LATEST TELEGRAMS.

Kumara Times, Issue 1778, 13 June 1882, Page 2

LATEST TELEGRAMS.

[NEW ZEALAND PRESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, June 12. Another case of sticking up occurred on Saturday evening near the Oarlton Hotel, hardly half a mile near the centre of the town. A gentleman from Blenheim had been visiting some friends, and, on l-eturning about It p.m., he was set on by three roughs. With the aid of a stout stick and a couple of d>>gs, who seemed to enjoy tVefun, his assailants were forced to beat a hasty retreat. A man namfd M'Neaven has l>enn ehaiged with shooting wiih intent. He was committed for trial tod.v. Bail of £SOO and two sureties of £250 was allowed. The evid-nee show d that the nun waa either drunk or mad when he 6red at Glanville, jealousy being the immediate motive. Wkllixgton, June 12. The death of Lady Miinro is announced. In the triangular shooting match between the H.M.Ss NYfenn, Miranda, and th« local Naval Brigade, the latter were beaten. The men-of-wars' men fired with Martini Henry liQes and the big ide with Sniders. Napier, June S. Heavy rain fov the la<t few days has cuwed the most serious 3-mils ex]>e.rienced for years. The whole comitrv round Na|iier is under water. The residents of Olive, Meanee district, had to be removed in boats. ATI the riveiswere overflowing their banks, suspending vehicle traffic ; and notice is given ofthesraspens : on of the railways should the rain continue. An embankment near Waitaugi is being washed away. The County Council recenlPy called the attention of Government to the danger to this embankment from an alteration in the course of the Ngaruioro. Tire schooners Frank Guy, Mary Wadley, and Silver C! nd> lying in the road-1 stead, had to slip anchor and beat out. They appear to have got well to sea. A very heavy sea has been breaking on the beach. There are, however, signs of the stoppage of the rain, though The wind kept high. No losa ef Life fel

reported, and losses in stock are believed to be small, the settlers having anticipated the floods and driven the animals to higher ground. Auckland, June 8. Pakara and Epiha were commuted for trial. The defence was reserved. Bail was refused.

Whpeler, manager of the Working Men's Club, died to-day from injuries received in ejecting a man from the Club room. An inquest will be held to-morrow.

At an irquest on William Henry Mason, who fell off the Riverton wharf, a verdict of "Accidentally drowned" was returned. The man was intoxicated. »

HORRIBLE MURDER AND DETERMINED SUICIDE.

Christchurch, June 12. A determined murder and suicide—a ghastly crime—is reported from the timber district of Oxford, some 30 miles north-west of Christchitrch. The particulars, so far as known, are given in one of the evening papers as follows ; This morning at about 8.15. soon after the gang of platelayers of the Oxford branch had commenced work, and whilst two men named Packnetz and Horne were placing a sleeper on the trolly, another of the gang named John Greenfield, who was standing behind with an adze in his hand, suddenly lifted the adz- and said to John Ho-ne, who was helping to load the trolly, "Yoa b , I will do for you,* and struck him with the adze behind the ear, the blade of the adze running across the neck and penetrating it to a depth of 2-£ inches with the corner, and half severing the head from the body. The foreman of the gang, Packnetz, said, " John, what are yon doing, man ?' Whereupon Greenfield rushed upon the ganger and said, " You b -, I will do for you too." P..cknetz ran away, and the murderer followed him for a considerable distance, when Packnetz suddenly turned upon linn and seized him, and on doing s> received a blow which the murderer aimed at him on the side of the head, but fortunately only with the handle of the adze. Packne'rz then seized the adz", and wrenched it from him. The murderer then ran away across the field on the opposite side of the main road, and was afterwards found by Sergeant Seoft lying down in a furro\v,where there was only a small quantity of water. He. was stivtched at full length in the furrow, with his fice in the water. When turned over he was found to be quite dead. Home has lived a long time in Oxford, and during the greater pm-t of the time has been employed on the railway. He has been a steady and careful man, and has acquired some property. Greenfield was not long in the district, and leaves a wife and four children, tbe youngest of which is about six weeks old. From the position of the cut it must have been given whilst Horne was stooping at the trolly, with his back towards the murderer, the blow being given over the left shoulder. The whole width of the adze, which is an ordinary carpenter's one, penetrated the full width, and almost severed the bead from the liodv.

Serjeant Scott was quickly on the spot, and both tbe bodies were laid at the Oxford Hotel on,beds side by side by halt-past ten o'clock: The inn der t ok pUce near Starvation Hill.