WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3162, 7 April 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day. The Commissioners on Higher Education left per Arawata yesterday. After a short stay in Christchurch they will visit Dunedin. A private letter from a settler in the

Waimate Plains district, and one who look a most active part in the late Native war states : " Native affairs look very ugly. It will be q, very difficult matter now to maintain our position without fighting, which means ruin to most of us. No steps involving fighting should be taken without Parliament being first called together.' 1

Referring to .Duncan's failure, the Times says : " We have reason to believe that more will be heard of this insolvency."

The Bright series of Free-thought lectures have been largely attended.

The New Zealander, in reviewing the state of 'commercial matters here at present, says it is possible there may be one or two smaller stoppages during the incoming week. The same journal also says that, although the Government have withdrawn for the present the portion of iho Waimate plains which were announced for sale on 6th May, the sale will take place, however, at no distant period. It says that action was taken because it has been found that the surveys will not be completed by the date originally fixed.

The Hinemoa has left for Opunake with another reinforcement of Armed Constabulary. She has also took a quantity of stores and timber to erect barracks there.

There were 87 applicants for the three vacant masterships in Wellington.

The .Criminal Sessions of the Supreme Court opened this morning. There ara fourteen cases, involving seventeen persons, but the cases are not of a serious character. This is the largest calender but one which has been here for years. There was nothing in the Judge's charge of general interest, save his remark that there seemed to be a decrease in crime of a violent character, especially assaults upon females:

Sunday, There seems little doubt of the peaceful settlement of the Waimate business. The Government will deal liberally in regard to reserves, and this is all Te Whiti is aiming at. Saturday. Letters by the last mail, it is said, convey instructions to the managers of colonial branch banks, whose head quarteis ar# in London, that colonial securities are now considered much sounder than they were some few months ago. So the London directorates consider they have been too hasty in so suddenly withdrawing accommodation, in too much pressure, and in putting on the screw.

Au elderly man, named George Moulds, while walking along the'wharf today, was struck on the leer by a plank which the wind had blown off the top of a pile of boards. The result was a complete fracture of the leg. ;

It is reported that a Wellington storekeeper, a comparatively new arrival, has entered an action against one of the Australian banks carrying on business in Wellington, for £10,000 damages for dishonouring certain letters of credit.

The result of an enquiry into the case of Charles England, a settler at the Upper Hutt, is, that he has been insane for 18 months. It is said that steps will be taken to set aside a will he made a short time ago settling all his properly on one of Jiis sons.

The Customs revenue for the week is £4080.

The Eev. James Chambers of New Guinea, will to morrow night give an account of his mission work there.

The Governors of the Wellington College have appointed the following masters: Mr Francis, of Geelong College, to be second master; Mr J. Gammell, mathematical master; and Mr Merletj teacher of modern languages. The names of candidates sent up by a committee, from which selection was made, were: for secocd mastership, Messrs Francis and Grarnmell; mathematical mastership, Messrs Gammell, Hardy and Frankland. The Governor, with Lady Robinson, Miss Eobinson, and suite, the Hon. Col. Whitmore, and a party of friends, made a .trip by rail to-day to Featherston and back. The par!;y travelled by a special train of two carriages.

Among the settlers brought from Jackson's Bay were a number of Italians and other foreigners, who are now at the Immigration Barracks, and very badly off for want of clothes. Contributions of cost of clothing is solicited for them. Several deaths are reported in which the sickness was communicated through kissing the lips of those who died from fever and diphtheria. Afc a meeting of Mr Duncan's (auctioneer) creditors to-day it was disclosed that the liabilities amounted to £20,CD0 and the assets to £14,033. The assets are secured to several creditors, while for the other creditors nothing is available. v Mr Duncan has made a final assignment of the estate.