ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4869, 7 February 1894, Page 3

ACCIDENTS AND FATALITIES.

[Per Prkbs Association.! AUCKLAND, Feb. 6. At the inqueßt on the body of Bobert Mellis, drowned by the capsizing of the yacht Maggie on Saturday, the jury returned a verdict of accidentally drowned, with a rider that the jury were of opinion that great carelessness was exercised by those on board in the management of the boat, also hoping that the services rendered by the two Port Cautley prisoners, M'Lean and Williams, who saved the life of Cummo, will be recognised by the Justice Department, and a portion of their sentences remitted. Feb. 7. Mrs Whitelaw, wife of a fireman on the steamer Bichmond, was badly burned last , night through a candle igniting the bed clothes. The woman went to Bleep and left the candle alight. She is progressing favourably. NELSON, Feb. 6. The inquest on the four bodies washed ashore from the wreck of the Gazelle en Saturday last, threw little further light on the casualty. It appeared, however, that Captain Eogers knew he was in Blind Bay, but did not know his precise position. The evidence showed that the veßsel was well equipped and that the anchor was let go just before she struck. A verdict wa3 returned:— "Accidentally drowned by the wreck of a barque." BLENHEIM, Feb. 6. At the inquest held to-day touching tho death of William Jones, who was found dead in hiß whare on Monday evening, a verdict was returned cf death from natural causes, in accordance with the doctor's testimony. Yesterday a boy named William Foster had one of his lips badly cut, a cricket ball hitting him while he was playing. THE DIBASTEOUS FIBE AT NINGPO. The Eastern and Australian line steamer Airlie, from Japanese and Chinese ports, arrived in Sydney harbour on Jan. 28, bringing lengthy reports of the fatal fire that occurred at Ningpo last month, and previously briefly reported by cable. One account says: — The Kiangteen, which arrived here on Saturday morning, brought news that an appalling accident had occurred at Ningpo on Friday afternoon, resulting in the death of between 200 and 300 women and children. It appears that the annual theatrical performance of the first of the 11th moon, in honour of the gods, was being given in a temple on the Settlement, and was attended by upwards of 400psople. As most people in China know, there is frequently a parmanent stage in the courtyard of large Chinese- temples. It is situated between the temple and the gate, while the audience, when there is a representation, is between the temple and the stage. The temple at Ningpo, where the accident happened, waa called the Zau-tsu-ching miao, a twostoried building, and both stories were monopolised by women and children to witness the performance. The people were enjoying themselves generally, smoking, eating, chatting and drinking tea. Among the crowd was a boy who was smoking a cigarette, which he threw away in a heap of straw at the foot of the staircase leading to the upper storey of the temple. The straw quickly blazed up, and burning the staircase, prevented the people getting out. Of course, there was a general rush to escape ; some were trampled to death, others jumped out of the windows, and were either killed or so badly injured that they were unable to escape the flames, and so perished, while others passively awaited their fate, which was not long in overtaking them, and they were reaßted alive or 6uffocated by the smoke. A FEAEFUL EARTHQUAKE. The following startling description is from the North China Daily News : — According to a memorial recently from Liv Ping-chang, Viceroy of Szechuan, an earthquake of great magnitude, devastating an area of 9000 square miles, occurred in the Tibetan district of Kada, bordering the province. The Dalai Lama'a Grand Monastery of Hueiyuan, and seven small Lamaseraia were buried in ruins and 804 houses belonging to the native and Tibetan soldiers and their families met the same fate. Seventy-four Lama priests and 137 Chinese and Tibotanß were killed, with a. large proportion of wounded. The large Lama monastery of Hueiyuan was built by command of the Emperor Yung-ehmg in the beginning of the eighteenth century, and made the Beat of the Dalai Lama or Buddhist Pope for twelve yeara> when he moved back to Lhassa with the Imperial consent. There were dug out of the rains of this monastery eventually nine pure gold images of Buddha presented by the Emperor Yung-ching, one hundred brazen ones heavily gilded,, as well as a yellow sedan chair, also the gift of the Emperor. Eelief waß immediately sent in money and grain to the distressed Chinese, Tibetans, and Lamas.