WELLINGTON ITEMS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6833, 22 April 1890, Page 4

WELLINGTON ITEMS.

o £fbom oub special cobbespondent.] WELLINGTON, Atbil 21. ■GABPABINI. The town ib talking with great interest -about the convict Gasparini, a story of -whose escape was recently published in the *' Centennial Magazine," and has been .going the roundß of the newspapers since. The Btory has taken firm hold of the public, -and moves them more than anything has tclone for a long time. The great majority, -having a tenderness for the marvellous, ■swallow the whole thing with open month. A few want to know how it is that any man so shrewd as Gasparini should not Test satisfied with the notorious reputation •of .his Buicide by drowning at sea, but should prefer to raise the whole police force of the Continent by telling the world that he is alive. By these cynics the whole >6tory is looked upon as a very clever fabrication, concocted to give the "Centennial " & name. The author they expect to hear of one of these days as a wxiter of .sensational fiction. MOSS V. FISHEB. J l'he case of Moas v. Fisher is another cause of gossip. The public is exercised. .It wants to know why the case was com- ■ .promised, and how. THE EMILIE. A third subject of discussion is the loss of the Emilie, about which there is a -considerable amount of indignation. Men want to know how such a rotten old tub ■was allowed to go to sea at all. We are all watching for the enquiry, with a halfJormed idea that these enquiries are as a rule farcical. THE LOAN PROPOSAL. The morning paper still poundß away at its loan. It has now discovered that it is "abused" for proposing something tbat will help the development of the public resources, whereas tbe truth is that it has been iidieul«d for changing its old coat. It now hints afc a combination on the basis of Otago Central and Northern Grand Trunk, and invites the far Northerners to join in the scramble.