COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 741, 14 May 1886, Page 30

COUNTRY NEWS.

H ' FEILDINGr. (FBOM OUB OWN COKBESPONDENT.) May 10. I regret to have to report a dreadfc accident which happened near here o: Thursday evening last, and whiCi resulted in instant death to a young mai named William Brooker, who was a dea mute. He was returning to his whar after his day’s, work in the bush, and wa walking on rhe branch line of railway leading to Adsett’s sawmill. A trucl load of timber was being taken down thi line, which is on a sufficient grade tc enable trucks to come down by the im petus of their own weight at a moderati speed. As the deceased could neithei hear the approaching truck nor the vehement cries of the man in charge hi was knocked down, and the wheels passed over him, mangling his body in a fearful manner. It is fair to say that not the slightest blame is attached to the driver, who has been employed by the Government in bringing the timber down the line for the last three and a half years. He put all his weight on the brake, and slacked speed, in fact, did all in his power to avert the accident, which is purely attributable to the deceased’s affliction. An inquest was held, and a verdict was recorded of accidental death, with no blame attached to the person in charge of the truck. It was only in March last that the mother of deceased died very suddenly. The family, all of whom are grown up, are much respected, and great sympathy is felt for them in this further and painful bereavement. The late William Brooker was a great favorite with all who knew him, and his funeral, which took place yesterday, was largely attended. This is the second fatal accident that has happened here within the last few weeks. A young marriedman named Edleston was knocked down by a yonng horse he was breaking in, and was dragged a considerable distance, receiving such injuries that he died in a day or two afterwards. A burglary was committed here on Wednesday night last. Mr Smith of Te Aro, has been holding a drapery sale in a shop in the town for two or three weeks past. On the night named this was broken into from the back part of the premises, and a considerable quantity of drapery, clothing, &c., was abstracted. The police are on the look-out, and two detectives have been here, but as yet, I believe, no clue has been obtained, although one or two suspicions-looking fellows who have been loafing about here lately are suspected. Some few weeks ago the popular comic operatta “ Trial by Jury” was given in the Town Hall by a local company. The place was crowded to excess, _ and the people were so delighted that it was resolved to give the performance again. This was done on Friday evening last to another good house. I cannot speak too highly of this show, the acting, and the whole get up of the thing being really first rate for amateurs, and would not disgrace many a professional company. The performance is to be given in the Theatre Royal at Palmerston to-night, preceded as it was here, by a concert, and a special train has been engaged to take the 40 performers and their paraphernalia down and back. The first football match in the district for this season was played on our Oval on Saturday last between the Marton and Feilding junior clubs. Notwithstanding that “ our boys ” were altogether out of practice, they beat the young Martonians by four points to nil, although the latter showed some good play.