ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 780, 11 February 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

(united: press association.) Nelson, February 3. In the onse of drowning that occurred yesterday, an inquest wasjheld to-day, and a verdict of accidental death was recorded, with a rider expressing approbation of the conduct of Joan Hopper, Leonard and John James ; but strong indignation at the inhuman conduct of the men who passed near the spot at the time of the accident, and who, though asked to render assistance, said they could not. The names of the men are unascertained. Another rider represented the necessity of replacing the fife-saving appliances, which had been wantonly destroyed. Invercargill, February 3. This morning between 5 and 6 o’clock Robinson Martin, licensee of the Glenmore Hotel, Forest Hill, Bhot himself through the head with a revolver, in hi 3 bedroom. Deceased leaves a widow. Mrs Martin occu-

pied the same room, but was unoonscious of her husband’s movements until _ awakened by the report of the revolver. it is supposed that the deceased took aim in front of_ tho looking glass, which he used. to direct his hands. Martin had been complaining for some time, and wafl ,under various doc-, tore for liver complaint. The police report further states that he was troubled about financial matters, and had been drinking heavily of late. Martin' was formerly manager of the Waicola estate, and afterward a sawmiller at Winton, and more recently a farmer and publican. He was the first man tried by a Jury for an offence against the present electoral statutes, having been arraigned at the Supreme, Court in 1882, and charged with voting at three separate polling-places on one day at the Wallace election, in all cases in his own name. He was acquitted, the jury evidently thinking that the act was a drunken freak. His sawmill and dwelling-house were burnt at different times during the past two years. A few days ago he said to an insurance agent that his life was insured for £SOO, _ but he did not know if the policy was still in force. Hawera, February 3. A chandelier in the Presbyterian Church fell last evening while the meeting was proceeding, little or no damage being done. Cambridge, February 3. Adolph Laurie, a well-known commercial traveller for various seed firms,; committed suicide last night by hanging himself in his stables. It is supposed he was led to take his life by pecuniary embarrassments weighing on his mind. New Plymouth, February 3. A man named Gotlieb Kaspar was brought in from Midhirst this morning, having stabbed himself in the stomach with a butcher’s knife. He had two long wounds, from which his entrails protruded. No motive is assigned for the act, but the man was in a desponding state of mind. . Gisborne, February 3.

A young man named Hird met with a serious accident at the harbor works yesterday. He was putting his foot on the brake of a truck when, the wheel slipped and went over his foot, crushing it into pulp. It is feared he will have to have the foot taken off. Greymouth, February 5. Henry Wilson, of Union Flat, was drowned in the Little Grey River yesterday. He waß crossing on horseback with another man, who held on to him as long as he could. The body wa3 found at the junction of the Little Grey and main Grey River. Nelson, February 5. A determined case of suicide took place yesterday. A woman' named Jessop, of Washington Valley, poisoned herself by tahing “ Rough on Rats ” and a quantity of arnica. No reason for the rash act can be assigned, as she had a comfortable home. When playing with her pet dog in the afternoon she was heard te Bay, “ Poor fellow, you are going to lose your mistress soon.” She had indulged somewhat in liquor. Palmerston North, February 5.

An inquest was held this morning on a young woman named Mary Brodie, who died snddenly yesterday after an illness of five hours. A verdict of death from natural causes was returned. Auckland, February 6. Ike Hunt, reported drowned, has been saved. Nelson, February 7. Arthur Avery, aged 18, was drowned while bathing in the' river at Spring Grove yesterday. I Willio Walker, a youth of 17, whilst trying to orosß the Aorere River at Collingwood, on Sunday night, was drowned. He was riding a horse and leading another, but there was a flood in the river. The horse was found on Monday, and at 4 o’clock the body was found.

Dunedin, February 7. A child named Arnot, living on the 1 Peninsula, was Bcalded to death this morning through falling into a pan of hot water. The body of Andrew Southherg, an) old and respected miner at Skippers, was found in Lake Wakatipu to-day. He had been despondent of late. The case is believed to be one of suicide. Westport, February 7. < An accident occurred to a son of Captain Ridey ,on Saturday. The lad with another playing with a floating log in the surf, and when running away he fell, and the log rolled over him. He received some nasty bruises, the most serious being an injury to the groin. He had a narrow escape, but a fatal result is not now feared. A fatal accident occurred on Friday in the Tidal Creek, a tributary of Little Wanganui River, north of Westport. A boatman named Jos. Patterson, employed by a road contractor, was coming down the stream to the landing for goods for his employer. After crossing one of many rapids, he said to his comrade, a man generally known as Dan Graney, or Denis Graney, that they would do better- to go ashore and walk down the bank of the stream, but on landing Graney made some mistake by catching hold of some projecting , branches, and letting go his hold suddenly he was drowned in the rapid current. Patterson, who is a first-class swimmer, narrowly escaped. The deceased, who was an old resident, is said to have relations in Scotland. Auckland, February 7. James Trenwith, a carter in the employ of the Auckland Timber .Company, was shockingly injured on Saturday at 2 a.m., by being run over by a nightsoil cart in Dock-street. He died in the hospital yesterday from the injuries. Deceased is said to have been the worse of drink, and was sleeping on the roadway. • The insurance on the Taheke Hotel, burnt down, is £6BO in the New Zealand office. An old woman, Mrs Foley, wife of a bookbinder, fell in the fire, and was nearly

roasted alive. ' She is in the hospital. Her life is despaired of.

Later. Mrs Foley has snocumbed to her injuries. A PLUCKY ATTEMPT AT RESCUING LIFE. Auckland, February 3. A story of a sad death and of a very plucky attempted resoue comes from Kaipara. It appears that whilst the Johann Brodersen, the vessel which brought the ostriches to New Zealand from South Africa, was lying off the heads, a boat tied astern somehow got adrift. The ebbing tide was fast taking the boat away, when a seaman dived over and attempted to reach her. He had gone a hundred yards or so, and had nearly reached the boat, when his comrades on the vessel saw him struggle in the water with some unseen foe and disappear to be seen no more. There was little doubt that a shark had taken him, but in the face of this, another sailor, whose name has not transpired, sprang overboard to the rescue. Nothing was, however, to be seen of the poor fellow, and his plucky would-be rescuer swam half a mile and got into a boat.

THE GISBORNE MURDER. : . Gisborne, February 3. At the inquest a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown was returned. A great deal of evidence was given at the inquiry, which connects some of the prisoners with the deed. The four Native prisoners arrested on a charge of murder have been remanded for eight days. • SUDDENDEATHS AT CHRISTCHURCH. Christchurch, February 6. No fewer than four sudden deaths occurred aronnd Christchurch yesterday. An infant child of Thomas Shields, of Broadfield, died suddenly at 1.30 a.m., and shortly after the three-year-old daughter of Thomas Arrowsmith, of Sydenham, died before a doctor could be fetched. At 7 p.m., Mrs Sophia. Smith, an old widow residing at Linwood, was found by her son in a dying state in her room at d p.m. Hannah Lee, an elderly woman living at St Albans, was found dying; by a neighbor. She had been drinking heavily of late. Christchurch, February 7, Frederick J. Parsons dropped dead at Castlehill station on Saturday. An inquest was held this morning on tho body of Hannah Lee, who died suddenly on Saturday night. The verdict was death, from excessive drinking. The Coroner commented on the frequency of deaths from this cause, expressing a hope that the verdict would act as a warning to those addicted to! strong drink. At the inquest this morning on Jano Arrowsmith, three years old, who died rather suddenly on Saturday, it was proved that death had resulted from natural causes, but that the child’s stepmother had slapped it somewhat violently a day or two before it died, and had not shown it the most oarefnL attention. The jury returned a verdict o£ death from natural causes, expressing an opinion that . the stepmother had shown neglect, though it did not amount to manslaughter.

! : ACCIDENT TO A VESSEL AT TIMARU. Timaru, February 7An unfortunate accident occurred to the barque Norman McLeod, while alongside the wharf on Saturday. Early in the morning the wind veered suddenly round and blew half a gale from the N.W, The port anchor cable snddenly parted, and the forepart of the vessel collided with the piles. As yet the extent of the damage is not known, but on this point Captain Ticehurst, Lloyd’s surveyor at Lyttelton, will report. He arrived to-day by express from Christchurch, and made a careful inspection of the barque. It is understood that Captain Ticehurst ex» pressed ah Opinion that the vessel should be"taken to Lyttelton or Port Chalmers for repairs, but there is some doubt whether this is final or whether the other survey authorities may not be asked to advise in the matter.