LATEST TELEGRAMS

West Coast Times, Issue 1329, 25 December 1869, Page 4 (Supplement)

LATEST TELEGRAMS

-- . /, — '•.;.■>.! l ;:i c :. c -Urttbi'ONDJSWT.) FATAL COACH ACCIDENT AT DUNEDIN. SEVERE THUNDER STORM AT PJCTON. A BOY KILLED BY LIGHTNING, SHOCKING AND FATAL ACCIDENT AT TIiMARU. TWO LIVES LOST. (from our own correspondent). Wellington, Dec. 15, 7.47 p.m. Several cases of arsenical poisoning have occurred here from the use or sugar. The sugar is portion of a lot of 40 bags received from Melbourne, per s.s. Rangitoto. None of the cases fortunately are dangerous. Samples of the sugar have been sent to Dr. i lector, for analysis. Similar t-amples have also been received from Oamaru, for the same >ui'pose. Wellington, Dec. 16, 6.55 p.m. The poisonous sugar, on analysis, was found to contain a quantity of arsenic. It is No 2 Victorian Company. The remainder has been handed over to the police. The patients are recovering. Five bags sent to the convent affected sill the inmates. Nelson, Dec. 16, 7.40 p.m. Advices received from Pic ton relate the death of a boy by lightning". Last night about half-past six o'clock a severe thunder S'orm took place accompanied by strong lightning. Mr Conolly, barrister, with his family, were under their verandah, watching the storm, and were on the point of leaving for the purpose of entering the house, when a terrific ill under clap took place, and the lightning struck the dwelling. A portion of the roof was carried away and one verandah po.»t shattered. A boy, ten years old, was struck on the head and breast, and killed instantaneously. The escape of fhe other members of 'I.c fauiiry wa£ something miraculous. Naimku, Dee. 20, 6.30 p.m. The Government received a despatch i.taiing the Flying Squadron will arrive lit Auckland on the Ist February. The New Zealand Insurance Company have declared a dividend of ten per cent., and placed £6000 to the P.oiit and Loss Account. The Eighteenth Regiment is to be moved. There is no option in the matter. Rewi sent Aporo, a King's messenger, to tell To Kooti to remain quiet. Te Kooti replied — " Ido not recognise the King, and will goon to Tokangatnnlu." On hearing this, the King ordered his people to collect together. Mr M'Lean loaves Auckland for the North on the arrival of the Sturt. Timauu, Dec. 19, 5 p.m. Yesterday (Saturday) evening a number of passengers went off in a •urf boat to the s.s Maori, then in the roadstead. When some distance from the shore ilie surf line fouled. A boat was put off from the steamer to the assistance of the surf boat, in which there were fourteen persons. The st "amer's bnat succeeded in taking all on board without accident, and ilvn started off for the steamer, but when within a few yards of her capsized bottom upwards, of course thrownll into the sea. Some of them regained the boat, and f-orne were saved by ropeii and life belts thrown from the Maori. The shore lifeboat put off and rescued one man, a passenger, who v/as clinging to the boat. All were saved excepting Mr Balfour, Marine Engineer, and Mr Smallwood, who were unfortunately drowned. Amongst the other paosengcrs were Me srs U. B. Parker, Joe.l (Dunedin), Captain Malcolm of the Maori, Messrs Menzies (picked off boat), and Baknr. Mr Small wood was teller of the Union Bank, Timaru. Further accounts state that the boat was washed by a heavy roller against the steamer, causing her to capsize, She went to the windward side of the steamer, but for what reason is not known,

The bodies were not washed ashore up to 5 p.m. to-day (Sunday). Dunedin, Dec 16, 6.50 p.m. ' A fatal accident occuned to Cobb's coach last eveuing 1 , whilst attempting to cross the Kakanai River. The river at the time was greatly swollen. The coach was smashed to pieces, and two horses and two passengers drowned. The driver and remaining passengers escaped with great difficulty. The persons drowned are Paterson, a Civil Engineer, and a young lady, believed to be a Miss Ross, formerly a teacher here. Great excitement is caused here in consequence of the accident. Mr Mansfield, Cobb and Co.'s manager, at once repaired to the scene of the accident.