WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume IX, Issue 3085, 7 January 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day. In the Supreme Court this morning, James Murphy, who was last night found guilty of attempted rape on a little girl, was sentenced to three years and one whipping of 25 lashes. George Webb, for forgery, 12 months. Wm. Watson, for robbery, three years.

The supers engaged by Rignold at the Imperial » 'pera House struck last night, because the management would not give each a couple of free passes to .the theatre.

The question of free passes on railways to newspapers is still undecided, though certain newspaper proprietors bare made representations to the Government on the matter. •

In view of a visit from an English team of footballers, Wellington footballers bare resolved to telegraph to Auckland that they are prepared to guarantee two hundred pounds towards expenses.

The erection of permanent railway workshops has been commenced at Petune, a large steam lathe having already been put in working order.

The New Zealander says there is no truth ia the rumqr that the Government has experienced any difficulty in regard to the Land fax Act. The Premier is expected to arrive here in the Hinemoa to-day.

The New Zealander's article today says: "At any rate one thing it quite clear. The Legislative Council of Neve Zealand cannot be allowed to pursue the course which of late years seems to hare commended itself to them, namely, persistently and with deliberation insisting upon thwarting the development of a liberal policy, obstructing every measure which has lor its object the relief of the burdens of the people, endeavouring to create class privilege in favor of the wealthy lower orders, and by restricting the franchise preventing the practical expression ot the popular voice."

It is stated that several members of the late New Guinea expedition have decided to make another attempt to open up a trade with there, '.they purpose taking a botanist and geologist and making a twelve months' stay in the country, taking up their residence amongst the natives. Monday.

A gazette to-day publishes the names of one hundred and sixty-six persons appointed valuers under the Land Tax Act-

In the Supreme Court, Kate Dawes was charged for attempted suicide. The point is to be left to a petty jury to say whether anyone attempting to commit suicide is insane or not. In the case of iodecent atsault against James Murphy, the Grand, Jury said they considered the evidence submitted justified a charge'of rape being made. The Judge ordered a faecond indictment to be preferred, but allowing the first one to remain, saying if the prisoner were indicted on the major charge oniy he could not ba found guilty on the miuor, nor could the two offence* be contained in the one indictment. Wmt 'Watson, alias Button, pleaded guilty to stealing a watch iroma dwelling house. ■ ' It is intended to relay the greater portion of the rails between Christchurch aud Dunedin with 521b steel rails, equal to 641b iron. The change is considered ijnecessary in consequence of the wear and bar caused by the heavy traffic. The work begins today.

In the Supreme Court, William Watson, alias Sutton, for stealing a watch, was found guilty and sentence deferred. Sarah Hannah Jacobs, a married woman, pleaded guilty to attempted suicide. As the offence arose out of her drinking habits she was liberated on a promise of amend* ment in the future. The trial of Kate Dawes, another married woman, for a similar offence,,was postponed till Wednesday next. George Webb alias George Smith, for forgery of a cheque, was found guilty, but recommended to mercy. Sentenc - was deferred till to-morrow.

James Murphy, who was charged with rape on a little girl at Greytown, was,

after a good deal of consideration by the jury, found guilty of attempted rape, and remanded till to morrow, when sentence will be pronounced.

W. T. L. Travers was driving over the Ngahauranga bridge on Saturday afternoon in a buggy, containing himselt, wife, and two ladies, when one of the buggy's wheels collided with a cart-horse, and his horse bolted. After going about 200 yards it capsized the trap, and all the occupants were more or less injured. It is saia Mr Travers intends to take proceedings against the driver of the cart.

A juryman was excused at the Supreme Court to-day on the ground that he was bail for one of the persons against whom a true bill was found. His Honor said he did not think it was a valid objection, but he thought, perhaps, under the circumstances, the juryman had better not serve. Mr Pascoe, the brewer, was fined ten pounds for refusing to serve as a juryman when summoned.

In a civil case, for the recovery of wages in the R.M. Court to-day, expenses were allowed the plaintiffs as they had been detained in town three weeks.

At an inquest held on the body of Mcllwain, the tailor, who was committed for tnalon a charge of arson, Dr. Kesteven said the deceased died of a broken heart, partly through fretting over his troubles, and partly through drink. All the organs were healthy, but the left ventricle of the heart was ruptured. The following gentlemen are gazetted to-day valuers under the Land Tax Act: —Charles Kempthorne. Roskruge, Parnell, Eden ; Patrick Donovan, Onehunga, Eden ; Edward William Morrison, Newton, Eden ; Thomas Cheesemnn, Auckland, Eden; Robert Robertshaw, Auckland, Eden; William Dennison, Newmarket, Eden; John Gordon; Otahuhu, Manukau; William Moore, Wairoa South, Manukau; George Calvert, Pokeno, Manukaj; John Thomas Melsop, Manukau, Manukau; Thomas Cheeseman, Auckland, Manukau; George Bland ford, Auckland, Waitemata; Andrew Bonar, Katikapakapa, Waitemata; Rich. James Felt us, Auckland, Waitemata; Thomas Seaman, The Lake, Waitemata; He- ry Clark, Onehunga, Waitemata; Will'am Henry Bates, Ho-, kianya, Hokianga; James Hamlin Greenway, Russell, Bay of Islands; James S. Cle; don, Helensvillve Hobson ; Samuel Bright, Cambridge, Waikato; Thaddeus Vicars Fitzpatrick, Ngaruawahia, Waipa ; James Mansfield Gelling, Hamilton, Waipa ; James Latrobe, Raglan, liaglan; William Steele, Hamilton, Piako; Alfred Robert Hale Swindley, Coromandel, Coromandel; Edward Dean, Mercury Bay, Coromandel ; John Piper Richardson, Whangarei, Whangarei; Murdoch McLeod, Whangarei, Whangarei; P. H. Holmes Hall, Whangarei; Loftus Richards, Opotiki, Whakatane; Joseph Gallagher, Taupo, Taupo East and West; Henry Vernon, Grahamstown, Thames; Hugh Mcllhone, Grabamstown, Thames; Samuel Cochrane Macky, Grahamstown, Thames; William Henry Clarke, Mongonui, Mongonui; William Lane, Whangaroa, Mongonui; Andrew Bonar, Kaukapakapa, Kodney ; George Moore, Rodney; John Shepherd, * Albertland, Rodney; Thomas Tanks, Tauranga, Taupu ; James Bodell. Tauranga, Tauranga; John Harris McCaw, Tauranga, Tauranga; John William Ellis, Kawhia ; John Springall, Port Fitzroy; Sergeant Henry, Mataura, AHckland; Robert Carey, Waiheke; Matthew Angove, Mahurangi, Kawau.