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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5007, 11 April 1877, Page 2

The commander of H.M.S. Wolverene has explained to us that it was by a misconception of j orders that our shipping reporter was not permitted to go. on board his vessel the day of her arrival in this port.

Mrs. Scott-Siddons and Mr. J. B. Steele left for Christchurch in the Taupo yesterday. We have been informed that a species of inquiry was going on at the municipal offices yesterday, under the direction of his Worship th» Mayor. The inquiry (so it iras stated to us) was in connection with the letting of a municipal work. The Government railway surveyors now in the Wairarapa have been instructed to communicate with the Greytown railway committee re the desire of the latter to have an alleged practicable route running close to Greytown surveyed. The Wakatipu, which arrived in port from Sydney last evening, brought late files of Sydney papers, from which we take accounts of the race for the Sydney Cup, the second combination cricket match, and other matters of interest.

The Choral Society’s band had a good practice last night. There is to be a full rehearsal of “ Naaman” on Thursday next, at Hunter’s rooms, when all members are particularly requested to be in their places by half-past seven sharp.

The criminal libel case, Charles Hillsden'v, Henry Powell, came on for hearing at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday. A good deal of evidence was taken, as will be seen from a full report of the Court proceedings published elsewhere. Henry Powell, who reserved his defence, was committed for trial. The Wellington Literary Association held a meeting last evening, when two essays were read, the subjects being “ Thrift,” and “Power of Kindness.” The former, a practical and well-written essay, called forth a deal of discussion, and well deserved praise. Next Tuesday evening will be devoted to elocution. An inquest was held yesterday at the Caledonian Hotel, before Dr. Johnston, coroner, and a jury of twelve, as to the death of Hans Petersen. Dr. Munro gave evidence, proved that the cause of death was a gunshot wound in the head, and stated that a recently discharged rifle was found between deceased’s knees. The ball had evidently entered at the top part of the nose, and had been divided by the nasal bone. One half had gone out at the back of the head, and the other half appeared to have travelled round the head, and coming out at the spot at which it had entered, had fallen on to deceased’s clothes. The part of the ball found was thoroughly flattened out. Prom the position of the rifle and the position of the body, the rifle might have been discharged by deceased himself. Hans Petersen, aged seventeen, son of deceased, was next examined. Deceased was a native of Norway, aged forty-six, arrived in the colony in 1873, and had been lately employed as a surveyor’s chainman. He was not at work last week because he had been drinking heavily. He had always been a hard drinker ever since witness could recollect, and at times had been like a madman in consequence. The rifle belonged to witness, who was a member of the Wellington City Rifles. He had obtained ten rounds of ammunition, and had intended going out class-firing that morning, but had not gone. It was usual to give out ammunition in parcels up to twenty rounds. The rifle was not loaded when he went to work at half-past 7 o’clock. Deceased had been low spirited in consequence of being unable to obtain suitable employment. He spoke several languages, and had been a teacher under the Board of Education, in the Seventy-Mile Bush. At home he was a Customs officer, and had never been accustomed to manual labor. Julia Petersen, wife of deceased, corroborated what had been said by the son, and stated that she had not noticed anything wrong with him. Deceased neither left his room nor got up except to shut the door. This was about 9 o’clock, and after he had been called to breakfast. He said he was sick. Witness then heard him take the gun down, and she asked him what he was going to do ? He replied, “Nothing," and then told the children to run after the people. She again asked him what he was going to do, and he said: “It is too late now—pray for me,” and immediately the gun went off. The verdict was to the effect “That deceased committed suicide while suffering from temporary insanity, produc.d by drinking.”

Three persons—a man, his wife, and a little girl—narrowly escaped drowning on Monday evening. It appears that Mr. Henry Ferris, one of Mr. E. W. Mills’ employes, happened to be working at the foundry after the usual hours, aud about six o’clock heard screams from the harbor, just over the breastwork adjacent to the Lion Foundry. He immediately went out to ascertain what was amiss, and saw the three persons in the water. With a courage and promptitude for which it would be impossible too highly to commend him, Mr. Ferris jumped into the water, and after considerable exertion and at great personal risk he succeeded in extricating them from their perilous position. The explanation of their being found in such a way was that they were walking along the breastwork, when the little girl, who is about eight years of age, tell into the water. Her mother jumped on the stringer to save her, but she missed her footing, and also fell into the water. The father then jumped over, but he could not swim, and was nearly exhausted when Mr. Ferris arrived, so that had the latter not come to their assistance the man, woman, and child must inevitably have been drowned.

Some revelations of an interesting character (apart from the case actually before the Court) were made during the hearing of the charge against Mr. Henry Powell at the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday. The evidence throughout had a tendency in the comic direction. Mr. Inglis was one of the witnesses. It was his business to tell of a certain conversation he had had with Powell when he resided with that gentleman some time back. The conversation had reference to Mr. Hillsden, secretary to the Public Hall Company, aud Mr. Powell expressed a conviction that the position which the aforementioned gentleman graced would ere yet be his, as by right he reckoned it should be. Having made the Court acquainted with this much, Mr. Inglis thought it necessary to explain how the circumstance became fixed in his memory. It appeared that some twelve months ago, and shortly after Powell’s ambitious speculation about the custodianship, he (Mr. Inglis) quarrelled with Mr. Hillsden, for what did not appear. It must have been a warm moment for both, though, because Mr. Inglis, as he said, was bursting with a desire to enter on a pugilistic encounter with Mx-. Hillsden, and invited him behind the Lion Foundry, where the scattering of iron knobs, spikes, locks, bolts, and bars would have aided to make the contest festive and exciting. The battle, we were told, did not ensue on the (challenge. As graphically put by Mr. Inglis, they “made it up,” and no doubt, like Mr. Bob Sawyer's argumentative guests, got to be all aglow with gentle feeling one tor the other. And then it was Mr. Inglis informed his companion that he was no enemy of his, but that Powell was the man he had to dread. Thus ended the chapter. The Melbourne Daily Telegraph, commenting on Six Hercules Robinson’s minute, with reference to the dissolution applied for by the Robertson Government, says ;—“ It is an extraordinary document. Mr. Pax’kes described it exactly in the debate when he said ‘ that his Excellency had told Ministers that if Parliament would consent to a dissohxtion he would. His Excellency had, in fact, referred the dissolution to the Assembly.’ This is a picture of the situation, aud what we are anxious to know is when aud where before now the Crown ever referred the question of dissolution to the House about to be dissolved. The rule is for the Crown either to dissolve upon the advice of its Ministers, or to get other Ministers who will not advise an appeal. ‘No House of Commons,’ said Cobden, ‘would ever vote its own dissolution,’ and we have yet to learn of a colonial Legislature being more vix-tuous. If the Sydney Parliament is not, if it declines to vote for being sent about its business, then his Excellency will be placed in the unpleasant position of submitting to coercion—of having to decline the appeal which he thinks should be granted. This is not a proper position in which to place the Crown.”