SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 819, 27 November 1878, Page 2

SPECIAL TELEGRAMS.

* [FKOM OU!i OWN i;ui;i:.i'.si'ON[)UNT.J <& ■WELLINGTON. November -0. A little girl of nine years of age, adaugtur of Mr. Cowper, thu postmaster oi* Grey town, was feloniously assaulted in a very shocking and violent manner .it Moroa, near Greytown, last niglit. A man giving the name of -Lis. Murphy, and answering to the description given by the girl, -was at once arrested by Constable Byrne. The little girl, together with two other witnesses, identified him as the man by whom the assault was committed. The child was examined by .1 medical man, who stated that the offence had been committed, The prisoner will bo brought up before the local be'iich, and a remand will probably be applied for. A three-roomed cottage at Ingestre-street was destroyed by fire last night. The cottage was the property of Mr. J. M 'Elwain, and was occupied by Mr. George Blighting (a young unmarried man), his mother (who is a widow), a younger brother aged IG, and two sisters (girls of ten and seven years old respectively)- The inmates narrowly escaped with their lives. To-day, on examining the scene of the lire, a discovery of a strange and significant nature was made. Several old sacks partially saturated with kerosene, and a bottle which had contained that inflammable oil, were found under the floor of the | house just at the spot where the fire ap- j pearcd to have broken out. An inquest will | be held. The following somewhat romantic story respecting the burnt-out inmates of the cottage is told by a correspondent of the Post :—" About eighteen months ago it was telegraphed by your special correspondent at Chrfstchurch that Mr. Blighting had received the welcome news that he was heir to thousands of pounds, and was about leaving with his family for England via San Francisco. Unfortunately just at that period Mr. Blighting was drowned, and the widow and family shortly afterwards removed to Wellington. Having left all business matters to her husband, and not being fully acquainted with the circumstances that linked her husband with such good fortune, the widow was at a loss hQW to act ; but one or two friends interested themselves on behalf of the family, and who believe, from information received, that Mrs. Blighting should at once proceed to England and claim what of right belongs to the survivors of ,the deceased. For some weeks past Mrs. Blighting has worked hard in making preparations for the voyage, but thia disaster has left the family homeless, and with comparatively nothing. She will probably sail in the Rakaia, leaving the family for the present in Wellington, and it is hoped that present circumstances may be more than compensated for by the smile of Dame Fortune. Mrs. Blighting desires to thank those who have helped her, in a pecuniary way, and promises that in the event of her success the several amounts shall be returned to the Wellington Benevolent Institution.

DUKEDIN, November 27 ; Mr. J. C. Brown has been elected Chairman of the Tuapeka County 1 Council. Thomas is favorite for i the wrestling match to-morrow, though Pagg has iinn suppoi'ters. Considerable excitement prevails over the City and South Dunedin mayoral elections. Mr. Fish is certain to be returned, having the working men at his back. The suburban e'ection will be a test of the tramways qiiestion. Mr. .T. Edgar h?,s been elected Chairman of the Lake County Council. There was a large attendance at the show, the weather being beautiful, though oppresively hot in town. The bulk of prizes in merinos fell to the Hon. K. Campbell, Messrs. Murray, Roberts, and Co. running him close with a collection of well-bred animals. The latter secured the champion

CU2J for meriijo mm, and the Hon. R. Campbell the champion cup for the best merino ewe. Mr. Barron took the prize for the best animal in the class Alderney cattle. For Leicester ram of any age Mr. Mareroft took the cup. Another cup went to Mr. C. Turnbull for the best Leicester ewe. The champion cup for best bull of any age on the ground was secured for Mr. Jas. Gow's Stafford. The cup for the best cow or heifer was secured for Mr. Jas. Gow's Susan. In Lincolns the cup for the best ram" of any age was obtained J. Sutton, and the cup for the best ewe of any age of the same breed fell to the N.Z. and A. Ik Company. _: «, ' NAPIER. November 26. Watene, who is the heir of the late chief Te Hapuka, went to a woolshed at Te Aute to-day owned by the Hon. H. R.Russell, and took forcible possession of 100 bales of -wool, and took them to the station and sent some by train to Napier this morning. The Hon. John Russell stated that he held the wool, having a lien thereon : but Watcne has been advised that a mortgage lias been registered either on the sheep or wool by the late chief Te Hapuka, and therefore he has a right to the same. This has brought about an unpleasant state of affairs between Mr. Russell and the natives.