ' Aimstiong,' from the celebiated flock of iMr. Kifkham. At the same time, we have to regret that Mr. Newman has not been exempt fiom the 10->s incident to such speculations — one having died, it isMipposed fiom the excessive heat, on its way out to Eemueia. We have Sydney papers to the 4th instant. The following, with respect to the new Ministiy, is fiom the Jfcrahl — " It was known in Sydney yesterday afternoon thai Mi. Cowper had accomplished the task of forming a Ministry, and that lie had communicated to the Governor thoiesult of his labours. It ti an spired that, upon receiving his Excellency's commission on Monday List, Mr. Cowper put himself in communication with his foimer Mmisteiial colleague's ; and that, after frequent and pi obliged dehiieiations, it was anauged that they should each letmn to the depattincnts ovoi which they before piesided. '1 he new JVlmistiy is, consequently, pro cisoly the same as that whioh retired from office in October, ISO. 1 ) It is .is follows — Colonial feeoietaiy and Piemier, Mi. GWpoi , Secret.uy for Lands, Mt. liobeifcon , Secietaiy for J'ubhc Woiks, Mr. Arnold, Colonial Treasuier, Mr. Smait; Attorney. Genial Mr Dai vail ; Solicitor-Genei.il, Mr. Haigiave " Tliatjounriliemarks editonally. '"ITeie we are again ' Such we believe is to be the highly original address with which Mr. Cowper is to introduce to the Assembly the old favouiites. Tlieie is nob to be a change of dynasty — only a icstoration There has been a tempoiaiy dethronement; that i& all. But the nsinpation is ovci, and tho lightful monarch, with nil his couitieis m his tiain, comes back to enjoy his own again. The loyal who have stuck to him even in advcisity, and the disloyal who slunk away fiom him when they thought somebody else's star was in the ascendant, aio all of one mind now. Thf>y have clusteied lound him at the final vole, and will cross the floor with him in a posse. " ' C'omo \\enl, come -woe, we'll gntliei and go, And owei the ' house' \\i dun lie ' " Another liic occurred on Saturday last, on the piemises m ratnell occupied by Mi Y. Harness, gioeei and cabinet miAer. It oeciuicd in the ■«oikshop used by Mr. Harness, and, so far as cau be at piesenb a«cei tainod, api>eais to have been oui'-ed by one of his cluldien --tiilang a match, and then dioppinq it amongst the sh ivings Luckily ihe circuinstanee w.is not'ecd by Mis. Harness befoic the fiie had spiea'l an}- gicat distance, and a few buckctsfulof w,>tet judiciously applied wore sufficient to exhuguish it. The child had a narrow escape fiom being burned, owing to the timely disooveij by Mis Harness. 'Ihe ship ' Ernestinn,' which arrived last evening, bungs the watei men's boat presented by Messis. Houlder Brothers, of London, for the Auckland legatta of 156.3, .vnd won by the cicw of the '('roquet.' The boat, we aie told, is in excellent condition, and veiy neatly built. Tho adjourned inquiry into the circumstances attending the death of Aiclubald Johnson, who died fiom :v wound received m consequence of the explosion of a gun at the Gieat Barrier Island on tho 31st Januaiy, was hold at the Provincial Hospital bcfoie Dr. Strilford and the same iury. Two wit nesses named John Tinner and Thomas Stratton, who were in company with the deceased at the time of tho oecurienoe, weiecx.iiniued, and their evidence clearly showed that death resulted fiom the accident il discharge of the onn Their testimony was co lobor.vtivo of tli.it given on the two previous iiiquniC3. 'Jhe verdict lcLurned by tlie jury was — " That the death was accidental ; Archibald Johnson on lifting the gun must have caused its explosion and Ins o\\ n <ieitli " Yestoiclay morumg, a chimney at a dwelling-house on Pai ndl lise, in the occupation oE Mr. Rhodes, took fne, and bin nt with such vigour as to endanger the sunounding properly. A ladder Avas piocuied, and tho fiic quenched fiom the outside without fuithei hi] in y. The following military items aie from the Sydney Mominrj Heiahl of a leceutd.ite . — "We undeistand that Colonel Kempt has leceived oideis to join his leniment in Now Zealand, md that a Eield Officer will sneceed him in cninmind of the forces in this colony. Tt is not inteiidel to send to New Zealand any of the soldieis at pie=ent m Sydney, as a con"■ideiable numbei of them aie about to be discharged, having ser\ ed tho peiioil of their enlistment. ]tis also loportoA that Colouel Uamilton his been ie called and will shot tly return to England." The sitting of the Insolvency Court will be iesumed at 10 o'clock this morning, when the hearing of ihe petition of John "Vnrly, stationer, insolvent, will be proceeded with. This is the only case thab remains to be disposed of. At the Police Court, on Satuiday, a man named John Small, alias John Nicholls, was sent to gaol for stealing a hat fiom the dooi of Mr. Gcoige Isaacs, iligh-stieef". The convict, Eichard Dumfrey, who has on four occasions effected his escape from the stockade at Mount Eden, is again mistiug, having eluded the vigilance of Ins kcepeis dining the night of Fiiday or mornino of Saturday last. Dumfrey, it will be remembered, was to have been bi ought befoie the Chief Justice at the last ciiminal sessions of the Supieme Com t, on a charge of pi ison-bi caking and robbsry, bub before the day of heaiing ariivedhe managed to escape fiom piison, and was net locaptuierl until the latter end of December last On the 2Sbh of that month he was again commuted for trial before Mr. Beckham, R.M., on four different charges of prisonbieaking, assault and robbeiy, and house bienking, A strict watch was kept over him, but, notwithstanding this when the warder went to his cell on Satuiday morning last he found the door had been opened from the inside, and tho bird had flowi. Dumfrey was convicted on a chaige of entering tho house of Mr. Lawrence, Mount Albeib, in broad daylight, striking Mw. Lawrence a severe blow on

7 , T< the forehead "with a giraluf found lianging'iipr and") rendering her insensible. He ia believed to be tljd ,- burglar who entered Mr. Moma's house, ia L'ecem ■ ber lust, carrying away money and' jewellery. When last apprehended he had a watch in his.pos* session, which had been stolen, with sundry other articles, from the residence of Mr. Edward King. The invaluable use of a plentiful supply of water in extinguishing fires, an I, what ia equally needed, the prompt application of it, was cleaily exemplified at the fiie at the Pavilion Music Hall yesterday morning. Although the fire had taken good'hold on the lining of the building, the boards nailed to the brick-woik being in some places burnt thiongh, and the timbeis chaired, the energetic conduct of Mi\ Commissioner Naughtou, and the prompt appeal made to the city pump close at hand, ,pievenbed its extending bejond the building in which it origi tinted. On Siturday morning last, the chimney in connection with Mr. Sexton's mdlinery establishment, Short-land-Mii cet, was disco^ied to be on (ire by some peisous passing at tlio time. Mr. Flower, who occupies the adjoining piemises, at once ascended to the roof, and having covered tho apeituro with a sack, water was poured down, and the burning soot was 'quickly extinguished. The regular monthly meeting of the Masonic Lodge ' W.utemata will be hold this evening at half-past 7 o'clock. "Wo undeistand active measures are about to be talcen to form a Sunday-school Union in Auckland, and to further this object a tua meeting will lie held on Fiidfij evening next, in the Independent Chapel, High-sticot, when the superintendents and teachers of the vaiious denominational Sunday-schools in Auckland and the biibuibs will assemole to discuss the question. A public meeting will be held after the tea meeting. " Diumg the 'Gothenburg's' passage from Melbourne," says the OUu/o Daily Times, <- a melancholy cncum&tauce occuued. At au early hour oa the morning of the Gfch instant, a joung gentleinau named Frost was missed from the decks, and fiom the fact of his having left on the deck hw coat and vest, it is supposed that lie must have deliberately jumped overboaid, though there was nothing about his conduct previously to give rise to a suspicion as to sanity. He was at the dinner table on the pievions day, v, hen he w.ts noticed as being affable, andin good spiiits, and dining the night he occupied a. stateroom along with Mr. Maloticy, of the Otago police, who had visited Melbourne in connection with the death of Mis. Jarvey. To him he complained of being unable to sleep, from the rolling of the vessel, at the same time sitting with his face buried in lus hands,, but he is unrlei&tood to have occupied his Her th till an early hiiir next morning, when he was seen on deck by the officers in chaige of the watch. Shortly aftei wauls the hands weie engaged washing decks, and while they Aveie employed at the after pii t of the ship, lie is supposed to have walked forwaid and pmtially stiipped himself, his clothes having been found on the fore part of the deck. Theie was a heavy sea running at the time, and theie is little doubt that he can have survived but a veiy shoit time aftei his immersion. H"e is stated to have bpen a ledger-keeper in the Bank of Vietoiu, and to have been on 1113 passage to Otago to lake a similar situation in this city, where therp aie ■-eveial persons who were acquainted with him while resident in the inland towns of Victoria." A notice appeal s> in our advcitising columns fiom the manager of the Bank of Auckland that the third call of ten shillings per shiic will be nayable on the 20th proximo. The Superintendent invitee tender 5b be seat in to him until tho 28th intuit for filling and metalling on the Mount Smart Koad ; also, until the 2nd proximo, for building bridge', culverts, cutting and foiming, &c, at Coiomandel. A member of tho late fiie bii«ade writes to us as follows'— "l observe, m this day's paper, in a small p.iragfiph on the lesiguati m of the Anckland Fire Brigade, tho sconce, 'We undeistand that, until other airangements aie made, thebngade will attend to then dnWs as formally.' I, being one of that bo.ly, ."'id knonum the feelings of the whole of in, cm safely sfcUo it is against our intention to act in any maiiuci connected with the brigade at any fntiue fiie, feeling fully convinced that the City Boaul will pa_v all expenses themselves at any fires for the time lo come. " [n confiimition of this we may add tlrifc the fire brigade did not turn out at the liie at th» P.nihon Music Hall yesterday moin'tnc;. A t the Theatre Ttnyal on Saturday night, the admired drama of "Ambition" was repeated before a thin house. To-morrow night Mr. S. Howe is to be favoured wirh a benefit, under the patronage of his Escellency the Go\eiuor, "Six Degrees of C> ime, or Wine, Women, Gambling, Theft, Minder, and the SciffoM," was given at the Prince of Wales The.ttie onSitutday night. The piece was ■well put on the stage, and every credit is due to the performer for the efficiency they displayed, but the place itself we cannot commend, and are at a los=, to know why it is called "the great moial drama " Instead of ■' pointing a moral' it is made up of ono confused jumble of immoral scenes, which, however suitable the}' may be for the patrons of an itmeiant showman, are totally unfit for a lespectable Auckland audience The scenery of the piece, especially the stieet scene, where the buiglais are detected in the act of lobbing the bank, was much appieciated, and highly creditable to the aitist, Mr Masscy.