ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

Nelson Examiner and New Zealand Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 21, 13 April 1872, Page 5

ACCIDENTS AND OFFENCES.

Attempt at Suicide. — A man named William Goodwin, late an inmate of the hospital, was observed on the 22nd ultimo to jump into a well in the garden of H. Adams, Esq., Trafalgaretreet. An alarm was at once given, and Good■win was rescued from his perilous position, but ■while being drawn up he called upon his rescuers to leave him to drown, or cut his throat. There oan be little doubt of the insanity of the man. He had often worked for Mr. Adams, and must have known of the existence of the well. Fatali Accident at Takaka. — On the 2nd instant, a miner, named Edward Gardiner, living near the Waikaromumu River, Takaka, left his cottage about eight o'clock to look for his boy, who had gone out against his instructions to visit, as he supposed, his mate, who lived on the other side of the river. The wife of this man saw a light, as if carried in some one's hand, near the Waikaromumu, about the time Gardiner left his house, and it is supposed, the night being dark, he got too near the bank of the river, which is eighteen feet high, and fell down the bank into the water, as his body was found the following morning half a mile from where it is supposed the accident occured. The poor fellow had received a severe cut on his forehead. Trap Accident.— On Sunday, March 31, a trap containing two gentlemen and a lady, passengers by the steamer Taranaki, had reached the foot of College Hill on their way back from Richmond, when the seat on which the gentlemen oat by aome means gave way, and they were both thrown out of the vehicle. The lady finding herself alone and the reins beyond her reach, jumped out of the trap, and in doing so broke her leg. She was immediately conveyed to the hospital, ■where she received every necessary attention. The gentlemen sustained no material injury. Death prom Bite op a Spideb.— Ab a lady was visiting the hop gardens recently, carrying her infant, about five weeks old, covered •with a shawl, the child suddenly shrieked, and on moving the shawl a large speckled spider was found by the child's hand. A few hours afterwards the symptoms of bite from a poisonous animal showed themselves, and notwithstanding all the care, medical and otherwise, bestowed upon it, the poor infant died about" three days afterwards, the symptoms of blood poisoning being very apparent. Death phom Chloeopoem. — A 9 Mr. Douglas Graham, manager of the Riccarton estato, Canterbury, was on the 9th ultimo leading a horse while sitting in a dog cart, the animal ehied and drew suddenly back. Mr. Graham's little finger became entangled in the tether rope, and was nearly pulled off his hand Mr. Graham was taken to Dr. Turnbull's, arriving there about eight o'clock in the evening. After a consultation, Drs. Turnbull and Powell decided on amputating the finger. They proceeded to administer chloroform, and Mr. Graham was getting under its influence very satisfactorily when the action of the heart stopped suddenly. Every means was tried to restore him. Marshall Hall's artificial mode of respiration was maintained for about two hours, with the assistance of several people, but Mr. Graham never recovered. A remarkable fatality has attached to all connected with the management of this valuable estate. One of the brothers Deans was wrecked off Wellington Heads on a dark winter's night, when every soul on board save one perished. The other brother died of yellow fever at Panama on his way to England, leaving an infant son to inherit his very valuable property. The estate was then managed by the brother of Mrs. Deans, who has now also met with an untimely death. Double Suicide at VVANaANUi.— The Wanganui bridge has soon obtained an unenviable notoriety pertaining to well known and favourite places for suicide. The quiet of the town was disturbed recently by a rumour that soon gained ground that a double suicide, or a crime of even deeper dye, had been committed on the bridge. A crowd soon gathered, and the facts of the case, very meagre in their details, soon became known. It appears that a man named James was coming across the bridge, from the Campbelltown aide, and on getting a third of the way over, he saw a man and a woman standing talking on the car-riage-way near the ironwork dividing it from the footpath. When within a few yards he saw them walk across the bridge to the other side of the carriage-way, and then continue their conversation. There being nothing in what the lad had seen to attract his attention, he walked over. On arriving near the toll-house, he heard a heavy splash in the water. He told the collector that ho had seen a couple standing on the bridge, and described their appearance as well as he could. The splush was also heard from the e.s. Go-ahead, lying at the Government wlmrf, and a boat was put off to find out the cause. On arriving underneath the bridge, a gentleman's whitohat, of tho "bell topper" shape, and a lady's white straw hat with brown gossamer on, were found floating on the water. The police were immediately communicated with, mul they instituted a search for the bodies. Two boats with drags wero used for several hours, but without success. The men on the steamer who heard the splash in the water, state that they also heard a second or two afterwards, two weak cries, apparently from somo persons in the water. A sound, described as a moan, shortly after the fall, was also heard by Mrs. Blair, on the other side of the river. At the time of this tragic affair, tho , tide hud begun to flow, so that the bodies may have been carried away some distance up tho river, and on the ebbing of tho tide, down again. The hata found were identified as belonging to a man named Richard Crossing and his wife. They had lately arrived from Sydney, and wero in treaty for some land. A transaction had taken place, Crossing having bought Mr. Townsend's farm on the Brunswick Lino. A variety of

rumours were soon afloat as to the cause of the suicide, one being that the unfortunate man had received a letter 011 Thursday, from Sydney, containing news of the failure of the firm in whose care he had left his money. The loss preying upon his mind, might have induced depression of spirits, ending in the commission of the fatal act. Whether the female was a willing participator in the suicide or not, is open to question, but they fell into the water together, as but one splash was heard. The police, upon enquiry, found a man of the name of Robert Luscombe, a servant of tho deceased couple. He states that Crossing came from Sydney, where he has left a wife and family, and brought the female with him, passing her off as hia wife. He does not know whether his master knew of any failure, but that lately he had been in a desponding state, and yeeterday afternoon he gave him (Luscombe) a watch and pocket book to keep for him, and later still a roll of notes. In a pocket book was found a letter bidding farewell to his friends, and intimating contemplated suicide. Tho couple were seen about 8 30 p m. at the Red Lion Hotel, where they had called for some refreshment, partaking of hot brandy and water. The man was a stout elderly individual, apparently about 55 years of ago, the female being only about 20. — Herald. SeetOiJS Fiee at Kaiteei-tebi. — The dwel-ling-house of Mr. Bishop, of Kaiteri-teri, a few miles north of Motueka; was destroyed by fire on the 19th ultimo, as was also the hop-kiln, a quantity of hops, and all the household furniture. Miss Bishop, his sister, a young lady who recently joined him from England, had a narrow escape with her life. Theloßs sustained is valued at fully £500 j no part of the property was insured. Fire on the Veenon Run, Maelbobouqh. — We learn from the Express, of the 6th ultimo, that a large fire broke out on Mr. T. Redwood's I run on the preceding evening. From the appearance it would seem as if it had been fired on the flat. At eleven p.m., Mr. T. Redwood came to Blenheim for assistance to secure his homestead, and a large party of volunteers went down for the purpose. It is said that the fire was caused by persons who were out shooting ducks. We have been informed that the fire was got under without causing any serious damage. Stack Fiees in Cantebbuey. — On Mr. Overton's farm at Prebbleton, on the 25th ultimo, a threshing-machine was at work on the wheat stacks, when one of them unfortunately caught fire, and two were burnt down. The stacks would perhaps contain from 500 to 600 bushels, and only a very small portion was saved. It was reported that the threshing-machine had also been destroyed, but this was incorrect. At Kaiapoi Island, on the 27th, Strachan Brothers lost nearly the whole of their grain by fire. Wh'le the men engaged working at Messrs. Pashby and Edwards's threshing-machine were in Messrs. Strachan's house having dinner, the I stacks, nine in number, caught fire, and were totally destroyed. Tho threshing-machine, combine, and engine, were also burned. The loss is not covered by insurance. Teeeific Gale at Geeymouth. — During the night of the 7th instant, a terrific whirlwind did considerable damage to several buildings in Greymouth. Some ten or twelve stores and residences were seriously injured. EMBEYO BuSHBANaERS IN New ZEALAND. — The Independent, of the 4th, says : — " Incredible [ as it may seem, we fear it is too true that several young men in the Otaki district have been preparing for a bout at bushranging. One of the misguided men is said to be the son of a respectable settler of the district. The facts of the case are simply these. A thieving trio entered into a compact to levy black mail upon the surrounding neighbours, v and after deciding upon their line of action provided themselves with the regular outfit of gentlemen of the road, consisting of arms, masks, and amongst other things some sheepskins for some purpose or another which does not seem very clear. Tho rendezvous was to have been the Paikakariki Hill. Few people acquainted with the general character of New Zealand, or of the district which was to be the scene of action for these depredations, could not but laugh at the absurdity of any sticker-up long escaping detection ; yet the details have reached us from so many sources that wo are compelled to admit there is a show of truth about the different accounts brought into town yesterday. It appears that the matter became known through one of the confederates having relented, and giving such information as led to the upsetting of the scheme. One of the young men, we are told, stands in very ill repute in the eyes of the police, from having stood in very equivocal relations to a notorious family once resident in the Otaki district. It is almost needless to say that the promptest steps are being taken to have the matter sifted ; and doubtless a day or two at most will place the public in possession of the names of the suspected persons and the whole particulars of the case." Ah Foot, tried last week 'at Wellington, for the intended murder of another Chinaman, was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Typhoid fever has broken out at the Thames. Dr. Leathbridge, who reported the matter to the Waiotahi Highway Board, attributes tho fact to defective drainage. Robert Rodgers, a carpenter, hung himself on the morning of the 3rd instant with a strip of blanket in the Turakina gaol, Wanganui. He was apprehended on the preceding day, suffering from delirium tremens. When cut down he was not quite dead, but expired shortly afterwards. He leaves a wife and family at Castleinaiue, Victoria. The body of a woman was found last week near Wanganui bridge, bearing the appearance of hay- ( ing been strangled. I The men engaged on the railwny works at Point Britomart, Auckland, have of late frequently had their dinners stolen. Tho death of a man named Peter Harming, under somewhat singular circumstances (aay the

Otago Daily Times) took place a few days ago. It appears that, on the 28th ultimo, a resident in the Mosgiel district, named Franois Wingfield, called at Hanning's tent, situated in the Mosgiel Bush, and saw Harming lying dead on the floor. Harming was last seen alive at about noon of the 26th. Constable O'Neill, on searching the clothes of the deceased, found the sum of £9 Is. 10d., a silver watch and chain, two gold lockets, three rings, and one very small piece of gold ; also three receipts of money paid into the General Post-office, Wellington, through the Dunedin branch, for the following sums : — £5, £22, and £42. An industrious settler, Mr. Collin M'Kenzie, living at Te Wete, Wellington, whilst threshing, in order to dispose of the straw, set it on fire, the wind being then favourable ; but the wind changed, and the crop, about two hundred bushels of wheat, was destroyed. It was with very great difficulty he succeded in saving his machine. Two fires have lately taken place amongst the stacks in the Ellesmere district. The first was on Monday, the 4th ultimo, at the residence of Mr. Peter Campbell, jun. A spark from the engine of the thresher caught the top of an entire stack adjacent ; three stacks of wheat where consumed, and of 700 bushels of threshsd oats, only forty-five sacks were saved. The wheat and oats were of a superior sample, and had been sold at the top price. The loss is estimated at about £200. The other fire took place on the night of Thursday, the 7th ultimo, on Mr. Gardiner's farm, Irwell. Three square stacks were placed in the centre of a large paddock away from fence, house, and every other means of communicating fire. At about 10 p.m. the whole was seen in a blaze; the loss is estimated at about 1,000 bushels. There appears little doubt that this fire was the work of ah incendiary. It is to be regretted that in neither case was the property insured. A late telegram from Hawera, Wanganui, states that the natives who proceeded inland a day or two ago have commenced thieving from the settlers. Some of the stolen property was recovered from a Maori in the street. Hone Pihama offered money to have the matter kept quiet. A wagon and five horses on the 6th ultimo fell down the same gully on the Turakina road where Cobb's coach recently came to grief. The wagon was smashed, the horses seriously injured, but the driver escaped with a few scratches. The death rate of Wellington during the present year is unusually large. During the period dating from the commencement of the year to March 11, the number of deaths amounted to 50. For the same period last year the number was 37 ; in 1870, 50 ; in 1869, 52 ; in 1868, 27 ; in 1867, 37 5 and in 1866, 30. The excess in the mortality rate of 1872 over 1871, is accounted for, 6ays the Independent, by an unusually large number of sudden and accidental deaths. Scarlet fever has broken out in Christchurch. In one house five children, the governess and a servant, are ill with it. The Canterbury Provincial Government have taken precautions to prevent the disease from spreading. Nurses and | beds have been sent from the hospital, the Road Board office pressed into the service, and everything has been done that is possible to isolate the two buildings. A young man named Aaron Nobes, has committed suicide by drowning himself in the Big Creek, Whangarei, Auckland. A fire broke out at the Fern Ground, Upper Hutt, on the 29th ultimo, by whicli the offices, blacksmith's shop, and stable belonging to Mr. Cruikshank, were destroyed ; and it was only by great exertion that the saw null was saved. About thirty men, with the help of some hose kept on the premises, managed to arrest the progress of the fire. Some rifles and a quantity of ' powder happened to be in the store at the time. The powder exploded during the fire. George Williams, ex-boots of the White Horse Hotel, Tokomariro, wrote a letter recently to Mr. Langley, the landlord, threatening dire vengeance for some supposed grievance. Williams was tried for the offence of sending the letter on the 20th March, at Tokomariro, before Mr. J P. Maitland, R.M., and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, in default of sureties for his good behaviour. At Grahamstown, on tho 28th ultimo, Peter Coi-ston and Hector Urquhart, charged at the Resident Magistrate's Court with smuggling 1261b5. of tobacco, were found guilty, and lined £100 each. The stacks of Mr. Thomas Stokes, farmer, near Leithfield, Canterbury, containing about 1,000 bushels of wheat and barley, were destroyed by fire on the night of Thursday, March 28. The origin of the fire has not yet been discovered, but steps have been taken towards an investigation of the matter before the coroner of the district. The stacks wero uninsured. Tho Christchurch coach capsized on the 29th ultimo at the Rangitata. Edward Garron, a passenger, and a well-known Timaru settler, was severely injured. He was carried into the accomodation house, and died at midnight. During the archery practice of the Auckland Club, on the 23rd ultimo, a daughter of Dr. Nicholson, about seven years of age, strayed from her nursemaid to a spot a little beyond the target used by tho gentlemen, when an arrow, Aliasing its mark, pierced the flesh of the child's arm aud went clean through it. A Maori named Tare Penia was committed at Wanganui, recently, on the charge of forging and uttering a cheque for £3 10s. He will take his trial at the next sittings of the Supreme Court. Two more fires are recorded in the neighbourhood of Aucklaud. On the 15th ultimo the Sydenham store, with its contents, was burned down at Newton, and on 'the same morning a four-room cottage was destroyed by fire at Onehunga. , The New Zealand Herald, of the 20th ultimo, records the following fatal accident : — " On Monday morning last, a dreadful accident occurred at Hartis's mill at Wangapoa. The engineer,

David Mayman, was discovered lying under the main shaft/ on the floor of the building. The engine was stopped, when it was found that the poor man had been dreadfully mutilated. His right arm was torn off, and both legs and several ribs broken. Nothing could be done to alleviate his poignant Bufferings, which were happily shortly terminated by death. Mayman's family had arrivod from England by the Caduceus, aud are living at Razorbaok, on Mayman's farm. The poor man was conscious to the last, and gave full directions as to the despatch of the intelligence of the accident to his wife. He had become entangled in the machinery, and was unable to extricate himself. Mr. St. John Branigan, lately at the head of the Armed Constabulary, has had a relapse, and his condition is such as to necessitate his being placed under restraint, and it is even thought that ilia physical organization will not long outlive the loss of reason. William George Goudie, a little boy, aged seven years, was accidentally drowned in the Shag River, Otago, on the 14th ultimo, while playing with other children. A man named Erasmus Lursen died on the 16th ultimo at Naseby, Otago, from injuries received by a quantity of earth falling upon him while workiug in his claim. Proceedings have been instituted against a publican at the Thames for having two bars on his premises. A man named George Erskine attempted to cut his throat at Newton, Auckland, on March 23, and inflicted a serious wound. A bank book, showing a credit of £280, was found in the house. Erskine was unmarried, and baa 'a brother and sister living in Melbourne. A man named Edwards was apprehended recently, at the Selwyn, Canterbury, for stealing stores, aud there being no lock-up there, the constable put the prisoner for the night into a loose body of a stable, and, remarkable to say, the following morning the thief had disappeared. The Rev. B. K. Taylor and Mrs. Richard Taylor, were injured recently by a trap accident, at Turakina Hill, Wanganui. The reverend gentleman had removed the bridle of the horse to give him a feed of corn, and was standing in front of him, when the animal started off', knocking M' ; . Taylor down, and the wheel passing over his body. The lady was thrown from the trap, and her shoulder was dislocated. Both are progressing well. The Southland News states that whilst the porters were loading the railway trucks on the 12ih ultimo, it was discovered that a bale of wool, received at the railway station some time previously, was quite hot and emitting fumes the very reverse of agreeable. On examination, itß contents were found to be damp, the bale having been probably exposed to the weather on the way down from tho station. It was of course put aside to be dried and repacked. Had it passed through negligent and inexperienced hands, as far as the hold of the ship, the consequence would in all probability have been another "fire at sea." James Grafton has been killed by the upsetting of a dray at Oamaru, and Patrick Connor, employed on the dock works at Oamaru, has received internal injuries, which, it is thought, will terminate fatally. M'Weill's farm and buildings at Balclutha have been destroyed by fire, the loss being £990. Five hundred and fifty pounds of the amount was insured in the Australian Alliance. A man was convicted in Auckland, lately, of no less ;han eight petty larcenies of dresses, shirts, axes, buckets, and other small household utensils. He was sent to prison for two rnontha for each offence — one sentence to commence at the expiration of the other. A fire broke out in Dunedin on the 15th ultimo in the Empire Hotel, which at one time threatened to extend to the adjoining buildings ; by great exertions the fire was prevented from spreading, but the building in which it originated was completely destroyed.