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Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 721, 27 September 1869, Page 2

The Weather.—Rain set in on Saturday evening, and continued till nearly midnight. Yesterday morning, however, broke fine, and the weather now is magnificent.

Gazettes.—A Provincial Government Gazette, published on Friday, contains a list of Deeds of Grant readv for delivery at the Crown Lands Office; a proclamation re specting certain educational reserves to be offered by public auction for lease for a period of 21 years ; a proclamation notifying that a sale will take place on Thursday, 23rd Dec, of 210 town sections, Porangahau, and 1 town section, Olive; proclamation notifying that on the same day suburban sections 43 to 49 West dive will be offered to public competition, and that rural sections 34 to 36 West Clive, will on and after that day be open to public selection.— Another Gazette was issued on Saturday last and contains a proclamation, dated September 24, to the effect that John Davis Ormond, Esq., having been elected Superintendent, he had that day entered upon the duties of that office; also an announcement that Robert Price has retired from the co-partnership lately carried on between him and A. H. Price, as sheepfarmers, Motuotaraia.

The Boiling-Down Company.— Important Decision. —OnThursday last, at the Resident Magistrate's Courfc, the Boiling-Down Company were charged, on the information of Thomas Potter, lessee of the slaugh-ter-yards, with unlawfully slaughtering 20 sheep, without being duly licensed by the Hawke's Bay Slaugh-ter-house Act. Mr Carlyon appeared for the prosecution ; Mr Cuff for the defence. Evidence was taken with regard to the 20 sheep which had been slaughtered and carried away for sale, and also to the effect that the Company were in the constant habit of slaughtering sheep and selling the meat. The slaughtering and gale was admitted by the defendants, but Mr Cuff raised the objection that the informant, not having been authorised by the Inspector, was not a competent person to lay the information, Mr Carlyon contended that there being no restrictive clause in the Act, any person of ago and of sound mind was competent to do so The case was adjourned for a day for the consideration of this point. On Friday the Resident Magistrate gave his decision in favor of the coinpe tence of the informant, and inflicted upon the Company the fine of £5 per head for the sheep slaughtered, or MOO, and costs.

DEAD BODY FOUND.—COItONER'S INQUEST.

An inquest was held at the Exchange Hotel, Huveloctjon Friday last, 24th Sept., before Tbos. Hitching*. Esq , Coroner, and a respectable jury, of which Mr John Garry was chosen foieman, oa the body of a man which way found in the bed of the Ngaruroro river, near Maraekakaho, on Wednesday, Sept 22. The following evidence was adduced :

Thomas Atkinson, sworn, deposed I am a laborei, living at Marae kakaho. I identify deceased as a man that came to the accommodation house at Maraekakaho at about halfpast four on the afternoon of July 31. He stayed there about quarter of an hour, enquiring for Col. Whitmore's out whare. He was walking, and as the rivers were very high, I advised him not to attempt to go. I went away, and in about a quarter of an hour returned and found him gone. I have no doubt as to his identity. He appeared sober, but asked for grog; but there wa.-» none. I had seen him before about nine months ago. He was a laboring man. I don't know his name He told me he had belonged, or did belong to the 18th Royal Irish ; this was at Carlyon's station. He left after working for a few days without asking for payment. He appeared dull and in low spirits. Richard Monypenny, sworn, deposed—l am in the employ of Mr Duff on the Ohig Station. I identify deceased as a traveller who called at our place on or about the last Saturday in July last. He came about 4 p.m. or 5 p.m., and asked for Mr Duff and accommodation for the night. I asked him where he was from. He said he had come from Mr Hunter's, Porangahau, where he had received a cheque for .£25 and 15s in silver. I did not see any money on him. He had hisupper in the kitchen with the other men. His manner was ihat of a man who had been drinking for some time —only at times appearing to know what he said or did. After supper he called the shepherd out, and told him he was a deserter from the 18th Regt. He soon returned, and sat by the tire for about an hour. He then went out, saying nothing. As he did not return I after a time went and looked after him ; but did not find him, and have not seen him since. He left his swag at our place; it consisted of shirts, trowsers and tobacco. A pair of boots was found the next day about a mile off on a line of fence which leads to the river. The latter was very high at the time. He did not say where he intended going to, but said he should make back for Porangahau. He had no grog at our place. Our station is abGiit live miles from the accommodation house.

John Clarke, sworn, deposed—l am living at Mr M £ Lean's station. On "Wednesday last, Sept. 22, I was keeping close to the river bank, when I observed something on the river bed which I took for a log at first, but on closer inspection proved to be the body of a human being. The body was perfectly naked, and very much decomposed. I immediately returned to the station, and represented the fact to Mr M'Lean. All hands turned out and went out to the spot. None of us could identify him. The color of his hair, which was light brown and curly, proved him to be a white man. He was tall, and had a short, stubby moustache. The jury returned the following verdict:—" That decased, by name unknown, was found dead."