THE LATE MR.E. JACKSON, OF PETONE.

Evening Post, Volume LI, Issue 105, 4 May 1896, Page 2

THE LATE MR.E. JACKSON, OF PETONE.

Mr. Edwin Jaokson, whose death was recorded last week, was a very old resident of Potone, and did much to advanoe tho interests of the distriot. He waa born in England, and was brought up to the trado of a brioklayer. Hearing exoellent reports of New Zealand, he came out to Wellington by the ship Indian Queen, about 40 years ago. After a short residence in Wellington he went to tho Lower Hntt, where he worked at his trade. About 29 years ago ho purohased 100 aores of land forming a portion of the site of the present township of Petone, and on a part of it he had a yard for the purposes of his own business. Subsequently he out np the land into- allotments, and sold it. He took a great interest in movements whioh had for their objeot the advancement of Petone, and he was associated with others iv induoing the Government to oreate a Town Distriot. For many years he was one of tho Commissioners, retaining offioo until the Town Board gave way to the Borough Connoil, _ of whioh body ho waH also a member until abont a year before his death, when be was compelled tp give np the offioe owing to failing health. 'On various oooasions he was asked to Btand for the Mayoralty, but he always doolined to allow himself to be nominated. About 10 yoarsago he was appointed to the Commission of the Paaoo, and oontinuod to be an honorary magistrate up to tho time of his death. Mr. Jaokson did much to entitle him to tho thanks of the people of Petone. Amongst other things bo built the Bwimming baths, wbioh have provod such a boon to tho residents, and he also presented tho sections on whioh the Wesley an Churohand tho Petono Naval drill and boat sheds are ereoted. He also made a gift of a pieoe of land in Nelson-street to tho Loyal Petono Lodge of Oddfellows. Mr. Jaokson was of a oharitable disposition, and delighted to do good. The funeral took plaoo on Friday, and amongst those who attended it were tho teachers and ohildren of the Petone Sohool, with whom ho was very popular. After a short servioe had been conducted in the Wesleyan Church by the Rev. Messrs. Kirk and Gray, the body was bronght into Wellington and interred in the Sydney-street Cemetery. Mr. Jaokson leaves a widow, a son, a daughter, and soveral grandohildren.

The Barque Coromandel. ♦ SHE 'IOPPLES OVER ALONGSIDE THE RAILWAY WHARF. The barque Coromandel escaped the dangor of leaving her ramains at the entrance to the Westport Harbour only to come to grief in another and singular way alongside the wharf in Wellington. Soon after the stranding at Westport, Captain Bendall, with a number of men, weut down to the wreok, and, after discharging some 150 tons of coal, succeeded in refloating the vessel. A hole which had been made by Jibe fluke of the anchor was temporarily patohed np with an iron plate by Mr. J, Stitt, diver to the Wellington Harbour Board, and on Thursday a start was made for Wellington. Captain Bendall was in command, Captain Williamß remaining behind in Westport to atterd the Magig. terial enquiry. Those on board expeoted that the Coromandel would be towed as far as Farewell Spit by tho Westport Harbour Board's tug Mana, and wonld then be met by the Weilingtou tng Dncoj but after being taken safely over the bar, and given an offing of about ten miles, they were surprised to see the tng oast off and return to Westport. The breeze, which was from the W.N.W., increased in force, and at 7 p.m. the ye Bel was labouring heavily in the heavy seas aud making a considerable amount of water, whioh, however, the big centrifugal pump proved able to keep down. An hour later the spanker boom carried away, taking with it the binnaole, and smashing the pipes of the after pump. The wind suddenly chopped round to the south-west, whioh caused a nasty cross sea to come up. The after pump was partially repaired, but after working for a few hourß it broke down again. It was therefore deoided to wait until morning before further proceeding to repair it. At 2 o'olock on Friday morning the forward pump beame choked, and thiß deprived tho orew of their ohief means of keeping down the water, whioh now came in at a startling rate. The situation was most alarming, as there was more than 12ftof water in the hold, and as the vessel began to settle down the boats were got out in readiness for any emergency. Seeing, however, that there was very little chance of the boats living iv suoh a sea as was running, Captain Bendall encouraged the men to work hard in fixing np the pnmpß, and after some two honrs delay the big pump became clear, and all danger was past. The vessel made Wellington Heads at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The local steamer Mana attempted to tow her into port,, but the tow-rope parted, and it was therefore decided to come to an anohorage, the Mana meanwhile standing by in case of accident. The s.b. Wareatea was ooming out of port, bound to Grey mouth, and she was signalled to for aasistanoe As Boon, however, as she took tbe barqne in tow, the wire rope carried away, tearing away all the gear on the fo'ecastle head of the barque, and nearly causing the donkey boiler to go over. By 8 p.m. the two Bteamers had got the barque m tow, and they brought her almost alongside the a.s. Southern Cross at the northern end of tbo Railway Wharf shortly before midnight. It was Captain Bendall's intention to have moored the Coromandel in the berth at the Railway Wharf where the s.b. Southern Cross now lies, as with her draught of water she would have grounded there, but as the steamer blocked the way, it was decided to run the barque alongside her. When this had been .done, the Coromandel waß considered to be in a safe position, but yesterday it was seen that her list to starboard waa inoreaßins? aB the day wore on. At 4 o'olock two lurohes in quick succession were followed by the vessel falling right over on her beam ends. Several of those on board, seeing what was coming, attempted to save their effeots, but with little suooess. One or two holes on the port side of the barque oan now be seen almost underneath the mainmast. The diver waß unable to get at these while. the yesßel waß in Westport. and to theße is attributed tbe great influx of water on the passage up the coast. Captain Bendall and those associated with him were confident when plaoing the vessel in her position on Saturday night that she would remain almost upright, but they were unaware of the existence of a large excavation of the floor of the harbo ir on the starboard side of the berth caused by dredging operations. Had tbe Coromandel fallen over on the port aide, tbe consequences to the steamer Southern Cross and to the wharf would have been serious. Those on. board were almost exhausted on arrival here, having worked without any rest f jr some 60 hours. Hundreds of spectators visited the wht,rf yesterday and to-day. The Coromandel lies almost completely under water, the only visible parts being her port top-sides and the ends of the yards. A start was made to-day to recover the diving and pumping gear and two boilers which are on board the vessel. Captain Williams came up from Westport by the Wainui last night. It transpires that the vessel was badly strainud while aground in tbe Buller river.