LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XIX, Issue 2177, 9 March 1865, Page 3

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Supreme Court.— -Civil Sittings.— These sittings were held yesterday before His Honor Mr Justice Johnston. The only case on the list for trial was that of Haslem v. Plimmer, being an action for illegal arrest, in which the damages were laid at the sum of one thousand pounds sterling. The two parties to the action had formerly been partners in a steam saw-mill at the Upper Hutt — Mr Haslem managing the works and paying the men, while Mr Plimmer transacted business in town. In June last, Mr Haslem sent the pay-sheet to Mr Plimmer with a request that he would send the money to a Mr Wilkie who would pay the mon, as he himself was going on a journey to Manawatu. In this sheet *n item occurred — " 23 days at 10s per day, ll los, for William Lawrence." Mr Plimmer discovered that only £10 had .paid to this man, and had Haslem arrested on his return, conveyed into town , in custody, and brought before a Magistrate on a charge of embezzlement. Ultimately the case was dismissed, and the plaintiff brought the present action. After the examination of some witnesses the Judge left the case in the hands of the Jury, who found a verdict for the plaintiff, with damages, £50, Agricultural and Horticultural Show. — By an advertisement in to-day's paper it will be seen that the next Agricultural and Horticultural Show will be held on Wednesi day, the 29th inst. English Mail. — The Lord Ashley leaves with the English mail to-day. The supplementary mail will leave on Tuesday the 1 4th inst. Our usual monthly summary will be published on Saturday. Flirtation at the Hall. — We listened last night with much pleasure to the exquisite lecture on " Flirtation," given by Mrs Charles Fanshawe Evereste, at the Oddfellows' Hall, to a select and numerous audience, comprising many youug ladies, who had been particularly invited to attend. The talented lady was extremely successful in her treatment ofthe subject, and delighted her audience throughout. We must, however, defer an extended notice of the lecture till Saturday. Mrs Evereste will lecture at the Lower Hutt to-morrow, and at the Upper Hutt on Saturday and Monday. i Captain Wheeler.-— We are glad to learn that Captain Wheeler, of the Phoebe, i will proceed shortly to England, for the purpose of bringing out the first Panama boat. 1 Mr Scott, chief officer ofthe 8.8. Phoebe will succeed Captain Wheeler iv the command.

'"' " '' ■'" " llLL.L.i.imir>ijii l ijiiiiiiui__ ie Fatal Accident. — Two Children ig Deowned.— On Thursday afternoon, the2nd inst., amelancholy accident occurred in crosasd we* the Ruamahunga river, at Waihinga, y Wairarapa, by which two children belonging ■- to Mr W. Mitchell, shepherd to Mr », McMasters, were unfortunately drowned, a From the information we have received, it appears that Mrs Mitchell and two children, s accompanied by a female named Anderson, , servant to Mr McMasters, were proceeding - in a cart to Greytown. When crossing the Ruamahunga at Waihinga, the river being , much swollen at the time by a freshet, and - too high to cross, the water came over the t body ofthe cart and washed them all into . the river except the driver, Mr John i McMasters, who leaped on shore, the bank • being very steep at the spot. Mr McMasters 1 1 succeeded in rescuing the two females, but the two children were carried down the river and drowned. One of the bodies was picked _ p & or % afterwards, the other was found by Mr Field, the Ferryman, on Saturday morning, under a snag, within fifteen yards of the spot where the accident occerrud. The cart crossed at the old ford, which is about half a mile from the Government Jerry. The driver was unaccustomed to cross the river, and did not think it necessary to go to the Ferry-house. An inquest was held on the bodies, on the 4th inst,, at Jones' Grey Town Hotel, before Dr Spratt, coroner, and a respectable jury, and after a patient investigation, a verdict of " Accidental Death " was recorded.