[Illustration: Queen Street Wharf, 1887 _After the painting by A. E. Gifford, in the Old Colonists' Museum_] A hoax perpetrated by Mr. D. M. Luckie, editor of the _Southern Cross_, which for the time being created consternation and serious excitement in the city and district, occurred on the morning of February 17th, 1873, when the _Daily Southern Cross_ printed a report purporting to be a description of the capture of Auckland by the Russian man-of-war _Kaskowiski_. The article described in detail the capture "of the British warship lying in the waters of the Waitemata," the seizure "of our principal citizens as hostages," the demand of "a heavy ransom for the city," and the emptying of "the coffers of the banks of all the gold and specie they contained." Although the report had a foot-note stating that it was taken "from the _Daily Southern Cross_ of Monday, the 15th May, 1873," quite a large number of people were deceived by it. One woman, the _New Zealand Herald_ stated, became hysterical on reading the account, while a gentleman made preparations for the flight of himself, his wife and family to their farm at the Hot Springs. A Queen Street shopkeeper, after reading the report, put up his shutters and reappeared, fully armed, "ready for the fray." The trouble Great Britain was having in India, in which Russia was implicated, gave a semblance of probability to the report. At the same time, it is surprising that such a palpable hoax could have misled anyone. The purpose which the newspaper had in producing the article was stated in the next issue to be to "direct attention to the necessity of these colonies being properly protected." Eight years later, on 12th December, 1881, the Russian cruiser _Africa_ visited Auckland without causing consternation among the citizens. Better relations now obtained between the two nations, and Admiral Aslanbexoff, who was in command, was welcomed to the city by the civic authorities, and dined with the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and Mrs. J. McCosh Clark) on the evening of the ship's arrival.