LAST NIGHT’S WIRES

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 66, 14 February 1884, Page 2

LAST NIGHT’S WIRES

[Per United Press Association.] Invercargill, Feb. 18. The Chinese leper, about whose case so much has been heard lately, was found hanging by the neck in his hut. He was then quite dead, and is believed to have committeed suicide. It is not likely an inquest will be held. Later. The Chinaman who committed suicide yesterday was not the leper, but another Celestial at Roundhill, who it is believed had reason to suppose he was afflicted with the same malady. Blenheim, Feb. 18. Glorious weather has been experienced in this district tor the last week, and a magnificent harvest is being gathered in. Ten mengoose, out of eleven recently shipped from Calcutta, arrived here yesterday. The animals, which will form the nucleus of a breeding establishment, are for Mr. F. Richmond, of Richmond Brook, A girl named Stark, about eight years of age, was accidentally drowned in the Opawa river last night. She went in company with another girl to fish, and slipped in. At the inquest to-day the verdict was “ Accidentally drowned.” Napier, Feb. 13. A visitor to the scene of the Ormondville murder thus describes what he saw:—“ Upon entering the cottage the bedroom is on the right side of the front door, the living-room on the left. In the latter room, besides the ordinary furniture, there was a small iron bedstead. It does not appear that anyone slept on that bedstead, although articles of clothing were upon it. In the bedroom there were two bedsteads, one a small iron one, capable of holding three children, and an ordinary double bedstead. The sight that met my horrified eyes when I entered the bedroom made my blood run cold. On the small bedstead were laid three children, naked. One of them was lying nearest the side of the bed. On her temple was a large bruise, as if she had been struck with some heavy blunt instrument. After enquiries fully established this fact in my mind, and led me to believe that that was the proximate cause of death. A gash across the thrort from ear to ear had been inflicted after the victim was stunned. Lying next to the poor murdered girl was a boy, apparently about three years of age. His arm was thrown around the neck of his dead sister, as if embracing her—a position that had evidently been arranged after death by their father ana murderer. On the boy’s temple was a bruise similar to that described as on the girl’s temple, and his throat was also out right across. The third child, a boy of apparently ten years of age, was lying next to the two victims already referred to. He was partly on his back. His temple bore a similar bruise to the others, except that it was a little further back on the skull. His fingers and rim were also bruised, as if he had been attempting to defend himself when struck at, and had partially warded off the blow intended to stun him. He had probably been awakened by the attack on his brot e r and sister, but not quickly enough to escape. His throat was cut also. On the large bed w r s lying the corpse of the murdered children’s mother. The body was dressed and the dress was open-in such a manner a* to suggest that the poor creature had fallen ashep while lying dressed on the bed and in the act of suckling the youngest child. On the murdered woman’s forehead were two bruises, one on each side, the one on the left sice being the mark caused by a very severe blow. Her throat was cut across from ear to ear. Beside her, to complete the chapter of horrors, lay the body of the infant—its throat cut also. Ashburton, Feb. 12. The cricket-match the Tasmanian Eleven v. a local eighteen commenced yesterday. The Tasmanians in their first innings scored 116; Ashburton first innings, 113. In their second innings the Tasmanians had lost six wickets for sixty-eight runs. Auckland, Feb. 13. At the annual meeting of the Regatta Club, the report showed that £612 was spent on the last regatta. The club commence the year with a balance of £ll. New officers were elected. The City Council award the first prize for the Public Library and Art Gallery designs to Messrs. Granger and Delbro, Melbourne, and the second to Mr. Wales, Dunedin. The prizes are awarded subject to the tenders being within the stipulated estimate, £21,600. The estimate of the cost of carrying out the first design, made by the Council’s architect, is £40,000. Tawhiao arrived from Waikato last night, accompanied by Tu Tawhiao (his eldest son), Major Te Wheoro, a Wanganui chief, and two or three other chiefs. His visit has no political object, but is to arrange certain matters before proceeding to England. Te Wheoro intends going also, together with two or three Northern chiefs, and it is understood that Mr. Mcßeth will accompany the party. The date is not precisely fixed, pending communications from Southern chiefs. Tawhiao intends interviewing Mr. Chesson,

Secretary of the Aborigines Protection Society, with a view to making representations to the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Earl Derby) as to the alleged breaches of the Treaty of Waitangi. Rewi sent this telegram to the N. Z. Herald :—“ What I said to Tawhiao is correct. But I feared both the Queen and the Government. Nevertheless, I will continue to be loyal to the Queen.” The Herald says, “This is not very clear, but we think the meaning may be attained by considering the circumstances. When Rewi is with Tawhiao, as he himself states, his heart goes out to him, and he feels inclined to cast away all other considerations. When, however, he gets away from that influence, he acquiesces in the surveys. We do not think that any hindrance may be expected from Rewi. Wahanui, who is a much firmer man, has taken the matter in hand, and will no doubt see it through, His disposition may be inferred from the fact that he did not attend the late meeting at Whatiwhatihoe. As yet, we have little reason to complain of Tawhiao, who has positively prohibited the Natives from interfering with the surveyors in any way. Rewi, and the other chiefs of Ngatimaniapoto, will unquestionably put his name into all the best blocks in the King country, if the Judges of the Native Lands Court will permit that to be done, which is doubtful. The survey parties are proceeding with their work without any interruption. Their head-quarters are now in the Upper Wanganui country.” A Colonial inquiry was commenced to-day, at the instance of tne Insurance Coy's., on the recent fire at Mount Eden Road, which originated in the premises of Mr. Edwin Jones, grocer. Only two witnesses were examined, and there are eight more to come. The Bay of Islands Regatta took place today and passed off successfully. Tawhaio was entertained to dinner to-day by the Rev. WiremU Romare, Anglican Maori clergyman, and made a speech. It is not improbable he may leave for England within a week. Wellington, Feb. 18. A meeting of the Wellington shareholders in the Titanic Steel and Iron Company was held last night, to consider the affairs of the company. The debt of the company was stated to be £1,702, due to the chairman on account of his having taken over the liability of the company to the bank. Correspondence with the Premier was read; and it is anticipated that the affairs of the company will be finally settled by the shareholders authorising the acceptance of £3OO from the Government and omitting the matter of penalties. Parliament is further prorogued until the 7th April. A young man named William Nixon was to-day sentenced to fourteen days for assault on one of the Salvation Army. Power’s boarding-house at Manaia (Waimate Plains) was totally destroyed by fire this morning. Insurance—building, £4OO in the New Zealand ; furniture, £5O in the Colonial.

A man named Kennedy, who was assisting in shipping frozen meat on board the s.s. Bombay this morning, accidentally tripped and fell down the hold, a distance of 30ft. He received a severe injury to the spine, which is probably fractured. He was taken to the Hospital. An information has been laid against Philip Kingcombe Watty, a well-known commission agent here, on a charge of having obtained from E. W. Jefferd the sum of £25 on a bill of exchange, together with £3 in money, with intent to defraud. It is understood that the amount embezzled by W. C. McDermott, of the Government Insurance Deparment, exceeds £3OO. Mrs. Phoebe Hammond, aged 63, died suddenly to-day of heart disease. Dunedin, Feb. 13. There will be elections for all the City Licensing Committees. The Good Templars have nominated four candidates for each district. The Land Board inquiry into the Silver Peak dummyism case is practically finished. The Board will give its decision on the 20th inst. The Bench not considering the evidence sufficiently strong to ensure a committal in the robbery case heard against Marr for robbing from the pavilion at the time of the Tasmanian match, the other charges against him were withdrawn by the police. The weather has been very wintry here again to-day, and at Lake Wakatipu there was a fall of snow on the ranges. Work has been suspended in the Shag Point Colliery by the injunction of the Inspector of Mines, on account of the workings being flooded by the volume of water which has accumulated in the upper submarine workings of the mine. The mine was putting out about 100 tons per day, and the entire population of the village of Shag Point, numbering about 400 souls, were dependent on the work given by the mine for support. The Tasmanian cricketers have accepted the terms of the Otago Association and play a return match against Dunedin on Friday and Saturday next. The charge against Thos. Mann, of robbery from the cricket pavillion, was dismissed without prejudice.

At the City Police Court to-day the other cases were then withdrawn ; but, subsequently, fresh informations were laid by the police, and these will be dealt with on Friday. A meeting of the Dunedin shareholders in the New Zealand Titanic Steel and Iron Co. was held last night, when the following motion was carried:—“ That the shareholders hereby authorise the liquidator to accept the sum of £3,000 offered by the Government and now on the estimates, if paid at once without any deduction whetever; failing r. settlement at once, that the liquidator be requested to bring next session before Parliament an amended Bill, so that the Company can sell their own land,” A deputation was appointed to wait on the city members. The Otago Cricket Association has agreed to play a return match with the Tasmanians on Friday and Saturday next. Christchurch, Feb. 18. A monster tea-meeting was held yesterday, to celebrate the removal of the head-quarters of the Salvation Army to Christchurch. Over 1,100 partook of the tea. During the evening, Major Pollard announced that sixteen stations had now been opened in the Colony, and were all prospering. This morning the body of a boy, named Andrew Geddis, 13 years old, was found in a creek near Rangiora. His clothes were found on the bank, and he had evidently been drowned whilst bathing.