DROUGHT IN INDIA.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCVI, Issue 11152, 29 December 1896, Page 5

DROUGHT IN INDIA.

ACUTE DISTRESS REARED. [Per Press Association.] CALCUTTA, Dec. 27. Much needed heavy rain has fallen at Oude.

BOMBAY, Dec. 28

Rain is urgently needed to save recent sowings. Acute distress is feared in four of the central districts.

ACCIDENTS, AND FATALITIES.

A RAILWAY DISASTER. [Per Press Association.] NEW YORK, Dec. 28. A train was derailed at Birmingham, Alabama, on a trestle bridge. One hundred and seventeen persons were killed.

AUCKLAND, Dec. 28.

Frederick St John, thirty-two, employed by Porter and Co., was drowned while with a picnic at Tamaki River. He went down to the river alone to bathe, and got into a sort of whirlpool. Deceased’s wife and children were at the picnic. He was Secretary of tho Mount Eden Baptist Sunday School.

MASTERTON, Dec. 28.

An infant twelve days old, the daughter of a man named Bookman, was scalded to death by its mother accidentally dropping a teapot on its head yesterday.

WELLINGTON, Dec. 28.

A fatal accident occurred in the main street to-day, the victim being a single man named Albert Stoll, forty years, who was engaged in excavating work when a fall of earth occurred, and when he was extricated life was extinct.

DUNEDIN, Dec. 28.

Thomas Bruce, a wharf labourer, residing in South Dunedin, dropped down dead last night. He leaves a wife and family of ten.

Andrew Tunn, aged seventy-nine, fell down dead on Saturday night when about to take a cup of tea. A shearer named Maskall, working at Morven Hills Station, met his death by accident on Christmas Day. He was sitting down, after bathing, sharpening his shears, when one of his mates challenged him to race. He started running, but tripped and fell. The shears he had in his hand pierced him and he bled to death. Deceased, who was a favourite with those in the shed, has a sister in Wellington. As the body was being taken to Cromwell the horses bolted, the wheel came off the buggy and Constable Mulholland was thrown out, receiving a severe shaking. A groom was also badly shaken.