NEW ZEALAND.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2263, 4 July 1881, Page 3

NEW ZEALAND.

[ebb press association.] Supreme Court. WELLINGTON.IJuIy 4. The Supreme Court criminal Readout commenced this morning. Judge Richmond, in bit charge to the Grand Jury, taid he anticipated that he would have been able to refer to the absence of any serious crime, but he feared in the stabbing case the injuries would prove fatal. It was probable that the case would have to stand over until next session. The other oases, he said, were of an ordinary nature, except the charge against the late Superintendant of the Asylum for illtreating a patient, which would bo heard before a special jury on Monday next. A true bill was found against Dickens for larceny. Holler Explosion. The boiler of the donkey engine on board the coal hulk Albion exploded last night. She was lying alongside the wharf, and was getting ready to coal the Botomahama. The boiler was literally smashed to pieces. Fortunately only three of the crew were on board at the time of the accident, and they escaped with a few braises. Mr Mitchell, who was on the deck of the adjoining hulk, woe knocked down and cut about the head. The crown of the boiler was carried over the deck of the Rotomahana, which was lying some distance away. Pieces of the plate were found at a distance of fifty yards from the accident, and the noise occasioned by tho explosion was heard all over the town. Numerous windows in the vicinity of the wharf have suffered. The cause of the accident is believed to have been shortness of water in an overheated boiler. Heath of Dr- Harding. Dr. Harding died last night from diphtheria. NELSON, July 4. Fatal Railway Accident. A man named Murphy was killed on the BeUgrova railway extension works on Saturday night. He was employed by the contractors, and whilst attending to the brake on a truck containing soma eight tons of ballast, he fell across the rails, and his body was out in two. DUNEDIN, July 4, Supreme CourtThe Chief Jostice’s charge in opening the criminal sittings merely referred to the in-

dictments for hearing. Moritzson, convicted at the last sittings for embezzlement, and whose conviction has been affirmed by the Appeal Court, made a long statement, complaining that, at the trial, Judge Gillies had acted improperly as to the rights of his counsel to cross-examine witnesses, which ruling prejudicially affected his Bo asked the Court to suspend the passing of sentence until a petition, which had been numerously signed, respecting him, had gone before the Governor. The Chief Justice deferred sentence until Thursday. (PBOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) ABHBUETON, July 4. Alleged Arson. On Sunday morning suspicious circumstances transpired in connection with the recent fire. Buxton, the tailor, and Mrs Buxton and her sister, Miss Buekman, were arrested in their beds on charges of arson. They were brought up this morning before J. Nugent Wood, Esq. Inspector Pender watched the cose on behalf of the police. Mr Branson appeared for Buxton and his wife, and Mr F. P. O’Beilly for Miss Buekman, The Inspector deposed that two lorge portmanteaus, and two large boxes containing goods worth over £IOO had been stored a few days ago at Timaru. Inspector Pender was present at the time of the arrest, and found a considerable quantity of goods in Miss Buckman’s house, comprising rolls of tweeds and other tailoring stock. There is evidence also of more goods having been forwarded to Christchurch. Mr Branson urged that the goods were sent to Christchurch in the usual course of business, and that the goods found in Miss Bookman's house had been sold to her as a dressmaker, and did not belong to Buxton. The oase was remanded to Saturday. Bail was allowed and eagerly subscribed by some townspeople, Buxton himself in £3OO, two surieties in £l5O each; Mrs Buxton in £IOO and two surieties in £SO each ; Miss Beckman in £IOO and two sureties in £SO each. The «ise excited much interest and the Court was crowded. Buxton was insured ss already published.