WELLINGTON NEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VII, Issue 392, 17 April 1902, Page 2

WELLINGTON NEWS.

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, last night. Inspector Pender was to-day present led with a purse of sovereigns by the Wellington branch of the Law Society 011 bis retirement from the force after fifty-six years’ military and police service. The presentation was made by Mr Martin. President of the Society, and the recipient, was congratulated on the admirable manner in which he had discharged the duties of his position in this city.

The troopship Norfolk, which takes the South Island Battalion of the Tenth Contingent to Durban, arrived this afternoon from Brisbane. It is expected that she will proceed to Lyttelton to-morrow.

Advices from Capetown state that Sergeant Beasley and Private Holland are dangerously ill of enteric.

Tiie Supreme Court to-day reserved judgment on certain points of law arising out of the case, Jellicoe v. Haselden, S.M. The action is one brought against defendant for damages on the ground that he used certain defamatory words referring to defendant during the recent prisons enquiry. Counsel for Mr Haselden urged that before action could lie special damages •should he shown ; that the words did not refer to Mr .Jellicoe, and that the utterances of a Royal Commissioner are privileged. Instructions have been given to the Agent-General to fix a contract for the New Zealand and South African steamer service with the Blue Star Line, upon receiving a satisfactory assurance tliat the company can fulfil the conditions.

Negotiations have been carried on lately by the. Agent-General with steamship builders in the Old Country with the view of obtaining a suitable vessel for Lake Wakatipu. The Cabinet has now decided to authorise the AgenUGeneral to close for a steamer, at an estimated cost of £23,000. She will run in connection with the railway service.

Miss Jackson, of Southland, has been appointed a concentration camp teacher. The decision of the Federal Tariff Committee to place New Zealand timber on the Free list will probably lead to Government reconsidering the export duty on kauri timber from New Zealand.

Government! are advised tliat. Captain Resan, R.N., who bars been officially appointed Resident G’ommis sioner of New Hebrides, leaves London in May.