NEW ZEALAND.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 2, Issue 327, 25 April 1881, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND.

[per press association.] Blew His Head Off. Auckland, To-day. A miner named Burke, Coromandel, committed suicide by putting a rifle in his month and blowing his head off. Frightful Gun Accident. Grahamsi own. To-day. On Saturday afternoon the most lamentable affair which has ever taken place in the Ohinemun district occurred at To Puke, near Pareora. A number of boys, whose ages average from 11 to 17, were out shooting, when one named Walter Ritchie, a son of the district schoolmaster, got in the line of fire of a companion named Lepsec, and had Iris brains blown out. Much sympathy is felt for the relations of the unfortunate lad, one of whose brothers is now lying in a critical state in the Thames Hospital. At the inquest held, the jury returned the following verdict “ The jury are unanimously of opinion that the deceased, Wa’ter Ritchie, met with his death by a gunshot wound inflicted by Frederic Lepsec, and that it was purely accidental and a misadventure. ”

The First Battery at Te Aroha. The Te Aroha batter}' was opened on Saturday with great eclat. Over 200 persons were present, including visitors from Auckland, Waikato, and Thames. This morning the stone from the Prospectors’ claim will be crushed. Marine DisasterWellington, To-day. While the barque Himalaya was off ;he Heads this morning a seaman fell from the royal yard to the cross-trees and broke his thigh. Sly Grog Selling. Mr Ebden has been fined LSO for sly grog selling. Ho was also charged with assaulting the constable who detected him and was sentenced to fourteen days hard labor. Lost at Sea. Dunedin, To-day On April 15, Angus Cameron, the carpenter of the ship Otago, was washed overboard. Every effort was made to recover him without avail. He was 29 years of age. Criminal Assault. At the City Court to-day, Samuel Stewart was committed for trial for criminally assaulting a child aged five years. Another Tired of Life. Cheshire, a hospital wardsman, at the Queenstown hospital, committed suicide by taking prussic acid. Jealousy is said to be the cause.