Untitled

Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 271, 13 June 1868, Page 6

A very brutal assault was committed on a married woman named Abrahams, on Monday night last, the results of which are up to the present time unknown. It appears that a man named Hunter, in a state of intoxication, \\ as prowling about Molesworth-street, on the beach side, near the injured woman's house. Whilst there he addressed some exceedingly offensive and insulting language to a female there and the result was that she went to the Camp, or professed to do so, to have him removed. Mrs Abrahams came out at the time and told the man that the police had been sent for, when, without any more provocation, he attacked her, threw her down, knelt on her body, and beat her severely, at tho same time drawing a

knife and threatening to finish her, Somo people near interfered and rescued the woman, and Hunter was given in custody. She was taken into her own house, and Dr Worrall attended promptly, when it was found that she was severely injured, though no bones were broken. It is not at all improbable that premature confinement may occur, and for a day or two her medical attendant has ordered her to keep her bed in consequence. The cowardly assailant was brought before the Bench yesterday, and remanded for eight days, or till such time as Mrs Abrahams is fit to appear against him. On Monday last an entirely distinct reef to that on which Martin and Co. have hitherto been working was struck at AVaimangoroa. It is in the same claim, runs par ailed with the first worked reef, and the prospect from it is first-rate. Specimens were brought into town the same evening, and may be inspected by the curious. We might add that another share in this company has recently been sold for £420.

The telegraph line we are happy to say is proceeding rapidly, and in spito of the late bad weather, all the heavy and most difficult portions have been completed. The line to Fox's will be perfected in fourteen days, and to Charleston by the end of the month. The completion from Charleston to Westport will take a very short time, and in four weeks we may reasonably expect that that great, blessing, telegraphic communication, with the other provinces of the colony, will be placed within our reach. Amongst the insolvents who obtained their order of discharge on Wednesday last at the District Court, we omitted to report H. Mann, publican, of Charleston. In his, as in the other cases mentioned, the proceedings were final, and he is now released. The Hokitika Star gives the following : —" We have to caution shopkeepers and traders generally against receiving Yictorian, New South Wales, or other colonial notes, as under the present objectionable Stamp Act, all notes not inter-provincial, must have a Is. stamp placed on them before they are allowed to leave New Zealand, which, together with Gd. commission charged by Banks, reduces the value of the note from 20s. to 18s. 6d. The Evening News of June Ist states : —" Intelligence has been received in Auckland of a discovery of kerosene at liiverhead, by a gumdigger who is working about three miles from Lamb's Mills, and it is supposed that a nice vein will be tapped, by sinking, in a short time. It is also said that there are indications of gold in the same locality, which will be developed to sufficient extent to lest the value in a short time; so that between gum, oil, and gold, there is a good prospect for Riverhead."

The Daily Times of May 28th says:— A number of the salmon ova at Mr G-eorge Duncan's mill, "Water of Leith, have been safe hatched ; and the young fry have been since Sunday last in a lively state. Wo understand that the success in this minor experiment is likely to be altogether satisfactory. The following is from the same paper of May 29:—The following telegram was received by the Government yesterday, as to the salmon ova at the Wairewa: ' Balclutha, 20 minutes after three—Ova hatching ; 50 fish out —very healthy.' The schooner Mary Ann Christina arrived at Lyttelton from the Fiji Islands on the 24th ultimo. We take the following from the Lyttelton Times of the 25th :—" Captain Simmonds informs us that he does not think there is any truth in the report of the murder of Captain Hayes. It was stated on the Island that he had bought the wrecked missionary ship John Williams, had got her off the reef, and had taken her to Valparaiso. King Thakombau's party had been repulsed, but another of the friendly tribes had been victorious, and had burned a large village, killing all the people in it." .Referring to the distribution by lottery of the stud, owned by Judge Cheeke, the Sydney Morning Herald remarks : —The stud numbers thirty-four head (exclusive of foals, which will be given in), in addition to the celebrated three-year-old Fireworks, who is undoubtedly the best public performer that we have upon the turf, and it is proposed to dispose of the whole in £1,400 shares of £5 each. The stud includes several good public performers ; amor.g them, Sir Patrick, an entire; Zoo and Jessinabrood mares; Clove, Varrovillo, Sir John, Emerald,' and the two-year-old Eawdon. We understand that the European population of the Colony amounts to about 218,000. To this must be added the Maories, of whose number there is at present no exact information.