A HUSBAND SHOOTS HIS WIFE.

Grey River Argus, Volume XXXV, Issue 6008, 11 October 1887, Page 2

A HUSBAND SHOOTS HIS WIFE.

[united press association, j

Dunedin, October 10.

A shocking tragedy occurred in Leith Valley this afternoon. Edward Loft, proprietor of a large boot shop, his wife and a nieoe, were visiting some property near the waterworks, when Mrs Loft made some remark to her husband about bis drinking again. Loft, who seems to have been drinkng heavily of late, immediately pulled a six-chamber revolver out of his pocket and 6red at his wife. The first shot strnck the steel in her stays, but the second went through her left lung and out at the back. In putting up her arms to defend herself Mrs Loft was struck by the bulle's on the thumb and finger, which are shattered. The niece, Miss Bury, aged 17, Interfered and Loft seized her and tried to throttle her, but both she aid Mrs Luffc got away and took shelter in Mr Tleyn olds' house. Thny sent fo;? asdbtunce, suid Loft remained outside, making no attempt co do any harm. On two cv;f:tabii;s arriving they at once went in search of Loft, and when they got within 50 yards of him he put the pistol to i

his mouth and fired. Death was almost instantaneous. Mrs Loft was removed tD her home, but though she may live two or three days, she is not expected to recover The niece, Miss Bury, is in no way injured. So far as is known, the parties were on good terms, and except the remark made about drinking there was no cause assignable for the ac, except that Loft is believed to have been suffering from adirwn tremens.

moved there would then be less current directed against the wharf. — Report reoeived and adopted. A special report and a plan by the Engineer with regard to providing an overflow channel for the protection of the town In time of flood were laid on the table. The Harbor Master's report stated that time had been an average of 17 feet of water on the bar during the paßt fortnight. He also recbmmended that the telephone be put in proper repair. Resolved, on the motion of Mr Petrie, that Government be written to and requested to instruct the Postmaster to attend to the tele shone. — Carried. From J. and A. BrowD, Newcastle, offering the tug Goolwa for £6000, or £6500 delivered at Greymonth.—Received. The eutward correspondence was read and approved. The inward correspondence was read, From John Fullarton claiming £50 for taking the railway through his paddock. Several letters from the Marine Department respecting harbor matters elsewhere and the cattle wharf. From Patrick Casey, asking that he be not compelled to pay rent for the derrick, as he had been a loser by the contract owing to the flood having carried away a lot of his timber. He owed 5a a week for 13 weeks for the use of the derrick. — Letter received. From Messrs Hungerford and M'Kay in respect to money in hand held by the board, and asking the board to remit the same.— Remitted to the works committee. From R. J. Seddon, M H R, in reference to the sale of the tug, saying that if the board purchased the tug and charged cheap rates of towage Mr Fish informed him that several sailing vessels would be laid on. From Mr Kitchingham in respect to the property which had been arbitrated upon, and stating that in the circumstances of the case he did not deem it advisable to call any witnesses, as he could not find an assessor who would not value the property at £500. — Mr Petrie condemned the whole proceeding as a waste of money. — Mr Sheedy blamed the solicitor to the board. There was no doubt that there had been negligence on the part of somebody. He very much regretted that bo much of the board's money should go into the bands of the Public Trustee, who had been so well treated by the borough, and who had treated thfim so badly In return. — Mr Guinness challenged the remarks of Mr Sheedy. It was nonsense to aay that the solicitor for the board should go round the highways and byways to pick up Tom, Dick, and Harry to swear that the property was not worth £500. — The letter was received. From O'Brien and Brimble, carters, soliciting a share of the board's carting for the month. — Referred to the executive committee. From Felix Campbell, agent for the Grey River Tug Company, declining the offer of £8500, and offering to split the difference by accepting £9500 for the tug. Mr Petrie moved that the offer be accepted and closed with. Mr Nancarrow raised as a pnlnt of order that this matter had been finally dealt with, and could not be re-opened without notice of motion being given. The Chairman rued against him, and a not* of the objection waa taken. Mr Hancarrow said he would push his objection to the utmost if the board considered the offor at thia stage. Mr Petrie said it was mere moonshine to hold out threats of that kind. He for one was not in the least afraid. Mr Sheedy supported Mr Petrie's amendment. He vas apprehensive that if the board was not swept away altogether, at least a considerable portion of their revenue would be taken away from them. Looking at the matter from that point of view, he thought the best thing they could do would be to purchase the tug and have all the towing in their own handa. The boat waa full value for the money demanded, and its nurchase would be a profitable transaction for the board. Mr Nancarrow said that he was of the same opinion that he always was. All he contended for was that the board should not pay more than the market value of the boat, and not one penny for the goodwill of the business, which was really the property of the board. At present they proposed to pay £3000 for the good will of the business. There was uo bogus offer of another tug. The offer made to the board was honafide, arid' they might have had substantial security that the offer would be carried out. It was quite clear to him that there was a majority of the board prepared to give anything for the tug that the owners chose to demand. He must record his earnest protest agains the action of the board in regard to the matter. They were violating a breach oftrust by throwing away i! 3000 of the pubHe's m ' ney, and giving 40 per cent more than the worth of the property. The Chairman could not see any .argument in the statement that because the property had been very remunerative in the past the owners of it should sacrifice if now. People iid. not deal with land on th»t principle. Every one on th board admitted that the tug was fully worth from £8500 to £9500. The Chairman adverted to Mr Seddon's telegram and the information contained therein, and saw in it reasons to justify the board in acquiring the tug, especially in view of the great probability of »he board being j abolished. For the purpose of getting a free port and keeping away opposition, he thought they could not do better than purchase the tug. He would support the resolution. Mr Petrie replied. He held that they were parchasing what was really to all intents and purposes a new steamer and well suited to their requirements. Her machinery was said to be old, but it was stated by the most competent authority in New Zealand to be A 1. The motion was then put and carried by 4 t,o 1, only Mr Nancarrow opposing. From Felix Campbell demanding the payment of expenses for examining the tag. — Referred to the finance committee. The works committee's report wa3 read. It instructed the Engineer to keep the crossings on the Cobden side in repair. Mr Guinness was appointed a member of the executive committee on a division by 4 to 1, Mr Petrie only opposing. Mr Kancarrow moved, on behalf of Mr Lahraan, that the Marine Department cause the Engineer-in- Chief to visit Greymnulh in order to report, whether the harT>or works arc being carried out in strict J accordance with Sir JohnCoode'a plans. — The Chairman doubled the necessity of

putting the board to such an expense.— Motion agreed to. Mr Petrie gave notice of motion to move at next meeting that a tabulated statement be prepared giving the names of all the men employed by the harbor board, together with the rate of wages received by each. This concluded the business.