WAIPAWA.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6784, 16 February 1884, Page 3

WAIPAWA.

[PROM OUR OWN COREBSPONDENT.I Friday, February 35. As there is not much general news stirring, I may as well begin my letter with a reference to the terrible murder case now in men's minds, especially as a statement of mine in connection with Edwards, made some time ago, has resulted in some little discussion. To save words I will give a few faots. Some time ago Edwards made a deliberate and determined attempt to blow up his wife and family with gunpowder, and the attempt was only frustrated after a long struggle with his late wife, who discovered him preparing for the act. This occurrence did not immediately come to the knowledge of the police. On the following day (I believe it was the following day, speaking from memory, and that it was on a Saturday) Edwards offered violence to a man who went np from the Waipawa district to purchase some firewood from him. This man, who had roused Edwards by remonstrating with him on his conduct, gave information to the police about his attempt to blow up his family, and Edwards was arrested. He was kept in the Makatoku lock-up till the following Sunday night. During the whole time he was detained his wife stayed with or near him, continually beseeching the constable to let her husband go. The constable (Schulz) seeing nothing wrong; in Edwards, at last consented to bail him out on a charge of drunkenness. The j strict letter of the regulations may have ) been infringed in letting Edwards go, but X anr certain that Constable Shula not

only acted for the best, but that his general character forbida any contrary suppotion. This was the occurrence I referred to, as stated by your special correspondent at Ormondville, in a " trenchant manner." Well, that reference to my statement, although perfectly correct as to matter of fact, ignored the cognate fact that I at the time carefully acquitted Constable Shulz from blame. The following quotation from my letter of the time of the occurrence will show how the matter then stood. It runs as follows : — "ln reference to the gunpowder itom of my last letter, and the conduct of a certain country policeman, I have discovered that the latter appears to have been actuated by the very best motives in what he did. He may not have acted ap to the strict letter of official regulations, but that is so much the worse for the regulations, for circumstances have come to my knowledge since I wrote, which prove that the constable's conduct was manly and honorable. lam glad to be able to say this, because he occupies a very onerous position, and has a great many detractors among the class to whom policemen are naturally a bore." I should add that after Edwards was bailed out, as stated above, he had to be re-arrested for farther violent conduct. He was afterwards charged with lunacy, but after a remand for medical examination was discharged as sane. On Monday next, at noon, the nomination of candidates for seats on the newlygazetted Town Board will close. It is rumored that a great many persons will come forward, as the gazetting of the town district has aroused an interest fn local affairs. I hear that Mr Guy has consented to be nominated, and am glad to hear it. I hope he will get in by a thumping majority, and be made chairman. He would make a good one. I am told that this chairmanship business will prove a bone of contention among the candidates until after the election. I saw the other day a question asked in the Herald about how bonuses are allotted to school teachers by the Education Board. I enquired about the matter when last in Napier, as I happen to be slightly interested. I was told, first, that the whole question would be brought before the Board at its next meeting, on the application of one of the teachers in the Napier school -who feels aggrieved; second, that the allocation of bonuses is conducted on a strictly just scale syßtem, under which the relative position of the teacher in the school is considered, and also the percentage of passes to the attendance ; third, that the scale system will be printed and published in the next annual report of the Inspector. I hope this will convey some comfort to the teaohers who at present do not understand the bonus system. A little boy got kicked by a straying horse yesterday and received rather severe injuries. It is certainly a great nuisance that people should be exposed to danger from animals belonging to persona who will not provide for their live stock. It is to be hoped the new Town Board will be an improvement upon the old Road Board in this respect, and go in Btrongly for impounding stray stock. A friend of mine at Hampden ia complaining that the imports into that thriving district are likely to be greater this year than the exports, as the sum total of this season's harvest operations will only comprise the gathering in of 30 acres of oats. Truly, we are a great country ; our progress is illimitible. Fancy a whole district with the enormous area of 30 acres in cereals ! The kirk presided over by " Our Wullie " has got a nice little dispute on hand. It has arisen out of the late bazaar. After the bazaar was concluded, those who had acted as stall-keeperß took each a trifling article, of no particular value, as a memento of the occasion. The act was afterwards characterised by somebody else as — t( conveyancing." A little correspondence and more ill-feeling resulted, and " the end is not yet," as the book of Daniel says. The collection for a testimonial to Mr H. J. Baker has reached over £70. A solid silver tea service is to be purchased. Mr Baker must feel gratified that his services to the district generally have been recognised in so substantial a fashion.