PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 2578, 9 December 1884, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS

[united press association.]

Wellington, December 7.

The 12 hours’ walking match yesterday between Crofts and Pettingell was won by the former by nine miles. The distance covered by the winner was 67 miles.

December 8

Henry Lewis alias Heyman “ the hangman,” was to-day charged with unlawfully proposing to commit murder. The charge is brought on the information of a Maori named Pokane Hapueke, who is at present in gaol on remand, charged in conjunction with Lewis with burglary. The Maori will accuse Lewis of suggesting that they should rob the premises of a watchmaker in Cuba street, a Mr Campbell, and a Chinaman. The Maori states that they were to visit the watchmaker’s shop during the day on some trifling pretext, the real object being to become acquainted with the premises. Lewis is stated to have arranged that the Maori should, in the event of resistance, murder the shop-keeper. Lewis was remanded until Friday. A farmer named H. Welsh, while crossing from one carriage to another, fell on the line at Featherston, a carriage and guard’s van passing over his thighs. He died at Grey town hospiial yesterday.

Mr Ww, Spark, a very old resident

here, died rather suddenly this afternoon at the age of 82. Hearn, the sculler, left for Riverton this afternoon, where he contests a match for the championship. There is but little betting here on the event.

It is rumored here that Mr Thomas Bracken and Mr P. Galvin are about to start a weekly paper in Wellington, something after the style of the Saturday Advertiser. Mr Galvin possesses the necessary plant, and operations are to be commenced in about six weeks’ time. In the meantime Mr Bracken will make a lecturing tour through Otago, returning here a month hence. The Colonial Secretary and Mr G. S. Cooper, Under-Secretary, will leave Wellington on their tour of inspection of hospitals, &c., next week. The South Island is to be visited first. Christchurch, December 8. J. E. Watkin, who has hitherto held a most respectable position as builder here, was to day committed for trial on a charge of forging a promissory note for £2i. Blenheim, December 8, Charles Ball has been committed for trial at the Supreme Court on a charge of having attempted to commit an unnatural offence. Bail was granted, but it is not forthcoming.

OUTRAM MANSLAUGHTER CASE Dunedin, December 6.

The two prisoners White and Crowley were brought up at Outram to-day, and charged with the murder of William Meldrum. The case was adjourned pending the inquest, which was held in the afternoon. The medical evidence showed that death had resulted from bleeding from knife wounds. In cross-examination by Mr Denniston, Dr. M‘Caw said that if proper appliances had been at hand an hour after the occurrence, the man’s life could probably have been saved. White and Fitzgerald who are still at large, were boarders with Meldrum. Evidence was given by Mrs Meldrum and some natives, as to hearing remarks during the quarrel by one or other of the three men that they would kill Meldrum, and if they had a knife they would cut his throat. They were all in drink. Fitzgerald was known on the works as Garrett. It is not known exactly how the row began. It seems that a woman named Burke was in Outram a day or two before, and complained that Meldrum had cut her on the head, and was heard to say she would get “ some of the boys to go for Meldrum.” Fitzgerald made the remark during the Monday evening when a number of men were playing cards in Meldrum’s, that he was Irish, and meant to have a row. The conclusion of the inquest is not yet to hand.

December 7.

The result of the inquest in the Nenthorne affair was a verdict of wilful murder against three men. Word has been received by the police of Fitzgerald having been seen at a place called Clark’s Plat. He left Nenthorne with, the avowed intention, of going to Dunedin to tell the police all about the affair and give himself up, but evidently he changed hia mind on the road.