LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2162, 18 May 1886, Page 2

LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

[by telegraph.— press association. 1 Wellington, Monday. A TELEORAM from Ot.ilci this morning states that Mrs James Sheath, wife of the postmaster at Taniangn, was drowned in thn OtaM ii\er yesterday. The fearful weather of the last few days has culminated in a terrific g-\le, which has been raging since hut Saturday e\ cuing, and shows no signs of abatement. One or two shock* of earthquake have also been felt. The To Auau ai rived after a terrible passage of f>(s hours from Napier. Shu had a nutubcr of Auckland members on board. She was steaming steiddy in tho vicinity of Capo Piiliaier from 10 o'clock, making no progress. Mrs C. Rutheiford, one of the earliest residents in Cartel-ton^, died suddenly this morning from bronchitic asthma. Tlie gale yesterday did but little damage in town except uprooting troes and dislodging chimney-pot*. With the exception of one or two small yachts being sunk, the shipping escaped. The Hutt railway line was in oue part washed away for about thirty yard*, leavin* the sleepers suspended for a considerable distance on either t-ido of the break. The wall was also undermined and tunnelled by the st>a, rendering it preoirious for probably 100 yards. In consequence of the obstruction, it was necessary to send out a train from town to which Petone and Hutt passenger* could bo transferred at thn break, and the same system was continued during the day. The Hutt river was a good deal 8wooll«n I last night, but was not in heavy flood. Some damage hai, however, been done near I Bclmont. An elderly settler, named Jno. Pringle, resided by himself in a small wooden house close to the rivor bank. At daylight this I morning it was observed by neighbouring I settlers that the house had disappeared and the old man was seen standing on a uttiall patch of ground cut off from the mainland by the river having mide a fre<h branch. Various : effort* were made to resrne him from his dangerous position, but it was nut until half- pant eight that a lad on horseback leading another horse mau> Hgnd to swim across and bring him off. At the Bankruptcy Court a debtor named Thou. J. B*w, a baker, had his certiricatt) suspended for nine months in consequence of his neglect to keep books. At a meeting of the ci editors of J. S. $eid, the Official Assignee stated that the valuation of the debtor's furniture, made by an experienced valuer, was £370. It is expected that the estate will pay 4s fid in cne £. Replying to questions Reid statt-d tii:it his income uiu'iiinted to about 470), including £I^o, wliich was his wife's private income. The d<)bt"r stated that none of the credit us' m >ncy had iwen used to settle lii.s liability So the Uuited In-ur»nce Oonipany, but friends had come to hit aid. The meeting Was adjoin ued to get a fullor statement. At the nomination to-day for directors of the Government Insurance Association, Messrs G. 9. Graham and G. Shannon only weie nominated.