WELLINGTON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3537, 8 November 1882, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

November 8

In the Supreme Court in Banco today the following business was disposed of:—The Law Society recently filed affidavits in the case of Ward, a solicitor, to answer certain charges of misconduct, and judgment had been reserved. The Chief Justice and Mr Justice Richmond, while severely reprimanding Ward, discharged the rule without costs.—An application for a new trial in the case of Poole v. Campbell was refused. —A somewhat singular case came before the Court. It appears that a Mrs Freebody left' her' husband in England about eight years ago, and with an infant child Arrived here. She took to drink, and has for some time been living with a Maori named Winiata at the Hutt. Miss Anuie Freebody, her daughter, has now arrived from England with power of attorney from her father to claim possession of the child, which Winiata refuses to part with. A rule nisi wa9 granted, calling on Winiata to show cause, the order being returnable on Saturday.

A large fire occurred at Newtown at 3 o'clock this morning. The fire originated in a shop and dwelling-house occupied by Mr Dobson, cabinet maker, and tbe flames rapidly spread to the attached premises occupied by Mr Myers. Two houses, one four and the other tworoomed, owned by Mr Meadowcross, and another four-roomed house occupied by Mr F. Smith, were also destroyed. The flames spread so quickly that nothing was saved, with the exception of Smith's furniture. Nothing is known as to the origin of the fire. The insurances are — Dobson's and Myers' buildings, £200 each in the South British oflice ; Meadowcross, £100 on the house in the National office; Smith, £100 on the furniture in the National office, and house £100 in the Norwich Ijnion oflice.

A three-roomed cottage at Kilburnie, owned by a carpenter named Lcadbcater, waß destroyed by fire last night. It was

insured in the South British office for £100.

The Government, have promised to supply the Benevolent Society with the funds absolutely necessary to supplement charitable subscriptions. The Middle Island Trunk Railway Extension Commissioners intend going from Blenheim to Christchurch by tbe inland route, and returning by tbe coast route before beginning to take evidence. In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, an Italian, who was defendant in a case, was unable to speak English. The magistrate, Mr Hardcastle, refused to allow counsel to enter a plea for the Italian, although counsel said he had consulted the defendant with an interpreter. Mr Shaw, who was the counsel for the defendant, suggested that it was the duty of the Court to find an interpreter, but the magistrate said that if litigants were unable to speak English they must find a linguist to interpret for them.