WELLINGTON NOTES.

Press, Volume L, Issue 8523, 30 June 1893, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

June 29. The police here are making a crusade against spielers (many of whom are s&id to have come from Australia) owing to the numerous petty robberies, &c. This morning three were brought before Mr Martin, R. M., on a charge of being idle and disorderly persons. Two convictions were obtained, aud sentences of three months, with hard labour, imposed. The other man, named Holmes alios " The Diamond King," described as a " confidence-trick man," was \ fended by Mr Jellicoe, and got off on a technicality. Mr Martin delivered a strong speech against the prisoners. In consequence of the decision Inspector Pender, it is understood, has given orders for a further raid on the spielers' dens, and a lot more arrests are likely to follow. The milk adulteration disclosures in Court here yesterday have caused a great deal of talk about town, and it has been suggested that a close inspection should be made and surprise tests instituted to put a stop to the adulteration known to be gone in for. The extension of the railway line from Thorndon to Te Aro, which necessitates the train running through the city, crossing the entrance to Queen's Wharf, has proved a considerable inconvenience to traffic on the wharf, and no small danger. The train when approaching from Te Aro is not visible until right upon the road, and as the whistle cannot be easily distinguished from the steamers' whistles blowing almost a 1 day long, carters and drivers of vehicles and even persons on foot have the risk of getting run down by the train. Several narrow escapes have occurred, and this afternoon on accident happened which it is the greatest chance did not terminate fatally. A. man named Frank Cusken was driving an express from the wharf across the railway line, and did not hear the whistle or notice the train coming. The consequence being tbat the engine struck the tail end of the express, and sent it flying, the man being pitched on his head on to the rood. The train stopped, and Dr. Whitehead, who was ou board, bound the man's wounds and sent him to the Hospital, where he is doing welL The express was smashed up and the horse also injured. The crossing is extremely dangerous, and some steps should certainly be taken to provide better warning to the public A test case re "tied houses," Hamilton (brewer) v Harden and another (publicans) is occupying the Supreme Court before Mr Justice Richmond and a jury of four. The case excites interest from the fact that should judgment go for the defendants over half the hotels here wil? be legally freed. Owing to the burglaries hotelkeepers here are adopting the system of locking ail the bedroom doors, and giving the keys to the servants. In private dwellings people are much alarmed at nights, especially women. The Knights, of Labor passed a resolution to the effect that they have no sympathy with the behaviour of the leaders of the recent unemployed demonstration. Matters with regard to the unemployed are very quiet here. Some time since the Commissioner of Taxes wrote to each of the various Banks enclosing a list of persons who claimed to deduct the amount of mortgages given by them to such Bank. The Banks after consideration decided to take legal advice

as to whether they could afford the information. The solicitors to whom the matter was referred, advised that they could not safely do so. Mr Morrah, as Chairman of the Associated Banks, intimated this to the Commissioner, and asked him to refer them to the sections of the Act authorising such demand as had been made. The Commissioner replied that he was entitled to the information, and that, in order to. test the question, he would causa an information to be laid, and the matter came before the R.M. Court yesterday. Mr Martin, R.M., reserved decision, stating that he recognised the case was one of considerable importance.