PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2361, 22 March 1884, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

[united press association.]

Nelson, March 21. The lad Frederick Kelly, who was shot at the rifle butts, died in the hospital this morning. He was only 17 years of age, and had been a pupil of the Nelson College, and won a Provincial scholarship, and had passed the Civil Service examination. At the time of the accident he was reading for the University examination. Christchurch, March 21.

In the Magistrate's Court this morning, Cornelius F. Corrigan was committed for trial on three separate charges of forging cheques on the Bank of New Zealand at Blenheim. Dunedin, March 21. A meeting of creditors of Messrs J. and J. Watson, of the Grand Hotel, was held this afternoon, at which there was a large attendance. The report of the committee appointed to investigate the affairs connected with the estate was considered highly satisfactory by the creditors, and it was resolved that the property be vested in three trustees, to be carried on for the benefit of the creditors. The Messrs Watson are to act as managers of the business. It was resolved that debentures bearing 8 per cent, interest be issued for the purpose of carrying on the affair, such debentures to be paid off as the funds came. It was stated that after a very careful examination of the books it was gathered that the profits of the business amounted to £3OO per month, and there should therefore be no doubt of of its being very shortly put in a satisfactory footing, and pay 20s in the £. Auckland, March 19. A bundle of clothes, with letters in a pocket addressed "William Walters, A. C. Force, Kawhera " was found near the sugar works, North Shore. William Walters was discharged from the Constabulary force in the last reduction and was seen leaving the North Shore steamer on Tuesday lasc. It was believed he was suffering from the horrors, and fears are entertained that he committed suicide. Taupo, March 21. An extraordinary series of earthquake shocks were felt here between 10 and 12 on Wednesday morning; 15 were experienced. At 4.50 p.m. yesterday, a very severe shock was felt, followed by between 40 and 50 slighter ones at short intervals ; and at seven o'clock tins morning another very severe shock was exneriouced,

MTLNER STEPHEN IN PUBLIC. Invercargill, March 20. Milner Stephen " healed " in public to-day, at Sloan's Theatre, and quite a scene took place. Mr Louis Rodgers, who had paid Stephen two guineas to treat him for deafness on the occasion of the former's visit, rose aud affirmed that he was do better for it, and challenged Stephen to bring forward anyone who had been benefited by his treatment in Invercargill. Mr Stephen elicited the fact that Mr Rodgers had only been treated once, a further charge of a guinea having caused him to drop further treatment. Mr Stephen said Mr Rodgers had done his best to have his revenge for the loss of two guineas but it would fail. He asserted that he bad been most successful in Dunedin, among the last treated there being a medical man. After a smart passage at arms, Rodgers gave Stephen the lie direct, and in return was called a "vulgar upstart." Rodgers retorted by calling Stephen "an impostor." Dr. Wardale, of the local hospital, also tackled Stephen, and a long discussion followed, but the doctor stuck to his challenge to Stephen to produce anyone who had benefited by his treatment locally, and offered him two patients from the Hospital with a ten guineas douceur if he cured them. Odo was a man who threw away his crutches after Stephen's treatment on a former visit, and was back in the hospital the day after. Stephen contended that if people went back to I the cause of the disease he could not be expected to guarantee that they could remain whole. He instanced the case of a miner who was cured of rheumatism by him, and went to work in the mine, with the result that the disease came back immediately. He declined to say that he would cure the cases mentioned by the doctor, who perhaps knew they were incurable. He did not profess to core every case. The episode created amusement and excitement among the audience. None of those who went up for treatment spoke of feeling relieved, but none were acute cases. Stephen combatted his opponents chiefly by getting the testimony of cures he had performed elsewhere.