FROM OUR EXCHANGES.

Temuka Leader, Volume 2, Issue 145, 14 May 1879, Page 2

FROM OUR EXCHANGES.

An inquest was held on Monday on the body of McMahon, who died at the Red Lion Hotel, Wanganui, and the jury returned a verdict of man slaughter against a Native named Tawhana. McMahon had been drinking heavily, and medicel testimony showed that as the primary cause of death, although it was possibly accelerated by the blow struck. A boy named William, about five years old, son of John Elliott, who arrived in Oamarn on Saturday, on his way to Auckland, was drowned in a concrete tank, at the rear of the Bay View Temperance Hotel, yesterday. He was missed during the afternoon, and a search was made everywhere, but no trace obtained until this morning, when the body was discovered in a tank. Last Saturday a sailing boat containing two men, was capsized in the inner harbor, Napier. Ona of the men ’swam ashore, but the other was drowned. The latter was a seaman, recently discharged from the schooner Saxon,'and was only known by the name of “ Charley.” Dr Moritz Marks, who lately resigned from the Hospital Medical Staff, committed suicide on Saturday by takingmorphia chloral. He seemed'in excellent humor at breakfast time, and about eight o’clock informed Mrs Marks that he would go into his consulting-room and make out some accounts. His wife suggested that the parlor would be a warmer room for the purpose, but he declined. As ho was absent much longer than expected, and as a number of patients were waiting, Mrs Marks went to the door and called him. Receiving no reply she tried the d oor and found it was locked. She ran round to the window, and saw her husband lying' at full length on the floor. She hnmediately gave the alarm, and the windows were forced in. Dr Marks was found to bo breathing heavily, and in a dyingstate. Near his hand was a paper showing that ho had taken a strong dose of the poison. Dr Pi-ins, who was sent for, arrived quickly, but found that life was extinct. letter was subsequently found, addressed to his wife, in widely ho stated his intention of committing suicide on account of pecuniary embarrassment. The deceased had only been married about 12 mouths. This sad affair has created quite a sensation throughout tne city. The Hospital Board were to have hold a special meeting on Tuesday next.

to enquire into the complaints made Dr Marks against the House Surge, which had caused the former to res*’ At the inquest a verdict was rctur that the deceased poisoned himself. d The 'Wairarapa Standard’ says : —h always gives us pleasure to record any of generosity, and on this otMF especially, as it is one of those shows that a generous heart lies benea a rugged coat. Three men who con hardly be termed respectable Jookii met in the main street, Greytown, Intel, and after discussing a remedy for tl present depressed state of the mono market, two of them declared themselve bankrupt, without either assets or liabili ties ; whereupon the third most gener ously, but slowly and sorrowfully, drev from his pocket three coppers and handed to each of the others a penny each and kept one for himself. They then parted, the one glad to think that he had given his little to relievo the wants of those I who were worse off than himself, and the others, with tears in their eyes, blessing their - generous friend. This little incident shows that pennies are getting valuable.” With regard to the Maori difficulty in Gamaru the 1 Mail 5 of Friday, says : “Despite the fact that the Hon. Mr : Sheehan paid a visit to the Upper Wai- ■ taki some lime since, and insisted upon the Maoris who had taken up their abode on private lands at once returning to their own reserve, they appear to continue their impudent and mischievous courses with undiminisbed vigor. At the meeting of the County Council, yesterday, Mr D. Sutherland again brought the question up. He said it would be remembered that last year the Native Minister had visited the locality, and had ostensibly taken steps to have the nuisance removed. Nothing had, however, been done,and the Maoris actually laughed at the whole affair. They even denied that they had promised Mr Sheehan they would go away. Besides being a very great nuisance, they were doing a considerable amount of damage, and bad almost destroyed the ewe paddock by putting a fence across it. He concluded by moving, “That the chairman write the Government, stating that the lessee of the Omarama run had applied to the Council for a remission of a portion of his rates, on account of the Maoris having taken forcible possession of part of the run.” This was seconded by Mr Johnston, and carried unanimously.” His Excellency the Governor (says the £ Lyttelton Times ’) took away from Canterbury three shorthorn cows for his farm at Wellington. The, animals represented all the qualities of the true shorthorn breed, combined with the best capabilities for dairy purposes, and we have no doubt they will do credit to our province and prove profitable to his Excellency. The Dunedin ‘ Morning Herald ’ of Monday last gives the following amusing description of an individual who, we believe, is at present employe.! in Timaru. He has also frequently appeared successfully at sports held in South Canterbury : —“ At the gathering of an Athletic Club in South Canterbury the other day, a rough-looking son of (he Emerald Isle watched the feats of the competitors with keen amusement, not unmingled with an undisguised attempt. After the long .' jump had been cledided, he easily covered a much greater distance than the winner. At the close of the hop, step, and jump, ho also exerted his powers, beating the winner easily. Ills third and greatest effort was in the water-jump in the steeplechase, where his performance put those of the others completely in the shade. We do not know his name, but we trust the unknown will appear at the next Caledonian Gaines at Dunedin, where, if fie cannot shine so pre-eminently his entries will be accepted, and he will have an opportunity of carrying off some prize money. Detective Brown made a clever arrest last night (says the ‘ N.Z. Times.’) The prisoner is also wanted in Adelaide, but on a slightly different charge from Gleich —viz., bigamy. The prisoner, whose name is Samuel Cowan, is a fine, smartlooking young man, of dark complexion. He was formerly a professional cook, but gave up the culinary department for the more lucrative and genteel business of selling Bibles and other, religions books. During bis sojourn in New Zealand he has been doing a good business, has received a large number of orders for bis works, and has been living in first-class style. He married bis first wife in 1871, and lived apparently happy with her for five years, and then became enamored of another. Ho induced her to run away with him ; swore eternal affection, and painted such a glorious future that she left her home and fled away with him. Of course directly his real wife became aware of tire fact that her lawful husband bad gone off with another woman she communicated with the police at Adelaide, and handed them a photograph of her husband. This was copied and sent to the police authorities in New Zealand, one of which came into the possession of Detective Brown. Since Cowan had his photograph taken in Adelaide, he has somewhat altered his appearance by cutting off his moustache ; but this disguise was not apparently sufficient. Cowan arrived in Christchurch a few months ago, and commenced his career as a traveller, rented a house, had it well furnished, and lived in good style. At length ins mind became uneasy ; lie broke up his homo, and came over to Wellington, where he again began canvassing the town for books, and was fortunate in getting a good many promises from intending purchasers. While here ho lived at the City Buffet. His second wife, who is quite a young woman, arrived here three days ago in search of her husband. When Detective Browd arrested him last jiio-ht he had a cask of Adelaide wme in his room and a good supply of “ Clcnhvat.” Samuel Cowan will bo brought before Mr Mansford this morning.