TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4912, 19 December 1876, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.

(PER PRESS AGENCY.) Auckland, Monday.

A settler named Martin Curtin, living in the Ararimu district, beyond Papakura, has been arrested on a charge of murdering a neighbor named Denis Shanaghan. Bad blood was known to have subsisted between them for some time. On Saturday night Curtin came into Papakura, looking for the Clerk of the Court, with the object, he said, of laying an information against Shanaghan for breach of the peace. Shanaghan did not return home on Saturday night, and his wife went out to search for him on Sunday. She found him lying dead in Curtin’s paddock, with severe wounds about the head. Curtin was then arrested. His version is that they had a quarrel about cattle, and Shanaghan attacked him with a stick ; that an affray ensued, and that Shanaghan was knocked down. No one witnessed the quarrel. The murdered man leaves a; young wife and child. ' Further particulars of the murder at Ararimu, beyond Drury, show that Curtin, now under arrest, brought an action for trespass against Shanaghan, the murdered man; three years ago. A verdict was given for defendant, with heavy costs ; in satisfaction of which Curtin’s grass-seed was seized. Since then he has had a grudge against deceased. Mrs. Shanaghan says that about a week ago Curtin said to her, “ You will not have him long." Curtin’s own statement to the police is that he met Shanaghan on the road to Curtin’s house. Shanaghan said, “ Come and see me burn your house down.” Thereupon, Curtin says, they fought. He got the better of Shanaghan, who fell in the midst of cleared ground where stumps remain. Curtin says Shanaghan cried out, “ You’ve done enough, Curtin, let me up now.” Curtin said, “No; I will not. I’ll tie you up for the constable.” He. then tied Shanaghan to a stump with a half-inch rope, and tied his hands behind him. Left him there and rode into Papakura on Saturday evening. He wanted a warrant, which was refused. He theq returned to Ararimu and arrived there about one o’clock on Sunday morning. He went by candle light and cut away the cords binding the body. Eleven drops of candle-grease were found, on the trousers of the murdered man. The end of a sperm candle was in Curtin’s pocket when arrested. Mrs. Shanaghan says that Curtin saw her on Saturday afternoon. She was anxious about her husband’s absence. It seemed that her husband had been at Fielding’s until 3 o’clock, when he left with a scythe, which has been found on the road a few chains above the scene of the murder. There was no blood on it. She met Curtin, and asked where her husband was. Curtin said, “He is lying down where he Has got his desserts.” Shanaghan appears to have struggled desperately to free himself. There are-several marks on the body. One of the marks, on the skull, was evidently made by a sharp instrument, not by a stick. An axe was found in the ashes of a fire in Curtin’s house, with the handle burnt off. The body was found by Mrs. Shanaghan and twelve or thirteen settlers lying on its side, stiff, with hands behind. There were markswhere the rope cut the clothes close to the wrists. There were also marks of rope around the body. The rope cut nearly half an inch into the stump.

Patea, Monday,

A fire occurred last night at 9.30 in a stable at the back of the Albion Hotel, part of which was occupied by Oobb and Co.,' and the other by ; Autridge. All the horses were got out with difficulty, one horse having a very narrow escape. Two pigs and a dog were burnt. The fire started in Cobb’s stables, but its origin is unknown. No blame is attached to the grooms. The property was insured in the New Zealand office for £250.

Hokitika, Monday. The s.s. Maori got off the Spit on Sunday night’s tide. The body of Hugh Campbell, blacksmith, was found in the Hokitika river yesterday. Blenheim, Monday.

Mr. Seymour addressed his constituents on Saturday evening. The following resolution was carried unanimously ;—“ This meeting thanks Mr.'Seymour for his address, and approves of the course he took during the last session. This meeting also wishes to express its continued confidence in Mr. Seymour as representative of the district.” Dunedin, Monday. .

The question whether preliminary and ex parte proceedings in bankruptcy should he

opened to the Press was incidentally raised to-day, as a question of practice in the Supreme Court, upon the contention of Mr. Stewart that the case he was engaged in should not have been taken in open Court, but in Chambers. No decision was arrived at, but his Honor remarked that even if the case were taken in Chambers he was not aware that there was any power in the Judge to prevent proceedings in Chambers from being reported. Cases were only taken in Chambers because such was more convenient, and the public were excluded because there was no room for them. He could not see why proceedings of all kinds should riot be published. It was rather desirable that they should. He admitted there was considerable difference of opinion on the subject. An attempt is being made to establish an. Agricultural and Pastoral Association. Bright’s first Sunday freethought lecture was not a success in point of attendance. The Guardian says the lecture consisted of a general attack on the clergy of all denominations, who were designated opponents of liberty of conscience and relentless persecutors of the pioneers of progress. He stigmatised infallibility and other dogmas of the Roman Church as irrational, and characterised the Church of England, Presbyterianism, and other sectarian institutions, as barriers to freedom and progress, and opposed to the example and teachings of Christ. Riverton, Monday. James Mclntosh was elected without opposition for the Otautu riding of the county of Wallace. Henry Hurst and Thomas W. Gonmell were nominated for the Orepuki* riding. At an inquest held on the young man Hart (not Shaw, as has been wrongly telegraphed), the jury returned a verdict of Accidentally drowned.”

Balolctha, Monday. For the Clutha county riding Roberts was the only candidate ; but it is said he has not the necessary qualification. An inquiry into* the same will be held. There will be contests in all the other ridings. The electors are* thoroughly interested.