Our Wellington Letter

Feilding Star, Volume XI, Issue 85, 11 January 1890, Page 2

Our Wellington Letter

[from our own cokrespoitoent.] W ellin OTOJSf, January 9 Some little stir was cause,d a few mornings ago when it was noised abroad that that fine vessel the Arawa had had a narrow escape from destruction by fire ; but, thanks to the 'night-watchman on the wharf, and the quartermaster, of the ship, assisted by many willing hands, the outbreak was mastered after a few pounds worth of damage had been done. The Arawa seems to behaving a run of ill-luck lately, for, on her last homeward trip she encountered most tempestuous weather and actually shipped a heavy sea down her funnels, which extinguished the fires and placed this noble vessel in rather an awkward position for several hours. , A passenger named 'John Smith, who arrived by the Hauroto on -Tuesday, had rather an unpleasant 'experience on his stepping on shore. It appears that the individual above named has been "wanted" by the police for the past two years for •failing to obey an order of the Court compelling him to support his children. Smith, who was travelling under an assumed name, was recognised by Detective Campbell, and promptly " run in." His luggage, which he requested should be sent to the Pier Hotel, but which was taken to the Police station, contained a quantity of watches and jewellery, which suspicious circumstance has prompted the police to take care of the "luggage" until they hear from Sydney. The interprovincial cricket match between Auckland and Wellington, which took place on Monday and Tuesday, and Tuesday, and which resulted in a victory for the looal knights of the willow by ten wickets, has caused much gratification, for, after the Northerners defeating both Otago and Canterbury, they naturally easy egg to orack, and this idea was given publicity to by the Auckland Star j last Saturday when it stated that the victory of Auckland over Canterbury by five wickets was read, from a Star extra, by Mr Warner at the Opera House there, and was cheered to the echo, and that now, no doubt, their "boys" would have a triumphal tour through the Colony and that there was already talk of presenting them with putty medals, &c. The local men, however, have improved wonderfully in the good old game the past two seasons, and bent their Northern friends in every department of it. . - • We are told that " ignorance is bliss," but Mr Arnold* a tradesman of this city, proved it to bo anything but that a few nights ago, for, having found two suspicious individuals in his backyard at a late hour, he remonstrated with them and not being satisfied with the result of their argument, which was more forcible than polite, he showed his ignorance of mankind in general by asking them if they would be so kind as to walk with him to the police station. We are not told whether they took each others arms or not, but they did consent to oblige their friend, and all "went merry as a«narriage bell," till within a few yards of the station when, alas, Mr Arnold received a blowin tho face and his assailants made off and have not been captured since. This reads like a joke but it actually happened in this our Empire City. Naturally,: the injured tradesman feels much aggripved at his npotujnaj -visitors n.01;

keeping to their word, but, afttr all, men are but human. » Some of the passengers by the Grafton from Nelson this morning had a decidedly unpleasant experience on the run across. Several, were sleeping on the coaches in the Social Hall, when ona was awakened by a hand touching him, and opening his ' eyes he. saw by the dull light that a man of medium stature was bending over him and who informed the scared traveller that if he did not /keep still he^ would knock his brains out, which advice .was ■acted upon. The other passengers were treated in a similar manner, and it was not until the man's attention was fixed upon one who had dared to move, and over whom he stood with uplifted stick, i that one of the other passengers leapt from his couch and, with the assistance of the others, secured the fellow and handed him over to the officers of the vessel. It is thought that the man is a lunatic and he is now under examination by Dr Collins. .