A REPORTED OUTRAGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 8787, 8 May 1889, Page 3

A REPORTED OUTRAGE.

Information has reached us of a most abominable outrage which took place at the Heathcote Valley on Saturday night. It appears that a meeting of the inhabitants of the Valley, at which Mr J. Joyce, M.H.K., presided, had been held to endeavour to have a local Board of Health formed in the district. Sanitary matters in the little village are requiring urgent attention, and as the place belongs to no borough or town district, the population are in doubt as to how to succeed in bringing about a better state of affairs. Typhoid fever has lately been rife in the Valley, and it became necessary to agitate and draw attention to certain evil circumstances, which possibly caused the outbreak.

A considerable amount of ill-feeling has been developed in connection with these matters, and after the close of the meeting, which was not altogether harmonious and peaceful, a fight broke out between a man named Chappell and another named Beazeley. The latter is employed in the malt kiln, and his companions joined with him against Chappell, attacking him—according to our information —without mercy. He was knocked down and kicked all over the face and body till he was within an ace of losing bis life, being with difficulty rescued by Mr E. G. Sykes, painter. Chappell is left in a terrible condition, and is under the care of Dr Hunt.

The matter has been placed in the hands of the police, and the larrikins who have bo mauied the unfortunate fellow are to hear more of the affair.