ACCIDENTS AND INQUESTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9035, 23 April 1888, Page 9

ACCIDENTS AND INQUESTS.

DEATH OF THE HON. HENRY CHAMBERLIN, M.L.C.

A profound sensation was caused in town on April 16 when the tidings circulated that the Hon. Henry Chamberlin, M.L.C., had been discovered lying dead in a waterhole, on his estate, at Waikaukuu, near I)rury. The news came to hand in the following telegram, which Inspector Broham received from Constable Knight, of Papakura, and which briefly related the salient points of the melancholy occurrence : —

The Hon. Henry Chamberlin, M.L.C., was found dead in a waterhole about lour feot in depth. The decejised arrived from Auckland oil the 12th instant, for the purpose of prospecting for coal 011 his estate, and borrowed a bucket and spade from Mrs. Brooks, who resides on part of the estate. Deceased promised to return the implements that evening, bu. did not return. James Oossey, a fanner, found deceased's coat and waistcoat hanging on the branch of a tree near the watwhole where deceased was discovered. Mr. Oossey came 011 to Drury and reported the finding of those articles to the stationmaster. Mr. Uossey returned in company with David McUnrney, Joseph Flannaghau, Thomas Brooks, and K. Brooks. After a little search they found the body of decoased in a waterhole near to the place where the clothes were found hanging. Deceased had dug the hole himself in company with All-. Brooks about three weeks ago, and apparently deceased was in the act of baling out the hole to sink deeper, it is supposed deceased met his death 011 Thursday. No marks of violence were found upon the body, which was removed to the Railway Hotel, Drury," where it now Ilea.

For nearly a quarter of a century the deceased gentleman hits been impressed with the belief that on his estate at Waikaukau there would be found valuable seams of coal, and at one time when it was in possession of a former owner, trial workings were made. For months past Mr. Chamberlin lias gone up to Drury by the morning train, and roamed about the hills on his block looking for signs of coal, or in sinking holes with a spade in the hope of finding coal seams, returning to Auckland by the evening train. Over a month ago ho took a lad named Brooks on one of his expeditions, and put down a shaft about 5 feet deep, 4 feet wide at the base, and some 7 feet in length, situated lengthwise in a gully, down which trickled a small stream. It was in this shaft, or hole, where the unfortunate gentleman met his death, and where he appears almost to have literally dug his grave. Mr. Chamberlin left Auckland on Thursday, April 12, and left his overcoat and travelling bag with Mrs. Brooks (the mother of the lad Brooks), saying he would come back for them. On this occasion he did not take the lad Brooks _ with him on going to the estate. He did not come back as he premised, but it was conjectured he might have gone on to Hunua, as was occasionally his habit, or passed in the

train, for having the " free pass" of a member of the Legislature he did not require to call at the ticket office. Mr. Chamberlin had arranged to meet a party later on, who intended to examine the land for coal; but although disappointed at not meeting him, they went on tneir way, under the impression he had been railed away elsewhere. The first intimation of fears that all was not right was the arrival at six o'clock on Sunday evening of Mr. Cossey, jun., at Mr. Brook's residence, and who informed him that he had found Mr. chamberlin's coat, collar, and necktie suspended on a branch of a tree, and his umbrella placed beside it, but his hat was not to be seen. The bucket which had been got for baling out was beside the shaft, and the "billy" was floating on the water. DISCOVERY OF THE BODY. Mr. Howard, the stationmaster at Drury, on being made acquainted with the circumstances, at once organised a search party, consisting of Messrs. Flannigan, Mcßurnie, Brooks, senior and junior, and Mr. Cossey, junior, who went straight to the water hole, which they reached at dusk, and lamps had to be used in the search. A long pole wafi procured, and on putting it down the body was discovered, and speedily raised to the surface, and identified sis that lof Mr. Chamberlin. The body was taken I down to the Railway Hotel, l)rury, at a ! late hour, to await the usual coroner's inquest. On returning to Dlury Mr. Howard rode to Papakura and acquainted Constable McKnight of the affair. _ THE THEORY OF DECEASED'S DEATH.

On the 16th April Detective Herbert and Constable McKnight baled out the shaft, and found the missing hat of deceased and the spade at the bottom of the hole. It is believed that deceased had finished baling, and Was about to resume work in deepening the shaft when he was seized with a fit of some kind and fell down in the hole, and either died then or was drowned while in a state of unconsciousness through the water flowing into the hole from the trickling stream referred to above. The trousers of deceased were rolled up to the knees, and his watch in his pocket was stopped at five minutes to seven o'clock. It was known that he was subject to fainting fits and heart disease, and Mrs. Chamberlin, with a presentiment that something was wrong, owing to her husband not returning to Auckland, went to the Auckland railway station and made enquiries about him, but could receive no information. She also tried to telegraph to Drury, but, being an eight o'clock station, was unable to get communication. On April 15, after several attempts, she at length succeeded in telegraphing to Drury, only to receive a reply that " Mr. Chamberlin had not been seen or heard of since he arrived." The result was that she left for Drury early on the 16th April by the Waikato train, only to learn at Drury that her melancholy forebodings were realised.

THE INQUEST AND FUNERAL. An inquest was held on April 16 on the body of deceased at the Railway Hotel, Drury. It was held by Captain Jackson, R.M., who acted as coroner. After hearing the evidence adduced, the jury returned a verdict of " Accidentally drowned." MR. Berlin's CAREER. Mr. Chamberlin was an old settler of over 30 years' standing, and came here with some means, which he invested to a large extent in land. His brother Charles, now dead, resided on Chamberlin's Island, one of deceased's purchases. He had also a considerable amount of land in the Raglan district, which latterly he had determined to bring into the market, and thus remove one of the grievances of the settlers. It was only la-st week he called upon Mr. T. B. Hill, chemist, of Queen-street, who is interested as a landholder in the district, and said that on coming back from Drury he would go to Raglan and prospect his Raglan block for coal. In political life he was not particularly successful. He failed to get into the provincial Council, but was called to the Upper House in 1869. Latterly he had turned his attention to inventions for suppressing the rabbit nuisance. For many years Mr. Chamberlin was a director of the South British Insurance Company, and one of the largest shareholders, but at the last meeting he retired from the directorate. On April 16, as a mark of respect to the memory of the deceased, the nags of the South British buildings were flying halfmast.

Mr. Chamberlin leaves one daughter, who is married to Mr. James Laing, formerly in the office of the New Zealand Shipping Company in Auckland, but now residing at Gisborne. Mrs. Chamberlin, as may be imagined, was greatly distressed on receiving the tidings of the tragic death of her husband. THE FUNERAL. On the 17th April the funeral of the late Hon. Henry Chamberlin, M.L.C., took place at St. Thomas's Cemetery, near St.. John's College, the cortege leaving the i establishment of Messrs. Winks and Hall, Shortland-street, who had charge of the . funeral arrangements. The chief mourners were Mr. Heard (brother-in-law of deceased), Mr. E. A. Mackechnie (the family solicitor), Sir Frederick Whibaker, was also in the same carriage; the second carriage contained Miss Chamberlin (deceased's niece, Miss Bartley, and Rev. Mr. Walpole; the third Messrs. F. J. Moss and W. P. iaoai>, M.H.ll.'s, and Mr. ThCjohihis Kissling ; some private vehicles iuliowed, among those present . being Messrs,. A. K. Taylor, of Mount Albert, and D. G. and W. S. Lyell. The burial service was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Walpole, of St. Mary's, parnell. FATAL EXPLOSION. A terrible accident occurred at the Wairoa bridgeworks, near Napier, at half-past eleven o'clock on Wednesday night, the 2Sth March, by an explosion, resulting in the death of two men, and severe injury to a third. It appears that about eleven o'clock three men were working in the last cylinder, named Ball, Philip Beattie, and George Ebbett. The first-named was down at the bottom fixing the pumping pipes for the next shift. Beattie was in the airlock, waiting to pull up Ball after having lowered him down. There was nothing for Ebbett to do till twelve o'clock, so he went home, leaving the other two working, and Mr. Sellars, the contractor, standing on the staging alongside. At the hour named the cylinder blew up all of ft sudden. The air-lock was hurled into the air, and fell into the river close to the staging, a portion of which it broke. Mr. Sellars was hurled over eight or ten feet off, and landed on the lower platform of the pile-driver. His right arm was broken in two places, and he was much cut about the face, but was not unconscious. The cylinder, which was down 16 feet in the solid, was burst into fragments. Joseph Ball and Philip Beattie were killed. Ball is a married man, and leaves a wife and three children. The inquest on the bodies of J. Ball and P. Beattie was held on the 31st March, and occupied five hours and a-half. The evidence contradicted the theory of an explosion of foul air, and pointed conclusively to the want of strength in the plates to withstand the pressure of air 221b to the inch. The plates also were shown to be of varying thickness, from J inch to 1£ inch. The jury returned a verdict, " That the deceased met their death by drowning by the accidental bursting of the cylinder; that no blame was attached to the contractors or the employes on the bridge ; and, further, that the accident was attributed to a deficiency in the strength of the plates recently purchased from the Government." A rider was added to the effect that, when work is resumed and new plates fitted, each section should be tested by a heavier air pressure than is required, such test to be made prior to the men being permitted to go in. DEATH AND MYSTERY. A report reached Kawakawa on the 26th March that an old man, a gumdigger, who had lived the life of a recluse in a retired cully on the Hukerenui gumfield, had been found dead in his whare on the day previously. Police-Constable Hughes at communicated with the local J.P., Mr. T. P. Moody, who acts as coroner on emergencies, and proceeded with a cart and coffin to the locality, it being over twelve miles from Kawakawa, and to make arrangements for a coroner's inquest in the meantime. However, it was made known to Mr. Moody that the man having been missed for several days from his usual occupation, as gumdigger, was found dead in his bed, there being no suspicion of foul play, but that he had died of old age, or from natural causes. Mr. Moody directed Dr. Denton to proceed at once to report on the case, and direct, if necessary, the immediate interment of the body, as he reared it would be dangerous to have an inquest on the body after it had been brought to Kawakawa. The doctor's report was, according. to , the - above account, and orders were given for the immediate interment, an inquest being deemed /

unnecessary. A full report of the case wag forwarded by Mr. Moody to Whangarei to Mr. J. S. Clendon, the coroner of the district*

We have received a communication from : Mr. M. Foley relative to the deceased. Mr. the gumdigger, John O'Halloran, who was found dead on the Hukerenui gumfield. Mr* Foley says he had known deceased for soma years. His birthplace was near Cork, where his friends now reside. ! He left Ireland for America many years ago, and returned again. Then he Went to California, and came on to New Zealandbringing' £600 with him— thence to Whangarei, where he remained for the last twelve years. He was in Auckland in October last about his banking account, and said he Was going to make a will in favour of the Roman Catholic Orphanages, stating that the money he had in the Post Office and two other banks amounted to £1282. Mr. Foley states O'Halloran was not what might be termed a miser, for when he came to town he was in the habit of buying good clothing and everything he required. The last time he was in town he took £10 with him, and stated that a storekeeper owed him £18 or £20 for gum. lb was his intention to square up his affairs, come to Auckland, and spend the remainder of his days, making a will in favour of the orphans in case tiling went wrong with him. REMARKABLE ESCAPE. A son of Mr. Reed, saddler, of East Hamilton, named Frank, about 8 years of age, had a narrow escape from death on April 19. He was playing with two other children, named Bell and Kelly, of about the same age, in the gravel pits adjoining Bridgestreet. The borough gravel contractors had left the sides of the pits undermined, to save removing the strippings or top surface of soil, and while underneath the overhanging mass a quantity of it fell upon the child as he stood, completely covering him. His companions ran home but were too frightened to tell of what had happened, and Ml'. Reed started in search of his missing son, whom he supposed to have gone down to the river. Not finding him he returned home, and then on again questioning the boys, learned what had happened. Assistance was at hand, and the party went to the gravel pits," bull could see nothing but the newly-fallen earth. Carefully removing it, they came to the child's head some six inches below the surface. He was apparently uninjured, though much frightened. He seems ten have escaped without injury, except a few slight bruises. Mr. Reed has a peculiar whistle with which he calls his children home, and on this occasion when crossing the gravel pit on his way to the river to search for the boy he blew the whistle loudly. When asked if he had heard the whistle the boy said he had distinctly heard it, but was unable to call out as he could not move, and his mouth was half filled with dirt. A FURIOUS GALE. Wellington, March 29. The railway line between Wellington and Petone is a terrible wreck. It is hard to imagine that so serious damage could be caused in one night. After passing Kaiwarra the damage commences, and in places there is a stretch of a mile where the permanent way has almost disappeared— rails and sleepers being Suspended. The strong concrete wall beyond Ngahauranga has been scoured out, and well-set pitching has been dislodged and thrown about promiscuously. Had the gale continued a few hours longer hardly a vestige of the line would have been left. Passengers are taken out to Petone in omnibuses, where they connect with train, and it is thought probable that it will be quite two months before trains are running. March 30. The freezing hulk Jubilee, lying off Petone wharf, parted her moorings and waa driven against the wharf with six thousand carcases of meat aboard, but it is not thought any serious damage has been sustained.

Iron roofs, windows, and chimneys also came in for attention, and several small buildings were wrecked. During the storm the water rose 40 feet higher than has been known before at the pilot station. It was also very high all around the neighbouring coast. Napier, March 29. Great damage was done by the heavy sea to the Marine parade. The seawall for a long distance was carried away, and a renter part of the roadway washed away, he water entered the houses, washed away fences, and knocked down solid brick garden walls. Gangs of men have been working all day to secnre the wall against further damage. The harbour works received no injury.

ANOTHER SHIPWRECK AT COOK'S

STRAITS.

The barque Weathersfield, 1051 tons, Captain Sherries, "went ashore at Ohau on Sunday morning, April 8, and lies broadside on to the beach, with her head to the sea. The vessel struck at four o'clock on Sunday morning, and her crew landed safely at daylight, but as soon as the position of the ship was ascertained they re« turned on board.

Captain Sherries states that on Friday, April 6, he sighted Cape Farewell, off which he lay becalmed for 14 hours. A breeze springing up on Saturday night he set sail, his course being S.E. by E., and this course he adhered to till he was brought up standing near the mouth of the Ohau. The captain is unable to account for his position. The weather, both on Friday and Saturday, is described by him as being thick and foggy, but not southerly or foggy enough to obscure the" sight of land—in fact, ho saw Cape Farewell lighthouse, he says, distinctly at half-past ten on Saturday morning. He states . that on the breeze springing up on Saturday, he hoisted sail, and took a course which ha believed would take him through the Straits. He admits now he was thirty miles out of his proper course, but is unable to account for the error. He is of the impression that there is a current setting in between Kapiti Island and the mainland, which might have thrown him out of his reckoning. The Weathersfield is owned by Greenshell, Cowie, and Co., Liverpool. She was bound for Lyttelton "on spec" for wheat. She is an iron vessel, and was built by Robert Duncan, of Glasgow, and is 22 years old. Captain Bendall is of opinion that the vessel can be got off if prompt measures are taken. She had 450 tons of ballast on board. It is not known whether she ia injured or not. A later account states that the stranded vessels Pleione and Weathersfield are much in the same position, and have sustained no injury. Most of the cargo of the former ship has already been discharged, and ballast will be put on board to prevent ho* drifting further up on the bar.

Wellington, April 18th.—A magisterial inquiry was held to-day into the stranding of the barque Weathersfield at Ohau, on Sunday, Btli April. Mr. Hart, Collector of Customs, said that from the frequency of mishaps in the neighbourhood of the ill-fated vessel, he was compelled to make inquiries whether there was any predisposing cause.. He had received the following statement from Captain Wheeler, of the s.s. Wakatipu,, who had much experience in trading through Cook Straits :—" On Friday, 16th March, 1888, the night when the rleione came to grief (bound from Australia to Wellington), I was at 1 a.m. near Stephen's Island, judging from the position determined by observation the previous noon. The weather was dirty, and plowing hard, when I put the ship's head to westward, and kept her slow ahead till 1 daybreak. I then ran south eight miles, and then south-west full speed at 9 knots, to make land and ascertain my position exactly. After two hours and a-half made Brothers lighthouse, right ahead, 1$ miles distant. On another occasion, shortly after the Hyderabad went ashore, the s.s. Wakatipu was caught in a fog off the Chetwedes, distant) about six miles abeam, and lay 36 hours, engines quiet, water glassy smooth. When the weather cleared I found myself four miles off Kapiti, much to my surprise. I am of opinion that no sailing ship ought to attempt the Straits in anything like doubtful weather at night time, judging from my experience, gained by many years' acquaintance with the navigation." Captain Sherris, of the Weathersfield, was called, but added little •f*' has already been published. Captain Hallway (Harbormaster), Captains J. W. .eraser, and James Leys, and Pilot Sims gave expert evidence, each admitting there was & strong current after prevailing winds setting into the bight where the vessel came to grief. After half-an-hour's deliberation, ' the Court' gave the following decision " The Court was of opinion that the evidence of several experts went to show that there is a strong current from the westward into the Wanga- • nui bight, and that such current is liable .to : De increased after prevailing winds from S.W. or N.W.; that no mention is mad^

of 'such current in the New Zealand Pilot; that there is no evidence to show that Captain Sherris knew or could by any ordinary means have known of _ its existence ; that it appears that the position of the vessel off Cape Farewell Spit was accurately known at 10.30 a.m., on Saturday, 7th mat,, and that according to the course run she should, at 4 a.m., Sundav, Bth, have been Id miles N.W. of Kapiti Island, whereas she was actually running ashore at Olvau, being thus twenty miles to the eastward of the position she should have been in; that the .Court is satisfied Captain Sherris was misled by the current, and that he took all ordinary precautions, and that no blame attaches to im for the stranding of the vessel; that in view of the fact that other vessels (Roliina, Dunlop, Hyderabad, Felix Stowe, City of Auckland, Fusileer, and Pleione) have been lost in the same vicinity, it appears advisable that proper steps be taken to verify the facts as to the alleged current or inset, and that the information thus obtained be published lor the information of mariners; it is also desirable, at the same time, that an inquiry should be made as to the practicability and ailva "* tage of a suitable light being placed on Stephen's Island/* ___

About five a.m. on Tuesday, April 3, a man of middle age was found lying dead at the side of the tramway line, about eighty yards past tho Junction Hotel, Epsom, having to all appearance been run over by one of the tramcars. The body was discovered lying near the line by a lad named William John Brigham, who was in company with a man named Thomas Chadwick, and on examination they found that he was dead. They reported the matter to Constable Collis, who with Detective Tuohy proceeded to make inquiries concerning the deceased. The police soon discovered that he had been at the races, and that ho returned from tho races in one of Craig's vans, driven by a man named Thomas Prenter, in company with others. The whole party had called about six o'clock on tho previous evening at the Junction Hotel, on returning from the races. It was ascertained from the licensee, Mrs. Lucy Smith, that deceased was drunk at the time, that some dispute arose over the drinks, his companions claiming that he called for them, while he, on his part, refused to pay. They went away to town, leaving deceased behind, and ho appears to have wandered away from the hotel to the place where he was found dead. When Constable Collis found the body of deceased it was stiff and cold, death having apparently taken place several hours previously, face and head were badly cut and disfigured, and the right arm was broken and almost severed, as it only hung together by a bit of skin. The body was removed to the Junction Hotel to await an inquest. A small sum in silver was found on the body, and some other personal effects. Later in the day Detective Tuohy discovered that the deceased Joseph in. Brailfield, a bushman or gumdigger at Kelly's bush at the Wade, was a married man, leaving a wife and seven children, the eldest 19 and the youngest not a fortnight old. An inquest, was held at the Junction Hotel on April 3, before Dr. Philson, Coroner. After hearing the evidence, the jury returned a verdict, " That the deceased was accidentally killed by being run over by a tramcar, but no blame was attached to anyone." A man named Edward Wilson, in the employ of Mr. J. Craig, coal merchant, was engaged in Mr. Craig's yard, Fort-street, on March 26, and was holding a pitchfork in his hand, when a horse standing near by kicked out, and accidentally struck the fork, the handle of which struck Wilson's abdomen. The man felt considerable pain, but it was not thought at the time that the accident involved danger to life. He was on the following day taken to the Hospital, however, and in the course of a few days unfavourable symptoms presented themselves ; and on March 30 matters had assumed so serious an aspect that Dr. Lindsay called a consultation in order that the expediency of performing an operation might be considered. Beside the resident medical men, there were present Drs. Haines, Macmullen, McKellar, Beale, and Erson; and they decided that, as the patient was in a very low condition, the of>eration should not be performed. On the 2nd cf April the unfortunate man expired at the Hospital. The incident was purely accidental. He leaves a wife and four children, in somewhat destitute circumstances.

At a meeting held under he auspices of the Gospel Temperance Mission on Friday night, April li, at Panmure, a sad fatality occurred. The meeting was held in the Panmure School-house, and was largely attended. Just as the meeting was about to conclude, Mr. George Baker, a resident of Panmure, was seen to fall forward, as if in a fit. Every means was used to restore animation, but without avail. A medical man was at once summoned from Otahunu, but life was pronounced to be extinct upon his arrival. An inquest was held on April 7, when a verdict of " Died from natural causes" was returned.

About half-past six on Saturday, April 7, the brigantine Gleaner arrived from Oamaru after a very rough passage, Mr. Chas. Brown, the mate, being swept overboard ar.d drowned during a fearful gale at one a.m. on the morning of the 28 th March. The following particulars of the trip are s-ipplied by Captain Ryffel:—The Gleaner left Oamaru on March 23rd, and had light variable weather till the 26th, when a heavy westerly gale was experienced. The vessel ■was hove-to, and a heavy sea broke on board, washing the man at the wheel overboard. A line was thrown to him, and he was with some difficulty hauled on board again. On the evening of the 27th ult. the wind chopped round to the S.S.E. and increased in strength till it blew with hurricane force. At midnight the vessel was running under bare jxrtes before the wind. The Captain was at the helm, and had for safety secured a line round his waist. At one a.m. on the 28th the vessel broached toby the lee, and a great broken sea swept over her fore and aft, which stove in the water tank, filled the cabin, washed over about 100 bags if bones, and swept the captain and mate iverboard. The crew rushed aft, and !ound the former towing astern by the line, to which he had so wisely made himself fast. He was quickly got on board, and although efforts were made to find the mate he was never seen again. The unfortunate man Brown, who was a native of Belfast, was well known in this port, having been formerly mate of the Jessie Niccol and Frederick Bassill.

From Captain Robertson, the master of the 5.8. Staffa, who arrived from Helensville on the 28th March by train, we learn that the steamer crossed the Hokianga bar at halfpost eight a.m. on the 27th March. Towards evening the •wind increased to a severe gale, with a very heavy sea. At half-past twelve p.m., when abreast of Kaipara, Malcolm McClellan, an engineer who was on his way to join the company's steamer Tam D'Shanter, and who was engaged in assisting tho working of the ship, was washed overboard. It appears that at the time McClellan, feeling unwell, was leaning over tha rail, when the steamer gave a heavy lurch and shipped considerable water, and this sea must have swept him overboard. He was heard to cry out when overboard, and life buoys were thrown over, and the steamer with all possible speed brought round on the other tack, but although she cruised around the spot for an hour, and lay-to there till daylight, no trace of the missing man could be discovered. The sea at the time was so very heavy that it was utterly impossible to lower one of the ship's boats io attempt to rescue the unfortunate man. ■The Staffa at daylight ran into the Kaipara for shelter. McClellan resided at Hokianga, and leaves a widow and five children to mourn the loss of their breadwinner. A serious accident happened at Onehunga cn March 30, whereby a woman, 76 years of age, named Queenan, was run over by a horse and trap. The occupants of the trap ■were Patrick Kavanagh, Horias Isaacs (of Freeman's Bay), and John Hogan (of Remuera). The latcer was driving the vehicle down Queen-street at a fast pace, and the old woman, in attempting to cross the road, was knocked down. She fortunately escaped being trampled on, but one wheel passed over her right leg. Dr. W. XI. Erson was summoned, and was promptly }n attendance, and on examination he found an incised wound, about five inches long, above the ankle, and the arm and shoulder badly bruised. Sergeant Greene and Constable Haslett followed the trap and arrested the men. as they were about to proceed to Mangere. They were charged at the Police Court on March 31 with being drunk. Isaacs •was fined 20s and costs, Hogan £5 and costs, md Kavanagh 5s and costs. A serious accident occurred at the Thames on April 2 to a young man named Rohan. He was employed charging a hole with powder in the workings of the Adelaide claim, when it suddenly discharged, burning him frightfully about the face and aims.

On the 17th April a fine young man named Gorge Simpson, a carpenter, who was employed in the erection of the new St. Mary's Church, fell from the scaffolding, and received such serious injuries that he died shortly after seven o clock that evening, never having recovered consciousness. Deceased was a proinising young man, assistant librarian of St. James' Sunday-school, a member of the Tuesday evening Bible Class, and took an active interest in Sunday-school work. He resided in Ponsonby, and his mother, who is a widow, is head female toucher of the Bayfield School, Ponsonby. On April IS an inquest was held, when a verdict of "Accidental death" was returned. Two children of Mrs. Buttermere, of Parnell, had a very remarkable experience last week. Mrs. Buttermere, with her family, lives in a house belonging to Dr. Wright, which had been formerly occupied by other tenants. Since Mrs Buttermere's occupancy she had noticed an old tin knocking about in the yard. It had tho appearance of an ordinary can with a rim for tho protection of the bottom, and no particular notice was taken of it. On the 1-th April j two of her children got hold of the tin, and tried to obtain a knowledge of its contents by punching a nail through it. One child hela the nail while the other struck it, but with the first blow a fearful explosion ensued. One of tho children had her hand and arm torn by the fragments of tho tin, and the other, a little girl, had her hair burnt, but fortunately neither was dangerously injured. Dr. right was at once called in to dress the injuries, and both are now progressing well. Dr. Wright is wholly unable to account for the presence of this dangerous explosive, or for what purpose it could have been intended. It is almost certain that two men lost their lives in New River harbour, Invcrcargill, on April 3. Mr. Hatches' schooner Ararua was lying some miles below town, waiting a slant to sail for Macquarie Island. On the day named Harry Ludson, seaman, and Andrew Scott, tho cook, took the schooner's boat to go to Sandy Point for water. They left the ship's boat there, and taking another, came up to town, where they were seen in several hotels during the evening. They were on board a vessel at the jetty after midnight, and were under the influence of liquor. Shortly after they left to go to the boat, and have not been seen since. Ludson, better known as Harry Noilson, was a Norwegian, 38 years ; Scott was 21, and was a son of John Scott, upholsterer, Tay-street, who had tho misfortune to lose another son by gun accident a few years :igo. Ttic boat was recovered on April ». The sheet was fast. On Friday afternoon, tho 6th April, two young men and two girls rowed up the river Avon, Christchurch, through tho Domain. They saw a man sitting on the bank drunk, and removed him from the bank and went further on. An hour later they came back, and found him lying in the water drowned. Ho was identified as James Ferguson, farmer, of Sefton. An inquest on the body was held on Saturday, April 7. Two young men named Beck and Simmons deposed that they were going up the river with a party of ladies in tho boat when they saw deceased lying drunk on the bank with his feet in the water. They removed him half-a-dozen yards from the water's edge. On returning threequarters of an hour later they saw him in the water. He appeared dead. They went and informed the police before getting him out, because they thought he must be dead, and because one of the ladies nearly went- into hysterics. When the police took ! the man out he was dead. The Coroner (Mr. Beetham) said it was the most stupid thing he ever heard of. They should have token the man out of tho water, and given him a chance. What was the ladies' agitation compared with the chance of saving a man's life ? The jury returned a verdict of *• Found drowned," with a rider censuring the young men for want of thought in not removing the body when first discovered in the water.

An unfortunate accident occurred at Rotorua on Thursday night, the 12th April, through a Maori in a state of drunken frenzy galloping through the township coming in violent contact with several other natives, who were quietly walking home from a meeting held by Sydney Taiwhanga. The rider himself was violently thrown from his horse, and now lies in a precarious state. The other was shockingly bruised, and diet! on April 13. His name was Matia, a Maketu chief, who had just come to see the Native Minister. The drunken rider is named Tawa, and belongs to a settlement about ten miles off on the Oxford Road. A coroner's inquest on the body of Matia was held on April 17, when the verdict of the jury was "Accidental death," with a rider censuring the police for not preventing furious riding through the township. A magisterial inquiry was held at Tuakau on the 12th of April, before Major Harris, J.P., and a jury of six, touching the death of Mr. Revel, who was found dead in his chair that morning. From the evidence of Dr. Rowley, who made a post mortem examination, it api>eared that valvular disease of the heart was the cause of death. A verdict in acordance was returned.

Mr. Haywood Matthews, of Kaitaia, got his arm caught in a threshing machine on April 11, and sustained such injuries that he died on April 13. Mr. Foster, of Oruaiti, on April S lost his son, Earnest George, aged one year and nine months, by laudanum, given by an elder brother accidentally. Constable Foreman telegraphed on April 10 to Inspector Broham that a child named Thomas Edward Newman, aged 13 months, fell into a saucepan of boiling water at Taupaki on April 8. Only its arm was scalded, but it died while being brought to Helensville for medical treatment. At the inquest a verdict of accidental death was returned.

The Durham, on the passage from Dargaville to Helensville on April 7, ran into the steamer Tangihua, which was anchored in the fair way of the channel of the Wairoa river, during a dense fog. Tho Durham was going only half speed, and had two men looking out. The master was at the helm. The mate only sighted the Tangihua, and passed word in time for orders to b6 executed to go astern. The Durham struck her abaft midships on the port coal bunkers, and she settled down by the stern as soon as the Durham got clear of the wreck. No persons were on board the Tangihua at the time —seven a.m. The Tangihua has been cautioned previously not to moor in the fairway. The weather was tolerably clear on leaving Mititai, but became very thick on crossing over to the other side towards Te Kopuru.

A telegram was received at Wellington on March 29 from Constable Harnett, stationed at the Lower Hutt, stating that James Coulter, farmer at Waiwera, was drowned while crossing the Wainui-Omata River at half-past two p.m. on March 28. Coulter and his brother-in-law (Sinclair) were crossing the river on horseback, when they were washed off. Deceased attempted to savo himself by clinging to the horse's rein, but it broke, and he was drowned. Sinclair saved himself by clinging to his horse's mane. The body was recovered on the 29th March.

John Cass, brother of B. Cass, draper, formerly of Christchurch and Auckland, and now of Melbourne, was found dead on March 29 in his house at Christchurch. Deceased lived alone, and was last seen alive on March 27. At the inquest a verdict of "Death from natural causes" was returned.

A successful camp of Gisborno volunteers has just been held. A party attacked tho camp on the 31st March, some with loaded weapons. One of the cavalry received severe shot wounds in the face, and others received small portions of lead about their bodies.

At Amberley on April 10, Arthur Ryan, jockey, employed by Mr. H. McLean, was thrown while exercising a horse, in going over the hurdles, and received concussion of the brain. Very slight hopes of his recovery were entertained.

An inquiry into the wreck of the Pleione was held at Wellington on the 29th of March. No .new evidence was adduced. The captain, in answer to the Court, said that he could give no explanation as to how his ship got into her unfortunate position. He hoped the Court would take into con sideration, in coming to a decision, that several other vessels had been ashore on that portion of the coast, having been deceived as to the coast. The Court considered that the captain had committed an error of judgment in relying too much upon his own chronometer. If ho was not satisfied as to his position he should have taken soundings, and hove-to until daylight. The Court censured him for not having taken this course, and ordered him to pay the

costs of the inquiry, amounting to nine guineas. His certificate was returned. Captain McGregor, ot the ketch Florence, which arrived at Christchurch from Fox ton on the 19th April, reports that on tho 17th April, when about 35 miles northward of Kaikoura, he sighted a vessel bottom up. The weather was rather thick, and as far as ho could judge the vessel was between fifty and sixty tons register. It is generally believed that the vessel is tho ketch Catlin, 46 tons, built in Otago in 1878, and owned by Messrs. Williamson and Murray, of Dunedin, which sailed from Port Chalmers for Wanganui about six weeks ago. It is stated she has not yet arrived, and that nothing further has been heard of her. A painful accident happened on Wednesday, April 18, to a boy, named Robert Moller, at tho Hkrald Printing Office. A lad, named John Moore, had been sent up on to the lantern roof, between the jobbing office and the bookbinding department, to clean out a gutter. Young Moller was directed to hand him a bucket of water. Instead of handing it to Moore through the window-opening, ho went out on to tho roof, and, losing his balance with tho bucket in his hand, fell through the glass roof on to a machine on the iloor below, a distanco of ten or twelve feet, sustaining some contusions about tho head, and injuries to the groin and lower part of the abdomen. The boy was promptly removed to the Hospital for medical treatment, and notwithstanding the shock to his system, is said to be doing as well as could bo expected. A quarrynian name John Bersden was killed at the limestone quarry, Westport, on April 4, by a fall of stone. A young man named William Cardwell, an ironmonger, was drowned in the River Avon, Christchurch, on the 10th April. He had been ailing for some time, and was missed early that morning. His brother went to look for him, and found his body in about live feet of water with no marks of violence on it. His coat was in a boat moored closed by. A very distressing accident occurred on board the steamer Mawhera, at Timaru, about half-past seven o'clock on Friday night, April 13. Mr. Manale, the second officer, was superintending loading operations aft when, by making a false step, lie tripi>ed and fell down the after-hold. Dr. Mclntyre found the left arm broken between the elbow and shoulder, and also that severe injuries had been sustained to the shoulders, chest, and back. The injuries were at once attended to. A young lad, David (Inuncy, Orevmoiitli, about eleven years of :ige, accidentally fell over ft quarry faco on tho 15th April, a height of TO or SO feet. His head was split open. Although not dead there is little hope of his recovery. Thomas Paynes, for many years county clerk for the Grey county, was found dead at his private resilience, Grey mouth, on the 10th April. He was sitting in a chair by the tire. The supposed cause is apoplexy. An elderly man named Richard Hogarth met with a painful accident on the tramway, Wellington, on April 14. As the tram was turning a corner, the man fell oil' the car. One of his arms was seriously injured by the wheels, the tlesh being torn off from the elbow to the wrist. An inquest was held at Christchurch on the 12th of April on a body found in Lyttelton harbour that morning. It was recognised as that of McAlister, one of the crew of the Coptic, who was seen alive in Lyttelton about half-past five p.m. on the day when the steamer sailed. He was then drunk, and was going towards his ship with another sailor. Tho jury re turned a verdict of " Found drowned."

At the inquest at Invereargill 011 the 17th April on Carl Hansen, a seaman of the s.h. Kakanui, who was drowned in the Mataura river, it was shown that the steamer ran into a bank in such a position that her boat was jammed in the bush. Hansen was sent in a crank skifT to carry a warp to the opposite bank, and the steamer having got off he was hauled back at a great speed by means of the warp on the steam winch, lie came alongside so fast that lie stood up to fend the boat off, when she capsized. lie reached within la feet of the bank before he sank. No lifebuoy was thrown to him. The jury in a rider strongly censured Captain Best for sending the deceased in an unsafe boat, and also for inhumanity in not making more efforts to recover the body.