WELLINGTON.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume VI, Issue 809, 14 June 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

' ' This Day. Sir William Fitzherberfc, having accepted $he Speakership of - the Legislative Council, has resigned his seat for the Hutt. ' His valedictory address to his constituents appeared ill last evening's and this morning's papers. .The Post asserts that a graduated Lj^nd Tax will commence at properties worth two thousand, five hundred; or perhaps three thousand pounds. J£ case of arson, with perjury, in confiectiori with it,' is now before the RM.'s. Court. One Mrs. Phillips was charged a short time ago with jhaving set fire to her house at Kaiwarra, but the charge fell through. At the RM. Court, on an alibi, her brother, Alphonso Rust, sweai'ing that on the night of the fire he drove his sister to their father's house at Taita, and did not leave again that nijjht, and that she slept with another sistiter in a room, the approach to which was through his room. This was confirmed by the father, mother, and' sister. Yesterday the police proved that there were no rooms in the house situated as Rush described ; thafc on the night in question he slept at the Albion Hotel and that after his sister was discharged he admitted having sworn falsely to get her off, saying she had set the place on fire because she was in debt. He was committed for trial, and the charge of arson against Mrs. Phillips was adjourned.