THE NORTH.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2343, 5 October 1870, Page 2

THE NORTH.

The little town of Napier i< great in newspapers, there are 14 publications weekly, and the Daily Tele/jraph is announced to appear for the first time early in November. The names of defaulters who are indebted to the Provincial Government of Napier for assisted passages are published in extenso by the Hawke’s Bay Times of the IGth inst. From the Boss paper we learn that a quarrel respecting a fascinating barmaid of that township has been settled by an appeal to fisticuffs. The matter arose out of an insult that had been offered to the lady in question, and Fortune was propitious to the lady’s champion, who had the satisfaction of chastising her traducer, 'there are five candidates up to represent Wairarapa in the Assembly. The Chronicle says—“ They are a nice lot.” The butchers in Wanganui have raised the price of meat 20 per cent. This is ascribed to the scarcity of sheep, owing to excessive exportation and the wet weather. ' At a meeting of the Nelson Scientific Association, a letter was read from a gentleman who had been cured of rheumatism by bathing in the hot springs, Hurunui Plain. The capture of Harris, the defaulting clerk to the Bulla Shire Council, is thus detailed by the Cross :—Harris did not remain long in Auckland. Having, as it would appear, arranged for a passage to New York by tke Santon, he went to Napier, and there lived for several days with Mrs Cassidy until the time came when he judged the Santon was about ready to sail. He then returned to Auckland, and after several foxlike doubles to mystify the police, he hired a waterman’s boat, in which he and Mrs Cassidy went down to a part of the const near Tiritiri, and there pitched a tent, awaiting the arrival of the Santon on her outward voyage. Meanwhile, Detective Murphy had ascertained that a cutter had conveyed luggage on board the Santon for a couple who had taken passage for New York, and he thereupon proceeded to search the luggage, which satisfied him that the parties were no other than those of whom he was in quest. Finding, however, up to the moment of the vessel sailing, that the two passengers did not come on board, Detective Murphy followed the Sauton down to Tiritiri, and made a second search, which proved as fruitless as the other. Still convinced that the parties were in the neighborhood, Detective Murphy, with whom also were Constable Carrigan and Captain Burgess, made a show of giving up the search and returning to town. When they had got some little distance from the Santon, the latter lowered the house flag, which had been flying, and instantly a boat was seen crowding' all sail from the shore towards the ship, which ajsq stood towards the boat. To turn the pilot boat round, and clap on every stitch, was the work of a moment ; and after a most exciting race the superior sailing capabilities of the boat, skilfully handled by Captain Burges,s, prevailed, and the fugitives were cut off from the ship. A man in the boat called out, “ Who do you want ? ” “ Thomas Lascelles Harris,” was the reply. “ Right you are,” exclaimed that redoubtable individual himself, who was thereupon arrested. The sum of LI 70 in gold was found in a small courier bag in Harris’s possession, Harris advised his companion, Mrs Cassidy, to goon to New York, and Detective Murphy put no obstacles in the way, as he had no instructions as to the woman ; she, however, expressed her determination to return with her companion. It is believed that LOO had been paid by Harris as passage money. The prisoner did not manifest the slightest concern at the unsuccessful result of his attempt to escape, but philosophically informed the detective that he “always took the world as it came.” Harris does not very closely resemble the photographs in the possession of the police, the appearance of his face having been completely altered by the shaving off of his wiskers an i beard. Another tableau to Hogarth’s celebrated sot, “ Marriage a la mode” might bo added

with advantage. The WniK/nnui Chronicle of the 24th has the following Not a hundred miles up the Wanganui river there lives not a very happy couple joined in tiie bands of wedlock. The husband is somewhat devoted to Bacchus, and his spouse rules him with rather a martinet hand. However, they managed to rub along after a fashion till the other night, when the neighbors were alarmed by loud cries and the sounds of heavy thwacks, evidently being administered with a cudgel to the human body. On further investigation it turned out that the individual in question was receiving a severe castigation in the yard from his wife and daughter. The unhappy man certainly did catch it—with broomsticks, fists, and finger nails. He made no resistance, and ultimately escaped to the house, where he locked himself up in the room, a sorely drubbed man. It turned out that the ladies after all had inflicted a righteous punishment. The gentleman, it seems, had been allowing his eyes to stray, and fixed his affections upon a lady other than his lawful spouse. It appears that his daughter caught him making obtrusively soft speeches, while “ walking by moonlight alone,” with his cher amle, and informed her mamma, who took summary vengeance upon the spot. Up to the present moment the sinning and unfortunate individual is still locked up in his room, which, however, is likely to be carried by storm and its inmates expelled vivetartnis from the premises. The case, we understand, is likely to afford employment ultimately to the gentlemen of the long robe. Pending this, however, the husband is likely to be divorced, a mensa e.t thoro, by the summary process of being turned out. We regret to record the death of Mr J. H. Crawford, late Registrar of Deeds at Auckland.