A MAD MAN IN COURT.

Patea Mail, Volume VI, Issue 521, 18 May 1880, Page 3

A MAD MAN IN COURT.

An exciting struggle with a lunatic occurred in the police-court at Marton. James Uicliard Luby, residing at Fielding, has been sudject to fits of violent lunacy, and was locked up in an asylum a year ago. 13eing id eased he has since resided at Mr Roe’s hotel, and has been carefully watched. Another fit of mad violence caused his arrest a few days since, and he was taken to the R.M. Court at Marten, before Mr Ward. On entering the Court a chair was offered him, which lie accepted, and sat down. Ho appeared quiet, and just as the case commenced he said—“ Roe has treated me as a blackguard, Roe treated me like a blaguard, he did, did, did, did, did. My name is Luby. lam not in a temper. I am cool, oo!, 001, 001. Have yon any right to get the word out of my mouth. Will the Government take my woid what for”? In another instant he jumped on his feet, and commenced striking indiscriminately at evn ybody near him. Constables Price and Coyle closed with him, and a fearful struggle ensued, the terrible expression on Lnby’s face, and bis frantic endeavours to free himself causing much commotion in court. Hoeing that it was likely he would overpower the constables Mr Ward asked those present to assist the * police, and eventually Luby was placed on the floor and handcuffed. His Worship then ordered him to be removed to the lock-up, which was done, Luby swearing vengeance against everyone as he left the court. Thu ease then proceeded, and evidence was taken, alter which his Worship committed Luby to the Wellington Asylum as a dangerous lunatic. GAS EXPLOSION AT THE RISING SUN HOTEL, GREYMOUTII.

A serious accident occurred at the Rising Sim Hotel which might have resulted in a terrible catastrophe, but which, we are happy to say, was attended by good fortune. Mr Jas Beard was with Mr Hainnicrich, the new landlord, showing the latter how to use the machine. AMr Clark was fitting a lock on the door at the same time, and, it being rather dark, struck a match, in order to get in a screw, throwing the match on the ground outside. A conflagration was the' result, which was caused by” he gas emitted through tin: door, the tire in an instant rushed round the room, and an explosion occnred, like the boom of a gun, blowing all Hie windows out of the house. Mr Beard was unable to make good his escape in time, consequently he had a very narrow escape ; his hands and face are badly blistered. Had not the machine been screwed down in time, the destruction of the hotel was a certainty

NEW ZEALAND SECURITIES. Tlic Government received several despatches from the Agent General by the San Francisco mail lately arrived; but they relate mainly to matters of business routine, and contain no information of any special interest, except as recording the continued high popularity of New Zealand security in the London Money Market. From the latest advices we gather that those who, taking up the last Five Million 5 Per CenL Loan at the issue price £97 10s, have since converted it into Four Per Cent. Inscribed Stock, have practically obtained the New Zealand Four Per Cent. Consols at £Bl oa per. £IOO, inasmuch as they receive £l2O of the Four Per Cent, for £IOO of the Fives. Seeing that the Canadian Four Per Cent. Inscribed Stock was at that time worth £95 10s, and as the moat reliable authorities on finance considered that the Now Zealand Inscribed Four Per Cents could not fail to rank fully as high in the London money market, it is not difficult to understand the demand for our last loan when issued, and the readiness with which it was floated, for the figures we have given above show conclusively that those who took .up the Five Per Bent. Loan at £97 10s, and exercised their privilege of conversion into Inscribed Stock, actually obtained for £Bl 5s stock which was really worth at least £95 10s, and probably more, therefore they were almost safe to make a profit of at least 14per cent. As events have turned out the profit has, as a matter of fact, been considerably larger than this. It is not strange-that the lynx-eyed English capitalists promptly perceived the advantageous prospect which thus lay before them, and were quick in seizing tiic chance offered, the loan being applied for nearly thrice over. The new Inscribed Stock is, we learn, in great demand as an investment for trust funds.— Pott.

PREPARING FOR WAR. From time to time items of news are received that China is making heavy preparations, for war with Russia, and that the latter power is also preparing for the inevitable .contest,, not only in dispatching ships with. men and munitions of Avar to points most readily available when the -signal-gnu is sounded, but also by intrigues with Japan to take up arms, and thus doubly -harass her opponent. China, in fact, is being driven into a warlike activity,- which at no distant day. may bo a source of tribulation to the nations of the world, and a wide departure from tbe previous policy of tbe Government of the Celestial Empire. The Russian settlements in Eastern Siberia arc regarded as absolutely dangQrons to the peace of the empire, and there arc other inrolvmcnts which, day by day, increase in complexity between the two nations. The colonics hardly seem awake to the fact that the Chinese have again resuscitated their naval power after long years of degeneracy, and may some doy threaten colonial ports if dispute ensues with the British nation. — N. Z. Times.

PLU EKO-PN EUMONIA A remedy frequently resorted to in isolated eases in treating this disease among cattle js a mixture of white carbolic acid, ilfteen to twenty drops in two tablespoonfuls of raw linseed oil. This mixture is administered twice a day the firstweek, once a day the following week, and every third day afterwards, till eases are completely cured. This remedy it is plain does notin any way supersede the process of inoculation recommended in our-leading columns. As an evidence of the unbounded faith in the simpler remedy of inoculation, we may mention that “ Tin odore ” a magnificent beeve which carried off many prizes in New South Wales, an animal valued at 4000 guineas, was exhibited recently denuded of a large portion of the tail, a circumstance which did not prevent it from : carrying off the first prize.— N.Z. Times. ■ i v i Native Department.— lnferring to the Native Department the L.yttelton Times saj’s :—“The history of the department need be unknown to none, for it is written ; in the Colonial annals wherever there is a . record of incompctency, of blundering, or I of uuworthines. ” : |