Country News.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 241, 1 July 1876, Page 16

Country News.

The Bruce Herald understands that the Rev. R. Coffey, of St. John’s Church, Milton, has received and accepted a call from the congregation of St. Matthew’s Church, Wellington. His resignation of his present charge has been accepted by the bishop. Mr. Coffey will probably leave Milton in October. Mr. Thomas Inglis writes to the Auckland Star in reference to their complaint that bad iron work was sometimes put into Aucklandbuilt vessels, as follows ;—“ I for one have fitted out from fifty to sixty vessels within three years, from full-rigged ships of 1000 down to 10-ton cutters, and, to the best of my knowledge, not a complaint has been made.” Sabbath desecration and its reward. —Two white men were out shooting pheasants in the neighborhood of Bell block on Sunday, says the Taranaki Budget, on Maori land. The Maoris watched the shooters, but did not attempt to interfere until the sport was over, when a few of them went up quietly and collared the birds which had been shot. A public meeting was held at the J unction Hotel, Pahautanui, on Saturday evening, to consider the best means of obtaining the services of a medical man, to reside in or near the district. Mr. Tappin occupied the chair. After a good deal of discussion, a committee was appointed to canvass the district and ascertain what amount of support would be guai’anteed as an inducement. It was also suggested at the meeting that the people residing on the Porirua-road and at the Ferry should combine with those at Pahautanui in carrying out these views. On Sunday Bishop Hadfield held a confirmation at St. Mary’s, Karori, when two male and eight female persons, of whom several were well advanced in years, were presented by the curate, the Rev. W. Ballachey. The Bishop preached an earnest sermon from the history of Dives and Lazarus, the gospel for the day, and administered the holy communion to thirty-eight persons. A previous confirmation was held so recently as Thursday, May 4. There were then five male and six female candidates, others being prevented from attending by the torrents of rain that fell. Thus in all twenty-one persons have been confirmed in this parish recently. Recently we published a telegram from Timaru, stating that a man in a good position in Timaru had poisoned himself and his wife. Further particulars have now come to hand of this sad event. According to the Press, “ it seems that Macgregor, on Monday, went to the shop of Mr. R. Watkins, chemist, and bought five shillings worth of strychnine, giving as his reason for requiring such a large quantity that he wanted to poison the rats which infested his house. He rose early on Tuesday morning, and was seen by the neighbors, so that he must have taken the poison mixed in the bitters at about 9 a.m., and then immediately after handed a similar dose to his wife. The letter which was found upon him, dated Friday night, was addressed to his wife, explaining that through ill-health he was unable to support her. He also said that he had got into trouble through some land business, and expressed his intention of making away with himself. Particulars were given of money [due to him, to be handed over, on collection, to his wife. Fiom this letter it would appear that he had no intention up to Friday of poisoning his wife, but he must have altered his mind by Monday night. He had been drinking hard of late, and was in rather embarrassed circumstances. As was stated a short time ago, a prosecution was threatened for obtaining money under false pretences and embezzlement, unless the money was refunded by Tuesday morning. Macgregor was well known in Christchurch, whither he came some twelve years ago. He was at one time clerk in the office of the old Standard newspaper, and next held a post in the Supreme Court. Of late he had been acting as accountant and general agent in Timaru.” An inquest was held at Otaki on June 26, before Dr. Hewson, coroner, and a jury, of which Mr. A. Hadfield was foreman, on the body of one George Geary, formerly of Wellington, and reported to be a discharged soldier from the 65th Regiment. On Friday, June 23, deceased procured a lift down the coast from a man named David Goodman, who was driving a four-wheeled vehicle and was travelling towards Wellington. They were attempting to cross the Otaki river whilst in a flooded state, at a spot about three chains broad, when the vehicle began to float and the kingbolt came out, and the hinder part of the cart, in which Geary was seated, was carried down the stream, rolling over and over until it caught a snag in a broader part of the stream, from which position deceased was heard to call for help. John Harvey, from the opposite bank, came off in his canoe and tried to

render assistance, but deceased had disappeared. Goodman made efforts to save his passenger, but had finally to come ashore himself, holding on by both reins. Cobb’s coach ins about half-an-hour afterwards crossed about half-a-mile higher up. Mr. Young’s groom, Hewings, had just before cautioned Goodman not to attempt crossing, as the river was too much swollen. The foreman and jury were of opinion that David Goodman was culpable for attempting to cross the Otaki river after being informed of its swollen state and cautioned of the danger. The West Coast Times states that “Mr. F. J. Manton has retorted another parcel of the Mount Rangitoto silver ore, and the result obtained endorses in every way the high yields by Mr. Kirkland, of Melbourne. The average as given us by Mr. Mauton shows a yield of 4300 z. ldwt. lggr. of silver to the ton of ore. The nugget of silver obtained may be inspected at the office of Messrs. Pollock and Bevan, and Mr. Manton also informs us that he intends testing a larger quantity next week, when any one curious may see for himself the quantity of ore crushed and put in the crucible, and subsequently may inspect the extraction of the silver from the cupel after the analysis is completed.”