TOWN NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 23, 8 June 1867, Page 3

TOWN NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Wednesday, June 5. The Criminal Sittings of the Supreme Court opened on Saturday last, His Hon. Mr. Justice Johnston presiding-. In his charge to the Grand Jury he said that it |was satisfactory to find that there were no crimes charged against ordinary settlers, or that were to be attributed to extraordinary circumstances. John Holly was found guilty firing a gun at a hoy at Wanganui and was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment. Peter Helling, a carter in the employ of MrEdmeades, pleaded guilty to having embezzled a small sum of money the property of his employer, when under the influence of drink, and was sentenced to six months imprisonment. Two men from Wanganui, charged with robbery were found not guilty. Two other men from tho same place charged with a like offence were equally fortunate. Robert Daniels, charged with stealing a watch from Thomas Road at the Hutt, was found guilty and sentenced to four years penal servitude. The two men charged with setting fire to the store at Evans Bay proved an alibi and are consequently discharged from custody. William Morris charged with robbing Mary Quinty, was found guilty and sentenced to two years imprisonment. ’William Ellis charged with threatening to shoot the Rev. John Cohen, was found guilty and sentenced to two years imprisonment. George Cooper and James Reid were ftiund guilty of robbing the dwelling house of Mr Moeller, and were each sentenced to six years penal servitude. Charles Matthews, the man who ran away with Mrs Lawrence of the Eagle Tavern, was found guilty of robbery, and sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labor. This case concluded the criminal business of the session.

The no confidence motion was lost on

Tuesday, by a majority of 34 against 12. In other words tliere were 12 members of the Council who had no confidence in the present Executive, and 14 who had confidence in the men who were to succeed them.

The “ Advertiser ” of Wednesday, contains a very eloquent article in which it called upon Mr. Kennard, if he is a gentleman, to contradict the insinuation that it had been bribed to support his case. The tone, of the article is so spirited and so different from the mild and smooth style usually adopted by that journal, that it is really refreshing.

The “ Independant” of Tuesday contains an article in defence of the present Executive and in denunciation of Mr. Pharazyn, recently a contributor to its editorial columns. The article is remarkable because it was only a few days before an article appeared in which the Provincial Treasurer was most severly sneered at an ridiculed with the apparent object of showing that he was more fit for a chandler’s shop than for a member of the Government. Was it because that journal hated Hickson less, or because it hated Pharazyn more ? Friday, 6 a.m.

The “Independent” of Thursday contains a letter from Mr. Pharazyn covering a correspondence which had taken place between him and Mr Anderson of the “Independent” Office. Mr Anderson makes some remarks as to the position of members and the press which appear to me very just and necessary. He says to Mr Pharazyn;—“ If your plan were carried out, then whenever a newspaper had the audacity to criticise the proceedings of the Council or the Executive in the public interest, it would be punished by a stoppage of the printing. An honest writer would thus have no chance against those flunkeys of journalism, who, for filthy lucre, kissed the hoot that otherwise would be raised to kick them.” Mr. Pharazvns letter concludes as follows “ With this explanation before them the public will understand how it is, that a writer who at one time expressed his good opinion of me in terms which a man of correct taste would have shrunk from using, can see nothing in my conduct and character but what is deserving, of the severest censure and the utmost contempt- Regretting, sir, that you have allowed the violence of your temper to get the better of your judgment and right feeling. O O . 1 remain, Sir, Yours obediently, Robert Pharazyn. I regret to say that the vote for the Wanganui Bridge £IO,OOO has been carried by the casting vote of the chairman. On Thursday Mr Renall moved a resolution in favor of an amendment in the Executive Act but withdrew it on account of the lateness of the session. The report of the Masterton Land Committee has been adopted. It declares that the sales of land there were made in accordance with the land regulations. Mr. Renall was the only dissentient. A man by the name of Deans who was in charge of a hard labor gang, and formerly of the Defence Force, accidentlyshot himself yesterday. He was removed to the hospital, hut soon after died. The vote in favor of the Gold Fields being under the management of the Provincial Governments has been decided in Otago by thousands for, to units against it. The price of bread in Wellington is now 2id. to be had at Mr. A. Levy’s shop in Taranaki-street. This is a great boom to many who have large families.