Accidents and Offences.

Otago Witness, Issue 1505, 18 September 1880, Page 12

Accidents and Offences.

t £ 3! Mll T? am & Jonn m 'Ckmj wa* received Into the Dunedin Hospital early on the mornIng of the loth, suffering from a fracture of the w \ c'e ' Jiowne met with the accident he is unable to say. A labourer named John Symonds Has al«o been received into the Hospital, having ■ a ** m a ed a compound fracture of the left leg and a flesh wound on his thigh whilst at work at xsalclutha. Both patients are progressing favourably. The Southland Times says :— " We regret to state that we have just seen a letter from Stewart s Island intimating the destruction by fire of the house of George Newton, a wellknown settler at the Neck. To show how far ttie amenities have penetrated the life of the half-caste population there, we may mention that Mrs Newton had given a party on Tnesday evening to celebrate the birthday of two of her | children. Early the next morning the house | was burned to the ground, and we infer that nothing was saved. The house had just been added to, and contained four rooms. There is no insurance* Fortunately the mother and her five children escaped, although two of the latter Were very nearly caught in the flames. Newton was absent on a sealing expedition, and returned on Wednesday to find his house in ashes. We are informed that a subscription list is to be opened, and, as we can vouch for the worthiness of the sufferers, we shall be happy to wceive any contribution's that our townsmen may see fit to offer. The ages of the children are from two to 15 years."

Two charges of embezzlement "were preferred against H. J. Guilford at the City Police Court on Saturday. In one of the cases, iv which it was alleged that the accused had embezzled the ■urn of L2OO, the property of the Portobello Road Board, no evidence was offered, and the information was dismissed. The ott er case, a charge of embezzling the sum of L 3 8s 9d from we same body, was adjourned until the 16th. Fatal Fire at Cnriatchnrca. Chbistchuboh, September 13th. At 6 o'clock on Saturday morning a cottage gear the Lunatic Asylum, occupied by Mr Bobert Windsor, an attendant at the Asylum, *raß destroyed by fire, and two children, aged six and three respectively, were burnt to death. It appears that Bhortly before 6 o'clock Mrs Windsor went ont to get some milk, leaving the children in the house, and both the front and back doors closed, in consequence of the high Wind then blowing. A fire was burning in the kitchen. Soon afterwards the kitchen was dis. covered to be on fin. Several neighbours endeavoured to enter the building, but were driven back by the flames. Tbe children must nave been suffocated by the smoke, as no cries Were heard. Their remains were dreadfully disfigured, and were found near a bed in the other jpom. Both parents were much attached to tne children, and the mother became insensible from the shock she received upon learning their Bad fate. The house and effects were not Insured. At the inquest on the bodies of the children an open verdict was returned. It was supposed that the fire originated from a spark Wown out of the fireplace. Windsor's case is a very hard one, as be had just managed to Bcrape enough money together to build him■elf a house, and by this fire he is robbed of property and children at one swoop. An appeal is made through the papere to the penevolent, and a fair sum has been collected In a very short time;