WELLINGTON.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 355, 19 March 1861, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

"H3 trial of|he seamen of the John Bunyan mi* piracy onboard this ship has terminated. i'he evidence was almost word for word the

ame as appeared in our columns on their jemg brought before the Magistrate, which •nded in dieir committal for trial in the Supreme Court. The following is the ndgment delivered by Mr. Justice John-n-on :— "Prisoners at the bar, you have been bund guilty, after a most patient and careful investigation, of the grave charge of niracy. You have enjoyed the benefit of Counsel who has uiged every point hi. your favor, to the best of his ability. I feel bound to say that I fully concur in the finding of the Jury. You have pleaded juilty to a larceny by which you possessed yourselves of beer which seems to have quite unsettled your minds. The conduct ■ifybur comr de who has gone to his account, throughout that day, was that| of a person whose mind was quite unsettled. Your conduct too was such that had;#t\ not been for the promptness, determination, and prudence displayed by the Captain, there is ho telling to what length it might have arrived. Itpi a fortunate thing for you, for the owners" of the vessel, and foi' the passengers, that the Captain acted in the very manly way in which he did. You, M'Taggerty, said that the Captain had done his duty, but it was a pity the man was shot, and no doubt the Captain feels it to be so even now. There.is no doubt that had you resisted, and the Captain had found it ne-. cessary to shoot you also, he would have been justified in doing so. It.is a very fortunate thing for you that you are not answering for the capital charge of murder, and it is most fortunate that there is no evidence of express concert. I shall not treat the case as one of a revolt by which it was determined to endanger the lives of the officers or of the pass ngers, and I hope that the sentence I am about to pass will not prove too light for the ends of justice— rhat it will not prove too light to deter you from again committing such a crime or to deter others. Taking the most lenient view, I shall sentence each of you to be imprisoned and kept to hard labor for the period of eighteen calendar months; and tor the larceny to which you have pleaded guilty, a further period of six calendar months, to commence from the completion of the former sentence."

Captain Allan then surrendered to his bail. • ■ •.

His-Honor in discharging him said: —^ "Captain Allan, the Grand Jury having ignored the bill,against you, it is my duty .to discharge you, and I do so with very great pleasure, (Applause) which was i.mmediaiely repressed.) I think that the owneis of your ship, as well as your passengers, have every reason to be gratelul for 'the manner in which you have acted."

Captain Allan, we have heard, intends proceeding homeward by the overland route, and the John Bunyan will proceed <o England in the charge of the chief ■officer. /

(From the Spectator.)

Public Wojrks.—Since the beginning of the year public works have been resumed, thus affording employment to a large number ot men who would otherwise be.out of work. The reclaiming ot the land from the harbor is proceeding, though not very rapidly, and as the quantity to be reclaimed will comprise several acres, the wotk will not be completed for a considerable time. A contract has been entered into for the building of the sea wall, and the works are progressing satisfactorily. The wall will be upvyards of 500 yards long, with an average depth of high water of about nine feet. In the way of private enterprise, we may mention that it is in contemplation to start a Ropery in the town ; and, as a company of private individuals are at present quietly pushing on operations in the dressing and preparing the native flax, we trust before long to see this important branch of the resources of tti6. colony more fully developed.

A great meeting of natives is about to take place at Otaki, about fifty miles from Wellington, for debating the important question at present so much in agitation among the Maoris, concerning the hoisting of the flag of the Native King, Potatau the Second, on the 12th of March instant, in that district.

The barque Snaresbrook, Captain G* Wood, the second wool ship of the season, sailed for London-<o.n . Sunday .-last with 1150 bales wool, and. other colonial produce to the value of £24,974. She is in irood trim, and being a smart vessel is expected to make a quick run home. The tlound left here'on the Ist January1 for London with a cargo valued at £23,829, thus making a total of £48,803 of produce exported from Wellington to London direct this season. The wool lias been comino- in very fast from the coast during the last, month ; the ship Wild Duck is almost a full ship, and is expected to sail in a week or two. The ship John Bunyan has been laid on the berth, and has commenced taking in wool. The following is the summary ot the Snaresbiook's cargo:— 1150 bales wool £24,941 1 bale skins , ' L 0 i 2 cases New Zealand plants ... 10 1 crtse curio vies 3 G cases shci's . v ,, ", 10 Total valuo ...£24.974Tiie ship John Banyan, Captain Allan, arrived here on the 15th February, from London, after a good passage of 94 days, with a cargo of genera! merchandise and 13 \ passengers.