A COUNTY FAMILY.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1012, 24 May 1878, Page 3

A COUNTY FAMILY.

(By the author of "Lost Sir Massihgberd.") CHAPTER I ':.: ! SLOGAN. Our the northern coast of^North Wales stands Slogan, with its. foot in the sea. It is a great mountain; great in size, though that is its least remarkable attribute; great in wealth, for it is a treasure house of useful stone ; and great in dim historic memories. On its summit was once the camp of a British host, year after year ; bat the Ebman eagles never flew so high. Around it still survive, like Mwlets about a? m6napeh r g crown, three mighty rings of debris that were, a thousand years ago, three ramparts of. stone. Within them are still visible the casemates •^n which the defeDderß lived; and watched, as from an eyry,, land and sea. Many a vale, now fertile, can be seen from: if, stretched out like an open map, ■ and the ragged outlines of a hundred hills. On the calmest day in June there is wind enough on Slogan's top to {belly i out the; folds of a royal standard, i which mayhap (in some shape or other in dayer of old it did. -'-■ s ..- . . But few folks care to climb to the isummit now, or to concern themselves therewith. As within the maiden in the ballad, it is the face of Slogan which ia his fortune. Not, however, is it her case, by reason of its beauty. It is scarred and seamed, &s surely no other mountain ever was, by the hand of man. NotXerxep, with all his power, could, in bis insolent dbmi nation over nature, have so transformed a bill as the patient hewers of stone have altered Slogan. ' ■ , Naturally grim and stern enough, he Las now, ikanks to pifik arid gunpowder, become one scar. Like an ancien t ; warrior, whose ferocity has been enhanced b^y the smali-pbx, he scowls upon the smiling summer Sea. Fifty times a day be emits, volcanowiee, a little puff of smoke, and the stones come rattling down, and there is yet another blemish in his., majestic features. Some of him, vi: point of fact is gone. A day will come' (forty generations hence, however) when Slogan will be literally, as well as metaphorically, a thing of the past. The last waggon-load of him will then have fone to nave the streets of what may be ave'rpool arid Manchester in one. But at present he is high: an,d huge enough, and though girdled about by tramways, and divided into stages by inclines (whick should be rather called " perpendiculars ").; these are scarcely to be seen from the foot of him at all. You must toil up some winding path, worn in t the slag and refuse, to discover them. ' Then^you will also find that Slogan is a rery arit:hill of human beings. About his forehead, men are clustering like ants indeed ; appearing arid disappearing, some with and some without, but all in motion. r The mountain resounds with the strokes pf their picks; with! the echoes of the bugles which give warning that iU a /blast is about to take place.; and with the ; roar of the blasts themselves. " From terrace to terrace libs $toW is carried In huge, trucks, that descend with immense velocity, and are connected by an endless chain, which by their weight at the same time hauls up "the empties." ° by the side of these inclines are ladders of stone, by which the quarrymen go up and down- These workers, whose calling, lies in so weird a spot," two thousand feet and more above the fields in which their forefatherslaboured (for this trade is compartively new), are in appearance, different from other men. They are giants — often in height, but always in thews and sinews. The breeze of the mountain or of the sea blows perpetually upon them, and they thrive in it "amazingly. The hammers which they use with ease, a field labourer could scarcely lift. They are as good natured as -were the Goths, but, like 'them^ are subject to fits_of passion, and then— Theyaie affable, but it is no use addressing them in the English tongue, because they do not speak it. They understand, however, the one word " beer," especially when accompanied by the exhibition of a silver coin. For the rest the magistrates assure you that they are an extremely well-conducted race of people, j and the established clergy have nothing to say against them, or to do with them at all. Upon this August morning there are six hundred of theae Titans upon Slogan, armed with spade and pick ; but it is now noon — the truce' time between them and nature, when they lay aside their weapons, to dine. Upon the most elevated terrace, and approached from the rest only by these steep inclines, there are a hundred men or so, consuming their midday meal — generally -a hunch of bread and meat that would " last you and me for a week. 'Some of them sitting in the open under the shadow of the cliff;, some in the little bombproof huts, which are built veiy literally as •' shelters from the blast;" and a few even swinging against the face of the rock from the ropes that support there during their labours. Dangling between sea and sky, in a manner that makes one dizzy to behold, they lazily cut and munch, and watch the white-sailed ships come out and in, that carry away the result of them labours from the little jetty ; but otherwise they are not greatly interested in jihe spectale that nature spreads 'before them, ami wKict causes ' su<sb exhibitions of enthusiasm in those summer visitors from the neighbouring village who have the hardihood to reach the spot. There is one such visitor even now ; a tall young fellow of what is called " distinguished " appearance, and certainly of an appearance /very distinguished from the. rest of the oocuparite of the plateau. His face is pale,

and rendered still mpre^so by the black moustache he wears, curved like a bow, and twisted at the ends ; his small hands are as white as a woman's and though Jiis limbs are well and strongly shaped enough, he seems by comparison with those sons of Anak about him? almost like a woman in man's clothes j he appears effeminate even by contrast with the young overlooker by whose side he stands, and who is'explaining to him the details of the .scene before him. And yet John Denton is no Hercules. He is only a fine strong-built young fellow, with an eye like a hawk, and a broad brow, over which the short brown curls cluster so thickly that it seems low : his fingers, it is true, are' long enough to have pertained to one of much greater Mgutj and are exiraoraiparj L supple y his speech is precise and distinct, whether lie gives directions to th* qiiarrymen in their own tongue, or addresses his companion in English It was in this, rather than m. build, ' that the mostmarked difference between himself and Herbert Stanhope lay. The latter spoke with effort-T-usedithat languid mode affected more or less by all young men of his class^ and which, to some ears (notwithstanding that the speaker may mean to be civil arid well-behaved enough) sounds always galling and contemptuous. And thus it was in the present case, where certainly no assumption of superiority was intended. Herbert Stanhope was no drawling swell from the Row or St James's Street, but he had passed much of his life among those silly fops, and had contracted their manner. If he had been bouaa poor man and Denton a 'rich"" one, their present positions might quite possibly have been reversed ; as it was the former was running through his fortune as quickly as, race- \ horses (and other luxuries pertaining to "fast" life) could help him to <lo ifc; while John Denton was inakinghisrway up the social ladder with; as sure a fobt£as he scaled the inclines of Slogan. A parish j orphan, he had risen at the National j School tobe a teacher -, then exhibiting considerable talent for figures, he had been . employed by the agent . for; the quarries, first at his office, and subsequently on the mountain, and was now biding his time— --preparing himself by incessant study in leisure hours— for quite another line in life, that of civil engineer; an appointment connected with which profession had been promised to him by his present employer. It was the old story of. a self-made i and self-making man, but with a difference. John Deri--ton's nature we 8 not of /that grasping abet which uses all things only to one end. He was ambitious, but not so greedy of buccess as;to deny himself all refreshments upon the road to it, so that when it is reached at last, the appetite for them, so unnaturally thwarted, ;has fled , } for ever. One may wait for the enjoyments of life as one may wait _ for one's dinner — too long ;' arid perhaps Johnv Denton might have done so, his mind being deeply set upon getting on in the world, havi it not been for . one circumstarice-rr-he.-; was not working for himself alone.r His ; eyes' were so bright and his face: so 'smiling^-; although, as we have; hinted, it w_ojald now and again flush angrily at his companions tOuO— -DecaUße there was a certain modest damsel, on the other side -6f Slogan, ;who had promised to be hia. in good time ; by which, we , mean -early ; for* ;he: was still in that station of \life in which ifc is found, possible to marry ion even less than three hundred pounds a year. " "Who is yonder old man with the big white head, TVtr Overlooker ? He seems too ancient for this sort of hammer- work, although I noticed that you (very, properly) were not disposed to be hard upon him " " I do not understand you,. Sir," interrupted Denton, with irritation. "Mr j Blackburn is no idler, I can tell you, although his arms may not move so fast ' as a younger man's." "Mr Blackburn, eh ? "What ! have we; gentlemen quarrymen here, then ? "Well, upon .my life, now you mention it, there, is an air' of past grandeur about that, old fellow, as though he had seen better days." These remarks referred to one who, while by far the senior of those present, wore also a look of superiority almost as great as that of Mr Stanhope himself, although dt owed nothing (as in his case) to attire, which was that of a common labourer. This personage was sitting with his back to the rock, his arms folded, his lips compressed, and his eyes darting from underneath their shaggy brows no very agreeable glances upon Stanhope himself. " Hush Sir !" muttered the overlooker, sternly. '*' Do you not see that he observes you are speaking of him with pity ; and that he does not wish to be pitied ?" "I 17111 give. Mm half-a-crown, and a better cigar than he ever smoked in dreams, to make my peace with him," returned the young gentleman, with a sort of good-natured scorn, as he . drew from his pocket a sealskin case. ' "If you offer him money," interposed Denton, hastily, " he will break your head in with his pick, x Sir Anthony Blackburn is as much a gentleman as you are, every whit, although he is a poorer man than even I." ""What!" ejaculated the other, in a voice that, in his great surprise, had lost . every trace of languor^ "dp you mean to i tell me that that is Anthony Blackburn of Derbyshire — the man who was disinherited fifty years ago for marrying his mother's waiting maid ? Why, I've heard my~grandiattier tffll that story again ana again. My own house is within half-a--dozen miles of Redcombe Manor; I know the place as wellas you know this quarry." "If 'you know anything about such matters, Sir, for. Heaven's, sake, do not speak of them so loud., The remembrance of all that has past and gone is bitter to him as gall, and seeds no vernal. He was

shamefully used by his own flesh and blood, as I have heard— parents, and brothers, and all." "Yes, it was hard lines. . His father, Russell Blackburn (who was as proud as Lucifer, and as cr tie ), turned him out-*---eldest born though he was —in the cold, Vor marrying the girl for whom they do say the old satyr had a ; penchant himself; then, when he fl'iert, the three brothe-s followed suit. I d<m't suppose anyone of themevergaveour friend therb a farthing." if Ay; but they were punished for, ft," answered Deritou, gravely. "They we«e cuised in root and branch." ; "What ! by the old geatleman yonder? ' returned Stanhope with a cynical , smile. "Well, I dare say they rtere. Rut hard words did not break their bones, my good '*rienJ— 'it wi»s IjAml MdlDg thfttdld thftt J at lease the second brother, PeriJiuan'd, broke hia neck in a steeple chase ; and something of the .same sort .happened to his son; Then hard living killed the third brother, Gharlesrr-he drank like a fish, and. would not permit a woman to come,within the , Manor gates,; but he had hiia '^g^ob'd 'p'oint^, people ■■" cay. - Then Richard was drowncidTiri;"the Dove. In fact, if it was not ifor young Dick, this old gen tleman^stonebreaker might yet enjoy Llis ? own' a^ainV'for; aa i name was put in the entails by his^ father la ft t -p/ all I ;iby G w l ay ;i 9f 1 m9cJkei:y Ra ß\n^e^it survive three younger brothers a,ud their children; However!"" a'ganis^ "tfinetelef?. (for Dick is scarcely of agej, svZtj-itigfii (and old Anthpny must be that at least) has not' mu^^chkneej-iarid/ moreover, Dick'svgoing to beimarried." v : > :( , ' "For Heaven's sa^e dbn'jb tell him that, \ Sir !" exclaimed Denton, earnestly. It is a l! il»9P§l e ßß^npy, j; a 8 jmfm^^ nevertheless, he clings .to.,the ldea.jph^he eh all still one 'day l>e masted of Eedcombe MWnori It ie ti« Jrekm \>y iiiyfefc,, his castle in the aiir Dy day, He ie always j saying how. that' young Squire Richard has a short throat, and will die of a fit nptwithstanding Mws . Ellen tells him how wicked' it is thus to- — — " " And who is Miss Ellen ?" As though to recompense himself for the unwanted interest hehad evinced in his recent talk Mr; Stanhope put this question with raised' eyeglaSß and an elaborate indifference- ■ '-;■ 'She is Anthony Blackburn's orphan grandchild," said " John Denton, quietly after a T little ibause. > ' : jfe "And the only one?" enquired the other, lazily. " Gad, I'd take fifty to one, in poniesi" about her comingihto thelproerty^fteran:'; " : "■ ;X \{ : \ "■ :>'':> -,;\ ■* *^EUen^i^ only the: grMd-daughfceri " observed^Denton, coldly. v * Anthony had another Bon besides her father." ". v But bofore this question copld be : an.swißred^a Toung%irl'?came "swiftly around the more distant cornerrof the; crag •with a covered basket in her hand, and on towards the spot where the old man was still sitting, with his eyes moodily fixed upon the gronnd. ' := 3 " What charming little fairy !" ob-' served Mr Stanhope, critically ; with what a grace she carries herself as well as her -baskefcj But it must -be liaid work for her coming up these steep inclines of yours, Mr Overlooker, eh?" "She do 9s not come up that ■ way," answered Denton, curtly ; " there is a path over the mountain down to this top level." . " How queer it seems to' see a petticoat among all these rough fellows," continued the other, musing. "It must be rather a dangerouß experiment for her surely ?" "What! fora modest young girl to bring her grandfather his dinner?' returned JFobn Denton, bitterly. "It may be different-:- 1 have heard ii; is — among gentlemen such as you ; but if any . man here were to offer her an insult, the rest of them would pitch him down the mountain as though he were a, barrow of rubbish; and; serve him. right, too 9" added the speaker with vehemence. '•To be thrown from the Tarpeian Rock, for ; snatching a kiss from yonder pretty damsel ? Well that see na a severe punishment, considering the gre&ttemp- ! tation," answered the other, coolly. " I had no idea the Welsh code of morals was such a strict one. The Registrar General's Report upon the subject Ah ! " cried the speaker, who perceived the young girVhad seated herself by the old man's side, " that ia Anthony Blackburn's granddaughter, is it ? Then, now I see what you mean. There is something in good blood, after all the Radicals have said, which sarries weight with it even here, it seems. You look upon thiß young girl as a sort of lady, eh, although she has been dispossessed of her property ? Well it's very creditable to you, Mr Overlooker, and shows how the feudal spirit still survives in thestvputlandish latitudes." "You mistake, Sir, altogether," an-' swered Denton, in a voice that shook with passion. " All blood is alike in my eyes, and all women have an equal claim 'to my protection ; but Ellen Blackburn- ..ia my. promised wife, and demands a respect from everybody which I shall take care is paid." '• My good Sir," said Stanhope, quietly, as he scanned the young girl with undisguised but not impertineut admiration, " I do assure you I respect Miss Blackburn amazingly, and I congratulate you with all my heart."

The- ' Tuapek* Times ' learns tliat -Meeers Kincaid, M'Queen, and Co., bare commenced to maU a ten-head battery for Messrs Brown and Gamcoigne's claim on the cement. They expect to have it finished and erected, within three, months from the present date. A most excellent' •prospect' was obtained last week from four loads of stuff taken from a drive at the bottom of their ihaft. .

Fatal Coach Accident , • On Tuesday afternoon last/ it became rumoured in Dunedin that a fatal coach accident had occurred between Paltnerston and Moeraki, and presen tly it became tnown that Mr Charles Nichols, of the firm of Dalgety, Nichols, and Co., had been killed,; and that Master Ernest Maitland, third son of Mr J J; P. Maitland, Commissioner of Crown' Lands, had been seriously if not fatally injured. The first telegram received in town was sent: to Mr Chaplin, of Cobb and Co.'s office, but the information' was tnei'ely to the effect: that a fatal accident had taken place/ and* no particuiars were given.' Soon afterwards Mr VSpence received the following .m'ießsage.-f— r- '■ ■'■.......- ' : . : ..". '•''■' '.■■'' '.'■■ ". ' ■ ■■■ :: ' ■ ', ; :H«^^ : M^iM- : . Mr fSpehcej -Dalgefcy, Nichols, and; Co., . : DunedHL C • ; ' :; ;•■&"'■'>%;■ ' ■■:■"■■■ ■: Breafc^tO; Mr» Nichols, gently ; ; Nichols bad)y Jiurfc.^ Coach upset going down Horse Range, Advise Strode,, boys right. 1 fear young Maitland seriously injured. Tell family lam all rightv> M^Nicol, Scotia Hotel, righit; Nichols since dead. Mudie unifaitiredi " -^. ;o\i,.^-:'\ ■•• . . :• ■ .■ v ■■- '- ; (Sd.) \v ■_ Francis Folton ■'■i^hen it^b^am^^known^ai^^is l message bad . T beqn recei y,ed the j excisemen t was incFeasedjianA^everyisicrap of- information was eagerly sought for by et hose who imagined that their -relatives or friends niight havb WeiipS^ingiri^tlte^o&ch. MriijJi.iiß; riMaitland,tacoQmpanied r iby Mrs J^aittand^at .pjicedetermiDejdritofltart for the scene of the acciden t x and, ? at first intended to proceed to^Waikouaiti by special train- but' changed' h'ief mind and left about six o'clock in= a buggy, also taking ?Dr Eerguson. withhim. ; ; s Hejfinst made arrangements .by telegraph /fojr relays, of horses along the road, in or der ; that no time might be lost; but from the 'iritellijgehM welafterwardß| rcceiYeU hr would have ■-- -'-had' to proceed^ right 'through to Oamaru, to which place the sufferers were v taken by special train, which arrived there at about half-past nine at night .At about lCTo'cloc^^^ gram was received by, Inspector Mallard from the police officer in charge of the Oamaru Distridt—" The coach from Palmerston carried 14 passengers. When coming down the Horse Ra^ge a trace broke, and the horses bolted. The driver, Goddard, could not hold them, and the coach upset. Mr Nichols of,l)alge%--Nichols, was killed, and young Mr Maitland was fatally hurt. The driver was badiy hurt, and seven others received injuries. They were all brought into Oamaru by a special train, which arrived at half-past 9 o'clock. Mr'Nichols'sboHy 1 was 'taken to the Northern Hotel, and Master Maitland was r H re^iridved it t6'-'th\e"N/a'tional'Bank' premises by the Manager!" Later on, Mr A '.Grant, . General Manager of Rail^ ways, received the following telegram Mr Back of the Railway Department, Oamaru: — "-Re coach accident; Mr Nichols is dead* and young jMaitland cannot live through the night. Goddard, the driver, is badly hurt, and seven others are more or less injured; Mr Francis Fulton escaped [with very slight injuries. We brought them to Oamaru by special train." The greater number of those who were in the coach at the time of the accident left Dunedin by the half-past 9 train in the morning, add 'left Waikou&iti afc about 12 o'clock in Swanßon and Warburton*a fourhorse coach for Moeraki. Master Maitland, two lads, sons of Mr A. C. Strode, and Master Valpy, were on their way to the Christchurch College, and Mr Nichols was also on his way to Christchurch. Master Maitland was to have gone by steamer today with his brother, but preferred- to travel by rail and coach. He is sixteen years old. Shortly after midnight we received the following telegram from the Press agent at Oamaru :— ~ " A fearful accident occurred to-day to the coach from Dunedin. It left Palmerston for Moeraki at the usual time, having 15 passengers aboard, one of whom was a lady. All went well till descending the Horse Range, when the traces of one pf the horses came loose. Goddard, a careful driver who has been on. the road for nine years, was driving. On the box was a young man named Maitland. He tried to put his*foot on the brake to assist Goddard, but his foot slipped and he fell down among the horses' feet. In falling he knocked Goddard's foot off the brake, and before Goddard could get his foot on 'again the coach got great way on, and one horse fell. The others took fright and bolted, and dragged the coach and its occupants over a steep embankment. In going down the coach rolled over three times. On being picked up Maitland was found to be fearfully injured, and is not expected to live till morning, Mr Nichols, of Dalgety, Nichols, and Co., Was killed outright. Goddard, the drivei^ was very seriously injured, and five of the other passengers were injured, but none of them dangerously. Great exciter ment exists in town, and when the special train arrived with ( the dead and injured the platform was crowded, In connection with this sad affair it may be mentioned that this was the last day on which the coach runs, as the new line will be opened to morrow. The above brief particulars are as coriect as can be obtained, but the excitement is great, and it is difficult to obtain correct information." Later on the special correspjndent of the ' Otago Daily Times ' at Oamaru sent in the following message, which appears to contain all the information obtainable in Oamam last night : — " A frlglitfitl accident occurred to Godj dard's~ coach'when coming down theHampden side of the Horse Range this afternoon. The particulars, as obtained by me from a passenger by the special train which brought in the injured passengers are as follows : As the coach was coming down the Hampden side of the Horse

Range, the driver and owner, Mr WV Goddard, lost all control over the horses; it is thought through the king-bolt coining: out. The horses bolted down with the; fore part of the coach, leaving the body of the vehicle behind, which swayed and tumbled down the precipice, which at this point is, some 2QO fe^ its progress was arrestedv after going some dis-i tance by a ;. wire, fence. The coach turned over several ■ times,' and the passengers ■ were thrown off in "all directions, only a few escaping injury. Mr Nichols, of Dalgety, Nichols^ and 1 Go;, was picked up! insensible, and expired shortly afterwards; from r iSupp^e$ J -mternal injuries; blood : flowing* freely from his mouth. Master! E. Maitland; son .-of, Mr J. P. Mainland, ; Commissioner of Waste Lands, who was proceeding to aohwl at* pbristcbnrcii, -wa^ fMg^fu^:injiu«d, not expected to live. He is suffering from concussioa of the : brain, and the flesh on one of his sides, i from the ribs to' the hip, is torn in a frightful manner-; Amongst the others who were more or less icjured were M'Nichol/ hbtelk^eper, / Duneain ; Mr Ilun tet, of Wellington ; Mr Bishop, of the * Sun V newspaper, Christchurcb ; BJr Cullies ffill, of Melbourne ; Mr J. Cameron of Timaruj; Master yaipy;;of Duuedin ; Mr Francis Ful ton of Dunedin j and Mr William Goddard,; the driver. Several others received alight injuries, only one o^two of the passengers escaped unhurt. Information of the accident was -first received at Falmerston by telegram sent from Hampden by Mr Bell,jun ., who was driving northwards in a buggy. Mr Back on receiving information at once despatched a special train conveying Dr Brown and other assistance. The tram stopped opposite Kartigi, and! f the sufferers were brought up to the hotel j at that place by means of every available! vehicle. Dp Brown at once set to work! ta Aseertflin tho eitent of the injuries received by the unfortunate victims, and to. apply such remedies and temporary means: of relief as were within bis power. This' haying been done they were placed on the; train and brought into Oamaru shortly befora,hdf-pMt:9..Q'el(!^^ThA.grj|itQi;-' : number of them were removed in vehicles, -to the Hospital, where they were attended by a number of medical men."

(' Times ' Correspondent;). ' Oamabv, May 23. . It is difficult to ascertain fully the extent of the injuries received by the passenger's on the coach which, met with the accident yesterday. The medical men have been too much engaged to attend to the numerous enquiries. It is equally difficult to arrive at any definite conclusion as to the real cause of the accident. Several passengers give different versions of the matter. Some say that one* of the traces broke or got loose, and dangling about the horses legs; caused them to bolt ; others that the boy Maitland fell from his seat on, the box and dragged the reins out of the driver^ hands in, his fall. Others' state that a bolt came out, and that the two portions of the coach became severed, and that the horses bolted with the fore part of the, vehicle, leaving the main body to run down hill sas best it might. The latter seems the more probable cause, as all agree in saying tbat tbattbe horses bolted with the fore part of the coach, and that the coach continued to run rapidly down bill; notwithstanding thaVthe brake was applied with all force by the driver and the boy Maitland,- who was sitting on' the box on the near side. It appeaas that there were' about twenty persons in the coach, including the driver. Of these nine were inside, six on the box, and the rest at the back and on top. Those on the box were— Maitland, Hill, and Fulton, the two latter having Mr Strode's two sons on their knees. Mr Nichols and Mr Hunter were on the outside seat at the back, and two others, were on the rack , below them,and one or two on the top. Most of the passengers had walked up the hill to relieve the horses, and had not long resumed their, seats whe the accident occurred. When the horses bolted several of the passengers at the back of the coach jumped off, none of them being severely injured in -doing-sp. The coach appears^ to have run down the hill at a rapid pace. The driver applied the brake on one side, and Maitland did so on the other side, in obedience to the bidding of the driver, but failed to check the speed of tbe coach. After going about a hundred yards it seemed to have swerved, and run off the road, tumbling over and over down the embankment, for a distance of some forty or fifty feet, its furthur progress being stppped by a wire fence. Just' before the coach went over, Mr Bishop, of the ' Sun ' newspaper, who was on the top, jumped off and fell with his head against a rock, inflictiDg a nasty ecalp wound. He also sprained his ankle, rolled over the embankment, and was picked up insensible, remaining in that state two or three hours. He is, however, progressing favourably. Tbe extent of the injuries received by Mr Nichols and young Maitland you will find recorded in the evidence of Dr Hazard. The poor lad Maitland, after lying all night at the National Bank' whither be was taken at the request of the Manager, expired shortly after 10 o'clock this morning. From tbe first it was evident that he was beyond hope of recovery* He never regained consciousness. His body, and that of Mr Nichols, were forwarded to Dunedin this evening by train. Mr Nichols was thrown violently on his head, and expired about a quarter of an hour afterwards. Mr Francis Fulton, in addition to being severly shaken, had one of the small bones of his lame leg broken, and is likely to be laid up for some time. The two sons of Mr A. C. Strode escaped almost miraculously. In addition to bruises and severe shaking, it is said one of them dislocated ' his arm. They did

not come on here, but . returned to JJunedin; :-J"'ijeli^"MfiH^|fl2|ln^~H!mte were both severely shaken aria 1 bruised, the former receiving a cut on the knee, cap which will cause him to be confined to his rooni for some time,' wKile the latter hail one of his arms' badly hurt. " Another passenger named Connor, brother to one of the witnesses ( at the inquest, also received severe injuries, but me extent of them I cannot find put. He is in the hospital and doing very well.- Mr Goddard[ ! the driver, fe^ivejlroyeral severe x wounds on on tne' head; 'one t-6f which is very deep. In addition to other injuries, he has at times during 'the" day tieen oui-of his^ mind, -but is much .ijetter^thja^venu^. When some, of the uninjured passengers or those only slightly wounded |ift»d the iup«TMlir JMLfNieol *«wi«l were found underneath it. :;^?^^higy ««e»p«i being killed or severely injured is a mystery. According to the statement of one i of the pasaengerß, the coaqh seems to,have bounded over several persons in tumbling down the hill. Of all the passengers those inside seem to have fared best. JVbrie of them appear to have: receifed any injuries worthy ;of mention^ v The spectacle presented after, the accident is described as appalling. - Jhe sufferers | were siiewri^ in: all Jdi^itwns^ and7lyidg in every conceivably, poii|ion, some insensible and some conscioui,^but unable to mova Blood wat^fieely" flbwing^ \ ? from most of them. The feelings of those who were injured, but cbtißciouß, must have been terrible, J seemg -that they #ere far away from any source of help or means of sending for assistance, and dependent entirely upon, any chance passer-by. It was' fbrtunafe ttiaV Mr ' Bell happened to pass by that lonely spot, and for his prompt action in driving to Hampden and telegraphing for assistance he is deserving of praise, as is also. Mr Back for Bpeedily. responding to the^call by sending a special train. Lopg before tbe special train arrived in Oamara, ftrrftngements of a ; perfect nature had been": made at the Hospital for the reception of the sufferers, while abundance I _' oV cabs and expresßes, with mattresse^ aiid blt&kets were o waiting at the railway station. Goddard haß been driving on the same road for seven or eight years, oand has alwaysbeen looked upon as aicareful driver It isremarkable that the- only accident of any kind he ever met with was reserved for his last trip, and that too. when^his final journey to Moerati had nearly been completed. . „