ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9650, 16 February 1892, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

[Special to Press Association.] [Received Feb. 16, at 1.10 a.m.] THE BRIG PARNELL. SYDNEY, Feb. 15. The inquiry into the loss of the brig Parnell at Frederickhaven, in New Guinea, while on a voyage to Kaipara, entirely exonerated Captain Dakin from any blame.

[Per Press Association.] BLENHEIM, Feb. 15. A child named Massey has died from the effects of burning. It was lighting a fire ■ when clothed only in its nightdress, and the flames caught the garment. TIMARU, Feb. 15. An old settler named John Higgs, aged seventy, dropped dead in his paddock to-night while engaged in driving the cows home. He bad been suffering for some time from heart disease. DUNEDIN, Feb. 15. John Dickinson, an employee of the Eoslyn Woollen Mills, left Kaikorai Valley on Saturday with a fellowemployee for a ride to Outram. On the return journey they began to race their horses, and Dickinson was subsequently found lying unconscious on the road a mile from Eoslyn. He died early yesterday. He had been drinking. He leaves a grownup family. At the inquest touching the death of John Dickinson, who died from injuries received by a fall from a horse, a verdict of accidental death was returned. The jury exonerated Russell from blame, being of opinion that Russell's horse had bolted and could not be pulled up. The body of Mr Halroid was found in three feet of water at East Taieri yesterday. THE STAR OF ERIN. INVERCARGILL, Feb. 15. An enquiry respecting the wreck of the Star of Erin was opened this morning before Mr Eawaon, E.M., and Captain Parsons. The evidence of Captain Hopkins was taken. He attributed the disaster to a sudden change of wind and to thick rain, making the Waipapa light appear much further off than it actually was. He judged it to be at least six miles off when she struck, whereas it was only two. He was putting the vessel about, to run hack, when she bumped. The decision of the Court was reserved till to-morrow. The witnesses were unanimous in asserting that the weather on the night of the wreck was perplexing, the wind chopping about, and the rain being so thick that they could not see many yards away. All said that they were under the impression that they were eight to ten miles from the Waipapa light, which was in sight all the evening, and were in that belief till day broke and they saw the lighthouse about two miles from the wreck. They did not see the Dog Island light at any time.

The Taieri Advocate states that Mr S. E. Sted nan is rapidly recovering from the accident which befell him.