PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 3152, 10 December 1886, Page 2

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.! Nelson, December 9. A man named Jno. Anderton was killed at Wakapnaka by the overturning of a dray in which he and Absolam Lyfoid were riding. Lyford was unluut, lie falling beside a log, which prevented the dray falling on him, hub Andei ton’s leg was smashed. Timaru, December 7. The statement that Claridge was so feai fully injured and died in the hospital was wrong. The man is alive and is doing well in the hospital. December 6, W. C. Craig, agent for the Equitable Life Assurance, was committed for trial this morning on a charge of criminal libel. The plaintiff is Murray Ashton, a rival insurance agent in the employ of the Mui.ua! Life Assurance Association of Australasia. Hall, the prisoner charged with the murder of Cain, arrived at Lyttelton to-day in the custody of Warder O’Brien. Mrs Newton, Cain’s daughter, also arrived by the Timaru to-day, and will give evidence at the adjourned hearing to-morrow morning. Dunedin, December 7. The hull of the New River Harbour Board dredge was launched from Kincaid and M‘Queen’s yards to-day. She is to be capable of lifting 75 tons per hour, and dredging to the depth of 18 feet. Some scheelite, from which some very good prospects have been obtained, has been discovered on the Otago peninsula. > Invercargill, December 8. At the Supreme Court this morning, F. H. Dale, on four charges of stealing post letters, was brought up for aem tence. Counsel asked if an application under the Probation Act would be entertained, but Judge Williams said it was out of the question, and it would never do if the public gave a man license to sin once, and that, because of his previous good character, with comparative impunity. Evidence as to previous good character was given by the Chief Postmaster and others. Dale was sentenced to two years' hard labour on each charge, sentences to take effect concurrently. Napier, December 8. Fred, Hill, a post office clerk, pleaded guilty yesterday to seven charges of stealing letters, and was brought up for sentence to-day. The Chief Justice treated the first indictment as a first offence under the Probation Act, and

the prisoner will be under surveillance for two years. On the other six charges the prisoner is to find a security of £IOO to come up for judgment when called. Robert Mitchell, for forging two orders for the payment of 10s, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment, Auckland, December 8. Four children named Litt, belonging to the Industrial Home, were left £4OOO by the death of a grand aunt named Mordatt, in England. They are to have equal shares when 21 years of age. Rotorua, December 7, Mr and Mrs George Betham returned from Rotomahana and Tarawera yesterday. Mr Hutchinson, the engineer, who accompanied them, considers that the White Terrace is merely buried. The party ascended Mount Tarawera, and had a full view of the crater; they state that the scene of desolation was indescribable. New Plymouth, December 6. Two young ladies saved the life of a little girl who fell into the lake on the recreation ground on Saturday. The little girl, who was about six years old, was playing on a spring board near the bathing-house, and fell off into deep water. Miss Thompson, daughter of the Collector of Customs, and Miss Todd, her cousin, who were bathing near at hand, saw the accident, and being expert swimmers swam to the rescue of the child as it was going down the third time. Miss Thompson supported the child till Miss Todd reached her, and the two managed to bring the girl safely ashore. Miss Thompson is only fourteen years of age, and Miss Todd about seventeen. The water where the child fell in is about 20ft deep. Wellington, December 9. The claim of J. C. Crawford for £31,000 compensation for land taken for Wellington defence works on the peninsula, was heard before the Compensation Court this morning. The land comprised about 245 acres, and the claim was £29,000 for the land and £2OOO for damages to the neighbouring lands. The various experts called valued the land at from £8 to £IOO per acre, and after hearing the evidence the Court reserved its judgment.

Colonel Whitmore publishes a long statement regarding the Auckland ammunition, in which he attributes the first failure of Whitney to being unable to procure English powder in time, and therefore used sporting powder, which was too strong; and there were other trifling defects in the manufacture of the cartridges. Whitney took back 10,000 cartridges, broke them up, and tried again, this time with proper powder, which arrived. The amended powder succeeded fairly well. 40,000 rounds were then supplied, and mostly issued. At the first comp'aints he stopped these and recalled all on issues. An examination was made, and it was found that the whole supply was inferior to the tested sample. All the rounds were returned and broken up by the manufacturer. On the 15th July, Whitney having obtained additional machinery and remedied all the faults, brought a large supply to Wellington, which has been satisfactorily tested. Colonel Whitmore attributes the recent accidents to non-re-turned defective ammunition.

The Westport Coal Company’s Steamer Kawatiri, which left Wellington for Westport on Tuesday, returned to port this morning, and the captain reports that the vessel struck the Rangitoto, near D’Urville Island, at 10.40 p.m. on Tuesday. It appears that the chief officer was on deck at the time, and the weather thick. He caught a glimpse of the land a minute or two before the vessel struck. The engines were reversed but were of no avail. Attempts were made to kedge the vessel off, but were unsuccessful. The captain sent a boat to intercept the steamer Orawaiti, bound from Lyttelton to Westport, which was done, and the steamer came to the assistance of the Kawatiii and managed to pull her off yesterday. The Kawaliri is making but little water, and will go on the slip to be surveyed.