WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3043, 15 November 1878, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day. Dr Diver has Visited Miss Wood, the Wainuiomata lunatic, for the purpose of subjecting her to medical examination; He says she is suffering from idiotic lunacy of a congenital character. A very close examination of the patient was inadvisable, owing to her violence, but from appearances he thinks the patient has been well cared for by her relations. Thursday.

The redaction of duty on Australian wines does not take place until the Ist of January next, and can then only be claimed on the exporter from Australia signing a certificate before the Collector of Customs here that the wine is bona fide Australian produce, which certificate must be produced at the Custom-house here by the person who pays the duty. At the Sitting in Banco to-day, Justice Gillies gave judgment ia the case of Hill v. Hill. The plaintiff and defendant are husband and wife.' Sometime ago a deed of separation was executed between them, and the husband went to Melbourne. The wife, to whom the husband had previously made over some property, continues to keep a tobacconist's shop on Lambton Quay. A few months ago the husband returned, and insisted on going to the shop. The wife Had him brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court, and he' was discharged on undertaking not to interfere with his wife again. , Subsequently he was charged at the Police Court, under the Vagrant Act, with being illegally on the premises adjoining the.shop kept by his wife, and was sent to gaol for a month. After his release from prison he forced himself into his wife's premises. An injunction of the Supreme Court was then obtained to restrain defendant from molesting the plaintiff, but he made a breach of the injunction by going to the house again, and the wife then moved to hare him committed to prison for contempt. Defendant did .not appear to shew cause, and the Judge adjudged him guilty of contempt, and directed he should be imprisoned in Wellington gaol until he purged himself of the contempt. .He apologised for his disobedience of the injunction and promised to be of good behaviour for the future.

At the Court of Appeal to-day the argument was heard in the case of Morrin and another v. Eissling, an Auckland case. It is an appeal from the judgment of the Supreme Court at Auckland upon a demurrer by the appellant (defendant in the Court below) to plaintiff's declaration. The demurrer was overruled with costs, and Judge Gillies' judgment was now appealed against. Mr Hesketh appeared for the appellants, and Mr A. Whitaker for the respondent. It .appears from the declaration that on or about the 4th of of June, 1877, the appellants retained and employed respondent for a commission or reward to purchase for appellants certain parcels of land situate in the Piako district, known as the Mangateparu block; that the said respondent accepted the said retainer, and purchased the land as agent for and on behalf of the appellants ; that the appellants hare always been and are still willing, and have offered to pay the purchase money of the said land, and a reasonable sum to the said respondent for his commission for purchasing the same; that the said respondent, in a breach of the said duty as the said appellants' agent, has obtained a conveyance of the said land in his own name, and claims the said land as his own property, and refuses to acknowledge the said appellants' right to the same; and contends that to entitle the respondents to the relief asked for the facts relied upon by appellants, not in accordance ' with the provisions of the 7th section of' the Statute of Frauds, be manifested and proved by some writing, signed by respondent, and as it is not alleged in the declaration that there is such writing it must be taken that there is no such writing. Mr Hesketh's address in support of the appeal lasted four hours. Mr A. Whitaker will be heard, oft behalf, of the respondent, at 1\ o'clock to-morrow. Both, evening papers here reply to the charges and insinuations against the hospital officials in this morning's papers, and go into all the circumstances of the case referred to in order to show, that the allegations were altogether without foundation. The Post says the hospital authorities have written to. the Colonial Secretary to cause an inquiry into the whole of the circumstances.

The Mayoralty election is causing

great warmth of feeling. The contest is becoming keener every.dav^ To-night's Gazette notifies that Sir G. Grey has been appointed Minister in charge of the Marine Department, and of the Shipping and Seaman's Act 1877.