LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 68, 16 February 1884, Page 2

LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

[Per United Press Association,] Dunedin, Feb. 15. The Tasmanians began their return match against Otago to-day. The Otago team has several changes in it: —McNeil, Austin, Rose, and Frith standing out ; Cargill, Owens, Parker, and Fitzgerald taking their places. The following is the score of the Tasmanian first innings : — Tasmania, Ist innings: Davies, b Cooke, 10; Harris, o Harris, b Cooke, 9 ; Kirby, c and b Cooke, 2 ; Hall, b Fitzgerald, 3; Mansfield, b Cooke, 0 ; Butler, c Harris, b Cooke, 4; Sidebottom, b Dixon, 59 ; Burns, c and b Cooke, 13 ; Gatehouse, not out, 36 ; Sams, c and b Dixon, 0; Kendall, b Dixon, 12; byes, 9; wide, 1; total, 139. Otago had three wickets down for 78 when play ceased for the day. On the strength of a private trial, Sou’wester was yesterday backed heavily for the Dunedin Cup. His present price is 5 to 1. A meeting, attended by nearly thirty grainbuyers and a few others interested in the grain trade, was held to-day in the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Runciman presided. The following resolution was carried, only four voting against it, “ That in the opinion of this meeting the time has now arrived when it is most convenient and satisfactory both to buyers and sellers, that all bags containing wheat, oats, barley, potatoes, chaff, &c., should be weighed in with such goods free of charge, in the same manner as is done by the millers with flour and bran bags.” The following agreement was signed :—“ We pledge ourselves to purchase grain, &c., from those who only sell produce with bags included on and after Ist March, 1884.” The dummy ism enquiry into the StrathTaieri cases went on again all day to-day and will continue to-morrow. The return match, Tasmania v. Otago was commenced this afternoon. The ground is in fair condition, but rather dead after last night’s rain. The Tasmanian captain won the toss, and went to the wickets first. At the adjournment six wickets were down for forty-six runs. Marr was convicted on four charges of stealing moneys and property from the Tasmanian cricketers, and sentenced to eighteen months. Wellington, Feb. 15. The Selwyn election final result is :— Wakefield, 479 ; McLachlan, 316. The charges against P, K. Watty for fraud, and John Margetts, for false pretenses, were adjourned until Tuesday. At a meeting of the creditors of Messrs. P. Moeller and Co. it was unanimously resolved to accept the offer of Mr. Jacob Joseph of 7s. 6d. in the £ for the estate. By an Order-in-Council dogs are brought under the operations of the “ Diseased Cattle Act,” and that rabies canina is considered a disease to which dogs are liable. The general regulations respecting diseased cattle are also gazetted. At the annual meeting of the Philosophical Society, the balance-sheet showed that the receipts for the year amounted to £316, including the balance from last year. The expenditure was £l7l, leaving a balance of £145.

The following is the apportionment of the available sum of £71,680 for main roads and bridges amongst the counties and local bodies entitled to the same, in terms of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act: —Allocation for bridges on main roads in full—Whangarei County, £75 ; Hobson County, £501; Manukau County, Howick Road Board, £4O ; Mariti Road Board, £165 ; Pakuranga Road Board, £178; Waiuku Road Board, £4O; Waipipi Road Board, £ll5 ; Piako County, £BOO ; Borough of Gisborne, £1,500 ; Borough of New Plymouth, £2,600 ; Hawera County, £929 ; Wairoa County, £3,750 ; Hawke's Bay County, £9OO ; Waipawa County, £577; Wanganui County, £750 ; Rangitikei County, £1,213; Manawatu County, £300; Oroua County, £7O; Wairarapa West County, £944; Wairarapa East County, £397 ; Hutt County, £94 ; Waimea County, £2,000 ; Borough of Blenheim, £2Bl ; Grey County, £79 ; Borough of Greymouth, £.5,000; Borough of Kaiapoi, £3,234 ; Geraldine County, £2,938; Waimate County, £1,100; Waitaki, £277 ; Maniotota County, £750 ; Waihemo County, £1,735; Taieri County, £1,877 ; Tuapeka County, £6OO ; Wallace County, £32; Borough Maori Hill, £1,700; Borough North-east Valley, £1,171; Bruce County, £5OO ; Clutha County, £lO5 ; Southland County, £500; total, £39,817. Allocations for road-works as distinct froin bridges one-fifth of the sums applied for :— Mongonui County, £750; Bay of Islands County, £253 ; Whangarei County, £738; Hobson County, £650; Rodney County, £306 ; Waitemata County, £716 ; Eden County, Eden Terrace Highway Board, £4O ; Mount Albert Highway Board, £960 ; Manukau County, Hurua Road Board, £92; Howick Road Board, £l7; Maretai Road Board, £59; Opoheke Road Board, £92; Papakura Road Board, £92 ; Pokeno Road Board, £92; Paparoa Road Board, £54; Waiuku Road Board, £B4; Pukekohe East Highway Board, £92; Waipipi Road Board, £69; Wairoa South Road Board, £92; Thames County, £l,OOO ; Waikato County, £563; Piako County, £840; Waipa County, £642; Cook County, £l,OOO ; Taranaki County, £750; Hawera County, £605; Patea County, £264 ; Hawke’s Bay County, £750 ; Waipawa County, £633 ; Wanganui County, £B5O ; Rangitikei County, £750 ; Manawatu County, £940 ; Orona County, £879 ; Wairarapa West County, £Bll ; Wairarapa East County, £921; Hutt County, £370; Mangahua County £5l; Kaikoura County, £856 ; Grey County, £39 ; Westland County, £747 ; Ashley Road Board, £258; Akaroa Council, £750 ; Ashburton County, £430 ; Waimate County, £7BO ; Waitaki County, £695 ; Vincent County, £750 ; Lake County, £750 ; Manatoha County, £6OO ; Waikouiti County, £l,OOO ; Waihemo County, £653; Taieri County, £377 ; Tuapeka County, £BBO ; Wallace County, 744 ; Bruce County, £9OO ; Clutha County, £979; Southland County, £675. Total, £30,864. Total sum allocated, £70,681. Napier, Feb. 15. Edwards was brought, up at the Resident Magistrate’s Court at Ormondville yesterday, and committed for trial on the charge of murdering his wife and family. Yesterday he made the following statement :—“ I had very little sleep for four nights before the murders. I was all right on Sunday, but towards evening I got strange fancies in my head. I fancied I heard a crowd of people outside the house threatening to burn me and my family alive. I then got a piece of firewood and prepared to defend myself and family. I waited some time for them to

come. My wife wanted me to go for Constable Schultz, and asked me to go myself, as she was sure he would stop with us for the night if asked to do so; but I was afraid of going myself or of letting her go, on account of the fancies in my head and the voices I heard outs’de previously. I got better and told her that I thought I would be all right. She put the piece of wood in the fire, but I heard them coming again and took it off and put it beside me and watched the door. My wife went in and out of the bedroom at different times, and then laid down with exhaustion, as she had had very little sleep for five nights. All at once I heard a whole crowd outside singing out that they were going to burn us all alive. I jumped up, went into the bed-room, and knocked my wife senseless with the piece of wood, and then the children. I did this that they should not feel pain when I was cutting their throats. I could not stand to see them burned alive, I then cut my own throat, but the knife being blunt, I could not finish it, as I heard them coming, and I crawled under the big bed out of their road. I laid there some time. I then heard them at the back of my house. I got out in the garden and hid behind a tree, but they would not leave me. I then ran across the paddock towards Plank's, but they followed me, I left there and went to Pyke’s, but I heard them again, and slid under the bridge, as I thought they would not follow me there. When I told Plank I would not be taken, I did not think of you (Constable Schultz) or the police. I was speaking of the crowd round me. I believe I will be hanged for it, as I deserve. I hope they won’t keep me long. I want to meet my wife and children. I think I will go to the same place as they have, as they will forgive me.” Mischief is scratched for the Napier Handicap at the March meeting. Blenheim, Feb. 15. There was beautiful weather and a large attendance at the second day of the meeting. The following were the results :— Hack Race.—Jack, 1; Waitohi, 2 ; Mustard, 3. Totalisator dividend, £3 12s. Blenheim Plate.—Bore, 1; Artful Joe, 2 ; Kate Kelly, 8. Totalisator dividend, £3 18s. Consolation Handicap.—Wheel-of-Fortune, 1 ; Hero, 2; Comet, 3. Totalisator dividend, £4 Bs. Forced Handicap.—Sir George, 1; Refrigerator, 2; Bore, 3. Totalisator dividend, £2 12s. Over £2,300 was put through the totalisator in the two days. Auckland, Feb. 15. A number of workmen employed by a city contractor have struck because one Maori was employed.