Wellington, This Day.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume 6, Issue 599, 14 January 1879, Page 2

Wellington, This Day.

Captain Johnson has found a suitable site for a lighthouse at the south-west end of Kapiti Island. A number of the Fernglen's immigrants, destined for the West Coast, have been persuaded to remain m this district. The cropß m the Wairarapa, near Grey town; are unusually heavy this year, those at Waihokehe being estimated to yield 50 bushels per acre. The proposal for a second expedition to New Guinea has assumed shape, a number having guaranteed certain amounts, and many others are coming forward, offering to take a share m the enterprise. A schooner of eighty tons will be purchased and thoroughly

equipped. Interpreters will be secured, and every precaution taken to prevent failure. The promoters were all m the Courier expeditition, and when that vessel was there two of them pleaded hard to be left behind for 12 months. Besides opening a trade with the natives, they will prospect for gold. The Government have chartered a steamer of 2700 tons through the New Zealand Shipping Company with immigrants, to sail about the 28th instant. The ship Taranaki left Glasgow for Port Chalmers early m November, with 293 immigrants. The Boyne left Plymouth on the 18th November with 350 immigrants. At the meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society on Saturday night Dr. Hector read a short paper, on a tree which he discovered during his recent visit to Moku. It is a very local plant being confined to an acre of ground on a spur of low sandy hills that extended along the cost between Mokau and Mohakatiana Rivera. The Natives said the tree had sprung from the skids and green boughs that were brought as flooring to the great canoe Tai Nui, m which they came to New Zealand from Hawaiki. As the tree is not found m any other part of the Colony, Dr. Hector thinks that if the proper habit of the tree were discovered it might give a clue as to the mythical hawaiki or place from whence the Maori originally immigrated to New Zealand. Eight steamers arrived m harbour yesterday bringing an aggregate of about 300 passengers. On Saturday some children playing discovered under the house of Mr Bacon, cordial manufacturer, a pair of blankets made up as a swag, a satchel containing £206 m notes, a new MartiniHenri rifle, and 200 rounds of ammunition. The police on being informed arrested Bacon's son William, aged 15, junior clerk m the Anchor Co.'s office. He first denied, but then confessed having taken the £265 out of the safe. Another £45 of it was planted m the bush some miles from town, and has been recovered. He paid nine guineas for the rifle, and signed the license m a false name. Evidently he intended, with other boys, to start a la Kelly.