NEW OF THE MONTH.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXVIII, Issue 38, 12 May 1869, Page 6

NEW OF THE MONTH.

Sudden Death. — On the night of April 10, Elizabeth Burn, wife of Daniel Burn, a carpenter residing in Toi-toi Valley, died Bomewhat suddenly. Her husband, who had been working in the country, returned home about eight o'clock, when he found his wife in a very weak state, the effect he believed oE drink. He made her a cup of tea and put her to bed, and a short time afterwards she expired. An inquest was held on the body on Monday, and a post-mortem examination of the body showed that the immediate cause of death was ulceration of the bowels. A verdict was returned accordingly. Fatal Accident on the Racecourse. — On Wednesday, April 21, a lad named John Mahoney, in the service of Mr. H. Redwood, jun., engaged himself, without his employer's knowledge, to ride the "old horso named Subaltern, in the Handicap Steeplochase. At the second jump — a post-and-rail fence, three feet ten incli.es high, he brought his horse too suddenly against it, and the animal, striking it with his fore legs, made a somersault, and came down on his back, breaking poor Mahoney's skull as he struck the ground. Assistance was immediately at hand, and the poor lad was as soon as possible removed to the Turf Hotel, where he lingered until nine o'clock in the evening. The deceased had parents living in Auckland. Mahoney was a very steady lad, and an excellent horseman, but more accustomed to flat than steeplechase riding. Forgery. — In the Resident Magistrate's Court, Nelson, on Friday, April 30th, John Water/ionse, of Suburban-north, farmer, was charged by James Pratt with having, on or about the 20th of January last, forged an endorsement to a bill of exchange for £25. Tho evidence taken showed that, on the 20th of January, Pratt discounted a bill of exchange of the above amount for Mr. G. Harris, who acted as Waterhouse's agent. The bill purported to be drawn and endorsed by Daniel Slater, of Suburbannorth, and was accepted by Waterhouso. Mr. Slater denied having either drawn or endorsed the bill. The prisoner was committed for trial at the next sitting of the Supreme Court. Tho prisoner had taken his departure from Nelson in the steamer Omed, for Melbourne, but went on shore on his way, at Hokitika, where the police had been requested to look out for him. The Hokitika Star gives the following account of "Waterhouse's capture : — " A telegram had been received here by the Superintendent of Police, describing the man, which being placed in the hands of Detective Browne, that astute officer went down to the wharf on Saturday evening, and watching the passengers land from tho Omco, he marked his man and kept him in view till he was fairly housed. Tho detective then contrived to get a bed in the game room as tho prisoner, and so made sure that he did not get away iv the night. Yesterday morning, watching him go out, he followed, and coming up to him, slapped him familiarly on tho back, and exclaimed, ' Halloa, Jack, when did you come down ?' The man, taken unawares, and not recognizing the detoctivo (who was differently attired) as his bedchamber companion of the previous night, acknowledged the salute, but confessed that tho recognition was not mutual. 'Why,' Baid Browne, ' if you are not Jack Waterhouse, of the Waimea, near Nelson, who are you? Don't you' remember seeing me on ths corn-Be when the Duke was betting eveii down to five shillings ' This was irresistible, and a mutual shaking of hands took place, and then the twain adjourned to a friendly liquor. Here the detective confidentially apprised his victim of the charge against him 5 whereupon he made overtures for ' squaring ' the matter, so far as his arrest was concerned, by a money payment of £5. Eventually he was taken to the lock-up, and this morning was remanded to Nelson, to be there examined on the charge laid against him." Inquest. — An inquest was held on April 23 at tho Albion Hotel, on the body of a man named John Brown, who was found yesterday morning under the paddlcwheel of the Charles Edward, lying alongside of the Albion wharf. The depeased was a sailor on board the cutter Supply, and was last seen in his bunk on board the cutter about halfpast eleven p.m. on Monday previous. Brown was addicted to drink, and was somewhat intoxicated when last seen alive. In attempting to get on shore during tho night he must have fallen into tlio water. The body, when found, was dreadfully crushed, as if a vessel had rested upon it. Tho jury returned a verdict of "Found dead, but no evidence to show the cause of death or his being in the water." John Randall, who had been summoned as a juryman and failed to attend, was fined £2. Nelson Hospital Monthly Report. — The number of patients under treatment on the 31st March, were thirteen ; and there were admitted during the month of April, nine ; making a total of twenty-two. Of these there were discharged cured, five ; discharged relieved, two ; and one died ; so that there remained on the 30th April, fourteen. The total number under treatment during the corresponding month of last year, was twenty-fivo. Thirty-six persons, including out-patients, have been supplied with medicine, or medical appliances, during the month of April, 1869. Customs Revenue.— The Customs Revenue collected at the Port of Nelson for the quarter ended the 31st March, amounted to £6,680 ss. 4d. Land Revenue. — The Land Revenue for tho quarter just ended amounted to the sum of £1,835 7s. lid. House of Representatives. — The vacancy in tho representation of the district of Waikouaiti, Otngo, caused by the resignation of Mr. Mitchell, has been filled by the election of Mr. F. D. li>icb. Tactics of the Opposition. — It is understood to be the intention of tho leaders of the Opposition to endeavour to defeat (he Government on the Address, so we may expect to see a full muster of members in Wellington at the commencement of the session. Mr. Vogel, it is said, has beon looking up support for his wild scheme of purchasing exemption for the Middle Island from a future contribution to native wars by the payment of £1,000,000 to the North Island. Incorporation of Blenheim. — The town of Blenheim has been proclaimed a borough under the Municipal Corporation Act. Effects of the War. — Both the Hawke'a Bay journals have hud to apologise to their readers for curtailment of matter, caused by the greater part of their respective staff of hands having had to take tho field against Te Kooti. Trees Planted by the Duke of Edinburgh. — The Independent says : — "Thursday, the 15th April, 1869, will, henceforth, be a marked day in Wellington, as on that day the planting of four trees took place on tho grounds of the Government House, by his Royal Highness tho Duke of Edinburgh, K.G. Tlio ceremony took place in the presence of his Excellency tho 'Governor, the Hon. E. W. Stafford, Captain Pitt, Aide-de-Camp to his Excellency ; attended by the Government gardener. The list of the trees, with their habitats, and the names of the gentlemen who presented them, are as follows: — 1. Abios Nordmnn, the Crimea and the Caucasus, Mr. Hale, of Nelson. 2. Podocavpus Totara, New Zealand, Mr. Drake, of Johusonville 3. Cedrus Pensilis, Tasmania, Mr. Drake. -I. Araucaria Excelsa, Norfolk Island, Mr. Epps, of Nelson.