BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH

Evening Star, Issue 3709, 12 January 1875, Page 3

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH

Wellington, January 11, Amongst the passengers going Home by the Howrah, are the Hon. Mr and Mrs Sewell, Mr Justice Richmond and family, Dr Hector and Mrs Hector and family. Auckland, January 11. The Blanche proceeds to Howe’s Group, the scene of the recent massacre of the crew of the Janies Birnie, schooner. Grahamstown, January il. The news of the burning of the Cospatrick caused a profound sensation and grief, many families here having relatives on board coming out under the nominated immigrants system. One resident here has lost mother, brother, and sisters, and has now scarcely a single blood relative left. Picton, January 11. Amongst the Carnatic's passengers are a mim her for the Fielding Block. The voyage was made in ninety-nine days. Hokitika, January 12. The steamer Otago took for Melbourne 14,752 ozs. of gold shipped from Westland, and about equal quantities from Hokitika and Greymouth. There are also 5,000 ozs. waiting shipment by the Tnrarua to-day, making a total value of over L 79,600 shipped from Westland during the week.

(From our own Correspondents.) Christchurch, January 11. The man arrested this morning for the Lyttelton murder is named John Mercer. He has been employed as cook and steward on hoard several coasting craft; had been discharged from the Canterbury, schooner, on Saturday, tut was recommended by the captain to Captain O’Brien, of the Cleopatra. When ho went off to fetch his clothes from the Canterbury, he appeared in a very excited state, and threw overboard a quantity of ship’s stores and other articles. He went ashore from the Cleopatra at not later than five p.m., but did not return till ten a.m. dh Sunday. He was arrested on Monday morning at six o’clock on a charge of wilfully destroying property ; and on searching his swag a pair of blood-stained trousers was found, also a jacket, which he explained by saying that he killed sheep at Wellington, A number of thorns were extracted from his hands. These will be examined under a microscope and compared with gorse thorns. There are no signs of violation on the body of the girl. Mercer is reported to have escaped from the Buller, being wanted there on a charge of indecent assault on a little girl. A post mortem, examination on the girl was held at the Morgue by Drs. Rouse anil Mac Donald, whose evidence was taken at the inquest this afternoon. Mercer seems callous. He explains the thorns by saying he had pimples on his knees and hands. The man O borne, who was arrested yesterday, has been discharged. The police are confident they have now got the real offender. The bodies of Messrs Sale and Nalder arc not recovered, and probably have been taken out to sea by the current.

January 12. The inquest on Isabella Thompson has been adjourned till the 19th inst. Captain Vessel, of the schooner Canterbury, gave evidence, stating that he saw Mercer in company with a little girl shortly after five p m. on {Saturday, and identified the body sis that of the girl he saw with Accused. James Allan,' mate of the same vessel, gave similar evidence, and added that he saw Mercer a few minutes before the six p.m. train started for Christchurch. He particularly noticed him, as he seemed excited, and kept his coat buttoned up and his hands iu liis pockets. The 'thorns extracted from the prisoner’s knees and hands proved to be gorso thorns. 'The police consider there is no doubt as to the mau being the perpetrator of the crime. ' Napier, January 11. A public meeting has been called for to-mor-row night, at which candidates for the couucillorship at the borough election are invited to ad iress the burgesses. There are twenty-two candidates, of whom five are expected to withdraw. Opinion is favorable to the imposition of moderate rates for lighting and surface drainage. It is also hoped that the best professional advice will be obtained before entering into the question of water supply. The loss of the Cospatrick caused general depression here. The names of the passengers are not known, but it is thought several on board were coming to this Province. A drunken woman attempted to drown herself in the swamp yesterday, but she was rescued and fined 20s to-day for drunkenness. The Luna brought up eleven Armed Constabulary,' who proceed to Arnmui, on the East Ciast, to establish another military post* Complaints were made by the Committee of Oddfellows and Foresters of insolence and irritating conduct on the part of the railway station clerk on New Year’s Day last before Mr Passmore, who replied to the effect that “ the bye-laws justified the couduct of my clerk,” and sated that the travellers gave cause of offence. Mr J'assmoro’s letter, being addressed personally to the Secretary of the Committee, was returned, with an insulting answer, Mr Passmore’s letter created great indignation amongst the large and influential body of Oddfellows and Foresters.

Auckland, January 11. The charge of arson against Ketnsley, arising out of the last extensive fire in Wakefield street, occupied the attention of the Supreme Court to-day, and will be continued to-morrow. The evidence rests mainly on the removal of goods by Kemsley a day or two before the fire, and his endeavor to sell them under another name ; also his excessive insurance. Accused had got six miles into the country the night of the fire. The multiplicity of incendiary fires in Auckland causes great interest to centre in the case. The Cospatrick calamity has been the solo topic of conversation to-day. All tho newspapers call for inquiry, referring to the fact that only two boats were launched. Tho ‘ Star ’ Says ; ** We arp to|d it is quite customary for yosdels leaving with immigrants for new boats to be procured from the builders, placed aboard to pass the inspection of tho Immigration Officers, and afterwards to be returned to their owners with a small payment fox 1 theii use,” # The signatures to Sir George Grey’s requisition number over 600, more thau was evei polled by any candidate at tho City West elec tion. His return without opposition is considered certain, in the event of a vacancy. I The whaler Coral arrived at Mongnnui with 500 barrels of whale and 150 of sperm oil. The whaler Abraham Baker arrived from a cruise, but saw nothing. The Melanesian Missionary schooner Southern ( Cross is a complete failure. She will neither I tack nor keep up to the wind in any weather, j She wab designed by fwo {theoretical nautical

men, who forced the builder to work out their plahSi She will now have to undergo extensive &h'l costly alterations. Tlie Rev, Mr Selwyn sent up instructions to the builders to carry them out without reference to the original designs. At the Good Templar’s reception of Mr Hastings, the American delegate, it was stated that of the three thousand members of the order in the North Island seven hundred and fifty was the lowest estimate of those who had fallen away. The bitter animosity between the Hanks has led to some unpleasant results. One Hank has refused to discount the bids of some firms doing a large business when presented by their own customers, merely because the firms in question had removed their accounts to other Banks This necessarily damages their credit and causes inconvenience.

The owner of the racehorse Bundarra was fined in the nominal penalty of a shilling and costs, at theSThames, for raffling his horse. The Magistrate, Captain Fraser, who is a wellknown sporting man, said he failed to see the difference between raffling horses and raffling dolls in bazaars.