Untitled

Westport Times, Volume III, Issue 462, 6 February 1869, Page 2

Wo report the evidence at the inquest a to the death of a man whose body was lately found at Hawk's Crag, up the Boiler river. Tiie body, by the time it reached Westport' was fearfully decomposed and disfigured. It was apparent, from the post mortem examination made -by Dr Thorpe, that death had resulted from the man having eaten a quantity of tutu berries, the seeds of which were found in the stomach. The unfortunate man's name was Thomas Dudley, and ho was a native of Cork. His companion, George Butiment, who also partook of the poisonous plant, has not yet altogether recovered from the effects of the poison and from his three days' exposure in the bushwithout food, and in a state of raving madness. The peculiar mental effect produced by the poison of the tutu berry is indicated by an expression made by Butiment at the inquest. He said that, when lost in the bush, he " was not without company. He thought he was among crowds of people, and in all sorts of places of amusement." The number of sheet) in the market at present continues to keep the price of some descriptions of meat at a low figure, and on the diggings " mutton and damper " have been, within the past few days, more common articles of diet than they usually are on this part of the West Coast. The sale for beef has temporarily slackened, and Mr Dewdncy, of the Caledonian, had to bring his stock from that district to town. We hear that a fresh run of gold has been struck on the Shamrock Lead, Addison's, and that the . prospects of that particular part of the district are as good as ever, although the district generally has lately lo3t much of its population and prestige. The Resident Magistrate's Court was closed yesterday, Dr. Giles not having been able to return from Charleston. The new Bright Street wharf was used for the first timo yesterday, when the Charles Edward went alongs de of it, and discharged, on her arrival from Nelson. The Nathan Troupe coueluded their series of entertainments on Thursday evening when there was a fair attendance at Little Marion's benefit, although the weather was little conducive to anyone venturing out-of-doors. The Family arc not to proceed to Charleston on this occasion. They sailed for Nelson by the Kennedy last evening. The Hokitika Dailjf 2Tews hears on good authority that Mr Walter Montgomery will, with Mr George Coppin and a small dramatic company, commence his New Zealand tour early next month. Hokitika will be his first port of call. The O"ago Volunteers have subscribed £177 to the VonTempsky Fund*. An itinerant vendor of jewelry, named George Knopp, was brought before the Resident Magistrate at Greyniouth on Tuesday, on a charge of having smuggled a quantity of jewelry at Hokitika, and was remanded to that town. The circumstances under which the arrest was made are thus stated by the Argus : —" As Knopp was leaving Hoki-

*. MV *" U,J *»J iW! uivjujvuvu, uo Wrtß Btopped by the Custom House authorities, but denied haying any jewelry with him. It afterwards transpired- that the goods were brought on by another passenger flamed Rothschild, as a favor for Knopp, who went ashore, and travelled overland. Both the men were taken at their hotel hereon Sunday night by Mr Andrews, the Collector of Customs, and Sergeant O'Donnell, and brought before'Mr Andrews next morning. As there was no evidence against Rothschild, he was discharged, but the other man was detained." A miner namea William Hourigaii was killed on Saturday last at Ross by the falling of a derrick. The Coroner suggested thatthere should be an Inspector of Mines. We hear that the Pioneer Quartz Mining Company expect to commence crushing at the reef at Waimmgoroa on Monday next. Rain fell on Thursday, and it was most welcome, there having been scarcely any rainfall since New Year. Yesterday, however, there was a return of the former dry hot weather, and the quantity of water at the command of miners must yet be very small. The long continued drought has had a considerable and unfavorable effect on the trade of the district. A subscription in aid of John Kelly, a miner, has been got up by Mr Coulahan and Detective Lambert. Kelly had met with injuries while working in his claim at Charleston, and had to be removed to the Nelson Hospital, where it was found necessary to J have his leg amputated. The creditable amount of £22 6s has been subscribed, and is in course of transmission to Kelly. The subscription list will be published in our next number. The bulk of the Nelson mail was put on board the steamer Bruce, and the Charles Edward brought only a few letters and papers. Mr Harper, we notice, is a passenger by the Bruce. The sittings of the District Court will commence on Tuesday next, the 9th instant. His Honor Judge Clarke arrived by the Kennedy this morning. There is no civil business whatever, with the exception of bankruptcies. The following is the calendar for the criminal side of the Court : —Regiua v. M'lntyre, larceny ; Regina v. Hansom, larceny ; Regina v. Jackson, larceny. The Dunedin Evening Star says.—" Sharks have been unpleasantly rife of late in our harbor. Every day we hear of several being caught, and many were seen. The present warm weather has no doubt enticed them further south, and in greater numbers than is generally the case, even at this season of the year." We observe Mr J. B. Clarke has taken possession of his old premises in Kennedy street, in which he recommences business this week. Mr Clarke was in early days located in Westport, but disposed of his business here to Mr Longbottom, who, it is reported, has left this district, omitting, however, to leavo nt the same time his card or address with Mr Clarke, from whom he purchased the stock some months ago. A telegram has been received in town reporting that Mr Longbottom sailed on Thursday week from Lyttelton by the sailing ship Hydaspes for London. Mr Clarke is in consequence obliged to make the best of the bargain, and has taken possession of the stock and premises, and now re-oflers the ironmongery and other household furnishings, the balance of which he hopes to supply, though at reduced prices, to batter customers. A boat rase of a novel nature came off at the Kanieri on Tuesday, and created no little excitement.. It was a match for .£2O aside between J. Hawkins, of Woodstock, and W. I'erry—two well-known boatmen on the Ilokitika River— to pull and pole from the Kanieri to the junction of the Ilokitika and Thokatahi Rivers and back again to the poiut of starting. At 1.15 p.m., says the Daily News, a good start was effected, and both men wont away, pulling easily, Hawkins taking the lead and keeping it until the bend in the river at the Eight-mile shutout the view. They did not put in an appearance until 4.30 p.m., Hawkins leading by about 200 yards.. The distance was about sixteen miles, and they thus completed it in three and a half hours. Perry had the larger boat, Hawkins pulling a light skiff. A man has been killed in a fight at Waipahi, Otago. It appears that the deceased was one of a road party. Two of his mates quarrelled, and the deceased interfered, and challenged one of the two to fight. The challenge was accepted ; and the fight ended in death. There was evidence showing that deceased suffered several falls, and heavy pressures, during the fight. The man with whom the deceased fought has been committed for manslaughter. Writers in the Otago papers are advocating additional importations of young women, not merely to reduce the present high rate of wages to domestic servants, but also " with a view to provide good wives for the number of single men residing in the province." One writer quotes the following extract from Hepworth Dixon's "New America "as to some extent applicable to the case :—" Bear in mind that these crowds of prosperous fellows are not bachelors by choice, selfish dogs, woman-haters, men useless to themselves and to the world in which they live. They are average young men, busy and pushing ; fellows who „would rather fall into love than into sin ; who would be fond of their wives and proud of their children, if society would only provide them with lawful mates. What are they now ? An army of monks without the defence of a religious vow."