WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3196, 17 May 1879, Page 4

WELLINGTON.

Thursday.

Tho Post Office Hotel had a narrow escape from being burned down last night. A fire broke out in the dust bin, where the cook put some ashes nearly 24 hours ', before. It was, accidently discovered about,three o'clock this morning, and put out before damage to any extent ensued. : .

The, Postsays it is understood the Government has laid before the AttorneyGeneral a ease for his opinion in reference. to an article in the Timaru Herald- to the effect that cheques issued by the Government have been dishonored by the Bank of New Zealand in contravention of a contract between the bank and the Government ■'■■ The question submitted is, whether the facts given disclose prima facie grounds for a criminal prosecution against the Timaru Herald,for the publication of the false statement alluded to. The matterwas under the consideration of the Cabinet this afternoon. It is not regarded as probable that legal proceedings will result.' ....

The Gorernors of the Wellington College hare staved off the most pressing difficulties by borrowing £50,000 for five years at 10 per"cent."' The Waste Lands Board sold during April 457, (sic) acres for £51,885. The Government to-day accepted a tender for the first section of the Otago Central Railway. The name of the successful tenderer and the amount will riot be published until the contract has been signed. • ' < Mr Mills, of the Lion Foundry, was the successful tenderer for supplying all railway stores required by the Wanganui and Napier lines, and for the greater portion of those to.the Wellington and Featherstone lines for the next eighteen months. ■ : :

Win. Toogood, of Featherston, storekeeper, has assigned his estate. Several business men complain of the amount of time they have to devote to meetings, of creditors almost, daily. . In a case at the E.M.. Courtto-day the Magistrate said he bad previously decided;.that the keeping of a brothel per se was no offence against the law, and ordered the prisoner's discharge.

An important judgment was given in the K.M. Court to-day. Donaldson claimed £100 commission for being the means of selling Bowden'i stationery business. • The defendant did not deny the sale of the business,being effected through plaintiff, but the latter was employed because defendant understood he was acting for, and was to be paid by, the purchasers of the 1 business; The Magistrate considered plaintiff entitled to commission, and gave judgment accordingly. :.■.-'■'-... The Supreme Court .Buildings, for •which tenders are about to be called, ■will be of brick.,•'The,'new; Postoffiee and Telegraph-office are to be in one building, and also of brick, on the reclaimed land. They are now, in course of preparation. It is probable the removal of the Post and Telegraph offices from the present site will be strongly opposed by the ■whole mercantile community, the present site being the most central obtainable. The acreage and estimated crop of grain and potatoes for New Zealand for 1879, compiled from the returns collected in February, are:—Wheat, 246,577 acres, estimated produce, 607,599 bushels; oats, 277,587 acres, estimated produce, 8,357,150 bushels; barley, 28,646 acres, estimated produqe, 709,465 bushels ; potatoes, 17,299 acres, estimated produce, 86,186 tons. ..,,.. ..- ; . •, •■ . The railway receipts and expenditure during the financial year, 1878 9 in round numbers are as follows : — Kaipara, £3860 receipts, £3647 expenditure ; Auck-, land, £39^633 receipts; £32,058 expendil ture; Napier, £22,433 receipts, £14,723 expenditure ; Wellington, ' £23,339 receipts, £15,874 expenditure; Wanganui, £26,021. 'receipts,, £16,704 expenditure;, New Plymouth, £4817 receipt!, £4189 expenditure Greymouth, £6631 receipts, £3607 expenditure; Westport, £2014 receipts, £2618 expenditure; Nelson, £5405 receipts, £4502 expenditure; Picton, £4053 receipts,: £3683 expenditure ; Christchurch, Dunedin, and Invercargill, £432,747 receipts, £291,242 expenditure. ... . ■ The totals are as follows :—Miles open for traffic, 1111; four-weekly receipts, £74919. Receipts to date, £571,059; expendjture, £395,752: per centage of expenditure to receipts, 69*30.