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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4936, 17 January 1877, Page 2

A telegram dated London, January 13, has been received by the Government from Sir Julius Vogel, as Agent-General, officially notifying his arrival. A meeting of the Executive was held yesterday to take into consideration the case of the man Woodgate, who was condemned to death for murder at Marlborough. The Chief Justice, who had to adjourn the Court for the purpose, was present." It is understood no decision was come to yesterday. Toxwara v. Hastv-ell, action for £6OOO damages, for injuries sustained while a passenger by defendant's coach, was commenced in the Supreme Court yesterday morning at ten o'clock, before his Honor the Chief Justice and a special jury of twelve. Messrs. Barton and Bell appeared for the plaintiff, and Messrs. Travers and Buckley for defendant. The plaintiff was examined and cross-examined at great length, his statement being that the accident occurred solely through the negligence of the driver—in that he drove too fast. Mr. Little underwent a short examination, but Mr. Andrew Young's evidence was more voluminous. A vast number of plans, diagrams, photographs, and drawings were produced in order to assist the jury in grasping the facts of the case ; and a good deal of amusement was created by some of these, particularly by a drawing of a coach and passengers. For the purposes of the case this exhibit may be valuable enough, but as a work ot art it is a shady production. It is expected that the case will last pretty well the whole of the week, and there is talk of nearly thirty witnesses being called before the case closes. The Court adjourned a little before 5 o'clock till 10 o'clock this morning. At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday the business was as follows : —George Augustus Chandler, alias Chamberlain, was charged with breaking into a place of worship, known as the Bethel, in Herbert-street, on the 12th inst., and stealing therefrom certain books, the property of persons unknown. He was also charged with obtaining on the 11th inst., by false pretences, from George Stratford, one tin containing 151bs. of tobacco, the property of Joseph Nathan and Co., with ' intent to cheat and defraud them. His Worship, after hearing the evidence, committed the prisoner to take his trial on both charges at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. Patrick Newell and John Callaghan were each fined 10s., and John Sancto and H. Parker, each 55., for various breaches of the Municipal Corporations Act—chiefly for straying horses—on the information of Mr. Pilmer, Inspector of Nuisances ;, and a case, in which J, Sim was charged with a breach of the Sheep Act, was adjourned for a week. The civil cases were of no public interest. It has been represented to us that the arrangements at- the Thorndon Public Baths might be made much more perfect. It seems ladies are not allowed to bathe after 2 o'clock on most days in the week, and not after 1 o'clock on Wednesdays and Saturdays. There are many ladies whose domestic affairs preclude therri leaving their homes during ; tlie forenoon and noon, and to these the baths are practically, closed. Most of the stronger sex are engaged at anyrate till 4.30 o'clock in the day, and there seems to be no reason why the ladies' bathing hours should not be extended till three or four o'clock.

The summer show of the Wellington Horticultural Society will be held at the Odd Fellows' Hall on Thursday, and from what we hear is likely to be a very successful affair notwithstanding the dry weather that had so long prevailed. A new feature in connection with the awards will be the certificates of merit which are to be presented for extra exhibits. The award cards are to be unique in their character, being exceedingly ornamental, and printed in seven different colors. We hope to give a further description of these cards in a future issue. • .

A meeting of the committee of the Benevolent Institution was held yesterday afternoon. Present; Bishop Hadfield (elected chairman), Archdeacon Stocß, Rev. B. W. Harvey, Rev. Father VTcGuinness, Rev. R. Coffey, Rev. A. Reid, Rev. J. Paterson, Rev. W. H. West, Rev. C. S. Ogg, Rev. C. D. DeCastro, Hon. C. J. Pharazyn, Messrs. J. Woodward, L. Levy, D. Lewis, J. G. Holdsworth, and the secretary. Subscriptions received : Bishop Hadfield, £2, 2s. ; Mr. H. Meech, £1 10s.; Mr. G. Crawford, £3.

Giving evidence in the case Toxward v. Hastwell yesterday, Mr. Andrew Young related some of his experiences of New Zealand roads. According to Mr. Young Otago takes the palm. He mentioned that he had driven over a road in that province on parts of which it became necessary for the passengers to get out and by main strength kept the coach in its perpendicular while he drove. He had been on roads where the gradient was 1 in. 10. Mr. Thomson's roads in Otago averaged about 1 in 15.

At a meeting of St. Paul's "Vestry, it has been decided to open the new organ by a special service, and 'to invite Mr. A. J. Towsey, organist of St. Paul's, Dunedin, to perform on the instrument on the occasion, and give some recitals during the week, it being understood that that gentleman was willing to come up on payment of his expenses being guaranteed. It was resolved to sell the old organ to Mr. G. K.West for £llO. A full-dress parade of the Wellington Volunteer Artillery took place at the Provincial Buildings last evening, when the members were inspeoted by Colonel Reader, District ' Commanding Officer. After the inspection the battery marched to the Post Office Hotel, and proceeded to the election of officers, with the following result:—Second-Lieut. Fox, elected first lieut.; Sergeant-Major McCredie, elected second lieut.; Sergeant Bock, elected sergeantmajor; bombardiers, Mason and Lyon, elected sergeants. The battery will form a guard of honor to his Excellency the Governor at the laying of the foundation stone of the new Athenaeum on Saturday next.

A slight typographical error occurred in our leader yesterday. Comparing our sheep returns with those of Victoria, we gave ours at 11,674,863 sheep, and accidentally those of Victoria at 18,749,532 sheep. Victoria should have been credited with 11,749,532.

The Theatre Royal company paid a visit to the. Mount View, Asylum last evening, and entertained the inmates by playing a farce and giving some < songs, &c. After the performance dancing was engaged in. The giant Chbukibzee, said to be taller than Chang, broader than "Chang, bigger than Chang, and heavier than Chang, is to give a series of levoes in Wellington, commencing in a few days. Mails for Australian Colonies and United Kingdom, per Arawata, close at Bluff on Thursday, 18th instant, at 11 a.m.

The Education Board meets at the Education offices this morning. A young man named Rupert James Nicholls was arrested yesterday on a charge of stealing a watch. He will be taken before the Resident Magistrate this morning. The full programme of the_ Wellington regatta appears in our advertising columns this morning. The committee will meet at the Pier Hotel to-morrow evening. Mr. W. H. Metcalfe is to take a benefit at the Theatre 'Royal on "Friday evening, on which occasion "Used Up" and "The Daughter of the Regiment" will be produced. A special juror, Mr. J. T. E. Wright, was yesterday fined £5 for failing to anßwer when calle.l to serve in the case Toxward v. Hastwell. Subsequently, however, it appeared he had not been summoned, and the fine was thereupon remitted. Our telegrams report the death of Captain Coffey, ot Melbourne, well kn»wn in shipping circles. It will be remembered that Captain Coffey paid a visit to Wellington some few months ago, in connection with a new shipping company.