PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 3098, 7 October 1886, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.! Auckland, October 5. The Rev. Mr KilJin, who desired to practice law with bis Ministerial duties at Whangaret, has tendered his resignation of his charge. He made some smglar statements, from which several meniberß of the Presbytery strongly dissented. Advices from Samoa state that the International Conference on the subject of the government of that country was holding its sittings when the mail left, but the nature of the business was not allowed to transpire. The American flag was hauled down from over the Saraoan flag, which is now flying alone. H.M.S. Miranda left Samoa and has gone to Fiji. SUICIDE OF THE ONEHUNGA SCHOOL HEAD MASTER. Auckland, October G. John Gurr, head master of the One-

lmnga Public School, was found drowned thi« morning at Mangere bridge, over a B arm of the Manokau Harbour. It was evidently a case of determined suicide, as the rope was tied round the body, and fastened to a pile of the bridge, the body thus being dragged under by the rash of tide. Grave chaeges were jwndmg_ against Gun- for misconduct upon a girl pupil at his Bchool, and tbj«- is supposed to have led him to commit Ihe fatal act. He was an elderly man wiih five children, and nan possessed of high abilities, musical at we'll a* educational, and was chairman of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Teachers' Institute. The inquest on Gurr, head teacher of the Onehunga.School, takes plaoe tomorrow. He had made his will last night. He also saw Dr. Erson. He was in a depressed state, and had retained Bunton to defend him against the charges made by the School Committee. PENN, AND LIZZIE GRAHAM. Wellington, October 5. The Commissioner of Police to-day received the fo'lowing message from the Commissioner of Police in Sydney: _ "Sydney, October"6.—To the Commissioner of Police, Wellington.—The offender in custody admits being John Caffrey, although he states that Penn and Lizzie Graham were drowned by the capsizing of the boat in attempting to land. The statement is doubted, and fun her search is being made.— Edsiund Forresby." SENTENCE ON TE WHITI AND HIS FOLLOWERS. Wellington, October 6. The charges against the Maori prisoners were heard at the Supreme Court this morning. There were two indictments, first with two counts of forcible entry and riot, the second for malicious injury to property. W. L. Rees explmned that he had come down to defend the prisoners, but Te Whiti refused to have anything done and consequently he had no option but to withdraw. Some difficulty was experienced in getting Te Whiti to answer the indictment, but finally he pleaded guilty, and one after auother, Titokowatu and the others followed his example. All of them used pretty nearly the same words. "Te Whiti is my lord and master, and he has said all there is to say." Te Whiti made a brief statement before sentence was pronounced, to the effect that he was the original owner of the land, and had merely put forth his hand to regain it. Alluding to the wording of the indictment, he said he had not been turned off peacably, but with guns. In answer to the Judge, the Crown Prosecutor said he had no instructions from the Attorney-Geaeral as to proceeding with the second indictment. The Judge then left the Bench for a time, and on returning said he felt great difficulty in allotting a proper sentence. They must have known that their acts were little short of levying war against the Crown. He felt' it necessary to say that if a future charge of a similar character was proved against them the Court would probably feel called upon to inflict a much heavier sentence. Te Wliiti was sentenced to three months, and fined £IOO, the rest to one month's imprisonment and fined £2O on each couut, sentences to run concurrently.