Tke residents of the North-East Valley were thrown into a state of excitement on Saturday morning, when the fact of a man having been stabbed in the neighbourhood gained currency. Shortly before ten o'clock a messenger called at the King street Police Station and stated to Sergeant Dean, who was in charge, that a pig-breeder named Holmes had been murderously assaulted by a man with whom he was working, and ac cordingly Constable Gilbert was at once de spatched to the scene of the occurrence, whilst information was also immediately sent to Sub-Inspector Mallard at the Maclaggan street office, and on its receipt the Inspector proceeded to the place described, which is on the left hand side of the Valley road, and about 450 yards from its junction with that of Port Chalmers. On arriving there, Drs Garland and Cole were found in attendance, and having, on enquiry, informed the In spector that the wound was highly danger ous and likely to prove fatal, Holmes's evi dence was taken, no Justice of the Peace being present at this time. He deposed as follows : — This morning at eight o'clock, I, Amos James Holmes, was working at the hut with a man I know as Jack. He was swearing in conse quence of some words he had with Mr Curran last night. I knocked his hat off. He at once took up a knife—a pig-killing knife—and stabbed me in the left side. I would know him again. There was no one else present at the time. I believe lam dy ing, aud make this declaration. Ifc 13 the truth, and nothing but the truth. I know I shall never recover. The same man who was taken away by the Constable is the man who stabbed me." The Police soon ascertained by their enquiries the circumstances which led to the dastardly act. It appears that Holmes has been occupied of late breeding and killing pigs, and employed a man nam< d John Walter to assist him, the two of them having been working together for 12 months. On Saturday morning they both commenced to kill TjijJß about S o'clock ; and after killing the first animal Holmes, who was apparently in an ill-humour, complamed to Walter about the pigs having been allowtd to tres pass in an adjoining paddock (that of Mr Curran's) on the previous night. 