WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2812, 18 February 1878, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

Saturday.

The police received a telegram to-day giving information of the arrest of William Plumb, an important witness in the coming trial of Thomas Hyan for the murder of a man at Kumara. It appears that the Grey mouth Inspector telegraphed that Plumb was about to absent himself in order to avoid giving evidence. It has been decided to form a company to work the Golden Point reef, near Picton, with a capital of £10,090, in £1 shares.

Colonel Gorton has received a presentation from his fellow officers upon his retirement from the civil service.

A deputation, consisting of Messrs Seymour George, J. C. Brown, and other conspicuous members of the Grey party, waited upon Mr Barton at tliegaol this afternoon, in order to endeavour to induce him to withdraw from the election, and urging that to allow two Grey candidates to stand would practically return Mr Pe;»rce by splitting the liberal votes. Mr Barton absolutely declined (o discuss the matter, saying he had his own battle to fight, nnd knew what he was doing. A ll parlies are very busy perfecting arrangements for the election.

Sir George Grey, Mr Macandrew, and Mr Fisher will leave on Monday night by the Hinemoa, calling first: at the Buller, and then at Greymouth, Hokitika, Jackson's Bay, and all the West Coast ports, and round the Bluff. A fire broke out about eleven on Saturday night at the Lower Hutt, by which the dwelling house of Mr Murtagh was consumed. He was absent at the Wai* rarapa races, and (he fire having good headway while the inmates were asleep, Murtagh's wife and children had some difficulty in escaping through a window. The building was insured in the London and Lancashire for £300, and the furniture in the Few Zealand Company for £100.

This day.

The Port Darwin line is down north of Tennant's Creek, about 1400 miles from Adelaide.