SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Waikato Times, Volume X, Issue 911, 25 April 1878, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

AUCKLAND, last night. The Lands Court afc Maketu wals adjourned till the 30 ch owing to the absence of Judge Heale. Mr Halse is expected to preside over the next sitting. The arbitrators awarded Smith and Co. £2,250 against the Government over the Thames water-rase. The City Council has accepted the National Bank tender ioi* the banking account, it being deemed the most favorable. A telegram received by the Native Minister from Te AVheoro states that lUewi is at M^ng-akau, a few miles above Alexandra, await- < int; the arrival of the Lowei , Waikatos. Four large war canoes are proceeding up the river to-dny from the Lower Waikato to Alexandra. There appears to be no doubt that Rewi will attend the forthcoming meeting with the Ngatiuianiapoto. GRAHAMSTOWN, last nigh b. The obstructionist, Tukokiuo, who stopped the Komato road works some weeks asfo, has now talon up the bridges m another direction, by means of a party of eight nrmed natives.. They threaten bloodshed if the roads are persisted m. County workmen who were Maoris had to desist on seeing Tukukino's opposition. He claims an interest m the land. . SAD ACCIDENT AT WBANGAREI: A SON KILLS HIS FATHER. WHANGAREI, Tuesday. A painful accident occurred yesterday at Himtaugata. It appears that Mr William Hodge and his son were splitting some logs, and by soiiie means the father got his head into the "way, and "was struck with the maul just above the ear. He expired last niglit, evidently from internal hemorrhage* (Herald Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday. The amount of thieving which has occiired m connection with the circus is surprising, it appears that there is t a regular gang following the monster show from placa to place, who aie pretty dexterous, the people of Auckland will do well to look after their pockets when struggling* for tickets. It has been definitely arranged that Parliament will not meet before the middle of July. Mr J. Saunders, ex-Superintend-ent of Nelson, will contest the Cheviot district with Sir Cracroft Wilson. Mr Saunders is understood to be a supporter of the present Government. \ ■ Captain Ed win reports that a strong' north-easterly gale may be expected shortly at Auckland. [We have got the rain m Waikato ; the rest of the province is welcome to the gale ! — Ed.] At ihr Government laud sale to-day about 33,000 acres were offered ; about 5000 were sold. The land Was situated m various parts of the Provincial District, and comprised town, suburban, and rural sections. The two former realised from ,£2O to £100 per acre Total product of sale, £12,875. MARTERTON, Tuesday. Two race-horses, Kakapo and Ouida, are reported to have been poisoned at Castle Point, where they were to run. One was found dead m the stable, the other dropped dead outside. Both horses were valuable. Theiv stomachs have been sent to Wellington to be analysed. Two more horses are nearly dead. There is great indignation throughout the district. CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Sarah Steele, wife of George Steele, carrier, of South Town Belt, was arrested last night, charged with having caused the death of her son, William, nine years of age. It seems Mrs Steele was heard screaming m the garden, and the neighbours on going- up found her with her son m her arms insensible and bleeding copiously from a wound above his left ear. Near at hand J were the kitchen poker and the boy's felt hat, both stained with blood, the latter with a hole cut through at a place corresponding with the wound on the boy's head, In explanation, Mrs Steele said to tho neighbours she supposed the boy had been throwing the poker up into the trees, and it fell on his head, inflicting the wouud. The boy died a few hours afterwards. The meJical statement is that there is a Ijole through the skull, aud the brain is penetrated? also that the wound is caused by a blow which must have been of considerable force to out through the boy's hat and inflict such a wound .as that described. Mrs Sims, v neighbour,

sa}s she he.trd. Mrs Steele call to the boy m an angry tones, and then go towards him shortly before the affair occurred. At the inquest on the body of the boy Steele, Mrs Steele repeated the statement that deceased probably; inflicted the wound on himself while throwing the poker into the trees.' She said deceased was m the habit of throwiug the poker at the neighbours ducks and fowls. She never saw him use it to knock down haws. Two neighbours said Mrs; Steele was m the habit of speaking crossly to children, but they beiieved she "had naturally a kind heart. They never saw her strike children. Deceased's sister, seven years old, said shortly before the affair occurred, he took some . dripping instead of cart grease to grease his boots, which Mrs Steele took from him, when he went down the garden, and soon after she followed him. That -was all she knew. The medical evidence was to the effect that the wound could not be caused by a. blow, or by the poker being thrown at deceased, as it would have gone straight m. It could only have been caused by the poker being shot from a gun, or being fixed or used like a pickaxe ; or, which was the most likely cause of the event, by the deceased c.imbing with a poker to knock down haws from the trees, and falling to the ground, his head alighting on the point of the poker. The inquest "was adjourned.