PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2331, 16 February 1884, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

[united press association.] Christchurch, February 15. The Selwyn election took place today. The result was as follows : Leeston: Wakefield, 182; M'Lachlan. 183. Brookside : Wakefield, 36 ; M'Lachlan, 27. Southbridge : Wakefield, 157; M'Lachlan, 85. Dunsandal: Wakefield, 104; M'Lachlan, 21. Total: Wakefield, 479; M'Lachlan, 316. Total of votes polled at last election was 918. The greatest excitement prevailed. At a meeting of the Moorhouse Memorial Committee, it was reported that £903 had been collected, that £IOO mote was promised, that the New Zealand Shipping Company had offered to convey the statue to New Zealand free of charge, and that the cost would be £IOOO on board at Lyttelton. It was decided to authorise Miles and Company to order the statue at once from Mr George Lawson. A.R.A. Yesterday. A man named Thomas Clarkson was committed for trial at Amberley to-day, for having committed an indecent assault on one woman, a violent assault on another, and for having completely wrecked the furniture of the bar and other rooms in the local hotel. Dunedin, February 15. Marr, convicted on four charges of stealing moneys the property of the Tasraanian cricketers, was sentenced to eighteen months' imprisonment. ♦ ORMONDVILLE TRAGEDY.— THE PRISONER'S STATEMENT. Napier, February 15. Edwards was brought up at the Resident Magistrate's Court at Ormondville yesterday and committed for trial on the charge of murdering his wife and family. He made the following statement—" I had very little sleep for four nights before the murder. I was all right on Sunday, but towards evening got strange fancies in my head. I fancied I heard a crowd of people outside the house threatening to burn me and my family alive. I then, got a piece of firewood, and got ready to defend myself and my family alive. I waited some time for them to come. My wife wanted me to go for Constable Schultz, and asked me to go myself, as she was sure that he would stop with us for the night if asked to do so ; but I was afraid of going myself or of letting her go, on account of the fancies in my head and the voices I heard outside • previously. I got better, and told her that I thought I would be all right. She put a piece of wood in the fire, but I heard them coming again and took it off and put it beside rue, and watched the door. My wife went in and out of the bedroom at different times and lay down with exhaustion, as she had had very little sleep for five nights. All at once I heard a whole crowd outside singing out that they were going to bum us all alive. I jumped up, went iuto the bedroom, and knocked my wife senseless with a piece of wood, and then the children. I did this that they should not fee! pain when I was cutting their throats. I could not stand to see them burned alive. I then cut my own throat, b;iifcthe knife being blunt I could not finish it, as I heard them coming, and crawled under the big bed out of their road. I lay there some time. I then heard them at the back of the house. I got out in the garden and hid behind a tree, but they would not leave me. I then ran across a paddock towards Plank's, but they n><\ T left there .uid went to l J ~... I heard them

again, and slid under a bridge, as I thought they would uot follow me there. When I told Plank I would uot be taken, T did not think of you (Constable Schultz) or the police. I was speaking of the crowd round mo. I believe I will be hung for it, as I deserve. I hope they wont keep me long. I want to meet my wife and family. I think I will go to the same place as they have gone, as they will forgive me."