LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVI, Issue 3295, 6 September 1871, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS.

. — O, Supreme Court Trials. — The Supreme Court was occupied yesterday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with the heaving of evidence for the prosecution in the case of llegiua v. M'Donald for murder and fire raising afc Wangaehu, and there' remain seven or eight witnesses to be examined. If even concluded to-day, the trial is certain to occupy the Court until a very late hour. On tho rising of the Court last evening, an officer was sworn in to " lodge the jury for the night," to see that no one spoke to them, " except in suyplying necessaries and the proper food," and to "keep them together, and to brin# them b the Court at ten in the morning." His Honor also advised them to avoid discupsing the case, of which they had only heard a part, to read no newspapers of the day.and have uocommunicalion with " the external world." The jury were then escorted to Miller's Commercial Hotel, where a comfortable room had been reserved for them, and where they will enjoy the novelty of sleeping in one dormitory, on twelve separate " shakedowns." We have not thought it necessary to report in full the evidence which has so recently been beforo the public, but shall give to-morrow as much of the addresses of counsel and the summing-up of the Judge as may intimately refer to the evidence adduced, to the law upon the crimes with which the prisoner is charged, and as the result of the trial. Tub Member von Hokitika. — According to our telegrams there seems to be some diversity of opinion in one part of j the Hokitika district as to tho action of | the representative of the district, Mr White, in connection with a subject which is at present exciting some interest in Westland, namely, the line to bo adopted for the formation of the main trunk road, one of the public works to be undertaken by the General Government. As we understand tho case, from previous reading of the Westland papers, thero is a diversity of opinion and interest in connection with the matter ; the inhabitants of one locality favoring one line of road, and the inhabitants of other localities favoring another ; and the hon member, we presume, is expected to please both. We have reason to think that the people of Stafford have been acting upon insufficient information, and they have, no doubt, been influenced also by party motives, and by party agitators, irrespective of the question at issue. So far as is known here, Mr White has done everything that the constituency could expect of him in bringing the matter under the attention of the Government, and the agitation is so far groundless and premature. The Education Bill. —We understand that a petition is to be presented to the House of Representatives, signed by the ministers of the various religious bodies of this city, in favor of the Government bill for education. All tho galleries were again densely crowded last night, and the audience seemed very much interested iv the proceedings, the remarks of the various speakers being listenrd to with great attention. Appointments.— The " Gazette " of yesterday notifies that the Governor has accepted tho resignation of Mr W. Stuart as Registrar of Deeds and Land Registrar in Westland ; and has appointed Mr J. Balham Registrar of Deeds iv that district, and Mr J. D. Bamford Examiner of Titles, vice Mr Stuart, who is appointed Examiner of Titles in Southland. Mr Batham is also appointed Registrar of the Supreme Court and Curator of Intestate Estates in Westland, vice Mr Stuart. Mr W. M. Crompton is appointed Sheriff of Taranaki, and Mr G. D. Hamraerton as Coroner. Mr J. Carru thers is appointed Engineer in- Chief, and Mr Blackett Assistant Engineer-in- Chief. Mr Flight's resignation of his appointment as Sheriff and Coroner, and Mr Thomas Dick's resignation of his appointment as Justice of the Peace, have been accepted. The Emu. — Tho Emu brought over by Captain Stafford, and which was presented by him to the Acclimatisation Society, died yesterday. The bird was in very bad condition when it arrived, and was too far gone for the efficacy of restorative remedies. Lunatic Asylums. — Attention having been drawn to tho fact that the Magistrates acting under the Lunatics Act, 1865, have in severalinstances committed to gaol, pending inquiry, persons suspected of being insane, although thero was a lunatic asylum within a convenient distance from the place afc which the Justices were sitting, the Colonial Secretary has pointed out, by intimation in the " Gazette," that the place of committal should in such cases be a lunatic asylum, if there be oao within a convenient distance. Maobi Representation. — Among the notices of motion given in the House of Representatives is one from Kariatiana Takamoana to tho effect that he will move that it is expedient that the native race should be repvesonted in the Upper House, that one of his Excellency's Executive should be a Maori, and that Europeans as well as Maories be allowed to vote for the election of Maori members. He also proposes that the number of Maori members in the Lower House should be increased to twelve. Manawatu.— By the letter of our Manawatu correspondent, which we are compelled to hold over, we learn that a mocling has been held at Foxton to hear an explanation of the Education Act and Highways Act from Mr Thynne. An accident had happened above Ngawharau by which a boat load of goods had been lost, and the boatmen nearly lost their lives. Serious Accident. — On Monday afternoon a waggoner named George Ryan, while drawing timber for Mr Harris of the Taita. was very seriously injured by the waggon getting capsized and falling upon him. Constable Butler had the unfortunate man removed to Whitewood's Hotel, where medical attendance was obtained, but his injuries wore so serious that his life was despaired of. R.M. Couiit. — At this Court yesterday JSTorali Mulhern, charged with using threatening language, was bound over to keep the peace towards Patrick Monaghun, for six months, and ordered to pay costs., which amounted to £4 9* 6d. One civil case, iv which Mr Mulhern sued Patrick Monaghan, Chairman of the Makara School Committee, for balance of salary, was heard, and judgment was given for the amount paid into Court and costs.

A Curious Find. — The "Wanganui Chronicle" mentions that a traveller on his way from Waitotara to Wauganui, along the beach, came upon an upturned coffin on the sand. It was empty and lidlesg, but in a good state of preserve* tion.

The Hutt Bridge.— The Provincial Government has pecopted tho tender of Mr Wallis for the erection of the Hutt bridge, for tho sum of £2,041. Accident. — Mr John George, eon of Mv Hugh George, manager' of the Melbourne "Argus," sustained some rather severe injuries at about quarter to 9 o'cloffk on the 19th inst. In company with a friend he went to tho new morgue to see 'if the body of some missing acquaintance had been found and taken there. As the front of the building was locked, Mr George went round to tho back, and in the dark walked over the embankment, and fell heavily down into the cutting through which the railway lines pass. Tho 'railway officials were at once informed of the occurrence; in order to prevent the possibility of a train passing before the injured gentleman wasremoved. It was found that Mr George was insensible, and he was at once removed to the Hospital, where it was discovered that he was severely bruised and shaken. Yesterday, however, ho was much better, and he will probably be removed to his residence to-day. ' Adulterated Bread. — The following fads elicited in tho Melbourne Police i Court go to favor the passing of such a bill as that which is now before tho New Zealand Legislature for preventing tho sale of light and adulterated bread. In ono day, recontly, as many ns eighteen bakers appeared on information, and the Government analyst was called in each case to prove tho extent to which the bread was adulterated. The quantity of- alum detected by tho analyst ranged from 25 to 4,V grains. In the majority of instances there was sufficient alum present to render the bread most unwholesome for .human food, while in few cases it is possible from the small quantity discovered that it might have beep present in the flour before it found its way to the bakers. All the defendants positively denied using alum knowiugly, and the bench took time to consider what penalties should be imposed. When the cases were called on the defendants were fined, aome 20s with 42s costs, and others, £5 with £3 3s costs, according to the amount of adulteration found. Nelson Volunteers.— We learn from the " Colonist" that a fine building has just been erectdeby the Volunteers of Nelson, aided by a grant from the Provincial Government, for the purpose of maintaining their usual exercise during the winter months. This shed ia a good and substantial building, measuring 80 by 35 feet, and has been erected at a cost of £210, of which the volunteers subscribed £140, and the Government the balance. In connection with the volunteer drill shed, Mr Garrard has formed a gymnastic club. Export of Tree-ferns. — It appears that there is an extensive annual export to Great Britain from Victoria, of treeferns from the neighborhood of Ballarat and Melbourne. The trunks'and roots of these are packed in a peculiar wwar,} r , and transmitted to the principal nurserymen in the neighborhood of London. They aro in large demand for the onamentation of conservatories and other sheltered places in the gardens of the wealthy. The " Ballarat Star" states that in the extreme south of England and Ireland tho ferntree succeeds in the open air.