EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26778, 22 May 1948, Page 6

EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

FROM THE FILES OF THE

©taao ©ail? TLimea

DUNEDIN, SATURDAY. May 22, 1863. “ The Provincial Government of Southland have transmitted orders to England for the necessary materials and plant required for the Invercargill and Bluff railway.” ‘‘Dr Hocken opened an inquest today on the body found outside Otago Heads by the ship Joshua Bates. Owing to the absence of a dead-house at Port Chalmers, the jury viewed the body as it lay in the boat in which it was first placed, and there it was exposed in a manner which almost defied identification. The inquest was, however, resumed, and some evidence, not very definite, was taken as to the identity of the body, after which it was brought on shore and thoroughly examined by medical witnesses and others, but owing to the absence of a good interpreter, the inquiry had to be adjourned.”

‘‘We learn from Southland papers that Mr Lyal and five men have started for Dog Island to prepare for the erection of the twin lighthouse which may shortly be expected from England. The party are well found in stores, tools, etc., and were taken as far as the Bluff by Cobb and Co.”

‘‘An accident, unfortunately attended with fatal results, took place about dusk yesterday evening. It appears , that Messrs Sampson and Joseph Mills were coming up King street on their way into town in a mail phseton drawn by one horse, when they perceived a vehicle approaching them at a very rapid pace, on the ‘ wrong ’ side of the road. In their anxiety to avoid a collision, they attempted to turn their carriage into an adjacent right-of-way, i and had hardly succeeded in doing so, when the other vehicle overtook them and jammed the mail phaeton against a stone wall, throwing out its two occupants, happily without any serious consequences, and at the same time smashing it to atoms. The other carriage, which it afterwards transpired was a dogcart, came in contact with a telegraph post. By this the harness and the vehicle attached to it were disengaged from the infuriated animal, who, relieved from this additional weight, dashed off at a fearful pace, and on its way came into contact with a child, who was crossing the road, and who, we regret to state, has since died from the injuries it received.”