PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 2882, 23 January 1886, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS

[united I’RESS ASSOCIATION.] Christchurch, January 20. Richard Harper, the fishennau who was supposed to have been drowned at Sumner last week, is said to have been seen at Lyttelton since his disappearance from Sumner, It is conjectured that he may have gone grass seeding to the Peninsular, A child eighteen months old, son of G. J. Smith, of South bridge, strayed away from home and was drowned in a creek near his father’s house on Monday. At the inquest a verdict of death by drowning was returned. At the inquest held on the man Gray, who was found dead at Hauroto two days ago, the cause of death was stated to be apoplexy, January 21. An inquest was held at the hospital this afternoon on Withers, a female patient, who died yesterday. She had been suffering from dysentery, but Dr. Bakewell, who was treating her, suspected she had been taking poison to procure abortion. The post mortem did not icveal any signs of such an attempt, and a verdict of death from inflaraation of the bowels was returned. TIMARU, January 20. W. J. Newton, a farmer residing at Pleasant Point, attempted to commit suicide to-day by shooting himself, and afterwards hacking his throat with a bread knife. He is not dead, but is in a critical state.

Wellington, January 21. The body of a man named Charles Blackett was exhumed as Masterton yesterday in connection with the severed hand case, hut the body was, however, found intact. A Supreme Court writ has been issued against James M‘Do well by Frank M‘Dowe)l, for malicious prosecution. The case arose from the charge against the last named which was heard in the R.M. Court recently, and £560 damages are claimed.

January 22. Two drowning accidents are reported to have occurred at the Lower Hutt yesterday afternoon. A boy nine years old named George Austin, was drowned while bathing in a creek ; and the other was a child of 18 months old, named Alma Fleet, who managed to get out of its perambulator, which was standing by the bank of a creek, and fell in and was drowned.

To day being the anniversary of the Province of Wellington, is observed as a close holiday. Wanganui, January 22.

To day was observed as a close holiday, in commemoration of the anniversary of the province. The Caledonian Society’s sports were the principal feature of the day. Ii is estimated that between two and three thousand people were present. Napier, January 21. A serious buggy accident occurred yeste*day evening on the Shakespeare road. Misses Williams (2), daughters

of Henry Williams, ironmonger, and Miss Speedy, of Wairau, were driving down a hill when (he horse went off at a rapid pace, and came into collision with Dr Hutohin’s carnage. Miss Williams's horse then swerved, and, brooming quite unmanageable, brought the buggy in contact with a telegraph pole, capsizing the vehicle, and throwing the ladies on to the stone kerb of the footpath. The Misses Williams escaped with severe cuts and bruises but Miss Speedy, it is feared, has suffered concussion of the brain. She has remained unconscious since, and bleeds at the ears.