Wo understand that the first prize in Zoo Jumbo's consultation on the Melbourne Cup was drawn by an express-man, and the third prize by a welUtnowni Queenstreet draper. The engineer and fireman of the s.s. Glenelg had the favourite, Sweet William, • .

Crowds of people interested in tho various sweeps and wagers on tho Molbourne Cup awaited with intense eagerness last night tho receipt of intelligence, and when extras were distributed soon after six o'clock, tho unexpected result furnished gossip for tho remainder of the nioht. The first message to reach New Zealand was a special, which gave the finish in this order-Assyrian, 1; Btiog, 2; Sweet William, 3. This message reached Wakapuaka cable station at five minutes past six, but was (fortunately, as it turned out) somehow delayed iv delivery at Auckland until 7.19. Meanwhile, Router's telegram, at G. 12, and the Press Association message a few minutes later, had come through, giving the correct result — Assyrian, lj Stockwell, 2; Gudurz, 3. This was issued as a STAR exlra, and distributed through the city. The racewasrun in a blinding rain, which accounts for the fact that one of the fourconcspondentP,cnßagcd in watching for the result, mistook the second and third horsrs; and in his eagerness to get to the telegraph olliee first, failed to take the precaution of verifying aud Correcting his observation.

The ketch Adah is daily expected from Loyd Howe's Island with a cargo of tin ore forjtesting purposes, to order of a number of Auckland gentleman who consider the speculation a payable one.

The traffic between Auckland and North Shore, on Regatta Day, November 9th, is expected to bo so great tbat the Ferry Uompany, to prevent ovcr-ciowdiuj;, have engaged tho stoamers Tonguriro and Enterprise, to run in conjunction with their own four steamers. Special boats will bo laid on to attend to tho flagship.

Tho Wellesley-street Baptist Church Sunday-school held its closing entertainment of the winter series last ovoning, Mr Tlios. Spurgcon presiding. The choir and elder fcholas rendered tne service of song "Alone iv London." Mn Taylor and Miss Cooper sang the duet, " Lead us, O, Shepherd ;" Miss Owen gave tlio solo " Cpcn the Door for tho Children," and Miss Main " Rest for tho Little Sleeper." The wiolo passed off very successfully.

Mrs Mat tin, the matron of the women's side of the Lunatic Asylum, was taken ill suddenly when in town on Friday evening last, and having been conveyed to the Whau, she was placod under tho care of Dr. Goldsbro'. Tho medical gentleman predicted a fatal result in a few hours, and the patient died nt 10 o'clock the came night, Mrs Martin was a great favoudte with nil placed under her care, and she will be greatly missed In the institution.

At tho Harbour Board, yesterday afternoon, Coxswain Jenkins resigned his po.-ition in the pilot service in consequence of what he considered was the outbearing conduct of Pilot William Burgess. It was agreed on the motion of MrMcKenz'o, that tho Board bo recommended to appoint a special committee for tho purpose of considering and reporting upon the whole question of tha pilot service.

The Union steamship Company has acted very liberally towards the North Jshoro Kegatta Committee. About CO natives nre expected from Kusscll to take part in the oanoo race, and tho least the Northern Company would biing them down for was at the rate of 16s per head return faro. This meant thai; they could not come at nil, and, as a last resort, an appeal was made to tho Union S.S. Company, with the satisfactory result that the natives will be convoyed by one of their stfamcrs at 5j per bead, which amount will most likely easily be raisod in Russell,

Tho inquest yesterday, at Glccson'a Hotel, on the body of" William Charles Cook, vho was drowned while out boatine with his companions in the Mad«c on Suuduy, the 22nd ulto., resulted in a verdict of "accidental drowning." At the closo of tho inquest Dr Philson told the witnesses Mattbows and Scott, who narrowly escaped a similar death, to tike timely warning and avoid tire sin of Sabbath breaking. Had they been engaged in a Sunday-school, or in useful work in accordance with tho spirit of tho day, they would not have been engaged in the fad duty imposed upon them. Tho coroner added that it was a noteworthy fact, that Sunday boating was frequently attended fatal results,

Mr Is-<ac W, Femngton, chief olllcer of tho three-masted schooner Annie Burr, which was recently in Auckland, harbour, was drowntd at Sydney on Monday, October 16th, At an inquest held afier. wards, it was stated that on Monday forenoon deceased came on board intoxicated. Ho could hardly stand. He sat down on tho topgallant bulwarks of the starboard side, and subsequently foil backwards (he had been sitting with his feet inside tho ship) between the wharf and tho ship, striking one of the piles in his fall. He was conveyed to the Hospital in a semiinsensible state. Tho man gradually came round, bnt took a bad turn about 4 o'clock on Tuesday morning and died. Tho jury returned a verdict of " Died from injuries accidentally received."

Yesterday was All Hallow Eve, the festival celebrated in Scotland by the peasantry, with so many relics of supovstitions observance?. At this season many divinations are employed with the view of discovering onc'a future husband or wife, as graphically described in Buras'a well-known poem of "Hallowe'en," In industrial districts the observance has degenerated into raids on tho "kail-yards" or vicorous rapping with cudgels at doora and wiodows by bands of youths; varied by an indoors saturnalia of diving_ fur apples in a large tub of water, feasting on nuts and other good things. The festival, as might be expected, receives no general observance in our community ; but, nevertheless, lust night beheld in not a few. Scotch households throughout the city and suburbs, meetings of old and young " to burn their nits, and pu' their stocks, and baud their Hallowe'en."

Fifty pounds weight of specimens taken from the Success mine, Coromandoi, were exhibited at the office of odd of (the directors' in town to-day, and ■were considered among the handsomest specimens ever seen

in Auckland. It is needless to fay that the shareholders, who passed them from hand to hand in examining them, wore moved to admiration, and on to enthusiasm. Une piece of stone, weighing four pounds, was estimated to contaiu somewhere near 25 ounces of gold. It was of blue qvarlz, in which, for a thickness of nearly two inches, the gold everywhere predominated, cropSing out on one side in glittering yellow akes. This was the largest specimen, but there were many othes just as pretty to look at and equally rich, The mine manager's report sent with the present parcel states that the show contiaurs good.

The demonstration of Bands of Hope and Temperance Societies, which is -to take place en the Prince of Waks's Bir hdarj should be a great success, especially the procession in the morning. The Brass Band of the Engineers, and the Naval Drum and Fife Baad, will accompany the procession, which will leave the top of Fobson-street at half-past nine o'clock, the route being down Victoria-street, up Queen-street and Wellesley-street Kast to Grafton Road, &c. The managing com. mittee have arranged a good programme, Trhich includes a public meeting in tho afternoon, at 1.30, when addresses will be delivered by friends, and the child)en wilt sing the pieces so pleasingly rendered in the Choral Hall, in May last. In the evening the new temperance servics of song "Buy Your Own Cherries," will be performed, In the Theatre Itoyal. The members of the choir have had several rehearsiib, and will meet for practice this evening, in the Pitt-street Wesleyan lower school-room.

The members of St. James's Sabbath. school Improvement Class, who meet for scriptural instruction on Sunday forenoons, held their first annual entertainment in the hall last evening, There was a good attendance, Mr P. Mackie presiding. The programme generally proved of a very attractive character, and was well appreciated by the audience- All tho performances were creditable, Mr J, Hanna des°rving special notice for his excellent rendering oE " The White Squall." The other items were : -Duet, "Army and Navy," Messrs DrummondandMcCoskrie ; recitatioD, "The Undo," Mr K. C. Mackie; sons;, "In Memory of Thee," Miss McNaughton; re citation, "Charge of the Light Brigade," Master W, Barry • duet, "To the Woods," Misses Mackie and McMillan; scene, "Tragedy of Ion," Messrs J. C. and T. Macky; recitation, "Becalmed," Mr J.; Smart; quarlotte, "The Soft Winds Around Us," Misses Mackie and McMillan, and Messrs Mc?oskrie and Drumraond; overture (pianofoite), Mr A. Hanna; scene play of "William Tell," Messrs It. Mackie, W. Barry, G. and J. Smart; duet, "What are the Wild Waves Saying 1" Miss Mackie and Mr McCosktie; recitation, "leaguers of Lucknow," Mr W. Bell; fong, " Kathleen Mavourneen," Miss McMillan; recitation, ?' War of tho Leagne," Mr Q, Smart; sonp, "The Lost Chord," Mr McCoskrie; scene, " The Heir at Law," Messrs Sneddon and Smart; song, "Bird in the Hand," Mr Clayton,

Wo notice Mini; tho motalliciaiis are ad- ] vertisert to settle to-night. The local "books," are always to the front on settling night, and prompt in their payment, so it ia to be hoped tint the backers will come to j the tore this evening. j

Ofljcers commanding local corps will do well to refer to ft' 6. 3 company's cha lenge in our adTertieement columns.

The followieg telegram was received from the manager of the j> ew Prince Imperial today :—" 1,556 ounces melted gold,—G. S;1 Clark."

The owneH of the barquo Gazelle.recently seized by 11. M. Customs, still decline to accept tho terms ottered by the Government, and the vessel accordingly continues to be at anchorage in charge of uiliccrs of tho Customs Dcpaitmcnt.

The boys of tho Hfgh School, Symondsstreet, announce that their usual annual sports will bo held oa the Domain Cricket Ground next Friday, commoncingat 11 a in, Parents, friends, old boys, and the public are inTited,

The non-conauraers' (water) yearly rate notices are now being prepared for issue in the City Council offices. As all occupiers or owners of buildings who can be supplied will have to pay this rate, viz., one-fourth tlio charge now made to consumers, it should be worth the while of a majority of those Directed to rather take the supply, than pay for what they arc not receiving.

Wo are requested to direct attention to the sale of wooden buildings on the Bth hist,, at uoon, by Mr G. W. Kinney, on the ground, in Picton-street— i buildings; and in Hepburn-street Lower, two buildings. Tho first offered will bo iv Picton-street.

In response to a requisition, his Worship the Mnyor has convened a meeting for Friday uftcrnoon for the purpose of arrange iog for tlio presentation to it. l'hilson, on ihu occasion of his retirement from the post of hospital surgeon, some fitting testimonial of tho the public satisfaction with nis services.

cAn unfortunate accident happened to Mr F. J. Shortt, the hairdiosser, on Monday afttrnoon. Along wilh his wire aiid daughters he joiued Captain Wbitmore's fishing party to Kan-itoto, and while walking along tho deck, ho trod on a piece of frc.-h bait and fell heavilj on the side of his head, bruiting his face considerably. He was picked up by Mr Masefield and Er Walker and romUncd insensible for some time, but is now progressim: favourably.

The first meeeing ci creditors in the estate of Maorice John Matthews, journalist, of Tauranga, was bold in the Supreme Couithouse to-day, when Mr A. D. Bennett was elected trustee. The debtor states his assets at £10, and his liabilities at £128.

We have to acknowledge the receipt of the "Penny Time Table" for November, and, as will be seen from our advertising columns, it is pn' sale at all stationers Judging from tho large number of we 1« displayed advoitiaemcnt?, the favcur in which this useful time table ia held is as linn as ever. Amongst tho new information, we notice alterations in the 'bus timoß, tho amended Ponsonby and Northcoto time table, and the St. Heller's time table.

In answer to his cablegram, enquiring whether there wcro nny water pipas on sale at Sjduey, the Town Clerk has received information to the effect that 1,500 threeinch pipep, 3,000 four-inch pipes, and 900 six-inch pipes can be puichnsed there at £7 10a per ton f.0.b., and that three and fourinch valves can be got at £3 15s each, and six-inch valves for £5 15s each ; while ball hydrants aro procurable at 25s each. There are no tics or bends on hand however. A reply has yet to bo icceived from Melbourne.

The " Fiji Times," of October 13, says that the schooner Conflict, of Sydney, which left thero for Suva on Monday, Oth'iuttant, was high and dry on iho r«el about midway between the two ports, ahe was signalled to, but replied that she did not require assistance. Captain Brown returned to Levuka by the 'Ihistlo. on the 12 h instant, and (cuorted that tho schcoior was a total wreck. He attributed the accident to the effect of the current. 'Ihe vojsol was insured irf the Union Company for £1000. The Conflict wtis a wooden vessel of 70 tons, formeily one of Her Majesty's schoo« uera oa the Australian Station, but was purchased by Captain Thomas S. Brown.

A meeting of the Domain Bonul was held thin afternoon in Mr Garland's office, Present :—Messrs Mnckfchnie (chair), Aicken, Buckland, Smith (I'ercy), Mitton, and Walker. A le'ter of thanks was received from the American Consul to the Board, for acceding to his request in rerrnit'ing the erection of a tempora y building in the Domain, for the ui-e of scientific gentlemen from America tool). perve the transit of Venus, and for allowing the stone pier to rema:n permanently at the spot. A letter was rend from the Crown Lands Office, with Mr Taylor's letter, asking assistance from the Board in promoting the growth of olives and oranges in the North Island, The npplica'ion mas favourably rcc<i«d, and on tbo motion of Mr Aicken, seconded by Mr Buckland, it wns resolved, "That the acclimatisation of olives and orangel) shall rcocive the earliest possible attention."

The district of St. Mark'f, Kcmuera, lw lately been created into a parish, and the Yen. L tmsdale I'ritt has been nominated to fill tho vacant cure. Tho institution of the now pastor will take place to morrow (Thursday) evening at half-pa>t seven o'clock. For this puiposo a special service will bo held in the above church, when the Right Roy. the Bishop of Auckland, assisted by the clergy of the dioccso, will couduct the proceedings of institution according to the order of service prepared for that purpose. The musical portions of tho service will be rendered by the choir of the church, and the new director of ,tho choir (Mr H. \Vell<), the organist of Christchurch Cathedral, will preside at the organ.

The Wellington correspondent of an Adelaide paper is responsible for tho following: —A novel method of raising Church funds has lately come into force in New Zealand. It may be suggestive to jour people to go and do likewise, which I hepo they will not. This is oyster and. rumpsteak suppers at a high tariff of charges. The waiters are young lady waitresses, aitircd . smartly as waiting ■ women, while the cooks arc young ladies, the customers young gentlemen, with a sprinkling of grey-haired old ones (more shame for them). The calls of tbo waitresses to the cooks for " One steak and oysters," " Two scollops," " Three ftcws,'.-and " One in the shell," may be heard through the hours of the evening. I do not like this sort of thing myself, more particularly asjt is encouraged by the clergy, who appear in these present days indifferent to tke way money is obtained for altar cloths, surplice*, and church decorations. The lady-girls like it; tho men like it. Tho thing U a novelty. Bat propriety steps in and says, " Shame upon you all for bucli indecent doings." \t there be sufficient vitality in religion, it should surely support its ministers without devising such extraneous resources.

Special 'bus leaves the Union Bank corner at 2.15 p.m., Saturday, Novcmbor Ith, convoying intending purchasers to Mfc, Albert Township and back free.—[Advt.]

Why buy cold, clay ground when you can got rich, warm, voloanio ground a little further out for loss money?— Township of Jit. Albert.-[ADVT.]

Publicans dcirous of securing the right to erect tho first Patent Crystal Bar Engine* in Auckland, arc requosted to oommunicato with " Engine," Army and Navy Hotel, stating what price they are prepared to pay for tho privilege.