THE PROVINCES.

Globe, Volume I, Issue 57, 5 August 1874, Page 3

THE PROVINCES.

AUCKLAND. The "Herald" of the 27th gives the following particulars of an extraordinary ease of shooting : —A very extraordinary and unprovoked attempt at assassination was made on Saturday afternoon, shortly after four o'clock, in Grey street, upon Mr Heavy Davison, elerk to Mr Young, butcher. '1 he person who attempted this gro:-s on) • ;ge was i middleaged man. named Ale.' ovier narrower Finlay, 11 miner, from (.'oromaude], 1>" who has formerly occupied a bolter position in society. The intended victim was engaged at the time in book-keeping in Mr Young's countinghouse. Finlay passed by (lie window, and presenting a (Jolt's five-chamber revolver, tired at Mr Davison's "Mead. The shot having gone through the plate-glass struck the railing of the desk where Mr Davison was at work. The bullet glanced off and hit the wall. The assailant immediately discharged another barrel of the weapon, taking deliberate aim, and standing only a yard distance away. The shot penetrated the wall, and must have passed within half an inch of Mr Davison's head, and it is miraculous that he thus escaped being killed after such almost deadly aim had been taken. Pinlay then walked coolly away, but had not proceeded far when he was overtaken by Constable Moouey, who being close at hand, was apprised of the outrage. Ou being accosted by the police ofliccr, he at once admitted the offence* and handed to the constable his revolver. It was found, on examination, to have the remaining three chambers still loaded with bail cartridge. The man was taken into custody, and merely remarked that he considered he had done only what was right. At the police station he appeared perfectly rational, and readily answered all questions put to him. He has resided in the colony for nearly twenty years, and has bceu regarded as a steady, quiet, inoffensive, and sober man. He was formerly in the Life Guards, and is well connected. On being searched at the station a sum of £57 was found in his possession. Davison and he were acquainted with each other at Coromandel, the former having been in business as a butcher in Kapanga lower township. No ill-feeling or animosity existed between them., and no motive can be ascribed for the crime, excepting that it was done in a sudden fit of insanity. The prisoner was lodged in a cell at the police station, and will be charged st the Police Court this morning with attempting to murder. The affair has caused considerable excitement.

The local papers record the death of Mr William Rattray, at his residence, Kpsorn, on the 23rd.'Tbe deceased gentlemau was among our very old residents, and for a long number of years had identified himself with every movement for the alleviation of suffering humanit3 r . for the promotion of religion in its widest and truest sense, and for forwardins; every good social movement. Mr Rattray was a man much beloved by a large circle of friends, and greatly respected by all to whom he was known outside of it. His loss will be deeply felt by liis brother philanthropists, with whom he had for so long a time been a fellow-labourer in every good and benelicent cause. The deceased had only reached his fifty-second year before he was taken away, and but a few days back was in the full en joyment of excellent health. As a token of respect the ilags in the city were hoisted half-mast high, and many of the business establishments had their shutters up during the d'-y.

A sharp encounter with a shark, says the " Coromandel News," took place in Kikowhakariri Bay. on Friday last. Alargeshark was seen swimming about the bay some thirty or forty feet from the edge of the water. Mr Kennedy, and a plucky woman who volunteered to go with him, put off at once in a dingy, taking with him a spearand other tackle for the monster's capture. No sooner did the shark see the dingy put off than he made direct for it, snapping one of the paddles in two. A fierce struggle then ensued. The spear, however, was handled with dexterity, and a thrust more fatal than the rest striking the monster in a vital part, caused him to turn belly upwards. The battle, so say those who witnessed it from the shore, was an exciting one, and wc must say that Mr Keunedy, and his female companion showed no little pluck in venturing to the attack in a mere dingy, for the brute, when towed ashore, was found to measure a trifle over nine feet in length, with a mouth four feet in circumference. OTAGO. The "Daily Times" says—Mr Deans, the Acclimatisation Society's manager, has returned from Palmerston, bringing with him about 14,000 trout eggs, which were obtained by him at Mr W. A. Young's ponds. A portion of these were procured from the natural rids of the fish, and the remainder were taken artificially and impregnated by what is known as the dry process. The latter, which number 5000, are apparently in a healthy condition, and it is not unlikely that the greater portion of them will in time be hatched out. Of the eggs procured from the gravel beds, several hundred have already gone bad through not having been impregnated, and it is probable that there will be a still further diminution in the number of vital ova Although seventeen fish had been secured in the ponds, only three proved to be females. One of these, the large one mentioned by us last week, gave about 8000 eggs, and there appears to be several thousand left in the fish, which will, be taken from her when ripe. Mr Deans has had to return through the rising of the Shag River, but he will shortly visit Palmerston again for a further supply. Wo are sorry (sa.ys the " Times ") to hear that Mr Clarkston has for the third time been compelled to stop work at his coal-pit at Green Island, situated close to the branch line of railway now in course of construction. On Saturday the water broke into the pit, and soon fill-ed the shaft to a depth of :50ft. From the fact that a large sum of money has been expended here in endeavouring to develop what is known to be a splendid seam of coal, the mishap is the more to be deplored. The first steamer to be built on the banks of the canal on the reclaimed ground has (says the "'Times") been contracted for. Messrs K. S. Sparrow and Co., of the Dunedin Ironworks, have agreed to build a steamer for Messrs Duthie and Co., shipowners, Wanganui. The steamer is to be of iron, 85 feet in length, 15 feet <"> inches in beam, and 7 feet depth of hold. She is to be fitted with a pair of engines on the cornpound principle, 20 h.p. nominal, and capable of working up to about four times their nominal power. These engines are to have the latest improvements. In this

colouy, where conl is so heavy an ifom, the introduction of engines constructed on this principle, and which need a much less quantity of fuel than the ordinary sort, and consequent saving of expense, is a matter well worthy of special mention. And it is also a, fact worth policing that the engines '.'.ill be manufactured mi Otago—they will he the first 0:1 the compound principle made here. Every 'part oT the steamer will be made in Messrs Sparrow and Oo's workshops. The vessel will be built under the supervision of Mr. Hunter. engineer to Messrs Duthie and Co. She will be eons! meted more with a view to carrying capacity on a light draft of water than to speed. She is to be completed in about three months from date. The vessel is to be built on the edge of the canal adjoining Messrs Sparrow's new premises; the iron work is already in hand, and the keel will be laid in a few days. As an evidence of the coniidence of business men in the future of Dunediu, it may be mentioned, says a Dunedin contemporary, that a section fronting Stuart street, and which is to have a frontage to the Cumberland street extension, was leased by auction yesterday, for 21 years, for £214 10s per annum. Facts like this should silence croakers.

The structure for the newly [established Normal School at Pelichct Bay now presents, says the " Daily News,' ; a finished and handsome appearance, a little interior decorating being all that remains to be done. The principal entrance is through a porch on the north end, which leads through a short lobby, on each side of which are class-rooms, one 40 x 20, computed to scat forty, and the other, 1(> x 12, for infants. The hall opens into the principal room, which is 53 x 21, having a moveable partition in the centre, whereby the boys can be shut out from the girls ; the writing-desks are similar to those used in other schools, and aie placed on a raised floor, each scholar being prominently seated before the teacher. At the south end of the building, running the full width from east to west, is a room 45 x 20. which will accommodate 150, and at the side entrance to this is a girls' cloak room. All the rooms are supplied with fireplaces, and ventilated from the ceiling, though in the latter respect they appear to be deficient, and were the top windows made to open it would be of great ben (tit in sultry weather. The structure is a very substantial one of brick and stone, the gables at each end being wider than the centre building. The contractor, Mr Siedeberg, expects to have it completed in a week's time, but, the walls and ceiling being plastered, it must remain some time to dry.