LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2350, 2 August 1887, Page 2

LATEST WELLINGTON NEWS.

(nv telegraph.—tress association.] Wellington, Monday. At Carterton to-day, Charles (Jurote, alias Bi.-marck, was committed for trial for horse-stealing. Sir Wm. Filzhcrberl is expected to return from England in time for the opening of Pailiainent. Mr Ballanec leaves for I’atea to-morrow to address a public meeting. In the Supreme Court in banco, Mr Justice Richmond delivered an important judgment in the ca«e of Walker v. the Welling-ton-Manawatu Railway for compensation. The court had awaided plaintiff £IOOO compensation for land taken by the company, and as a question as to whether land vested in a company by an order of com-Itens.-ition is liable to stamp duty as conveyance of sale. His Honor decided that appropriation of property by virtue of act of legislature was certainly a conveyance, but not on sale. The transfer in question was a compulsory one, and therefore not liable to stamp duty. Mr Travers said the decision involved a large question as it affected native land duties. His Honor said he was sorry for that as the exchequer could not at the present time afford to lose any of its revenue The customs duty for last month was £9G,«73, as against £77,182 for June and £114,402 for J uiy of last year. The returns from two or three small ports are not yet in, which will add about £TOO. The total amounts collected at the principal ports were; Auckland, £20,191; Wellington, £10,7.73; Christchurch aud Lyttelton, £IO,NOG; and Dunedin, £24,709. The beer duty for July was £3473, a small decrease on the previous month’s amount. At Auckland it was £779; at Christchurch, £710; at Wellington, £343, aud at Dunedin, £iu>7. Private telegrams received here state that Mr James Wallace’s general store at < trinond, near Ilisbornc, has been destroyed by fire. The stick was insured for £2270 in the New Zealand Company’s Office, partly re-insured. The annual chess match between Wellington and Christchurch by telegraph has been concluded. Christchurch won four g ums to Wellington’s three, and several unfinished games are to lie referred to Mr Hay, rcfeice. The four Maoris, who a month ago were sentenced to death at Napier, for the witchcraft murder, stili remain in gaol in a State of unhappy suspense. In these busy clcctioneoi big times they are enjoying an extension <il their existence through the difficulty of getting a Cabinet together, though the Governor cmld, did he choose, • •nier the execution to take place. It is not at all likely he will do so without a Ministerial consultation, but it is now no secret that the men are not to be hanged.