BLACKS.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VI, Issue 274, 1 May 1873, Page 6

BLACKS.

(From our own Correspondent.) April 25. The weather appears to have broken up at last. Very light rain has been falling the whole of the day, and I am very glad to say increasing in quantity as the night approaches. There is every prospect of a good fall, and, for the interests of the miners, I hope we shall not be disappointed this time, as the dry weather has lasted so long that nearly oil the creeks that the miners depend upon for their supply are all but dryed up, and unless we receive a good supply now water will be very scarce during the winter. In fact suoh a long drought has never before been l^nown in this district. A matter that claims the most public interest since I last wrote is the most determined suicide of a man named Patrick Leary, r vhich took place on the 13th or morning of the 14th inst. The full particulars, I have no doubt, you have already learnt ; but there are some mysterious rumors going about in connection with this affair which, 1 think, should be made public. It appears that when Leary was first discovered he was suspended to the hind part of a dray with a saddle-strap, and to all appearance dead The police wei-e soon on the spot, and immediately cut down the body and had it removed to the Ophir Hotel. An inquest was held the same evening, at which no medical testimony was produced, A number of witnesses proved to having seen the body hanging to the dray, but did not go near enough -to examine it until the arrival of the police. Constable M'Gann swore that upon measuring the height from the end of the strap to the ground was only 4ft. 4in., and that the deceased's legs were bent at the knees, and his toes touching the groand. Some of the jury expressed a wish that medical evidence should be called. The Coroner directed the foreman to put it to the jury whether thej required medical evidence or not, pointing out that if a majority of them required medical evidence, they would also have to state their reasons for the request before he would feel himself justified in acceding to it. Upon its being put to the vote, ouly one held up his hand for it. The jury afterwards returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death by hanging himself to a dray, while in a state of temporary insanity. On the following day, at the request of one of the deceased's friends, Dr. Niven held a private examination of the body, and gives it as his opinion that the man never hung himself : in fact, to use the Dr.'s own words, he says he "is prepared to take his oath before any coroner or judge, that the strap was never put round his neck in his life time. Now, if the Doctor's statement is true, a most foul aucl deliberate murder has been committed, and should be further inquired into, notWithstanding the verdict of the coroner's jury ; and if false, then the person who made such an assertion should receive the the full amount of public censure that his conduct would merit. I should think it would be a very easy matter for any medical man to say whether a man died by hanging or not. Another suspicious circumstance is that the deceased was always in the habit of carrying a considerable quantity of money upon him, more especially when drinking, as he was for a few days before his death ; but when searched by the police, nothing of any value was found. In mining matters there is nothing of any importance to communicate. **1 wonder what our Progress Committee are about. I have not seen any accounts of their meetings for some time past. As the Provincial Council meets very soon now, it is time they were up and doing. There are many things that require to be attended to, and no time should be lost. I accidentally heard that they are intending to apply to the Council for a sum of money for the continuanoe of the drainage chainel up the flat ; if so. I hope they wiil be successful, as it is wellknown that good gold exists in it, but the labor and expense is too'much for private parties. £500 would take the channel up a long way, and di'ain nearly the whole of the flat ; there would then be room and work for hundreds of miners for years to come.

The wrestling at the Easter Sports held at Napier, is thus described in the "Hawkes Bay Herald's" report : — After a few hard contested struggles between the Cornishmen had been got through, a tall athletic Maori entered the lists. His Christian name was Hori ; with reference to his surname we are in ignorance. He evidently kuev nothing of the science of the game, and apparently did not trouble himself at all about it. Whatever antagonist ventured to encounter him he seized hold of him without the least concern as to where or how his grip was taken, and by sheer strength laid him on his back, in general almost without a struggle. One man he seized hold of by the thigh and was on the point, to all appearance, of throwing him over his shoulder when the stewards interposed to stop him. The crowd cheered Mr. Hori with much enthusiasm, and none joined in the applause more heartily than the men from whom he had won his laurels. They went up to him and shook hands with him, and did all they could to express to him the sincere and fervent esteem which they felt for so distinguished a master of their art. They will be able to write home to their friends in England that there are, after all, wrestlers in the world for whom the Cornishmen are not a match. DR. BLIGHT'S PIfOSPFTODYNE.— Multitudes of people are hopelessly suffering from Debility, Nervous and Liver complaints, Depression cf Spirits, Delusions, Unfitness for Business or Study, Failure of Hearing, Sigh' and Memory, Lassitude, Want of Power, i &c. , whose case admit of a permenant cure !by the new remedy PIIOSPLIODYNE. ; (O/.onic Oxygen), which at once allays all irritation and excitement, imparts new eni ergy and life to the enfeebled constitution, and readily cures every stage of these hitherto incurable arid distressing maladies. Sold by all Chemists and Storekeepers throughout the Colonies, from whom Pamphlets containing testimonials may be obtained. CAUTION. -Be particular to aak for Dr. Bright's PLospkodyne as imitations are ; abroad, an.d avoid purchasing singly bottles^ [the genuine article being &s<\ casgg l«8?yi'l «B?yi' ** ** "