AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14144, 20 August 1909, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN ITEMS.

TERRIBLE MINING ACCIDENTS. A terrible mining accident occurred at Bulahdelah (N.S.W.), on the Alum Mountain. About 100 tons of rock from the eide of the quarry fell in, completely covering Charles Keel, partly covering Stephen Crockford, ; and knocking Patrick Kelly down. Crockford was found to be terribly injured, and cut about the groin, and was in a very low condition when rescued, and subsequently succumbed to his injuries. When the,; rescue party reached Keel's body it was found to have been terribly mutilated, and tho features were unrecognisable. Kelly was very severely injured. All three victims are married.

A shocking accident occurred in the Scottish Gympie mine (Queensland) on Wednesday week. William Edwards and Michael Croke, both married men, were employed in the south-eastern drive over No. 8 level, and while working out ground to locate a misfire, the charge exploded, killing Edwards instantly, and severely injuring Croke. ACCIDENT AT A FUNERAL. The Rev. D. Milne met with a serious accident at Bordertown (S.A.), last week. He was following the remains of Miss Hay to the cemetery, when the hearse stopped. Mr. Milne, who was in a buggy, pulled up, and the horse-pole caught in the spoke in the back wheel. The horse became frightened, and began plunging. The buggy overturned, and Mr. Milne was thrown out. He sustained injuries to the head, and was picked up unconscious. He rallied, and proceeded to the cemetery, where he performed the burial service. Mr. Milne is 82 years old. s SHORTHAND-WRITER'S SUICIDE. Mr. Fred. Bull, a well-known shorthand writer at the Perth (W.A.) Supreme Court, and formerly principal in the firm of Bull and Hale, law stationers, committed suicide in his room at the Shaftesbury Hotel, Berth, a few days ago, by shooting himself in the temple with a. revolver. Deceased held a master mariner's certificate, and before coming to West Australia, in 1894, traded among the Pacific Islands in a schooner. He was known in Sydney and Auckland, was a popular club man in Perth, and a friend of the late Mr. Robert Louis Stevenson. BOY IMMIGRANTS COMING. Dr. Richard Arthur, president of the Immigration League of Australasia, who* has returned to Sydney from London in the R.M.S. Otway, anticipates that batches of 50 to 100 lads, ranging from 15 to 18 years of age, will soon be arriving in Australia from England. ... .. » SHOT THROUGH THE HEART. Francis Timmis, aged 22 years, was found dead last week, shot through the heart, on his property, about one mile from Penrith (N.S.W.). An old style pea-rifle was near by, and it is presumed that he was getting through the fence when the rifle went off. Deceased was highly respected, being a son of the postmaster at Richmond. , j » FISHERMEN AND SHARK. •Four fishermen had an exciting experience at North Head, Nelson's Bay (N.S.W.), last week. While hauling in about 12 baskets of garfish they were attacked when up .to their waists in water by a very . Large' shark of the blue-pointer species. So determined was the attack that they were followed into very shallow water, 'and their nets damaged from his attacks from the outside. They state that it was one of the largest sharks they had ever seen. . .. - ~ ' THREW HIMSELF OFF A ROOF. A most determined case of suicide occurred in Melbourne last Friday night, when an elderly single man, James Kirkland, threw himself off the roof of the Palace Hotel, Bourke-street. into Royal Lane, a depth of 140 ft. He was killed instantly. Deceased was secretary of the United Free Gardeners' Association. • TRAGEDY OF FAILING REASON. j

A pathetic letter, written by a husband to his wife a few hours before he died by his own hand, was read at the Melbourne Morgue. In it the man showed clearly that he was the victim of a remarkable hallucination. The deceased, whose name wae George Forsyth (49), of Northcote, manager of the Australian ] Credential Association, had been missing |rom his home since Saturday- week, and on the following Monday was found hanging by. the neck from a rafter at Victoria Cafe, /Bourkestreet. Eliza Forsyth, widow of the deceased, said that he left home to go to his office in Collins-street, and was -then apparently all right. He was in comfortable circumstances, and she could not account for his action, in taking a room at the Victoria Cafe. On Monday last she received the following letter: —

" August 9, 1909. Dear Wife,—l have written to you several times and also sent telegrams. " I would eo much like to meet you, but don't know where you live. It seems to me that I have been travelling all over the world since I saw you last. It seems eo long ago that I really don't think that I would know you. I seem to have lost all memory of the past. I -don't know where I have been all these years, but I know that I. used to.live in Northcote,, and that is all I can tell you. If this should reach you I should like to meet you to-night at about eight o'clock at the General Post Office, Melbourne. There are times that I can realise where I am, and then it seems to be all a blank. Sometimes I seem to think that I am in some sort of business in Melbourne, but for the life of me. I can't say where it is. If I could only see you I think that we might be able to dear up the whole mystery. Hoping to see you to-night at eight o'clock.—Your ever-loving husband, Geo. Forsyth." ':'..-, * '

The Coroner found that deceased committed suicide while in a condition of temporary mental unsoundness.