AUCKLAND.

Evening Star, Volume IX, Issue 2543, 12 April 1871, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

Tho late murder of Constable OilHllan near Kihikihi, Waikato, is a sad affair. Muirheail (auo'her constable) entered the room whore GilfiUan wag lying in bed, and, after simply saying, “I have no grudge against you, GiltiiLn,” deliberately pointed the rifle at the breast of deceased, and liren, the ball lodging a few inches below the heart. Muirhead was said to be a very hard drinker, and it is surmised that when he committed the act he was suffering from ilelii'inm tremens. The untimely deceased was a well-educated, gentlemanlike, iuoffo sivc young man in the flush and prime of life. lie had taken diplomas in surgery, &c., but ill-fortune told him to take refuge in the Armed oustabulary Force, after failing to establish himself as a medical practitioner. He was remarkably steady, and had not foregone hopes of some day achieving a higher position. With this view he coat nuo tto lay by most of his pay, and endured some hardships to keep his surgical instrumen's. He was very much liked in the Force, and it is not clearly known why hip comrade, Muirhead, committed the crime. Whilst dying, Civilian more than once said he had given Muirhead no pro'ocatiou ; but it has been slated by other members of the A. 0. Force that the deceased an I h : s slayer quarrelled shoitly I*!fore tho murder whilst working together ill a road party. Most praiseworthy activity is being displayed in forming new Auckland volunteer mi l cadet corps, in the latter it is proposed to enrol 300 youths, and little difficulty would he found in obtaining twice the number. A I?ifie Association is likewise eon. template.!, which bds fair to become very popular. Henceforth, too, the new practise ground at Mount Eden will give the various corps facilities formerly not obtainable, as the distance to Point Chevalier was enough to damp the martial ardour of the most patriotic Volunteer. The manner in which the Defence Minister responded to public desire in this matter of the new practise ground appears to have favorably impressed every one here who supports the Volunteer movement, and thinks New Zealand worth defending. During last fortnight death seized three mo-0 victims to augment his long, melancholy Pst of those awfully sudden demises which have sorrowfully distinguished Auckland and neighbor ng localities in the past twelve months—Mr Naughton, 11.M., late Commissioner of Police, died instantaneously, cf heart disease, at one o’clock ou the morning which next succeeded St. Patrick’s Day. On the 19th ins', he was buried with Roman Catholic rites, an I his obsequies were witnessed by a large crowd, including many g ntlemcn, high in position, by whom he was greatly respected. The deceased was a Freemason, a fact which appears to have been unknown to the priest who'officiated at Mr Nanghton’s funeral, and who has since stated in a local journal that lie (the priest) would nob have performed the burial service had ho been previously made aware deceased was a Mason, 'i’his declaration of Father MM ’onaid has provoked very severe criticism. By some it is supposed the newly-arrived Catholic Bishop of Auckland, Dr Crokc, sanctions Father M‘Donald’s published .sentiments, but there seems to be no foundation for the supposition. One day after Mr Naughtoa’s funeral, a poor Laboring man was taken ill in High street, and died of appoplexy as soon as he reached his int far-distant earthly home. The third and latest sudden death occurred on Friday last, when a fine yoiii.g man, aged 20, and named Lorrigan, expired at breakfast, without a moment’s warning. Death was caused in this instance by rupture in the head of a minute vein. Lorrigan was an Auckland Artillery Volunteer, and, and, as is usual, was buried with military hon urs, three bands playing sacred music, and be] tween 20 /0 and 31)00 people attended his interment. The ili-fatcd youth belonged to a family of early settlers, who mostly met with untimely deaths by various casualties.