TE AWAITI MURDER.

Evening Post, Volume LXIX, Issue 48, 27 February 1905, Page 6

TE AWAITI MURDER.

i, urn-: it from thk condemned MAN. Mr. X Arnold, ,J.l\, who io un ollleial p,.i0l vimUii, li.us had siveial interviews « illi Kllls in his cell ill the Terrace (Juol. When Kills amis urged— after the decision of the Cabinet that the sentence should be can led out — to .see. a minister of leligion, the condemned man told Mr. Arnold that he thought "every man should pray for hmiht'lf, and he did not need a spiritual adviser. "And as to a confession," he added, " 1 luve nothing UKConfess," Mr. Arnold saw Kllis ii^ain on Sntuiday la*l, and olfeied to write on his behalf to relatives, or gel him tiny thing he needed. Kllis did nut need any help, nor would he Ik' the means of bringing tiny relatives, if he had any, to the (liiol. Ho was again spoken to legnrdmg the question of religion, and again declined all offeis of assistance. During the course of bhe interview, Kllis said to Mr. Arnold : " I will not nmko a. confession." The condemned man was in bright spiiits on Saturday. The. following letter has been lolcived from Kilis by Air. Wilford :— "I take the libeity of addressing a few words to you in order to express my gratitude, to you for what you have done for me. You have done more for mo than 1 expected of any man in this country, and words fail to convey my true sentiments. 1 wish they could ; they would indeed be warm. You have defended in a case Which has cost you gieut thought, labour, and expense, ami I have nothing by which 1 enn recompense jou for H.II yuuf trouble on my behalf. 1 am quite satisfied Unit you have done all you could for me, for which 1 hope you will accept my most sinceic thanks. * You have heard my plen in Court, and if you think I am. not guilty you will remember. The- rebt is silence. — J Kllis."

The colonial mails which left Melbourne per R.M.tt. India on the 25th January via Brindisi, anivcd^ii London on tho afternoon of the 24th 'inst., one day early. A searchlight display will bo given by the wai ships at 9 o'clock this evening. li in understood that on arrival in Auckland on Wednesday next tho Premier will deliver an important political speech. Some rain fell yesterday and Inst night, lint this morning broke, cold and fine, with every piomise of cnuliuuatioji of the present run of settlod weather. Residents iv tho vicinity of Day's Bay find (heir water tanks i mining low. Thirteen prosecutions have just been concluded at Te Awainutu under (be new Licensing Act against persons dealing in liquor within tin 1 prohibited areas of the Kiih; Country. A number of fines, varying from £3 to £7, wero imposed. Mr. and Mis. Augwle Knigge, of Wellington. \\lio aie leaving by (he lonic on it two yens' tour iibinad, were entertained by a number of friends at, CurrnU'* on Sat in day afternoon. Tho iinnunl picnic of the Working Men's Club was held ul Day's Bay last Saturday. It is estimated (hut members and their families and friends (o a total of 2800 nttrmlrd tho function. Every (hild was presented with n toy, and in addition there were 115 races for boys him girls. The men's races weie provoI'Htivc of much amusement. Thn rlub's orchestra enlivened the proi codings with a lengthy musical programme. A vote of t bunks was passed by (be gathering to tho Committee and Seirelary of the Club tor the enjoyable outing. The following were tho results of thn principal ruros :~ Married Men's Handicap: Ranisb, M 'Carl i*, dead heal, 1 ; M'Cullougb, 3: Hicks, 4. Men over Fifty Years: Jennings, 1; Graham, 2; M'Carlie, 3. Single Ladies', over 18: Miss Peterson, 1; Miss Needliam, 2; Miss Slowarl, 3; MihH Wilson, A. Single Ladies, over 14: Miss M'Milchie, 1; Miss Irvine, 2; Miss V. Colo, 3. CoinHiittconien's Rnco : ,1. C. Ciiback, 1; M'Noot, 2; G. Anderson, 3; J. Smith, A. Officiuls' Raoo : A. Mines, 1; J. Neill, 2; F. Leslie, 3; M'Plu'c, 4. Mom's Open Raco : W. Scott, 1; Bowker, 2; Williams, 3; Nixon, 4. Mnrried Women's (No. 2): Mrs. Nixon, 1; Mrs. Carter, 2; Mrs, Luwroiue, 3; Mrs. Millignn, 4, Stewards' Handicap: C. Bell, 1: J. W. Jones, 2; T. Forster, 3; W. Smith, 4. Tlu« thirty-second annual conference of the Methodist Church of Austiahitsiu in New Zetland begins its sittings iv Wellington this week. Some ninety clergymen mill ninety-live laymen will be iv attendance, and the only olh'eial visitor fiom outside tho colony will be the Rev. J. W. Burton, who left New Zealand some two ji'ais ii|4o to woik amongst (he Indian toolies in the l''ijis. The conference proper begins its session next Fiiduy, and concludes on Monday, the 13th prox., but then- will be several impoiUnt preliminary meetings of a private nature. To-inor-iow, euniinitters of ministers are to hoar It ml seimons fiom nine candidates for the ministiy, mid on Wednesday there N to be a conference of ministers upon committeo work. A young people's demonstration is to be held in Wesley Church on Thin aday evening, when addresses will be delivered by tho Revs. A. Reader (Motueka) and E. O. Manures (Napier), and Ah. R. Richards (Otaki). The full conference sits in Wesley Church on Friday u\ening. There will be a number of wcial events in connect ion with the conference, including an outing at Day's Bay next Saturday, when a cricket match is to bo played belwwn teiuns representing the Wellington Bible Classes and the conference The Stipendiary Magistrate had before him this morning a cuse'in wbiMi Richard Henry Smith wim charged with having descitetl his two children in Wellington. Sub- Inspector O'Donovan told his Worship (hut defendant wvul to Nelson to visit lii.h wife, an actress, leaving his children in cluugi' of :v third party at Wcl'iugtou. He failed to return on tho tlale agieed upon, and afterwards the children were brought to the police, who had to take them in charge and piovide for their maintenance. They were in a neglected state. Defendant made a statement to tlie Bench, in which he explained that he wius taken bud at Richmond, and was prevented thereby from returning at the time mentioned, lie sent a telegram to the poison who hail < barge of the children, naking him to sell everything and to send tho children down to him. Was not aware that any win rani lwd been issued for his arrest, and had icturned on his own initiative. The children were now being < sired for by his brother. Eventually Dr. M 'Arthur intimated that he would adjourn the enso for a week, so tlwt complete arrangements could bo made for the tending of tho children ami the disehaige of expenses incurred At the Hawera Swimming Baths last week. Air. Stack, iv charge of the High School hoys, introduced n custom that might with advantage Im frequently followed. There were 70 boys nt the swimming lesson, and a certain number from each class had to swim with their clothes on. A small boy wns twice thrown into (he Imths and fully dressed boys Mvmn in and rescued Ihe apparentIv drowning boy. In-iaso of rescue there is KPiiernlly no time for undressing, and boys and girls should be taught to swim with riot lira on. Miss iM'lntosh, the newly appointed assistant, is mi expert swimmer, and is trying the sumo experiment with (be eirls t