PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 2576, 6 December 1884, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS

[united press association.]

Wellington, December 4,

The contract for the conveyance of mails by direct steamer is for a period of five years. The contract time for the voyage is 42 days on the trip Home and 45 days outward. The contract with the Union Steam Shipping Company for the distribntion of the mails is not yet signed, but it is expected to be in the course of a day or two. The difficulty as to the despatch of letters alternately by San Francisco and direct steamer having been adjusted, does not relieve letters via Brindisi from the additions! charge sanctioned by the last Parliament. The nominations for the election of the Government Insurance Association Board are fixed for the 20th December, and elections shortly after the new year.

December 5,

The s.s. Australia, with the November English mails, left San Francisco for Auckland on the 22nd ult., two days later than time-table date.

The s.s. Zealandia, with the NovemColonial mails, arrived at San Francisco on the 2nd instant, one clay earlier than time-table date. Henry Lewis, better known as “ the hangman ” was arrested on a charge of breaking into the Brunner Coalmining Company’s offices. He was remanded till Monday. The following cablegram has been received from the Agent-General “London, December 3rd.—Post-office notices have been issued announcing alternate fortnightly mails by direct steamer. No further matter will be sent via Brindisi unless superscribed.” Dunedin, December 4.

To-night’s Herald says;—“We understand that it is the intention of the Government to place the charitable institutions of all parts of the colony on the same fooling as far as State aid is concerned as those of Dunedin, that is that each is to receive a pound from the Government for each pound raised locally.

Mr Wakefield having resigned the editorship of the Timaru Herald has been succeeded by Mr Triggs, formerly of the Wellington Post.

William Meldrnm, a shanty-beeper at Menthorne, on the Otago Central line, was seriously assaulted at midnight on Monday, by three men, named Lawrence White, Thomas Crowley, and Gerald Fitzgerald. Meldrnm died daring his removal to the hospital. The last two men are in custody, and the police are looking for the other.

December 5

W. T. A. Tyrell, Wm. Peacock, and John Cotton, three young men arrested on suspicion of outraging a woman on Monday night last under cirumstances extraordinarily brutal, were to-day committed for trial, charged with criminal assault.

A man named James Anderson, farmer, at Ida Valley, is supposed to have been drowned at Clyde this afternoon. He arrived in Clyde to see the doctor, and was on his way to the hospital, when he was observed to descend the river bank, and take off his coat and vest, and walk into the river Clutha.

A ten-year-old daughter of Thomas Beasby, Waikouaiti, died suddenly from inflammation brought on by eating unripe gooseberries. Auckland, December 5.

Charles Wesley attempted suicide at Queen street wharf by drowning. He was crossed in love, and his reason was unhinged.

John Taylor, greengrocer, formerly farmer at Kaiapoi and Taranaki, in which latter district he lost heavily, attempted suicide last night by taking laudanum, owing to depression of spirits. He is now recovering. Edward Dinnimont, was committed on a charge of stabbing Francis Durant, a French seaman.

Thames, December 7

A fatal accident occurred at 10 o’clock last night at the New Prince Imperial mine. A man named Walter Allan, who was observed about the town during the evening, fell from the surface to the bottom of the shaft, a distance of 570 feet, and was there found doubled up in a truck with his thighs broken and a frightful gash inflicted on the left temple. Deceased was not seen when approaching the shaft, the doors of which had been left open for the purpose of lowering timber.