WELLINGTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 731, 9 November 1859, Page 4

WELLINGTON.

We have papers to the :2nd instant, from-which we cut" the following paragraphs:— . Batteeies.—We understand 'that instructions have been received from Auckland to erect Batteries at the entrance of this harbour. Beport says that three are to be constructed, one of which is to be on Ward's Island, and to .consist-of eight-68 pounder gxms.-rlndependent, October 18.

Fibe at Mxjncfaboa'Him.—On 'Thursday, the 13th instant, the'houseof Mr. Leach, an industrious settler at Mungaroa Hill, was totally destroyed -by fire. It was.. a slab house with thatched roof, the latter igniting through some defect in the chimney 1 The. fire occurring at mid-day, and Mrs. Leaoh and her son being dose at hand, some bedding and a few articles of clothing were saved. The loss will be a severe one to Mr. Leach/who has proved himself a most useful pettier. It is worthy of remark that several bank notes were destroyed, which, in consequence of no memorandum having been made of the numbers, cannot be refunded. Persons in the country would do well to bear in mind that where the numbers of notes can be sworn to, there is little difficulty in obtaining the amount amder guarantee.— lbid, Oct. 21.

Fibe at thk Theee-Mile Bush.—On Friday last, the house of Mr. Eagle, Three-Mile Bi\sh. was burnt to the ground. The fire, broke out aJoout 11 o'clock, and strenuous efforts were made W the neighbours to rescue some of the property, out unfortunately without any effect; one of them (Mr. Flood) getting his hand burnt in the attempt. Mr. Eagle was at work ten miles away at the time of the accident, and the remainder of tlie family were clejmng busk. A defective chimney is supposed to have loeen the cause. By this sac\ accident a very energetic settler has lost nearly all—the more disheartening because he had takon more than usual pains to gather round him th.o comforts of a homo. The'house was new, weathei>boarded and skin<*led • one of the'besfinthe district.— lbid. ° '

The-two'accidents abo ve recorded afford us the opportunity of cautioning persons in the country of the necessity of being careful with five just now. The season being unusually dry, thatch and other materials used for country houses are more than ordinarily liable to ignite. The largo quantity of fallen, timber, intended to be fired in two o.y three months time, is also liable unexpectedly to catch fire, and may involve considerable destruction of property, from the owners being unprepared for the contingency.— lbid. Tike at Mr. Strang's.—Yesterday -afternoon tbe house of Mr. Strong, Te Aro, had a narrow escape from being- burnt. The soot in thb chjmney pots became ignited and would have set the roof in a blaze bad not the- timely efforts of a man named Turner,-who was working at a well, fortunately extinguished it, — Ibid.

Neav Election.—-Wo understand that a requisition, calling upon MiyO. 11 Carter to offer himself as a candidate to represent the Wairavapa district in the General Assembly, has arrived in town "»S morning. It is most numerously signed : but as Mr, Cartor is already in the field, it is unnecessary to publish it.— lbid, Nov. i, '

AFFRAY. Wo (' Wellington Independent 1) report the following civso reeßiitly brought before the Resident Magistrate's Court, because it evinces the readiness with which the natives refer their complaints? to the decision of the authorities, and illustrates the good feeling shown towards the Europeans by < m influential chief, at a moment when his angry pa.ssions might have been expected to become roused to the utmost. Wi Tajko, it, should be remembered, is the great agitator in the Maori King movement', in this part of New Zealand, a circumstance which renders his temperate conduct in the following affray all the more admirable. " Wiremu Tako v. John Buderidge,- Walter Harris, John Harrison, and Henvy Lewyn.-—A charge of unprovoked assault. This case first came into Court on the 16th September,-'llr, Brandon appearing for the complainant, and Mr.' Ward for the defendants; but in consequence of the non-appearance of one of the latter, ifc waa adjourned, after part hearing, to the 23rd,.and;again, to the following Wednesday, the 28tk / Complainant (tho chief Wi Tako} deposed'to thd following facts r —On the 7th of the mouth he was returning to the Hutt from the Wairarnpa. When he reached .Mr. Harris's place in the Upper Hutt, he observed a half-caste girl, named Mary Harri* son, standing near Mr: Harris's fence, spreadingl clothes to dry. Mary Harrison is the-daughter o| complainant's late wife, by a former husband, a« Englishman, and complainant now holds the relation of guardian to herj she is about sixteen years of age, and has been residing, with eomplatiwnt for many years'; she had been living afe Harris's in the capacity of house-maid for several weeks prior to this date. He xode tip to her ami saluted her. in the usual terms. Mary Harrison told him she was uncomfortable in her present situ^ ation, and wished to return home; he told her that|she might please herself j she begged to be allowed to return at once; he accordingly dismounted from his horse, and accompanied her to the house to communicate the same to Mrs. Harris. Mrs. Harris and some other females endeavoured to prevent it, and remonstrated with him for taking the girl away;. to which he replied that it was the girl's own wish to go, and he was bound to protect her. She was mounted on a steed and rode away with Wi Tako and his party. When they reached his settlement of Ohara they remained there for a short time to take some refreshment. Wi Tako with the girl and a party of six men proceeded down the Hutt road leaving the remainder of the natives at Ohara. After riding a few miles, they met John Harrison, one of the defendant's (Mary Harrison's brothers), with two other young men, all on horseback. Harrison took hold of the bridle of his sister's horse, and insisted on her coming back with him; but, failing in this, he turned I his horse's head and rode along with the party, as ! did his two companions. Harrison accused.Wi Tako of running off with his sister, and appeared to be very angry. They rode together for some miles when Harrison said something to his companions, and they galloped, off ahead of the party. The latter proceeded quietly down the road, with. Wi Tako at its head. ■ When he came within sight lof Buckeridge's road-aide inn, he observed John Harrison and several other young men standing in the road, with their coats off and sleeves turned up, apparently ready for a fight. He dismounted, and walking up to the former he remonstrated with him for his folly. Mr. Buckeridge, senior, beckoned to him and they entered the house together, John Harrison accompanying .them. He -narrated the facts of the case to Mr. Buckeridge, who then went out and spoke to the girl-; he>iefcurned and stated that the girl refused to ,return to Harris's, —insisting- on proceeding home -with Wi Tako. Harrison then>went out,-and, assisted ;by others, pulled his - sister off'the horse, and carrying her into the house, •entered by -the side door. -Wi'Tako attempted to■follow, but <was held back by -some. whites; he afterwards entered,'but, not finding her, he turned •to come out. When he reached the door he found that aifracashad. commenced outside between the natives and whites. As. he emerged from the door !the defendants assailed >him. Lewyn struck him on the-shin with a stick, and he fell to tke ground. Harrison then up and struck him a blow in the eye-with his fist, and Buckeridge, junior, •struck him on the lip with a piece of mud. Walter Haras struck him on the ribs. He remained insensible some time. When he came to himself natives were all gone. He entered the .'house asked for a glass of water to drink, and washed his bleeding face. Suddenly he heard a great >noise outside. He rushed out and found ■■.that the natiyes had returned in a most excited state» one armed with a tomahawk and the others with •sticks, and were breaking the. windows of the house and doing other violence. He saw that bloodshed was likely to ensue, and seizing a stockwhip he commenced to belabour them with it right ■and left, at the same time assuring them he was not hurt. Finding that he whose wrongs they were avenging was flogging them unmercifully, they desisted, and departed in a "body homewards, Mary Harrison, who had made her escape from tk> house, accompanying them. Complainant stated that he had received some very serious bruises on •the face, ribs, and shins, and still suffered considerable pain from. them. He then called several witnesses, Natives awl Europeans, to corroborate his statements; after which several Europeans-appeared-for. the defence who contradicted some parts and qualified others of complainant's evidence. On the 23rd September, at the Hutt Court _(as above stated), the Eesident Magistrate having commented on the case, —speaking in the highest terms of Wi Tako's discreet conduct on the occasion of this affray and expressing his conviction that had he encouraged the infuriated natives in their purpose great mischief, if not bloodshed, would have ensued —expressed his opinion that whatever palliation there may have been for the defendant Harrison (who conceived that complainant wi* taking away his sister without her. consent) therewas none for the other three defendants: Jo'm Harrison fined ten shillings, John Buckeriil.^ Walter Harris, and Henry Lewin, fiued 40s. each. and costs £2 6s. 6d.

Exportation of Sheep.—Tlie harquo Acasf^ has been chartered by Mr. Barton, and is now teu'S fitted up for the conveyance of about 6,000 sheep and 150 head of cattle, to bo drafted from to* stations on the East^Coast, for exportation to Otag«-V