LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 46, 22 January 1884, Page 2

LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

[Per United Press Association.] Dunedin, Jan. 21

The second trial of Wm. Pearce for the murder of his paramour, Mrs. Hancock, commenced to-day. The Crown Prosecutor ordered two jurymen to stand aside, and the prisoner’s counsel, Mr. D. M. Stewart, challenged twelve jurymen, 'the full number challengable. The defence will be an entirely new one, that the deceased accidentally inflicted the wound on herself with an open knife. The liabilities of Robert Guthrie and Co., timber merchants, who are insolvent, amount to £9,182, of which £8,776 is secured. The assets are £4,233. Mr. Beverley writes to the Star that the Pons comet was distinctly visible last night. He states that it will be in Perihelion on January 26th, and brightest at the end of His Honor Judge Ward writes to the Star denying the paternity imputed to him in regard to the young man at Auckland who met with an accident. The comet was seen here last night. The second trial of Wm. Pearse for the murder of the woman Hancock was held

to-day, before Judge Williams and a jury. The same witnesses were examined. The prisoner was again defended by Mr. D. M. Stuart. Tlie jury retired at 4.26 p.m., and, after an hour, returned into Court with a verdict of “ Guilty,” accompanied by a strong recommendation to mercy. His Honor said he would forward the recommendation to the advisers of the Crown, and passed sentence of death on the prisoner. Auckland, Jan. 21. Mr. Seymour George, M.H.R., was practising in the shooting-gallery at the Onehunga races on Saturday when the gun burst, blowing off the top of his forefinger and injuring the thumb and other finger. At the adjourned inquest on the body of Wm. Bartlett Langbridge a verdict of “ found dead, showing the effects of serous apoplexy caused by excessive drinking,” was returned. The post mortem examination revealed an extensive disease of the internal organs, James Mclnisle, alias Morton, gumdigger, cut his throat and then drowned himself at Kaihu,

Sergeant Andrew Clark was brutally assaulted by Michael Dugan, of the ship Tnrakinn, while endeavouring to eft’ect his arrest for a breach of the Seaman’s and Shipping Act. Dugan had to be placed in irons during the voyage. Two constables assisted Clark to take him to the lock-up. Timaru, Jan. 21.

A number of single girls just from Home have been readily engaged at £25 to £4O, and the demand is far in excess of the supply. Harvest operations are advancing. Labor is plentiful at present, but the demand is likely to increase. The crops continue to improve. A great Masonic festival here concluded with a fancy dress ball. of 150 persons from other parts of the Colony were present at the meeting, which was a great

Christchurch, Jan. 21. John Phillips, Kaiapoi, was thrown from a horse on Saturday and killed. There was a slight shock of earthquake on Saturday afternoon. The weather is still very unsettled. There was a serious fire in High Street on Saturday night, which destroyed the premises of Empson (bookseller), Delaniore (grocer), Church (draper), and Smith (shoemaker), The brick walls of the Empire Hotel on one side, and Paterson’s (jeweller) on the other prevented the fire spreading further; also, the heavy rain at the time. Delamore was uninBuren; the others were insured:

The details of the insurances are not all ascertained. It is known that the total is £10,250, and the damages are estimated at about £lO,OOO. The following risks are known: — Union, £325 ; United, £225 ; Hamburg-Madgeburg, £475; Australian Mercantile Union, £500; Victorian, £500; New Zealand, £750.

The insurances on the fire in High Street are £1,025. Still raining. Wellington, Jan. 21.

As yet, Mischief and Leonata are the only Cup horses here. There is very little betting at present, but the following are the latest quotations :—Vanguard, 100 to 50 ; Welcome Jack, 100 to 40 ; Mischief, 100 to 25 ; Tim Whiffler, 100 to 25; Salvage, 100 to 20 ; Leonata, 100 to 15 ; others, 100 to 10. The weather is still extremely boisterous and unpromising for the Regatta to-morrow. At the Supreme Court civil sittings, the case of E. C. Jones v. John Duthie was heard. The plaintiff is an engineer of the Wellington Harbor Board, and the defendant a member of that body. The action was brought to recover £2,000 damages, for alleged defamation of character, and a nonsuit entered.

It is estimated that 2,000 persons visited the N.Z. Shipping Company’s new steamer Aorangi yesterday.

The Government have received a despatch from the Home Government to the effect that a supplementary charter has been issued, granting and declaring that degrees in science conferred by the University of New Zealand shall be recognised as academical distinctions, and that rewards of merit are entitled to rank in precedence and consideration the United Kingdom and the .Jvitii>bf. Colonies and possessions.

The young man named Ward, who was hurt on the Auckland wharf on Saturday, is no relation of Judge Ward. At the Wesleyan Conference this afternoon, the reports of the Examination Committee were read by the Rev. W. Williams. The papers of the following probationers were deemed satisfactory, and they were passed in their several years-Revs. Parsonson, Pinfold, Slade, Garland, Griffiths, Jones, Wills, Marshall, and Matthews. During the year, three venerable ministers have died, vi«i, Revs. John Hobbs, T, Buddle, and John Warren. Obituary notices of these were read by the Secretary, and testimony was borne by many of the ministers touching the personal worth and eminent services rendered by the departed to the cause of religion among both the Europeans and Natives of the Colony.