WELLINGTON.

H.M.S. Calliope, 26 guns, Capt. Sir Everard Home, arrived at Wellington from Auckland on the 20th ult., having on board His Excellency Lieut.-Governor Wynyard, who was upon a tour of inspection of the troops stationed in the province, his interim command, which he had held since the death of Major-General Pitt, having been confirmed by the authorities at home. H.M. schooner Bramble (tender to the Calliope),

Lieut. Ward, commanding, sailed from Auek land for Sydney on the 4th January.

H.M. brigantine Pandora, Captain Drury,has sailed for Hokianga and Kiapara, calling on her passage at the former port to complete the survey of the bar, thence proceeding on to Kiapara. She went down to Waiheki last^veek to take her supply of water on board, and returned on Wednesday morning,—the last occasion, we have no doubt, on which any of H. M. ships will have to go to that island for a similar purpose, as very shortly hence the new tank for containinga sufficient supply of water, of the purest quality, will be completed, and the pipes laid down for conveying it to the end of the new pier, where, at all hours of the tide, it can be conveyed into the water casks as they lie in the boats without incurring the least delay. The Pandora was accompanied on her trip to Waiheki by the yacht schooner Undine, at present in charge of Captain Travel's, R.A.— Wellington Independent, January 21. AnnivkbsaryFete.—Thecustomary sports to commemorate the founding of this settlement, were duly celebrated on Thursday. The weather proved very favourable for the occasion, being a warm summer's day with a light wind from the north west. The sports commenced by a Whale Boatßace,in which threeboats belonging to the American whaler Leicis started, two of them manned by hands from the whaler, and the winning boat by an English crew. The boats, in this and the other races started from Messrs. W. Hickson and Co.'s wharf, went twice round the vessels in harbour, and round a boat moored off Pipitea Point, the race was well-contested, the foremost boat winning by about four boats' lengths. In the Skiff Race 'the Fairy was first at starting, but before rounding the boat at Pipitea, was passed by the Hope, who kept the lead and came in first, the Yankee Doodle being second. The Licensed Watermen's Boat Race was a capital one, the boats keeping well together throughout the race, and the winner coming in only about a couple of lengths a-head, the winning boat was manned by two of the crew that had previously won in the whale-boat race. The Sailing Match for decked vessels was won by Lieutenant Hutchinson's Flying Dutchman, the Emma Jane being second ; Mr. Allen's General Palmer came in first, but was disqualified by having gone on the wrong side of the Midlothian. Three canoes started for the canoe race, two belonging- to Petoni, and the third to Te Aro. This was a very interestingrace, the canoes keeping together well throughout, and E Puni's canoe coming in first closely followed by the two others. j In the afternoon a great number of persons collected on Te Aro Flat to witness the Rural sports, all of which came off except the cricket match. The foot race, foot steeple chase, and jumping matches were won by privates of the 65th Regt. One of the Gingling Matches was won by a Maori. The band of the 65th Regt. was on the ground by the kind permission "of Col. Gold, and by their performance added to the enjoyment of the holiday folk.— Wellington Spectator, Jan. 24. Death by a Shark.—A melancholy accident occurred in our harbour on Thursday afternoon, which spread a general gloom over the town. John Balmer, a well-built young man, about 20 years of age, belonging to the band of the 65th regiment, among whom he was greatly respected, was bathing at the head of the bay, after the musical performance had concluded on Te Aro, when an enormous shark, supposed by Captain Allen of the Chieftain to be at least 15 ft. long, attacked him, biting him on the thick part of the thigh and calf of the leg ; the poor fellow screamed out, and a boat, which was about 20 yards from him at the time, went to his assistance, which as soon as he saw he made a desperate leap into it, but in consequence of the femoral vessels being so dreadfully lacerated, he only survived a few minutes after reaching the boat. On Friday morning an inquest was held on the body of the unfortunate man at the Thistle Inn, when the above facts were elicited. Captain Allen deposed, that he was standing on the poop of the Chieftain at the time, about 150 yards from where the deceased was, and that at the time he heard the shriek he saw part of a fish, which he supposed to he the tail of a shark ; the water all round was coloured with blood. He immediately went to his assistance in his own boat, but on reaching that in which the body lay no signs of life was exhibited. He took the^ boat in tow up the bay towards the I colonial hospital, hailing as he passed the Mid-

Lothian to send on hoard the Calliope for the surgeon. The deceased at the time of the accident was about 200 yards from the shore. Dr. Prendergast deposed as to the fatal character of the wounds ; after which the jury brought in the following verdict: "That the deceased was killed by the bite of a shark while baihin «-.—'■ Wellington Independent, Jan 21. At the sitting of the Supreme Court on tho 23rd ult., Christopher Moore, charged with $&£.. felony, and Bartholomew Haydon, charged wither forgery, both from Lyttelton, were brought up,* and discharged by the Court, the Attorney- •> General having stated that he was prevented in either case from sending a bill of indictment to the Grand Jury for want of sufficient evidence. In the latter case (Haydon's) a material evidence had not been bound over to appear by the Resident Magistrate at Lyttelton, and had left the colony. In the former (Moore's) a principal witness (a married woman) had sent.a.me^ -: dical certificate of her inability to travel, and : her husband, also bound over, had declined to attend. The wituess was called upon his recognizances, and the Registrar directed to issue a summons to shew cause why his recognizances should not be estreated.— Wellington Spectator, Jan. 24. Sailing Match.—•On Saturday last, there was considerable interest excited in consequence of a report that a sailing match was to taka place between three of the small craft trading from our harbour, and Lieutenant Hutchinson's Flying Dutchman. After some delay,, in consequence of one of the boats backing out, a match was made up to sail round th« outer rock of Barrett's reef and back, for a sweepstakes of £5 each, between the following boats :— Mr. Brown's Emma Jane Mr. Allen's General Palmer, Lieut. Hutchinson's Flying Dutchman. In drawing for stations, the General Palmer had first choice, the Emma Jane second, and the Flying Dutchman last; they however started as above. The start was a very good one. The Flying Dutchman drew ahead," closely followed by the General Palmer, the Emma Jane bringing up the rear. After passing the outer point of Cow Bay, the Flying Dutchman lost the breeze (which came off light and in puffs under the land), and was nearly caught up by the General Palmer. On aniving at the outer rock .of Barrett's reef, the Flying Dutchman ran further on to clear a sunken rock, while the General Palmer hauled her wind close under it, and so became the head and windward boat; hut the superiority of the Flying Dutchman in beating to windward was so great, that she weathered her on the first tack, —the General Palmer still being the second boat. After a time, the Emma Jane caught a favouring breeze under the land, and weathered on the General Palmer, the Flying Dutchman gaining on both every tack; on her leaving the Heads, they were both 4 miles astern. She then ran down, to her anchorage, and picked up her buoy, neither of the others having shown themselves round the point. In about half an hour they both arrived, the Emma Jane being a few yards ahead of the General Palmer. The wharves and shore were lined with spectators.— Wellington Independent, Jan. 28. On the 13th January, Charles Edward Prichard, Esq., formerly of Stourport, Worcestershire, Solicitor, now of Lyttelton, was admitted to practise in the Supreme Court of New Zealand, having taken the prescribed declaration;

[From tho " Government Gazette," Feb. 4.} Colonial Secretary's Of/ice, Wellington, Jan. 6, 1852. His Excellency the Governor has been pleased to appoint Charles Simeon, Esquire, to be Visiting Justice of the Gaol at Lyttelton. By His Excellency's Command, Alfhed Domett, Colonial Secretary.