WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2813, 19 February 1878, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

Monday. Sir George Grey, Mr Fisher, Mr Macandrew, and Mr J..C. .Brown, M's.H.lt. left at 10 p.m. in the Hi nemos for Westport. Mr Sheehan went to the Wairarapa this morning to finally complete some arrangements with the Maoris. He and Colonel Whitraore leave for Napier tomorrow per Eangatira.

The following is the result of the poll for the city election : — Barton, 506 ; Pearce, 462 ; Hutchinson, 262. There was less excitement than usual generally at an election time. Mr Barton's son, in returning thanks to the electors, said he recognised that their coming to the poll in such numbers was duo to the fact that they were endorsing the policy of Sir George Grey in the first place, and in the second, affirming that his father was suffering for his defence of the right against the unjust treatment of tho judges. A final effort to blow up the hulk Eli Whitney, which has been lying. submerged a short distance off the end of the Queen's Wharf, was made this even* ing. A charge of about SOlbs of dynamite, equal to lOOlbs of gunpowder, was used. All the arrangements were Tery successful. The explosion gave a sover o shock to the Queen's Wharf, and was also

folt in the public-houses in the vicinity of the wharf. A largo quantity of timber came to the surface, besides hundreds of dead fish, some schnappers being from 121bs to 201bs in weight. The s.s. Hawea is now forty-five hours out from Napior with the San Francisco mail. If she arrives to-night, she will leave at noon to-morrow. Requiem masses for the Pope were celebrated yesterday in both Catholic churches.