PREMIER SENDS MESSAGE OF SYMPATHY.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9112, 5 July 1898, Page 2

PREMIER SENDS MESSAGE OF SYMPATHY.

The Tutanekai had been loading railway iron for Greymouth, and was to leave in the evening, Almost the last thing to be taken in was a donkey boiler, two tons in weight, which had been slung and lowered down the hatchway to within a few feet of the bottom of the hold. A pin of heavy iron shackle at the mast-head snapped, nnd the whole of the gear fell. Captain FaJrchild was standing at the end of the hatch and the shakle struck him on the back of the head, *nd crushed his skull. Two doctors were quickly in attendance, but nothing could be done, and he died in half an hour.

On hearing of the accident, the Premier immediately sent a letter of sympathy to Mrs Fairchild, expressing his own ; and other Ministers' sympathy, and deploring the loss to the colony of a public servant who place it would be almost impossible to fill. Just before tne accident, Mrs Bean, daughter of the Premier, bad been on board. Captain Fairchild asked her to remain to afternoon tea, which she was unable to do, and he then retun ed to superintend the work going on, and met his untimely fate. This well-known skipper was successively in command of the Governnieut steamers Lima* Stella, Hinemoa, and Tutanekai, having been many years in the public service. He was commonly credited with a more intimate knowledge of the New Zealand coast than any other sailor in these seas.

July 5. Flags on all the shipping ports and most of the public buildings were flying half-mast to-day on account of the death of Captain Faircnild.