WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3521, 8 April 1880, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day.

It is probable that Parliament will be called together for despatch of business on the 26th May.

It is understood the charges made against Mr Whitelaw, Superintendent of the Asylum, by an ex-attendant, are principally that several breaches of discipline were allowed to pass unnoticed by him, and that about two months ago he asked a patient named Buchanan to go to work, and on his refusing it is alleged that Whitelaw knocked him down, and afterwards had him locked up for fire and a half days, and fed on bread and water; and further alleged that during the visit of several gentlemen to the Asylum, Buchanan was shifted from place to place in order to prevent his having an opportunity totnake a complaint.

The charge of rape against Lo'nghurst is still proceeding, and not likely conclude before this evening.

One of the Maori prisoners, named Tauui Kahia, died at Mount Cook gaol

this morning. An inquest is now being held.

Mr Travers, solicitor, makes an application this afternoon at the Supreme Court, in Chambers, for a writ of Habeas Corpus to enable him to bring up form Dunedin the Maori prisoner Minara Parata and discharge him, as it is alleged he is no longer legally in custody. This is a test case in connection with the whole of the

native prisoners.

At the inquest oh the native who died this morning a verdict of "Natural causes " was returned.