Untitled

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 13, Issue 649, 21 January 1869, Page 3

Tub attempt to acclimatize the trout ova at Nelson lias been pronounced successful.

New Zealand Snake. —There has been a snake found in the Upper Waikato—the first of this order of reptilia yet found in New Zealand. The interesting specimen has been deposited in the Museum, where it can be seen by the curious.—New Zealand Herald, 11th January.

The Late Smuggling Case at Wellington.—The Wellington correspondent of the Wairarapa Mercury, under date 12th. Jan., says:—Fresh developments in con--nection with tho recent smuggling case at Manawatu have recently been made. A reward was offered for the discovery of tho person who supplied the ruin seized on board the Kate, and it was then discovered that Captain Stuart of tho Asterope was the individual primarily concerned, and that he had shipped it on board the Ruby, from which it was transhipped to the Kate. The Asterope had cleared for London on Saturday morning, but had not sailed, and in the evening an information was laid against Captain Stuart, and the case was neard about ten o’clock at night. Tho Captain pleaded gulfcy and was fined £IOO. The Ruby arrived from Marlborough early on Sunday morning, and was of course seized by the Customs authorities as her part in the transaction had been proved, but strange to say while the little craft was seized, the big one was alowed to escape, and this she wisely did at once, Captain Stuart in spite of his illness bidding good bye to Wellington on Sunday. It seems extraordinary that the Asterope was thus allowed to escape the seizure to to which she was as legally liable as either the Ruby or the Kate. Comment is rife on the subject, and undue influence is more than hinted at. One law for rich and poor does not seem to be the case, were we to judge from the facts here dis* played.