THE KUMARA SCANDAL.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1084, 17 March 1883, Page 1

THE KUMARA SCANDAL.

Concerniug the recent Kumara scandal, in which the young man McKenzie, and a Stewardess on board of one of the Anchor Line of Staamers were interested parties, the local Times publishes the following ; —Beware ye gay Lotharios! beware ! Retribution sooner or later will overtake you ; the avenging angel is ever ®n the warpath, and though you be as described as a worthy disciple of Esculapius, one cf the only four gentlemen in Kumaia, that will not save your hide from the lash. Warden Price used to say verbal agreements assumed many forms just to suit occasion. But when reduced to black and white like Cleopatra’s needle, there was something to see—something to get hold of. Now, one of these gentlemanly quartette reduced his thoughts to black and white, and gave vent to his feelings tlmsly : Kumara, February 2Qth, 1883. ‘My dear, my darling 1 ‘ 1 have been strolling on the beach all day, staring at the sea ; ‘ Watching and waiting for the Nelson steamboat, that is to bear thee back

to me. After this, events assumed a more practical turn, and, said this gentleman to the idol of his heart—• Perhaps you could get ‘ this child’ a billet.’ Further on caution and fear steps in, and he says ‘ I haven’t courage to face the old woman. I expect she will take ray head off if I do not take care of myself. I wish I could see you, my darling ; I am so dull. The doctor has gone to see his old woman to-night ; and I’m all alone in my glory.’ The letter containing these gushing sentiments never reached its destination. The steamboat had come and gone, and borne away ‘ ray dear, my darling,’ and the letter; was returned to ‘ my dear, my darling’s,’ home. And ‘my dear, ray darling’ had told her mammato “open my letters, and if worth while to forward them to ‘ my dear, my darling,’ as ‘ my dear, my darling’ had entered into the holy bonds of matrimony ; and as her better half was away, mamma or the ‘ old woman’ determined to uphold his and her family’s honor. A horsewhip was speedily procured. 8. S. P. wouldn’t see anyone struck when honor and virtue were at stake—not for Sam ! even if he did lose the whip. By and bye there emerged from a dining room nearly opposite one of the gentlemanly quartette dressed to kill, with cane in hand and cigarette in mouth, and one would wonder who could resist such a killer. All went well ; smiling and majestically walked this one of nature’s noblemen. How beautifully he twists his cane until opposite the Greymouth Hotel, when, 10, and behold, the Nemesis in the shape of the 1 old woman’ made her appearance, and in a jiffy whack went the horsewhip over the head and shoulders of our dispensing friend. A brief struggle, aud bareheaded he stood abject and powerless. * There,’ said the goed dame, ‘ I have whipped you as all curs deserve to be whipped, especially when you come between wife and husband and would biing disgrace on an honest woman and her mother !

J Clear out, now ! and stroll on the beach tnrmtjfww;- ‘ But take care and leave my Polly Hone, or again I’ll horsewhp thee!’ Of course proceedings are threatened for the assault. ‘ The ‘ old woman’ is game, and says she’ll pay sooner than make it up, whilst Sam threatens to sue for the horsewhip which Lothario has collared, value 22s 6d, Who says Kumara can’t raise a sensation ? Echo answers—‘ Who ?’

years of age, were found lying on the stomach, at the base of some rocks about two fret above high-water mark, where they had evidently been washed by the previous tide. The body had apparently been dead about three weeks, and was in an advanced state of decom-

position. On examination, However, the sex became apparent, although great mutilation had taken place. The head and neck were missing—apparently cut clean off—as were also the left arm, and a portion of the right foot and ankle. The strangest part of the affair is that, although death clearly took place not less than three weeks ago, no girl or female ot any kind has been reported to the police as missing. The total absence of clothing shows (as Dr Harris, who examined the body, points out) that, whether alive, or dead, the body must have entered the water naked. The corpse was that of a slimly-built girl, with small hands, and short and well rounded feet; apparently about four feet six or ten inches in allowing for the missing head and neck. Owing to its decomposed condition not the slightest means of identity could be obtained. As the remains lay in the morgue, however, they appear to be those of a well-nourished girl. From enquires we have since made (adds the Herald) it would appear that about three weeks or a month ago, a girl, apparently about 14 or 15 years old, arrived in Newcastle from Sydney, evidently in a state of poverty. She was poorly clad, evidently having only recently become one of the ‘ unfortunate ’ class, and on arrival took to drinking rather heavily, appearing to be very despondent. A number of larrikins were subsequently seen following her about the public thoroughfares, particularly in Watt and Scott streets, but whether she and the deceased are one and the same remains yet to be seen. On Anniversary Day, it was said that a young girl came into Newcastle, stating that she had come from Lambton, and purposed going on to Sydney, having bolted from home. She was to have gone by the Sydney steamer, but it has not transpired whether she left or not.