The Waipukurau Press. Tuesday, January 23, 1906. Notes.

Waipukurau Press, Issue 9, 23 January 1906, Page 2

The Waipukurau Press. Tuesday, January 23, 1906. Notes.

About the time that Ellis shot Collinson the local authorities at Martinborough happened to adopt a new cemetery. Up to the time of the arrest of Ellis in Hawke’s Bay there had been thirteen burials (including the body of Collinson) in the new cemetery at Martinborough. Strange as it may seem, the thirteen persons met their death in a violent, or unnatural manner. One was murdered, one smothered by a landslip, some were drowned, others met with fatal accidents, a child being run over and killed by a vehicle. One or two of the Wairarapa newspapers blamed “ the Ellis curse” as being the cause of these fatalities, and expressed the belief that there would be no cessation until the murdered Collinson was avenged. Since the capture and execution of Ellis, fatalities in that district, it is said, have ceased and the “curse” has disappeared. Of course, this is simply a true story ot superstition, but is a further proof of facts being stranger than fiction. We have been asked to point out that there is a good deal of capable musical and vocal talent in this town and district, and several persons believe that a dramatic or some sort of amateur theatrical club could be formed here with advantage to the members thereof and the public generally. Entertainments are certainly scarce in Waipukurau, and something of the kind suggested would no doubt meet with good support. At the railway function the other night there was enough male talent to do credit to any town.