WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3056, 30 November 1878, Page 4

WELLINGTON.

f ' Friday. The following educational statistics are published in the Gazette:—Average attendance of scholars in schools of the following Educational Districts for quarter ended September 30th last:—Auckland, 8689; Hawke's Bay, 1580; Taranaki, 670; Wanganui, 1874; Wellington, 3245 ; Marlborough, 751; Nelson, 2709; Westland, 2064; Canterbury North, 9581; Canterbury South, 1775; Otago, 12,166; Southland, 2383; total, 47,864. The total,attendance for the June quarter was 4£,6Q6, £ Number of teachers?;in all i —"Canterbury ', 392, with. 127 schools; Auckland, 362 teachers, 192 ischools; , Otago, 312 teachers, 133 schools; Nelson, 79 teachers, 60 schools ;i Wellington, 103 teachers, 36 schools; Hawke's Bay, 53 teachers, f3l schools ;i Taranaki, 29 tea- ! ehers, 25 schools; Wanganui, 67 teachers; 42 schools ; Marlborough, 25 teachers, 15 I schools; Westland, 77 teachers, 35 schools; Southland, 66 teachers, 45 schools.

A vacancy for the seat for Gladstone is gazetted. Mr Batkin has been appointed Assistant Controller and Auditor.;; ,■ ■ :; The case of Wood; fora breach of the Lunatic Act, occupied the R.M. Court all day." The defendant was merely charged with detaining his sister three months, contrary to the 50th section of the Lunacy Act. Several respectable settlers gave evidence as to having an intimate acquaintance with the family > and all testified to the uniform good treatment the lunatic girl received. Sir Win. Fitzherbert also testified to knowing the girl for the last twenty years. He did hot consider her a lunatic, but thought if taken from home associations and placed in a Lunatic Asylum it would have made her a confirmed lunatic. The evidence of Dr Driver showed that when the patient was examined-no marks of violence were traceable. Mr Stafford, Assistant Law Officer of the Crown, said the, main object of the Government in prosecuting was to give as much publicity to the 50th section of'the J Act under which the proceedings were taken as possible, to let the people know that lunatics must not be detained beyond a certain time in private houses. Defendant was dischargd, the Government thinking 'that the publicity" given to the matter would satisfy theends of justice.

On account of the suspicious circumstances attending a fire recently in a small dwelling in Ingestre street an inquest was held this evening. The evidence given pointed strongly to incendiarism, and a verdict (was returned, that the place was wilfully* set on fire by some person or persons unknown, and a rider was added that the police should take steps in the matter. The owner is a person named McElwain, who, it is said, will be arrested. The insurance on the building, was only £150, but on the block owned by him there was £850. ••• '■' ' - -' \ '■ ';

The Post says the Government only intend selling 15,000 acres of the Waimate Plains during the present financial year. It is estimated to produce £8 per aore.

The Government have ordered the release of Whitlo'ck, recently sent to prison for twelve months in default of paying a fine of £100 imposed in connection with an illicit still prosecution in Wanganui. The inquiry satisfied the Government that Whitlock was merely a servant to others, arid knew little, if anything, about the illicit distillation. ■

One hundred thousand pcrands worth of Thorndon reclamation property will shortly be sold by the Government. The land fund for October ia said' to amount toiover one: hundred and ninety thousand, the largest ever known in alike period. 'Canterbury and Southland contributed nearly all. ' The November receiptß are" small. Six hundred thousand was received, up to the 30th of October, more than in any corresponding period in previous years. Mr Barton denies that he iritends to resign his seat, and is awaiting a reply frbmi the' Government regarding his application for an inquiry re the Judges.