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Wellington Independent, Volume XXIX, Issue 4053, 14 March 1874, Page 2

We are compelled again to hold over a report of the late assault case at Te Aro lock-up. Sergeant Nelly, who has for a number of years filled the position of drill instructor to many of the town companies, with considerable credit to himself, ia about to be removed to Hokitika to replace Sergeant Carey, who changes to Wellington. Sergeant Nelly is a thoroughly efficient drill instructor, whose services the Hokitika companies have been fortunate to obtain. Some highly bred sheep purchased down South for Messrs Hunter and Beetham, and Colonel Whitmore, ai'rived yesterday in the Omeo. The sheep were selected by Mr George Beetham, who gave as high as £100 for one Lincoln ram. The right to supply water to the shipping at the Queen's Wharf, was yesterday sold by auction by Mr J. H. Wallace. The bidding commenced at £100, and was run tip to £250, at which price it was knocked down to Mr O'Shea, who, it was understood, purchased on behalf of Messrs Jackson and Graham. The conditions by which the lessees are bound are as follow : — Not more than 4s per ton to be charged to the shipping ; that the apparatus be kept in repair, and returned, in good order ; that the mains, hose, &c. , be at the unreserved disposal of the Corporation in case of fire on the wharf or among the shipping ; that the rent bo paid monthly ; and that it be at the option of the Corporation to annul the lease without notice in the event of a breach of any clause of the conditions of sale. The immigrants by the Mongol, who had been quarantined for the second time at Lyttelton, were released on Tuesday afternoon last, no disease having appeared amongst them during their detention on Ripa Island. We are glad to observe from our Mel- . bourne files, that the s:s. Otago, with a supplementary mail from this Colony for transmission via Suez, arrived in Hobson's Bay a few minutes before the departure of the R.M.S. Bangalore, in time to transfer her mails. Attention is invited to an advertise- \ nient in another column, of the holding of the annual services in connection with the Congregational Church on Sunday, the 22nd, when the. Revs Messrs Paterson and Morley will preach. On Monday at 6 p.m. there will be a tea meeting, followed by a public meeting. The Rev B. Backhouse will preach on behalf of the British and Foreign Bible Society to-morrow at the Congregational Church, in the morning, and. at St Andrew's in the evening, and will deliver an address on Monday at the Wesleyan Chui'ch, Hutt. The rev gentleman will lecture upon the "Bible in Japan and other countries," on Tuesday evening, at the Provincial Hall, Archdeacon Stock in the chair. We learn by telegram that at the land sale at Patea yesterday, the sum of £20,515 17s was realised. Suburban land at Kakaramea brought from £15 19s prr acre downwards ; and rural land at Patea from £6 153 downwards ; and rural land at Okotuka from £6 7s 6d downwards. There was a very large attendance of purchasers, and the same prices could have been obtained for a much greater quantity of land had it been for dis£>osal. S. J. Hill, an express driver, was charged at the Resident Magistrate's Court, yesterday, with a breach of the Municipal Corporation Act, which consisted in his accepting hire at a place to which his license did not extend. T3io case for the prosecution was that the defendant was licensed to ply for hire as an express driver, but not to carry passengers, and that the defendant had rendered himself liable by carrying passengers to I the Hutt races. Mr Buckley, for the defendant, contended that there was no case to answer, and the same view being taken by the Bench, the case was dismissed. The following paragraph, from the "Hawkers Bay Herald" of the 12th instant, will give intending emigrants in England an idea of the prospects before them in the Province of Hawke's Bay, of which Napier is the capital : — We learn from the Immigration Officer that the great majoi'ity of, immigrants by the ship Invcrerne have already obtained^ situations, ten only remaining disengaged, who will bo employed on road work by the Government. Tho number of single girls was totally insufficient to meet the rcquiiQincnts of tho district, whilst there was also a large demand for ploughmen and other laborers accustomed to agricultural work. Carpenters and plumbers were also greatly sought after, but there were very few amongst the new arrivals. In the month of February the total number of births recorded in Auckland, Thames, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch, Duuedin, and Hokitika was 992, and the number of deaths 140, or 47.95 per cent. The mortality of children in Wellington was exceptionally large, being 41 . The Otago " Guardian" mentions that "Mr G. Proudfoot has purchased the coal-pit at Green Island recently belonging to Messrs Wright and Co." The seam is said to be twenty feet thick, and to extend through an area of 300 acres. It is calculated that the yield from this will be not less than one million tons.

A New Zealand ' ' Bradshaw" is an- | announced to be published in Dunedin at the commencement of the ensuing month, j The "Bruce Herald" reports that at a depth of 97ft a seam of coal 21ft thick 1 has been met with by aMr Dunn. The \ quality of the coal is believed to be good. It is understood that the two masters j of the Wellington and the Cyrus will appear at the Resident Magistrate's Court ! on Monday, to answer charges that have been preferred against them in reference . to the loss of the two vessels. The Co-operative Baking Company have leased the premises of Mr R. Scott, baker, Willis street, and purpose commencing business next Monday week. About 700 shares in the company have been taken up. The Wild Deer, which arrived atDunedin from the Clyde, on the sth inst., brought 212 emigrants to the Colony, besides a few cabin and second cabin passengers. She was a clean ship. The body of one of the men drowned in the wreck that took place on Saturday evening last was brought to the Morgue yesterday afternoon, it having been discovered by some Maoris employed by Mr Hunter in removing portions of the ill-fated vessels bought by him. It is understood that the remains are those of the cook of the Wellington, who was asleep below at the time the accident occurred, and was called by the captain. The poor fellow, who was a Dutchman, had apparently just drawn on his boots when the water came in upon him. An inquest will be held this day. The Otago ( ' G uardian" reports that 390 ounces of gold were brought into town by the escort last week for transmission to the Victorian Mint. This, it will be remembered, is done without charge save the duty, the idea being to give the miners an opportunity of testing whether there is truth in the statement that they would get more for their gold if there were a local mint. The attention of the authorities should be directed to the state of the asphalte pavement on Lambton Quay. The ground under it in some places appears to have subsided. The asphalte, itself, has given way, and the consequence is a succession of holes, suggestive of a broken leg for some pedestrian one of these moonless nights. Wellington has the reputation, and perhaps it is not undeserved, of being a somewhat windy city. From that point of view yesterday was a rather remarkable day, not a breath of wind having prevailed, beyond very light cats' paws, from morning to night. The harbor was as smooth as glass. The sky was somewhat overcast throughout the day, but no rain fell until evening. A matgh will be commenced this afternoon at half-past one o'clock, between the Wellington and Star Cricket Clubs. This season each club has won a game, and to-day's will be the conqueror. The Star team will consist of Messrs W. J. Salmon, J. J. Salmon, Russell, Crowther, Mason, Eells, Williamson, Redding, S. Waters, Laurence and J. A. Salmon. Emergency, Mr Stevenson ; Umpire, Mr Ingpen ; Scorer, Mr Humphries. The I interprovincial match with Nelson will be played on Tuesday next, and the visitors are expected to leave Nelson to-day. They will find an excellent wicket, for great care has been taken for some weeks in order to secure a true piece of turf, and the ground is pronounced to be in first-rate order. To-day's play will be watched with interest, and careful cricket may be looked for, as the team to eontend^against Nelson will be chosen after the match. The eleven will probably be taken from the following : — Messrs Werry, Knapp, Marchant, Dees, Lowe, H. Evans, Lynch, W. J. Salmon, J. A. Salmon, I. J. Salmon, Crowther, Russell, Mason and Eells. From Dr Hector's provisional meteorological report for the past month, we obtain official proof that the popular hn- , pression as to the somewhat considerable heat during the month of February was correct. Nelson bears the bell for the hottest day, the temperature in the shade there on the 18th of that month having been 88°. In Christchurch, on the same day, it was 81 # B°. The highest recorded temperature at Auckland, was 87 # 9° on the 20fch ; in Wellington, 78-3° on the 10th ; 85° in Dunedin ; and 78 "4° in Hokitika. In Wellington, on the 13th ult., the thermometer in the sun recorded 135°. The lowest temperature in the shade recorded, was 38° at Dunedin ; 40-1° in Christchurch ; and 44° in Wellington, on the 3rd ultimo. A serious accident occurred on the 10th instant, in Hawke's Bay, to Archibald Dunbar, the only son of Mr J. Dunbar, the agent for Messrs Brogden in that Province. He was engaged in the construction of the railwciy bridge at the first crossing of the Ngaruroro, when an iron ring forming- part of the tackling then being used in drawing one of the piles became .detached, and, falling on the unfortunate young man's head, it fractured I Ilia skull in three places, his face being also severely cut. The sufferer is progressing as favorably as could be expected under the circumstances. A new journal, entitled the "Horticultural Calendar," has been commenced by Messrs Thomas Long and Co, the enterprising seedsmen of Melbourne and Ballarat, Victoria. It is sent free to all who apply for it. What next ! The ! ' West Coast Times" tells of a man who walked into the Resident Magistate's Court at Hokitika with a lighted pipe, to hear proceedings in a perjury case. He was ordered to remain till the rising of the Court, and then was severely rebuked for his utter disregard of the common courtesies of life, the etiquette of Courts, and the majesty of Justice.