TOWN NEWS OF THE WEEK.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume I, Issue 12, 23 March 1867, Page 3

TOWN NEWS OF THE WEEK.

The first and most important item of intelligence received from Wellington this week has reference to a cock and bull story about a gaol conspiracy and to the official enquiry resulting therefrom. It appears that a prisoner named Riley contemplated escaping from gaol, and for that purpose succeeded in getting a piece of steel out of a lady’s corset and a phial of aquafortes into the prison for the purpose, as he alleged, of cutting away his irons. He told his project to one Hibertfield who pretended to join in it, and also to two other prisoners, Young and Angell, the former of whom appears to have taken active steps to aid Riley in his attempt, but there was no reliable evidence to convict Angell, except that he was accidently with Riley when the latter got possession of the phial of aquafortes. It is clear to us that the aquafortes was procured for the purpose alleged by Riley, as if poisoning was intended some other drug would have been procured. The Visiting Justices heard the charge, and they sentence Riley to forty lashes, to fourteen days solitary confinement to he locked up forty-eight hours in a dark cell, and to be kept in irons. They sentence Young to the same punishment, less the lashes; and Angell, who at most only took a passive part in the affair, to he .kept in irons.* We gather that the sentence of the lashes is deemed very severe by certain good and amiable people in Wellington ; but the whole sentence in our opinion is wholly disproportionate to the offence, and both the enquiry and the sentence would—were it not for the important circumstance that these men had by by their crimes and the verdict of their peers forfited their civil rights—remind one forcibly of the dark ages. Yet we are quite sure that no more humane men than Messrs Taylor and Pearce do not live, while we are equally certain that no better men could be found to be the Visiting Justices of a prison* The lash and the gallows are both less cruel, by being less lingering punishments, than some of those which modern humanity and ingenuity have substituted in their stead.

Mr. Walker’s Compensation won the Manawatu Stakes and the Ladies’ Purse at the late races at Manawatu, and will probably be entered at the forthcoming Hutt Races. The races at Napier have been a great success. From the following report of her Captain the s.s. Taranaki was nearly lost. When off Terawiti the Taranaki met with a heavy sea and Captain Francis reports that, during his experience on the New Zealand coast, he never met with such a rip-current in that locality. After passing the Cape fell in with ‘a heavy south-easterly gab: with terrific sea. The Captain deemed it advisable, for the safety of the ship, to stand off until daylight. Shortly after daylight he steered his course for Port Nicholson. When entering the Heads a heavy sea pooped the ship, carrying away the greater portion of the wheel and smashing the after skylight, and pouring into

the saloon till the water stood two feet deep in it. The ship for a short time was in imminent danger; but by the exertions of Captain Francis, ably seconded by the crew, the helm was soon brought under control again. Four men were then ordered to man the remaining portion of the wheel, and after considerable difficulty she was brought to her anchorage off the Queen’s Wharf. We find the following "town news” for Wairarapa settlers in the report of the proceedings of the Wellington Town Board from which it will be seen that the Provincial Treasury has funds, and that the Provincial Executive know how to dispose of them. Mr. Dransfield. a member of the Executive and Chairman of the Town Board, reported that he had that day received the sum of £350 from the Government as a loan to be applied towards making the culvert in Lambton Quay, and to be repaid out of the rates for the ensuing year. He had also applied for the sum of £l2O voted by the ■Provincial Council to be applied to forming the road from Constable-street to Evans’ Bay, and had received a cheque for it.

The Provincial Council is to meet on the 27th April.

We learn from Auckland that the new candidate for the superiutcadency of that Province will probably be Mr. John Williamson formerly Superintendent.

We learn from Wanganui of tire death of Mr. Handley formerly a member of the Provincial Council. We also learn that Mr. Hutchison of the “ Chronicle ” will probably be the successful candidate for the vacant seat in the House of Representatives. A requisition to Mr. li. S. Harrison is in course of signature requesting him to allow himself to be nominated for the vacant seat. The Hutt and Taita Rifle Volunteers have proved themselves good riflemen. Mr.W. A. Grace of Capt. Mills’ company, scored 42, and there were six more who scored from 30 to 40. Mr. W. Hooper, of Capt. Whitewood’s company, scored 41, and there were four more who scored from 30 to 37.

The following remarks relative to the patent slip dispute are from the “Southern Cross” which in point of age and circulation is the leading journal of the colony. “ The question is whether the Wellington Government be permitted to take advantage of its own omission to cheat the contractors. This is a question, it will be seen at a glance, which affects the public credit of the colony, because it is not the act of an individual, but of the Government of a Province, and that Province for the time being the seat of Government of the colony.” The “Cross” concludes a long article thus; —We protest against the public credit of New Zealand being imperilled by the dishonest quibbles of any pettyfogging attorney who may chance to find himself elevated to a seat in a Provincial or Colonial Executive.” With reference to this subject the “ Wanganui Times ” observes. Admitting to the fullest extent the respectability of the firm of Messrs. Kennard Brothers still it is obviously evident that they assume a most unwarrantable amount of influence over the capitalists of Great Britain when they threaten to shake the credit not only of New Zealand, but also of “the whole Australian colonies,” because of a transaction which in a business point of view, reflects but little credit upon either themselves or the Wellington Provincial Government.

We learn that Captain Holt lias succeeded in leasing in the Taupn Country a run of 40,000 acres of capital land from the natives and we have no doubt his success will induce others to follow in his footstcns. The following entries have been made for the Hurt Races which will be held next week, —Hutt Park Stakes—Volunteer and Rowdy, W. L. Dorset; Willow Holme, W. Hannah; Scotchman, J. Smith; Rangitoto, W. Welch. Ladies’ Purse—Native, J. Day; Volunteer and Old Kit, W. L. Dorset; Heather Bell, C. Fawns ; Mr. Pott’s Blank, from Wanganui. Licensed Victualler’s Cup—Willow Holme, W. Hannah; Policy, J. Day;Rangitoto, W. Welch Robin Hood, J. Fuller; Heather Bell, C. Fawns. Hurdle Race—Native, J. Day; Volunteer and Old Kit, W. L. Dorset; Trooper, W. Welch. Jockey Club Plate— Saunterer, “Welch; Willow Holme, W. Hannah; Old Kit, W. L. Dorset; Robin Hood, J. Puller; Brown Duchess, Brown and Ross; Balrowne, C. Fawns. Wellington Cup —Willow Holme, W. Hannah; Policy, J. Day; Scotchman, J. Smith; Balrownie, C. Fawns.

A sad accident has falcon place at Auckland. A young man named Thomas Ashman left his home in order to practise rifle tiring at the butts, and never returned alive. When his lehgthened absence was discovered a search was instituted and the unfortunate young man was found near the 600 yards range with the top of his head blown completely off. A murderous assault was recently committed at Hokitika by a man named named Vincent on a young lady of the name of Keelen, which it was first thought would he attended with fatal consequences. She avers that after locking the door “V incent advanced knife in hand, and threatened to kill her if she screamed. She naturally alarmed at his menacing attitude, uttered a loud exclamation, upon which he stabbed her in the breast, and then she closed with him in self-defence. Of what afterwards occurred she has but faint recollection, but from the fact of the narrow passage being covered with blood, it is inferred that one or more of the wounds were inflicted there.

The “ levelling Post ”in order to show his Auckland contemporaries that tropical fruits can grow here says:—“ We can inform them that we have seen in Mr. Peter Laing’s establishment in this town, a quantity "of splendid plantains, grown in the valley of the Wairarapa. It has been suggested that both of the Wellington tri-weekly papers should he purchased by the Advertiser Company in order to secure for the Seat of Government one daily paper in their stead. A brewery is now among the local industries of Napier, and the local journals say that two others will be shortly established.