WELLINGTON NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXX, Issue 8578, 4 September 1888, Page 5

WELLINGTON NOTES.

[Bt Telegraph.] [from cue own correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Sept. 3. THE GABPAEINI AFFAIR. Tho French Consul is greatly incensed at the interference of the Hon G. Fisher in the Gaspa.rini affair. Tho Vicomte Joaffroi d’Abbans informed me this afternoon that he considers it quite incompatible with tho functions of a Minister of the Crown to act as Consul for a foreign nation. He asserted that the action of Mr Fisher, in visiting Gaaparini on board the Wakatipu, and sympathising with him, was a direct violation of the treaty between France and Great Britain. It was Mr Fisher’s duty, as a Minister of tho British Crown, to give him: (M. d’Abbaus) every assistance in sending the prisoner hack, instead of which toe, in tois capacity of Italian Consul, threw every obstacle in the way; and he intends to bring the matter under the direct notice of the Governor of New Zealand. MINING EXHIBITS. The Hon Mr Mitchelson received this morning from private sources the following cablegrams from Melbourne relating to the New Zealand mineral exhibits at the Centennial Exhibition “Hon Mitchelson, Wellington, Our mineral exhibits wretched failure. Cannot calculate injury to Colony. Meeting New Zealanders Monday. Condemnation inevitable.—John Buchanan.” “Hon Mitchelson. — New Zealand Court certainly failure. Rearrangement necessary for effective display of exhibits. — Geddes.” Mr Geddes is the special correspondent of the Auckland Star, and Mr John Buchanan is possibly an Auckland merchant of that name. THE NEW GOLDFIELD. The Hon Mr Larnach and the other gentlemen who have spent the last few nays in visiting the diggings in Marlborough district, returned to Wellington by the s.s. Eanieri last night, accompanied by Mr Gordon, Inspector of Mines. They first proceeded' to the Wakamarina district, as far as the Gorge claim. Deep Creek, which was recently taken up by a new Company, who propose to flume the river and construct dams for the purpose of working their ground. The syndicate, comprising the members in question and several Blenheim residents, who have taken up three and a half miles of the river, intend to have a large number of test dredgings made upon the river-bottom, before attempting more extensive works in the way of turning the river. At Mahakipawa the party were obliged, on account of the short time at their disposal, to limit their visit to one claim. They were shown about four pounds of gold, all of which came out of a space four feet square, one of the nuggets weighing fourteen ounces. The Hon Mr Larnach expresses the opinion that Mahakipawa will probably be a permanent field, capable of sustaining a considerable population, if the Government will spend a sufficient sum of money to open up the rough country at the back of the freehold land and the present workings. The party had rather AN UNPLEASANT ADVENTURE on their return trip from the Marlborough diggings yesterday. They started from Blenheim in the s.s. Waihi, which steamed away steadily till the mouth of the Wairau river was reached, when she stuck hard on the bar. Tho passengers were not kept long in suspense, however, for the s.s. Eanieri came along, and to her all the members of the party (except Mr and Mrs J. C. Brown and Mr and Mrs J. Macalistcr) were transferred, and in her they completed the voyage to Wellington. An attempt was made to tow the Waihi into deep water, but one of the Kanieri’shoats, which was sent off with a hawser for tho purpose, was capsized. The crew were, however, taken on board the Eanieri, tbanksto the exertions of Captain Manning. The passengers were loud in their expressions of admiration for the coolness of that gallant officer, and presented him with a complimentary address in recognition of his conduct. In getting from the bo&t to the steamer, Mr Fraser, had his foot rather severely jammed, but tho injury is not likely to be or a serious nature. ministers’ movements. The Colonial Secretary will leave for Auckland to-morrow, and the Minister for Public Works proceeds to the same district about tho end of the week. The Minister for Lands has also engagements in the North, but does not expect to be able to free himself from the office work which he has undertaken, till about a month hence. RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS. A meeting of the Cabinet was held this evening, at which the question of the appointment of Railway Commissioners was fully discussed. From the animated discussion which took place it transpired that Ministers are all at sixes and sevens regarding the appointments. The claims of Messrs Maxwell, Bannay, O’Connor, Edward Richardson, Wright, Ferguson, and Stead, were freely canvassed, but there was such a diversity of opinion that it was resolved to defer the consideration Of the Board until Ministers return to Wellington in eight or ten days. In the meantime correspondence by cable is going on between the Premier and the Agent-General relative to the chief Commissionership, and it is thought probable that a suitable man may yet be obtained from Home. Ihe vacant judgeship. At the Cabinet meeting held this morning, it was resolved that the appointment to the vacancy of the Supreme Court should not be made for a few weeks yet. -- - ■ i TEE SAN FRANCISCO MAIL. [Pee Press Association.] WELLINGTON, Sept 3. The General Post Office advise that the steamer Zealandia, with the English mails of August 11, loft San Francisco for Auckland on August 25, time-table date. The steamer Mariposa, with the Colonial malls of August 13, arrived at San Francisco, from Auckland, on Sept. 1, one day early.