Our Wellington Letter

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 75, 14 December 1889, Page 2

Our Wellington Letter

[FEOM OUR OTV^T OOKUKSPONDEKT.] ' "Wellington, December 12. A large concourse of people, who had assembled in front of the General Post Office yesterday afternoon, caused the casual passer by to ask the meaning of such an "eager, anxious throng." The reply web given that " A man was going to jntnp oftthe iop of the post office," 'and on the startled enquirer casting his eyes upward he waa horrified to see that such indeed was the case, but his hopes and fears were soon allayed when it was seen that the actor in this " terrible tragedy" had a rope in each hand and belts around his body which were attached to the rope and soon the adventurer reached terra firma, when it was whispered around that it was not a " suicide" after all, but just an agent advertising a new Mnd of fire escape. The experiment was repeated several times and caused a deal of interest. The collision between the Botorua and the Orowaiti caused some little stir in this city. The former is a great favorite with the travelling public, as is also the genial skipper, Captain Neville, who is looked upon as one of the most careful of the Union Company's oilieers. This*'catastrophe has once more brought to light the alarming fact that steamers continually carry more passengers than they have boating accommodation for. Had the Rotorua gone down, fully 40 passengers must have perished like rats in a hole. The Auckland papers and the Wellington Post are fighting out to the bitter end the respective claims of their cities for the Jubilee of the Colony. Wellington claims the 22nd of January as the date, as ou that day, 50. years ago, the New Zealand Company's pioneer settlers first set foot on New Zealand soil at Wellington, but Auckland bases her claims on the fact that on the > 29th of January of the same year Governor Hobson proclaimed New Zealand British territory, and as that *reat event took place on their hearthstone, Auckland claims it as their right to celebrate the jubilee on that date. Well, [ say, fire away, let us have two jubilees, rhe more the merrier 1. Mr Jellicoe, the well known lawyer, jave the police " a bad half hour" yesterlay morning at the court. A member of ;he "foorce," acting under instructions ■torn his superior officer, arrested a voting Frenchman who had escaped from the ; Saone, a French man -o' -war, which was iere recently, and charged him with havng no visible means ofsnppport; but it mine out in the evidence that the police iad been instrumental in getting him disnissed from his situation and then laid ;he charge against him, evidently hoping ;o reap a reward for the capture of a -run-: iway sailor, but Mr Jellicoe knocked their feet from under them and the Bench disjussed the case and- censured the police*. ibi. 1 being too officious. More is to be leard of the matter. » ; Universal regret is everywhere, expressed at the untimely death of Searlo, ihe -champion sculler,. and the flags"at tlie 1 various boat; sheds and sport-ing: hotel*'; ivero- lowered half mast out of-respseii'foi 1 ihe deceased oarsman.