AUCKLAND.

Waikato Times, Volume I, Issue 75, 22 October 1872, Page 2

AUCKLAND.

(PEOit OtJE own COIiBUSPOXDEXT). October 21. On reading the Thames payers one earnnot kelp being struck with the numerous records of accidents occurring there. There is no doubt that the nature of the employment pursued by the, bulk. o£ the population ia of an unusually hazardous nature, yet this scarcely accounts for their frequency so- much as the apparent spirit of recklessness displayed by those engaged in their several pursuits. One accident, however, of an exceptional but frightful character happened on Friday last to a man named William Phillips, a blacksmith in the employ of Mr Seagar, Cfrahamstowu. Accompanied by another workman lie had gone to the iron warehouse of Messrs. T. & S. Morrin to select some boiler-plate iron under the guidance of the storernan, who pointed out the iron in request, which was stacked on end against a frame in the centre of the warehouse. In the- absence of tlie others, who had removed one plate to get it weighed, Phillips proceeded to select what he want ed, when the storernan and his companion were suddenly startled by the noise of falling iron, accompanied by smothered cries of distress. The two men instantly hastened back to Phillips, and were horrified at finding.that the whole of the iron had fallen backwards upon him, jamming his chest against a pile of b:>xes standing by. A release was effected' in about two minutes, when Phillips presented a dreadful spectacle, being absolutely flattened. He was conscious, and gaspingly uttered "I am done for this time; lam paralysed; there is no feeling anywhere except in my head." Medical assistance was secured, and his removal to the hospital was at once effected. Not the slightest hopes are entertained of the poor fellow's recovery, the-organs of the chest and. stomach being completely crushed. The South British Insurance Company is a success so far as the successful floating of its shares. The whole of the number—2s,ooo —have been taken up by the various provinces of New Zealand. The proportions are as follows: —Auckland, 7,805 shares; Dunedin, 6,675; Christchurch, 5,187; Wellington and Wanganui, 4,270; and Nelson, 1,563 shares. Fully double the number of shares could have been allotted. Since the formation of the company a good deal of business has been done in the stock, and shares are readily saleable at fifty per cent, above par.

The Hero took lier departure ou Friday with an exceedingly small cargo and very few passengers. The migration of the "digger" portion of the community is entirely checked owing to the unfavorable news brought back from the Charters Towers diggings by several who have returned here poorer but wiser men. The New Zealand Freight Company has come to grief notwithstanding the flourish with which it was projected. Instead of sending to England an agent fully accredited", the Auckland directory appointed attorneys in London, and the result has been that they listened to the voice of the charmer, Shaw, Saville & Co., and failed to carry out their intentions, on the pretence that the concessions offered by the monopolists in a reduction of the price of freight were such as to make a dead letter of their instructions until they had conferred with their principals in Auckland. A meeting of shareholders was held on Friday last, at which a great variety of opinion was expressed. While some of the speakers threw the onus of miscai'riage of'the project on their Home agents in not carrying out their specific instructions, others were of opinion that it was fortunate they had not been committed in the matter, and that the project had been rushed into hastily. The following resolution was ultimately carried : —" That the attorneys of the company be empowered to arrange with Shaw, Saville & Co', as to rates of freight, class of vessels, &c., and that all their vessels be consigned to the Freight Company here. That they be Instructed in the event of their negotiations as above iailing, to at once carry out the original programme of the company." Madame Agatha States and Signor Orlandini appeared for the first time at the Prince of Wales Theatre on Saturday evening. They are assisted by local talent. The house was crowded, and Madame achieved an undoubted success. On Monday evening two wonderful trapezian performers make their debut at the City Hall —Messrs Zuila iand Loyal. The dramatic corps which has hung out bo long in Auckland is at last broken up, and many-of them have already sought " fresh fields and pastures new." Business in Auckland is frightfully dull. G-o where vou will vou are constantly met with the remark, " Tilings arc shockingly bad ; nearly as bad as before the Thames goldfields* broke out." The stagnation is a good deal owing to the fact that there are little or no returns from the goldfields compared to this time last year ; while on the other' hand scripholders have frequent calls to pay which entirely absorb means which are necessary in too many cases to carry on legitimate business.