WELLINGTON.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3201, 23 May 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

This day.

The Colonial architect has just completed the drawings and plans of the new Post and Telegraph offices to be erected at Wellington. Both will be in one building at the corner of Grey street arid Custom House quay —the present site. It will be three stories high, of brick, stuccoed front, concrete foundation and slate roof. The building will be surmounted by a handsome tower with an illuminated clock at such an elevation that the figures may be seen, day or night, for a distance of two miles, and furnished with a bell of sufficient power to be heard a distance of five miles.: Tenders for the whole work will be called in the course of a fortnight. The frontages will be 172' feet by 174 feet. There is a great stagnation in all departments of trade and a feeling of uncertainty in all business circles such as has not been known for very many years.

In chambers this morning, Mr Gordon Allan on behalf of Gleich, the bankrupt defaulter, applied for a rule nisi calling upon the gaoler to show cause why the writ of Habeas Corpus should not issue. The application was granted, and a writ made returnable oi» Wednesday. Monday next will be declared a municipal holiday

Thursday. All the wholesale and most of the retail house have agreed to close their premises on Monday next. , A second crop of strawberries is being grown at the Hutt, . and are of good quality, considering the season. In a case where a seaman sued Captain Fisk for damages for wrongful dismissal and a month's wages, the magistrate reviewed the facts of the case as follows :— He said the men had been working all day, and at night, after they had turned in, the ship being at anchor, the captain ordered them to do work which might well have been put off till the next day, and on being asked whether it was necessary at that time of night, they were told, " That, or the boulder bank." The men' returned to the forecastle without any more remark on either side, and the captain and mate did what had been ordered themselves. Next day the men's food was stopped, and thereafter they were turned adrift without food or money, although one month's wages were then due. The magistrate ruled that the dofendant had no right to take the law in his own hands. His proper course would have been to bring tho men to Wellington, and then have laid an information against them for refusing * duty. His conduct was arbitrary and harsh, and judgment would be given on behalf of the sailors for £6 damages, and the amount claimed with coats.

Some doubt being expressed as to whether the Governor would visit Auckland before the session, the Premier telegraphed that thero would bo great disappointment if he did not. It is: therefore probable Sir Hercules and Lady Robinson will make a hasty visit about the middle of June, for about ten

days. Owing to the shortness of the stay no furniture will be taken up, and Government House will not be taken up, and^ other provisions will be made for their accomodation.

The report of the Bay of Islands Roll Stuffing Commission has been received. It is very general in its censure. It says roll stuffing had been undoubtedly carried on with .Maori votes, but the previous party were equally guilty of it. They considered the conduct of the Returning Officer justified, but says the same was inopportune. The report speaks disparagingly of the action taken by the successor appointed by Government. The whole tenour of the report is that improper practices had been in vogue with the Bay Electoral Eoll for a long time by Mr Williams' party and Mr Lundon's party. It is understood that the day upon which the land tax lists, will; be deposited for inspection "throughout the Colony is the 29th of May next, and that objections will be received up to the 16th of June following.