WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3466, 3 February 1880, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

Yesterday.

A fatal boat accident occurred in the Harbor this evening. Two men named Pope and Cochrane were sailing about in a small boat off Kaiwnrra with a strong S.W. breeze blowing, and a high sea running, which caused the boat to ship a considerable quantity of water and during & sudden squall she capsized. Both clung to the boat, but the sea rising they were compelled to strike for the shore, distant about a mile and a half. Pope reached the shore in safety, but Cochrane when half way sank and was drowned. Pope states lie heard Cochrane calling, but the heavy sea prevented him from extending any assistance*

The appointment of a Native Commis* sioner, rice Mohi Tawhia resigned, has been farther delayed, owing to the absence of Sir Francis D. Bell, one of the commissioners, who is expected here on Wednesday.

The following appointments have been made, in connection with the commission : —Reporters, Messrs Drake and McCarthy; interpreter, Mr. Hadfield; secretary, Mr E. D. Bell.

Mr Johnson, secretary to the Benevolent Institution, had an interview with the Colonial Treasurer to day with reference to the unemployed, when the Colonial Treasurer replied that the matter had been under the consideration of the Government for some time past and as soon as the Cabinet met would be dealt with without fail.

A man marking at the Pothill Gully range had a narrow escape from being shot this morning. While he w*s painting the target, a volunteer who had just arrived at 600 yards, fired; the bullet brushed past the marker, and struck the target. Dr Lemon, Superintendent of Telegraphs,' has received the subjoined:— "please communicate the following to the Press V 6f your Colony.— Mr John Fender, M.P., Chairman of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Com- | pany, notifies to the press of Australasia now that telegraphic communication between Australia and the other civilised centres of the world is made more certain by the duplication of the cable. I hope that the press will freely use the great facility for bringiug the colonies and other great and extended dependencies into closer union and ever inpreasing harmony. The cable is now laid to South Africa, and I beg to thank the Australian Colonies for enabling my Company to serve the Imperial Government at a critical juncture by allowing that cable to be completed before the Australian cable, now happily laid within time, was originally fixed." The Chairman of the Eastern Extension Telegraph Compauy has sent the following to Dr Lemon :—" Please deliver the following from the Lqrd Mayor of London to the Mayors of the Australasian Coloniesi— Should be obliged by a response to my application of January 19, respecting the Rowland Hill Fund." Foul Play, in the presence of His Excellency, his ogyner, an 4Mr Lance after others had gone home on Sunday morning, did two miles in 3mins 55s«cs,~ lathering freely at the finish. Thi« day. An alteration has been made in the civil service hours, owing to the inconvenience arising from the officials leaving the office for luuch in the middle of the day. Lunch hour hat be#a

abolished, and the offices are closed half an hour earlier as compensation. At the Supreme Court a rule absolute was granted for a new trial in the case of Parrell v. O'Malley.