LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 67, 15 February 1884, Page 2

LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

[Per United Press Association.] Christchurch, Feb. 14. Capt, Cotton, master of the Christchurch hounds, succeeded in walking from Stonyheart Station to Christchurch (seventy-two miles) within eighteen hours. He started at midnight and reached town at a quarter to six in the evening. The walk was for a wager of £5O. At Ashburton the Tasmanian team won a cricket-match against a local eighteen by thirteen runs. The Tasmanians have agreed to play the Dunedin men to-morrow and Saturday. Napier, Feb. 14. News has been received from Wairoa tnat a man named Louis Lambert, employed as a fencer on Gorton and Stevens’ Station, Waihou, committed suicide on Tuesday by hanging himself to a tree. Mr. W. C. Smith, M.H.R., addressed his constituents at Waipawa yesterday, and received a vote of confidence. The victims of the Ormondville tragedy were buried yesterday in the presence of a large concourse of people. The murderer Edwards was brought before the Court, but was remanded without any evidence being taken. Under the impression that he would be brought into town by the last train last night, an immense crowd of people assembled at the railway-station. Intense indignation was expressed against the man,

Wairoa, Feb. 14. An old Frenchman named Louis Cournon, commonly called “ French Louis,” hung himself last night at Mr. B. Glass’s Waihou station. He had been very despondent of late. Dunedin, Feb. 14. A fire broke out this morning at about half • past nine o’clock in Messrs. Passmore Bros.’ rope-factory, at Burnside, about four miles from Dunedin, by which the whole of the buildings were destroyed, with the exception of the engine-house and the rope-walk. The damage is estimated at fully £4,000 and the firm will be heavy losers, the insurances amounting to only £1,400, as follows :— South British, £2OO ; Northern, £250 ; Union, £350 ; Equitable, £250 ; Australian Mercantile, £250; Norwich Union, £350. The hands w’ere in full work at the time of the outbreak, and it is supposed that the fire was caused by a spark from the engine igniting some of the hemp. At the Police Court to-day the adjourned charges against Jas. McDonald, M.H.R., of neglecting to comply with the Property Tax Act in sending in a return of his property, was heard. After evidence had been taken the bench said :—“ We think that the evidence sustains the charge which has been made. The defendant is convicted and fined £25 and costs. We find by section 93 of the Act that he is also to be assessed and charged treble the amount of the tax of which he has sought to evade the payment, in addition to the tax for which he would have been otherwise liable. Blenheim, Feb. 14. The attendance at the first day of the meeting yesterday was very good, and the totalisetors did good business, £1,300 being put through. The following are the results :— Marlborough Cup, 200 sovs. ; 2 miles—Refrigerator (6st), 1 ; Hero (7st 21b), 2 ; Comet (7st 91b), 3. Hurdle Handidap—Liability, 1 ; Black Doctor, 2 ; Dick, 3. Maiden Plate— Manfred, 1 ; Bob, 2 ; Quingara, 8. Selling Hack Race—Fairy, 1 ; Ettie, 2. Shearers’ Purse—Notice of Motion, 1. Flying Stakes Sir George, 1 ; Hero, 2 ; Rose, 3. There is beautiful weather and a good attendance at the second day’s Marlborough races to-day. Hurdle Handicap, 50 sovs.— Orient, 1; Liability, 2. Racing Club Handicap, 100 sovs.—Refrigerator, 1 ; Hero, 2; Comet, 3. Auckland, Feb. 14. Wm. Henry Morgan, employed as a fireman at the railway works, Te Awamuta, committed suicide yesterday under extraordinary circumstances. He was in the railway building in the afternoon, and, taking a muzzle-loading gun charged with powder and shot, he placed the muzzle in his mouth and pulled the trigger with his toe. His skull was badly shattered and death was instantaneous. The deceased was a young man. He is supposed to have committed the rash act through jealousy, his sweetheart having gone to the railway employees’ picnic with another young man. His father, Robert Morgan, is lessee of the Domain Gardens, and resides at Newmarket. At the inquest on the fire at Mount Eden Road, which broke out on the premises of Mr. Edwin Jones, grocer, the jury returned an open verdict. It was stated the evidence of Mr. and Mrs. Jones was unsatisfactory ; that the goods in the shop were much below the value for which they were insured; and the jury condemned the lax supervision of the Insurance Companies in issuing policies without proper inspection of premises. Wellington, Feb. 14. To-day, in the R.M. Court, when the case of Watty, charged with fraud, was called on, there was no appearance of either party. The Magistrate ordered a warrant to be issued for Watty’s arrest, and the police to enquire into the circu is ; ances of the case with a view to carrying on the prosecution should Jefferd refuse to do so. During the afternoon he was taken into custody, and will appear before the Court to-morrow, bail being allowed—himself in £2OO, and two sureties of £lOO each. Alexander, the Australian Blondin, is showing here to exceedingly large audiences. From Wellington Mr. Alexander goes to Blenheim. The New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co. (Limited) have received the following telegiam from London, dated 12th inst: —Wool.—The sales opened to-day, but

scarcely up to the level of last sales. Up to date, 315,000 bales have arrived. Forty-nine thousand bales have been sent to the manufacturing districts direct. The opening catalogue contained 9,000 bales, and was a fairly representative one. Competition by both Home and Foreign buyers is fairly active. For medium and inferior combing washed the market is easier. Money.—The Bank of England discount rate is 3£ per cent.