Saturday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 28, 6 November 1885, Page 9

Saturday.

The Lieuna arrived at Melbourne yesterday evening from London. His Eminence Cardinal Moran is a passenger for Sydney. The Bouth Canterbury Refrigerating Works at Timaru we're formally opened jestenlav. A large number of shareholders and others were present. Freezing operations commence at once. Sir. Coxon, Ha&lam's representative, at tbe opening, referred to the correspon erce going ou in the Christcburch papers, and said it was quite a mistake, for people, instead of writing to the papers, should put themselv.'-, m communication with Mr. Haslatn. who would tell them the truth about the matter, and give them a satisfactory explanation. It was onh fail that tbe writers should do this, ao as to give Mr. Haslani a chance of answering the accusations made against him.

An extraordinary ra^e came before tbe Supieme Court yesterday. Sirs. Walcot brought a buit for judicial separation. and praying for the custody of her two children, against Colouel Walcot. The respondent had failed to aepnar m the suit, but was in court attired in the uniform of a Salvation soldier, and had put on placards with printed texts, fixing them on his bieast and back, and eaid : 'My wife, judge, and citu- ns, I ask forgiveness for a great sin." He was reproved b\ )>ih Honor, and asked to remove the placards, which he did. Tbe < vii-oce, which was very lengthy, was then proceeded with. 'I he lespondent. who retired from the" Indian service with tbe rank of colonel was shown to be most eccentric, and virtually the only question for the Court wag as to the custody of tbe youngest child, a lad of 12, who could scarcely read, though very intelligent. Mrs. Walcot hince her marriage haa joined the Roman Catholic Church, and though she was willing to have her boy brought up as a Protestant debired to take him to England. His Honor was ready to make tbe decree for Reparation, but took time to consider the order as to the custody of the boy. The Raiatonga embassy left Auckland last night by the Janet Nicoll, which takes the largest cargo yet taken to the Islands. Mr. Ballance had an interview with the Queen. He proposed to arrange reciprocity duties in order to foster closer commercial relations between tbe Colony aud Raratonga, and the establishment of a quasi protectorate by New Zealand to prevent foreign powers intervening, the Natives to have full coutrol of internal affairs. The Queen will refer the proposals to the Native chiefs for consideration and send a deputy to the Government. Sir George Grey also interviewed the Embassy, and told them whenever they needed help or a friend to write him, and he wouid stand by them. An inquiry is to be held as to the sanity of the insurgent Riel, who now lies under sentence of death. An attempt, fortunately unsuccessful, was made to shoot M. Freycinet, the Fr-ncb Minister, on Thursday. A man fired a shot at him, but was arrested by tha bystanders and placed in the custody of the police before he could fire another ahot. The prisoner is a Corsican. lie admita hi»inir premwlitAh'd tbe »tt*-mpt j hut rifti not trated bis reasons for the crime.