LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1516, 6 August 1881, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

— « [SPECIAL TO ■ KtTMABA TIMES.] MR FINN AND WARDEN STRATFORD. WAIMEA-KUMARA WATER-RACE. CAUCUS OP AUCKLAND MEMBERS. Wellington, August 6. Afl example was afforded yesterday of how some members gratify their private spleen and use their parliamentary position. An old feud between Mr Finn and Warden Stratford broke out in a fresh place yesterday, when a question was asked relative to the hours the Court sits at Xumara, special allusion being made to that most horrible affair the indecent assault case. The files of your paper had a great turning over, and the general impression was that there is a wrong dole out of justice at night. The. Minister of Justice promised an inquiry.

Air Seddon yesterday asked the Government if they had offered the Waimea-Kumara races to the Westland County Council together with a £16,000 vote. His reasons for asking the question was that this was denied as untruthful, and slanderous statements had appeared in the West Coast Times. The Minister of Mines and Mr Hislop had been wrongfully accused of being parties to hand over these races to private speculators. On account of this gross untruth, and in justice to the Government and himself, he asked the question. The Premier replied that these two races, with vote, were offered to the County Council in the latter end of 1878. The Council had not accepted the offer, nor had the coiutesy to answer the letter. A caucus of Auckland members met to-day to consider the Redistribution of Seats Bill. It is probable there will be a combination of this party with Nelson and Westland; if so, a compromise must ensue. Our Westland member must be kept. A piece of paper has been found with

the following words thereon : “ Second dam, Kapitea, £3OOO, to be supplemented by £2OOO for widening races, etc. As this scrap was found near the Government buildings, and, on looking over the map I find Kapitea is in your district, I send it for what it is worth. —- ■» [NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Ashburton, August 5. At the inquest on the body of Mrs Ruddick, found drowned in a waterhole on Tuesday, it was stated that the deceased had been in a desponding state for some time. "When found she had a cord round her neck, the other end being tied to a bunch of rushes. Verdict, suicide while in a state of temporary insanity.