Untitled

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5034, 12 May 1877, Page 2

During the month of April last 3237 acres of land were sold within the Provincial District of Wellington, the amount of cash received being £2626 16s. There were no less than fifty-seven cases, the Corporation v, defaulting ratepayers, on the sheet at the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday, but most of them were settled out of Court ; in many instances the money was paid into Court, aud the remaining cases were adjourned. The Supreme Court will sit in banco and bankruptcy this morning. Judgment in the case against the Public Trustee, involving the point as to how far a life assurance policy is protected, will be delivered. Subsequently there will be a sitting of the Vice Admiralty Court to take further evidence in the matter of the Taupo and the hulk Eli Whitney. The Wellington Corporation are creditors of Mr. Jas. O’Shea to the extent of £lll, duo on account of wharf fees, &c. It appears that a quantity of merchandise belonging to Mr. O’Shea is now in the bonded store, and the matter having been brought forward at the Wharf Committee’s meeting yesterday, it was resolved to communicate with the City Solicitor with a view of ascertaining whether the goods cannot be retained in satisfaction of the debt.

A statement is published of the accounts of the Provincial District of Wellington for the three quarters commencing the Ist of April, and ending the 31»t day of December, 1876. Eor the first quarter, ending the 30th of June, the receipts were £57,699 18s. Bd. The second quarter shows a slight decrease, the receipts amounting to £14,689 15s. 7d. ; but the last quarter shows an improvement, the receipts being £62,367 3s. 3d.

A New Zealand Gazette was issued on Thursday. It contains—Proclamations under the Armed Constabulary Act, Stamp Act, Marriage Act, &c.; appointment of William Henry Mullen, of West Maitland, iu the colony of New South Wales, to be a Commissioner of the Supreme Court of New Zealand, and the appointment of Michael Kiclstoue, of Melbourne, to alike position ; certain Crown lands declared to be pastoral; declarations under the Counties Act ; bank returns and general statements of the liabilities of the different banks ia the colony ; abstract of the meteorological observations in New Zealand for the mouth of December, 1876 ; and a number of Laud Transfer Act aud goldmining notices, &c. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court yesterday a man named James Webb, whoso character ia not one of the best, and whose looks as he stood in the dock were anything but prepossessing, was charged with assaulting Constable Darby. It appeared from the evidence that his conduct was of the most violent character. The Bench remark'd! that there were several previous convictions against the prisoner, one in July, 1876, of two mouths, for larceny aud malicious injury, and one in January last, for assaulting the police. The prisoner appeared to be a moat violent man, aud he would be awarded the extreme penalty of two months’ imprisonment, with hard labor. An information was then sworn against the prisoner for threatening to take the constable’s life, aud lie was ordered to find one surety in the sum of £2O that he would keep the peace for six months.

The burlesque “ Chilperic " was produced at the Theatre Royal last evening to a fair attendance. It is some time since the piece was played hero before, and then the same company were engaged at the Theatre Royal. The performance was* very good, as the audience testified by applauding liberally. The afterpiece, too, gave great satisfaction. We observe that the amusing extravaganza “ Once Upon a Time ” will be repeated this evening, lieiug Saturday evening, there should be a good house.

Owing to certain representations made by Messrs. Turnbull and Co., the Wharf Committee, at their meeting yesterday, decided to recommend to the City Council the reduction of the duty on fungus to the same rate as that on wool. We take from the New Zealand Gazette the following returns of the number of telegrams, the revenue received, and the value of General Government telegrams transmitted for the quarter ended 31st March, 1876 and 1877 : Number of telegrams forwarded from Ist January to 31st March, 1576, 270,312 ; for the same period in 1877, 292,308, showing an increase of 21,996. Cash revenue received, 1876, £15.470 3s. lid.; 1877, £16,337 9s. Id.; increase for the first quarter of the present year, £867 ss. 2d. The value of Government telegrams was as follows :—First quarter in 1876, £4331 7s. Id.; for 1877, £4546 2s. Bd.; increase, £214 15a. 7d. The increase in the number of telegrams forwarded and the additional revenue obtained is significant of the fact that the use of the telegraph is becoming yearmore extended, while it marks the rapid progress of the colony.

At Mr. A. A. Barnett’s auction sale on Thursday, May 10, the following properties were sold : —A section of building ground in the Adelaide-road, with 42ft. frontage, by a depth of 100 ft., for £2 10s. per foot. About 20 sections in Fitzherberton, at an average of £5 per section ; a bouse and land at the top of Tory-street, with a frontage to Hankey-street, was withdrawn at £2OO, at which amount there had been a private offer, which will no doubt be accepted.

A scratch football match will (weather permitting) be played on the Basin Reserve today.