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Lake Wakatip Mail, Volume II, Issue 80, 3 February 1864, Page 4

We are sorry to inform our readers that Mi Snell's ch g " Wakatip" died on Monday morn ing, under circumstances-that strongly lead to i suspicion of poisoning. It appears that at th( time of the Frankton Races it was noticed thai there was something wrong with the animal and it was a subject of doubt whether he would be allowed to run at all. At the conclusion o: the races, he was "turned out," and so remainec till a few days back, when he was handed ovei to the care ot a gentleman skilled in these matters, but whose best exertions were unavailing to save the animal, who died early on the daj above mentioned. A post mortem examination was made, which resulted in the opinion thai poison—probably mercury—had been adminis tered. We understand that the owner of the horse is quite at a loss to imagine who could have perpetrated such a dastardly act. We consider it only just to the person concerned to publish the following, as the first statement created sorae interest in this district :—" The following statement was made by Mr Wilson Gray, in the Re-ident Magistrate g Court to-day. He said that there was a case on the charge sheet, the necessity of hearing which would be obviated, and for certain reasons that it was desirable that the lady's name should not be mentioned. About a month ago Mrs Aipenny brought a claim for the support of this lady's child. Mr Gray was happy to say that the charge then made of child desertion was quite unfounded. That the lady in question is of most respectable parentage in England, that she did not yield to a seducer, but received honorable addresses, and was married, after which it turned out that the man was already married ; that she then left the person she had married and came to this country; that she came to Queenstown, and almost immediately after she got there sent Mrs Aipenny £6, which Mrs Aipenny received; that she was then ill for two months, but immediately after her recovery sent Mrs Aipenny £5 more, which, it now appears she never received. Before the case was ever mentioned in this court she sent Mra Aipenny a further sum of £l2, which, unfortunately, did not reach its destination until after the matter had been mentioned in court, and appeared in the newspapers. This would have left only a few pounds due to Mrs Aipenny—£4 or £s—which would have settled the present action ; but that she was not content to settle the action merely, but had been at a further expense of over £2O to come down from Maori Point to clear herself of the cruel imputation of having abandoned her child, which she never deserved, and which would not have occurred but for the delay of some letters, and miscarriage of others. Mr Prendergast, sen., in the presence of Mrs Aipenny endorsed the foregoing statement."— Evening Star, Jan. 27. It will be seen by an advertisement which appears in our columns this morning, that gentlemen interested in the Gorge Prospecting Association, are invited to meet Mr W. G. Carey at the Royal Hotel, this evening, for the purpose of organising a company of amateurs to give a performance in aid of the Prospecting Fund. It will be remembered that at a public meeting some time ago, Mr Carey promised in the name of the company which was then performing at the theatre, to give a benefit to the Association, but circumstances have since occurred rendering it impossible for him to carry out his intention. The major part of the company having disappeared rather unceremoniously, it is out of his power to give a performance as he intended, but if a few gentlemen will come forward and give their assistance it will enable him to redeem a part of his promise. We understand that Mr Carey's engagements elsewhere, require his presence, and it is at a personal sacrifice that he remains in Queenstown after to-day. Gentlemen possessing histrionic abilities have here an opportunity of displaying them in a worthy cause, for it will be for the purpose of assisting a fund which has been instituted to forward a scheme, the success of which is of vital importance to both the digging and business oemmunity of Queenstown. Last night Mr Carey took a benefit at the Theatre Royal, on which occasion the first act of "Hamlet," "Delicate Ground," and "A Conjugal Lesson," were performed to an excellent house. It is not too much to say of the first two pieces that they were well played, and apparently much appreciated, Mr Carey's Hamlet being especially deserving of favorable notice. At the conclusion it was announced that on Thursday Miss Dobelle and Mr Jones would take their benefit. We have been requested to note the transfer of the business of Mr S. A. Wood, auctioneer and general commission agent, to Mr D. M'Kenna, of Kingston. On Sunday night we were again visited by a heavy gale, strongly resembling that which happened early last June. It was a kind of hot wind, and swept through the Gorge with frightful velocity, making the strongest buildings shake and quiver in a most ominous nanner ; but in consequence of the more substantial nature of Queenstown habitations of late, less damage was done than that by theformer visitation. Se-

veral tents were split and stores partially unroofed, while one of rather large size, next the Bridge Hotel, was smashed bodily, and a wooden frame shared the like fate. It kept on till about $ o'clock at this rate, when the wind suddenly veered round from north to west, and continued blowing all the following day, with occasional heavy rain. At Frank on, and also at the Arrow, considerable damage has accrued.