WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3129, 27 February 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day. Mr Mansford, K.M., gave judgment to-day in the football accident case, Bell v. Campbell. His Worship said that had it not appeared from the evidence thai the defendant was, when the accident occurred/closely pursued, he would have given judgment for, the plaintiff; but the defendant being closely pursued had his mind so intently fixed on the ball that he saw little else, and therefore the Bench considered he was playing a lawful game in a lawful place, and in the manner in which such game is usually played. His Worship further held that there was contributing negligence on the part of the plaintiff. The boy was evidently fond of the game, and had often watched it with other boys; but was old enough to know he had placed himself in a position of danger, therefore judg. mentmust be given for defendant with costs. His Worship remarked that although cricket and football had been played for centuries he was unabla to find any reported case analogous to this. Good sense and charitable feelings have generally indicated a way of compensation without a recourse to law.

Wednesday. Arrangements in connection with the .Rifle Association meeting are progressing favorably. Several representatives have arrived, whilst most of those from the North will arrive on Thursday night, and from the South on Saturday morning. An influential Reception Committee has been formed. The town corps were to have been paraded to receive the visitors, but owing to the inconvenient hours the steamers all arrive the idea has been abandoned.

Arrived: The Esielle, barque, 122 days from Glasgow. No passengers, but a full cargo. The Aberdeen, from New York, 156 days out. Captain Talford says the voyage was prolonged by storms and calms. For a period of forty days he only made ten hundred miles. On the 7th October, after having experienced two heavy cyclones, fell in with the brig Ada Fulton, Captain Veil, from Halifax to Cuba, with a cargo of coal, which vessel was in a snking condition. Took off the captain and nine men, and transferred half of them to the British brig Laladero, of Prince Edward's Island, bound to Pernambuco. The other half were transferred to the bark Malcolm, bound to Barbadoes. She brings a full cargo, and is consigned to Messrs Bannatyne aLd Co.

G. E. Barton, solicitor, announces his intention to support the petition against Chiuese immigration.

The Chronicle to-night rays there is an undoubted split in the Cabinet reLuckie's appointment to the office of Commissioner

of Annuities which threatens the withdrawal from the Ministry of Messrs Stout and Ballance, and possibly Mr Macandrew, should Sir George Grey maintain his present attitude of opposition to the said appointment. The Chronicle deprecates this course of action, and Bays : ''We do not care a straw whether Mr Luckie does not get the billet, but we do for the really important question, shall the country be governed by a constitutional Ministry or by the despotic will of Sir G. Grey P" Six guns for harbor defences, three of seven tons and three 64 pounders, may be expected per Lollarine, now due, together with the materials for a drill-shed. They will be placed in charge of the Wellington Artillery. It is found that for the Wellington country districts the cost of valuation under the Land Tax Act will actually exceed the receipts. Acting-Governor Prendergast has forwarded a subscription of £15 for himself and Mrs Predergast towards the relief of the sufferers from the Kaitangata disaster, with an expression of the deepest sympathy.