A SHOCKING AFFAIR.

Timaru Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 1763, 25 June 1877, Page 6

A SHOCKING AFFAIR.

(Grey River Arjus, June 5.) A scene which the pen of the author of " The Devil's Chain " might well be employed m depicting, occurred during Friday afternoon and evening at a diggers' camp situated at a lonely part of the Seven-Mile Beach (North), the cause being, as it is m ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, over indulgence m intoxicating liquor. The camp, which consisted of two tents covered by one fly and having a fire-place common to both, was occupied by James Watson, George Williams, Peter Laing, and Victor Hugo, who for some time have been engaged m sinking, and within the past week their prospects had improved very considerably. Last I

Friday forenoon, they were all at work as usual when an acquaintance who had been m town came past, and shared with thuiu what grog he carried. They then adjourned to the camp, obtained inure drink, and a regular Saturnalia followed, Hugo being the only man who appears to have kept tolerably sober. The men assembled m the tent usually occupied by Watson and Laing, continued drinking until after dark, when, the grog having become exhausted, they commenced to quarrel, Williams asserting that he was "the boss of the lot." This, of course, was resented by the others, and after a scuffle between Williams and Laing, Watson jumped out of his bunk and knocked Williams down. They were separated by the others, and Williams set upon his feet only to be again knocked down by Watson, who then tore down the fly-pole of the tent and hammered him about the head. The other men succeeded m wrenching the pole from Watson, when he immediately picked up a heavy billet of wood, and swore that he would brain every one of them, at the same time rushing at Laing, with whom he had a severe tussel. While this was proceeding Williams, who appears to have been temporarily stunned, recovered his senses, and. getting upon his feet, made a rush at Watson. A desperate general struggle then ensued, culminating m Watson for a third time getting Williams on the ground; when, horrible to relate, he threw himself upon his almost inanimate victim, and deliberately gnawed the whole of the fleshy part of his nose off. It was at this time almost pitch dark, and it was not until Williams cried out that his nose was bitten off that his mates knew the extent of his injuries. They succeeded m removing him to the adjoining tent ; and had hardly done so when Watson, having armed himself with a knife, and torn down everything m his own tent, rushed m shouting that he would " Show them Te Kooti." Lang and Hugo were now thoroughly alarmed, and ran away, leaving Watson and his victim alone. What followed is not known, as Williams declares he has no recollection of anything that transpired upon the night m question ; but on the following morning the tent and everything it contained was found burned to the ground. On the following day (Saturday) some of the men were m town and the matter having got wind Sergeant Moller rode down to the Seven-Mile, and succeeded without difficulty m arresting Watson, who by this time had become thoroughly sobered, returning to town about 10 p.m. Sergeant Moller describes the scene of the outrage, at the foot of the Nine-Milo Bluff, as most lonely and almost inaccessible ; and great credit is certainly due to him for the promptitude he displayed m the execution of a disagreeable and dangerous task. Watson was brought up before Mr Revell, R.M., yesterday, and fully committed to take his trial at the District Court to be held on Friday next. It is quite possible that he will also be arrested on a charge of arson. The unfortunate man Williams is under the charge of Dr Morice. The man Hugo, who is mixed up m the affair, is spoken of as a sober industrious man, and nothing is known against Laing.