Oranges.—Mr. J. Cochrane will, we perceive, oiler for sale, this morning, the balance of the cargo of oranges ex Victoria. Imvokts and Exports.—We notice in the Gazelle, of the 7th instant, that the exports from the port of Auckland, for the quarter ending 31st December, 18li<l, amount-to no less a sum than £175,'1<15, against imports during the same period, amounting to dMSS.OJO. The Customs revenue for the quarter . reaches a sum of £30,359. Messrs. Eidinos ai»p."P<iwj>en will oiler for sale to-day, 70 trunks lu.A eases of boots and shoes ; full particulars of which may be seen by reference to our advertising columns Mil. John Kiou will sell at 11 o'clock this morning, without reserve, the whole of the stock-in-trade at Foat's shop, Wynciham-strcet, ronsisting of groceries, stationery, fancy goods,

&c. Messrs. Kauris & Turner will sell by auction, at the store* of Mr. H. Good, Onehunga, this day, the whole of his stock-in-trade, consisting of groceries, soft goods, &e. Also, the good-will of the lease of this valuable business premises. A Drawing Poom Entertainment was given at the Onehunga Institute on Monday evening by Mrs. W. H. Foley and Mr. Vernon Websl-r. The entertainment, which was well patronized, included the well-known comedy, " Morning Call," and the Protean sketch, " A Pair of Pigeons," iu which Mrs. Foley and Mr. Webster sustained their respective parts to the entire satisfaction of the company present. The entertainment concluded with the celebrated farce of " Too Attentive by Half."

Bank of Auckland.—The fourth call of 10s. per share is due this day. Good News foij the Ladies; —Mr. Robert Home advertises drapery at ss. in the pound discount, not to meet the times, but the state of the market, which, he says, is over-stocked. We advice our fair friends to give him an early call.

Accident fbom the DiscnAKGE of a Gun. — 1 On Saturday evening Mr. S. Wailc of Eeinuera f was engaged drawing the charges from the 1 barrels of a double barrelled gun. The ham- : mcrs were down and all appeared safe, when by f some means or other the gun went off. it is sup- t posed by the butt striking the ground. The i whole of the contents of the piece entered his ■ hand, shattering it in a frightful manner. He : had only just recovered from a severe fracture : of the collar bone which he sustained about eight weeks ago. Police.—David Graham, Esq., and J. RHome, Esq., J.P.'s, occupied the Bench yesterday. There was very little business doing. Four drunkards were summarily dealt with in ; the usual manner. There were two deserters from the ship Lancashire Witch, one of whom was sentenced to 4, and the other to 12 weeks' imprisonment. Two deserters from the Dauntless were each sentenced to 12 week's imprisonment. William Costcllo, brought up on two charges, Svas remanded till Friday. A case of obtaining goods under false pretences was withdrawn, the prosecutrix not wishing to proceed with it; ' I ONFiirNGA. — A number of large and substantial buildings have recently been erected at Onehunga, which, in addition to many other improvements vow being carried on, afford the most pleasing indications of the advancing prosperity of that township. .Among other buildings recently put up is one situated in Princes-street, the property of Mr. William Stuart, confectioner. This building, which has a frontage of 30 feet, by a depth of 28 feet, is divided into eight compartments, including five bedrooms on the upper floor, and three large rooms down stairs. Two of the rooms on the ground-floor have splendid shop frontages, the one exhibiting a largo confectionery establishment, and the other a very handsome and commodious coffee and refreshment room. Indeed, there is not a building in Onehunga which has a better shop frontage, or which is more tastefully decorated and finished. SrriiEME Couht-house. —Messrs. Amos and Co. are, M-e«* ! -*«i4ej«-aws-avHirc, the contractors for the New Supreme Court-house, and are prepared at once to cany out the work ; but we regret to say that a hitch has arisen as to the site. As originally intended, it was to have been built in the paddock immediately at the renr of the large corrugated iron stores built for the Commissariat in Princes-street. A new site, however, has been suggested, namely, on the reserve in front of the Council Chambers, and while the decision is pending the work remains uncommcnccd. Wc cannot but express oiir surprise at the new proposal. A central position free from the noise and din of the actual traffic of the city, is what should be provided for such a purpose, and the original site has a very great advantage over the newly proposed one on this point. Ike city is rapidly spreading southward, as well as westward. 'The tender of Messrs. Amos and Co. for the Supreme Court buildings was for .£24,000. This merely provides for the brick and stonework and shell of the building, the cost of building it ' will amount to seme five or six thousand pounds additional for enabling them to accomplish, while the Commissioners look for another and . further vote,*' Messrs. Amos and Co. have several Government contracts on hand, not only in Auckland but elsewhere; one of them is the hutting the troops at Wanganui, material for which," as was noticed by us on Monday last, was sent down by the India, which arrived safely in Wanganui on the oth instant. PiiiKCE or Wales Tn eat he—When "The American Cousin" was produced some four ■ years vao in the Haymarket, its author, Mr. . Tern Taylor, never expected for it so prosperous a run. Mr. Buekstone was rather the imper- ' sonator of Asa Trcnchard. Mr. Sothern, who had previously made a reputation of deciphering the conventionalities, mannerisms, and " draw- ' levies "of aristocratic life, giving to them a most ' amusing turn and wonderfully true portraiture, made a success scarcely looked for by either author or actor. The " town " seized upon the • new stage reality, and nocked in crowds fo see > an aristocratic imbecile such as had never been [ before described, and was the " newest thing " ! that hod been seen for many a day. Mr. So- • them lost no time in giving new effects of detail 1 soniinuteandgraphicthatLordDundrearybecpme ■ thehy v>ordoHheLcndcn "Arabs"and the talk of - west "end drawing-rooms. It is therefore, no - easy task to reproduce lord Dundreary, upon a j colonial stage. Mr. H. Edwards, however, has > made the attempt, and has been as successful as r it was possible to be. The character of Asa ' Trcnchard, ihe rough spun good-hearted Yan- ' kce, impersonated by Mr. I'uckstonc, is here ' represented by Mr. Daniels, with scarcely less t breadth, but perhaps with more truthfulness, ' from his knowledge, and perhaps from a patriotic [ sympathy, with the nationality of which his ideal is perhaps a very important type. Mr. Edwards and Mr. Daniels manage to keep the audience I in merriment from the rising to the fall of Ihe curtain, by the pure force of contrast in their parts. The remaining parts are not withoutthe ' pale of theatrical commonplace, but the story is - made the vehicle of some graceful dialogue, and > affords scope for very effective scenic illustration. - The seemery in this'thcatre is as pretty and real > a picture of English landscape can be desired. [ Miss Juno gives to the part of Florence Trcnchard as graceful and gushing a representation ! as the part requires, while Miss Corcoran as the captivating Mary Meredith is as pretty and tender as possible. Miss Kate Grant as Geei- , gina Mouiitehessington is as charming an im- „ personation of the fashionable young lady who : can hook Lord Dundreary as one can desire. The > house was moderately filled. Mr. Edwards' reading of Cousin Sam's letter was effective and frequently applauded. The performance concluded with a Storm in a Tea-cup, in which Mr. Clifford and Miss Corcoran were as amusing s ever.

Tin-: Relative Price of Bread and Flour. —Messrs. Thornton, Smith and Firth, have, we see reduced the price of their flour to £21 for firsts, and £15 per ton for seconds. The price of the 21b loaf is Gd. JN'ow supposing that none but firsts arc used, whereas we know that a large proportion of seconds and potatoes are mixed with it, the price of bread and flour are not proportionate. Flour costs 2kl. per lb, understood that the extra weight of water bread 3d, at current prices. We have always and the etceteras are sufficient profit for the baker, and that lie can well afford to sell the bread at the same price per lb. as lie gives for the flour. This woidd make the 21b. loaf sd. instead of Gd. lieyond the extra weight obtained in baking, there is the difference of value between seconds and firsts flour, and that of potatoes and flour —the former being worth now only some Jd. per lb. That potatoes nro largely used in the manufacture of bread we bow, as we ourselves occasionally find the presence of the tell-tale potatoc-skin iu our (hti'.y bread. We think the bakers might very well make a further reduction, and recommend their attention to the matter. The public in general will have no objection to pay sd. instead of Gd. for the 21b. loaf.

Supreme Court.—The whole of yesterday was occupied by the hearing a very important cause, namely, "McLeod v. Vickery and Masefield. It appeared that the plaintiff returned from Korth America, in 1862, bringing with him an engine, which was constructed so as to answer for a saw mill, a coal mine, but also for a steamboat. Mr. McLeod purposed to get np a joint stock company. He cansed the

engine to be examined by Messrs. Vickery aqid Mksefield, who informed him that tne cyl"jdef was conical, and required to be rebored. lhe cylinder was rebored, but in fitting it, it was necessary to make two holes m the piston plate, which, in the opinion of some witnesses, arc usually made in such an operation, lhe allegation of the plaintiff was, that these two holes were improperly plugged, by which the steam escaped, and in consequence, the vessel lost her speed. By this loss of speed; he lost an opportunity of selling the vessel. He considered the boat worth £5000. It was proved that he had been in treaty with the Government for £4000. The defendants replied that the work was done in a skilful and workmanlike manner. That no loss of speed was occasioned in the manner described. That the holes were properly plugged. That ifthe plugs were not in the piston, they must have been taken out after delivery. There was a very large attendance of persons interested in matters oi encineerinc skill, and scientific enquiries. The jury, after a short deliberation, returned a ver'dict'for the defendants. . •-.. The General Goveenmekt, we see, is making the vote of the A ssemhly, granted for the erection of public buildings at Wellington, to fly in most princely style. It makes matters so pleasant in Wellington to scatter some £40,000 of public money broadcast, that the good people there care little for the general bankruptcy m which the colony is involved. The Wellington papers contain long and glowing accounts ot the " improvements" and new buildings, but they do not say whether the new buddings and offices are being so constructed as to be taken to pieces and shipped at no very distant date to where they will be really required. They ought, we think, to be constructed on some such principle, for ifthe separation line be at Cook s Straits, the public buildings of the Northern colony will be required at Auckland, and it Auckland secede from the remainder of JNew Zcaland, it is scarcely likely that the Middle Island colonv will allow the " bleeding men to remain attached to it, far less to be its capital. Tun Auckland Eifle Volunteebs.—We perceive by the Gazette of the 7thinst., that the resignation by Major F. E. Campbell of his command of the above valuable local force has been accepted by his Excellency During the late war in this province the Auckland Eifle Volunteers did their share and more than their share of the duty which made every man at that time a soldier. To the exertions of the major commanding was clue in great measure the efficiency of the corps which distinguished itself on more than one occasion. The Waikato—What is Doikg There, &c. —A lecture on this subject was delivered at the Independent School-room, Onehunga, by Mr. Whyman on Monday evening. There was a good attendance, and the main points dwelt upon by the lecturer were precisely the same as those which we published in our Saturdays

issue. n . , , A Sew Zjausd Gazette was published on the 7(h instant. It contains a proclamation under " Ibo S T cw Zealand Native Reserves Act, 1854," appointing George Frederick Swamson. as Commissioner, with the full powers conferred by that Act: one notifying her Majesty s assent to "The Satire Lands Act, 1862, and abolishing the Satire Land Purchase Department: and, under the "Marriage Act Amendment Act, 1858," the appointment of Aorere, Buller. and Hirer Grey districts to come under the provisions of the said Act: also, one bringing the aborc districts under the prorisions of " ahe Registration Act;" an Order in Council proclaiming Central Waikato as coming under the "Sew Zealand Settlements Act, 1563 ; also, one proclaiming the different pieces of the above block that are reserved as sites for settlement for colonization, with schedules of the same ; one relating to the disposal of land under the " New Zealand Settlements Act, 1863 ;" one proclaiming certain lands under the above Act; also, orders varying the boundaries of the East Wairoa Block, and suspending the operations of certain provisions of the " Arms Act, 1860 ;" the report of a skirmish with the rebels ; the recognition of E. Quick as Danish ViceConsul; "that H. Sewell, Esq., is elected to the House of Representatives, his resignation of scat in the legislative Council being accepted ; that H. A. H. Monro, Esq., is appointed a Justice of the Peace ; a list of Militia appointments; the Hokitika Tost-cffice constituted a money-order office; the appointment of J. R. Chndcn, Esq., as Collector of Custon.s at Hokianga ; and of S. 1\ B-own, Esq., at Mongonui \ the appointment of H. B. Aubrey, Esq., as Collector of Customs at Wangarei; snd of G. JUitfoid, Esq., at Russell; thft S?S. Russell has been licensed under the " Customs Regulation Act, 1558," to act as a Custom House Agent at the port of Russell; a notice to mariners not to approach within a league of Waipapa and Slope Points; aTcturn of Customs' revenue at the sercral ports of Sew Zealand during the quarter ended the 31st December, ISG4 ; a return of the value of imports at the several ports of Sew Zealand during the quarter ended 31st December, 18 €4 ; a return of the value of exports from the several polls of Sew Zealand during the quarter ended 31st December, ISC4 ; a return of the quantity and value of exports from Sew Zealand

duriim the quarter ended 31st December, 1564 ; a return of the number, tonnage, and crews of vessels cleared outwards at the several ports of Kew Zealand during the quarter ended the 31st December, IS6J. Militia Appointments.—ln tliciVew Zealand Gazette of the 7th inst., vre find the following appointments in the Auckland Militia : —Lieut. W. S. Wild and G. P. "Walker to be captains; A. C. H. Tovey to be captain ; I'nsigns C. Eidd and P. C. Tlallowcs to be lieutenants; Messrs. John Simeon, Louis A. IS'athan, Ernest Lawson, aud A. 31. Maclean, to be ensigns. The commission of Lieut. John Joseph Erane is cancelled. The resignation of Captain G-. J. E. Wvnyard, Worth Head Piflo Volunteers, Lieut. D."A. G. Hohen and I'nsign H. C. Carter, A.M.., have been accepted. We understand that several articles have been picked up on the Mnngarc beach belonging to the boat in which the body of David Williams was found dead last week. The body of the missing man, Charles Moore, has uot yet been found. Mobe Plovr.—Yesterday there was another carso of bread-stuffs brought into the market, by 'the arrival of the brig"Derweut, from Adelaide, via "Wellmgion, with ISS tons of the best Adelaide flour. Latest ei:om Wangakoa.—33y the arrival of the schooner " Helen" wo learn that the natives iii the W'nngnroa district were all quiet at the date of her sailing (Saturday last)' but a large "native meeting was held at the head of the Orururu valley, Mongonui district, just before she sailed, the purport of which was not known. The emigrants that were sent clow n lately are all employed in the Mongonui and Wangaroa districts. The lost " Wildfire." —Tlio Captain of tho schooner "Eiwi," which arrived yesterday from Hokiauga, reports the finding of further portions of the wreck of this vessel. Full particulars will bo found in our shipping columns.