WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4949, 19 November 1884, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day

It is understood that the Government has communicated with various District Eailway Companies as to whether they wish to enter into an arrangement for the lease or sale of their lines. As regards ratepayers the Governmenthastakenanew departure. The Government has now laid down as a condition that ratepayers are to pay two-fifths of the amount for which proceedings are being taken against them. Government stipulates that on ratepayers paying two-fifths, proceedings will be abandoned against them until Parliament determines whether or not to ratify agreements. It is stipulated that agreements are to be framed in cases of ratepayers being relieved of further payments of more than two-fifths, and the. twenty years for which they are liable is to commence from the first payment. In the case of the Rotorua Railway the cause of the line not being opened is that it is cumbered with difficulties about rate" payers. In the case of the Waimeaßail way a condition is added that the line is to be at once worked in connection with Government lines. Information asked for comprises all specifications, plans, etc., together with particulars as to capital.

Messrs George Fisher, the present Mayor, J. Petherick, jun., and George Allan were nomiuated for the Mayoralty.

An information for misdemeanor has been laid against Mr Waring Taylor at the instance of Mr Arundel, one of the creditors in his bankrupt estate. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the accused, who is believed at present to be residing in the country.

Achargeagainst Waring Taylor has been laid by Mr Jellicoe an English solicitor, at the instance of Jonas Arundel, as residuary legatee, for embezzlement and misappropriation of monies received for sales of Bank of Jfew Zealand shares, left to Ernest Arundel, brother of the legatee, left by May some years ago. Taylor is at present at Bulls. It is understood that a firm of solicitors in Wellington has also been instructed by legatees under a will of which Taylor was trustee to proceed against him.

Mr Pitherick has protested against the nomination of the other two candidates fat tbe iYlayoralty, od the grounds that

the nomination papers contained more than the legal number of signatures. The steamer Hawea, which arrived from Lyttelton this morning, had a narrow escape of running ashore. The weather was thick and foggy, and the vessel going dead slow, when a flood tide carried her />ut of her course. The lead was heaved, and it was found 90 ; a few minutes later it was found 17 fathoms, and the rocks were seen close to the vessel. " Full speed asteru !" was given, and she managed to get clear. The spot where the rock was seen was Sinclair's Head.