WELLINGTON.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 76, 11 July 1877, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

Tuesday. It was. currently reported this morning that a civil servant named Langridge -was to-day, dismissed the service for committing an unnatural offence. „-■ Maggie .Baker, a well known char- ■ acter here, who was pointedly referred to m the "Reformer" newspaper last week, called! at the office this .morning" andbe laboured Hooper, the editor, with a N riding whip. : She then jumped into a cab" and drove off. ■] The second meeting of the conference on the liquor traffic was held TasTnight. There was, a large attendance, and a number of speakers. sAmongother sug- ._ gestioris were the Mayor's— Thatno more licences be granted till the population increased to a thousand for every public house: That £100 per license be charged' and £50 for country houses. The following resolution was carried, with only three dissentients :— " That this conference approves and recommends the principles of the Local Option Bill." The Rev. Patterson moved the adoption of another draft petitibri td be submitted to Parliament, but it. was rejected and an amendment .carried, " That a committee be appointed to- draw up a peti^ tion to Parliament m. accordance with the general principles- of the Local Op-, tion Bill." The conference then adjourned for a week; 5 ■ ■ .. Alexander Coliman and George Morrison, 'who wereconvictediof. iperjuryiin connection •; with; /the.ipcean Mail; case, were jbroughtup for sentence to-day. Mr Travers moved 7 for an arrest of jiidg-' men£ and pointed out that Deighton, Collector of Customs;, instituted proceedings, a^d..^ acted as one of the judges. T^his was his main objection. The Chief Justice after qorisulting with v Justice Richmond, held that the tribunal at the Chathamstwaß invalid," owing to anofficer of.Gustoms acting/ as judge m the matter, an^L that the inbompetency of one member affected the other two. A person could not -act as prosecutor, and judge m the same case. Prisbiiers . wpul d thprrfore be dismis sed on. "their own' recognizances to come up for judg| ment when called upon. Prisoners were accordirigty'. dismissed. " J ' : '■ The " Post " understands .^hit three . actions for ilibeia^ ted against thb " ■■Jfefbriner "Newspaper Company . 'Also thre6 against the ' ' Ne\v Zealand; iimes ■ l f-:QpmpahyvjEqr- r -givirig pubiicity jto' same* b^allpwihg^said libels to be printed- at their office. : r :; ' :'- ; »