HAMILTON'S

Dunstan Times, Issue 197, 3 February 1866, Page 3

HAMILTON'S

(from a correspondent.) The weather during the past week has been of the most changeable description, from summer heat to winter cold. The Rise and Shine Company, who washed up just before Christmas, have just completed another washing. They obtained 160 ounces, and a party at the Sowburn have obtained 130 ounces.

On Monday last, Mr Warden Broad delivered a lecture at Mount Ida for the benefit of the Church fund. The subject was " Reminiscences of an Emigration Officer in Victoria." The building in ■yhich the lecture was delivered was Jyill filled, and the passengers' complaints' and the various anecdotes of captains, doctors, <fec, elicited roars of laughter from the audience.

On Monday, an inquest was held before Mr Broad as Coroner, at Macrae's Flat on the body of a fine little boy of 2 years old, the son of Mr Luke the storekeeper, who had tumbled into a hole about seven and a-half feet deep, full of stagnant water and filth, and was drowned. The Jury in returning a verdict of "accidental death " gave great credit to a miner named William Ford, who without stopping to inquire as to the depth of the hole, plunged in at once to the rescue. Strange to say. as if to doubly impress upon the minds of parents living on the goldfields with the necessity for constant watchfulness over their children, the very next day Mr Broad was called upon, in the absenoe of Mr Stratford, to hold an inquest at the Woolshed on the body of Hector Leader, a little boy of one year aud eight months old, drowned in a similar manner in front of his father's door.

I regret also to have to report another fatal mining accident. On Tuesday last a miner named William Pears at German Hill was engaged in forking the tail-race, while his companions were working above for a fall, the earth suddenly came down and striking him on the head, literally smashing in his skull, killing him instantly. At an inquest held by MiBroad on Thursday last the Jury returned a verdict of " accidental death."

1 am glad to inform your readers that agricultural leases are beginning to be in-

quired for near this place and Mount Ida, which, with the numerous applications for extended claims, speaks well for the settlement of the district.