WELLINGTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3359, 14 January 1879, Page 3

WELLINGTON.

[special] Jan. 13. It is rumoured that Mr G. B. Barton, editor of the Jurist, is to succeed Mr Stafford as Assistant Law Officer. Captain Eraser, of the s.s. Jane Douglas, reports that tho Hydrabad was all ready for launching, but just at high water a strong westerly gale came on and compelled operations to be discontinued. The ship then was fully afloat, and in order to keep her steady and prevent her bumping, 800 tons of water had to be pumped into her. If the weather be fine, this will be pumped out and an immediate attempt made to haul her off j but at present the barometer has a decided downward tendency, and it is feared that another westerly gale is imminent. J. Tyson, the champion wrestler, passed through here to-day with his trophies. He does not intend to compete any more, having now won the belt for three years in succession. He will settle at Kopua, Hawke's Bay, where he has a sawmill. About 25 patients from the Hermionc still remain on the quarantine island, all of whom are progressing very favourably. A branch po3t-ofllce was to-day opened at To Aro. A paper by Dr Hector, read before the Philosophical Society on Saturday evening, gives a somewhat romantic, description of the discovery of a new species of tree (pomaderis), niade_ during his recent visit to Mokau. Dr ilector was much astonished on' hearing from the Natives that a peculiar tree was growing on the spot where their ancestors first camped when they abandoned the " Tainui" canoe in which they came from Hawaiki, and that the tree had sprung from the rollers or skids and the green boughs that were brought as flooring to the great canoe. On his doubting this they offered to take him to the place, and if he could not recognise the tree as being found elsewhere in ]S T ew Zealand, they would consider it as a proof that their tradition was correct. To his surprise, they took him to a clump of trees which had previously attracted his attention from its similarity "to an old apple orchard, and as it certainly was a tree quite distinct from any hitherto described from Now Zealand, the tradition receives a certain amount of credence. Dr Hector added that he need hardly point out that if it wero true, and wo could hereafter determine tho original habit of this tree, it might give us a clue to the whereabouts of the mythical hawaki, or tho place whence the Maori originally immigrated to New Zealand. Mr Kirk, F.L.8., who opened the discussion on tho paper, spoke of the discovery as being of great interest, but was inclined to boliove tho plant would prove identical with an Australian species, notwithstanding its larger size. In other parts of New Zealand tho Natives had a tradition that certain trees were the paddles of canoe poles which had been fixed in the ground on landing, and had taken root. The telegraph line is to be at once extended to Northern Wairoa. It will cross at Tokoko by a cable, which is to be sent from Wellington. The total number of delayed telegrams now reaches 1000 a week, and tho urgent telegrams 250. A labourer named Regan swallowed some concentrated solution of caustic soda from a bottle, mistaking it for beer. He was terribly burned in the mouth and throat, but is likely" to recover. —