OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3949, 25 August 1881, Page 2

OUR WELLINGTON LETTER.

(FBOM OUfi OWN COEREBPONDENT.)

Wellington, August 20,1881,

Slowly but, surely the colony is tending towards the poiat when the question of separation of the two islands will have to be fought out in the House and on the hustings. There is do mistaking the full scope of Mr Macandrew's motion. He has chosen a fitting moment to bring it forward. Northern members generally are. indignant at the preponderance of power given—as they allege—to Otago and Canterbury by the Representation Bill, aud southern members.are sick of the " Native Difficulty." Everyopandidate at the next general election will be called upon to give no uncertain sound on the question of separation. $;/- Much unfavourable comment is being made in consequence of the too apparent pressure being brought upon Ministers to " scamp " the business of the oountry, in order to allow of Sir Arthur Gordon going to Fiji to play his role of " High Commissioner" there. Nevr Zealand interests are evidently of quite secondary consideration when they clash with those of Fiji.

A case of very great hardship has been the subject of consideration by a committee of the House. A petition was presented in which the petitioner states that be commenced an action in October, 1880, again>t a mining company at Reefton, 'iho case having been closed the Judge (Mr Weston) stated that as his commission would expire on the following day, and as it would be necessary to reserve judgment, he would be unable to reserve such judgment. Petitioner prays for return of £60 18s, he having retained counsel and procured witnesses from a distance. All the consolation. petitioner received was that the committee was of opinion that, although petitioners case was one of hardship, he had no claim against the Colony. It is believed that the matter will be brought before the House for their opinion thereon. Mrs Hoskins charged her spouse at the R.M. Court with failing to provide for the support of his two children, Alice and Mabel, aged respectively eight and six years. Mrs Hoskins left her husband about five years ago, and since that time bas been leading a dissipated and immoral life, the result of which is that another child has been added to the family. In consequence Mr Hoskins now doubts the paternity of Alice and Mabel. Mr Hoskins next charges his wife with assaulting him and breaking his shop windows, and with throwing a boot-last at him. The Magistrate not being satisfied with the evidence, adjourned the cases until Tuesday next for further evidence..

John M. Gill was charged at the Resident Magistrate's Court on Saturday morning with having stolen a hat valued at 9s Gd belonging to Samuel Taylor. The defendant and prosecutor at a late hour on the previous night were drinking together at the Prince of Wales Hotel, and indulged in a few games of " Yankee grab." A dispute arose through Gill alleging that Taylor had lost to the extent of 3s. Taylor denied his liability, and Gill seized Taylor's hat, telling him that he would not part with it until he (Taylor) paid tlie 3a. A policeman then appeared on the scene. Gill was placed under his care to the station house, and charged with the larceny of the article. In crossexamination Taylor fenced with a good many questions, amongst which was, " Did the defendant take the hat with the intent to steal it." Taylor being driven into a corner, would not reply until the question was repeated by the Bench, when he said, " If I were to say no, he (defendant) might have me up for false imprisonment, don't you see." He, however, said he believed defendant intended to retain possession of it. But all doubts on the question were soon set at rest by the landlord stating that both parties being in liquor, Gill had no intention of stealing, whereupon the Bench dismissed the case.

Of late a great deal of smuggling has been going on in Wellington, more especially of the " noxious weed." The latest case resulted in the arrest of the steward of the brig Neptune, who was brought before the bench at the Resident Magistrate's Court for'having in his possession a quantity of tobacco for which he had not paid duty. The Commissioner of Customs claimed £29145. The defence set up was that he took the tobacco in payment for a debt when in Newcastle, and he intended to supply passengers only in small quantities, while on board, and that he had no intention of defrauding the revenue. The bench did not accept this view, and mulcted the defendant in £29 14s, together with £3 39 costs, to be detained in custody until the fine be paid, unless the defendant elected to undergo six months' imprisonment. A very distressing attempt at suicide, which may yet prove fatal, occurred oa Monday. A young man named Janseu, failing to obtain work, thought to end his miseries by shooting himself. Letters found on a table in his mother's house point to his determination to commit the crime. In a letter dated 14th Aug., addressed to his mother, he says:— "Before you read these lines I will be dead. When I told you I had got work, I lied. I hoped to learn the trade I started, but now I see some great difficulties, and come to the conclusion the prize is not worth the struggle. Mother, I know very well that while you are living, I should not want a home, but I will not be dependent on you for a living any longer." On the 15th of August, on the other side of the paper on which he wrote the letter dated 14th August, showing clearly his intention, he writes :—" Dear mother, I intended to shoot myself last night, but not wishing to trouble you to run for the doctor in the middle of the night, I postponed it till this morning." The modus operandi of Jansen was to load a small toy cannon with powder and ball, and place the cannon on the table, the muzzle pointing in the direction of his heart.. Having fastened the cannon ou the table, he fired it, the ball entering just below the heart. He was removed to the hospital, where he now lies in a precarious condition, The ball has not yet been removed.

On Wednesday evening the Lyon's Tourists and Pleasure Party commenced a series of variety performances in the Academy of Music. Tfctere was a very full house. The performances met with the hearty approval of the audieoces. Most of the actors are old favorities, having appeared here as members of McLean's Juvenile Troupe.