Local items.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 15, Issue 750, 6 January 1870, Page 2

Local items.

Sudden Death.—lt is our painful duty to record the sudden death,! on board the Jennie Ellingwood, of Captain David Hannah, the wellknown coast pilot, who brought i.hat vessel fro in Donedin. Capt. Hannah had not been in good health for some dine, as he was suffering from chronic dysentery, but on the morning of Monday he was seized with an epileptic tit, speedily followed by another, which proved fatal. Dr. Hitch ings was in attendance at the time of the second fit, but professional skill was then of no avail. Cap tain Hannah was much esteemed in this port, where he was far from being a stranger, having brought up (besides the Jennie Ellingwood) the William Cargill and the Tin daunted. Quite a gloom was casft over the port by the melancholy occurrence, and the shipping and pilotstation Hags, as well as those of the principal stores, were hoisted halfmast in token of respect. Narrow Escape.—At about 10 o'clock on Tuesday night last a seaman belonging to the barque Jennie Ellingwood (who had been on shore attending the funeral of the late Captain Hannah), had a very narrow es cape from a watery grave. From what w r e can learn, he was standing on the Custom house Wharf hailing the barque for a boat to take him on board, when, being in a state known as " three sheets in the wind," he staggered about on the wharf until he went over the side, falling very heavily, face downwards. The tide was running out strong at the time, and there can be no doubt the man would have been drowned had not Mr R. Baxter, who happened fortunately to be standing near at the time, heard the splash; and, finding out that it was a human being, pluckily jumped over after him, and brought him safe to shore. The man seemed to have swallowed a large quantity of water during his immersion, from the effects of which, however, he soon recovered. Supposed Case of Drowning.It was reported in town yesterday that the horse of a man named M'G-uinness, employed on the telegraph line, had been found without the rider on this side of the Mphaka river, which was flooded by the late rains, and that fears are entertained that he had been drowned while attempting to cross. We sinceiely trust that this has not been the case. The Picnic at Taradale, in aid of the funds of the Napier Brass Band, postponed from New Year's Day on account of the weather, took place on Monday last, and, no doubL in consequence of the insufficient notice given, was not so well attendee! as might have been expected, Napier Art Union.—A drawing will take place on Mr Growing's premises this dav (Thursday), at 4 p.m.

Inquest.—An inquest wan held on Tuesday last, 4th Jan., at the Napier Hotel, before Thos. Hitchings, Esq., Coroner, and a jury, on the body of John Sheelian, then and there lying dead Mr T. Morrison was chosen foreman. The first witness examined was Frederick At ward, laborer, who deposed that on Sunday, the 2nd inst, about 015 p.m., he went on the beach behind the Masonic Hotel, and deceased coming out of the surf, which at the time was very high, with his shirt and trousers on. Having stripped himself naked, deceased again went into the water after some floating object, which proved to be the caicase of a sheep. Those on shore became alarmed, and called to him that the sheep way washed ashore, in order that he might c<ame back. He at once turned towards the shore, but' when he had almost landed two great breakers °eized him and dashed him on the beach with great violence, drawing him back out of sight in their recoil. In about three minutes he was again seen floating face downwards in the water, but almost immediately sankj and he was seen no more. No other person was in the water. Had there been life-buoys and lines on the spot some one no doubt would have gone in after him. Witness believed the man was to some extent out of his mind.—Thos. Collins, musician, deposed that about half-past 12 on Sunday he was on the beach in the rear of the Masonic Hotel, and saw deceased walking to and fro with his boot* in his hand, looking at some object in the water. He said he would have it, for there was no better .swimmer in Napier, and was about to go in, but witness dissuaded him. He went so ore distance down the beach, and some minutes afterwards witnes saw him go naked into the surf, and swim out splendidly, Witness went opposite to where he was swimming, and called out to him to come back. In reply, he asked, "Where is it?" Witness replied, pointing to the beach, " Just in shore." Deceased then turned, and in coming to shore was overtaken by a great roller. He turned and dived through it, but was immediately caught by another, hurled to the beach, and then carried out of sight. His head appeared for a moment behind a breaker, and nothing more was seen of him till he was seen helplessly floating face downwards. He might have been partly drunk at the time, but his manner was always very strange, and he was certainly not so drunk as to present his swimming admirably. Witness did not believe any appliances would have enabled them to save him.—Charles Lindsay, clerk to Messrs. Cuff and Stedman, deposed that about noon on Monday, the 3rd inst., he was walking on the beach, and discovered the of a man, thrown up by the sea, almost opposite the Napier Hotel. The body was naked and much bruised, and the hands were folded on the chest, He gave information to the police, who identified the body as that of John Sheehan.—The jury returned a verdict of "Accidentally drowned," adding a recommendation that lifebuoys and lines should be placed on the beach at points easily accessible; that the police regulations referring to bathing should be more stiietly enforced ; and that the police should have a discretionary power to prohibit bathing in the surf in rough weather. Town of Napier Races.—These races came off on Monday last, on the Beach-road, and'we are informed were unusually w ell contested. The following is a list of the winners:—• Hurdle Race— Brathwaite's Dumb Boy-; Trial Stakes —Focett's Lady Bird; Butchers' Handicap—Potter's Jenny; Welter Race Powdrell's Earl Grosvenor; Railway Stakes— Parkei's Ninepins; ConsolationO'Shaughnessy's Billy Barlow; Hack Race—Focett's Fidget. House-stealing.—At the Resident Magistrate's Court, Wellington, on the 28rh Dec, Michael O'Neill, (remanded from Napier), was brought up charged with horse-stealing at Wanganui, and committed for trial. Earthquake.—An almost imperceptible shock of earthquake was felt in Napier this morning, shortly before 2 o'clock,

Robberies by a Native. —Yesterday a Maori named Taylor (who had been apprehended at Mohaka by Mr Inspector Scully) was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court charged with having about midnight on the 18th December entered the butcher's shop of Mr Barnes, Meanee, and stolen 181bs beef and a day-book; and also with havhig during the same night entered the stable of Mr Rymer and stolen therefrom a saddle valued at <£6. The cases were taken separately. Mr Barnes deposed that he closed his shop ab 8 p.m. on Saturday the 18tb ult., putting up three out of fourshutters. The shutters were not in any way secured. On the following morning about half past 6 he found that one of the shutters had been taken clown, and missed a piece of beef from a hook in the shop, and his day-book from his desk. Ana tive named Paul deposed that he saw prisoner about midnight some time before Christmas on the road opposite Barnes' shop, with a piece of beef; he did not see him take it from the shop. The meat was taken to the pa and cooked, and witness had some of it. Mmi, a Maori girl, deposed that she knew the prisoner, that she had seen him with a small book with black covers, some blank leaves ot which she had given to Mr Inspector Scully. She indentified the leaves of an account book, which were produced in court, and v hich Mr Barnes stated belonged to such a book as he had lost. The prisoner on receiving the usual cau tion, said he knew nothing of the theft. The other case was then gone into. Mr G, Rymer, proprietor of the Meanee Express, deposed that on the 18th December, on locking up the stable for the night, he observed his saddle safe on the rack, and that next morning it was not there. There were two small windows without sashes in the end of the stable, about 7 feet from the ground, with sacks tacked across them. One of these sacks was burst off at one side. On examining the outside of the stable he found marks and scratches un- ' der the window. A poY which had : been painted, and which he had varnished on the previous evening, was lying near, and .bore the marks of dirty feet, having apparently been i used by the intruder as a scalingladder. Prisoner was well acquainted wiki the premises. Witness here miuutely described the missing saddle. The native Paul deposed that on the night on which he saw pri < soner with the beef he was with him on the Meanee road at midnight, the night being \~evy dark. Taylor asked him to hold his horse while he go+ his saddle. He went among the houses, and soon returned from the direction of the blacksmith's with a seddle, which he put upon the horse. The night was so dark that witness could not see where he got the saddle from, nor could he identify it. Hohepa, another Maori, deposed that he saw the prisoner on Sunday, 19th Pec , with a saddle, the description of which agreed in every particular with that lost by Mr Rymer. When Taylor left the pa he took it with him. The saddle produced (which was in the prisoner's possession wren apprehended) was not the ■ one. The prisoner was committed to : the Supreme Court on both charges, aad the witnesses bound over in i various amounts to appear and give < evidence. The prisoner who is no doubt an " old hand," and professed • entire ignorance of both crimes, is we believe, likely to be brought again •, before the Court, on a charge of horse-stealing. The Census.—His Excellency the '< Governor has appointed Edward L. ( Green, Esq., to be Superintendent Col- ; lector forthe Province of Ha wke's Bay under Census Acts Amenment " Act, 1867." That gentleman is authorised to frank and receive letters on public service,, The Customs Receipts at the Port of Ahnriri for. the month ending 31st December, J 869, amounted (including pilotage, arms fees, &c.,) to £3,066 13s lOd. Fifty Laboring Men will pro- ; bably arrive here by the s,s. Star of, the South, now hourly expected . from Auckland. <

I Dr. Hector's Report of his visit > to the Kaimanawa ranges will, we i feat.*, damp the ardour of all but the : mosc sanguine in reference to their t j expectations of finding a payable ; gold-field in that district: but as re--:gards the Kereru discoveries there , seems more grounds for reasonable [ hope. Dr. Rector, however, recom- ; mends that attention for the present s at least should be devoted to the search for gold in the wash drifted i j down by the streams rather than " y -random search for reefs," remarking j that "in a slate country which has been subjected to such extensive denudations as the Kaimanawa and Ruahine ranges, gold, if present, must be found in the gravels of the streams, and that " on all gold-fields the discovery of reefs have followed " long after that, of alluvial diggings." We regard the Doctor's advice as sound, and look upon the Kereru discovery as an indication of the direction in which to seek for alluvial gold. Napier Garrick Club.'—The performance in the Oddfellows' Hall on Monday night, despite the attractive! programme, was rather poorly attended—the back seats presenting an unusually bare appearance. The progiamme was the same as on Friday evening, with the exception of a slight variation in the musical portion. The overture to "La Dame Blanche" particularly struck us as being well performed. Dr Hitchings sang "The Slave Ship" with great effect, and a duett sung by Dr. Hitchings and Mr Carver was much admired, and was encored. The comedietta of "The Loan of a Lover," and the faices " A Dead Shot" and " The Area Belle " having been noticed in detail in our last require no further mention. At the close of the performance it was notified that the next would be for the benefit of the Misses Williams, who, we have no doubt, will meet with the reward their talents deserve in a well-filled house. ' Prize Firing.—A New Zealand Gazette, issued on the 31st December, contains the regulations for the Colonial Prize Firing for 1870, which is to take place in Dunedin on a day to be hereafter named by the Go vernment. Wool. —A large quantity of wool arrived in town yesterday. The clip this year is expected to be unusually large. The Hawke's Bay portion of the English November Mail arrived here by the s.s. Wellington on Tuesday evening.