WELLINGTON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2359, 11 May 1899, Page 21

WELLINGTON.

Edward Samuel Rabone, who arrived in the colony 44 years ago in the ship Maori, died at Woodville on the 2nd. Deceased was a resident of Napier for many years and served through the Maori war, earning the New Zealand war medal.

Mrs MAdam, steerage passenger by the steamer Wakanui, which arrived from London on the Ist, has been arrested on a charge of stealing 77 sovereigns from the box of a fellow passenger, Mrs Peacock, Portion of the money was found on accused, while several sovereigns were found hidden under the floor of a bathroom, ana others discovered sewn in clothing identified as belonging to herself and the children of accused. Mrs MAdam, with her husband and two children, were booked for Port Chalmers.

Mrs MAdam was committed for trial on the charge of stealing £78 from Mrs Peacock, a fellow passenger by the Wakanui. The prisoner admitted taking the money, but said she did so because Mrs Peacock seemed queer during the voyage, and intended to give it back, but had no opportunity to do so.

A bacon factory company is being formed in Feilding. and already a large measure of support has been promised.

On the 3rd four cattle trucks of the evening train to Wanganui became derailed at Aorangi, causing a delay of about five hours.

It was mentioned at Mr Denny's reception on the 3rd that models of the Ladybird, now a hulk here, and of the Stormbird, still running on the Wanganui, took first and second prizes at the Crystal Palace Exhibition of 1851. The Ladybird was built to convey passengers across the Channel during the exhibition.

When the new burgess list closed on April 30 only 1200 persons residentiary qualified had put in claims for the new municipal franchise. Fifteen days more are allowed, but so far only 30 have applied. It is estimated that at least 1500 have not troubled to come forward. Very few burgesses now on the roll have registered their wives, as was expected would be done, to counteract the effect of the extension of the franchise.

The export of sheep te the South Island is, if anything, increasing. Nearly every clay mobs of 500 or so are driven through the streets of the city down to the wharves. H. H. Bender, boatbuilder, was fined £5 and costs for taking a launch over to Port Underwood on a fishing excursion without holding the necessary certificate. Constable Cafc&in was in company with a warder at the Mount Cook prison yard on Friday morning, when a penal servitude prisoner named Fogan rushed and dealt him - a blow with a shovel, inflicting severe injuries. Fogan was brought before the court in the afternoon, but Caesin was unable to give evidence. It appears the constable had been called in by the warders to m take charge of some tobacco and a letter planted near the gaol, which it is suspected were meant for Fogan. The latter is serving a sentence of nine years fur burglar- ;md prison-breaking. The very unusual spectacle of a waterspout was visible on Monday. It was in the diicclion of Island Bay,' and could be watched for pome 20 minute* from the city parsing along the straits with a rotary motion.

WEST COAST.

Thomas Cuig's new barn and cowshed at Rivei-edale was burned down at 4 o'clock on Saturday morning. The building, about 60ft long, was filled with hay beskCss valu-

able farming implements. The loss amounts to about £250. There was no insurance. This is the second barn burnt in a few; weeks. /