WELLINGTON.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3009, 16 February 1881, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

February 16

At the Police Court this morning, William Rowe, formerly a member of the House of Representatives for the Thames, was charged with having, about 5 o'clock this morning, stolen two shillings from the till of the Theatre Royal Hotel, where he was lodging. From the evidence it appears that money had been missed previously under similar circumstances, and suspicion fell on Rowe. A policeman, accordingly, was placed in ambush this morning, and the money marked. The policeman saw Rowe take the money out, and then lie on the sofa pretending to read a paper. On being searched, £1 15s 6d were found on him, amongst it being the two marked shillings. Mr Gully, who appeared for tbe prisoner, admitted tbe theft, but urged that Rowe had been drinking heavily, and did not know what be was doing. It was evident that he was not in want. He urged tbat (he magistrate should exercise bis discretionary power, and dismiss the case as trivial. His Worship in passing judgment, said he would be glad to be able to discbarge the prisoner, but he could not help feeling that if he were to do so he would be drawing a distinction in his favor against those whose education and circumstauces had not been as good as the prisoner's. As a public officer having a duty to the public to perform, be was unable to do that. He was unwilling, however, to sentence the prisoner to any lengthened term of imprisonment, but would sentence him to a sufficient term to show him that a well-educated person like the prisoner, who had held a public position, could not do these things with impunity. Sentenced to forty-eight hours' imprisonment.

A fire occurred at Te Ore Ore, Masterton, on Tuesday morning, by which two reaping and binding machines, the property of Messrs Thompson and Co., were destroyed. The machines were

in a shed, to which was attached the stable in which the fire originated. It is believed that the machines were insured. It is supposed that the fire is the result ofincendiarism.