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Westport Times, Volume II, Issue 221, 16 April 1868, Page 2

SadAccidekt atAddisojt'sFlat.— i A correspondent obligingly furnishes ; us with the particulars of the following . sad accident which occurred at Addison's on the 14th instant. " A miner, named David Badcliffe, who had lately bought into the Taranaki claim, was in the act of drawing slabs from a • shaft (the slabs had been lost during the late flood), when the ground gave way, and engulphed the poor fellow. His mates came immediately to his rescue, and did all that lay in their power to_ extricate their comrade. Great praise is due to a wages man, named West, a native of Cornwall, who at the risk of his life was the first to descend the shaft, 25 feet, to render assistance to the poor sufferer. All exertions proved fruitless, and the poor fellow died before 10 o'clock the same night, saying, as he died, to his sympathetic mates and other persons present, "I am dying—good-bye boys." His mates and others worked all night, but it was not until 10 o'clock yesterday morning that they managed to extricate his body and convey it to his tent." An inquest will be held on his body to-day by Dr Giles. Public Meeting.—One of the largest meetings we have ever seen in Westport met last night in the Assembly Rooms, to hear the reply made by Mr Kymiursby to the application from the townspeople for the armed constabulary to remain here. The popular feeling was very strong on the point, and many groans were given for Mr Kynnersley. The real gist of the meeting, viz., the memorial to the General Government, was left out, but it is expected that immediate action will be takeu in the matter. The step of sending the armed constabulary away is a most illadvised one, and we can only unde - stand the policy of the Commissioner by believing that it 'was done in the obstinacy of pride.