WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3084, 6 January 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day. The Wakatipu arrived last night, bringing Australian dates to the 31st ult.

James Gilligan, well known at Christchurch in, connection with horse racing* and many years a resident in Wellington district, died between nine and ten this morning. His illness was very short.

The Supreme Court (criminal sitting) was opened at ten. The remarks of the Chief Justice were confined purely to the cases on the calendar, which is light.

Mr Barton, M.H.R., denies the statement that he purposes practising at Auckland, and adds that he intends to remain in Wellington to pursue the quarrel between himself and the Supreme Court judges until a settlement more in accordance with what he and,those who think with him believe to be just shall.have been arrived at, and then he will resume practice in Wellington. r . .

The oat crop on the East Coast has been almost destroyed by high winds, thd grain being blown off the ears.

The New Zealander suggests that in consequence of the high rates of rent in the city some allowance should be made to married members of the police force. Saturday.

A sailor named Mcllwain, out on bail for arson, and who was to appear at the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court on Monday next, was found dead in his bed about mid-day to-day. For the last few days he was observed to bo strange in his manner, and bid good-bye to several of his friends a day or two ago. The doctor refused to grant the usual certificate of death from natural causes, the body having swollen to twice its natural size. An inquest is to be held on Monday next. It is supposed deceased committed suicide by poison.

Some samples of Mokau coal analysed at the Colonial Laboratory show a result giving 87 per cent, of combustible matter, ,and a little over two,per cent of ash. The evaporative power is that one pound of coal will convert seven pounds of water into steam.

There are only four cases for hearing at the next Civil Sessions.

The New Zealand Rifle Association resolved that the secretary should at once proceed to Nelson to make the necessary arrangements for the meeting next month.

Hunter's farm, in close vicinity to Wellington, and lately purchased by Jacob Joseph, Moeller, Young, and Saunders will be laid out in a new township to be called Brighton. £4000 is to be expended to place it in tramway communication with Wellington. About 180 acres were valued at £100 per acre. It is level land, and some 200 acres are hilly, at £30 per acre. The remainder of the land being very rough is valued at £2 per acre. '■■■.' , /■ • ■•'■■" ■ ■;•

There is a strong difference of opinion between the Government and the deputation representing the mercantile community respecting the railway, station, one, thinking the proposed site suitable, and the other the reverse.

A good deal of dissatisfaction is manifested with regard to the, alteration's to the tariff fees in the Resident Magistrate's Court. The increase in some instancies is one hundred per cent. >

It is understood that Government are organising a detective department for the whole colony. It is probable that Superintendent Thomson, of Auckland, will be the Chief Inspector, and that there will be three detectives in each of the principal towns, and that the Government will endeavor to prevent their identity being known to the public. The tion. John Martin has purchased the Hon. Mr Waterhouse's station at Waihenga, in the Wairarapa, about seven miles from Featherston, with stock and improvements,:^for £80,000. The estate contains about 34,300 acres freehold. The purchase money is to be paid in cash tomorrow.