WELLINGTON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3166, 22 August 1881, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

(from odb own correspondent). August 20, 1881. Slowly but surely the colony is tending towards the point when the question of separation of the two Islands will have to be fought out in the House and on the hustings. There is no mistaking the full scope of Mr Macandrew's motion. He has chosen a 6tting moment to bring it forward. Northern members generally are indignant at the preponderance of power again—as they allege—to Otago and Canterbury by the Representation Bill, and Southern members are sick of the " Native Difficulty." Every candidate at tbe next general election will be called upon to give no uncertain sound on tbe question of separation. Much unfavorable comment is being made in consequence of the too apparent pressure being brought upon Ministers to " scamp " the business of tbe country, in order to allow of Sir Arthur Gordon going to Fiji to play his role of " High Commissioner" there. New Zealand interests are evidently of quite a secondary consideration when they clash with those of Fiji. A case of very great hard hardship has been the subject of consideration by a committee of the House. A petition was presented in which the petitioner states tbat he commenced an action in October, 1880, against a mining company at Reefton. Tbe case having been closed, the Judge (Mr Weston) Btated tbat as his commission would expire on the following day, and as it would be necessary to reserve judgment, he would be unable to deliver such judgment. Petitioner prays for the return of £66 18s, he having retained counsel and procured witnesses from a distance. All the consolation petitioner received was that the committee was of opinion tbat, although petitioner's case was one of hardship, he had no claim against the colony. It is believed that the matter will be brought before the House for their opinion thereon. Mrs Hoskins charged her spouse at the B,M, Court with failing to provide for

the support of his two children, Alice and Mabel, aged respectively 8 and -6 years. Mrs Hoskins left her husband about five years ago. and tince that time has been leading a dissipated and immoral life, the result of which is that another child has been added to the family. In consequence Mr Hoskins now doubts the paternity of Alice and Mabel. Mr Hoskins next charges his wife with assaulting him aad breaking his shop windows, and with throwing a boot-last at him. _ The magistrate, not being satisfied with the evidence, adjourned the cases until Tuesday next for further evidence. John M. Gill was charged at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Satin day morning with having stolen a hat valued at 9s 6d belonging to Samuel Taylor. The defendant and prosecutor at a late hour on the previous ni»ht were drinking together at the Prinse of Wales Hotel, and indulged in a few games at "Yankee Grab." A dispute arose through Gill alleging that Taylor had lost to the extent of 33. Taylor denied bis liability, aud Gill seized Taylor's bat, felling him that he would not part with it until he ( Taylor) paid the 3s. A policeman then appeared on the scene. Gill was placed under his care to the station house, aud charged with the larceny of the article. In cross-examina-tion Taylor fenced with a good many questions, amongst which was " did the defendant take the hat with tbe intent to steal it." Taylor, being driven into a corner, would not reply until the question was repeated by the Bench, when he said, "If I were to say no he (defendant) might have me up for false imprisonment, don't you see." He, however, Baid be believed defendant intended to retain possession of it. But all doubts on the question was soon set at rest by the landlord stating that, both parties being in liquor, Gill had no intention of stealing, whereupon the Bench dismissed the case. Of late a great deal of smuggling has been going on in Wellington, more especially of the " noxious weed." The latest case resulted in the arrest of the steward of the brig Neptune, who was brought before the bench at the Resident Magistrate's Court for having in his possession a quantity of tobacco for which he had not paid duty. The Commissioners of Customs claimed £29 14s. The defence set up was that he took the tobacco in payment of a debt when in Newcastle, and he intended to supply passengers only in small quantities, while on board, and that he had no intention of defrauding the revenue. The bench did not accept this view, and mulcted tbe defendent in £29 14s, together with £3 3s costs, to be detained in custody until the fine be paid, unless defendant elect to undergo six months imprisonment. A very distressing attempt at suicide, which may yet prove fatal, occurred on Monday. A young man named Jansen failing to obtain work, thought to end his miseries by shooting himself. Letters found on a table in his mother's house clearly point to his determination to commit the crime. In a letter dated 14th August addressed to bis mother he says, " Before you read the lines I will be dead. When I told you I had got work I lied. I hoped to leara the trade I started, but now I see some great difficulties, and come to tbe conclusion the prize is not worth the struggle. Mother I know very well tbat while you are Hying I should not want a home, but I will not be dependent on you for a living any longer." On tbe 15th August, on the other side of the paper on which he wrote tbe letter dated 14th August, showing clearly his intention, he writes, " Dear mother, I intended to shoot myself last night, but not wishing to tronble you to run for the doctor in the middle of the night I postponed it till this morning." The modus operandi of Jansen was to load a toy cannon with powder and ball and place the cannon on the table, the muzzle pointing in tbe direction of his heart. Having fastened the cannon on the table he fired it the ball entering just below the heart. He was removed to the hospital, where he now lies in a precarious condition. The ball has not yet been removed. On Wednesday evening tbe Lyon's Tourist and Pleasure parts commenced a series of variety performances in the Academy of Music. There was a very full house. The performances met with the hearty approval of the audiences. Most of tbe actors are old favourites, having appeared here as members of McLeans Juvenile Troupe.