WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3904, 4 July 1881, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day,

The Supreme Court Criminal session commenced this morning. Judge llioh. mond, iv his charge to the Grand Jury, said he anticipated that he would have been able to refer to the absence of any serious crime, but he feared that in the stabbiug case the injuries would prove fatal. It seems probable that the case would have to stand over until next session. The other cases, he said, were ot an ordinary nature except the charge against the late Superintendent of the Asylum for ill-treating a patient, which would be heard before a special jury on Monday next.

At the Supreme Court Dicken was acquitted, and a true bill was found against Walter for burglary.

The boiler of the donkey engine on board the coal hulk Albion exploded last night. She was lying alongside the wharf, and was getting ready to coal the Poto- tmahana. The boiler was literally smashed to pieces. Fortunately only three of the crew were on board at the time of the accident, and they escaped with a few bruises. Mitchell who was on the deck of the adjoining hulk was knocked down and cut about the head. The crown of the boiler was carried over the deck of the Botomahana, which was lying some distance away, and a piece of the plate was found at a distance of fifty yards from the accident. The noise occasioned by the explosion was heard all over the town. The cause of the accident is believed to be the shortness of water in an overheated boiler. Dr Harding died last night from diptheria. »• Arrived : The Waimea, from London, 100 days out.