A north-west gale of unusual severity pre vailed during Tuesday and Wednesday. On Tuesday afternoon it wasaccompaniedby blind ing showers of rain, which followed each other at very short intervals ; while Wednesday tl « sky was covered with low and broken clouds. The harbor occasionally appeared to be almost a mass of foam. The gale appears to have been local, for there was but little wind at Nelson, and moderate north-west and westerly winds to the north of Wanganui. There was, however, a heavy north-west gale at Hokitika. The barometer at Wellington was almost with out movement, and stood at 29 "80, At the expiration of a sentence of 18 months' imprisonment in the Wellington Gaol, where he bad been detained for stealing a horse and cart, a man named George Williams was brought down to tbe city watch-house by the chief Warder of the establishment, who charged the man, on suspicion, with being a lunatic. Williams was subsequently brought before a Magistrate on the charge and was re manded for medical examination. The poor fellow wds deemed a fit inmate for the Lunatic Asylum and was at once transferred to Mount View, Williams was, it is stated, some years since confined on two different occasions ia the Christchurch Lunatic Asylum.
The members of the Wellington Gardener 8 Mutual Improvement Society met last week, when various matters connected with “ grape culture” were discussed. A collection of carnations and picotees was exhibited by Mr John Okell.
