INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1654, 1 November 1887, Page 4

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

The members of the late corps, the Ponseaby Rifles, came before the R.M. Court, Auckland, on Wednesday, «hen D. B. McDonald, who had been captain of the company, sued Sergeant Searell to recover 13s 6d, the cost cf ammunition supplied. It transpired that the company, which has only been two years in existence, had accumulated funds to the amount of £IBO, and at its disbandment these funds were distributed amongst certain members of the corps, a tea and coffee service being purchased for the captain. Sergeant Searell was refused participation in tills disbursement, he hating given offence by questioning the accounts of the company. When the division of the funds was proposed he suggested that the debts of the company be paid and the balance of the money refunded to the Government. Plaintiff was nonsuited, as it was ruled he had no status to prosecute, having ceased to be capti-iu.

James Clarke, one of the pioneers of the West Coast, died at Hokitika on Friday after a lingering illness. Ho was, in early days, a large road con tracer, and also had a share in contracts for tbe overland mail service. He held office in the old Council of Westland, formed by S ; r John Hall before the Province of Westland, and was last year Chairman of the present County Council. Widespread sorrow is felt at his death.

The report of the National Insurance Company for the year ended 30th Sept., shows a profit of £16,333 10s 21, A 10 per cent, dividend was declared, and £10,854 6s Id carried forward.

A Maori woman named Roro Kakari was burnt to death atTekoro, near Awmui, on Tuesday night during tho absence of her husband at a tangi over HoneMokrna. The woman usually kept a light burning consisting of a fat lamp. It is supposed the lamp c-iught the bed c ! otlics, and that (he woman was suffocated with smoke, as she did not appear to hare made any attempt to escape. The Maoris living rear saw the whare abh-Z', but too lute to save the woman.

At the Supreme Court, Ne-v Plymouth, on Friday, Wikaala was acquitted on a charge of shoepstealing. John Wilson pleaded guilty to four charges of etnbezz’ing the Wuilara Harbor Board’s funds, and was sentenced to three years’ hard labor. William Drury, convicted of breaking and entering was sentenced to two mnntl.b’ imprisonment, Eliza Jerrain, who resided with her husband in North East Valley, Dunelin, committed suicide by shooting herself with a revolver at about five o’clock on Thursday evening. Just before that time there was a little giri in the house with her, and she sent the girl out to call on a neighbor, idling her not to come back to the house. When Terrain, who is a retired deik, reached the house bo founp Irs wife lying dead in her bedroom. At the Supreme Court, New Plymouth, on Saturday, Charles Augustus Rogers pleaded guilty to uttering a f nged cheque, and was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment.

About 7.30 a.m. on Saturday Michael O’Brien, a platelayer, was killed on the railway between Christchurch stalion and the Gasworks Road. It was bis duty to examine the line, and while doing so he was knocked down by the engine of tbo Southbridgo train, which, w.th four trucks, passed ovor him, killing him instantly. The diiver whistUd whan starling, but apparently deceased did not hear it, The body was ienibly mangled, the entrails being strewn along the lin i for half a chain. He was a married man wMi s'x children.

The annual exhibition of the Wellington Fine Art Association was opem-d on Saturday by the President in the unavoidable absence of the Governor. From an arlistic point of view, as well as from increased entries, the exhibition is a groat improvement on last yeu. A feature of the collection is the brge number of per traits exhibited. All the b-st known artists in tbe colony are represented. A young man named Robert D. Wilkin son was killed at Dunr-dui on Saturday morning. He had gotn out shooting on a pony, and it is summed that the pony was startled by his firing or slipped and threw him. At any rate, on a search being made, on hi* not returning at the usual time, his body’ was found quite dead. He was 21 years of ig ■.