PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 2727, 18 June 1885, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

[united press assooiation.l Timaru, June 18. Great excitement was occasioned in town to-day by the announcement that Lucas, recently convicted of the attempted murder of his wife, had escaped from the labour gang in which he was employed. Later. Lncas was captured by Inspector Broham and Constable Satchwell at half-past eleven. He was hidden in some gorse close to Brown's Creek on the outskirts of. the town. When captured he said he wanted to see his wife. Christchurch, June 1.7. Mrs Smith, a well known resident of Halcett, was found dead this morning under peculiar circumstances. She had been out of health and suffering from low spirits for some time, and yesterday disappeared. This morning she was found drowned in a well, down which she is supposed to have thrown herself. Deceased was 66 years old, and leaves a husband and family. Owing to the north-wester and the unusually warm weather, the river Waimakariri was in flood to-day. The strangely mild weather still continues. Tauranga, June 17. The new writ for the election has been issued, and the nomination is fixed for July 3. Mr Kelly is the only candidate at present. Auckland, June 17. Arrived, Arawata, from Fiji. The reports from all the sugar districts are very favourable and crops heavy. Mills have commenced crushing. The Colonial Sugar Oompanp alone expect an output of 8000 to 10,000 tons before Christmas. The cutter Speedy is wrecked, and her owner, Mr T. C. Hawkins and a passenger named Charles Hague Jones have been drowned. Hawkins was a planter, of Vanua Levu, and Jones one of the oldest settlers at Taviuna.