NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.

Kumara Times, Issue 1620, 6 December 1881, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.

A ucklani), D-cember 5

A man named John Smith was found dead in bed in the Shakespeare Hotel. He was in liquor the previous evening. A bottle containing muriatic acid (uoison) was found in the room, but it was ascertained lie Übed it in bin trade as a ijilder. At the inquest the verdict, was '• died from congestion of the brain." Deceased leaves a wife and several children at Napier.

The mail steamer City of Sydney passed the Bay of Islands this forenoon tor Auckland.

Fred Plummet- was brought up at the Police Court and reminded to Fridciv, when it is undeistood two cases

of sending threatening lptters and three charges of buiglary will he proceeded with".

AsiltiußTON, December 3

Cookson's stables and Tait's saddler's shop were destroyed ».y fire at half-past two this morning. Sampler's building; one of the largest shops in town, had a narrow escape from destruction. The origin of the tire is shrouded in mystery'. Insurances: Stable, and cottage at rear, £BOO in the Union Office j Tait, £250 in the Norwich. Cookson estimates his loss at £400: and Tait at £250.

E. S. Wright was returned unopposed for Ashburton electorate to-dayl

Wanganui, December 3.

Everything is quiet at Pnngarehd and Parihaka; The Constabulary are still engaged building a stockade and erecting whai'es.

Tisiaru, December 2

Some splendid trout are being caugtit in the local streams to-day. Twd averaging 161 b are on view.

Dunedin-j December 2

E. de la Perille committed suicide &fc Arrowtovvn last evening. His bodywas found in a farm building under some bags,- shockingly burned, he having set fire to the place. Napier, December 1. There is great scarcity of* labor herd for shearing rind haymaking. A farmer named Gilligan, a very respectable man, has been missing from. Iris home for the past week.

THE EARTHQUAKE; Wellington, December 5 A slight shock of earthquake, was felt at 7.34 this morning. HokitikA, Dec'emhei 5.

At 7.30 this morning a very distinct and strong shock ot earthquake tfas felt; The directum was from uorth to south. Asiibuut'o'n, December 5..;

A very sharp shock of earthquake' was felt here this morning at 7.30. It lasted about 20secs. The shock was preceded by heavy rain, arid passed from east to west. Ti>fAßfT, December 5. A distinct shock of earthquake lasting some seconds was felt here at 7.30 this morning. Lyttklton, Decemher.S. A very he'avy shock of earthquake" was felt here at 7.3o'"this morning: The direction was north to south'. The clock at bell-tower at the time' was stopped by the earthquake. Time,7'oo^H.m. Chiustchurch, November s'. The severest shock of earthquake experienced since 1868 occurred shortly before 8 this morning. The vibration cominued about 45secs.- The direction was from north-east to south-west. No-' serious damage is reported.- A small piece of ornameutal stone mounting was displaced from the summit of the Cathedral spire and fell on the asphalts pavement, making a deep indentation: Later. The time of the earthquake was 7.37 a.m., and the duration lasted some 10" sees. It was sharp at first, then gentle.The undulations lasted for a few seconds, winding up with a smarter quake than the tirsfc portion. The Cathedral spire is somewhat dis-i figured by the loss of the stone from the cross at the summit, and it will be rather awkward to repair at present. No particularly heavy damage is reported, but many buildings are more or less cracked, and it is possible that the damage may be found to be more extensive than is at present supposed. Some of the Cathedral bells were set tinging from 7 to 8 strikes by the shock. The gene-ial opinion appears to be that while the shock was more persistent than that of ISGB, it was hardly so sharp.

The second earthquake reported this afternoon is* dubious.