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Southland Times, Issue 716, 28 August 1867, Page 2

We understand that the newly elected Provincial Council will be called- together for the dispatch of business about eight or ten days from hence. . The adjourned inquest upon the death of Mrs Mary Ann Ryan, (reported in our last) was resumed at Colyer's Hotel, Dee-street, on Mon- , day at 2 p.m. Several witnesses were examined at considerable length, but nothing was educed to in any way criminate the husband of the deceased further than what was elicited at the first sitting of the jury. The chief witness in the case was a man named Butt, who lives in the samo locality as Ryan, and his evidence, (corroborated by that of his wife) amounted in effect to this : — On Thursday morning he went over to Ryan's house to borrow a hone, at which timo the whole family of Ryan's were in the house, and appeared to be all well and quiet. Mrs Ryan was, however, in bed, and on witness asking what was the matter withher.othe husband replied : — "Nothing but a sulky temper." In the course of the afternoon of same day witness heard screams in deceased's house, and he ran over. He found Ryan apparently trying to lift deceased from the floor; witness -went to assist him, and found the woman to be dead. Witness asked Ryan how it had oceuri-ed, and was informed by him that he and deceased had. had a slight. quarrel, in consequence of his wishing to send one of the children , for some brandy ; that during the altercation he gave her a shove, when she reeled and fell. Witness then communicated the circumstances to the police, and Ryan was ultimately taken into custody. The evidence generally went to show that Ryan and his wife had lived in circumstances of ordinary comfort, and were not particularly noticeable for habits of intemperance. It appeared also that Mrs Ryan had been for several years subject to pains in the region of heart, when any way excited or over exerted, and that she haA /.XmrOamM freauantlv of <"-' lia nf i**" " n " rr. T. Gbrigor, who made the post mortem exami-nations-stated that he had found no. evidence of violence about the body, further than a slight scratch on the ' nose, (occasioned by her falling against the table) but that he had found sufficient evidence of disease of the heart to account for death. After a short consultation the jury returned the following verdict : — " That the deceased Mary Ann Ryan, on the 22nd instant, being a person afflicted with disease of the heart, and being in a state of great excitement owing to a difference with her husband, was suddenly seized with a fit and in that fit did die." The prisoner was consequently discharged. On Monday evening we had the privilege of attending by ' invitation the rehearsal of a Lecture which was prepared by Mr J". Hatch for delivery on the opening of .an Athenaeum in Riverton. We understand that gentleman has been for some time quietly but energetically initiating the establishment of such an institution in that towa, and from the pains he lias taken he deserves the warmest support of the residents of Rivertbn. The Lecture-^-" Chemistry, 1 its Rise and Progress"- — was evidently, very carefully and elaborately prepared, . and was listened to throughout by the few gentlemen present, with marked attention and much interest. Several experiments were exhibited in connection with the subiect of the lecture, some of which had a very startling effect, but we were informed that the principal ones had to be omitted owing to want of time for their preparation. From the results of the rehearsal, it became apparent that Mr Hatch has the material, both physical and intellectual, at hand, to form a most instructive and attractive evening's entertainment It is to be hoped that the lecturer may be successful iv his efforts tosetron foot in Riverton an institution of this description. Indeed we would desire to see one of^. similar nature established in "Invercargill. Mr Hatch has kindly intimated his willingI ness to assist, and we tru3t that other gentlemen of ability may be induced to take the matter in hand how that fine evenings are coming in. We might suggest to the "Ladies Benevolent ■ Society" that Mr Hatch would scarcely refuse an invitation to lecture on behalf of then* association; This would both secure a public delivery in town, and would no doubt considerably strengthen the funds of a praiseworthy institution; -We learn from the " Timaru Herald" that the loss sustained through the late heavy' storms cannot for some, time be ascertained, but we are told that the squatters in the upper WaitaLi district are heavy sufferers. Messrs" Gribson and Meyer are mentioned as heavy losers, as their nooks Were lambing down at the time. Messrs Studholme, at Waimate, lost about 1500 lambs and 500 ewes.