ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES. {From April 2 to April 10.]

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXIV, Issue 3349, 10 April 1868, Page 4

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES. {From April 2 to April 10.]

THE inquest ,to ascertain the origin of the fire at the Great >South Road Botel, Drury, which was burnt down- on the 28th February last, and which inquest was 'adjourned - from the 19th of last month, for the purpose of procuring further evidence, was held on April 3 at the Farmers' Hotel, Drury; C, Mellsop, .Esq., Coroner. The jury, after a short deliberation, returned the following verdict; — "The jtlr^ ar*e of opinion that the fire was caused by an incendiary, bat by whom there is no evidence to •hOTf-!' Our Thames gold field correspondent writes on April 6/ "Yesterday morning a painful accident happened toa^on of Mr. McCullocigb, of the Poverty Claim. Th» little fellow had • brought a drink of water to one, of, the men, and while waiting to return a quantity, of loose earth fell upon and covered him and several of the men. His left thigh is fractured and he has sustained injuries about the head. The meWescaped with a few bruises." An 'inquest was held on April 6 at the Shortland Hotel, J£ar*ka, before \. Baillie, Esq., coroner, on the body of William Mather, who was the same morning found drowned in an abandoned shaft on the Karaka Flifj'ne&r the creek, within four or five yards of the trfccky.and- about eighteen feet in depth. A verdict of "Fpund drowned" was returned, and the jury added » rider to the effect that, means should be taken to protect the public frdm similar accidents. Mather -was one of the men who recently took possession of the sluicing part of Mclsaac's cUim at T*pu Creek. An inquest was held at Onehunga on April 6, before T. M. Philson, Eiq., M.D., Coroner, on view of l!he body of a child named Margaret McKenzie, -nko expired on the 4th instant from the effects of svq£ lowing some lucif er matches. The jury,j ury, returned the following verdict:— "That the said Margaret McKenzie, being an infant under the years of discretion, on the 4th day of April instant, at Onehung*. did die from the; effects of the poison called phosphorus contained in 'some 'lucifsr matchei, the heads of -which the said infant had sucked and swallowed on the Wednesday preceding. Eider : The jury earnestly Icall 1 call the attention of parents and others to the details ,of tjiu fatal case, and warn the public against the icaraleM use of lucifer matches, which contain a deadly jJoi&on."