LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1380, 4 March 1881, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[new ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.]

Christchurch, March 2. IT. K. Taiaroa was yesterday elected to represent the Southern Maori District in place of Tainui, He was unopposed. Ex-Judge Gresson was thrown out of a trap yesterday the horse bolting in consequence of the reins getting under its tail. Mr Gresson was seriously injured. He suffered concussion of the spine, besides being braised and cut about the face. He lies in a dangerous state. °

The Island Lily, which 'has just arrived from Chatham Islands, brings information that the harvest is the finest ever known there.

March 3. A fire broke out to-night at 8 o’clock, by which three cottages in Tuam street were burned. The owner of one went out and lefc a kerosene lamp burnin o, in the back part of the house, arid as the fire originated there the lamp is supposed to be the cause. Water was scarce, .and with difficulty a large bakery and shop adjoining were saved. Insurances—Kissell’s house, £125, furniture £l2O, both in New Zealand, everything lost. The other two cottages belonged to Taylor, owner of the bakery, and were insured in the Victoria, but for what amount Taylor would not say. The occupiers saved their furniture much damaged. Sir CVacroft Wilson, G. 8., late of the Bengal Civil Service, died last night, aged 84 years. The insurances on Taylor's cottages were £l5O each in the Victoria. His stock was greatly damaged by removal from the bakery. It was insured in the Victoria for £1350, and half re-

insured in the Union. Mr F. Digby, of the Press newspaper, who lives in a house north of those burned, had his furniture greatly damaged in removing, but his house was saved after strenuous exertions.:

The Government have declared Ripa Island a quarantine station for stock.

The Harbor Board have asked Government to place two white beacons on the Long Look Out Point* in a direct line with the rock on which the Clematis struck. In 1863 a vessel called the Catherine struck upon the same rock, and was towed into Lyttelton,

TwtAßti, March 2,

A child named Violet Robertson died in a railway carriage last evening between Ashburton and Timaruj The parents are tradespeople" who were coming to Timaru. At the inquest this morning, a verdict of “ death from natural causes” was returned.

Ranqiora, March 2. Harry Jackson'was committed for trial for wilfully setting fire to’ a threshing machine, the property of WV Hudson.

Auckland, March 2,

John Riordan, teacher of the Lucas Creek public schools, died of the injuries received from falling off his horse. At Wyndard, where the boys were bathing, a number of sharks were caught nearly 10 feet long.

A fire broke out in Watson and Lawrie’s stores, Durham street, this morning. Loss £IOO.

In the yacht sailing match, Madge against the Observer, the latter won by 3BseCs.

Tauranga, March 2, The cortti-actois have at last been successful in raising the Taupo. The steamer Glenelg took the vessels in tow, and safely landed the Taupo on the Sandy Beach at Pilot Station. It is now proposed to repair her as well as it can be done there, and then tow her up to Auckland. Grahamstow.v, Mardll 3,

The murder case was continued this morning. Henry Heaton and J. Moore gave evidence of the finding of the rings, sworn to belong to the murdered man in the debris of the burnt hut of the accused. Both men depose to seeing the remains of the purse and rings at once on approaching the site of the hut. It is likely the investigation will be concluded to night.

ATTEMPTED MURDER.

Christchurch, March 3

At a quarter past 2 o’clock this afternoon, a shooting case took place in the open street, near the Bank of New Zealand. A man named John Spring, a carrier, was walking along Colombo street, and was met whilst crossing Hereford street by a man named John Beaufield, who came from the direction of Brick’s corner. When about four or five yards distant Beaufield drew a revolver from . his pocket, and deliberately fired two shots at Spring, who, considering the. disadvantage at which he -was taken, showed considerable • activity in. dodging the shots. The first shot did take partial effect, the bullet passing between his legs and grazing the inner part of his left thigh y the second missed him and struck the wall of the Golden Age Hotel, where the mark was the centre of attraction for a large gathering, Beatir field, as soon as he had tired the shots, coolly loaded the revolver, and was walking quietly:; away, when he was siezed by a cabman, whose name could not be ascertained, and by Mr Kiddey, late of the Golden Fleece Hotel. The latter took, a way the revolver, and Beaufield was conveyed in a cab to the Police iStation. , On. searching him ,a bag containing, seven cartridges for the revolver, one of the-bull-dog - five-cham- • bar type, was found.; -Only two chambers of the revolver had been loaded, and these had recently L been discharged. It appears that Spring had previously laid an information against Beaufield for threatening to shoot him. He had also seen the man with a revolver, and was afraid of him. The motive is not known at present.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT PATEA. Patea, March 3. A few minutes before twelve last night a destructive fire broke out on the premises of Skelly and Co., drapers, the presumed cause being the explosion of a kerosene lamp in the bedroom. The shop was a large one-storey building, and contained a considerable stock of drapery of every description. The flames spread so rapidly that in less than an hour everything was completely destroyed excepting the books, which, being near the back part of the premises, were saved with difficulty. The slook was insured for £SOO, being considerably tinder the actual value. Fortunately the building was isolated, otherwise the loss of property would have been very serious. Skelly’s store was insured for

£BOO, of which the Colonial Office holds! £250, the remainder being insured with the Hamburg Company.