The western half of the I wharf for the length of the job is now opened up,aud the old planking and piles are ; being removed, and a good many of the new piles have been driven. Mr Taylor is con : stantlyon the .spot, superintending the work, 1 and the temporary narrowing of the width of the wharf is rendered as little inconvenient Jas possible. The old totara piles present ! below the water line an appearance as i sound as when they were put down, ami j where the water has affected them the I damage does not seem to have extended to I the heart of the wood. J We notice that the shareholders of the I popular Hibernian Band will give another of their select quadrille parties on Thursday i evening, in the Cook-street Hall, dancing Ito commence at half-past eight o'clock. ; The shareholders, in consequence of the unsettled state of the weathor, deemed it ! prudent to postpone their monthly parties for a time. These evening dances arc con j ducted with much decorum, and are very I select; and in these respects the shareholders ; merit the confidence they havo won. 1 The annual ball of the members of the ' Auckland Skating Club will be held to ! morrow evening in the Choral Hall. The Athletic Club will hold a meeting this evening in the Cliarlemonte Hotel, j Wakefield-street, at half-past seven o'clock. The Auckland shoemakers, thos" useful j men: who work on leather, and who ! guide the pen, whose nimble fingers i make our boots and shoes :of whatever sort our citizens may clnose, will meet this evening in the Young Mens' Rooms, to talk of business and dispel its glooms. A well-experienced man will take the chair ; and a large meeting is expected there. To the Editor, Sir, —The Lumpers' Race is advertised once round, each man to carry lewt. Is this fair, to challenge men who do the heavy portion of their work, with mechanical appliances, such as levers, tackle, screw jacks, &c ? My definition of the word lumpers is—men who take vessels to discharge for a lump sum; there fore this challenge is not meant for the men who invariably work by the hour. Now, if Mr Butcher and Mr Coombes and Captains Nearing and Elliot enter to run, and if Mr J. 