PROVINCIAL AND COLONIAL.

Cromwell Argus, Volume III, Issue 134, 4 June 1872, Page 7

PROVINCIAL AND COLONIAL.

Wilson has been executed for the murder of Penson at Daylesford. Captain Carter, second Superintendent of Hawke’s Bay, died on the 27th ult. A man named Samuel Randall was killed by a fall of earth at Hope Terrace, Brighton, on the 18th ult. It is rumoured that Tawhiao has offered to deliver up Te Kooti to the Government on payment of the promised reward of £SOOO. Mr Luckie, editor of the Colonist , has been returned as M.H.R. for Nelson city. The poll stood thus Luckie, 307 ; Richmond, 150 ; Saunders, 7-1. At Green Island, the other day, a blushing couple were married, the bridegroom having arrived at the mature age of 05, while the bride was only two years younger. In Victoria they can now crush quartz at a profit, that will only yield live pennyweights, and can so treat their tailings as not to lose a pennyweight per ton of pyritous gold. A fire occurred at Winton (Southland) on the 20th ult., by which Messrs Cross and M‘William’s store was totally destroyed. The loss is estimated at £I3OO, of which £750 is covered by insurance. At the Tapanui Il.M.’s Court, lately, two little boys, not more than seven or eight years old, were charged with housebreaking and theft. The charge was clearly proven, and they were sent for seven years to the Industrial School at Caversham. A mob of Maoris when returning from the feast on the Queen’s Birthday, broke into an hotel at Clive (Hawke s Bay), and drank and destroyed a large quanity of liquor. The damage is estimated at £2OO. The rioters have been arrested and remanded. Nicholls and Lester, on being brought up for trial in Sydney for the commission of the Parramatta murders, both pleaded guilty. Nicholls fainted, and Lester cried bitterly. The latter denied any active participations in the murders. Both were sentenced to death. One of the numerous family of Smiths writes as follows to the Dunedin Echo : “ Sun, —Would you Bo kind enuf as to hinforrn the Pubiick that I ham not the Riter of the Blasfemus infushuns as lately hapered in the Papers on Spirituallism. By hinsertin the Abuve you will oblidge me.—l ham, &c., James Smith, Drayman.” Late advices from Melbourne state that a Select Committee is enquiring into the charge brought by Mr Garratt against Mr Berry, the late Treasurer, of having made a corrupt appointment as a reward for infamous conduct. The enquiry is not yet concluded. Great | public indignation is expressed against Mr Dufty for the appointments given by him to ! his son, Mr Hoey, and others. The Norman Romance. —lt would appear I that this affair, unlike the Tichborne case, ; has collapsed just as it was about to become | interesting. W r e have it on the authority of I the Thames Advertise)' that it is currently reI ported in Auckland that the mystery has | been exploded by the filing on the part of the | claimant, Mr Jones of Dunedin, of another ; affidavit before the Chief Justice, partly apologising to the Judge and to the widow. It is said that since the proceedings in chambers, when the affidavits in opposition to her application were filed, Mr Jones had an interview with Mrs Norman, and failed most unmistakably to identify her as the alleged Mr? Robertson, milliner and barmaid. The Southland JSews records the death at Invercargill of a very “Old Identity,” Richard Williams, a man of color, better known as the “ Black Doctor.” Of his early history no--1 thing is known—he had evidently at some I period of his existence received a small modicum of education, and was fond of displaying his acquaintance with Dr Johnson’s great I work. He earned his living by wood-chop-i ping, and amused himself during many of his l.fisui e hours at the harmless sport of kite- | flying. The dress he most affected was of the old Roman type—a sort of toga above i the ordinary modern costume, surmounted ;by a bell-topper. Thus attired, the “Doctor” ! was wont to march proudly along the streets, \ giving himself all the airs of a grandee. Lat- | terly the poor fellow was unable to follow j his calling, and a week or two back he was I admitted into the Hospital, where he died on i the 19th ult.