Inter-Probincial News.

Colonist, Issue 29, 29 January 1858, Page 4

Inter-Probincial News.

AUCKLAND. SIAORI CHRISTMAS FEAST.

"On .Ohristmas-day the well known chief J Patuqne gave his customary feast to native | friends, at his residence, Waiwharari&i, North Shore. More than three hundred persons of the Ngatimaniapoto, Ngatihinetu, Ngatiwhatau, Ngatipaoa, Ngatiwhakane, Tawera,and Ngaphuhi tribes were invited, and arrived about ten o'clock: when they received a hearty welcome from the old chief and his friends about two hundred in number. A large tent had been erected for the accommodation of the guests! 120 feet long, through the entire length of which rude tables were arranged; the sides were tastefully decorated with flags, branches, and flowers of the scarlet Pohutukawa, of " Christmas Tree," and at each end was hoisted the "Union Jack, as an acknowledgment of their being loyal subjects of her Majesty*: Divine service having been performed by Heta, a native teacher, the food was brought in by the waiters, and placed on the tables, which groaned under the weightof bread, biscuits, pies, puddings, tarts. and European refreshments. The tent was found to be too small for the number of visitors, by whom it was filled and refilled two or three times before all : had partaken. The lighter articles havings been consumed, the company ranged themselves on the grass, Maori fashion, and demolished the piles of baked, pork, dried ftsh> hapuhu, potatoes, &c, Which Were placed before them* with evident gusto. About 30 Europeans were regaled by the old chief with the choicest of nitf viands'; one end of the tent had been reserved1 for them, and wine and spirits especially provided for their use. This entertainment cost the chief considerably more than one hundred pounds. 9 large pigs' were killed for the occasion, one of which Weighed 380 pounds. The greatest hilarity and good humour prevailed; everything was qonducted in'an orderly and quiet manner, and" not a single case of excess occurred.— NeiO Zealander, Bee. 30. - MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE. A Barbarous murder has just taken place at Wanearei, with the commission of which John Killey or. Kelly, a well-sinker, known to many of tfod inhabitants of this city, Btands charged, and for which he has been committed to take his trial on the warrant of Dr. Thomas Bruttoh Kenderdiiie, coroner, for the Wangarie district. As far as we can learn.it appears that Killey and the deceased, John Butler, (a recently. discharged grenadier of the 58th Regt.) had been drinking in company with some others---that a dispute arose . and Killey used threatening language to the deceased, who left the house and went and lay down on the grass. According to one statement Killey was observed, through the chinks of the hut, to take a heavy billet of wood and belabour something lying upon the ground. At all events; Butler was discovered sorely mangled about the headj and, though then alive, he died some short time afterwards. EHUey, in the meanwhile, absconded, but was taken and brought before a coroner's jury, who returned a verdict of Wilful Miirder against hinv' in the course of Tuesday- morning the, prisoner was lodged in Auckland gaol, where he conducted

himself with composure during the day, but became disturbed and restless at night. On Wednesday morning, about half-past eight o'clock, the turnkey entered the cell in order to send the prisoner out for exercise, but found him lying motionless on his back, with a superficial wound of about an inch and a-half long on the left side of the throat. Tin's wound had been inflicted by the heel, end of an old blunt rusty razor blade of about an inch and a quarter in length, and he had bled freely, the wretched man having held his head over a bucket. There were also two superficial cuts on the left arm, the one inside and near the elbow joint, the other a little higher up. Mr. Curtis was immediately sent for, and the wounds, cone of which are of a dangerous character, were dressed at once. The prisoner is now quite out of danger and composed, and has ever since been placed under strict surveillance. On examining the cell, there was found traced on the wall, in the prisoner's blood— H -*- BENKCOF — MO or MU 58th 4-"-6 morning 23rd and low down, near the floor were traced very distinctly: the letters M and K, and, more indistjnctly between them, .the letter, A. - As^sobn as the. Serjeant of the, .Gaol, Gruard saw'those letters, he said there was one of the discharged soldiers of the 58 th of that name that had not been heard of for the last two years. In an hour after his wounds had' been dressed, Killey begged of Mr. McElwaine that the letters might be washed off the wall. - Killey's wife has been to visit her husband, who in the first instance, was rather averse to seeing her. The mystery which-these sanguinary letters has begot has, as will readily be supposed, caused no inconsiderable degree of anxious conjecture.