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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4822, 5 September 1876, Page 2

Telegraphic communication has been interrupted during the day between Wellington, Napier, and Auckland. Terrific gales have blown down the telegraph poles in various directions.

The House was not long in recognising the existence of the Attorney-General. He had not taken his seat five minutes before a notice was placed on the paper giving notice of a question for the Attorney-General to answer.

Mr. Stout is to move that Eesiclent Magistrates throughout the colony shall be supplied with the " New Zealand Jurist."

The third of the series of Assembly balls took place last evening, and passed off most successfully. His Excellency the Governor and the Marchioness of Normanby and suite were present.

A slight discussion followed the statement made by the Hon. Dr. Pollen in the Legislative Council last evening, the Hon. Mr. Waterhouse leading off, and putting himself in order by moving the adjournment of the House. He endeavored to show that there were several peculiarities of an objectionable character in the constitution of the new Ministry, but the Hon. Mr. Hall made an explanation which completely cleared away the little cloud which had been thus made to cast a temporary shade overthe newly-elected Government. The Council did not proceed with the orders of the day, the occasion being, as Dr. Pollen said, of a kind not ordinary. After Mr. Moeller's meeting last night a number of gentlemen joined his committee, and active steps are now being taken to secure his return. There is not much time for those interested in Mi - . Moeller's candidature to work up the district, but the strong feeling manifested at the meeting shows that Mr. Moeller is something more than popular, and if they will only make good use of the little time they have, there is no doubt of the ultimate success of their efforts. There will a meeting cf the committee at 8 o'clock on Wednesday evening at the Victoria Hotel, Abel Smith-street.

The football match between Nelson and Christchurch, which came off yesterday, resulted in a victory for the travelling teim. Late last night a telegram was received by the secretary of the Wellington Football Club from the captain of the Christchurch team, stating that the steamer could not be delayed, and that the match must be played to-day ; but this was found to be Bimply impossible. Not one-half the chosen team, nor any decent team, could be called away from their respective businesses at a moment's notice, to say nothing of other arrangements, to complete which a little time would be required. The Christchurch team will either have to wait, or the match must lapse altogether. The alteration will be a cause for much regret.

The Poverty Bay people have started a new idea in reference to petitions, and one that is not at all devoid of smartness. Captain Morris yesterday presented a petition from the Poverty Bay settlers in reference to the bad condition of public buildings in that district, and upon the petition were pasted photographs of the dilapidated buildings. A nice little Wellington album could be presented to the Assembly, especially if the interior of the buildings could be exhibited. For instance, the Resident Magistrate's Court, Supreme Court, and Post-office. Mr. Palmer's concert at St. John's Schoolroom last evening was a decided success. The overture to " The Barber of Seville" was well rendered by Mrs. Palmer, Messrs. Manning, Schwartz, and Woledge. Miss Palmer then sang " Love Not," and in response to an encore, gave " Driven from Home." Several duets and solos followed, which were well received, and in more than one instance " Gipsy's Warning," Miss Palmer sang " Home, Sweet Home," which was the piece of the evening. Mr. Jupp then gave "Ruby," which was also encored, and after a comic duet and some other pieces, " God Save the Queen" brought the proceedings to a close. There are a good many complaints made respecting the PollhiU's gully range, or rather the want of a suitable approach thereto. It is said by some members of the Rifle Association and others who practise with the rifle, that Wellington is the only large town in the colony in which proper provision is not made for rifle practice. It appears that there is a total absence of anything like an approach to the Pollhill's gully range, and that it is a work of some difficulty to reach the place from which the men fire. It is a pity that something has not been done to improve this ntate of things. The cost would not be extravagant. A very sad case of attempted suicide occurred yesterday morning. The details are of the most painful kind. The -victim was a young man named Piotro Corrado, who has been some time in the colony, and had latterly had an engagement in the Public Works department as messenger, his salary being 3Gs. per week. It appears that Corrado committed the rash act in the morning on the road opposite the railway station. He was observed by a man working on the railway, who saw him point a revolver at his breast. He rushed forward, but was too late to prevent the unfortunate young man accomplishing his object. The bullet penetrated his body, and he fell, but was not insensible, for he was capable of answering questions put to him. Mr. Crottie, who happened to be at the railway station at the time, went over and asked Corrado if he had purposely shot himself, to which the answer was, " Yes, I did;" and in response to an inquiry as to the cause of his acting so, he said, "They have accused me of stealing a letter, and I wish to die." A letter was found on Corrado, addressed "To anyone who shall find me." The letter ran as follows:—"To anyone who shall find me—l die victim of those who so unscrupulously have darked around me with the most heinous and false charge. I hope to find in Heaven right justice, what I couldn't have got among men on this earth.— The unfortunateP, Corrado, Wellington, this 3rd morning of September, 1876." The explanation of this strange conduct is, so far as we have been able to learn, as follows:—Recently a letter despatched from the Public Works office miscarried, that is, the envelope reached its destination, but without the letter. The letter was subsequently found in the waste-paper basket, part of it bearing some scribbling in the hand of Corrado. He had a habit of thus writing onscrapsof paper, and therefore there seems little probability that he could have been concerned in the detention of the letter, which, as often happenß, may have been accidentally left out of the envelope by the writer, and afterwards j have got into the waste-paper basket. Owing to some remarks made by another messenger, which seemed to implicate him, Corrado become extremely hurt, and apparently let the matter prey on his mind, and to make his grief the greater it is stated that he was rudely excluded from the Government buldings on Saturday. Corrado was well educated, and spoke the English language tolerably well. He had been employed as interpreter to the Italian immigrants. Just prior to the act, and for some time previously, he had been living with a countryman of his own, one Mr. Agorio, who has a small grocer's shop in MoJes-worth-street, and the latter informed our reporter yesterday that Corrado had appeared to be deeply wounded in his feelings by being, as he alleged, rudely excluded from the Governme'it buildings, and being suspected • of purloining a letter, of whioh _ by the way immediately after he had shot himself he swore that he was innocent. He had been engaged by Mr. Cemino, who lives nearly opposite the hospital, to teach his children the Italian lauguige. He had dined with Mr. Cemino in the afternoon, and in the evening he went to church servico with him and his family. After returning to his lodgings, he had apparently sat up all night, writing letters and preparing packages of Small items of personal property as mementoes to friends. One of these was addressed to Mr. Cemino, and another to the Resident Agent at Jackson

Bay, Mr. McFarUne, whoseguest he hadlately j been when on a visit to chat locality, in company with others of his countrymen. Early in the morning he told bis landlord* Mr. Agorio, that he need not prepare any breakfast foi him, but suspicion was not aroused until a later hour, when some letters were found lying on his table. Almost immediately afterwards the information was convey.ed to Mr. Agorio that he had shot himself. Soon after Corrado had shot himself, Sergeant Ready wae on the scene, and had him placed in an express, in which he was taken to the hospital, and there received every attention. He was in a very exhausted condition. Up to a late hour last night he was in the same state as when he was taken to the hospital. Very little hope is entertained of his recovery. The rush which has broken out on the West Coast appears to be attracting a large number of diggers from Wellington. About fifty have booked by the s.s. Matau, which vessel will leave here at 3 o'clock this afternoon for Westport, Greyniouth, and Hokitika via Foxton.

The following nominations of candidates were received by the Town Clerk yesterday afternoon:—Te Aro Ward: Phillip Moeller, Edward Thomas Gillon. Lambton Ward: Joe Dransfield, John Howard Wallace. Thorudon Ward: Charles Johnson Pharazyn, George Allen. The Rangitikei Advocate flatters us by reprinting No. 1 of a series of articles on "Constitutional Changes," by a Silent Politician. The Advocate would flatter us still more by acknowledging the fact that it had reprinted the article in question from our columns. % The only business at the Resident Magistrate's Court yeßterday consisted in the hearing of a few cases of simple drunkenness, and one ef forgery—that in which Bonnell was concerned. He was remanded to Masterton.

We understand that Messrs. Greenfield and Stewart have purchased from Mr. George Thomas the well-known and serviceable ketch Reliance. The figure, in even numbers, is stated to be £IOOO.

The occupations of the several male immigrants who arrived hero yesterday in the ship Waikato are as follows:—3 gentlemen, 4 clerks, 10 farmers, 1 iron- worker, 1 stationer, 1 land agent, and 1 tailor. We have been requested to notice that the nominators of Mr. J. H. Wallace for a seat in the, City Council are Messrs. Hannah, Duff, Jeffrey, Grey, Lindsay, Hunt, and Macdonald. A public auction will be held at the Government Buildings to-day, at 11 o'clock, at which valuable town and country allotments will be offered for sale. We have been requested to direct the attention of the public to an important land sale to be held this day by Mr. J. H. Wallace, at bis saleroom, as advertised.

Mr. N. J. Isaacs holds an important trade sale, to close consignments, at Mr. Margetts' store, this day. Messrs. Jacob Joseph and Co. have been appointed agents for Udolpho Wolfe's Aromatic Schiedam Schnapps.