THE COUNTRY.

Evening Star, Issue 3134, 6 March 1873, Page 3

THE COUNTRY.

Nasicuv. —Our correspondent, writing on the 3rd hist., says : —“ Your telegrams will have told you of tl'.o sudden death of a miner, Walter Morningtun, on Saturday evening. It appears that Michael Olccson was sent down about a year ago to the Dunedin Asylum ; that after being detuned a considerable time lie was again let out, and at once returned to Naseby. He found that Ids old mate or mates bad kept possession of bis lint, and bad also retained Ids share of the water-race they had jointly owned. He instituted legal proceedings against them in the Magistrate’s Ooiirt, gaining Ids cases, at the same time getting credit for the ability and shrewdness bo displayed, a reputation—most false as a tost of madness—that lias probably led to the sad occurrence of Saturday, For some weeks now, Gleeson has been at large, living in a but at the back of the town, and passing bis time mostly in pacing up and down in front of Ids door, singing a mad jumble of obscene words, and playing a jew’s-harp. Representations have been made to the police that the man should not be allowed to go at largo; but from technical difficulties, or from an over-placed confidence, the sergeant lias refused to detain him. Lately, a man named Crosbie, a notorious madman, bad to be brought up three times before the police could get Idm sent to the asylum, and tlds probably disheartened them frem doing their duty in tin’s case. 1 do not care to say much about the facts till the evidence is he,night forward. 11 is generally reported that Mornington and bis mate were returning home the worse for liquor, that Glcesou was also coming home with a load of firing -bundle of sppargrass or something similar, —that an altercation toolc place, and both the men wore, struck by Gleeson. On a crowd collect Jpg, spmp af iyu>e saw that Morning ton was dying, and wont for Dr Dick, ; who roppi Led Kim dead. No blows sufficient to i < a ago iVoatii were apji.u out. The result of the I pqst mortem examination will lie laid before the inquest to sit at 12 to-day. Gleeson was, of course, at once apprehended, and has been pacing the lock-up day and night, singing his impromptu rubbish, to the great disturbance of the neighborhood.—An old man died in the Hospital, yesterday, of hypertrophy of thqhoart. He has been kept alive the last few wcoks simply by medical skill. Two fnncyals will thus occur to-day ; a very uniisuai occurrence. Aimow. A fourth share in Dixon’s tunnel claim, Arrow River, was last week disposed of for L2ao. Mr Dixon, seller, proceeds shortly to Canada, where, we understand, a much richer claim than the one he leaves -in the iffiapo of valuable landed property- awaits him. On Monday a considerable number or Chinese were to bo sooi\ \a sowu, dikyliLyiug unwonted ay-

tirity. On inquiry wc learn that they had come in to the Warden’s Court in quest of miners’ rights, certificates, and other mining privileges, to enable them to work ground at the Matatapu, wVich has recently been rushed by Mongolians. —It will be pleasing to those who take an interest in acclimatisation m this district to know that the introduction of Oalitornian quail promises to be most successful. e are informed by Mr A. 0. Thomson that a pair of these birds have hatched a nest of ten young in one of his paddocks. Mr Thomson examined without disturbing the fledgings, and on visiting the spot a few days after, they had flown. - Obucri'cr.