WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume XIII, Issue 4281, 20 September 1882, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day. Earl Kimberley has cabled to the Government that the American Gorern» ment intend sending a party to New Zealand for the purpose of taking observations of the transit of Venus, and asks that facilities would be given them to do so. The Government have replied that every facility and all information in their possession would certainly be given to the Americans. Yesterday. The football match, Wanganui v. Wei* lington, was played this afternoon. The weather was fine, and the attendance about 500. The game was well contested, and ended in a victory for the Wellington team by one goal and two tries (nine points) to one goal (five points). The tries on Wellington side were obtained by J. Thompson, McGregor, and McCardle ; Dumbell converted the latter into a goal. H. Say ley obtained a try for Wanganui, and his brother George kicked a pretty goal. The Wanganui men were favorites at 5 to 4, but little money changed hands. In Chambers to-day, in re Hunt v. Gordon (Governor of New Zealand) His Honor Mr Justice Richmond allowed defendant's evidence to be taken in London, as also that of one of the defendant's witnesses, Mr Grave, consul at Samoa, on certain terms as to costs, &c.

The appearance of the comet was clearly visible at 2 o'clock to«day. It created considerable excitement, as it was a most brilliant object, even to the naked eye, when seen from the shadow of any building shutting off the sun. Dr Hector states that it was within five degrees of the sun, and rapidly approaching it. He has observed it nightly since the 11th inst., and expects that it will get round the sun to-morrow, when the sun also crosses the equator, being the equinox. After getting round the sun, its course will be towards the northern hemisphere, and it will not be visible here after sunset. Dr Hector says the head strongly resembles the engraving of Donati's comet; the tail is short but.very fan like.-