The Southland Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1868.

Southland Times, Issue 1069, 7 December 1868, Page 2

The Southland Times. MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1868.

The 8.8. Bangitoto, -which should arrive at the Bluff this morning, bringß round from Dunedin the batch of immigrants for Southland, brought out by the Chile, that vessel having arrived at Port Chalmers on Friday last. On Saturday a search "party in a boat succeeded in recovering the body of one of the five men drowned on Tuesday night last — that of Kenelly. It was found at 10-w water, at a spot in the stream not far from where the accident must have occurred. At the Besident Magistrate's Court on Saturday last., sfch mat., Thomas M'Ewan, baker, Harrisville, appeared to answer an information laid against him by Mr John Hamilton, baker, a^so of Harrisville. "From the evidence it appeared that .' M'Ewan had, on an evening some time previous, in the Governor Grey Hotel, Harrisville, used threatening language concerning Mr Hamilton, in speaking to one of his — Mr Hamilton's — employes, and that subsequently, on the night of Wednesday, the '2nd inst., M'Ewan had dogged plaintiff's steps about town, following him first ?Lto the Southern Cross Hotel, then into M'Kenzie's Pie House, and back to the Southern Cross again, plaintiff having made the two latter calls for the purpose of getting rid of him. On leaving M'Kevizie's, plaintiff made an attempt to elude M'Ewan, and reach home, by flight, but foand that defendant ran as fast as himself, and kept close on him. He (plaintiff) had consequently crossed the street, and, doubling back on his pursuer, took refuge in the Southern Cross Hotel, M'Ewan still close at his heels. On the mattter being explained to the landlord, Mr Hamilton was let out by the back door, without the Irnowledge of defendant, and thus got quit of him for the night. It did not appear that any quarrel had ever taken place between the parties, nor had M'Ewan attempted any violence while ! both were in the hotel together. Mr Hamilton, however, declared himself to be in bodily fear of defendant, on account of the threats he had uttered against him, and hia dogging hia steps at night about town. The Bench bound defendant to keep the peace for nine months, himself in £50, and two sureties in £25 each. Mr j M'Donald appeared for plaintiff; Mr Eussell for defendant. A short time ago, telegraphic information stated that Mr Schafer had attempted suicide. The ' Auokland Weekly Herald ' thus relates the particulars : — " It would seem that the troubles of the unfortunate little German traveller, Mr Schafer, have affected his spirits to such an extent that life itself has become a burden to him. His Thames difficulties will be fresh in the minds of our readers, and perhaps they have been the cause of the rash act which Mr Schafer attempted yeßterday. For some time past this renowned individual has taken up his abode at the Auckland Hotel, and his general conduct, at all times extremely eccentric, at last became rather outrageous* On Sunday evening we learn that he made an abortive attempt to choke himself, having been frustrated in his attempt by some bystanders, after which he rushed out into the night, and was next discovered by the police upon the wharf in a very excited oonditionnndin possession of a dagger, with which he was apparently studying " Ajax defying the lightning." He was disarmed and taken to his hotel, where he remained, apparently in his right mind. Ou Monday afternoon, however, Constable Clarke was suddenly called from his beat in Queenstreet to Custom House Wharf by a person named Farrell, and on proceeding thither found Mr Schafer in a very exhausted condition, having just been extricated from the water by two seamen. He had, it appears, been observed by them purposely to jump into the water and endeavor to drown himself, and they, with laudible promptitude, at once leaped in after him and succeeded in dragging him out, although not until he had been partially suffocated. The unfortunate man was taken at {once to the Thams Hotel, and brandy was administered, in the meantime a messenger was despatched for Dr Nicholson. That gentleman, upon his arrival, applied the usual remedies and restorativea, and Mr Schafer began to recover his strength, and was finally rolled up in blankets and conveyed on a stretcher to the police station. Here he was detained, in order to give an account of his extraordinary proceedings, and also in order that he might be brought before the Resident Magistrate charged with attempting suicide. Several papers have been discovered in the poor man's pockets, which have been taken charge of by the Commissioner of Police, and from the tenor of some of them we understand that the traveller must have seriously contemplated self-destruction. The case has at last attracted the attention of the charitable, and he was released from durance, Mr Petschler and Mr Wm. Morrin having become bails to the amount of £50 each lor his peacable behaviour for six months. We also learn that Mr Petsehler, who entertains a high opinion of the talents of Mr Schafer, has invited him to take up his abode at his residence at fiemuera, until the departure of the s.s. Hero, when he ia to be sent homewards •"