NAPIER.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 319, 17 January 1871, Page 2

NAPIER.

January 7. —A tea meeting was held at the Odd Fellows' Hall' last evening to welcome the Rev. Mr. Redstone, who has come to found a branch of the United Methodist Free Church, Mr. Joseph Rhodes in the chair; 250 were present, and the affair was a great success.—A fire was discovered in the malthouse of the White Swan Brewery yesterday evening, and was extinguished with difficulty. The building was uninjured. A great quantity of malt was destroyed.—The nomination of candidates in the Assembly for Napier is notified to lake place on the 19th ; Clive on the 26th. A poll, if demanded, on the 4th February.

January 10. —The successful launch of the Star of the South took place early this morning. The Rangatira towed her to port, and she now lie 3 inside the Iron Pot.

Specimens of Kaimanawa gold have been received by Mr. Titfeii from prospectors, but no information of importance.

Siiocking Case of Infanticide at Tueakina. —The Wanganui Chronicle says:—A case of this kind, of peculiarly melancholy character, occurred at Turakina on Monday last. The facts are these :—The wife of Mr. John Hurst had been confined on that day. Thero were games in the village, which would account for her having been unfortunately left alone, and in tbe mania of what we suppose was puerperal fever it would appear she killed the infant, or, from want of aid and the necessary attention it died. She must have afterwards taken the body outside the house, perhaps, in her frenzy to bury it. At all events, shortly after five o'clock on Monday evening, Mr. McCartney drew the attention of the police constable to something unusual in Mr. Hurst's garden. The constable accompanied by Mr. Jordan, went to the spot indicated, and there found the body of a new-born infant. The throat was cut, and tho body otherwise mangled. It bore some appearance, as if it had been covered with earth, but when found it was lying among long grass by the side of the footpath. The constable took charge of the body until next day, when an inquest was held, and the following verdict returned:—"That it is the opinion of this jury that Mrs. Hurst gave birth to a child, the subject of this inquest, while labouring under temporary unsoundness of mind, but no evidence has been produced of how the marks of violence took place." This affair has naturally excited sensation in the quiet village of Turakina, and much sympathy is felt for all the parties more immediately concerned. —Another account says : " It appears she gave the body to one of her boys to bury, and on going to do so he had met with other boys, and they left it on the road."