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New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 5020, 18 December 1877, Page 4

Since our account of the finding of the body of the unfortunate young woman, Isabella Fraser, was written, nothing further has transpired to dispel in any degree the cloud of mystery with which the sad affair is enshrouded. The inquest was commenced yesterday, and after a numberof witnesses had been examined was adjourned until Thursday, when Dra. Goldsbru' and Jackson will depose as to the result of their po.ti mortem examination. Meanwhile the police are still prosecuting their inquiries, and should any success crown their efforts it will be made kuown on Thursday. One effect of the medical examination has beon to materially refute the hypothesis that the girl met with foul treatment, while it has also established beyond a doubt her virginal chastity. Any marks which are observable upon the body can easily and naturally be accounted for, while the bleeding at the ear and nostrils may be explained with equal facility, and in a precisely satisfactory maimer. It is not an idle supposition to believe that the small crabs with which the beach abounds may have been at work, aud started the ilow of blood. The doctors agree in thinking that death was occasioned by asphyxia, and one of them hazards the conjecture that she proceeded to the cliff for some unknown purpose, that she descended part of it, and fell the remainder of the distance, was stunned, and drowned accordingly. It does not require any great critical aeumem to detect the weak points in this theory, and wc therefore pass it over without comment. The young man Bovaird, about whom there has bas been some talk and much speculation, is a native of the North of Ireland, and is employed as a billiard marker at the Ponscnby Club Hotel, lie had been acquainted with the deceased for two years, ami as iMr. Fraser worded it at the inquest, had a fondness for her. livery alternate Sunday was allowed the girl by her employers, and on these occasions Bovaird used. to meet her, sometimes calling at her father's house for her, and at others intercepting her on the way either to or from the parental domicile. The last time he was with her he says was , on Sunday evening, 2nd December, when lie met her coming out of the Theatre, where she had been attending -Divine service. lie anticipated meeting her last .Sunday, and on the afternoon of that day actually sauntered alonq the road with that intention. Not seeing her he came to the conclusion that she had returned

earlier than usual, and in order to ascertain if this were so, he called in at the house of her married sister, who iives in Ponsonby. There, he states, he learned for the lirst time that her dead body had been found. Me seemed much grieved at the news, and has ever since given proof of much dt-jcetiou of spirit. On Saturday night it appears he was engaged at his usual avocation till 11 o'clock, when he went to bed. Ic is said that deceased did not reciprocate Uovaird's afieetion, in fact that she had an aversion to him, and some people knowing this attachsignificance to the fact that the giri's parents countenanced the young man's suit It seems that she did not evince any decided repugnance, but treated him very coolly, attempting when ineetiug him to pass him by with a salutation such as 41 Good day," or " Good evening." These are but mere statements, however, though founded on good authority, and eveu granting that they are true, it is very extraordinary that a, young woman of souud miud, and possessed of tho common sense which is attributed to the deceased, should have taken to heart so deeply auy known circumstances as to induce her to make away with herself. So far, everything that has come to light has only tended to make the occurrence more incomprehensible than ever, and the elucidation of the mj'btery is not yet. Iu support of tho conjecture that the girl drowned herself, there are many circumstances of little note perhaps individually, but put together they assume somewhat of a likely air. For instance, assuming that Miss Eraser contemplated suicide on Saturday evening, and wished to screcn herself from observation, and gain security from intrusion, she could have obtained I both by going aloug Curranstrcet, a newly--1 made-street containing no houses, and lead ing much more directly to the water than the Beach Road. Jt passes near Mr. Creft's house, and the beach at this plac.- is thought by a few to have been the scene of the drowning. The water there is much deeper than where the body was found, and a strong eddy runs from it over to that spot. Uid she throw herself from the cliff? or did she descend the cliff and deliberately drown herself ? Above all, what motive had she in putting an end to her life 'i These are questions the answers to which we must patiently await. <

A petition was recently forwarded to the Government, signed by the proprietors of the leading morning newspapers in the colony, asking that the Telegraph Offices in the chief centres of population should be kept open until 12 p.m. each night, for the transmission of Press messages. It is generally admitted that the facilities offered in New Zealand for the collection and transmission of Press messages at night are of a very meagre and unsatisfactory character, and on this ground alone some change was inevitable. The Government, however, instead of boldly moving forward aud granting the facilities wh ; ch are given in other colonies and in England, have effected a compromise, and have consented to keep the offices open until 10 p.m., a concession which will not meet the necessities of the case for any length of time. For some time past newspaper enterprise has been seriously crippled by the stringent regulations which compel the closing of the L'elegraph Offices at 8 o'clock at night, and during the recent session of Parliament the grievance was particularly apparent. In England, at the present time, all the leading provincial journals report the proceedings in the House of Commons up to the hour of adjournment at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning, and so anxious are the British Government to assist in this work of educating and instructing the people that a loss last year was sustained of more than £20,000 upon Press messages in England. In New Zealand a large profit is made out of this branch of business, and we are bound to give Dr. Lemon every credit for the commercial success of his department. But we think the time has arrived when the hour for closing the offices in the chief centres of population might be extended to midnight without entailing any loss upon the department. The new regulations will come into force on the Ist January next, but at first they will only apply to Press messages. While we are on the subject of telegraph arrangements we may say, that throughout the last year the officers of the department have done their work well. The session of Parliament has been prolonged, aud the telegrams sent have been occasionally very Jengthy, and have had tobe transmitted late at night, or early in the morning. These messages were very correctly sent, and in most cases with great expedition. In respect to the war telegrams, it was difficult to secure accuracy, owiug to the many stations through which the messages have to re-pass. Ihe New Zealand officers, however, did all they could to secure such accuracy. To the officers of the Auckland office, from the manager to the message boys, we have to make acknowledgment for their good work, attention, and courtes}'.

Through pressure on our space several letters are postponed, including one signed 44 A Working Man with a Large Family."

Captaiu Burgess, as Chief Harbour-master, aud Sergeaut Martin, of the Water Police, made a seizure of three kegs of blasting powder yesterday morning on the Wharf, which were being conveyed by Messrs. T. and ts. Morrin's dray to the s.s. Argyle for shipment to Coromandel. It appears that the powder was confiscated for a breach of the Harbour Regulations, section S9, pro-

viding 44 that no larger quantity thau to make the ship's store 501bs. shall be taken on board other than at the usual powder ground."

Mr. and Mrs. Morton Tavaresproceed to-day to Nelson, where they will appear fora limited number of nights. Their performances here have given the greatest satisfaction to all who are interested in the legitimate drama and histrionic art of the highest class. Mr. Tavares's Kichlieu aud Cousin Modus ("The Hunchback"), and Mrs. Tavares's Mrs. Seabright, in " The Overland Route, M and Julia, in "'{"he Hunchback," are performances that will compare favourably with the best examples of their art upou the Knglish stage.

We publish in a telegram a statement of certain changes which it is believed will be made in the Armed Constabulary and police lorces. The Armed Coustabulary are to be separated from the police, and are to have their head-quarters in WaikatJ under Col. Lyon, with the organisation of a military body. The police are to revert to purely civil functions, under a Commissioner for each Island. While on lihis subject it may be said that Ministers ought to see that the officers and men of the Auckland force are put on the same footing as to pay and privileges as their fellows in the South.

How a murderer is treated in Samoa is shown by a telegram which we publish today from Sydney. A man named Corcoran stabbed another named Fox at a publichouse bar, and after the murderer had beeu put on board an American vessel,'for conveyauce to the States, of which he was a subject, a public meeting resolved that an example must be made of him. He was again fetched on shore, the missionary was brought to administer spiritual consolation, anu Corcoran was run up to a coeoanut tree with " a double block and tackle." We presume that the chief part in the affair was taken by the .European residents, and by their proceeding they show a determination to put down crimes of violence.

Yesterday Mr. Greenwood, at the Market House, offered for sale the Mount Albert estate of Mr. Hoffmann. It had been cut up into various-sized allotments, a number of which were sold, and several retained at higher prices than those bid. Our enterprising butcher, Mr. Kulme, boughs the homestead and 31 acres of land adjoining for the sum of .£IBOO- Here Mr. Huliue intends to reside, and supply from it dairy fed pork aud veal, and have a depot for his fat cattle. The site is near to the new slaughterhouse, where the cattle so fed will be killed and dressed for human food. In our com mereial columns will be fouud the prices at which the other allotments were sold.

11 Justice" writes : -"I was astonished to hear that a teacher from whose class pupils were undergoing the scholarship cxamina* tions was present with them while the examination was going ou. Such conduct seems at least liable to cause dissatisfaction and suspicion." Our correspondent forwards the regulations of the Council of Klucation in Britain, iu which it is

stated that any teacher having pupils to be examined si must lea.ve the room before the envelopes containing the examination questions are opTmed," and should not be iu or near the building lvhere the examination is held while it is beini* conducted."

44 A Parent" writes also complaininr of Mr. Worthington's presence, and says that 44 if help were necessary, there are many disinterested men in Auckland who could be procured for the occasion."

4< A Presbyterian" writes a long letter, going over the history of the Pokeuo Church, but as we have already had the circumstances detailed from different points of view, wc cannot insert his letter in full. <Uir correspondent, however, states a curious fact, name!}*, that on one Sunday lately certain residents of the district who oppose the Rev. Mr. Nome disturbed the worship while Mr. McLaren, Mr. Nome's assistant, was ollioiating, and afterwards Mr. Campbell preached to three or four persou3 who remained. Our correspondent says that Air. McLaren ought to have kept his grouud, and next morning have lodged an information against the guilty parties. "A Presbyterian" proceeds:— 44 To crown all, the agitators have gone from bad to worse, until they have .actually stolen the church, and uow, f believe, it is on a publican's site. This Pokeno Church case is not at all creditable to those who take part in it, and there are many who will take the opportunity of pointiug the finger ot scorn at them. We are afraid that even the advent of Christmas will have no effect iu bringing peace and good-will to Pokeiu.

We have seen the report of the committee of the Choral .'Society for the past year, and are glad to lie able to congratulate it upon the success which has attended its efforts. We believe it is the only society of the kind in Xew Zealand which can boast au nnbrokeu existence of nearly twelve years ; and the high-class iihisi'c uniformly studied, and general excellence of its performances, have earned it a wei'-cies .-rveil reputation amongst the )-iu;ue-iov : .:: • poo;, 1 !", not only of Auckland, liut of ot m the colony. During -,Ih-. ye,-.;- have been performed three works entirely new to Auckland—Beethoven's *' .Mendelssohn's " Athalie," aid Harnett's "Ancient Mariner." The programme f< i- the new season includes four works which have not been performed here before—Spohr's " Calvary," and " God Thou art Oreat." Ifan'lel's " Alexander's Feast," and one oE Schubert's masses. We obserw that the tirst concert of the year, Handel's -■ Messiah,' 1 is advertised to take place <>.: '! hursday cveuingnext. We wish the S /. .-very suoee.is, ami the cordial support of the people of Aucklaad. I

It is Btated that Mr. George Staines has sent to the Government a letter complaining of the conduct ef some of his co-trustees of the Grafton Road Highway Board. He alleges that they have spent money without legal authority, and asks that an inquiry be made into their proceedings.

Return of sick treated at the Provincial District Hospital for the week ending Saturday, December loth, 1877 :—Remained last return, S'2 ; admitted since, 0 ; discharged, S ; remaining S3—males, CO ; females, 23. Arrangement of cases : Zymotic, 9; constitutional, 10 ; local, 49 ; developmental, 10 ; violent, 5.

State of Her Majesty's Gaol, Auckland, for the week ending the 15th December, 1577 : — Awaiting trial, 7 males, 3 females ; sentenced to penal servitude, 31 males ; sentenced to hard labour, 70 males, 31 females; sentenced to imprisonment, 4 males ; default of bail, 5 males, 1 female ; received during the week, 6 males, G females ; discharged during the week, 8 males, S females : total in Gaol, 117 males and 35 females.

We quite agree with the author of the letter headed " Stiines's Pretensions." that it would be a gross blunder to take any course which would elevate Mr. George Staines and the few who associate with him into the position of martyrs in a public cause. The separate " working man" movement in connection with the reception of Sir George Grey was an absurdity, and the calling of an indignation meeting for Sunday afternoon was worse.

A correspondent says :— (t Not .very long since the judge at a trial in Auckland commented very strongly on the extreme impolicy of alienating frontages along the harbour without reserving a few feet between them and the sea for the convenience of the public. This advice the Harbour Board do not seem to have acted on, although they appear to have taken some notice of the statement of Councillor Goldie, who recommended them to reserve the ground opposite the streets westward of Queen-street right down to the water's edge. If effect is given to said recommendation, these reservations will be of great advantage to the residents of Freeman's Bay and its vicinity, particularly if kept clear, or if unprincipled persons are not allowed to land and store junk timber, drain pipes, and other commodities peculiar to the district, on them, and more especially if landing-steps are made at the euds of them. The Bay people are not too proud to walk, and can take a cab on occasion, as Auckland folks generally have been advised to do, but still it is not always convenient to do either, aud they think (and more especially the female portion) that when they want to get into, or land from, a boat without wading through the mud, a few steps at the foot of Hardiugestreet would he an advantage to them. Besides this, unseemly exhibitions, such as that witnessed ou Sunday last, when a corpse had to be carried a quarter of a mile or so on a stretcher along a public thoroughfare for want of a few steps to laud it at the door of the Dead-house, would in future be avoided."

The formation of Hobsou-street from the reclamation works to the intersection of Wyndham-street is now assuming proportions which indicate what the street itself will he when finisned. On the west side from the stone wall erected at the face for some distance up the street the batter is formed, and Mr. Dempsey, the contractor who is carrying out the work, is now erecting a strong permanent wooden fence along the face of the cutting. The width of the street at the bottom will be 37 feet. Many of the allotments on the east side are being cut down to the road level, and the houses erected on them are being gradually lowered to their proper level without injury to the houses themselves. This, of course is a work which requires to be accomplished with great care, but it is being satisfactorily carried out. As we remarked on a previous occasion when noticing this work, we are of opinion, and our opinion is borne out by that of practical experienced men, that it would be nccessary, to make the present work -a complete one, to carry the incline from the reclamation works to the intersection of Victoria-street. Were this done the incline from the head of Wellesley-street to the beach would be gradual and regular, whereas, if ifc is allowed to terminate abruptly at Wynd-ham-street, there would be two unsightly lumpj on the road, making two inclines instead of one. We are informed that the inhabitants of Hobson-street are strongly in favour of this work being carried out, and Mr. Dempsey is willing to perform it at a very moderate cost to the city. The Council should, we think, take advantage of the disposition of the inhabitants and the offer of the contractor, complete the work at once, which can only be done subsequently at a greatly increased cost. The reclamation works afford a place for the stuff to be removed, which will not long be available, and the contractor being in a position to utilise the oebria removed, can, of course, afford to perform the work much more cheaply than others could do it. We hope | the Council will give the matter their earnest attention. It will, we believe, be brought under the notice of the Council at an early sitting. In order to spur the City Council oti to the work, the inhabitaets should get up a petition to the Council asking them to carry out the work without delay.

The master of a coaster, which arrived here yesterday, reports that the harbour abounds with sharks of various dimensions, from five fe*t up to fifteen, and he requests us to cautiou those young people who are accustomed to bathe on the flats to be ou their guard. <~ l n the passage across the harbour yesterday, and especially ofFTaram, he reports passing shoals of tlisra.—Thames Advertiser.