April 25.— Mr. McLeod, M.H.R. for Bay of Islands, proceeds to Canada, after next session, to arrange for the Provincial Government of Wellington for the intro duction of 500 immigrants into that Province. Mr. Ingles has taken up 2,500 acres of laud at Fitzhefbert Town, Wellington, and starts to-morrow for Holland, to arrange for 200 immigrants immediately. The General Government pays £7 10s. per head passage money, and the Province pays the balance. The Dutchmen are to be located on the £2,500 acres, the Pro vince to receive the money for land as they are located. Peter James Fotherington has been com mitted for trial for stealing from a dwelling. The Commission to enquire into the alleged cruelties practised at the Lunatic Asylum, sat to-day. Macdonald^ an at tendant, waß examined, and slated that the matron had committed horrible cruelties ; had beaten sq»me patients, and kept others in Cells for six months together, without airing Or washing. Two patients gave partly 'contradictory and partly confirma tory evidence, and tho enquiry was ad journed till to-morrow. April 26. — A proclamation has been pub lished by the Governor inviting the clergy of all denominations and all her Majesty's subjects in the Colony to observe the 9th May as a day of thanksgiving for the Prince of Wales' recovery. The Lunatic Asylum enquiry is com pleted. The evidence partially supports the charges, and shows that the master and matron are totally unfitted for their posts. A storeman in town, who has been two years in the Asylum, offers to give evidence of a similar character to the charges made. The compositors iv the Government Printing Office have again struck for a higher rate of pay per 1,000 ems for setting Maori. The terms of Mr. McLeod's appointment as Immigration Agent are made known. He is to receive from the Government £100 passage money ou the outward and return trips, and £305 remuneration. The im migrants are to be obtained from Nova Scotia, aud are to be lauded in Wellington : about June or July next year.
