His Excellency tho Governor having kindly consented to present tho silver medal given by Herr Schmitt for musical composition, competitors are invited to be present at the conversazione of the Society of Arts on Thursday evening, when the award of the judges will be announced, and to perform their own compositions either in person or by deputy. Tho Secretary of the Society will issue orders for admission.

The ball-room of Government House was crowded on Saturday afternoon by a fashionable assemblage to witnesß the investiture of Miss Alice Crisp, Lady Superintendent of the Auckland Hospital, with tho order of the Royal Red Cross. Miss Crisp wns neatly dressed in the uniform of her profession. His Excellency the Governor made the presentation, and a report of his address" on the occasion will be found in another portion of this evening's issue. The Royal Red Cross consists of a cross, enamelled crimson, edged with gold, having on the arms thereof the words Faith. Hope, and Charity, with the date of tho institution of tho decoration ; the centre having thereon the Queen's effigy. On the reverse side the Royal and Imperial oipher and crown is shown in relief on the centre. The cross is attached to a dark-blue ribband, edged red, of one inch in width, tied in a bow and worn on the left shoulder.

Elder, the local one-legged gymnast, whose wonderful performances on the horizontal bar and trapeze have won for him a colonial reputation, has joined Woodyear's Electric Circus, and will proceed with it to Australia. It is intended by Mr Woodyoar to play a short up-country season hero before leaving the colony.

At the meeting of the Board of Education on Friday Mr Carr stated that, taking the wholo colony, tho number of scholars to ciqli teacher is 31. Mr Talbot, who U teaching the most difficult standard (I), has between 00 and 70 pupils in his class.

The anniversary services of the Parnoll Wosleyan Sunday School were largely at*p*.ded yesterday. The Rev R. Bavin, of ft-afton Road, preached in the morning, arid Revs. W. J. Watkin and Griffith officiated at tho after services. Tho annual soiree will be held tomorrow (Tuesday) evening.

Tho interior of St. James's Presbyterian Church having undergone complete renovation, the Church was re-opened for divine worship yesterday by a series of special services. " The Rev. T. McKenzie I'raser preached in the morning, and Rev. S. Macfarlane in the evening. A service for the young was also conducted in the afternoon by Rev. J. Robertson. There was a largo congregation on each occasion, and the collections amounted to £41.

One of the first convictions in this police district for a breach of tho 167 th section of the Licensing Act—supplying liquor to a prohibited person—has just been recorded at the Thames against a man named John Smith, alias Koegan, ho having given beer to a person with respect to whom a prohibition order had been issued. Tho penalty was a line of £5 of one month's imprisonment. Smith failed to pay tho line, and was on Saturday brought to town by Constable Staplcton, and is now expiating his misplaced generosity in Mount Eden.

Pene Thaka, a native «ho was sentenced by tho Mongonui Bonch to six weeks' imprisonment with hard labour for the larceny of greenstone, was brought to town by the s.s. Wellington on Saturday, and lodged in Mount Eden Gaol. Piiiohu Jleta Pakaraka, committed for trial on a charge of manslaughter by the Kussoll Bonch, was brought down by tho same steamer. It appears that this l'inohu took part in a brawl in which a number of natives were engaged, and one of their number received injuries that subsequently caused his death.

His Lordship Bishop Cowio held a confirmation service last evening in St. Thomas's Church, which was thronged by members of the congregation and visitors. Leaflets on which wero printed the special confirmation hymnworeliberally distributed along tho seats (all free). Tho young ladies wore suitably attired in light drosses. which, with tho Mas-tor decorations, imparted a pleasant picturo to the spectators. 1M persons, among whom wero sovaral persons who had reached tho summer of life, underwont tho religious ordeal at tho liandn of tho Bishop.

At tho Police Court on Saturday afternoon, Daniel Driscoll,aliasCharley Webster, was charged with using provoking and threatening languago towards Thomas Higgins in Lome-street on the 12th inst. Mr Napier appeared for tho prosecution. A number of witnesses wore oxamined on both sides, and His Worship finding tho charge established, ordered defendant to be bound over to koop tho poneo for six months—himself in £'20, and two sureties of 1110 each, and to pay costs, l'-l. A second charge against tho samo defendant for using provoking language towards Annio Higgins was withdrawn by Mr Napier.

A mooting was hold last Wednesday in the Choral Hall to consider tho advisability of again starting tho Auckland Skating Club. Tho club was most successful for four yoars. Tho meeting was very largely attended, and a club was formed, to bo again called tho Auckland Skating Club. Mrs J. M. Clark was elected presidont, and an influential committee of ten ladies and gentlemen was also olectcd. It was decided to opon tho season for skating on the first Wednesday in May. Tho numbor of mombors has boon limited to HO. and there is no doubt that tho club will havo a most successful season.

Tho friends of tho Epiphany Church and tho public in general nro reminded of tho concert advertised olsowhero to tako place in tho Nowton Congregational Schoolroom, Edinburgh-street, to-morrow (Tuesday) evening, commencing at 8 o'clock. It is to w bo hoped that tho peoplo will rally round and make it a succoss.

There was a splendid attendance at Woodyear's Electric Circus on Saturday night, and the performance was quito as successful as on previous evenings. Albert King had met with a slight accident at tho afternoon performance, and was absort from tho arena, but his special feat of performing a double somersault ovc the backu of iivo horses was porformed by tho clover Japanese Cooma Kotchio. Tho Elder brothers assisted in tho horizontal bar porformanco, and performed some now and ditlicult feats. To-night is tho last of tho season. A now programmo will bo prosonted, concluding with " Turpin's Rido to York."

At St. Matthew's Church yesterday, Rev. W. Tebbs announced that special sorvicos would bo hold next Sunday as follows : — At S a.m., Holy Communion j at 11 o'clock the Vonerablo Archdeacon Clarke, 8.A., is expected to preach ; at 3 o'clock p.m. thoro will be a special children's service, after which an adJress to children will bo mado byMrF. W. Pennefather, M.A., Privato Secretory to His Excellenoy tho Governor ; at the half-past six p.m. service, tho sermon will bo prouched by the Rev. W. 11. H. Jervois, M.A. There was a largo congregation at St. Matthew's last evoning, whonMr Tebbs preached on "Solomon's Parable of the Resurrection."

To the Editor : Sir, —It was my son who mot with tho accident in Wellington street on Thursday evening last. Ho was on his way to band practice (being a member of tho Artillery Band), not coming homo as it appeared in youi local of Saturday's issuo, The accidont was not a broken arm; it is a dislocation of tho elbow.—Yours rospoctfully, Richard Hales.

Several cricket matches were proceeding on tho Domain Ground on Saturday afternoon. Our Boys and Auckland continued their match, which resulted in favour of the former by 15 runs on the first innings. Our Boys' second innings produced 85, of which \V. George made 22, Duukley 14, J. George 13, and Yatos (not out) 13. Auckland lost nine wickets for 91, O'Brien getting 24, Ansenne (not out) 23, and McKinnoy 20. West End commenced a match with National, but kept tho wickets all the afternoon. When the stumps were drawn, nine West End wickets were down for 177, of which Hoffman (not out) made 42, Taylor 38, Woods 30, and Colebrook 17. Alpha also " hold the fort" against Eden all the afternoon, and made IS2 for tho loss of eight wickets. Nesbitt (not out) contributed 121, andWaddingham26. Holland's defeated Franklin by 26, Beard playing a good innings of 27 for the winners.

In Saturday s issue we gave the annual reportand balance-sheet of the St. Stephen's Orphanage. The annual meeting in connection with tha institution was held in the afternoon. His Excellency tho Governor was present, also Bishop Cowie, the Roys. C. M. Nelson, W. Calder, W. Tebbs, Walpole, Davies, Hitchcock, and Percival, Mr Pennefather, Mr F. J. Moss, M.H.R., Mr Ruwlings, Mr G, P. Pierco, etc. |Tho roports having been read and adopted, the Governor addressed the.meeting. After expressing gratification at the satisfactory nature of the report, he said he could not imagine an object that more worthily commended itself to those interested in the welfare of their fellow beings, and he would impress on all Auckland and on all New Zealand to do all in their power to maintain and inorease the efficiency of the institution. It had been mentioned in the report that the bequest of the late Mr Costley was the cause of the annual subscriptions to tho institution falling off. If that was tho result generally of tho bo-ques-t-?, he considered that it was the reverse of a benefit to the community. Bequests should be placed to the capital account, and not bo chargeable to ordinary expenditure, the object of bequests being to increase tho building and accommodation of the institution, and to erect a fine building, which, as time goes on, will be required for the accommodation of an increased number of children, and the subscriptions should therefore be maintained beyond the present rates. If he were to say what was in his mind as to the object of this meeting, ho should say it was to get money to carry on the institution, and if he were to make a speech he should say that we were met today to get all the money wo could, and he would therefore say, "Put your hands in your pockets and shell out." That was the advice he would give in Auckland, and to all in Now Zealand interested in the work of this institution—that they should shell out, so that no more overdrafts may be required, but that the institution might bo carried on energetically and usefully to tho satisfaction of all concerned in its welfare. A number of votes of thanks having been passed, a highly satisfactory report from the examiner of the school, Rev. W. Tebbs, who had been assisted by Mrs Tebbs, was read. The prizes were then handed to the winners by the Bishop, and the proceedings terminated with the singing of the Doxology. We neglected to mentjon tjjat the choir of All Saints' Church was present, and enlivoned the proceedings by singing glees, eld.

John Mills, a bibulously-inclined individual, who was found drunk at the Hamilton railway station, and when arrested used Indecent and profane language, has been sent to Mount Eden for two months.

Great interest was manifested in the riflo match on Saturday afternoon between the City Guards and the A Battery of Artillery. After a close match, the former won by 17 points. The complete scores are published elsewhere.

To the Editor : Sir, —I saw by Saturday's paper that Mr Coldie was getting £200 per annum for his duties aa Inspector, and I think he is getting quite enough. lam sure there are plonty of men in Auckland fully competent for the work who would be glad of the "billet" at the same figure.— Tours, &c, John Church.

The Victoria-street Star runner thinks that he gave away in change half-a-sovereign for a sixpence on Saturday night. If ho did so, will the recipient of the gold coin kindly return it to the Star Office and get the silver coin in exchange for it.

At St. Paul's Church yesterday, sermons were preached and collections made on behalf of the Home Mission of the diocese. In the morning, Rev. W. H. H. .Tervois, M. A., gavo an interesting and very practical discourse on the words, "Thy Kingdom Come " (Matthew vi., 10). The incumbent preached both in I lie afternoon and evening. The collections were: —Morning, t'l2 7s 10d* evening, £12 Ss :M ; early communion and children's service, £1 4s 7d ; ranking a total of £20 7(1.

We have bofoi'e us a copy of the programme of the concert to bu given at the Theatre Royal on Wednesday evening next for the benefit of Madame Uuquosno. Amongst the vocalists aro Mesdames Alexander and Judsoti mid Miss Staunton. Messrs Edwards, Ivnox, Sccat.i, Boyle, J. llanna, and S. It. Keosing. Tho instrumontalists includo Messrs C. and J. Hemus, Clough, and H. P. Edgar (who will contribute a string quartette), Misses Clayton, Donovan, and Campbell, and Messrs Ralph Hood mid W. JI. Webb. Messrs Tonks and Co. have kindly lent n grand piano for the concert. M. Albin Villeval, who has organised tho concert, deserves praise for the really oxcollent array of vocal and instrumental talent ho has 'succeeded in bringing together. The object in a good one, and wo anticipate a large attendance.

To the Editor : Sir,—Would you kindly inform mo, if in your powor, how tho very unrepresentative football team, Hardware v. Soft (ioods (as published in your issue of 19th inst.) came to bo chosen 'I Certainly, to my mind, there must bo somo one at fault, for whilo somo warehouses have throe and four representatives others hnve none, and another houso is positively honoured by i^iie, ar.d he, I boliovo, can't bo hero to play, when at least three more good players could havo been secured. ■ Now, sir, I think when the reputation of tho " soft goods " men as " kickistK " is at stake, a propor canvass should havo been made of tho dill'oront houses, or call a mooting and ascertain how many playors in all, and then pick out a team by ballot or otherwiso, thereby scouring the best men irrospoctivo of fear or favour, and consequently havo a far more representative team than tho present ono.— 1 am, yours truly, Soft Goons.

Tlio first of Mr Horace Doan's weekly promoinule concerts wua held in tlio Choral Hall on Saturday, and waa very fairly attonded, considering tho numbor of currant fnnnseinentri going on "^ tho caino time. Tlio dances wore nicely interspersed with sentimental, humourous, and cliaracter songs by Motors Dean, Montaguo.and other vocalists. Thcso hours woro introduced as a relief at, intorval.l to the votaries of Terpsichore. Some of tlio ladiofl, however, appeared unwoavy, and while listening to the songs the " light fantastic too " was in perpetual motion. Mr Wybar acted as master of ceromonioa with his usual activo ability. Mr Dean intends to continue those Saturday entertainments; opening at 8, and closing at 11.30, so ns to civo tlireo and a-lialf hours' recreation to his numerous patrons.

Tho Ponsonby Regatta Cemmittco mot at tho Ponaonby Club Hotel on Saturday evening, when prizes won at tho lato Regatta woro handod over to tho successful competitors. Mr T. T. Masofield, who occupied tho chair, announced that tho umpire (Mr Stodart) had not arrived at any decision re protest entered in tho Whaleboat Sonior Race, and had referred tho matter to tho Rowing Association. Votes of thanks wcro passed to tho Secretary, Treasurer, Umpiro, and Starter for tho interest they had taken in the Regatta; to tho Northern Steamship Company for tho uso of tho s.s. Wellington as llagship ; to Mrs anil Miss Fnrquhar for flags presented for competition, and to subscribori" to tho Kogatta generally for their liberality. It was decided to give tho roll of silk presented to tho Club by tho Tsukuba's ollicerti to tho Hon. Treasurer, and tho address which accompanied tho gift to Mr Masefield. Mr Masofield intends to havo the address photographed, when ho will be enabled to furnish a copy to each member of tho Committee.

"Mount Eden," writing about the nonpaying character of our railways, attributes their want of pecuniary success to tho lack of ellbrt on the part of the management to cultivate possible lines of traffic. Ho says of tho Kaipara connection :—"{I) The railway is called the Kaipara and Puniu Kailway, but until the Ist of this month you could not get furthor than Mercer in one day ; but now,with an intersecting timetable, when you get your ticket you aro informed they don't guarantee you a passage from Newmarket—that is, if tho Kaipara train is late the Waikato train doos not wait, so you must take your chance. Very consoling. (2) If you wish to go to Onehunga from any station on the Knipara railway,you may arrive at Penroso Junction at 9.3!) a.m., but you must wait until 12.30 before you start for Onohunga. (3) If you wish to sco Onohunga you must start for Auckland by tho 8.40. a.m. or wait until tho noon train. No wonder tho Onehunga omnibuses nro increasing anil the railways not paying expenses, and the employes at Pemcxo aro kept from C.30 a.m. until midnight two days in the weok. Lot the Tramway Company lay a lino down to Onehunga, and tho Government may declare tho railway only a scoria and coal track. (4) There is only one intersecting train betwoen tho Kaipara and up and down trains. Now, in other largo centres of population a circular railway pays woll. What can bo more circular than from Auckland to Newmarket, Mount Eden, and Morningside, or Arch Hill, because Newmarket may be called Auckland East, Mount Eden Auckland South, and Kingsland, &c, Auckland West. Lot tho trains run so as to take out and bring in workmen, bricks, and coal, 4c., night and morning, and three or four each way during the day, and in a short time it will loso the name of a political railway, or my namo is not—Mount Eden.—P.S.— You will find the down morning train just as inconvenient, the one" leaving 9 minutes boforo the other arrives. See time-table."

The Sydnoy " Morning Herald " has the following regarding the Maori King and his train :—" There have been numerous illustrious visitors to this city, but none perhaps who have played a more im portant part in a country's history than Tawhiao, tho Maori King. He and his Buite arrived here on Sunday night from New Zealand in the Union Company's steamship Tarawera. The party landed quietly yesterday morning, and took up their quarters at the Coffee Palace in George: street, where they will remain until the 2fith inst., when they leave for England in tho R.M.S. Cuzco. (Our telegraphic news shows that this intention has been departed from—tho party after visiting Melbourne having sailed from that city in the Sorata. The object of this visit home is for tho purpose of bringing under the notice of tho Queon and tho Imperial Parliament several grievances from which tho Maoris allege thoy are suffering at the hands of the Now Zealand Government. King Tawhaio and tho other members of the party are very reticent as to their object in visiting England, and merely state that thoy wish to sec Queen Victoria, and to visit a land of which thoy have heard so much, the home of tho pakeha. Tho chiefs aro dressed in plain tweed suits. Tho king, although adhering strictly to European costume, has imbelliehed this somewhat with the sharks' teeth set in red wax in his ears, and the plume of Huia's feathers in his hat, while on his watchchain there dangles a considerable quantity of greenstone and other trophies. As the party proceededaboutthetown yesterday thecrowd became so great that the visitors were glad to seek refuge in a cab. They enjoyed their trip from Auckland, speaking highly of the steadiness of tho steamer, but expressed no surprise at her size, the fittings, or even her speed, They were also unimpressed with the appearance of our shops and public buildings, saying that there were hnor in Auckland. The fear that was entertained by New Zealanders that these representatives of the native race by this visit to the old country would simply bring disgrace on themselves and their cause by giving way to intemperance is groundless. The party are teetotallers, and carry thp blue ribbon in their coats, eyideptly considering it sonic badge of honour; and they are living quietly at a temperance establish- j ment. '

One of the most ludicrous instances of the present " centralism-gono-mad" state of tho colony is that in Auckland, Port Chalmers, and Lyttelton, the municipal authorities are precluded from replying to tho salute of a loroign man-o'-war without first obtaining the consent of the Colonial Secretary. Time after time the local bodies have represented to the Government that they should be empowered to request the Volunteers to fire these salutes, but no notice has been taken of those communications. Indeed, from one end of the colony to the other there are complaints from local bodies of the insulting in. difl'oronce with which their wants are treated by the authorities at the Empire City.

A dingy race for £5 a-side between Masters Sullivan and Bailey took place on Saturday afternoon. The course was from Queen-street Wharf round the hulk Clara Hsrgreaves. Sullivan won easily.

The recently-appointed Committee of the Young Men's Christian Association have begun their duties by adding a number of now books, comprising some of the latest interesting and instructive works. A list will bo found in our advertising columns.

VV. M. Carrollo will opon in the Temperanco Hall, Albert-ai roet. his private gymnasium to -night, and will be prepared lo receive members, and coinmenco his tirst clubs on Wednesday next.

Tho residents of Carlton Gore and Graftou Uoads uro reminded that Proleßsor liornard Is forming an evening dancing class In Mrs Palnier'snewlargescnool-room. The first term he-gins on Monday, lilth May. The evening dancing class at Mrs Glover's Seminary. Symonds-strcet, under Profeasor Barnard's supervision, which proved such a vast eourco of pleasure to many last season, will begin on the 23rd May next. Those desirous of joining ar» reminded that early application Is needed, as only a limited number will be received.

Perambulators and carpets, reversible bioyclc wheel and other kinds of perambulators just oponed from £1 to £7. New designs in Bruafiull and Uijioatry carpets. Furninh your houHe throughout from Oarllck and Ounwoll a City Hall Furnishing Warehouse, Qucen-streot - lAnvr.l English Level- Watches packed and sent post free to any part of Now Zealand on rooelpt of 1.0.0. for £3 Ids. A stamped guarantao en-closed.-A. G. Uartlctt, lU, Quoon-Btrcci, Chronometer and Watchmaker (opposite Theatre Itoyal). established 22 years.—|Advt.)