SHOCKING TRAGEDIES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8413, 12 January 1899, Page 2

SHOCKING TRAGEDIES.

Australia lias during the past few weeks been startled and Bhocked. by 'several crimes of a most revolting description, and in each case the police have been battled by the utter absence of clues that would lead to the discovery of the perpetrators of the daring outrages. But murder will out, and the curtain of mystery that has been hanging over these tragedies is beginning to lift. In connection with the Gattouj murder, than which there has been no more dreadful piece of outrage and butchery in the annals of the colonies, not even excepting the Mount Rennie crime, the police are now more hopeful than ever they have been during their investigations of running the criminals to earth ; in another Brisbane tragedy, the murder of a helpless boy, the right man is believed to have been arrested as he was on the point of leaving the culonieb ; and the prickings of conscience have compelled one who was | accessory to the fact of the dreadful Yarra j mystery to make a clean breast of the matter. This latter crime appears to have been the result of oue of those sad I

happenings that arc becoming unfortunately too frequent in our great Australian cities, and which are probably made the more common by the fact that illegal operations are almost openly practised. In London the authorities have recently been carrying on a crusade against people pursuing this nefarious calling, and it must be regarded as a matter of satisfaction that the murderers of the poor girl whoso body was thrown into tho Yarra have been brought to justice, in order that they may offer an example to others of the consequences of thcirsin against humanity. New Zealanders will deeply regret that the fair fame of their colony has been sullied by an outrage of such a brutal nature as that reported from Masterton today. The cutter Coralie left for the scene of tlie wreck of the Tasmania this morning. Hospital contributors meet to-night, at Mr H. McKay's office, to elect a- member of the Hospital Board. The Auckland Racing Club made a profit of over £2000 in connection with their late summer meeting. The Church of England fete is being held this afternoon and evening at the grounds of Mr Humphreys, Waikanae. There is a good attendance, and a large number of people are expected to patronise the proceedings after tea. The weather is most enjoyable for the fete. The Surveyor-General, Mr S. Percy Smith, accompanied by the District Surveyor, Mr E. G. Gold-Smith, and Mr Carroll, M.H.R., leave for the Bay of Plenty to-morrow morning, and will be absent from Gisborne several days. They will bo driven to Tolago Bay by Mr Redstone, and will take horses from that township. ■ •' Loyalty " writes :— " Sir,— l would, with your kind permission, like to express the regret of the citizens of Gisborne if such a thing should happen that the Governor's visit, here should be marred by the absence of Councillor Harding, as it seems probable if some steps are not taken to prevent such a catastrophe taking place. If it were not presumption on my part, I would suggest one of two things. First, let the Governor be approached, and possibly he may see his way to postpone his visit till after the return of Mr Harding. If that could not be done, then approach the Napier people, and if clone in the proper manner I believe they would put their races oft" till after the Ranfurly visit was over. In any case something shonld be done, and that speedily, I beg to apologise for trespassing on your valuable space, but the urgent need of prompt action will be apparent to you."