FATAL ACCIDENTS IN Til 2 SOUTH. DEATH OF MR. PATERSON AND MR, BALFOUR.

The Wellington Independent of the ISth instaut contains the following account of a most lamentable accident in Otago :—: — "We greatly regret to learn ny telegram from Dunedin that a fatal coach accident occurred the other day in that province, resulting in the death of two persons. It aeems that Cobbs coach upset while crossing the Kakanui river, a small stream between Oamarit and Otepopo, and that two passengers were drowned. One of them was a young lady, supposed to be Miss liosd ; the other was My. Thomas Paterson, C.E., the most eminent member of his piofe&sion in this colony. Mr. Paterson, Mr. B.ilfoui, and Dr. Hector were three gentlemen each eminent in their own departments of science, who came out some yeara ago under engagement to the Otago Provincial Government, having been specially selected at home by the agents of the province. Dr. Hector came as Geologist, Mr. Balfour as Marine Engineer, and Mr. Patterson as Railway Engineer. On the expiration of the engagement with the Provincial Government, the colony was fortunate enough to secure the services of the two first-named gentlemen, but Mr. Paterson commenced the practice of his profession, and has been largely consulted in railway and other engineering works in various parts of the colony. We bclievu that he retained the appointment of Consulting Railway Engineer to the Otago Government, and when he met his untimely death he was on his way to Timara t? meet the Board of Works respecting the erection of the Rangitata Bridge, for which work ha recently drew the plans. Mr. Pa.tei non leaves a large circle of private friends, who will deeply mourn his death, while the colony may well regret the loss of a man ot eminent professional and scientific attainments." A Whanganui paper publishes a telegram from Wellington, of the 20th instant, which sa y a . "The death of Mr. Balfour, marine engineer, has caused great gloom here, and his loss is deeply regretted." A correspondent in Auckland has furnished us with the following particulars as to Mr. Balfour's death: — "Mr. Balfour, tlte Marine Surveyor for the colony, was drowned at Timaru on Saturday last. He and other passengers were going out to the steamer in a boat ; and Mr. Balfour aud a teller oE tho

XTnion Bank were drowned. Mr. Balfmir'a I loss is deeply regretted by the Government, j a 9 he was * most energetic and efficient officer." Mr. Ealfour bad been settled in Wellington ivota. the time of his entering the j colonial service, which he did more than two I ypvra ago. Mr. Patersoii and Mr. Bali'oxir, whose deaths we have thus to record on the same day, came out to Otago together, arriving there, we think, about the end of 1863. Each came under a tlueeyeara engagement with the Otago Government. Mr. Patersons first work was to travel through Otago, aiid to make a general survey, with a view to recommending modifications of existing main lines of road, and also to report upon the then proposed ' ' central" line from Divnedm to the Dunstan goldfield (Clyde). Aftorw ards, he commenced the siuvey for the Otago Southern Tiunk .Railway, which he cairied out most satisfactoiily. We announced not ten days ago that tcudeis for the constiuetion of this lino had boon called for. When "Mr. Patersons engagement -with the Provincial (-io\ eminent expired, he commenced the practice of his profession in Dunedm. The muddle which was made in connection a\ ith the Southland iail\\ays, led to Mr. Paterson being called in to settle disputes ; and, later, he wo a consulted as to the resumption of work on the Oreti line. When there was an ahum laised that t]ie Lyttelton tunnel on the Canterbury iail\\ay'was in danger of collapsing, Mr. Patei son's achico was sought ; and it Avas on a Canterbuiy work he was travelling vhen he met his untimely death. Mr. Balfour's first A\oik in Otago was, if we recollect rightly, a survey of tho bar at the mouth of the Molyneux. or Clutlia— the noble livev which, chams so ltu^e an extent of the piovince. Tie al&o suyei intended the blasting of a rock v hich as a^ aA\ ash in the iianow fairway at the enhance to the nver. He made a £>vi vey of Waikawa haibour. The lighthouses on Dog Island, Foveaux .Strait; on Taiaio.a Head, and the Nuggets, m Otago ; on the Faiewcll Spit, Nelson; and on two 01 tluee cither iioints of the coast, "•yore designed by Mi. Balfour. Tie also designed the gracing docl\ at PoiL C'halmeis, Avliich is now tar ad\anced, and for vhioli he remained the engineer, jilthougli he had passed nito the Colonial seivico, and lebidcd at Wellington. Taifnaki has several times been a lsited by Mr. Baltour, and he had designed (a\c believe) piotcetiA-e Avoiks for that roadstead. In -\aiioiv* other paits of the colony, ilr. Balfoui's soieii'ulic abilities. haA T e been of avail. The deceased gentlemen were, cornparatwely speaking, joung men; and it can tinty bo &ud that the death of each Avill be deeply lamented by Lugo numbers of piofessional and pin ate fnends.