Inauguration of the District Captain in Meran and Sentencing in Trento

Austrian Monarchy.

Meran, 11 January. (Corresp.) *). Through the new political division of the crown land of Tyrol, the town of Meran, the ancient residence of the Tyrolean sovereign princes, has been restored in its significance and made the seat of a district captaincy.

At last, Mr Franz Kopp has also arrived among us as district captain, having entered upon his office on the first day of this year, introduced by a suitable church service, after which the town council presented itself to him and bid him a cordial welcome. The presence of our new political head is winning, and his demeanour inspires confidence; everyone therefore felt compelled to express aloud their joy to him. Yesterday, a festive banquet was held in honour of our district captain at the “Archduke John Inn”, to which the other officials of this new office were also invited, and in which the k. k. district court, the parochial clergy of Meran and Mais, the town council, and such a number of citizens took part that 115 places were occupied. Friendly, trusting cheerfulness moved the gathering and enlivened the meal, in the midst of which the mayor, speaking in the name of all guests with fitting greetings to express the shared sentiments, raised a joyful toast and welcome to the district captain.

Thereupon the district captain rose, and having responded with thanks in his courteous manner, he offered the first toast to His Majesty our much-beloved Emperor Franz Joseph I; when the three cheers had finally died away, a vocal choir accompanied by piano joined in with the folk hymn immortalised by Haydn.

The second toast, accompanied by three resounding cheers, was dedicated to His Imperial Highness our beloved Archduke John and to the Count of Meran, whom, together with the unassuming Countess of Meran, we miss so keenly in our midst.

Further toasts to our esteemed governor Count von Bissingen and our district government president Count von Fünfkirchen followed.

And now everyone returned to the pleasures of the table, until gradually breaking up into groups for amiable conversations, which the district captain enlivened in turn, proceeding to greet each of the guests individually.

A warm bond of trust was forged on this evening between the new authority and the citizenry, and to have happily tied this knot of goodwill right at the outset is not the least of the district captain's merits.

Only late in the evening did everyone return home content, rejoicing in the day that had been so agreeable and joyful.

Trento, 18 January. One will still recall that dreadful deed which occurred here on 2 September of last year, when 4 young lads, on the road from Fersina into the city, took the lives of two local citizens, Jak. Corteletti and Jak. Degasperi, and wounded a third. This crime, which aroused general outrage at the time, has now met with its deserved punishment, as all 4 youths involved in its perpetration were sentenced, namely one to 16, one to 17, one to 18, and one to 20 years of aggravated hard labour.

Since the outrage committed was a subject of general conversation, let this act of justice, through which satisfaction was rendered to the innocent victims, also come to public knowledge. (Fogl. di Ver.)

*) Reached us, delayed by chance,» only on the 26th. R. d. B.