WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3164, 9 April 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day. The Governor Commences His Tour through New Zealand. Sydney Exhibition Commissioners. In the Supreme Court Peter Newton, for felony in robbing a drunken man in an hotel, was sentenced to six months hard labor. Tbe Judge said the case was noticeable in Wellington, inasmuch ai the evidence showed that the prosecutor had reeled about in the middle of the day from one public hotel to another, in a state of intoxication. It was such a case as one would expect to find only on a diggings township. The lad Bacon, who robbed the Anchor Company's office, was ordered to be released upon his father and another entering into recognisance for £100 each for his subsequent appearance at Court if ever required. The Judge said he thought the lad deserved punishment, yet he did not wish to send him to a place which could only make him worse than he already was. He thought the public would be best served by such a course. .■■ -.

Governor Robinson proceeds to the Bluff in the Hinemoa on Friday the 18th inst., and mil then make a tour of the Otago Provincial District, visiting the lakes en route, and returning by rail to Canterbury. It is expected the trip will occupy three weeks.

His Excellency, Lady Robinson and family and suite last night attended the Choral Society's concert.

Low fever and dysentery are reported to be prevalent amongst the Maoris in the Manawatu district.

The Government have Bent to the Education Boards a supply of deposit books, first ledgers, and journals for distribution, free of charge, amongst the approved Penny Savings Banks; subsequent ledgers and journals will be supplied at cost price.

At a meeting of the Sydney Exhibition Committee, the Chairman stated he had got a promise of £2000 from the Government. The Committee agreed to allow £50 to Captain Thompson, of the Bluff, to enable him to send for exhibition a number of inventions, such as wind and tide guages, anchors, boat lowering apparatus, and windmill, &c.

The following sums were voted by the Sydney Exhibition Commissioners :—£2CD for the purchase of specimens of gold and quartz; £200 for maps of the colony, showing railways, roads, bush and open country; £150 for freight to Sydney. The Union Company will carry the goods from Wellington free of charge. £20 was voted to Hackett of INelson for mineral exhibits. It was resolved to ask for an estimate for a pillar of coal 26" feet high from Grey mouth to set up in the New Zealand Court at. the Exhibition. The total cost in connection with the Commission is expected to reach £2540.

At the first meeting of the new Law Students Society (Travers president) the solicitors present promised to aid the Society to obtain the use of the Supreme Court library in the evening.

Tuesday. Arrived: Wave Queen, from London, 102 days from land to land. Fine passage till off Tasmania, when she experienced heavy gales. She brings 30 passengers and a general cargo.

During the voyage of the Ware Queen, on March 11th, H. Smith, cousia of the captain, and mate of the vessel, deliberately jumped overboard. He had previously refused to do duty, and was generally at variance with the skipper, being hot-tempered. His age was 32. On March 30th, during a heavy gale off Tasmania, a cabin passenger named E. Graham, new-married, was washed overboard. The patent log was out *at the time, and he caught hold of the line. The ship wa3 going at 10| knots per hour, with a sea so heavy that it was impossible to round ship. The captain had to keep the vessel before the gale, as he was afraid of her being pooped. The lazaretto was full of water. The Jog line unfortunately broke and the passenger disappeared. At the Supreme Court sitting the following sentences were passed: George Anselm, for burglary, six months ; Alex. McLeod and Alfred Shears, for larceny, six months ; John Maon, found guilty on a charge of rape, was sentenced to ten years' penal servitude, and to be twice privately whipped} William Hay and William Wallace, for larceny, to twelve months. Maon's case occupied nearly all the day. Mr Hawkins, who defended the prisoner, was more than once rebuked for the indecent manner in which he conducted the defence.

The City Council resolved to-day that all their advertisements, except Statutory notices, should be published in all the daily papers of Dunedin, and the rate of payment fixed at two shillings an inch. Special arrangements in the railway service will be made for the coming, holidays.

The diver of the Emerald, who went down to day to examine the degree of injury done to the hulk of the Eli Whitney by the numerous attempts made to blow her up, found that only the deck and a few of the ribs were removed by the repeated explosions tried, the main bulk of the hull remains practically untouched.

Justice Richmond called attention to the necessity for some provision being made for juvenile criminals either by increasing

the number of reformatories, or by establishing training ships for boys convicted of a first offence.

With reference to the office of Under Secretary for Defence which the Post referred to last night, it says to-night that office was abolished only as a separate one, the appointment being held by Colonel Moule jointly with that of the Commissioner of Armed Constabulary, the salary being £700; the present Government had replaced Colonel Moule by Colonel Reader at a salary of £400 a year, so that in this case there has been practically departmental economy. As regards the new office of Assistant Controller and Auditor it is fair to mention that Mr Batkin, who received the appointment, succeeded Dr Knight, who held the same office under a different title, and no increased charge to the public has been incurred.

In the examination in the case of manslaughter at the Supreme Court to-day, Dr Diver stated that the skull of Henry Banks was the thinnest he had ever seen during 22 years' practice. Dr Seating gave similar evidence. It appeared from their evidence that the blow inflicted on the deceased would not have injured a skull of ordinary tbiokness.

A man named Mills, convicted of forgery, was found to be so far gone in consumption that ho will be removed to the hospital.

Henry Anderson* the editor of the Chronicle, was fined for assault. The Kesident Magistrate said that no doubt an assault took place under great provocation, as Valentine (the plaintiff) had been under the influence of drink and made himself a great nuisance, but Anderson did not go the right way to work. Only one blow was struck. William Luik, late carpenter of the Lorraine, was fined £5 and costs, for illusing a lunatic who had been placed in his care on the way out. . '~ James Shearer and Peter Newton were charged with robbing a drunken man while lying asleep in an hotel. Shearer was acquitted, and Newton found guilty. Sentence deferred. ; The Native Minister left to-day for Waimate Plains and New Plymouth. The librarian of the Athenaeum reports that his desk was forced open and £23 14s, which was in the cash box, taken away. The Hons. J. Ballance and J. Macandrew will return to Wellington to-mor-row.