PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2604, 10 January 1885, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

[united press association.]

Wellington, January 9. The following are the number of votes polled by the successful candidates for the Government Insurance Board-Bell, 1513; Fisher, 1343 ; Graham, 1334.

Mr Banks, chief officer of the ship Opawa, which arrived from London last night, reports that on Sunday last Captain Mathers, who had been ailing for about a fortnight, jumped overboard and was drowned. A boat was lowered and he was picked up in less than ten minutes ; restoratives were applied, hut without avail.

Reefton, January 9. Shortly after 11 o’clock last night a fire broke out in an unoccupied house at the corner of Broadway and Bridge street. Another building adjoining was partially destroyed. The building in which the fire broke out is insured, and the origin is a mystery. The police on bursting in found the ceiling on fire.

A miner named Hugh Brennan, for some time past engaged about the Welcome battery, was found hanging bv the neck in a house on Thursday morning last. Deceased slept in the battery

house. No motive is known for the rash act. The suicide appears to have been planned with great deliberation, the rope being well oiled to ensure the knot slipping. Dunedin, January 9. A supposed case of suicide occurred at Queenstown on Friday. William Templeton, aged 76, was found drowned close to the jetty. He had been drinking heavily, A lad named David Piuness has been drowned at Alberton.

In the Nenthorne murder case, the jury found the three prisoners guilty of manslaughter. Judge Williams agreed with ihe verdict, and sentenced White and Cowley to five yens each, and Fitzgerald to three years. Auckland, January 9.

At the Supreme Court, in the case against Marlin Swallow, the grand jury found no bill, the foreman stating that the evidence, which was of a gross and disgusting nature, was not sufficient to prove that an indecent assault had actually been committed, although it was evidence of gross and disgusting indecency. His Honor said he fully concurred with the expressed views of the grand jury that there bad been gross indecency, and he was glad to find that the new act contemplated by the legislature would provide for the due punishment of such offences. The judge, in discharging the prisoner, said the cases were so disgusting as to exclude him hereafter from all decent society.