The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1884.

Kumara Times, Issue 2354, 14 March 1884, Page 2

The Kumara Times. Published Every Evening. FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1884.

The trial of John Donohue for the murder of James Gifford at Maori Creek on the night of the sth January last was concluded at the Supreme Court, Hokitika, last evening ; when the jury, after a little over an hour's deliberation, gave in a verdict of " Guilty." The verdict is no doubt a just one, for it would be difficult to conceive how, in the face of such abundant and well-connected evidence, any other conclusion could be arrived at by twelve men, fully charged and on oatli with the responsibility of their decision. The prisoner, we are told, was cool and collected to the last, and indeed unmoved whilst the sentence of death was being passed upon him. This is also fully born out by his own statement after the Registrar had put the usual question whether lie had now anything to say why the sentence of the Court should not be passed upon him. The prisoner paid a very respectful compliment, we observe, to Constable Nash, who he insinuates, was the only witness who told the truth. We notice that, in his cross-examination by Mr Guinness, Constable Nash says : "There are no circumstances that would lead me to suspect anyone else but the accused." This morning at 10 o'clock the indictment against Hughes and Maloney, for arson, was proceeded with. This trial is likely to last a considerable time, as there are a large number of witnesses, both for the Crown and the defence. The San Francisco mail is expected to arrive by coach from Chnstchurch to-i-v ,r .- 'tev.i.j^ii. Thoo vero r. I:u\,tj num'if.i ■ i p;:t.,<sngera by the coach this morning for the

East Coast. Amongst them we noticed Dr. Hector, and the Rev. W. Morley, President of the Wesleyan Conference. The last-named gentleman repeated last night at Hokitika the lecture which he delivered here on the 6th inst. on "Dr. Guthrie." There was a collection made on the occasion for the Wesloyan Connexional Loan Fund, the handsome amount of £6O being contributed. The Mahinapua leaves Dunedin on Tuesday, 18th inst., for West Coast ports and is due at Greymouth on Monday, the 24th. Captain Edwin wired the following last evening, " Bad weather is expected between N.E. and S.E ; glass falling, and aften ten hours sea heavy and considerable flood in river, with very high tides." The West Coast Times is informed that the contractor, Mr C. Ryan, for the formation of the Paringa and Haast road, will have completed his work in another week. Mr Macfarlane, Inspector of Works, Jackson's Bay, is erecting a wire bridge over the Blue river, and when completed traffic will be continuous from Hokitika right through to Otago.