WELLINGTON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3178, 5 September 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

(FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

September 3, 1881. There is little to record in political circles beyond the " stonewalling of the Representation Bill, which has every appearance of being continued far into next week. The business of the country is now at a standstill. In the Legislative Council they are so sadly in want of work that it was moved by Mr Peter to adjourn for a week so that hon. members might go to their homes and recruit their wasted energies, and come back resuscitated to go on with the Representation Bill should it reach their Chamber. Of late a great deal has been said but very little done in reference to a proposed graving dock for Wellington. A publio meeting was held in the Arcade under the presidency of the Mayor (Mr Hutchinson), which was largely attended. After a deal of long-winded speeches, which tried the patience and temper of * the audience, it was proposed to form a committee of ways and means. Last week I referred in my letter to the case of William Barnard and others, charged with being in possession of a quantity of tobacco alleged to have beeq smuggled On Tuesday the evidence . for the defence was finished, and Mr , Shaw, R.M., said he would deliver his .. judgment on Thursday. In delivering • judgment, he dwelt strongly on the grave suspicion that attached to Barnard, and told Barnard that, although he would not convict him on the uncorrobrated evidence of accomplices, yet in discharging him he gave Barnard to understand that there was enough evidence to raise a good deal of suspicion in his mind as, regarded Barnard's conduct in the matter, but yet not enough to disentitle Barnard to the benefit which is unsually.. given to a doubt. In reference to the " case of John August Sorwell, who was also charged with being concerned with Barnard and others, Mr Izard (the Crown prosecutor) said that inasmuch as the evidence given against Bar-'* nard could not be relied on, he would with the Consent of the Court withdraw from the prosecution quo exatd faciende. Walter Lee, another of the smugglers who had pleaded guilty, was then sentenced to pay a fiae of £100, or ; in default six moths imprisonment, to be liberated prior to the expiration of that period should the fine be Booner paid. A man named Roberick McDonald was charged at the Resident; Magistrate's Court on Tuesday with stealing.a set of bagpipes, the property of a Mr McLellan, on the 10th May last. It appeared that prisoner and prosecutor were drinking together, when prosecutor asked prisoner to give him a tune on the pipes, which prisoner did. After playing " The Cameron Men," he finished with the " Rogue's March," and being fascinated with the instrument took his departure with the pipes. The defence he set up was that they were all drunk at the time he took them. He would have returned. them had he known prosecutor's address. But this tale did not have the desired effect on the magistrate, who ordered McDonald to undergo two months hard labor.

It is but a short time ago I had to chronicle a very determined and almost novel attempt at suicide by a young man named Jansen—who, by-the-bye, is not yet out of danger—and ere that excitement had subsided, I have again to record * another terrible attempt at suicide on the * part of a man named Robert Bolt, who came down from the country to " knock down " bis savings, see life, and enjoy himself. As is the case with many people who have been living away from towns he commenced hia " spree" by imbibing not wisely but too well of the different decoctions sold as spirits, and at the expiration of a few days became in ( such a state that he at last decided to end his days by inflicting several severe wounds on his forehead with an axe. Fortunately he was detected and prevented from accomplishing, the task he.- 1 , had begun by being taken* to the Hospital, where he now lies. ; On Monday last he was charged pro forma at the R.M. Court with the atten-ipt to commit suicide, so that on his recovery he will * be brought up to answer-this charge.* But or the cursed drink, 27 rHy durait pas tant de peine et de misere dans- cc monde.

Another severe shock of earthquake occurred here on Thursday morning early, but fortunately unaccompanied by damage to life and property. As far as I can gather, it appears to have been felt very generally throughout both Islands with more or less severity. During the week Mr, Mrs, and Miss Hart, assisted by Mr Kerby, have been entertaining us at the Theatre Royal iv their " Happy Hours." It would be idle to attempt to criticise tbeir various performances, as they cannot be " rubbed out."