DUNEDIN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2153, 13 February 1880, Page 2

DUNEDIN.

TOWN EDITION. )

[fjkom ouu own cohhespondent.] The news of the sad eiid to the lives of Mr and Mrs Hayes, created great excitement in town on Saturday, and every scrap of intelligence was eagerly devoured by the numerous friends and acquaintances of the family. Happily, such events are of rare occurrence. The result of the inquest proved very clearly that insanity ran in the family, for two sons had been inmates of the Lunatic Asylum, one of whom was allowed out some two months ago, and is now at Westport, the other —Attiwell— was for many years in the office of Mr B. T. Wheeler, news agent, and was generally esteemed on account of his good qualities and business abilities. It is only recently he had shown signs of menial derangement. It appears that a man boarding in the house was awoke about 6 o’clock in the morning by hearing screams, and running into the bedroom discovered Mrs Hayes with her throat severely cut, and her husband sitting before a glass common*

ciug to use a razor upon himself)'"‘His first action was to snatch away the razor and call for help, which brought the neighbors in. After quieting the fury of the unhappy man, one of them left to fetch his wife for the purpose of attending to Mrs Hayes, and whilst he was absent, Hayes ran to the kitchen, took up a carving knife, and before he could be stayed, inflicted a frightful wound in his throat,and in two minutes lay dead. The jury found that he committed the act whilst suffering , tem.porary insanity. Atone time he had been a hard drinker, but for many years past he has taken a very active interest in work of the Good Templars and Rcchabitcs, indeed he was one of the best and most respected members in Dunedin. For some time past he had been in a despondent condition —the last time I met him, about a fortnight since—he looked as careworn that I stopped to speak to him, but could not catch his attention. Latterly his mind had taken a deeply religious bent ; and his conversation would generally turn upon religious matters. He was a regular attendant at the Ptymouth Brethren Services, conducted by Mr Brunton.

The building trade is generally making a move again. The new building for the Bank of JN T ew Zealand is in course of erection, whilst Inglis, the draper of George street, announces his determination to run the whole of his premises up to four stories. As evidencing the ups and downs of colonial life it is worth mentioning' that Messrs Finek and Grasby the contractors who built that splendid hotel for Mr Wain opposite the post office, arc now on the books of the Carpenters and Joiners Society and in receipt of the few shillings per week allotted to those who are out of work.

A very smart iirm of “ Agents, Ac., Ac.,” have just burst up this week. The lirm was a new one and worked under the title of Armstrong, Pattinson and Co, It transpired from the evidence in a case brought against them in the B.M. Court, that those worthy gentleman had worked a labor agency, had taken the half-crowns, and sent their anxious inquirers away down to Core (a distance of <SO miles), furnished with a letter of introduction to a storekeeper, and which they were told would without fail find them work. After swagging it down and looking for the address given them they found the store deserted, no tidings of "work, and the poor unfortunates found their only consolation in hearing that many others had been on a like fools errand. The Magistrate commented very properly on such a system and gave a verdict for lio damages and costs. Since that I glean from the “ Star” that Messrs 1 lonic and Armstrong have retired from the firm—of course in disgust—and that Mr Pattinson has filed his schedule.

Another case of interest to laud speculators was decided last week, the plaintiff being Mr J. A. Mackenzie, mining agent, and the defendant Messrs James Smith (better known as Darky Smith, the lawyer) and Mr W. J. M. Larnach. Two veai-s ago a sale of land was held at (!rant’s Braes, situated on the hills of the Peninsula' opposite Dunedin, and fetched even for that time sensationally high prices. The purchasers were led to believe —if not directly, at all events indirectly—that a ferry steamer would be laid on at once at low rates, and this belief was greatly assisted by an article which appeared in the “ Times ” the day before the sale, “putting ” the place high up into the heavens, and making , a special line of the proposed steamer., At the sale a question was asked about it, and replied to m a manner satisfactory to the purchaser, but up to this day no steamer has been laid on. Of course the value of this particular land has declined with other lands, but the jury were of belief that special damage had been done the plaintiff by the witholding of the steamer, and gave the plain tiff a verdict for £SOO. it is stated that the steamer arrived in the harbor a fortnight ago on board the Canterbury. " Better communication is being established between the settlers along the the Taieri river, for I hear that Mr Gotten, who lately removed there, has laid a small steamer to ply twice a week between Henley and the Taieri mouth. Our City Council have before them the disagreeable necessity of retrenching, and there is good reason for it. I hill, on another occasion, tell your readers what revenues our city otticcrs are en“joving, and that at the expense of the ruto]uiyt*r. JLlic buluncc of our city funds is very low, and it is under discussion to at once stop all city work, sewerage, Ac., dispense with the unemployed, a number of day-men, and not to proceed further with the extension of the Town Hall. . The concert given in the Garrison Hall, on Friday evening, by Carmnn Morley and his pupils, was a grand success. Over 2000 people must have been in the hall, for the gallery

literally packed. -The programme was a very pretentious one—mainly operatic selections—but their rendering at, the bands of the Misses Hume and Signor Morley, was equal to anything that professionals could accomplish. The other soloists were Miss Lack, Messrs F. Lewis, R. Watson, and Murray ; the chorus, which is always a strong feature .of the Signer’s performances, also performed their part very successfully; ; , One of the; best displays of batting I have seen in Dunedin was that exhibited last Saturday on the oval of the Dunedin GV'C. Opposed to'them were the bowlers Cook, Conway, Lowe, and •Austin, the latter proving most, puzzling to play. Paramor’s. 83 is the highest individual score yet made in a Cup match,, and well entitled him to the premier position amongst Otago knights Of the willow. At the present time Carisbrook have 7 wickets to spare and 210 runs to make to win the match, and the odds are all in favor of Dunedin continuing to hold the first position in the cricket .field.. Carisbrook, during this season have been greatly weakened by the loss of Fulton and McNeil, the latter being away home, whilst the former has not recovered the nasty knock he gave his arm whilst at practice one evening.