WELLINGTON.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 82, 4 September 1874, Page 4

WELLINGTON.

The following particulars of the circumstances under which Mr James McGregor, of Matarawa, lost his life,|are given by the Wanganui Herald : —" It appears that a large number of young men were iu the habit of going to some very broken ground to shoot cattle, and although they had been warned bj settlers to be very careful, as on such ground an accident of the kind may easily happen, they puisued their sport in the same manner as before. Yesterday afternoon they were out, and in the excitement of the hunt there was a good deal of cross-firiug. The deceased was missed after a time, and, on search being made, was totttid dead, a bullet having passed through his head. It is perhaps a fortunate thing for the peace of mind of those who were out with the party, that nobody appears to have the slightest idea as to who tired the fatal shot." At noon on Saturday last, the time expired for receiving tenders for the purchase of the New Zealand Steam Shipping Company's fleet. Several tenders were received, but nothing definite has yet been deterrninod on. Old settlers often speak, says the Post, of the excellent racing there used to be in Wellington years ago, and how well it was supported and enjoyed by the community, but being neglected by those who should have continued to take an interest in it, of course it flagged, till at last the race meetings were discontinued altogether, to the legiet of many, and of couutry settlers in particular. When things come to the worst they often mend, which seems to be the case with the Wellington races, for the Jockey (Jlub is receiving promises of support from all quarters, and feels sanguine of making its races second to none iu New Zealand. There is no doubt that the races in Wairarapa and Wanganui will receive an impetus from the improvement at head quarters, and we hope that the annual meeting of town and country settlers that used to be looked forward to with so much pleasure, will once again become a regular institution. The Post of the 28th ult. says :—lt is rather a singular fact that there is only one member in the House of representatives who has not in some way or other publicly declared himself on the question of the proposed constitutional changes. That member is" one of the representatives of the city of Wellington—Mr E. Pearce. All the other members either spoke, voted, or paired in the first debate, or declared their opinions afterwards, or spoke or voted iu the second division on Mr Fitzherbeit's resolutions. Mr Pearce was not accidently debarred from voting on the fust division on Mr Heeves's amendment. He was in the House, and purposely abstained from recording his vote. The fact has been noticed by a number of newspaper correspondents, and according to their proclivities they put him down as supporting or opposing the Government. "We regret that Mr Pearce has not declared his views, and openly espoused one side or the other. The question at issue is one o* the most important ever raised in the Legis'ature of this colony, and the electors of Wellington certainly have a right to know what the opinions of their representatives are on the subject. It is not one on which any doubt or hesitancy can be tolerated, and we trust Mr Pearce will recognise the right of his constituents to some explanation of his views on a matter so vitally affecting their interests.