WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 534, 16 December 1857, Page 9 (Supplement)

WELLINGTON.

We have some arrears of Wellington news which more important subjects have obliged us from time to time to postpone. - Our news reaches to the sth instant.

We learn that the Reform party had received an addition of two totheuumber of theirrepresentativesinthe Council by the Ahuririelection. The Reformers had a grand banquet on the 19th ult., tho orations at which are reported at full length by the 'Spectator.' The most noticeable point is the statement by Dr. Welch in returnin"- thanli3 for a toast in his honour, that he ' had no ambition for the office,' nor had he any objection to be called a ' wanning pan, or a locum tenens.' This declaration was followed hy Mr. Toomath proposing the health of Mr. H. St. Hill as the 'coming man,' an announcement which was loudly cheered. Several other remarks during the evening pointed to Mr. St. Hill as the candidate who would be brought

forward against Dr. Featherston, in the event of a new writ being issued. _ The 'Independent' of the sth instant publishes a detailed account of the rise of partv spirit and the progress of the elections. We quote from other papers the following paragraphs:—

On Thursday last, at Messrs. Bethune and Hunter's sale, a large amount of wine and merchandise realized very satisfactory prices, and on the following day (Mr. Allen's sale was equally well attended with purchasers, and the results were equally encouraging as a reference to our Commercial Record of Saturday last will show : these two sales are the most important from the amount sold and prices realised that have occurred for some time past. The goods received by late arrivals—three large vessels now discharging their cargoes—also meet with ready purchasers, and business is in a healthy and active state. We allude to these matters, because the Superintendent in his memorable speech at the hustings told us if he was not properly supported, "it must result in utter ruin to the province." To our thinking, the late changes have just had the opposite tendency^ and under another Superintendent, whose name is now in everybody's mouth, and who all except Dr. Featherston's clique, agree will be "the right man in the right place," the province will make such rapid advances as amply to justify these changes.— Spectator, Dec. 2. We regret to learn that a great deal of damage has been done by the storm on Tuesday on the roads in the districts near Wellington. The bridges at Kaiwarra and Ngahuranga have been rencleied impassable, and the mills at both places have been much damaged by the sudden rush of water. The new road from" Ngahuranga Flat to the Porirua Road has been broken up by the sudden rise of the scream, all the bridges across the streams on this road have been seriously injured, several trees have fallen across the road, and we understand it will require a considerable outlay to make good the damage that has been occasioned. The Taua Flat on the Porirua road, near the harbour, was flooded, and the settlers living there have sustained considerable loss in pigs and poultry. Several heavy slips have occurred on the road from Wellington to Petoni, which have rendered the road impassable for carts. The bridge at the Koro Koro has also been much damaged. There was a very heavy flood at the Hutt which has occasioned very serious damage. We understand that the river has broken through the road at the point to which we called attention a short time since, and in other places the road has been much injured, as has also the new bridge; the bank near the Aglionby Arms has been washed away, so that a part of that building is in danger of falling down. A good deal of loss and inconvenience has been suffered in various ways by different settlers both in town and country, which it will require a considerable outlay to make good. We have heard this morning that the new bridge over the Turakina, which was not quite completed, has been carried away by the floods. — Spectator, Deo. 5.

The s. s. Wonga Wonga, Captain Kennedy arrived at 4 o'clock on Friday morning from the Ahuriri. She left Wellington on Friday week last, and anchored outside the Ahuriri on Saturday evening at 8 o'clock after a rapid passage of 32 hours. She left the Ahuriri at 8 ' o'clock on Tuesday evening, and was anchored off Castle Point for five hours, but in consequence of the heavy sea running, was unable to land any cargo. Ou getting under weigh from there, she was struck by a heavy sea, damaging one of the quarter boats. The Salopian | schooner sailed from the Ahuriri on Sunday morning last, with the mail on board for this Port. Captain Kennedy reports having had very heavy weather during the passage. The Wonga Wonga will leave the wharf for Wanganui at 12 o'clock Saturday.— lbid The finS brigantine William Alfred, Captain Tinley, anchored in the Harbour yesterday evening, having made the run from Sydney in 12 days. She was at anchor inside the Heads the whole of Thursday, awaiting a change of wind. Captain Tinley reports the Acis, hence for Sydney, as entering Sydney Harbour as the William Alfred was leaving. No vessels were advertised in Sydney for this Port. We are indebted to the kindness of Captain Tinley for a supply of the latest Sydney papers, extending up to the 21st of November.— lbid Inquest.—An inquest was held on Friday evening last, at the Victoria Hotel, before Dr. Monteith, Coroner, upon the body of Mr. Daniel Dougherty, the late pilot. From the j evidence of a witness named Liddy, it appears that upon proceeding to his work about 5 o'clock on Friday morning, he observed the deceased lying in the vicinity of the barracks at Mount Cook, and immedi■■t?ly gave information to the Serjeant-Major of Police, who was quickly on the spot, and Medical aid was called in, but life was found to be extinct. E. Hopi, a native policeman, deposed to having seen the deceased early that morning leaving Barry's Hotel; he was then on horseback and apparently sober; it is believed that the deceased fell from his horse in a fit; and the position in which the body was found, and other circumstances would lead to that conclusion. The property found about the deceased was taken charge of by the police. The Jury, after hearing the whole of the evidence, and having taken the opinion of the medical gentleman, returned a verdict of " Died of Apoplexy."—lbid The Wonga Wonga left yesterday morning for the Ahuriri, with a large number of passengers, among whom we notice several of the late arrivals per Gleaner and Ashburton. Up-, wards of twenty labouring immigrants by the former vessel were passengers, under engage.

ment for six months to the Government for the Ahurin roads, but with liberty to engage themselves to the settlers. As many of them comprise good Scotch agriculturists' and shepherds, they will no doubt prove of valuable assistance to employers in that district.— lndependent, Nov. 28.

The Weathee.—The season has been a very backward one and more than the usual amount of rain has fallen. During the whole of yesterday and last night it blew a severe gale from the_ S.E., accompanied with heavy showers of rain and sometimes hail. Some damage has been done to the fences, and the roofs of several buildings have been injured. The schooner Augusta dragged her anchor and went ashore at Pipitea, but has rceived little injury. Thelarge vessels, although they dragged their anchors a little, held on well. Several slips have taken place along the beach at places where the banks had been previously dug out; but with the exception of that behind Mr. Eades, where a small kitchen has been partially covered and broken in, no great amount of damage has been done.— lbid, Dec. 2. Naeeow Escape fbom Fiee.—On Saturday morning last, Mr. Cook's shop, on Lambton Quay, was nearly burnt down. It appears that the wood work in front of the chimney breast caught^ fire, from, it is supposed, the sill into which it is morticed ; the sill resting upon the arch of the fire place through some crevice of which the fire had penetrated and reached the timber. The brick work of the arch was only four inches in thickness. Had this occurred during the night, possibly the whole of the beach might have been swept by the devouring element. On discovering the fire, however, it was speedily extinguished, although not before the flames had burst through the upper floor. "We again urge upon the public to organize a fire brigade, and bring into operation the Building Act. These repeated warnings ought not to be disregarded.— lbid.