General News.

Western Star, Issue 156, 2 September 1876, Page 3

General News.

A Press Agency telegram informs us that groat excitement lias been caused at Napier on account of a woman named Lougban having died last Tuesday, owing to the brutal treatment of her husband on the previous Friday. He had Inched her in the street on her head, and otherwise shamefully maltreated her. At the inquest a verdict of “ Manslaughter” was recorded. Had it not been for the Inspector of Police demanding an inquiry a certificate would have been granted stating that death was caused by a serious fit of apoplexy. The following day Lougban was charged before the [Resident Magistrate with wilful murder, and committed for trial. The post mortem examination shows that death resulted from congestion of the brain, caused by blows. The slowest rate of railway travelling iu theworld appears to have been attained to at Maaawatu, where the train occasionally takes 3y hours to go from Foxton to Palmerston, a distance of 2d miles. A Northern contemporary announces “there was a clean shirt at the Resident Magistrate’s Court this morning.” The first question that suggested itself to us on reading this unusual announcement was—who is the R.M. of that favoured Court. It almost beats the old story of the “ clean shirt ministry.” A steerage passenger, travelling by the Alhambra from Hokitika to Melbourne, and supposed to be a chemist is (says the Canterbury Press) reported to have lost his life during the passage of that steamer from Wellington to Lyttelton. Gordon turned in at 11 p.m. on Saturday, and at 1.43 on Sunday morning a fellow passenger who slept in the next berth woko up and found he was missing. He reported the matter to the mate, who had the ship thoroughly searched, but no trace of the missing man could be found. In his clothes wore found LI I odd, a silver watch with sleel chain, four pocket-books, and a purse; there was also a lot of luggage belonging to him on board. There is little doubt that the unfortunate man cither fell or jumped overboard during the night or early in the morning. Among the numerous petitions lately sent to the .Native Affairs Committee was that of one Mairi Kawiti, who modestly prays that bis pension of £4O a year may be increased to £250, and be continued to his children after him, en the grounds that be has by,, selling land, building, &c., so benefited the white race as to entitle him to ‘ favourable consideration.” It is sometimes “ lively” on the Te Auto railway up Napier way. A chief named Manaena,. who travels by the line, sometimes gets drunk and fights. Lately he assailed' a-clergyman, whereupon the guard stopped the train, and after a terrible scrimmage, ejected the noble chieftain. Then the chief and a co-patriot showed light, but got terribly pumelled by the guard and engineers. Then the train moved on, and all was peace, the chief and bis benchmau being left prone cn the swamp. A section of land in the heart of Christchurch being required for the contemplated public building there, was purchased a couple ot days ago at the rate of £20,000 an acre. This is a specimen of the sort of * small scandal’ that amuses the Auckland people. The Auckland Star says A lit tic social scandal was introduced in tho Separation debate by Mr Rees, recalling to mind the fatal influence of Cleopatra. He said that (he claims of the senior judge to tho Chief Justicesbip were overrulled through the influence of the wife of a Cabinet Minister. A little explanation of this rather dark reference, which has found its way into the grave deliberations of the legislature, is perhaps necessary. The story alluded to by Mr Rccs, but for the veracity of which we are not in a position to vouch, runs thus : Lady Vogel, then not linked with tho fortunes of of New Zealand’s dictator, was systematically overlooked by the invitations issued by the wife of Mr Justice Johnston, the leader at that time of the lun (on of Wellington society.* In course of time the tables turned, aud Lady Yogel was not slow to reialiateon the dethroned queen of fashion. Mrs Ji.hn.-tou was excluded from the Premier’s assemblages. Wider and wider grew the breach until, so the story rues, the quarrels of the ladies involved tho dignity of their lords, and when the chance presented itself Mr Justice Johnston did not obtain the position which his seniority and acknowledged profound legal knowledge entitled him to. A Wanguni paper states since the late earthquake in ths Cook’s Strait district, a eubteranean commotion takes place every morning between six aud eight o’clock- This is auyliing but comfortable (o those who have the disagreeablrness and consequences of the commotion. A correspondent, writing from Taupo, says:—“ The earth, quake last Wednesday was simply awful. All the chimneys were knocked down, and I was pitched clean out of bed. Tho shock occurred between four aud five o’clock in the morning.” A Napier “special” wires tho following to tho Dunedin Star: —Some little scandal has been aroused here among members of a Protestant Churih. A clergyman named Robinson, who recently arrived trom England, has obtained great popularity through preaching eloquent and able sermons, and always filled the church when it was known that he would preach. Great jealousy arose among the oilier Protestant clergymen, and Mr Robinson was accused of piracy. He denies the accusation, has put his sermons in print, and challenges his opponents to prove. At last he has been so persecuted as to resign his curacy, and Ids resignation was curtly accepted. A meeting of the parishioners of St. John’s Episcopal Church was held on tho 25th hist., when about 330 persona were present. Resolutions were unanimously passed condemnatory of tho conduct of the other clergy in persecuting Mr Robinson so as to goad him to resign bis position as curate, and resolutions were also passed condoling with him. The charges against him are that lie is untruthful, does not visit his parishioners, copied his sermons, and preached heresy. As each charge was read at the meeting scornful laughter greeted it. Mr Robinson desires to leave Napier, but every effort is being made to keep him here.