WELLINGTON NEWS.

Hastings Standard, Issue 29, 30 May 1896, Page 3

WELLINGTON NEWS.

DETECTIVE KIRBY'S I> IS APPEARANCE. REPORTED SUICIDE. [Special TO StaNDAUI>.] (By Telegraph—< >«n Correspondent. / Wellington - , this day. There are various rumors as to Detective Kirby's disappearance. It is not likely that he is on board the Tainui, as the Takapima, which was the only steamer he could possibly have gone by to join the Tainui at Lyttelton, left here on Wednesday at 4.20 p.m., and Ivirby was seen in town at 5 p.m. It is equally impossible that he cotild have left by the Talune for Sydney, as a thorough search of the vessel was made by the police before she left the wharf. There is a rumor that liirby contemplated suicide, and some think he has accomplished this. Another suggestion is that he has left in a small sailing boat for Pelortts Sound, where there are excellent opportunities for hiding. The police evidently think it is not improbable that he is still in Wellington, for a number of plain-clothes constables were to be seen about the city yesterday. Kirby is the second police officer charged with an offence that has managed to get away. Last year Constable Murdoch disappeared mysteriously. Mr Martin, S.M., made reference to this yesterday, and asked Inspector Pender to leave no stone unturned in order to effect the arrest of Kirby. The Lyttelton police made a careful search of the Tainui before she sailed, so that Kirby has not left the colony by that vessel.