INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume II, Issue 106, 20 April 1881, Page 2

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

SUPERINTENDENT WHITELAW DISMISSED.

SUPPOSED MUEDEE AT EEEPTON.

(per united press association.)

WELLINGTON, Last Night.

At about 2.30 on Saturday afternoon, John Henry Whitelaw, the late Superintendent of the Wellington Lunatic Asylum, was arrested on a warrant charging him with " that, on the first day of May, 1878, then b ing an officer having the care of one William Mclntosh, a lunatic patient then detained in the Wellington Lunatic Asylum, he did illtreat the said lunatic patient by taking him from his bed at 10 o'clock on a night in winter, stripping him ot his clothes, taking him across an exposed yard, placing him in a confined shower-bath, and there keeping him under a continuous shower of cold water for the space of ten minutes, such being an indictable offence." The information was laid by Chief Detective Brown, who was acting under instructions from the Government. Whitelaw was admitted to bail— himself in £300, and two securities of £150 each. He has been remanded till to-morrow.

It is understood that the Government intend to summarily dismiss John Henry Whitelaw, superintendent of the Wellington Lunatic Asylum, in consequence of the Commissioners report.* The Government have further decided that the Asylum shall, as soon as can fairly be done, be placed under the management of a duly qualified medical practitioner. With regard to the Inspector, Dr. Skae, no final decision has been arrived at ; but he is called upon to make an official reply to the charges contained in the Eoyal Commissioners report.

The Volunteer encampments at Auckland, Oamaru, and Nelson passed off successfully. A horse-power threshing machine, telonging to Price, of Carterton, was burnt, under suspicious circumstances. The loss is estimated at J100 ; insured for £75 in the New Zealond office.

It is understood that the Hinemoa will leave for Lyttelton this week to convey to their homes a" considerable number of the Maori political prisoners, whom it has been decided to release.

Some doubts have arisen as to the secrecy of the census returns, and the Registrar-General has written to the New Zealand Times to the effect that since he took office the portion of the schedules containing names has always been severed from the other portion containing particulars, before the old forms were sent to the paper mills, so that no particulars as to any individual can become known to any one outside the office.

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night.

The Canterbury Jockey Club, at a largely attended meeting on Saturday, refused to endorse the disqualification of Mata and Mr. Bay by the Victorian Racing Club. At the races yesterday, William Deakin, an elderly man, attempted to cross the course, as the horses in the Hack Race, were coming in, was knocked down, and died a few minutes afterwards. NELSON, Last Night. A man named John Young was found dead in his hut at Takaka, on Friday.

The body of Yankee Smith, who was supposed to have been drowned, was found in the Aorerei river, Collingwood, on Sunday.

DUNEDIN, Last Night.

' The body of Emily Donaldson, who has been missing for some time, was found in the harbor. At the inquest, the verdict was that she committed suicide while temporarily insane.

By the destruction by fire of Harrison's wool shed at Arrowtown, on the 10th, the National Office loses £500.

Brooks' fishmongery establishment at Carey's Bay, was burnt down this morning. It was insured in the Northern .Office, but the amount is unknown.

AUCKLAND, Last Night. The police intend to prosecute holders of Calcutta sweeps, &c, under a clause of the Auckland Police Act.

Two slight shocks of earthquake were felt at Coromandel on Saturday. GREYMOUTH, Last Night. John Well, a small settler at Larry's Creek, on the Westport road near Reefton, was found in his cowshed with the back of his skull battered in. Ho had been seen in the morning bailing up his cows, and one was found fastened up. The supposed murderer is David McCahey, alias Yankee Dave, and jealousy is supposed to be the cause. Mrs. McGabe

was at Bell's in the morning, but left for Keefton, it is supposed after the murder. There was evidence of a fearful struggle, and deceased when found had clutched in his hand a portion of a man's clothing and some human hair. McGahey was missing, and the police at once instituted a search. He was seen going across the Inangahua river Sand Little Grey. This fact was notified to the police, who immediately followed close on his track, eventually making a capture in the ranges. It is stated that McGahey's jealousy was well founded, and that latterly he had been brooding over his domestic grievances. PALMEESTON N., Last Night.

The trial of Joseph Hall and Christina Goodman, father and daughter, for the murder of the infant of tbe latter, was resumed to-day. The examination and cross-examination of Detective Sullivan and Dr. Mariner occupied all day. The case is not concluded.