MASTERTON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 879, 4 January 1889, Page 30

MASTERTON.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) December 28.

A jockey named William Lang, who fell with his horse (The Cid) in the Hack Hurdle Race at the meeting of the Mas-terton-Opaki Jockey Club yesterday, had to be taken to the Hospital, where it was found that he had sustained very severe injuries. All the middle part of his body is a maBS of bruises, and a number of his ribs on^both sides are broken. Mr A. Elkins started a subscription, for him, and something over LlO has been subscribed. There was a large attendance at the sports of the Amalgamated Friendly Societies on the Park oval on Boxing Day, and most of the events were well contested. A. D’Arcy won the three events of the Boxing Day Handicap right out, R. Thompson being second. The Maiden fell to a Maori named Matau, the 100 yards handicap to R. Thompson, the scratch man, the vaulting to Howia, the halfmile to Nicholson, the hurdle handicap to R. Thompson, the mile handicap to Baker, the one and a half-mile walking to Bambury (scratch), and the 150 yards handicap to W. Watson. There were sports at Mauriceville yesterday, but I have not as yet been able to obtain particulars. The attendance, however, was very good, and the item of greatest interest proved to be the wrestling match, in which O’Brien and Dalton, two men with big reputations from other parts jf the Colony, found themselves overmatched byF. Kummer, a local man, who is not yet old enough to be properly knit.

The Masterton-Opaki Jockey Club last night paid over the stakes won at the summer meeting to those who had to travel a long distance —a promptitude for which the Committee deserves credit. The annual picnic of the Wesleyan Sunday school was held on Boxing Day in a paddock at the renr„of the parsonage* off Worksop-road. There was a large gathering, and the usual" pastimes were indulged in. Great complaints, and very reasonable ones too, are made by the public about the railway arrangements yesterday. There were races on tlio Opaki course and sports at Mauriceville, yet only the ordinary trains were running, the last down train reaching Master ton about 2 p.m., which was of course much too early. One extra train would have met the requirements of both gatherings, and large numbers would have availed themselves of it, yet the Department refused this little bit of accommodation to the public. December 29. The inquest on the body of the driver, William Gudsell, who was killed on the railway line, was resumed this morning. From the evidence brought forward it appears that a number of pigs had got on to the railway line about three miles south of Mauriceville, and while the stoker was looking out on one side GudBell looked out on the other, the latter watching several suckers which were almost under the wheels. In this position ho must have passed the first portion of the railing of the bridge, for he struck the second. On striking he immediately fell off the tram and into the river. The train is supposed to have been going at the rate of seventeen and a half miles an hour. The mishap was quickly noticed by the stoker, who returned to the spot, when one of the passengers waded in and carried the body ashore. The jury returned a very elaborate verdict, which is supposed to say that deceased was killed through striking the bridge, and in no Other way ) but in reality it says that he struck the bridge, fell into the water, and was “ there and then killed,” which is, of course, not quite in accordance with the evidence. I may add that the bridge is a few inches wider than is required by the Public regulations, and that the extra width happened to be on the side where decease 1 was standing. All things considered, and especially bearing in mind the fact that deceased passed a portion of the bridge before the accident happened, I cannot help thinking that it is highly probable that he lost his balance and fell. The weather continues splendid for the crops, which are steadily improving. Late sown oats look the beat of all, and many of the fields should yield quite as much as the best of them last year. Wheat on the richer lands has improved wonderfully ; but where the soil is indifferent there will be a poor return.

[Bv Telegraph.] Masterton, December 28. William Gadsell, the driver on the first train from Mangamahoe to Masterton to-day, was killed under circumstances not yet accounted for. After passing Mauriceville, the deceased and his stoker were lookmg at the lino ahead, one on each aide, and, while they were thus engaged, the train passed under the bridge which carries the road over the line. Shortly afterward, the stoker missed Gadsell, and, on going bacb, found his body floating in the Kopuaranga river. Tho body was taken out and brought to Masterton. An inquest was held this afternoon and adjourned, the only evidence being that of the doctor, who stated that the skull was completely smashed. The inference is that the deceased struck a portion of the bridge. Masterton, January 1. There was splendid weather for the sports and picnics to-day. There was a large attendance at the gathering of tho Caledonian Society, and most of the events were keenly contested. R. Thompson won the first and second ©vent of the Wairarapa Handi* cap, and would have won the third had he not been blocked. McMillan won the maiden 220yds, Simeon the wrestling, Ranby the hurdles, Dalton putting the stone, Huuia the vaulting, McKenzie the half-mile handicap, Kennedy the mile handicap, and Barrett the mile walking handicap.