PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 3058, 21 August 1886, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS

[united press association. 1 Christchdrch, August 19. A peculiar and painful case came before the Magistrate's Court to-day. It appeared that a farmer at Lincoln had 158 acres entirely bare of food, and that 35 head of cattle had been starving upon it. Five of the cattle had died recently. One of the neighbours had given some hay, which had been served out to the poor beaats, but had not been nearly sufficient for them, aud some days they were entirely without food. The farmer, William Neill, was proceeded against for allowing the cattle to starve. In defence he pleaded poverty. Ollivier, R.M., held that he hud been culpable in not dispossessing himself of the cuttle, even at a loss tather than allowing them to starve. A fine of Is with £3 14s costs was imposed. August 20. It is stated that the Union Steamship Company has purchased the Westport Coal Company's steamers and the chartered steamer being built for Mr Williams, of Wellington, for the coal trade; and that the Westport Coil Company have amalgamated the Wallsend and Coal Pit Heath mines with the (Jniou Company's leases at Brunnerton. Professor Black, of Dunedin, to whom a number of the minerals obtained from the Red Hills, Big Bay were submitted for analysis, states that two of the samples are specimens of the matrix of nickel alloy. This he considers an important discovery. A man named George, was drowned by the capsize of a cotter at Heliers Creek. The infant daughter of George Currie, Waiukau, has beeD poisoned by eating matches. Invercargill, August 20. The West Coast Prospecting Association have received about 100 applications, and will make a final selection on Saturday. It was stated that 500 men ate willing to go to the fields. Carey, the prospector, telegraphs that the statement about gold being in the creek in plenty should have read, " Quartz in creek in plenty." Lyttelton, August 20. Tlie s.s. Wanaka arrived from Dunedin at 10.30 this morning. She merely kept out to sea to avoid the lee Bhore. She experienced very thick weather, but met with no accident. At 7 o'clock on Wednesday morning she was off Akaroa. When she got up to Lyttelton Head**, the weather was, however, so thick that she could not see her way in and she put out to sea again. She returned on Thursday morning but could not get in, and went out a second time, getting too far northward. Io the evening the Wakatu passed her and exchanged signals, by which she followed the Wakatu to Lyttelton, but lost sight of her, and was off the Heads last night burning blue lights, which were not observed. Timaru, August 20. At the inquest to-day on the body of a. man named Edward Mewburn, who was found dead on the main south road, about four miles south of Timaru, the jury returned a verdict of accidental death. The medical evidence showed that deceased must have fallen from the dray, the wheel of which passed over his ribs, smashing several and severing the iiver. \V;' t .lington, August 20. It is understood that his Excellency tiio Governor, acting on advice of Miriis;<'trt has .i-i i vJ to u.mit th o scntct ce of death passed on Rowland, at Gisborne, for the murder of Mr Neave to

penal servitude for life. The prisoner was tried twice. On the first occasion the jury disagreed, and at the second trial the jury, when finding the prisoner guilty, recommended him to mercy. Rowland, who is now imprisoned at Napier, will probably be removed to Wellington. Later. The statement telegraphed to the effect that his Excellency has remitted the sentence of death on Rowland, at Gisborne, is incorrect. The matter is still under consideration. Auckland, August 20. The Hinemoa, with the Auckland members on board, arrived at Manukan this morning. The s.s. Hinemoa remains to take the English mails south, should the "Wanaka not arrive. Mr Mitchelson, M.H.R., was thrown from a buggy whilst riding into town, and badly shaken and bruised, but received no serious injury.