BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Evening Star, Issue 3703, 5 January 1875, Page 2

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Wellington, January 4, A sharp shock of earthquake was felt here at 7 p.m.

A writ has been issued from the Supreme Court here, and, addressed to the Hon. Julius Vogel, Colonial Treasurer, which prohibits him paying to Hayden Heaekiah Hall and Paul Simeon Forbes, contractors for the San Francisco mail service, any money due to them, until the action now pending in Court here against them, at the suit of the Rev. John Raven, formerly of Christchurch, is satisfied, i The Criminal Sittings are concluded. Robert Taylor, for a violent assault, received two years.’ hard labor; Ivor Geislgaard, for burglary, twelve months’ hard labor; Williams, obtaining money under false pretences, two years’. The Grand Jury made a presentment to the Judge, expressing their regret at his departure from a district which he had presided over in the Supreme Court for sixteen years, and expressing their deep sense of the ability, courtesy, and impartiality which uniformly marked his career. The Judge made an appropriate reply. It is reported that a seam of poal eighteen inches thick has been discovered near Featherstone on the Masterton railway. From its hardness it is thought to be anthracite or nonbituraiuous.

j Moose second. Arrow, Highflyer, and Darkie ; also ran. The Town Plate was won by Templeton, Ngavo second. The Customs revenue for the past year was L 221,130 ; for the previous year, Li 94,182 — being an increase of L 26.947. Thompson, Mr Quick’s manager, who attempted to abscond, pleaded guilty to embezzlement to-day, and was i-ecommended to mercy on account of his previous good character and family. Sentence was deferred.

January 5. At the Supreme Court to-day, Thompson, Quick’s absconding manager, was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, with hard labor.

Christchurch, January 4. The criminal sessions of the Supreme Court opened this morning. There was a very short calendar. Judge Gresson, in his charge, said it was the last time he should preside at that Court, as he had received a communication from the Colonial Secretary that the Nelson district had been assigned to him, and wishing him if possible to be there by the end of the month. ' The grand Jury made a presentment expressing their sense of the impartial, dignified, and courteous manner in which Judge Gresson had discharged his duties during a period of eighteen years, regret at his retirement, and a hope that his connection with the Province would not cease.

LATER ENGLISH AND AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Auckland, January 4. The steamer Hero, Captain Logan, arrived to-day from Sydney. She left on the 29th ult., and brings English news to December 25. AUSTRALIAN NEWS. Melbourne, December 29. Two drunken men on the Yarra on Boxing Day upset a boat and were drowned. Twenty Sisters of the Cross and several Catholic priests were passengers by the steamer St. Osyth. Sir George Bowen will be entertained at a banquet by the Mayor previous to his departure for England. Owing to the general holidaying business has been entirely suspended.

Sydney. New Zealand Five per Cent. Debentures are being finished of at par. The ship Windsor Castle has arrived. She reports passing a burning vessel, 500 or 600 tons, on October 22, in latitude 5.20, longitude 23.50. A full-rigged ship was standing by, and had evidently rescued the crew. At the Hawkesbury Races the Maiden Plate was won by Mr Tait’s Melbourne, Bst 101b; Gazelle, 7st 61b, second. For the Hawkesbury Handicap, Blair Athol, 6,st 61b was first. Lord Lyon and M'Callmn Mohr ran a dead heat for second place—the Arrow was third. Thakombau proceeded in H.M.S. Dido to Fiji.

Brisbane. It is reported that the Communist refugees were set adrift by a ship now off the coast, LATEST CABLEGRAMS. London, December 28. An express train on the Great Western Railway left the rails near Skipton, when the carriages were precipitated into a canal, and thirty persons killed. An explosion occurred in a colliery in Staffordshire, and caused the death of twenty persons.

[From our own Correspondents.)

Auckland, January 4. The Chief Justice, referring to a visit paid by him to the gaol, spoke of the number of females there, and said it was hardly credible in a small community that thirty women should be found in the gaol. Woman was much what man made her, and a great responsibility rested on those who fumishAl these poor creatures with drink, which was the chief cause of their frequent return to the gaol. Regarding the girl Cecilia Allen, charged with arson, he said it was not surprising that the case caused a sensation. The Court would have to consider whether a child at the time of committing the offence was fully aware of the nature of the act she was doing. Alluding to the charge of murder against an Orakie .Native, the Chief Justice said the alleged motive was jealousy. The inquest was not held until some days after the occurrence, so that the body was so much decomposed as to render it impossible to ascertain exactly what amount of violence the woman had suffered, but the examination of Dr Goldsbro showed that the ligaments connected with the bones of the spine at the neck were ruptured in two places, which would inevitably cause death. The deceased was last seen by a boy with her head lying between the prisoner’s knees, he leainihg over her. The jury mqst determine whether the prisoner 'At or about that time had wrenched her neck so as to cause the injuries described. There was then the question of motive. They had evidence to show that the prisoner hacj, threatened that if the girl went astray with any other Native he would kill her. She was subsequently seen by him in company with another Native, and the question was whether, moved by jealousy, ho had seized hep as she was going home in the darkness and caused her death by wrenching her nook across his knee, The prisoner bad adhered to one story regarding the occurrence, namely, that she had been punished by God, or, as we would say, had “ died by the visitation o? God.” The Native pleads guilty. A sentence of three years was passed on Wilcon, convicted of stealing a watch entrusted to his care. It was lug fifth conviction. In sentencing a immigrant to fifteen months’ imprisonment for breaking into aufi entering a dwelling, the jqdge said that new corners would find a very vigilant police here, apd tfiat they must not hope to escape detection,

Napier, January 5. _ The nomination of candidates for the Municipal Council takes place on Thursday. Very little interest is shown in the matter, and no candidates have appeared a; yet. Complaints re railway management continue tp increasej but no attention is paid to them by the authorities.

Two settlers of Poverty Bay intend starting up the coast on a prospecting tour. They com* jpence at Tukurangi. Major Kopata is supporting them warmly.