THE PROVINCES.

Wellington Independent, Volume XX, Issue 2219, 15 June 1865, Page 5

THE PROVINCES.

OTAGO. Our usual files to hand by the s.s. Qneen, are to the 10th inst. They contain no news of general interest. COMMERCIAL. Tho " Daily Times" of tho 10th instant, says that trade is still affected by the very uncertain weather, and that in private tran- . sactions but little has been done. The flour market continues quiet, without alteration in holders prices. THE TOBT OFFICE ROBBEEY. From the same paper we learn that Charles Pearson Fox, the young man who was committed for trial on charges of burglary and robbery at the Post Office, Dunedin, in which he was a clerk, was brought from Gaol and discharged, from custody by Air Justice Hichmond ; the Grand Jury having ignored tho bill against him. THE MURDEH OP THE GERMAN CHAELIE. The same paper says that a true bill was found against William Ford and Ellen Anderson for the murder of " Charlie" the German. THfi JIATAURA MURDKR. The " Daily Times" of the 7th inst, says : Thomas Whitehead, alias Brummy, was yes terday tried in the Supreme Court, for tin wilful murder of David Stewart, at the Ma. taura diggings ; and he was found Guilty

and wag sentenced to death. The evidence showed that the men wore males as sawyers, at the Mataura diggings ; that on the morning of the 3rd March, the prisoner complained of having lost £60, and accused the deceased and a sawyer named Staunlon, who had slept in the tent, of taking; the money; that he searched them both, the deceased resisting ; and that afterwards, when close to their tent, the deceased was struck a most terrible blow on the back of the. head, the weapon used being an American axe. Staunton was present. He explained how the three stood at the time, so tliab lie did not see the blow struck. The deceased died two days afterwards from the effects of the frightful gash made in his skull. Mr W. W. Wil- ' son, who volunteered to conduct the defence, ' consequent upon an appeal by the prisoner to the judge that Counsel might be assigned i to him, did not contest that the murderous blow was struck by the prisoner; btit he ably appealed to the jury in favor of a j reduction of the crime to one of man- ( slaughter. The jury were out of Court fifty-live minutes, and their verdict was "Guilty." The prisoner is a stout man of 1 middle height, with sallow complexion, black I hair and a goatee beard. He showed no in- ' terest during the progress of the trial, never speaking to his Counsel except in reply. He appeared to hear the death- verdict with j stolid indifference ; and when challenged why j sentence of death should not be passed, lie j replied — in tones which, if they betrayed any i feeling, betrayed only that of a wronged man — that it was very hard for him to be l'obbed of money which he had been eighteen months saving, and that Stewart robbed him. Mr Justice Richmond, with much emotion, sentenced the prisoner to death, and, in effect, told him that he must not entertain a thought of being reprieved. THE JARVEY CABE. Information was received at Dunedin by the steamship Gothenburg, on the (ith inst, that Dr Macadam, accompanied by his assistant, intended to leave Melbourne by the Albion, for that port, and that, although the steamer was to " visit the northern ports," it was hoped she would arrive in good time for the presence of the gentleman named at the trial of William Andrew Jarvey. Jarvey's trial commenced lastMonday. THE ClTi* OF DUNEDIN. The "Daily Times" of the 9th instant publishes a telegram to the effect that a report had reached Port Chalmers by road that the missing steamer had arrived at Waikouaiti. Captain Spence, of the Golden Age, volunteered to proceed to Waikouaiti; but a party subscribed to pay the expenses round | of tlie steamer Samson, and she started on her mission at i).'3) p.m. On the following day the " Daily Times" gives full particulars of the Samson's cruise, and contradicts the telegram of the previous day, as follows : — The repjrled safety of the City of Dunedin, and her alleged arrival, in a disabled state, in Waikouaiti Bay, caused general an-.l inteuse excitement in Port Chalmers on Thursday evening. Several of the persons on board that vessel had friends at the Port, and there were, perhaps, no seafaring men better known, or more general favorites in the township than were Captain Boyd and his officers. As soon, therefore, as the report was made, there was a general gathering of people in the streets and at theu3ual mooting plat-os, where the truth of the story was eagerly debated. As received in the port, it was to tli3 eilect that the vessel had got disabled during a gale in the Straits, liad been blown to sea, had for seven days been unable to make headway, and had at last made a landfall at Waikouaiti, crippled, but with all on board safe. Such, in effect, was the story told by Mr Deviue, driver of Cobb's coach, to Messrs Dodson and Brayshaw, of Port Chalmers, as they were driving from Dunedin, and it was repeated, after a caution as to the danger of allowing any false rumor to get abroad. Ou the information being given iu Port Chalmers, it was considered that no man would be 30 regardless of the feelings of friends as to endeavor to perpetrate a hoax, and, as the story was discussed, there seemed to be a possibility, and even a probability, of such baring been the chapter of accidents with which the steamer had met. With this feeling, and with the prevailing sympathy for Captain Boyd and his 6rew, there was a onco a strong desiro to have the matter set at rest. The steamer Win, Miskin was about to start, and it was resolved by her own and Captain Hepburn to run into Waikouaiti Bay, so as to 9astify themselves and those in Northern ports, as to the facts. There being no means of communicating to town, in consequence of the telegraph office there being closed unusually early, it was subsequently resolved, at a meeting of gertlemen in the Provincial Hotel, that whether the report were true or false, it was a simple act of duty to ascertain if the vessel were at Waikouaiti, and if assistance were needed. Captain Spence volunteered to start with the useful, and Mr Smith, as one of the owners steamer Golden Age, butitwas considered that the steamer Samson mightbo more practically of the vessel, was waited upon. He readily agreed to give the use of the vessel, and himself joined the party who agreed to go round, consisting of Captains M'Kinnon, and Lowden, Captain Morris, captain and engineers of the steamor, and a number of other inhabitants. The .state of feeling was otherwise shown by the stoi'ekcepers providing quantities of stores, on the chance that such might be required. Though still dubious as to the report tho party started, and at midnight arrived at Waikouaiti. vis the night was clear, they were not long kept in doubt as to the presence of the City of Dunedin. She was nowhere; visible, but there was still a hope that she might bo in some of the bays to the northward. Determined to be satisfied, the whistle was blown as a signal to the settlement ashore, and the steamer's boat was manned and pulled to the river's mouth, At the same time a whaleboat from the shore cam* off, and the statement of her crew satisfied those on board, that there no grounds for the report which had been made, and unfortunate^ no opportunity for the exercise- of their praiseworthy sympathies. A. collection was made among the party for the boatmen ; the. steamer's head was directed for Port Chalmers, and she returned at an early hour in the morning, all on board being only too sorry that they had not the opportunity of assisting friends whose fato had been and still was, so painfully uncertain. hi regard to our insertion of the rumor in yesterday's issue, wo should say that we received the Telegram at a late hour, and there was nu means of telegraphing back foi further particulars. The fact that the peo pie of Port Chalmers considered the repor sufficiently reliable to induce them to de spatch a steamer to the spot, finally decidec us to give the Telegram insertion.