WELLINGTON NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 353, 1 March 1902, Page 3

WELLINGTON NEWS.

By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, last night,

The Governor' has received a cable ' message from Capetown, dated 23rd, stating that the following New Zealanders • are in hospital: At Pietermaritzburg, : 4616 Albert Devine; at Charlestown, 3367 George Fraser, 3292 George Walker, 3630 Charles Cooper ; all are suffering from enteric. Troopers J. Considine and W. Hart are still in the hospital. A DROWNING ACCIDENT. The body of Charles Doras, second of two hulk-keepers, who was drowned during a gale off' Arawata on the 14th, was recovered off Oriental Bay this morning. AN UNUSUAL CASE. A case of an unusual nature occupied the attention of Mr Justieo Williams this morning. It was the trial of an issue directed by the Chief Justice as to whether a certain George Colo died intestate, leaving Ellen Maria Cole his lawful widow, and whether Mrs Cole’s children were legitimate issue of tho said George Cole,

the next of kin. It appeared from the statement by counsel that it was alleged that the parties were not married, and the question for the Court to determine was whether this allegation was correct. The widow stated that she was married to the late George Cole at Greyinouth about 1869, when she was under 15 years of ago, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. William Connell in his own house. There was no entry in official records as to the marriage, but counsel argued that that was not essential, and it would be sufficient to show general recognition of marriage. The Rev. W. Connell filed an affidavit, stating he could not remember performing the ceremony. There was no record of the ceremony in his hooks. After hearing argument, His Honor said it was possible that the local registrar on the West Coast might have been a little lax in their records of years ago, and he would like to see the original marriage-notice book and the original church marriage register of this particular district to ascertain how they were kept, and if there was any probability of mistakes having been made. Counsel said he would endeavor to obtain the records. His Honor deferred judgment.

VICTORIAN ROYAL COMMISSION. The State Premier of Victoria cables the Government that a Royal Commission on shops and factories is coming to New Zealand to make enquiries.