THE RUSSIAN INVASION HOAX.

The Auckland correspondent of the " Daily Dime* " write* s*— Tho " Town Talk " it an article in th« 11 Southern Cross, " annouincing, in lonsational headings, " War with Russia, and " Capture of Auckland by the Rusiians." Ttto oolumni and a half were devoted to a Vary oirouraitantial account of tho arrival, during the preoeding night of the steamed of wrtf Kaskowiski* tho capture of H.M.8. Blanche, and tho landing of a body of men who lifld soiled as hostages most of our loading citizens. Contributions woro lotiort on tho Banks, but thoy proved insuflloiont to gratify tho grord ot Admiral HorodskofF — tho officer in command — and ho was therefore going with all haste to ovortriko the Wonga Wonga — whioh had sailed with a largo quantity of gold the day boforo. Heaven help tho passongors and Crew of tho Wonga Wonga ! was tho aspiration of tho " Cross," and tho part of tho artiolo which excited tho most genuino alarm among those who had friends aboard. Of course, careful or practised readers saw at once than the 1 whole thing was a hoax, Bub tho groat minority, docoived by tho gonuino ■otind of the first few paragraphs, loot thoif wits before they got any farther. Woinon fainted, riflomon rushed out armed and accoutred, ready to skirmish their way into tho city and relieve tho bailed-up bank dirootors; wives hung abodt their husbands to keop them at homo ; tho coach was stopped from entering tho town oh its way from Onohunga, and riders from all parts camo in during tho day, appronching Auckland stoalthily lest thoy should fall into tho hands of tho cnomy. Schools woro hastily dismissed, and all tho old maids in tho placo Woio in a state of foarful alarm. Of courso, thoeo who road coolly, or beyond tho first few paragraphs, •atf that the whole was a hoax, and succrodod in pacifying their nrighbors. Among a largo number of peoplo tho alaim was, howevory gonuino and serious ; so imioh so that it is assorted sovorfll Indies aro sufloring still from the offect. Thoro woro in tho artiolo somo very good local hits, and tho name of tho Russian steamer was soon put into the rornaoulnr as "Cask o' Whisky." Tho knowing ones are amused, thoso who wovo deceived aro moro angry than ctoi 1 , and tho affair is likoly to bo tho topio of tho noxt fow days. Tho morning after tho hoax tho " Cross " oamo out with tho bold ftvownl that it had boon dono deliberately to arouse Auckland and show us our dofencoloss stato — a praiseworthy object, whioh it is to bo hoped will bo followed \ip by somo rrasonablo suggestions for* enabling us to tnko bettor crtro of ourselves in future

(For remainder of Neiot, see Fourth page.)