THE SOUTH.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume XII, Issue 538, 30 December 1867, Page 2

THE SOUTH.

By the Egmont we have received full files of the Wellington Independent, We have barely space for the following brief summary of news :—• Robert Wilson, sentenced to death a short time ago for the murder of James Lennox at Deadmau’s C reek, was executed at Nelson on the 20th inst. He did not make any public confession of his guilt ; neither did he assert his innocence, Sullivan, of Maungatapu notoriety, dug Wilson’s grave. A fire took place on Thermion Wellington, on the 20th inst., by which one cottage was destroyed, and —sad to relate—a poor boy, 5 years old, was burnt to death. His distracted mother (Mrs Moxham) made several attempts to save her child, but she was held back by the bystanders, as they thought she would be endangering her own life in the attempt.

Mr and Mrs W. Fox and Mr John Morrison (London agent of the General Government) arrived at Wellington on Boxing Day, by the Kaikoura. The Independent, of Saturday last, says—- “ While at the island of St. Thomas’s, all three had narrow escapes of losing their lives. They were putting off to the steamer La Plata, when a vast tidal wave, caused by one of the shocks of earthquake which were then devastating the island, was seen coming iu from the sea. The negro boatmen at once turned the boat’s head to the nearest land, hut before it could be reached, the wave overtook them, overwhelmed the boat, which it turned over upon the passengers, who were, however, immediately after brought to the surface of the water by the reflux of the wave, and were finally washed ashore.” Sir Robert Douglass and the Earl of Pembroke were also passengers to Wellington by the Kaikoura. The latter nobleman is said to be visiting the colonies for the good of his health.

The news from the gold-fields of the “ far west,” with the exception of that from Brighton, continues encouraging. A new rush to the Caledonian has been made.

The Duke of Edinburgh is expected to arrive in Wellington on the Bth of March. “It is also said in well-in-formed circles,” we quote, from the Independent, 24th inst., “ that Wellington will probably be the only place in New Zealand honored by a visit from His Royal Highness ” The telegraph poles have now been erected as far north as Castle Point.

By a proclamation in the New Zealand Gazette, the General Assembly is prorogued from the 30tb December to the 31st January, 1868. Our new Governor, Sir G. Bowen, is expected to leave Sydney fur Wellington on New Year’s Day.