WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3146, 19 March 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day. Last week about 25 seamen deserted from various vessels in the harbor.

A public meeting is called for to night to make arrangements for the reception of Sir Hercules Robinson. His Worship the Mayor will preside.

A number of gentlemen are interesting themselves in the establishment of a free library in terms of the "Public Libraries " and "Libraries Subsidies "Act;;.

Mr J. H; Shaw is acting as assistant law officer, Vice Stafford resigned. Tuesday.

The effect of the finding just come to ?n the Hyderabad inquiry case is that no blame is attributable to Captain Holmwood ior the loss of his ship. The Court, however, is of opinion that the log-book was not kept in a sufficiently careful manner; but all the certificates were returned, and the cost of the inquiry ordered to be borne by the Government.

Mr J. W. A. Marchant is to succeed Mr Jackson as chief surveyor, and is to take charge to-morrow. The native surveys in the Wellington district will also be placed under Mr Marchant's control, with Mr Williams, the present officer in charge, as inspector for the whole district.

Arrangements have been made for Mr Chas. Bright, the free thought lecturer, to give an address here next Sunday week.

In December last a telegram from Auckland tendering condolence with Her Majesty on the death of the Princess Alice was sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. A despatch just received acknowledges the message, and Sir Michael Hicks Beach says, " I have laid the message before, Her Majesty, and am commanded to request that you convey to the citizens of Auckland Her Majesty's gracions appreciation and recognition of the expression of heartfelt sympathy in her bereavement.

The charges against the several shopkeepers for wasting the town water were dismissed, but the Magistrate cautioned them to get water metres for their future guidance.

George Adams and George Robinson,, for breaking open the premises of J. T. Steel, and stealing wearing apparel valued at £82, were commited for trial. Bail was allowed.

The Tramway Company agree to take boys to and from the Wellington College at 5s per month. For the appointment of second -mastership to the Wellington College there were 32 applications 4; mathematical mastership, 19 ; and modern languages, 26. Owing to the absence of

some of the Governors the work of selecting masters has been deferred ten days, in the meantime the whole of the applications and testimonials are to be submitted to Mr Wilson in the first instance for analysis and to report upon, and afterwards to be con- idered by a committee consisting of four members of the Board of Governors, who should report at the next meeting of the Board.

The. Education Board of their own will having purchased a site for a school in Sydney street, the law officers of the Crown were consulted, and their decision is that, according to the 77th Bection of the Education Act, no Board has power to purchase school sites unless applied to by some school committee.

The Association of Insurance Companies have resolved to demand an inquest upon all cases of fires in future, and the coroner announced at to-day's inquiry that he would feel it his duty to see that such inquiries did not degenerate into mere matters of form.