LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3143, 9 March 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

The Supkrintendency. — We are informed on very good authority that tho Hon. Mr Fitzherberb has acceded to the requisition asking him to stand for the Suporintendency of the province. Supreme Covet. — Tho two romaining cases of an exceedingly light calendar were brought to a conclusion yesterday, the case of John Anderson, charged with fraudulent insolvency, occupying the major portion of the time. As characterised by his Honor Mr Justice Johnston, it was the most impudent case of fraud ever brought before tho Court. The prisoner was found guilty and sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment with hard labor. We refer our readers for the particulars of the case to our report of the trial. The other case, that of the man Eochez, charged with bartering a gun for a horae to a Maori, occupied bub a short time, there being only two witnesses examined, and although the case was as clear as direct evidence could make it, the jury returned a verdict of <c not guilty," and the prisoner was discharged. Mr Allan asked tho principal witness, Tupera how he came into possession of tho horse himself, and it was a long time before the gay Lothario could be brought to confess that it had been presented to him on the occasion of his presenting his bride at tho Hymenial shrine. Through a great deal of unnecessary delay five short cases have ocoupied three long days and only two convictions have been obtained. It must bo observed that the persons acquitted owe a great deal in the matter of gratitude to tho forensic ability of Mr Allan, who has marked three acquittals out of five cases- The Court was adjourned till Monday next for the hearing of civil cases, common jurors. Pbovinciai, CouNOrfc.— The Council met again yesterday at 5 p.m., and showed an increased attendance of members, as sayeral country representatives — Messrs Hutchison, Morgan, Milne, and Andrew — took their seats for the first time this session. Tho business on the order paper was soon got through, the sitting only occupying an hour, as the orders of the day were atill further postponed. The Council meets at seven this evening. Waibabapa Races.— -We understand fchafc tho Wairarapa races have been postponed for a week. , Oub Koads.— We learn that the Wairarapa road between Feathersbon aud tho Pakuratahi is very much damaged, so much so indeed that ib took " Ike," who packed the Wairarapa mail into town, eight hours to reach the Pdkuratahi after leaving the Wairarapa, having in many places to take to the sidelings. We learn also that Mr Barton lost a lot of sheep at the Upper Hutt. Land on Deferbed Payments. — The following notice of motion by Mr Dransfield was inadvertently placed among josterday's businesß ._« That in the opinion of this Council a block of land should be reserved for sale in the Manawatu district, on a system of deferred payments." It will, however, come on to-day. An Intelligent Jtjbyman.-— Yesterday on one of the jurymen being called, he coolly walked into the box with his pea jacket slung across his arm. His Honor addressed a few observations to him on the deference due to the Court, and inquired whether he might not a3 well appear with his coat on as off, to which he replied that he was in a hurry to get to or from the Hutt. The man may be a very intelligent man, bub tho reply was anything but an intelligible reply. In cc Feeith and Gbeig.-— The Wanganui " Chronicle" says that Messrs Freeth and Greig have offered a composition of 12u 6d in the pound. Benevolent Society.— At the last meeting of the Wellington Benevolent Society the following sums were paid in : — By the Bishop of Wellington, £1 ; Telegraph Office, to close subscription, 7s 6d. Wikemu Katene has been elected to represent the Northern Maori Electoral district. Exctjbsion.— The la9t excursion trip of the season is advertised in another place, by which it will be seen that the Taranaki is to sail for Ly ttelton Otago on Saturday next. Those who have neglected bo take advantage of the many cheap excursion trips which have been placed within 1 reach of the public this aeasonwill do well to note that this is the last, and that the Taranaki is one of the beat and mosb comfortable boats on the coaßt. Peofessoe Paekee, the champion swordsman, was killed on Wednesday, on the ranges near Toongabbie, as he was travelling to Sale. His horse bolted and throw him; Hia wife's horse also bolted, and she was dragged along the road, but was not much hurt. Rifle Match. — We are requested to draw attention to a handicapped rifle match, which has been arranged by the Matoh Committee of No. 1 Company W.R.V., to coma off on Saturday next, at tho Adelaide Road butts, at half-paßt two o'clock. The ranges will be 300, 400, and 500 yard 3, five shots at each ; any position ; one shilling entrance fee. Tho competitors will be handicapped on the j ground, so as to give the younger shots of the company chances of winning prizes, of which there will bo three offered. It is hoped that the members of tho company will turn out well on the occasion, as this assists the efforts of the Match Committee in their endeavors to promote rifle practice in the company. Naeeow Escape feom Dhowning. — On Thursday last, as Mr Holmes was leaving tho Queen's wharf, with the intention of returning to the pilot station at the Headß, his attention was attraoted by a man on tho wharf to some object in the water. He immediately steered the boat in the direction indicated, and saw a lad about ten years old, named Bragg, about a foot under water, lying on his back, and gradually sinking. The bow oarsman made a grasp, but mis3ed him ; the second oarsman, however, was more fortunate, and caught him by bis clothes, bringing him to the surface. The lad waa immediately taken on shore, and soon recovered. A person jumped off the wharf in a most praiseworthy manner ; but he would have been too late to save the lad, as he was sinking fast, and quite exhausted when taken out of the water. This is tho fourth time that Mr Holmes has been the means of saving life in this harbor. Telegraphic Communication.— The Melbourne " Ago" says : — Tho subject of quicker tolegraphic communication with Europe was brought under tho notice of the Chief ScoreI tary yesterday, by a deputation from tho j Chamber of Commerce, and also by a letter from tho Colonial Secretary of Queensland. Both communications were with tho same ob- ! jecfc, viz., the subsidising of a steamer to carry j i telegrams from the Q-ulf of Carpentaria to , | JaTft, by which, meana it was anticipated that

news twelve days old would be received. The ( cost of a fortnightly service was estiniated at about £36,000 per annum by the deputation, but the communication from Queensland only referred to ft monthly service at £1600 per month, of which sum Victoria was to pay the lion's share of four-tenth.B. Sir James M'Culloch pomised to consult his colleagues, and reply to the deputation at an early date. Ib was subsequently mentioned by Mr Turner, of the Post Office, who was present, that there was a possibility before the end of the year of the colony being in immediate communication with England, as he understood that the submarine line from Java to Port Darwin would be completed before tho overland line from Adelaide to the latter place was finished. Hew Zealand Flax. — It has been surmised that the late fire on board the ship City of Auckland, at Auckland, was caused by flax . The following is the captain's evidence on that point:— l examined every bale of flax that came on board the vessel, and there were only two out of the entire cargo that I found it necessary to reject. I do not believe that the fire waa caused by spontaneous combustion in tho flax or gum, or wool. About 300 tons of flax was in tho 'tween-decks forward. The flax was stowed entirely by itself in the 'tween-decks, by the fore hatchway, where the fire broke out. There waa no flax in the lower hold. The fire broko out just where the flax was. Ido not believe that it is to blame. I took home 1800 bales last voyage, and the previous voyage 2000 bales. I met with no accident on those occasions. I fre--1 quontly examined the flax during those voyages, and it was always perfectly dry and cool. When I got home and removed the cargo thero was nob the slightest indication of a fire or spontaneous combustion in the flax or gum, or wool. Tho flax was not screwed at all but simply pub in its place. No pressure was used. It was only temporarily stowed, The weather had been very fine, and the flax could not have got damp in taking it on board. The flax was perfectly dry, and had been in store for some time, Spanish Wheat.— A Taranaki paper says : —Wo have had a sample of Spanish wheat handed to us by Mr Hulke, which was grown by Mr Henry, in the garden of Mr 9 M'Kenzie at the Henui. The soil on which it was sowu was very poor, we understand, and it had not had any manure on ib for years. The sample we have at our office is part of some three and a half pounds, the yield of half an ounce, dibbled in a drill twonty-threo feet long. If a drill of this length yields three and a half pounds, an acre of land similavily planted we have calculated would produce the amazing quantity of 165$ bushels. Of course in land merely plouged up and the seed sown broadcast, such a .prolific yield could not be expected ; but still the maugin is so large that the produce per acre would much exceed the quantity usually obtained, which seldom averages twenty bushels. We are not aware what quality of flour the groin will produce, but although it may be dark we should imagine ib would be very'nutritious. Deab Advebtising. — In the Taranaki Provincial Council the other day, Mr Symea asked the representative of the Q-overnment if any claim for £90 had been sent in for inserting in the " London Times" an advertisement on three occasions. He would like to see a copy of the advertisement; also the account.— Mr Whitcombo said an account had been received by the Gt-overnment from their London agents for inserting in three issues of "The Times" the unclaimed Ex-changes—-each insertion occupied a column of that journal and cost £30 10s. The charge seemed exorbitant, bub they were compelled by the Act to advertise in " The Times." Rehaekaule Chop of Wheat. — Messrs Taylor and Watt had a beautiful ten-acre field of wheat at Westmere this season, and its frutition wo are glad to say has not belied its promise. The wheat is now threshed and broughb into the store, and the yield turns out to be fifty-four bushels to the aore, which is probably as high, a return as has ever been realised in this part of the country. Forty bushels to the aore is considered a very good yield. — " Wanganui Chronicle." WAHGAtfUI Bbidgb. — The "Chronicle" says the works of tho bridge have now fairly bouched bhe bank of the river on the obher side, and we daresay it has scarcely ever happened that an undertaking of such magnitude, and involving the possibility of so many casualties, has progressed so far without tho least interruption, and without an accident of the slightest character.