SOUTHERN ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10300, 27 November 1896, Page 3 (Supplement)

SOUTHERN ITEMS.

Tiik Wanganui Athletio Clubs' bazaar netted some £350 for the institutions interested. The Perpetual Trustees Estate and Agency, Dunedin, have declared an interim dividend of 12 per cent. At the criminal sittings of the Wellington Supreme Court on' the 10th of November, Detective Kirby wa& sentenced to three years' penal servitude. The Wuimakai'iri-Ashley Water Supply Works were formally opened on Nov. 16 by the Premier. The race is estimated to supply 5,000,000 gallons of water per day, and he area to be watered is about 136,000 acres. A Chriatchurch photographer, by way of advertisement, undertook throe (lays last week to tako, free of charge, portraits of all the pretty babies in the city. Tho result was that the street was so blocked with perambulators that a policeman was obliged to clear the entrances to the places of business on either side.

A remarkable mental and physical feat by a Taranaki girl is mentioned in a local paper, She had been ill in bed for three weeks prior to the examination, and the fact of not passing preyed on her mind to such an extent that she got out of bed, walked to the sjhool, and parsed the standard with flying colours, going baok to bed on returning home. During very vivid lightning flashes last week, the residents of Castlecliff, Wanganui, were startled by a loud boom, which some took to be a signal from a ship in distress. It was found that a detonating rocket on the bridge of the Moi, which was lying at the Heads Wharf, had boon exploded by the lightning, the roporb being as loud at> that of a cannon.

A large store at Wairoa, Southland, belonging to H. Cuthbertson, together with its contents, was destroyed by fire on Novomber G. Tho owner was away at Timuru. The building was insured for £550, and the stock for £2000, both in tho New Zealand office ; and re insured in tbo Commercial Union, Imperial, Phoenix, Standard, and South British.

An exchange says an eleotor at Roslyn in rather in a quandary as to what electorate he is in. His house is on tho boundary 'of two electorates, and his two front room» are in the Dunedin city oloctorato, while his three backrooms are in the Taieri. Ho sleeps at night in the Dunedin electorate, and has breakfast in the Taieri. Like the fellow in the music hall song, " 'L dutmo where 'e are."

A strange fish was found on tho Riverton Beach recently. It lias the head of an octopus, with 10 arms or feelers (tho longest about 15 inches), a body similar to that of a jellyfish, and a tail the shape of u skate. It possessed neither fins nor scales —the skin being perfectly smooth, and of a glatish white colour. Tho length of tho body was 12} inches, and from tip of feeler to tail 20J inches, while the girth is 8 inches.

A trawling neb was lost by a Napier cutter a few days ago, and on a diver being sent down it was found it had boon caught in a largo anchor. The Harbour Board's dredge fished up the anchor and chain, which has been recognised as the one lost) by the New Zealand Shipping Company's Rimutaka about six years ago. The value of the anchor and chain is, it is understood, about £250, and some very fine drawn arguments, taken from Loo's" Laws on Shipping," aro being quoted at the Spit as to tho apportionment of the salvage. A painful sensation was caused in Gisborne on Nor. 2 by the sudden death of Dr. John Fraser Innes, which occurred at his residence, Falmerston Road, at 4.30. Dr. Cole was passing Dr. Innes' house ft few minutes before that time, and was called in by the latter, who stated he had taken strychnine and needed attention. Dr. Innes was seized with convulsions and died in a short space of time. An inquest was hold next morning, when the jury returned a verdict 'That deceased met his death by an ovordoae of strychnine administered by his own hand, either by misadventure or whilst in a state of temporary insanity.' Frederick Newsome, mine manager of the Granity Creek, Wastport, committed suicide on Saturday morning, tho 14th of November, by drowning himself in a dam. He loft at seven a.m. to go to his duties, and was missed at dinner timo. A soarch resulted in his coat, hat, and dinner being found on tho dam bank. Attached to tho coat was a noto to his wife, asking forgiveness for his rash act. The water was run out of the dam and the body recovered. Tho deceased has nob been well for some time past, and suffered from insomnia. He was about 34 years of ago, and leaves a wife and one child. He was highly respected, and his sad end caused quite a shock to the community. Intho charge of bigamy against Stephen Boscher, at Wellington, on Saturday, Nov. 14th, the evidence showed that ho was married to Josephine Libian at'Lyttelton 17 years ago, and .in 1892 married Mary Ann Reoce, of' Wellington. Before tho second marriage the accused stated in reply to a question that he had not previously been married, and the gaol warder producod a letter written by tho accused sinoo his confinement at' the gaol to the second Mrs, Boscher. This letter admitted that the accused was married as stated in Lyttelton, but asserted further that two Sears after thab marriage he had to gt home to Franco on business. In France he was arrested for having failed to do his military duty, and for. being naturalised in New Zealand without his parents' consent, and a sentence of three years' imprisonment was passed upon him, after serving part of which he was sent as a soldier to Africa, where he served five years, endeavouring all the time by Jotters to get tho British and Now Zealand Government* to obtain his release. . His letters, however, were hover.sent. Ultimately he returned to Now Zealand, and on arrival wired' to Akaros; asking if his wife was still living, towhichhoreceivedareply from her that she was married again. , Ho then sent another telegram— Shall I .corao ;ornot,'' the answer to which was "No." Ho considered that he and the second Mrs.' Boscher were lawful man and wife. ~! Accused was committed for trial. , { ' '