PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 2577, 8 December 1884, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS

[united press association.]

Dunedin, December 6.

Some further particulars of the Menthorne fatal affray have been received. The original quarrel seems to have arisen in banter at a dog-fight, and it lasted for nine hours, reaching its height about about one o’clock on Tuesday morning, when Mrs Meldrum got some persons to interfere. Meldrum was found lying beside a creek near by in an insensible condition. His principal wound seems to have been a blow on the head with the butt end of a gun, said to have been given him by Fitz Gerald, who is still at large. He was also stabbed in several places with a shoemaker’s knife. He was put in a litter and carried by four men to be taken to Hindman, but died on the way. DESTITUTION AND FAMINE IN FIJI ISLANDS. Auckland, December 4. The Yanua Levu correspondent of the “ Fiji Times says people are dying out in these parts very rapidly. During the last twelve months in one town of Wainu between 90 and 100 souls have passed away. Of the few children born the greater portion died. The people are dying for want of nourishment. China bananas is the only food in the district. The Natives will not plant because they cannot ensure themselves the result of their labour. The Lala comes in and robs at will. The systems of the people have no resisting power against disease. The mildest form of sickness carries them off ; added to this is want of any stimulus to exertion. Hope even has abandoned them ; they simply lie down and die.