TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 262, 14 April 1875, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(Press Telegraph Agency.") Auckland, April 13. The agricultural statistics for 1875 are published. The total acres under crop, including artificial grasses, are 268,657, being an increase on last year of 41,177 acres. Under grass, 254,560 acres. At the nomination to-day for the election of a member of the Provincial Council for the City East, W. L. Rees, barrister, George Holdship, timber merchant, were candidates. Mr Rees said his principal object for wishing to get in was that he might contest the General Assembly seat for City East with Mr Vogel at next election. The show of hands was as follows: —Rees, 60; Holdship, 38. Blenheim, April 13. A man named William McDonald, committed suicide on Sunday, in Blenheim lockup, by strangling himself with a leather strap which he fastened round his throat, and tied to his left foot. He was taken into custody on the charge of attempting to destroy himself. At the inquest, a verdict was returned of suicide while laboring under mental aberration. Grahamstown, April 13. In the case of Thomas Edwards, on remand to-day, charged with shooting with intent to murder John Toovey, evidence was taken at length. The medical evidence was to the effect that Toovey was suffering from shot wounds below the knee. Accused made a long statement admitting the off "nee He said prosecutor had three or four times seduced his wife from home, had disgraced him and his family, and rendered his life miserable besides ruining his prospects. Ee had therefore determined to be revenged. He did not intend to kill Toovey, but to cripple him. Accased was committed for trial. Dunedin, April 13. Wright, a baker, attempted to commit suicide to-day. The doctors have pronounced him insane, and he is to be taken to the asylum. THIS DATS TELEGBAM.S. TAURANGA, April 14. The severest shock of earthquake ever felt in this district was experienced this morning.

The first issue was printed to-day of the Patea Mail by Joseph Ivess, late proprietor of the Greymouth Star.

[FROM OUR AUCKLAND CORRESPONDENT.] Auckland, April 13.

There has been a serious coach accident. One of Crowther's coaches was standing at the Newmarket Hotel, and as the driver was in the act of mounting the box the horses from some cause, took fright, and set off at full gallop. Madden, the driver, threw himself forward to catch the reins, but was shaken off and fell violently on the ground, receiving a severe cut on his head, and the wheels passed over his body, which was greatly injured. The horses dashed off at a furious pace, but were ultimately stopped. The driver is expected to recover. As a Mrs Allen, at Ohinemuri, was sitting by the fire her dress ignited, and she was seriously burnt before the flames were extinguished. Womens quarrels with their husbands or neighbours occupy a great portion-of the time of the police court. The clerk complains that he is often engaged on these quarrels from the rising of the Court until the clock strikes four. In each case a brief history of the quarrel and three copies of the information are necessary, and every copy contains from 150 to 200 words.

A very keen contest is anticipated tomorrow, between Messrs Dargaville and Dignan, for the seat in the General Assembly, in the place of the late Mr Williamson. Young, a man from a suburban district, was brought up at the police court to-day, charged with an abominable offence, and was remanded.

At the Thames police court to-day Thomas Edwards was charged with shooting John Toovey with intent to murder him. Witnesses clearly proved the offence. Edwards made a statement that Toovey had repeatedly run away Avith his wife. Edwards was committed for trial. There are doubts regarding the accused's sanity.

[FROM OUR DUNEDIN CORRESPONDENT.] Dunedin, April 13. In Reginav Hagerty, for violently assaulting a constable, the defence was that the prisoner was subject to lunacy, and his con- ■ duct in the doc'v to-day was evidently assumed to support the plea. When brought up for sentence, he addressed the Judge in loud tones, saying that the evidence entitled him to a nonsuit, if not, the Crown should empanel another jury. He then rayed about his parents, and said he did not like hard labour on the roads. Judge Prendergast, in sentencing him to six months' imprisonment, ordered a medical examination. Johnstone's case was horribly distressing. He is an old man, and had married a widow who at the time had three daughters. Two of them were illegitimate children by her first husband, and the third an illegitimate child by another man. By two of these girls Johnstone has had children. The lives of his wife and children have been threatened, and the former has been much beaten, which prevented them for two years disclosing to the neighbours the condition of things. The ages of the girls are eighteen, sixteen, and eight years. The jury's verdict was "Most grossly guilty." The prisoner's defence was that the whole affair was a conspiracy.

At to-day's sitting, the Grand Jury, considering the evidence in law before them to be insufficient, threw out a bill for horsestealing. It afterwards transpired that the prosecutor was unable to attend through serious illness. The Crown Prosecutor applied to have the bill again sent to the Grand Jury, but the Judge ruled that it could not be done this session. The Judge declined to excuse from service a juryman who wanted to get married. He Sullivan, the Age says:—"Our Government find it a difficult problem to get rid of this encumbrance. Power is only given to convey him to the place from whence he came, and as this happened to be New South Wales, and as any over step of the character indicated would beyond doubt lead to an unpleasant complication between the two colonies, the murderer is likely to remain in Melbourne gaol for some considerable time to come."

The Victorian Racing Club's programme for next Midsummer includes a weight for age race, over three miles, for a sweepstake of 20 so\s each, with £ISOO added. The committee, viewing with disgust the misuse and false running of horses which marked the racing for the past season in handicaps, have reduced the number and worth of handicap stakes, and supplemented the weight for age races. The damage done by the lire on the Kuriwao station is estimated at £I2OO.