A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5, 7 January 1902, Page 5

A PAINFUL EXPERIENCE.

TRYING ORDEAL FOB A BEREAVED FATHER.

Mr John Sterling, who keeps a store and accommodation house ou the route of the North Island trunk railway, about eight miles beyond Taumaranui, called at the "Star" Office to-day and narrated a case of great hardship. He states that on Sunday week a child of his, aged 18 months, died suddenly, lie at once sent word to the nearest constable, twenty-four.miles away, but the constable did not come, and Mr Sterling received word that he must take the body of his child into Te Awamutu the fbest way he could. He accordingly set out with the coffin at three o'clock on Monday afternoon, in order to catch the train on the following morning. He had to drive across the Wanganui and other unbridged rivers and creeics; in one of these, at eleven o'clock at- night, the horses and buggy were stuck up, the coffin floated, about in the buggy and Mr Sterling aud the driver were placed in considerable peril. They had no light, as their lamp, wouldn't burn, and they had to get out in the middle of the stream, unfasten the horses and hook the chain to the back of the buggy. By this means they managed to haul the vehicle to the bank. When Mr Sterling at last reached Poro-o-tarao he was wet through, but had to continue his sad journey by train without any change. On arrival at Te Awamutu he saw the coroner, who at once gave him an order for burial. Then he' had to convey the body three miles to the Roman Catholic cemetery, where the interment finally took place. This, one w Tould have thought, was the end of his troubles, but. events proved .otherwise. Soon after the burial he was presented with a summons, at the suit of the local registrar, charged with not registering the birtih of the child. Brought before two Justices of the Peace, Mr Sterling declared that the child was registered at Coromandel, and he assures us that this is the case. Despite his statement, however, he was fined 1/ and mulcted in 12/ Court costs. Mr Sterling has submitted the matter to Mr Martin, solicitor, on whose advice he intends to laj' the facts before the Minister of Justice." The case certainly is one callins* for investigation. The lot of settlers in outlying districts is one beset by many disadvantages, and these should not be . aggravated by needless hardships. In the interests of settlers situated as ■Mr Sterling is,, we trust the Minister ; will, inquire into the matter, and frame, regulations to meet cases of this kind.