LAST NIGHT'S NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) The Whangarei Shooting Case.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1226, 8 May 1880, Page 2

LAST NIGHT'S NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.] ( FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ) The Whangarei Shooting Case.

Arrest of Mr Smith. AUCKLAND, Last Night. A telegram received by Mr Superintendent Thomson, to-day, st.ites that a man named James Smith, was arrested this morning by Constable Hammond, on a charge of attempting to murder Edwin Washer and his wife, by shooting at them with intent to murder. Smith has been committed for trial : he made a very clever defence. Nothing came out in evidence about improper proposals by Smith to Washer's wife, and the rumors which have been very current to that effect appear to be false ; he says he fired in sell defence. Mrs Washer went for assistance to Bachelor, who pleaded that he was a single man and could not help her. Pinsoner's defence was that he had words with Washer ; they both went outside and had a scuffle, when he heard the report of a pistol. Washer dropped the pistol, and when he (the prisoner) was picking it up Washer stuck a sheath-knife in his arm, and the prisoner at the same time fired the revolver between Washer and his wife to frighten them. The evidence of Washer and his wife went to show that there were no words ; that they were sitting quietly in the room when Smith first fired at the wife and then at Washer. Mrs Washer ran away and was lost in the bush all night. Washer was struck in the back by a bullet and was helpless for some time. He then closed with Smith, who tried to draw a sheath-knife, and stuck it in his own arm ; Smith also tried to grasp a tomahawk. The evidence of Washer and his wife was strikingly corroborative ; the defence of Smith being entirely contradicted. Their evidence if not true is very clever.

Sir George Grey will proceed S outh on Thursday next.

Temporary Insanity. Mrs Ward, of Chapel- street, who has been suffering for some days from low fever, and thia morning, a few minutes after seven o'clock, ahe became so violent that her nurse, Mrs Hood, ran down stairs for the purpose of calling in. the assistance of a neighbor, and during her temporary absence, Mrs Ward got out of bed and hastened down stairs into the back yard, lifted the well-lid and jumped down the well. In a few seconds the nurse returned to the room, and missed her patient, ran into the yard and found Mrs Ward struggling in the water, 4£ feet deep, at the bottom. She immediately called two men who were passing, who assisted in getting the unfortunate woman out alive, but in a very exahusted state.

The " Star" on the South Auckland Cattle Board. The Star referring to the Waikato Times' report of the last inspection of Mr McNicol's cattle is rather rough on the South Auckland Cattle Board, and concludes as follows :— " It is cleari"y»pparent that the South Auckland Cattle Board has been acting with ill-considered zeal and indiscretion. It evidently misunderstands its functions. The wide discretionary powers entrusted to it by the Act, and the regulations thereunder, were not intended to be used for merely experimental purposes, but to prevent the dissemination of disease by cattle already ascertained to be infected. If the veterinary surgeons are unable to decide on the existence of pleuro-pneumonia until after slaughtering the beasts it will be interesting to learn where this is to stop. Desperate diseases need, equally

desperate remedies, but not indiscriminate extermination. The surgeon who should kill his patients in order to ascertain the nature of their ailments would be justly condemned as a quack, and punished for manslaughter. "

[united press association.] WELLINGTON, Yesterday. Tb4 following 1 alterations have been made in the regulations under the Civil Service Act : — The daily travelling allowance will be paid for any day during eight hours of which the officer shall be absent from his usual residence ; but reasonable expences actually incurred will be paid in all other cases on production of proper vouchers. The following is the return of telegrams forwarded and the revenue received during the quarter, ending March, 1880 : — Telegrams forwarded, March quarter, 1880, 342,862 ; cash revenue received, March quarter, 1880, £18,300 2s 7d. corresponding quarter, 1879 : — Thelegrams forwarded, 392,407 ; cash revenue £21,993 6s 6d. Value of Government telegrams transmitted during the quarter, March, 1880, t6168 17s 9d. Corresponding qurter, 1879, £7195 14s 7d. A notice confirming the declaration made by the South Auckland Cattle Board of infected places, appears In the Gazette.

DUNEDIN, Thursday. As visiting justice, Mr Watt, R.M., yesterday afternoon visited the Maori prisoners awaiting trial, and told them that underclothing would be supplied to them as they required it, at the same time requesting them to inform Mr Caldwell of their wants. Subsequently Mr Watt learned that the men were dissatisfied with the arrangement proposed, and that all wanted to be supplied with like clothing, without reference to what articles they then had. Accordingly, he again visited them this morning at the shed on the reclamation ground, where they are at work during the day. Communications were carried on in Maori. Mr Watt shortly addressed the prisoners to the effect that hearing that they were discontented with the proposed arrangement he desired to hear what they had to say. He would tell them he would not hear anything upon political questions as to their detention. Tamakakia spoke at some length, demanding that all should be dressed alike. Mr Watt said he simply desired to see to their bodily welfare, that they had sufficient clothing and exercise. The Government has provided exercise as a means of health for them in the shape of supplying greenatone, to become their property when cut up. Tamakakia said that Wiremu Kingi and Te Rangi Paopoa had been supplied with overcoats. Mr Watts said he only personally supplied these articles, but said that was no reason why he shoald furnish 137 men with coats. He now appeared before them on behalf of the Government, and not personally, and desired to know what were their requirements for the coming winter. Te Rangi Paopoa and Wiremu Kingi briefly addressed those present, pointing out that Mr Watt was present on behalf of the Government, to learn their wants. Kingi complimented Mr Watt on the attention he bestowed on the prisoners. Before leaving, Mr Watt promised to see the men again on Saturday, when each man would be provided for according to his wants.