OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1315, 13 May 1897, Page 42

OUR LETTER HOME.

New Zealand Mail Office, Wellington, April 13

Eastertide, 1897, will long be remembered in the North Island of New Zealand for the great floods which occurred in the Rangitikei and Hawke’s Bay districts. One of the heaviest rainfalls on record took place, and the Ngaruroro, Tutaekuri,and other rivers in Hawke’s Bay, and the Rangitikei river, poured immense volumes of flood water over the country through which they iun, houses being swept away, sheef) and cattle drowned by thousands, human life lost, and an enormous amount of damage done, amounting, so it has been roughly computed, to about £SO,OOO to £IOO,OOO. The scene in the neighbourhood of Hastings was indeed terrible to witness. Settlers had hardly time to quit their homes, many families being rescued in boats, houses ware swept away, orchards and plantations ruined, and stock drowned in all directions. A peculiarly pathetic incident in connection with Ihe flood was the death by drowning of a rescue party of seven persons, including a sergeant of police, a constable, and five well known citizens, who had gone to attempt to save the lives of some settle:s at Clive. It is surmised that the boat, -which was an old one, with only a single pair of oars, was washed out to sea.

The railway line between Namier and Hastings was completely ' destroyed in several places, valuable bridges being washed away and damage done to a very large amount. All over the district settlers have been rained by the floods, which have been the most disastrous ever experienced in this island. J

In answer to an appeal for help issued by the mayor of Napier, funds have been, and are still being collected in all parts of the Colony to assist the sufferers, and already a very large amount has been collected. A donation of over £6OO has been cabled over from Brisbane, being the balance on hand from the Queensland Flood Fund of five years ago. At that time New Zealanders sent over £3OOO to. help their Queensland cousins.

The Government took prompt measures to restore the railway traffic, and to‘assist the local bodies in Hawke’s Bay. The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. Mr Ilall Jones, spent a week in the district, and did all in his power to assist the sufferers. It will be some time before the railway is fully repaired, although temporary through communication between Napier and Wellington has been established, and the cost will be very great.

In the Rangitikei district also the floods were very severe. The fine railway bridge over the Rangitikei river between Halcombe and Greatford, on the Palmerston-Wanganui line, was washed away, and all through the Lower Rangitikei grievous damage was dona to property.

A sensation of the month has been the execution of Etienne Brocher, commonly known as Stephen Bosher, for the awful crime committed by him some months ago at Petone, vihen he foully murdered two inoffensive people, a storekeeper named Jones, and Mrs Jones. Bosher bad long led a double life. He was a Frenchman by birth, and posed as a highly religions man, being a prominent member of the Salvation Army. At the same time he was a bigamist, having a wife living at Akaroa, in the South Island, at the time he married tho unfortunate lady who passed as his wife at Petone. Being in monetary difficulties he went to the Jones’s house for the purpose of robbery, and then murdered first Mrs Jones and then her husband. This much, aud more, has come to light through a confession left by tho murderer in the hands’ of tho jailer. It is understood that he blinded his victims by throwing pepper in their eyes, but tbe full details of the confession have very properly cot been made public. Brocher came out to the. colonies when quite a young man, but returned“to France, where he was arrested for trying to avoid military service. Ho was then sent to Algeria, where he spent some years in tbs French army. Upon being discharged he returned to the Colony, where ho had left his wife. She refused to live with him on his return. The man then came north and settled at Petone,

Brocberwas executed at the Terrace Gaol, Wellington, on April 20, going to his doom with great composure. Daring his imprisonment he received the spiritual ministrations of a Roman Catholic priest, and prayed, earnestly when on the scaffold. When the death cap had been adjusted the criminal murmured, “Mon .T6iu, Misorec ” —the drop being released before the word was completed.

It i 3 with regret that we have to record in this month’s letter a peculiarly atrocious crime, which has taken place at Amberley, North Canterbury. A young lady named Agnes Lawcock, aged 16, had left her mother’s house for a walk, in broad daylight, when she was abominally outraged and then most foully murdered by a swagger” named Sheehan, a man of about 23 years of ago. The murderer cut the throat of his unfortunate victim, upon whose body a number of stabs were also found. The police were speedily on the track, and Sheehan was arrested only a few hours after the crime was committed. Great sympathy is felt with the mother of the victim, Miss Lawcock being a bright charming girl, who, with her parents, was liked and respected by all who knew her.

The heavy gale which swept over the Colony at Easter resulced ir the total loss of a fine vessel, Ihe sh : p Zuleika, which was bound from Duediu to Wellington, and which was wrecked on the night of Good Friday, about four miles west of Cape Palliser, not far from the entrance to the Wellington harbour. The Zujeika was a vessel of 1017 tons burden, and was commanded by Captain Bremner. She left Dunedin for Wellington on the 12th April with about 1000 tons of original cargo from New York.

The wreck of the ill-fated vessel was unfortunately attended with a grave loss of human life, twelve of her crew being drowned, including the first mate, Herbert Graham, the steward, cook, seven seamen, and two apprentices. The survivors, who numbered nine, were treated kindly by all the settlers in the vicinity.

The ill-fated ship was owned by Messrs. Thomas Law and Co, of Leith, and was 22 years old. She was built by Messrs Aitken and Mansel, of Glasgow, and was classed 100 A 1 at Lloyd’s. Her dimensions were as follows:—Length, 215 ft ; breadth, 35ft 2in ; depth, 21ft lin. At New York a new crew was shipped, and the vessel sailed on December 16th, 1896, with 20C0 tons of cargo and 150 ton 3 of ballast, of which about 1200 tons were for Dunedin, and the balance, some 900 tons, for Wellington. The local cargo is a'l for Yiessrs Briscoe, Mac Neil and Co., and consisted chiefly of keroseue (about 11,000 cases) ar.d gen- ral American merchandise. The loss is fully covered- by insurance.

Interviewed by a representative of the New Zealand Times and JHail, Captain Bremuer said :—The southerly gale started at about midnight on Thursday, and the ship was placed under reduced canvas and horcto. On Friday forenoon we were about 70 miles north of Banks Peninsula, under main lower topsails. At about 8 a in. on Friday a sheet was carried away, and to keep her head to the wind whilst the damage was being repaired a double reef spanker was s-.-t. We trieu to weather Cape Palliser with lower fore topsail, goose-winged, also fore topsail. The vessel was head-reaching the whole time. On Friday night at 10 o’clock soundings were taken with deep-sea sounder, and 80 fathoms with no bottom was reported. Again at 10.30 another sounding, when 69 fathoms, no bottom, was the result. At about 10.55 a black bank was seen on the lee beam, and deeming it to be land, all bands were called to wear ship. In less than ten minutes, and in the act of wearing ship, she took ground. A tremendous sea was running at the time. The main braces were frapped down to the rail. The boats were ordered out, but on consultation with my officers I deemed it prudent not to launch them, as it was of no use. All hands were served with lifebelts, with the exception of the first mate and steward, who were rxcelb nt pwiaiar rs, aud refused to encumber tlietmelv. s vs itti them. Thry were both, poor fellows, drowned. I was on the jibboom at this time and told the men that the best thing for them to do was to take to the water and do the best they could for themselves. I then jumped overboard, and encountered the greatest difficulty in getting to the shore, owing to the great quantity of wreckage floating about. I was swimming the whole time and was more than once carried back by the backwash. On getting ashore I found no one, and then climbed up the hill and laid down. I heard someone calling out, and following the sound of the voices I met the apprentice -Carson and three scameD, The five of: ns then went up the hill and took shelter till daylight. We then came down and looked at the wreck. We wandered along the beach and came to a wharc, but found no one there and forced an entrance. About half an hoar afterwards the second mate, Andersen and Haverke, arrived at the whare, and about an hour afterwards Malvern arrived. He had lost himself amongst the hills and was in a terrible plight.

I had been on deck since Thursday morning and was too exhausted to move.

The captain speaks in the most eulogistic manner of his crew, their behaviour under such trying'circumstances being splendidEvery order was promptly and most faithfully carried out. He had been in command of this grand vessel but 11 months, having joined her at Liverpool last June. He has been at sea now for 19 years and had never before met with a mishap. Captain Bremner has been in the employ of the owners (Messrs Law and Co.) for the five of which were in command of different vessels of their fleet. He had never before been to Wellington, but had been as far as Port Chalmers.

Several of the Union Company’s and ocher steamers which encountered the full force of the gales, met with a very rough experience, but all managed to reach port in safety.

On Thursday, April 15th, the Premier of the Colony, Hon. R. J. Seddon, sailed for Auckland in the Government steamer Tutanekai, going on to England via San Francisco a few days later. Mr Seddon, who is accompanied on his trip Home by his wife, and two of her daughters, Miss Seddon and Miss Mary Stuart Seddon, was tendered a very hearty farewell as the Tutanekai left the wharf. The vessel had a very rough trip up to Onehunga. Mr Seddon, who has gone Home in response to an invitation from the Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, to bo present at the Record Reign celebrations, expocts to be back with us in time for the session, which opens sometime in September.

The members of the Hew Zealand Military Contingent, which will take part in the Record Reign celebrations, have sailed for England in the s.s. RuahineThe contingent includes both Europeans and Maoris. The men are of exceptionally fine physique, and, in their new kharkee uniforms, will present a fine appearanceA New Zealand rifle team, under command of Major Sommerville, also went Home by the Ruahine, and will take part in the next rifle competions at Bisley.

Of a consignment of vine-cuttings imported last year from South Australia by the Agricultural Department and planted at Momohaki Experimental Farm, about 80 per cent, have proved successful; and cuttings fiom these stocks are to be distributed throughout the colony. Another consignment is to be obtained from South Australia this year. Another proof of the excellent work this department is doing for the colony.

The Prohibition Convention at Dunedin has passed a number of resolutions referring’ to the regulations for conducting the local option poll, recommending that the power should be vested in Licensing Committees to reduce licenses up to 25 per cent., failing the carrying of “no license;” that the colonal option vote be taken on general election day, and that a Royal Commission be appointed to investigate the condition of the police force.

A prisoner named Edward Hall, sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment at the last criminal sessions of the Supreme Court at Auckland on a charge of stealing a horse, made a desperate attempt the other day to commit suicide. While being taken out for 'exercise 'at Port Cautley, he dashed down the hill add through taees, and threw himself or fell with tremendous force against some iron piping supporting the chimney of an engine used for drawing up the big guns. The chimney and stay were carried away, and the prisoner fell some on to the rocks. Picking himself up again, he made for the -Rater, and flung himself into the sea. Two men in a boat, seeing the whole occurrence, went to the rescue, and, after a desperate struggle with the prisoner, who was determined to drown himself, they secceeded in getting him into the boat and taking him ashore. The prisoner has developed melancholia since his incarceration through brooding over his wife and family.

Mr A. Cashion, of Hastings, Hawke’s Bay, has applied for letters patent for an invention for an improved hurdle for use in hurdle races. Considering the number of serious accidents to horses.and riders taking part in hurdle racing, the invention should be welcomed by racing clubs, owners and hurdle riders throughout the world. The top portion of the hurdle is connected with the lower part by hinges, and is kept in position by india-rubber springs. If a horse strikes the top portion of the hurdle heavily it gives, and allows the animal to reach the other side -without mishap, the hurdle immediately assuming its original position. Owing to the number of accidents, the Victorian Racing Club recently decided to pad the top bar of the hurdle, but that will not prevent the horse from falling.

The Earl of Seafield attained his majority a few days ago. He is still at the Lincoln

Agricultural College. It is understood that he will go Home shortly, and though he will not euter into full possession of the estates during the life of the Countess, who is about seventy years of age, he will, of course, be privileged to take his seat in the House of Lords.

The Timaru Gas Company have declined the Borough Council’s offer of £22,000 for their works, stating that their shares will sell for more in the open market.

At the Mataura Freezing «Works one day recently 20,000 rabbits were received. The company is now putting through lambs at the rate of 700 per day, and this number will be kept up for some weeks to come.

Messrs Clere, Fitz Gerald and Richmond, the well-known firm of Wellington architects, have received instructions to draw the plans and proceed with the building of the Bishop Suter Gallery at Nelson, is to cost about .£IOOO. The building will be of brick, and is situated between the Provincial Buildings and the Queen’s Gardens.

At the last meeting of the Dunedin Benevolent Trustees, it was reported that there was a satisfactory decrease in the number of outdoor relief cases as compared with the corresponding-month of the last year. There was a decrease of 22 men j 67 women and 160. children receiving relief. This meant, if it continued, a decrease of mearly .£2OOO a year. *

The Department of Agriculture intends offering a bonus of £2OO for the discovery of a deposit of marketable mineral manure.

Mr Robert E. Bannister, who has been appointed general manager of the New Zealand Times Company, Limited, has been for over twenty years connected with the Evening Post, part of that time as head of commercial department. He therefore brings to the discharge of his duties a ripe experience and a knowledge of the commercial business of a newspaper possessed by few men in the colony.

On April 23rd (St. George’s Day) took place a by-election for the Wellington suburbs 3eat, rendered vacant by the unseating, on petition, of Mr T. M. Wilford elected at the general election on December 4th last. The two candidates were, Mr Arthur Richmond Atkinson, a young Wellington lawyer and a nephew of the late Sir Harry Atkinson, and Mr Charles Wilson, editor of the New Zealand Mail. Mr Atkinson stood in the combined Conservative and Prohibition interests, and Mr Wilson was the champion of the Government or Liberal Party. The elebtion was one of the most C bitterly and determinedly conducted . contests ever experienced in Wellington, and it was recognised, from the outset that the result would be very close. The fact that Mr Atkinson brought certain grave charges of personal corruption against members of the Government induced the Premier and the Minister for Lands to take to the public platform and strenuously defend their administration. The result of the election was the return of Mr Charles Wilson by a majority of 136, the figures being—Wilsbn 2033 and Atkinson 1897.

Peesonal. —The Rev H. C. Frere, who is at present in charge of the c . Gore Anglican parish, has accepted an appointment to a chaplaincy at Beyrout, in Syria.—The Hon W. J. M. Larnach has been appointed New Zealand Commissioner to the Brisbane (Queensland) Exhibition, which opened last week. Mr Meadows, late superintendent of the Wellington Exhibition, has been appointed secretary. —The Laics County Press understands that Mr P. and Miss Flannery, of Arrowtown, have come in for a legacy of .£IO,OOO each through the death of a Queensland relative. —Mr Donald Fraser, of Rangitikei, has left on a visit to England.—Dr Faulkner, who has resided at Hastings for 15 years, died from asthma last Friday night.—Mr John Fv-ldwick, the proprietor of the Southland Daily News, has left tho colony for a nine months’tour through America and Great Britain.—Mr Boardman, Mayor of Auckland, has resigned owing to ill-health. Mr Dignan has been elected unopposed to fill the vacancy.—The Rev B. T. Hallowes, of the Courtenay place Congregational Church, who is about to proceed with his wife and family to England, has been given a farewell by his congregation. Mr Hallowes was presented by the members of the congregation with a gold watch.