A PAINFUL CASE. (From the " Auckland Star.")

Te Aroha News, Volume I, Issue 44, 5 April 1884, Page 3

A PAINFUL CASE. (From the " Auckland Star.")

March 31. Durino the past few days rumours of a "sticking up" case have been cm rent in one of the suburbs, but the facts do not sustain the reports. However, it appears that a most cowardly assault had been committed. On Wednesday last, a man, whose wife had left her home under the influence of drink, appealed to a neighbour I to assist him in his search for the poor woman. Between 9 and 10 p.m. they found her in Queen-street, at tho corner of Wyndham-strect, talking with a young man. She was in a half -drunken state, and certainly did not present a very respectable appeal ance. As the husband knew he had very little influence over her when in that state, the friend stepped forward, and eventually managed to persuade the woman to accompany them, apparently against the wishes of the young man. As the husband, wife, and friend were proceeding along Chapel-street, between Wellesley and Cook-streets, a man passed thorn, and without saying a word struck the friend a severe blow in the face, completely stunning him, then made ofF, leaving no clue to his identity, savo the supposition that he was the same party who Avas conversing with the woman in Queenstreet. This was bad enough, but as the party reached the Newton West School, on the Great North Road, four fellows assailed them, and challenged to fight. From their conversation it appeared they did not understand the distressing circumstances of tho case, and it was very evident that they were connected with the man who had been deprived of the company of a poor half-drunken woman. With some difficulty they got the woman to her home, and then went in search of the four men and the Newton constable. As neither could be found, they returned home, only to find the woman had again gone, and after another long search they found her in Newton. She states that the men went to the house and fetched her out. The special object of making this public is that those men may know that the woman is a respectable working man's wife, who, when sober, is a most industrious and affectionate mother, but when under the influence of drink neglects her home and acts in a very remarkable manner. The person who received the blow is a truo friend to the family, and has done his best to remove the temptations surrounding the woman, and it is only for the sake of the family that he does not proceed against the four men who assailed him on the Great North Road.

Friday morning's " Thames Advertiser " says :— A child about four years of age, son of Mr W. Robinson, of Upper Albert-street, narrowly escaped a frightful death on Wednesday evening. He was playing with several other children on the height overlooking Grahamstown, and losing his balance, rolled down the precipitous hillside. The spectators held their breath in suspense, not expecting to see him taken up alive. . After rolling a distance of 120 feet, he landed by the roadside, and when picked up blood was issuing from his mouth, and fatal consequences appeared probable. Dr Callan, however, examined the boy, and found that no bones had been broken, though the little patient will not easily recover the effects of his fall. A large gash was inflicted on his temple, and another on tho crown of the head. The escape from instant death was little less than miraculous,