PARLIAMENTARY.

Kumara Times, Issue 1003, 17 December 1879, Page 2

PARLIAMENTARY.

Wellington, December 16, T ! p.m. After disposing of the Property Tax Bill last night, the House went on with the Estimates, sat till halfpast three o’clock. The item of £BOO for Thames Orphanage building was struck oak The Supplementary Estimates have yet to be passed. The Hoilse met again to-day at 2.30. It is not expected that all the business yet to be transacted will be finished to-day. December 17. After the second reading Of the Public Works Bill, the Ho'use went into Committee on the Bill. A long and aninlated discussion, ensued on tke 30th clausfe, which provides for purchase and completion of district railways. Mr de Lautour proposed t 6 leave oat the portion conferring this power. Ultimately it was agreed to postpone this clause. The House sat till 3.30, and met again this morning at eleven, when they went into Committee on the Supplementary Estimates, which are causing considerable discussion. [new ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION,] ■ Napier, December 15. The charge of wife murder against M‘Lennon commenced to-day. The Crown Prosecutor, with Cornford, prosecuted ) Lascelles and Carlisle appeared for the defence, The case is likely to last at least a week. The day was occupied in taking the evidence of Clements Tancred, Bichaid Dee Millers and William Tait,' from South Canterbury, and Mrs Sinclair, of Morniiigton, Dunedin. Their evidence was of an indirect nature, and chiefly referred to the relations of the prisoner towards his wife before they came to Ntlpier. The testimony was of a favorable character, though Mrs Sinclair declared that when Mrs M'Lennan was staying at her house she was in good Health except once after M‘Lennau had visited her. She also went away with her husband bncb and returned iii ill health. At that time, as when in Napier, Mrs M'Lennau believed herself to be pregnant, and prepared baby clothes, Mr Tancred’s evidence showed that prisoner could have obtained arsenic on the station. This, it will be remembered, was the poison fbiitid iii her stomach. Dr Caro deposed to treating llet for pregnancy. Dunedin, December 15. A clerical gentleman named Arthur Grieves was charged at the City Court this morning with forging the name of Archdeacon Edwards to a promissory note. He arrived front Home in the Hermoine recently, acting as chaplain on the Voyage) and preached at all Saints Church on the 7th. His credentials profess to be signed by his Lordship the Bishop of Carlisle, but it is said he was prevented from preaching before leaving for this colony. In conducting his defence he made some extrudrdinaiy statements and endeavored to make out he was ignorant as to the nature of the promissory note, the subject of the,charge. After his committal Archdeacon Edwards suggested that he should be medically examined as to his sanity. A painful .sudden death occurred in town early this morning, Mr Gilkinson who arrived from Glasgow, a couple of months ago with the intention of settling in the district, went to church yesterday evening in good health, and spent a little time with his family, and returned about the usilal hoi.tr, but was shortly after seized with a paralyetic stroke and expired at about 4 o’clock this morning. Tiie deceased who was about 50 years of age, leaves a large family. Prior to the collapse of the Glasgow Bank, which affected his Commercial position most disastrously. Mr Gilkinson occupied a leading position in Glasgow— he having been senior bailee of that town, and identified with many social and political movements. The credentials which the deceased gentleman brought with him to the Colony showed that he-was greatly esteemed by the people of Glasgow. Auckland, December 15, During a thunderstorm this mornitm, the house of K B. Shalders, upper Queen street, occupied by Major Withers, was struck by lightning and set on hre. It entered the room where Mrs Withers and servant were standing, going up and exploring the gaspipe, and out of the roof, setting lire to the room paper and rafters. The fire was suppressed, and the New Zealand Insurance Company will make good the damage. New Plymouth, November 10. A letter has been received by Natives here from prisoners in Dunedin, givin" a description of prison life. The Writer complains that the food is insufficient

that the climate is very cold, and that contidement is exceedingly irksome to freeborii Maoris. The letter also.sta'es that John [tough, a half-caste, has placed in solidary confinement for instigating the Maoris to refuse work.