NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1532, 15 January 1879, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND TELEGRAMS.

[PER PRESS AGENCY. I Wellington, January 15. Inquiries having been made as to the cause of Major Gordon, Inspector of Volunteers, not having paid a visit of inspection to the South lately, it appears he has been very seriously ill for the last five months.

Mr Dignan, is to be called to the Upper House. Ihe Minister of Public Works is still urging on the contractor the more rapid construction of the Peatherston railway extension. The Wharf Committee resolved to farther increase the shed accommodation upon the outer T by 80ft. The land tax valuers appointed for Tc Aro and Cook ward, finding considerable difficulty in obtaining a satisfactory valuation, asked permission of the City Council to copy the assessment list, but were refused. A deputation of the City Council) will shortly wait upon the Government to urge the immediate construction of a railway wharf, though it is said the Government intend doing so shortly. Mr Travers’ opinion being unfavorable to the Hutt County Council claim to one-twentieth of the reclaimed land and other provincial property the opinion of Mr Robert Hart is to bs now taken.

Eignold takes his farewell benefit to-night. The Governors of Wellington College decided to offer the administration to Mr Wilson, the present principal, at the salary proposed in their report, and to advertise for a second master and a teacher of modern languages. The Hutt County Council have declined to allow coaches carrying mails to go through the Kaiwarra toll gate free of charge. The question of penny banks having been brought under the notice of the Education Department, arrangements have been nearly perfected and the new experiment will commence when the schools reassemble. A DISGRACEFUL ASYLUM. The “ Chronicle” publishes Dr. Skae’s report of the Mount View Asylum, Wellington. The report is of a most sensational character, showing that the institution is scandalously over crowded. Beds are made up in bath rooms and other unusual places. Patients are wedged into some of the rooms so as to be scarcely able to move. He speaks of the impossibility of discipline under present circumstances, and of the disgusting pract.ces of patients who are unable to be restrained by supervision, and he says it would be an undeserved compliment to call it a prison. In no sense can it be called an asylum. He also refers to the danger of serious crimes, such as murder, &c., occurring through the disorganised state of the institution, and advises the Government that a circular should be sent to the magistrates of the district to instruct them not to commit any more patients to the asylum in its present condition.

[fbosi oub own cobeespondents.] Wellington, January 15. A slight accident occurred last evening to the train from Feitherston. It was travelling at the usual speed down the gradient on the Wellington side of the Rimutaka, when suddenly it came into collision with a large branch of a tree, blown down by the furious gale raging, ho damage was done beyond smashing the brake of the engine. The train was delayed an hour. Dunedin, January 14. At the City Police Court William Wallace is now being tried for stealing <£l3o m notes from the person of Robert Twelvetrees, at Mosgiel, yesterday. He was cleverly captured by the police as he was about to dispose of the bulk of the money.