LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 169, 4 May 1871, Page 5

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The first of a series of readings Tinder the auspices of the Wetherstones School Committee took place on Thursday last, 27th ult., in the schoolroom, which was crowded to the doors by an audience of friends and supporters, all of whom had evidently made up their minds to applaud everything that was brought before their notice, Mr. M'Swiney, president of the committee, occupied the chair. A well-arranged programme was gone through, and the entertainment on the whole was pleasing and instructive. There was only one thing which perhaps tended to slightly mar the evening's enjoyment, to which we would call the attention of the committee, viz., the almost entire absence of instrumental music. This defect being remedied in future entertainments, we do not doubt the Wetherstones Readings will retain their deserved popularity. A series of sad occurrences has taken place in the family of Mr. A. Al 'Nab, of Knapdale, Southland, four of his children having died of violent dysentery from the 21st to the 25th April, inclusive, while the remaining two are dangerously ill with the same malady. A coroner's iuquest elicited the fact that the disease had piobably been caused by the children drinking of the water from a rivulet near the house, the well having become dry. This rivulet is fed by several springs, one of which has a peculiar alkaline taste. Some of the water has been sent to Dr. Hector, in hermetically sealed bottles, for analysis. The ages of the children who died ranged from five years and a half to a few months. The funeral was largely attended. — " Daily Times." The "Daily Times" reports a murder, followed by an attempt at self-desti uction, which was coiuuiitted at Caversham on Monday last. The circumstances of the case are very painful. Mrs. Agatha M'Phee (the wile of Mr. Donald M'Phee, the licensee of the All Nations Hotel, and who is also a contractor), a woman 37 years of age, is the mother of four children, the oldest aged nine years and the youngest four. About half-past 7 o'clock on Monday morning the e.dest child, hearing a noise in the bedroom, opened tbe door, and saw the mother cutting the ths-ettt- of mio you u<jest. .She ud ojice told her f::tjier. who v>aa ouUaidc, ii:u..jj tut; hoiautrough. He rushed in and found the youngest child dead, her head nearly seveied from her body, and the mother with her own throat badly cut. The instrument with which she had nearly hacked off her child's head, and attempted to take her own life, was a butcher's knife, about J8 inches in length. As soon as tue occurrence was known, no time was lost in sending for skilled assistance. Dr. Hammond, on arrival, sewed up .virs. MThees wound, but her recovery was doubtful. Mr. J. T. Thomson. J.P., was sent for. She stated to him that on Wednesday morning last, Peter Kane, contractor, and a partner of her husband, slept in the house -that night, ami, her husband being away, entered her room and attempted to take liberties with her. She afterwards complained to her husband, who threatened to piosecute Kane, upon which Kane made statements damaging to Mrs M "Phee's moral character, and which she repelled as false. Yesterday morning, previons to the occurrence, the husband told her that he was going that morning to take proceedings in the matter, so as to bring it betoie the Court, and that she would have to appear to give evidence. Shu sal- 1 she coukl not. as her nerves would not allow her. In the afternoon, Mr. Strode, li.M., went out and took her deposition, which was to the effect that Peter Kane had committed an assault with intent upon her. Kane and her husband, we are informed, worked together at the Peninsula. On Tuesday, Kane came to town to draw their cheque, a part of which lie had to pay Mrs. M'Piiee, and slept at the house. Mr. M'Phee remained at the Peninsula. She was very fond of the child she killed. It was rather helpless through paralysis in the side. The neighbours speak well of the lamiiy as quiet, steady people. Kane was arrested yesterday on a charge of assault with intent. --[Mrs. M'Phee died at four o'clock yesterday (Wednesday) morning. An inquest was held yesterday, when a verdict of temporary insanity was returned.]

The usual meeting of the Waste Land Board took place on the 26th ult., at which the application of George Leslie to purchase section 9, block V., Waitahuna East, and held by him under agricultuial lease, was granted. Thk Nelson Provincial Council was opened on the 25th ult. The Bank of New South AVales last week sold to Air. T. Hinde, a triangular piece of land having a frontage of 21 feet to Ross Place, and containing 9k square yards. The price was 30s. per foot ; total, L3l 10s,, being at the rate,of L 3 6s. 3d. per square yard, or L 16,112 per acre. A BITCH belonging to Mr. George Kogers, Beaumont, recently brought into the world a fine litter of pups, and notwithstanding that her domestic duties are augmented thereby, she has further increased them by adopting a young wild pig, which she is suckling with motherly tenderness, and to the apparent satisfaction of the whole family. At Mr. Gascoigne's sale of cattle, hay, &c, last week, the price lealised for oaten hay was L 3105.. pertou, and nob L3-as reported. The new Church of England, we observe by advertisement, will be open for divine service on Sunday next, when th Rev. S. T. Nevill, Bishop-Elect of Dunedin, will preach morning and evening. Oub Blue Spur mining correspondent reports as follows : —The Great Amalgamated Co. finished washing up on Saturday with very satisfactory results ; they also fired a 20 cwt. blast on Monday afternoon which brought down a deal of stuff. Something like 20 shareholders and others interested in the case of the Great Extended Co. and Hales and Co., to be heard ml the Supreme Court, left on Monday morning for Dunedin. This is the greatest law case we have had on the Spur, and I believe the expenses will amount to something like L2OOO. It is to be hoped it will be the last, for rich as the claims may be they will scarcely run that kind of thing. However, we hope to see them all back soon, if not richer, wiser men. The nomination of candidates to represent the Tnapeka, Teviot,Land Switzers districts in the forthcoming Mining Conference took place on Monday, and resulted as follows :— Tuapeka district— H. C. Clayton, Blue Spur ; James | Ritchie, Waipori ; G. \V. Busst, Waitahnna ; T. E. Bowes, Wetherstones. Teviot district— George Ireland, M. E. Manuel, and John Kimaston. Switzers district — J. T. Gwynne, and George Bail- y. The election will take place to-day (Thursday.) We may remind holders of miners' rights that they may, if they choose, vote by proxy, provided that the miner's right of the voter he produced by the person entrusted with the voting paper. J We would remind our readers in the Tuapeka district that the first annual soiree in connection with the Lawrence Congregational Church comes off this evening (Thursday). We hope to see a large attendance. We are requested to intimate that the Eev. Dr. Copland purposes to preach in the Presbyterian Church, Beaumont, on Monday first, at' 6j-o"clock p.m. We are compelled to hold over several communications, reports, &c At the Supreme Court, Dunedin, on Tuesday, thepase of the Great Extended Sluicing Co., versua Hales and another came on for hearing. After Major Croker, Messrs. C. W. Adams, Moi?at, Hutchison, and W. Cummings had given evidence, the Cour^ adjourned until next morning,

The monthly meeting of the Tuapeka Hospital Committee was held on the 25th ult., when Mr. Simpson explained that Mr. Jeffery had signified his willingness to accept 150 acres of ruial land in exchange for his sections. Mr. Simpson moved, and Mr. Harrop seconded, "That the Government be memorialised to grant Mr. Jeffery ISO acres of rural land in exchange for his town sections opposite the Hospital.*' The Resident Surgeon's report was received and adopted. Mr. Simpson moved, and Dr. Halley seconded, "That Dr. Stewart be requested to furnish in his future reports the names of his out-door patients."- Carried. The report of the Visiting Committee was received and adopted.

At the usual njontbly meeting of the Lawrence School Committee, held on the 28th alt., Mr. Jamison moved, and Mr. E. Herbert seconded, "That Mr. Jamison's notice of motion, omitted from the February meeting be inserted in the minutes now read, and the motion standing in the nams of Mr. Harrop be expunged, and that the minutes thereafter be confirmed," Mr. Harrop moved, " That the minutes, as read, be confirmed," to which there was no seconder. Mr. Harrop moved, and Mr. Herbert seconded, •'That the Secretary bring up a statement of the financial position of the school at next meeting."— Carried. It vrao agreed to take into consideration the propriety of disposing of the school library. Mr. Jamison succeeded Mr. Menzies as a member of the Visiting Committee.