SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 832, 13 December 1878, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

[FROM OCR OWN CORRKSPONDENT.] WELLINGTON. December 13. The late Ministry made a regulation by which publicans were prevented from being appointed Justices of the Peace. This regulation has now been swept away, as the present Government do not consider that any man should bo prevented from attaining to such an honor ; but that he should be considered merely in the light of s citizen, and receive honor according to his merit. The recentlyelected Mayor of Dmiedin is a publican, and under the old regulation ho would not be allowed to sit on the Magisterial Bench. Doubts having been expressed as to whether the Government are taking steps towards the construction of the muehuecded Hutt-Waikanae railway, the Postsays that it is in a position to state that a preliminary survey of the country has been made, and a practicable route can easily be found. Immediately on his return from Auckland, Mr. Macandrew will visit the district to make himself personally acquainted with the details of the proposed line and its prospects of success. More than t!i is cannot be done until the lands can be acquired from the natives. Negotiations with this end in view are being pushed on as rapidly as possible ; but as everyone who has had to deal with the natives knows, the acquirement of native land is a slow and tedious process. The Government have determined to set aside a portion of the reserve, covering about four acres, and situated at the back of the Government Buildings, as a recreation reserve.

The Government are (says the Post) about to take immediate steps to have New Zealand represented at the projected New South Wabs Exhibition. A sum of LOOOO was last session placed on the Estimates for this purpose, and that will lie quite sufficient. Whether New Zealand will have to contribute anything towards the expense of the building" is not yet known, but it is not considered probable that such'will be the case. In all probability the Government will take over approved exhibits free : but- even if this is found iinpracticable, every assistance will be afforded to exhibitors.

A somewhat curious ease of lunacy is exciting considerable attention here. Miss Jones, housekeeper at the Wellington College, was yesterday charged on the information of the principal (Mr. Kenneth Wilson) with being a dangerous lunatic, in defiance of the Lunacy Act. The examination was held in private, but as the two doctors declined to certify that Miss Jones was insane, Mr. Mansford, R.M. dismissed the case. Two other medical gentlemen (Dvs. Grace and Collins) who attended the patient last week, have both declared her to be insane. On Friday last Dr. Collins attended Miss Jones at the College, at the request of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson. He found, that she had not slept for three nights. She told Dr. Collins that she was afraid to go to sleep, as Mr. and Mrs. Wilson were preparing to destroy her, and that they had dug a deep hole in the ground and wore only waiting to, get her asleep in order to bury her in it. She said, further, that she had made the acquaintance of a person outside, who told her. that these preparations were being made to destroy her. Such evidences of mental derangement did she display on Friday night that Dr. Collins told Mrs.

Wilson to place another servant in the same room with Louisa Jones, and to lock the door, as, though sho was harmless towards others, her state o£ mind was such as might lead her to to herself. Dr. Grace had fonnfl "Vfhe young woman impressed with similar ideas. While in custody she stated to'the matron that Mr. Wilsjm; had' sentf* upf a : ' cii}\ 3he'"kne'vv i _t6\be vpoiso^d,'an<j 3 wMeh •sheVrefused to cirinK, an&tliat a poisbned cake; wasto ier room. It probable that'the"matter will be' furt&fer>ipyestjgated. The weather is beautifully fine to-day, and the fourth" match was concluded. Home (Clutha) and Richardson (Dunedin), 78 eseb^oTit--of v a possible-84 - 7,7-f Snfitr>,,Tj6.-- : Aggregates—Smjth (Dunedin),. 252 ; Mills (South District), *267 ; Reid (Bruce), .267 ; Webster, _ 267 ;. Buckley (Canterbury), 265 ; "Chapman (Canterbury), 265... , .-..,, ...■''

Thef shieidSbsffibh is now. on.' Harding is seventh in* the fourth match with 73. '' ' ■ " ' - The Gity Guards won the Ladies' Shield with 339 points; South' District Rangers second with 328. At Milton a Volunteer named Wilson has been arrested for shooting at a Mrs. Lilburn. A fire occurred in Castle-street this morning, and destroyed the dwelling of Lewis, a hawker. It was insured the Standard Office for L3OO. At Tapanui Mrs. Chittock was thrown out of a dray and killed, her infant getting both its legs broken. * PALMERSTON. December 13. At the R.M. Court to-day Messrs. C'atamore, Fraser, and Alston complained of the want of courtesy and consideration shown to the profession and public by Mr. Watt, It.M., in not holding regular sittings of the Courts at Waikouaiti and Palmerston, and in not apprising the Clerk of the Court until t ! ie last moment of his intention not to sit. Witnesses who had come a distance of 25 miles had to return, their easesnotbeingealled on. The Licensing Court lias been adjourned no less than four times owing to the non-ap-pearance of Mr. Watt, the Chairman.

CHRISTCHURCH. December 13. Sixteen mares and six geldings, comprising many prize takers, were landed from Tasmania at Lyttelton yesterday ex barque -•'outhern Cross. They are draught stock, and in excellent condition. At a trial trip of the new Government steam tug at Lytttelion she ran the measured mile in "l.ljmm.s. Captain Clark, of the llingarooma, takes charge of her. Arrived at Lyttelton on the 11th inst. late, the brigantine Oamaru, a now vessel from the Thames. Yesterday Messrs. IT. R. and J. E. Parker's property near "Waimate, known as the Waiho Estate, and consisting of about !>.">oo acres of rich downs land, well watered, was submitted to public- competition in one lot at Messrs. Miles, Hassal, and Co.'s room.-!. Mr. Tabarfc acted as auctioneer. There was a fair attendance. Biddings commenced at L 7 10s per acre, and reached Li) 10s, when it was withdrawn. Land of such quality six months ago would have brought readily LIS per acre, as it is admitted to.be the very cream of the Southern district.