WAIRAU.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XVI, Issue XVI, 12 December 1857, Page 3

WAIRAU.

Fai-al Accident.-— On Tuesday, the 24th ultimo, two drays belonging to Messrs. Canning and John•on, of Benopi, Wnirau, were returning to the station from the Town of Beaver, laden with timber, in charge of two young men named Henry AUcot (or Allcock) and Robert Buxbush. Both the bullock-drivers had been drinking, and AUcot was much intoxicated. After leaving the W»irau Hotel, where Allcot procured two or three bottles of champagne, both men got upon their respective draya, and proceeded homewards it being then some time after dark. It would seem that both Allcot and Burbush must have very soon fallen asleep after mounting their drays, as the latter, when he •woke »bout six miles up the Omaka Valley, found AUcot's dray overturned down a small bank near the roadside, and the bullocks liberated, and feeding. Burbush called on Allcot, but could get no reply ; and he then returned along the road for some distance, but could neither see nor hear anything of his companion ; and it being then eleven o'clock at night, he proceeded to Mr. J. Frazer's to communicate what had happened, and in expectation that Allcot might have himself proceeded thither to obtain assistance. At daylight, on the following morning, Burbush, accompanied by another man, returned to where tho accident had taken place j and there, a few yards from where the dray was lying, Allcot was found beneath a piomi of timber, qtjite dead. An inquest was held the

following day on the body, and a verdict of " Accidental Death " recorded.