PROVINCIAL NEWS.

Kumara Times, Issue 3169, 31 December 1886, Page 3

PROVINCIAL NEWS.

- —♦ [united PRESS ASSOCIATION - ." 1 Christchurch, December 29. Thomas Grey, a°erl 63, committed suicide this morning at Springfield, bj' hanging himself to a wire fence with a piece of wire.

December 30. At the adjourned inquest this evening on Barnabas J. Hall, killed at the tramway accident on Christmas Day, the verdict was "accidentally killed whilst getting off a tiatu in motion." A rider recommending that platforms at the ends of Iramcars be kept clear and that trams pull np at all stopping places was added. William Williams, 14 years old, was killed this evening by being dragged by a horse he was leading. The rope got entangled round his waist and the hoise bolted. Dunedin, December 30. A communication has been received from Victoria that teams from fire brigades in England and America are expected to attend the demonstration in Melbourne, and stating that if the demonstration at Dunedin was postponed till March an effort would be made to induce these teams to attend. The Secretary was instructed to reply that if a guarantee was given that those teams would come over, the demonstration would be postponed. Auckland, December 30. The Auckland schooner Lily went ashore at Apia during a heavy gale, but was successfully floated off by the aid of the German warship Albatross, ami the assistance of King Malietoa and other native chiefs. . Wellington, December 28. A mau named T. Olsen whs picked up insensible near Greytown to-day. It is supposed that he fell from a horse. He died afterwards. /' December 29. It is understood that next session the Minister of Justice will introduce a bill to abolish coroner's juries, and reduce the fees paid to coroners from two guineas to one guinea. The report of James Blackett, Assistant-Engineer, on the recent discovery of gold at Marlon while sinking a well, says that from prospects he has seen the gold is not at p>eseut in pay. alile quantities. At the depth reached (40ft), though owing to the fineness of the «old there is some difficulty in saving it by the ordinary process. BARQUE MAY, FROM KIMBERLEY. Wellington, December 30. Arrived, May, barquentine, Captain Robb, from Cambridge Gulf. She left on October 17. Experienced a heavy gale, lasting three days, between 22° and 24° S. lat. On 3rd November a boy belonging to the vessel named Eirnest Short fell overboard. Every effort was made to save him, but without avail. The May brings about 50 returned diggers, who are unanimous in condemning the field. In regard to Wyndham, Captain Robb states that it is the most disreputable place he ever set foot in. THE WESTERN MAORI ELECTION. Wellington, December 29. It is now certain that the Otaki chief, Hoane Taipua, has been returned by a large majority to represent the Western Maori district in Parliament during the next session. Returns from all the districts, with one unimportant exception, are now to hand, and Taipua has so far polled 216 votes more than the aggregate of the four other candidates. The polling is as follows : Hoane Taipua ... 1173 Major Te Wheoro ... 515 Henare Kaihau ... 224 Sydney Taiwhanga ... 148 Ngakawo Taurua ... 71 Taipua is a well-known chief, and has occupied the position of Native Lands Court assessor and member of the Public Trust Board. PROSPECTING AT BIG BAY. Wellington, December 29. Carey, one of the prospecting party at Big Bay, writes to the Minister of Mines as to the work done there. He gives a more hopeful report, and states that at Martin's Bay and on the beach at the mouth of the river which runs through Kaipa Valley several good patches of fine gold have been found. He says that if all the ground in the gully near Martin's Bay is as good as the sample he intends forwarding to Wellington, there will be some rich claims.