LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume I, Issue 62, 9 February 1884, Page 2

LAST NIGHT’S WIRES.

[Per United Press Association.] Auckland, Feb. 7. A cablegram was received from London to-day intimating that the English underwriters have definitely refused to pay the risks held on the steamship Triumph. The policies will amount to £40,000, and on home freight (insurance being effected on the round voyage) £lO,OOO, making £50,000. Henry Wood, described as a vagrant, was committed on a charge of setting fire to McDall’s house, Mount Eden Road. As several Pressmen and others had expressed strong doubts concerning the genuineness of Professor Payne’s repeated fancy shots, the manager, Mr. Rawlins, arranged for a private exhibition on the stage of the Opera House at noon to-day. At the time stated several Pressmen, Mr. W. S. Palford (manager of the intercolonial news agency), Mr. H. D. Abbott, Mr. W. W. Robinson, and several other gentlemen met the Professor and his brother upon the stage, and preparations were immediately made for the test. These tests Conclusively proved the genuineness of the shooting. At the close of the experiments a semi-tragic incident occurred. A man named George Haword, who is employed about the Opera House, offered to allow an apple to be shot upon his head, and being taken at his word an apple was placed in position and cleanly hit without injuring a hair of his head. At this juncture Mr. Barry O’Neill, who happened to be present, remarked jocosely to Palford that he was not game enough to undergo the test, and the latter gentleman, remembering that it was not the first time he had been under fire, at once accepted the challenge. The apple was, consequently, placed upon his head, and with the utmost coolness he stood firmly up to await the shot;

but, just as the Professor was taking aim, he involuntarily stiffened his figure n little, the result being that the bullet, which struck the apple, also grazed his scalp. The wound, however, was not serious, and Dr, Tennant at once bound it up. It could not in any way be chargeable to shooting, for it was obvious to all that the bracing of the frame at the critical moment was the sole cause of the accident. There was no wincing, however, fo.-* Mr; Pulford exhibited remarkoble .composure and steadiness throughout a trial which would tend to unsettle the nerves of most men. t / Considerable interest is being taken in the approaching city licensing elections. The Good Templar ticket is that public-houses are to close at 10 o’clock p.m., the abolition of upstairs bars, and the suppression of the barmaid system. Judgment has been delivered by Judge MacDonald, in the Land Court, as to the ownership of the Little Barrier Island. He reverses the decision of the previous Judges, and awards to Te Kawarau, The case has been six times before the Court, and four times decided. The Natives are in treaty to sell tins land to the Government, who wish to possess it, as it may be used at some time or other for defence purposes. Wellington, Feb. 8. The New Zealand Loan and Mwcantile Agency Co. have received the following telegram, dated London, sth inst.“ Frozen meat.—The market for frozen meat is quiet; mutton weighing per carcase 701 b. to 751 b. is worth 64id. per lb.” A little girl named Annie Fitrgerald, aged two years, while playing on the road at Johnsonville, was run over by a coach and killed instantaneously; No blame attaches to the driver. His Excellency the Governor is expected to return here from the West Coast Sounds to-morrow afternoon.

The Hon. Mr. Bryce left here this morning on a visit to the Wairarapa district. The Hon. Mr. Rolleston will, it is understood, leave on a visit North; Brother Walter Bishop, F.D.P,, U.A.0.D,, left en route for Melbourne this afternoon, for the purpose of representing New Zealand Lodges at the approaching meeting of the Grand Lodge of Druids. A cable message has been received that Messrs. Williamson, Garner, and Musgrave, of the Opera Company, including the company people, left Sydney for Auckland by the Ringurooma to-day. Mr. George Musgrave comes with the company. Christchurch, Feb. 8. At Buchanan’s City Foundry this after, noon, John Campbellj a trimmer; was finishing a rough casting by grinding it on an emery-stone, revolving at a high rate of speed, when a loud report was heard, and he was seen to stagger and fall flat on his back. The stone had broken in three or four pieces, two of which struck him, and the others travelled in a line, but in the opposite direction, and cut a large hole in the wall of the shed. The man died instantaneously. Mr. Buchanan had oiled the part of the machine two minutes before, and believed the accident was caused by the casting which was being ground jamming between the wheel and the bar-wheel. The composition is of stone 16in. in diameter, and weighed about 501 b. Deceased leaves a wife and six children.

Simeon Stoddart, licensee of the Temperance Hotel, filed to-day. Charles Parker was committed for bigamy. Evidence for the prosecution was given that accused married Mary Toly in 1875, separated from her in 1876, and married Susan Docherty in 1883. The defence was reserved. Messrs. John McLachlan and Edward Wakefield were nominated at Leeston to represent Selwyn. About 150 persons were present, and the proceedings were rather lively. The show of hands was as follows :-u Wakefield, 65 ; McLachlan, 39. In consequence of practice being almost impossible this season at Dunedin, the annual four-oared contest between the Otago and Canterbury Clubs will not place this year. At the half-yearly meeting of the Southern Cross Petroleum Company last night there was a large attendance. The report and balance-sheet were adopted. Liability of Company., £20,060. including called.un capital, ; assets,' £ll ;069, including £(j,000 consideration to promoters; and for lease expenditure, £9,306 ; cash balance, £3B. Messrs. Spackman, Chisold, Williams, and Rhodes were elected directors. It was resolved, that the transactions of this evening and the balance-sheet showing the expenditure of the last year, separate from the previous expenditure, be printed and sent to each shareholder; At a special meeting; held subsequently, it was resolved to confirm the action of the directors in taking steps to secure the whole block, 5,365 acres, and to bring the Company under the new Act. Timaru, Feb. 8. Mr. W. C. Barley, Rabbit Inspector, residing at Timaru, fell down dead this morning in his own house. Heart disease is the supposed cause;