NORTHERN INTELLIGENCE.

Southland Times, Issue 1320, 11 October 1870, Page 3

NORTHERN INTELLIGENCE.

Great excitement was lately caused at "Wairna by a report that all the residents at Wbakaki had been killed. The constabulary, asNwell as the residents of the township, -turned out, believing they would fin <T rio one left. It turned out that some one Bad been shooting a dog during the night at Whakaki, and that some native women from the adjacent pah, whose timidity causes them to sleep every night in the Bcrub, heard the shot and concluded the Hauhaua had come. The Wanganui Chronicle says that typhus fever has broken out amongst the Maories at Otaki, and that they are dying off like sheep. The ravages of the disease have been remarkably rapid, and eight men are dead already, while many others lie in a most critical position. Both cattle and sheep are risiDg in ' price, owing to the scarcity. Fat wethers in fact are almost unobtainable, and those of the heavy breed are worth 18s apiece. The wet weather has been greatly against flockowners proceeding with shearing. At Tepurupuru, sheep were i washed ten days ago, and now only fine weather; is wanted for the flocks to be shorn. . At Coromandel, a specimen of lignite has been fonnd. The material is very suitable for firing purposes. It is on Government ground. A Northern paper says another triumph for the Bay of Islands coal is to be found in the result of its use at the Freeman's Bay Glass Works. Mr jthat by using Kawakawa coal, he can fuse his materials in fifteen hours, whilst with the English coal (in England) a period of from thirty to thirty-six hours is required to effect the lame object. The exodus from the Thames to the new rush in Queensland continues. Certain it is (says an Auckland journal) that there have been a number of alluvial diggers for some time resident at the Thames who have found themselves a good deal out of their element, who will probably benefit by getting away, and whose presence will not have been much benefit to the Thames field. The little town of Napier is great in newspapers; there are 14 publications weekly, and the Daily Telegraph is announced to appear for the first time early in November. - The capture of Harris, the defaulting clerk to the Bulla Shire Council, is thus — detailed by the Southern Cross; — Harris did not remain long in Auckland. Having, 88 it would appear, arranged for a passage to New York by the Santon, he went to Napier, and there lived for several days with Mrs Cassidy until the time came when, he judged the Santon was about ready to sail. He then returned to Auckland, and after several fox-like doubles to mystify the police, he hired a waterman's boat, in which he and Mrs Cassidy went down to a part of the coast near Tiritiri, and there pitched a tent, awaiting the arrival of the Santon on her outward voyage. Meanwhile, Detective Murphy had ascertained that a cutter had conveyed luggage on board the Santon for a couple who had taken passage for New York, and he thereupon proceeded to search the luggage, which satisfied him that the parties were no . other than those of whom he was in quest. Finding, however, up to the moment of the vessel sailing, that the two passengers did not come on board, Detective Murphy followed the Santon down to Tiritiri, and made a second search, which proved as fruitless as the other. Still convinced that the parties were in the neighborhood, Detective Murphy, with whom also were Constable Carrigan and Captain Burgess, made a show of giving up the search and returning to town. When they had got some little distance from the Santon, the latter lowered the house flag, which had been flying, and instantly a boat was seen crowding all sail from the shore towards the ship, which also stood towards the boat. To turn the pilot boat round, and clap on every stitch, was the work of a moment; and after a most exciting race the superior sailing capabilities of the boat, skilfully handled by Capt. Burgess, Prevailed, and the fugitives were cut off rom the ship. A man in the boat called out, "Who do you want?" "Thontas Lascelles Harris," was the reply. " Eight you are," exclaimed that redoubtable individual himself, who was thereupon arrested. The sum of £170 in gold was found in a small courier bag in Harris's possession. Harris advised his companion, Mrs Cassidy, to go on to New York, and Detective Murphy put no obstacles in the way, as he had no inas to the woman ; she, however, expressed her determination to return with her companion. It is believed that £90 had been paid by Harris as passage money. The prisoner did not manifest the slightest concern at the unsuccessful ... result of . his attempt to escape, but philosophically informed the detective - that 'he "always took the world as it ' -came." Harris does not very closely , resemble the photographs in the possession of the police, the appearance of :.-,; bis fece having been completely altered by the shaving off of his whiskers and -—yjggjfc • — — - - - —