WELLINGTON.

Colonist, Volume XXXIV, Issue 7009, 12 May 1891, Page 4

WELLINGTON.

May 11. A man named Harry Innesa has been committed for trial on a charge of firing the store of Mr J. 0. Trapps, at Alfredton, near Maeterton. No date ia definitely fixed for hearing Judge Edwards' case, but it ia intended if possible to bring it on on Thursday. The Pengnin will not leave for Pioton and Nelson nntil to-morrow owing to the boisterons state of the weather. The steamer Wallabi, 101 tons, has been blown ashore at the head of Evan's Bay, and in close proximity to the rocks. The Wallabi for many years was engaged in the cattle trade on the West Coast, but has been laid up in Wellington Harbor for some time past, the last time her services were brought into requisition being for the removal of coal from the sunken barque Willie McLaren at the Heads. There are signs of the gale abating, and as the vessel lies at present on a sandy beach, she may be got off. A strong northwest gale has been blowing all day, with heavy showers of rain. One or two small yachts have been blown ashore, and the steam yacht Piako, recently fitted up at a cost of £300 for fishing purposes, is ashore on the Te Aro beach. No other damage of a serious nature is reported. The weather for the observation of the transit of Mercury was not favorable, the sky Being so cloudy that the earliest stages of the transit were not visible. Later in the day, when the clouds cleared, the black disc of Mercury could be seen plainly, but in the afternoon clouds again obscured the view. The Doric left Capetown for Wellington on Saturday last, and the Mamari arrived at London on Saturday morning. DUNEDIN, May 11. The dwelling of Charles Clark at the Forest Hill oroesing has been burned down. Insurance £150 in ihe New Zealand office. Arrived— ship Waimate, from London. On May 8, W. S. Milman, a saloon passenger, who was in delicate health when he embarked, died of consumption. CHBISTOHTTBCH, May 11. Bobeit Dunn was charged at the E.M. Court with failing to abate a nuisance on his premises. The evidence disclosed a disgraceful state of affairs. The premises consisted of two cottages under one roof occupied by the defendant, bia wife, and seven children. There was no closet on the premises and use was made of an adjoining room for the purpose. Everything was in a state of indescribable filth. Mr Beetham said he never had to do with a worse case of the kind. Dann was a drunken, dissolute creature, who had demoralised his family and was poisoning the neighbourhood. It wa3 no use fining him, but as the property was his own, and worth £100, he was ordered to provide a closet, and the room which had been used for the purpose was to be out away and destroyed. and the site to be Btrewed with lime, the sleeping rooms cleaned and whitewashed, and the drainage attended to, the whole to be completed within 48 hours, together with ooßta £3 16s. Mr Seddon having telegraphed to the Mayor the views of the Government regarding the obstruction to the progress of the Midland Railway, Mr Wilson, at the request of the Eailway League Committee, has sent them a reply. He says the Grey County Council omitted the construction of the Hohorin bridge without reference to the Company, as they knew they could not expect more than the £2700' agreed upon. Concerning the question as to whether the deviation round Lake Brunner was an improvement on the original route, Mr Seddon would scarcely be aware of the reports on the subject by the Government officers, as these and the information furnished by the Company proved indisputably that it was an improvement, and* though the new line W3S If. miles longer, it was cheaper for traffic and not more expensive to construct. The Company had repeatedly informed the Government that it was their intention to alter the grades between Brunnerton and. the deviation, but not to make them steeper than lin 60. This could not bo done on the old route, where the grades were lin 48. The claim of the Company to let contracts privately had nothing to do with the deviation, but was imported into the matter by the, Minister. - The Company had r a full right, under their contract, to carry on work either by public or private contract or day labor, The Eailway League will hold a public meeting on Friday night. NEW PLYMOUTH, ; May 10. A north-easterly 'gale has been blowing daring the night, and is now veering ronnd to the north and north-west. Work on board the Wanaka has had to be suspended.- bat the vessel is considered safe, although heavy 7 seas are running into the shore. BIENHEIMy ..>■■ ;" r ' '. '..■"'.■.■■ ■■'■■ , May 11. It haa been raining about 80 hours, and is ■till continuing, and the rivers are rising. 4 flood ia expected. The • Expresa ' haa news from the Mahakipiwa diggings. The creeks are flooded, and much damage is likely to be done. At about seven this morning a' married woman named Evans, the wife of a gardener was found to be missing, and a search by the neighbors resulted in her being .found in a water closet. Blood was seen issuing from under the door. The doctor was sent for and the woman was left there till ■ nearly nine o'clock. The, loos of blood was great, and the woman died ia. the hospital at 10 38. No cause ia assigned for the suicide. She leaves five young children. Her husband is absent In Wellington. ■■■•; <• ; : The heavy rains in the up-country on , Sunday brought down the' Waihopai, Wairan, and.Opawa rivers in high flood, and by about 3;p.m to-day; the back water worked into^the town, and towards evening theleading . ; thoroughfares were submerged severalinches.? vThe inundation was only a small one f rom a?local point of view, as the water did riot enter any of the shops, and only just covered the footpaths, but still the sight of? vehicles, equestrians, and' boats moving through, the' wafers was? decidedly novel,* aiid ; »*Uurge number of traveUers' and othergfVere

impressed and amused with the scene. Telegrams from Cul'ensvi'le report heavy damage to.^he.oreek,. claims, .The: Nelson ooaclvwas, sfoppearana' communication" with the counitry districts interrupted; The Wakamanna :Gorge olairn is -flooded out: : -. . ASHBUBION, ■ -■■ , / -ri; . . . ■ ■.. •.• May 11. ■ I At:the Borough Council meeting tonight, the^Mayo^Mr Hugo' Friedlander, on behalf onSrokitika Borough Council, presented Sergt Moller with an illuminated address faS the citizens ofc Hokitika. A number of the leading bitizens were present, a?id several who"knew Sergt : Moller on- the Coast, expressed highly laudatory opinions of his performance of duties and personal conduct, as well as satisfaction that so efficient an officer had' been appointed to this district. - OAMARir, . " . : May Ii; t * ■ Wiiliam Falconer, an old and much, reeettler, was killed this morning.-" He was bringing a lo&A o* wheali into town, and on coming down a hill just outside the town, the wheel of the dray cut into the embankment, Blewed the Bhaft round, and knocked Falconer down, the dray passing over his chest ana killing him inelanteously. The deceased had resided in the district 31 years, arid always took an > active part in local and general politioa and waa a member of varrona local bodiea,- : :