Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1872.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 19, Issue 1307, 24 April 1872, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Times. Nullius addictus jurare in verba magistri. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 1872.

In the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon, the case of Brown v. Steel was further adjourned to Tuesclay. Alley v. Nikora.—Claim of MS p.a damages for the illegal impounding of certain cattle. After a protracted hearing, judgment was given for the amount claimed, with .£1 6s costs. "We learn that a friendly rifle contest between the Napier'Rifle Club and the Dunedin Scottish Rifles will come off shortly. We hear that the anniversary festival of the Hope of Meanee Tent will take place on the 21th May (the Queen's Birthday.) Otago once more takes the championship in rifle shooting, papt Wales, No. 1 Company Dunedin Rifles, having, at the Colonial Prize Firing at Christchurch, made the highest aggregate score in the eight sets of matches by which the ownership of the champion rifle belt for this year is decided. Jt is the second time he has done this, and he has fairly earned his present honor. The shooting all through was very good, and one of the desired results of these meetings is thus being gradually attained. O.ur own representative Lieut. Close, of the Napier Rillei — did not succeed so well as his friends had hopetl—J£2 being the extent of his winnings.

According to rumor in Wellington, Mr John Tancred has joined the Ministry, and that he will be called to the tipper House. The commission appointed to, enquire into, matters connected with the 'ship England, commenced its sittings in the Mount Cook J3arracks, Wellington, on. mitted, the papers were unable to pubfck $. WQJQ$£y. °C the proceedings,

The E!veiling Post, April 19, contains the following paragraph :—" It is not generally known that the claimant to the Tichborne estates was some time ago for several months a resident in Wellington, under the name of De Castro. During the trial just completed in London, the claimant's career was traced, with the exception of a period of six months, during which he disappeared, and reappeared under the name of De Castro. It thus appears that the missing link in his life could have been supplied by means of research in this colony. Truth is stranger than fiction." The Otago Daily Times says :—Constable Dunn, of Balclutha, found a threatening letter addressed to him under his office door on the morning of the 22nd ult. The missive bore the signature of " Hory of the New Zealand Hills," and the writer appended his crest thereto, in the shape of a sketch of an ugly-looking phiz., intended to represent a skull, with cross-bones and a gun beneath. He counsels the constable and his " mate" (Constable M'Millan), to take care what they are doing, else they may soon get a bullet through them, emphasising his advice with numerous adjectives of a character in keeping with his threats. Constable Dunn is the officer who, with the aid of some civilians, arrested a gang of six men at Balclutha about a month ago, while plotting the robbery of a house, and who then quelled their resistance by producing his pistol. The letter is probably from some sympathiser with the men. Its style would do credit to some of the writers of the communications of a similar kind that have been so plentiful il Ireland for a length of time past. As our readers are aware, Mr D. M. Luckie, editor of the Nelson Colonist, is a candidate for the seat for Nelson in the House of Representatives vacated h}' Mr Light-band. Tn his published address, Mr Luckie states that his political creed is peace and progress, and he compares the of the previous war policy with the present conciliation policy. The former-, he says, paralysed the immigration of men and the influx of capital, while the latter gave both new life by securing peace and initiating public works. He favors a modified provincialism for provinces ; direct taxation, with income and property taxes. His views on education are that it should be as nearly as possible like the Nelson system. —Mr J". C. Richmond will oppose Mr Luckie, and the contest is expected to be a keen one. We observe by our Auckland files that Mrs Cyrus Haley has taken passage for England in the ship Caduceus, which vessel was to. leave Auckland for Liondon on the 22nd inst. Mr Mitchell, the original patentee of the well known Mitchell's pens, lately died in Ballarat, Victoria. From the Southern Cross we find that lever embossing presses are manufactured in Auckland and sold at a cheaper rate than the imported article. The New Zealand Herald, April 11. says:—One of those sad' ca-ses turned up at the Police Court yesterday, which we are so often compelled to chronicle. A little boy named Small, who did not belie his name, was brought up on a charge of stealing sixpence out of a till. The child was so small that he had to. be put on a chair before he could be fairly seen over the front of the dock. It appeared that this was the boy's third offence, and that on the occasion of his last conviction he had been whipped. Of course in all largo centres of popu lation these things will occur, but we think that such incidents call for redoubled exertionr on the part of our Christian teachers. Hie Evening Post, April 19, says :. The search for the body of the mythical "Bob," who the prisoner Alfred Knocks said had been murdered by Karaitiana, was fdven up last night. Two con stables and a Maori have spent four days dragging not only the spot indicated by Knocks, but also the neighboring swamp, without finding any trace of a body. To do. this, they had to construct a small raft—in fact, no pains have been spared to ascertain, the truth of Knocks' story. We are inclined to think that he told ii in the hopes of being able to escape when sent up to point out the spot where the supposed body w/j,s buried.

NEW SOUTH WALES. DREADFUL MURDERS AT PARRAMATTA. Telegkapii notices have appeared at different times respecting the committal of certain murders in Ne'v South Wales, and the arrest of the supposed murderers. The Australian papers to hand contain full particulars, and from them we gather the statement of facts which follows. The first person missed was John Bridges, or Peter Bridger, for some time wardroom steward of H.M..S. Bosario. His body was discovered in the mid-channel of the Parramatta Biver, at a place called Kissing Point, near Nicholson's Point. A man named Freeman passing in a boat had his attention drawn to the spot by a foetid smell, which at firs!, he ■ thought proceeded from the carcase of a dead horse, but on examination found Bridge's body floating, with the head and arms above water. Having towed it towards Nicholson's Point, he obtained the assistance of a policeman, and succeeded in landing it with difficulty, owing to a stone weighing about two hundredweight- being fastened to the ankles. There was a hole in the skull, and a scalp wound on the side of the head. From the evidence of Dr M'Laurin, it was concluded that the man was dead before the body was thrown into the water. Two men, Nicholls and Lester, alias Frowde, were arrested by the police on Sunday, March 16th. Both were well known to the police,, Nicholls having been frequently convicted, and Lester having undergone at least one term of imprisonment. They were convicted on 10th May, 1870, at the Central Criminal Court, of a series of larcenies and forgeries of a most extraordinary character, and both sentenced to two years hard labor in Darlinghurst Jail. As the time for which they were sentenced has not yet expired, it is difficult to understand why they are at large. On being arrested, Lester had in his possession a silver presentation watch, inscribed, " Presented to Mr B, Walker, by H.M. Congregation." Suspecting some foul play, the police insti tuted inquiries, and discovered that a recent arrival from Melbourne named Walker was missing, and also Irving, known in New South Wales as the Tambaroora speculator and mining agent. On searching the prisoners' lodgings a shingling hammer, and life preserver, both stained with blood, were found. We need not encumber the narrative with all the rumors that were afloat. At Walker's lodgings a sum of <£Bo in cash and other property was found, and a letter intimating a presentiment of evil. The police succeeded in tracing Walker's having had communication with the prisoners, and after patient search his body was discovered in a place called Fi ! -"e Dock Bay, through particle:-, of fatty substance being observed floating on the water. The body lay in about four feet of water. On endeavoring to laiso it, the feet floated uppermost, and it was then found that a rope was fastened round the neck, to which a heavy stonewas attached. On landing the corpse it was found that the back of the head was beaten in, and there was also a fearful wound on the side of the head. On examination of the pockety a purse containing three sovereigns was found in them, besides some trifling articles. At the inquest, it appealed that, Walker had been decoyed into personal communication with his murderers by answering advertisements inserted in the Sydney Herald—

A STEADY man required for country store ; drive pair horse wagon. T.Y.C., Herald ollice. CLERK wanted, active, intelligent, for country store; liberal salary to competent person. T.Y, 0., Herald. It seems certain that Badges replied to the first advertisement; and from evidence of Charles Evans, watchmaker, Walker absolutely engaged to a man professing to be the manager of the second store named, and c.illing himselt James, manager for one Norton. There was, however, something mysterious about the matter, which led to hesitatation on the part of Walker. .For instance, he had called at the iioyal Hotel, where James said he was. stopping, and instead of seeing him, he was met by a lad at the door with a letter addressed to him, and a message that James was indisposed; but that he Would, meet the " family boat " at the

Parramatta wharf, which would convey him to Norton's mansion and store. Evans strongly advised him not to go« Charles Edwards, a phrenologist living ac the same lodgings with Walker,, gave similar evidence. Deceased had told him that a man and boy called upon him, about half-past eight or nine o'clock on the evening of (he thought) Monday, the 4th, in consequence of his answering the advertisement. The man and. youth said io him that they had received 200 applications. Amongst those they had selected six, and he was one of the six. The situation was for a « Mr Norton," in the'Bathurst district*. "Mr Norton " was said to employ I*4 hands. The men suspected were addressed by Detectives Elliot and', Camphin. On taking Nicbolls into custody, on the charge of murdering Walker iiL connection with Lester, alias Frowde, Nichols said, "It is a complete mystery to me, Elliot. It will be solved in. lime** Camphin, on. charging Lester, asked him where he had got a certain watch, which he described, when, he said, " Oh, it's all right, Mr Camphin ■; it's not my watch." Camphin said, "Whose watch is it?" He- replied,, "It's Walker's." On being asked, "Who's Walker?" he said, "Oh> he lives over here," and pointed in the direction of the Haymarket. When he got outside he said, " Nichols gave me that watch to sell for him." Camphin inquired, " Where did he give it to. your He said, "In the street; I met him this morning." Detective Wagerproduced a pocket-book found, in. Walker's hat-box, containing entries, one of which ran thus :—" Things to be done as soon as possible: after this abominable conspiracy is settled : Mr L. Worsley to be paid, and also Mr Turner's fee for services rendered on December 30th, '7l, 215.; church service to be sent to Miss Hammond; one pair of cuff's and one front to return to Mr Annand; my books to be removed to L.'s from Woodland house, and alsoall my property from H. Final wishes. My true Friend,—Please forward to my dear mother £ls at once, and another sum of the like amount in Decembei-,, '72. My presentation w T atch. and gold albert chain, and also my set of amethyst studs, to be made into a parcel, to be insured, and sent per Gibbs,, Bright, and Co., and letter telling Mr P. 0.-sen, of Ventnor, I. of W. [lsle of Wight], that they are from me, with truest love and blessings. My books: and letters and papers not to be destroyed or sold, but, with all my property, neatly packed in boxes, and left in charge of Mr Lee to await my return or further disposal. The moneyleft in your hands to be invested in P.O S.B. [post office savings bank] in name of William Brewett, and the book, to be put in charge of Mr Lee or held by yourself." Henry John Harrison, an inmate of the Sailor's Home, had. answered one of the advertisements,, and was engaged by Nichols as agent for the ideal Norton. His poverty seems to have saved his life, for a letter was sent to him stating that Norton had engaged a clerk. Bockley, a boatman, let out a boat to Nichols and Lester, the sail of which had been washed, but there were several dark stains like patches ot Hood, which, v\eu> cut out and submitted for examination to Mr Watt, analytical chemist. A verdict of wilful murder was returned against both prisoners. Nichols offered to become informer, bat the authoritiesdeclined his evidence. He is said to be nephew to a former Solicitor-General. The trial of Nicholls and Lester for the above murders commences on. the the loth Maw

The Wairarapa Mercury, of the 13th, inst- says :. —The Maoris from all parts, of the Valley are holding to-day a tangi, at Te Old Ori, near Master! on, bewailing the death of some of their dusky brethren, which has lately occurred at Tutakeru, a settlement bet ween Masterton and Manawatn. Their grief i* shown by their appetites being appeased,, and, judging from the stores conveyed to, the hcene of the feast, they must beof a most voracious character. Wo may mention that upwards of ,£IOO has" been expended by them in the two, items of spirits and tobacco. Flour hasbeen purchased to such an extent that the stores in Masterton have bee& nearly cleared, out.