SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 826, 5 December 1878, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

[prom ouk own correspondent.]

WELLINGTON. December 5. Gold prospecting in Wellington will soon be commenced again, after a lull of about six years. A deputation waited upon Colonel Whitmore and the Hon. Mr. Ballance to-day, in the absence of the Minister for Goldfields, (the Hon. Mr. Stout). The Mayor explained that the deputation, understanding that a considerable sum of money had been placed upon the Estimates for gold prospecting, wished to know whether the Government would grant a portion of that sum to encourage prospecting in the Wellington district. There was an old prospector named Mr. Moore who would be glad to undertake the work, if the Government would pay him a sufficient sum for his subsistence. The Hon. Mr. Ballance said he thought the Government would no doubt add LI for LI to any sum which might be raised by the deputation and others for the purpose of prospecting the country about Wellington, but he would lay the whole matter before his colleagues. Last session, the Government announced their intention of stationing a reformatory ship at Wellington : but Ministers have abandoned the idea of having a training ship at this port, as they consider that the ship at Auckland, and the reformatory schools in other parts of the Colony afford sufficient accommodation for the present requirements.

The licensed auctioneers are about to be convened to consider the best means of obtaining reform in the manner in which the Government land and other Government property is submitted for sale. The secretary, Mr. Deimant, points out in the circular that it is considered unfair and unjust that sales on behalf of the Government should not from time to time be equally distributed amongst, and conducted in rotation by men who possess character and reputation. A hitch has occurred in the swearing in of the Deputy Commissioners under the Land Tax Act. They should be sworn in before a Judge of the Supreme Court within fourteen days after their appointment, but as all the Judges are now present in Wellington, this was impracticable, and an Order-in-Council has been issued, authorising the District Judges to swear in Deputy Commissioners.

A decision of considerable importance to publicans was given by the Chief Justice this morning. Some months ago a Eeefton publican named Twohill was fined for employing a female in his bar after 11 o'clock at night. Mr. Twohill appealed on the ground that the girl had voluntarily remained in the bar contrary to orders, and the case was argued to-day. His Honor held that the publican was clearly responsible for what took place in his house, and affirmed the decision of the Court below.

A strange-looking character was brought into town to-day from Masterton, where he was sentenced by Mr. Wardell to a month's imprisonment with hard labor, for vagrancy. It appears that the prisoner a broadchested, good - natured - looking German named Fredei-ick E. Ligerpush—has been living for some weeks by himself in a whare among the rocks at Whareama, subsisting principally on 2>ippies and mussels, When discovered, he was clad only in a rough sheepskin, which, with his thick, unkempt beard and long hair, gave him quite a Robinson Crusoe-like appearance. Some trousers and a jacket were procured for him on his arrival in town, so as to give him a more presentable appearance. When first seen he had a gun in his possession, which has been identified by Mr, M'Kay as his property. The fellow said he was going to shoot sheep to eat.