WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3170, 17 April 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day.

The Governor Sworn In.

The Governor was formally sworn in at noon today by Justice Eichmond.

At the ball to the Governor last night about four hundred were present. The Opera House was tastefully decorated. In the first quadrille were the Governor and Mayoress Dransfield, the Mayor and Lady Eobinson, Captain Maxwell (H.M.S. Erne* raid) and Mrs St. John, Hon. Mr Fisher and Miss Eobinson. The ministers present were the Hons. Whitmore, Fisher and Ballance. There were no toasts or speeches at supper.

Edward Peel, for stealing a quantity of nails from Guthrie and Larnach's store, was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

William Hart for larceny from a dwelling was acquitted. This case closed the Criminal Sessions in the Supreme Court.

Ninety-five civil cases were set down for hearing at the R.M. Court this morning.

The Hon. Mr Sheehan arrived this morning from New Plymouth.

Waimate Difficulty Practically

Settled.

A private telegram from New Plymouth and West Coast states that the Waimate difficulty is practically settled and all the trouble averted.

John O'Conner was brought up at 2 o'clock for personating a detective, but was discharged, the evidence not being considered sufficiently strong to commit him.

Wednesday. The child run over by a milk cart today, and thought at the time to be uninjured, died this evening. The Supreme Court was occupied all day over a larceny charge against a man named Peel, and the jury have now been several hours considering their verdict.

His Excellency Governor Robinson consented at the request of the Sydney Exhibition Committee to become president of the commission, and expressed his desire to do all in his power to further the objects of the undertaking both by using his influence during his projected visit South to obtain the active cooperation of Canterbury, Ota go, and Southland dis-

tricts, and also by personal attendance at meetings of the commission after his return.

To-day Justice Eichmond decided that the fact of a man being required at the B.M. Court, whether as witness or plaintiff or defendant, would not excuse him from serving on a Supreme Court jury.

In consequence of the present tightness in the municipal exchequer, and the consequent partial suspension of works, it has become necessary to reduce the Corporation's labouring staff, and 30 men have had to be paid off. The work of extending Wellington tramway to Newtown, will commence shortly.

The yacht Prentice has been missing since Good Friday. A juror claimed exemption from sitting upon the petty jury because he had already served the grand jury, and he was accordingly excused by His Honor. An application has been made to erect a wharf in connection with the deep fishery scheme recently got under weigh. His Excellency haying received his full commission by the fast mail, will be sworn in to-morrow at noon by Justice Eichmond. . .

John O'Connor was arrested this afternoon for obtaining money by representing himself as a detective. He will be brought up tomorrow. ; The Supreme Court was occupied all day over two larceny cases. The various branches of the Volunteer force in the colony give a total strength of 7,073 officers and men, belonging to 123 corps, an increase in the number of Volunteers on the previous year of 525, but a decrease of 4 in the number of corps. The totals of each branch of the force are : — Cavalry 11 corps, 551 men; Artillery 9 corps, 636 men ; Engineers 2 corps, 123 men ; Rifles 56 corps, 3,344 men ; Naval 5 corps, 434; Cadets 40 corps, 1,982 boys.

Total strength of the Armed Constabulary amounts to 824 men of all ranks, distributed over 183 posts. There are 38 Commissioned officers, 145 non-commis-sioned officers, and 641 rank and file. The total strength of the force in December 1876 amounted to 610 of all ranks.

During 1877, 648 declarations of insolvency were filed in the Supreme Court, and 346 in the district Courts, a total of 994, being an increase on the declarations of statements filed in the previous year of; 452. The aggregate amount of assets as shown by the statements filed, amounted to £381,027; the liabilities having been in excess of the assets by £245,789. ; H. D. Bell appeared as Crown Prosecutor for the firdt time to-day.