PROVINCIAL NEWS

Kumara Times, Issue 3101, 11 October 1886, Page 3

PROVINCIAL NEWS

[united press association. 1 Wellington, October 9. Sir Julius Vogel underwent an operation this morning for a tumour at the back of his head. The operation was successfully performed by Drs. Grace and Collins. THE ELVIN SUICIDE CASE.—BURROWS'S DEFENCE. Wellington, October 9. Burrows, who was censured at the Coroner's inquest yesterday for not cutting down the man Elvin, who had committed suicide by hanging, wiites to the Evening Post stating that immediately he saw Elvin he returned for a knife, but before getting back the body had been taken down by the witness Raven. He continues, " I got a pillow and placed it under deceased's shoulder, ■while Dr. Cole endeavoured to restore respiration, but without avail. The doctor stated that Elvin must have been dead for an boor at least. Now, sir, the doctor was on the spot in 15 minutes after I first saw the body hanging, so that life must have beeu extinct three-quarters of an hour before I was called, which entirely disposes of Mrs Elvin's exaggerated statement that her husband was kicking after I came down. I may here state that Mrs Elvin's statement is erreneons from beginning to end." He concludes by asserting that a ptior engagement prevented him from attending at the inquest. BOAT ACCIDENT.—TWO LIVES LOST. Christchurch, October 10. A boat belonging to the ship Rangitikei, capsized iu Lyttelton harbour about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon, and Captain Budd, of the Bangitikei, and a seaman named George Hawkins, were drowned. The accident happened off Bipa island ; |the boat, with four men in her, was under sail, and it is supposed the sails were made fast. A sudden squall capsized her and she sank. The captain and sailmaker supported themselves on an oar, hut the former became exhausted and let go. The third mate, Watkins, swam until hewas picked up, but Hawkins, A. 8., sank soon after the boat capsized. The men working on Ripa Island hoisted a distress signal on seeing the accident, and Mr C. M'lntyre's yacht Neva came up and saved the third officer and the sailmaker. The boat sent out by the garrison artillery, picked up Captain Budd, but he was dead. Hawkins' body has not yet been recovered. THE TIMARU POISONING CASE. Timaru, October 10. There was a rnmour current in Timnru yesterday that a dead cat would play a somewhat prominent part in the HallHouston attempted murder case. It appears that the nurse gave a cat the remains of one of Mrs Hall's meals, and it was shortly afterwards found dead; and it is since surmised that it died from the effects of poison. It is rumouted that it is intended to exhume the cat and analyse the remains, but nothing authentic can be gleaned on the subject.