Accidents and Offences.

Otago Witness, Issue 1500, 14 August 1880, Page 19

Accidents and Offences.

An accident which should serve as a warn, ing to boys dispo?ed to make gunpowder a plaything, happened last week.. George and William Reid, aged respectively 17 and 15, while engaged in producing a miniature diorama, thought they would bring in the aid of gunpowder for the scenic effects, and in consequence got themselves severely scorched by an explosion. The elder of the two was burned to such an extent that his removal to the Hospital was deemed necessary. . The woman, Eliza Martin, who was received into the Hospital a short time ago suffering from a shot wound in her back, accidentally inflicted, died ou the sth. An alarm of fire was given at a quarter to 1 o'clock on the morning of the sth, when a produce store belonging to Mr Thomas Calcutt, and occupied by Mr Henry Green, in Great King street, was found to be ablaze. By the time the Fire Brigade arrived the fire had a good hold of the building, to which, however, it was confined, , the structure fortunately being a brick one. Nearly all the produoe in the store was destroyed, but the safe containing the books and several documents was got out of the building. The cause of the fire is unknown. The place was looked up about half-past-7 by one of Mr Green's employes, and then appeared to be all right. Mr Green had his stock insured for L2OO with the Standard Insurance Company, and for a similar amount; in the Australian Alliance Office. At the Oity Police Court on the sth George Stevens was charged by his wife, Eliza Stevens, with assault, inasmuch as oncominghome on the 4th inst. he caught her by the throat and said, " If you don't find my pipe I'll choke you." Accused pleaded guilty, and was bound over, in a surety of his own recognisanoe of L2O, and two others of LlO each, to keep the peace for three months. A Chinaman named Wong Gow was killed while at work in his claim, on the east; bank of the Molyneux, about seven miles below the Beaumont, on Tuesday last (says Saturday's Tuapek'a Times), The body was brought to the Chinese i Camp on Wedaesdiy, and an inquiry held ] before Mr Jonas Marrop, J.P., on the following j day. A verdict of " Accidental death" was returned by the Jury. At the Police Court Wellington, on the |7fch, 1 John Backstraw, on a charge of smuggling 321b of tobacco, was fined LSO, with tho alternative of six weeks' imprisonment, A most melancholy, event occurred at Blenheim on the Bth inst. The body of a man was found floating in the bend of Taylor's River by a boy named Robinson. On making the discovery the boy ran and told hi 3 father, who procurred assistance, and the body, which proved to be that of Thos. O'Sullivan, was drawn to the bank, A medical man was quickly in attendance, and every means tried to restore animation, but without effect, though his body was quite warm. The unfortunate man had been greatly embarrassed in his business affairs lately, and filed hfe schedule a few weeks ago. This seemed to prey upon his mind, inducing him to intemperate habits. He left his home, which is near the river, not two hours before he was discovered, and there being scarcely three feet of water' at the spot, ib is presumed the act was premeditated. Great sympathy is felt for hia wife and young family. An elderly man named Robert Murray, employed on the barque Acacia, met with an accident on Saturday morning. As some gum sleepers were being landed, one of the slings struck Murray on the forehead, knocking him down. On his arrival at the Hospital it was found Sjthat pc had received an ugly fleshwound about four inches long, but fortunately his skull was not injured. After the wound had been dressed he returned to hia vessel. A man named James Dowie accidentally dislocated one of his Bhoulders at Port Chalmers on Saturday by a fall. He was admitted to the Hospital. It would appear that Mr Bradley, the popular master of the Otago Hounds, has met with a serious accident at Wanganui. We received the following telegram from that place last night :— " Mr Bradley is doing well. He has sustained severe contusions on the left side of his head. He has lost his left ear, and has several cuts on his face." This information, if authentic, will be received with regret by many of Mr Bradley's friends, who know him to be one of the best and most plucky cross-country riders in the Colony. It will be remembered that the first run with Mr Bradley's pack at Wanganui was a perfect chapter of accidents. A frightful accident occurred on Saturday night to two working men at the j Hape Creek mine at the Thames through a blast exploding unexpectedly. One, Richard Free, was torn with quartz splin ters and burned fearfully about the body. His eyesight is gone, and probably he will not get over it. Tho other man, Glasson, had his skull laid bare by the tamping-bar striking him, and is also seriously burnt and cut. Both were married men with families. A frightful railway accident occurred at Papakura (Auckland), on Tuesday, to a bushman named Daniel Livingston. He reached the station too late for the 6.30 train, which was ia motiou, and in trying to jump into a carriage slipped, the train going over both his legs and passing on without the officials knowing of the accident. On recovering consciousness his cries attracted attention. The man was brought to Auckland Hospital, where Dr Philson amputated both his legs below the knee. He has also several scalp wounds, but progresses wonderfull v. Fom- men were excava'.ing clay at a brickyard near Timaru on Tuesday, when a heavy fall of earth took place, and two of them were completely buried. They were immediately dug out oy their comrades, and Dr Hogg, who happened to be at hand, pronounced their injuries to bo bo slight that their removal to the Hospital would not be necessary.