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Wellington Independent, Volume XVIII, Issue 1965, 3 October 1863, Page 3

Scandal in High Life. — The case of" The Countess Delia Seta v. Lord Vernon" is now before the public. An injured woman appealing for justice against a heartless seducer who leaves her to support herself and her offspring as best she may must always be an object of sympathy, and the more so if the accused party be a wealthy nobleman. Such was the picture which had been painted by some over zealous friend of the countess. In the year 1842 Lord Vernon formed a connection with an Italian lady, Mademoiselle Lavoignat, by whom be had four daughters, and with whom he appears to have lived for 10 years In 1852 this connection was broken off upon terms which certainly cannot be considered unfavorable to the interests of the lady. By a deed dated the 30th of August in that year Lord Vernon covenanted to pay an aunuity of £1000 for her separate use during her life and his own, and an annuity of £200 to each of the daughters after her death. In ease any of them should marry, or attain the age of 21 without marrying, £100 a year out of the £1000 was to be paid to them respectively during his lordship's Jiie. He furthei covenanted to leave £20,000 in all for the benefit of the mother during her life, and after her death, to be divided among the daughters. These provisions were clearly expressed to be made upon condition that the mother should maiutaia and educate the young ladies during their minority to the satisfaction of the trustees, who were empowered to make any. deduction from the allowance which they might think fit for this purpose, if that condition should be broken. So far, then, whatever might be thought I of the morality of such an alliance, there wag nothing unhandsome in the way of terminating it. Ajuiotute of £1,000 a year is no despicable pension for the widow of an English gentleman, and in Italy such a sura represents something more than humble competence. We need not follow the history of the present Countess Delia Seta, further than to say that in the following year she married the count, from whom she appears to have been afterwards separated, still retaining the custody of the three survivors of Lord Veroon's four children. Some months ago he heard that " they were not happy with their mother," and had left her house at Cairo. Thereupon he instituted proceedings in Chancery, with a view of making them wards of the court and obtaining a scheme for their education. Fending this, some part of the monthly instalments hitherto paid regularly for the joint benefit of the countess and the daughters was withheld during two months, without the slightest apparent intention to violate the spirit of the settlement, and only until the court should designate the proper recipient of it. Meanwhile an order was made for the appropriation of £400 annually to the support of the three sisters. It is this order which the countess has sought to get modified, at the same time claiming access to her daughters, one of whom has been seriously ill. The Vice-Chancel lor gave a finding on the entire case on the 14th of July. He decided that the children of the countess shall remain under the care of their present trustees, and. that she should be paid, as last arranged, £400 a year instead of £700 for (or which she prayed. ! It was incidentally stated by Mr Mallins that when Lord Vernon sedueed her he was a married man, and that be effected her degradation under a promise of marriage. . . t ,

The New Zealand Chiefs at Home.~ At the recent audience given to the New Zealand chiefs at Osborne, the Queen was informed that the wife of Pomare was in an "interesting condition." Her Majesty expressed hersslf pleased at the prospect of the birth of a New Zealand child of distinction in the conntry, a*d requested to be informed when the event was near, and she would see that proper. attention should be paid to the lady on the, occasion; and further, should the child prove to be a female, her Majesty would be pleased to hare it named Victoria, or, if a male, Albert, and the Queen also signified her wish to stand "god* mother to the British-born Nevy, ZealanderV The distinguished natives felt > themselves overwhelmed with favours; and fairly cried With joy. ~ s-^M *-„&*.