LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 32, 5 January 1884, Page 2

LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

[Peb United Press Association.] Wellington, Jan. 4. The following is an extract from a letter received by the Postmaster-General, dated London, 6th Nov.:—Sir,—l observe that in the debate which took place in the House fit Representatives, when the Report of the Joint-Commission on the direct steam service was brought up for recommendation of the committee respecting unsinkable ships it was received with some doubt; but the question of building such ships has been seriously considered in this country, as will be seen by the following extract from a paper on the Mercantile Marine of England, which appeared a few days ago in the Contemporary Review, by Sir Edward Reed, M.P., who, as you are aware, is a famous authority on ship-build-ing • —« lam satisfied (says Sir Edward Reed) that it is possible, and compatible with every reasonable commercial requirement, to construct iron and steel steamers of an unsinkable type,—unsinkable that is by all but the most extreme accidents, and certainly unsinkable by causes which are now continually sending fine end costly ships to the bottom. But this result must be brought about by much longitudinal as well as by inverse subdivision, and by the resort to water-tight decks, communicated with from above by water-tight trunks, to an extent scarcely yet thought of. Nothing would tend more to enlarge ocean traffic, and to enable it to compare and compete with land traffic on more equal conditions that at present, than the general resort to unsinkable ships. I have called Sir Edward Reed’s attention to Mr. Isbister’s scheme of a sectional ship, which the Government lately sent me at the request of Mr. Macandrew, M.H.R., because its design of dividing a ship by a wall of steel forming an entire longitudinal section meets the requirement specially insisted on by Sir Edward in his paper, and, if he thinks fit to express any opinion on the design, I wiil take care to let you know. In the meanwhile, I am calling the attention of the two shipping companies to Sir Edward’s The amount of Property Tax paid at tha Head Office, Wellington, and advised as paid at the Post Offices, is £263,481. This ineludes all payments made during the financial year commencing April 1, 1883. Kate Boyle, a domestic servant, charged with the murder of her newly-born infant, is convalescent, and she will be brought before the Resident Magistrate to-morrow. The body of Henry Lee, who was drowned by the capsizing of a boat on Christmas night, has been discovered on the Ngahauranga beach. Auckland, Jan. 4. At the annual sale of Mr. W. Walter’s racing-stock the yearling colt by MusketSlander, was bought by Mr. Pilbrow for 270 guineas. The balance were withdrawn, ths reserves not being reached. Evidence taken in the Triumph enquiry on this afternoon was to the effect that Captain Brotherton was sober on the night of the accident. Arthur Hendry walked his second term against Edwards yesterday, finishing at midnight with 82 miles 25 laps, when he was succeeded by his brother. The Triumph now lies anchored snug off Mechanics’ Bay, making one foot of water per hour, which a few minutes’ pumping reduces. Mr. Fraser intends losing no time in getting the vessel in order again. Christchurch, Jan. 4. The calendar for Monday contains the names of nineteen, charged as follows:— Nine, robbery; two, forgery ; one, false pretences ; one, sheep-stealing ; five, indecency; one, perjury. Twenty-three creditors’ meetings were held to-day. The weather is now fine. The Christ’s College Governors have replaced sons-of-clergy scholarships by clergymen’s sons exhibition of about same value.

DuNsun, Jin. 4. William Wilson, an old resident of Milton, died this morning. A man named Thos. Smith, aged 57. was received in the hospital on New Year's night, ( with several ribs fractured. He states the injury was caused through a fall, while ( wrestling at Lumsden township, about 50 j miles from Invercargill. Inflammation of the t lungs set in, and Smith died yeste.day. The ( Clice are making enquiries, and it is pro* 1 ble an inquest will be held* I The body of a man was found in the harbor . at Logan's point, this afternoon. His Excellency will arrive to-night, and ] attend the third days’ Caledonian games ( to-morrow. ; J. Murray, junr„ has challenged Donald , Dinnie to dance for £lOO. , Owen Pearce, a contractor for road works, ( commit led suicide by hanging himself at . Macetown, Lake County, to-day. He had , been drinking. He leaves a wife and nine ( children. A man was found dead on the Waihemoa ( road, near Shingley Creek, this morning. : J Apparently he fell from his horse. He is . / Supposed to be Mr. J. T. 0. Bennett, who left ; jgunadin for the Naaeby survey camp yester- t the adjourned inquest on the woman Han. ’ cock was held this afternoon. A neighbour, J named Anna Feidle, gave evidence that de- t ceased told her that Pearce had stabbed her. , Witness bathed and dressed the wound, and , told Pearce he ought to go for a doctor; but f he did not go. Witness asked Pearce about , the stabbing, and he said that they had a few j words, and he did it in a passion. Witness j went to the house because Pearce came and c asked for assistance. Another witness, e named Sarah Boyd, also a neighbour, gave , evidence, in cross-examination, that after Mrs. s Pearoe (the woman Hancock) said there was t some talk among the women about a knife, j one said if deceased had been stabbed, j the knife ought to be done away with, c and Pearce, taking something from the mantelpiece and slipping it into his pocket, whispered to me, “Can I put it in your house ?” I said, 11 Oh, no, you cannot put anything in my house." He then went sway. The inquest is not concluded.