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Marlborough Press, Volume XXIII, Issue 1348, 31 August 1882, Page 3

A female resident at Otaki was a few days ago fined £1 and costs for burning a rat alive. It had been caught in an ordinary wire trap, and, instead of drowning the animal, the woman poured kerosene on its back, and applied a light. Counsel for the defence contended that there was no cruelty in this method of killing a rat, and asked that the fine might be increased to £5 Is, to give his client the right of appeal. The Bench refused the application, and suggested that, as the client had another rat in the cage, she should do the same again, when counsel might rest assurred the fine would be quite heavy enough for him to appeal against. A disgraceful state of family affairs has been disclosed during the hearing of a divorce case at Dunedin. The wife of a civil engineer named Campbell, sought a divorce bn the grounds of cruelty and adultery. The marriage took place in 1876, and one child was born, but by reason of the horrible cruelty alleged on the part of the respondent the parties separated, and n deed was made giving Mrs Campbell custody of the child Subsequently, however, Campbell removed and retained it. Six months before the separation took place, Campbell said to to his wife, “ a friend of mine told me he could never manage his wife until lie had given her a black eye or two,” and thereupon struck her over the eye. One evening afterwards, the horrid act was perpetrated of pressing her under the ears with his two thumbs until the poor woman’s eyes were protruding. Her screams brought two men to her assistance, else it is said he would have killed her. Adultery with the housekeeper on the part of the respondent was also shown, and the judge declared the rule nisi. Such a revolting picture of married life has rarely if ever been heard of before in this colony. _ The Mahinapua, while proceeding from Gisborne to Napier the other day met with a somewhat extraordinary mishap. Shortly after leaving the former port one of the anchors, which is fixed by a patent lever, slipped out of its fastenings and dropped overboard, carrying the chain with it, and was not checked until it reached the bottom. The steamer was going full speed ahead at the time, and the anchor must have got a hold of the bottom, as it caused the chain to be snapped off after about thirty fathoms of it had run out, this causing the vessel to lurch over as if she had struck on a rock. As may be imagined there was great consternation among the passengers. The parliamentry correspondent of the Christchurch Telegraph vouches for the truth the following curious little story :— The majority of members were at a loss to know what was going on or what was the cause of the little disturbance at the last division over the Loan Bill but secrets —especially political—will out. It happened this wise : the hon member for Stanmore was looked upon by the Opposition as doubtful. Some even went so far as to say if he could be properly managed he would follow Montgomery. Members—presumably the knowing ones endeavored to entwine him in their meshes, but all in vain. The hon member for Awarua strnck a new idea. Arming himself with a pocketful of silver, he entered into close conversation with the supposed ‘ railler.’ A walk was proposed through the town, pubs were visited and ad, lib, champagne was started by the down-souther, thinking that before long he would see the member for Stanmore under the table, and thus keep him from recording his vote. Rum and eggs followed, next sherry, and then gin. Pilliet however, stood it like an A.B. He was proof against all such mixtures, but what followed ? The biter, or rather treater, was bit; poor Awarua collapsed. His opponent pro tem walked into the chamber at 2. a.m. as fresh as paint, and voted how ? Of course it did not matter to the member for Awarua about his non-attendance, because he had been paired.” The fresh-water supply to the places along the Canal and to Alexandria is found to be sufficient for all requirements.