PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 3131, 16 November 1886, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

(united press association.] Christchurch, November 15. Mr M ilham Noble, Temperance orator, has written from Melbourne stating that in consequence of the serious illness of his wife he is compelled to cancel all his colonial and Auk-i-.cku -‘ngr-getne-ctr. The Governor and party loft for Wellington this afternoon. At the Magistrate’s Court to-day two

men were fined £5 a piece for playing roulette and a similar game at the recent Metropolitan meeting. Mr Beetham, R.M., expressed the opinion that the legislation of the tolalisator had tended to increase betting.

Feildxng, November 15,

A man named Nicholson, formerly of Dunedin, died to-day fiom injuries received in bush falling at Halcombe. Andrew Sukashasfkzie committed suicide by shooting himself. New Plymouth, November 15,

James Wade, dairy farmer at Mangarie, was tossed and gored by a bull this morning, and when the messenger left to fetch a doctor be was insensible.

THE CABLE RATES DISPUTE, Wellington, November 15.

The Superintendent of the Eastern Extension Cable Company wired to Sir Julius Vogel that he will accept the compromise re cable rates on the understanding that the Government ensures the Press guarantee of the same amount being spent as at present, and immediately on receipt of an affirmative answer will notify the Governments interested and the Press of change. The status quo means the state of things existing after the expiration of the subsidy and before the rates were raised on November 1.

A GREYMOUTH ROMANCE.—THE LOST FOUND.

Wellington, November 16,

Another case of mysterions disappearance of an insured person somewhat similar to the severed hand case, has recently become known. Fortunately no violation of the grave has occurred in this instance. The facts are these, however. A yonng man named Henry Batty, son of a respectable farmer at Coal Creek, near Gieymouih, had his life insured in the Government Office for £4OO. Ho was 23 years of age and engaged to be manied on the 23rd January last. He had a tumour removed from his eye, and about 10 that night he called at a grocer’s and purchased a packet of rice, saying it was for his mother. He left in the direction of the Grey-Cobden bridge, which was then in course of construction, the flooring, however, not being laid, and the only foot way being by an eight-inch plank. To reach home he had to cross this. He never did reach home, but next morning some rice was found on the bridge, and his hat was picked up in the river. Every search was made for him alive or dead, and advertisements were inserted in papers, but no farther trace could be found of him. An unsigned will was found, and his father, as heir-at-law, applied for letters of administration, and payment of the insurance money. The Department did not consider the proof of death sufficient, but after some difficulty the father obtained letters of administration from the Conrt, and a substantial bond being given as security, the Insurance Department ultimately consented to pay, and sent a cheque to their Greymouth agent to hand over to Mr Batty, senior. For some reason or other Mr Batty did not get the cheque for some time, aud when just on the eve of applying for it he received a letter from a friend in Melbourne informing him that his son Henry was alive and in that city. He at once made the fact known, and he has since received a letter from his son, but so far as we can ascertain no explanation is offered for the mysterious departure of the writer. This, however, is now generally attributed to certain circumstances which rendered vnung Batty anxious to avoid fulfilling his marriage engagement.