WELLINGTON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 3466, 21 May 1879, Page 2

WELLINGTON.

[special.] May 20. Tlio Court of Appeal roserved judgmont in the case of Proudfoot v. the Otago Harbour Board. The case Henderson v. Napier Harbour Board is partly heard. The charge of alleged perjury against Mr Kinross, of Napier, was set down for hearing at tho Resident Magistrate's Court to-day. Mr Reos appeared for tho prosecution, and Messrs W. T. L. Travers and Martin Chapman for the dofendant. Mr Mansford said that the case had been brought into tho Court without his being consulted in any way. Ho would not thereforo allow it to take precedence of any of tho- ordinary businoss of tho Oourt. Tho first day that he would be entiroly disengaged would bo June 10. The caso had stood over sinco 1871, and tlio delay of a fow wooks could not bo of much consoquonce. MiBees said he had come himself and brought a large number of witnesses from Napier, and it would be very expensive and inconvenient if the caso were put off till Juno 10. His Worship replied that ho would get two Justices of the Peaco to take tho ordinary business on Tuesday next, and would take tho Kinross caso on that day, commencing at 9 o'clock in tho morning. This was agreed to. Letters have been received from Mr G. E. Barton, M.H.8., who is at present in America. ! Ho iB expected to return to Wellington about July 7 next. Tho s.s. Patea sailed at noon to-day fjr Patea, and when she had reached Jerningham Point a passenger named Lett was seized with a fit, which appearing very dangerous, the steamer returned, and tho man was landed under charge of a doctor. Mr Geo. Darroll recoived quito an ovation last night, on tho production of his sensational drama, " Back from the Grave" There was a crowded house. At tho conclusion of the fiece the audionce roso and cheered Darrell. t was a genuino success. Owing to the departure of the mail on Saturday it will not be observed as a postoffice holiday at Timaru, Ohristchurch, Wellington, (Taranaki, or Napier, but Monday will he observed as a close holiday at theso offices. The assault case, Anderson v. Easby, was ad j ourned for a fortnight. I A Boyal Commission has been appointed, consisting of Commander Hewitt, 8.N., Capt. Bose, N.Z.S. Co., and Capt. Cross of Nelson, to make a thorough investigation into tlie circumstances under which the Taupj was wrecked off Tauranga. They leave for Tauranga by the Wanaka. All the allegations ; which have boen mado relative to the neglect on the part of the harbour-master at Tauranga the Marino Department at Wellington, both in regard to tho shifting and nonreplacement of one of the Tauranga channel buoys, will be carefully sifted. A Government surveyor is now engaged in making an exact plan of locality, showing tho position of the steamer, buoys, etc., so that tho Commissioners may have all particulars-' before them. The boy Holt reported missing yesterday has turned up all fight. The charge of arson against Mrs Philips of ; Kaiwarra was partly heard to-day. Ihe pro-

secution case is that Mrs Philips yrho ym supposed to be atthe Hutt when the fire took place, came back to Kaiwarra by the midnight train, arriving about twenty minutes before the fire broke out. It is further alleged that the "motive" lay in the faot that the building was mortgaged, and that six months' instalments were due, and that the mortgagees threatened that if the instalments were not paid by a given date, the property would be sold. The following tenders were received for tha * Wingatui contract (formation only) of the Otago Central Railway :- Accepted-Daniel M'Kenzie, Dunedin, £48,839. Declined— Froudfoot and M'Kay, Dunedin, £49,680 1 W. Bell, Dunedin, £55,900 $ J. M. Watson and Co , Dunedin, £59,893. [spboial to thb stab.] May 19. It is stated that J. Grey and W. A. Perkin* son, Select Committco reporters, have been appointed LHLansard reporters, vice Grombie and Downe, resigned. The mayoralty campaign opened last night, when Mr Hunter addressed a large meeting. He was well received. During the performance of "Back from the Grave" last night the flooring of a set soene representing the upper Btory of a house, on which Miss Navaro was lying, gave way, and she fell to the stage bonoath, a distance of 10 feet. Beyond a few bruises, and a severe shaking, she was not hurt, and speedily con« tinued her part amidst great applause from the audience.